The beast, Dela, ran with all of her might. She ran from her master for one purpose: to find help. Though at the moment she ran out of fear. The man in the silver coat had terrified her. His presence triggered her fight or flight instincts.

Now she ran without looking back. Her only concern was a selfish one, to get away from that monster as soon as possible.

The landscape before her was filled with hills, and with life. When she took off from her master she hadn't given any thought to the direction she was going.

A forest that was on the horizon now seemed only a few paces away. Dela looked back and found no sign of the massacre. She ran for a few more seconds-just to make sure she was safe-then came to a stop panting heavily.

She looked around. It seemed that she had run away from the road where her brothers and sisters were. At this realization she panicked. Something told her that she wouldn't have enough time to go hunt for them. Help would have to be nearby.

She reached out trying to find another one of her kind. She was so concentrated that she closed her white eyes.

Suddenly her eyes popped open as she jerked her head towards the forest. Dela galloped desperately to the edge of the forest.

As she grew closer she began to sense the other attoka more and more. When she finally reached the edge of the forest, she no longer had to concentrate to sense it, but there was something else. Something that made her hair stick up.

Dela was so surprised by this new entity that she hesitated to go into the forest. She forced herself through this sudden apprehension as she had no time to hesitate. She rushed into the forest right to where she sensed her brother. Though the closer she got the other thing also seemed to draw nearer.

It became stronger and stronger until...she broke out of some trees and found what she was looking for. Though it was not quite what she had expected.

What greeted her sights was attoka, but also a girl. The girl was on her knees lying her head against a tree. Her hands hung loosely at her sides. If one watched closely you could see a tear fall to the ground.

"Why? Why?"

If a normal person walked into this scene, they would probably be filled with pity. Though that was not the emotion that Dela was filled with.

Ungodly atrocity! Abomination! Monster!

All her instinct told her the thing in front of her was disgusting. A thing that shouldn't exist.

Dela looked at the attoka next to her. She had no idea how he could even get that close to the thing.

She could sense a morbid curiosity from him.

Dela walked back due to a mixture of disgust and fear.

The thing in front of her perked up and looked at the attoka, "Huh. Where did you come from."

She wiped her cheeks as she asked the question.

Dela once again turned to the attoka next to her, with a desperate look. The attoka either sensed this emotion from her, or could tell from her face. He walked up to his mas... no there was no way in hell that could be his master.

"What is it?"

The attoka gestured to his back then to Dela with his head.

The thing pointed at Dela, "Does it want us to follow?"

The attoka nodded it's head.

The thing got to her feet and wiped off the dirt from its clothes and regained its composure. It then climbed onto the attoka.

Dela reared back in horror. How could anyone let that horrible thing onto their back?

"Let's get going then," There was no sign of its previous state in its voice.

Dela glared at the two in front of her. Under normal circumstances she would have run far away from them. Though at the moment she didn't have enough time to find anyone else. She doubted how helpful the thing would be, but she had no other choice. It was better than nothing.

Dela ran out of the forest and her brother with that thing on his back followed. She hoped that her master could hold on just a little longer.

***

Faldrid still remained on the ground looking up at the threat in front of him, "Amian, huh? I've heard about you, but I thought most of it was just rumors."

That same murderous grin was stuck on General Amian's face, "Ah! I see that my reputation precedes me. Why don't you tell me what you heard of me beast? I'm sure it made someone like you stay up at night."

Faldrid got up on one knee, "Not really. again, I thought they were all rumors."

"Well! What were they? I'm sure tales of my glorious conquest are told amongst the campfire at night. I must be feared and respected amongst your lot. Yes! There must be many of you beasts that seek to kill me. Really I couldn't be more flattered."

Faldrid scowled, "The only take away I got from the stories I've heard is that you're a revolting creature."

General Amian stared daggers at him, "What did you say you little beast. You think you have the right to talk to me like that. You must have a big head because of your cloak, am I right? I can assure you have broken more of your kind then I bother counting."

Faldrid smiled, "I seem to have plucked a nerve. To be honest I know more about you than just the stories. I've been to one of your camps. What a disgusting place that was. I can assure you that I've seen the corpses of my comrades that wore the same cloak as me. Though I believe you paid us back for that with the amount of Hounds you provided Mortis."

Rage burst onto the general's face, "Don't you dare bring up those traitorous bastards. Those ungrateful little shits will get what's coming to them once I get my hands on them.

Suddenly the grin returned to his face, "Then again I would be merciful if they begged. Maybe if they got stronger I would consider accepting them."

Faldrid gave a weak laugh, "As if that would ever happen. They’re probably in paradise compared to what I've heard you put them through, but that's not saying much considering most of their current states."

