Once more the sun rose, and the clash of fairies began. Everything seemed bitter every death was more finale to Markus’ eyes. Large sand toads rose from the ground and captured the fleeing night fairies. They were always caught out of hiding just as the sun rose. The dark was always strongest before dawn. They grew the most in those times. Two fairies evolved before his eyes.

A star fairy appeared it was tall and covered with sparkling light. The other became a comet fairy and she flew under a tree to hide from the rising sun. When nothing devoured her, and the sun didn’t burn her like it would have before she walked out in the day light looking around. A solar hound leapt on her and before Markus could stop it, the creature ripped out her throat. He saw the shock on her face.

“That would have been Sara if she went to the academy. But I could have protected her.” Markus said mumbling to himself.

“She would have been eaten alive the second you turned your back. Only the strong survive. It’s the law of nature.” Tristen said. “You would have been torn apart and she would have died after you.” Markus pointed at the star fairy. She blasted the Solar Hound with balls of light burning holes through its fur and killing it. The fairy began eating both. “For the strong to live the weak must die or serve some function.”

“I’m not naïve, I expected more.” The words left his mouth, but he didn’t want to believe them. Was that how he really felt, disappointment. ‘I will never leave you.’ Trixie said those words, he hoped she meant them. Markus urged Windy on and they traveled south for Redgate.

Bannermen crowded the road. One man shouted for them to come. “We offer you a place at the academy, food a plenty, meat with every meal, and all the ale you can drink. Your tuition will be paid in full, if you become an aspirant of Might, and swear your vows today.” The banner of the fist shown clear and not covered in blood like the last one.

“Aspirant more like cannon fodder or bait.” Margarette muttered.

“They wouldn’t send young men to die after they just joined the order. The vanguard is only for the most experienced knights and battle-hardened knights.” Margarette and Tristen shared a laugh at his expense.

“Maybe when your father was the hero and led them himself. Now, no they make sure the aspirants die in droves, so they don’t have to pay them.” Margarette said. Markus frowned this was a black mark on his Pa’s name. Like a crooked plow the order needed to be heated and forced straight again. Windy turned, he drove her through the horde of knights. Her speed carried his weight making them into an irresistible force. The speaker had a second to see his doom.

Taking his axe on the flat side, he smacked the man in the side of the helmet. The chaplain took a tumble, while the knights were tossed like untied straw. They scattered in every direction. None died they were knights tough as nails and followers of Pa’s path of might. He leapt down from Windy and scooped the chaplain up. With a shake the man regained his senses.

“You will meet the headsman for attacking a knight of the hero might.” The chaplain yelled.

“I am Markus of Might, Philip the hero of might is my father. Your order has slandered his honor with your tactics, do you wish to take this up in an honor duel.” Markus said and shook the man. The man’s eyes bulged at Markus’ words. He turned to Margarette as she galloped to them.

“Lady Margarette Leonidas will you be my second, I’m challenging every knight of the order of might to an honor duel. For the slander of the hero of might’s honor. On behalf of my Pa, I’m challenging them for breaking their oaths to train aspirant knights to the best of their abilities and safeguard them until the are proper knights of might.” The Chaplain spluttered.

“We have not slandered the hero of might’s honor sir. We are merely collecting aspirants to refill our depleted ranks. You would be a welcome addition.” Markus shook the man, he needed more help to regain his senses.

“Are you a fool? Why is Pa’s order marching north? The Lady Margarette just sent a message to her father. There are potentially two demon lords. Going north now will get you all killed. A full party of heroes are needed to spear head the army. Pa wouldn’t walk in there without at least another veteran hero with him. Do you want the order to die sir Knight?” Markus demanded. The other knights were beginning to pick themselves up. Markus was pleased that they only received a few broken finders. Even the horses were mostly fine.

“Two demon lords impossible, I won’t ask how you know. But did the lord hero tell you.” The Chaplain asked. Markus shook his head.

“Pa knew but my mind flayer informed me of two massive dark presences in the north.” The Chaplain spluttered.

“They never work together. Often when there are no heroes we work their forces against one another. But two working together. That hasn’t happened before.” Markus shrugged.

