Beware the Butcher: A man named Wilhelm

“Lilly..! Lilly wake up!”

The little Minotaur’s eyes fluttered open, yawning a squeaky yawn and rubbing the sand away. The pile of hay and leafs she called a bed was insignificant and cramped in the deepest and darkest corner of the cave. Her eyes adjusted to the dark long ago, she rarely went out into day light.

“P...Papa?” She tilted her head, her tail whipping back and forth. “What's going on?”

The man crouched in front of her was ragged and worn, his only decency being the shredded cloth that hid his privates. He was covered in scratches and bruises, his left eye black and blue. His beard was long and scruffy, hanging down to his chest by now, he can't even remember the last time he had a bath.

“Lilly, its time to go...” He told her, stroking her hair gently.

“But where are we going?” She asked, covering her mouth for another yawn. “Mama won't let us leave.”

“That's...” He looked away, hiding the bloody shiv behind his back. “Mama had to go away for a long time...”

“Where did she go?” Lilly asked.

“It doesn't matter...” He answered her. “But we have to go. I'm going to take you somewhere safe, somewhere you can grow up and be happy...”

“Really!?” Lilly looked at him with a hopeful smile. “I don't like it here anymore...”

“Well you'll never have to see it again...” Lilly's father told her, giving her a reassuring smile. “Come on, lets go.”

Lilly rose to her hooves and stumbled, her right leg was still weak and sore from that kick Mama gave her.

“Does it still hurt?” He asked, pressing his fingers gently against her fur covered leg.

“Y...Yeah. But I'll be fine, Papa!”

“Here, I'll carry you.” Lilly's father picked her up and held her face close to her chest. “Don't open your eyes until we get outside, okay?”

“Okay, Papa!”

Lilly's father wasted no time finding his way out of the cave, he made sure she couldn't see the aftermath of what had transpired. He glanced to his left one last time, looking over the lifeless corpse of the monster that had held him prisoner for all these years, lying on her stomach in a pool of her own blood.

He didn't stop, the night was still young and it was too dangerous to rest. The rain and thunder pounded overhead, battering his almost naked form. But it gave him the distraction he needed to reach civilization unnoticed, few creatures prowl the night when the skies crack with anger. He tried to shield his daughter for as long as he could, but eventually his arms would tire and he would have to move her on his back. It was only a few hours away, and all of his strength would be used to bring her to safety.

“My word...” Clementine grumbled impatiently, her fluffy grey ears twitching with anger. “What manner of hooligan harasses a manor this late at night?”

The Kikimora maid stomped towards the banging door, brandishing a spear that was held by one of the many suits of armour put up for display around the house. She swung the door open and pointed the spear at the perpetrator, her angry eyes widening in shock at the sight before him.

“M-Master Alexander!?” She shrieked, dropping the spear to the ground. It had been years, but she knew those eyes ever since he was just a little boy.

“Clementine!? What is all the commot-” The master of the home left his room and headed for the stairs, holding a candle in one hand and a blade in the other. He saw the man standing in the doorway with his hands on the shoulders of a naked Minotaur girl.

“Master Herbert!” Clementine was in tears. “It is Alexander! He has returned to us!”

“C-c-c-c-Clementine...” Alexander shivered. “Please, help my daughter...”

“Your daughter...?” Her eyes focused on the little girl standing in front of him, soaked and shivering.

“My word! She'll turn ill! Come with me, sweetheart!”

“Papa..?” Lilly looked up at her father.

“Go with Clementine, Lilly...” He muttered. “She's a nice lady, she'll look after you.”

Lilly nodded and hesitantly took Clementine's offered hand, letting the Kikimora lead her into another room.

“...My boy...” Herbert gasped, cautiously approaching the ragged and thin man that was apparently his son. “Is it really you?”

“Father...” Alexander wheezed before toppling over, Herbert catching him in his arms before he slammed into the ground.

Herbert turned his head back towards the stairs, staring at the rather plump brown haired woman standing atop the stairs, her right hand gripped on the front of her teal night gown.

