- 2 days ago
- #creepypasta
- #horrorfantasy
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story credit: Stockton Kelsch
Voice credits:
https://www.youtube.com/@Trementozzi_Narrator as Sir Sinhild
https://www.youtube.com/@NarrativeStrokes-pj and
https://www.youtube.com/@zoejawz as Lilyana
Levi James (availible at: levijames.vo@gmail.com) as The King
The Keeper voiced all other characters and the narration.
Thumbnail credit: The artists of nvrcaredstudio.com
For story submissions or inquiries contact us at: thekeeperofficial@proton.me (email)
Music by: Myuu https://www.youtube.com/@Myuu
H1D https://open.spotify.com/artist/0UJBz4kXvYmcgN92rdDJ6P?si=ONpkEC-uTPerNxldWGAvaw
and Capcut(intro)
Visuals by myself with some(not the ai section) sourced from Capcut
Thank you for supporting REAL human art
@keeperofficial
#creepypasta #horrorfantasy
story credit: Stockton Kelsch
Voice credits:
https://www.youtube.com/@Trementozzi_Narrator as Sir Sinhild
https://www.youtube.com/@NarrativeStrokes-pj and
https://www.youtube.com/@zoejawz as Lilyana
Levi James (availible at: levijames.vo@gmail.com) as The King
The Keeper voiced all other characters and the narration.
Thumbnail credit: The artists of nvrcaredstudio.com
For story submissions or inquiries contact us at: thekeeperofficial@proton.me (email)
Music by: Myuu https://www.youtube.com/@Myuu
H1D https://open.spotify.com/artist/0UJBz4kXvYmcgN92rdDJ6P?si=ONpkEC-uTPerNxldWGAvaw
and Capcut(intro)
Visuals by myself with some(not the ai section) sourced from Capcut
Thank you for supporting REAL human art
@keeperofficial
#creepypasta #horrorfantasy
Category
đŸ˜¹
FunTranscript
00:00:00Innocent people are being kidnapped.
00:00:02Tonight, on The Keeper, we will delve together into the horrors of powerful curses, undead
00:00:10monstrosities, and hidden truths that can shatter kingdoms, as we read The Last Mercy
00:00:18for a Cursed Soul by Stockton Kelsch.
00:00:21On the morning of the 32nd day of sun year, Landwin donned his leather tunic and trousers.
00:00:28Just as he did the day before, and as he would do so tomorrow, he followed the stiff trousers
00:00:35with cuises around his thighs, and greaves to protect his shins.
00:00:40Upon his upper body, he first slipped into a worn breastplate that covered him front and
00:00:46back to the bottom of his ribcage.
00:00:48The leather straps were thick and wide to avoid biting into his shoulders.
00:00:54Next came an oversized pauldron on his right shoulder.
00:00:57The leather, painted a vibrant yellow with an intricate sun embossed on the surface.
00:01:03He pulled his rare braces into place above his elbow, and his vambraces over his forearms.
00:01:09Until finally, he cinched the straps firmly into place, and began moving through a basic
00:01:16swordsman's form.
00:01:18Satisfied with the fit of each piece of worn steel, he fastened his sword to his hip.
00:01:24The sword was slightly shorter than most, much better for fighting in a crowd, wouldn't
00:01:29want a swing to go wide and slice an innocent.
00:01:33But it was expertly balanced and freshly sharpened.
00:01:36The golden crossguard was flat, and two inches wider than his fist in both directions.
00:01:43What was once a gleaming masterpiece had become a scarred reminder of why he needed it.
00:01:50Landwin took the last bit of a stale loaf of bread in his teeth, as he lifted the iron
00:01:56latch and pushed open his door.
00:01:58The sun had just crested the mountains, and the street was mostly empty, save for the
00:02:05baker preparing for the mourning crowd.
00:02:08He locked his door behind him, and made his way up the hill towards the castle at its peak.
00:02:14The streets began to awaken as he made his way on the roughly twenty-minute walk.
00:02:19Shops opened, and children played in frost-covered courtyards.
00:02:23His breath steamed as he climbed the last step to the castle gates.
00:02:29Jor and Ban stood watch at the gates today, almost indistinguishable with their matching
00:02:36armor and shared features.
00:02:38He knew the brothers well, and greeted them both as they pushed the gates open for him.
00:02:43He crossed the courtyard and ascended the steps to the great hall.
00:02:48Harthan stood sentry at the door and requested his writ to summons.
00:02:52Landwin handed over the parchment, sealed with the same sigil of his pauldron.
00:02:58Harthan pushed open the wooden door, after he was satisfied with the authenticity of the
00:03:03writ, and let Landwin inside.
00:03:06The hall was empty, save for the celestial guard and the king himself.
00:03:12Landwin crossed the great hall and kneeled before the throne.
00:03:16Your majesty, I am honored to receive your summons, Landwin said.
00:03:22You have done well, Sir Rath.
00:03:24I am most pleased with your service as a peace knight, said the king.
00:03:28Thank you, sir.
00:03:30Your praise is most valuable to me, Landwin said, as he bowed his head again.
00:03:35Baron Jallot tells me you have a particular aptitude for inquest, said the king.
00:03:42I do my best to serve your will, your majesty, Landwin said.
00:03:47Your service is required on a task of utmost importance to the kingdom.
00:03:52Should you accept, you will be granted any resource you require.
00:03:57Should you succeed, you will want for nothing for the rest of your life.
00:04:02You will receive land, riches, and I will personally name you duke of your house.
00:04:08The king said.
00:04:10Becoming a duke was unheard of for his station.
00:04:13Being knighted was one thing, but for him to become a duke, he would be as powerful as
00:04:18a man as one could be in the kingdom, save for the king himself.
00:04:23His excitement dampened, as he considered what could be worth such an outlandish reward.
00:04:30Surely no one of his background had ever become a duke in the sun kingdom.
00:04:34Pardon my frankness, your majesty, but what task could be so important?
00:04:39I do not wish to insult, but this seems a prize too grand for a humble servant such as myself,
00:04:45Landwin said.
00:04:46I understand your apprehension, peace knight.
00:04:49However, it is no simple task I ask of you.
00:04:52Had I the ability to take care of it myself, I would not be here.
00:04:57Yet, not even my own celestial guard has been successful.
00:05:01The king answered.
00:05:03Landwin saw no change in their demeanor, but he could sense the guard's tension as the king
00:05:08spoke.
00:05:09My daughter has been taken from me.
00:05:12The king continued.
00:05:13What Landwin first thought was confidence in the king, he could now see was a mask.
00:05:18There have been 147 other knights that have disappeared from the sun kingdom seemingly overnight.
00:05:25Not a trace of where they are.
00:05:27They leave their homes and they don't come back.
00:05:30The king said, his voice trembling on the last words.
00:05:34Why have I not heard this?
00:05:36One hundred and forty-seven gone, including the princess, and the pupil are completely unaware?
00:05:41Landwin retorted.
00:05:43The vulnerability that Landwin saw in the king disappeared in an instant, replaced with the
00:05:49fierceness for which he had gained his reputation.
00:05:51This information has been kept to a select group of my trusted advisors.
00:05:56The family and friends of the victims have been sworn to silence.
00:06:00We cannot have this information getting out to the common people.
00:06:04There will be chaos in the sun kingdom and I will not have it.
00:06:08Fear and panic will only make it more difficult to find those we have lost.
00:06:12The king declared in finality.
00:06:15I will need the names of everyone that has been reported missing, Landwin stated, and
00:06:20I will need to speak to everyone associated with them, friends, siblings, shopkeepers, beggars.
00:06:26This will take much time, your majesty.
00:06:28The king descended the stairs towards Landwin and put a hand on his left shoulder.
00:06:33He leaned in and spoke in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.
00:06:38My daughter is gone, Serath.
00:06:41My daughter.
00:06:42Three days she has been gone and we have not the faintest idea of where she is.
00:06:47No inquest has brought us even a step closer to her in three days.
00:06:51You will have any resource, any tool, any horse, any man.
