Enjoy the second chapter, here you will see the werewolf. It is going to be beast, trust me.


The Hand of Suffering

Chapter 04: The Beast

Untouched Valley, Deadwood Bough

The ride towards the village had been a silent and uncomfortable one, while the troops talked incessantly, the officers at the head of the army were awkwardly quiet. Maia looked around and regarded the people present, there was a rift forming between the three groups and she was caught in the middle of trying to keep the peace.

As a mediator or just another bag egg trapped between two worse eggs.

Looking to the right she could see Alicia, brooding on her steed and far away from her and Vault. She had been like that ever since yesterday afternoon, and the result was her now segregating herself from the rest of them. Her own knights acting as shields to force away anyone that she didn't want near her.

"She's still pissed." Maia said, looking towards the blonde woman who had not looked away from the path ahead of them.

"The girl is a pain in the ass, she doesn't know how to work with people, none of those spoiled brats do. All they do is play at being Knights and think that everyone either should obey them or bow down to their expectations." Vault said, sounding annoyed, and if she had looked she would definitely see a grimace on his face.

Now that was another can of worms she was forced to deal with, she was stuck playing go-between and at the moment only Vault cared to have her nearby. As much as she would be thrilled at the prospect she didn't care for the cold atmosphere that was coming from the Black Dogs and the Knights of Iris.

It had happened just over a day ago, it started off great. They were drinking and she was flirting, and then there was a scuffle outside and then everything just went to hell from there.

"This is a shit show." Maia muttered, remembering it clearly what happened.


One Day Earlier, Pretoria Village

They had returned from Zelindo on the cusp of the sun resting upon the western mountains, just in time for dinner. Maia was thrilled to finally be back at the village, to get a drink and finally allow herself to let her mind go blank.

She was still reeling from the accusations thrown at her by Alicia.

As much as she expected the woman to be on her ass for one reason or another she never thought she would accuse her of being part of a conspiracy to cover up treason. Wherever the hell that came from she had no idea, at least until she gave an explanation that wasn't laced with promises of impending execution.

Long story short: they had a lead on the orcs.

Problem was that was not what was on Alicia's mind when she got back talking with the Shrine Priestess or the refugees.

Immediately she was on Vault, claiming he was part of a slavery ring, extortion and outright calling him a traitor that has allowed Orcs to raid the Valley to cover up his crimes. Maia had to pull her off him so that she didn't try to claw his eyes out, and when she did the woman was on her. Making just as many claims and pointing out her own culpability and guilt in covering it up.

The girl had lost her mind.

But luckily whatever proof she thought she had didn't amount to anything in the end.

For all her statements of them being conspiring to destroy the Valley and kill everyone there and other such foul things they had discovered just as many. But what they discovered had turned the tables and labelled others as conspirators and traitors rather than the nobles.

"The food stores are empty, most of them anyway, these guys have been getting most of their food shipped in from down south." Maia said. "Undercroft told me that they have been taxing the hell out of the region just to get food into the cities. Those bastards in the Valley had been holding back on their quota and are stashing their food."

It was obvious when you thought about. When they passed through all those villages they barely had enough supplies to get them to the next town. The general idea was that they had sent it all up to Pretoria, but that town was just as bad.

When she investigated the store houses in Zelindo she had found them mostly empty, most of the food stored there had been shipped in from the south. These guys were not getting their supplies from the Valley.

"If that is the case the entire Ansur region would be crumbling, Rad, Diohard, Ansur! Those cities would be starving as well!" Alicia said.

"Ansur doesn't get its food from the Valley." Maia said.

Most of the farms and villages around Ansur got their own food from farming their own crops, wasn't much but it was enough to survive off. Ansur was a shit place to farm because of how close it was to the coast and the constant storms they had to deal with. Only the bigger cities needed to get food shipped in, and all of it came from the Valley.

"And from what I know Diohart has been getting its supplies, we haven't had a quota miss once." Vault stated. "Only Zelindo seems to be suffering, and I think that is the point, they are trying to do something in the city."

"What could a bunch of peasants possibly do to a city?" Alicia barked. "You are simply attempting to shift attention away from your own actions, your own crimes."

"Back off Alicia, no one is guilty here." Maia responded, moving between the Princess and Vault to make sure she didn't try anything.

"I have words to say otherwise, Nathan Walsh and Valeska Notleigh, two people who contacted you about the Black Dogs and orc attacks, and nothing was done. You hid this, and look at what you have wrought." Alicia had barked.

Those names had not been said to her in a long time, she didn't recall the letter she got from Valeska but she remembered enough to spit that woman's name like a curse. Nathan Walsh she recalled meeting, speaking of a uprising in the Valley and even mention of some sort of cult. She had to explain to Alicia her innocence, and denouncing Valeska's words as nothing but words of a petty woman who was robbed of her glory and prominence.

Valeska fancied herself a queen and ruler of Ansur, one that didn't want to surrender the city over to the Alliance. She got usurped in the end by yours truly and from that point forward the city of Ansur was under the control of Maia and the Alliance. That had been when she had proven herself to the Goddess and elevated herself to the position of a Shield Knight.

Nathan Walsh however, Vault had given a good explanation on that.

"Those names you mentioned, I can tell you now that they are all traitors." Vault said, having looked it over himself and offering it back to Alicia.

"What do you mean?" Alicia demanded.

"These guys were leaders in the Militia, this guy here, Kibral was an old friend of Nathan Walsh and they had served together in Ur. They were part of the same order of Knights that Grave was part of. It is know that Nathan Walsh actually turned on Zelindo and joined the rebellion." Vault stated.

"It is a bold thing to say, they are former Knight's of Ur." Alicia argued back, stubbornly refusing to accept his word.

"Knights that were reportedly not happy with the advent of the Dawn Templar, based on what I heard these guys had it in for them. And this guy called Carim, word was that he actually spoke against the Church. And the King, your father." Vault stated. "We can learn all this back in Ken. I heard that they technically were exiled here as not to cause a ruckus. The Untouched Valley is a place where a lot of unwanted people tend to go to not be heard from again."

Maia had agreed with that, she recalled that many former criminals had retired to the Valley after many of their criminal organisations crumbled. In fact, Valeska moved here after she was ousted from the Company of the Rose. Seems like the Valley was the nations dumping ground for the washed up and unwanted.

Alicia still persisted.

Deciding to actually interrogate him all the way back to Pretoria. The entire trip had been her questioning him and trying to find any flaw in his testimony that would allow her to jump him and label him a traitor.

But he had laid out a lot of truths. Not only on Alicia, but also herself as well.

"We've all been played, this was nothing more than a gambit to throw us all off their scent." Vault said. "Sneaky bastards tried turning us on one another."

"What do you mean?" Maia asked.

"That Hinako girl, she isn't what she seems." Vault said. "Word was she wasn't sent to investigate the Valley, but to ascertain the existence of some sort of cult centred around some sort of being. She came to investigate and found out some strange stuff, around that time there was a massive uprising. Nathan Walsh joined the rebels side."

"You say Nathan Walsh was a traitor? How? What proof do you have?" Alicia asked.

"Maia. Nathan Walsh sent you to fight an enemy that had disappeared right? Those Wildlings have been plaguing the damn Ansur region for decades? So where the hell did they go?" Vault had asked her.