“Alex.” She gulped, rushing down the stairs and wrapping both Herbert and Alexander in a embrace, weeping openly. “My poor, poor little Alex!”
-
“Take your time, son.” Said Herbert, adding another log to the fire. “We have all the time in the world now.”

Alexander shivered even under all the blankets his mother had thrown on him. His light brown hair was long and covered his eyes, ending just past his shoulders in the back. He was much thinner than he was before he disappeared, his muscles he did manage to maintain were small and tender. Herbert and Alexanders mother, Fran, sat in the love seat just across from him, having regained their senses after the events that had suddenly occured.

“We were attacked by Crusaders just as we were heading into Zant's boarders...” He muttered. “We held out for as long as we could, but eventually the men routed and we scattered... We were being picked off by arrows one by one until finally only Johann and I remained, but we lost track of one another and I ended up lost in a forest north of here...”

He coughed heavily, gasping for air before taking another drink of water.

“I tried to find Johann, thought we had a better chance of surviving together. But then I was gored from behind and battered against a tree...The next thing I remembered was being dragged off deeper into the woods...”

“Alex...” Fran spoke up. “You've been gone for seven years...”

“I tried to escape, I tried to fight her off or even kill her, that damn minotaur...” Alexander continued. “But she always had the upper hand, always had the strength on her side. And when she became pregnant, I couldn't bring myself to fight anymore. But she was always so neglectful to Liliana, always so abusive and vicious. But just tonight, when she was trying to force herself on me, my hand found itself over a rather sharp stone, and...”

He gulped and looked up to his parents. “Now I'm here...”

“Liliana is her name?” Herbert asked, pouring more water into Alexander's cup.

“I named her.” Alexander admitted. “I also taught her how to speak, I wanted to teach her more, but...There really isn't much I could do.”

“How old is she now?” Fran asked.

“Five...”

“That poor girl...” Fran sighed. “But she's safe now.”

“Papa?”

Alexander looked towards the entrance of the room, he almost didn't recognize his daughter in clothing.

“I did what I could for her leg and gave her some of your clothing from when you were her age.” Said Clementine while she led Liliana by her hand to her father's side. “She's had a nice bath and something warm to eat as well.”

“Thank you, Miss Clementine...” Liliana smiled.

“And so polite! Not something you expect from a Minota-...Ahem, excuse me.”

Clementine bowed and stepped back into the corner of the room, holding her hands together in front of her apron.

“Please, father...” Alexander begged. “She's a good girl, she deserves a good life. Let her stay here.”

Herbert jumped, he was surprised by his sons sudden change of tone. Though he seemed mostly sane, five years is a long time to live a life like that. The sound in Alexander's voice was more desperate and timid than he thought possible from his boy.

“Of course she can!” Herbert bellowed. “She's my grand daughter, there isn't a snows chance in hell that I would abandon either her or you!”

Alexander smiled but quickly hid his teeth, rotten and chipped from the years of neglect and abuse.

“Oh, Alex.” Fran almost broke into tears again. “I can't believe you're alive!”

“First thing tomorrow we're getting you patched up!” Herbert barked. “Have the apothecary fix everything, you'll be the Alexander we know and love again before the week is done!”

“Thank you.” Alexander sighed and leaned back against the bed.

“Boys, its very late.” Fran spoke up, her eyes trailing towards Lilly. “And it is way passed your bed time, little lady!”

“...Bed?” Lilly tilted her head.

Alexander flashed his daughter a warm smile, patting her gently on her red head between her tiny horns. “It's for you to sleep on, Lilly. Its nice and soft and it will keep you warm...”

“That sounds really nice, Papa!” Lilly giggled, clapping her hands.

“You two should get some rest.” Herbert announced, standing up from his seat. “We'll catch up on everything once we're all fit and proper for the day to come.”

“Right...” Alexander stood up as well, taking his daughters hand. “Thank you again, father.”

“I'm just...I'm just happy you are alive.” Herbert did his best to smile, hiding his emotions behind a stoic charade. “Your room is still there, we didn't do anything with it...”

