His armor felt heavy, heavier than usual, while the rain and the wind made his partially burnt face shiver. The small cottage on the edge of the city got closer and closer, while Rhyddion’s spirit seemed to float farther and farther away. How was he supposed to tell Hilda about…about John? Rhyddion didn’t even know what happened to John himself, but he had to tell her and after that he had to ask. He had to ask if he could train Tristan to become a knight, to become like his father. His dead father. If he had to choose between this and another battlefield, he’d pick the battlefield every single time. This time there was no escape. Hilda watched him get closer and closer while a single, warm tear made its way down her cheek. She knew this day would come, just not that it would come so soon. Tristan was still young. He shouldn’t have to grow up without his father.

‘Hilda…’

Rhyddion stood in front of her. He didn’t know what to say, she could see that.

‘Where is he?’ she asked, but she already knew the answer. ‘Where is my husband?’ She felt the raindrops descend upon her pale skin. They felt like rocks. Rocks covering her body, breaking her bones one by one.

‘He’s… He’s…’ Rhyddion couldn’t say the word. Not yet, not now.

‘You swore you’d protect him.’ Another tear made its way down Hilda’s cheek. ‘You swore…’ she suddenly felt the urge to scream. ‘You SWORE!’ Lighting struck and the dark sky turned bright for a brief moment, only to return to its dark state. The world started turning and Hilda fell to her knees. More tears poured over her cheeks and her pale skin turned red. She screamed and cried while her face descended to the ground.

‘I’m sorry, Hilda. I am so sorry.’

‘Where is his body?’ she said as she tried to stand up. ‘I want to bury him.’

‘I’m afraid… we didn’t find a body…’

The tears started running again.

‘My husband’s dead and I can’t even bury his body?!’ she cried while a young boy showed up behind her.

‘Mother? What’s wrong?’ asked Tristan.

‘Oh, honey. It’s your father… he’s… he’s…’ She couldn’t bear to say the word, for if it rolled off her lips, her horror would turn into reality. ‘He’s…’ but she mustered all of her courage, ‘dead.’ A loud scream rose from her lungs. She grabbed Tristan and pulled the boy close to her. Tears poured down his cheeks now as well and they soaked her robes. Rhyddion was still here. He wanted something else.

‘Why are you still here?’ she asked while she dried her cheeks and sent Tristan inside.

‘John wanted… He wanted Tristan to be a…’

‘A knight?!’ Hilda’s rage took over now. ‘You want my son to be a knight now as well?! His father, a knight, is dead and you want me to allow my son to die too? And for what?! A war against the Gods?! There called Gods for a reason, Rhyddion! My family has bled enough, go find your next sacrifice somewhere else!’ She turned her back and slammed the door shut. She heard his footsteps move away from the door and she sunk back to the cold ground…

That night, the local taverns were filled with songs for the poor soldiers who gave their souls in battle. Songs for John. Rhyddion couldn’t find any comfort in the songs nor the drinks. As he stumbled out on to the streets, he noticed that the rain was still falling. Better get home and hop in bed. The streets were covered with deep puddles of mud and water. This part of Arcadia didn’t have nicely paved roads and streets, but only dirt mixed with a little less dirt. The smell was rotten because of the complete absence of sewers. This was the poor quarter. This was Rhyddion’s home. Although Rhyddion was nothing short of a legend, he refused to move to the richer part of Arcadia. He knew his place was here, among the common people. Suddenly, he felt a rough hand on his shoulder.

‘Jonah, how good to see you again, my friend.’ Said Rhyddion as he looked at his friend’s face. A fresh scar ran across his lip. ‘Got into another fight?’

‘As a matter of fact, I did. Some guy tried to run off with my Arcadium. I found it and I needed my payment, so I stole it back.’

