Kael:Swords and Flowers

The Silent Hunt Begins

Kael woke with the first light of morning. He hadn't slept all night, but now, he no longer needed to.

He placed a flower on Elira's grave.

He placed a stone on Eris's grave.

And on Mara's grave, he drove his own dagger into the earth.

Then, he turned his back and began to walk.

From now on, there would be no peace or mercy.

Only revenge...

For Kael, there was only one thing left: To track.

He had to leave behind the cold silence of death and pursue the bandits. But there was a big problem ahead… Who were they?

Had the bandits launched a random attack, or was this a message? They might have left a trail behind. But Kael's mind, burned by the fire of revenge, had to carefully go over every detail.

Bloody Tracks

Kael examined the wreckage of their carriage. Broken wood, toppled wheels, and blood-stained earth... But something caught his eye: A piece of flag.

A pale emblem carved into leather. A dagger surrounded by a serpent...

Kael knew this symbol.

"The Black Fang Guild…"

This name had been nothing more than a whisper from the past. Hired killers, raiders, slave traders... They were more than just bandits. Kael's blood froze.

This was no coincidence.

If they were part of this guild, this was far from a simple robbery. Someone had specifically targeted Kael's family.

On the Trail

Kael followed the mud stains on the ground and the horseshoe tracks. It hadn't rained the previous night, so the tracks were still fresh.

He could find them…

But when he reached a crossroads, he hesitated. The tracks split into two.

One group headed west, toward the dark pass between the mountains.

The other headed north, toward the junction of trade routes.

Kael squinted his eyes.

If they were heading for the trade route, they were likely going to sell their spoils. This meant the bandits were either selling slaves or trying to offload looted goods in a nearby town.

If they were heading toward the mountains, they were hiding. This likely meant they were returning to the guild's base.

Kael had to make a choice.

Which Path to Take?

• He could head toward the mountains and directly attack the guild's center. This would be risky, but it could give him the chance to get his revenge right away.

• Or he could follow the trade route, perhaps freeing any captured prisoners or recovering stolen goods.

Kael clenched his fist in anger. Which path should he take?

Kael paused for a moment, trying to steady his breath. He had to make his choice. He would follow the trade route.

If they were going to sell their goods, this would be the best chance to track the bandits. Also, maybe... just maybe... there was someone alive. Even though there was no glimmer of hope left inside him, he had to see the truth with his own eyes.

On the Trail: Toward the Trade Route

Kael moved forward after swearing over the bodies of the dead. The wrecked cart was useless, so he would have to proceed on foot.

The dirt road was hard, and the tracks were clear. The bandits had fled in haste but carelessly enough to leave a trail. This worked in Kael's favor.

As he followed the tracks, he saw a few small drops of blood along the way. Clearly, one of the bandits or perhaps a captured prisoner was injured.

These tracks made Kael's blood boil even more.

He advanced step by step until he reached his first goal.

Arriving at the Town

As the sun set, Kael saw the silhouette of a town on the horizon. It was small, but lively. Merchants, vendors, mercenaries, and hired swords would flood in here.

The bandits were trying to sell their loot here.

Kael silently moved through the shadows and reached the entrance gate. He noticed a few men eyeing him as he entered. They were used to seeing strangers, but this kind of gaze... it meant something else.

Could the Black Fang Guild have men here?

Trusting his instincts, Kael made his way first to the market square.

If anything was being sold here, it would surely be heard.

The Black Fang's Tracks

While wandering the market, Kael's eyes landed on a few traders. Some were selling stolen goods. But he knew he wouldn't find exactly what he was looking for right away.

Instead, he began to listen to the conversations.

A group of men were drinking and talking loudly in a corner:

"They came here with a caravan… I think they went toward the stables."

"Who were they?"

"I don't know, but they look like Black Fang men. They were here last month too."

Kael clenched his fist.

Now he was certain.

The bandits were here. And he was very close to finding them.

Kael squinted his eyes and silently moved toward the direction of the stables. Tonight, the first blood would be spilled.

Kael took slow, careful steps. His eyes were scanning every corner and shadow as he moved. With every step, his anger and thirst for revenge grew. The bandits' trail had led him here. Now, he had to track down the killers who had entered this town. He could feel the pain of his family's loss with every passing moment.

As he neared the stables, Kael took a deep breath. Tonight, everything would change.

Stealth and speed. These were his greatest weapons. Kael moved stealthily, hiding behind dark corners and piles of stones as he advanced. The loneliness, rage, and hopelessness he felt with each step merged into a ghost-like silence, moving him forward.

The doors to the stables were very close now. Kael carefully approached a crack and began to observe what was happening inside. A group of men had gathered in the dark. They were dressed in dark clothes, their faces partially obscured, possibly members of the Black Fang Guild. They were holding stolen goods: a small chicken, a few precious stones, some old, worn-out jewelry. But Kael wasn't focused on them. He was looking for something else.

Wasn't there something unusual in one of their hands?

Yes. In a corner, one man was hiding something with a torn cloth. A child's shoe. Kael's heart stopped for a moment.