What she could recall from Nathan Walsh's visit was his request for her to step the tide of the Wildlings raids on the Valley. He had left the defence of the southern entrance of the Valley to her, and she took it upon herself to do it. But really there wasn't much to be done, they didn't find the enemy at all.

"Nathan was tasked with stopping rebellion in the Valley, he was reported pushed out of Pretoria and forced to go around the mountain ranges. After stopping off in Ansur he went north to Zelindo. This was a damn ploy." Vault stated. "He had allowed the Wildlings into the Valley, made a deal with them."

"That's why I couldn't find them." Maia had said, realising that the enemy she was searching for was gone. "But why send me out to search for them?"

"Likely to keep you away from the city, so that you couldn't be alerted to the situation." Vault said.

"Even so I would hear about it eventually." Maia said, but in truth she never received another word about the troubles in the Valley or Zelindo after that.

"That's because the bastard had help making sure it stayed that way. You know that Hendricks guy? Talked with Hunters about him and they got spooked. Word is that the Hunter's Guild had a schism not too long after Nathan Walsh arrived." Vault said. "It turns out that the former Guild Master turned on Zelindo and is now working for the Cult."

"Then the Guild Master, is he…?" Alicia asked.

"Yeah, his name is Barnabas Hendricks, and from how I described him to the Hunters, it is the same bastard we met in Pretoria." Vault said.

They had an idea of the situation now, and were united in discovering the truth behind the mystery of the Valley and the corruption that lay within. Even Alicia was behind them, filling them in on her side of the investigation and her own findings, some that connected a few dots that had them worried.

But Maia didn't let that bother her, it had been a long day and she didn't want to think about it another second.

Vault had figured it out and seemed to know the truth if what was happening. They wouldn't do anything right now, they had to deal with the orcs and maybe this Great Wolf thing Alicia mentioned. Vault had cautioned them that this Cult was massive, and possibly well-armed, so it was best they not cause any conflict lest their relatively small force deals with the full might of an enemy they know nothing about.

So, with that in mind she went right for the Inn, planning on having a nice meal and a pint of ale. Acting as if nothing was wrong and everything was right with the world.

Vault was not far behind, but Alicia was moving to get her Knights ready for their marching orders. That woman never let herself have a moment to herself, it was always work, work and work. Not that she was complaining. That meant it left her and Vault alone in the bar for a while, she would never complain about that. He was her hero, and someone she cared about more than anyone in the world.

"Long day huh?" Maia said, taking a swig of her drink.

"You said it. Last five years I cannot believe I am hearing about this now, a damn cult right on my doorstep." Vault replied, keeping his words low as he mentioned this mystic group that worshipped some wolf god. "Should have realised something was wrong when I didn't hear from Zelindo in all this time."

That had been what Alicia had reported to them. Alicia had come to the conclusion that the militia is in fact a cult, centred around a being known as the Great Wolf. Word was that people held it in reverence, the refugees she spoke with seemed to hold it in high esteem. Maia had confirmed it herself that Nathan Walsh had been fighting against a cult in the Valley, and Vault had confirmed that the Shrine Priestess had been sent to investigate an emerging cult in the Valley.

It would seem that this cult was the main power here. From what Alicia had suggested as well, it seems that anyone who is detached and emotionless may be part of the cult. Considering that was the majority of the people in this Valley, Maia had no doubt most of the Valley was part of this cult.

"How come we didn't hear about this?" Maia asked. "I mean, I heard about it, but after that one incident I got nothing else. Disappeared like those Wildlings."

"Undercroft said that he hasn't heard from Diohart in a while, I haven't been there in years either, so I guess that the people have been intercepting any messages between the fortresses. My guess is that the Hunters who followed Hendricks are responsible, they would know how to intercept missives." Vault said.

"Yeah, but what about what that Shrine Priestess said, she seemed to be able to convince Alicia something was wrong in Zelindo. Also why didn't she mention the cult or this monster they believe in?." Maia said.

Alicia probably only went along to try and find an angle on how to screw the Black Dogs over. She would believe anything so long as it supported along what she wanted.

"My guess is that she actually is a member of the Militia as well." Vault replied, shaking his head. "Why would Hendrick's know about her? Know where she is? Around the time she was in Zelindo a lot of people turned. My guess is that she did as well."

Maia didn't know what to think about that, she had seen some of those Priestesses. They were like nuns, but a lot more devout and rigid in their beliefs. What could have changed the very core beliefs of a Shrine Priestess? Although considering who and how many turned it was a given, Vault said that there were a few others that seemed to have joined this strange militia as well.

Not just humans.

"Then what was the point of all that?" Maia asked, her words a hushed whisper to make sure no one heard them.

"Maybe that was a contingency plan." Vault murmured.

"What do you mean?" Maia asked.

"I don't know if these guys thought we would see through their plans or anything, but right after sprouting all that stuff about corruption and treason they send us after the orcs. They immediately tell us to go to Ulfraden. I think there is something there, and it is meant to kill us." Vault said.

"You believe this Great Wolf bullshit?" Maia asked.

"Don't know, these people believe a lot of things but we got no idea if this cult is real or not. But the thing is they want us to go somewhere that has something that can supposedly wipe out orc armies on its own. So I am guessing they want us to go fight something that can wipe out armies." Vault stated. "If that doesn't say go off and die, I don't know what is."

Those words were enough for Maia, but still she had to wonder what this meant in the long run. This Valley provided food for three Fortresses and bulked out Ansur when it was suffering food shortages. If it rebelled as they thought it would, then they were looking at famine on a nationwide scale.

Not to mention the thousands of deaths that would follow if they had to go about putting down a rebellion.

Maia didn't know if she could do that, these people were farmers after all. As much as they might become some sort of militia she had no real way to justify turning her blades upon them. She had killed men before, in self defence mind you, but this was man fighting man, something like that has not happened in decades, long before she was born.

But considering it was a rebellion led by a cult, it is possible the Dawn Templar could be deployed. That along with Church soldiers as well, it is likely this would become some sort of religious purge to ensure none rise up to challenge their rule.

It was a little scary to think about.

"Got any plans after we are done here?" Maia asked, hoping to change the subject to something a little less foreboding.

"Back to Diohart, for a while that is, need to see about stepping up security here if I am going to be dealing with more than just orcs from the Badlands from now on." Vault replied, giving an annoyed huff, he didn't seem to have a problem going to battle with these people.

She didn't know how to feel about that. I certainly wasn't good, that was for sure.

"Hope one day to actually get back at the bitch, Olga Discordia, for doing all this to us." Maia said, and tapping her mug against Vault's in a salute to the idea.

But that was never going to happen, not with the Badlands sucking the life out of the people that walk across it. If that didn't kill you the diseases and orcs would, that place was a death trap and impossible to get through. As much as they wanted to end the war, it was an impossible dream.

"One day, we'll get back at them for all the shit they put us through." Vault said, taking a long sip of his drink.

She would have liked to continue the conversation there but something forced them to look to the door. There was shouting going on outside, they jumped to their feet and made for the door. As they came out they found several Black Dogs yelling at the top of their lungs.

"What the hell is going on here?" Vault bellowed out, silencing all chatter.

