Bloodhounds

5 years ago

After using the potions, Estefan had finally gained the strength necessary to survive in this brutal world. But his body couldn't yet properly handle the newfound powers he had so he needed to shape his body and cultivate his abilities.

Every day, he trained deep in the estate forest. The guards rarely entered and the only interruptions were the cleaners, who came once a week and stayed for only a few hours. Once they left, the place was his again allowing him to train with freedom without anyone finding out about it.

The forest became his personal training field. He sprinted across miles of uneven terrain, treating every tree and rock as an obstacle to conquer. One day, during his usual routine, Estefan stumbled upon the estate's outer wall.

It stood ten feet tall which was intimidating to most, but to him, it was another challenge.

At fifteen, he made it a goal to scale it daily. After days of repeated attempts, he finally succeeded, climbing over and seeing the wild forests that stretched far beyond.

Most of the lands were privately owned by rich merchants or even other nobles who were buying lands since no matter what happened they all knew the lands of Angeras would never fall to anyone so it was like a safe space where one could easily run off to.

Since the gates were far away and patrols nonexistent, Estefan felt safe enough to roam freely. His walks stretched for kilometers. The strolls turned into endurance tests, and eventually, daily routines.

On his route, there was a village he often saw from a distance. He never entered but used it as a landmark to avoid getting lost.

Until one day while he was returning from his usual trek, he saw smoke rising above the treetops, directly over the village. He ran the moment he saw with his heart pounding.

What he saw stopped him in his tracks. The village was engulfed in flames. "It's not my problem… My presence would only make it worse." That's what he told himself as he turned to leave, but something made him stop.

The crest was an unmistakable symbol of Angeras. Knights clad in silver and crimson, wielding blades soaked in blood, marched through the burning homes. He saw them slaughter villagers, set buildings ablaze, and drag women, regardless of age, into the fire-lit darkness.

Estefan wanted to charge in. Wanted to kill them. But he clutched his chest, heart racing as he was scared. Afraid of death. Afraid of what would happen if he tried, after all he was a child, a broken child.

So he stood there. Silent. Powerless. Watching them commit horrors for hours.

Once the knights left, Estefan entered the village. Everywhere he looked were corpses. Burnt bodies, beheaded corpses, some were in violated and defiled forms. His stomach twisted. Tears welled in his eyes.

But he held it in. "Adapt to this. Feel it. Breathe it. Because this is what my enemies must become."

A sound broke his focus, a faint thud. He was scared the moment he heard because what could move in such a hellscape.

Behind one of the charred houses, a group of children lay in the soot, coughing and clawing the ground, half-dead with their wrists slashed open and achilles tendon cut.

Among them was an old man as Estefan ran to him because the man was trying to speak, he wanted to know what caused all this to happen.

The man's wrists were slit, his Achilles tendons severed. Blood pooled around him. His eyes had been ripped out, skull fractured from brutal force.

The old man grabbed Estefan's shirt in panic, blood seeping from the empty sockets like tears. "The Duke... betrayed us..." he croaked.

"Why?" Estefan asked, kneeling beside him.

The man tried to speak, but the words barely made sense. "My... Master... Grandmaster Ulf... promised... protect... young... master… Estef—"

The name was cut off but after hearing that Estefan's eyes widened.

He knew that name, Grandmaster Ulf. A legendary Angeras swordsman, once Grandmaster of the knights. Ulf had been his godfather, appointed by Estefan's grandfather and mother. But after Estefan's birth, the Duke had Ulf executed and replaced by Mason, purging all loyal to the old regime loyal to his Grandfather.

"So… you promised Grandmaster Ulf to protect me?" Estefan whispered.

The old man paused, then broke into agonized sobs. "I failed you…"

"No." Estefan said, holding his trembling head. "I failed you... and your master. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for you."

His tears fell onto the man's face, tears of sorrow, guilt, and burning hatred.

As one drop slid into the man's cracked lips, the air around them twisted. A strange darkness resonated with his hatred wrapped around his body while a light which resonated with his sorrow and guilt shimmered within.

Estefan was thrown back.

The old man rose, enveloped in shadowy smoke. His eyes glowed crimson, like Estefan's. His broken body was now wrapped in a cloak of black mist.

"My name is Periyan. I was Grandmaster Ulf's right hand. I vowed to protect the young master… and now, I shall fulfill that promise." He knelt.

Estefan stood stunned, but he realised that this was a chance. He didn't know how this happened or why but he knew that he could use this as he turned his head to those suffering children, "I see potential." He said, glancing at the children.

"They have no future like this. Can I save them like I did you?" Estefan asked, since Periyan was after all an elder to those children.

Periyan nodded solemnly. "This village was created to protect you. Their parents were soldiers, loyalists who took a vow to guard you once you were off age. Let their children inherit that vow."

Estefan stepped toward them and knelt. "I give you a second chance. From now on, serve me as my bloodhounds. We will have our revenge. Together."

In a single day, Estefan gained a personal army of five hundred hounds who may well be his spear and shield while also being his eyes.

Later, he asked Periyan, "Do you not want to ask how I did it?"

Periyan smiled. "Your mother was a Magister once. It's only natural you'd show the same gift."

Estefan blinked. "You knew my mother?"

"Yes." Periyan said. "But it's best if you ask Benjamin about her."

Estefan frowned. "Why would the old administrator, loyal to my father, know anything about my mother, whom my father hated?"

Periyan's expression darkened. "Because he was the one who brought her here. To the Duchy. To your father."

Estefan froze when he heard that, he was confused with many questions appearing in his already broken mind. But it was clear to him, his mother's death is definitely tied to his father.

[To be Continued]