Protector of the realm

the protector of the realm
Part 1

On a different plain in a different world, a dark age is upon the residents of the sheltered city Hantaki, the demand for weaponry and armour is large. This should be many a great news for blacksmiths, but the ore and mines are running on empty within the city walls, most have ventured out, but as for a return, we are yet to see them.

A guard of the walls notices a brave and strange sight, a lone traveller making a camp outside the walls, the guard grabs his sword and debates weather to sound the warning bell, "hmm, I can't ring this it will cause a panic" he thinks to himself, "but I am going to need back up just in case and I need to hurry" the twilight was upon them and the sun will soon vanish into the horizon, leaving nothing but darkness and hordes, misery and chaos. The guard makes a snap decision and rushes down to investigate.

As he reaches the newly built structure, he is surprised at how well it holds up, at least for a rush job. "Can I help you?" The stranger asks in a husky tone. "I'm here to tell you about great dangers outside of these city walls, you might want to stay at the inn tonight"
The stranger looked at him and raised his eyebrow "I'm here to sort your little problem kid, if you're so terrified about what shit comes this way then I suggest YOU go back home, I'm good here". The stranger then retreats back to his hut and comes back out with a sword made of the rarest of jewels on the hilt and the blade glowing and metallic. "An e..enchanted sword?" The guard stutters. "Only the best for the best" the stranger smirks. "Look I know that's an impressive blade but you are out of your depth here" the guard warns again.
"Go home" he snaps "unless you want to see the terrors of your land feel fear themselves"
The stranger said smugly.
the sun disappears behind the mountains, and the shrieks of beasts are heard as darkness falls.

"What's your name?" The guard asks as they stand back to back in a defence stand. "Anforth" he says, "but I have a title". The guard turns his head "and what's that?"
The guard asks anxiously.
"The Realm Protector, as appointed by his majesty, king Unthor. He gave me this enchanted blade as part of the title."
"Okay Anforth, what's the plan?"
The guard says sternly. "We can do 2 things" Anforth replies "We wait for death, or inflict it upon these hell spawn". The rustle of grass and tree branches grow louder. Eyes glow from within the dark and they both knew it was time to make a stand, "ring the bell!! The guard shouts to the the others, but he is too far below the city walls for them to hear him. The beasts grow closer and the two warriors back to back wait for either their fate or their destiny.

"Don't swing the sword yet boy" Anforth said swiftly "to many all over, I count 16 and our odds and attention to each will not prevail. Okay there is a third option"
He grabs the guard and runs to the Hut. "Oh you think that shack is going to protect us" the guard snaps with a very sarcastic tone. Anforth shoves him through the door and looks him dead in the eye with the shrieks of ghoulish beasts fast approaching,
"It's what's under it.. trust me" he says calmly.

The door shut and the horde were scratching rapidly at it, "don't worry I put an enchantment on the entrance, they will burn their hands on the door and if they do get through they will disintegrate. although the spell only lasts a day at most, and I have no resources to preform the spell again so make of that what you will."
Anforth said abruptly. "How can you get these resources? And apart from the door what's special about this Hut?" The guard asked flustered. "I have to venture to the mountains to get the resources and that's trouble on its own, and as for what's special, it's this!" Anforth said moving a rug off the floor, revealing a trap door, "you see, you build big walls to protect you, but I thought the underground approach was a better option. before I became a grandmaster mage/warrior I was a miner by trade."
"How far does this tunnel go?"
Asked the guard.
"Far enough down for us to be safe for a while. Now hop in, you can stay here till dawn then you get back to your post, and I'll get my resources, and finish off any dawn walkers" Anforth stated, but on his face was a look of worry, like it was all an act, was it a secure spot? Can he even fight? After running for shelter all these questions ran through the mind of the young guard. Is he really a grandmaster? Or a fake? Only time will tell.

"Dawn walkers" The guard thought whilst laying in the corner of the underground room, "I never even thought of getting past them, luckily the city is near enough to us, but those creatures faces...their bodies, everything about them is just...horrifying" he pondered to himself, he then tried to shut his brain off from thinking about the beasts and go to sleep but he couldn't. Anforth came down the ladder and into the bunker, "still awake kid?" He asked gruffly, "yeah  my heart is pounding out of my chest, and also the worry of dawn walkers" the guard huffed
"I heard the legends of them when I was younger, the beasts can't survive in the daylight, but dawn walkers are the strongest of the beasts, all though not immune to daylight their skin melts and turns poisonous to the touch"
The guard stated.
"Yeah that's pretty much the truth" Anforth replied wiping his brow. "But They are smaller in numbers and I can handle them better than I can when a rush of them come charging at night, plus in the day I can see them better, easy dispatch."
The guard nodded his head and looked down at the hard damp ground,
"I hope he is really a grandmaster, and not all talk, or else I'm stuck in this hole in a broken enchantment shack and will never see my friends and family again, how can I sleep at a time like this?"

As quick as he shut his eyes the guard jolted awake, he looked over to Anforth and he was resting with his sword in hand. The guard climbed the ladder and put his ear to the door, he heard distant growling, it took all his bravery to open the door slightly, but he did. It was sunrise and he saw distant figures keeling over and melt away, leaving behind a glowing orb on the floor amongst the puddle of what was once a humanoid figure. He clambered back down the ladder to wake Anforth. "Wake up! It's now or never" Anforth jolted awake and nodded his head. "Time to go home boy, I got this." They both climbed back up and looked out the door once more. "I count 3 still going from where I'm stood, this should be easy" Anforth smirked "when I run out and distract them you go to the city, nice meeting you kid but in future you defend your post, I got it at my end" and then as he turned to rush out the door he hesitated. Was it nerves? Is he as tough as he makes out? Anforth looked the guard in the eye. "By the way I never got your name" he said calmly. The guard stuttered "m..my name is sedrix."
"Well then sedrix, go home and tell your people, tell your city, they have a
protector of the realm, and with that he bust through the door with his sword glistening in the fresh sunlight.