Those three men that were yelling seemed to grow nervous, turning to their commander they tried to look presentable. A difficult task. Maia saw them clearly even on this dark night, all of them were bloody and had something broken. Someone had given them a real asskicking, question was who?

"This bitch attacked us!" The sandy haired man said, pointing to a woman.

Surprisingly it was a villager, a dainty looking thing in a simple brown and beige dress. It had been torn and damaged, they may had taken a hit but she had not come out of it unharmed. Although from the looks of it she looked quite calm, blank expression and staring ahead without much worry or anger.

Again she was reminded of how impassive these people behaved.

Alicia was there, with a few of her Knight and seemed to be taking charge of the situation.

"You. Tell me what happened? Why did you attack these men?" Alicia demanded, looking directly at the woman who was being accused, later Maia would recall her name to be Mika. "You assaulted three members of the Black Dogs, mercenaries they may be but they are under the employ of the Goddess Reborn. Such an act can see you imprisoned, you best have a reason for this."

Alicia was being quite vocal, and shockingly it seemed she was sticking up for the Black Dogs. She was not one for protecting mercenaries, hell not even Vault was protected from her scrutiny, so what the hell brought this on?

Maybe after making a fool of herself after being manipulated by the Shrine Priestess and accusing the Black Dogs over nothing she was realising the error of her ways. One could always hope that was the case.n

"They dragged me into the granary, they intended to rape me." Mika said, her words as bland as her expression, certainly not the look of someone that had just came out of what she said was going to happen.

"Bullshit! Bitch came to us and then attacked without warning!" The merc said.

"Clean yourselves up." Vault ordered, taking charge of his men and waving them off. "I'll be talking with you later."

"Boss, she just…" The merc tried to speak but Vault silenced him with a look. "Yes Boss."

They skulked off and disappeared down the street, muttering under their breath. As much as she doubted that the men would have done something heinous she had to wonder what caused them to get into a scuffle with a villager.

She was inclined to ask, and it appeared that she was not the only one. Alicia stood there and was scowling more than usual, she was in a foul mood. It could be for any number of reasons, and Maia suspected that it lay solely on the heads of the Black Dogs.

"Stop, I have not dismissed you just yet." Alicia called out, turning towards the woman. "I still have some questions you need to answer."

Maia was surprised, she had expected some sort of argument to happen. Instead Alicia whirled away from Vault and looked straight at the woman that had said she was about to be raped. Vault even looked a little surprised that Alicia didn't tear into him for his men's confrontation with a villager.

"Questions?" Mika asked.

"Yes, questions. Questions regarding the many thing I have been hearing in the short time I have been here. From Treason to Corruption." Alicia stated, the way she was speaking to the woman made it seem like some sort of interrogation.

Maia quickly realized what was happening, Alicia was not subtle or sly, she was a blunt and quite plain when it came to her motives. Right now she was going to be interrogating this woman right after she had made an accusation of rape, and from how miffed Alicia looked Maia knew where this was going.

"Should we stop this?" Maia asked, looking to Vault.

"No, let's see what happens." Vault replied.

"I fear from your tone that something is amiss." Mika stated, looking back at Alicia without even flinching as the Knight glared at her.

"The people in this village, in this valley, have made many claims, you say orcs are rampaging through this valley. Say the nobles and Black Dogs do not aid your people in your time of need, that they steal from you rather than help." Alicia said, raising her voice so that everyone could hear, did she want an audience for this? "But you give no proof, and I find those claims to be even more suspect when I consider what has been told to me. Not about Zelindo, or about the Black Dogs, but about the people in this valley."

"Speak then, and I shall clear up any misunderstanding." Mika responded, weathering the Feoh Knight's ire without even blinking.

"There is no misunderstanding, I think I am seeing things clearly for the first time. I should have not been looking towards Zelindo when the word corruption and treason reached my ears, the source of those sins are firmly rooted here." Alicia spoke aloud.

You couldn't be anymore blunt than that, and Maia was worried that Alicia was going to actually incite some of the people here. The way they were watching the proceedings made it clear that they were giving their full attention. If these people were on the verge of revolting, then what Alicia was doing now was going to be the spark that ignited the bloodbath to follow.

"You dismiss our claims? Why?" Mika asked calmly.

"You spit on us as we ride into this village, you show us nothing but scorn, treat us as if we are villains. Somehow we have been labeled alongside those corrupt nobles you speak of, you see us as evil and wrongdoers when in truth we came to your aid." Alicia shouted, looking quite angry as she rambled on. "We are proud defenders of Eostia, I am the daughter of King Arcturus of Feoh, sent here to save your lives from assured destruction. We fight to protect you from forces you cannot hope to defend against, instead you question the honour of people you do not know or have a right to question."

"Don't fucking tell me." Maia whispered, was she actually doing this because of some sort of wounded pride? Was she taking this personally somehow? That was probably the worst thing she could be doing right now. She could ignite a damn rebellion because she got her panties in a twist that they didn't bow their heads low enough.

It almost made it feel like the people were in the right to revolt if that was the reason she was going off at them now. Vault looked at the proceedings with just the right amount of irritation, as if he had seen this spiel a hundred time over.

"It is not the Knights of Iris that we have been wrong by, the Black Dogs and…"

"Enough, I will not hear another lie from your mouth!" Alicia wasn't going to let her finish that sentence, as she grew in volume so too did her mania. "We know that not a single village has fallen to the orcs, if there were any orcs to begin with. You claim the nobles steal your grain and valuables, but from what they have claimed you have been rebelling against their rule for some time. I did not find any criminals in Zelindo, but I learned of the sins committed here."

"What do you speak of?" Mika inquired, actually cocking her head to the side as if confused by the statement, or maybe it was that tangent Alicia was on right now.

"The Cult of the Great Wolf? Do you know of it?" Alicia called out, looking at the crowd and watching for any reaction.

Maia watched as well, if these people were part of a cult than they would technically be the target of every single devout believer in the Goddess in this country. Which is mostly everyone, if they were threatened they would try to kill them just to make sure that word didn't get out they were defecting from the church.

But they didn't even flinch, they continued to observe the proceedings with what appears to be little interest. That worried her, even Vault tensed when Alicia shouted it out for everyone to hear, one wrong move and they might be all dead in the next few minutes.

"Vault…?" Maia whispered.

"Don't do anything." He whispered back, eyes scanning the crowd.

"I do. But that is not its true name. As for what it is, this Cult as you call it nothing more than people who recognize the one that has saved us time and time again. Who put their faith in the one thing they can be certain of will protect them. Who offer thanks to him for what he does selflessly." Mika replied, and for a moment there seemed to be a sliver of emotion appear over her face, but as it appeared it quickly vanished.

"You turn your back on the Goddess, you spit on her name and on her Shield Knights? We are your protectors, who fight and die to keep you safe and you pray to some wild beast that supposedly wipes out orcs by the hundreds." Alicia shouted, her anger reaching her heights as she yelled not only at the woman but the other villagers.

"Yes, because no one else will." Mika responded, regaining Alicia's attention and her ire.

"I see this cult and heresy for what it is, nothing but rebellion on the rise by those who care not for the sacrifice and honor of those meant to lead and guide them. You throw around these accusations, these lies to validate yourself, but in truth it only condemns you for what you really are. Traitors. Undeserving of our patronage."

