Drone

30 Godric Rowan.

Niklas walked into the dark courtyard, surrounded by silent figures who melted away from him, pistols and swords at the ready.

As Niklas' eyes adjusted, he counted ten more men, including a towering figure who looked vaguely familiar.

After hearing their comrades' screams outside and seeing the flashes of the strange weapon, they stood tense, glancing from Niklas to their apparent and large leader.

The built man at the back of the compound looked at Niklas, with droplets of sweat illuminated by the moonlight beading at his temple.

He had something that glowed amber wrapping around one of his arms. As Niklas focused, he saw the light shining from familiar runes engraved in a metal circlet.

Niklas had never seen one before, but he knew what it was the moment he saw it. It was a

Remnant.

His mouth went dry at the sight of it. The man who bore it gapped at him through startled eyes. Then Niklas recognized him. It was one of the men who had approached him, claiming to be a paramount. Paramount Godric.

Niklas' heart panicked when he saw the figures on the ground. Everyone was there, herdsmen and their families. Many of them cowering on the ground, but several of them slumped motionless in their blood, pistols in hand.

The scene told the story. Some herdsmen were foolish enough to resist. Niklas held a fleeting sigh of relief as he recognized the Sommerfeldts huddled around Lill. But then, to his alarm, he recognized the old figure of Frode face down, unstirring.

Not willing to take his eyes off the artifact on Paramount Godric's arm for too long, Niklas searched for Esther among the subdued civilians.

The silence grew thick enough to see, taste, and feel. A heavy blanket thrown over the moment. No one seemed to be able to find their voice or the will to act. Everyone stared at Niklas in his desperation.

But then, someone found her voice.

"Niklas, run!" Esther cried, and Niklas whirled to find her straining on the ground against Wilbur's man, Arth, who held her head up by her hair with a pistol to her head.

"What?" Arth choked, confused, as he stepped away from Esther. "You?"

"You were right!" Paramount Godric, who stood beside him, said evenly. "They are housing weapons. Artifact weapons. Paramount Alred will hang for this."

"They are?" Arth stammered confusedly. "I mean, I told you so!"

"I don't know you, Godric," Niklas snapped. "Why are you attacking my people?"

"I see now!" Godric realized, looking at Niklas. "You refused me because you are already an Alred agent!" Then, with eyes flickering to Niklas' pistol, he nodded. "And you bear an illegal weapon!"

"I don't work for–"

"He's their leader!" Arth cut in. "He is the head enforcer of Alred's artifact research operation."

Godric hissed as he recoiled, "Kill them!"

Niklas froze, momentarily paralyzed in dread as the men turned their rifles to the remaining herdsmen and as Arth jabbed Esther in the temple with his pistol.

She screamed with tears streaming down her eyes, and valor blazed within Niklas.

It was a valor like nothing he had ever experienced. Like a primal rage and fire that would melt even the hardest metals, he was moved by something beyond his control.