00:06:55Just bring my daughter home.
00:06:58Landwin could feel the mania in the man.
00:07:01Only now that he was face to face could he see the signs of sleep loss on the king.
00:07:06I will do everything in my power, sir, Landwin assured as he saluted his king.
00:07:12Thank you, Serath.
00:07:14I knew you would not let me down, replied the monarch.
00:07:18Liliana disappeared against all my efforts.
00:07:21She had a full retinue of soldiers day and night.
00:07:24She was never left unattended, yet she went into her quarters and never came out.
00:07:30The royal continued.
00:07:32Who is in charge of her guard?
00:07:34Landwin asked.
00:07:35Sir Sinhild, commander of my celestial guard.
00:07:38The king answered as Sir Sinhild stepped toward Landwin.
00:07:42It was myself and four of my men, peace knight.
00:07:46Come with me then, you and the four men in charge of her guard.
00:07:50I will need to trace her steps on that knight exactly.
00:07:54Landwin replied.
00:07:56He followed the men towards Liliana's quarters.
00:07:58He noted the position of the room relative to the overall layout of the keep, northeast corner, which meant that
00:08:06it was at least a few hundred feet off the ground.
00:08:09This would mean she couldn't have gone out through a window unless there was a rope.
00:08:14There was a minuscule possibility that a sixteen-year-old girl could climb down a two-hundred-foot rope.
00:08:20However, he couldn't rule it out without more information.
00:08:24They arrived at the room and Landwin entered the chambers.
00:08:27The room was larger than he expected.
00:08:29End to end, it was bigger than his own house, which was considered quite substantial for someone of his rank.
00:08:36The princess's bed lay against the east wall and was constructed with four sturdy oak corner posts.
00:08:44If she had climbed down a rope, this would have been the most likely anchor point.
00:08:49But then, someone would have to remove the rope.
00:08:52He walked over to the bed and pushed open the closet window.
00:08:55The drop was sheer, and he knew that even he would have struggled to make such a climb.
00:09:01Was she accompanied by anyone the night she disappeared?
00:09:05A chamberlain or a washwoman, perhaps?
00:09:08Landwin asked.
00:09:09No, Sereth.
00:09:11She was unattended.
00:09:13It was not unusual for the girl.
00:09:14I would say she was unattended a majority of the time.
00:09:19Sinhild answered.
00:09:20And was her chamber empty when she arrived?
00:09:23Landwin asked.
00:09:24Of course, sir.
00:09:26Two of my men searched the room prior to our arrival, and I searched them again once she was safely
00:09:32inside.
00:09:33There was no one in the room.
00:09:35I'm sure of it.
00:09:37Sinhild answered.
00:09:38Who stood watch once she was settled?
00:09:41Landwin asked.
00:09:43I did, sir.
00:09:45Sinhild replied.
00:09:46And no one came or went throughout the night?
00:09:49Landwin asked.
00:09:50Not a soul.
00:09:51I'm sure of that.
00:09:53Me and Heb stood in front of her door till morning, and the other stood on the other side of
00:09:57that door in the hallway.
00:09:59We only noticed she was gone when one of the servants came to fetch her for breakfast.
00:10:04We knocked on the door, but she didn't answer.
00:10:08We knocked, and I yelled for her again, but she still didn't answer.
00:10:12I feared she may have been in one of her delusions again, so I rushed into the room, and she
00:10:19was gone.
00:10:20Nowhere to be found.
00:10:23Sinhild answered solemnly.
00:10:25What delusions does she suffer from?
00:10:28Landwin asked.
00:10:29Sinhild lowered his voice and leaned in so that the others wouldn't hear.
00:10:34The king doesn't like us to talk about it.
00:10:37Few of the staff actually know about the delusions.
00:10:40She used to just talk to herself when she thought that no one could hear.
00:10:44For a while, she would even writhe on the floor like someone who suffered from a fit of the mind.
00:10:49The healer said she was not actually afflicted with a fit of the mind, that it was a result of
00:10:54losing her mother.
00:10:55And that she was truly just suffering from the alienation of her father.
00:11:01But things got really bad one night, and it looked like she was going to throw herself out of that
00:11:08window over there.
00:11:10He said, pointing to the window Landwin had inspected earlier.
00:11:15So what happened since then? Landwin asked.
00:11:18What do you mean, sir?
00:11:20Sinhild replied.
00:11:21I mean that she's about to kill herself, and the king doesn't have her restrained day and night?
00:11:26There must have been some switch in behavior.
00:11:28Landwin clarified.
00:11:31Well, yes, sir, there was.
00:11:34I'm honestly not really sure what happened, to tell you the truth.
00:11:38All I know is that the king summoned the healer again, and personally accompanied him to Liliana's quarters.
00:11:44She had been restrained in there, you see, and no one was to be around her.
00:11:48However, strict order from the king, and after the healer went in the last time, she was a different person.
00:11:57Like she was before the delusions.
00:12:00She was sweet and friendly again.
00:12:03Answered Sinhild.
00:12:05So it took Liliana's near death to finally get the king's attention?
00:12:09Landwin scoffed in disbelief.
00:12:10I suppose it did.
00:12:13After the final day with the healer, he had regular meals, and even walks with Liliana.
00:12:20Poor child.
00:12:21She loses her mother, and her father abandons her?
00:12:24No wonder she acted strange.
00:12:26Landwin thought to himself.
00:12:28He continued to ponder how any child would have likely acted the same, noble or not.
00:12:34Well, I find it hard to believe she could have climbed down the castle wall herself, Landwin stated.
00:12:40So there must be another way in and out of the room.
00:12:43Landwin began walking along the west wall, inspecting the stones.
00:12:48What are you looking for, sir?
00:12:50Sinhild asked.
00:12:51I am looking for another way out of here.
00:12:53Landwin stated.
00:12:55Sir, I assure you that we would know if there was any other way out.
00:12:59Insisted Sinhild.
00:13:01Either this girl climbed down a 300-foot disappearing rope,
00:13:05you and your men snuck her out of the castle,
00:13:07without anyone else seeing or hearing her for seemingly no reason, I might add,
00:13:11or there is another way out of this cursed room.
00:13:14Landwin snapped.
00:13:16Sinhild recoiled, surprised at the outburst.
00:13:19Of course, sir.
00:13:21My apologies.
00:13:22Landwin tore through the room, moving chairs, rugs, and even picture frames from the wall.
00:13:28He stepped in the northwestern corner of the room and crouched down,
00:13:32looking at something on the floor.
00:13:34Has a servant cleaned this room since Liliana's disappearance?
00:13:38Landwin asked.
00:13:39No, sir.
00:13:41King's orders said it remained untouched.
00:13:43Sinhild answered.
00:13:45Strange, Landwin thought.
00:13:47He continued to run his bare finger against the stone on the floor.
00:13:51On it was a thin layer of gray dust.
00:13:55What is it, sir?
00:13:57Sinhild asked eagerly.
00:13:58Landwin didn't answer, and instead ran his fingers across the floor again, more slowly.
00:14:04There were scratches there, almost invisible on the rough stone,
00:14:09but he could feel the ridges there on his bare finger.
00:14:12What is it, peace knight?
00:14:14Please, I must know.
00:14:16Sinhild pleaded.
00:14:18Landwin put his hand against the large stone he crouched in front of.
00:14:22The stone was removed from the wall.
00:14:24I'm guessing that that was how she was taken, Landwin said.
00:14:28Sinhild's face darkened as he put the pieces together.
00:14:32Someone must have come through that stone from outside the room.
00:14:36There would be no way to get it open from inside the room.
00:14:39What's on the other side of this wall?
00:14:41Landwin asked.
00:14:43It's just the servant quarters, I believe.
00:14:46Sinhild answered.
00:14:47Curse it all.
00:14:49Landwin seethed, as he paced around the room to work through his frustration.
00:14:53We need to know where this leads, but without specific knowledge of the construction of the castle,
00:14:58we will waste too much time, Landwin lamented.
