In ancient times, some say the sky was more blue, the air was more clean, and the sun more bright. Some say that the world we live in today is nothing compared to those days of yesteryear, and continually compare the ages against each other. However, throughout all of history there has been a constant shadow overlying humanity. The shadow that guides us on our way and keeps us in place is the shadow of Fate, allowing no one to interfere with humanity's destiny of servitude to a higher force. Within this fate, all men are inferior to the forces constantly working like a clock behind the wheels of time. However, it seems that at times when the shadow is on the verge of consuming all of existence, there are men who rise from the ashes, able to surpass fate, and utterly obliterate the shadow and create their own path. These men create a time of light out of the shadow, and draw others into their light like fireflies. But, fate cannot be stopped. It can be slowed, hindered, but never stopped. And when the wheels of fate begin to churn faster and faster, it sends out ripples to all who exist. To those who dare go against fate itself, It has no mercy. This is the story of one such man. A man some called a savior and others called him the devil himself. Perhaps he was both in the eyes of man, but a creature so feeble as man can rarely see the truth.

The age was black, and wholly lacking in any invention. It was an age of purest survival, men ruled over women, and took whatever they desired. The world was stuck in a rut of darkness, and evil deeds. There were no permanent established governments in these times, only small settlements and camps. There existed 2 kinds of people: Those who robbed and killed as brigands do, and those who constantly ran to survive a few more days. The face of the world dwelt in a sweltering heat, and the rotten stench of death was sickeningly obvious to all. But the tendril of death always was close to Gaiseric. It crept over him at night, and passed him by as it took those precious to him from their sleep. The smell of death clung to him like no other in that age.

Gaiseric awoke from sleep sweating, running from some awful nightmare that had taken him in the night. He was shocked to see that it was day, safe from his dreamworld. He was a boy of 11 years, with short brown hair that liked to fall in his green eyes. He peeked outside the tent, and saw that it was well past noon, as people were bustling with their buckets above their heads, headed on whatever work the day had prepared for them. There were always chores waiting to be done, and afterwards, forests and fields yet to be explored. Gaiseric rose from his bed and walked outside, grabbing his bucket to fill his lunch with. He headed for the center of the halfway village that consisted of two dozen tents all drawn closely nestled in a circle. It was a strategic placement for a defense against the usual raiding bandits. From this placement of tents no one would be outside earshot of a cry in the night, as you always had a neighbor. The structure of the town varied from location to location, as they were constantly wandering the countryside, escaping invaders. At times it was difficult to find your way around town, even in its small size. Today the water was on the East Side of camp, so Gaiseric had to circle back behind his tent to freshen up. As he filled his pail with water a boy approached him from behind. "Only lazy people get up after chores are supposed to be done.” a squeaky voice said. "Lazy, maybe, but more careful than someone who forgets his necklace in the forest." Gaiseric said, all the while holding a pendant from his hands, his back still to the squeaky voiced male. "My pendant!" cried the boy." I thought it was gone for sure! You say you found this in the forest?" the boy asked. "Yep, under some brushes that you had been in, you must have heard the dinner bell and ran off. I stayed and collected things from the stream." Gaiseric said, in a commanding tone. The boys name was Ivan, he was 2 years younger than Gaiseric, which in children’s terms, meant servant to a 11 year old boy of Gaiseric's stature. "Have you heard about the hills?" asked Ivan. "What about the hills? All we can see from here is the tops of them. We're in a valley." Gaiseric explained. "My da's talkin lots about us getting raided in a few days...He says that they’re gonna surround us. Maybe even tonight!" said Ivan in a hushed, conspiriatic whisper. "Your da is always rambling about violence, didn’t he used to be a raider himself?" Gaiseric asked with a knowing smirk. "Takes one to know one, says my da. I believe him, I've always believed him, your da’s too high and mighty to listen to anyone." Ivan was offended by Gaiseric's remark obviously, and he was going for Gaiseric one weakness, his family. But before Gaiseric could respond, Ivan was off towards the center of camp again, probably back to his father. That was all well with Gaiseric, he didn’t like picking on those smaller than him anyway. Gaiseric headed back toward the center of camp, to the guilds center.

