The soldiers moved with quick purpose, carrying the dead child’s body out and searching the rooms for the other. They found him huddled beneath the bed and drug him out, surprised by how quiet he was. Even more so by his unusual appearance. They led him outside, bringing him before the captain, who stood with the lieutenant from the inner city. “Here is the child sir.”

The captain and lieutenant looked down at Alois is surprise. “What is wrong with that child’s hair?”

“Never mind his hair, look at his eyes.” The soldiers around them were beginning to murmur.

“Are we sure he is Human?”

“You saw his mother right? She was a monster to the bone.”

“His father insisted it wasn’t his real mother.”

“He could be lying, filthy beast lover.”

Alois kept his gaze low, silent as the whispers grew louder. The captain called for silence. “What is your name boy?”

“My name is Alois, sir.”

“And do you drink blood Alois?”

“No sir. I drink water.” There was scoff heard from the gathered soldiers.

“Did you know about your mother’s condition?” The boy was silent. A child he may be, but he was smarter than other children his age. And truly, his body seemed to age a bit differently than others, so his level of education far exceeded those of his perceived age. He knew what would keep him alive now.

“No sir, father said she was sick.” He murmured, looking up at the man. He could feel the gaze of the lieutenant burning into him.

“I told your father we will be taking you to the orphanage. You will live there until you are able to join the military. Do you understand?”

Before Alois could answer, the lieutenant cut in. “If I may, Captain, I have a suggestion. The Candidate for Supremacy would be able to make use of this boy.”

The Captain raised a brow. “His Lordship would want a child such as this? What use would he have for him?”

Narrowed eyes met his gaze. “That doesn’t concern you. Just know that he will be useful to building our strength under the guidance of his Majesty.”

The Captain sighed, waving his hand. “Do as you wish. Just keep the boy alive.” He turned without sparing a glance to the young child, his word to Rowin fulfilled as far was he was concerned. Alois did not say a word, even as he felt something inside him sink. The lieutenant ignored him, issuing orders for the clean up and for Alois to be brought along. A soldier led him behind the commanding officer, one heavy hand on his shoulder to guide him.

“His Highness will take you in, I’m sure of it. You are the type he takes a liking to. Unique traits always seem to catch his attention.” The lieutenant murmured to the boy behind him, nodding to himself as he glanced at the child. “He will raise you, no doubt about it.”

As the silent procession moved, Alois could feel the stares of the people who had once been his neighbors. They had all been awoken and dragged from their homes before the attack, and now stood out in the cold, watching as the lone survivor of his family was to be taken away. The mother of the little girl was crying, her husband holding her in the pale moonlight. Alois glanced at them, his gaze somber. He understood now. The girl was dead, as his parents were now. His mother had taken her life, to drink her blood. But why? Why would his mother snap without a reason? He knew that even if he were able, he could not return here. His questionable future lay in the hands of the “Highness”, the next ruler of Leben Festung. His gaze landed next on the large form of what must be his mother’s true form. It was massive, dwarfing all the Humans gathered in the square. Blood matted fur shone in the moonlight- and Alois briefly wished he could see if it was a solid grey or speckled white, but the soldiers guiding him did not stop and pushed him away.

Alois began to shiver as they walked, noticing for the first time that his feet were bare. But it was not the cold that made him shake...it was the unknown that now lay before him. Would the next King decree his own death, as punishment for his mother? The men around him seemed uncaring of his plight, eyes forward as they made their way through the streets. It was a long while still, until they arrived at last to an impressive building that rose up higher than the rest. Alois stood, mouth slightly open as he peered up into the darkness to see the top at the impressive carvings that rose into the night. He was jostled forward as the unique doors opened. They made their way through a great hall that held columns carved of white marble, elegant even in the moonlight. Quiet soldiers stood along the walkway, their eyes trained forward, hands brought up in a salute to the Lieutenant. Alois let his gaze wander, seeing the tiled marble floors that led to thick glassed windows that were painted in varying shades of blues. They tinted the light, a contrast to the thick red of blood that Alois had seen through the night.

