A man aged thirty years was lying on his royal bed, wearing golden armor. He was not sleeping; he was just looking at the ceiling. His eyes were filled with tears. The ceiling was high and well crafted, decorated with dragon paintings. Sunlight was coming into his large room through the windows on his left side.
Knock knock knock.
Someone appeared at the door.
"Master, the hero has attacked your mansion. Please, open the door. He and his party killed many of our soldiers. Your big brother and sister are also with them. The princess is also with them, with her royal knights. They killed Commander Simon. Now they are coming to kill you." His butler, Alfred, was calling for his master, Rowan, at dusk in a panic. Alfred was holding a sword covered in blood.
After a while, a voice came from inside. "You really are a loyal bastard, Alfred." Rowan smiled, still lying on the bed. "This is the time to think about yourself, Alfred. Leave this useless lord and save yourself."
Rowan got interrupted by Alfred. "Don't say this master, thinks about your father when he gave you this land to rule. He had already known that you were only capable, among other siblings, of saving this land."
"Don't bullshit with me, Alfred. How can I win against a hero? You already know that he is far more powerful than any being."
"I know, master, but you have…" Alfred stopped because a wounded maid was coming towards him while calling his name. Her left hand was cut down from the elbow, and her clothes were totally covered in blood. She fell on the ground right in front of Alfred, but he caught her. "What happened to you, and you should not be here. It is your duty to protect milady." Alfred was concerned because Rosy was ordered to remain by the duchess's side during the attack.
"Duch…duch…duchess. She was killed by Edric Dusk." She was coughing blood while saying this.
"How can a young lord do this sin?" Alfred was disappointed because Edric was the duchess's favorite among her three children.
Dhad
Suddenly, with a massive sound, the door opened. Rowan was standing there. Alfred turned but was unable to see his face because it was all black because bright light was coming from behind Rowan.
"Master, young lord Edric…"
Rowan moved towards the duchess's room, holding his royal ancestor's sword. This sword was seen in many battles and drank much blood; that's why it was known as 'Crimson Thirst.'
Rowan reached the door of his mother's room. He saw his mother's lifeless body on the ground. His mother's head was sliced and placed on a table.
Edric was sitting there on the sofa in the middle of the room, putting his legs beside his mother's head.
Rowan saw her open eyes, as if crying and begging for mercy.
Rowan was still standing calmly, analyzing the situation. He used his skill 'Detection Thread' to find the hero's location. "(So he is on the opposite side of mansion.)"
"Don't worry Rowan, he is not here. He is still searching for you. But I know when you get news that Mother is dead. You will come here on your own." Edric said he was drinking alcohol in a golden glass while holding a sword in his right hand. He was holding it tightly because he knew Rowan was unpredictable. He looked careless, but he was on his guard.
"You know, then why don't you tell the hero? He is the only one who can kill me." Rowan's eyes turned red; his red dragon was ready to fight him.
"Don't worry, Rowan." Edric stood up and threw the glass of alcohol. He closed his eyes and then opened up. His eyes turned blue. "As you can see, I also got awakened." Edric smiled.
Rowan was laughing at Edric then stopped. "Oh brother, you still are the same as before, following your younger brother's steps, but you forgot one thing: I am master of this land even when I was the youngest among you. And as a lord or master of this land, it is very disrespectful for me to die by the hands of a mere hero's servant."
Edric got furious when he heard that, so he launched himself on Rowan. "It was because of you Rowan."
Khachak
In an instant, everything ended. Rowan was sitting near his mother's corpse while holding her head. He attached her head to her body by using his dragon power. Then he picked her up and put her body on her bed and closed her eyes.
He sat down beside her and held her hand. "Rest, Mother. I know it was hard for you to see Edric like that. I know it was painful for you, but you didn't even try; otherwise, he was nothing in front of your power. I remember when my father told us that he merged with the empire for our citizens. You were the only reason why the empire didn't attack us and instead remained as allies." He smiled. "As we know, happy times always remain short, and we can never be like before."
