The night was peaceful and silent; the only sound was that of the guards making their rounds around the town; sword and armour clinking as they moved, and the only other beings of note where two hooded and cloaked men were approaching the palace.
"Damn tyrant, take a look at the town… It's ruined." One of them hissed.
"Be quiet, or the guards will hear you." The other said calmly.  A flash of a crimson blade appeared under the first man's cloak.
"I would like to see them try and stop us."
"Calm down, Chinan, we can afford to be found out." he sighed, nodding.
"Fine…" He put his sword away, cracking his neck.
"Hey, you there, what are you doing out at this hour of the night?" A guard who saw them called at them. Chinan hissed as he turned, starting to draw his sword again. Shringrad stopped him with an outstretched hand.
"We are just to travelers, sir. We mean no trouble." The guard frowned, eyes narrow.
"Remove you hoods, travelers." he demanded. Shringrad nodded, reaching for his hood.
What are you doing, Shringrad?! Chinan thought, staring at him, not moving to take off his own hood. If he sees your face, we're done for! Shringrad was about to pull the hood down when he suddenly, and very swiftly, moved towards the guard, sword flashing. Before the man could react, he was slashed across the throat. He coughed, holding his neck and falling over, dead within seconds. Chinan sighed, relaxing.
"Don't scare me like that, Shringrad. I thought you had lost your nerves." Shringrad turned his heel quickly.
"Quickly, let's go, before another guard comes." Chinan followed quickly, blood slowly pooling on the ground where the guard lay. They ran towards the palace quickly, and once it was close enough that you could clearly see into a window, they stopped turning to each other.
"See you inside…"
"Alright, gods be with us." They both nodded, and then disappeared with a sudden and brief rush of wind. Chinan's hood fell away from his face when he reappeared on the second floor of the palace. He was very pale with blood red eyes and hair to match this. He looked around quickly to get his bearings, and then sneered, fangs showing.
"Perfect." he said aloud, realizing where he was. "The guard's quarters." He then proceeded to search every room on the floor and kill anyone he found with joyous delight. Shringrad appeared two floors above him, sighing slightly and looking around slowly. He saw a few guards and quickly made his way out of sight, drawing his sword quietly, sneaking closer carefully. They didn't notice him; speaking to each other idly. He quietly stepped behind one of them, putting his hand on his neck.
"Sleep…" Shringrad said in a soft tone in elven. The guard tensed, then feel over, asleep. The other turned to Shringrad quickly.
"What the hell?!" he exclaimed. Shringrad stepped forward quickly and elbowed the other guard just below his chest plate. "Guck…" he fell over, holding his stomach and losing consciousness. Shringrad sighed, sheathing his sword and swiftly running down the hall. Chinan ran up the stairs, smirking widely, blood dripping from his fangs, which were bared with glee. Shringrad heard him and went to the stairs, seeing him. Chinan saw him as well and wiped his mouth, seeing Shringrad frowning.
"You know I can't help it."
"Yes, I do. Come on, it doesn't matter right now." Shringrad said, running up ahead of him. Chinan followed quickly, hand on his sword. Shringrad felt anticipation building the higher they got. Every step brought them closer to their objective, closer to toppling the tyrant rule of King Roshin Shonin. Shringrad was especially nervous for one reason. The man he was currently on his way to kill is his grandfather. Chinan watched him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course I do… I don't consider him family any more…" he said darkly. Chinan nodded slightly, then stopping, turning.
"Did you hear that?" Shringrad frowned slightly, nodding a little. Voices were quickly coming up behind them. "How did-"
"Shh." he raised a hand, listening.
"Captain, where are they?" A cold, deep voice asked a floor below them. Shringrad's eyes narrowed at hearing it. Chinan hissed slightly.
"Sire, we're trying but no one can find them."
"That's not good enough. Find them captain."
"Y-yes sire…" The man said nervously, and then footsteps were heard walking away, followed by heavier ones coming up stairs. Shringrad was shaking slightly in anger. Chinan watched him for a moment.
