Blaystone Forest - East Woods - Xander:

  This is impossible. How can this be?

  Hawk continued to stare at Xander, eyes blinking rapidly.

  Taff slapped Hawk’s face, shouting, “Master, wake up!”

  Hawk’s eyes snapped open, blinking rapidly as he shook his head. He looked at Taff, then tilted his head up toward the sky, the chaos of battle flooding back to him.

  “Red Anchor Bandits attack! Use everything! Kill that mother fucker!” Hawk screamed at the top of his lungs.

  The bandits dashed towards Xander, weapons drawn, yelling “Uooo uooo!”

  I think I can kill them all. Balsmith is no longer a liability. I will dig him up after this fight. Xander charged toward the bandits, his powerful strides creating craters in the ground where he set off from.

  The bandits continued howling and screaming as they engaged Xander. Xander charged through the bandits, his arm extended like a battering ram, the impact sending bodies crashing to the ground. He dropped low, brushed aside the thick ash, and grabbed a sword from a fallen Seraph guard.

  A bandit rushed at him, sword swinging downwards. Xander raised his blade, steel meeting steel with a resounding clang. Xander pushed off the bandit. His sword thrusted through the bandit’s heart. Quickly, he withdrew the blade and rose, charging at the remaining bandits.

  “I will kill you all!” Xander yelled, he grip the steel blade tighter.

  The fire worsened, smoke thickening as ash from the burning trees swirled around them.

  Xander tore through bandit after bandit with ease, their blood splattering across the battlefield. The stench of death permeated the air.

  “Kill him already!” Hawk screamed at his bandit comrades. “No, no, no! How..? Retreat!” Hawk clutched at his filthy red hair .

  Xander ripped his steel blade from a bandit’s corpse. Blood sprayed the ground as he turned to Hawk.

  “You’re going to die here today. No escape Hawk.” Xander wipes the sword toward the ground as the blood slides off from the grooves.

  Hawk’s face twisted with rage. “Die today? I’ll feed your prick to the fucking yulks! You’re worse than those Seraph bastards!”

  Xander’s eyebrows furrowed, and a vein pulsed across his forehead. “All you do is talk.” Xander charged at Hawk with his sword raised.

  Hawk stumbled back. “Someone, kill him! Anyone!” Hawk grabbed the nearest bandit and shoved him forward. “Buy me time!” Hawk turned and ran as the bandit flew toward Xander.

  The random bandit gripped his sword, knees shaking. I’m dead. I’m so dead. His sword thrust was clumsy. Xander simply stepped aside and swung once. The bandit’s body fell in two pieces, blood painting the ground and nearby tree.

  “Sacrificing your own men to save yourself.” Xander pursued the fleeing Hawk. “You’re not just a coward — you’re scum!” Xander caught up to him.

  Hawk stumbled to his knees, his breath ragged. Shit, this bastard is the real deal. Need to get away. Need to survive. His eyes darted to the ash-covered ground.

  “Please...” Hawk’s voice cracked. “I surrender! The Order of Seraphs can have me. I’ll tell them everything — every raid, every contact. I have a family...”

  Xander towered over him readied.

  “Look at what you’ve made me become,” Hawk said as he looked at Xander, his voice barely controlled. His hand inched toward the ash. “I just wanted—”

  A cloud of ash exploded into Xander’s face. “Argh!” He shouted, staggering back and rubbing at his burning eyes.

  Hawk leaped up, cackling. “The great Xander Blight — fooled by the oldest trick! You’re more stupid than you look. Did you really think I’d surrender?” He turned and bolted away..

  “Damn it, this burns!” Xander yelled. “You coward!”

  “Everyone, attack him!” Hawk Blade shouted. The remaining twenty bandits launched arrows at him as they whistled through the air. He grunted as the impacts hammered his armor, but it did not stop him from moving forward through the onslaught.

  Hawk saw his chance. He leaped onto Xander, legs wrapping around the warrior’s waist. Hawk quickly unsheathed Salvie and grinned as he stabbed Xander’s chest plate repeatedly.

