The most profound solace lies in understanding, this ancient, unseen stream, a shudder before the beautiful. In the cold hours of the midnight moon, the king of Apocrypha arose from his throne. His appearance was unlike anything the world has ever seen; his face was dark, pale, and far too demented to be called pure. During this time, he remembered how it all started and how he became what he is now: a king of darkness, a knight of the dark embrace, and a ruler of a dark world. He walks from his mighty throne and opens the doors leading to the rampart where he can see everything from his kingdom to the world's outer reaches.

His name is Mephiles, the Demon Wolf. He ruled with an iron hand, and his ultimate desire in life was to give a new beginning to a dying world. A world cast away from the heavens and where demonic creatures are abroad in the night. He looks up to the sky and watches the stars along with the moon; for a short while, he felt his massive power engulf everything inside of him. He almost forgot what fear felt like, and there was a time when he would have been terrified by a shriek in the night.

Mephiles stood there on the balcony and awaited his greatest enemies to fight him and end his reign upon the earth. He was a brave man who seemed to never back down from any onslaught or battle. He had demonic-blood and wolf-blood inside his veins, his eye color is red and black, and his sword was crafted through metal and ancient nordic steel. As he stood there, he was carrying sand with him to commemorate the memory of a woman he loved long ago. She was taken from him, and once again, he was left with nobody to love, nobody to cheer him up, and nobody to tell him their genuine feelings about him.

Mephiles opened up his right hand and released the sand so it could fly with the wind; once again, he was left with no peace and forced to rule alone. It was one of the many things he'll never get back, and it will take him a very long time to throw away his sorrows. The Demon Wolf watched as the sands flew into the horizon and the night sky. The sky itself was filled with darkness, and the voices within the castle were gothic and horrifying to listen to. Mephiles looked up into the air to remember how it all began and how everything he has ever done led to this moment.

For a long while, he stood upon the rampart and looked at every single star and the full moon. He looked up and looked back at his earlier days before he became a demon king. This is his story. This is his tale. This is how a man who sought ambition and a kingdom changed his life. 

A dark fantasy tale of the devil passing through the lands of the earth and the wolf hiding from the moon. The Devil and the Huntsman.

Our tale begins at a full moon hovering in the sky and lightning striking at many trees. A man stands beside a massive cross that faced an enormous tower about ten yards away from where he stood. So much wind was blowing in his direction and never seemed to cease as he walked ahead along with a few other knights. There were about a dozen knights with him, and all of them carried swords and held them in defense. The young man also had a sword, a double-edged nordic sword which ran from his back to his knee.

His name is Julius of Romania, a prince of a late kingdom that fell into ruin by the demons a couple of years back. His brother was the true heir to the throne after his father died, but the demonic elder dragon entered the world along with all the hordes of Hell. As a young teen, he was taken in service to the king of Midland. But those events are no more. The demonic invasions changed the way of life, and the most powerful of all the demons took the thrones of all the kingdoms. Julius took the knights with him to the dark tower to defeat whatever evil lurked inside of it; it was by the orders of his older brother.

His brother's name is Harald of Midland, the earl, and chieftain of Loftain. He is the man who makes sure his city is kept secure by its walls, which stay away from any stranger, especially the demons. For about fifteen years, Julius served as the leader of the knights and squires and was very skilled with the sword. He and his brother protected Midland's people from carrying on their father's legacy and never be afraid to act accordingly. Both of them swore their allegiance to their father, and both vowed to fight to the death against the night creatures.

Julius showed no pity or remorse towards his brother and never plotted against him; everything seemed pretty reasonable for the two of them. Both Julius and Harald had a wife, and each had only one child; Julius had a daughter, and Harald had a son. Julius's daughter was named Lagertha of Stockholm, and Harald's son was named Brant of Midland. They raised their children and made sure they were protected and kept safe from the night, and they were warned never to walk outside at night. And so, Julius and Harald remained loyal to each other and lived on to defend their people and home against the creatures of the night.

Meanwhile, on a particular night, Julius walked to the large, dark tower where a red light was shining around the building. The men who were with him became very fearful of what might happen if they walked any closer.

"Captain! What do you think we'll find in there?" A knight asked.

"Have no fear. A great evil lurks in that tower, and only we can put a stop to it," Julius answered.

"I've heard many things about that place. I've heard that a massive beast with large wings lives inside it," the knight said.

"I've fought many demons before. This isn't anything new for me. Any demon that stands in my way will meet my blade. So long as you are with me, they won't so much as leave a scar on your chest. Our swords are stained with salt... it's their greatest weakness and kills them instantly. I've done it before, and so have you."