"How would someone like you know anything about that? All of them loved me and were happy. Despite being beast, they could live a life that's worth living."

"That's only because of the demented world view you forced upon them."

Dilem's deadly stare returned, "How would you know anything about that? Who even are you?"

Faldrid stared defiantly at the general, "Faldrid."

Dilem's composure broke down in intense laughter, "You gotta be joking! You! Him! How far the mighty have fallen! I thought he vanished after the last war. If you are him...HAHAHAHA!! Then the legendary strategist is going to die in a field in the middle of nowhere! By the hands of a so-called 'revolting creature,' He stopped laughing and filled his tone with murderous malice, "I wonder how long that pride of yours is going to hold up, as I chop your limbs off one by one."

Faldrid struggled to his feet. He still held a small shield and his kukri in his hands, "Well you better hurry up. You might miss your chance if you don't."

Faldrid tried to sense where Dela was. Though he was blown off guard with a massive amount of horror. Faldrid didn't know what to make of it. He couldn't tell if she was still reacting to the general, or if it was something else. He hoped it wasn't something else, he already had enough to worry about.

He doubted that he would be able to win against the demon in front of him, but he had to at least put up a fight. He thought back to how this was supposed to be the best way to die. Though then again he also wished he had some armor, but apparently that was useless because they only die when their god deems it to be their time. Faldrid had never argued with that logic because it was easier to move without armor weighing you down, but now he was seriously reconsidering that.

"Well. What are you waiting for? You seemed so excited about killing me before," Faldrid said.

Dilem readied his halberd, "Oh! Eager to die now are we? That is what all you beast say you want anyway, right? But that still doesn't get rid of the fear on your faces when you realize death is near."

Dilem thrusted his weapon at Faldrid, who quickly raised his shield to block the attack.

As the point of the halberd and Faldrid's shield met, both opponents were sent back by the recoil. Faldrid more than Dilem who's halberd was just forced outward. Still it was an opening. Though just as Faldrid recognized this the weapon came around aiming for his stomach. Just before they could meet Faldrid was able to jump back a little, barely missing it.

The emotion Faldrid was greeted with by this narrow miss was not what would be normally expected. He did feel fear, but also hope. However, the hope wasn't his. He could feel it was Dela. When he realized what this meant, Faldrid himself started feeling hopeful. All he had to do was stall for time. There was still a chance that he wouldn't die.

Faldrid took advantage of the new opening that was made and dashed within a range that would give him a fighting chance. As he made eye contact with Dilem he noticed that his grin became wider.

fragments of light shot out in all directions once again. They pelted the corpses on the ground relentlessly as well as Faldrid. However, there was one key difference between them.

As the fragments ceased scattering everywhere. Faldrid stood away from the general covered in darkness.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You really think that you could get away with the same trick twice."

Dilem shook his head, "Awe! Too bad. I thought I really got you that time. Then again if it was that easy it wouldn't be fun, would it?"

A wry smile appeared on his face as suddenly the fragments of light darted around the area. It was close but Faldrid was just barely able to summon some darkness to protect him, but it was still not enough, as parts of his legs and arms were skimmed by the fragments.

Just as Faldrid thought it was close to being over, his opponent rushed towards him. Faldrid readied his shield. What met it was a strong kick from Dilem. It sent the shield right into Faldrid's stomach knocking him backwards off his feet.

Faldrid was already beginning to grow weary because of his prior injuries, and it had taken a lot of effort to get back on his feet even before he exerted himself to engage in combat with General Amian. In other words, he didn't know if he would be able to get back up.

The general laughed conceitedly as he approached Faldrid, "Did you really think I wouldn't take advantage of the situation we're in. You know how many times I've wanted to use that technique, but couldn't. It's really annoying when friendly troops are around. If I use it I would definitely kill at least one of them. It really is unfortunate. But look around us. I don't see anything friendly. Well at least that would die from that," He looked back at his attoka who didn't seem too happy with him.

Faldrid tried to slash at him with his kukri, but General Amian just stepped on his wrist, making him let go of the weapon.

"Now why don't you tell me, Faldrid, what your last wishes are. I'll be sure to pass them along. Though it won't be to any of your friends, just to the people I tell this story to. I might even get a chance to tell Lord Soluriel that I killed the great Faldrid. What an honor that would be for you. You're lucky that I am gracious when it comes to things like this."

Faldrid coughed, "My last wish...well you go tell Soluriel that I bet his wife killed herself because she couldn't stand him."

The epitome of fury appeared in front of Faldrid, "Why you disrespectful Bastard. You are even lower than a beast! You can go rot in hell where you belong, you piece of shit."

Faldrid couldn't help smiling. He knew he had taken things too far especially with Galaris coming up, but he didn't care anymore. He just wanted to make the man in front of him angry. Probably wasn't the right decision, but he didn't care anymore.

