A Slayer's Tales

The Crossroads

As morning broke and the sun began to scorch the sky red, Nicholas opened his eyes. He was near the Idovian border but he was still a long way from home. He was still a long way from The Crossroads.

    The Crossroads are, perhaps, the centre point of the world. There are many roads in the Five Kingdoms but there is only one point they all cross. Established to make trade between capitals easier, The Crossroads were created shortly after the Five Kingdoms and have been the main point of travel between them ever since. If a man wants to go to another Kingdom beside their own, they much travel the long road to The Crossroads and there he can take his pick of which Kingdom to visit.

    Nicholas began packing up his camp supplies. He rolled his sleeping mat back up and hung it from his steed, and put his armour back on. It was early and it was time to ride.
    There was nothing particularly interesting along the road for Nicholas to admire. Unlike riding in Winterria or Welthereon, even Wilaven, there was no natural giants or lush green forests. There was no streams or birds. It was almost completely silent beside the wind's whispers. Nicholas hated it. The more time he had alone like this, the more he thought back to Robert's death.

    It had been just over half a cycle, 6 months, since he'd had to kill Robert – who'd transformed into a foul, flesh-eating daemon. But there hadn't been a day in that half-cycle where Nicholas didn't think about him. Robert had been like a father to him. They'd lived together since Nicholas was abandoned at the Slayers' Stronghold. He raised him. Nicholas hated himself for what he had to do, but he knew he had to do it. There was no other choice. He couldn't let Brom die, it would've permanently tarnished the Slayers' Guild as well as caused chaos amongst the Kingdoms. As much as he hated himself, Nicholas knew he did the right thing.

    As his horse cantered down the road, Nicholas continued to think of Robert. Only this time, he didn't think about his death. He smiled and let out a light chuckle to himself as he thought back to the first time Robert showed him The Crossroads.

    "Nick," Robert looked back to make sure his apprentice was still following, "this is The Crossroads." Robert brought his horse to a stop and a young Nicholas, no older than 15, followed suit. "It's stunning." Nicholas stared in awe. Before them was a simple crossroads but with golden arches over each exit, naming each Kingdom that the road lead to. In front of them was the Idovian exit. The arch was decorated with ornate designs and a two crows at the top, the Idovian Queen's royal crest. "Two crows. A wolf. A chimera. Stag Horns. And a bear." Robert named each Kingdom's creature that they had mounted in gold upon their arch. "Idovia. Wilaven. Yiroyin. Welthereon. Winterria." Nicholas recited the name of each Kingdom in the order of the creatures Robert named. Robert looked at him with a smile. Nicholas hadn't read the names, he'd learnt each royal family's crest – a necessity for Slayers. "Good."

    "Help!" A voice in the distance cried out. Robert and Nicholas both looked to where it came from. Both looked down the road to Yiroyin and quickly took off in it's direction. Yiroyin was the largest Kingdom and the most peaceful. Due to it's vast size, the daemons in the Kingdom rarely posed a threat to people who lived there. However, travellers on the road weren't as lucky.

    Nicholas got there before Robert, but not long before. He dismounted and drew his sword. "Nicholas, wait!" Robert's voice called from behind. He didn't want to. He could see what has happening in front of him and he wanted to act but he knew Robert would be right.

    Robert dismounted hastily and drew his sword. It took him less than a few second to do both and Nicholas couldn't help but smile. Robert was a master at his craft. "Wait until it's finished." In front of them, a daemon feasted on a traveller who seemed to still be alive. It was a horrific sight but both Slayers were accustomed to such horrors. The monster had ripped open a whole in the man's chest and fed on his internal organs. It started with the intestines – they always start with the intestines – and slowly worked its way through the less vital organs to prolong the man's pain. He was dead or unconscious at this point. Yet the Slayers still waited. Interrupting a daemon mid-feast was never a good idea. If they're hungry, they're more violent. If they've just eaten, they easy prey.