"True, but this one creature is more powerful than a dozen night creatures put together. Even if we get very close to that beast, he'll kill us all in a single heartbeat!"

"Do the dead frighten you, sir knight? Need I remind you why you've come with me on this important task? How many demons have you slain already? Hundreds? Thousands?"

"Hundreds, captain!"

"Then, you know that the demons will get progressively stronger and more challenging to defeat. It depends on how many of them you have put to death. It differs from how much knowledge you have about the night creatures. The hordes of Hell already know me too well. They will do anything and come up with new ideas to take me down. But that's not happening on my watch... I will cut them all to pieces until I draw my last breath."

"Of course, captain! Your word is absolute. The demons are petty and pathetic. Their rule is weak."

"That's the spirit. You speak like a true knight of Midland! Now, stay close to me... that goes for the rest of you. Any creature that comes our way strikes them down. Fight as if your lives depend on it. Let's put an end to this madness."

And so, they obeyed the word of Julius and continued to stay behind him as they drew closer towards the lofty tower. Even though they were exceedingly afraid, they still followed their leader's command and had to put their trust in him. Then Julius pulled out his greatsword and prepared for anything to come his way, as the night was already upon them. The night showed them that the demons would devour them if they did nothing to defend themselves. He strolled to make sure he didn't lose his comrades who were still behind him.

And before any of them could make a sound, they looked up and saw that the moon changed color. They witnessed before their very eyes that the moon is being stained with blood, and it triggered the demons to hunt down their prey.

The knights who were with Julius held onto their swords and prepared themselves for an onslaught against the demons. They all heard loud shrieks of terror and saw many things climb all over the trees that were around them. The forest used to be quiet during the night, and the air is always cold and seemed to breeze all over anyone who walks in the night. Everyone stayed behind their leader to either die by his side or live long enough to tell the tale to their other comrades. Suddenly, one demon landed in front of them and pulled out its sword to fight back as the night was upon them.

Some night creatures were well-prepared to fight against any human, and the others mostly use their sharp claws as weapons. Then, Julius holds onto his greatsword and waits for the demon to come his way; he waits for him to deliver a killing blow. Typically, some demons stand and wait for their opponent to go to them and see if they can kill a human with one strike. With all of his strength, Julius uses his greatsword and slices the demon in two, and watches as its blood splatters all over the trees. Some demons caught the sight of the blood and gore from their fallen friend, and they were all prepared to kill all the knights who walked in the forest.

Then, a few more demons charged quickly towards the humans; half of them carried swords, and the rest wanted to devour them whole. Julius stood there and was not afraid to act boldly alongside the knights, and he feared no demons. One of them ran as fast as possible towards the young swordsman and held onto his weapon to cut him down. But the devil was too slow for Julius because he was much faster at swinging a sword than any of the night creatures. He turned his sword at the demon, and half of its body flew out, and so much of its intestines fell onto the ground.

Julius's fellow knights knew the bravery of his swordsmanship and how much strength he carried with him. A few other demons started charging after him and his comrades; some of them faced the young swordsman by himself as the others went for the knights. Because the swords were dipped with salt and mostly crafted by silver, the knights could kill all the demons that stood in their way. The knights had no scars or cuts on their bodies after defeating the small group of demons. Julius swings his sword with so much anger and fury against all of his opponents because he despised the night creatures in every way.

He only wished not to let down his people and not fail any of his duties or missions so long as he lived. He and his brother lived to carry on their father's legacy and restore order to the remaining regions of the earth. And so, all the knights defeated the demons in about two minutes, and so much blood covered their swords. They were all relieved to know that they were all still alive, thanks to Julius's strength and ability against his opponents. So much blood and gore have been stained on the ground, and lots of it was dripping from the trees.

"Steady, lads. We've already made it this far. They're going to wonder why we're out here," Julius said. The knights were still loyal to the swordsman and agreed that they should remain behind him until the night is over.

Julius and his knights continued walking on the trail that led to the grimy tower, and they all stopped for nothing. It would be an act of betrayal if any of them left their comrades and leader to run back to the village; they would wonder why Julius didn't return with him along with the other knights. As they walked, it became colder and harder to walk straight from the violent wind. Then, they all heard a loud howl in the air, and a few of them started gulping and began having shivers sent down their spine. None of them knew what would happen next, and they would not dare ask Julius the question made to insult him.