Alexander led his daughter by her hand, her little hooves clopping against the hardwood floor with every step. She looked on in awe at the coloured walls and beautiful paintings illuminated by the candle light.

“This is a pretty cave, Papa.” She stated while Alexander helped her up the stairs.

“It's not a cave, sweetheart.” He corrected. “It's a house, and we'll be living here from now on.”

“Will Mama come live with us?” She asked, tilting her head.

Alexander went quiet, taking in a deep breath before speaking up again. “No Lilly, Mama isn't going to live with us. Mama had to go away and we won't be seeing her again.”

“Oh...” Lilly looked down towards the floor. “I wish Mama wasn't so mean. Then she could have lived with us, right?”

“...”

Lilly gasped in surprise at her new “room”, with blue coloured walls and shelf after shelf of books and ornaments.

“Is this a bed!?” She asked, patting the soft mattress with her hands. “Its so soft!”

“That's what we're going to be sleeping in tonight.” Alexander told her, dressing himself in a pair of his pyjamas left behind from before he was abducted. They fit loosely on him now, the sleeves almost completely engulfing his hands.

“First thing tomorrow, Lilly.” He began as he helped her into bed and under the blanket, the little minotaur giggling in excitement while her father tucked her in. “We're going to have a new life together. Just you and me and Grandpa and Grandma and Clementine, okay?”

“Okay Papa.” She yawned. “Goodnight.”

Alexander walked around the bed and tucked himself in beside her, giving her a kiss on the forehead before brushing back her hair with his hand. “Goodnight, Liliana...”
-
Five years later.

“Lilly!?” Alexander called out, jabbing his pitchfork into the soil. “Lilly, where you hiding you silly girl..?”

He wiped the sweat from his brow, looking up at the clear blue skies above. After his recovery, Alexander put away his sword and title to start a new life working on his families fields. The crusade had once again been a total failure, and the lands of Estonia and Zant held their ground against the doomed Ecclesiarchy advance.

Alexander had no reason to fight, nor did he wish to. His life in the military brought him nothing but suffering, with his daughter being the only thing that stopped him from biting off his own tongue when he had the chance. And he didn't regret his decision for a day, his father accepted both of them in with open arms and his mother took to Liliana like any grandmother would to her grandchild.

“Lilly!” Alexander called out again, stepping into the shade of the large tree centred in the fields.

“Hi dad...”

Alexander looked up, pulling the straw hat from atop his head. There was Lilly, sitting on top of a branch of the old tree.

“What are you doing up there, Lilly?” He asked, tilting his head.

“...Reading.”

“Reading a book all the way up there?”

“...Yes.”

Alexander smiled and leaned against his pitchfork. “Lilly...”

“Yes, dad?”

“Are you stuck.”

“...N-...No.”

“Lilly...”

“Fine!” She cried. “I'm stuck! My hooves can't get a hold on the tree and I keep slipping on the branches!”

“How did you even get up there?” Alexander asked.

“It was easy getting up!”

Alexander laughed, rubbing his hand across his sweaty face. “Well you're going to have to come down sooner or later.”

“I'm scared!” Lilly continued to cry, her tail flicking against the tree bark. “What if I fall and get hurt!”

“Just jump.” Alexander called out, raising his arms. “I'll catch you!”

Lilly went quiet, looking back down at her father. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Double promise you won't drop me?”

“Double promise.”

“...”

Lilly was apprehensive, still sitting with her legs dangling from the branch. She bit her lower lip and eyed around for any other option, her tail now whipping against the bark.

“All you have to do is let go, Lilly.” Alexander called out. “Letting go is easy, anyone can do it!”

With his final words, Lilly nodded and pushed herself from the tree, screaming in fear of being flattened in the dirt.

Alexander stumbled with a winded “Oof!” as his little minotaur fell into his arms. Lilly had her eyes shut as tight as she could, her arms balled up and close to her chest.

