"You know what you should do now no?" Niels motioned towards Buorb bleeding out on the floor.
Unwittingly, Laylah held the Dagger tighter in her palm and held it across her chest, walking slowly towards the fat Buorb that's on the floor choking on his own blood. As she approached Buorb, her eyes glared at Buorb with loathing with just a tinge of pity. The dagger that was at her chest was now raised up above her head and with both hands, she thrust it down into his chest hard.
'Splurt~' warm, blood exited his body and landed on her face, Bluorb who was in an already dying state trembled as she repeated the same action multiple times on the poor fatso's convulsing body. Eventually, the body went limp, his hands that were covering his eyes dropped onto his side on the ground, Laylah did not give up just yet, she just kept stabbing and stabbing. Her hands kept slipping off from the dagger whose handle was already covered in blood, she stabbed until she felt the strength leave her body. She had no energy left. Falling onto the ground next to Buorb and she started crying loudly again heaving deep breaths.
Niels looked at the scene in front of him unfurling, he did not have the intention to stop her at all and instead started to nod in approval.
Turning his head, he found the staff that Buorb used, the glowing gem atop, doesn't seem to be reacting to anything anymore. Acting upon his instincts he picked it up and broke away the wood that nestled the gem in place. Finally extracting the gem that was placed within it and placing it in his pocket, he walked towards the still crying Laylah and hoisted her on his shoulder as he promptly exited the burning house dashing through the fire and smoke blocking the stairway. Kicking the main door down he rushed out of the burning house with Laylah upon his shoulders.
Exiting the house, he felt his strength completely sapped. Falling down, he dropped Laylah on the floor as he found himself lying down next to Laylah as he started to drift in and out of consciousness. His eyelids drooping, began to close.
"We found him, men! Quickly! Secure him! Take him back!"
Niels, still in a state of grogginess didn't have the energy to resist anymore. He knew he was in trouble, but he just couldn't muster up the strength to fight anymore. He gave in to his drowsiness and continued to close his eyes and drift away.
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Back at the stone cottage hours later, a disfigured silhouette appeared, he was grotesque looking, half his face melted away, one of his eyes, greyish blue and totally blind. Covered in a dark robe, with a sash across his body, he walked forward with a limp and scowled, as saliva dripped from the side of his mouth. He reached deep into his satchel and took out a glowing rock.
"Master, that bumbling idiot Buorb failed both his mission and even got killed. What should be the next course of action?" the grotesque man spoke to the silver rock with a hint of fear and reverence in his eyes, as if afraid what would happen if he were to cross the man.
"Extract him. We need to find out what happened here. We need to know who was disrupting my plan and if they are key players in our little game of chess. Buorb wasn't much as a human anyway. Bring him back first so we can see if we can salvage him." the husky voice boomed out.
"Yes master, I will obey." the grotesque man bowed his head as he slots the glowing rock back into his satchel. As he walked forward, he once again reached into his satchel and took out a squarish lantern that was dyed a crimson red and while looking at it gave one the impression that it was constantly dripping with fresh blood. Embedded within was the lantern was a crystal, darker than coal.
He lifted the lantern and chanted a few lines before shouting out, "Arise!" From the debris of the house came a rumbling sound as some of the debris was being thrown away. The corpse of Buorb actually stood up and started to dash forward towards the grotesque man. With most of its flesh burnt away, it looked as if it was just a malnourished skeleton as he finally arrived in front of the grotesque man, he knelt down as quickly as he stood up.
With a quick grasping motion, he placed his palm on the head of the corpse as he began chanting once again. "Soul Extraction!" he exclaims, in his palm, a cloud of thick milky smoke rose up from the crown of his head and into his palm. gathering the smoke into a ball, he tossed it into the lantern and closed it.
Grumbling as he walked, he limped towards the forest whence he came, leaving the buorb's corpse kneeling on the ground as he continues to walk forward and finally vanishing into the dark forest.