The Guild was where most of the money to live off of came from. It was a group of men, a club that made, sold, and stole weapons. Their influence spread across the entire world; there was no one who didn’t know about 'The Guild' and their harsh business. The metal of this age was brittle, and ugly but strong. Those who were considered excellent craftsman were those who could make swords and spears that didn’t break. Fine art and curves were not something important; it was all about the function. Gaiseric's father was one such craftsman who stood out in the crowd. He was popular among the weapons poachers and buyers, as the pinnacle of craftsmen in that area. Gaiseric was proud of his father’s work, and dreamed of one day forging swords that never broke. For a sword that never broke would always be remembered, and cherished. That’s what Gaiseric's father told him when he was young.

Gaiseric's fathers name was Daris, he was ancient in Gaiseric's eyes, but in reality was only 35. Gaiseric knew little about his fathers past, only that in his youth he was a raider and thief. Daris had told him that that was his life for 20 years, and one day after killing too many people, and seeing far too many other terrible things, he decided that he had had enough, and sought his own path, away from the mindlessness of this age of death. Gaiseric's father Escilla had once mentioned something to Gaiseric about Daris having some sort of dispute with his leader, but Daris always left that out of the story. Escilla and Daris met when Daris returned to his hometown, and found it to be destroyed by other raiders. Daris mourned their loss, but had to move on, at the next town he found an innkeeper’s daughter named Escilla, who had been raped by another raiding bandit, leaving her pregnant. He soon fell in love with the woman, and through time, so did she. A few months later, Gaiseric was born from Escilla. Daris chose to stay in that town, and though Gaiseric was not his blood son, he chose to raise him as his own. Ever since then, 15 years ago, Daris had become an excellent craftsman, working for the Guild. It was there that Gaiseric found his father, day after day, down by the river. The welding area of the Guild was where all the real work in the town took place. It was always inhabited by men with blackened faces and large arms. It smelled of sweat and something awful. Gaiseric only went there to visit his father, while others flocked to watch the sparks fly from the metal.

"Father!" Gaiseric yelled over all the sound. He found his father with his shirt off as usual. The scars on his chest were proof of his experience in welding with metal. "Hey, kid." Daris responded, a broad smile across his face. "Ivan's da says that raiders will be headed our way in the next few days." Gaiseric said almost proudly. Daris paused for a moment with his work, then continued hammering, and without turning said, "Well it wouldn’t be the first time, would it? We've held off our share of battles. And since when do you take anything Ivan's da says to be truth?" "I know da, its just, there hasn’t been any raids, maybe they’ve been holding off for a bit. Taking their time, and gathering forces." Gaiseric said, now intent on the topic. "Sure, it makes sense. But, you cant go thinking like that, there’s always a way out. Even if we were to be raided in this valley, even if they surrounded us, we still have a chance against them, remember our security system?" Daris ended the conversation with, " Now go on home to your mom, I’m sure she has things for ya to do. I’m busy here." Gaiseric knew that his father had a certain abruptness about him. Some days he was happy to see him, and others it felt as though he didn’t even know him. Gaiseric went home to his tent, where Escilla had plenty of food to prepare, being the village chef. After dinner, the day dwindled away into night, and before long, it was time for bed. It was a slow, relaxing day and Gaiseric looked forward to running through the stream with friends the next day, and soon he slept, dreaming of adventures yet to take place.

"Gaiseric, wake up, NOW!." called Daris. Gaiseric was still groggy, and in as small amount of clothing as possible. When he finally opened his sense to the world, he realized all was not well. The tent was alive with orange hazes, and a loud cracking could be heard all around him. Gaiseric sprang from his cot not even remembering his father was beside him, his old spear from his Raider days still in his hand. The spear was as long as his body, it's black shaft glittered with bronze carvings of faces, all adorned on each end of the shaft. At the end of the spear was a blade similar in size to a short sword. Double edged, and showing its age of use. Daris rushed Gaiseric out of his bed, and grumbled out, "Settle down, and take your sword...Follow me!" yelled Daris. Gaiseric grabbed his sword from underneath his pillow and took his fathers hand as they went outside the tent into the madness.

