Talbots body crumpled to the ground with a soft thud. The villagers on the wall threw down their weapons in surrender as they wanted to live to see the next day. Everyone got down on their knees, begging for their lives except one person.
Altair stood stock still, looking at the Korlan with hate in his eyes. He could feel something stirring, but he didn't quite know what it was. After being betrayed by the Palentar, losing his brother and now seeing this, he didn't have anything else to lose as hate consumed his entire being. He could feel something being pulled towards him, but didn't know what to do with it. He could feel power, more than he had ever felt before, but he didn't know how to use it.
On the outskirts of the village, the lone figure cloaked in shadow smiled. It was almost time to move, but he would give it a bit more time.
Korlan laughed as he looked in to Altair's hate filled eyes.
"You're angry because I'm doing this to your village. But I'll let you in on a secret young man, you're not mad at me, you're mad at yourself. Even now, you stand there, powerless, helpless. What can you do? Absolutely nothing, and that's why you hate yourself. I'm about to show you what true power is, what you will never be, before I end your short life."
Korlan's lackeys stepped forward, roughly grabbing Altair and forcing him to his knees. One of the soldiers grabbed his head and held it up so Altair couldn't turn away from what he was about to witness.
"Here's your front row ticket to the end of this world, I hope you enjoy the show" said Korlan with an evil laugh. "Raiders! spread out, plunder, pillage, take the women for later. We will be sure to show them what they've been missing out on. Right boys!?" With a cheer the raiders ran into the village, taking women and shooting the men point blank. They tortured, murdered and maimed for sport. All the while, Altair watched on, helpless to do anything as tears trickled down his face.
What Korlan said was true, he did hate himself. He was weak. His whole life he had been weak, taken care of by his brother Kale. He had merely been carried his entire life. And now, in these people's greatest time of need, he could do nothing but watch their demise. He hated Korlan, but he hated himself most of all.
Altair kept his eyes open as the only thing he could do was watch on and try to remember all these kind people being tortured and killed. He watched a woman being drug by her legs into another house by three raiders. Her fingers leaving trails in the dirt as she desperately tried to find a handhold, anything to stop her from being drug into the house. Alas, it wasn't meant to be and Altair watched as she disappeared from view, saying a silent prayer and hoping for a quick end to her suffering even as she continued to scream. Begging for someone, anyone to save her.
He watched another man being tied to the end of a vehicle and being drug through the village at high speeds, the raiders taking corners sharp so the villager's body would swing out wide and impact the sides of buildings on the corners. He died as his neck snapped on the first turn. Now his dead body was being drug around with abandon, with no decency or respect for the deceased. Altair said a silent prayer and would remember him by the good deeds he had done with the small amount of time he had left to live.
A group of young men were being led out to a wall, their lives cut short as a firing squad filled their bodies with holes and they dropped lifeless to the ground. Altair said a prayer for them, remembering the games they had played together and the kindness they had shown him when him and his brother were brought here to work.
Korlan watched the scene in satisfaction for some time, maniacally laughing at the villagers misfortune and the raiders huge haul once they were done pillaging the town. This would make for a huge payday in the black markets once they had sorted through everything valuable here. The villagers didn't have much in the way of personal valuables, but the farm equipment and the transport ship would sell for a pretty penny.
"This is power boy, true power. Watch a little longer and know that we have saved the best for last. We will tie your body to two vehicles and pull you apart. I want you to remember in your last moments the privilege I have granted you. You got to witness what power was and what you will never have. Just a little longer and you can say goodbye to your miserable life." Said Korlan as he walked away looking for some fun.
Korlan came back a few minutes later leading a group of men and women all with slave collars on. "We will use the men for some hard physical labor and use the women for fun before we sell them as slaves to their future masters" laughed Korlan with a lustful look as he looked the women over again.
Altair looked on in helplessness as the people he had known for the last couple of years were led away to live a life worse than they could ever imagine. Altair spoke up, knowing it would probably be the last thing he ever said. "You're day will come Korlan, no one is truly safe. You might have luck on your side today, but someone will make you feel helpless like I do now. You're time will come, I promise you."
Korlan looked at Altair and laughed again not believing anything that he had heard. He thought himself untouchable, the ruler of his small kingdom until he died of old age. Those were his last thoughts as a look of confusion crossed his face when a plasma edged sword thrust out from his chest.
"Now you know despair in the face of true overwhelming power" said a raspy voice of a figure cloaked in shadow.