Then, another howl was heard; this time, a loud noise seemed to combine a roar and a cry. They all stopped walking and noticed that the ground was shaking and some trees were falling. Before any of them could say anything to one another, they caught a sight of a giant creature flying from the tower. The animal had so much smoke puffing out of his body, and it had massive wings just as one knight foretold. The creature was an ancient beast who lived to send terror to all who defied him.

Then, the demon lands onto the ground with a sizable dragon-bone sword, which could light on fire and quickly kill any who comes in contact with it. The beast itself had massive armor with a large cape, and he had red eyes, which were standard for more powerful night creatures. Then Julius held up his greatsword and pointed it at the deadly beast; the demon's appearance was proof enough that he needed so many answers from him.

"Who... are you?" He asked. Then, the demon force blows the wind in his direction and forces him to stay down and remain on his knees.

"I've heard of someone such as you. Are you truly the best that the city of Loftain could give me?" The demon asked.

"What do you want?" Julius asked.

"It was not curiosity that led you here. You came here for a higher purpose. I can accept that."

"I cannot let you leave here, alive!"

"So be it!"

Then, the demon uses his sword, charges quickly towards the vast majority of Julius's knights, and cleaves them open. It blew the young swordsman away that such a demon could cut down so many men all at once. The devil would not back down quickly because he slaughtered ten out of twelve knights that were with Julius. There were only two knights left, and they were all fearful of what had happened to their allies.

"Go! Leave! Get out of here!" Julius shouted.

"But what about you?" One of them asked.

"Just get out of this forest. Get back to the city!" He shouted. Then, they all listened to him and dashed back to Loftain to wait for Julius after he dealt with this powerful creature.

The monster was about to hold out his hand and kill those two knights by using dark magic, but Julius went behind him and held the demon by his throat. He then holds onto the demon's wrist and starts gripping onto it; he believed if he grasped the wrist hard enough, it would snap in two. Later, Julius pulls out his dagger and starts stabbing the demon on the back, and he watches as so much blood splatters out of the demon's body. He wanted the beast to regret ever coming to him and being in his way as the night continued to be upon him. Then Julius takes that dagger and runs it from his stomach up to his chest as it filled him with so much rage.

Finally, he uses the dagger and pierces the demon's right eye, forcing the creature to watch as he drags out the knife. But before he could do anything else, the devil elbows him in the stomach and shoves him back. Then, he pulls out his greatsword and starts swinging it at Julius as he defends himself with his weapon. They both clashed openly and did not take a single step back as they were trying to defeat one another. The swordsman and the mighty creature were valiant knights because of how much strength they all seemed to carry.

Because the demon had cuts and scars all over his body, he lost balance and stamina while fighting against Julius. Then Julius uses his greatsword and stabs the demon in the chest with all of his strength and fury. He then pulls the sword back with so much blood, and gore falls from the demon's body.

"Why do you stand in my way?" Julius asked.

"Are you truly the best that pathetic king can send?" The demon asked.

"You dare speak those words about my brother? I'll have your head!" He shouted.

"King Harald. Your brother? Then, the merger has begun. And there's nothing you can do to change it!"

"Why must I listen to such a vile creature such as you?"

"You haven't seen it, have you? Your ambitions, your desires, and your undoing. Your fate has already been sealed, and the day will come when all shall fear you and despair. There will be nobody left to defend. You won't be able to control your power, and it will control you. Your day of reckoning will soon be here, and you will be betrayed."

"No. I don't believe you. I'll never believe you."

Julius stood before the powerful demon in many confusions and anger after being told about his fate, and he waited for the beast to say more things on the matter.

    The mighty creature stood before Julius and answered him, saying, "The day will come when all is revealed on the day of reckoning. All the lords of Hell shall sound their trumpets and bring forth a new era. An age where the darkness shall eclipse light. An age of shorter days and longer nights. A time when the king of darkness shall rise and set forth a kingdom far greater than any kingdom humanity has ever known. The new king of Hell's army will never be defeated until his offspring rises against him."

"That will never happen. Who can command the forest and make the trees pull their roots out of the earth? That damnable era shall never come. Tell me, if your dark powers can see this far: will his sons or daughters ever reign in that new kingdom?" Julius asked.

Then the demon answered and said to him, "Don't you see? The games have already begun, the day of the advent shall come, and all the humans shall witness the coming of their savior. Nobody will have the power to change that day. Nobody will so much as change the events that will come to pass. The old days are over... the world needs a protector to rule over all humanity. Not even you can undo anything that you humans will endure."