  What the hell? No blood pouring out? He quickly looked at Salvie. No blood there either? The healing— it’s too fast! Even with armor. This can’t be possible. This isn’t real. I have to run.

  These arrows didn’t even hurt? How is that possible? Xander yanked a few of the arrows from his armor. Dammit, how could I fall for that? If I kill his bandit clan first, he’ll escape. He glanced over at the rubble. Afterwards, I can check if Balsmith survived. Though chances are low.

  His eyes darted back to the bandits around him. I have to kill the head of the snake. Xander advanced towards Hawk.

  “Stop! Get back! Get away from me you big bastard!” Hawk screamed as he stepped back.

  Taff looked at Hawk “Master, you have to fight him!” He pleaded.

  “Shut up, Taff! That thing won’t die. I used Salvie and Big Blade, and it didn’t work,” Hawk said as Xander got closer.

  Taff stared at his master. This can’t be, I never seen master so scared before.

  Xander approached, lifting Big Blade high above his head. The sterling blue blade came down in a vertical arc. Hawk’s hands shot out, grabbing Taff and shoving him into the path of the strike.

  “Master! What are you do—?!” Taff’s desperate cry ended as Xander’s blade cleaved him in two. Hawk Blade stared at Taff’s mutilated body. Organs spilled across the ground, blood pooled in the ash. Taff’s blood splattered across Xander’s cheeks, streaming down like crimson tears.

  A few moments of silence fell over the battlefield. Xander stared at Taff’s remains, rage and disgust warring on his face. His hands tightened on his sword as he glanced toward Hawk, who stood frozen.

  Xander’s knees bent, and he raised his sword toward Hawk.

  One of the surviving bandits yelled. “Reinforcements! The Order of the Seraphs are coming!” Bandits scattered in the forest away from Xander. His eyes darted around frantically as the bandits disappeared into the forest.. Xander slowly straightened as his sword reached his side.

  A breathless bandit grabbed Hawk coat, shaking him from his stupor.

  “Master! The Order of the Seraphs are in the woods! Everyone at the entrance is dead except me! We have to move!” The bandit shook Hawk, but his eyes were lost in the abyss. “Master! We must go now!” The bandit yelled.

  Through the burning forest, distant voices called: “Anyone out there?”

  Xander assessed the situation. I can kill him right now and be done with this fool, or I can check on Balsmith. He glanced back at the pile of rubble where he had emerged.

  Three more bandits arrived, rushing Hawk Blade away.

  Xander dropped the sword. Reinforcements are coming, they will be able to help Balsmith. He ran to the rubble.

  There is Balsmith’s foot. This fire is getting out of control. The smoke is making the air thick, and it’s getting hard to see. Xander grunted as he lifted the rocks that buried Balsmith, revealing his reflective armor. I no longer hear the bandits running. Xander rushed to remove the rocks.

  Uncovering the man, Uncovering Balsmith, Xander knelt down beside him and held a finger under his nose. I feel air… He’s breathing.

  He quickly lifted Balsmith to a seated position, holding him steady. Xander gently tapped Balsmith’s face with his palm. “Hey, you need to wake up.”

  “Xan—” The man sputtered, coughing up blood that splattered across Xander’s chest plate.

  “Balsmith, help is on the way,” Xander reassured him. Balsmith grabbed Xander’s chest plate with his bloody hand. “You call me General Balsmith or Lord Balsmith with respect. Now listen, if you’re really Xander Blight, you must go to Guss.”

  Xander looked surprised. “Did you say Guss? He’s still alive?”

  “He’s in the town called Blaystone. I think it’s west of here. You must leave now. If help is on its way, it’s most likely 2nd or 3rd platoon,” Balsmith said, his voice fading in and out.

  “Lord Balsmith, which way is west?” Xander asked. The man slowly lifted his arm and pointed before his eyes closed and his arm dropped to the ground. Xander shook him,

  “Hey, wake up!” he said, panic in his voice.

  “Anyone out there?” a voice echoed in the distance.

  “Over here!” Xander yelled as loud as he could. Balsmith said I have to leave, damn it. He gently laid Balsmith back down and looked in the direction the man had pointed. I hope this is the right way. Clenching his jaw, Xander sprinted away.

