“What are you talking about?” Leris replied stunned and confused by this statement.

“What? You still haven’t realized? Man, I thought the captain of the royal guard would at least have a brain. Let me break it down for you. I stabbed a man in the city square, a very public place mind you, and caused a scene just big enough that the other guards would want to go get their captain. Who just so happens to be a stickler for the laws of Rymana. Instead of running or hiding I brandished the weapon I used and stood at the front of the crowd right in your line of sight. You, angry and rushing to get back to that girl of yours, made a hasty decision. Instead of checking me and ensuring I didn’t have anything up my sleeve you tossed me to your subordinates. Subordinates who also didn’t check me and simply tossed me in the dungeon with little regard for what happened to me after. Little did you know, my leader had planned all of this and carved the explosion spell into my arm. He instructed me to wait until the lilac moon was in the sky to use it. Which brings us to the present.”  with an irritatingly smug smile the man finished his monologue and waited for Leris to speak.

“All of that is an interesting story, but I have two things that I don’t understand. First, how are you still alive? An explosion of this size should have killed you as soon as you activated the spell. Secondly, why now? Why did you have to wait for the lilac moon? Why did you not strike as soon as you and your group arrived?”

“Those are very good questions Mr.Captain, and I can answer all of them at the same time. The reason for it all is because our Lord's powers are stronger during the lilac moon. It makes dismantling your kingdom a lot simpler.”

“By your lord you mean the demon Xegris that you fools worship?” The cultist got visibly irritated at this, dropping his smug smile for the first time since the fight began.

“You are not worthy to say His name. However, to answer your question. Yes, that is our Lord. He gives us, his loyal followers, power in exchange for doing his will here on the mortal plane. That is how I survived the explosion. I lost an arm and I’m burned beyond recovery, but none of that matters. As long as I kill the king and his brat I’ll earn my Lord’s favor. Oh, and that reminds me. Since you’re gonna die here anyway, you don’t mind if I play with that lady of yours right? Man, that’s one good looking woman. I’ll play with her for a little and if she behaves well then I may even let her live as my personal sla-” The man stopped speaking as fear enveloped him, primal instinct taking over as he backed away from the man who’s bloodlust was coming off in palpable waves. He dropped his blade and tripped over a body behind him. He shuffled away from Leris, who looked more like a demon than a man as his eyes pierced the man like a blade sharp enough to cut the fabric of reality itself. Leris stepped toward the man and without so much as a word, swung his blade with one hand slicing through the jaw of the man who was speaking only seconds ago. Crying out and holding his now severed jaw in place while blood poured from the cut. The man stared through his tears at Leris who said,“How dare you speak of her, you disgusting pig.”

 Leris swung his blade down at his side, flinging blood across the floor. As he sheathed his blade  he growled, “You aren’t worthy to die by my blade.” He grabbed the man by his collar and punched him with a strength that came from an unknown source. He punched the man again and again. Slamming his fist into the face of the man over and over until he felt a hand grab his arm snapping him from his rage induced haze. He looked up to see king Daren looking at him with a mortified and concerned expression. Leris looked back at what was once the head of the man and dropped him to turn his head and vomit up what he had eaten that day. This level of brutality was not something he thought he was capable of. To think he made the king witness something like that made him feel sick all over again. “Derin are you alright? You and the young prince aren’t hurt are you? We need to get you out of here. The fire is spreading rapidly. You grab the young prince and I’ll escort you both out.” Leris said frantically. A slap to the face stunned him as he looked to the king who had struck him.

“Slow down Leris! Look at yourself before you decide anything! Lily would die of a heart attack if you went out in the state you’re in! What in God’s name were you thinking running in here like this?! You could’ve been killed! What would I say to Lily if you died?! I know you came to save me and I thank you for it! But look at you! You look like you’ve lost your mind and you’re covered in blood! Take off your suit vest and toss it into the fire after you’ve wiped your hands and face! You can’t go back out there covered in blood like that!” Leris looked down to see his once black suit vest plastered in crimson blood. He did as he was told and quickly wiped  his face and hands with the inside of his vest before throwing it into the fire. He stood to his feet and looked to the king who was scooping up his son who was curled up in the corner facing the wall. “Did he see?” Leris asked, feeling disgusted with himself all over again.

“Luckily no, I had used a sleep spell on him after the first two guards were cut down. It hurts me that he had to witness the first two die at such a young age but I’m glad I was able to spare him seeing your rampage.”

“I’m sorry Derin. I don’t know what came over me.”

“We don’t have time to discuss this at the moment Leris. We’ll talk when we’re safe and we’ve ensured the rest of the kingdom is safe. Let’s get out of here.”

“Yes sir.” Leris replied as the king walked past him carrying the prince in his arms. Leris followed with one hand on his sword just in case. As they made their way out Leris passed by the areas where he had seen survivors only minutes ago. Most got out safely but some didn’t.

 As they made it out the doors of the castle they both froze. Not due to the sudden switch from the heat of the fire to the cold chill of the night air, but because of the scene that was in front of them. The once pure white snow was now crimson as bodies lay strewn about the floor. Bodies of attendants who made it out of the castle, the knights who were helping them escape, some of the knights who were on the stairs as Leris entered the castle, and even some innocent citizens. Screams echoed through the night and flames crackled all around the town. The sounds of swords clashing and flesh tearing was deafening. Cultists cut down citizens as they tried to run and set fire to shops and houses. Knights and citizens who loved their kingdom fought back against these cultists with little to no success. As one cultist was cut down it seemed as if three more would appear from thin air, slowly whittling down the forces that fought against them. Leris and the king watched on in horror as this scene unfolded. They only realized that they had frozen when they saw a group of the cultists walking toward them.