A siege is an idea of significant heights, with it involving the minds of many tactical and fierce personnel. However, in the darkest hours of a summer’s evening, the definition of such an idea was completely redefined. Alone, misguided and hopelessly lost in the myriad that was the slums of Bournington, Alsop Dusseldorf had taken it upon himself to partake in a quest of adventure.

Once lively and full of a fruitful parade of faces, the streets of the sewer filled slums had been left in a strong sense of disorder. The night was a risky business around such a notoriously evil area, and the lack of close contact confirmed this. Amidst the darkness, the eyes of these slums had been peering through the boarded-up slits of their windows and doorways. Something had gone rampant, and the protector of the slums had been decided as Alsop, a knight issued by the Kingdom of Bournington. With an eery, echoic set of winds rustling away at his rough brown hair, Alsop was faced with a sense of worry. It could be seen, quite vividly through his pale yet animated visage, that Alsop was nervous to succeed in his late-night endeavour as a knight.

"There is a minor disturbance at the slums, the rich neighbours are not fond of the strange tone within the area, so they would like it handled." These were the set orders for Alsop, provided to him by his superiors at the Royal Guard.

Such a simple task would have been easy for a knight with any means of magic, but Alsop was unfortunate not to have any sense of magical talent. It was his swift, sensible conduct with a sword that streamlined his way into the army of Bournington. His slim build lacked physical strength in the trade-off that speed and agility provided him with a notable, rapid level of swordsmanship. It had been this that helped Alsop Dusseldorf be a man with no magic, in a world entirely surrounded by magic.

Individuals not having magic were hard to come by in the several kingdoms, for it lived seamlessly into the world, having a place in combat, cookery and construction among many other interests. Therefore, Alsop not having any set of the four foundational magic types, water, earth, fire and wind, had been truly strange. His proficiency with a blade would be what propelled him forwards in his daily tasks as a knight, a protector of the Kingdom of Bournington, a symbol of high authority.

Though, to the rough realm Alsop had paid a visit to, the inhabitants could care very little about his status as a knight. The white uniform which shrouded his body fully had blended well with his matching blazer, of which it had a black laced outline on the rims, complementing his black boots. But all this glamour had hardly captured the eyes of the slums. For Alsop, it was the shining piece of metal that wrapped around his finger that gauged many eyes onto him. Alsop's tardiness was also a drawback for his venture into the slums. Against the chilling winds, his unbuttoned blazer had flapped about, allowing the menacing eyes of the slums to peer at his inner belongings - to which laid a pressed rose, no doubt a sweet memory for the young knight.

Perhaps most interesting for the onlookers of Alsop though, would have to be his cautious stance. Darkness had blinded his brown pupils among the sparsely lit streets, but his senses were still truly alive. Chillingly channelling into his ears, the small, indiscreet tapping of footsteps had been following him for some time. The taste of fear was strong to the lips of Alsop as he quivered and withered in dark thought. Someone, or something, had been following him.

"Alsop, what are you doing here?" The words of an inquisitive, but familiar, voice had lifted the hairs of Alsop.

Alsop had turned hastily, and in doing so he had brought forth his sword to the voice. Simplistic by design yet shining with a roaring eminence of a light blue tinge against the navy night sky, the sword had pressed against the slim, short body of Alsop's hunter. But within seconds, Alsop had withdrawn the blade, for his attacker whimpered at the sight of it.

"Axel! What are you doing here!?" Alsop bitterly exclaimed.

"Well, I find it interesting my partner out exploring, that's all." Axel had said. "In the slums, too! Are you not aware of the rumours?" Added Axel, as he carefully brought light to the pair with a simple click of his fingers.

"I know of the beasts that live here. You, clearly, are one of them." Alsop smirked, as his friend had soon become filled with feistiness.

It was here, Alsop had realised he was no longer alone for his simple quest. Axel Astrix, his dedicated pairing as a knight, had seemingly arrived from nowhere. Being a knight like Alsop, Axel had been dressed similarly to his partner, but his general aura had been far better refined. His buttons had been done up, and the laces for his black boots were stiffened. And aside from their connection as knights, Alsop and Axel had differed in their strengths. Axel was skilled with his magical talent, but he refused the use of weapons because he deemed them far too savage for his liking.

