"So, following the attack by the Demonic Cult, the elves have permanently increased their border security?" said Corgac Xarlug Gorgo Porgarag the Intelect, the lord of the North Western lands of Rovkre. He was one of the many nobles with land in the Orcish Empire.
"Yes, my lord," replied Igmut, his assistant.
"This is old news to me. I had heard about this a long time ago, Igmut," Corgac responded.
"Yes, my lord. But this specific news applies to all the borders within the Great Eleven Lands. They are also imposing restrictions on trade and merchants. This decision could affect our trade routes throughout the entire empire. The Orc Emperor has called for a meeting with all the nobles," proclaimed Igmut.
"What? Those idiots! We have a treaty; they can't just do something this idiotic," said Corgac with frustration.
"Sir, on a different subject, we have a gentleman at the gates of the estate claiming to have information about the culprits responsible for burning your southern fields," said Igmut.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let him in," ordered Corgac.
Corgac sat in his office room within his large estate. While the estate wasn't particularly impressive, it still offered luxury compared to the lives of commoners. Most of the orc population lived in small, poor homes. Igmut excused himself from the room, leaving the door open. Waiting near the door was Hanz Vergu Gorgo Olmuth, Corgac's 10-year-old son.
"Father..."
"Yes, Hanz, what is it?"
"Um, I heard a noise outside my balcony."
"Hanz, you're 10 years old and yet you're scared of the night? I am very busy with important matters. Go to your mother."
"I can't find her either."
His father let out a sigh. "Fine, let's go find her."
Corgac got up from his desk, and Hanz followed as they made their way to the main hall.
"Hold on a second, I need to greet a guest."
Just as he turned a corner from the second floor, right above the imperial staircase, he saw Igmut open the doors to welcome the guest, who was dressed in a robe. The guest pulled out a dagger and plunged it deep into Igmut's back.
"Hanz, come with me! Run!" Corgac shouted to his son.
They both ran through the hallway. Corgac cast a spell called "False Wall," creating an illusionary barrier that mimicked the surroundings. It wasn't a powerful spell, but it offered a temporary advantage by creating a wall indistinguishable from its surroundings.
"Listen to me, Hanz, stay here. If I am defeated, run for your life. I will distract them," whispered Corgac. Hanz nodded, still afraid.
Corgac prepared himself for battle and stepped out from behind the false wall, waiting for the approaching footsteps. Multiple sets of footsteps could be heard as they neared the corner at the end of the wall. Finally, the footsteps came into view for both Corgac and Hanz, who remained hidden behind the false wall. In front of Corgac stood five men, one of them a cat person and the others orcs. Behind them, Corgac could hear slow and menacing footsteps of a single person, making him sweat.
"Well, well, hello Corgac Xarlug Gorgo Porgarag," said the voice of the man who finally turned the corner to face Corgac.
"It's you... What do you want from me? Why have you stormed my home!" exclaimed Corgac.
"Ah, you ask why? You live up here in your estate, far from your lands. Your lands stretch the farthest among all the Northern nobles. I have come to claim your lands, but first, I needed to begin by slaughtering your family and, of course, you," spoke the man known as Azuk Smolg, with an evil grin.
"You dare challenge the Emperor's nobles? Hah, good luck! I'm sure you're aware of the might of the emperor. Your doom is near, ambitious orc," confidently replied Corgac.
"That's unfortunate, but you wouldn't believe the number of people who are done with his rule. Not to mention the allies I have on my side. I am going to build my own kingdom with myself at the center. I would say it starts with your land, but your neighboring nobles have already fallen. And your emperor is currently occupied with the crippling pressure from the elves' new restrictions; I doubt he has time to worry about you," laughed Azuk.
Azuk, an orc with a battle scar running across his face from ear to ear, wore brown leather armor and had slicked-back brown hair, with a goatee chin strap under his menacing smile.
"That just can't be..." replied Corgac in disbelief.
"Oh, and about your wife... let's just say she cried after we were done with her. Then we severed her head cleanly," proclaimed Azuk, followed by a menacing smirk.
Corgac felt a sense of despair, which only grew when one of the five men threw a bloodstained ball covered in a lightbrown bedsheet towards Corgac. He immediately recognized it and knew what it meant but decided to fight rather than succumb to his pain. Corgac cast "Water Blade," a spell that slashed forward using water. The water blade managed to sever two of the men, who shouted in pain, while the remaining three and Azuk dodged the attack. The remaining trio, fueled by rage, lunged at Corgac. The orc on the left brandished an iron spear, thrusting it toward Corgac's chest with deadly intent. But Corgac sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and calculated.
In the center, the cat person unleashed a barrage of throwing knives with uncanny speed. Corgac's keen reflexes allowed him to evade the deadly projectiles, each one whizzing past him with a menacing whistle. With a determined glare, Corgac countered by summoning a wall of water to intercept the incoming arrows from the cat person's bow. The arrows shattered against the watery barrier, their deadly trajectory halted.
Undeterred, the orc on the right swung his massive orcish sword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave Corgac in two. But Corgac, relying on his agility, danced away from the heavy blow, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. He retaliated by launching two spears of piercing water at the orcs, piercing their defenses and causing them to stagger back, blood staining their armor.
The cat person launched an arrow that managed to hit Corgac in his left shoulder. Fatigue began to gnaw at Corgac's muscles, and the pain from his wound intensified. Yet he refused to yield, his determination unwavering. Gathering the remnants of his strength, he unleashed his most potent spell, "Water Wave." A deluge of water surged forth, crashing down upon his adversaries with a force that sent them sprawling, disoriented and gasping for breath.
"Run, Hanz!" he shouted, urging his son to find safety.
After the water subsided and the chaos settled, Azuk and the cat person could be seen soaked and lying on the floor. Only Azuk managed to stand up. The cat person had drowned in the sudden deluge. Corgac, still injured, took a knee to recover himself after expending a significant amount of magic power.
"Well, it appears you couldn't drown me, Corgac. Haha! I will build my kingdom right on top of your massive estate. Your death won't be painless," said Azuk with a malevolent grin.
Hanz had followed his father's command and run the moment he screamed. Fear and despair ruled his mind, leaving no room for grief over his mother. He found himself in a room with a balcony. As he peered outside into the dark night, he realized it wasn't as dark as he had imagined. In the distance, he saw fields and the nearby village, located just a kilometer away from his father's estate, engulfed in flames. The reflection of fire flickered in his light brown eyes, intensifying his fear.