Hitirus devoured plates of food and cups of fresh water. His serrated teeth cut straight through bone, dicing meat, and turned fruits into mangled slices.
Zegi watched from a distance as the stranger filled his stomach with their labor. Each were confused and furious, but also concerned.
They all watched Hitirus transform from Zesher to Feral to a Brittle Ice Thawed/Wind Ripper Yomie hybrid. Leading many to believe he was a Servant, or something close to one.
"Hmm..." Hitirus lowered his plate from his mouth. "Are you going to watch me eat, or talk, commander?" Hitirus glared at the commander.
"Well, my name is Ovak." The commander replied. "What do you care about the most?"
Hitirus growled, narrowing his gaze at Ovak. Which instantly told him exactly what Hitirus wanted.
"All right, all right. So it goes:
Coshire isn't the same for every King, after all, this is the most disgraced region in Centinents due to it being the birthplace of the Golaiths of the wind, storm, and sand.
For every Heir-turned-a-King, Coshire matches to fit their tastes and Noble Minds. For King Khantretakhim and her Nobles, it was no different.
She earned her status as an Heir after selecting a fabled Feral to aid her as her loyal companion. And together, they beckoned for other powerhouses.
One day, her loyal Feral returned to her. His eyes were even brighter than usual, showing something incredible had happened.
And she asked her Feral. 'Zeek, Second to Kelkura, tell me of your spoils. Let me bask in your achievement and eat ourselves fat from celebrations.'
To this, the great Zeek smiled. 'While aiding the King's Noble Minds, I discovered a wondering Thawed by the name of Otres - a prophet and a powerful ritualist.'
Regal Khantretakhim smiled with the loyal Feral. She ordered him to bring Otres to her, so she could declare him one fit for royal blood to flood his veins.
When the day came of his arrival, Otres' cold cheek felt the warm embrace of an all-time great. Teaching him the truth behind a Noble Mind. Which converted him.
Now equipped with a seasoned Servant-killer and ritual-performer, Khantretakhim took the throne. Stepping in after the previous King died of age.
After she took up the mantle, one of the previous Noble Minds crept into her dreams one night as she slept. Giving her a lucid dream.
We are unsure of what happened in the dream, but the next day became a ceremony to welcome back a once-killed Noble Mind.
'Gatruda! Gatruda!' Coshire yelled.
And so did we. Because Gat and Ruda fell to Vhul-Adune, Goliath of the Deserts and Droughts.
Yet they didn't die. Their passion for each other was so strong, it tethered them together and birthed Gatruda, the Mind Breaker... at least, we assume.
Nobody has seen Gatruda before, only heard rumors of them crawling into dreams and imaginations.
However, one thing is confirmed about Gatruda. They were the inspiration for the current Heir, Nestes.
One morning, very early at dawn, Coshire rattled itself awake. Feeling the loss of a valuable asset to combating against the unknown: Vczeshtic, Heir to Centinents.
During the wanning hours of the morning, when the sun was nearly at its hottest, King Khantretakhim announced Vczeshtic's death and the promotion of Nestes.
Some say when they first saw Nestes, he looked like a devil with one of his pre-Nobles by his side. After meeting King Khantretakhim, Nestes made a vow.
In this vow, he promised to butcher anyone aiming to be the next Heir, just like she did. And to not bite at her, just like she did.
When he buries her and takes her throne, Nestes will carry one of her Noble Minds as one of his personal best. And with that one, every King and Noble Mind alive will unite.
To prove to the Nine their strings aren't welcomed to puppet us. Every Servant will be greeted with violence, walkers burned alive. For every Goliath, an unmarked grave.
That was Nestes' vow to make us whole and not prototypes. So one day Golaiths will stop coming, Servants stop causing trouble, and we rule ourselves."
Hitirus placed the wooden cup he held in his hand down on the marble counter. Thoughts and strategies swirled around in his head, muffling the different voices on the inside.
Ovak fell silent, waiting to hear what the stranger had to say about the stories. His face was strict and eyes serious, trying to mask one crucial detail.
While the two sat idly, Befehlnadir made advances towards Hitirus. Moving past a few Variants before stopping and tapping on something.
Each small thud echoed in Hitirus' ears, reminding him of a lurking predator. This one always hid in the same spot: close enough so his victims could hear the tapping.
"It is coming - we can hear it," a voice whispered into Hitirus' mind.
Senses quickly grew stronger, telling him of incoming danger. His eyes became dull, so did his skin. A strange growl emanated from his stomach.
Ovak watched Hitirus raise from the seat, then glancing at the crowd. A calm sense of panic settled into his mind, ordering now was the time to move.
Hitirus listened intently for Befehlnadir's taps. Four rung out towards his left. In response, he walked away from it.
Breaking through the small crowd. They moved aside, not wanting to stop the stranger from leaving.
Nobody questioned it, not even the on-looking troopers. They ducked back into their homes as Hitirus moved along, periodically glancing over his shoulder.
His bare feet felt the humid texture of the dirt roads, guiding him away from danger and further into Coshire.
Befehlnadir grinned as he continued to follow behind Hitirus. When he broke out of the crowd, he turned around to them and cocked his head towards Hitirus.
"I'm going to make sure that one is truly leaving. Don't worry about me, I'll be back sometime tonight," Befehlnadir explained.
With that, he took off after Hitirus. Hoping to catch up and kill him again.