"We have to find Escilla!" cried Daris among the sounds of battle. A man approached Daris with a loud scream and sword in hand, but Daris easily parried the man with his spear and impaled the attacker, lifting him above himself. Daris did all this, not even using his eyes. He simply waved his arms in perfect timing. Then, as another man approached the two, Daris flung the man on the spear at the other man. These were obviously the bandits that Ivan was talking about earlier...But they came much, much earlier than anyone had anticipated. Another loud scream among the circle of tents, there was no helping that person now, the correct procedure during a raid was for all persons to gather to the center of all the tents and take a defensive stance, but something wasn’t right. There didn’t seem to be anyone at the circle.

"They took us in the night...very silently." said father into Gaiseric’s ear. Gaiseric hadn’t noticed that his father had squatted down next to him, in all the confusion. "The Guild officials sold us out...They already sold all our profits, and weapons to these barbarians. But i always told them never to trust men like those, and the Guild officials are now singing those words to the worms..." Father said. He appeared almost at one with the chaotic backdrop, his bare chest contrasting with his dark night-clothes. "We're looking for your mother, she was gone when i awoke...I can only think the worst. But we're going to look for her, and once we find her, we're heading out again, to some other place...There’s nothing for us here anymore. But don’t worry, Gaiseric, these bandits won’t have the last laugh, I’ve already got something big planned here." Daris said, ending with a mysterious wink, and smile. There were some survivors approaching our way and father motioned to them, "Its Rudrick!! And Ivan! Gaiseric, go with them for now, I’m going to look for Escilla!" before Gaiseric could respond, Daris was already running into one of the flames of the town. Gaiseric’s company moved slowly and defensively, they encountered few bandits, as most of the action seemed to be taking place down towards the river, where father was headed. Ivan’s father told us to stay close, and to hold our swords level. Out of the corner of Gaiseric’s eye, he caught a glimpse of flashing silver, and then Ivan’s father, Rudrick was gone, taken by a long sword thrown by a now visible warrior. The warrior was large, bulky, and covered in animal skins, even his skull had the head of a wolf drawn over it. He had thrown his sword, and he was now unarmed, rushing past Gaiseric and Ivan. The man obviously underestimated their skill, because he went for his sword in Ivan’s father before even attempting to fight with the apparently harmless children. Ivan struck first, in rage, he slashed at the mans arm with his sword, and the sword dug deep into its target, not letting go. The warrior yelped out a feminine cry and grabbed his arm while Gaiseric finished him off with a mere swipe of his sword to the mans head. They sat there over the man for what must have seemed like hours. And it deemed too long a wait to be safe when there were barbarians on the prowl, for seconds later, there were 3 more of them, encircling the two boys.

