The guards grabbed the warrior roughly and threw him into the waiting wagon. He struggled to get up, but they pushed him back down.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
The guard sneered at him. "You'll find out soon enough."
The warrior's heart raced as the wagon jostled and bumped along the rough road. He had heard stories of nobility and their cruel punishments. He tried to steady his breathing and calm himself.
The wagon suddenly came to a halt, and the warrior was thrown out onto the stone floor. He landed hard on his back, and his bow and arrows clattered to the ground beside him.
"I'm sorry," one of the village guards said as he helped the warrior to his feet. "But the Baron's orders are absolute."
The warrior rubbed his sore back and looked around. He was in a large hall, and at the end of the room sat Ciaphas and his butler, reading a book. The warrior felt a chill run down his spine as he met Ciaphas's cold, piercing gaze.
"Do you have something to say?" Ciaphas asked.
The warrior cleared his throat. "I apologize for any misunderstanding. I mean no harm to the barony."
Ciaphas raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you trying to sneak in?"
"I wasn't trying to sneak in," the warrior protested. "I was just passing through."
Ciaphas leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "And where were you passing through to?"
"I have business in the village," the warrior said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Ciaphas shook his head. "I don't believe you. You have the look of a mercenary about you."
The warrior bristled at the accusation. "I am a warrior, yes, but I am not a hired sword. I have no ill intentions towards the barony."
Ciaphas's butler cleared his throat. "My lord, perhaps we should give the man the benefit of the doubt. We could have him searched and then let him go."
Ciaphas considered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Search him and let him go."
The guards stepped forward and began to pat down the warrior, checking for weapons or other contraband. The warrior gritted his teeth as they searched him, feeling violated and humiliated.
"There's nothing here, my lord," one of the guards said, holding up the empty pouch that had been tied to the warrior's belt.
Ciaphas looked disappointed. "Very well. You may go, but know that if you are caught in the barony again without proper authorization, you will be punished severely."
The warrior breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gathered his things. As he made his way to the door, he turned to Ciaphas. "Thank you, my lord. I won't forget your mercy."
Ciaphas merely nodded, and the warrior hurried out of the hall, feeling grateful to be alive.
Baron Ciaphas stood still as a powerful surge of dark energy engulfed him in a flash. His rune, emblazoned above his chest, pulsated with an ominous glow as if possessed by an ancient force. Ciaphas' eyes glowed with an eerie demonic light that seemed to pierce through the darkness. But as soon as it had appeared, the demonic aura faded away, leaving no trace of its existence. Despite the fleeting nature of the phenomenon, those who witnessed it were left with a haunting feeling that lingered long after the Baron had passed.
After the demonic aura faded away, Baron Ciaphas stood there, bewildered and lost in thought. Suddenly, an evil grin spread across his face, as if a malevolent force had taken hold of his body. The Baron's eyes, once filled with confusion, were now cold and calculating. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and he was no longer the same person.
Nobody could tell that something was wrong with the Baron. The demonic entity that had taken over his body was expertly mimicking his mannerisms and behaviour. It was as if the Baron was possessed by a chameleon, effortlessly blending in with his surroundings while hiding his true intentions.
As the Baron walked away, the people around him couldn't help but feel uneasy. They sensed that something was off, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it. The evil entity that had possessed the Baron was now in control, and nobody knew what it had in store.
With the evil entity in control, Baron Ciaphas began to search for his butler, Nathan. He knew that he needed to keep up appearances, and Nathan was the perfect person to help him do just that. As he made his way through the castle, the Baron's footsteps echoed down the hallway, the sound of them strangely different from before. He called out for Nathan, his voice devoid of any emotion, and waited for a response.