Then, the demon's wings grew, and he flew away from Julius and went elsewhere. He did not go back to the enormous tower because the red light was no longer glowing in the night. Julius saw that the tower was collapsing, and all of its foundations were crumbling into many large pieces as it fell. The great evil was no longer controlling the cursed place, and there were no longer any black clouds in sight. Julius headed back home and give his report to his brother as he tried to keep his distance and tried to forget about all of this.

Unfortunately, he could not forget this fateful event that just occurred as he lived out his days as a mortal. As he walked, he could see so much blood and gore being stained on the trees, and he could see some dismembered body parts from his fallen knights. It would cause quite a stir amongst the people if they heard about demons slaughtering the humans in so many violent ways. He knew he had to keep his head out of the clouds and not forget about the dark future. A future which he will never forget and an era that would cause calamity upon those who will not bow their heads before the king of the world.

A few hours later, the morning sun vanquished the horrible night, and there were not any more creatures around. It relieved Julius that he could see the sun again; it was something that he longed to see after spending the entire night hunting down demons. Meanwhile, a few men in cloth and robes were walking on the trail that led to a faraway home that was about ten miles away from Loftain. These men were no ordinary people to be taken lightly, and they were not men who would back down in a fight. They were strolling down the road as a day was beginning for the people of the region.

They were walking to Julius's house because they had relevant information to deliver to his family in secret. Julius had no idea if any of this because he was going back to the city to address the devastating news to Harald. The men had no business or quarrel to be dealt with anyone at the moment; they had no time to waste and nothing left to lose. One man is named Brynjar, who is the leader of the mysterious men who were delivering the news. They had to let his wife and daughter know of their father's fate and what would likely happen to them.

And so, they made it towards the front doors of the house and gazed upon it as the sun was slowly rising above the clouds. The house wasn't huge, and it only had three bedrooms and a small living room; it wasn't enough to fit so many people all at once. Brynjar walks towards the front door as everyone else stays behind him and begins knocking on the door. There was no answer for a few seconds, and nobody came to answer the door for a moment. Before anyone could do anything else, Julius's wife, Lucy, pulls the door open and sees all the men who stood before her.

Lucy was very young and knew many things about suspicious men who carried important business along with them. She knew Julius for as long as she could remember, and she has always lived a happy life with him. She also knew that Julius is commonly never coming home on such occasions as the one from last night. Unlike her husband, she was never skilled with the sword and never taught herself how to use weapons. She stood before the men and waited for them to give their reason for being with her; they didn't want Julius to know that strangers were coming inside their home.

Then Brynjar said to her, "Greetings. I am Brynjar, and we are the brotherhood of Anduin. We have come here to remind you of the many things that shall soon occur. My sincere apologies for disrupting your morning. We cannot pick another time of the day to discuss some news with you. These mostly have to do with Julius and his heritage."

"How do you know about us?" Lucy asked.

"I must know of the people whose fate has been sealed. It is my curse to learn and know the fates of those who have been purged by it," he said.

"How can you be so sure of this?"

"Don't be afraid. Even the severe consequences that your husband has endured always come with a hidden meaning. I am ready to share it with you."

"Would you like to have a drink?"

"No, thank you. We are not as thirsty as most people are."

"Is there anything that I can do for you? You must seem tired after walking for so long."

"Don't worry about us. We know how to take care of ourselves."

"Alright, then. You may enter."

Then, Lucy allows them to come inside her house with Brynjar leading the way; there were only five men with him. The wise man saw the house and noticed that it was organized entirely and deeply cleaned. Lucy always made sure that her house was clean, and she taught Lagertha how to clean up on her own. The men of Anduin were ancient and were men of peace, even though the news they bring can cause quite an uproar. And before any of them could say anything to welcome each other, Lagertha walked out of her room and saw the older men with Lucy.

"Mother, who are these people?" Lagertha asked.

"Go back to your room, Lagertha. I'll call you in a few minutes," Lucy said. While turning away, the young teenager took a sharp look at the men of Anduin and saw eyes that carried fate and destiny with them.

It was something that she would be forced to carry with her for the rest of her life, and she might carry it along with her offspring. As she went back to her room, she kept the door slightly opened to hear everything that the older man had to say for himself. Lucy allows them to sit down on the sofa as she brings up a chair to sit herself on. She was always respectful towards strangers and those who seemed to carry news about her family. Lagertha hides behind her door and listens to every word that Brynjar will say to her mother; she did not know if they were good news or bad news.

"I welcome you to my home. It's not much, but it's all I can afford," Lucy said.

"We appreciate the kind offer that you give us all. And we are honored to be invited by all who are pure of heart," Brynjar said.

"But that's not why you're here, is it?" She asked.

