Chapter 2: Castle of Ethwar

Chapter 2: Castle of Ethwar

Chapter 2

Castle of Ethwar

"Ghouls!!" Sylas screamed as he leaped from the bed, appearing maddened. "Ghouls everywhere! Everywhere!"

"Recruit! Calm down!" the bearded men reprimanded quickly with a strangely hurried tone but Sylas was of no mind to listen. He reached forward and grasped the middle-aged man's collar, his eyes wide like saucers, and began to shake him.

Ghouls! They are everywhere! They are killing everyone! Everyones dead!

Wake up, Recruit!! the bearded man hollered loudly as he swung his arm and squared his fist against Sylas cheek. The latter felt an immense pang of pain pulsate throughout his entire body as he found himself aflight backward. He fell, ass-first, onto the rough floor and rolled further back, slamming directly into the wall. His organs jerked violently, and he was forced to cough; pain, though deeply uncomfortable, did help wake him a bit. Looking around, he realized he wasnt at the top of the tower but back inside his room.

All the same, however, he was unable to calm down entirely. The feeling of having his throat crushed was still fresh and the cold claws of death were still right on him. He was shivering and shaking like a leaf in the stormy wind, entirely unaware that his nose had begun to bleed from the sheer force of impact. The middle-aged man walked over, mumbling something under his breath, as he crouched in front of Sylas and sighed.

twas a nightmare, Recruit, he said. Did you wake yet?

y-yes. Sylas replied meekly.

I understand that Ghouls are a scary bunch, the middle-aged man continued. But that is why weve got to be brave. So that our wives and sisters and mothers back home wont have to worry about none of this. You understand, Recruit?

I do, Sylas replied mechanically, replaying everything.

The image of the rotted face inching closer to his, the cold, dead fingers digging into his throat, and the eyeless socket peering into his soul were all permanently etched into his memory, its top layer even. He couldnt forget. Couldnt erase it. Couldnt yet move on. It truly would have been a miserable way to die, he mused, looking at the inner castle once again. He had to map it outat least very roughly.

For any type of scam, laying down proper foundations was the most important thing. He once spent an entire summer normalizing his existence for a fairly rich girl before even trying to scam her. In the end, those months during the summer painted him, at least in her head, as someone trustworthy since she saw him on the daily basis. She firmly believed she knew who he was and that he would never dare try to pull a fast one on herexcept he did. And she wasnt the only one in his numerous exploits

The same thing applied hereexcept it was many magnitudes more difficult. If nobody in this castle knew who he was, that would be perfect. Starting with a blank slate was like giving him a cheat. However, if somebody did know whomever he inherited, it would be a problem. Especially considering that the world he landed within was one of magic. If he was not careful, he could be accused of witchery and such and burned at the stake.

Tsk, Sylas clicked his tongue and rubbed his hair in frustration, only now realizing he wasnt even wearing a helmet. The best thing to do would be to figure out a way to either run away from this hell or to hide and ride out the ghoulish invasion. Then again theres that stupid quest

To save the boy if there was ever anything vaguer, he wished to hear it. It was likely someone important in the depths of the castle, especially since the notification that he failed didnt come up until the ghouls had already swarmed the entire castle. Some noble son that would likely spit on him if Sylas ever approached the more he thought about his circumstances, the more he lamented them.

In those laments, the night crept in and dug deep. Before long, the scenery from the last time returned; the whole world swallowed in absolute darkness, only the edges barely framed by the faint moonlight, absolute silence dominating everything. And within those encroaching shadows, soon enough, he saw them. Just like the last time. They were slow but absolute. Unlike the last time, however, he didnt screech and ran to ring the bell. He wanted to see them in action, to see how they broached the tall walls.

He swallowed a mouthful, with it pushing back down the terror that nearly overwhelmed him. Flashbacks of his gnarly death once again shocked him, like a bolt from the clear sky. Gnashing his teeth, he kept his eyes wide open and focused on the swarming numbers. A minute two eventually, their slow crawl led them directly to the walls and they began to claw and climb on top of each other.

They all fell, without a fail, until, some five minutes later, just as another bell elsewhere in the castle rang, a bright flash of light blinded Sylas momentarily. In that same moment, the world beneath him shook and quaked as the sound of an explosion froze the blood in his veins. Before he could register anything else, a window appeared in front of him.

You have died.

A Save Point discovered.

Loading

You will be returned to the Initial Save point.

"On your feet, maggot!" a harsh and loud and mean voice jolted Sylas from his rather confused and short-lived sleep. Ah, here we go again... he mumbled inwardly, slowly opening his eyes into the new, yet old day.