After arriving in the capital Balin quickly bought the mask he wanted and some white paint to further hide its origin. The wooden plain face looked kind of creepy like this. Almost like a ghost or another supernatural being. The form of the mask even reminded Balin a little of Epidex-curs. A detail he found a bit funny. Next up he looked for the Hero’s house. Finding the Hero’s house wasn’t very difficult for Balin. The man’s address was commonly well known. The house was quite impressive by itself. With the title the Hero also got this house to live tax-free in, combined with the allowance that his father gave him he didn’t really have a reason to work at all. He supposedly goes monster killing and defending villages out of the goodness of his heart and to earn something extra by the side. Nobody seemed home when Balin arrived. As usual Balin spends some time planning what how he was goanna tackle his task. After watching the house for a while he decided that he most optimal course of attack was a sneak attack by breaking through the window and ambushing the man when he expects it the least. The window through which Balin expects the most success was the one on the ground floor. While it was big there was a bush behind it. Balin is sure that he could jump over the bush and through the flimsy looking glass with a single leap of his improved legs. As Balin was walking around the house a few times he was approached by a woman caring groceries.

“Excuse me Sir. What are you doing here?”

Balin was caught off guard and had to quickly think of a lie. So, he mumbled something vague.

“I… wanted to see where the famous Hero of three front was living. I am sorry if I appeared suspicious. I should go.”

“Oh, don’t leave!”

The woman innocently ordered.

“It’s been a while since someone came to visit and the master always appreciates meeting his fans. He isn’t here right now but if you were to wait a few hours he should return soon.”

“No, I really should go. It is rude to just interrupt someone I don’t even know. Good day Mam.”

Balin quickly left, he hoped that the woman didn’t see him to well. Because he didn’t want to leave any witnesses behind. After making sure that he was out of her sight Balin recomposed himself and thought through what just happened. He realized that the woman just gave him some important information that he otherwise might not have considered. Firstly, that the hero had at least one help at home. Seeing as she did call him master. This means that Balin will have to do the attack especially fast. To make sure that no alarm goes off before he gets away. Secondly, the Hero is going to return soon. Balin had to make a choice. He could wait a few days or weeks until the woman had forgotten all about him, to make his attack. Or he could attack today evening, when he can guarantee that the hero will even be around. Balin knew that as a noble’s man and a person of note the hero could easily leave for weeks at the time, either to meet people or to go away for a job. Balin decided then and there that tonight he would make his attack. During a moment where no one was looking Balin ran into the garden where the bush and window were. The room behind the window seemed like some sort of saloon. Balin expected that his target would appear there some time during the evening. All Balin now had to do was hide in the bush and wait until he could hear steps coming from the saloon. Whenever he heard a sound coming from that direction Balin would peek for just one moment, to see if his target would be here. Twice he heard footsteps coming from the room but both times it was the maid doing things like picking stuff up from the floor or searching for something. The sun was almost gone when he heard a distinct male voice.

“I’m back. Tacey did I miss anything?”

“Not much. There was a guy staring at the house a while back. Probably a fan. I offered him to stay so that he could meet you, but he left. Also, a you received some mail. I’ve put the letters in the study. That’s all that happened here. And on your end? How was your day?”

“Nothing special. The kid I was teaching was a pain in the ass but not much else happened. Could you please bring me something to drink? I want to take a break.”

“Of course.”

Then Balin heard steps coming close. They were heavier then the ones of the maid. Balin prepared to strike. He peeked at his target. The hero was sitting on one of the soft chairs. His fingers rubbing his face to wake himself up. Feeling the rage rekindle in him, Balin turned towards the window, he covered his head with his arms and leaped into the room. Shattering the window as planned. Balin didn’t plan his landing as well as the jump and fell flat on his face. It took a moment for Balin to stand up and reoriented himself. That split second was enough for his target to prepare himself. The Hero jumped up from his chair and positioned himself behind it to gain distance between himself and the intruder. Balin drew a dagger that he had on his belt.

“Who the he”

Was all the Hero had time to say before Balin rushed towards him. The hero kicked the chair towards Balin strong enough to let it fly. It hit Balin right in the chest knocking him over. While Balin pushed the furniture of himself and stood up he heard the maid yell from the kitchen.

“What is going on?”

“A guy is in here and attacked me.”

The Hero replied, while running across the room towards a decorative hanging sword. He had just enough time to pick it up when Balin caught up with him. Since his target was now armed Balin didn’t rush him again. He has heard stories of what the legendary soldier could do with a blade.

“What are you doing here?”

The hero tried to ask. Balin was just annoyed by the question and tried to punch the Hero with his deadly right, only to be blocked by the man’s sword. The Hero stepped to the side and tried cut Balin’s extended arm of. Balin knew that he couldn’t cut his arm of and let him try. Despite the arms sturdiness the force of the hit was enough to knock Balin’s arm towards the floor and pulled Balin with it. Being forced into a position with his knees bend Balin tried to tackle his foe against the wall. But the Hero was too fast. He sidestepped the attack and pressed the closer of Balin’s hands against the wall. That triggered a spell of the swordsman which glued Balin’s right against the wall. Balin was trapped. He tired to swing his left arm with the knife to hit the super soldier but couldn’t even come close to score a hit. The attacked man casually rammed his sword into Balin’s still human hip. Nailing that as well at the wall. Balin was completely defenseless and unable to move. He screamed and yelled in pain and anger while the heavy breathing hero stood just a few meters away from Balin. Apparently waiting for Balin to stop screaming. After a few minutes of this Balin lost his voice and just started crying.

