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Danor's barefeet crept through refuge and sludge in a tunnel. Guided by his rescuers, he safely travelled under the city out of the eyes of the crown prince's men. Each step in the night stung as wounds new and old moved. Rats scurried past, and the duke thought about his current position. A man of his station is running away in the tunnels like the rats before him. If only he could go back. Snap the neck of the one who brought him this far down.

No, he thought. Too easy. Worse things will happen to the mixed woman.

A trap door leaked light through its cracks, and the assassin escorted William up. Finally out of the tunnel. Danor took the chance to look around. A deteriorated building, worn from the weather. A roof is missing, and stars shine above. Assassins moved to the side, heads bowed down. An older man sat on a chair.

“Are you well?”

Danor looked at the man in shock. With a noble bow, he greeted a family friend. “Baron Stalwart.” Shock turned to shame. “I… I-”

“I understand. The same boy destroyed my world too. And it's Uncle, remember, or has it been that long?"

The baron stood up from his creaky chair and held his arm behind his back as he walked towards Danor. Danor hung his blood-matted hair down. A large hand ruffled his hair.

“This is an opportunity. Granted by fate.”

“Opportunity? OPPORTUNITY!?! Uncle… I have lost everything… ”

Danor flicked the young man's chest with a finger. "You haven't lost everything, boy. The fire still smoulders deep in you.” Danor smiled like William's father used to. So sure of everything and of their place in this harsh world.

“You have an opportunity to start anew. The chains of duchy are no longer there to hold back your fury. No more placating weak nobles who would faint at the sight of a sword. No more suffering from the peasants that meander in your lands, dirty your roads, and take your wealth.”

Something sparks deep in Danor’s soul.

“No more wallowing in stability. Listen to what your blood tells you—you are a man of Danor—the house that brought the North into the empire's fold. Your lineage calls for you. It calls for war.”

Jac paused.

“William. It's starting soon.”

The spark engulfed Danor's whole being. A great smile grew on his bruised face. He fell to the floor, kneeling before a master.

“We travel by teleport. Souls await you. And don't worry, my men are searching far and wide for our friend."

“I said, Is there any more? I have read that orcs move in clusters of around twenty at a time. I thought there would be more.” The dark stranger stood by the group with crossed arms, waiting for the swordsman to speak. Humiliation stopped the words from coming out of his mouth. His party-mates sat on the grass, tending to the wounds. Lisa, the cleric, healed the others before she worked on the sprained arm.

“A little quiet, are you? Is shock stopping you from at least telling me your name?"

Before the embarrassed swordsman could mention his name, the stranger turned to his left, and his face beamed with joy. A blue barrier carried a beauty down. As if descending from heaven, she slowly reached the ground and met the dark man.

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“Why are you so fucking fast?!"

“Same reason you called me creepy. You should practise a bit more. I will end up killing everyone before you can get a piece of the action.”

An angel seemed to have fallen from heaven, and nobody cared. Her blonde hair shined like the brightest gold coins—a face that painters would kill themselves over to make their muse. Her grace showed in her every movement, yet her fiery attitude burned a fire in his own heart. Finally, a woman worthy of him.

He put a brave foot forward and walked up to the love of his life. With his silver sword sheathed, the swordsman gave his very best bow to the lady.

My fair lady. It is my utmost pleasure to meet you this fine afternoon. The name is Fergus Gifaw. The eldest son of seven children. Heir apparent to the Marquess Gifaw estate. It would be an honour to know you better.” He looked at his love and winked with a cheeky grin.

An awkward moment passed while the Noble Adventurer bowed. Drac and Marina stared at each other. Marina broke into laughter. Drac gave a small grin.

Fergus came out of his fancy bow and looked around in discomfort.

Drac said the glum noble. “Sorry about this. She can be a bit unrestrained with how she reacts."

Marina continued giggling so much that she fell to the ground in a fit, laughing as she rolled around.

“Okay, we get it. So why did you fly here?”

Marina's laughter settled down. She sat straight while wiping her tears from her eyes.

“Oh yeah,” she chuckled a bit. “Nearly forgot. Flida sensed a horde of orcs in that direction," she pointed in the crop of dense wood to the right.

Fergus’s eyes went wide. “That's in the direction of Heartbrook…”

Uoro, the mage, spoke, “What in the hells is going on?!! I was hired to escort a beginner and almost got killed at the low levels? Fuck this shit, I am leaving.” He rushed off the ground, patting his cloak of dust and dirt.

“Leave to where, idiot!” The archer shouted. “Dozens of orcs block our way back to Heartbrook. Unless you want to take a chance at it with your weak magic.”

“Fuck off, Liam! Shove those flimsy arrows where the sun doesn't shine!” the mage retorted.

Drac cleared his throat, and all listened.

“We will escort you back.”

“Escort!?” said Fergus in surprise. “Sir, I am so thankful for your rescue but getting past a horde-”

"Marina, do you want to come along and clear them before our guests arrive?”

Marina grinned wide., "Finally, you won't rush ahead of me.”

Flustered, the mage said, “Dark man, explain yourself. Who are you?”

Drac shrugged and said, “News hasn't gotten this far yet." The adventurers turned to each other in utter confusion. "Great, we can finally relax. Marina, tell Bob to pick up our guests while we go ahead.”

Marina mouths silent words. Marina excitedly tuned Murus, and a platform of blue appeared under her feet. The disc lifted her in the air. “Last one there has to cook for two days!” Marina flew away with her tied blonde, flapping the rushing wind.

I beg of you, Drac. Lose!

What wrong? I want to eat the meal she makes.

No, you don't.

After watching the fair lady fly into the distance, he met eyes with the swordsman. Young like him. Fit and tall, with good command over his aura. He was handsome enough for Drac to notice. A noble, who has been blessed all his life, would receive even more blessings when his father died.

And Marina laughed him off.

A new sensation flickered in his heart.

Drac offered his right hand to Fergus, and a wry smile crept on his face. “The name’s Drac. Nice to meet you, Fergus.”

The noble tentatively took the hand and said, “Like…wise.” His face pinched in pain.

Cold eyes stared at the heir. “Don't embarrass yourself any further.” Drac released the noble from his tight grasp, and his cheeky grin returned.

Hah! That will show him.

Hood sighed.

Virgins… So territorial.

Drac tuned Levitation. “A fucking behemoth of a man will meet you here with a caravan. Alright, off I pop!” After saying his goodbyes to the adventurers, a pulse-step propelled him above them until the dead orcs were specks on the green pastures.

Don't go too fast. I ain't eating her shitty food again!