They enter the city of Frosthelm, cold being the least of their concerns but it still persistently poses a threat to them. In this city many things are happening especially this late at night, vendors still selling their merchandise, people having drinks and food in taverns, men at brothels, really just everything. It seems like a decent place. But in the shadows the Nemesis lurks and waits for it's time. Deep in the night they strike, robbing, killing, anything you can imagine from a criminal organization. They hold power, too much infact. In the midst of all this Albion and Ciaran rent rooms at an Inn. They both go to bed for the night but Albion decides to take a bit of a stroll and maybe do some research very late in the night. He knows what he came here for and he is impatient. Around town he walks around subtlety asking about Nemesis trying not to get on their hit-list. He eventually decides to go back but takes a shortcut through a dim alleyway. They decide to strike. A woman in dark clothes comes from above trying to ambush and assassinate Albion but he parries her dagger with his sword. The woman speaks catching her breath, "What a catch I have here, a young man who can wield a sword? Your my type..."
Albion smirks, "Sorry to disappoint ma'am but I'm a bit too young for you, I'm 17, and plus I'm not here for romance."
The woman smiles, "hmph, your right. I should just focus on my task. And kill you..."
Albion stares blankly before quickly getting to her, in a blink of an eye he's holding the tip of his sword up to her chin, "surrender or I'll have to kill you, just answer my question truthfully and I'll let you be on your way."
The woman rolls her eyes, "you know I can't do that-"
Albion starts gently pushing the blade on her chin drawing a little bit of blood before she talks, "Wait! Fine... I'll tell you, what is it you wanna know?"
Albion draws back slightly but still holding the blade at her, "I wanna know if Nemesis had anything to do with the murder of King Aurelius Dawnspire."
The woman chuckles a bit, "oh, that? No we didn't have anything to do with it but there's been rumors about that going around that the guy who did it was apart of another criminal organization that is partnered with Nemesis. His codename is 'The Blade Before Dusk' because he strikes at very early morning but before dusk."
Albion ponders for a bit, "Alright, thank for the info, I'll let you go now, but try anything on me again and I won't hesitate to kill you."
He let's her go and she quickly moves on. He safely returns to Inn and sleeps. Early in the morning he and Ciaran wake up to noises of lots of people outside the Inn, in the street. Albion goes outside and hears a man speaking to the gathered crowd, "If you haven't already heard the news, last night, our king, King Ulric Frosthelm was killed in cold blood, his body torn apart with no evidence of who did it, and it was barely even evident that it was the king himself."
Albion heard the man's words and thinks back knowing for sure that, "My father's killer is here in Frosthelm, right now."
Ciaran finally shows up behind him after going to the bathroom, "damn I had to shit, what did I miss?"
Albion speaks coldly, "He's here, I know it. The man who killed my father he is here in this city right now."
Ciaran nods, "He very well could be, but he also could've just left after killing King Ulric."
Albion's eyes widen for a second but he stops after a moment moving along, "You're right, he definitely could be, I'll just stay calm and take my time to search for him so I can get my revenge thoroughly."
Ciaran smiles, "You'll find the killer I just know it."
They both walk off and decide to get some food, also searching for evidence on the killer on the way. Later in the afternoon they go to a tavern, letting Albion in without knowing his age. Inside a man decides to come and sit next to Albion, "What is it you're looking for info on, I know most stuff that goes on in this town and really just in a lot of the underground crime world from lots of intel, I saw you two gathering Intel so I decided I wanted to help y'all out, so... What is it your looking for?"
Albion plays it cool, "Info on the man who killed the king, you see, that man also killed my father, I'm sure of it. And I also just have a very good feeling he's still here in this city."
The man gets a serious face, "You're getting into very dangerous territory. That man is The Blade Before Dusk. He isn't just someone you can go and kill, he leaves no evidence of where he's at or who he is even to people he works with. The only thing that makes him stand out is his method of killing and the time he kills. Sorry, but I got no info for you, except actually... I may have one thing. There is supposedly a very big meeting for leaders in the criminal underworld he could definitely be there, I heard it's gonna take place in an Abandoned church nearby it's just in the south east side of the city, and you'll know when you see it."
