Troubles at hand 3

In a secluded place away from the hamlet, Kain was meditating. For some few days, he had been experiencing the symptoms. Sleep deprivation, huge appetite, splitting headache and mana fluctuations around his core.

Kain calmly meditated in the cave. He lost his sense of time as he went further into his inner self. He could feel his blood coursing through the veins, the twitch of every muscle tissues and tendons, the flow of mana which were fluctuating inside his body.

The mana inside his body had became more condense and were rampaging around his core. Every warrior had a core made of mana in their upper torso. Kain's was underneath his diaphragm. A mana core was the source of a warrior power. The higher the grade of the mana core, the more powerful a warrior can be. A mana core was a storage of mana but not the generator. Mana is generated by the entire body or so it has been theorized.

The mana in his body was fluctuating because the generation of mana was greater than the core could handle. The mana was also more refined and condensed. This phenomenon happens only during two events, either when the mana core is damaged or when a warrior is about to reach the next realm.

Kain's meditation was broken when he sense someone approaching the cave he was in. The person approaching was in a rush, he was panting heavily and running swiftly.

Kain immediately reached for his weapon, his glaive which was by his side.

"Who is it?" Asked Kain.

''Chief, it is me, Teria of the Shadow hands," Said the person,"I have an urgent news."

A short and wiry person came in wearing a black mask and a black outfit. Like the rest of the unit, the man was dress in Black robes with a cuirass and turban.

"So, what's the news?" Said Kain, looking at the man, menacingly,"It better be worth enough to disturb my meditation."

"The Dark Flames had invaded the eastern Moorland."

"Alwen Khyne," Kain said through gritted tongue, standing up straight.

"The patrol had been all killed and two of the villages had already been looted."

"Quickly go down and tell Sky Mask to bring the warrior corps and the Calvary to the creek. Tell them that we are going to cull some vermins."

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The village of Murkwood was in terror. Smokes were rising in the sky and there were screams and cries of pain everywhere. Bloods were everywhere. Corpses of villagers were lying here and there. Everywhere, there was sign of cruelty and killing.

The village had been attacked by thirty mounted bandits out of a sudden. At first, the villagers thought the riders were the new bandit crew that had taken control of the region. The village elders had gathered at the gate to begged them to take mercy on them as they had nothing more to give.

The new bandit crew, strangely enough had not once assaulted them nor taken anything except for some few patrols who will ask for food and water. And also, they had only appeared in small group of ten to fifteen led by only one rider. Seeing the huge rider, the villagers had thought they came for collecting taxes.

However, the result was worse. The bandits were not from the region. They didn't came with good intentions either. Without a word, they began to slaughter everyone, old, young and children without mercy.

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"Please, spare my child," cried a peasant woman, weakly,"She is only ten. I will do anything. Please. I beg you."

She was in terrible shape as she lay on the four limbs while a bandit ravish her from behind in the field.

"Mama, Papa, save me," cried the young child, struggling weakly as one of the bandit threw her over a bundle of hay and ripped open her small dress.

"You bastard, you are disgusting," Said the other bandit, grunting as he came inside the mother.

"Says the one raping a saggy old woman," Said the bandit, unbuckling his pant,"Atleast this one is young and nubile."

"Mama," cried the child as the scary man looms over her, cowering in fear and tears running through her cheeks.

*Thwack*

A stone landed on the back of the bandits head, making a cut.

"You dirty slut," bellowed the bandit, turning around and brandishing his large sword,"I will kill you."

It was the mother. She had been released from the clutches of the bandit who had ravished her.

"Run, Mia, run away," Shout the woman, picking up another stone.

*Thwack*

The bandit behind her had hit her with his fist on her nape, sending her tumbling forward. The woman scream in pain but she didn't fall. Instead, she threw the large rock on the man, who was about to ravish her daughter.

"You," Shout the bandit, blocking the rock with his sword,"I will fucking kill you."

He raised his sword, about to bring it down on the woman.

"Mama."

"Watch out." It was the other bandit who shouted the warning, who was suddenly knock down by a horse.

"Huh," Said the enraged bandit looking to his right. The tip of a blade was all he saw before his head got lopped off his body.

"Kill him," Commanded a tall and strong looking rider wearing a red demonic mask.

*Splat*

A horse neigh and the next moment, its hooves had crack open the head of the bandit who was lying captive underneath it.

"Surfi, See to it that the mother and child are brought to safety," Said Skinjer,"The rest, With me. Ha."

He pull the rein of his horse and rode towards the burning village followed by the rest of his hundred strong riders, leaving only Surfi and another Calvaryman with the the mother and child.

"Who are you?" Asked the mother, who had rushed towards her child, hugging her. In her hand was another rock.

"Relax. We are no mere bandits," Said Surfi in a calming voice,"We are The Steel and Iron Legion and that was our chief, Lord Skinjer."

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