General Amian held his Halberd in the air preparing to bring it down to crush Faldrid's skull in, ending his life. He would probably do worse things to his body afterwards. Faldrid found himself thinking about how good his head would look on a pike

Metal flashed through the air and Dilem howled as he fumbled away from Faldrid. A single kukri landed in the grass a little distance away from the two.

Faldrid looked to the source. Dela came running over to him concerned for his injured state.

"Don't worry, I'm a fine girl. Thanks for getting help."

Faldrid looked around and saw an attoka with a rider with a black cloak. He was definitely going to die. Faldrid appreciated Dela's help but one Hand wasn't going to do anything.

As the Hand dismounted her attoka, and told it to run far away. She then looked back at Faldrid.

He was greeted by a girl. Young for a hand with an eyepatch over her right eye. A good portion of her black hair was made to cover the eyepatch.

Faldrid raised an eyebrow, "I thought you ran away. Thanks for coming back, but I don't recommend you staying here."

The girl looked around. The once green grass was now dyed red as mutilated bodies covered the ground. Not to mention the dead attoka scatter around, too.

She spoke in a surprisingly nonchalant voice "It doesn't look like things went too well for you. I'm here now, so you don't have anything to worry about."

"I wish I had that much confidence about our current situation."

General Amian howled at the heavens. "How dare such a lowly beast do such a thing!!" He held up his hand. Blood trickled down its sides falling to stain the bright green grass below, "How dare you make me bleed!! You insolent little beast!!"

The girl furrowed her eyebrows, "'Beast?' that's rich coming from you."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!!!!"

Faldrid reached out to the girl, "Wait."

The girl looked back at him as if he was interrupting something

"Be careful, Thestra."

He was planning on telling her to run, but something took over him. Was it curiosity? fear? He really didn't know.

Thestra shook her head, "I'll try, but I won't have to with someone like him."

Faldrid started to think about how much confidence was too much.

Thestra approached the general, unsheathing another kukri.

General Amian gritted his teeth, "You're a Hand aren't you? Well I haven't killed one of your kind in...well I can't even remember. Yes. I'll enjoy myself with you."

Thestra scoffed, "You really think you can kill me? Who do you think you are?"

The general glared at her, "Well aren't you just a cheeky little brat."

"Oh. Does that mean I've graduated from being a beast.. I'll make sure to put you back in your place. Make sure not to whine when I do, but I may be asking too much."

Faldrid's mouth went agape. Really at this point she was just suicidal, "Mistress I don't think you understand who you're going up against. Can't you look around you?"

Thestra waved her hand without looking back.

The general on the other hand erupted in rage, and pointed his halberd right at the Hand, "I'll mount your head on a plaque!! I'll make sure to take my time with you. Breaking Hands was always the most fun."

Thestra flipped her kukri in her hand, "Try me."

The two rushed at each other. When they met, Dilem slashed his halberd up threatening to cut Thestra vertically. She just smirked and jumped towards the coming weapon, going over it when it's head was still close to the ground. Dilem's eyes widened in surprise, as Thestra landed on the ground and naioed him with a right hook

Dilem stumbled back and Thestra watched with the same smirk on her face, "Too slow."

The general reached out with one of his hands, "Why you!"

Concern sprang across Thestra's face as darkness enveloped her face, "Mister!"

Faldrid didn't take long to understand what she wanted. She wouldn't have enough time to imbue the mask with her soul rendering it useless. It was difficult, but he was able to imbue it with his own before the general's attack could reach her.

What he was hit with was something vile. Faldrid didn't know how to explain it, but his soul was holding off a force whose desire was to penetrate and corrupt. It made himself feel thankful that he wasn’t the one targeted by it.

Thestra vehemently brought her kukri towards the hand that was meant to corrupt her mind, but Dilem blocked it with his halberd.

"Has your confidence started to vanish brat."

"I should be saying the same thing to you."

The two engaged in deadly combat.

If Faldrid could explain it he would say that the generals fighting style was focused on precise strikes that would bring down the opponent in one blow, but he fought like a wild animal.

Thestra on the other hand danced around her opponent. She would constantly change her grip on her weapon depending on the circumstance, and would move around her opponent looking for an opening. She was fast too. Unfortunately for her, her surprise speed only worked once as Dilem increased the speed of his attacks tenfold as he tried to pierce her flesh.

As the two fought, Thestra constantly would dodge Dilem's barrage of slashes and strokes. However, whenever she moved in for the kill, Dilem would strike with alarming speed, forcing her to block. Though these look to be inconsequential as she just went back to moving around her opponent after them like nothing had happened.

