The Bastard and the Prince

As the troops began to move, the tension between Lysandra and Alaric hung in the air like an unspoken argument. Knights, mercenaries, and supply wagons rattled forward, the sound of hooves and wheels filling the courtyard as they set out toward the northern forests. The weight of the mission pressed heavily on everyone, but for Alaric, there was an additional burden—the frustration and concern he felt over Lysandra's defiance.

He rode beside her, his eyes occasionally flicking to her. Despite her confident strides, he knew the risk she'd taken in using the rune. Magic was forbidden, and one mistake could cost them all dearly.

"You realize what you're risking by coming," he said quietly, his voice just loud enough for her to hear over the clatter of the horses.

Lysandra didn't look at him, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "And you realize what you're risking by leaving me behind."

He frowned, his grip on the reins tightening. "This isn't about ego, Lysandra. If Halvard—suspects you used magic, they'll report it straight to my father. You know what that means."

She finally turned her head to meet his gaze, her expression hard but unwavering. "And if the ghouls overrun your men because you're short one fighter, what then? Sometimes risks are worth taking, Alaric. You of all people should know that."

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he considered her words. She wasn't wrong, but the stakes were higher than she realized. His father's letter, still tucked inside his coat, was a constant reminder of how precarious their position truly was.

Roderic rode up alongside them, breaking the tense silence. "Scouts report no movement near the city's edge, but the forest ahead looks dense. Perfect for an ambush."

"Then we stay alert," Alaric said, his tone sharper than intended. "No one strays from formation. If anything moves, we deal with it swiftly."

Roderic nodded, his gaze flicking briefly to Lysandra before returning to Alaric. "You sure about this?" he asked, his voice low but pointed.

Alaric's jaw tightened again, his gaze steady. "She stays. She fights. End of discussion."

Roderic raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, spurring his horse forward to relay orders to the rest of the group.

Lysandra smirked faintly, the corners of her mouth tugging upward as she glanced at Alaric. "End of discussion, huh?"

"Don't push your luck," he replied flatly, though the faintest flicker of amusement crossed his features.

The road ahead grew narrower as the troops entered the forest, the dense canopy above casting everything in a muted green light. The tension in the air grew thicker with each passing mile, every creak of the wagon wheels and rustle of leaves putting the group on edge.

Lysandra's hand rested on the hilt of her blade, her sharp eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of movement. She could feel Alaric's presence beside her, steady and commanding, but also tinged with the unspoken concern he couldn't seem to hide.

As the group pressed deeper into the woods, the faint scent of decay began to waft through the air. Lysandra's nose wrinkled, and she glanced at Alaric. "Smell that?"

He nodded grimly. "The ghouls are close."

A shout from the front of the formation confirmed it. "Movement ahead!"

Lysandra drew her blade in one fluid motion, her body tensing as the forest erupted with sound. From the shadows, ghouls began to emerge—gaunt, pale creatures with glowing eyes and clawed hands, their hissing cries cutting through the air like knives.

The troops exploded into action. Knights and mercenaries formed a defensive line, steel clashing against claw and bone as the ghouls swarmed. Alaric unsheathed his sword, the blade flashing as he cut down one of the creatures that lunged toward him.

"Lysandra!" he called, glancing over his shoulder to ensure she was still standing.

"Busy!" she shouted back, her voice steady as she drove her blade through the chest of a ghoul, its body crumpling to the ground in a heap.

The fight was chaotic, the forest alive with the sounds of battle. Despite her earlier injuries, Lysandra moved with precision and ferocity, her blade carving through the ghouls with deadly efficiency. Alaric stayed close, his strikes precise as he protected the knights and mercenaries around him.

"Hold the line!" Roderic shouted, his voice rising above the din. "Don't let them through!"

As the ghouls began to thin, a low, guttural growl echoed through the forest, freezing everyone in place. From the shadows, a much larger ghoul stepped forward, its massive frame dwarfing the others. Its glowing eyes locked onto Alaric, and it let out a deafening roar.

"Well, that's new," Lysandra muttered, her grip tightening on her blade.

Alaric glanced at her, his expression grim. "Stay back."

She smirked, stepping forward to stand beside him. "Not a chance."

The two charged at the massive ghoul, their movements synchronized as if they fight side by side. Alaric's blade flashed in the dim light of the forest, striking at the creature's arm, while Lysandra darted to its flank, her blade aimed at its side. The ghoul roared, its massive claws swiping through the air with surprising speed, forcing them to dodge.

As Lysandra rolled out of the way of a strike, her sharp eyes caught something unusual. Just beyond the towering creature, in the shadows of the forest, a smaller figure stood still. The figure's pale, gaunt features and glowing eyes marked it as a ghoul, but it was different—its posture was unnaturally composed, its glowing eyes focused and calculating as it watched the battle unfold.

"Alaric!" she shouted, slashing at the massive ghoul's leg to drive it back. "There's another one—behind it! It's… watching the others."

Alaric dodged a heavy swing from the creature, his blade flashing as he sliced into its thick arm. "What do you mean, 'watching'?" he called, glancing toward where she was pointing.

"I believe it's commanding them!" Lysandra yelled, her voice edged with urgency. "Look at how the others move—it's not random. They're coordinated, like a pack."

Alaric's gaze flicked to the smaller ghoul. It stood unnervingly still, its glowing eyes darting between the massive creature and the other ghouls still attacking the others. As if on cue, the remaining ghouls moved in unison, shifting their focus to the knights protecting the wagons.

