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Chapter 2:Through Twisted Nightmares

It was a cold brisk fall day. I was on my usual patrols through the city ,when I was approached by an old women. “Sir Noctis. Please ,help us.” she said in a concerned voice. “Yes m,lady ,what is it?” I asked ,lifting the visor of my helm to her.

“A group of witches, has kidnapped a girl from a nearby village. I-I don’t know what they plan to do, but. Please ,help us” she pleaded to me. She handed me a bag of coins.

“This is all the village has ,please take it.”

“Yes ,I shall report this to M,lord and make my way out.”

“Thank you .God bless.”

I made my way to the castle, to meet with he Duke himself.

“M,lord!”I said entering the throne room

“Yes Noctis ,what is it?”

“A peasant from a nearby village has implored our assistance. She tells me, a group of witches has kidnapped a girl. We must stop these beasts.”

“Oh yes, I’ve heard about this happening for several weeks now. Is none of out concern. Carry on now” the Duke said with a wave of his hand.

“B-but sir! We can’t sit by and do nothing!”
“Yes ,we can ,and we will .The peasants are not of our concern .The only thing they are good for is tending those dirt pits of theirs.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“Watch you tone boy! Guards .Please escort Sir Noctis out of my room”

I turned around and left with the guards. On my way out of the castle I heard a familiar voice.

“Sometimes, it is better to take things into your own hands.”

I turned to look at who was talking to me, but there was no one there.

Later that day, I snuck into the stables ,and took my favorite steed, and made my way out of the city. The witches were said to be located at a nearby forest. The only forest nearby is one appropriately named ,the forest of Silence.
When I entered the forest ,it was truly like silence. You couldn’t hear a sound, only that of your own breath. Minutes upon hours went by, combing this forest, until darkness fell. Then ,I found it. I saw a small light flickering in the distance.

I snuck up to the light to see two women garbed in dark cloaks and on a large flat stone, laid a young girl. I unsheathed my blade and light a flash of lightning, I charged through, slaying both of the witches. I walked over to the young girl. She was unconscious, so I picked her up an began to make my way out of the forest, when suddenly a pain, like a dagger in my chest, hit me. I fell to my knees when suddenly the girl in my arms vanished. Before me stood a women, garbed in nothing but a few loosely places vines. Her skin was a pale a snow ,her body ,as beautiful as any women as I Have seen before, her hair and eyes as black as coal.
I couldn’t move, no matter what I did. She laughed at me and kneeled down beside me and kisses me, snaking her tongue around mine and withdrew.
“It is an honor to meet you Sir Noctis. You reputation holds true. Dispatching two of my illusions so simply.“

“Who…What, are you?” I asked, barely being able to form a sentence

“Who I am, is o no importance. You will know who I am someday .As for what I am, I am what you same for….A witch”

“Why, why have you been taking girls” I asked

“Oh, I haven’t .That was just a rumor I started” she said with a smile

“But, that old lady. She seemed so sincere”

“Oh ,that was just another illusion my love.”

“Then..why ,what was the purpose of all of this”

“That is simple. To get you here”

“Why ,me? To kill me?”

“Oh no. Let’s say, my Master wants to, test you.”

“Test me? How?”

She laughed and with her hands she began to form a swirling darkness.
She got close to my face and blew the darkness into my face. It quickly swirled around my face, like a cold wind. It entered my body. I felt like a thousand needles were piercing my body, and my heart began to race, until it soon began to slow. Soon ,it stopped ,and the darkness consumed my sight.

“Where am I?”
“Am I dead?”
“Is this what death feels like?”
“No. I can move”

I opened my eyes, to find myself in a forest .This forest was not like anything I have seen before. It was dark ,and twisted. The tree sprung up in gnarled fashion to scratch the sky like claws. I slowly stood up, and looked at myself. My armor, much like this forest, was twisted and deformed. I went to take my helm off ,when something shocked me. It wouldn’t come off. It…has become part of me.

Panic overtook me, and I began to loose control of my emotions, when suddenly I heard a noise. First it seems like from behind me, then from all around me. Out of the shadows I could see glowing eyes of read, until one set of eyes jumped out and attacked me. I held it away from my face, long enough to get a good look at it. It looked like a dog, but with several rows of razor sharp teeth and deep set crimson red eyes. I tossed the abomination off me, and stood up and drew my blade. I was surprised,. My blade ,much like my armor was twisted and dark. Another beast jumped at me, and in one fluid motion, I cut the beast in half.
It’s pieces fell to the ground behind me, and erupted into flames.
This blade ,had a sharpness like no other. There was something else. This blade seemed to drink the blood of the beasts. Ignoring this disturbing fact for now ,I readied myself . Three more beast pounced at me and ,I ducked and swung my sword flawlessly. All of them fell to the ground. That’s all of them. The now dark forest, seemed to be alive ,due to the flaming carcasses.
From behind me I heard…clapping? I turned myself to see an old man in a dark robe. He has a long white beard , and…pointed ears?
I kept my sword ,readied.

“No need to be so cautious boy. I will say ,I’m impressed. Killing a Darkly is no simple task ,and you slew several of them in minutes.”

“Who are you? And what is a Darkly?”

“A Darkly, is what you just killed lad ,and you may call me Vincent.”