“Alright. You’ve seemed to have calmed down a little. So, let’s start this slowly. Who are you and why did you attack me?”

Balin was just crying in place without answering.

“Alright. Since that isn’t going anywhere I must do this the old-fashioned way.”

He stepped closer to Balin, who tried to hit him with the knife again. So, the experienced soldier quickly knocked the weapon out of Balin’s hand. After that he unmasked Balin. To look him into his crying eyes.

“I don’t know you. So, let me tell you that I don’t like to repeat myself too often. Who are you and why are attacking me?”

Balin still didn’t answer. The Hero sighed and told Balin.

“Listen! We made quite a lot of noise. In a few minutes the guards will be here. They will see you and take you with them. After that they will torture you. Seeing as you have attacked a high ranking ex-army official and part of the higher nobility they can execute you without a trial. I can stop them. But you must talk to me! Do you want everything to end here like that?”

The last sentence hit Balin hard. It reminded him of how he almost died and how everyone he knew died and ended. It also reminded him of Epidex and how he was saved. Realizing that he had nothing to lose Balin replied.

“Untie me and I’ll talk.”

“Will you attack me again?”

“Maybe.”

“Then I can’t free you. How about this. I can turn you around and take the sword out of your body and so that you are a lot more comfortable. Is that fine?”

Balin just nodded. The Hero then pulled the sword out of Balin’s wound and turned his free hand around. Locking it against the wall but in a different position. So that Balin could turn around once his right would be freed. With a quick hand movement Balin’s right was freed.

“Will you talk now?”

Balin nodded and answered the man’s questions.

“My name is Balin of the Rivervalley. I used to be a squire under Sir Egbert of the Rivervalley and I am here to kill you!”

Balin put a lot of emphasis onto the last part. Surprising the man.

“Rivervalley. But that place was destroyed. There were no survivors?”

“That is why I am here. We hired you. Relied on your help. And you didn’t show up. You stole our money and left us to die. Everyone there was massacred. I’m the only survivor and I owe it to my people to hunt and kill everyone who left us behind and you are the last one on the list the great Hero of three front. So, now that you know. What now? Will you kill me too? Finish the job? You can try but it won’t work.”

“Why wouldn’t it work? You bleed like any other person that I have stabbed so far?”

“Look at the wound again!”

The soldier payed attention towards Balin’s stabbing wound. He was surprised to see that is has healed completely and been replaced by an earthly substance.

“What happened?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

It was clear that Balin didn’t trust the hero and didn’t want to open himself towards him. While Balin was searching for the best way to tell his story the Hero came to the realization that he had to gain Balin’s trust before he could learn what he wanted to know.

“Do you want to know the reason why I couldn’t come to help your town?”

Balin was surprised at that sudden change in the conversation, but before he could answer the Hero continued.

“My wife was pregnant. We expected the baby in middle to late spring. I thought that by the time of the birth I’d be back, so I took the job. But the day before I wanted to leave something terrible happened. My wife got sick. It was a heavy case of the flu. It was so bad that I had to call a medic. He told me that due to a combination of the sickness and the pregnancy she could suffocate. So, they decided to take a risk. They performed a c-section and got the baby out prematurely. He was so small and weak, but it didn’t help. Amalia died that night. Despite my grief I had to make a hard decision. I had to bury my wife and I couldn’t leave my newly born son behind. So, I’ve sent the money with a letter of apology back to the town I was supposed to protect.”

The Hero knelled down in humility in front of his prisoner.

“Where is he now?”

Balin skeptically asked.

“Sieg probably was upstairs sleeping when I arrived. I think Tracy took him and fled when you attacked.”

“Show him to me!”

“Why? I don’t believe you. It seems just too convenient of an excuse to be true.”

“If I bring him here, will you tell me your tale?”

“Maybe.”

The Hero nodded and left the room. Leaving Balin alone. Balin tried to pull but he couldn’t move him arm from the wall. He was thinking of breaking it off and then to ambush the Hero again but for whatever reason he didn’t do it. After a few minutes the Hero came back with a baby in his arm and his scared maid behind him.

“His name is Siegfried. Amalia thought that the name would bring him luck. I help up my end of the bargain. Will you now please tell me your story?”

“Alright. It might take a while to tell. It all started when a letter arrived warning us about an intimate collision with a monster horde…”

Balin retold his story up to this point not leaving any important details out or taking a break. He was only interrupted when the Hero asked for clarifications. Balin even told him about his encounters with the strange being call Epidex-curs. Until the moment when Balin burst through the window to attack the Hero. For the first time Balin was able to tell anyone what he experienced and had to go through. He started cry half way thought but he continued to explain what happened. The Hero just nodded and once he was finished he wanted to know.

“If I release you now, will you attack me?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Tracy bring Sieg out of here!”

“Understood”

She picked the boy up and left the building once again. The Hero drew his sword once again and slowly approached Balin carefully. While making sure that Balin didn’t make any sudden movements he reached over to where he sealed Balin to the wall. And with a small movement of his fingertip he lifted the spell that bound Balin to the wall. Balin didn’t move after being let go.

“What will you do now? What are your plans?”

“I… don’t know.”

There was a moment of silence between the two. The Hero then declared.

“I feel responsible for what happened. Words cannot describe how sorry I am. If you are ready to accept it, I would like to offer you my help. Until you know what you want to do. I can give you a place to stay for now. I don’t want to risk you living in the same house as my son does. If you are ok with it, please say something!”

Bernhard offered his hand to the defeated Balin and after a moment of silence Balin took it.