“Take a breath and relax,” the ghost of my wife's voice said. Feeling the ghost of a hug as I shake violently against my own desires. “Rellah…” I mumble as I bury my head in my hands. The anxious laughter comes out of me like a madman. “Even in death you try to comfort me or is my mind already too far gone…” I sigh.

 I let out a shaky breath as I lifted my head. The room was dimly lit by what little light could come in from the forest. Simple rustic feeling calm yet clearly underwhelming from what I saw in grander areas in my life. I stand up from the cold floor heading over to the bed.

 I scowl as I properly look at the bed. Far too small for my gigantic form and probably will break if I even try to sit on it. I pulled the worn blanket off the bed and laid it on the floor. I groan as I sit down, my muscles ache as I kneeled down.

 I slowly laid on my back, trying to ignore my pain from my past battles that seem to continue to remind me of what I did in the last few days. I reach into the pocket of my pants, feeling the cold metal of the crest. I let out a deep sigh as I pulled out the family crest of Windhelm.

 “Theodore Windhelm… you dirty bastard.” I throw the royal crest across the room as I cover my eyes with my arm. I let the exhaustion run over me, taking me into a deep sleep.

 “Kael!” Seraphine yelled as she jumped on the bed, trying to make me wake up. “Girl, go away.” I groan as I turn over. She hit me with a pillow as she giggled. “But Kael, it's the day of your retirement!” she said.

 I chuckle lightly as I sit up. My eyes landed on the half elf who had the most fiery red hair you ever could see. I ruffle her hair a bit as I stand up. “Fine, I’m up, you rat.” I groan.

 She looked up at me with a happy smile. I grab my fur jacket, putting it on as the girl stares at me with those violet eyes filled with wonder. “What are you staring at, Rat?” I laugh a little. Her smile gets brighter as she hugs me. “When will Mardic get the dad body like you? You are so much softer than him.” She laughed.

 “Hey!” Mardic walks in with a frown. “You want me to look like an old Orc!?” His pink eyes glared at the girl that held me. She pouts a bit. “Kael, don't leave me alone with him.” she whined.

 “Listen, Rat. I would take you home with me, but I already have three kids. Give him a chance to be a dad.” I said. I walked past my oldest friend. “You better take good care of that kid, Mardic.” I smirk as I walk past him. 

 He chuckles softly as he pats my back, “Tell Mrs. I said hello. It's gonna be hell going adventuring without you, Kael.” He said. I smile a little letting tusks show and he shakes head. “God, Kael, you need to stop smiling, you old fool.” He sat down.

 I head downstairs through the tavern, getting a few smiles and cheers as I walk past the people. I feel the pride knowing I spent my life protecting the people of our realm. Now I am prouder to finally be able to take my final years and spend it with my wife and children. 

 I walk through the bustling kingdom streets, passing a few people who stopped to look at me with gratitude in their eyes. I grabbed some roses from the flower stand on my way down the street. I smell them for a moment before making the rest of the way to our new house.

 I opened the door with a smile. “Rellah, I have returned-” and then time went by slowly. The blood covered the walls, stained the floors. The deafening silence as the world became nothing but black and white. The roses hit the ground as I rushed to the side of my wife, who was slashed more than a dozen times. 

 I felt the tears streaming down my face. I could feel my lungs burning as the screams I could not hear left my mouth. I watch my own hands get stained with my wife’s blood. I looked around the room, trying to calm myself, but tears burned my eyes.

 My eyes fell on our children’s bedroom. I move without thinking, busting the door open only for my legs to give out at the sight of my three children, also slaughtered in the same manner as my wife. I force myself to crawl to the crib to look at my little daughter. My eyes fell on my blade, the blade I left with my wife so she could take to the smith’s shop.

 I saw the blood. I slowly touch the blade as it dawns on me that this was what the cruel bastard used to kill not only my wife but 2 young boys and a baby girl. I felt so much anger run through my body as I smashed the blade into pieces. The rage blinded me as I continued to destroy the surrounding room. The tears were unable to stop pouring out as the world started to be tinted with red. 

 I ripped the curtains off their rod, slumping to the ground as I shook, breathing almost impossible as I can’t even hold a single train of thought. A glint of gold hit my eyes. My head snapped towards the shine near the window.

 I slowly reached out to touch the metal, studying it for a moment, confused why the royal crest was in my child's room. I studied it closer before I saw the blood splattered on it. 

 The tears almost stop as I see the blood on the crest. I studied the crest closer, trying to figure out who it was. Closing my eyes, letting my mind recall memories of which royal crest this was and who wore it. 

 A vivid image of King Theodore came into my head when I approached him about housing in his kingdom. The exact crest he wore was now in my hands. A deep growl escaped my chest. A growl I forgot was possible after all my years of being a hero.

 I grab my satchel, pulling out the sending stone. “Theodore, I want answers now, you foolish brute! How dare you kill my family!” I yell into the stone. I didn’t expect a response, as I did call without warning.

 “Kael, it is about time.” He said. My anger grew as his voice hit my ears. “Kael, I am a man of many things, but I don’t kill my people.” He said dryly. I slam my hand on the floor.

 “Liar! You killed them!” I yelled. The king hums from his end of the stone. “Kael, I thought your wife would have taken my offer to leave the kingdom. Yet she seemed to be as stubborn as you are,” He said.

 “Leave?” I ask. My hand clenched the sending stone hard, almost breaking it. “Yes, Orcs don’t belong in my kingdom, Kael.” He said. I let out a dry laugh, running my hand through my hair. “I thought your kingdom welcomed all races!” I yelled.

 “Not monsters, Kael. Listen Kael… I will offer you a chance to live. Go live your final years in a cabin away from my kingdom. Do the smart thing your wife would not do or you will follow the same fate as her.” He said before the line got cut off.

 I crushed the sending stone in my hand as I looked at my crossbow. “Yeah… we will see if I share the same fate as her…” I mumble. I grabbed the crossbow. A moment I considered calling Mardic but decided against dragging him into my bloody mess. He doesn’t need to also be haunted by Seraphine in his care. 

 I grab my cloak of protection as I walk out the door with a sigh. “I will set out on an adventure alone. There is no crew. No one on this quest can help me… This is all my own battle to win… this is my home and I will fight for it.” I mumble as I walk out of the place I thought would be the final years of my life.

 I shot up from the floor, breathing heavily, heart beating fast as I looked around, trying to remember where I was. I sigh once my mind registers that I am in the tavern. I fall back on the floor with a sigh.

 I look at the ceiling, my mind wondering about the memory that wants to drag my soul into the ground. Trying to consume every waking thought, reminding me what a failure I was to not be there when my family needed me the most.

 I took a deep breath before rising to my feet. My mind is not going to let me rest until it decides my death is final. Slowly made my way out of my room, heading towards the room Cade was currently staying in.

 Knocking gently on the door, I waited for them to open the door. Moments passed, seconds into minutes, I started to believe Cade was asleep. I turned to leave when the door creaked open. “Yes?” Their voice filled with confusion.

 I looked over my shoulder, letting out a deep breath before speaking, “Want to learn some magic, kid?” Cade's face got even more confused as the words registered in their head.