If you ever find yourself walking through the ashes of your childhood home, the smoke stinging your eyes, and the memories of your family’s laughter replaced by the haunting remnants of regret, you’ll understand what it means to face true darkness.

In the haze of smoke and utter confusion, it felt like I was trekking along a path leading to the bowels of hell. A world gone mad. The sound of my steps bounced off the corridors of the mansion, now a mere shadow of its past glory. Every step on the marble floor mirrored my desperation.

The grand mansion, once the proud heart of the Stormbourne estate, was now nothing more than a shell of ruin. It was the result of the violent ambition of our so-called ally. The Lysanders had dared to break our trust and bring fire and destruction to our home. My father would unleash hurricanes and fury to erase them from the face of this land. I just hoped I would live long enough to see that day. The annihilation of those murderous and cowardly new enemies of our house would be met with tenfold retribution. Innocent or guilty, not a single Lysander would be left regretting their impudent deeds. Of this, I am certain. No, I stake my life on it. Though in another few minutes or so, I might not have one. Anyway, the bottom line is that none of those Lysander dogs would be spared. They would face the consequences of not having the guts to confront us on an open battlefield.

I moved through the miscellanies of the grand hall. Memories reel back to the times my family had celebrations here. Rich banquets, lively music, and hearty laughter all seemed to have gone far into the past, sunk in the grim reality that surrounded me. The walls, which spoke of more joyous times, were now marred by filth and blood.

There! The stairway leading to the mansion rooftop came into sight. No mistaking the sounds of battle from above. The clashing of swords and the sizzling of magic filled the air. Aiden was up on the roof, fighting for our family’s honor. I wasn’t sure what had become of him. I just prayed I would reach him before it was too late, unlike what had happened with Aeryn and Alistair. I needed to help him fight against that Lance guy. Oh, that bitch was probably up there too. I had to tread lightly. She might lay a trap with that sweet fake smile of hers for anyone intending to interrupt the battle.

I steeled myself before starting my ascent. But climbing the stairs felt like walking on nails. Each creak and groan of the wooden steps seemed to mock my miserable plight. Halfway up the stairway, I had to stop and lean against the wall. The smoke was thicker here, making it hard to breathe. I covered my mouth with my sleeve, trying to filter out some of the choking air. A sudden noise made me turn around. It was just a loose piece of debris tumbling down the stairs with a clatter. Paranoia took hold, turning every creak and shadow into a hidden threat.

My climb finally came to its end. The door to the roof was ajar, the wood splintered from a recent impact. I pushed it open with my shoulder and stepped out into the cool night air. The scene that greeted me looked like something from a fierce battle. Aiden was there, his sword locked in combat with a figure I recognized instantly. The Arcane Swordsman, Lance White. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, each strike revealing their grim faces. Aiden fought with everything he had, but it was clear he was exhausted. His movements were slower than usual.

Lance, on the other hand, was relentless. He moved like a predator, his strikes premeditated and his expression one of cold focus. He toyed with Aiden, wearing him down bit by bit. I couldn’t just stand there and watch. I had to do something.

I glanced at the surrounding area. Three Silverlions lay dead. That cowardly Lysander dog! No wonder Aiden looked more fatigued than him. Those soldiers were probably used to tire Aiden out before the main showdown began. That was expected from someone working for the Lysanders. Talk about a fair fight. This was nothing of the sort.

Grinwald had mentioned that one way for a magic swordsman to level up was to fight against opponents of higher levels. I hadn’t asked how many times they needed to do this. I was still stuck at the Novice stage myself. There wasn’t a shred of a chance I could defeat a magic swordsman when I couldn’t even cast a basic spell. So how could I help Aiden win this battle?

“Aiden!” I yelled, but my voice was swallowed by the clash of steel and spells. He didn’t hear me, too focused on his opponent. I had to help him. But how? Charging in blindly would only get me killed. No, there had to be a better way, a smarter way to do this. A plan to tip the scale in Aiden’s favor. Then Grinwald’s words suddenly ran through my head. “Use your surroundings. Think, Alex. Think.”

I scanned for anything that could be of use. A few piles of loose shingles and some debris caught my attention. An idea formed. It was risky, but it was all I had. Before I could carry out the plan, a voice stopped me.

“Oi, Stormbourne Jester. What do you think you’re doing?”

I turned sideways. There stood Catherine Lysander, the mastermind of this entire ordeal. Her long, silver hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Instead of the elegant dress from the lunch reception, she was now dressed in an outfit one might expect a female swordsman to wear in a fashion contest.

A brief pause.

Ahem! Well, what can I say? Her attire was exactly what I would want my future girlfriend to wear on our first date. A tight, black leather corset hugged her torso, highlighting her hourglass figure. The corset was sewn with silver patterns that shone in the firelight. She wore matching leather pants that clung to her legs, heightening every curve. Finally, knee-high boots with silver buckles completed the look of one hell of a sexy bitch.

“You like what you see, Jester?” A smirk played on her crimson lips. In her hand, she held a rapier, its blade glinting intimidatingly.

“Arghhh!” Darn it! Got ambushed by that bitchy smile of hers!

My girlish scream made Aiden and Lance stop their battle. “Alex… you’re still alive?” Aiden shouted, his voice strained with effort. “What are you doing here? You need to run!”

Now that’s three times people thought I wouldn’t survive this mess. Is there some visible mark on my forehead telling the Lysanders to target me first?