Now she had done it, outright called them rebels and heretics, this could get ugly real soon. Even Vault looked ready to reach for his sword if it came down to it. There were about two hundred villagers ahead and behind them, and Maia didn't know if she was scared about being overwhelmed or that she would have to cut her way through all of them.

"I do hope this is some sort of clever tactic to try and see if we are lying, and as much as I believe it not to be, I will ask anyway. Are you only making these statements in an attempt to see if you can catch us in a lie or that the sudden idea of us being branded heretics will compel us to speak the truth?" Mika inquired.

Maia had not thought of that, it would be a good way of doing an interrogation she supposed. Although lying is one thing, making a show out of it was another, that Alicia knew how to make a scene however.

"Do I appear to be jesting? I stand by my words! You people have lost the right to be part of this nation and under the protection of the Goddess for your sins!" Alicia yelled out.

Oh shit. She wasn't bluffing at all, Maia had just hoped beyond all hope she had some angle with her little bitch about not getting the respect she deserved. Now she had gone up and said something a lot damn worse.

The people didn't react to the accusation, no one seemed to be angry or nervous, they just stood there and watched. The only one that seemed to have a reaction was Mika, who did nothing but sigh deeply and shake her head in disappointment.

"I had hoped you would be different. But it seems that you are no just as blind as all the others."

"What did you say? Every word that comes from your mouth compounds upon the treason that is being levied against you. Do you truly wish to condemn yourself further?" Alicia hissed out.

Maia just wanted her to shut up right now, if these people were not going to attack than it was best that they didn't provoke them into doing it. But that kind of logic always flew over the girls head. Right now they needed to get out of the village, away from these people, if they were not going to attack they should take their chance and escape.

"We are already condemned, and it seems that no matter how far from this valley we ask for help, it will always be the same." Mika said, raising her head and looking Alicia right in the eye.

Something was there now, a glint of some emotion in her pale green eyes. Maia couldn't see it exactly, but she knew that it was not anything endearing.

"You see yourself as someone who is righteous and incorruptible, I could tell from the moment I saw you, that there was not a shred of doubt that you believed yourself to be honorable. I could see why some of us were tricked, you sounded so certain and legitimate in being a true Knight. A true noble." Mika's expression turned, disdain clearly expressed as she looked at Alicia. "But the truth is that you are nothing but an actor, performing a part you are unfit to play."

Maia actually felt her hand go slack as she turned back to watch the woman tear into Alicia. She never raised her voice. She never let any anger or hate bleed into her words. She just spoke in that same calm monotone as she had before. But now it had some bite to it.

"You have never amounted to anything, everything you are has been given and not earned. You were made a Knight because you have the name of a great family and the standing to receive what you desire without truly earning it. When it comes to standing on your own feet you fall short every time, having to be saved and protected."

Maia didn't know when her mouth had come unhinged, but she suspected it was when the same thing happened to everyone else watching. At least those apart from the villagers. Even Vault was looking on with wide eyes unable to compose himself as he listened to the verbal butchery.

"How lucky you are, for that fragile façade you keep to not only lie to everyone but also to yourself that you are worthy of what you have been given. That you are everything you think yourself to be. But when that façade breaks, and you see yourself for what you truly are, you will see what we do."

Alicia was shaking, her fist was balled at her side and trembling.

"A naïve little brat that never deserved anything she was given, whose titles and laurels are nothing but hollow words and gestures that hold no meaning. You are less than nothing Alicia Arcturus, unfit to be a Knight, unworthy to be a noble, and undeserving of even the most minuscule of respects."

Mika leaned forward, getting right into Alicia's face and saying one final biting remark.

"And deep down, no matter how much you want to deny it, you know I am not lying."

Shockingly Maia saw Alicia do something she had never seen her do before, she lashed out. It was expected really, anyone talked to you like that you can expect some punches to be thrown. The wild right hook went for Mika's jaw, what happened next left everyone else gaping in shock. The woman blocked and swung back, giving the Princess Knight a bloody lip.

Alicia recovered, and swung again, Mika ducked under the swing and came up beside the Knight. Quickly jabbing her into the stomach and then shot up to punch her in the side of the face again, as the Princess Knight staggered back the woman advanced on her. Alicia tried to regain her footing and swing her arm out to ward off her attacker, but it was caught mid swing. Twisted around and forcing the Princess Knight to bow forward, where she was struck in the stomach with a mean kick. Followed up by a single punt to the side that sent her rolling away.

Maia watched as Mika slowly and meticulously beat into Alicia, blow by blow wearing her down and leaving her a mess. Maia knew that fighting with one's fists was not Alicia's forte, she was a swords-woman hands down, probably better than anyone else in the Alliance save for Vault and Claudia. But for all other forms of martial prowess, she lacked the skills of a hand to hand combatant, she was more like a drunken brawler than an actual fist-fighter.

Alicia actually was able to land one hit at least, Mika didn't even stagger. Took it like a champ, not even a flinch as she checked her jaw for any permanent damage. Maia didn't know if anyone could take a gauntlet to the face and come out without at least being dazed. That waif did. Sad thing was that Alicia seemed to hesitate to do anything else, either aching from her beating or unwilling to get close.

She realised quickly that she was at a disadvantage and sought to change the odds.

Alicia tried to reach for her blade, the action alone spoke of how desperate she was. Drawing a blade on an unarmed common woman? This would get ugly real fast. But a hand pushed it back into the sheath and then came up to jab the Princess Knight in the throat. Alicia stumbled back in surprise, and then another fist connected with her nose. She fell back to the ground, and as she tried to rise a hand wrapped around her throat and held her down.

The woman was above her, kneeling down with her fist raised. It loomed over her threateningly, ready to come down and pummel the young knights face in.

Two of Alicia's Knight were ready to move forward to assist, but they looked around at the many villagers who had yet to make a move. The moment any swords were drawn there would be trouble, this was a very dangerous situation.

"U-unhand me!" Alicia wheezed, trying to pry the arm from her throat.

"Look at you, my hand around your throat and you at my mercy." Her fist lowered to and she looked at Alicia with disgust. "Now you know what it has been like for us, at the mercy of those who are our betters."

The woman released Alicia, rising to her feet and turning to walk away. Alicia's Knights rushed forward, lifting up their leader who was still wheezing.

"Stop her… stop her now!" Alicia said, reaching for her sword. "Get back here!"

The atmosphere changed immediately, the calm expressionless faces that surrounded them became menacing. Their eyes were on them, focused and murderous, they were in trouble now. Maia had wondered if she was going to kill many of these villager, now she wondered if they were going to be killed by them.

"Stop! Stand down!" Vault yelled, getting in front of Alicia and acting as a wall between the villagers and Knights of Iris. "Put those damn swords away!"

"Out of my way, don't you dare get in my way!" Alicia wheezed, wiping the blood from her lip.

"Stay there, do not make this any more worse than it already is." Vault barked.

"She attacked me! She insulted me and challenge my honor, I will not back down!" Alicia hissed, drawing her sword and looked ready to cut through anyone in her way.

The people reacted accordingly, the tension in the air rose.