"Come on." he said quietly, grabbing his arm as the guard came closer. "Shringrad, come on." he repeated. Shringrad nodded, following him up quickly before the man saw them. They reached the next floor and Chinan pulled him into an empty room. "Get a hold of yourself Shringrad." he said briskly, shaking him a bit. Shringrad blinked and nodded.
"I'm sorry… It's just… hearing his voice-"
"I know, I despise him too, put we can't screw up now." After a pause Shringrad took a deep breath.
"You're right. Come on, let's hurry up and find him." Chinan nodded, looking around the room they were in for a moment. He frowned.
"Why is this room so familiar?" he asked. Shringrad looked around as well.
"This is your old room…" Shringrad said. Chinan tensed slightly, then sighed.
"No time for that." Chinan said. Shringrad patted his shoulder, and then left the room, Chinan following behind him and shaking his head to clear his mind. They silently made their way back downstairs, listening for anything like footsteps or voices. They heard very little, and what they did they dismiss as a guard. Shringrad started to get a feeling of foreboding the longer they went without seeing anyone.
There's no way we took that many of them out… something's wrong. Shringrad thought, looking around. He thought he heard something behind him and he turned, then everything went black after a sharp pain in his chest. Chinan jolted around at hearing Shringrad cry out in pain and collapsing, and saw a man standing over him, one arm upraised and smoking slightly before he shook the smoke away. He had blue hair, similar to Shringrad's, to his neck, dark green eyes, and a scowl on his aged face. Chinan's eyes narrowed and he hissed deeply.
"Roshin…" he said darkly.
"What do you think you're doing here…?" Roshin said, lowering his hand to a sword at his waist.
"To kill you, you tyrannous basta-" He froze, eyes widened and pupils dilated. Roshin had shot forward almost too fast to be seen, somehow drawing his sword even faster and aiming it at Chinan's neck. He now stood with his black blade quivering at Chinan's throat and his eyes watching him closely. Chinan back peddled, cursing and drawing his own sword, in his haste nearly tripping. "You son of a…" Roshin glared at him, and then looked at Shringrad, who groaned, stirring a bit. He started to get up, coughing and turning his head.
"Y-you!" He started to his feet, stumbling a bit and drawing his sword, pointing it at Roshin, who sneered and put his over his shoulder.
"Hello, grandson." he said maliciously. Shringrad coughed violently, holding his chest. Chinan glanced over at him for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine…" he said, wiping his mouth of the blood that had dripped out. Roshin smirked.
"My, haven't you turned into a rambunctious one."
"Shut up…" Shringrad growled angrily, staring at the man he hated most in his life. Rage boiled inside of him as he stared at the man who, in his mind, ruined his life. Roshin laughed darkly.
"Didn't that father of yours teach you any manners? I know your filthy blooded-mother wouldn't have."
"How dare you talk about my mother like that with your filthy tongue?! You damn bastard" Shringrad yelled, full of rage. Roshin looked at him darkly.
"Oh? And is that any way to speak to your grandfather? And king, no less?" Shringrad glared at him.
"You honestly think I give a damn about you? You could burn in hell for all I care, you murderous tyrant." He had stopped shaking now, and Chinan watched him as he spoke. Roshin smirked.
"Oh, I have no intentions of dying any time soon, so I'm afraid that won't happen for a long time."
"Don't be so sure of that." Chinan spat, cracking his neck. Roshin lowered his sword off his shoulder.
"Is that a threat?" he asked darkly. Shringrad looked at Chinan, who looked back and nodded slightly.
"No, we are going to kill you here. That is a promise." Shringrad said.
"You can try." Roshin said darkly, stepping forward slowly. Chinan lowered himself into a stance, ready for him this time. Shringrad did the same, watching his grandfather carefully, who walked a bit closer, not bothering to raise his sword. He was confident he wouldn't be defeated by traitors like them. He took one last step and disappeared suddenly. Shringrad and Chinan both tensed instantly, both of them ready for anything. Shringrad felt a slightly rush of wind on his side and turned, raising his sword quickly. An instant later with a loud clash of metal, Roshin appeared in front of him, smirking and pushing against Shringrad's sword. There was a short burst of sparks as they both pushed themselves apart. Shringrad grit his teeth slightly, panting a bit as he coughed again.
