Several tens of miles west of the private residence lay the Earldom of Nore.

On this quiet evening, Earl Devin Nore was sitting in his study, as usual, casually flipping through his book he paused.

Noticing his candle was dimming he got up to relight it, however upon getting up he felt a draft come through the open window.

Moving over to the window to shut it he paused.

Squinting his eyes he thought he saw something glinting in the forest beyond the city walls.

After a few minutes, the glinting came ever closer, peering out the window the Earl finally saw what was glinting.

“Dear god…” he whispered.

Quickly running out the door he ran through the hallways.

“INVASION!!”

“MAN THE BATTLE STATIONS!!!!”

“ALL MEN PREPARE FOR BATTLE!!!”

As his shouts were heard throughout the keep men and women began running through the hallways.

Soldiers were slipping armor on as they woke up from their slumber.

Maids ran through the hallways waking everyone up.

Upon reaching the wall the earl looked over at the ever-advancing army.

“Heavens..” breathed one of the soldiers who stood behind the earl.

The soldiers looked on helplessly as the army that seemed to stretch infinitely in the night approached them silently.

“Get me a messenger!” yelled the earl.

As the soldiers assembled themselves on the walls they began preparing the ballistas.

“My Lord, are you planning on calling for reinforcements?” asked a soldier.

At this, all the soldiers turned around to look at the earl expectantly.

Yet the earl remained silent until,

“Messenger!” called a soldier.

Turning around, the earl looked at a scrawny young man.

Thinking of who to send the messenger to, the earl decided.

“Boy, do you know how to get to the private residence of the duchy's heir?”

“Yes, My Lord!” said the boy loudly, clearly nervous.

“Tell him this.”

Everyone looked expectantly at the earl.

“ The Earldom of Nore has fallen.”

***

Back in the mansion, Alex was slowly walking to the cellar as his hand clenched and unclenched over and over.

‘Why?’

‘Why disturb me?’

As he made it to the cellar he nodded to the two guards as he passed.

“Has the prisoner been secured?” he asked.

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Excellent”

“Make sure no one disturbs me.”

“Of course, My Lord,” they answered.

“Oh, and…” pausing his steps he turned around.

“No matter what you hear, do not do anything,” he said before proceeding down the hall.

The guards glanced at each other before shrugging.

As his footsteps echoed through the hallway Alex passed empty cell after empty cell before finally arriving at an occupied one.

Peering inside he could see the assassin locked in chains sitting in a corner of the cell looking up at him with a smile.

“Who sent you?” asked Alex.

“Heh.” the assassin smirked but remained silent.

“If you don't answer me this is gonna be quite painful for you.”

“What do you know about pain, pretty boy!” laughed the assassin.

Suddenly Alex’s eyes turned cold.

“You know I tried giving you a chance… I really did.”

“All I wanted was to live peacefully. But no… you just had to ruin that.”

“WAS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?!?” he yelled.

Grabbing his head with his hand he began cackling.

“Hoo... I guess it was too much to ask for… very well if you won't talk then I'll just have to make you.”

“Oh yeah, and pray tell how are you gonna do that?” mocked the assassin though he was no longer smiling.

Suddenly Alex stopped cackling.

Alex looked down at him with eyes that made the assassin shiver.

“Y Know… someone once asked me a question.”

“What?..” the assassin barely got out as his body was trembling.

“He asked me…”

“You can bend… and you can break.”

“But…”

“How loud can you scream?”

***

“Walking out of the cell, Alex walked towards the guards.

“Dispose of the body,” he said before walking past them.

Nodding their heads quickly in fright they rushed into the cell.

As Alex headed towards his room he stopped in the hallway to ask a maid for a handkerchief.

Wiping his bloody hands on the handkerchief, he left it on a table in the hall and entered his room.

Sighing, as he stripped off his clothes, he entered the heated bath.

‘So, they wanted to kill me and head straight for the duchy huh?’

The assassin had told him that they were planning a surprise attack on the marquess nearest to Alex’s manor and in order to ensure reinforcements wouldn't make it in time they had decided to assassinate him.

‘Well if it were the previous owner of this body they might have succeeded’ he sighed as his muscles relaxed in the hot water.

‘Still, I should head out in the next couple of days towards the marquess.’

Groaning as he got out of the tub and got dressed, he collapsed on the bed almost immediately falling asleep.

