Found in Blood and Magic

Fateful Encounters: The Day the World Changed

The forest lay silent and still save for the mournful whispers of the wind as it danced through the tangled branches overhead. Bragner Aleback, seasoned warrior and leader of his mercenary band, The Dwarves of Bloodied Iron, stood amidst the carnage of the gutted caravan, his heart heavy with grief and rage.

Goblin weapons, smeared in filth and gore, protruded from corpses and shattered wagons alike, a grim testament to the savagery of their attack. For hours, Bragner and his companions had scoured the scene, searching for survivors or any sign of the perpetrators, but thus far, their efforts had been in vain.

This was Bragner's land, the conquered Kingdom of Laitia was now his, and as such, the dwarf couldn't help but be encased in a shell of rage. It was his duty to protect these people, and he failed. At least, that's what the High Commander told himself.

The land had been gifted to him by the Holy Karbanaruk Empire twenty years ago in recognition of his military service during The Great Reminder, a war between a particularly arrogant and violent human warlord, King Fenigrax and the Holy Karbanaruk Empire led by High King Norankuli Bloodforge, the namesake of Bragner's mercenary company.

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the blood-stained earth, Bragner's hope began to wane. Yet, just as despair threatened to consume him, a flicker of movement caught his eye.

A small figure darted from behind a gnarled tree, disappearing into the depths of the forest with the speed and agility of a woodland creature. Instinctively, Bragner gave chase, his muscles burning with exertion as he pursued the fleeting shadow through the underbrush.

At last, he cornered his quarry, a small human boy no more than four years old, cowering beneath the boughs of a towering oak. For a moment, Bragner mistook the child for a goblin, his mind clouded by the haze of battle and sorrow.

But as the boy turned to face him, Bragner saw the truth in his tear-streaked face, twisted and disfigured, displaying fear and pain. The boy was covered in dirt and blood, his hair matted and tangled with filth.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Bragner dropped his weapon, his heart aching at the sight of the child's anguish. He sank to his knees, extending a trembling hand in a gesture of peace and protection. "It's okay, lad. You're okay."

For a moment, the boy hesitated, his wide eyes filled with uncertainty. Then, with a desperate cry, he rushed forward, throwing himself into Bragner's arms with abandon.

Tears welled in Bragner's eyes as he held the boy close, his blood-red steel armor a stark contrast to the child's trembling form. For a moment, they clung to each other, two souls bound together by the crucible of tragedy and loss.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Bragner gently withdrew from the embrace, his voice soft and soothing as he spoke. "What is your name, little one?" he asked, his heart aching at the sight of the boy's trembling form.

The boy sniffled, wiping tears from his dirt-streaked cheeks as he looked up at Bragner with wide, watery eyes. "B-Burgess," he whispered, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.

With a gentle smile, Bragner reached out, ruffling the boy's tangled hair with a tenderness born of love and compassion. "Burgess," he repeated, his voice filled with warmth and kindness. "You are safe now. I will protect you, no matter what."

As Bragner's words washed over him like a soothing balm, Burgess's trembling gradually subsided, his racing heart slowing to a steady rhythm. He lifted his tear-streaked face from Bragner's shoulder, his wide eyes searching the dwarf's weathered features for any hint of deception.

"Safe?" Burgess repeated, his voice barely more than a whisper, as if afraid to speak the words aloud.

Bragner nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, Burgess," he replied, his voice gentle yet firm. "You're safe now. I won't let anything harm you."

A flicker of disbelief crossed Burgess's face, mingled with a glimmer of hope. For so long, he had been alone, lost in the vast expanse of the forest with no one to turn to for comfort or protection. The idea that someone was willing to risk their own safety to keep him from harm was almost too much for him to comprehend.

"But... why?" Burgess stammered, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why would you protect me? I'm just a... a nobody."

Bragner's expression softened, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You're not just a nobody, Burgess," he replied, his voice filled with warmth and kindness. "You're a brave and resilient young boy who has faced more than most could ever imagine. And you deserve to be safe, just like anyone else."

Burgess's eyes brimmed with tears once more, but this time, they were tears of gratitude and relief. He threw his arms around Bragner's neck, clinging to him with all the strength he possessed.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for saving me."

Bragner returned the embrace, holding Burgess close as if afraid to let him go. In that moment, he knew that their lives would be forever intertwined, bound together by the unbreakable bonds of love and kinship forged in the crucible of grief and resilience.

As Bragner held Burgess close, he couldn't help but notice the boy's impeccable grammar and articulate speech, a stark contrast to his rough appearance and the trauma etched upon his face.

"You speak very well, Burgess," Bragner remarked, his voice gentle. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"

Burgess looked up at him, his eyes still brimming with tears. "M-myself," he stammered, his voice trembling. "When my Papa and Mama took me to the healers, I sometimes would sneak and read their books." Though Burgess' eyes seemed to lighten slightly at the mention of reading, he clearly loved it.

Bragner nodded, a pang of sorrow tightening his chest at the mention of Burgess's parents. "What happened to your Papa and Mama, Burgess?" he asked, his voice soft.

The boy's lower lip quivered, and he glanced nervously towards the darkened depths of the forest. "Th-they were taken," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "By the monsters. They dragged them deeper into the woods."

Bragner's heart sank at the boy's words, a surge of anger and determination coursing through his veins. "I'm so sorry, Burgess," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "But you're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."

Burgess sniffled, wiping tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand. "I escaped," he continued, his voice gaining strength. "I kicked the monsters in the nose and ran away. I hid in the forest for five days, eating berries and mushrooms I saw in the books of the healers my parents took me to."

Bragner listened in awe as Burgess recounted his harrowing ordeal, his heart swelling with pride at the boy's courage and resilience. "You're a brave lad, Burgess," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "And you're safe now. I promise."

With a nod of gratitude, Burgess buried his face in Bragner's shoulder once more, his body trembling with exhaustion and relief. And as they sat together in the gathering darkness, Bragner vowed to protect Burgess with his very life, for he knew that the bond they shared was forged not just in blood and magic, but in the unbreakable bonds of love and kinship.