Dammit… Shringrad put his hand on his chest over a slightly scorched area of his tunic, where the spell Roshin had used to knock him out had hit.
"Does it hurt?" Roshin asked mockingly. "I could put you out of your pain and misery, if you wish."
"Like hell." Shringrad spat, blood staining the ground. He winced a little and Chinan hissed, stepping forward.
"Shringrad, you aren't well. I'll take care of this."
"No, Chinan. This is not your fight alone." Chinan looked at him, frowning. Shringrad looked forward at his grandfather, taking deep breaths, despite the pain in his chest, trying to calm himself. If I fight angry, I won't be able to beat him… I have to think.
"If you two are quite finished, I would like to end this." Roshin said. Chinan glared at him, raising his sword and stepping forward. Shringrad sighed a bit, wincing again and raising his own sword. Roshin smirked, raising his hand. "Come on then." he said. Chinan growled, charging forward quickly. Shringrad tried to stop him from just going in blindly, but his yells fell on deaf ears. Roshin stepped forward as he swung down at Chinan, who raising his sword and deflected Roshin's with a loud clang and more sparks, before rushing forward and elbowing Roshin in the chest. At least, that's what he had meant to do, but by the time he reached him, Roshin was gone again. He swore, spinning around quickly, looking about. Shringrad closed his eyes, listening carefully. Roshin reappeared directly behind him and he opened his eyes, quickly flipping his sword around and stabbing back. Roshin jumped back, smirking.
"You learn fast, boy." he said as he landed and raised his sword. "Maybe this isn't going to be as boring as I had first thought." Shringrad ignored this, turning to face him, sword raised. Chinan watched them carefully, sword still upraised. Shringrad glanced at him for a moment, hearing guards.
"Keep those guards back...." he said. Chinan frowned slightly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now go." Shringrad said, turning back to his grandfather. Chinan nodded, disappearing. Roshin smirked.
"Confident are we?" he taunted. Shringrad ignored him still, raising his sword slowly. Roshin chuckled, shaking his head. "You're never going to learn, are you? I'm stronger than you are, Shringrad."
"We'll see about that." Shringrad said darkly, readying himself. Roshin's expression hardened.
"Ignorant boy…" he muttered, disappearing at a muttered spell, reappearing behind Shringrad, swinging his sword down. Shringrad raised his sword and blocked the blow without as much as a glance behind him. Roshin's eyes narrowed slightly as they press at one another, trying to break through. Shringrad looked back at him angrily in the corner of his eye.
"Ever since you killed my mother, I've been training to come after you, Roshin." he said with his voice filled with anger built up from the last five years. Roshin sneered.
"She deserved it; she was a filthy blooded human." Shringrad growled, pushing him back and turning, slashing at him. Roshin blocked him this time.
"That way of thinking is why you're going to die here." Shringrad said, turning his sword slightly and pushing. A flash of sparks and they were separate again. Roshin raised a hand, wiping his cheek. He smirked, looking at his hand, stained scarlet with his blood.
"So you managed to cut me. That does not mean you can win." he said darkly.
"You're right, but I will win." Shringrad responded before charging him. Roshin smirked, back stepping and swinging his sword up, deflecting Shringrad's upward, putting him off balance. He cursed as Roshin stabbed at him, cutting his cloths and into his side slightly. Shringrad winced and jumped back, holding his side where he had been stabbed. He moved his hand away and saw he was bleeding slowly. Roshin smirked, going back into stance, whipping the small amount of blood that was on his sword in the process.  Shringrad looked at him angrily, wincing again.
"Oh, don't worry. It will all be over soon." he smirked, stepping forward and slashing his sword at Shringrad swiftly. Shringrad raised his sword, barely deflecting the blow, but losing a handle on his sword. It slipped out of his hand and went flying down the hall with a clatter. Shringrad stepped back slowly as Roshin smirked, raising his sword to finish it. He swung down and Shringrad closed his eyes, waiting. The blow he was expecting never came. He opened his eyes slowly.
