Volume 1 – Chapter 8
The Black Fortress
The morning sun never reached the fortress.
Dark clouds hung above the massive stone walls as if the heavens themselves feared the place.
Thousands of soldiers marched through the enormous iron gates, their armor clanking in perfect rhythm.
Raimer looked up.
“So this…
is the capital’s military headquarters.”
His wounds from the examination still hadn’t fully healed.
Bandages wrapped around his chest beneath his uniform, and every step reminded him of the monster they had barely escaped.
Around him walked the rest of his squad.
Alyra, the abandoned dark elf noble, silently scanned every rooftop.
Kael stretched his sore shoulders.
Finn laughed despite the bruises covering his face.
Mira remained unusually quiet.
Only five recruits from their examination group had survived.
An old commander with silver hair stood before the recruits.
“My name is Commander Varick.”
His voice echoed through the courtyard.
“You survived because luck favored you.”
“Do not mistake survival for strength.”
A chill swept across every recruit.
“Tomorrow your real training begins.”
A soldier dragged a blood-covered wagon through the courtyard.
Inside…
Were corpses.
Not monsters.
Soldiers.
Raimer froze.
Commander Varick didn’t even look at them.
“That was yesterday’s patrol.”
“Welcome to reality.”
Silence consumed the courtyard.
No one laughed anymore.
That evening…
The recruits were assigned to old stone barracks.
Raimer finally lay on a proper bed for the first time in years. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
He closed his eyes.
Sleep came instantly.
…
Darkness.
A familiar throne.
His grandfather sat there once again, wearing cracked golden armor stained with ancient blood.
“You’ve become stronger.”
Raimer knelt.
“I nearly died.”
His grandfather smiled sadly.
“You will nearly die many more times.”
He waved his hand.
The darkness around them transformed into a map.
A black fortress stood deep beyond the northern mountains.
“What is that?”
Raimer asked.
“The place where kings disappear.”
Before Raimer could ask another question—
The vision shattered.
He woke up.
Cold sweat covered his body.
A loud bell rang across the fortress.
Emergency.
Outside…
Soldiers sprinted toward the walls.
Commander Varick shouted.
“All recruits remain inside!”
Nobody listened.
Raimer reached the battlements.
Far below…
Hundreds of refugees were running toward the fortress.
Behind them…
Something moved inside the forest.
Not monsters.
People.
Dressed entirely in black.
Masks covered their faces.
Every refugee they caught…
Was executed instantly.
No mercy. This story is hosted at g.com.
Commander Varick’s expression changed.
“The Black Crows…”
Even veteran soldiers looked afraid.
Arrows rained from the trees.
Several guards collapsed before they could even raise their shields.
One masked warrior suddenly appeared on top of the wall.
No footsteps.
No warning.
Just…
There.
Within seconds—
Three royal soldiers lost their heads.
Blood sprayed across the stones.
The masked assassin slowly turned toward Raimer.
Their eyes…
Glowed crimson beneath the mask.
For a brief moment, the assassin stared directly into him.
Then, in a low whisper only Raimer could hear—
“So…
the heir still lives.”
The assassin disappeared into black smoke before anyone could stop them.
Raimer’s heart pounded.
Heir?
How could they know?
Before he could think further, the fortress alarm rang once more.
Commander Varick drew his sword.
“All recruits!”
“Prepare yourselves.”
“This war…”
“Has finally reached us.”
Far beyond the walls, hidden among the trees, a hooded woman watched the fortress.
Her silver eyes shimmered with tears.
“…Raimer.”
She smiled faintly.
“You really are alive.”
Then she vanished into the shadows before anyone noticed.
End of Chapter 8