“See.” Alexander shook her until she opened her eyes, giving her a grin before placing her on her hooves on the ground. “That wasn't so hard was it?”

“No...” She pouted. “Not at all...”

“Come on, Grandma is waiting for you.” Said Alexander, leading Lilly along back to the manor. “I know you aren't a fan of dresses, but at least try out some of them for your poor old grandma, okay?”

“Okay...” She pouted again, crossing her arms and following her father along.

She thought on his words. “Anyone can let go.” And for some strange reason, they gave her comfort.

--
Five years later.

“Are you sure this is necessary?” Alexander asked, his foot tapping impatiently against the ground.

“It is a coming of age for all Minotaur.” Clementine explained. “All of the most renowned Minotaur knights and heroes forged their own axes.”

“Li-” Alexander looked left and right before whispering. “Lilly's mother didn't have one.”

“Lilly's mother was also an unwashed and evil brute who held you prisoner for years, Master Alexander.”  Clementine huffed, wiggling her ears. “And its not like Liliana hasn't handled an axe before!”

“Right...” He muttered, leaning against the wall.

Liliana was growing up fast, she was already stronger than a full grown man. And like all fifteen girls, she had her own trials and tribulations to face in her life, starting with one of the most dire events in a Minotaur's life. The axe is a symbol of power among her kind, it is both a tool and a weapon, a part of yourself that you can never part with. The axe is the first step into adulthood.

So now Lilly sits on the bench outside the smithy, twiddling her thumbs and kicking her hooves against the dirt. She was excited, all of her favourite role models from her books carried axes into battle. But at the same time she was scared, what if she messed up? What if the head is too brittle or too dull? What if she breaks something and makes the smithy angry? All of these thoughts running through her head, she didn't even notice the new figure approaching.

“Hi there!”

Lilly snapped out of her trance and looked up, seeing the blond elf standing in front of her with her hands behind her back.

“I don't really see many monsters in these parts.” The elf mentioned. “What brings you all the way out here?”

“I live here.” Lilly explained.

“Oh!” The elf covered her mouth. “Forgive me, I didn't mean to sound rude!”

“Oh, no no, its no worries!” Lilly laughed. “I wouldn't expect you to figure that I lived here.”

The elf sighed in relief, happy she did not offend Lilly. She was skinny and lean, her body thin and her chest flat.

“My name is Mirilla.” The elf introduced herself, offering a hand.

“I'm Liliana.” Lilly took her hand and shook it, careful not to squeeze too tightly.

Mirilla sat down beside Lilly, her green eyes beaming with excitement.

“Uhm...” Lilly looked back, her eyes trailing aware uncomfortable.

“Oh, s-sorry!” Mirilla apologized. “My mother just left her haven with my father and moved here. They thought there would be less pressure on both of them if they lived in human society rather than elven...”

“Your father is human, right?” Lilly asked.

“Well, yes, why?”

“Its just that most elves will deny that they're monsters like me is all. Even though that...Well, y'know.”

Mirilla looked away and brushed back her hair. “The elves in the havens are so fickle... They think they're too good to be monsters and superior to humans. We all know about the Demon Lord manipulating our magics, there is no reason to deny it...”

“H-hey!” Lilly didn't know what to do and resorted to a comforting, yet firm, pat on Mirilla's shoulder. “Who cares what some stinky ol' tree folk have to say, huh? If they weren't wrong than your mom and dad wouldn't have left, right!?”

“...Yes...You're right!” Mirilla's bright smile returned.

“Hey, you want to be friends with me?” Lilly suddenly offered.

“You and me, friends?” Mirilla asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah! I mean, the other girls are scared of me, and there aren't any other monster-folk that live in town. Us outcasts gotta stick together, y'know?”

“Okay!” Mirilla accepted. “It should be nice to have a companion in a strange new world!”

“Then its settled!” Lilly clapped and giggled. “Its Liliana and Mirilla versus the world!”

“Ey!” The new voice made the two jump in their seats. The black smith stood at the door, brushing his beard.

