A group of young warriors walking through the forest. Five strong and happy warriors. There was a good reason for their good mood; after all, they just hunted down a large boar. One that could feed their village through weeks to come. It was much needed too; this year's crops did not come as they planned. On the lead was the young warrior, who brought the boar down. And right beside him, there was Wingrall.

As a boy, he stumbled up on the village as an orphan. No family, no friends. Just a hungry and lost boy. He found shelter in a house of a kind couple, without a kid on their own in the outskirt of the settlement. They took him in and gave the boy everything they could. They loved him as their own. He quickly got accepted by the other villagers as well. Most of all, a young little boy who he befriended right away.

He was around the same height as the young aspirant, though he was bald, and as usual, he had a dark red cloak to hide his face. He had more muscles than his friend. But his size was always misleading, for even with his two-handed sword, he proved more than a match in speed to his fellow warriors. All he wore was simple clothes even in battle, because according to him, the best defense was to kill your enemy before it could strike you.

The two of them were unseparable, ever since both of them were but children in the village. Though not of the same blood, they were like brothers to each other. They trusted each other like no one else; on the field of battle, they were unstoppable. And while Wingrall was never that much of a peoples person, the young swordsman always felt valued because of the feeling, that from all others the lone warrior gave him his trust. That is why when the ambitious warrior got the chance to be trained by the village elder, he insisted that he share his secrets with Wingrall too.

The would-be knight was thrilled with the results of today's hunt. With joy, he turned to his brother.

'It is truly a lucky day to us! Finding a beast of this size and bringing it down. Though it was not easy, it will solve many problems. Who knows? Maybe this will prove to the elder to further our training! What do you think, my friend?'

His ally remained silent. Though he wasn't always the man of words, this time the young aspirant noticed that there was something else behind it, something he could not quite put his hands on. It was like his partner in battle sized his surroundings. The joyful hunter took a quick look around but did not notice anything that would suggest an ambush or them being followed.

Regardless, he whispered.

'Is something wrong? Are we being watched?'

At first Wingrall did not answer. Not until they reached a clearing in the woods. There, the cloaked warrior stopped and turned around, drawing his weapon. His companions stood confused for a moment, looking around for the threat.

'What do you see, brother?' asked the warrior drawing his own sword.

'My prize, and the fools standing between me and it.'

Wingrall moved quickly. With a charge, he ran past the warrior, stabbing one of the other fighters in the chest, ending him in one strike.

All of the others stood shocked for a moment as the life escaped from the murdered ones eyes. The betrayer drew out his sword from the chest and struck out, aiming for the fighter on his right. There was an attempt to block the strike with a spear, but the hunting equipment was quickly slashed in two. However, the motion at least allowed the fighter to live through the attack with a slash on his arm. He fell over as Wingrall turned around to block a stab from a hunting knife of the last uninjured member, grabbing his arm and gripping it hard. The hunter dropped the knife as he heard his bones cracking slowly. He felt to his knees screaming for help as his foe prepared his blade to end him.

'Enough!' A cry was heard.

The shocked warrior finally snapped and jumped at Wingrall. The strike did not mean to injure, only to separate him from the victims. It worked as the cloaked brute jumped backwards, landing behind the warrior who now stood between his companions and his once-brother with his sword in his hand.

He did not understand a thing. Why would he do this? Murdering one of their comrades? Calling them fools? His thoughts were racing. One answer came to mind.

'Wingrall! Can you hear me, brother? Whatever struck you, whatever darkness had got a grip on you, fight it! Please tell me what to do to aid you! I know your in there; snap out of it. This isn't you!' he shouted in desperation.

'Yes, this must be it!' he thought. 'Something took over his mind. Something we could not see. But I know him. He must be fighting inside his mind desperately to break free of this control. I just have to find a way to aid him. To save him! Hang on, brother, I'm not going to leave you.'

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It was the only logical explanation for him. That is, until the suspected slave started laughing. As if he heard the world's greatest joke.

'Oh, my "brother" in arms,' he said with a sarcastic voice. 'What a noble sentiment. What a great hero you are. A defender of lives! A warrior of the light! A naive, idiotic, useless fool! A dog. Look at you, I just killed one of your companions, and still you are trying to save me! Like a good little dog, always loving his master even as he beats him to death!'

