Valicar writhed within the guard's grip, her small body struggling against his firm hold. Though Sophia slept soundly within their shared consciousness, Mike's determination blazed fiercely as he fought against the pain coursing through their ribs.
“You must feel real tough, huh? Beating up on helpless kids and women you cunt,” Mike spat defiantly, earning himself a sharp blow to the head.
The guard's laughter was cold and cruel. “Feisty little shit, aren't you? If it weren't for the boss wanting every kid tested, I'd throw you in that fire pit with the rest of the heathen filth.”
As they neared the end of the line, the guard unceremoniously dropped Valicar among the other children, positioning himself as a looming barrier to any attempted escape. Despite the dire situation, Mike's resolve remained unbroken, his mind racing with plans and prayers for a chance at freedom.
"Sophia now would be a good time to wake up and maybe use some of your magic tricks... Damn, this is going to suck alone," Mike muttered urgently, feeling the weight of their predicament.
The Templar, his helmet now removed, appeared unremarkable at first glance—bald, middle-aged, and pale. But it was his eyes that held Mike's attention, gleaming like molten gold in the dim light.
As the last child before Mike met his fate, a new horror unfolded. The boy's body was enveloped in a radiant golden light, illuminating the dark surroundings before his screams pierced the air. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying, reminiscent of Lord Vernon's demise. And then, just like the lord, the boy's form was engulfed in flames, his death swift but no less agonizing.
The stench of burning flesh assaulted Mike's senses, and another thump from the guard behind him brought him back to the grim reality at hand.
"High Templar Bellic," the guard began, "we found this kid in the woods next to Private Don's corpse. It appears a woman from the village lured him into the forest with her charms and then ambushed him while his pants were literally down."
Bellic, the orchestrator of the suffering that had befallen Mike and Sophia's home, fixed his gaze upon Valicar.
"What happened in the woods, little one?" he inquired, his hand hovering near Valicar's face. Mike tensed, fearing the revelation of Sophia's distinctive red eye.
As Mike attempted to pull away, he was thwarted by the guard behind him.
"Was your eye hurt, little one? Let me help you," Bellic insisted, reaching for Valicar's eyelid. With a sinking feeling, Mike watched as the man exposed Valicar's eyes, revealing ordinary, vibrant blue irises.
"Well, it appears you are uninjured for the most part. I suppose we can start now," Bellic declared, lifting his hands as a radiant light enveloped Valicar, much like it had with the other children before her.
"Shit, guess I’ll see you in the next life, sis," Mike muttered, bracing himself for the inevitable surge of heat. But to his surprise, only warmth enveloped him, similar to Sophia’s magic. Opening his eyes, he found Bellic gesturing for him to join the other children.
“What the Fuck,” Mike exclaimed, bewildered by his inexplicable survival. “That old coot in the woods did mention a test… Maybe it didn’t pick up on Sophia’s magic because she was asleep. If she is asleep… where are you, sis? Ugh, I hate talking to myself; it feels weird again!”
The commander waved off the guard who escorted Valicar. “Go clean up that idiot's mess, Tyragoth,” he ordered before turning his attention to inspecting the other line where the men were being blinded.
He spoke, his voice resonating with authority, “As you have turned a blind eye to the evil of this land and have walked blinded to the Lord’s light, let this scar be a reminder to follow the church's teachings. In this dark world, you now live in a world half as bright but twice as blessed.” The remaining men were led to a field to be set free of their bindings and left to tend to their new wounds.
Theodore was not among the men in the field. The line of children, including Mike, was being led to another wagon separated from the women. As they moved forward, the guard at the back of the line momentarily turned his gaze away, perhaps distracted by something in the distance. Seizing the opportunity, Mike slipped away from the line and darted into a nearby house, the old blacksmith's house. It was the only building spared from the flames due to being made out of stone, closing, and baring the door behind him.
Mike planned his next step carefully as he caught his breath inside the dimly lit interior of the blacksmith's house. "If I can slip through this house, maybe I can make it back to the women’s cage and free them… Oh, who am I kidding? I have no magic. The only thing I have going for me is this dagger I stole and the keys, although it shouldn’t be much longer until they notice them missing.” Mike drew the dagger from his pants. “That bastard is lucky I couldn’t get to it with how he had my arms. Next time I see you, you’re mine, Tyragoth bastard.”
Moving through the narrow hallway, Mike peeked around the corner and was greeted by a harrowing sight. Theodore, his father, sat tied to a chair, battered and bloodied. The right side of his face was grotesquely swollen, the bruises a stark testament to the brutality he endured.
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“How do you find his grave?” the guard demanded of Theodore, his voice laced with exhaustion. Despite his weariness, Theodore's defiance remained unwavering.
“I don’t know the way…my uncle always said the path would reveal itself to a worthy heir, leading them up the mountain, but you will never find it,” Theodore replied, his voice strained but resolute as he earned another blow to the face from the templar.
Sneaking closer, Mike braced himself to intervene. The sight of his father in such agony ignited a fury within him that he hadn't felt since his previous life. He knew he had to act swiftly to save Theodore and uncover the truth about their family's legacy.
The interrogator brought his hand up once more, only to be brought down to one knee after having the other one slit from behind. “AHHH! FUCK AH!!!” The scream was cut short as steel met flesh, cutting off his windpipe. The man collapsed, clawing for a last breath, that would never come.