There was complete silence from the guards and soldiers, so it was fairly easy to hear the younger, irritated voice that came from the end of the large hall. “What is it that I would be kept up? This had better be worth my attention Ringald. I need to rest for training tomorrow.”

Ringald, advisor to the Candidate for Supremacy bowed lowly. “I have been assured, Sire, it is worth your time.” He was an older man, large waisted and balding, very well groomed in his attire and life of luxury. He was a stark contrast to the young man, still a boy really, next to him. Where Ringald was losing hair, the boy had dark chocolate hair that curled in a stylish manner to his shoulders. Piercing green eyes shone akin to gems in the moonlight, glowing with ambition and a sense of confidence that no one his age should ever possess. He had a somewhat slender build, with not a trace of fat on his fit body, wearing silks that only the richest of Humans could hope to even afford. He however, did not squander in his luxury, his hands were rough from use of a sword, and his body was battle trained. He exuded power and a command of his surroundings, that had even those much older than him scrambling to do his bidding.

“You better be right Ringald. My patience is very thin.”

The two men were then distracted by the arrival of the Lieutenant and his company. Ringald surged forward. “Ah yes, here he is. Lieutenant.” His voice fell into a hushed whisper. “Did you bring the boy?” He all but hissed.

“Yes. He is here.” The man stepped to the side and Ringald’s gaze fell down to Alois. His face scrunched up into an ugly grin, making Alois take a step back.

“He’ll do nicely. Yes very wonderful. Come here boy.” Ringald gripped Alois’s shoulder and pulled him forward around his large frame, turning to look up at the young man on the stairs that led to a throne. “Here you are, milord. An orphan from the southwest district that we felt may be of use to you.”

Alois stared up at the sight of the one they treated with reverence and respect. He felt overwhelmed as ruby met emerald, and the young candidate froze. Looking down at the child before him he seemed to be transfixed. The child was so different than any other person he had seen before, and he made sure to find any that were special within Leben Festung’s influence. He seemed unearthly in the moonlight that shone through the colored glass, hair glowing softly with blues and reds. It was a long moment before the young man shook himself after seeing Alois shiver, eyes sliding to see the unkempt clothing of the child and his bare feet. He growled lowly.

“Why isn’t this child dressed properly? He could catch a cold dressed like this.” He swept down the stairs, coming to kneel before Alois. He reached out, taking his two smaller hands within his own. “My name is Yulian, little one. Who are you?”

“My….name is Alois. Alois Engbrecht.” Yulian smiled at his soft voice.

“A nobel name, Alois. You will stay with me. Would you like that?” His own voice was soft, but left no room for Alois to disagree. The boy nodded once, gaze dropping to the floor.

The King-to-be reached into an inner pocket, withdrawing a chain that held several rings on it of the same material. The metal was a dull silver, as if iron in the material and simple in design. Each was painstakingly engraved, bearing the mark of Yulian’s family. He removed one and replaced the chain in the pocket and gently took Alois’s hand in his own, slipping the ring onto his right finger. “Wear this always, and you will be taken care of in all that you do.” Yulian squeezed his hands once before letting them go and standing. His gaze turned sharp once more, falling on his two subordinates. “Bring him down to the washrooms and see to it that he is cleaned and given fresh clothes. He will be given the room next to my quarters, by Christofer.” The two men bowed, and Alois was led away once more, this time without being jerked about. Yulian watched him go, the smile returning to his lips once more. “A fine addition…”

He turned, a sense of elation settling. Soon he would be instated as the absolute leader of Leben Festung, the youngest to have taken the throne at the age of 14. All he had to do was to convince those idiotic clergymen that he was the best option to lead them into a brilliant future. His hatred for the Icchorian kind was already legendary, and his men were loyal to his cause to rid the world of the monsters once and for all. He stretched a hand before him, flexing it closed with a chuckle. Everything was falling into place. This world, and the Icchorians in it, would tremble with his might.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The horses trotted along briskly, breathing heavily from the distance they had covered to make it to the meeting point by sundown. Yulian sat upon his dappled grey stallion, expression a mix of concentration and a thirst for the battle to come. They had received word a few days ago about an Icchorian of unparalleled strength that was cornered, but besting any warrior they sent at it. Naturally Yulian knew that he would have to seek out the challenge, and gathered his loyal warriors and fighters and set at once.

