The Exiled King | ✔

Prologue III

Demon warhorns blared loudly, heralding a time that could only be described as nightmarish. It was the first time that demons had organised themselves into an army and actively made use of the connection between the Abyss and Dargon. There had been signs, but all the preparation in the world did nothing to calm the cold chill that gripped Reyneld Bladesworn's heart as he beheld the full might of the demons.

Will I—we be able to stop them? Reyneld thought.

Together with his fellow guardians, Reyneld had led Dragon into a peaceful and prosperous era. He regretted ever lamenting the lack of activity across the kingdoms, wondering if this was some sort of divine retribution.

He had no time to dwell on his thoughts, however, because the demon armies had begun to advance. Reyneld scrambled down from the wall that surrounded Esover—the city they had chosen to take a stand against the demons.

Thankfully Anhua happened to have few cities, so the demons had not done too much damage. But Anhua was the kingdom that Reyneld was bound to protect, and he silently mourned the many inhabitants he knew would die regardless of the outcome of the battle.

Reyneld donned his armour and marched to the front lines of the united army. Humans, elves, dwarves and dragons marched together to end the threat that drew them all together—even the elusive green-cloaked druids were seen flitting among the ranks, healing and supporting with their earthy magic.

Near Esover's gate stood the other guardians and Reyneld hastened his strides to join them. He greeted them with a nod and Leiea gave him a small wave.

"Finally decided to join us?" Jaron teased with a cheeky grin.

Reyneld shook his head with a small smile, glad that they had been the ones chosen. He could not imagine a different group.

"Alexei, you're ready with the key, right?" Reyneld asked, turning to the brown-haired youth, who held a small circular case in his hands. Alexei nodded and held up the case.

"With a strong enough burst of power, we can seal the demons away," Alexei answered.

"Excellent," Farnic rumbled, "Then we are all set to go?"

"Well, those damned demons aren't waiting for us," Jaron quipped, unsheathing his sword and lowering the visor of his helmet.

<--<< >>-->

Individual demons were no match for a guardian, but a seemingly endless supply of demons was bound to wear them out, regardless of how powerful they were. Reyneld fought off another demon, trying to ignore the doubt beginning to take root as two more filled the place of the one he felled.

A surge of panic rose up within him and Reyneld swiftly disengaged the demon he fought, manipulating the wind to throw back all the demons around him, and frantically scanned the battlefield for the figure he knew was struggling. Alexei was getting swamped by the demons, the black plume on his helmet waving erratically as he flailed around trying to dislodge the demons.

Reyneld leapt over the demons with a strong burst of wind at his feet and dashed over to Alexei, slashing at the demons that had swarmed him. All the while, the burning feeling in his chest refused to disappear, only increasing in ferocity and lending more fervor to Reyneld's increasingly desperate attacks.

Alexei was dying.

"No... no, no, no..." Reyneld muttered under his breath as he tossed demons back and got to the blood-covered Alexei. The demons' claws had torn through his armour and his flesh and his helmet was torn to ribbons. Quickly, Reyneld scooped him up and threw himself up into the air and towards Esover. He landed on the city wall and laid Alexei against the wall, removing the broken pieces of his helmet, sticky with his blood.