The man did not fall back as ordered. In contrast he pressed forward purposefully. Instincts usually serve Tristan well but there was something different this time; something unusual. With each step closer forcing him back, Tristan found the man was no man at all but a creature of some sort. Flashbacks seared through Tristan’s memory matching the face of the one in front of him to that of the one he cut in two the night prior. The raised sword grew almost unbearably hot, forcing a hesitantly stronger grip.

“You give us that weapon. We pursue you to death until it returned to true master. Plans he no tells us but is part of puzzle! ” cackled the creature which turned out to be another Faery. It suddenly flailed its arms and burst out its wings to send a barrage of vicious wind cyclones at Tristan, sending him toppling backward.

“Ugh… You coward, fight fairly!” Coughed the fallen warrior while using the hilt of his sword to pull himself back up. “W..what? Where the hell did you go, demon?” he said confused scouting the barren area around him. At this point it had been a long day and for all he knew what had happened could have been his imagination.


The sun seemed it had enough also as it slowly fell back to its resting place behind the mountains of Dyne. Although he finally returned to his home town, Tristan felt more comfortable sleeping outside. On the outskirt of Dyne was a spiral path that lead to a rocky hill that was easily hidden from non-residents. It was at the tip where Tristan found most of his rest growing up, laying on the soft grass and peering over as if a silent guardian. On clear nights he was able to lean over the edge and see the whole town lit up from torches at street ends and main pathways, even the one that lead east to the ocean. Tonight was the same as any other night and the exhausted blacksmith threw off his armor and rested his weapons against a tree. He rounded the corner, pushing through patches of vines to get to the tip and once again view the entire city and bid it good night.

“What strange things happen in your village, Dyne… if only you were still alive. I would have loved to meet the legendary blacksmith and co-founder of such a great land.” Tristan said while yawning when something caught his ear in the distance. There seemed to be quite a commotion happening at the nobles and knight residence.

“There are way too many torches moving at this time of night… and that is unmistakably the sound of prison bars being hit with metal. I thought the old prison was closed down last time it got flooded.” Pondered Tristan who instantly got his second wind and curiosity rose.

Tristan dropped off the edge of the cliff and slid down random dirt paths to help ease the momentum of falling and before he knew it an hour past and a large white tower greeted him under the moonlight. Keeping off the main path was vital if he wanted to keep unnoticed and he did just that until almost colliding head into a cloaked knight carrying a torch. Tristan gasped and dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding confrontation. By this time he had thought the commotion had fully died down… he must have been a guard of some sort.

The ocean was now unusually close by, as Tristan peered down the right side of the building that seemed to go on forever. The water had engulfed the end of the building as waves came crashing down against the stone walls. By now his heart was beating fast with excitement and curiosity. His senses were at their peek, cradled in the night’s darkness yet drawn to the silvery light the stars allowed to light bits and pieces of path.

“Well this is pointless… I’m not just going to barge into the castle and demand to know why everyone is up so late, that’s suicide even for me.” chuckled Tristan who then let out a sigh. He couldn’t help but feel the whole trip was worthless. But suddenly a noise perked Tristan’s ears; Metal on metal, the very same as he heard from atop of his cliff. “Gotcha… just a bit further down.” Tristan exclaimed as half of his body was now emerged in water and he rounded the back of the castle which happened to be the old prison expansion.

As if magnetized, Tristan’s eyes beamed toward the center of a half-submerged cell block. He didn’t quite understand why but anger rose from within him as a silhouette caught his attention among the darkness. Out of nowhere Tristan whelped as the side of his leg singed with pain. Looking down through the salty water below him he could see his sword once again alive in a luminous red. “What the hell is its problem!?” Tristan thought for a split second but as quickly as it came did it fade away.

“I know you’re in there…” began Tristan, moving closer to the rusty bars. “If you don’t come forward and show yourself then I will pursue you and make you wish this hell of a watery grave came a lot sooner…”