Morning of the Next Day.... Several kiloters away from Valir Keep.
SPLURT
Nika had killed three demons before the caravan realized it was even under attack.
The first died mid-lunge as the cold white steel of lightbane caught it between ribs with a snappy silver gleam dividing it into even halves.
The body collapsed as montum carried it past where Nika had been standing a second prior.
The next demon turned at the sound. It tried to raise it’s claws but all its fingers were sliced off in the twinkle of an eye.
With Nika already behind it. His blade created a path through the base of its skull before slashing upwards to open it’s skull to the glaring sun.
The third demon’s bloodshot eyes squinted nervously even as shivers circulated its jet-black skin.
It turned tail imdiately. Bearing witness to its packmate’s death, it bolted back into the spatial distortion on all fours, tail slapping against the wind.
Nika’s eyes squinted as he rely snapped his fingers and imdiately the demon entered the spatial tear, it’s body exploded from the inside out as a blast of white-hot light erged as spikes all around its body.
The rchant in their midst finally scread but Nika had already cleaned his blade on a dead demon hide and sheathed it before the man processed what he’d just witnessed.
"You...when did..how—?"
"Breathe." Nika’s tone was calm. Gesturing for the rchant to wind down. "It’s already over."
While the rchant mind fought to understand what just happened.
His personal guard winced in pain. A spikey bone arrow through his shoulder, bleeding heavy against the wagon wheel where he’d collapsed.
Lyssa was already there. A seductive smile on her face as she knelt beside him. The guard flinched when he saw her eyes. Bloody irises that marked Dominion blood clearer than any banner.
"Easy," Her voice was gentle and cheerful. "What happens next will feel strange but you’ll live," She completed it with a smile.
CRUNCH
She bit her tongue causing blood to well but in a heartbeat, the blood lifted as if it were alive.
The guard’s pupils dilated, his breathing heavier. He watched the droplet rise against gravity, surface tension holding it together until it wasn’t liquid anymore.
The blood thinned to mist, condensing again to sothing between water and light. A crimson plasma of sorts.
The plasma settled into the guard’s wound. He flinched, closing an eye, not from pain but the way warmth crawled beneath his skin. The arrow clattered to dirt, pushed out of flesh.
Lyssa paled slightly. Her hand trembled when she pulled back. But she smiled anyway.
"See? Strange. But the best."
The guard stared at his shoulder. There was no scar, just pink skin and fading heat.
"You’re... Vampire?"
"I learned there---" Lyssa stood, steadied herself against the wagon.
"---Before I left."
The rchant finally found his voice. "Dominion healers charge fortunes for that."
"Good thing I’m not charging then."
Lyssa smiled then glanced at Nika.
"Fourth ambush this month."
"The border’s weakening. Breaches are becoming more rampant" Nika scanned the tree line for more movent. Just three corpses and demon blood soaking into road dirt.
"The guild needs to know."
Heavy footsteps were head from the beyond the canopy of trees. Nika’s eyes moved in that direction as Garran erged.
Axe held with one hand over his shoulder. Clean despite having split a demon’s skull monts before. The ruthless steel thrumd with mysterious, arcane runes.
"Three more fled north." His voice was coarse with each word sufficient. "Didn’t follow. Might be another trap"
Nika nodded. "Let them spread the word. Any hoard will think twice before approaching this parts"
The rchant approached the party with his coin purse already open.
"Please. For saving—"
Nika raised his hand to stop him.
"Guild covers for this and I’m happy to anyways. Get your cargo to Aurelia. Roads are safest there."
The rchant blinked. "Aurelia?"
"Yes." Nika answered simply. His tone was neutral. "Demon activity drops near her territory. Whatever they’re doing there, works."
After a few hours of arrangent. The caravan finally departed. Both it’s occupants highly grateful to Nika’s party.
Nika’s team seeing the caravan disappear in the distance headed in the opposite direction towards Hollow creak.
----
The walk was quiet for the first mile.Then Lyssa broke it like she always does. Courtesy of her all-consuming curiosity.
"You know, in the Dominion, bloodbonds are everywhere. People here talk about dragon pacts like rare gifts."
It was more a question than a statent. The culture difference between the Vampire Dominion and the Dragon Empire was still surprising to her even after three months of escaping the Dominion.
Nika glanced at her. "The Church controls pacts. Says they’re ’earned through devotion.’ But it just feels like control to "
"Is it?"