The barbarians chuckled to themselves, they were prideful and arrogant. "Lil’ kid sliced off Mick’s hand, and the taller one, his head. Heh, we're gonna have a lil fun with these two." Said one of the men. "Careful, they're small but quick, like lil pigs!" Said another. Ivan back was to Gaiseric’s back, there were two men facing Gaiseric, and the largest of the 3 men was facing Ivan. Gaiseric worked a plan in his head and would motion to Ivan, when ready to strike. They knew what to do, they had practiced before, but never against human targets. " 'Ey one of em has a golden sw-" the man never finished, for Gaiseric moved first, swinging his sword low and to the right, aiming for the man’s leg. The sword scored a mark in the man’s foot, and he promptly howled and fell on the ground screaming, grabbing his foot. Gaiseric would come back to finish him off, but for now he faced off against the other man. This one was larger, and proved a more difficult challenge. The man swung first, in rage, and blindness. Gaiseric easily blocked the sword, but the impact drove him back a step. The man continued swinging, and Gaiseric had to think fast to block, for the man’s anger was driving his sword. Gaiseric waited for the right moment, continually blocking against each of the mans tempered attacks, and finally, thrust his sword into the mans throat, then pulled the blade out quickly, circled behind the man, as Daris had taught him, and finished the him by thrusting the blade through the back, between the shoulder blades. All of this was over within seconds, but each second carefully timed, as Gaiseric had learned in training with Daris. Each moment was critical in battle. The man quivered as he fell, obviously in great pain, but no sound came from his mouth. Gaiseric turned to see how Ivan fared against his opponent all to late, Ivan was on the ground and a large man had already begun a downswing with his sword at Gaiseric. Who barely had enough time to hold up his sword to block the impact, which drove him off his feet. He rolled away to the right and regained his stance, facing the man with determination. Gaiseric took a frightening moment to glance at Ivan...Ivan was dead, he was sure of it. Gaiseric would not let the same fate fall onto him. The man began circling Gaiseric, with deftness. He was fast for his size, that much was obvious. The sword he used was small and slender compared to the blades than Gaiseric was used to seeing around camp. There wasn’t much time to examine the blade, for it was always moving, from one side to the other, in a circle. The man was skilled with his blade. But Gaiseric knew what to do against a fast attacker. The man broke his stride and lunged forward with his blade as his weight. Gaiseric leapt backward 3 paces, effectively avoiding the attack, but the man was quick to follow up the miss with 2 more swift slices. Both of which Gaiseric was just barely able to parry. This man attacked from skill and experience, he was not filled with rage like the man before him. Gaiseric would get no easy breaks this time. And so, wasting not a moment, Gaiseric launched his attack. He brought his sword to his left side, just by the waist, a defensive stance, leaving him open to any attack. The man took the bait and raised his sword high in the air attempting a downward blow. That was all that Gaiseric needed to see, the man had taken the bait, he lowered his stance and charged into the man, running as fast as he could, and then just before contact, he brought his sword up, blocking the attack, and ramming his shoulder into the man. The barbarian’s sword went flying from his hand, and he lay sprawling on the ground. Gaiseric made quick work of him with the knife from the man’s own belt. The area was a bloody mess. But Gaiseric was used to this sight. He was also used to leaving friends, and he had no time to say goodbye to Ivan. He picked up the man’s slender sword that had caught his eye in battle, and left his longsword behind him. This would be an interesting weapon, once mastered.And though he wished to see more battle so that he could test his new blade, Gaiseric at the same time was knew that seeking shelter and a defensive standpoint was far more prudent. There was no need to take unnecessary risks. And so, he ran, while occasionally pivoting, facing nearly all directions at once. In the distance could be heard the occasional scream, but even those seemed to be drifting away slowly. However, the fire still raged on behind him. He came upon a small hill on the outskirts and began to climb it upward to both escape and to find a better viewpoint to seek his father and mother.

Atop a hill, looming over the town below was a band of men, all poised with spears. They were clad in bronze armor, with their legs draped in the finest leather of the age. The men numbered 30 in all, and even one of them could hold his own to whatever terror lay down in that town, but yet they were waiting on something. At the head of the armored men was a tall man who was apparently the leader of this band. He wore a helmet that had a tinge of silver to it, and among the other bronze clad warriors, he stood out the most. A grunt moved out of his place in line, and approached the leader. "So this is where the bandits were running from. Do you think we're still wanted in that place?" asked the grunt. "Don’t worry, we've already been a service of a different kind, to our benefactor...But I must wonder..." Gozan paused "Did Daris see this coming?" Gozan stared off the cliff, and saw a figure moving toward a river. His eyes flashed, "There’s our boy." Gozan said, grinning. "Men, we are about to move, but keep in mind our only enemy are those bandits, if anyone approaches you with a weapon, identify them as a threat first, before attacking. These people have had a rough night already. Now...MOVE OUT!" cried Gozan to his army. And the men started off down the cliff, spears in hands, all headed toward the river.

Gaiseric was moving faster now, there were no more screams, only the sound of the fire raged on behind him. Around him was the remains of the town, and the typical left-overs of a raid. Clothes and bedding were spread everywhere, and of the tents were nothing, they were long burned. Raiders usually only targeted camps for its products. Gaiseric’s camps product was their swords, and armor. But the Guild sold their products at extremely low prices to raiders, mostly because merchants could easily be killed and forgotten. But these raiders were greedy. Gaiseric wondered to himself what his father had meant back then...What he had planned. But there was no time to think, and he hurried off to the river, and the Guild.

