The room Ragh and Aster sat in was painfully dry. Everything drained moisture from the body from the splintering wooden chairs and table to the dry stone floors. The sun dipped below the horizon outside cloaking the room in long shadows. In the darkness the two figures relaxed the best they could in the terrible conditions.

¨Ful´lal´tul, that's the city we are in, it lies on the edge of the dunes of Cariim and the dreaded Greylands. During the day it is extremely dry with the nights being cold enough to have your fingers freeze right off your hands.¨ Aster´s breath came out in white plumes as the temperature dropped. He rubbed his hands together for warmth. ¨You don't seem to be affected though, sitting there in that armor.¨

¨I'm used to being in this armor… or at least I feel like I'm used to being in it.¨ Ragh shuffled uncomfortably. He noticed that while he could feel the temperature he was not sweating nor did he feel overheated. The strange feeling had him internally panicking but when he went to remove his armor a nauseous feeling overcame him again.

¨That's a good thing, you never know when something is going to sneak up on you here.¨ Aster had his back in his wooden chair and was leaning precariously on its edge. ¨I'm surprised I found someone sane, even if you lost your memory, it's a nice change.¨

The rickety wooden door at the other side of the room shook. Their eyes turned towards the door and they stood. The door stopped shaking after a moment and went still. Then a very fat rat slipped underneath the frame before quickly noticing them and darting back under, squeaking all the way.

¨By the grace of Yrena, it's hard to get a break around here.¨ Aster swore. He grabbed the chair he had been sitting on and propped it up against the door. The two slowly relaxed the best they could but this time Aster sat on the floor.

¨Say, I know you lost your memory but do you know of the Sinless Warden?¨ Aster asked while leaning forward, his chainmail leaving the wall with the sound of sliding metal. The sun had almost completely disappeared, only illuminating the edge of the crusader helm he wore.

¨No sir, doesn't even sound familiar.¨ Ragh sighed, leaning back and watching the window to the best of his ability. He felt the urge to stand at attention but was too exhausted to go through with it.

¨Well, bear with me here. We are some of the only living humans left in the city. But a few decades ago there was talk of a foreign priestesses of some sort. Someone who came here to help fight against the demons. But by the time she arrived the city was already in ruin. It is said that she still waits in the city for someone to come find her.¨ Aster examined the sharp edge of his blade. ¨I have been looking for years trying to find her and I finally got a lead from some crazy soldier from the dragon wars. I know where she is, I just have to go find her.¨

¨Decades?¨ Ragh asked. He didn't seem that old when he had seen him. There were so many questions but he didn't want to overwhelm Aster with them.

¨Yes, all humans here are ageless and immune to disease. A final gift from that bitch of an ice goddess Soveiriny.¨ Aster´s hand clenched tightly before he released it with a sigh. ¨She gave us these artifacts, one for each living person. They are known as the rings of winter which make us ageless and timeless as ice. Yet if removed, the Night Rot will overcome you and leave you exposed to its sickness. By the time we received these gifts it was already too late.¨

¨Enough of that though. It's not good to dwell in the past.¨ Aster shook his head. ¨I wanted to ask you for a favor.¨

¨Ask anything, as a knight it is in my code to pay back a debt.¨ The words came out of Ragh´s mouth before he could even think about what he was saying. Not that he disagreed with them though.

¨Well then. I thank you for the help in advance.¨ Aster half-bowed sarcastically mimicking the overly formal tone Ragh took on. ¨I'm headed to the Dragon Dregs where I believe the Sinless Warden resides. I want you to help me get there.¨

¨Then will it be dangerous?¨ Ragh asked.

¨Where isn't dangerous in this damned hellscape?¨ Aster chuckled, his hands playing over the greatsword he held. ¨I will save the world, but even I can't do everything alone.¨ His gaze burned with determination, eyeing the chipped edge of his blade.

¨Very well, I have already given my word.¨ Noble pride filled Ragh as he spoke. He didn't really understand the feeling or why he was doing this but he liked it. It felt good to say these things, it made him feel rooted in something, it made him feel alive.

Ragh made his vow in the dark to Aster, who had saved his life. As time passed Aster slowly fell asleep leaving Ragh to sit there quietly. He felt tired but didn't feel the need to sleep. So he sat on the cold stone floor, waiting for the day to break overhead.

