Demonized flooded toward the town. They rushed like their lives depended on it. The sweetest scent of humans reached their noses, and they rushed for it.
The people on the road they left to and through the town scattered, running in panic and fear. Many of them had never seen a demonized in their life, but they didn’t need a specialist to tell them that the creatures chasing them would kill them.
Guards rushed out of the city, swords in hand, hearts ready for battle. But seeing the sheer size of the army of demonized, their hearts quaked, yet they stood strong.
"Hold them up until the knights at the manor come!" one of the guards yelled from the bottom of his stomach, and the guards roared, rushing into battle.
They had to. Their families, their friends, all the people they deeply cared about—they were inside that town, and if they fell, they would lose their families.
They needed no speech to push them, no words of encouragement or promise of a greater life after this. Just the thought of losing everyone they loved and cared for pushed them.
The clash happened—swords swinging, claws slashing. In only a few seconds, the entire place turned into a horrendous battlefield.
Swords met with claws, but their pride and their beliefs were not strong enough. The demonized began ripping through their bodies and consuming them. As they did, they ate in a frenzy, body after body, in a gruesome manner.
The guards at the back lost their drive as they watched their fellow guards die. Their hands trembled as they held their weapons, and their feet failed them.
The demonized pushed through and headed for the town. The guards that had lost all will to fight ran away, but the demonized caught up and ripped them to shreds in seconds.
The demonized made it to the gates of the future and began ripping through.
Inside the Baron’s manor, Riven’s father put on full armor and walked out of his house. Standing outside were over a hundred knights—the best of the best that he had—gathered here and now to fight against the demonized.
He had already sent word to the king and the Marquis. All he had to do was hold the line for now. He looked at his men, ready to go, but before he could take a step, he heard his father’s voice.
"Don’t start rushing off already, son. Stand down," his father said, walking up with a sword beside his waist and wearing casual clothes.
"Father, don’t tell me you want to join the battle," Riven’s father said in disbelief.
"This land is still under me as far as I know. I may be retired, but I am not dead. The town needs you, but for diplomatic reasons, right now, it’s not time for you to lead into battle.
Secure the help we need, keep the people safe, and do what you need to ensure that we don’t fall. But as for the forefront, I’ll be taking that.
As a grand knight and battle mage of this kingdom, I have a duty to carry out. So sit this one out," his father said, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Riven’s father wanted to say something—anything. He wanted to argue. But when he looked at his father’s eyes, he recognized the look: a look of care and worry wrapped in a strict facade.
His father only did this when things were dire and he needed to keep someone safe. Riven’s father took a deep breath and stepped back.
"Fine, Father. I leave it all to you," Riven’s father said.
"Good. Also, I beg of you to contact your sister and your brother. Their mercenary organization in the city of Limton has dozens of mages and battle mages.
If demonized are coming, the situation is dire, son. You need their help," his father said.
"Father, there is no way I’ll contact those two. It’s not possible," Riven’s father said, but his father walked up to him, making Riven’s father take a step back in fear. He looked his father in the eye, but one could tell he was simply a step away from melting.
His father placed his hand on his son’s chest. "Son, I know that they hurt you in the past. But right now, you must remove your pride.
Hundreds of demonized are coming. The Marquis and the king—even the dukes—they won’t respond to your call as fast as your brother will. For the sake of your people and your family, do what needs to be done," his father said and turned away.
A knight brought a horse to him, and he got on it immediately. He kicked the horse and rode out as fast as the wind, with all the knights following behind and leaving the compound.
Riven’s father stood there. He frowned as he watched his father ride off. "I should contact those two... after what they did." He clenched his fists tight and bit into his lower lip.
He pushed the door open and walked in. He headed for his office upstairs quickly. He got in and locked the door. He took a seat on his chair, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before pulling out his drawer.
He took out a small crystal necklace that was there—purple and translucent. He stared at the necklace for a full ten seconds.
"Please work," he muttered and used his fingers to crush the crystal. It turned into dust-like particles and spread out. Nothing happened for a bit, and then suddenly, they gathered together to form two people.
A tall man with black hair tied into a bun, wearing a simple black shirt and pants. And a woman with a wonderfully toned body, with black hair that reached to her waist. She had on a short black-sleeved top and leather pants, a sword hanging on her waist.
And the moment the two of them showed up, the air inside the office got extremely tense.