Daris was wounded, badly. He had killed many men this night and even after as far as he had come, he had still seen no trace of Escilla in this place. Where else was there to look? The raiders timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. And daris thought to himself: " and even more ironic...". Daris had dispatched for the Red Swords 3 days ago, and that should have given them ample time to come here. Perhaps they were looking on over this, Daris thought to himself. Just then another bandit brought himself out of hiding, and jumped at Daris screaming, abandoning all his stealth. Daris, in his wounded condition found it difficult to parry with his spear, especially in close quarters, so he simply turned to one side, and brought his elbow to the mans face. The bandit fell to the ground, howling, face first in a pool of blood, and Daris finished the man by twirling his spear upside down and plunging downward. He was quite adept at the spear. He had had plenty of experience with it. His days as a bandit were slowly creeping back to him, long since shrouded in the blackness of walls created by Escilla, and his life afterwards...And just as Daris began to think about Escilla again, he caught sight of a figure squirming on the ground...

"Escilla!!" screamed Daris," Oh I’ve finally found you!" and then Daris saw the horror. A man was behind his wife, his head down, and another bandit was holding Escilla’s arms down. Only one bandit was able to hear Daris's screams, and stood to face him. The other was so involved in his act of sin, that he was oblivious to the outside world even as his fellow bandit fell to the ground in pieces. Daris, was so filled with rage, that he did not hold back on the mans young age. The man looked up, frightened, and startled. He was younger than Daris, and perhaps only a few years older than Gaiseric. "Stand up, cur!" yelled Daris to the boys face. And as he stared at the boy filled with utterly pure anger, and hatred, the vision of Gaiseric, the boy that he had fathered came into his mind...Beckoning him to have mercy. And so Daris, in an act of utter insanity against all that seemed right, uttered to the boy, "I’m giving you one chance. Leave this place, and never turn back. Run, and run fast." Daris said, with tears in his eyes. The man paused, pulled up his skin pants, and began to move away. But then Daris glanced at his wife, still laying on the ground, silently...There was something about his wife. Other than having been raped, she seemed to be acting strange. Rather, she wasn’t acting at all, she hadn’t moved once since he had came upon the scene...And then...

"E..scilla...?" Daris asked, with a choke behind his stern voice. "...Escilla...No.." Daris ran from that place. He wanted to end everything, he wanted to be absorbed by blackness, and anger. Escilla was Daris's one hold on the world of light. She had helped him grow and change from his dark path. But, all that was over now. Daris was no longer the man his wife knew.

The bandit ran as fast as he could, when he realized he was being chased, but Daris moved far faster. "Too slow, too slow!" cried Daris, his eyes full of rage, grief and utter happiness. His dark half had taken over, and his pity for the young bandit was utterly gone. He was alive again, and hadn't felt this way for years and years. His murderous instinct was back, along with tens of years of techniques and skills long since walled away. Daris reveled in all of it, a strange permanent grin upon his face. He drew his spear up in the air as the man attempted to run, now frightened for his life, but he had no chance against Daris's experienced arm. The boy was impaled within seconds, not even alive long enough to scream. But the fight was far from over, Daris began to club the boys head in with the edge of the spear, blood smearing over his hands and the grassy fields around the two. Staining light green with sickening crimson. The man was long dead, the impact alone had killed him. But to Daris, this man represented the decades of tyranny that he had suffered. This one bandit unified all the chaos, and all the deaths he had seen. Daris began screaming as he attacked the boys corpse. Wholly in his own world of death, and murder. But there were other bandits in the area still in hiding for a rescue crew and others still pillaging, they were drawn to Daris's screaming rage. And as they came, he rose up from the liquid-red corpse, not even looking or listening for them, only sensing their fear. He faced the oncoming men with a dark grin, and wild, fiery eyes.