00:15:01He continued pacing, then looked back at the stone.
00:15:04It couldn't be that heavy, or no man would be able to move it in the first place.
00:15:08Yet there is no possible way to pull it from this side.
00:15:11Sinhild, I need a warhammer, and fast.
00:15:15Landwin commanded.
00:15:16Sinhild ordered a man down the corridor, and he returned holding two warhammers.
00:15:21They were roughly four feet long, with a small iron head, and a three-inch spike on the back.
00:15:27The man tossed one to Landwin, and he began swinging at the stone.
00:15:32After roughly an hour had passed, Landwin was covered in gray dust that stuck to his sweaty face and neck.
00:15:38Sinhild traded places with him, as they had been doing when one of them got tired.
00:15:43The small surface area of the hammer decimated the stone surface,
00:15:47but it didn't have enough weight to make significant cracks.
00:15:50Even still, they had managed to get through a few inches of the stone,
00:15:54but they would need to move faster if they wanted to save Liliana.
00:15:58I'm ready.
00:15:59Landwin said, standing once again.
00:16:02Sinhild agreed and stepped back, drenched with sweat.
00:16:06Landwin spun the hammer in his hand so he could attack the corners of the stone with the spike.
00:16:11After a few dedicated swings, he could see that he made it through.
00:16:15The stone was around six inches thick,
00:16:18and he could see nothing but darkness through the hole he had made.
00:16:21He jammed the handle of the hammer into the side of the stone and pried it out of place.
00:16:27The stone was larger on the side facing the room than it was in the opening.
00:16:31This taper, coupled with the fact that there were no handholds inside the room,
00:16:36required that it had been moved from inside the tunnel.
00:16:39It's like a cork for a bottle of ale.
00:16:42Sinhild discovered, inspecting the geometry of the stone as Landwin pried it from the wall.
00:16:47The back of the stone had two handholds, cut into the rock.
00:16:51The king will want to know about this.
00:16:53I need to go.
00:16:54Sinhild stated.
00:16:56There is no time, Sinhild.
00:16:57Besides, I may need your aid.
00:16:59I don't know what I might find in there.
00:17:02Landwin corrected.
00:17:03Hardly a man would fit in there, peace knight, let alone two.
00:17:07Sinhild argued.
00:17:08He was right, and Landwin knew it.
00:17:11The opening was barely three feet tall and two feet wide.
00:17:15It must open up further on.
00:17:17I doubt whoever took the princess would be able to do so effectively if they had to crawl the entire
00:17:22cursed way.
00:17:23Landwin spat.
00:17:25Of course, Sir Akhtar.
00:17:26Take news of this to the king.
00:17:28Inform him that we will not return until a tunnel has been searched.
00:17:32Sinhild ordered.
00:17:33Akhtar nodded and ran to deliver the news.
00:17:36Landwin pulled a torch from the wall and lit it with a sparker from his trouser pockets.
00:17:41He pushed the torch into the opening.
00:17:43Nothing but cobwebs, Sinhild, he said as he crouched down and walked into the wall.
00:17:49Sinhild followed closely behind as the passageway opened up, a few feet from the opening.
00:17:55They both stood as Landwin held the torch high, inspecting the wall.
00:18:00Covered in cobwebs, the passageway was free of any adornment,
00:18:04containing only bare stone and torches spaced far apart down the corridor.
00:18:09As they spun, inspecting the wall to their right, they caught sight of a pattern scraped into the stone.
00:18:16It was a triangle, point down, with an X in the middle of it.
00:18:21There was a line down the center that extended past the tip of the triangle,
00:18:25along with two other vertical lines dividing the triangle into four equal proportions.
00:18:30They did not reach as far as the middle line, but still past the confines of the triangle.
00:18:36What is this?
00:18:38A symbol.
00:18:39Someone wants us to know they have her, Landwin said.
00:18:42We need to move fast.
00:18:44If my fear is correct, this is an escape tunnel built in case of an attack on the castle.
00:18:49The trail could go cold once we find the exit, Landwin warned.
00:18:53The men sprinted down the corridor, watching carefully for any doors or intersecting hallways.
00:18:59They found nothing until they reached a point where the four hallways became one.
00:19:04This must be the exit, Landwin said, pointing at the wall before them.
00:19:09I don't understand.
00:19:11Sinhild stated puzzled.
00:19:13Landwin looked back at the men and replied,
00:19:15I would be willing to bet that the king doesn't know about this.
00:19:19You notice that the stone could only be moved in one direction?
00:19:21I suppose so, Sinhild answered.
00:19:25The stone was likely hewn specifically to seal the opening and not to be used as an exit again.
00:19:31They would have pulled it into place from inside the wall,
00:19:33then sealed this exit after closing off each room.
00:19:37All of these hallways likely lead to similar stones in similar rooms, Landwin answered.
00:19:42Why would they seal them up then?
00:19:44Does that not render them useless?
00:19:47Sinhild asked.
00:19:48Indeed it would, Sir Sinhild.
00:19:50However, it also creates the risk of an assassin having direct access to every royal in the castle.
00:19:56This was likely sealed from the outside, never to be reached again,
00:20:01as well as each room being cut off from accessing it.
00:20:04A good plan as long as no one finds a way in, Landwin said.
00:20:08If the king didn't even know about it, how would anyone else?
00:20:13Sinhild asked.
00:20:14That's a good question, Sinhild.
00:20:16Whoever had knowledge of this didn't use it without proper planning.
00:20:20There may be something bigger at play here, Landwin said forebodingly.
00:20:24He inspected what would have been the exit to the escape tunnel.
00:20:28Pushing on the stone, they shifted out of place, falling outward.
00:20:32Behind the rock wall were dense vines.
00:20:35Landwin pushed them apart like a curtain and stepped outside the castle.
00:20:38There was a narrow path, enough for one man to walk comfortably.
00:20:43This was all that separated him from a cliff's edge above the rough seas.
00:20:48He knew that he stood on the north side of the castle,
00:20:51and that the path was designed for the castle guard to make the patrol rounds.
00:20:55These stones were restacked hastily,
00:20:58and whoever took Liliana used the cover of the storm three nights back to make their move.
00:21:03A brilliant maneuver, if I am to be blunt about it.
00:21:06Heavy rain and thunder would mask the noise made upon entry into the castle and her room.
00:21:12No patrols would be making rounds in this area of the grounds,
00:21:15as the risk of a fall this close to the cliff would be high.
00:21:19And the vines even hid the entry wound.
00:21:21Landwin said with an exasperated laugh,
00:21:23This was all well planned.
00:21:26Too well planned.
00:21:28Whoever did this had intimate knowledge of the castle,
00:21:30that even the king doesn't have.
00:21:32And beyond that basic guard duty, schedules and routes.
00:21:37Whatever man did this knows too much to be an outsider.
00:21:40He must reside in the castle to have such knowledge.
00:21:43Sinhild said.
00:21:44He rubbed his forehead and slumped against the wall of the castle.
00:21:48His eyes, a blank stare.
00:21:50Landwin knew what he must be thinking.
00:21:52It wouldn't be just anyone.
00:21:55It would be one of Sinhild's own men.
00:21:57No common servant would know enough to pull this off,
00:22:01let alone have the strength to tear down the castle wall.
00:22:04Even if it was just a patch.
00:22:07I'm not so certain, Sinhild.
00:22:09You are forgetting about the 147 other disappearances.
00:22:12I don't suspect any of your men would be unnoticed if they were absent that often.
00:22:17But we do need to take this to the king.
00:22:20Landwin asserted.
00:22:21Sinhild was on his feet a moment later,
00:22:24and they raced back through the corridor to Liliana's bedroom.
00:22:27The men burst into the room and said nothing to the stunned guards,
00:22:30who had stayed behind.
00:22:32Landwin fell back and followed Sinhild's lead as he raced to where the king would be.
00:22:37Sinhild exploded into the sitting room,
00:22:40scaring a servant woman half to death.
00:22:42The two guards that stood beside the king as he read,
00:22:45brandished mirror-polished side swords in alarm.