  He weaved between flames and fallen branches. I can finally figure out what’s going on. How long have I been asleep? Xander looked up at the sky, noticing the approaching dawn. It’s going to be light soon. This part of the forest is smoky, but the fire hasn’t reached here yet. The winds must have blown the smoke this way. His pace slowed but did not stop.

  What happened to me? Why does everything feel scattered, and why does it feel like memories are missing? After jogging for some time, Xander’s pace slowed as he approached the edge of the forest.

  There’s the town Balsmith was talking about. I don’t see any bandits in the area.

  Leaving the forest behind, Xander walked a trail through an open field dotted with hay bundles for cows and yulks. Clean air replaced smoke, the scent of hay washing away the battlefield’s stench. The morning sun warmed his face as he crossed the farmland. Xander glanced back at the burning forest. I hope you live, Lord Balsmith.

  ◆◆◆

  Blaystone - Xander:

  As Xander entered Blaystone, people in the streets stopped and stared at his bloodstained silver and gold armor. Whispers could be heard as the citizens started going into their houses.

  The town’s cobblestone was dried and cracked. Some houses were stone, while some were only wooden shacks.. Children were outside playing cutter puck. Other children were dressed up and using sticks, having sword fights with their favorite heroes. The streets had wooden fences throughout. Windmills and lumber workers stopped and went inside. Market vendors abandoned their stalls mid-sale.

  Why is everyone looking at me and going inside? He kept walking down the road, continuing to survey the town. He looked at his gauntlet, dented and smeared in blood splatter from the fight with Hawk, and kept walking.

  Xander reached the last house on the road. This house is much larger and looks well maintained. I see someone. He hurries towards the figure.

  A woman with long, red hair was kneeling in the dirt as she topped off the soft soil of a flower bed,

  “Excuse me, do you know where Guss Blackheard lives?” Xander called out as he approached the lady.

  She stood and turned to face him. Her long, shiny red hair contrasted against her porcelain skin. Slim red eyebrows arched over light brown eyes. Her youthful face was free of lines, with a petite, button nose perfectly centered above full lips. She was of average height for a woman, with a delicate frame.

  Her eyes widened as she took in the silver and gold armor, covered in dirt, blood, ash, and deep slashes. A few arrows were still lodged deep in the metal plating. “Um yeah, and... who are you?” the lady asked, her voice stuttering slightly. “That armor... it looks like...”

  Xander’s face lit up. “Can you point to where he lives?” He asked.

  The woman looked at the ground, then at Xander. “Yes, I can show you. He’s my father.”

  Xander stepped back in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Your father?”

  A nod. “Follow me.” She grabbed her flower basket and started walking up the path to the large house. Stone walls with wooden beams and gold accents worked into the construction. The roof was solid wood instead of straw thatch. As they walked closer, the grass became greener and thicker, and the dirt path turned to stone beneath their feet.

  “Excuse me ma’am, what is your name?” Xander asked as he looked past the house to take in the property.

  The lady continued walking. “My name is April”

  I can’t believe this is Guss kid. When did he have a daughter? Was I really gone for fifty years? Xander and April reached the porch after a few moments.

  Guss daughter glanced down at Xander’s feet. “The sabatons and boots need to come off. They’re filthy,” she said sternly.

  Xander nodded. He bent down and tried to reach for the buckle on the back side of his foot. “Damn it,” he muttered in frustration.

  “Here, let me help.” April knelt down and unbuckled the straps at the back, allowing Xander to slip his feet out of both the sabatons and boots.

  “Thank you,” Xander said.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  April nodded in response, and stood up to open the red wooden door. “Dad! You have a visitor!” Her voice echoed through the house. She turned around and glanced at Xander, muttering under her breath, “More like a homeless person.”

  From upstairs, a woman’s voice replied, “One second!”

  “Okay, Mom!” she yelled back.

  April turned to Xander and said, “Wait here,”then walked away into another room.

  Xander stepped into the grand foyer, his eyes taking in the impressive interior. He turned his attention to a picture. Is this Guss’s family?

  Xander glanced up the stairs. Footsteps could be heard on the polished wood.