Gaiseric had just reached the Guild area when he saw Daris begin to pound on the boys skull. He was in the center of the area, it was hard to miss the sight. Gaiseric had never seen his father like this before. You could almost feel the rage from over the distance that separated them. Daris was so into his murder spree that he didn’t even take note of Gaiseric and Ivan’s presence. Gaiseric was shocked and stood in place, frozen from all movement. He had seen his father fight with other men, with wooden training poles. But never...never had he seen his father move with such a deftness. He treated the spear as if it were air itself. Then Gaiseric caught site of the men approaching Daris...He saw this a good opportunity to hide and escape Daris's rage for now...He would wait for him to calm down, and finish the men,. Even afterwards, it would be difficult to deal with his father in such a state.

There were 5 men in all. They ranged from teenagers, to a man that could be Daris's grandfather, the largest of which was in his prime, and appeared to be the only serious threat out of all these men. Daris considered his strategy for a few moments, and then rushed into combat. He approached the oldest man first, and after a moment of pausing to see who would attack first, Daris took that title along with the mans left hand, as the blade of the spear sliced through the joint at the wrist. The old man howled, mortally wounded. Daris moved to the next man with the butt of the spear, jabbing the man in the stomach, he promptly collapsed on it. Still in one motion, Daris twirled the spear in the air, then jabbed sharply behind him to take out the approaching man from behind with the spear's point, then pivoted on his left foot, finishing the first man with a downward thrust. Three down, two to go. Now for the strongest threat, the man wielding the axe. Daris hadn’t had much experience fighting against an Axe. He had only encountered it a few times in his younger days. But it didn’t matter, the principle was the same as all weapons, if it’s big, it’s slow, and to the spear, everything was too slow. Daris squared off against the larger man, in a defensive stance, but still taunting the man with his grin. Daris held his spear point down and to the right across his chest. The large man was adorned in animal clothing, and had a leather belt strapped over his chest. His lack of armor was testament to his fighting ability, or rather, his boasting ability. Daris was going to let the barbarian’s pride take his first step to doom. And after a few moments of bitter silence, he did. The man brought his axe high up in the air, and brought it down swifter than Daris had anticipated, but there was still the opening he was looking for. Just as the axe was about to split Daris in two, he ducked to the left, letting the axe plow itself into the ground. Then Daris simply raised his spear from its low position, the blade on the end did the rest, slicing the mans right side, and out tumbled the gore, again staining green with crimson upon the field. The man grunted something that didn’t sound human at all, and fell over on his side. Daris ignored the smallest of the 5, who had already started running away. The fight was over. But Daris muscles and bones were worn out from having used moves that he hadnt used in well over a decade. He cursed his body for being weak and old, unable to contain the old demon that still dwelt within him, through all that time, lying in wait.

"Father!!" cried Gaiseric, who revealed his location behind some of the storage sacks that weren’t taken by the bandits. "Did you find mother?" Gaiseric asked questioningly, still holding back much of his astonishment. "Escilla... Oh, Escilla..." Daris was moaning, lying on the ground, with his spear laid across him. A piece of his old self was brought up to the surface again, mourning the loss of his wife. "Escilla is...Escilla...is" Daris rambling began to drift off. His eyes were darting in all directions. Gaiseric stared at Daris in disbelief, the man had clearly gone over the brink of sanity, and yet Gaiseric felt more frightened than sad. "Father?....Father.. what’s…" Gaiseric began, but was interrupted by Daris, who snapped, " I'm not ya father! Go off, get outta here boy! This place is too black, I’m too ...dark and dangerous to be around anyone!!... anymore...leave now...leave" Daris was interrupted by a new voice, from behind him. "I do believe that boy was promised to my services." said the new voice. "Was that not how the deal worked, Daris?" Gozan emerged from the shadows, trailed by 30 armored soldiers. "Gozan...you finally show yourself, after this chaos? Heh, well it would be very much like you, wouldn't it? Not dirtying your hands, and all." Daris said, looking down again with a small grin on his face, chuckling to himself. "I suppose, it was but chance that we passed by this area. I was actually thinking i would decline. To forget about the price you owed...from so long ago." Gozan replied. "You? Forget the price? Hah! Never, never in your life...But go ahead, I'll be true to my word." Daris said roughly. At that, 2 armed soldiers came and seized Gaiseric by his arms. Gaiseric’s blood ran cold, and thin. "Wha..Whats going on father!? What price?!" Gaiseric cried to Daris.

