(Past) :: The pain!

Kael had established a reputation for efficiency and cruelty from years of mercenary life. His mother's death and the many lives he killed as a hired blade, however, those things had haunted him. He was trapped to an unbreakable cycle of violence by all of these memory, which bore down on him like an iron chain.

With the smoke from the central firepit filling the air, Kael stood in the darkened tent of the mercenary camp. As he focused on the guy in front of him; Commander Drennar, the commander of the Black Veil mercenaries. Drennar was a large man with an evil rules and scarred look. The innumerable lives he had slain without regret made him one of the leaders of the mercenary.

With his voice a low growl, Drennar stabbed a dagger into the map that was spread out on the table and spoke to Kael and the few mercenaries who had gathered.

He said, "We have orders from the top," in a low, gravelly voice that silenced mercenaries' muttering. "Some royal troops have been observed... sleeping in a village close to the valley. They started to live in there for a couple of months"

He hesitated, a sarcastic smile in his lips. "They think they are safe hiding in their cosy little huts with their poor families." He gave a brief, mocking smirk. “Safe! The idiots are unaware of their mistakes."

Drennar stepped closer to the group, bending forward making his scars appear clearly against the flames. His voice mockingly, "They're wrong. Completely wrong. We will remind them; remind everyone; the loss of crossing the Black Veil.”

The mercenaries fell silent. The crackling fire and the distant roar of the wind through the valley were the only sounds audible. Others exchanged dark glances, while others moved nervously.

With the dagger still in his hand, Drennar straightened and pointed it at towards the group. With an intimidating and authoritative tone, he added, "This isn't just a mission." "This is a declaration." His eyes scanned the faces of the men, daring them to look away. "“All of them must die. The soldiers. Their wives. Their children. the elderly. Everyone."

Kael's jaw tightened . He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, but his fists clenched tightly. However, the other mercenaries started to smile and gazing eatch other.

Drennar’s lips twisted into a cruel smirk. “The village itself?” He gestured toward the valley's map, his voice rising with sadistic sneer. “Burn it to the ground. Let the flames rise high, and let the smoke serve as a warning; a message to anyone who oppose us.”

He stepped towards Kael and aimed his dagger at him. "Kael, you'll lead the charge," he added in a strong, commanding tone.

At last, Kael looked up into Drennar's eyes. He maintained his tough attitude, but there was a glint of hesitancy in his eyes.

Drennar's tone became cold, almost mocking. "What I want is their destruction. I want blood. Before they die, make them plead for forgiveness."

The people's twisted laughing echoed in the camp.

With a voice in favor he added, "Grim, you'll do the quiet work." Before the sun comes up, sneak into the settlement. Cut the throats of the soldiers. Silently. Let Kael and his group handle the remaining."

Grim nodded, an arrogant grin creeping across his lips as his pale face was lit by the fire.

Spreading his arms wide as though offering a grand vision, Drennar turned back to the group. "That village will be destroyed to ash and corpses by sunrise. And the world will remember our identity, who we are!"

“Remember,” Drennar added, his voice lowed. “Mercy is weakness. Weakness gets you killed.” Drennar staring at Kael's eyes and continued, "Prepare for the fight!"

Kael stepped out of the camp, outside was cold, he was gazing at the full moon The suffocating atmosphere around the fire—the twisted laughter, the bloodlust in their eyes—felt like a total mercilessly place with the people who dont even care a bit about the life. He moved his head towards the horizon and the forst.

Forest was quiet, only the faint hoot of an owl can be heard.

Forest was quiet, only the faint hoot of an owl can be heard.
but he heard it—a steady thudding, muted at first, but getting louder; far away. hoofs. Someone was coming.

As he turned towards the sound, Kael's hand reached to the hilt of his blade. A man on top of a huge black horse appeared out of the darkness. The rider was clearly visible, wearing a cloak that billowed in the night wind. His master, the one who saved him.

The horse slowed. A hessian sack with dark stains soaking through its rough cloth was draped across the horse's side. A drop of blood appeared, dripping gradually onto the ground.

Kael took a step nearer, his eyes fixed on the sack, his brows furrowed. His voice broke the silence as he said, "Master, how much was it worth?" Kael smirked gazing it, "That you removed the head and returned it as though it had a prize?"

A sneer curled accross Kael's lips as his master turn his head slightly. His face was half-shadowed in the moonlight, and his piercing eyes glinted with evil delight.