  A man and a woman descended. The woman had shoulder-length hair that was a mix of red and white, and a slim figure with a few wrinkles around her brown eyes. The man, hunched over and relying on a cane, was bald with a white goatee.

  They both froze mid-step when they caught sight of Xander — the tall, massive man with long sandy blond hair, his armor covered in blood, ash, and mud.

  Is that Guss and Sonya? Xander turned and slowly approached the couple as they finished their descent.

  Guss rested his hand on the older lady’s shoulder, a smile spreading across his face. He leaned in and whispered something in her ear before approaching Xander.

  Stopping at Xander’s left side, Guss softly asked, “Could you bend down so I can see the symbol on your shoulder plate?”

  “Umm... yeah, sure.” Xander responded, confused by the request. The massive man lowered down onto one knee — enough so for Guss to inspect the symbol.

  Hmm. I need something to wipe this ash and blood off. “April darling, can you bring a wet cloth?” Guss asked softly.

  April quickly retrieved a damp cloth from the kitchen and handed it to her father. “Here, Dad,” she said.

  He gently began to wipe away the grime from Xander’s shoulder plate. As the ash and blood were cleared, the symbol beneath became more distinct. Guss paused, studying the now-visible emblem intently.

  He looked back at the older lady. A smile spread across his face as tears began to fall from his eyes. He turned back to Xander.

  “Welcome back, old friend,” Guss said, his voice thick with emotion.

  Slowly, Xander wrapped his arm around Guss’s frail body.

  The older lady’s face was etched with rage, and she stormed out the back door, slamming it behind her.

  Xander slowly lets go of Guss.

  “Guss, what happened? How did you grow so old?” Xander asked.

  Guss chuckled softly. “We have much to catch up on. Let’s go to the dining room. April, could you bring some ale for Xander and some water for me?”

  Guss and Xander made their way to the dining room.

  Xander pulled out a wooden chair and gently tapped it. Guss slowly eased himself into the seat.

  Xander slid out another chair for himself. He sat down, and the chair groaned under his immense weight.weight. April brought the drinks and quickly retreated upstairs.

  Guss and Xander stared at each other, their gazes filled with sadness.

  “Xander, where have you been?” Guss asked, his voice soft but stern.

  “I don’t know. I woke up in the forest east of here, with an Order of the Seraphs platoon escorting me in a carriage. Then we were attacked by a bandit clan called The Red Anchor.” He paused, his brow furrowed. “Guss, my memory is blurry, scrambled like a shattered blade. It feels like it was put together all wrong — parts of the blade missing.”

  His eyes watery as he stares at Xander. “Xander, you’ve been missing for fifty years. A lot has changed.”

  Xander’s eyes started to water. He reached for his silver cup, and took a swig of the ale. “Guss, the ale is good. But you never answered my question. How did you get old?”

  Guss smiled. “I removed my Arc Sigil. I started to age like a mortal. Sonya and I have twelve kids now.”

  Xander’s eyes widened in surprise. Wait… what? Why would he do that? Sonya and Guss got married?

  A few moments went by.

  “Guss, why..? Why become mortal?” Xander pressed.

  The old man leaned forward, his voice earnest. “I got married, Xander. I have kids. I want to die with my wife. I want my kids to bury me. If I were to die today, I would be okay with it. My life is full of love and cherished memories with my family. Sonya has treated me so well over the last forty-four years. I have no regrets.” He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

  Xander stared at Guss, the chair creaking under his weight as he leaned against it.

  “Xander, I don’t expect you to understand. It’s been fifty years since anyone has seen you. Times have changed.”

  Xander took another swig of his ale.

  “Xander what do you remember?” Guss asked.

  Xander sat in silence and stared into his mug. Tears streamed down his face, leaving trails in the dried ash, blood, and mud that caked his skin. He took a deep breath and lifted his head, meeting Guss concerned gaze.

  “When I woke up, I had no memories at all,” he began, his voice trembling slightly. “As time went on, memories would trickle in.” Xander looked back at his mug, now half-full of ale.