00:22:49What is going on? Have you found her?
00:22:51The king said.
00:22:53Everyone out.
00:22:54We will speak with the king alone.
00:22:57Sinhild barked to the occupants in the room.
00:23:00The servant woman was out without so much as a breath,
00:23:03and Sinhild caught one of the men by the shoulder as he fled.
00:23:06Find Heb, Akhtar, and Joel.
00:23:09They should be in Liliana's quarters.
00:23:12Send them here as soon as possible.
00:23:14The guard nodded as he fled from the room.
00:23:17What is the meaning of this?
00:23:19The king asked.
00:23:21Your safety may be at risk, your grace.
00:23:24Sinhild answered.
00:23:25He told the men everything that was uncovered,
00:23:27and who may be a suspect.
00:23:29I don't care who you think did it, Sir Sinhild.
00:23:33I just want my daughter back.
00:23:35The king declared.
00:23:37We must still think of your personal protection, your majesty.
00:23:40I can only vouch for Sersheb, Akhtar, and Joel.
00:23:44They were with me on the night she disappeared,
00:23:46and thus would have been unable to commit this atrocity.
00:23:50Furthermore, I believe any knight on duty wouldn't have been able to either.
00:23:55An absence long enough to do all of that would have been noticed.
00:23:59Sinhild said.
00:24:01The king looked to Landwin and pleaded with the man.
00:24:04Sersheb, I trust my guards, and I don't care if my life is in jeopardy.
00:24:08Please, just look into these other disappearances.
00:24:12I think they will lead you to her faster than this waste of time.
00:24:17Your grace, this is hardly a waste of time.
00:24:19Your life may be at risk.
00:24:21Sinhild replied.
00:24:23Fine, Sir Sinhild.
00:24:24Hold your inquest of my guard, and in the meantime, I will rely on Sir Hebb.
00:24:29Akhtar or Joel will provide me protection.
00:24:32The king instructed.
00:24:33Thank you, your majesty.
00:24:35Sinhild accepted graciously.
00:24:37Will you look into the other disappearances, Serath?
00:24:40The king asked.
00:24:42Of course, your majesty, Landwin assured.
00:24:45Landwin pulled Sinhild to the side, just outside the room once they were replaced with the other guards.
00:24:51The king may not think he is at risk, but this has all painted a very grim picture.
00:24:56Landwin confessed.
00:24:57I don't know what's gotten into him.
00:24:59As much as it pains me to see it, the Celestial Guard has more opportunity than anyone to kidnap the
00:25:07princess.
00:25:08Sinhild replied.
00:25:10They may have had more opportunity to kidnap her, but that doesn't explain the others.
00:25:13I think looking into the other disappearances will give us much-needed answers.
00:25:18Landwin continued.
00:25:20I will do my best with the guard, Peace Knight.
00:25:23Yet, I am worried that this will be vastly more difficult than you may think.
00:25:27I know every man in this guard, and I find it hard to believe anyone would have the motive, despite
00:25:34what even the evidence suggests.
00:25:37Yes, Sinhild stated.
00:25:38This is our best chance at finding her, Sinhild.
00:25:41Do what you can, and leave no stone unturned.
00:25:44Send for me when you have something, and hopefully I will have some answers as well.
00:25:48And one more thing, Sinhild.
00:25:50Landwin answered.
00:25:51Yes, sir?
00:25:53Sinhild asked.
00:25:54When disease is spread in the body, it is often better to abandon it than to risk the whole.
00:26:00Do you understand?
00:26:01Landwin asked.
00:26:03I do, sir.
00:26:04Sinhild answered solemnly.
00:26:05Good man.
00:26:07Landwin said to Sinhild as he parted and made his way from the castle.
00:26:11The king's clerks had written him a list of everyone that had gone missing and the days that they were
00:26:16last seen.
00:26:17A young man passed him the list, along with a writ of inquest.
00:26:21Both had the king's sunmark, cast in yellow wax.
00:26:25Landwin inspected the list as he moved down the castle steps.
00:26:28The list was extensive, containing names, dates, locations, and testimonies from those close to the victims.
00:26:37The king may have hid the kidnappings from the common folk, but Landwin knew it was not something that he
00:26:42took lightly.
00:26:43He continued to scan the list for anything that stood out to him.
00:26:47I'll need to start closest to the castle if I want to have any chance at finding the girl before
00:26:51it's too late, he thought to himself.
00:26:53As he looked over the list for the third time, he noticed a pattern he had not seen on his
00:26:58initial read.
00:26:59The oldest kidnappings were those closest to castle grounds.
00:27:03The pattern deviated slightly and wasn't perfect, but as he looked over the pages again, it stuck out like a
00:27:10noble in the beggar's den.
00:27:11But why would Liliana be the latest one taken?
00:27:14All the others in this area were taken well before she was, Landwin thought, unless she was the prize all
00:27:21along.
00:27:21And our kidnapper was testing the king's reaction.
00:27:24But then why continue to abduct the common folk?
00:27:27If Liliana was the target, there had been no ransom asked of the king.
00:27:32None of this makes sense.
00:27:33His thoughts continued as he made his way toward the house of the first victim.
00:27:37According to the king's note, she had been missing for roughly five months.
00:27:42Landwin growled to himself as he hustled down the busy street.
00:27:46Keeping this from the people is irresponsible and dangerous.
00:27:49Poor fools are strolling about without a care in the world, not knowing that this will be the last day
00:27:54they ever see in the sun.
00:27:56Landwin thought bitterly.
00:27:57He pushed down the thoughts as he reached the home.
00:28:01He banged on the door until a man in his early forties opened it.
00:28:05Can I help you?
00:28:06No, the man said gruffly.
00:28:08His clothes were disheveled and dirty, and his hair looked thin and patchy.
00:28:13I hope so, Goodman.
00:28:14I am here to inquire about Adelaide.
00:28:17This was her home, if my information is correct.
00:28:20Do you know her?
00:28:21Landwin asked.
00:28:22The man's eyes went glassy, and Landwin noticed a small tremor had manifested in his right arm.
00:28:28She was, I mean, is my wife.
00:28:31I haven't seen her in five months, and I thought, I thought the king had forgotten about me.
00:28:36The man said.
00:28:38He has not forgotten you.
00:28:39The investigation is still underway, and I need you to tell me everything that could be relevant.
00:28:44Landwin stated.
00:28:45I already told the celestial guard everything, everything, and I didn't tell a soul, just like I promised.
00:28:52What have they been doing all this time, and why would they send you, a man without any knowledge of
00:28:57the situation, five cursed months later?
00:29:00The man snapped at Landwin.
00:29:01I know what you told the guard, but that isn't what I'm here for.
00:29:06If you ever want your wife back, you will tell me everything of relevance.
00:29:10Leave out one detail, and you may as well sign your wife's writ of death, if she isn't already dead.
00:29:16Landwin replied coldly.
00:29:18He didn't know if the man had left anything out of his testimony, but in his experience, there was always
00:29:24something left out.
00:29:25Pushing on this man's guilt would simply be his most effective route to something useful.
00:29:30The man's eyes filled with tears as he gestured for Landwin to enter the home.
00:29:35Please sit down, peace knight, he said as he offered Landwin a chair.
00:29:41Landwin reclined into the wooden furniture next to the man and surveyed the small dwelling.
00:29:46Now please, tell me everything you think could be relevant, Landwin insisted.
00:29:52The man recounted the information Landwin had already read in the report, where Adelaide had worked.
00:29:58Who she came in contact with on a given day, her typical route home, where she preferred to eat and
00:30:04drink.
00:30:05Landwin would have usually begun an investigation with this information, but he knew in this case it would be a
00:30:11waste of time.
00:30:12If the celestial guard had already been here, all of these leads would have been searched thoroughly.
00:30:17Unless one of the celestial guards had taken Liliana, Landwin thought.
00:30:23He knew he didn't have time to investigate the way he normally did.
00:30:27Landwin interrupted the man.