*** Dream ***

“Your highness, we are prepared to cross the valley,” reported William.

“Excellent, have you retrieved a map as I asked you to?” asked Alex.

“Of course, Your highness,” said William, pulling out a map and placing it in front of Alex.

“Wonderful, have you noticed any places we could be ambushed while we cross?” he asked.

“Ah, there is one, your highness,” he said pointing at a gap in the ravine where a forest lay above each side.

“It is possible we might be attacked by hidden enemies in the forest,” he said.

“Hmm…” Alex hummed as he stroked his chin.

“How many ballistae do we have?”

“17,” he said.

“How many oil casks do we have left?”

“We should have enough for several rounds of ballistae and archers…” he said, frowning.

“Perfect. I want you to tell the archers and ballistae crews that when we reach there they are to burn down the forest,” said Alex.

Shocked, William stepped back to look at Alex.

“Your highness you can't be serious!?” he said, lips trembling.

“Of course I'm serious, why wouldn’t I be?” Alex frowned as he looked up at William.

As he noticed William's trembling lips, he put his hand on his shoulder.

“William, in war all tactics must be used.”

“It's either them or us.”

“Remember this, War isn't about winning or losing. It's about surviving.

Only the ones who survive can live to tell the tale. On the battlefield there is no friend or foe, all you can do is try your best to survive.” Alex said solemnly as he gazed into William's eyes.

William, who had regained some confidence, snapped off a salute before running off to deliver his orders.

As Alex watched William run off he sighed heavily.

He turned around as his fingers traced the map for his haunted gaze to follow.

***

“Captain Edward!” called a soldier as he galloped through the forest towards the captain.

Turning around a man who looked to be in his late 30’s waved his hand.

As the soldier arrived in front of him he handed a message to the captain before galloping off again.

Tearing open the letter and reading through its contents he sighed.

“Everybody get ready Captain Leonard says the enemy is 10 minutes away.” He yelled.

Springing into action both sides of the forest became active as they shuffled to prepare the traps they had set.

As the soldiers waited quietly for the approaching enemy they prepared to activate the traps.

“On my mark!” called out the captain quietly.

Nodding at this the soldiers waited.

However, suddenly the approaching army stopped.

Confused, the soldiers glanced at each other before continuing to watch them.

Suddenly out of the army's rank ballistas were pulled forward and the archers advanced.

“Huh, what are they doing?” muttered one of the soldiers.

However, some of the soldiers realized that something was wrong.

The captain's eyes nearly shot out of his head as he realized what they were planning on doing.

“No way they wouldn't…” he breathed.

Standing up he yelled.

“ALL MEN RETREAT!!!”

But it was too late.

The ballistas and the archers fired.

As the soldiers watched on they looked up as the sky was suddenly engulfed in a sea of fire.

The soldiers finally realizing what was happening began yelling as they hastily rushed to escape.

But it was no use.

As the arrows landed they set fire to everything they touched.

The trees and bushes burned quickly as they began spreading to the grass and crawling up the clothes of the soldiers.

Several arrows hit the soldiers square on immediately engulfing them in fire.

As the soldiers desperately tried to run they inhaled heavily as they ran allowing massive amounts of smoke to enter their lungs.

As the captain looked around he realized that there was no hope.

None of his soldiers would make it out of here alive.

As he turned he saw his soldiers burning up as they collapsed from inhaling too much smoke.

Turning his head to look at the enemy army he fixed his gaze on one man.

That man stood at the head of the army wearing all black armor and gazing at the burning soldiers solemnly as if unable to tear his gaze away.

Glaring at this hateful man the captain felt the fire begin crawling up his legs.

“Curse you…”

As the captain's shoulders shook he spat out.

“In the name of the 10 thousand men that died today, I curse you!”

Said the captain as he was consumed by the flames.

All that was left was a pair of eyes burning with hatred.

*** End Of Dream ***

Bolting upright from his sleep, Alex wiped the sweat off his face.

‘Why again?’ he thought as he got up and headed to the sink.

Wiping his face with water, he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

Unruly short black hair, piercing blue eyes that looked slightly bloodshot.

He had a pale complexion but aside from that, there was nothing physically wrong with him.

As he was debating what was wrong with him he heard rapid knocking at his door.

“My Lord, a messenger has arrived with an urgent message.” yelled the voice of his guard.

Getting dressed he opened the door to find the guard standing there waiting for him.

