13 years ago

A few kilometers from the busy village of Stogrid, in front of a cabin in the woods, 4 children were playing catch, running between the trees, climbing on top of a fresh pile of cut logs, and one of them even started climbing one of the trees before looking down and sliding back slowly. A young man watched over them from the cabin's terrace, together with a young couple. Everything was going well, cheers and the chirps of birds were the only sounds in the forest at that moment.

But that silence wouldn't last forever…

DING

Agility +1

+10xp to Species(Human)

"Ahhh!" One of the kids screamed before running towards the cabin, holding the young man "Dad, dad! There was this sound and it talked to me andandand…"

"Haha, it's fine, James. Remember what I told you about the Prophet?" The man, his father, asked James.

"Oh… so that means I'm strong now, right? Like you?" James asked excitedly.

"Haha, you'll soon be, but it's going to take a lot of effort, so don't get discouraged, you and Jeremy are bright kids. Now go back and play with the others." He said as he sent the kid back.

"I see your kids are going to be following in your footsteps, Gregor?" The other man asked. Compared to Gregor, who although well groomed, has a big stature and short, brown hair, he looked like someone coming from a rich family, with blonde hair and green eyes, his face pristine, yet his clothes were the same as every other commoner's. His wife, on the other hand, had green hair and red eyes, she had royal features, looking almost as beautiful as him.

"Not like they have a choice… The moment the big cities decide they don't want to hold the armies back, this place will become a battlefield, and I doubt my kids will want to leave everyone behind when that happens… Sometimes I wonder if I should have raised them otherwise. Everyone views a hero that will sacrifice himself for the people like a saint, but when it's someone you care for…"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"They won't have the same fate as her, we're here for them." The woman said, "I know she'd be proud of how you raised them, at least we are…" she trailed of, looking away with sorrow.

"Thanks, Anny. I shouldn't have soured the mood. So about that 'trip' to Gate…"

BOOM

The ground shook, as a powerful explosion was heard in the distance, coming from the direction of the village.

"What the hell… KIDS! Come here!" Gregor yelled as he turned towards the other two. "Arthur, do you think…"

"Yes, I can hear the people shouting. Let's hurry… you stay with the kids." He looked firmly at him, but Gregor could see the uncertainity within his eyes.

"What? No, I can't just leave you two… I can't let you sacrifice yourselves for me like Milly…"

"Gregor!" Arthur grabbed him by the shoulders "Remember what we've just said. It's for the kids. You're not here to hide, you're staying here so you will jump in front of whatever comes for them, got it? Now I don't want to hear another word from you, know that what we're trusting you with is more important than our lives, got it?"

"...yes." He nodded as he watched the two hurry towards the village, more explosions shaking the ground.

"Dad, is everything ok?" Jeremy asked him as the kids reached the cabin, "I saw you and Arthur argue about something…"

"Everything is fine, don't you worry about him." Gregor told him, a very convincing smile on his face "It's just… adventurer busyness, now get inside, I'll be following soon, I just have some matters to take care of."

Jeremy looked at him for a few seconds, frowning a little, before finally deciding to listen to his father and following the others inside.

"Show them the new bestiary I bought, I'll be coming soon." Gregor said as he closed the door, silently locking it.

----------------------------------------

A tall figure wearing pitch-black armor was scouting the nearby area. It looked like a normal knight, but there was one very apparent difference , it had two sets of arms instead of one. While the others focused on attacking the village, his job was to make sure there would be no surprise, no flanking force. What he did not expect, however, was a cabin sitting peacefully in the woods.

"Oh, another scared little human?" with a deep, echoing voice, he addressed the man sitting by the cabin, clad in steel armor and possessing a bright silver sword, a contrast to his, pitch black, like his armor, and just as big.

The man simply stood silent, not even moving, before launching a knife at the dark knight. Surprised, he did not have time to defend himself, so he was struck right in the chest, yet only the tip of the knife managed to pass through the armor.

"Impressive, human. Let us see if you can handle one of my strikes now…" The dark knight spoke as he held the sword in front of him, charging for a stab, his arms held in an X shape like a crossbow. The human held his sword forward, preparing to receive the strike. Despite the distance between the two of them being more than a few meters, the knight instantly reached him, their swords clashing, yet the human could not hold, and was launched backward, barely managing to shift the force he received so that he wouldn't hit the building.

The knight went after him, ignoring the cabin. He did not notice the little kid looking at him through the curtains.

"Dad…" That was the only word Jeremy could say, as he watched what he could only describe as a monster follow his father. That clash, deeply imprinted in his mind, was the last time he would ever see his father.