"Alicia, put that away please." Maia muttered aloud, stepping back closer to her comrades as she noticed the obvious hostility being directed towards them.

"Damn right she did, because you lost control and attacked her first." Vault replied.

"She provoked me!"

"And you took the bait and followed through!" Vault finished. "Stand down! You are not going to gain your honour back by killing unarmed villagers, try explaining that to Celestine. If you aren't thrown in prison you certainly won't be a Shield Knight anymore."

Maia watched the whole spectacle from the sidelines, as Alicia fought to control herself. But soon enough someone came along and put an end to the hostilities. Almost immediately as he arrived the murderous air that surrounded the people died down. Hendricks moved through the crowd and approached them, his eyes were cold and he looked very displeased.

"You have stayed here long enough, get out. Now."

Vault was staring the man down, but in the end he simply nodded his head and turned around. Taking Alicia by the arm and dragging her away, the villagers parted before them, allowing them to pass without issue. But deep down she knew that they had made enemies today, and that there would consequences for what happened here in the future.


Present

Since that night Alicia had kept her distance from the company, been outright hostile to the men and woman not part of her cadre. Her own Knights were showing similar behaviour, only Vault kept the peace, if only at her insistence.

They had been kicked out of Pretoria and forced to remain in the camp outside the village, but even that seemed a little too close for comfort.

All that effort to come and help the people and they alienate themselves. Alicia may have been in the right to question them, although Maia had to question why she would do it in the open and the way she did. She nearly caused a riot, those people could have swarmed them from all sides, they would all be dead if Vault hadn't interfered when the Knights drew their swords.

Still, when you look back on it that woman was quite skilled, being able to take down a trained Knight with her fists alone? Before that she took out those Black Dog Sergeants. It didn't seem possible, sure a Knight was as vulnerable as any other man out of armor but they usually had the training and skill most men didn't.

That Mika was something else entirely.

If that was just some random woman however, she had to wonder if all the other villagers were just as skilled as she was.

Didn't matter, it was over. For now at least. They were on their way to complete their mission, but their company was split apart, and communication was kept to a bare minimum. If only to prevent it turning into an argument that would cause further division.

"We should try to talk with her." Maia suggested, if they went in on this divided they could suffer for it.

An army that was divided was doomed to fail, and the last thing she wanted was for a lot of her people to die because of some piss up between the commanding officers. She recalled an actual story like that once, was not for the feint of heart.

"Don't think I will be any good for you in that department." Vault said, uncaring of the situation.

Maia grumbled under her breath, she would have to do this all by herself again. With that irritating thought on her mind she steered her steed towards the Knight of Iris, luckily the Princess' Knights didn't glare at her or try to force her away. At least not too much.

"Lady Alicia, I was wondering how you wanted to proceed?" Maia asked, it sounded stupid to her but she knew that the only way to actually get to her was to talk professionally and about the job.

Alicia never liked banter, and if she tried it with her now it would only end up with her clamping down.

"I will propose a strategy when we find the orcs, until then return to your company." Alicia stated.

"You sure you don't want to discuss this?" Maia asked.

No, there is nothing to discuss, now return to your company and wait for orders." Alicia replied.

Maia suspected, at least she hoped so, that Alicia was giving her a chance to back off and not let this turn into an argument. She decided to take the hint and back off, last thing she wanted was any last thread of cooperation between the three parties falling apart.

She fell back in line with Vault, the rest of the journey was made in silence.

Despite how uncomfortably tense it was on the road to Ulfraden Village, when they arrived everyone was on their toes.

They had heard a lot of scary things from the people about this place, most of it being haunted or all who venture there never return. It was so bad that not even a year after its supposed destruction that the thing was erased from the maps, hastily and poorly mind you. She would have laughed it off, called it a joke by scared commonfolk who let their imaginations run wild.

Now, she was actually afraid on how true it was.

The last mile of their trek toward the village was harrowing, they found the bones and rotting carcasses of orcs. Scattered across the field, and through woods that were black and lifeless, as if the very corpses of the orcs had robbed the forests of life. Most of the dead were old and but others were very new, but all of them very much dead. The number of corpses and the stench grew as they came closer to the village, and when they reached the very edge of the forests leading there they realised why.

"Goddess Protest Us." Jeannine breathed the prayer, her right hand coming up to her face and staying there as she made the sign of protection.

Stacked around the entire village, seven meters tall, was a wall of corpses. They were stacked atop one another haphazardly and the stench was so overpowering people were losing their lunch, and others looked ready to feint.

From the looks of it this wall had been maintained over the years, new fresher corpses were thrown on the top. As one travelled down the layers of this corpse wall they could see the different stages in which the corpses decomposed and became bone. In fact at the very base of the mounds you could see weatherworn bones turned green and black.

"The fuck did this?" Maia said.

Alicia had at one point said that this Great Wolf did not exist, a part of Maia found it to be a mummers tale herself. It just sounded ludicrous, but after seeing this massive wall of corpses across a field of bones, she had different thoughts on the legitimacy of those stories.

"Leave the horses here." Vault said, dismounting and ordering his company to do so. "Form up into squads, I want no less than twenty men a squad. Maia get your company in order."

Maia was shaken from her thoughts, doing so quickly she dismounted and started giving out some orders. She hoped her nervousness didn't show, she was someone that the men and woman under her command needed to look up to, best they don't see their fearless leader nearly piss herself in fright.

"Vault… Maia…" Alicia called out, Maia looked and hoped to the Goddess she wasn't going to start something. "We move in and go up street by street, look for any orcs, we meet up at the estate at the back of the village. Understood."

Maia was surprised, she could see that the Knight of Iris was not so unaffected by the dead around her. She was scared, something bad had happened here and no one was getting through this without at least some damage. Her anger and hostility was gone, she needed people nearby to help if needed, it was funny how sometimes fear can make people quick friends.

But this place was too morbid for such humour.

"Will do." Vault said, giving a nod and turning back to his men. "Search house by house, look for any signs of orcs, move quickly and do not fuck around. We converge on the estate."

"Vault, we need to talk."

Maia noticed Kin had strolled up to Vault, the bespectacled man looked more at home in a library or in an academy teaching young men and woman about the world. Although it was hard to tell the difference between a mage and scholar these days, especially with the former being a mostly defunct organisation. She had a few in her Company, but they didn't look as prim and proper as Kin did.

Vault had skulked off to talk with his trusted advisor, leaving Maia to finish up with her troops and to prepare for the march inside.

When the time came Alicia and her Knights were at the head of the force, moving inside cautiously and down the Main Street. They would be heading straight for the estate, while Maia took to the southern part of the village and Vault the North.

The ground was hard and uneven, half buried bones and weapons could be seen. The smell seemed to be more potent here, even as they advanced they could still smell the putrid stench of death. The ground soon began to turn wet, and to their disgust it seems that the blood and other fluids of the orcs had soaked itself into the ground. They were likely to die here from disease alone, walking through here was probably going to get a lot of her people killed.

"Check the houses." Maia ordered, her group had taken a small street and were checking the buildings that lined the well trodden road.

Not many of them remained habitable, most had been burnt out or collapsed, some retained their scorched walls and a door but others had little in the way of anything keeping it standing upright. This place had been decimated, destroyed and burnt to the ground, but something had survived here, and it was killing.

