“Is he dead?”

  Hans stepped forward staring at Trein while his eyes looked around.

  “No. He is very much alive. If he wasn’t then a portal would’ve swallowed him whole. It is something all planar beasts share in common. He is merely unconscious. Did you want to kill him?”

  Alceran turned around and walked to the throne of bones. His fingers brushed past the frozen skin and bones that covered it. He breathed in the stale air and looked at Mumbo and then turned his head to Yew. Then he sat in it.

  “No, I didn't want to kill him. It serves me no purpose as long as you all know your place. I am in charge. I’m not a human. I am a monster. Is that clear? Yew? Mumbo? Hans? Is all of that clear?”

  He waited for a response. Hans was the first to float over. He lowered himself to the ground and closed his eyes.

  “I’ll accept the role for now. You seem interesting.”

  Mumbo stumbled over in front next. He was dripping blood from his mouth and kneeled over as the metal on his body creaked.

  “The strong always have the best ideas.”

  Yew stayed in the tree. His hand was ready to reach for this knife’s seemingly debating on the best course of action. Alceran turned his head and his hands glowed purple. Before he could channel a spell, Yew jumped and landed in front of Alceran. Then lowered one knee to the ground.

  “I got my suit dirty doing this. If you do something stupid. I will kill you Alceran and drain your blood.”

  Having all of his subordinates bow to him Alceran broke into a wide evil grin. He laid back and closed his eyes, content thinking to himself. It was disturbed by groans from Trein. He opened them and watched the devil.

  “You lost Trein. I am the new leader.”

  Trein reached for his sword and got up ready to lunge at the mage.

  “I won’t take orders from a human!”

  Alceran flicked his hand and a small bolt of fire came out that fell onto the ground. Once it did the fire combusted into a pillar that kept Trein back. He glared at Alceran now as he listened, still ready to attack.

  “Listen before you do something stupid. You all want to get stronger and make mortals pay. For what I don’t care. Just know there are four of you and countless enemies out there.”

  Trein stabbed his sword into the ground.

  “You are comfortable with allies that want to kill you?”

  Alceran didn’t even take a second to think.

  “I’m comfortable working with people who further my goals. You’ll get stronger faster when you're motivated. If it’s my dead body that motivates you then earn it. Until then we have much work to do.”

  Trein looked to his ally’s then back to Alceran. He let out a low annoyed noise and turned around walking to a house.

  “Very well then. When I get stronger though I will come after you.”

  “Good, now Hans. Tell me more about this Calwen region. Is there anything else I should know?”

  Mumbo and Yew stood up slowly and went back to their own spots in the destroyed village. Hans though stayed in place he glowed black energy and turned into his human form. He grabbed his staff and walked over while.

  “There’s not much we tell Alceran that hasn’t been told already. Mortals of this region use fire magic. Adventurers are dangerous. If you want more information then you need to go to one of their settlements. I tried infiltrating but my human form isn’t very good. You will be better for it.”

  Alceran thought to himself briefly before getting up. His feet crunched against the ground while the moonlight covered his face

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  “Very well. Where is this village then? Guide me to it. Yew, be my guide. Everyone do whatever here I care not what happens until I return.”

  Yew floated over and started walking into the darkness. Alceran followed as the air got more fresh and the village faded out. Both of them stayed silent. Alceran though felt more excited each footstep was a step closer to enemy territory and new secrets ready to be found.

  “I want to see where I stand in this strange world. Vampire I’m curious. How are the mortals in this world?”

  Yew without turning his head spoke.

  “They are weak. The red soldiers have to rely on their numbers and equipment to fight us as we are. They have armor, weapons, and fire yet it’s their numbers that trouble us. Even adventures are fragile, I’ve never had a mortal beat me in a one on one combat in this region. Mortals and monsters get stronger from killing each other. Yet monsters are always naturally stronger.”

  Alceran walked faster now catching up to the vampire.

  “I see. This place has some fascinating rules then. I’m curious how you all failed and let the mortals develop. It doesn't make much sense.”

  Yew stopped in his tracks suddenly, almost having Alceran bump into him. His fist closed and even his nails seemed to scrape against his skin.

  “Our leaders had a fondness for the mortals and there was a truce. Now due to some differences we invade and try to bring down the mortals.”

  He resumed walking.

  “Which domain do you represent? Vokar? Or perhaps you are a Kovinar?”

  Alceran shrugged his head.

  “Who knows? I have no memory of the past, not that it matters. My goals are my goals. Mortals, beasts, gods. Everyone will die. I’m the only thing that truly matters.”

  The two went silent. There was still tension between them and their uneasy alliance so far barely held together. One a power hungry human and the other a skeptical vampire. Walking through the forest Yew stopped and took a few steps back. The wind howled and flickering lights could be seen in the distance.

