Cold. So cold. The air. It bites.

Warmth. Where? Above?

It draws near. I need it. Faster. Hurry.

It’s here. Sweet warmth. My hands. They tear.

It flows. Coats me. The cold. It fades.

No! It’s back! The cold! Make it stop!

I claw. It fades. Comes back.

Further and further. Delving in madness.

It’s over. I’ve won. I have it. What I wanted.

Then why. Why do I feel so empty?

Third Person POV

Footsteps echo through the aged stone corridors. The sounds of anguished screams far off in the distance.

A figure in an elaborate black robe makes its way towards wide double doors. Poisonous green eyes gleaming from under the hood. An aura so ominous that it’s almost tangible surrounds him.

As he draws closer to the doors, they swing open to reveal a room devoid of life.

Torn red banners with symbols long faded hang along the rafters. An equally worn red rug stretching across the entire room.

The figure raises his right arm to the side. The action drawing back his sleeve to reveal the skeletal hand underneath. Dark miasma begins to gather around it as a twisted staff appears.

He continues along the path to reach a throne. The once extravagant leather is ruined. The colors having faded. Not seeming to mind, he sits upon it.

The shadows begin to move around him. As time passes the shapes solidify to create the image of a forest. The shadows form the shape of a broken skeleton. The ground sticking to him as he crawls along its surface.

“The Undead Marsh.. where the treacherous Lich made his base.” The figure speaks for the first time with a voice as hollow as his skull.

The shadows shift to create an empty space. Soon forming the figure of a winged man descending from the sky in its place.

The shadows of the skeleton slowly dissolving as it draws near.

“It’s surviving quite a while… that Vragska managed to create something interesting.” The hooded figure mumbles.

The figure of the man suddenly jerks down to earth as the wings are torn. Pressed down by an invisible force as the shadows form chains around him. The battered skeleton drags himself closer. Bits of shadows flying as he relentlessly tears into the man’s body.

The shadows pulse and swarm gathering in the middle of the room. Bursting outwards before dispersing into the air.

A hollow rasp fills the room. A laugh.

“That arrogant god.” The sounds of his chilling laughter echo off of the stone walls.

The sound of hooves carry in from outside the chamber.

A mounted skeleton in full armor rides in on a spectral horse. A feathered helm sitting upon his skull. The armor shows signs of wear. Scratches and nicks covering the entire surface. He quickly dismounts before going down on one knee as he presents himself.

“Your humble servant has returned. The dwarven remnants slaughtered, and added to our ranks under the direction of Elder Lich Ultear.” He says with a bowed head.

“I have a new mission already prepared for you Halk.” The robed figure says as he stands.

“As Karalis commands.”

“Take a trip to that hometown of yours. There is an old friend I must meet.”

Carus Village

Lilia’s Father POV

I’m sitting in my study. Pouring over the letters I’d received about the failed transaction during the last week. I sigh.

“With this, I just lost a few clients.” I mutter to myself as I go about writing back. Apologies along with the circumstances surrounding my failure to deliver.

“Wait, this could actually work. Many people should be curious as to what that light was about, and with me knowing the most details… they’d deal with me just for the little tidbits.”

I hear a knock at the door. The foundations of the house shaking from the force… it must be him.

“Come in.” I say, pushing the documents off to the side.

The door comes off of its hinges before the words leave my mouth to reveal a man standing in the doorway. His sleek black hair swept out of his face and tied back to reveal his sharp features. A dignified jawline, eyes as dark as the abyss, and strong brows. In the past, I had met the royal family, and compared to them, the person in front of me was far more regal.

This feeling is only strengthened by the clothes he wears. A white robe with blue embroidery outlined by black stretches over his frame. The style reminiscent of the eastern empire that existed long ago.

“My apologies.” He says as he comes in.

“Hahaha, don’t worry about it. I was thinking of remodeling the house anyways.” I reply. He had already managed to destroy a good portion of the house. With that monstrous strength, Lilia’s theory is seeming closer to the truth.

He cringes a bit at my answer. Apparently having remembered the damages.

“Hahaha, so, what’s the reason of your visit?” I ask after a bout of genuine laughter.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about what I should do from now on, and since I don’t know who I am, or where I’m from, I thought I’d accompany you as a guard for now. I’m a bit confident in my strength after all.” He says.

“Wahaha, that’s true, that’s true. It’d be nice to have such a reliable guard around for me as well.”

He notably relaxes.

“Father?” Lilia’s voice rings out from the hallway.

The man in front of me freezes as his body tenses. “Then, I’ll take my leave.” He says getting up from his seat.

A playful glimmer dances across my eyes.

“No no, I insist you stay. Come in Lilia.” She enters the room, in her favorite white dress as usual. Her hair straight save for the single braid. Just like her late mother.

“I heard a commotion, and was worried. Is everything alright father?” She asks rather meekly, unlike her usual self. My smile widens, the wrinkles near my eyes becoming more pronounced.

“Well, I’m sure you wanted to meet the perpetrator. There he is. I kept him from running off this time.” I say to her with a playful wink.

“F-father!” She cries. The faintest red tinging her cheeks.

“I’m sorry for the concern. I’ll try to hold myself back in the future.” The black haired man says.

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it that-” Lilia begins, but stops as she spots something in the doorway. I follow her gaze to spot a skeleton. How it snuck into the village and past the guards, I don’t know, but I won’t let anything happen to my daughter.

I grab the sword I keep under my desk and unsheathe it. Moving to cut the foul creature down.

The skeleton stands still as I make my swing. Its body trembling as if in fear. No, that’s ridiculous.

“Wait!” Lilia cries out as she gets in between me and the skeleton. I struggle to change the blade’s path, and just barely manage to avoid cutting her.

I breathe a sigh of relief, and hear a thud as the skeleton drops a mace onto the floor. It’s tailbone dropping to the floor soon after.