KESM: Chronicles of A Damned Hero

"NO!"

A scream ripped through the silence of the ruins before awareness crept in. He awoke, gasping. Not like a man waking from sleep, but like one drowning. Clawing at air desperately.

Cold light filtered through the cracks of the rubble above him, and for a moment, everything was still. Sabbath blinked the blur from his eyes and reached instinctively for something that was supposed to matter to him... a locket maybe?

He lurched upright as a thin whine pierced the silence, sharp and constant, though he couldn't tell if it was coming from outside, or just inside his skull. Looking around, bodies littered the area. Not whole ones. Not all of them human.

His vision blurred once more as he stared down at his palms - wet and soaked with blood. No weapon. No memory. Just a sense of urgency pounding in his chest.

Move. His mind raced as he stumbled forward clumsily, glass crunching underfoot, knees buckling. His bleeding feet scraped tar and human remains. The banners of some royal House hung torn from their poles, with the trampled sigil of a beast too charred for recognition. What happened here?

Something inside him ached. Gnawing at his consciousness trying to surface, like a name on the tip of his tongue that he remembered... but not quite.

"Where am I?" He muttered, the words present but foreign, unfamiliar with the sound of his own voice.

Yet, it didn't matter, because that wasn't the right question... so he asked again, more to himself than anyone - not like they could answer; "Who am I?"

He staggered forward again, leaning against a charred fountain, and caught his reflection in the still water. A face stared back he couldn't recognize. Green eyes ringed with red... blood, a streak of crimson running from temple to jaw. And behind him, in the water's reflection - a shadow moved.

He spun. Yet seeing nothing. No one.

But his heart pounded with knowing. He wasn't alone.

Not anymore.

×××

The world felt different in the heat of battle.

Under a restless sky smeared with the faint glow of the setting sun, five figures faced off against a groaning beast.

"Emaila, now!"

A deafening explosion split the air as the beast's final moments of clarity dissolved into regret, its massive form collapsing with earth-shaking force. Thick smoke rose, obscuring the aftermath.

"I told you not to be so careless." Jon chides, his calm yet sharp voice cutting through the noise.

"Cough, cough - that was sickkk." Hayz exclaimed, a carefree grin visible even as he waved past the dust cloud.

"Would you quit whining!" Angelie and Emaila snap in unison, their tones dripping with exhaustion, though tinged with familiar warmth.

Dropping his two-handed war hammer to the ground, a gust of wind rushed forth from its impact, clearing the smoke. Hayz emerged where the fallen creature lay defeated.

Lifeless across the clearing, its monstrous body once towered at nearly twelve meters tall - a hulking creature of muscle and armor, brimming with raw power. Now, it was nothing but a grotesque husk.

"Tell them, Sabby." Emaila said, pouting as she turned to their silent leader. "I totally deserve the biggest cut since I landed the finishing blow!"

Angelie nodded in silent agreement. Not saying anything just yet.

"Excuse you." Jon mocked, brushing dust off his crimson cloak with exaggerated flair. "If anyone deserves that, it's me."

Their bickering escalated, lighthearted but relentless, witty jabs flying back and forth. Yet, at the edge of the clearing, Sabbath watched it all in silence. Seated on a narrow ledge, his expression filled with mirth and otherwise jet-black eyes, flecked with ghostly green lights, flickering like flames in a glass prism - swept across them.

Sabby said with a soft chuckle. His voice carried effortless authority, equal parts amused and calm. "We're not changing what happened." He continued, leaning back on the ledge. His dreadlocked hair, streaked with white and tied in a characteristic ponytail - caught the faint light of dusk. "Hayz broke its defenses. Emaila kept it distracted. Jon made sure it was pinned. Angelie's traps further weakened its stance. Everyone played a part. No one gets extra credit."

He paused, letting his words settle. Then, with a smirk, he delivered his verdict.

"Profits will be split equally. End of discussion."

A chorus of reluctant agreement followed, followed by hearty laughter as they began sorting through the spoils of their hunt.

Sabbath, however, stayed apart. His gaze drifted to the horizon, a distant look in his eyes. His svelte frame appeared relaxed as he rested his elbows on his knees... Yet his mind was anything but. Blending use and elegance, he sported brown fitted pants and a loosely buttoned white shirt, which revealed his bare chest. Around his neck rested a silver necklace, the pendant - shaped like a chess piece - shimmered faintly, if one could see it in enough detail, at this time, they would say it looked like a Rook piece.

Though the battle was over, and laughter filled the air, Sabbath remained distant. Mentally preparing for the final adventure on this long journey of theirs.

×××

Bearing the remains of the slain creature, the group moved toward a weathered wooden shack; they had spent four days getting here, for it never had a single resting place. Its unassuming exterior nearly lost among the dense foliage. At first glance, it seemed like a forgotten relic, barely held together by time and chance.

To an outsider, it looked like nothing more than an abandoned hunter's cabin. But as Sabbath pushed open the creaking door, the interior unfolded into an impossibly vast space, far larger than the modest shack should have allowed, an architectural paradox that none of them seemed to question - not anymore.

Polished wooden walls curved into high, vaulted ceilings, illuminated by the warm glow of glass fixtures. The air carried a faint scent of aged parchment and fresh ink, mingled with the subtle hum of gizmos, whispered conversations and distant footsteps.

This was the Nexus, a hub of activity for adventurers, informants, and mercenaries alike. Its tables were arranged in semi-private clusters, where cloaked figures traded secrets and strategies undisturbed, or shared hearty conversations over a meal after another successful hunt.

The group drew little attention as they hauled their trophy past the center of the room. The Nexus thrived on discretion, and its patrons knew better than to pry into someone else's business.

"Well," Jon said, deactivating a Spell upon releasing his spoils onto a proofing stone platform. "I'd say that earns us at least a week's worth of drinks, food, and counts towards our release."

"Repairs too," Angelie added, inspecting the torn edge of her armor. "Pretty sure that Ogre dented part of my plating."

Hayz clapped her on the shoulder, his grin as wide as ever. "Worth it, though. Did you see its face when I brought the hammer down? Absolutely priceless."

Sabbath tuned out their chatter, his attention drawn to the towering board dominating one wall. Notices, bounties, and mission updates covered its surface, pinned with meticulous precision. Tabs from the Esper Kingdom flickered and updated in real time, offering a constant stream of intelligence from across the Four Kingdoms, not just about Fiends, but news and everything in-between.

Today, however, the group had no time to marvel at the mystery of it all. They were here for a reason, a purpose rooted in a promise made long ago - one which weighed heavier on some, than even the remains of the Fiend had.

Preparations.... For their final mission as Bound.