They were so close.

Soon, the men's arguments grew louder. One was shouting angrily.

"When are we selling this stuff?!"

Another answered more calmly.

"We'll wait a little longer. If a buyer comes near our shop, we can sell everything. But we should check this stuff. Who knows which town we stole it from..."

Kael's eyes darkened further. That shoe... It was a child's shoe. Kael lost control of his rage.

Every second that passed was making him want to reveal himself.

The Battle Begins

Kael suddenly moved. With his silhouette disappearing into the darkness, he quickly lunged forward, knocking the first man unconscious with a swift sword strike. The others noticed too late. Kael, like a ghost, took down the men one by one. Every move was calculated, every strike felt like an explosion of fury.

As the bandits quickly gathered, one of them, in a fit of rage, shouted the Black Fang's purpose.

"That man ruined our business! Kill him!"

Kael, with every move, pushed his enemies back, making his sword dance in the air. But the darkness within him grew with every new strike. They had harmed his family. And tonight, he had to be stronger than them.

Even though he had once decided to avoid violence and fight for humanity, he was now testing how far he would go for his family. Kael fought like an animal. Rage and loss had turned him into a monster.

Despite the tough battle, Kael systematically took down the men. The Black Fang's traces were erased.

At the Edge of Life: Kael's Final Decision

Kael, watching the last man fall to the ground, slowly began to breathe heavily. That deep emptiness inside him grew once again. After all of this, what had he gained? Killing these men—would it bring him true peace?

But something had shifted. He had avenged his family. He had to give his life a new direction.

The town was dark, and Kael was a broken man. But somehow, he had to find his way again. He had pursued his anger and loss, and now, he was left alone with himself.

He had to look ahead.

As Kael had knocked out the bandits one by one, a question had begun to grow within him. "Why would such ordinary bandits carry out such a bold act?" His thoughts raced, his eyes frozen. Were these men fighting just for money, or was there a greater power behind them?

After taking down the men, Kael quickly scanned the area. Besides a shoe, gloves, and a few personal items, he found no sign of anyone else. But Kael felt there was more to this. He quickly checked the area, carefully examining every corner and dark space. And then, something caught his eye—a symbol carved into a blackboard.

It was the royal seal.

This was the same kingdom that had falsely accused Kael in his youth, the one that had caused his life to be ruined and thrown him into prison. Though the seal had seemed to disappear officially, it had resurfaced now. The same kingdom that had once framed Kael and sent him to the dungeon had left its traces before him.

Kael took a deep breath. It couldn't be that simple.

A New Mission

A few days later, Kael deepened his investigation. The kingdom, which he didn't even want to mention by name, wouldn't escape from him. The "Black Fang" guild wasn't just about money anymore; everything was part of a plan.

While continuing his secret research, Kael started to reach out to a few important names. First, there was Evershade, a mansion owned by a long-lost noble of the kingdom. The mansion hadn't been opened to anyone in recent years, but Kael had a suspicion. Still, before going there, he checked some old information from nearby villages.

Poisonous Birds

As Kael was traveling along the road in the early morning, he came across a cart. The people in the cart seemed detached and gloomy, moving along in complete indifference. Kael briefly considered following them, but he could sense that something was wrong. He felt as though someone was always hiding in the shadows. But this was just the beginning of another test.

That day, Kael realized who his true enemy was. The bandits and guild members were just pawns, mere tools in a much larger and darker scheme.

Secret Alliances

Days later, when Kael arrived at the mansion in Evershade, he was met with an unexpected sight. The doors creaked open, and inside, there were only a few old slaves and servants. However, one man was waiting for him. With his pale hair and cold gaze, it was Kael's old friend, Bastian.

Bastian took a step toward Kael and extended his hand. "You must remember me, old friend."

Kael stared at him for a long moment. "Bastian... But you..."

Bastian interrupted, speaking swiftly. "I want you to join my side, Kael. But you need to know the truth. This isn't just about your revenge. The kingdom has always been one step ahead. And we aim to use people like you to carry out our strongest plans. Everything is heading towards one inevitable conclusion."

The Sinister Face of the Truth

Bastian's words echoed in Kael's mind. "The kingdom... The force behind everything?"

The shock Kael felt quickly turned into hatred. For years, he had tried to understand the true face of the kingdom. Once declared guilty, and now, as a result of all these events, they were still trying to use him.

Bastian noticed Kael's silence and a smile spread across his face. "The gears of the kingdom will always target you. You must always know that."

Kael's Final Decision

Kael absorbed Bastian's words, torn between the anger and desire for vengeance that had consumed him for years. He could never forget the pain of losing his family; their memories would always follow him. However, to fully grasp the depth of this situation, he needed to learn more.

He paused, his eyes filling with darkness. Nothing would ever go back to how it was. He had to begin a battle against the kingdom, Bastian, and his own dark past.

Kael slowly, but decisively, set his new course. This time, he was not alone. By combining his inner strength and rage, he was plotting to go beyond everything.

For Kael was no longer simply seeking revenge. He wanted to bring an end to everything that the kingdom stood for.