  “The city is close. Any further and I will be seen with you. That would make your goals more difficult. I’ll be heading back. Hope you find what you are looking for. Don’t die so easily.”

  Yew leaped back and hid into the darkness. Before Alceran could say anything he turned his back and Yew was already gone.

  “Fine then. I’ll continue forward.”

  He started walking towards the village. Heavy big mountains hugged its sides making it seem like a mini fortress. It appeared to have stone steps that lead up with various buildings to the left and right of platforms of the stairs. There were metal rods that flowed all around the village in uneven random patterns they were giving off heat that seemed to warm the surrounding area.

  While red robed soldiers patrolled the outside of it. Each one had fire that glowed on the edge of their maces that illuminated surrounding areas. Their robes had an insignia of two hands cupping fire. Some also had some hounds on leashes that loyally stood still. Alceran approached, he replaced his grin with a frown and walked forward to the underpass that laid in front of the village. The hounds growled and barked at the mage as the zealots approached. One of them stepped forward. Under his hood he had a serious look while others backed up behind him kneeling down in a line. Alceran stayed silent and slowly raised his hands and stared down the line of men.

  “Halt stay where you are.”

  He looked back to the soldiers behind him.

  “Go check him out!”

  With a firm salute the soldier got up and walked to Alceran walking around him checking. Aggressively pushing and moving his hands around his armor. He eyed the wound on Alceran’s back and the fresh blood. Alceran chuckled to himself which masked the anger he felt as he was being man handled. The soldier walked back to his comrades.

  “He doesn't seem to be a beast in disguise Sir nor is he undead. But he has a wound on his back that seems fresh.”

  The zealot walked forward as cold sweat formed over his brows when he saw the mage's unusual confidence.

  “State your business. What brings you to Ashfall at this time of night. And how did you get that injury?”

  Alceran slowly lowered his hands but the soldier spoke back up.

  “I didn’t say lower your hands! Keep them raised or burn.”

  As he spoke fire glowed from his hands then each soldier kneeling also started channeling the same flames. Alceran laughed to himself and raised them back up.

  “I am Alceran. I find myself lost, I am a traveler. I was wandering through the forest when I was attacked by a devil. A pesky thing it was but I stand and he doesn't. I have a theory that there are more monsters in the woods but I didn’t want to stay and find out. I request a place to rest until I am forced to go back out there, until then my fire can help defend the village.”

  Alceran glowed purple and fire spawned in both hands. The soldier thought for a second and moved out of the he shook his head to his group and they got out of the way forming a path.

  “We need all the Emberborn we need. Welcome to Ashfall, Alceran. We don’t have any spare rooms. This is a thriving village but feel free to stay at the tavern for a bit. Don’t cause any trouble, we all have our eyes on you. BACK TO YOUR STATIONS.”

  As the command was uttered the soldiers got up and went back to their patrols. Leaving Alceran to wander in. The moment he walked into the air went from blistering cold to comfortable warm like an invisible sun was bathing him. He looked up at the rods.

  “They use heated metal to fight the cold. What an interesting concept. They aren't stupid at least.”

  He looked around to see the lower areas of the village were lower quality and falling apart compared to the upper level which had more fresh wood. In the middle was a massive greenhouse. Where the rods all seemed to lead to. Then above a massive building which oversaw the whole village, at least four stories tall and with perches. Each perch had its own soldier looking down into the village like it was a massive set of eyes.

  Alceran though walked to a building nearby where he heard some light music nearby and some happy chatter. Opening the door he was immediately hit by the odor of ale and smoke. Inside there was a woman playing a lute smiling at the crowd while she hummed. Then various men and women drinking and talking to each other at the bar. What caught Alceran’s eyes was the burn marks that showed on everyone’s left cheek. Some stared as the mage walked over to and sat in a nearby stool.

  “What will you have Emberborn?”

  A bartender approached handing him an empty mug and staring at the table while speaking to Alceran in a timid tone.

  “We have some nice ale that’ll warm you up or if you need some water. Ummm yeah.”

  Alceran looked at the bartender with a stern look before now watching over the crowd. This made the man more annoyed.

  “You can’t even bother looking me in the eyes?”

  Alceran finally locked eyes with him giving him a death stare that made the bartender back off a few paces.

  “Give me some water. Your ale is probably as weak as you are. Least you know your place already.”

  After being poured some water another man sat next to him.

  “Hello, you're a sight for sore eyes eh. You are definitely not from around here. I’m Ree, just a fellow Ashborn trying to do well. What can I call

  you my new friend? In fact here, I’ve been saving all week, time to splurge a little. I hit it big in the mines.”

  He puts a handful of copper onto the table and grins.

  “A few cups of your signature. I wanna burn tonight, let the wind feel good for once. For me and my new friend.”