00:30:29He knew there was something by his earlier reaction.
00:30:33Adelaide liked to sneak off at night from time to time.
00:30:36I think she may have gone out the day she disappeared.
00:30:39The man confessed.
00:30:41And why didn't you tell the guard this extremely important detail?
00:30:45Landwin replied angrily.
00:30:47I didn't know if I was right or not.
00:30:49I suspected that she was sneaking out to meet someone, but I didn't know who.
00:30:53She was always quiet, and I'm a real deep sleeper.
00:30:56I never caught her in the act.
00:30:59Things just seemed odd some mornings.
00:31:02She would have bags under her eyes, and her hair would be more unruly than it normally was.
00:31:08I guess I was just a bit embarrassed that I knew about her affair, and didn't do anything,
00:31:13and that I didn't think it would be important.
00:31:16I thought they'd bring her home, and I could pretend I never knew.
00:31:19The man replied, and began sobbing into his hands.
00:31:23Oh, Adelaide!
00:31:25He cried.
00:31:26Landwin grabbed the man's shoulder, and spoke to him as his tears settled.
00:31:30I know that was hard, but this could be the information I needed to find her.
00:31:34You did well by your wife today.
00:31:37Landwin consoled.
00:31:38He stood and made for the door.
00:31:40The interaction didn't give him much more information than he already had,
00:31:44but it had given him a point to focus on.
00:31:46If the man's wife was out on the night she was taken,
00:31:50then that changed the dynamic of the kidnapper.
00:31:53Liliana was stolen from her home fully guarded.
00:31:56So perhaps this theory was correct after all.
00:31:59Liliana was always the target,
00:32:01and the culprit was either testing the reaction of the king,
00:32:04or honing his skill.
00:32:06With so many other victims,
00:32:08testing the reaction of the king seemed like a slim possibility.
00:32:12What kind of person would plan to kidnap someone,
00:32:15and then have to train themselves to do it?
00:32:17Everything was painting a picture that Landwin could not yet understand.
00:32:20He made his way toward the home of the 39th victim.
00:32:23As he walked,
00:32:25he noticed his shadow stretching long in the fading sunlight.
00:32:28The sun had almost fallen behind the mountains,
00:32:31and Landwin was startled,
00:32:32realizing how much of the day had already passed.
00:32:35It would be dark soon,
00:32:36and he didn't think it wise to work in the night,
00:32:39considering the circumstances.
00:32:41He reached the home shortly after,
00:32:43deciding this would be the last of his investigations for the day.
00:32:46He knocked on the wooden door,
00:32:48and was greeted by a man in his late sixties.
00:32:51A woman stood behind him,
00:32:53tending to a stew pot above a crackling fire.
00:32:55The house was similar in construction to the first home he had visited,
00:33:00save for an extra bedroom door.
00:33:02Hello, Goodman.
00:33:03I am here on official duty to inquire about William.
00:33:07Landwin stated while brandishing the writ of inquest he had received from the king.
00:33:11Come in,
00:33:13the man said with a sigh.
00:33:14He looked as exhausted as he sounded,
00:33:18and Landwin felt no small sympathy for the man.
00:33:21William had been barely fourteen,
00:33:23and was their only child according to the king's account.
00:33:26I will keep this brief.
00:33:28I don't wish to interrupt your supper.
00:33:30I see in your testimony that you gave the day your son disappeared
00:33:33that he had a tendency to disobey.
00:33:35Landwin stated,
00:33:36That is unfortunately correct, sir.
00:33:39William is a good lad,
00:33:41but we could never keep up with him like other parents.
00:33:44He was so full of energy and life,
00:33:47and he didn't know how to rein it in.
00:33:49Can't blame the child, honestly.
00:33:52In our younger years,
00:33:53it may have been a different story,
00:33:55but lady time gets us all in the end.
00:33:58William stopped asking us to run around with him,
00:34:01or even to help him make his meal.
00:34:03And with that,
00:34:04he began to disobey.
00:34:06It was like he didn't need our help anymore,
00:34:08so he stopped listening to us too.
00:34:10The man said solemnly,
00:34:12Did you enforce a curfew with William?
00:34:15Landwin asked.
00:34:16We tried,
00:34:17but the lad came and went as he pleased most of the time.
00:34:21The man replied,
00:34:23Was he often out at night?
00:34:25Landwin asked.
00:34:26Well, yes, sir.
00:34:27I would say almost every night he was out.
00:34:30The man answered,
00:34:32And why didn't you explain this in your testimony?
00:34:34Landwin asked,
00:34:35more aggressively than he had intended.
00:34:38We were worried it would get the lad into trouble,
00:34:40you see.
00:34:41What with the celestial guard looking into the matter and all?
00:34:45We thought he might be in trouble for breaking the king's curfew.
00:34:48The man answered,
00:34:50I just have one more question.
00:34:52What is it, sir?
00:34:54The man asked,
00:34:55Was William a healthy child?
00:34:57Landwin asked.
00:34:59Indeed he was, sir.
00:35:00I don't think he had suffered more than an annual cold for most of his life.
00:35:05Besides that, he was as healthy as a boy as any other.
00:35:08The man replied,
00:35:10Thank you, Goodman.
00:35:11I know this may be hard to discuss again,
00:35:14but your efforts are vital to understanding what happened.
00:35:17The king has not forgotten you.
00:35:18Landwin assured.
00:35:20With that, he stood and left the home without another word.
00:35:23Landwin was frustrated with the omissions of these people.
00:35:27How could you leave out such important details?
00:35:29It was madness.
00:35:31Even so, he walked the roughly 30 minutes back to his house as the streets fell still.
00:35:37A few torches lined the area and the sun had completely retreated behind the horizon.
00:35:42He unlocked his front door with his iron key and stepped inside.
00:35:46He felt his body sag as he shut and locked the door.
00:35:50His day had been filled with so much confusion and tragedy.
00:35:54He found himself thinking of Liliana as he changed out of his armor and into his sleeping garb.
00:36:00The poor girl must be frightened and alone.
00:36:03Worried that she would never see her home or her father again.
00:36:07Landwin knew the pain of losing a mother all too well.
00:36:11And he understood why she had feigned delusions.
00:36:15He himself had done something just as foolish when he was a boy.
00:36:19But he had his father to cry with at night.
00:36:22Liliana did not.
00:36:23He couldn't shake the worry for the girl and he knew his soul would not be at peace until she
00:36:28was found.
00:36:29He laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
00:36:32He knew he had to sleep, but he couldn't shake the worry for the girl.
00:36:36After what felt like hours, he drifted into a dream.
00:36:39A large room surrounded him, lit with torches in all four corners.
00:36:44He stood alone on the edge of the room, too far from the light of the torches to be illuminated.
00:36:50He recognized this place.
00:36:52A nightmare from his past he wished to never see again.
00:36:56A gathering of people began walking around the dirt floor in a line.
00:37:01Landwin didn't recognize any of them, even though there were so many.
00:37:06Men and women, boys and girls, all encircled him.
00:37:10He spun around, watching them, trying to get a closer look at their faces, but they were too blurry to
00:37:16make out.
00:37:17He tried to yell, to ask what was going on, but he couldn't get the words out.
00:37:22As he searched the strangers, a teenage girl began leading the group.
00:37:27She had long brown hair, and as Landwin's vision finally focused on her face, he could see the resemblance to
00:37:35the king.
00:37:35It was Liliana.
00:37:37He had only seen the girl on rare occasions, when the nobles made an address to the people, but he
00:37:43had never been close enough to know what she had looked like.
00:37:45But there was no mistaking it now.
00:37:48That was Liliana.
00:37:50He was sure of it.
00:37:51Liliana!
00:37:52He yelled, but the words didn't escape his lips.
00:37:56The girl looked to him with an emotionless face.
00:37:59He tried to yell again in futility as she turned her head forward.
00:38:04Liliana led the group toward a black pit that had opened in the floor next to the torch.
00:38:09She was the first to reach the pit, where she fell beneath the dirt.
