The citizens of Hailderguard were shook in disbelief about the death of a prominent crusader - Kish, it became the talk of the town that the Saint Claire family had lost someone dear to them.
The children - Zenemiah and Victoria however, were still indoors which is understandable, at the moment, the outside world just reminded them of their dead father and all his good works.
"Zene ! "Zene!..." A voice called out at the household's mansion door, the consistent knocking became so loud bartholomew almost yelled at the person - " who is this person knocking with no respect!?".....
The door opened.
It was Shadrach - Zenemiah's childhood who had returned from England's capital for the holiday - only to realize his friend suffered a great loss.
" Shadrach, is that you..?"
Bartholomew asked with surprise
"Bartholomew..!"
The cheerful boy jumped up to hug the eldest butler...
"What a Master Shadrach, it has been so long but it's good to see you"... Bartholomew replied with a little joy .
"It has been so long indeed "
"I miss Hailderguard and my friend"....
Shadrach was still sharing about the return when Victoria came to the door to find Bartholomew.
"Shadrach, is that you?.." the young girl, tears in her eyes ran so fast to hug her brother's friend.
"Victoria, look at you, so grown and beautiful" Shadrach held her hands and saw tears in her eyes.
" Victoria, what troubles you so?"
"What's the cause for the tears?"
Shadrach kept asking as she placed her head on his shoulder with tears rolling down.
"Bartholomew, what happened?.."
Shadrach turned to the bulter's face, which showed him something very troubling happened in the house hold.
Shadrach was from a business family known as the Hastings household - his father, knew Kish and soon after both households became close .
"I heard what happened, I'm so sorry my friend" - Shadrach consoled Zenemiah in his father's room .
"Thank you"
"Your father is a hero Zene, a true crusader" - Shadrach continued.
"Sometimes I wish I wasn't born"
Zenemiah answered with despair.
"Say not such words my friend"
Shadrach replied immediately.
"This world...is in darkness, demons lurks every corner of England and yet people still think the crusaders can solve the problem,we are war with the devil..!" Zenemiah answered with bitterness in his voice.
Shadrach was unhappy, seeing his friend broken is so painful.
" Zene, look at me ..." Shadrach holds his friend by the shoulder
"No matter what happens, always remember I am here with you, I'm not going anywhere, this war with the demons, we are going to win it - together"
Shadrach assured his friend.
The two friends may have once lost touch but their friendship is much stronger than that - a brotherly love .
"How's your mother fairing, I can't begin to imagine how hard she's feeling right now..."
Shadrach asked.
"She'll recover but never heal, sometimes I see her try to smile but instead I see tears....she loved him .....so much"
Zenemiah replied with a little hint of sober in his voice.
Meanwhile, Northington - Kish's friend arrived at the church of the crusaders to discuss the actual cause of the death of Kish and other crusaders at Hailderguard's borders - those with the highest of ranks in the church were the bishops and the captain of Hailderguard's crusade's army - Leo.
The crusaders of the attack may have been buried but the actual causes of their deaths still have to be confirmed yet.
The atmosphere was tense - Captain Leo of the Peridot household and the high ranking bishops were all seated in the church court council to discuss the case of Kish's death and other crusaders in the Eastern lands.
"This meeting is now in session" the church priest announced.
"Your esteemed grace " Northington said solemnly
"I lost my dear friend to those foul creatures at the border,I vow without rest to the bottom of the matter"....
Something about Northington's proclamation annoyed Captain Leo - "everyone here is aware of the risk the crusaders face battling demons but they don't know is you, Northington - by the of Hailderguard's crusade army had being tasked with the responsibility to pinpoint the origin site of the demons "....he paused staring at Northington, who seemed to be standing sheepishly - with the tension already set in the court room, he continued - "so I ask you, Northington of the Magruder household - were the report of your task?"... Captain Leo finally said with a stern smirk on his face.
Not far from the church premises, a prideful traveler arrived at the border gates of Hailderguard - Rook Magruder, of Northington who was traveling with his entourage in their horse-driven wagon pulling up at the gates.
There's a tight security of crusaders at the border gates so as to avoid demons from entering Hailderguard - "halt! Papers please"... said a crusader who asked for verification from the wagon driver - "why delay me, don't you know I am, Rook of the Magruder household, son of Northington, and I am late for date in the finest restaurant in Hailderguard" the crusaders looked at Rook with disgust, they jeered amongst themselves and waved at the wagon to go in.
All of a sudden, one of the baggages at the truck of the wagon erupted and out came a demon!....