“I came to help!” I yelled back, glancing at him and Catherine.

Lance chuckled. “Two against one? I prefer those odds.” He lifted his sword again, ready to resume the fight.

“It’s okay, Lance,” Catherine chimed in, giggling. “I can take care of him. He’s just a novice and can’t even wield magic.” The way she said it made my blood boil like the hot tomato soup Mathilda had made the other day.

“As you wish, milady,” Lance nodded, then went back to battling Aiden.

I turned to Catherine. “How did you know I was a novice? You’ve never seen me duel before.”

“Aiden told me.” Dimples formed in her cheeks.

Darn it! Why do people close to me like to reveal my weaknesses to others behind my back?

“What are you waiting for, Jester?” Catherine twirled the rapier in her hand. “Let’s dance.”

Darn it again! I was supposed to say that line. It’s some sort of good luck charm, giving me the edge in a fight.

“Wait!” I raised my hand. “I’d love to tear you apart, but I’m not the kind of guy who hits a lady, no matter how bitchy she is. So drop your sword and surrender. Or else,” I paused for effect, “I’ll spank your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down and crap for weeks.”

“Really?” Catherine let out a villainous laugh. “That’s considerate of you to spank me.” Her expression then turned into a ghastly scowl, the kind that would make anyone think twice about asking her out. “Do I look weak to you, Jester?” She shifted her gaze to a small tree in the rooftop’s tiny garden and lifted her rapier toward it. Three ice shafts formed at its tip in an instant. With a swipe of her rapier, the shafts shot forward and struck the tree, boring small holes into the bark.

“Y-You’re a magic swordsman?” A lump stuck in my throat.

“That’s right. An Adept level. And don’t bother surrendering because I take no prisoners. Unless you lick my feet, then I might consider showing a little mercy.”

Well, I’d love to do that, I wanted to say out loud. But revenge comes first. I needed a plan fast. “Wait, milady,” I said, my tone turning polite, “maybe I misjudged you a bit. But isn’t it a bit overkill to fight with magic?” I took a step back.

A chilling, confident smile curled her lips. “So what do you suggest?”

“Let’s just duel without the use of magic, okay?”

“Hmm…” She eyed me with a mocking look and tapped her lips with a finger. I gritted my teeth. Those eyes of hers made me want to gouge them out of their sockets and send them back to her father in a doggy bag.

“Well?” I asked, seeking an answer.

“I agree, and it’s not that I pity you or anything like that. It’s because you’re the most handsome Stormbourne I’ve ever met.” She burst into that annoying laugh again.

“You swear on your Duke father’s head that you will not use magic?” I squinted at her.

“Yes, I swear on your Marquis father’s head that I won’t use magic,” Catherine answered with a smirk.

“Okay then,” I said with a relieved smile before retorting angrily, “Hey, you’re supposed to swear on your own father’s head!”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s the same thing,” she nodded dismissively. “So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dance.”

Darn it! I missed my cue again! Without giving her the chance to strike first, I lunged toward the nearest pile of debris, kicking it with all my might. The loose shingles and rubble flew out, creating a cloud of dust. Catherine cursed, fleetingly blinded by the debris. I darted toward her, aiming to disarm her. But she was quick. She swung her rapier, and I barely managed to dodge. The blade sliced through the air, missing me by inches. That was close. I retreated a few steps back.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” she hissed.

This wasn’t going to be easy. I needed to win without killing her, to turn her into a hostage and make Lance surrender.

But even without magic, Catherine was not an easy bitch to handle. Each move she made came from an experienced swordsman. And me? I struggled just to keep up. My novice status was glaringly apparent. Sweat dripped down my brow, and my sword felt heavier with each parry. If the fight continued like this, I would always be at a disadvantage. So how the hell do I gain the upper hand in this fight? Oh! There’s that thing I can use.

When Catherine burst forward to close the distance between us, I pointed a finger over her shoulder. “Look, a cat!”

She skidded to a halt and spun around. “Where?”

I stepped forward and kicked her between the legs. Catherine screamed, bending over in pain. “Take that, you bitch!” I spat, booting her rapier away as it dropped from her hand.

Catherine held her hand forward. “Wait!”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

She tilted her head to look at me, a smirk skulking on her lips. “You forgot I don’t have nuts, you idiot.” She lunged forward and punched me square in the groin with her fist. Pain exploded through my body as I doubled over, my sword slipping from my grasp. She kicked my sword away, and I grimaced, struggling to stay on my feet. We both glanced at our weapons lying on the ground before locking eyes again. Despite the pain, we bolted toward our swords, but my movements were hindered, making me hobble awkwardly.

Out of nowhere, a sharp pain pierced my chest. I looked down to see Catherine’s rapier sticking out from my rear.

I gasped for breath. My vision blurred. Everything began to grow dark. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Aiden shouting my name.

Sorry, dude. You’re on your own now.

My breaths became shallower. Regrets began flashing through my mind. Dreams unfulfilled, places I’d never see. As I let out my last breath, a single thought lingered in my mind, “I wish I were strong to stop this nightmare from ever happening.” And then there was only darkness.

So here I am, telling you my last moments. Humorous, isn’t it? How quickly things can change. One minute you’re fighting for your life, the next your mind evokes all the things you’ll never do. I never thought it would end like this. I guess that’s what everyone thinks until it happens. Life has a way of surprising you, right up until the end.