Skydusk housed many buildings for all kinds of purpose. Some tall buildings are used as a ramp of sorts for members of Sky Corps, some are used for several types of guilds, and others are used for living. It is sufficed to say that Skydusk also housed a church.

The Church of the Three Gods, an important building, any priest would say that. This is where people worship the God of Light, the God of Order, & the God of Destiny. A holy ground. But this is also where the Bishop Pius held his meetings.

One such meeting is currently happening inside the Church. In one of the rooms, several people talk among themselves while they sat around a semi-circle table. Standing in the middle of it is the guard of a certain village, Ruke.

Among the ones sitting around the table is Bishop Pius and at his right is the Archdeacon Donus. Joining them is the Baron Blaine. Representing the Sky Corps is the man named Normannus Laughingwing. All of them were here to hear the report of Ruke.

After some time, they all finished talking and silence soon followed. Bishop Pius gestured to start the report.

“The officials are now ready, Ruke from the village of….” The man, who seems to be an announcer of sorts, looks at Ruke with a questioning look. Ruke, in turn, just tilted his head. The announcer just looked at him annoyingly. “Ruke, from wherever he came from, will now start his report.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll just do that.” Ruke said followed by an awkward silence. They all looked at him intently. Ruke coughs before he continued. “A few days ago, in our village, a growing problem rose. I, along with some few others, were asked to-”

“Get to the point, peasant!” Baron Blaine shouted at him.

“Ye-, yes.” Ruke nodded. He wasn’t used to this audience. All he knows is how to fight and defend for the village. He wasn’t suited for this but the village chief trusted him so he must. “We found a half lich fused with a mana distortion in our village’s graveyard”

This incited a few murmurs among the officials. Some looked doubtful, some have a grave look, while others didn’t even look like they cared. The Archdeacon and Normannus both have a serious expression. Baron Blaine kept muttering to himself and the Bishop is looking right at Ruke.

Stolen novel; please report.

“You are not lying, are you?” Pius asked him with a solemn tone in his voice.

“Why would I lie, sir?” Ruke answered, standing his ground despite the pressure.

“To get us to send funds to your village, perhaps?” Blaine spoke accusingly to him.

“Are you sure about this? Because this is a crucial matter if it’s true.” Pius continued asking Ruke, ignoring Blaine’s remark.

“Of course, sir.” Ruke answered with determination in his voice.

“That is all I need to know. We will conduct an investigation about this.” Pius begun standing signifying the end of the meeting. “You all are now free to go.”

***

From the Church, a bird like thing came out flying. But it was too big to be a bird and too humanoid. The people of Skydusk knew this. It must be a member of the Sky Corps. They were right of course, it was Normannus Laughingwing coming out after the meeting.

With silver wings reflecting red light from dusk, Normannus made his way through the skies. He was heading towards one their headquarters to tell his leaders what transpired at the meeting. It is of course a crucial matter so he must say it directly to them.

***

Leaving the gates of Skydusk, Ruke made his way towards the roads. The horse he is riding made galloping sounds as he guides it back to his village.

“That’s one gold wasted by me.” Ruke muttered to himself “It’s better than riding those expensive carriages”

Ruke was feeling lightheaded after he left the Church. He got a sudden feeling of quickly coming home. He felt that something bad might have happened and he must return immediately. He bought a horse on the whim with the money meant for his food supplies.

As the sun slowly set itself in the horizon, darkness soon grows at the forest surrounding the roads.

‘Shit, I should have waited at the city. But I got a bad feeling for the village.’ Ruke was having contradicting thoughts as he continued riding in the dimness.

The horse suddenly stops and neighs. Cause of that sudden movement, Ruke was thrown off balance and drops to the ground.

The horse keeps moving wildly as if it was scared of something. With Ruke’s experience, his instincts are telling him something’s coming.

He drew his sword from its scabbard and he made a fighting stance. A ghostly silence followed with only the echoes of the whinny of his horse to hear.

Soon, he saw what the horse is fearing as a monstrous figure made its way towards the horse and killed it. With its blood red eyes, it looks at Ruke with immense killing intent.

***

“Bishop Pius, do you think it is what I think it is?” Archdeacon Donus asks as he kept up with the pace of Pius. Both of them were walking inside a hall heading towards their respective offices.

“If it’s true, I’m afraid so.” Pius replied “It’s too much of a coincident not to be connected.”

“You mean those things are connected with this half lich?” Donus suddenly stopped walking in bewilderment.

“Whether we like it or not, the Demon King is on the move.”