- Vienna, Holy Roman Empire, 875 a.D. -

The day breaks. People riot in the streets. The soldiers try to keep the citizens calm. From a cell in the Imperial Dungeons, a man wakes up. His figure is extreme: very pale skin; his eyes, almost lifeless; his hair, long and dirty, the same with his beard; looking at him, you could notice his bones; only covering him were some old, torn, dirty clothes. He decides to question the cell guard.

– What the fuck is going on out there?! I'm trying to sleep here.

– I, uh... I don't know much... – the guard was surprised, he thought the man was dead. – It appears as if the Emperor has died.

– The Emperor's dead? Then get me out of here, now! – the man seems to completely change his demeanor.

As he's escorted through town, he demands to be brought to the presence of the Holy Court. The guards seem confused, but decide to comply.

Every step he takes, his rusty shackles wave. The combined sounds of his shackles, the armor of the soldiers, and the shouting of people create a harmony that makes the prisoner begin to whistle, scaring the guards even more.

As he reached the court, he looked once more at the guards, and smiled. They just ran away. Inside the court, a Roman Centurion was expecting him.

– So, they still use scum to take care of us? I expected to be received by the judges. Guess I was wrong.

– It brings me no pleasure to be here either. As far as we were concerned, you should've died inside that cell.

– The Holy War likes to ruin plans, doesn't it? Now that Louis is dead, I'm free to request an alteration to my sentence. – the prisoner smirks as he says this.

– They're waiting.

They enter. The judges are visibly shaken. No one expected this man to survive five years inside the dungeon. The trial extends itself for hours, as the judges try to keep him in the dungeons, but he still requests a change.

– I wasn't wrong. A king would die in a Holy War. But it was Louis. And no one expected that, did you?

– I must say that, since it's not treason, you're a free man. But I'm the only one in your favor, son. – this judge stood up, and looked into the prisoner's eyes. – However, since the others want to keep you away, I'm proposing an alternative.

– I'm listening. – the prisoner smiled.

– You shall be exiled from the Imperial territory, as it's the only possibility to have both sides agreeing.

– It is decided then! – the elder judge states – The prisoner shall be exiled from the territory of the Holy Roman Empire. Do you have anything to say?

– Yes. I hope you die soon. You'll be more useful in Hell. – the prisoner says – Oh, and in case you forgot, my name is Siegfried. Siegfried von Krone.