Alois sat in front of Yulian, having been the youngest in his group and only having a year of experience with weaponry and battle skills. He would remain at the young ruler-to-be’s side, learning and observing until he was skilled enough to be on his own. To the king candidate’s left were two more horses - one a black and white mare and the other a chestnut. On the chestnut was a grim looking boy, grey eyes narrowed ahead of them, pushing brown hair back to keep it from obscuring his vision at the fast pace. He wore light armor in the blues and silvers of Yulian’s court, the finely woven material flapping behind him like wings - appropriate he thought for the speed they had taken. His lightly freckled skin and small nose were traits of his family that had lived in Leben Festung for generations, and a mark of his status in the court. His name was Christofer Dreher, and his family was bound by their loyalty to the future king. Christofer was

hand chosen by Yulian to not only keep his company, but to further his education in law making and governing. He had a sharp mind, one Yulian had identified right away and he flourished under the future king’s attention.

The other rider was quite different than Christofer, having not been born in Leben Festung, but instead his family had come to the city as traders from a land that lay on the southern border of the guarded territory held by Humans. He was the fourth of five children, being the last boy born to his family. His rich black skin was unblemished in his youth, as he was well protected by his older siblings during their travels through Icchorian territory. Short cropped hair was held back in a high ponytail, fastened by his family’s crest of two eagles locked in battle that was inlaid in a pure silver metal. He wore heavier armor than both Yulian and Christofer, having a high aptitude for weapon usage and a vast knowledge of armor types from the family business. His family had settled in Leben Festung and opened a forge, crafting the finest armors in the city, and catching the eye of the young noble Yulian. His very first visit to their shop had brought him to meet Itri Plessis, and he was quite captivated by the young boy’s manner and skill at the forge. Yulian was most taken with the boy’s eyes- a beautiful green that was not shared with the rest of his family, and seen as a sign of uncommon luck. With a brief conversation with Itri’s parents, he was granted a position at Yulian’s side to provide his own personal armor and to keep the soon-to-be King’s company. He was trained by experts in metal work and had the access to the best materials that the trade could bring in, and couldn’t be happier serving his new Lord.

The two had been with Yulian since the young nobleman had been ten, wise beyond his years and already commanding respect of those around him. They were known to be his right hand in everything, and were soon given rank well above what any their age had achieved before through Yulian’s influence. They each bore the ring with Yulian’s crest on their right hands, and for the longest time had been the only two to wear them until Alois was introduced.

The other men were from Yulian’s family, guards who served as his protection when outside the inner city’s walls. They were hardly needed, and in fact were more for status than anything else. It was the one thing Yulian had been unable to refuse his father, at least until he was in his position as King. Two of them were representatives of the Council, ever present to evaluate Yulian’s worth of taking the throne.

Now as the sun set they drew up on the location described by the messengers. A miserable group of men stood about the single erected tent that served to house the injured. They were outnumbered by the bodies that were laid out in two rows, with only their cloaks to cover them.

Yulian drew his horse to a stop, eyeing the men who saluted his arrival, observing their wariness and beat down state. Almost all of them were injured, with the exception of the two soldiers who seemed to be healers, working on the wounded in the tent. Alois gripped the pommel of the saddle, eyes wide at the devastation that was done to soldiers that Yulian had overseen in their training. They were not the faint hearted men of the standard corps that were funded by the nobles. So to be utterly defeated was certainly a sign of the Icchorians immense power.

“Where is my scout?”

“He is due to return soon, My Lord.”

Yulian nodded, gesturing for Christofer and Itri to move forward. They dismounted, moving to tie their horses off, and began to inspect the state of the gathered men. They took down their reports on the Icchorian, noting that it had only recently just turned into it’s beast form and was holed up inside a cave that only had one entrance. They were unable to get in at the beast without being attacked first.