Her ears perked up to any sound, you could never be too careful. Sometimes you needed to see an enemy by senses other than your eyes, orcs you could always smell. But in this place smelling anything was likely to give you some sort of incurable disease. So she kept her ears open, listening for every creak and foot fall she could. At least two other groups were nearby, she could also see them occasionally though the breaks between the buildings. A suggestion by Vault to make sure that they were never out of sight of one another. Just in case.

"Hey, Maia… the houses are full…" Margaret called out, looked into a house with a disturbed expression on her face.

"Full? Full of what?" Maia asked.

"Bones…lots of bones." Meredith replied, slowly closing the door. "Fuck, I do not want to be here right now."

"You and me both." Maia muttered, continuing the patrol.

Every house they came across they found the same thing, bones of dead orcs and other demonic entities. Something had been cramming corpses into the buildings for a long time, the interior had mould and other foul growth within that seemed malignant and dangerous to even be next to. This place was a doctors worst nightmare, and it was going to be in their worst nightmares for a long time.

Death was not so scary, not when you knew what you were fighting against and knew your chances. But what happened here was just terrifying. It made her come back to some of the things that Alicia had told them, about this cult and their belief in that strange entity they worshipped.

The Great Wolf they called it, a being that would hunt down the orcs and wipe them out before they could do any damage. People venerated it like some kind of god, it being the only thing that brought about any emotions to these people. Not fear, Mika showed some emotions, and Maia believed it to be similar to how a devoted believer of the Goddess acted when thinkings of here.

These people were devout, they believed in this thing more than just a protector. It was a saviour, a god, a new messiah.

It was certainly powerful if it could do this.

I t had been killing the orcs off for years, slaughtering them in droves and collecting their corpses. It was mean, powerful, and certain capable of slaughtering thousands if it so wished. Here they were, in the middle of its den and they were walking around looking for the damn thing. She should get back to Vault and Alicia, if this thing was here they should withdraw and get reinforcements.

Hell get Celestine Lucross to come here and use her godly magic to level this hellhole. There was no way they could risk being here, not if the thing that murdered all these orcs was here.

"Get back to the gate, there is nothing here, so we are not staying." Maia ordered.

Complaints were non existent, she just hoped that Vault and Alicia didn't do the opposite. She ordered Meredith to go and find Vault, she would be going to locate Alicia and hope to the Goddess she had not reached the estate yet.

Maia opted to run instead of walk, best get to her as quick as possible and hope that nothing had transpired. She begged to the gods that Alicia was being overly cautious, because if she got a bit headstrong she might try to rush this enemy.

Luck was on her side, she saw Alicia along with ten of her Knights walking through the gates of the estate grounds. She called out to them, forcing them to a halt and to turn their blades in haste with her shout.

Their nerves seem to embarrass them, but Maia opted not to crack a joke and instead move right for Alicia.

"What has happened? Is there something wrong?" Alicia asked, her posture showed she was ready to leap into danger. Maia hoped that she was more inclined to leap away from it.

"We have been searching the houses, they are filled with bones and rot, there is nothing here." Maia replied. "I think we should leave."

Alicia expressed some surprise at the notion.

"Why?" Alicia asked.

"Listen, this place is all wrong, look around you, there are corpses all around us, something had murdered thousands of orcs here over the years and we are about to step into its house. Do you honestly think this is a good idea?" Maia asked.

"Then what should be do? Turn back and leave it here, if it is as dangerous as it seems than it is our obligation to destroy it." Alicia countered, her scowl that had been lost since the fateful trek across the field of bones and corpses had returned.

"We return to Ken, we get Celestine to come here and blow this place to hell. I am telling you whatever is in there is too dangerous to face." Maia said, she was being as serious as she was able.

"Then leave from here, me and my Knights shall enter the estate and deal with this creature ourselves. We will not sully our honor and dignity, we shall face whatever is ahead of us and prove that no matter what kind of monstrosity we face it will not best us." Alicia replied, scowling as she turned on her heels and marched with purpose towards the door.

Maia couldn't actually believe it, was her pride so strong that she would disregard the danger before her in order to validate her own ego? That woman had gotten to her, more than Alicia would let you believe, and now the Princess was walking into the wolfs den without a shred of caution.

With a hiss of annoyance she drew both her swords and followed after the small cadre of Knights, they were stupid for going in, but she was no less dumb for following them. But she couldn't leave a fellow Shield Knight to fight an enemy, they were allies and no matter how much they got on each other's nerves they worked together.

"Don't rush this." Maia said, standing beside Alicia as they prepared to open the doors to the estate. "We plan this out and make sure no one dies. Okay?"

"Very well." Alicia replied, nodding her head.

They pushed open the doors.

Maia expected a lot of thing to pop up when she looked inside, ranging from corpses of more orcs to even a sort of shrine to monsters. Hell even the idea of a den filled with werewolves was what she was thinking right now. What she got was quite lacklustre.

It was empty.

Not just devoid of anyone, be it human, monster or whatever kind of creatures lurk the world, it was devoid of everything. There was nothing within the outward walls of this estate, the furniture that adorned it was missing, along with every single wall and upper floor. Leaving a barren cavernous open space that seemed unending with so little light breaching its exterior.

Maia craned her neck upwards and could see the actual interior of the roof of this estate. It was a cavernous open area that was held up by a few remaining support beams and load bearing poles. Sometimes she wondered how monstrously oversized some estates could be, but seeing one gutted of everything within just gave it a new feeling of gargantuan.

"Where is everything?" Alicia muttered.

"My Lady, up ahead." One of the Knights called, pointing to the far end of the house.

Maia looked to see a large bay window on the other side of the estate, through the two story tall panes of glass she could see the mountains. The sun was starting to move over those mountains, the lights of the slowly setting sun bathing the area in a bright orange hue. Bathed in that light was a single individual, sitting upon the ground and seemed to be almost meditating.

"What the hell is that?" Maia muttered.

"Let's find out." Alicia said, leading the march towards the unknown.

Their walk had taken more than a few minutes, it was both a frightful bore and nerve wracking. But they came to the edge of the light, looking upon the creature that sat there. It was a creature, the slouch of its back and the disproportions of its body was not human. But it was the snout that peaked out from under that ebony hood. This was a lycanthrope, but at the same time it was the most peculiar werewolf she had ever seen.

It wore armor, seemingly designed to fit with its body, the design and ornamentation shows it was masterfully crafted – by someone with a demented mind. The skulls and runes etched onto its surface showed just how well crafted it was, and well used from the nicks and dents in the steel. This werewolf had seen battle.

"It has a weapon."

Maia looked to where the Knight was pointing, finding a large scythe lain before the creature.

"Is it asleep?" Another had asked.

"I do not care, time to end this." Alicia said, stepping forward and drawing her sword.

Maia would have loved to shout at her to not do it, but if what the Knight says was true and this thing was asleep best not wake it up when Alicia was getting closer. The Princess stood before the creature, even when sitting its head still reached to her shoulders, how dreadfully tall it would be on its feet.

Alicia draw her blade back and swung it forward.