"How much?" the master repeated, his voice smooth and deep with a hint of cruelty. His boots crunched across the icy grass as he carefully dismounted. He pulled the sack from the saddle with purpose, letting it fall to the ground with a soaked thump, followed by blood.

He moved towards Kael, approaching over him, and pressed the toe of his boot against the sack. “This isn’t about coin, boy. "This is more valuable than any treasure," he remarked, pointing to the bloody sack. "It's a message."

Kael's jaw tightened as he continued to stare at the sack. "A message?"

the master smirked more broadly. "A promise," he stated in a scary tone. "A pledge that those who dare to oppose me will ultimately suffer the consequences. Not only their life, but also their legacy and identity. Kael, I don't take heads for for fun. I take them so they will always remember who Iam!."

Kael's face stayed stun. He said, "You made a point by going so far."

The master smirked more broadly as he turned and effortlessly slung the sack back over his shoulder. "Far? Maybe. But power doesn’t come from swords alone, Kael. Power comes from fear and fear comes from keeping your promises.”

Then, with the bloody sack swinging at his side, he headed for the camp, leaving behind Kael.

For an instant, Kael watched them, he whispered to himself, "Promises."

⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩

Kael sat by himself in the cold darkness of his tent, the tent shimmering with the dim light of a single flame. There were whispers and laugh from the camp outside, but he could hear none of it. The only sound he hear is steady sharpening of his sword.

He paused, examining the blade with his hands. It had a perfect edge that could cut through flesh easily. However, Kael's thoughts drifted as he gazed at it.

Even though the challenge was still five hours away, it was already in his mind. He was aware that trouble blood, and death were what awaiting for him. Like an awful prophecy, the pictures replayed in his head. His mother lying down on the ground half burnt, the smothering smoke of burning huts, and the cries of families. He tried to ignore the thoughts by closing his eyes, but they stuck to him like dark shadows.

Kael inhaled deeply, set the sword down.

Long before he picked up the sword and developed into the person he is now He saw a flashback of her face, joyful and free of burdens, her mother was happy, enjoying the life by taking care of Kael.

He clenched his fist with the pain that were running, the memories.

The person now was like, this was no place for the past. Not right now. He moved towards the map and stabbed his hunting knife onto the the area where the village is located.

He muttered under to himself, "Power, promises, and fear." His master's philosophy weighed hard on him as the words replayed in his head.

But then, faint footsteps broke the stillness.Kael Turning slightly, saw his master approaching him.

The master stopped a few steps away and stared at Kael. For a moment, neither of them spoke, only silence. The master then broke it in a quiet, deliberate tone.

"Kael," he added, his voice heavy, "kill the soldiers when the time comes. Each and every one of them. But pay close attention."

The master moved forward, his words purposeful, his presence dominating. "Ensure that the locals are safe. Not the women. Not the kids. Not the old. The innocent should not suffer."

Kael's hand left his blade as his eyes widened a little. He gazed at his master, looking for signs of honesty in his face. However, there was none.

The master went on, his voice becoming softer but still powerful, "Spare them, Kael.They are not fighting this. The blood we desire does not come at the cost of their lives. Do you get it? Make sure that no kid can feel you pain and suffering."

Kael nodded slowly. The master took another step forward and laid a hand on Kael's shoulder. His voice was now calmer, almost reflective, as he remarked, "You've been with me on this dark path for years." “I wanted you to become a monster to avenging your pain, of striking fear into the hearts of those who wronged you.”

He paused, his hand tensing a bit. "But not a monster that murders innocent people. That is not the legacy I want for you.”

The master stepped back as his hand dropped away. "Kael, leave the mercenaries," he replied in a firm but not harsh tone. “You’ve surpassed this dirt. They’ll drown in their bloodlust, but you… you have a greater purpose.”

Kael paused by listening to those words. His voice in low and in confused tone, a whisper, "Why now?"

Though it didn't reach his eyes, the master gave a slight smirk. “Because I see the struggle in you. Kael, you're not like the others. Not yet. And I don’t want you to become like them.”

He turned to leave. “Kill the soldiers. Don't harm the others. And when this is over… find a new path. One where you can be the monster for justice, not for murder.”

As the master moved away, Kael stood motionless. It seemed as though his master's words make sense

// To Be Continued....