"Now that we are all situated and not outside where he can likely have a good glimpse at us, it's time that we deliver what is fated to happen."

"What on earth are you on about?"

"Julius of Romania, brother of Harald of Midland. The man whose brother was the rightful heir to the throne has been seeing visions. Visions that would most definitely endanger every single person he knows and loves. The day will come when his fate will take full effect, and there will be nothing he can do to change this."

Lucy had a feeling that she could not trust these men who were bringing her news, and she believed that whatever they were saying was madness. She looked down at herself and tried to erase it all away from her head; her husband would never succumb to such a horrible fate. Then, Brynjar pulls out a necklace made of glass, but it was a different necklace and unlike anything that Lucy has ever seen. The necklace was a small mirror that could make anyone look into it and make them see their fate. He then hands her the necklace and tells her to gaze upon it and witness everything that takes place.

Lucy keeps her eyes upon it and sees many dark things that will most likely happen to not only her husband but everyone that he has ever known. Despite everything, he went through and everything that he sacrificed to defend the region with his brother would come at a significant cost. Lucy sees that all the regions and cities he conquered would be reduced to ashes, and the people who live in those cities would either die or witness their homes burned to the ground. She desperately tried to look away from the mirror, but she could not because of how intense the imagery was. She then sees that Julius walks on the road with a much darker appearance than what he usually looks like.

As of right now, he was pretty young and had a short beard, had long hair, and wore Lothric knight armor. As a general of the knights, he made sure that everyone was kept safe and away from the great dangers of the earth. It was at this point that the earth would be much more dangerous and less safe traveling to other regions. She continued to gaze at the mysterious mirror and remained speechless as the morning is still upon them. The men of Anduin were feeling concerned about Lucy, and they were whispering amongst themselves about what tragedy she would be given.

Then, she could not look upon the mirror any longer because of how vile and corrupt Julius's fate will be. Lucy covered her eyes from the sight of the necklace, and she became speechless at everything that she has seen. For a long while, she could not so much as look up at Brynjar and ask for his counsel or forgiveness. Eventually, the old man gets up from the sofa and slowly places his hand on her shoulder; he could see in her eyes the same fear that would drive him to nothingness. He then takes the necklace away from her and puts it back in his pocket while staring at her.

Then Brynjar said to her, "You have seen it, Lucy. The mirror has shown you Julius's fate. When that day comes, you must take your daughter to a faraway place and never look back. Lagertha and her descendants will be the only ones capable of facing him in the future. Your daughter's survival is the only hope for humanity. But you still have time to prepare."

"Do you know when all of this will happen?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know. I just know the fates of many who have fought hundreds... if not thousands of demons," he answered. Lucy sat there and remained silent for a long while, and she could not think of anything else to say to him.

"Do not be afraid. Have faith that you will still live to see it through," Brynjar said. And so, he got himself up and all the other men walked behind him wherever he was going.

Lucy sits there and watches as the men are leaving her house and journey back to their home. Then, she gets up and follows them before their leader could touch the handle of the door to leave.

"Wait. What's your name?" Lucy asked. He turned back to her and still saw the fear in her eyes as she continued to think about all the tragic things that would occur.

"Brynjar," he answered.

"I owe you my life. You're welcomed here if you ever want to visit again," she said.

"Don't worry about us. We will still live to tell our tales to those who wish to hear it. Farewell."

Without hesitation, he opened the front door and continued his way down the road, and the other men were still following him. Lucy looks at them walking away from the entrance of the house and remains there for a long time. It was far too impossible to get those images out of her head; fate has always been a terrible thing that absolutely nobody can change. Then, Lagertha opened her door and watched as her mother was still standing beside the front door. She had no idea why her mother looked so lost and depressed, and she could not understand who the men of Anduin were.

Then, she goes up to her mother and tries to talk with her about those old men; in Lucy's eyes, they were men who were not afraid to show people their fates and what the outcome would be. Lagertha looked at her mother and saw so much horror and loneliness on her face, and she could not tell her about her feelings. But she needed to know about Brynjar and the rest of those men; it was a feeling that would never leave her as she lived on.

"Mother. Who are they?" Lagertha asked.

"They are the men of Anduin. Wise men who should never be reckoned with," Lucy answered.

"Does Father know about them?" She asked.

"We must never tell your father about them. If he already knows who they are, that's fine. But I must not tell him what I saw... nor can I tell you."

"Why won't you tell me what you saw?"

"Because it would not end well. You would never believe me. There is way too much about your father that you mustn't know."

"Alright."

"Good. Let's just wait for your father to get here and pretend this never happened."