The creature did not move, didn't even seem to flinch, but still something had parried the blade meant for its head. Maia didn't see it at first, because of the light from the window, but if she looked close enough she could see a single fleck of red within the rays. Hidden behind the golden rays of light, barely visible and seemingly not there.

It was a scythe, an exact replica of the one at the lycanthrope's feet, but transparent and seemingly a phantom weapon. It made her heart sink into her stomach, a phantom weapon was a magical weapon constructed out of raw magical energy. This proved three things in a single instant: it could use magic, use it very effectively if it can control said magic without moving or speaking words, and it was not as asleep as they thought.

It had just lured them in.

A clawed hand reached for the scythe on the ground, and with a single terrible swing the weapon struck Alicia in the side. There was a gasp that came out as a wheeze as the Princess was thrown aside with little effort. Had the beast struck with the blade facing her Maia had no doubt the woman would have been cut in half.

"Lady Alicia!" Two Knights had rushed to aid their leader, leaving the rest of them to face the werewolf.

It rose to its full height, a staggering eight feet if she had to guess, it loomed over them menacingly. But the most terrifying thing were its eyes, blue orbs that were aglow with energy, they held a deep malevolence and darkness that scared her. This thing was not a werewolf, it was something worse.

"Attack!" Ursula called, charging the beast, with three of her fellow Knights trailing behind her.

"Stop! Don't take it head on!" Maia shouted.

It was already too late, the creature had retaliated and dispatched them with the cold proficiency of something other than a wild beast. It had jabbed its scythe forward, slamming it into the chest of Ursula and sending her careening back. The second Knight was seized, her entire head in its claw, and used her as a club to smash aside the third knight and sending both rolling away.

The forth had thought she could get a swing in, but as her weapon came down her arm was ensnared by its claw and then the scythe head slammed into her gut. She let out a breath, and then she was lifted up and over the werewolf and slammed into the ground. All four knights did not rise back up, groaning and howling in pain, they had been bested easily.

Maia realised quickly that they were in over their heads. This thing knew how to fight, not swing its body around or rip through something with its claws. They were going against something that had the skill of a warrior, it had magic and was heavily armoured. They were in trouble.

"Stay with me! Do not rush this thing!" Maia ordered.

She still had four Knights by her side, and two more to call for help from if things got bad. Still she was not liking her odds, but with any enemy she knew that in order to beat it they only needed to land one blow. His head was the only spot completely unprotected, if they got a solid hit there they could end the fight instantly. But they needed an opening.

"Flank left and right, strike when he is vulnerable." Maia whispered, she didn't know if she could risk speaking aloud with this creature within earshot, if it could recognise tactics maybe it can recognise words.

For all she knew it could talk.

"Go." Maia said, and the four knights dispersed, two going to either of the creatures flank.

It kept its gaze on her, just as she wanted but still dreaded. Because the only way to make an opening was to literally let this thing attack you, as much as she didn't want to do that she was their best option. Her odds of survival were better than most others.

With that last thought, hopefully not her last living thought, she charged the creature with blades down at her side. It's attack was instantaneous, it swung up its scythe to force her to a halt, she back pedalled as she realised just how fast this thing was. She barely caught the thing move, but even that was slow compared to its second swing that came at her before she could step away.

She had only enough time to raise her sword, the hit sent her down to a knee, her blade had barely been able to stop the weapon from touching her shoulder. Luckily the actual blade of the scythe had landed past her and was now nestled close to her back. But if he so much as tugged she would be cut in half.

Wasting no time she brought her other blade up and smacked it on top of the Scythe, her plan to wedge the massive thing between her two blades. Given its strength she had no idea if she could hold it, but she didn't want to wait long to see.

"Now!" Maia yelled.

The Knights charged, they all moved in with the intent to kill, and she begged to the Goddess that they went for the head.

Although her begging went to something else when she heard the scythes shaft scrap against her sword as it twisted around. Glancing out of the corner of her eye she could see the scythe was angled to the side, and if it pulled her left arm – which held the sword down on top of her other blade - would be gone. Dreading the possibility she was given no time to consider letting go before the weapon moved.

To her surprise it didn't jerk back and take her arm. Instead he swung to the left, it connected with her neck and sent her tumbling to the ground, coughing and reaching for the spot the weapon had hit. But she was not the weapons target, she watched as it swung further and struck the closest Knight to its left. She was thrown away, arm broken and likely a few ribs as well, while the Knight beside her stumbled back as her comrade sailed right past her.

Then the werewolf jabbed its scythe to the right, using the butt of the weapon to stab at the next knight. She let out a scream as the jagged dagger at the base of the weapon sunk into her chest, punching through the armor she had and wedging itself nicely into the meat. With a flick he lifted the Knight up and tossed her overhead and into the stalled knight, knocking them both down.

The fourth and final Knight had closed the distance and swung, only to meet no resistance as the werewolf ducked beneath the swing and cut the feet out from under the Knight with a sweeping kick. She toppled onto her back, and then the scythe came down towards her head.

From where Maia was she suspected that the Knight's head had been cut in half by the length of the weapon but it had missed her. Nary a few inches by the looks of it. Yet it was the fearful sobs that came from the Knight's mouth told her she was alive, but for how long she did not know, not with the werewolf loomed over the terrified woman.

Maia realised with cold dread just what kind of monster they were facing. It used tactics, enemy placement and effective ways of defeating each target quickly and fluidly. She knew because she had just witnessed it, this thing picked its targets methodically and then retaliated, it waited for them to attack and then countered. Maia had seen only a few warriors that could do something similar as this beast had, they were masters of the sword.

They were in way over their heads, not a single one of them could hope to defeat this this. And it hadn't even looked to be trying.

"Get back!" Maia yelled, rising back to her feet she rushed forward to try and save her.

It cost her, the weapon was torn from the ground and then swung down towards her again. Like before she was left on a knee and using both weapons to hold this monstrosity of a weapon at bay. Even making sure one blade was behind her back so he didn't cut her head off or her body in half. Not like she could do anything other than stave off death, he was standing over her and slowly applying more pressure.

'How is this thing so strong?' Maia thought, sweating as she tried to desperately push back.

"I need help! Dammit, help me already!" Maia called, looking towards the two Knights.

They looked hesitant, either unwilling to leave their injured commander or fearful of ending up like their comrades she did not know. But either case it means she was shit out of luck.

That was until she heard a bellow beside her, looking she couldn't help but smile when she saw Vault. Sword raised up and coming down towards the lycanthrope, it turned to regard the General of the Black Dogs, that would be the last thing it would ever see. Until Vault's weapon crashed against an ethereal red scythe, a carbon copy of the one still pressing down on her own blade, halting it.

With a single twist of the werewolf's free claw the scythe flicked forward and slammed down onto her, trapping Vault's sword between her own and that ethereal scythe. The werewolf then withdrew its corporeal weapon and twisted it around, swinging it up and lodging it beneath her sword, applying a counter pressure that trapped her sword and Vaults between the two scythes.

They were trapped, unable to free their weapons or even move from their positions unless they disarmed themselves. Then with an almost casual gait it circled around her, its grip on the scythe not slackening, and came up beside Vault. Who was trying to reef his weapon out from between the rock and hard place, but to no avail.

"Don't get cocky asshole, I am far from through!" Vault roared.