Albion nods, "I'll be careful, and thanks for the info."
The man replies, "No problem, and yeah, be safe."
At about 9 pm he gets up about to leave for the church him and Ciaran in the room, "Ciaran, come with me to this church, I need your help. Who knows what will happen there with all those crime leaders and the killer. I just need you to have my back, please."
Ciaran smiles and nods, "Of course, that's why I'm here on this journey with you, I'll always have your back."
Albion smiles back, "Thank you, Ciaran, now let's go, we should be early and we'll find a spot to sit and spy on them and then strike when we are ready to alright?"
They both leave and head for the church. The man was right, the church was fairly obvious and easy to find and they find a spot where they can spy and eavesdrop on their conversation and not be caught very easily from inside or outside. They sit and wait for a time to strike, eventually lots of men come in and one man stands on the podium ready to begin the meeting, Albion though, doesn't wait a second and breaks through and points his sword at the man, "You. Do you know where The Blade Before Dusk is?"
The man smirks, "looks like we have a child whining about The Blade, huh? To answer your question though, he isn't here. Although I've never seen his face so if he was I wouldn't have the slightest idea if it were to be him. Does that suffice?"
Albion nods still with a serious face, "Alright, thanks for the info... But, what's this meeting here for?"
The leader smirk, "glad you asked, since the king was killed we decided that we would kill the prince since he's only 15 years old, he doesn't stand a chance, and I'll take the throne for myself, don't forget the Princess, I'll happily force mysel-"
Ciaran comes from behind him instantly beheading him. Ciaran quickly runs in killing the rest, Albion following his lead, until all that's left is their corpses and blood. Ciaran stands up, "Thanks for the distraction, it was easier to kill them, thanks to you."
Albion looks at him with a serious and straight face, "I gotta question, Ciaran, about something you said..."
Ciaran looks at him in a playful way, "What is it?"
Albion still remains straight faced, "How did you know the king had died if you were still inside when the man announced it, in fact you were asking what it was about before you said it, and I hadn't even gotten far enough into talking to tell you."
Ciaran widens his eyes, "Damn..."
He looks down ashamedly, "Well there's no use in hiding it now I guess. I'm The Blade Before Dusk, at least, that's what they call me."
Albion looks at him with anger before drawing his sword trying to cut him down, but Ciaran blocks the attack quickly shoving him away. Ciaran pleads, "Look Albion, I don't want to fight you. If I wanted to kill you I would've done so already. Just hear me out..."
Albion looks at him still very angry, "And why should I? My father probably pleaded for his life until you murdered him! I don't give a damn that you saved me, that doesn't change the fact that you kill him! Not to mention another boys father."
Ciaran get's angry too, "Damn it! Just listen."
Albion stop but still on guard and angry, "Fine. I'll hear your story I don't give a damn, afterwords I'm killing you."
Ciaran takes a deep breath, "Fair. Alright, Albion, first I just want you to know that I still love you as family or else I wouldn't be here with you today. I've done terrible things, even I can tell that... But that doesn't change what they did to ME! Your father, Albion, was the same man I told you about back when we first met, your father was the one who captured me Violet, and Evelyn. He forced Evelyn to marry him eventually leading to her death, and he killed the love of my life damn It! And Frosthelm, this very place was once Lionhart, my kingdom. That king, King Ulric Frosthelm, was the very same man who had captured Violet in the first place. They deserved to be punished. That same revenge you sought, was the exact same way I felt about them. I didn't hold it against you that you were his child even if you were likely born by force... So I had to save you despite my wrong doings. I don't expect you to understand, and I don't expect me to get out of this without atoning for my sins. So Albion I have one last request."
Ciaran takes a deep breath, "Kill me."
Albion despite the anger in his heart begins to cry, but despite his tears, he unsheathes his sword and quickly shoved his blade into Ciaran's, heart, and he let's him. Ciaran's body falls to the ground one final sentence leaving his lips, "Thank you, Albion..."
The final candle lighting the church up goes out, Albion dropping to his knees. Emptiness. He feels so much anger, yet so much sadness. His complex emotions overwhelm him, so much so, that he doesn't even know what to do, anymore...