Normally today would be just as beautiful as the last in the village of Dyne but not on this day. During the aftermath of the fight against faeries, several houses were damaged or destroyed. Gray clouds covered the sky above, blocking all sunlight and bringing swift winds down on the land. Zorn pushed his way through several thick roots of dead trees and found himself inside the village he had been in search for. Now he must find the blacksmith Tristan, as his sword was now too rusty for battle. He found it strange that there were no guards at the entrance of Dyne, nor were there happy children running about like in his memories. Zorn quickly rewrapped his scarf around his neck, covering himself from the freezing cold. A man nearby had crouched down to lift up some firewood. “Excuse me.” Zorn said politely. “I need help in finding somebody.” The man turned his head toward Zorn but upon realizing the armor he wore, grew angry. “We don’t help traitors!” The man snapped before storming away without his firewood. Zorn then sighed. He generously picked up the man’s wood and set it on a tall rock in the distance before walking away himself.
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Two young children hold on to one another in fear. They clasped their hands together and nudged their heads so that they touch. Behind the two were several other children doing the exact same thing. An old woman, apparently in her late 80’s, had sat on a tall pile of hay and was in the process of telling the children scary stories of past. “…And then the elves gave the two artifacts to the old hero, Gala. Unfortunately man is too greedy for such privilege and Gala suffered a terrible fate.” The old woman explained. She acknowledged all the children present, all with fearful eyes. A smile cracked on her wrinkly face. “But no need to worry children as it is all fiction.” This white lie was needed. In times like these children needed to be children. Instead of worrying about the dying world, they should be off playing and thinking of no future but of the games they would play tomorrow. The old woman clapped her hands together. “Well this old lady is done telling stories for today.” She said as she slowly stood up with the help of the children. One young boy handed her a cane. “Thank you, Matthew. You know us old people. We cant do anything on our own.” The children all laugh before disappearing towards new grounds of fun.

“They sure love it when you tell your stories, grandma.” A young brunette said as she snuck up from behind.

“As I recall you used to love my stories as well.” The old lady said with a smile., turning around slowly to kiss her granddaughter on the cheek. The sixteen year old girl had her hair tied in a ponytail and wore a stylish light blue shirt over a long white dress. Although her grandmother was small, she was even shorter being her age. “Sophia, why do you always insist on wearing nice clothes when you play with your friends?”

“It’s okay grandma. I never get them dirty. I promise.” Sophia said with a peaceful smile. “I’ll be home before supper.”

“Sophia!!!” A young child shouted from across the block. The two exchanged waves. “You have to come see this. There is a knight in town.”

“A…knight?” Sophia repeated as she lowered her arm slowly. The old lady overheard the young boy too and accompanied her granddaughter to meet the knight.
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“Come on! Fight back you coward!” A young child shouted teasingly. He, along with several other children, were chucking rocks at Zorn. The warrior takes the hits without moving; without caring. “What are you going to do stand there like a rock?”

Zorn quickly reached for the handle of his sword and swung the weapon in midair. The young child felt the wind from his blade before the knight before he sheathed his sword. A bird drops in front of the child, the head had been decapitated. “Wow!” Another child exclaimed in amazement.

“Y…you tried to kill me.” The young lad muttered with piss dripping down his pants.

“You are poorly mistaken. I was after the bird. It was a demonic bird.” Zorn explained while raising his eyes to the sky. “If I was trying to kill you, id stab you in the eyes.” The boy screamed in terror before he ran away. The other children laugh. Zorn laughs to himself but still manages to keep a straight face.

“Hello?” Asked a voice from behind. Zorn turned and finds Sophia looking up at him. “You!” Sophia shrieks. She tightened her fists in anger before jumping up and slamming Zorn hard across the face. The children back up in fear. Nobody is allowed to hit a knight, especially irresponsible children. Zorn rubs the bottom of his jaw as he shakes his head. “…you”

“I’m only here for a blacksmith. I was trying to refrain from seeing you…” Zorn said calmly. He watches the eyes of the young girl. “There is no reason for you to be angry with me. I did what I had to.”

“Liar!” Sophia screams with tears in her eyes. “Do you know how many times I would see my friends having fun with their older brothers? Everyone of them would have fun but not me. My brother left me when I was only six.”

Zorn crossed his, looking to the sky. “This was a bad idea…”

“Mom said that a bunch of boys from this village were sent to train for combat skills and you were one of the top students. You sent letters for a while until five years ago. Why is that? And why are you here without your squad?”

“You still talk too much. Fine then.” Zorn crouched down to his little sister. “Look the truth is something bad happened five years ago and its dangerous for me to be around you or the rest of our family.”

“You…me…grandma. We are all that is left.” Sophia slowly said, continuing to glare at her brother. Zorn stared speechlessly in Sophia’s eyes. “Our parents were murdered a year ago because it was believed they knew where you were hiding.”

Zorn turned around instantly and started pacing back and forth with his eyes narrowed and teeth grinding. “…how cold are they?!” Zorn growled but then paused. “Where’s grandma?”

“I’m right here.” She said. The old lady was listening to the conversation the entire time. “It’s good to see you are alive and well, Zorn.”

“You too.”

“We all figured there was a reason you weren’t bothering with any of us so why now? Why have you returned to your home?”

“I cant tell you that. Sorry.” Zorn replied. “I cannot stay long. Would u please tell me where a blacksmith named Tristan resides?”

“Of course, of course.” The old woman said as she waved her hand around. “Follow me.” Against his will Sophia jumped on her brother’s back and held on to his shoulders for a piggy back ride.
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The three walked, Sophia skipping as she excitedly held on to her brother’s hand, Zorn couldn’t help but realize all the damage that had been done to Dyne. “What happened?” He asked. “Were you raided by bandits?”

“Not at all.” The old lady responded instantly. “We were attacked by some kind of demon. It came out of nowhere and brought destruction along with it.”

“Where is the demon now?”

“It’s dead.” Sophia answered. Zorn is puzzled. “Let’s see first a wizard tried to beat the demon and then someone else came and finished it off.” She puts a finger to her lips. “I can’t remember his name though.”

The old woman stopped along with the others. Ahead of them several men were attempting to lift the heavy demon on a wagon carried by horseback. Zorn walked ahead, eying the creature suspiciously. The wings and the ears give it away. He snapped his head back to his sister and grandmother. “What the hell is this?!”

“What’s wrong big brother?” Sophia asks.

“The demon you were talking about…this faerie?!” Zorn questions. The old woman nodded with all seriousness as Zorn turned his attention back to the faerie corpse as it is taken away. “How could a faerie do this?” The warrior thought to himself. “It makes no sense. A faerie is forbidden to harm a human soul. The only way they would cause chaos is if someone were to use the Ocarina of Malta and demand it.” Zorn grabbed his ocarina, staring at it in a deep gaze. “I’m not responsible for this. Shit!” Zorn swings his head to the traveling corpse that was led toward a large fire where it will be burnt until there are no remains left. “All I need is new problems. First I have to hide the ocarina before I am accused and second…I’m not the only one who can control the faeries…”