“Where is he?” he asked.

“He is in the dining hall with Lady Alice, My Lord.” said the guard.

Walking at a brisk pace towards the dining hall he threw the door open.

Looking around he spotted the messenger looking tired and disheveled sitting in one of the seats waiting for him.

Across from him sat Alice as she sipped a cup of tea.

Both of them glanced over at him as he arrived.

Alice merely nodded her head at him as she returned to sipping tea.

The messenger quickly stood up and hurried over before saluting.

“Message?” prompted Alex.

Taking a big breath the messenger said.

“The Earldom of Nore has fallen.”

Immediately silence fell in the room.

The servants paused what they were doing.

Alice’s shocked face looked up at the messenger before staring at Alex who seemingly had no reaction.

“Very well, thank you for delivering the message.”

“You will be given accommodations for a night before you are to head to my father and request reinforcements.”

Gesturing for a maid to show the messenger to a room Alex sat down across from Alice.

“Did you know this was going to happen?” she asked him angrily as she didn't understand why he had no reaction.

“No” he replied simply as he began digging into his eggs and sausage.

Clearly getting more annoyed by his response she asked.

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I'm going to lead the reinforcements.”

Everything fell silent again.

Alice wore a shocked expression on her face.

“My Lord, Please rethink this!” cried Graham.

“Are you a fool?” asked Alice.

“I do not think that is the right decision My Lord,” said Frank, who Alex realized was the guard who called him.

Finishing his food Alex stood up.

“My decision is final.”

“If you wish to come I will not stop you,” he said pointedly looking at Alice.

As he walked out of the room he said to Graham.

“Begin assembling everything I'll need for the trip.”

Shutting the door behind him the room fell into silence.

“Has he always been like this?” asked Alice tentatively.

Graham shook his head as he walked out to deliver Alex’s orders.

Alice turned her head to look at Frank.

Shaking his head he said.

“I guard My Lord every day and he has never been like this.”

“Only recently has he changed.”

Frank bowed his head before leaving her alone to stew in her thoughts.

As Alice got up she walked through the hallways stewing in her thoughts.

As she was walking she accidentally bumped into a table.

Realizing she had been thinking too deeply she bent to pick up what fell.

Picking up a handkerchief she realized that it was covered in blood.

Seemingly a maid was passing by so she stopped her.

“Do you know who left this handkerchief here?” she asked.

The maid touched her chin as she thought.

“I believe My Lord left it there after he came out of the dungeon,” she said as she walked off to continue doing her duties.

Alice stood there frozen for a moment before walking in the direction of the dungeon.

Quickly arriving she noticed two guards so she walked over to them.

“What happened here last night?” she asked them sternly.

Gulping the guards did not respond.

“I would like to see the prisoner!” she said, getting frustrated.

As she began marching into the prison the guards quickly stopped her.

“We're afraid we can't let you in there, M'lady,” said a guard.

“Do you want to stop me?” she said gazing at them coldly fury evident in her eyes.

Gulping they stepped back and allowed her to pass.

Marching through the halls she quickly arrived at the cell where the prisoner was held.

As she came up close she froze.

Blood that clearly hadn't been cleaned yet was splattered all over the walls.

Blood fingernails and toenails lay strewn about the floor.

Clumps of hair littered the cracks in the stone.

Gasping quietly at what must have transpired here she hurried back to the guards.

“What happened here?!” she asked quietly.

Again the guards remained silent.

“Where is the prisoner?” she asked. Her tone was now getting colder.

The guards sensing trouble decided to speak.

“We buried him in a ditch a mile into the forest.” said one of the guards, cringing as her ice-cold gaze turned on him.

Tuning on her heels she quickly called two of her guards and left the manor in the direction of the forest.

An hour quickly passed as they searched through the forest, finally coming upon a lump of dirt in the ground they began digging.

Alice stood to the side as the guards pulled up the body.

Alice nearly vomited at the sight.

The body's limbs were twisted in horrifying angles.

Its nails were all removed as well as its hair.

Its eyes were gouged out and teeth were missing.

The guards quickly dropped the body back in the pit as they noticed its horrifying appearance.

As Alice pulled herself together she looked in the direction of the manor.

Remembering his terrifying gaze and the way his hand twitched.

‘No way… he couldn't have…’

Remembering how she was told Alex was just an arrogant fool, she couldn't help but wonder.

‘Who the hell are you?’