"Huh?" His eyes widened. A middle aged elf was standing between them, holding back the sword with his bare hand. "Father?! What are you doing here?!" The man turned to look at him, frowning.
"Run... now, Shringrad." he said coolly. Shringrad blinked. "Go!" Roshin smirked, raising his hand to the elf's chest and saying a spell. He turned back to Roshin quickly, swinging his arm quickly and striking him across the face, forcing him back. Roshin growled, whipping his face.
"Jeridiah, you traitorous-"
"I don't want to hear it, father." he said darkly, staring at Roshin, whose eyes quickly narrowed.
"How dare yo-" he cut off, jumping back as Jeridiah ran forward quickly, punching at him and just missing Roshin's face. Roshin slid as he landed, eyeing him carefully. Jeridiah took a deep breath, watching him and going into a fighting stance. Shringrad watched in confusion.
How did he get here?! And why?! He thought. Jeridiah looked at him.
"Shringrad, you have to go, I'll take care of this." he said. Roshin ran at him while his back was turned. Jeridiah turned back just as he was about to stab him in the chest. He raised his hand and the sword stopped dead at his hand, which was right in front of his heart.
"W-what the…" Roshin stepped back. "How in the hell did you get this powerful?!" he demanded.
"The utter hatred for you and drive to have revenge…" Jeridiah answered, stepping forward. Roshin growled, raising his sword. Jeridiah raised his hand, saying a spell and whipping it to the side. The sword was torn from Roshin's hands and sent into the wall beside him. Roshin glared at him.
"So you want a magic fight, do you?!" He raised his hand, fire erupting from it and shooting at Jeridiah, who disappeared, then reappeared an instant later behind Roshin, kicking him in the side, sending him into the wall. Roshin clambered to his feet, bleeding heavily from the head and right arm. "Why you…" He rose is uninjured hand, then froze, eyes narrow. "Where did you go…?" He muttered, looking around. Jeridiah was gone again. Jeridiah reappeared, swinging his jade coloured sword at Roshin. This time, he was ready and he blocked the blow, growling angrily and pushing him back. Jeridiah stepped back, watching him and raising his sword. Shringrad watched them carefully, unsure of what to do. Jeridiah looked over at him.
"My son, you have to leave!" he said. Roshin charged him and he brought his sword up and blocked, "Quickly!" Shringrad hesitated. He didn't want all of this to be for nothing, nor to leave his father to fight Roshin. Not only that, Chinan still hadn't come back, and it would be too dangerous to go alone. He was snapped from his thoughts when he heard Jeridiah cry out in pain. He snapped his head up, seeing him kneeling, holding his stomach, Roshin standing over him with his sword at Jeridiah's neck.
"No!" he cried out, dashing at Roshin to try and stop him. Roshin turned, smirking and raising his sword, right in Shringrad's path. Shringrad's eyes widened. I won't stop in time! He tried to turn, but he knew it was pointless. He cried out in pain as the sword stabbed into his lower torso. He stopped, shaking slightly and holding his stomach. Roshin ripped the sword free, smirking and Shringrad coughed up blood, falling to his knees, eyes wide and out of focus.
"Shringrad!" Chinan appeared, his left arm hanging useless at his side and dripping blood, the other holding his sword at Roshin's neck. "You bastard, I'll kill you!" He charged Roshin. Shringrad winced, holding his bleeding wound and doubling over. Roshin smirked, raising his hand and saying something in elven. Chinan's eyes widened and he jumped back as a plum of fire erupted around Roshin, circling around him. Jeridiah got to his feet, cursing. Roshin laughed darkly, raising his arms slowly, the flames growing. Shringrad looked up at him, shaking violently as his vision faded slightly.
"Chinan, get him out of here!" Jeridiah said. Chinan growled, backing off.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now go!" Chinan nodded, running to Shringrad and kneeling down beside him, putting his good arm on his shoulder. Shringrad coughed, holding his wound.
"Father, no!" he cried as him and Chinan suddenly disappeared from. His father, grandfather, and the flames, all disappeared from his view and were replaced by the dark open country, before nothing but black as he passed out.