00:38:14The blood-curdling scream of the girl echoed through the chamber.
00:38:18She was followed shortly by the next in line.
00:38:21His scream added to the cacophony of her cry.
00:38:24Soul after soul followed her into the black hole, each one screaming as she did.
00:38:30Landwin covered his eyes, but he couldn't get the screams out of his head.
00:38:34Why would they do this?
00:38:36Why won't they stop?
00:38:37He needed to leave this room.
00:38:39He hated this place.
00:38:41He looked around the room for the exit, only to find his hands had become chained to the wall.
00:38:47Not here, he pled.
00:38:49Anywhere but here.
00:38:50He looked away from his hands to see Liliana standing before him.
00:38:54Her eyes filled with tears as she said,
00:38:57Why didn't you save me, Sir Rath?
00:39:00Landwin bolted up right in his bed, dripping with sweat.
00:39:04Not the church.
00:39:05I can't go back there.
00:39:07He sat.
00:39:08His heart pounded and his hands shook.
00:39:11Moonlight shone through the window, and he knew the sun would be far from rising.
00:39:16He sat on the edge of his bed until his heart stopped hammering and his hands settled.
00:39:21As the minutes passed and his mind calmed, Landwin confronted his initial panic.
00:39:27He stood up and threw on his leathers and armor.
00:39:31Despite his dread, he would have to go back to that wretched place once more.
00:39:40When you live in the underbelly of a grand society, opportunity never rests.
00:39:47So neither do you.
00:39:49He tore down the street at a near run towards the southern edge of the kingdom.
00:39:54Entering the slums was not advisable for a peace night, or anyone of sound mind for that matter.
00:40:00You're kinda welcome in the slums.
00:40:03A drunk man spat at him as he approached.
00:40:06Landwin kicked the man in the chest, knocking him back down the alley he came from.
00:40:12He learned long ago that you had to establish authority quickly in the slums.
00:40:16He passed poorly built homes and vice dens.
00:40:20Anything a lowlife could want from drink, to women, to gambling, was available here.
00:40:26Landwin detested this place.
00:40:28It was hard to believe such a dark stain could fester in the beauty of the sun kingdom.
00:40:33He searched for the only building he knew of in the slums that hadn't sprouted up as a result of
00:40:38the king's disregard for the area.
00:40:40The church stood stark against the rest of the city.
00:40:44Although it wasn't the largest building, it was the oldest and most sturdy.
00:40:49Thick stones and timbers that had held up for generations.
00:40:53Well past the time that the church had been abandoned.
00:40:57Landwin walked in the wooden door at the front of the church and stepped inside.
00:41:02The church echoed as the door swung shut behind him.
00:41:05Pews lined the center aisle, illuminated by moonlight through stained glass.
00:41:10A protective statue of a sun knight stood at the far side of the room, wearing the armor of a
00:41:16real sun knight and holding a greatsword tipped down.
00:41:20Behind the statue's protection was the shrine of the sun, which the church and its followers had worshipped.
00:41:26The church had little relevance these days, but the roots of the religion were the very basis of the sun
00:41:32kingdom.
00:41:34Evidenced by the design on his very own pauldron, Landwin walked toward the door on the far right side of
00:41:39the statue.
00:41:40A past incident involving a woman that had been found chained up and completely decayed in the basement, kept even
00:41:47the worst of men far from here.
00:41:50Landwin had immediately thought of the church when the king first told him of the disappearances.
00:41:55He thought of this place every time something evil crossed his path.
00:41:59The door opened easily, and he took the torch off the wall as he moved through the hallway.
00:42:05The torch was covered in dust, but he knew it should still ignite.
00:42:09The unsteady flame bathed the hallway in warm light.
00:42:12It was covered in cobwebs and dust, and was eerily the same as he remembered.
00:42:18He pulled open one of the cellar doors at the end of the hallway.
00:42:22A foul stench washed over him, and his eyes watered as he covered his nose.
00:42:27It was a smell he knew all too well.
00:42:30It was the same smell he couldn't forget from when he had seen his mother down here, rotted and skeletal.
00:42:38Why in the sun god's holy name had he ever come back here?
00:42:41Landwin steadied his mind and walked down the steps into the cellar.
00:42:46The smell grew stronger as he had reached the bottom and landed on packed dirt.
00:42:51He held his torch out and looked to the right where the chains had been.
00:42:55They were there still, attached to the stone, just as he remembered.
00:43:01He shoved down his rage of the memory and drew his sword.
00:43:04He moved toward the entrance of the larger room in the basement,
00:43:08and saw a strange pattern carved into the door behind the boards that blocked the entrance to the room.
00:43:14Landwin studied the pattern and saw a triangle with an X in the middle of it,
00:43:19and three lines dividing it into sections.
00:43:22Landwin burst over to the door and pulled down board after board in a fury.
00:43:26He wasn't sure why he had become so consumed with finding the girl.
00:43:30He felt a strong duty to the king, like all knights, but he knew this was something different.
00:43:35Was it because he knew the pain of losing a mother too young, just like she did?
00:43:41And maybe, if he could save her from that pain, it might heal some of his own.
00:43:46He cast the thoughts aside as he pulled down another board.
00:43:50Being in this church would always bring back memories of his mother.
00:43:54He had accepted that long ago when he fell to his knees weeping before her decrepit corpse.
00:43:59Chained against the wall behind him, he ripped the last board from the wall and threw his shoulder into the
00:44:05door.
00:44:06The wood splintered, but didn't break.
00:44:09He bashed his shoulder again and again.
00:44:11It cracked and snapped in multiple places but wouldn't open.
00:44:15It must be barred from the other side, Landwin thought.
00:44:19His rage only built as he tried harder and harder, but failed to get in.
00:44:23He thought he could hear voices on the other side.
00:44:27He prayed a silent prayer to the sun god of the temple that Liliana would be safe on the other
00:44:32side.
00:44:33He drew his sword and hacked at the door in a desperate last attempt to reach her.
00:44:37His sword sliced cleanly through the door and bit deep into the wooden timber he suspected was barring the other
00:44:44side.
00:44:44He yanked his sword free and swung again.
00:44:47The blade again bit deep into the wood and he tried to pry it loose.
00:44:52He finally put a booted foot through the flimsy wood above the timber.
00:44:56He reached in his bare hand and lifted the bar out of place and dropped it to the floor.
00:45:01The door was too badder to operate normally, so he kicked it down in sections.
00:45:05He was frustrated and dripping with sweat by the time he had gotten through the door,
00:45:10but it all felt meaningless now that he had made it into the room.
00:45:14He grabbed his torch from the place he had left it on the wall,
00:45:17and it illuminated a mass in the center of the room.
00:45:20He pushed closer to see what looked like hundreds of people moving around someone in the center.
00:45:26Landwin held his sword in an iron grip and yelled.
00:45:29The mass of people parted so he could see the person standing in the center.
00:45:33A small ring of fire that he had not seen before surrounded the girl.
00:45:38He met her eyes and almost cried tears of relief.
00:45:42Liliana, I found you! I will save you from this!
00:45:45Landwin promised.
00:45:47Liliana's eyes turned pure black and she smiled a wicked grin.
00:45:51Oh, peace night, you poor fool.
00:45:53There's no one here you can save.
00:45:56She taunted.
00:45:57Landwin backed away from the girl.
00:45:59No, what is this? This is all wrong.
00:46:02Liliana pointed a hand, black with ash, at Landwin, and the horde floated towards him.
00:46:08As they grew closer, he could see a pattern carved into their foreheads, bloody scars identical to the symbol he
00:46:15had seen on the door.
00:46:16The mob surged forward and he battered back arms with slashes of his blade.
00:46:21He took off hands and an arm at the elbow.
00:46:25But these creatures did not stop.
00:46:27It was apparent to him now that the stench had come from the horde of corpses that attacked him.
00:46:32He backed his way to the door he had broken to get here.
00:46:35He couldn't turn his back and flee, or he would be swallowed by rotted hands and dead eyes.