Jonah was one of the poorest people in town and also one of the most courageous human beings Rhyddion had ever met. Jonah didn’t have a last name like John or Rhyddion (which is Lux, but Rhyddion doesn’t like to distinguish himself from other people), because of the fact that he was one of the common people. The common people were despised by the rich in this city. King Riven tried to do something about this horrible thing, but he needed the rich Mages and Knights to train his soldiers. True power doesn’t come from some title, true power comes from cunning and backstabbing. True power comes from the trades you have to offer. Trades which others don’t offer.

‘Archmage Shannon is treating us like dirt, He keeps telling me that he can’t offer me any more gold, because the supply in Arcadium is huge at the moment and yet he needs more and more of the stuff every day!’ Jonah complained.

Archmage Shanondarion Rectus was one of the Mages who held true power in Arcadia. He was also an arrogant bastard with a heart as cold as ice. Some might even say that the Archmage has no human feelings at all.

‘One day, he’ll pay! One day, we’ll turn this whole city upside down and make that horrible guy live in one of these crapshacks!’yelled Jonah.

‘Calm, down. We wouldn’t want the guards to find out about your little rebellion now, would we?’said Rhyddion while he padded Jonah on his back. ‘Things will get better. King Riven-’

‘King Riven’s useless. He’s a great man, but he holds no power at all. He needs the rich folk.’

‘Things will change, Jonah. Wait and see.’

The two friends parted and Rhyddion was finally home. Home, where Elise was waiting. Elise was Rhyddion’s lover and she was named after the Goddess of the Sea because of her spectacular beauty. Her beautiful deep blue eyes, chestnut hair and slender figure. Elise was also poor, but she had Rhyddion and that was all she needed. They refused a life of luxury, a life which cost the life of others and they were happy.

‘Rhyddion!’ she yelled when he came in. Tears of joy emerged from her eyes and she ran at him with open arms. His strong arms closed wrapped around her and lifted her from the ground while his lips gently touched hers. A quick spin and her feet touched the ground again.

‘I’m so glad you’re back! I thought you…’ she stopped when she saw the sad look in his eyes. ‘I heard about John…’

Rhyddion sat down on the bed while he turned his face to the ground. Elise joined him and laid her head on his broad shoulders. Her warmth felt pleasant after the cold wind had whipped his skin and in comforted him. She always knew exactly how to make him feel better. She was the ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, the colors in the sky when it seemed as if all hope had faded. She was his true strength.

‘He was my friend…’

Elise gently took his hand into hers.

‘He was my friend too…’

‘I know.’

Silence filled the room, but no awkward silence. This was a comforting silence. While the world outside seemed harsh and cold, the world in here seemed like a long forgotten paradise. Filled with the warmth of love and the sweet embrace of home.

‘I wish we could stay here forever.’ whispered Elise as she kissed Rhyddion’s cheek.

‘One day we can. One day everything will get better. One day…’

Rhyddion was smothered by a kiss on his lips when they were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.

‘Rhyddion? Rhyddion, are you in there?’

It was Hilda Daranis. He didn’t want to open the door, but he had to.

‘This will only take a moment.’ Said Rhyddion as he left Elise in bed.

‘Don’t take too long…’ she said with a smile on her face.

Rhyddion walked up to the door and opened it. Hilda seemed a lot calmer than she was this afternoon.

‘I’m sorry…’ she said while her eyes filled up again.

‘Don’t be, please.’ Said Rhyddion as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

‘Tristan and I have been talking about… about your request…to honor John’s final wish.’ A spark started burning in Rhyddion’s eyes. ‘Tristan wants to honor that request. He wants to become a knight.’

Rhyddion tried not to cheer, but deep down he was happier than he could ever be.

‘He will join you tomorrow in the King’s courtyard.’ said Hilda as she was turning around to go home.

‘Hilda…’ said the broad man in the doorway. ‘Thank you…’

As she turned her back on the small house, she felt relieved. Somehow, she knew this was the right path for her son to go and with Rhyddion’s training, Tristan would become what John always wanted him to be. One of the greatest knights The Four Vales would ever know…