There was rustling outside of the window then a gurgle that quickly faded. According to the information Aster gave him Ragh concluded that it was probably the undead reanimating then running off. At least it did not have its shield and weapon now. It made him wonder where the other undead from the group went.

Ragh let out a deep breath to calm himself and try to relax. In the darkness he went to take off his armor again. This time due to the soothing dark no overwhelming feelings of being nauseous and uneasy overcame him. He removed his gauntlet and flexed his hand. The air was cold which he tested by waving his hand back and forth.

Then he took off his other gauntlet and touched the palm of his hand. He couldn't see it but immersed himself in the feeling of touch. His skin was bone-dry and tough like leather. Like sandpaper going over sandpaper. Slowly he touched his fingernails, they were cracked and uneven. Unnerved by his discovery, Ragh quickly reequipped himself.

It was to be expected that he wasn't in the best condition considering where he woke up. The sun had access to that spot on the tower at least half the day which would explain why his skin was so dry. He did not find the ring of winter that Aster spoke about, it must have been on some other part of his body.

Ragh pondered about many things, how he got up on the tower, who he was, what lay in wait at the Dragon Dregs. His knightly demeanor which came to him so suddenly and naturally. What lay underneath his armor which he did not want to take off. So lost in thought he was, that he didn't notice that the sun had begun to rise again.

The moment the sun bled into the alleyway Aster stirred. He groaned and stretched, cracking and popping coming from every bone in his body. He then gathered his things and approached Ragh.

¨We got lucky tonight¨ Aster shouldered his greatsword with the chipped side faced up. ¨Usually my sleep gets interrupted but it seems it's my lucky day.¨ He chuckled and approached the window.

¨Ready?” Aster asked while resting his hand on the windowsill.

Ragh nodded and followed closely after Aster. They vaulted carefully out of the window and landed on the cobbles of the street below. With searching eyes they hugged the walls of the alley and made it out into the wide street again.

¨Stay close, dangers lie everywhere.¨ The sound of their boots hitting the ground seemed unnaturally loud on the silent streets. Even when distance was made between them and the house the two did not relax. The very essence of being on the streets was unnerving. It felt as if there was something wrong, that they weren't supposed to be there. Like walking on someone's grave.

Despite this the two resolutely weaved between knocked over carts and stalls, past tapestries of ivy and walls of stone. The sun, just rising, had already begun to dispel the freezing cold from the night before.

Ragh had no idea where they were going but the looming form of the tower he started on was a constant beacon. If he got lost he could always head for the massive tower which was able to be seen from any street or rooftop.

¨I had been told that there were demons here.¨ Ragh interrupted the brisk march´s silence. He had been curious about this for a while now. All he had seen was undead and more undead.

¨Demons? If you are looking for demons this is the place to find them. There are still many here but most left after they destroyed the city.¨ Aster´s eyes scanned the many alleyways and passages that foes threatened to appear from at any second. ¨The ones that remain either can't leave or have no reason to.¨

The duo stiffened as the sound of footsteps echoed from a nearby alleyway. Quickly the two ducked into an adjacent passage and listened to the sound of a passing patrol. Ragh glimpsed the patrol as it passed, more undead passing through the area, their soulless sockets scanning the empty streets.

¨Not to mention the undead attack anything that moves and isn't undead. This really isn't a great place to be as a demon, or anything for that matter.¨ Aster whispered as they watched the patrol pass. Then once the way was clear they continued.

“What caused the dead to rise from their graves?” Ragh hurriedly kept pace with Aster as they slipped by.

“Nobody really knows but from what I've heard in whispers it was the king's sorcerer Hinkjl. I personally don't believe it but with the world gone to shit I guess anything is possible at this point.” Aster huffed, brushing some grime off the edge of his blade. “Whoever did it warded off the demons but left us with a mob of the dead, oddly lifelike in behaviors and mannerisms but truly indiscriminate when it comes to slaughter.”

Ragh was silent at that, unsure of what to say. There wasn't much to base his thoughts on after all. So, he remained silent.

They continued until the sun was directly above them in the sky. As they walked the city around them began to lose some of its narrow alleyways in favor of more accessible and open streets. Ahead of them was a long bridge outstretched over a massive drop. It was impossible to see into the drop from this distance.

Ragh went to step out from behind the building but his shoulder was grabbed by Aster. ¨Don't move out from behind this building. Our first challenge lies ahead.¨