When David returned to his room, the shadows seemed to cling to him, reflecting the dark tempest within. Charles, his right-hand man and royal guard, awaited him, his imposing figure framed by blonde hair and a neatly trimmed goatee."Your Highness, how did the audience with the lady mage fare?" Charles inquired with a smirk, already sensing the outcome.David's fists clenched in fury as he paced. "She had the audacity to reject me, Charles. A prince! She prefers some unknown scoundrel over me!"Charles chuckled, his voice laced with malice. "Ah, the nerve of some people. But we have ways to correct such... misunderstandings, don't we?"David stopped pacing, a cruel smile twisting his features. "Exactly. If she won't come willingly, we'll just have to persuade her. She wouldn't be the first to learn the error of refusing me."Recalling similar past incidents, Charles nodded in agreement. "Do you recall Lady Elise? The terror in her eyes eventually turned to resignation. And that peasa
As Xander and Atheria set off in their carriage towards Mooncrest, the journey ahead seemed less daunting in each other's company. The carriage rattled along the cobblestone paths, occasionally jolting them as it navigated through the uneven terrain.“Five days to Mooncrest,” Xander remarked, staring out at the passing scenery. “Feels like we’re heading into a storm.”Atheria, leaning back, played with a strand of her hair. “A storm we’ve been brewing for a while now.”There was a pause before Atheria's tone shifted, “Xander, there’s something I haven’t told you. Back at the castle... Prince David, he... he confessed his feelings for me.”Xander turned to her, a mix of surprise and concern on his face. “And?”“I rejected him,” she said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.Xander’s expression hardened slightly. “People like him don’t take no for an answer easily, Atheria. He’s the prince; his ego won’t handle rejection well.”“I know, but I had to be honest. Besides, I can take care of
Berek gestured for Xander and Atheria to sit at a rugged wooden table cluttered with maps and documents. The resistance leader's expression was grave as he began to outline the current state of Mooncrest under Duke Marvin's rule."The situation is grim," Berek started, his voice low and steady. "Marvin has tightened his grip on the kingdom in every way imaginable. He's established checkpoints at all major routes leading into and out of the city. Merchants are heavily scrutinized, their goods often seized under the pretense of security. This has choked off many supplies that the city desperately needs."He pointed to a map of the city, dotted with various marks. "Tax collectors roam the streets, imposing new levies at Marvin's whim. The taxes are backbreaking, designed to keep the populace in a perpetual state of poverty and dependence. He's squeezing the life out of Mooncrest, coin by coin."Xander's jaw tightened as he listened, his hands clenching into fists. Atheria's eyes were col
The night air was tense with anticipation as Berek readied his explosive arrows, the signal for the beginning of their mission. With a steady hand, he aimed at a distant part of the city, far from the warehouse but close enough to draw attention. The arrow soared through the night sky, trailing a faint line of light before erupting into a brilliant explosion. The sound echoed through the streets, and almost immediately, the distant sounds of chaos and confusion followed.As planned, a portion of the guards at the main gate of the warehouse began to mobilize, heading toward the source of the disturbance. Xander watched them leave, a cold determination in his eyes. This was his moment to strike.He turned to Atheria, who nodded back at him from her hidden position. "Good luck," she whispered, barely audible.Xander moved swiftly, his superhuman speed a blur in the shadows. He approached the remaining guards at the gate, his senses heightened and alert for any sign of danger. The guards
As Xander stepped into the vast interior of the warehouse, a sense of unease crept over him. The air was heavy, filled with the scent of stored supplies, but there was something else – an undercurrent of something sinister. He moved cautiously between the rows of crates, his senses on high alert.Suddenly, the eerie quiet was shattered by a low, guttural muttering. Xander froze, listening. The sound was unlike anything he had heard before – a chorus of hoarse, inhuman voices. He turned slowly, his blood sword at the ready.From the shadows of the warehouse, a group of soldiers emerged. But these were no ordinary soldiers. They were grotesquely muscular, towering over normal men, their veins bulging under their unnaturally stretched skin. Their eyes were dull and lifeless, yet filled with a hunger for violence. They moved with a lumbering gait, their large hands clenched into fists.The soldiers wore tattered remnants of armor, but it was clear that they relied more on their sheer size
The battle within the dimly lit warehouse grew increasingly desperate as the zombie soldier, despite the relentless assault from Xander and Atheria, began to gain the upper hand. Its movements, though cumbersome, were powered by an unnatural strength that seemed to defy the laws of nature.Xander, realizing the direness of the situation, decided to use his last resort – his vampiric fangs, a part of his Blood Mage abilities. With a swift movement, he lunged at the zombie soldier, aiming for its neck. However, to his shock and dismay, his fangs failed to penetrate the creature's thick, leathery skin. The realization that even his most primal weapon was ineffective sent a wave of disbelief through him."Damn it! Nothing's working!" Xander grunted, barely dodging a powerful blow from the zombie soldier.Atheria, firing arrows in rapid succession, shouted, "Xander, watch out!"The zombie soldier, seizing the moment, landed a heavy punch that sent Xander reeling back. He stumbled, trying t
In the darkened chambers of King Marvin's stronghold, Mage Jackson hurriedly approached the throne, where Marvin sat brooding over his maps and plans. The air was thick with tension as Jackson prepared to relay the news of the recent attack."Your Majesty," Jackson began, his voice trembling with apprehension, "I bring dire news. Our base has been attacked, and the food supplies we had stored have been taken."King Marvin's eyes, previously fixed on the maps, snapped up, a dangerous glint in them. "Who dares to challenge my rule in such a brazen manner?" he demanded, his voice a low growl."It was Xander, my lord," Jackson replied, hesitating slightly. "And Atheria. They led the assault."Marvin's face contorted with rage upon hearing Xander's name. "Xander!" he bellowed, slamming his fist onto the arm of his throne. "He turned my daughter into a Blood Mage apprentice, and now he has the audacity to attack my resources!"Jackson took a step back, wary of Marvin's growing fury. The kin
Navigating through the skies aboard the airship, Berek, Xander, and Atheria huddled around a makeshift map, plotting their next move. The stolen supplies were crucial for the people of Mooncrest, but distributing them posed significant risks."We need to move quickly," Berek stated, his finger tracing potential routes on the map. "Marvin's guards will be on high alert after our raid."Atheria leaned in, her eyes scanning the layout of the city. "We can't just drop the supplies from the airship. It's too conspicuous, and we risk them being seized by Marvin's forces."Xander nodded in agreement. "And we can't keep the food on the airship for long. It's not secure, and Marvin will be searching for us.""The lower districts," Berek mused, tapping a densely populated area on the map. "They're the most in need, but also the most heavily patrolled."Atheria bit her lip in thought. "What if we use multiple drop points? Small, quick deliveries at different locations. It'll be harder for Marvin