Mike rushed to Theodore. “It’s okay now, Dad, it’s me. I have the keys.” He quickly went about freeing his father from his restraints.
“Valicar is that… is that you… My sweet baby girl, you truly do have his blood flowing through your veins. I haven’t seen someone wielding a blade like that since I was just a boy.”
Mike was taken aback by his father's words, both by his calming demeanor and the message itself. He had only vaguely listened to the tales of his uncle’s exploits; it was Sophia who loved tales of his grand adventures.
“I always thought those stories were just fairy tales, Father, but more importantly, we have to find Mom and get you all out of here,” Mike said with determination to save his new family.
Theodore tried to stand, but Valicar was unable to help lift his weight in any meaningful way, so he collapsed back down.
With a sigh, Theodore told his daughter, “I’m sorry, Valicar, but they took your mother and me when they first stormed the manor. I was separated when they found out I was your great-uncle Valicar's relative. They seem to have come to our village due to some trouble our cousins caused in the empire. I was hoping your mother would find you out there, but it seems my little girl has the same gifts her uncle did. So please, Valicar, find your mother and then find the cave where your inheritance awaits. I know now there is no one else it could be meant for. The path will become clear; just trust your instincts as you have thus far.”
Shouting could be heard coming from outside. “Where’s Mom and this cave even at? Wait, cousins?” Mike asked, confused.
The banging grew louder as the door began to give way.
“Never mind, we can still escape out the back; that door will hold them," Mike said firmly, his voice betraying his inner turmoil. "Let’s go, Dad. Come on, get up!” Theodore, his eyes heavy with fatigue, looked at Valicar with a mixture of pride and sadness.
”No, my dear. I will buy you some time. Now run, my beloved child, claim what is yours,” Theodore declared, his voice filled with a quiet resolve born of paternal love.
"But, you will die, Dad..." Mike's voice wavered with concern, his eyes pleading with Theodore for an alternative.
His father gave him a reassuring look. "Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary for the greater good, my daughter."
"Okay." Mike's protests died on his lips as he realized the necessity of his father's sacrifice. With a heavy heart, he complied, knowing that his primary duty was to protect Sophia, even if she was currently asleep. Handing his father the fallen Templar's sword, he spoke words he never thought he would utter. “I love you, Dad. Our time was short, but thank you for everything,” he said, his voice choked with emotion, embracing his father one last time before turning to flee through the back door.
As Mike hastily retreated, Theodore struggled to his feet, using the sword as a makeshift crutch before summoning the strength to stand tall against the oncoming threat. In that moment, a palpable blend of sorrow and determination filled the air, thickening the tension with every passing second.
As Mike rushed into the darkness, the sounds of battle echoed behind him, a grim reminder of the sacrifice his father had made. The weight of his perceived weakness burdened him, but he refused to succumb to despair. “We both died last time because of me, Soph, and now here I am again, still too weak to make a difference. But I will grow stronger, damn it,” he vowed silently, his resolve steeling in the face of adversity. With each step, memories of his past life flooded his mind, but he accepted his father's final gift with a newfound determination to honor his sacrifice and protect Sophia at all costs.
Fighting in the house provided the distraction Mike desperately needed. Every eye was fixed on Theodore, who fought with unmatched ferocity, pushing the attackers back to the front of the hut. As two dead guards lay at his feet, Theodore roared, “Don’t dare underestimate House Norail!” His defiance echoed through the chaos before he was engulfed in a beam of golden light.
Meanwhile, Mike's heart raced as he made his way back to the woods, his every movement fueled by a potent mix of fear and determination. Crawling and sprinting through the shadows, he headed toward the women's cart, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. Finally, he found his mother, Alexandra, among the other village women.
“They must have had her separated for some reason,” Mike pondered briefly, his mind reeling with the implications. But in the face of imminent danger, there was no time for speculation. With the caravan beginning to move, Mike's sense of urgency only grew stronger, driving him forward despite the weight of uncertainty and fear.
A detachment of Templars, led by Tyragoth, had disembarked, with both wagons heading south down the road at a steady pace for several hours. Despite his exhaustion, Mike pushed himself to keep up with the wagon, driven by sheer determination and the weight of his responsibilities.
But even the strongest will can falter, and eventually, Mike reached his limit. Collapsing onto the forest floor under the soft glow of the full moon, he felt a profound sense of defeat wash over him. “I’m sorry, Dad. I couldn’t save her,” he whispered into the night, his voice heavy with remorse and exhaustion.
As sleep began to calm him, Mike's thoughts drifted to his sister Sophia. The thought of her safety was a bittersweet comfort amidst the chaos and despair. And when Sophia awoke with a start, her voice cutting through the silence like a beacon of hope, Mike felt a rush of relief flood over him.
“Where the fuck are we? What happened, Mike?” Sophia's words were laced with concern and confusion, her eyes searching his for answers. At that moment, Mike realized just how much he needed her—her strength, her presence, her unwavering support.
“I got a lot to tell you, Soph. Mostly bad,” Mike admitted, his voice trembling with emotion, “but we can talk and walk. We have somewhere to be.” Despite the heaviness in his heart, he rose to his feet, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead with Sophia by his side.