A broken seal

A week or so has passed since the events between myself and Myra, although we remain close there is a certain block I have purposely placed between us. I understand that she loves me but I can't love her, the last time I did, it ended with me going on a 4 year crusade to kill the mage who murdered my pregnant wife.

I can't allow for history to repeat, occasionally I will act romantically with her but that will be the limit, I have explained this to her as well, she took it as well as you can imagine but I have to be clear with her. I created this situation by allowing the 'Kind' me to take over for a while, the 'Demon' is back now, cleaning up my messes like usual.

Moving on to events in the village, it appears that it is time for the Bandits to return for their tribute, this time, however, they will all taste the mesmerising taste of steel. Templar trained steel. When the knights haven't been helping in the fields, I have had them building a rough palisade around the village, this is not to protect the villagers, I have told them to retreat to the castle at the first signs of any trouble, this is tactic to limit the number of horsemen that can get involved in the battle.

To that end, the palisade is built diagonally, like a spear wall, a free and easy way to imitate having strong pikemen on your side, why prepare for horsemen? Well, I have been busy training a few of the village Militia to act as scouts for the village and my forces, with some minor amounts of success. They had reported yesterday that the bandits had received a shipment of horses from some clan, if I had to guess, this was either the Royal family or the Ximen clan.

Who it is doesn't really matter, after all both of them will fall to the Templar order before too long, I'm just happy that I'm about to get a free shipment of horses.

*bang*

"My lord the bandits have appeared on the ridge near the village, the townsfolk have already fallen back into the keep, I have arranged the knights into formation. Are you ready?"

I opened the door, my commander's armour fully equipped, sword and shield on my back ready for the incoming conflict, I smiled at Myra was I tried to walk past, she however had different ideas.

Pulling me to a complete stop, she said a simple

"I love you."

I froze for a second before I said

"Thank you."

This was a normal exchange for the last week anyway, like normal I tried to move past her again this time however, she channelled the strength of her titan and threw me into the wall.

"Say the words."

Was the snarl I got in return.

I shook my head. "That can't happen, Myra, I can't love another, not after what happened to Lucy, I told you that right?"

That was only half of the truth, there was another reason as to why I can't say those words but that would be spoilers I guess.

"You aren't leaving here until you say it, we can rebuild somewhere else, either say that our union was a mistake or tell me lo-. You know what, not even love me, tell me you at least like me. That isn't too hard now is it?"

Tears began to fall out of her eyes rapidly, the only thing I'm weak to, even the 'Demon' was unable to eliminate this weakness of mine. However, I tried to wipe the tears from around her eyes my arm was forced back to the wall.

"Well?"

I froze, my mind running all of the consequences of saying those three words, in truth I had gained a lot of affection for the girl in front of me, it wouldn't be such a hard choice if, I didn't see my dead wife in her eyes every time we looked at one another or the fact it would release a sealed one.

You know what? Fuck it, fuck you and fuck everything, I need to get a grip, Lucy is gone, I will control it, I don't know how but I will.

"I love you."

As the words left my mouth the world froze for a second, blood began to heavily leak from my nose and eyes, pain erupted across my body as it was encompassed in the shadow of a woman. The shadow had long pointy horns, its name was Allure...

As I contemplated what I had just done, a passage from the book of the chantry reappeared in my mind.

'Far more intelligent than the bestial hunger and rage demons, more ambitious than the demons of sloth, these spirits are among the most skilled at tempting mages into possession.

Desire demons use the yearnings of the victims—lust, wealth, power—to their advantage. Their abilities to affect the mind allow them to assume disguises and even alter the environment to their purposes. As a result, many who become their prey never realize it. While desire demons may resort to outright mind control, they seem to take greater pleasure in more subtle deceit.

If overpowered, a desire demon will most likely attempt to bargain its way to freedom. These deals usually end with the demon gaining an upper hand, even when the mage believes otherwise.'

Break.

'Hhahahaa, you did it, you set me free.'

A lovely alluring voice echoed through my mind.

'I told you eventually desire would consume you, you held out for longer than I thought Fallen Knight but you fell to desire in the end. Love consumed you and set me free.'

Pain, overpowering pain shook my body, forcing me to my knees, then I lost it.

The power to see was stripped from me, a pink haze covered my eyes, my skin began to burn, I could hear the muffled screams from Myra echo through the room.

'You freed me Fallen Knight and in return, I will free you, come forward the Fallen Knight of Allure, the conqueror of Demons and Mages.'

*Error, hostile intervention detected, attempting to restart host....*

'Bwahaha, not now fake bride, he is mine.'

*Restart failed, system breached, hostile magic sensed, the host is lost, Adranste will not be pleased, executing Failsafe 001*

I could feel my body slowly start to shut down as my limbs went soft, collapsing onto the cold stone floor, my mind seized and slowly being destroyed.

'Worry not young Knight, I will free you, I swear it.'

As I lay there, memories long-sealed were broken, flooding my mind with new knowledge...

"My love, I'm sorry."

I said as I look down at the chipped and broken grave of the only thing keeping my Humanity in check, Lucy was my one light in this world, I had seen the darkness inside the Mages and the Templars, I had not chosen a side at the start of the conflict.

As I stood there. being pelted by rain and wind, I had a realisation, this was my fault, my lack of action caused this.

My indifference lead a mage to the cold-hearted murder of my wife and my unborn child, my hand subconsciously squeezes the flowers in my hand, breaking a few of the stems before I come back to myself.

"I have found a way to avenge your death but in doing so I will become what I always sought to destroy, I will be trading a part of my soul demonic powers. The Irony isn't lost on me but Anders will burn for what he did to you."

As I awoke, I remembered the version of the chant I lived by, one to remember the failings of the order and the Maker himself.

"As there is but one world,

'There are many, they lied to you.'

One life, one death, there is

But one god, and He is our Maker.

'He is a false God, hidden behind the lies of the Chantry.'

They are sinners, who have given their love

To false gods.

'Ironic'

Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him.

'As do all things, including the Chantry'

Foul and corrupt are they

'Ironic once more'

Who have taken His gift

And turned it against His children.

'Are all beings not the Maker's children?'

They shall be named Maleficar, accursed ones.

They shall find no rest in this world

Or beyond.

'Like me.'

All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands,

From the lowest slaves

To the highest kings.

Those who bring harm

Without provocation to the least of His children

Are hated and accursed by the Maker.

'He must hate himself then.'

Those who bear false witness

And work to deceive others, know this:

There is but one Truth.

'The Maker is a lie.'

All things are known to our Maker

'He knows nothing' (He isn't Jon snow)

And He shall judge their lies.

'Hypocrite'

All things in this world are finite.

'Like the Maker'

What one man gains, another has lost.

'Unless he shares.'

Those who steal from their brothers and sisters

'Like stealing a mage's soul.'

Do harm to their livelihood and to their peace of mind

Our Maker sees this with a heavy heart.

'Yet he does nothing.'

My time in the fade taught me a lot as well as gave me significant strength, now I need to back.

*All in good time, I have hijacked whatever system Andraste was using to control you, it is ours now.*

*New quest Issued: Beat back the Bandit invaders. Rewards: More memories and access to primal Magic...*

*will be edited tomorrow, I can see the spelling/grammar mistakes.