Chapter 1

  In the warm light of the summer afternoon, the mile long wagon train moved laboriously down the dirt path. The trees slowly inching by as the train made its way towards the nearest city. This group of peasants had been ousted from their homes after a destructive battle between some cult and the Lionsbane kingdom.

  Closer to the back of the train, a young boy, only about 14, sat in the back of a cart while his parents were seated up front. He threw a ball at the backboard of their seat and caught it as it bounced towards him. He sighed with annoyance and shifted side to side in a failed attempt to get in a more comfortable position.

  “How much longer until I can get out? It's boring in here.” He whined, crossing his arms and pouting to himself.

  His mother sighed, craning her neck to look at her impatient son. Her silver gray eyes gazing at her only son with a tired expression. A strand of her light brown hair fell down her face, but she ignored it.

  “We still have a few hours before we’re close enough to the city walls Caspian. I don't want you getting out and wandering off when we’re still out in the wilderness.” Her exasperated voice was kind yet firm, transformed by the many times she’d had to explain that exact thing to her son.

  Caspian groaned, rubbing his hands over his face in exaggerated annoyance. He reared his arm back and threw the ball again, this time it was caught by his mother. She chuckled evilly as she pulled the ball out of Caspian’s reach and into the front of the cart. Caspian moved forward, failing to grab the ball before it disappeared out of his sight.

  “Hey! Give that back!” Caspian yelled, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried and failed to clamber into the front seat. His mother and father both chuckle as he got stuck.

  His father turned to him, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I don't think trying to get through is gonna work there kiddo.”

  Caspian’s expression turned sour at his father’s words, his eyebrows drooping in a dissatisfied expression.

  “Oh really? I didn’t notice that.” Caspian remarked, still struggling in a poor attempt to get out of his predicament.

  Caspian’s mother, eventually taking pity on him, helped wrench him out and into the front of the carriage. He wedged himself in between his parents, wrapping himself around his mother’s arm. She looked down at him with a warm smile, the love from her son like the heat from a cozy fire submerging her soul in warmth.

  Caspian’s father stood from his seat, exiting the shade of the cover to get a clear look ahead. He pulled the horses to a stop and lowered himself back into the seat, turning to his wife.

  “The train stopped.” His voice was grim and his face noticeably lost color.

  Caspian’s mother tightened her grip on her son’s arms. She stared at her husband for a long, silent moment before turning to the cart in front of them.

  As she speaks, her voice is soft and slightly shaking. “It’s fine, there’s no way we would get attacked.” Despite her words, her face shows the fear she feels. Had bandits or cultists found them before they got to the city?

  Someone from the back of the carriage train walked by, stopping briefly to discuss something with the people in the cart in front of theirs. Caspian’s parents couldn't hear what they were saying, but could see the worry on the man’s face as he looked towards the front of the mile long train.

  “What do you think they’re talking about?” Caspian’s mother asked, she had wrapped her other hand around Caspian.

  His father shook his head, a sigh escaping. “I don't know honey, I can't hear what they’re saying. It can’t be good though.” He responded, his gaze returning to the man ahead.

  They watched the man talk for a long, unending moment. Neither of them speaking as they wait for any sign of danger. The man’s movements quickly became more erratic as he looked from the person he’s speaking to and to the front of the train. Eventually, he started moving away, going back towards his own cart with a terrified expression on his face.

  Caspian’s father turned to his wife and son, his voice firm and commanding. “That’s definitely not good, we need to get ready to go. Fast.” Both of them nod in the affirmative.

  He turned back towards the front, his hands gripping the reins with enough force to turn his knuckles white. Sweat beaded down his forehead and he took slow, shaking breaths. It’ll be fine. He thought to himself; It’s just some fallen tree, or wild animal. We’re gonna be fine.

  The sound of a distant explosion rang out, a cloud of dust rising from the front of the train. Caspian’s father reacted instantly, pulling at the reins with enough force to pull the horses slightly. They whipped around, pulling the cart along as they moved towards the back of the train at speed.

  Their cart never even made it 20 feet.

  Something seemed to blink into existence, crashing into the cart with enough speed to send it flying. The cart was split in two as it slammed into a tree, getting pincered by the figure and the large oak. Caspian and his parents were flung from the seat, heavily crashing to the rough forest floor; their horses had been thrown around and each laid on the ground.

  Caspian shot up, trying to drag his parents to their feet. His mother laid unconscious, a vicious wound on her head spurting blood. His father sat up with a pained groan, he grabbed onto his leg with a yelp as he tried to stand; falling back to the ground.

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  “It’s broken!” He said through gritted teeth. His eyes shot over to his wife and he crawled to put pressure on the wound.

  A Weasley voice came from the tree line, the light from the dirt path almost blinding "You ain’t getting away any time soon.” Caspian’s father went pale as he heard the voice.

  A wave of magical aura rippled over the area, only visible by the slight distortion as it made the air thicker. It pressed down on the souls of all three of them, the force like someone was squeezing it. A pale man walked down the small slope from the dirt path, his long, greasy, black hair swaying as he took heavy steps. A crooked smile sat on his pockmarked face and he wore dirty leather armor. A bandit.

  “Please,” His father wheezed, pulling Caspian behind him. “We don’t have anything worth taking. Please just let us go.”

  The man hissed a laugh, clutching at his stomach as he leaned on a tree. His snake-like gaze locked onto the family with a vicious glee. Suddenly, he blasted forward, his movement like a blur to Caspian’s senses. He stopped in front of the sitting man and grabbed his hair, lifting him up with one hand.