“Don't mean t'be intruding on your triumphant moment, lass.” He snorted. “But the forge is all heated and ready fer yer.”

Liliana looked back at Mirilla and gulped, standing up on her shaking hooves and heading towards the door. “Wish me luck!”

“Good luck!” Mirilla didn't know what to do with her hands and settled on a thumbs up. “Forest smile on your trials ahead!”

“Just let go...” Liliana sighed and whispered to herself. “Its easy, anyone can let go...”

Liliana prepared the best she could, she watched the forge from time to time, watched how they made weapons and tools. She read books on the subjects and studied them as best she could. But when the task came, it was almost like it was natural for her. The axe was sharpened perfectly, heavy steel that was thick and large enough to be a normal man's shield, but sharp and gnarled enough to cut through even the toughest of armour. It was a large axe, capable of cleaving any enemy in twain, something she would have to “Grow into” before she could wield it as easily as the characters from her books.

When the head was finished and cooled and fitted, Liliana stepped out of the forge with her new axe resting upon her shoulder.

“By the stars!” Mirilla gasped. “Look at the size of that thing!”

“Y-Yeah!” Liliana grinned. “Its huge, but one day I'll be able to use it like it was a regular axe!”

“Does it have a name?” Mirilla asked, touching the side of the head with her fingers.

“A name?” Lilly pondered. “I never really thought of a name...”

“She rubbed her chin, thinking long and hard before the name finally came to her. “Crom!”

“...Crom?” Mirilla tilted her head.

“It looks like a Crom, doesn't it?”

“I...I guess...” She took a step back and examined it closely. “Yes...Yes! Crom! It fits perfectly!”

“So its settled!” Liliana announced. “I! Liliana! Shall slay all evil with the mighty Crom!”

Mirilla clapped happily, jumping up and down like a school girl who was just asked to a dance. “This is so exciting!”

“Come on! I can't wait to show my dad!” Lilly grabbed on to Mirilla's hand. “He's really nice, he'll be happy to meet you as well!”

“To meet me?” Mirilla asked while being dragged along.

“Sure!” Lilly grinned. “He's going to be so proud when he hears I made a friend!”

Lilly seemed to have forgotten why she forged the axe, focused rather on the days she's going to spend with her new comrade. She pulled Mirilla along, sure that the two will become inseparable in the days to come.
--
Five years later...

The thundering of explosions, the sounds of planes overhead, unbearable whistle of a dropping bomb, and a flash of light...These details were all Wilhelm could remember before everything went dark...

His eyes opened and he gasped for air, rolling to his side before vomiting against the hard wood floor of the library. He was working late when he heard the air sirens go off, another raid by the Royal Air Force that had already levelled a good portion of town. He thought he would be safe in the library where he worked. He finally found the strength to sit up on his knees, struggling to focus his vision at the world around him. He looked around and found himself...In the library?

The books were all where they were meant to be, lined up in perfect fashion and in alphabetical order. Did he pass out? Was it all just a dream? Wilhelm took off his circular glasses and rubbed his eyes, standing up from the ground and putting them back on his nose. He did his best to fix his already messy light brown hair and step back from the wall.

“<Must have been a dream...>” He said to himself, turning around and freezing in horror.

The rest of the library, no, the entire town was gone! It was just him and a small section of books from the entire library! How did this happen? Where was he? This didn't even look like the town he grew up in! Wilhelm stumbled back and fell down, scrambling backwards until his back touched the shelf of books.

“<Whats going on!?” He cried, doing his best to stop his panic attack. “<Where am I!?>”

“I thought I just heard a voice.”

Wilhelm darted his vision to the left. Was that English? Were those Americans or Brits? They sounded feminine... Still, Wilhelm wasn't going to take any chances. He would come out with his arms raised and tell them he surrenders. Thankfully, he was fluent in English, so he could at least explain what happened...If they would believe him.

“Do not shoot!” he cried, standing to his feet with his arms raised. “I am not a soldier! I surrender!”