Faldrid could almost not believe what he was seeing. How had this young Hand become so proficient in combat?

Dilem went in to take off Thestra's head, but she speedily crouched, dodging the attack. In the next instant she pounced at her opponent, closing the distance between them immediately.

Out of nowhere, as if for no reason, she contorted her body in mid air so that she could push off of her opponent sending her backwards onto the ground.

Faldrid didn't know why she had given up such a good chance, until he noticed a small shining light...shards of light once again flew everywhere. Faldrid nearly didn't have enough time to cover himself, and Dela who stood next to him, in darkness.

At that distance and with the time she had to protect herself, there was little chance that Thestra had survived. She had somehow seen the attack coming way before it happened, but he doubted she would be able to concentrate enough to be able to summon darkness to save herself, while also maintaining her mask. To make her chances worse, she was next to the blast, so her body would have been bombarded with shards. A fate that was unavoidable.

Faldrid cursed himself. Why was he like this? Relying on others to protect him. He didn't even care about those he sent into battle. He didn't even bother to remember the names or faces of the tenebrage that he watched without a bit of concern throwing their lives at the general unsuccessful. What had he been thinking of instead of that? He had been thinking about what he could learn from their attacks. Even though he learned very little, he kept letting them go without any ounce of hesitation or care.

He was the monster, not the man in front of him. He had caused all of this. All of it. He stood back and watched as all those young men were slain by the general's hand. He had arrogantly thought that there was no need for him to get involved. That he could move his underlying pieces on a board for his own uses.

Even with the whole Yorburn situation, he didn't care about the men that were lost. The men that he had spent years fighting by. Well, that wasn't the case he just ordered them around with no care for their well being. To him they were just numbers. Numbers to just be moved around by anyway he saw fit.

He was diabolical.

Now he relied on a girl that he suspected was a traitor to protect him. A girl that he suspected might have ruined his life. Now he relied on her as his savior, his only hope. How could he even have suspected that such a young girl would subject herself to that trauma? How detached from others would he have to be?

Now he would die, with that realization. With no chance to fix his wicked character. All he could do was pray to Tenebrage and keep imbuing his soul in Thestra's darkness.

As the shards stopped flying Faldrid lowered the darkness in front of him. He was afraid of what he might see.

What he saw shocked him.

Thestra stood a distance away duel wielding kukris, brushing off her shoulder the blood that she must have rolled through to get to the second blade that was lodged in the dirt.

She was completely unharmed. Not a scratch on her.

She sighed, "I'm really getting tired of your tricks."

General Amian's eyes widened in surprise and frustration, "IMPOSSIBLE!!!! You should be filled with holes!"

Thestra shook her head, "You shouldn't think that I'm that easy to kill," She pointed one of her kukri at her opponent, "Anyways we need to get this over with. At this rate our party will get too far away for us to regroup in a reasonable time."

"DON'T YOU UNDERESTIMATE ME YOU BITCH!"

"Don't worry I'm not."

The general howled in anger, but Thestra was the first to rush in. She brought both kukris down, but Dilem blocked both with the shaft of his halberd. He then shoved them back, but Thestra was unfazed as she dashed forward, slashing the opening between the arm and the chest in his scale armor, which was half obscured by his jacket.

As he cried in pain she spun and stabbed her other kukri into his other side. Then in a natural motion she pulled it out and moved away from her opponent.

Dilem spit venom at Thestra, "How dare you. How dare you!! You have no right! No right at all!! You're just a beast. An animal! An animal to be hunted and played with. What right do you have."

Thestra spun her kukris in her hand getting ready to charge again, "I have every right."

Just as she started running at her opponent to inflict the final blow, Dilem's attoka jumped in between the two with a scream.

The poor creature was bloodied and covered in burn marks, from his master no doubt.

General Amian quickly jumped onto the beast and kicked it's sides trying to make it fly away. What he got in response was a whimper. The creature was in no state to fly, carrying anything nonetheless.

Dilem seized the attoka's head "Know your place!"

Emotion left the creature's eyes as it flapped its wings. It looked to not even experience pain, or have free will. It might as well be dead at that point.

Thestra tried to catch the fleeing general but he was already too far away, by the time she had decided on a course of action.

"Damn, we lost him."

Faldrid blinked a couple of times to process what he had just witnessed. After a moment he looked around them though it took him a while to find where they were as his eyes lingered on the corpses around the pair.

"I...wouldn't say that. By...my best guess...he's probably heading to a village to the north of here... just past that forest...Lucel I think it's name was."

Thestra sheathed her two blades, "Then will just have to follow him."

Faldrid chuckled, rearranging his scarf around his neck, "Before that...can you hand me the Rena root in Dela's saddle. I think I may pass out any moment now."