And so, Lucy closes the front door and goes through the rest of the morning in silence as Lagertha continues to be confused about what just happened. But she knew her mother and knew that she had to stay silent about all the things that have to do with her father. However, she heard of things that had to do with her and understood the vast majority of the words that Brynjar said to Lucy. One of those things was that Lagertha would fight against her father; only if he succumbs to the darkness. She had her questions to give her mother, but she had to keep it all a secret for her mother's sake.

Meanwhile, Julius made his way towards the city of Loftain and felt exhausted after walking for so long. There were so many instances where he could have gone back home and met up with his wife again. But he had to deliver the news of the enormous tower to Harald; he was not feeling satisfied like he once was about going on a demon hunt. For any normal person, it would be way too risky and nearly impossible if that person was not skilled enough to do it. Harald puts his trust in his younger brother because they both know how to hunt down hundreds of demons.

He then made his way towards the city's entrance and was seen by a few guards and knights, and they were all shocked and surprised. Mostly because there were supposed to be about six knights who went with him to deal with the dark tower. Some of them already knew because the other two knights who survived the hunt could tell their story. None of the knights were satisfied with the survivors being left alone without their leader returning to the city. Eventually, they knew that Julius returned and survived the fateful encounter that revealed much of his fate.

He had no time to waste because he had to deliver his message to the earl of the city; he didn't want his time to be wasted on many questions that the knights wanted to ask him. Sometimes, he was the silent type of person to walk around, and he didn't want to be bothered by things he may think are annoying. Then, he made it towards the palace of the city where Harald was waiting for him, and he made sure that nobody stood in his way. Mostly, it was very common that nobody had a conversation with him, but he enjoys making sure that it doesn't happen. The knights allowed him to enter the palace because they all knew him as Harald's general and brother.

The sun was already up in the clouds and nothing bad seemed to happen in the city of Loftain.

    The city seemed to be in good shape since there were never any invasions or encounters with the demonic creatures. The knights and guards made way for Julius as he entered the palace, and they were all speechless at the fact that he could not utter a single word about last night. Not all of them, but the vast majority of the knights were told of the brutal deaths of their fallen comrades by the powerful creature. He made sure that he remained silent of any type of encounter with a demon because the people would immediately think he might betray them. There comes a day when even the mightiest of all the people could do such a small thing that would be a direct betrayal to everything the people have fought for.

He saw that Harald was not sitting on his throne because he must have been doing something that was much more important. If he knew anything about his brother, he knew that he would lie out some plans that he could use in the future. Then, he continued to walk towards the earl's chief in command; the man was a dark elf named Balvu, and he was sworn to Harald's service. Julius and Balvu were close friends and usually fought side-by-side against any creature who would invade their city. The elf noticed that he did not have the time to be in a conversation with anyone else.

"Ah, Julius. You have returned," Balvu said.

"I have. So, it's been a while since we've last met. Hasn't it?" Julius asked.

"It's been about an entire week. You didn't even get to speak to anyone about that tower. I hear that it's been taken care of."

"It's a cursed place that shouldn't be talked about by many people. If there is anything that needs to be known, the people should be told not to scurry around. Of course, if they already knew that."

"So, Julius. Let's be honest. Why have you come?"

"I need to speak to Harald. Is he awake?"

"Yes. He just woke up like an hour ago. He hasn't spoken to anyone ever since."

"Well, he must wait for me. It's usually what he does every time he needs me for something important. It's been about two weeks since we've last talked with each other in private. When people think of him, they sometimes think of me. He is their leader, and I am just someone who follows orders. He is in the planning room, isn't he?"

"He is. He hasn't said a word to anyone or even called someone in."

"Very well. I guess I'll see what he wants, then I must meet with my family. If Harald has planned nothing out, then I can only assume that he is asking only for me. And if there's anything that you can do for my sake, do not tell any of the guards about that cursed tower. Knowing my brother, you and I might meet in different circumstances or any day when I'm not all that busy."

Then Julius left Balvu to meet up with the earl, and he found him in the planning room. He was welcomed in all the rooms of the palace, and nobody ever treated him as a stranger. They all acknowledged his bravery and skill as he fought back against the demons, and they all made his name known throughout the region. The region of Midland was the only place on earth where the most powerful and violent invasions took place. But every man was always ready to fight back against the night creatures; they always sharpened their blades and ready their defenses before fighting the demons.