He turned the corner as slowly as he could, making sure they don't fill him from any sudden movements he made. Much to his surprise, they weren't British or American soldiers standing in front of him, but rather two figures in suits he wasn't familiar with.

The one on the left was the shortest of the two, but still at least a few inches taller than Wilhelm. A blond woman with green eyes and pointy ears, she wore a leather chest piece and a green cotton undershirt. She held a bow and arrow in her hands, at the ready but not drawn.

The figure beside her, however, was much taller than both of them, standing at least eight feet tall and wearing a daunting set of armour and wielding a rather vicious looking axe. The figures face was concealed behind a helmet with the shape of a bull in the front, two horns sticking out of either side.

Wilhelm wanted to run, but he knew that probably wasn't the best idea. Instead he swollowed his fear and held his ground.

“I...I surrender!” He called out again.

“Surrender for what?” The large figure asked. “Are you a criminal or something?”

“N-No sir! Just a librarian!”

“Well, no need to be so formal.”

The imposing warrior lowered its weapon and brought its hands to the helmet. It clicked open at both sides and opened at the horns, revealing that the horns weren't a part of the helmet at all, but rather the owners head!

Wilhelm was taken aback, what stood before him was a woman, standing on two hooves like the Minotaur that haunted Theseus through the labyrinth. Her hair was long and red, rolling out of her helmet and resting against her back past the shoulders, her bags at the side almost touching her shoulders. Her horns stood proudly at the sides of her head, brown with white tips. Her eyes were a bright violet that seemed to shine every time she blinked. Wilhelm was taken aback, he didn't think someone clad in such crude armour would be so...Gorgeous...

“I guess we should introduce ourselves.” The warrior announced. “I'm Liliana. And my elven friend here is Mirilla.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” Mirilla bowed, lowering her weapon.

“...I...Bwuah...” Wilhelm stuttered, his brain didn't keep up with the events that were unfolding. Finally he snapped out of it and cleared his throat. “I'm Wilhelm! Wilhelm Schwartz!”

“Jumpy one, isn't he?” Mirilla whispered to Liliana, shouldering her bow.

“He just ran into two monsters.” Lilly whispered back. “And one of us just so happens to be a few feet taller than he is. I'd be pretty jumpy as well.”

“Is that yours?” Lilly asked, pointing at the wall behind him.

“Uh-uhm...” Wilhelm turned around to look at the wall. “It comes from where I work.”

“Where is that?” Mirilla asked.

“In Germany.”

“Germany?” Lilly raised a brow and looked down at her elven friend. “Ever heard of a 'Germany'?”

“Not on any map I've ever see.” She stated. “I think he may be in shock.”

“Well, what should we do?”

Mirilla sighed and looked back at Wilhelm. “Maybe you should come with us. Its not safe out here in the wilds.”

“With you?” Wilhelm gulped. “I wouldn't want to impose.”

“Its not big deal.” Lilly waved a hand dismissively. “We're heading back to town anyway.”

“Town...Where exactly am I?”

“You're in Estonia.” Said Mirilla.

“Estonia? In the near of Russia?”

“I can't say we've heard of Russia either, friend.” Lilly shrugged. “Where do you think you are?”

“I...” Wilhelm went quiet, was this some sort of elaborate practical joke? “I don't know...”

Mirilla crossed her arms and leaned to the side. “Estonia is just south of Zant and North of Bede. Nowhere near any kind of land called “Russia” unfortunately.”

Wilhelm looked back at the wall behind him, ripped from the library he had taken shelter in. Was he really dead?

“Look, just come with us.” Lilly offered again. “We can get someone to look at you, clear your head, figure out what you're going to do next.”

“Y-...Yes, of course.” Wilhelm agreed. “Just...Just let me grab some of my books, okay?”

“Take your time...”

Mirilla watched as Wilhelm turned the corner around the wall before whispering again. “Odd fellow, that one.”

“He's just confused is all.” Said Lilly. “He'll pick himself up once we get him back into town.”

“You just think he's cute.” Mirilla giggled, jabbing her Minotaur friend in the side.