  Guss studied him carefully. “Well, I’ll tell you what I know after we get you cleaned up. Xander, you should know that the armor you’re wearing is no longer legal. Dela Mar — the kingdom it represents… is gone.”

  “Dela Mar… dela… dela...” he whispered. His fists clenched tightly, long nails digging into his palms, drawing small droplets of blood that trickled down his fingers.

  Guss watched Xander carefully, noting the change in his demeanor. “Xander, Dela Mar fell two years after you went missing.”

  Xander’s jaw clenched, teeth bared in a grimace of pain and anger.

  Guss reached out and placed a comforting hand on Xander’s arm. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But you’re not alone, Xander. I’m here for you, and together, we’ll piece together the truth of what happened. We’ll find a way to make sense of it all.”

  Xander nodded.

  “Alright, let’s get that armor off. April, come here, darling,” Guss called out.

  “One moment!” April’s voice echoed. She quickly descended the stairs, footsteps rapid against the hardwood floor. “Yes, Dad, what is it?” she asked as she approached.

  “April, could you help me take Xander’s armor off?” Guss asked before turning his attention to his daughter once more. “Where’s your brother Jan, by the way?”

  April nodded and took a deep breath. She shuffled over to Xander’s side and began unbuckling the straps of his shoulder plates, her delicate fingers working deftly.

  April replied, “Last I saw, he was at the stables, brushing his horse.”

  She carefully moved aside Xander’s long, bushy, and filthy hair to access the ragged straps of his back plate. With surprising ease, she managed to unbuckle them, and the back plate came loose. As April removed it, she noticed several arrowheads that had broken off and lodged themselves in Xander’s back, surrounded by metal shards. The weight of the armor proved too much for her, and she accidentally dropped the back plate. It crashed onto the wooden floor, the sound reverberating through the room.

  Xander chuckled, amused by the situation.

  April shot him a dirty look. “What’s so funny, you oversized ass?”

  “Nothing,” Xander replied casually, setting his chest plate down next to the pauldrons. Guss looked on, assessing the situation.

  “April, could you remove the metal impaled in him and get the shears and the bradmore screw from the surgeon’s set?” Guss asked, his voice calm and measured.

  April walked over to the kitchen cabinet, rummaging through its contents.“I got them!”

  She walked back to Guss and Xander and set the bradmore screw on the table.

  Guss turned to her. “Can you—?”

  “No, I will not, he is filthy,” April stated firmly.

  “Okay, Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to be a bother.” Guss grabbed the bradmore screw, his hands shaking slightly as he attempted to remove one of the arrowheads.

  “Fine! I’ll do it.” She held out her hand, and Guss passed her the Bradmore screw. “Alright, remove your gambeson,” she instructed Xander.

  Xander hesitated, then nodded and slowly peeled off his gambeson. Xander started to take off his shirt, which clung to his skin before finally giving way.

  April’s face drained of color. There is a tapestry of scars crisscrossed over his back. Wait... April shifts to the side of him. She gently traces the scars on his shoulders and arms. No person should have this many scars on their body and live to tell about it.

  April slowly reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they traced the raised edge of a particularly vicious scar on his shoulder blade.

  “I’m sorry,” She whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t think — I mean, I never imagined...”

  Xander looked down at his chest, then tried to twist to see his back. “What is it? What’s wrong with my body?”

  April’s eyes widened. “You... you don’t know? Your body is covered in scars. Your back, your chest, your arms... there are dozens of them.”

  His brow furrowed.“Scars?” he whispered. He ran his hands over his chest and arms, fingers tracing the raised lines. “I had no idea,” he murmured.

  April, get it together! She combed her long red hair behind her ears and started the delicate task of removing the arrowheads.

  I have to be careful. The arrowheads are deep. April removed a few of the arrowheads. Wait. Why is there so little blood? The way he’s healing... He can’t be a sigil bearer. Can he?

  April used a small knife to flick out the remaining metal shards. April glanced at Guss. “I guess you want me to cut his hair?”

  “Would you please?” Guss asked softly, his eyes holding hers.

  April looked at Guss, then at Xander. “Ugh!”

  She grabbed the shears and began cutting Xander’s hair, then suddenly stopped.