Then Julius entered the planning room and saw that Harald was sitting on a chair and looking at a map of the world. The world was a gigantic island and a large landmass of all the earth's regions colliding together; on the other side of the world, a place is said to be known as the land of the dead. For now, there was nothing to be said about anything that had to be done with the island of lost souls. He walks up to his brother and sits on one side of the table as Harald is sitting on the other side. Julius could see in his brother's eyes the same expression as him when he first encountered the powerful creature.

"I've returned, brother," Julius said.

"Ah, well met. I see that you've come back in good shape," Harald said.

"I've faced that mighty demon myself, along with a few other knights. The creature itself was so powerful that it could kill anything and anyone in just a single slash. There is a limit to what I can do while fighting a monster that's three times my size. And there I was, fighting against the creature as most of the knights were fearful about the demon's appearance. About ten people who were with me didn't live to tell the tale."

"My god. That's some creature. I'm a bit surprised that even you could walk from that place to my doorsteps. It's not uncommon that even I know of such terrors that plague this world. It's only a matter of time before the entire world belongs to the demons. But tell me, what happened to most of the knights who were with you?"

"They got slaughtered. They got torn apart by the demon. Only two of them escaped the onslaught. Only two of them could live on and be haunted by such a creature of darkness. I was the only one to face that creature and put it out of its misery. The creature didn't die, it was gravely wounded... but, it still flew someplace else."

"I almost feel bad for sending you out there. If you and I did that task together, the demon would've already been dead. But I keep hearing of this saying that those who have slain thousands of demons will have their fates sealed. These are people just like you and me. Our very existence is to rid the world of any unholy creature and send them all back to where they came from. It has always been this way ever since they first appeared."

"But, if you came with me and you were dead, who will it be to rule Midland's citizens?"

"I have no idea. I've been the leader of these people for about six years and nobody has agreed to cast me out. I figured you must've known and should know by now that my son will be my successor. The only problem is that he's too young and knows nothing about what it's like to be a ruler of a nation that's on the brink of death. If I had died, then all of Midland would question itself on whether it should fall into the hands of our enemies. And when that abysmal day comes, we must all be ready to fight back."

"Ah, yes. I have not forgotten. I have also not forgotten about that day. However, what I have been hearing is that one demon you were handling got onto you. I hope... it didn't leave a scar."

"What are you on about, dear brother? I have never had a scar on my body. Or, maybe I've received four scars on my back, but they all seemed to heal. They were all minor scars and can be healed very quickly. Now, we're getting a bit off-topic here. Why have you returned other than giving me what you've done last night?"

The question seemed a bit bizarre to Julius, and he knew that he couldn't resist answering questions his old brother had for him. As a leader of the knights of Midland, he had to simply answer as many questions as possible. There was never a dull moment where it seemed like Julius would betray his brother, his family, and his kingdom. He had to keep his eyes open for any obstacle in his path; so much about the world needed to be known, but it would cost so much to do so. For Julius, it would cost him nearly everything if he did such a foolish thing, and he knew that he could never find forgiveness if he told a lie.

"I've returned because there comes a day that I think about you and how far you've come," Julius said.

"Well, I could say the same about you. My men used to talk about you and your bravery. And because of that, some of my other generals are gathering a feast for the people," Harald said.

"What kind of feast is it?"

"A feast where we honor the ones who gave their lives to fight back against the demons. And a feast where we recognize my son and your daughter. Your daughter will become a woman and my son will become a man."

Julius stood there and was stunned because Harald was planning a feast for the people of Loftain. His daughter was old enough to join him and be with him for only a little while before he had to go hunting demons again. Harald's son was also eligible to attend the feast, and he allowed his son to see and know what it is like to be a man. Once every year, there are about two feasts that the person attends to have a large sense of peace enter their minds. Julius had no idea what to tell his wife about this news, but he wants to do the best he can to not disappoint her.

"When is this feast?" He asked.

"Tomorrow. It will be the day of not only remembering the bravery of our father but knowing which of us is to rule and bring honor to his name," Harald answered.

"I'm sure your rule will be as stunning as usual."

"And I'm sure you will be fine as well. Considering all the events that are happening at this moment, I'm sure we can allow a few celebrations to our benefit. The two of us ruling together sounds like a splendid idea, but by tradition and law, there cannot be two kings sitting on the same throne. Eventually, there will come a time when you will have your chance at being a ruler."

"I haven't heard from your son in a while. How is Brant doing?"

"He is growing up extremely well. He's on the verge of adulthood and will be my successor one day. I could give you the right to live out the rest of your days in peace if only the demonic invasions would end. But Brant is as healthy and fit as any other teen. Since you've asked about my son, I would like to know about your daughter. How is Lagertha doing?"