“I-I do not!” Lilly huffed. “...Okay maybe a little...”

Wilhelm returned from around the wall, carrying in his hands four books that he was able to carry.

“Okay.” He nodded. “I'm ready to go.”

Wilhelm followed behind the two like a lost puppy, holding his books close to his chest while this “Liliana” and “Mirilla” led him to safety. The open fields and rocky paths around him were untouched and beautiful compared to what he expected. There were no craters or barbed wire or tank traps of any kind. No trenches were dug and there was no military presence to be seen. It put him at ease, although not a soldier himself, he wasn't ignorant to what was going on outside of the home front.

His eyes wandered from time to time, usually to the backsides of his saviours much to his own self-disappointment. But mostly to the one called Liliana. He tried not to panic or ask too many personal questions, but it was just too surreal to ignore. A tail protruded from her armour, like a cows whip with a ball of fluff at the end of it, it flicked and swished back and forth with each of her steps. How she managed not to fall on her nose on her two hooves were beyond him, she stepped and hopped over every pit and stone like a gymnast, even the armour around her shoulders did little to slow her down.

She was a giant that moves like an angel, and it hypnotized Wilhelm like a moth to the light.

“Getting a good look from back there?” Liliana called back, looking over her shoulder.

“What!?” Wilhelm choked. “Oh-no, I was just...I was...Sorry...”

“Oh jeez.” She laughed. “I was just joking, guess I caught you red handed, huh?”

Mirilla snickered under her breath, making poor Wilhelm's face to go even redder.

“We'll be in town soon enough. Just hang in there, alright?”

 Wilhelm spotted the town off in the distance, rather large looking even from all the way back there. After another hour of walking, the three were greeted by cobblestone streets that led into the town.

“Welcome to Mortown!” Liliana announced, waving her arms into the air. “One of the most prosperous towns in all of Estonia!”

The town was something to behold, much like some of the places he was accustomed to back home. The buildings were mostly stores with a second floor to host the people who owned said stores and their families. Each home was painted its own colour, wooden framework walls with clean glass windows spread evenly apart.

The people of the town didn't pay mind to the horned giant and her pointy eared friend as they discussed what their plans were for the coming days. When Wilhelm examined the people around him, he noticed more and more women with strange features. A woman with wolf ears and paws bargained with a normal appearing woman behind a stall for a few slices of meat. The woman to his far right almost caused him to scream at first, a woman with the bottom half of a snail slowly crawled along with a broom in hand, lazily brushing the street in front of her. But she seemed docile, so Wilhelm caught his breath and calmed down.

“Feeling any better, Wilhelm?” Liliana asked, stopping her advance and leaning against a nearby wall.

“Yes...Yes I believe so.” He nodded. “I just...I don't understand. Everything is so different to what I'm use to...”

He furrowed his brow and looked at the two. “By some chance...This isn't the planet Earth, is it?”

“Earth?” Mirilla looked to Liliana with a crooked brow.

“Never mind...” Wilhelm quickly spoke up again. “Forget I said anything, sorry.”

Liliana tilted her head and stepped forward, pressing her hand against Wilhelm's forehead, catching him off guard.

“You don't have a fever...” She commented, pulling her hand away. Liliana looked like she was thinking hard on something.

“Hey, uh...Wilhelm.” She said. “Do you want to maybe...Stick with us for a bit?”

Mirilla looked up at Liliana again. “With us? Are you certain?”

“Well, yeah.” Liliana nodded. “I mean, he's clearly not from around here. It wouldn't be right to just leave him out on the streets like he's some sort of burden.”

Liliana reached forward again and gave his arm a good squeeze, causing Wilhelm to fumble the books in his hands.

“He's not even all that wimpy.” She stated bluntly. “Could give him a room at my dad's place. He could help him in the fields no problem!”

She looked Wilhelm in the eyes and gave him the warmest smile she could without coming off as unsettling. “What do you say?”

“You would do that for a stranger?” Wilhelm gulped, weighing in options he didn't even have. “...Alright, I'll stay with you...Thank you very much.”

