Choosing the Correct Path

"Oh, father! You came back," Lagertha said. Of course, Julius was always glad to see his daughter welcome him back home after last night.

He did not have Stonethorn with him because he left him to find more like him to follow under his command. Julius lays his sword in front of a wall and puts his cloak onto a chair as Lagertha watches him.

"Lagertha, is your mother still in bed?" Julius asked.

"She is. She's just had a long night," Lagertha answered. It was not valid because her mother went to bed about the same hour as she did before she left the house.

Either that or she had another dream, which made her stay awake for a few hours before going back to sleep.

"Oh, alright. Let's not bother her this morning. Have you had breakfast before I arrived?" Julius asked.

"I have. I made it all by myself," Lagertha answered.

"Oh, great. Of course, there's nothing wrong with doing such a thing when I'm not around. You sure know how to take care of yourself," he said.

"I've been doing it for quite a long time. I have never felt bad about it."

"Well, I think I'll just be here until I'm needed again. You can do whatever you want until the afternoon comes."

Then Julius grabs a bottle of wine and pours some in a cup as Lagertha goes back into her room. She thought she might ask him some things before he gets some sleep, but she would only waste his time. Julius drinks the wine and looks outside of the window, and he thinks about what else to do besides trying to hide from Midland's guards. He had some illusions flash into his mind as he tasted the wine; the drink tasted much different from what he is used to. He often drinks wine and ale to calm himself and pretend like it is a new day for him.

Then, he sat down on his couch and closed his eyes for a long while before he could go to his room and lie down. Something unusual was inside that bottle of wine he was just drinking from, and he realized the flavor did not taste the same. He then opened his eyes and felt like he was in another world; he felt like he jumped into another dimension. Julius walks around the house to see if he can make any sense of the things that are happening. It became apparent that he was in limbo and had all kinds of problems on how to get himself out of it.

"What is happening to me? What's going on here?" Julius asked.

"It must be from how much power we have used to dominate the demon king. It's often really intense around the first time you use the dark magic upon your foes. In other times, it will not be that much of a deal," Mephiles said.

"Your reasons. They don't bring me answers, just more questions!"

"These are not mere reasons, Julius! These are reasons enough to make you listen to me and allow me to convince you that the side effects of your powers will go awry. They are controlling everything about your mind and soul. Before you even know it, the power you hold shall make you feel much stronger than usual. You must listen to me. The more corpses you pile up, the easier your pathway."

"What you are saying is insane and impossible. I do not seek to destroy my people. I do not wish to bring them death and torment. I believe I have already told you this."

"And I have told you you will have no choice. Some things you do will make you act against your own will. It will also blind most of the wisdom you have as a human."

Mephiles talked to Julius to need him to be more severe and vigilant about everything. He also speaks to his master as a friend who was ready to give out advice that a particular person would want to receive.

"Once again, you know nothing. I will not fall and accept such a fate as I watch you take away my humanity. I will lead this person and make all living flesh know their true savior," Julius said.

"I have told you countless times that you must go up to your brother and meet him as a man would meet another. In a time of hatred and fear, only you must face them. Only you must make him feel like a guest instead of making him feel like a stranger," Mephiles said.

"Screw it. Let's just go outside and see what's all the ruckus. Surely, I'm not the one making all the noises."

And so, Julius walked towards the front door and had the house key in his pocket in case he locks himself out. While he was in limbo, a much stronger wind was blowing in his direction, which kept him from walking straight. He closed the door and saw a thousand dead bodies all over his front yard and a few miles ahead. He noticed they had died grisly deaths by swords, spears, and being ripped apart by demon claws. Julius looked down and saw so much blood being stained on his legs and saw the corpses lead him somewhere.

Julius tries not to look down at his boots and see more bodies of people he does not know. He would look nowhere else except north because he would just see more lifeless bodies on the ground. Julius looks up and sees nothing but black clouds gather around him and cover the sun. Even looking at the sky gave way to instant death by anyone who comes in contact with it.

"What's going on here? What madness is this?" Julius asked.

"This... is only the beginning. A beginning that only you will bring," a dark voice answered. It was not Mephiles who was talking to him, but it sure sounded a lot like him.

Julius looks around him to find the voice, and he continues walking north to see who this person is. He finds himself in the forest, but he sees nothing but trees falling and limbs falling off the trees. All he saw was nothing but death and fear everywhere he goes; he still could not figure out how this is happening. Then, he falls to his knees and covers his head to make everything go away, but it would not so easily do as he says. Julius breathes heavily and becomes very thirsty after feeling the dark wind blow in front of him.

Then, his forehead was lying on the ground, and he was now covering the back of his head and kneeling. He did not want to have a part in any of this madness happening before his eyes. Even if he wanted to fulfill his destiny, he still wanted to be with his family and stay with them for a while longer. A few seconds later, a mysterious figure walks towards him to speak with him about the destiny he desires to fulfill. The man was none other than Brynjar of Anduin, who stood in front of him; he was all by himself again and had nobody to help him.

"Open your eyes, Julius of Romania. It's time to witness the path laid before you," Brynjar said. Julius opened his eyes and looked up to the man's face and saw that he was ready for something new to happen.

"Who are you? What am I doing here? What's going on?" Julius asked.

"You and I have been pushed beyond the point of no return. Shunned out by those we have so desperately wanted to become a part of. I am here to make you successful on whatever you wish to do," Brynjar said.

"Go away. I have nothing to say to you nor your clan. I want nothing to do with your petty games."

"I have no clan—just friends and followers who are with me. My time is coming. When I die, I will be forgotten. I know all things, Julius. Such is my curse that I must live with. My curse... the ability to know the fates of those who walk this dark path."

"No. I know who you are. You came to my wife... my daughter. Away with you, deceiver. You will pay for misdirecting the minds of my family! Your service is unwelcome in my house!"

Julius watched the man from the shadows and witnessed Brynjar's other men walking inside his home from a faraway distance. He needed the truth of everything that Brynjar has in his mind, and he will not rest until the mysterious man has told him everything he needs to know.