As I walk through the blinding fog ,I gaze upon the horizon ,a glimmering strobe of lights shines from afar, intriguing my curiosity. I face myself toward the light as I advance through the fog. As the lights guide me through ,I stumble upon a perished corpse, rotten by the flow of time. Fears grow in my heart as I went through, for the number of corpses has become innumerable, as if I'm being in the land of the dead. Perhaps the light guided me into a different realm. The dreadful scene of the corpses fills my vision as I continue down the path. The glimmering light grows dimmer, gradually cease to exist, leaving me alone amongst the corpses.

I came close toward a silhouette of an enormous structure, blurred by the fog as it starts to dissipate, unveiling an old castle, ruined by the flow of time. The walls have collapsed into the earth, lots have withered away, leaving the remaining of the palace. A grunting noise emanates in my vicinity, prompting me to instinctively raise my defense. I slowly scrutinize the surrounding cautiously, looking for the source of the noise. It seems to be emanating beside a large collapsed wall, amongst the fallen debris.

I had a dilemma, for my mind devises me to flee, while my heart yearns for curiosity. At last, my mind gives into my aroused curiosity as I slowly approach the fallen wall. The grunting noise become clearer as I get closer. A sight of a figure resembling a man leans against the wall, breathing slowly. As I approach the figure, I make up the view, it is clear that the figure is a knight, attired with a set of royalty medieval armor, perhaps the knight has been injured. It must have heard my steps, for he slowly face toward me, revealing his severed chest. The knight must've been attacked by a wild creature, for his armor has been covered in deep scratch and dark blood. He coughed in excruciating pain, spitting bits of blood unto his armor. I kneel in front of him as he start to whisper.

""My heart shatter as my faith towards humanity has long diminished, for not even the devil dared to act so reckless, devastating the soft, vulnerable creature of god. Humanity shall acknowledge, unbeknownst to them, that they have awoken the long forgotten beast from its eternal slumber, eager to avenge the tragic death of its descendant. They shall beware, for they are on the verge of imminent death , as the beast unleash it's undead martyrs, devoted to wipe mankind off the face of the earth.""

He paused, clearing his sore dry throat,

I waited patiently, awaiting for his words.

""My dear Astrava, I shall plead for forgiveness to thee, for not appreciating thine faithful company, for not appreciating thine trustful affection. Indeed, my oath has gone vain, to bring serenity to our kingdom, to protect our beloved blood. I shall have listened to thine word for granted, for the consequence has come. Oh shame on me, for the reaper has arrived, mounting his grand horse, eager to satisfy his bloodlust desire, my soul succumbs down the abyss of death as he raises his mighty scythe, keen to reap my vulnerable soul. Oh fool on me, for time will never return.""

I stood there, astonished by the utter confession muttered through the deepest heart of the knight. Such word has bewitched me into his sorrowful poet, though I have never acknowledge the tragic death of the creature of god, I felt a surge of utter disappointment toward the mankind itself. How dare they devastate such a gentle creature causing no harm toward mankind, now we shall face the consequences of their own foolish actions. The knight slowly faces toward me, his face is covered beneath the fierce face of the dull helmet. He continued.

""God has sent its savior onto our accursed land, the Chosen One, living amongst the peasant, folk, perhaps the royalty. Unbeknown to him, he is the one, able to end this monstrosity, caused by mankind itself, thee shall seek the Chosen One, for he is able to resolve the atrocity, caused by greed and lust that inhibits within the corrupt soul. Thee shall keep my precious belongings, for I will not be able to keep them into the land beyond.""

He turn his head to the side, toward a pair of shield and a long sword, laying still on the ground, I took a glance of the sword.

Shiny.

Perhaps it has given off the sparkles that I've seen before, the one that has called me down the path.

I slowly draw myself toward the sword, as I draw my finger closer to wield the blade, I trembled in fear, for an innumerable flashes of stories went through my eyes. A story of the knight's lifelong journey beside his mighty sword, embracing the darkest night, slashing through the fiercest monster, embarking on the most soul wrecking journey. I bow down in awe, as a sign of respect toward the knight.

""I have granted thee my beloved belonging, for I will not be able to serve them no longer. My belonging shall assist thou in thine's journey, for it is time for them to favor their new owner. I wish thee to glorify my inheritance till thee be greeted with victory. May God be on thy side. Farewell, Wanderer.""

