Demonic Forces Arc

Chapter 5: The Four Horseman

Gwilln woke up the next morning. It had been a day since the last attack. He got out of bed and saw that Reyla was cooking breakfast for the team. Gwilln sat at the table. The team seemed to be talking about the battle yesterday.

"Had to help out Gwilln's ass yet again!" Aaravit said poking fun at Gwilln.

"Screw off," he replied "I held out on my own!"

"Till I had to save you." Reyla said as she made breakfast.

Nunda put a hand on Gwilln's back.

"Hey relax. It's his first true battle. Cut him some slack. Don't worry Gwilln. You'll get accustom to battles such as the one from yesterday." Nunda said.

"Thanks Nunda." Gwilln said.

Red Dragon Knight sat there quietly sipping his coffee through his helmet.

Gwilln saw and said, "Ok. How?"

"He's the mysterious Red Dragon Knight," Aaravit said sarcastically.

Reyla finished breakfast and gave everyone their meals.

"So, what do you think?" she asked.

"It's good. It's good. Its good," They all said.

"It's ok." Gwilln said.

Nunda, Aaravit, and Red Dragon Knight all face palmed. Next thing Gwilln knew, he was sent through the wall.

"How can you not like my cooking!" Reyla yelled at him, "I should throw you off the wa-. "

She was interrupted by the sound of a bell. It wasn't an alarm. It was a deathly sounding bell.

"Has someone died?" Gwilln asked with his head still spinning.

"No," Reyla said looking out the window, "the Four Horseman are returning to the city."

"Four Horseman? Who are they?"

"They're best Ranger team. They rarely come to the city. In fact, the live outside the walls of Ranger City. Their leader is one of the most skilled Rangers ever recorded. His name is Death. His second in command is War. Famine and Pestilence follow behind them."

Gwilln got up and looked out the window. He saw four silhouettes riding on horses and approaching the city. They were surprise attacked by Demons. The one approaching on the far left stabbed one with a massive spear and cut the throat of another with the other spear. The one on the far right drew cleavers and hacked the Demons apart. The one in the middle left drew his sword crashed them in on Demon's heads. The last one drew one of his two scythes and stabbed the leader of the Demon surprise attack through the chest and then split the creature in half. The Demons were killed in seconds. Gwilln saw this shock and awe. He couldn't believe his eyes. The gate opened and the four entered.

The team went outside and went down the wall to see their return. As they entered, Gwilln saw the horses were covered in armor but yet didn't seem weighed down by it. They rode single file. The first one to enter was the one with the spears. They wore a hood and a green mask but little armor. The next one to enter was the one wielding the cleavers. They had a strange look. They seemed to be wearing gentleman's attire and a top hat but keeping the mask trend. Their mask was white with the only other color being the black coming from the eye holes. The next one to enter was the sword wielding one. They wore a largely white mask with a hood. The eyeholes were black and the mouth hole was black as well. Above and below the eyes are there were red markings in the shape of rectangles. The last one to enter was the scythe wielder. Their mouth and nose were covered by a mask but their eyes were visible. They saw Reyla and stared at her and she stared back. The team followed the horseman.

The horsemen stood in city central with a warning. The scythe wielding one stood front and center.

"Greetings citizens. I am Death. Leader of the Four Horsemen. As you know we rarely ever come to the city. Some of you may have now just heard of us. Anyway, we have come to Ranger City to declare a warning. My team and I have discovered the organizers of the recent attacks. An old Demon type that we thought was extinct now has returned."

Everyone seemed to be listening in. No one made a sound.

"The old enemy. Demon War Captains."

The crowd began to ramble but in a concerned tone.

"War Captains? They should be extinct!" Reyla said with a tone of concern.

Death spoke again.

"We give you this warning to prepare should one of them attack here. In the meantime, my team and I shall return beyond the walls in an hour and attempt to hunt these monsters ourselves."

The horseman rode near the gate and someone followed behind to give them supplies. Reyla went alone to the gate.

She approached Death.

"It's been a while cousin," she said to him.

"Indeed it has Reyla," he replied.

"Well he just thought he we'd stop by and say hi," said the sword wielding one.

"War…," Death said with a tint of anger.

"Heh, sorry boss."

"So Death, are there really War Captains still alive?" Reyla asked getting back on topic.

"Yes we scouted them out yesterday after the attack on the city. There were twelve of them and they appeared to be talking to what we believe is a Shade of Jilok."

"A shade?"

"Yes. Pestilence identified the shade."

"Well she is a former librarian," said War.

Ignoring the comment, Death continued.

"Shades are very rarely seen. Famine believes something big is on its way."

"Should I have my team assist you?" Reyla asked.

"I'd prefer not. These War Captains have managed to remain well hidden for many years. We don't know how powerful they are. In fact, I would rather my team at least fight them first before the city sends teams out into the deeper parts of this realm."

"Very well Death." Reyla finished.

She walked back to her team's place where they were already waiting. She looked out the window and watched the Four Horseman ride beyond the walls.