In My Fathers Name Part 1

I want to believe that there was always an end to my story. that one day i would be free from the Dystopia parts of my past, but often I was made aware that I would never find that freedom. what better way to be reminded then with the very evils of my past?

The city was as I remembered it, full of life and wilderness, the buildings themselves built in an almost endless sea of stone and wood. The roads chiseled with brick and gravel and the people adorned with short air breathable clothes that spoke more of practicality then fashion. Even the nobles seem to dressed down in fight against the blistering sun that burned the outskirts of the city.

This was not my place I like yet I was back, under the guise of research. I truly believed that was all it would be, I truly believed that I wouldn't be facing the very feelings of fear I once ran from. Unlike last time where Star had accompanied me, I was accompanied this time by Novalynn, my daughter from another star, and Diss the menace of spirits. This cautioned me of my fears and I couldn't help but feel as if I was missing something, as if I had forgotten something important.

The first clue to the dissent was Evenstien's death and Bruyant's lack of response. The once bustling manor was dark and sheet covered, where the maids once took care of me in my mess of flesh and blood, now walked the ghosts of faces that haunted the very wood and stone they once caretook.

"Novalynn, let Diss off his leash and keep close, don't wander" I said, never taking my eyes off the scuttling shadows that habited the manor now.

"Y-you feel that too?" was Novalynn's response as she struggled to get the leash from around the Wolf Spirits vestments. Her eyes betrayed her unease and all i could do to comfort her was step forward, the small Shortsword pulled from its scabbard.

"You remember what I said to do if anything happens, yes?" The girl nodded worriedly in my direction as she too gripped a small dagger that was at her side. I knew she had bare minimum training in the arm, but it was better then nothing.

I creeped further into the manors foyer with my eyes cast about, that first day was reconnaissance as we prowled every room in the search for some essence of life, but found none. If anything else, the manor was consumed in undeath. The very necromantic energy seeped into the veins beneath it.

"It doesn't feel good here, even Diss is scared Mama. I feel icky like something is lingering and waiting." Novalynn stood almost stock still in the center of the large office as I scrounged through the draws and hidey holes. Evenstein would not have just disappeared without knowing something. And the letter had been written in his hand, which worried me more. Someone wanted me here and they wanted me floundering.

"That would be because it is, trust your gut Nova, it'll be your savior in the worst times. Someone wanted me here and they got it, but they didn't expect you two. Whatever it is most likely is waiting to figure it out before making its move."

"Then we should leave, right?" The girl seemed startled at her own volume as she clamped a pale hand over her mouth. Diss seemed to whine in agreeance.

"Novalynn, Diss; no matter what happens you are stronger then you think. You are to face fear straight in the face and roar, you understand?" The nod was all i needed in reply. "There is going to be clues here to what happened, its time we put our detective hats on and get searching. And remember, what ever this is is more scared of us now then you should be of it. Trust you gut and listen to your heart"

If I was being honest, I was sure something deeper was happening here. the Necromantic energy felt familiar and as we left the office for the well dressed dining room even Diss's ears flattened as we were welcomed by darkness and dreary chairs. A feast was set out with half its festivals molded and rotten where they had been left. A set of garbs draped in a pile at the head seat causing me to shiver as I realized that it was almost as if they who wore them simply vanished.

As we creeped our way into the darkness I nearly tripped over the lingering form of Diss who almost hugged my legs in fright. I looked in the direction of the Wolf Cub's gaze and watched as the shadows bent and twist in place. The eeriness molested my spine, but I continued towards the clothes and reached out. They felt too heavy for something that was made of light clothes and I hid the wince as I felt an energy claw at my arm as I lifted them.

As I scrounged through the pockets of the robes I felt Novalynn touch my arm and she nodded towards the wall where the shadows beckoned. Something was there watching us, we all felt it lingering there.

"What ever it is, its not hostile just don't forget about it. I found a note in the pockets, its crumpled." Gripping the parchment I walked the three of us out, the shadow lurking closer and closer, before I shut the doors between us. As I uncrumpled the letter Novalynn and Diss tugged me away from the Dining hall.

He has returned - look for Heart of Balor, destroy it. dont look into its eyes.

The letter hung limply in my hands after I read it and I felt a cold energy graze my mind. "Novalynn I want you to take Diss and run, don't turn around, don't stop. Find Bruyant. He should be at a dig nearby. Whatever you do, DO NOT be afra--"

I tasted the copper before it filled my mouth my hand dropping the letter as the shadow grasped at my heart from within. I stared Novalynn down with as fierce a look as possible. A feeling of relief as the girl's eyes grew wide. She lurched forward the dagger piercing the fiends energy enough for it to draw back from us.

"RUN!" I watched Novalynn drag Diss away the letter clutched in her hands as she looked to me to follow and I turned blade ready back towards the shadow fiend. "You'll come back for me, I know it... I love you but I cannot let this thing linger here and this is not a fight you are ready for."

With a slash of my blade the wall turned solid as a washing of ice placed a barrier between the children and I, the sound of Novalynn's screams and bangs against the wall mixed with Diss' barks pushing me forward as with a swish of my blade towards the lingering shadow. "This is between you and I, Father..."