d been years since I left for the front line. I left my son behind to rule over the villages and learn how to be a good count. At first it sounded like a nice idea but now …. A few weeks ago, Arturius, the healer I hired to stay by my son side sent me a message.

Apparently my son was misusing his newfound authority and did atrocious feat. He didn’t give me more information. Just three words: torture, kid, plaything.

That’s when I knew I fucked up.

I went to see the king and asked if I could go settle thing. He accepted and so I left. Our family had been known to rule fairly and listen to the people. Even the king listened to our advice. If the healer told the truth, then it would destroy everything we built. On the way I asked the guide to bring me to hellgate. Even if the name sound strange, it’s a nice small village where one of my retainer live. A hunter named Gerald with his wife Sheila, a minor healer. They saved me when I was still young and since then, I treated them as my friends. When I left, they had a son they named kanan.

In the letter, Arturius told me my son attacked the village. I wished they somehow survived but the sight I had in front of me proved me wrong. The houses were destroyed and the corps on the ground were already devoid of any flesh. Among them I recognized those of my friends…

“I swear… even I you’re my son, I’ll kill you.”

Then I remembered something… Arturius mentioned a kid tortured… could he be talking about … no, it would be impossible but then again….

We kept going in direction of the castle but the first compound was destroyed. Instead of the prison and wall, there was a giant crater. I went down my horse and looked at it. On the other side, Arturius came out of the castle and used the wooden bridge to come to me.

“Arturius, what happened here?”

HE bowed and looked sorrowful.

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“This is a long story, you should come in the castle so I can explain.”

I nodded and went with him. The guards went their way and I entered in the castle. The maid helped me take off my armour and gave me normal clothes. I went in the throne room and sat, waiting for arturius. After a few minutes, he came in and bowed to me.

“So could you explain?”

“Yes count. After your depart to the front line, your son began to abuse his authority. At first it was just trying to gain favour from the maid but he didn’t stop at that. He began to threaten the villager and even raped some of the villagers girls for “sport”… A few years ago he met a woman name Sheila and took a liking on her. He tried to bed her but she refused. Angered he tried to rape her but her husband intervened and kicked him off. He then hired mercenary to kill the villagers…”

I frowned… what a grave mistake I made….

“I don’t know how but a kid survived. He brought him here and… “played” with him….”

“Torture…”

“Yes… he kept doing it for years. I tried to contact you but he was keeping an eye on me and I couldn’t do anything.”

“Do you perhaps know the kid name?”

“I think it was something like Kanat?”

“Kanan???!”

“Yes, I think it was kanan.”

“What of this kid, is he still alive?”

“I don’t know, three weeks ago, an explosion occurred in the prison. Your son died here with the kid I think…. “

So I couldn’t even save my friend’s son….

“I see…. What about the villages situation? I sent some spies and… the result is as expected. They hate your house to the core…. When they learned about the count death, they throw a huge celebration….”

Not that I can’t understand them…

“It will take time to regain their trust….”

“Yes…..”