Rowan stood up and covered her body with a red blanket till her head. Then he walked and stood by her feet. A few feet away. "I'll come soon there mom." Rowan looked up. "Father, look after her until I come."
Rowan took a deep breath with his mouth and then released his dragon fire towards her. It was the final goodbye from his side. For the first time in his life, a tear came out from him, but it melted away by the heat of his breath.
—
Hero Lucian, who was a tall muscular man wearing golden armor with a divine golden sword, reached the door of Rowan's room with his party and Princess Noelle. They saw many blood stains on the blue carpet in front of the gate. Lucian rushed into the room.
Lucian and everyone looked around but found no one else. Suddenly they heard a blast from another side of the mansion. It was the fire breath of Rowan.
Rowan's big sister Lucy knew it's him. "It's Rowan, but why is he in the mother's room?" Lucy's eyes filled with tears. "Is he doing something with Mother? I…I have to stop him." Lucy tried to run towards Rowan, but she fell down.
"No…no… I have to save her from that monster." Lucy tried to stand up, but her ankle got tilted.
Lucian came near her. He assured her that he would save Duchess Selene. He ordered his party mage, Lilia, to stay beside Lucy. After that, Lucian ran towards Rowan.
There Rowan stood still, looking at Edric's corpse, and his sword pierced through Edric's chest to the ground till the handle. He was retracting his sword at that moment Lucian reached there. He saw everything. Edric's corpse and Duchess Selene's body were burnt on her bed.
"(He killed the duchess in her sleep and his big brother, Sir Edric. Sir Edric was just trying to solve things with him, but that monster.)" Lucian's eyes filled with rage and anger.
Lucian attacked Rowan with his sword. Lucian used 'dimensional cut,' but Rowan survived, barely dodging the left side. But the whole wall behind him was banished into thin air.
Rowan instantly stood up and launched his attack on Lucian. He swung his sword up and down to cut Lucian in half, but Lucian easily blocked his attack with his sword. Lucian used his right hand and fired a 'fireball' at Rowan's chest.
Rowan got hit by a fireball and fell back from the mansion through a broken wall into the garden. But he was still unscratched because of the dragon's scales on his body.
Lucian jumped from the third floor on Rowan to pierce him with his divine sword given by the emperor himself. Rowan was ready to block him and burn him down.
But his guard went down because he saw his big sister behind Lucian in his mother's room holding a necklace. She was standing there beside Rosy and Noelle. She was wiping her tears while showing a faint smile. He saw that necklace. Rowan's red eye went normal, and the dragon's scales disappeared.
"Seraphina." Only one word came from his mouth because Lucian pierced his sword through Rowan's neck.
Rowan fell down on his knees, still looking at Lucy. Lucian's divine sword cancelled Rowan's power and blessing.
"I never thought it was this easy to kill a monster like you. I am still finding how a man could die this easily who was never defeated in any battles." Lucian held Rowan's hair tightly and moved his head towards himself. "Let me see what your face looks like on a warrior whose name was enough to back down even an emperor."
Rowan looked into Lucian's eyes and tried to say something but couldn't because his throat was already pierced. So he tried to point his finger towards Lucy. But he fell down and died.
Lucian checked Rowan's breath and Yes, he was dead. Lucian extracted his sword and leave Rowan's body there, alone.
Empire soldiers started celebrating their victory. Lucian was standing in front of Selene's burnt corpse. He was praying for her soul to rest in peace. "I am sorry, milady, I came late. I was unable to save you and Sir Edric. But I promise you I'll keep Lady Lucy safe from now on." Then he picked up Edric's body and went to bury him.
When Lucian was crossing the corridor he saw Alfred's corpse holding Rosy dead body in his arms and sword in his left arm. Lucian didn't stop he left.
To be continued…