"Dammit," Alaric muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. "You're right. It's controlling them."

"We need to take it out," Lysandra said, dodging another swipe from the massive ghoul. Her voice was strained but steady. "That thing is the key. Kill it, and the others might scatter."

"Easier said than done," Alaric replied, his gaze snapping back to the towering creature in front of them. "This one's not going to let us near it."

The massive ghoul roared again, its claws slamming into the ground, sending a shockwave of dirt and debris flying. Lysandra and Alaric staggered back, momentarily blinded.

Lysandra gritted her teeth, her mind racing. "I'll distract it," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You go for the commander."

"Absolutely not," Alaric snapped, his voice sharp. "You're still recovering—"

"Alaric, we don't have time for this!" she shouted, cutting him off. "You're faster than me. Just go! I can handle this one."

For a moment, he hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed the risk. Finally, he nodded, his gaze meeting hers. "Don't get yourself killed."

She smirked faintly, raising her blade. "Not planning on it."

As Alaric broke off toward the commander, Lysandra lunged at the massive ghoul, her movements quick and unpredictable as she kept its attention focused on her. The creature roared in frustration, its claws slashing through the air as it tried to catch her, but she was already moving, her blade striking at its legs and arms with calculated precision.

Alaric weaved through the chaos of the battlefield, cutting down smaller ghouls that moved to block his path. The commander remained still, its glowing eyes locked onto him as if aware of his approach. When he was close enough, it let out a guttural hiss, raising one clawed hand as if to command the ghouls to protect it.

"Not this time," Alaric muttered, charging forward. His blade arced through the air, aimed straight for the creature's chest. The commander moved with unnatural speed, dodging the strike and swiping at him with razor-sharp claws.

The two clashed in a blur of movement, Alaric's sword meeting the creature's claws with the sound of grinding steel. Despite its smaller size, the commander was fast and relentless, its attacks forcing him to stay on the defensive.

Meanwhile, Lysandra continued to wear down the massive ghoul, her strikes precise but growing slower as exhaustion began to set in. "Alaric," she muttered under her breath, her gaze flicking toward him. "Hurry up…"

With a burst of strength, Alaric feinted to the left, then drove his blade straight into the commander's chest. The creature let out a piercing shriek, its glowing eyes dimming as it fell to its knees.

As the commander crumpled to the ground, the massive ghoul and the others faltered, their movements becoming sluggish and disorganized. Lysandra seized the moment, driving her blade into the massive creature's heart with a final, powerful strike. It let out a low growl before collapsing, shaking the ground beneath it.

The battlefield grew eerily silent as the remaining ghouls scattered into the forest, their coordination broken without the commander's influence. Lysandra leaned on her sword for support, breathing heavily as Alaric approached, his blade dripping with dark ichor.

"Nice work," she said between breaths, her smirk faint but genuine.

"Same to you," he replied, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Remind me to never doubt you again."

Lysandra chuckled weakly, wiping sweat from her brow. "I'll hold you to that."

Roderic and the others began regrouping, their expressions grim but determined. As the remaining ghouls scattered and the battlefield fell into an uneasy silence, Lysandra wiped her blade clean and turned to Alaric, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Ever heard of a ghoul commanding ghouls?" she asked, her voice low but steady. "I thought that kind of power could only be wielded by… well, powerful magic wielders."

Alaric sheathed his blade, his expression grim as he glanced at the fallen commander. Its lifeless body still emitted an unsettling aura, as though the magic that had animated it hadn't entirely faded. "You're right," he said quietly. "Ghouls don't organize themselves. That kind of control comes from something—or someone—stronger."

Lysandra crouched beside the creature, examining its clawed hands and the faint, glowing marks etched into its withered skin. Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "These markings… they look like runes, but they're corrupted. Twisted. Someone branded this thing with magic."

Alaric knelt beside her, his jaw tightening as he studied the marks. " Whoever did this didn't just use magic—they infused it into the ghoul itself. This isn't natural. It's… darker."

She looked up at him, her expression sharp. "And dangerous. If someone's capable of this, they're not just experimenting—they're building something. Controlling something."

Alaric nodded, his face clouded with concern. "And they're doing it on Voltarian soil."

Lysandra stood, wiping her hands on her cloak. "Do you think this has anything to do with the Eldren forces near the border? Or is it something worse?"

"Could be either," Alaric admitted, his tone heavy. "The timing is suspicious, but the Eldren wouldn't need ghouls to challenge us. If anything, this feels like someone else—someone who wants to sow chaos."

She glanced back at the scattered remains of the battlefield, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "Then we need to find out who. If they're building an army of ghouls, this is just the beginning."

Alaric sighed, running a hand through his hair as his mind raced. "First, we regroup. Then we push deeper into the forest. That temple Halvard mentioned—it's our best lead."

Lysandra raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking we'll find whoever—or whatever—did this there?"

"Or at least some answers," Alaric replied, his voice resolute. "We can't leave this unchecked, Lysandra. If we don't stop it now, it'll only get worse."

She nodded, her gaze steady. "Then we'll stop it. Together."

Alaric gave her a faint smile, the weight of the situation clear in his eyes. "Together," he echoed, before turning to address the others. "Roderic, get everyone ready to move. We're heading for the temple."

As the group began to prepare for the next part of the misson, Lysandra lingered for a moment, her eyes on the fallen commander. Whoever you were working for, she thought grimly, we're coming for you.