“Chaplain gather your men and tell the chapter master of the forces. Make whatever excuses you can to stay out of this first battle. If you weren’t already informed, then it’s likely you won’t be informed. The chapter messengers should have received a telepathic message and informed you. Maybe the aspirants should cut their teeth on some dungeons, as many different ones as possible. Two demon lords have the potential for nearly every elemental monster type in their armies.” He picked his straw hat up from the ground dusted it off and put it on.

“That’s what you would have us do not fight. I call you a liar.” One night shouted. “I Maximus will accept you honor duel. Even if a liar like you has none.” Markus moved bashed the side of his axe into the man’s helmet harder than he had the chaplain. The ironcite steel helmet dented and the man collapsed like a sack of potatoes.

“Does anyone else want an honor duel with me?” Markus asked.

“Thank you for not killing him milord shall we escort your group the rest of the way to Redgate.” Markus shook his head.

“You should get to training your aspirants and increase every skill you have. There is a war on the way. If they manage to get past the farm, then nothing will hold them back. I think Pa has sent the family with aunt Elizabeth to castle Ironheart and he’s staying behind to hold the demon lords and their army at bay.”

He climbed back on Windy and turned around. “That was a stupid thing to do.” Tristen said.

“I thought it was brave. Not everyone has the will to try and right wrongs. It may have bought Haven time to produce a hero.” Margarette said.

“Or lost the capital a few days that could have been bought with their lives. Heroes need to be trained after their found.” Tristen said.

“I’ll get strong enough to fight the demon lords before Pa falls to them. I decided it a while ago. When I’m strong enough, I’ll take a sabbatical and head north. By then I should have cleared enough dungeons and have a few hero rank artefacts.” Tristen laughed at him.

“You mistake yourself for your father. I’ve seen him, he isn’t a giant brute like you. He’s fast, precise, and powerful you are brutal, offish, and inefficient. If he can’t win, you can’t.” Tristen said. Trixie gave him a dirty look.

“You’re right, I’m not the old man. He and Ma pumped my mind with their experiences and drilled me till I couldn’t move since I could walk. They did that with every one of my brothers and my sister. We are the next generation of heroes. The mantle is ours now.” Markus said and looked him in his piss colored eyes. “Make no mistake, I will grow stronger than the old man ever was and pick my teeth with the bones of those demon lords.” Markus said.

“Brave words so far away form the battle.” Tristen said.

“Will you both stop, I’m tired of this nonsense. Markus you aren’t a hero or even an aspirant and Tristen shut up your whinny voice annoys me.” Margarette said.

They came upon Redgate just as the sun began to sink. It was surrounded by an army of ogres. Big ugly green creatures. Tough and strong enough to tank catapult stones. “There you go, show me that you’re a hero. I heard that Philip of Might tossed a bolder and killed a clan of ogres near Northwind.” Markus nodded.

“I watched him do it.” He wished he had a ranged weapon for this.

Windy went into a gallop Markus held his axe out. Piles of bones covered the ground from travelers that didn’t get away in time. Ogres can often move as fast as horses. They can also keep pace for over a day without exhaustion. In the fading light Windy’s hooves stopped making a sound. They became a blurring shadow.

Markus swung his axe and took the head of one of the ogres. He held up up for the others to see. They looked at him with cloths too small for them stitched together. “Get him boys and take his clothes they look big enough and fancy too.” He turned and galloped away towards trees where there wasn’t any light.

As they retreated for the trees Markus began pulling in the darkness and grinding the screaming spirits down to mush. When he was full, they were good and deep in the forest with the Ogres giving chase. They were closing in and one tackled him off of Windy.

He looked up into the eyes of the ogre chief. The monster’s beady eyes looked down on him with cruel glee. “Take off da cloths I don’t want to get your blood on my new threads.” Blue eyes opened all around the forest and on his forehead. Tentacles leapt out of the trees as the scene blurred and the illusion vanished.

“The eye skill can cast illusions on those weak of will.” Three familiars leapt on the ogre chieftain and dove into his flesh. Tentacles whipped out slicing off arms and legs. The eyes trapped the ogres in illusions of battles and they killed one another.

Quest 21 Save a Village From monsters

Reward 10kpoints

Chalice came out of his inventory. “Markus this is your last drink before I return to my mistress.” He nodded.

“Tell her I’m looking for her. I need advice.” Markus took a swig and felt his mental energy return. He went about taking the heads of the ogres and stacking them in his inventory.

He rode out of the woods on Windy. Not a drop of blood on him. He had made it finally to Redgate.