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'Drip drip'
warm water landed on the eyelid of Niels, who instantly his eyes snapped open. For someone who grew up surrounded by danger, the soul of Niels was someone who slept with a gun under his pillow and a blade always in his hand. This habit transferred over to the current Niels as he tried to sit up to assess the situation immediately.
'Crash!' his head hit something hard as he fell backwards back down onto the ground.
"Ow… Niels! You're awake! My poor son!"
A woman approximately 30 years old rubbed her aching head with her slender wrists that were covered in the sleeves of the most beautiful blue silk blue gown. She sobbed as she started to mumble incoherently.
"your arm.. how could they do this to you! Let your mother take revenge for you… We'll mobilise the army to find the people who did this to you! My poor son…!"
This lady was Katherine Blackwood, first wife of the Duke of Blackwood keep also, Niel's biological mother. She was over-protective to her only son and was afraid that he would be bullied too much thus spoiling the previous Niels. It caused the previous Niels' character to be somewhat flaky and useless.
Niels shot a confused look at the woman that's in front of him as he tried to process the situation he was in. He never once had the feeling of familial love, previously brought up in a life predicated on hate and pressure, this feeling was really something novel to Niels.
A voice resounded behind them, "Oh come now sister, you're a noblewoman you have to maintain your composure for god's sake"
A lady with shifty green eyes with a beauty that resembled that of a fox sashayed in slowly with two young children in tow.
"Greetings first mother, we're here to come to look at our 3rd brother. Is he doing well?" The two children wearing matching suits replied together.
Edna Blackwood, 2nd wife to the Duke of Blackwood and her twin children, Luca and Lilith Blackwood.
Although the 2nd wife of the family, she was the first to conceive and give birth to the twins Luca and Lilith, blessed by the church of light, these twins were discovered to have high potential and were enrolled into the paladin academy once they hit the age of 12, having born first, she would do anything fro either Luca or Lilith to inherit the dukedom and be the rightful rulers of the kingdom.
Paladins were crusaders of the light, they have the abilities to use magic as well as have perfectly strengthened bodies. In the Western continent, the majority of the population are fanatic believers of the god of light they have the belief that magic can only be used if you are blessed by the god of light.
The church of light is the predominant power and the central core of this western continent with hundreds of kingdom under them that receive the blessings of light. Those who refuse to submit was sent a baptism of light, which meant the armies of paladin rained down upon them wreaking havoc and chaos.
"Oh sister, don't be upset, he just lost an arm... The only thing that matters is that he's still alive. Even though he might not be able to be a paladin in the future, he could still be an outstanding mage... That is if he has the capability to be a mage... But not to worry, I'm sure husband would write in a letter to recommend our dear Niels to for him to enter the academy."
Edna spoke with the intention to rub salt into wounds, she knew full well that the paladin academy would never allow an imperfect person into their ranks. The god of light required her followers to be pure on the inside and out, for a normal person, some forms of disabilities are still acceptable, however, for a Paladin, these requirements are way more strict. Even more so, the fact Blackwood Duke was promoted to Duke via his noble contributions for his conquest as a Paladin. Lets Katherine feels as if Niels would not make his father proud.
"YOU!... get out! Niels need to rest! Get out!"
Katherine stood up, her face, red from anger. Her fingernails digging deep into her palms. Blood dripping down from her palm to the floor.
"First mother, you're too agitated, have a seat, don't get so agitated, it isn't good for you." said Luca as he pulled Katherine down onto the chair.
"Yes, first mother, at your age, you should really take care of your health." Lilith said with a sneer as they both approached Niels.
"Younger brother, it's such a pity," Luca said.
"Yes, a big pity" Lilith echoed as she reached forward wanting to touch Niels shoulder.
Niels glared Lilith in the eyes, his eyes cold, calm and collected, swinging his right arm upwards and parrying her arm away, knocking her arm back and shocking his elder sister and brother.
"You! How dare you do this to your elder sister!" Edna shouted as she pointed directly at Niels' face, stepping towards the bed she swung her arm up and wanted to slap him full force.