00:46:41Landwin slashed to keep the horrors at bay.
00:46:44His back was through the doorway now, and the limited room made it easier for him to keep them from
00:46:49getting free.
00:46:49He feared what these creatures would do to the kingdom if they got out.
00:46:54I can't keep this up for long, Landwin thought.
00:46:57It had only been a few moments, but the horde was relentless, and if he took so much as a
00:47:02second to rest, they would break past the doorway.
00:47:05Landwin caught a young boy's incoming bite with his left vambrace.
00:47:09The child's teeth shattered on the armor of his forearm.
00:47:12The boy fell to the ground and was trampled by the horde.
00:47:16Landwin's fury grew as he watched the boy fall.
00:47:18What kind of monster would do this?
00:47:21His face grew hotter as his anger swelled in his chest.
00:47:24He bellowed a yell and cut down every limb that came near him.
00:47:28Slash after slash, he separated hands from arms, and arms from bodies.
00:47:33The corpses piled in front of him, and bloodstains spread like wildfire.
00:47:38His arms were full of scratches and bites, one of which had taken his pinky and ring finger on his
00:47:43left hand.
00:47:44He couldn't tell what blood was his, or the abominations before him.
00:47:49The surge of bodies slowed slightly as the doorway packed with unmoving corpses.
00:47:53I need to move, now, Landwin thought to himself.
00:47:57He stabbed his sword up through the mouth of an old woman who was moments away from taking another chunk
00:48:02out of his left hand.
00:48:03His blade sunk deep into the frame of the door above his head.
00:48:07With the woman pinned to the doorframe, and the bodies blocking a clear path on the ground, he dashed for
00:48:12the stairs.
00:48:13He made it to the first step before the horde pushed their way through the opening.
00:48:18Landwin took the stairs two at a time, climbing as fast as he could.
00:48:22Monsters raced behind him, making their way to the stairs.
00:48:25He exploded from the top of the stairs down the hallway to the preaching hall.
00:48:29He didn't waste time, sealing the door to the cellar.
00:48:32He knew it would do him a little good now.
00:48:34He burst into the preaching hall, and raced to the door.
00:48:38It was the only way in and out of the church, save for the stained glass windows ten feet off
00:48:44the ground.
00:48:44He picked up a sturdy bench in his run, and jammed it in front of the door.
00:48:49Afterward, he grabbed a pew and started moving it to block the door.
00:48:52Time was running out.
00:48:54He could hear the monsters running through the hallway.
00:48:57He had to make it to the statue.
00:48:59He pushed the pew in place and sprinted for it.
00:49:02That won't hold if enough of them try to get through.
00:49:05Landwin thought in panic.
00:49:06The creatures did not appear to be intelligent.
00:49:09They acted almost as if on pure instinct.
00:49:12He knew by the way they moved in the basement that they would not remove the blockade,
00:49:16but instead try to walk through it.
00:49:19I'll have to make sure there isn't enough of them to try.
00:49:21Landwin thought.
00:49:22He made it halfway to the statue when a lean man tore into the room.
00:49:27He clashed with the man, steps away from the statue.
00:49:30He ducked from a wild swing of the man's left arm and buried his fist into his gut.
00:49:35Landwin's hand went straight through his stomach and lower ribs with little resistance.
00:49:40His initial shock was stolen as the man clawed at his back and attempted to bite his neck.
00:49:45Landwin spun, pulling his gore-covered hand from the man's stomach and smashed his temple with his left elbow.
00:49:53The bone cracked and the man fell to the floor writhing.
00:49:57More bodies filled the room now, with the closest being only an arm's width away.
00:50:03Landwin ran to the statue, tucking arms and shoving through a vicious crowd.
00:50:07He suffered bites on the armor of his left arm while he defended the best he could with his belt
00:50:13knife.
00:50:13Now a step away from the statue, he kicked the legs out from a mountain of a man as he
00:50:18swung wildly with his knife.
00:50:21The man hit the stones with a thud and Landwin jumped off his back, putting his ornate pauldron into the
00:50:26statue's hands.
00:50:27The fingers cracked and the greatsword fell from the statue.
00:50:31Landwin caught the sword before the tip touched the stone beneath him.
00:50:34He swung in a near-complete circle, dividing the heads from the bodies of at least ten monstrosities.
00:50:40This sword was much heavier than the one he normally carried, and easily two feet longer.
00:50:46For this sword was crafted specifically for fighting crowds.
00:50:50He cleaved through the horde, taking lives, ten, then fifteen, then twenty at a time.
00:50:55He fought with a rage he had only felt once before.
00:50:59He promised himself he would never embrace that rage again.
00:51:02It had nearly cost an innocent woman her life, and him his freedom.
00:51:06But he needed their rage now, and he would do whatever it took to rid this land of these monsters.
00:51:12Landwin pulled his sword back, ready to take the life of the last body around him.
00:51:17He met the eyes of the girl the same age as Liliana, an innocent victim of the evil machinations of
00:51:23that vile girl.
00:51:24He hesitated, and prayed that she would just stop, stay where she was, and not attack him anymore, to just
00:51:32be human again.
00:51:33But the girl jumped at him, and he split her body in two at the waist.
00:51:38The room fell silent as he stood there, bathed in blood of over a hundred innocent souls.
00:51:44Tears carved clear rivers down the middle of his crimson-stained face.
00:51:49The sword he held was covered in cracks from repeatedly meeting bone.
00:51:53It rang through the church as he dropped it to the floor.
00:51:57Landwin wiped his eyes with his right hand and moved toward the basement.
00:52:01He walked down each step with death on his shoulders.
00:52:04Thunder rumbled in his soul as he contemplated what he had done.
00:52:09He passed the shackles without so much as a glance.
00:52:11His sword was still lodged in the skull of the woman he had stabbed it through earlier.
00:52:16Her body lay on the floor, mingled and trampled by the monsters that dislodged her from the doorway.
00:52:22He retrieved his weapon and attempted to wipe the blood off on the exposed leather of his elbow.
00:52:28The blade remained red, as even his leathers were coated in blood.
00:52:32He walked through the doorway into the larger room, feeling numb and cold.
00:52:37He could only see because of the light from Liliana's ring of fire.
00:52:41Liliana smiled, eyes still dark as night.
00:52:45I thought you were here to save people, she said in a playful voice.
00:52:50I showed those people the only mercy they had left in this life, Landwin retorted.
00:52:55You peace knights, always butting your heads in where they don't belong.
00:53:00Liliana smirked.
00:53:01Her casual playfulness made Landwin's blood boil.
00:53:05You witches are the vilest of creatures.
00:53:08I hate you all, Landwin spat.
00:53:11Oh, that's right.
00:53:12One of my sisters took your mother, didn't she?
00:53:15Change her up right over there, right?
00:53:18How long was it until they found mommy?
00:53:20A month?
00:53:22Two?
00:53:23Liliana replied smugly.
00:53:25Landwin bit back a response and walked towards the girl.
00:53:28If only you had paid more attention.
00:53:31Maybe you would have found her.
00:53:34That's why you became a peace knight, isn't it?
00:53:36Couldn't save mommy.
00:53:38Because poor baby boy Landwin Rath was always daydreaming and getting distracted.
00:53:44Liliana said.
00:53:45Landwin knew that she was invading his thoughts.
00:53:49Her kind could know a man better than he knew himself within moments of meeting him.
00:53:53He had to stop this, fast.
00:53:56He planned his strike to knock her unconscious.
00:53:59He rushed to hit her over the head with the pommel of his sword.
00:54:03When the ring of fire exploded upward, the heat singed his flesh and stopped him dead in his tracks.
00:54:10The flames licked the ceiling and the supporting timbers began to char.
00:54:15Liliana cackled a self-satisfied laugh and said.
00:54:18I know you won't kill me this night.
00:54:21I've been in your head.
00:54:23Landwin moved on pure instinct and brought his sword around and stabbed straight through the wall of fire.
00:54:29His skin burned, but the flames subsided almost as fast as they had erupted.