"Lagertha is still as precious as the stars. I would lay down my own life to make sure that she's protected and taken care of. She did everything my wife tells her to and knows how to take care of the house when she is away. I've always shown love to my daughter, and she always returned the favor. You know, I honestly like it when we talk about our kids to each other. Lagertha just turned nineteen, but how old is Brant?"

"He also turned nineteen not too long ago. I gave him a book filled with tragedies and poems. It was all written by a famous playwright. He told me he loved the book, and it was the one thing that kept him from being bored. In about a year or two, he'll be able to have his place and have twice as many friends as he already has. But what about you? What did you give Lagertha on her birthday?"

"A sketchbook. She said she enjoys drawing things and usually enjoys painting. Lagertha once told me she enjoys seeing the world in front of her eyes. She also asked me if she and I could go hiking. Of course, I see that happening and I would do anything to make her feel happy and safe. It's about time that she'll eventually become a young lady."

"Ah. You and I have lots of plans for the future. I like that. It shows not only our family but our people we are a loving family to our kids. But, of course... I have things to do and plans to make."

Julius and Harald were sitting down together and having this long conversation about their children, and they all felt satisfied while doing it. It is usually under different circumstances that they are both able to speak freely and be open-minded about other things. Sometimes it is best if they don't talk about some horrible night that one of them encountered. They could both be having a hard time trying to get back to the place where the walls kept them safe. The two brothers knew and understood each other and would do anything to get something done under their request.

"So, Harald? What's next for me?" Julius asked. Harald looked at him and thought about something he could do for him as he was busy preparing for their next move.

Then he answered and said, "As of right now, nothing. For now, go home to your wife and daughter. I'll have the feast prepared by the night after tomorrow. I also have to get back to my wife to be with her, for I have also missed her."

Then Julius gets up from the chair and heads out from the room as Harald continues to look at the world map.

"Farewell, brother," he said. And so, Julius left the planning room and headed out of the palace; some people were coming inside through the front door.

It was the usual people who served the earl and sat down to have some conversation that they planned out by themselves. Julius simply ignored them and continued to walk towards the front doors of the palace and head outside. As he went outside, the sun was already high in the sky and the people were living out their daily lives. The people who lived in Loftain were roaming around and buying certain things from the market, or they were silent about the many things that could likely happen to them by the demons. The demons were the biggest things that most of the citizens were deeply afraid of, and they could never stop thinking about them.

Julius continued to walk on the trail that led to the city's entrance; he didn't stop for anything nor talked to anyone. This was one of those cases where he did not have time to speak with strangers, and he couldn't get the time to give them what they wanted. These people were the type of people who were very fearful or fearless of the night creatures and had to fight back. Even the city's guards were a bit silent, yet suspicious of what is happening, what has happened, and what will happen. Mostly, they stayed silent and kept being away from politics that might seem to get out of hand.

Then, he opened the entrance doors and began walking in the outside world on the long, dark road that went on and on. The road seemed to never end, and it seemed to continue from where Julius stood to the ends of the earth. He walked all by himself without a carriage driver to take him to his destination; it would have been much easier if he had someone take him home. But he has always considered himself to be an outsider and always called himself a hunter of demons. So, he got used to the idea of being under the sun and having the wind revolve around him as he lived with his family.

Julius walked with his armor on, his weapons and cloak on his back, and his mindset on only seeing his family. He was so reliant on his family because he might never know the day that will come when he will find them all dead by the demons. He and his brother always disowned the monsters of oblivion for what they did and what they might do to poison the world with their power. Eventually, he was about a mile away from the city of Loftain and was still heading towards his house. Elsewhere, Lucy was waiting for Julius to come home, and she wanted to calm herself and relax from this morning.

Lagertha was in her room and was looking at all of her sketches and drawings that she did in her sketchbook. She had at least two or three sketchbooks in her room, but the one that her father gave her has about a thousand pages and more space for her to draw. Occasionally, if a drawing that she's ever done was a special type of art, then she would take it and attach it to her bedroom door. She would usually keep it as something that would remain inside of her for as long as she lives. She was the type of person who would look at a landscape and see if she could replicate the place and make it her own.

"Oh, mother. What has gotten into you?" She asked. Lagertha takes her sketchbook and turns to a blank page where she can draw something new; she tries to think of something she hasn't drawn before.

She picks up her feather pen, adds some ink to it, and begins drawing an enormous sword with two edges. It was a beautiful-looking sword that was unlike any other blade known to man, and it would be her special type of weapon.

It would be her heirloom sword if she could at least learn how to wield it and use it to her benefit.