Chapter 1  Broken

The sound of horses echo throughout the dark forest. Two horses are marching through the rough forest path.

“When do we get there sir” A knight on one of the horses yells out to the knight in front clad in a more fancy armor.

“If the peasants were telling the truth it should just be here somewhere” He shouts back in an annoyed tone.

Muffled sounds could be heard from behind the knight in the back “quiet, you’re lucky we even let you ride with us” behind the knight is a man both his arms and legs are tied together as well as a gag made out of rags.

“This might be it!” The fancy knight yelled back towards the other one.

The two horses made it out of the woods into a small clearing where one small house was located. It had seen better days, half of it was destroyed, only rubble remained on the left half. 

“Ah, the impact!” The fancy knight exclaimed as he jumped off his horse. 

The sound of metal scraping was made as the knight made his way to the crater in front of the house. “Is there one there!” The other knight shouted at the knight in front of him.

the knight turned his head and nodded and proceeded to gesture with his hand to come here. The knight on the horse also jumped down, turning back to the horse and grabbing the tied up man and throwing him off the horse. 

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“Go! do your job,” he said, cutting the restraints binding the prisoners feet.

The prisoner walked towards the crater, in the center a faint glowing red gemstone was laying. He made his way to the bottom of the small crater.

“Touch it, filth.” the fancy knight ordered, with a calm tone.

The man, showing some fear, hesitated for a moment. “Come on you only have four left then you're free just touch it already!” The fancy knight shouted at the man in the crater, his patience stretched. 

The man nodded and placed his hands on the red gem but nothing happened. “Guess who's lucky yet again? this rat.” The fancy knight said, looking towards the other knight but he only nodded in response.

“Three more now until you’re free. you just might make it” The fancy knight says looking towards the man that had now collapsed into a pile. “Grab the box will you” the fancy knight says and points to a wooden box placed on his horse. The other knight nods once more and grabs it and walks over to the crater placing the red gemstone in the box next to a yellow gemstone. “Done," he yells out to the fancy knight. “Good,” he responds. 

Suddenly the ruined house starts to make noise “Help me, she’s stuck!” a shout could be heard from the door. The knight draws his sword and slowly approaches the building. He slowly opens the door with his entire forearm, with his sword ready. 

“It's just a peasant stuck under some rubble!” The knight shouts back at the fancy one.

“Let's leave!” The fancy knight shouts back. 

“Please don't do this, my daughter is somewhere under the rubble,” The man exclaims, his voice filled with sorrow. 

“We don't have time for this!” The fancy knight yells at the house.

“But maybe we should help him?” The Knight shouts back at the Fancy knight,

“Fine but only him, get him free and then we leave!”

“Understood.” The knight immediately goes into the house and starts moving the rubble trapping the peasant.

“Thank you thank you,” The peasant exclaims to the knight. As he stands back up and immediately starts to dig himself looking for his daughter. 

“Good luck, but you'll have to find her yourself.” The knight says to the peasant still digging frantically. He looks back to the knight looking distraught but ultimately nods and goes back to digging.

The knight ran out of the house to his horse “I'm ready now.” The knight says to the fancy knight already sitting on his horse.

“Good now get on.” the other knight says “I have already packed everything” 

The two horses ride back into the dark forest following the dirt path filled with roots and rocks.