  “Actually, go take a bath. We have a tub big enough. It was just filled not long ago for Mom, so it should even be heated,” April suggested.

  Xander rose from the chair, and April showed him where the tub was located.

  “Xander, when you remove your armor, throw it out of the room so we can store it. I think we have an outfit or two of yours that we keep in the attic,” Guss said quietly.

  “Okay, Guss,” Xander replied.

  “Dad, whe—?” April started, but Guss interrupted. “I need you to go to the attic and grab those oversized clothes on the mannequin.”

  Xander threw his gauntlets outside the bathroom. Guss looked at the armor, then back at April.

  “I need you to move the armor to the guest room downstairs, in the secret wall,” Guss whispered urgently. April nodded and set off to the attic to grab Xander some fresh clothes.

  Guss sat down on the fancy chair. April walked up the stairs, navigating hallways and climbing another set of steps to reach the attic. She found the mannequin, and took the oversized clothes off of it.. Shit, we really do have his clothes here.

  Xander threw his greaves and cuisse out of the room. He closed the door and removed his trousers, slowly lowering himself into the warm tub of water. Oh, it’s hot. This feels good… This water was never used. Feels like it’s been forever since I took a hot bath. Guss has done really well for himself. Xander smiled. I really am happy for him.

  April rushed through the house, clothes in hand. “Dad, I got them,” she said, breathing heavily. She handed them over to Guss, and he gently took them from her.

  Guss walked over to the bathroom door, knocking softly.

  “Yeah?” Xander called out.

  Guss cracked the door open. “Here are your clothes.” He slid them through the small opening before closing the door again.

  “This armor is fucking heavy.” April huffed as she dragged it across the house, all the way to the secret spot in the wall.

  After a few minutes, April made her way back downstairs, outside the bathroom where her father was still waiting.

  Guss pulled her aside. “The armor needs to stay hidden,” he whispered. “If anyone sees it...” He glanced toward the bathroom where Xander was bathing. “If the wrong people find out he’s here, we’ll all be in danger.”

  “Dad! Why? You’re acting like this guy is some criminal. Who is Xander?” She heard movement from the bathroom. “Are you done already?”

  Xander cracked the door open. “Yeah, I’m almost fully dressed. These woolen pants and linen cloth shirt are very comfortable,” he said, his voice carrying through the house.

  Guss whispered to April, “Don’t say a word.” He turned back to Xander.

  “Okay, come sit at this table. April will cut your hair and nails.”

  “Let me get a fresh cloth,” April offered, quickly walking into the room. She walked past the tub and noticed how filthy and red the water inside had become.

  April grabbed a clean cloth and returned to Xander, who had sat down at the table. She draped the fabric around his broad shoulders and neck to catch the falling hair.

  With swift, precise movements, April cut Xander’s hair and beard. “Okay, now for your nails,” she said, reaching for his hand.

  Xander placed his other hand on the shears. “I can do this part. Thank you, April.”

  She nodded, placing a cloth on the table to catch his nail clippings. Guss joined April at the table, and the two sat down together, waiting patiently as Xander finished trimming his nails.

  April stood up and walked over to Xander. She cleaned the hair off the floor, gathered the nail shavings, and removed the cloth wrapped around his shoulders and neck before heading to the kitchen to dispose of them.

  “Thank you for grooming me and allowing me to bathe.” Xander looked around. “Where’s my armor?”

  Guss chuckled. “You’re welcome, old friend. Your armor is in a safe spot. Don’t worry about it. It’s probably scrap anyway, with all those dents and holes.”

  Xander nodded. “Yeah, you may be right.” The back door swung open before the two could continue, slamming into the wall with force.

  Sonya stormed into the kitchen with purpose, her eyes widening as she took in Xander’s clean appearance. His short beard, mid-neck length hair, and visible white skin, no longer covered in ash, blood, and dirt, allowed his bright green eyes to shine through.

  Sonya’s face twisted with shock and disbelief. “You can’t be alive!” she screamed, her voice echoing through the room. “That’s a ghost, Guss! He can’t be alive!”

  Xander looked at Sonya with confusion etched on his face.