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Though his face lies beneath the armor, I sense his dreadful eyes, observing himself on the verge of death. He mumbled in low voice, sending one last prayer to God, slowly, he lift his head, inhaling the cold fog and held his breath, his long last breath. At long last, he exhaled, gentle warmth of his breath brush against my face, leaving his limp body.

Death has claimed his soul.

I stood in silence, as a final tribute for the knight, our short lived encounter has come to an end, leaving me alone in solitude. I pick up the blade slowly, and held the blade in the palm of my hand, I take close sight of the blade. As I lay my eyes on the blade, I was mesmerized, for I have never seen such a beautiful piece of weaponry on my own palms. The blade has been carved with such intricate details, forged by the legendary swordsmith. The knight must have lived as the protector of the holy land, chosen by the Emperor, for the blade is only forged to honor the highest of the hierarchy of the king's warrior. Indeed, I have been bestowed upon a mythical sword, only the strongest are worthy to wield the blade. I soon gather the remaining belongings of the knight and leave the knight to rest in eternal silence.

I continued my journey, walking in the midst of the fog, wandering into the ruined castle, my pace stop as I stand in front of the enormous gate, entrance to the compound. A feeling of eerie grows in my heart, for the sight of the once magnificent castle, soaring through the sky, now has collapsed and devastated, spreading a sense of dread and hopeless to any soul that have laid their eyes on. The gates have corroded away by the flow of time, leaving the remaining of the torn down gates, left hanging lifeless on the hinge. I reluctantly steps through the gate, entering the deserted compound, my eyes are greeted by the sight of dead bodies, laying lifeless on the ground, flocks of ravens and vultures feed on the rotting body of peasants. Collapsed statue lies on the ground, crumbled onto the ground. A ruined path laid ahead of me, alluring me to venturing down the path. As I steps forward, a dark figure crossed past the corner of my vision, frightened I turned swiftly.

Empty.

I scrutinize my surrounding hastily, looking for the unwanted being.

A strong surge of wind flew past my back, so strong I almost lost my stance. I sense that, somewhere in the dark, lays an unwanted entities, lurking beneath the shadow, preying on its victim. Fuming, I call out the unknown creature.

"REVEAL YOURSELF, O FOUL CREATURE"

Silence.

Impatience, I yelled for the second time

"COME FORWARD, O WICKED SOUL"

Rustle

The sound emanated behind the large bush, beneath the shade of a large wall. My eyes are fixed on the bush. Eager for the creature to reveal itself.

The bush rustled once more, beneath the shadow, glaring ruby eyes is lurking to me, I watch from afar as the creature unveils itself beneath the shadow. As it moves forward, moon bathes its light onto the wicked creature, its vague figure show a resemblance of a malnourished man who had lost his sanity. He growls, unveiling a long saber fang. His long protruding fingernail screeches upon the ground as he slowly advance. I unsheathe the blade, for I have known what is going to come. I held the blade close to me, firmly in put my hand. He growled greedily, keen to devour its prey.

Unfortunately, he tricked himself into his own demise.

"Come close, so close my blade are able to slice through that withered flesh of yours."

As expected, the creature lunged onto me, in the blink of an eye, I swing the blade onto the chest of the monster.

Direct hit.

The blade slice through the flesh, the wound oozes off dark liquid. He screeches in excruciating pain, deafening every living soul near the creature. I covered my ear, unknowingly leaving a defenseless stance, a foolish mistake.

The monster regains its balance, enraged, it pounced on my defenseless body, losing stability, I fell onto the ground along the monster. He swing his filthy nail into my chest, burrowing beneath my flesh, retracting his nail with a great force. Sharp pain strike against me, making me close to collapse.

"Rise up you fool, don't let your spirit be taken away by such a filthy creature"

My eyes bulged as my heart beats rapidly. Strong rush of warrior blood flows within my veins, I felt an unsung strength rush beneath my blood. In an instant, I grab the blade near my reach, thrusting the blade pass the monster, thus shoving him out. He hurled to the side, lying on the ground.

"Everything feels weightless, don't you?"

I stood on my feet, vision blurred. I took a deep breather down my lung, I shook my head, regaining balance. My eyes locked onto the monster, grunting in pain. With a strong determination, I threw myself against the monster, thrusting the blade deep past its skin, piercing through the filthy body. Striking its head with the shield on my other hand over and over, the blade's still stand beneath the skin. The creature cries in pure agony, so close to greet his own demise. The monster weakened by the strikes, he breathes slowly as his body became limp. I withdraw the sword from the body, locking my gaze straight into the eyes of the monster, as if he's begging for mercy.