To her surprise Vault lashed out with a kick, but not to the lycanthrope but towards her. His boot connected to her shoulder and she was thrown off balance, falling to the side and to the ground. She felt the edge of the scythe flick through her hair, by some miracle nothing but a few strands of hair were lost. Then as she touched the floor the ethereal scythe did as well, embedding itself right beside her.

She turned and watched as Vault attacking with a quick upward swing, only for it to be batted aside with flick of the scythe. Vault was on the defensive, swinging his sword around as fast as he could to counter any attack sent his way. The werewolf looked to be toying with him, only using minimal movement of its wrist and claws to direct the swings of its scythe.

Maia rose up and charged, coming close and leaping up to stab the thing in the back of the head. A claw reached out and took her by the throat, she dangled there and tried to pry herself free. But she was still flung around as the werewolf continued to duel against Vault, forcing him back and keeping him on the defensive.

"Let go of me you bastard!" Maia wheezed, trying to free herself.

"Swarm him! Take him down!" Vault yelled, backing off quickly.

Looking around she could see that they were no longer alone, dozens came charging in, swords, spear and axes raised to tear apart this bastard. She was unceremoniously dropped down to her feet, she stumbled to remain standing, although proved pointless before the werewolf kicked her away and into a man.

He caught her, and as she tried to stand back up the guy was knocked aside. The werewolf attacked again, two men were knocked down, another grabbed before he was flung towards a group nearby. A Knight lunged forward with a sword thrust, the werewolf dodged and with an open palm forced the Knight's head into the ground. Raising its scythe and blocking two large bastard swords, while its other hand summoned that phantom weapon to block another group.

This thing kept fighting, pushing back dozens of soldiers, hundred now. The entire estate was filled with Knights, Mercenaries and ragtag soldiers, they were all after a single target. They weren't even making a dent, it was fighting and not giving them any ground.

That monster was throwing around anyone that was being sent its way, none were getting close to landing a hit. Soon enough the ground was littered with unconscious soldiers, none were willing to get any closer and risk a similar beating.

"Archers! Mages! Front and centre!" Vault called out.

A series of mages came forward, their staves shining as they formed barriers behind the werewolf. The archers lined up and released their arrows, the wolf was trapped with archers at the front and a magical barrier behind it. A hail of arrows sailed towards it, but it did not remain in place.

With a mighty leap it sailed up and into the support beams, arrows and bolts of magic followed after the creature. It weaved and ran from the barrage of arrows and magical bolts, none seem to touch the creature. In the darkness it did not seem to be noticed, it was impossible to track and hit.

"Take it down! Hit it with everything you got! Kin! Try and immobilise it!" Vault yelled.

"Bring it to the ground! We can hack it apart down here!" Someone yelled.

Arrows were sailing up towards the creature, who despite being weighed down by a large weapon and armor was moving quickly. It was fast, too agile for something so big and encumbered. Nothing hit, it simply evaded and leaped from perch to perch, Maia wondered if it was actually dodging those bolts or just lucky not to get hit. A stream of chains wrapped around the werewolf, it tumbled through the air and slammed into the ground.

It's scythe sailed away and embedded itself into the ground, while the owner sailed through the crowd and bowled over several men before coming to a halt. It rolled to its feet, and soon enough it was being circled. They were hesitant to move, even disarmed and restrained this thing still brought fear to those nearby.

"Attack! Kill it while it is restrained!" Vault yelled.

Some followed the order, charging in without a clue and intent on reaping the glory of taking down the monster. Big mistake, Maia could tell, this thing was not defenceless. It waited for something to come close and attack, and attack it did. It lashed out with a kick, forcing back one man, before it ducked under a wide sword swing.

It continued to duck and dodge, moving around and between those that attacked. Even retrained it did not falter.

'We can't beat this thing.' Maia thought, this thing was beating them with both arms tied behind its back.

"Restrain it!" Vault yelled. "Kin, bind its legs!"

The bespectacled mage did as instructed, flinging a stream of magical chains towards the werewolf. As said the spell wrapped around the legs of the werewolf, it fell down and was immobilised, it was at that moment everyone struck. Swords and axes came down on top of the trapped creature, it was over.

"That's it, kill the bastard!" Vault yelled, smirking as he watched the slaughter.

They continued to hack and strike, to Maia's expectations she would think that when it was over that they would find a pile of gore on the ground. Instead all the people around the creature were lifted off the ground, dark energies coalesced around their throats and choking the life out of them. Slowly as they rose up she could see the beast that they had tried to attack, it rose back up and had its hand raised up.

Those ethereal chains were dissolving, freeing itself from the magical bindings. Yet even after the beating it had taken there was not a single trace of damage, it had survived the beating with axes and swords without harm. Now it was back up, and ready to continue.

With a single gesture the people it was holding aloft were thrown back. They crashed into the ground and into others, none dared get any closer. It had them on the ropes, and they would not survive. Maia had to agree, she had done nothing but watch from the sidelines and was unwilling to get within arms reach of this thing again.

"Fuck! This thing won't go down!"

"We're fucking done for!"

"We should run! Get the hell out of here!"

People were panicking, this thing was impossible to take down, even restrained it had knocked them around like they were nothing. It didn't matter if they got the drop on it, the thing wasn't phased by their weapons. It was toying with them, it was fucking toying with a force of nearly a thousand men and woman like it was nothing. What chance did they have?

This thing had slaughtered entire warbands, armies that were so dangerous you had to have a standard army twice their size to take out effectively. Or be behind something big enough and rain down a hale of arrows upon the things. This thing lived up to the legends the people had given it, this thing was a monster in its own right.

"Kin! Restrain it again!" Vault yelled.

Kin attempted to do that, his hands aglow with great magical power, he was going to use a powerful spell this time. Just as he was about to cast it the werewolf raised its hand and cast a counter spell, the spell Kin was about to unleash was rendered inert. Then that spell formed in the claws of that lycanthrope, it had actually stolen Kin's spell.

Releasing it Kin was now the target of the magic, and he was bound by dozens of chains that wrapped around his arms and legs and bound him to the ground. Kin was trapped, bound and gagged, unable to do anything but struggle inanely.

"Dammit! Mages, seal that thing! Put it in a box! Anything, just seal it!" Vault yelled.

All the mages that remained now began to chant, dozens of them putting their power towards a single spell. Soon enough transparent walls appeared around the lycanthrope, layered over one another and sealing the creature behind thick magical walls.

Soon enough all that remained was a thick magical sphere, within a beast that they had suffered immensely against. Maia stood there and watched, she had observed it all and she had no idea what to make of it. This had ended unspectacularly, a part of her wondered if it actually did, but the next few minutes had been silent and peaceful.

She just hoped it would stay that way.

"Get the wounded up! We are getting the fuck out of here!" Vault yelled out.

People did so slowly, shaking off the terror of that little conflict. Maia only watched on, even as Alicia was carried from the building alongside most of her Knights, as Kin was tended to by three mages, and even as several of her men were being hoisted up by those not wounded. She couldn't take her eyes off that sphere.

That thing terrified her.

Never before had she seen something so horrifying.


Now you have seen him, the Worgen Death Knight took on an army, and was captured. What will this mean for our protagonist? What will become of him? Wait and see.