  Guss stepped in, his voice reassuring. “Calm down, Sonya. It’s alright. It’s Xander, it’s really him.” Sonya’s eyes flashed with anger.

  “Guss, bedroom. Now!” Sonya yelled.

  The couple hastily entered their bedroom, Sonya closed the door behind them. The yelling was muffled.

  Xander and April sat in awkward silence.

  Moments later, Guss and Sonya emerged from the room. Sonya rushed back into the kitchen. Her eyes locked onto Xander.

  “Sonya, why are you mad at me? What did I do?” Xander asked.

  Sonya slammed her fist on the table, her voice trembling with emotion. “Damn you! You don’t get to ask that! You left us all—!”

  “That’s enough!”That’s enough,” Guss said firmly.

  Xander lowered his head, tears welling in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Sonya. The memories I do have are fragmented and scrambled.”

  “You left us for fifty years when we needed you the most! You left her in the after—!” She choked on her words, unable to finish the sentence. “You’re a piece of shit for that, too!”

  Xander met Sonya’s gaze, tears streaming down his face.

  Guss sighed. “Sony—.”

  “Guss, I’m not done! I don’t believe you that you don’t remember. You walked in here with that armor. Because of you, Dela Mar fell… Two years after you went missing.”

  Xander stood abruptly, heading towards the door.

  Gus shook his head at Sonya. “See what you’ve done.”

  The older man got up and walked over to Xander, grasping his arm. “Xander, where are you going?”

  “I’m leaving, Guss.” Xander looked down at the old man..

  “No, please stay. We have plenty of room. I told you, we have fifty years to catch up on. I guarantee you’ll have more people mad at you than happy to see you.”

  “But why? What did I do?” Xander turned towards Guss.

  “It’s not what you did. It’s how you did it and the ramifications after your death... Or should I say, disappearance.”

  Sonya stormed out of the house through the back door. April got up and walked into the living room. She leaned against the wall, watching Xander and Guss.

  “I don’t understand why this man is such a fuss, Dad.” April said.

  Guss turned to her. “This man was the leader of the Kingdom of the Free Crimson Knights.”

  As the words left Guss lips, April tilted her head. Wait, my father was part of the kingdom for a good part of his life. The leader was Xander… Blight?

  April’s eyes widened. This is all too much. I need fresh air. She left the living room and went back to the kitchen. She stumbled back a step, hand instinctively reaching out to steady herself against the nearby wall.

  April shook her head. No. “It can’t be... are you sure, Dad? That’s him?”

  “I knew it was him the moment I saw him on the stairs,” Guss said softly. “It’s why your mother is so angry.”

  Wait... Xander Blight is from the stories my father talked about? I feel so damn sick right now. April’s legs felt weak. She ran her fingers through her hair, tugging at the roots.

  The leader of The Crimson Knight of Free, Xander went missing when he went to war with Celsius. April was able to pull herself together as she looked at her father and Xander from the kitchen.

  April chuckled. No, he’s just a legend. The hero who disappeared... The Champion of Dela Mar... How can he be here? Now? In our house?

  She turned to look at Xander, seeing him with new eyes. The scars on his body now make sense. “Dad,” she said, her voice cracked. “If he’s really Xander Blight, then everything... Everything changes, doesn’t it?”

  Guss nodded. “April, my darling, yes. This is Xander Blight.”

  “Guss, I am confused. What’s goin—?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing to worry about right now. April, sweetheart, why don’t you go find your mother? Make sure she’s alright.” He gently guided April towards the door.

  April hesitated, her eyes darting between Xander and her father. With a shaky nod, she turned and left the house, calling out for Sonya.

  As the door closed behind her, the room fell into a heavy silence. Guss turned back to Xander. His shoulders sagged.

  “Xander, you need to know... Sonya and I, we never stopped looking for you. Not for a single moon.” Guss said.

  Xander’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I’m sorry — for everything, Guss,” he whispered.

  The two men stood in silence, sorrow hanging heavily in the air between them. Xander and Guss remained motionless, each lost to their own thoughts, grappling with their unexpected reunion. The day was far from over, but for these two old friends, it felt as though a lifetime had already passed.