  “Where’s the fun in that? I don't care about stuff. I just like hurting worthless ants like you.” He sneered, his rotten teeth visible for all to see.

  Caspian’s father winced, the pain from his leg flaring as he was forced to put weight on it. Caspian scrambled back, hiding behind a fallen log as he watched with wide, terrified eyes. He watched with pure terror as the bandit dug his hand into his father’s stomach, his superhuman strength easily able to do so. His father cried out in pain and the bandit’s face grew almost sensual in his glee.

  His mother opened her eyes, her entire body shaking and in pain as she looked around. She saw her husband being harmed and raised a shaking hand. Her voice was like a whisper.

  “Stop. Please.” Her shaking voice devolved into a coughing fit and she curled in on herself.

  The weasley man turned to her, his smile becoming predatory. He dropped her husband and took a step towards her, dropping to a crouch and twirling one of her strands of hair in a grubby hand.

  He put on a pouty face, his voice mocking and ruthless. “Oh no! I hurt your boy toy!”

  He flicked her on the nose, his strength broke her nose and she grabbed it, breathing heavily. He cackled and stood back to his full height. He looked in between them and rubbed his hands, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic satisfaction.

  His head turned to the side, gazing towards the dirt path and he groaned. His shoulders slumped as he turned back to the two people laying on the ground.

  “Well, I have to go. Guess I can’t have more fun with you.” He said, his words laced with annoyance.

  He held out a hand and a long, thin, emerald blade appeared. It glowed with a dim green light and he knelt down. Caspian watched in horror, as the man slit his mother’s throat with a casual ease. She shook as blood pooled out of her neck, falling to the ground. The bandit smiled viciously as he turned to Caspian’s father, who’s eyes were wide with anguish at the sight.

  The bandit grabbed his hair and pulled him up slightly, whispering something into his ear before slitting his throat too. He dropped the body to the ground and stood, the blade disappearing from his hand.

  Caspian whimpered in shock, his entire body shaking like a hairless dog during a winter night. The bandit turned to him, his eyes regaining their vicious gleam.

  “I missed one?” He mused to himself, he took a slow step towards Caspian, making sure to land directly in the puddle of his mother’s blood.

  Caspian scrambled back, his hands getting torn to shreds by the sharp rocks and thorns on the ground. His back met a tree and he curled in on himself, pulling his knees up to his chin and closing his eyes tight. He willed the bad man to go away, to reverse everything he had done. It didn't work.

  He felt the man grow closer, the pressure in his chest increasing to an almost painful degree as his death grew nearer. He heard the man’s steps, smelled the blood of his parents, felt the man’s breathing as he got in Caspian’s personal space. He was going to die! He was going to die and nothing could help-

  The man’s aura disappeared, as did every sign of him existing. A rush of air blew past Caspian from behind and he felt a rumbling in the ground. He slowly opened his eyes to find that the bandit was gone. The trees around him had been blasted to splinters and their remains littered the forest floor. Sunlight shined in from the former canopy and it warmed his skin as it gently came down on him.

  He heard more footsteps, they came from the dirt road and he scrambled behind the trunk of the former tree he had been leaning against. A new man walked down the slope and into the forest. He was taller and more built than the other man, his rich chocolate skin and short curly light brown hair a large difference from the other man. He also wore a more durable leather vest, gold plated armor lining his arms and thick grey gloves on his hands. His pants were a smooth red cloth, he also wore a shirt that was similar but blue.

  The man looked at the bodies, his stoic face softening as he paid respects to the dead. Caspian shifted and the man looked up, seeing the young boy. His face showed shock and sorrow but it was quickly hidden under his stoic expression once more. He approached, his steps slow but deliberate.

  “Hello. It's going to be alright, kid.” The man said, his voice gravely and deep, like a war torn veteran.

  Caspian whimpered and scrambled back, the fear in his eyes still apparent. The man slowed but didn’t halt his approach, instead raising his hands in a placating gesture. Caspian continued to shake as the man grew closer, he pulled his knees up to his chin again as tears streamed down his dirty face.

  “Please,” He begged, his voice cracking as he trembled. “Please don’t hurt me.”

  The man’s face fell slightly, seeing the pure despair on Caspian’s face seemed to hurt him more than any wound could. He knelt down, within arms reach of Caspian now. He extended a hand towards the terrified little boy, it moved at a snail's pace yet Caspian covered his face as if it were a rock sailing through the air.

  Despite what Caspian expected of the new man, he gently set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. His aura carefully rubbed against Caspian’s soul with feelings of support. It surprised the young boy, he was sure he was going to die and yet this man was trying to make him feel better? He slowly lowered his shaking hands from his face and peaked above his knees at the man.

  “I won't hurt you, the man who did is gone now.” The strange man said sadly, his aging face creasing as he looked at this poor, traumatized boy.

  Caspian stared at him for what seemed like forever, his eyes shifting through a range of different emotions. He suddenly took a shaking breath and his eyes went wide as he seemed to realize something.

  “My- My parents! Are they okay? I-” He said frantically.

  He tried to scramble to his feet, wanting to see his parents. The man acted faster than he could react, standing in his way and gently stroking his soul with his aura. Caspian staggered as exhaustion seemed to overtake him, his eyelids like one ton weights. He stumbled from side to side for a moment before falling over, being caught by the man.

  “Shh…” He whispered softly, picking Caspian up gently. “Rest kid, no one can hurt you now.”

  Caspian tried to fight it, tried his hardest to stay awake. But the aura of the man continued to lull him into a coma-like sleep. He finally closed his eyes, and everything went black.