Chapter 10: The Warrior's Baptism
Alrick's calloused hands moved with practiced ease as he finished tending to the horse. As he stepped away, his gaze was drawn to the gathering of villagers near the center of the camp. Curiosity piqued, he made his way towards the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of his mother, Elara.
But as he drew closer, his brow furrowed - she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Ser Daemon, the imposing knight, stood amidst the villagers, his voice carrying an edge of authority. Alrick strained to make out the specifics of the conversation, but the murmur of voices made it difficult.
Scanning the crowd, Alrick's eyes darted from one familiar face to the next, searching for the comforting presence of his mother. Yet she was nowhere to be found, and a cold knot of worry began to form in the pit of his stomach.
Turning away from the gathering, Alrick quickened his pace, weaving through the tents and supplies. His mind raced, conjuring up a thousand possible explanations for his mother's absence, each one more unsettling than the last.
Suddenly, a flash of movement in the distance caught his eye. Squinting against the fading light, Alrick caught sight of a familiar silhouette disappearing behind the tree line. Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, his heart pounding in his ears as the shadows of the forest enveloped him.
The branches clutched at his clothes, slowing his progress, but Alrick refused to be deterred. He had to find her, to understand what was happening. The uneasy calm that had settled over the camp had given way to a growing sense of dread, and Alrick knew he could no longer afford to remain ignorant and weak.
Just as Alrick was about to plunge deeper into the forest, a hand rested on his shoulder, causing him to jump in surprise. Whirling around, he found himself face-to-face with Ser Daemon.
The villagers, who had been gathered nearby, all turned to look at the commotion, their eyes fixed on Alrick. "Alrick, what's wrong?" Daemon asked, his voice tinged with concern. "We saw you running. Is there something wrong?"
Alrick felt his heart racing, the initial shock of Daemon's sudden appearance giving way to a sense of unease. "My mother," he replied, his voice edged with worry. "I can't find her."
Daemon's expression softened, and he let out a slight chuckle. "Why are you so worried?" he said, his tone reassuring. "Do you truly think any of the villagers would do her harm? You two have lived amongst them for so long, surely you know they would never lay a hand on her."
Alrick felt the tension in his body begin to ease as Daemon's words sank in. It was true – the people of the village had always been kind and welcoming to him and his mother. How could he have doubted them?
"Come now," Daemon said, giving Alrick's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Let's go back and have a rest. I'm sure your mother is simply tending to some task or another. There's no need to worry."
Nodding, Alrick allowed Daemon to guide him back towards the camp, the knight's reassuring presence helping to calm his nerves. As they rejoined the villagers, Alrick felt a sense of relief wash over him. Perhaps he had been overly anxious, and his mother was safe and sound, tending to her duties as she always did.
But as the hours passed and Elara still did not return, Alrick's panic began to rise once more. Ser Daemon, sensing the boy's growing distress, quickly organized a search party, with Alrick joining him and three other men.
As they scoured the woods, Alrick's heart raced with worry and dread. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to his mother. Suddenly, Ser Daemon's face darkened, and he motioned for the others to halt.
Ahead, in a small clearing, they witnessed a horrific sight – Alrick's mother was being violated by two men. Without a moment's hesitation, Ser Daemon charged forward, his fists flashing in the fading light.
Alrick watched in stunned silence as the knight ruthlessly dispatched the attackers, breaking their jaws with cold efficiency. The cries of pain and terror echoed through the woods, sending a chill down Alrick's spine.
Once the assailants were incapacitated, Ser Daemon turned to the men and said, "Take the boy back. I will deal with this."
"With a strangled cry, Alrick thrashed against the men restraining him, his body wracked with agonized sobs. "NOOO! Let me go! MOMMAAAA!" But the men's grip only tightened as they dragged him further away from the clearing, away from the horrific scene unfolding. Alrick's gut-wrenching screams echoed hauntingly through the forest, his heart shattering into a million shards of despair."
Once they were alone, Ser Daemon knelt beside the unconscious Elara, his expression somber. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her bruised cheek.
"I'm so sorry, Elara," he murmured. "But your death is necessary for your son's future."
Elara stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She winced in pain, her gaze finding Ser Daemon's.
"Ser..." she rasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "What have you done?"
Daemon sighed heavily. "I've done what I must, for the sake of Alrick and the Blackstone Legion. Your sacrifice will forge him into the warrior he is destined to become."
Elara's eyes widened with realization, and a flicker of fear passed across her face. "No, Ser, please... not like this. I also want to live.""
Ser Daemon silenced her with a gentle touch to her lips. "Hush now, Elara. It's already in motion. Alrick will emerge stronger, more resilient, from this tragedy. He will become a true knight, one worthy of the Blackstone Legion."
Elara's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. "How could you? We trusted you, Alrick trusted you."
Ser Daemon's expression hardened. "It is a necessary evil, Elara. Alrick will understand, in time. He will become the warrior I know he can be."
Elara's eyes slipped closed as a single tear escaped down her cheek. Ser Daemon watched her for a moment. Then, he let go of his sword and gently placed his hands around her neck.
"Forgive me," he whispered, his voice tinged with sorrow.
Elara mustered the last of her strength to look up at him, her gaze filled with a mix of terror and defiance.
"Curse you, you monster," she rasped, her words laced with venom. "May you burn in the seven hells."
Daemon flinched at her words, but his grip on her neck did not waver. He tightened his hold as the light slowly faded from Elara's eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, Daemon emerged from the trees, carrying Alrick's mother's lifeless body in his arms. Alrick's eyes went wide with horror as Daemon laid her down at his feet.
"No...no, no, no..." Alrick choked out, collapsing to his knees beside her. He grabbed her hand, shaking it frantically. "Mom? Mom, wake up! Please, wake up!"
"I'm so sorry, Alrick," Daemon said quietly. "They...choked the life from her. There was nothing I could do."
Alrick's anguished screams rent the air as he clutched his mother's body, his world crumbling around him. Daemon's expression hardened as he turned to the surrounding villagers.
Daemon's expression hardened as he turned to the crowd. "Fetch me a block," he ordered, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "And bring me the men responsible for this. Now!"
Weekly Power Status
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