The young warrior were stunned. How could Wingrall say those things to him?

'Wh-what are you talking about? Wingrall, please, whatever the cause that youre doing this, we can find another way together; just like we always did! Just talk to me! Say what should I do-'

The cloaked Villian stopped him.

'This is what I'm talking about! You are still thinking that I attacked you and berrated you because someone or something forced me to. You can't even imagine the possibility that Im doing this because I want to! By the gods, youre pathetic!'

Wingrall looked at his last obstacle with disgust and continued.

'There is nothing forcing me. No spell, no threats, no conspiracy. This is my design. The reason while I was sticking arround that pitifull village for years now. Waiting for the perfect moment to do it. I always knew that I should have greater things than that pitifull settlement. That I deserve a fiefdom of my own at the very least! That I alone should be the ruler of all those pathetic weaklings arround me! I just needed a way to accomolish it. Tell me, what do you think those villagers will be willing to do for that much meat in this year when starving is so close? When they are hungry and desperate? Anything. Those ants will be under my thumb and give me anything I desire. With time, not just them but the towns all around this region. I will have my own county, kingdom even! No one will be able to stand up to me. Except the elder knight in the village. I knew that in order to slay that vintage old bag of skin and bones, I needed more power. I needed to learn his tricks. But he never trusted me enough to teach me. He might have been on to me and my true nature for a while now. So I needed a way to get closer to him and learn his secrets. Thats when it struck me. I had the perfect tool for that already!'

The traitor lifted his blade and pointed at the betrayed comrade.

'You. To be honest, I never liked you that much. Always so clingy, so dependent on me. Like I am your life support. Talking and sharing your deepest secrets after so little of meeting me. It was a torture, but just as any good tool, you needed maintance. The only reason that I did not kill you was that you and your family were respected, and with you as my "friend," the villagers would not be that suspicious of me. So I just played along. When I formulated the plan of taking over the village, you mentioned that the elder offered to teach you the ways of combat. It was so convenient, I honestly suspected a trap. But it was not. And now that I learned that old man's ways add my own strength to the mix, I am ready to take what is rightfully mine.'

Hearing these things shattered everything in the betrayed warrior. All their memories, their bond, their trust, and their experiences. All these were just a ruse to use him? All these were nothing more but a way to the end for Wingrall to his goals? Was he this much of a fool that all these years he did not notice this darkness in his closest friend? No, it could not be true. It was not true. Not to him.

'Brother, please stop this. This is not you! I know you. You love the villagers, your family, us! Think of how much we have been through together. All of the fun we had, all the hardships we overcame. Those could not be just a play. You know that. Please lower your weapon; let us find a way to solve this like we always do. I swear it's not too late to change this course that you had taken. To save everything that we had, that we have built together. Please just wait.'

The cloaked deceiver lost his temper.

'See?! This is what I'm talking about! Even when I betray you, you deny everything. You still think that this is some passing madness that you can help me overcome! You gave your trust so easily to me, so naively, never even considering that you are being used! I've got news for you: I was never your friend. You were nothing more than a piece of paper that I used, and now I dont need it anymore. So I am throwing you away! You were always just a pet for me. A convenient little dog who could further my goals. And now that you're not, you are just another untied string I need to cut down.'

The young warrior almost broke out in tears. Because there was no denying anymore. Everything Wingrall said was true. He was used. And now he was thrown away and betrayed. He was a fool all this time.

'But I guess there is another way,' the betrayer continued.

'Even if unknowingly, you have served me well. Now here's your chance to do it on purpose. Join me. Be my servant, and you will have a place in my new state. This way we can stay together, just like you want.

All you have to do to prove your loyalty is to cut down those two. Serve me well, and I will be generous. Who knows? Maybe you can be my friend for real this time.'

The young warrior heard this offer. The offer to betray everyone he knew for the brother he thought he knew. To sacrifice the people who had truly trusted him. He knew what had to be done. He raised his sword.

'You know I will never do that. Don't make me fight you, Wingrall. Leave now and do not return.'

The cloaked overlord raised his own blade.

'I know. Yet despite everything you still offer me mercy. How weak. Don't worry, I will not make the same mistake!'

And with that, they charged.