"Probably." He stepped over a fallen log. "But people believe it. Keeps them devoted."
Garran walked ahead. Face cloaked by black and silence. He didn’t engage the conversation.
Lyssa and Nika didn’t bother. Garran only spoke when he needed or wanted to.
The landscape changed the further they went. Dragon thed architecture turned to scarred fields and re-built fences that had suffer the brunt of both demon and bandit raids but where too stubborn to leave or better still didn’t have anywhere to go to.
The people’s resilience visible in every recovered acre.
"You love this place." Lyssa said. Nika didn’t deny it. "It’s worth protecting."
---
Hollowcreak appeared under the light of dusk. It was small with little above two hundred people. Smoke rising from chimneys in organized fashion.
Under Nika’s protection, the settlent prospered.
"Nika’s back!" A group of children spoke and ran to the party. They collided with his knees before he could brace himself.
He laughed warmly and ruffled the nearest kid’s hair.
"Miss ?"
"Yes Mr Nika." They chorused.
"Did you kill demons!" The boy closest to him asked with excitent.
"Joren... Allow Mr Nika to rest"
The firm voice of an elderly man cut through the chaos. The children dispersed laughing at the sight of the man.
"Raiders hit two days ago." Jofree’s voice was calm without panic. "They stole livestock and burned a shed."
"Intercepted a caravan today." Nika straightened. "Demons won’t return anyti soon."
Jofree’s shoulders relaxed. "Good. Mirabel’s been cooking since noon."
Lyssa grinned. "I like her already."
Garran hung back as villagers greeted him. He nodded politely trying to relate as much as possible. Nika noticed and smiled.
---
Jofree’s ho slled like fresh bread and roasted at.
Mirabel t them at the door. Flour on her apron. Warmth in her smile that rivaled the hearth fire behind her.
"Finally." She pulled Nika into a hug he didn’t resist. "You’re too thin. Co on, sit and eat."
The table was filled with bread, stew and vegetables from the garden.
Joren sat across from Nika. His eager eyes filled with energy.
Joren leaned across the table, eyes bright with excitent.
"Teach to fight like you!"
Mirabel swatted his shoulder. "Let the man eat Joren"
Nika tore bread and smiled.
"Fighting’s not glory. It’s protecting people who can’t protect themselves."
Nika’s expression was firm with care when he looked at Joren.
Underneath, sothing tugged at Nika’s leg. Giggling softly. It was Baby Lena. Just a year ago. Nika had defended hollowcreak alone allowing the safe delivery of the child and continuous survival of the village.
He picked her up as she grabbed his nose.
"That’s why we do this." His voice softened. "So she grows up safe."
After dinner. Lyssa helped with the dishes much to Mirabel’s protest. Even though she was only getting to know them fitted right in.
On the other hand, Garran sat on the fence outside, smoke curling from his pipe.
Inside, he could hear laughter. Joren’s excited questions. Mirabel’s warm scolding.
He’d had that once. A long ti ago.
Before the war. Before—
He pushed the thought away. He drew smoke deeply and exhaled slow.
So things you don’t earn back. You just... keep moving... He thought
Jofree frowned slightly. From inside the house he could sense the unease that Garran carried but it wasn’t in his place to ask questions.
---
Night settled over hollowcreak. The sky was starless with only oddly looking clouds hovering over the town.
The party was in the guest house. Lyssa tended her gear. Nika sharpened Lightbane like it wasn’t a legendary artifact.
"You love them." Lyssa said without looking up. "The family."
"They’re good people."
"A place like this suits you."
Nika paused mid-stroke. "Maybe soday."
Lyssa smiled even as her eyes dulled with longing in her voice. "Maybe soday..."
Outside the room, visible through the window. Garran sat on a fence. His eyes carried weight only him could understand.
He couldn’t sleep and it wasn’t like Lyssa who didn’t need it. He was just restless.
Morning ca with Joren knocking.
"Spar with today?" The boy pleaded with excitent for the 10,000th ti.
Nika nodded slightly and the boy ran off excited. He was definitely going to invite all his friends.
Lyssa stood beside Nika outside the house. Watched the village wake in peace and serenity.
"You belong here," she repeated.
Nika’s expression was quiet. "Maybe when I’ve earned it."
The sun rose over hollowcreak. Fields green. Children laughing. Smiles on everyone’s face.
Everything Nika fought to protect right in front of him.
I hope it stays like this forever. Nika hand stayed balanced on Lightbane’s hilt.
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