The two friends had, however, formed a favourable partnership over their first few months as knights. Both of them had gained an understanding of each other, so when the opportunity had come, Alsop made sure to tease his friend. But in this one instance, Axel had soon chosen to forget his friend briefly, for a bigger threat loomed in the distance. His hazel pupils had hardened as he gasped in terrific horror, with Alsop soon joining him. His hand had been rattling about for his sword, as Axel had begun illuminating the scene with his magic.

The magic Axel had strengthened over the years had been one based off of earth, using the materials around him to provide redefined pieces. In this case, Axel had provided both himself and his partner with a brief moment of cover by crafting a wall of mud around the two. With this, Alsop had begun to grab hold of his sword as something ferociously sought out to claw its way into their minor fort.

"A ghost!" Axel cried out. "You...we have to do something!" He added.

"Yes...we have to do something. Provide me with the cover I need Axel." Alsop had gained a stroke of confidence upon seeing that he had not been alone in his fear.

Something indeed ghost-like had been circling the two like a flesh-hungry hound, and it was dedicated to terrorising the two knights. Sharp, splintering claws had finally dug into the walling, allowing the mystical beast to be seen once again. A bony, black-robed essence had looked at the two with a hauntingly hollow set of eyes. But as it had prepared to reap the two young boys of their perilous souls, its eyes pulsed with a blinding red. A claw had collapsed to the ground as a small sizzle of smoke had lightly lingered up the nostrils of the boys. Alsop had instinctively sliced the hand of the beast off.

With quick retaliation, the ghost had readied up its other arm to slice the two souls ahead of it, but Axel had disallowed this with a passionate, charged ball of rock which pushed the creation backwards. Alsop had smiled in satisfaction as the two had now pinned the fiend down, but his smile suddenly dropped at his companion’s next move. Axel nervously chuckled as he had, once again, provided the two with a wall of protection.

"Stop defending! We have to attack it!" Alsop shouted, turning to his partner.

"How do you attack such a thing!?" Axel angrily complained.

"With a sword, maybe?" Alsop turned to the towering wall ahead of him.

Behind such a monstrous display, would be a monumental figure that he was now ready to approach. Although, his feet had paused briefly and with this moment of blank thinking, Axel had chosen to aid Alsop by destroying the very wall he made.

"Huh! Why did you do that?" Alsop turned to his partner angrily.

"I can't help it, you were hesitating!" Axel had called out Alsop.

"And so what if I was hesitating?" Alsop responded.

"What do you - wait. Alsop, where did it go?" Axel had frozen still in shock.

"Huh." Alsop turned in disbelief. "It's gone!" He screamed aloud.

"Quiet Alsop!" Axel gently thumped his friend’s head. "I think it's fled the scene." He added.

"There's no way it would just run away like that!" Alsop said.

"Well, you did injure it." Axel reminded him.

"Yes, we both did." Alsop smiled as he realised the small triumph the two had made.

"But we should report this into the Royal Guard I guess, huh? We did sort of fail to kill it." Axel scratched his head.

"Yes, I guess so, because we did fail." That one word, fail. It had dropped Alsop's heart into heavy pain.

"Okay, let's do so." Axel said, as he brazenly began walking towards the inner city.

"Hey, hey! Slow down. What if it comes out again?" Alsop pondered with worry.

"I think it has truly fled, Alsop. We have already given it our best shot, now we should leave it." Axel said, his eyes clearly avoiding Alsop's conscious pair.

"That's not right Axel! We could have taken it down. Don't you want to be able to take down those kinds of beasts? How will we become legendary knights without doing so?" Alsop had pressed Axel with energy that left him silent.

"I mean," Alsop sighed, "you could have at least left the scene in less of a mess." He said, guiltily gazing at the work of Axel's magic being departed.

"Well, self-defence is a necessary measure, no matter the cost. Besides, does it really matter what damage is done in these slums?" Axel had looked onwards to his cherished inner city.

"We may be lucky enough to live in the city, but these slums are home to many, Axel." Alsop sternly said to his partner as they pressed gently onwards.

Alsop's eye had been focused behind, as he carefully noted any sight of the ghost which haunted his senses. Axel, however, had been hopeful of reaching the Royal Guard, whether out of fear or a sense of duty was unreadable to Alsop's shaken mentality. It seemed though, that the pair had loosened themselves upon reaching a much safer area of Bournington. Arriving from the notorious south, the two had now reached the more favourable city centre.