"I told ya before, I was never your father. Your real father was some other tyrant. He took Escilla long, long ago. Knowing most bandits, he’s probably long dead. I only fathered you for Escilla's sake. Now that she’s gone, this will be even easier." Daris said, and again Gaiseric could again feel that coldness in Daris voice. Now able to identify it as the wholly uncaring look in his eyes grew with each moment. It was then that Gaiseric realized that the man he once called father, had turned into something...other. There was a clear separation between the man that once had a light in his crystal blue eyes for Escilla, and the blackened visage of this new man. Daris turned and faced Gozan, "He’s a tough kid, he’s handled himself alright out here tonight, and on many other nights like these." Daris paused, seeming to be in torture for a moment, and finally said, "My one request, is that one day I'd like you to teach him the 'Sword'." then Daris grinned at Gozan. Who replied,"Technically, I owe you no such request. You abandoned your crusade. Your Sin has been a tremendous dent in our entire cause since the day you left. This boy as you know, is fine payment for your past." Gozan paused. "But i will grant you your request...If for nothing more than to carry on, in your once grand footste-"Gozan stopped abruptly, realizing that he was revealing too much to the boy about Daris. Daris simply grinned, "You know, he’s been under my training for 5 years, he’s rather good. Given a few more years, and in the right hands, he'd be someone to watch out for on the battlefield...Maybe even enough to take you on one day." Daris said all this while bringing his spear across his back, turning to leave. Gozan straightened his stance, clearly offended, and raised his voice to the departing Daris, "Well, we shall see to that matter in the future. Come with me...Gaiseric is it?" Gozan said politely, with a curious smile. There was nothing truly wrong about Gozan, by a quick glance. To Gaiseric he appeared a humble and yet powerful leader. Clearly the superior of the armored men that trailed him. Despite all the confusion he was in, Gaiseric felt that Gozan was someone that he could trust, for now. Even if he had no say in the matter.

Then everyone separated wordlessly, each going their separate ways. Gaiseric turned but once to look at Daris. The man looked truly black then, humped over with his spear across his shoulders. He seemed to be heading the opposite direction from Gozan and the army, where ever that would be. Glancing back at what lie in front of him, Gaiseric realized that in addition to the army of strangers in armor that surrounded him, the entire night had been chaotic . All pieces and fragments of events, strung one after another, and yet still a jumbled mass. Ivan, dead. Mother, dead. Father...changed, far beyond a mere death. And what about Gaiseric himself? He was too young and too confused to see it for himself, but something deep had changed inside of him that day. Not from the men he slew, or even for his friends death, but for the betrayal he felt now, for Daris. Even more so than all the bandits, and beasts that he had faced in all his years, It was on this day that Gaiseric first felt true hatred.

Gozan led Gaiseric up to the top of a hill, from here all the waste of the village below was made clear. Even if father had not changed, the place below would be just as uninhabitable. There was nothing here for Gaiseric anymore. Gozan then turned to him, and took his helmet off, with a triumphant look in his face. "I'm terribly sorry about the circumstances we meet under. There are, however some events that are unchangeable, and even I myself cannot change some rules. But, for the crimes of your previous owner, and guardian, -Daris the Betrayer-, you are now placed into my hands." Gozan paused, for a moment, taking his eyes off of Gaiseric, and placing them on his men. They were full of smiles, feeling the approaching moment. Gozan then continued, reassured by his army, "From this day forward, you are a member of the Red Swords." The entire valley echoed the armies praised cheer, and three men raised young Gaiseric up high into the air in celebration. "This would not be a bad place after all" Gaiseric mused, as he was tossed gently into the air. Gaiseric's confused world was left back in that dead village, and a new road awaited him. A road that would one day send ripples of change throughout the world.