00:54:34Landwin looked from his head, then upped the length of the blade.
00:54:38Liliana stood less than two feet away from him holding her stomach.
00:54:41The sword had gone clean through and blood began to stain her dress.
00:54:46She met his eyes, and her inky pupils bled to a pale blue.
00:54:50They filled with tears before she fell backwards, unconscious.
00:54:54Landwin pulled the sword from her limp body and slid it into the sheath at his belt.
00:54:59He picked the girl up and threw her over his shoulder.
00:55:02Even with all the pain she had caused, he felt sympathy for the girl.
00:55:07Now this was her choice.
00:55:08She is nothing but a pawn to whatever sun-forsaken coven her family hails from.
00:55:13Landwin thought with remorse.
00:55:16As he walked from the room, he stumbled and his vision blurred.
00:55:19The loss of blood from his missing fingers, combined with the smoke filling the room, were beginning to take their
00:55:25toll.
00:55:25He looked down at his bloody left hand.
00:55:28He was covered in bites and scrapes, but this was by far the worst.
00:55:32He had forgotten about the fingers in his rampage.
00:55:35But now that things were quiet, all of his senses returned with a vengeance.
00:55:41Landwin made for the stairs, and ripped a long strip of cloth from the hem of Liliana's dress.
00:55:46He tied it around his left hand, as best he could while carrying the girl up the stairs.
00:55:52He would need a healer soon, but he wouldn't succumb to lack of blood for at least a few hours.
00:55:58As he reached the end of the hallway, smoke rose around him, engulfing the building.
00:56:03He entered the preaching hall, and was reminded of the horror he had committed there.
00:56:07Bodies littered the floor, young and old, male and female.
00:56:12A flood had swept through this building, painting every surface red.
00:56:16Landwin shook as he walked to the door.
00:56:19All these souls were damned the minute the witch got a hold of them.
00:56:23He knew he had given them the mercy they deserved, but that did not dampen his anger.
00:56:28He would kill every witch alive for what they had made him do to these innocent people.
00:56:34Blood leaked down his left arm from the wound in Liliana's gut.
00:56:37She wouldn't die, of course.
00:56:40Nothing so small could kill a witch, even a budding one as she was.
00:56:45He moved the pew that he had used to block the door earlier.
00:56:48Thank the sun god, none of these creatures had attempted to escape.
00:56:51He dropped the girl on the pew, as he needed both hands to remove the bench he had wedged into
00:56:57the doorway.
00:56:58Landwin tossed the bench to the ground and picked Liliana up from the seat.
00:57:02As he looked up from the ground, he could see flames consuming the room.
00:57:07Drapes, carpets, and support timbers were a molten inferno in the preaching hall.
00:57:13He was in such a daze he hadn't even noticed.
00:57:16Landwin bowed his head and uttered one last goodbye to this horrible place.
00:57:20He had once enjoyed coming here with his parents on Sunday.
00:57:24They were so faithful back then.
00:57:27Just like he had been.
00:57:28Now this place brought him only pain.
00:57:31It had first taken his mother from him, and its final toll would be a spirit.
00:57:37Landwin pushed through the door into the empty street.
00:57:40Fresh air greeted his lungs as he made his way to the castle.
00:57:44The church burned with a furious glow behind him.
00:57:47A funeral pyre appropriate for all the souls it contained.
00:57:52The moon had fallen in the sky, and it would be morning soon.
00:57:55Landwin made his way to the castle in a haze.
00:57:59He couldn't recall anything he had passed by the time he had reached the top step, but
00:58:03he would not stop until he saw the king.
00:58:06The guards tried to stop him until they recognized him, and more importantly, the girl on his shoulder.
00:58:13Jor escorted him to the king's sitting room.
00:58:16While Ban went for the healer, Landwin walked into the sitting room and laid Liliana on the table.
00:58:22The king had not been asleep despite the late hour.
00:58:26I wish to speak to you privately, Landwin said.
00:58:30You may go.
00:58:31The king said to his guard.
00:58:33I do not think that wise, your majesty.
00:58:37The healer said, making his way to Liliana's side.
00:58:41You know as well as I that will not kill her.
00:58:44Landwin said to the king so quietly, no one else could hear.
00:58:49Leave us.
00:58:50The king commanded.
00:58:51The room cleared without another word.
00:58:55Why did you not tell me what she was?
00:58:57Landwin growled.
00:58:58I don't know what you are talking about.
00:59:00The king replied.
00:59:02Don't lie to me.
00:59:03You can lie to yourself all you want, but utter one more falsehood in my presence, and I will
00:59:07separate your head from your neck.
00:59:09You weren't protecting her from abduction.
00:59:11You were hiding her unholy manifestation.
00:59:14You never once feared your guard because you knew Liliana escaped on her own.
00:59:18You knew she was a witch, and you kept it from me.
00:59:21You endangered the entire kingdom because of your foolishness.
00:59:24Landwin screamed.
00:59:25I know your history, peace knight.
00:59:28I know about the woman you claimed as a witch, the one you claimed had killed your mother
00:59:33despite her innocence.
00:59:34Your rage blinded your judgment and nearly cost the woman her life.
00:59:38So do not question me as to why I kept it from you.
00:59:41Liliana would not be here if you did.
00:59:44The king said incuriously.
00:59:46Did you know your wife was a witch?
00:59:48Landwin said, fighting down his anger.
00:59:51The king looked at Landwin shocked.
00:59:54How dare you disgrace my wife's memory.
00:59:58You will not speak of her again if you value your life.
01:00:01The king warned.
01:00:03Witches are not born, your majesty.
01:00:05They are made.
01:00:06Landwin corrected.
01:00:08The king stared at Landwin in a stupor.
01:00:10Your wife gave her life to awaken Liliana's power.
01:00:14It is a sadistic ritual held by their kind.
01:00:17To pass their power from mother to daughter is their unholy aspiration.
01:00:21And a witch with royal blood.
01:00:23Well, I can see why your wife gave her life so soon.
01:00:27The longer Liliana has her powers, the greater they will become.
01:00:31That coupled with your blood in her veins will make her the most powerful witch the world
01:00:35has ever seen.
01:00:36If you saw what she did in that church, you would not argue against me.
01:00:40Landwin asserted.
01:00:41The king fell back in his chair.
01:00:44And buried his face in his hands.
01:00:46She is my daughter, Serath.
01:00:48My baby girl.
01:00:49My only child.
01:00:50And my only remaining family.
01:00:52What am I supposed to do?
01:00:53The king cried.
01:00:55She cannot live, your majesty.
01:00:57I brought her back only as a mercy to you.
01:01:00So she will be taken from this life by someone who loves her.
01:01:03Pray that the sun god accepts her wicked soul.
01:01:07Landwin said solemnly.
01:01:09The king looked up from his hands with tears in his eyes.
01:01:12Landwin removed his side knife and pushed it into the king's hand.
01:01:16Show her the only mercy this cruel world has left to give her.
01:01:20Landwin instructed the king.
01:01:22He turned away and left the monarch.
01:01:25Tears staining his fine clothing.
01:01:28As he departed from the castle, the sun was starting to rise.
01:01:32It had been a long night and he needed rest.
01:01:35He was a grisly sight as he made his way to his home.
01:01:39And what few people were on the street moved away from him in a hurry.
01:01:42As he made it to his home and began stripping off his armor and leathers,
01:01:47he thought about the king.
01:01:48He didn't know if he would do what he needed to do.
01:01:52Landwin knew it was a brutal thing to ask a man.
01:01:54To take the life of their child.
01:01:56He only hoped that the king would see it for what it was.
01:02:00The last mercy for a cursed soul.
01:02:03I want to thank Enzo the storyteller who played Sir Sinhill.
01:02:08Narrative Strokes and Zoey Jaws who played Illyana.
01:02:13And Levi James who voiced the king.
01:02:17I've put their links in the description so you can watch their content.
01:02:21Or hire them to help make your own.
01:02:24I also want to thank Mew and H1D for the music that was used in this video.
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