“Hey, don't mention it.” Liliana laughed, looking away to cover the light tint of scarlet on her cheeks.

“Then I believe we'll call it a day then?” Mirilla asked.

“For today, yeah.” Liliana confirmed. “I should help Wilhelm get accustomed to everything at home.”

“Very well.” Mirilla flashed Liliana a quick smirk. “Go easy on him, will you?”

“H-Hey!” Liliana went beat red, stomping her hooves on the cobblestone. “It has nothing to do with that!”

“I believe you!” Mirilla called back as she went off into the streets.

“Damn knife ears...” Liliana muttered. “...You ready to go, Wilhelm?”

“I don't think I have a choice.” Wilhelm responded, beckoning Liliana to lead the way. “Thank you again, Liliana.”

“Its not problem, really...And you can call me Lilly for short if you want. Most people do.”

“Lilly.” Wilhelm shrugged. “I like that.”

“Does that mean I can call you Will?” Lilly joked.

“I-If you want!” Wilhelm stuttered. “I've never really had a nickname before.”

“Will suits you, I think.” Lilly smiled. “C'mon, my place is just outside of town, its nice and quiet, you'll love it!”

Lilly led Wilhelm to a large manor an hour outside of town. Built from cobblestone rather than wood, it looked as though it belonged to nobility.

“My dad should be at home.” Lilly mentioned, leading Wilhelm along.

“It's a really nice estate.” He commented, looking over the endless fields and the large home in marvel. “I've never even been in a building like this.”

“It's nothing too special.” Lilly commented. “But Clementine keeps it in order.”

“Clementine?”

“She's our maid, grandpa took her in when she was my age and she's stayed with us ever since.”

Lilly opened the front door and stepped inside, greeting the inside of the home with a loud “Dad! Clem! I'm home! We have a guest!”

Wilhelm heard the foot steps before he saw the man, a greying older gentleman walked out of the room from the right, flashing Lilly a smile.

“Hello Lilly.” he greeted. “It's good to see you are safe...Who's this?”

“Oh.” Lilly stepped to the side. “This is Wilhelm. He's a friend of mine.”

“Well, a friend of Lilly's is a friend of mine.” He said, taking Wilhelm's hand in his and shaking it. “I'm Alexander, Lilly's father. It's nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, sir.” Wilhelm smiled the best he could.

“I can't say I'm familiar with your accent, Wilhelm.” Alexander admitted. “Where are you from?”

“Well, Dad.” Lilly cringed, pulling her father off to the side. “Do you think he could stay here for a bit? He doesn't know anything about Estonia or even any of the other countries... I'm afraid if I leave him alone he'll get killed or dragged off by some less-than-savoury monster...”

Alexander looked Wilhelm, rubbing the hair on his chin. “Hm... This isn't a mating thing is it?”

“Dad!” Lilly shouted, Wilhelm jumping at the sudden volume change. “He can help in the fields, he doesn't have anywhere else to go...”

“Okay then.” Alexander agreed. “It wouldn't feel right leaving him out by himself anyway...”

“Thanks, dad...”

Alexander stepped away from his daughter and back to Wilhelm.

“So I guess you'll be staying with us for awhile.” He stated.

“I wouldn't want to be a bother.” Said Wilhelm.

“Nonsense!” Alexander waved his hand dismissively. “The manor could use another patron, make it feel less like a ghost town.”

“Thank you, truly.” Wilhelm bowed his head. “Is there anything I can do to repay you?”

“Hmmm...” Alexander looked upwards with narrow eyes and rubbed his chin again. “How are you with farm work?”

“My father used to own a plot of land, actually.” Wilhelm admitted. “I still remember most of it.”

“Well, Will, can I call you Will?”

Wilhelm nodded.

“I could always use an extra pair of hands. Heavens know that it would be much easier especially with Lilly running off and beating up bandits for townsfolk or chasing off Mouse girls.” He explained, much to the embarrassment of his daughter.  “Welcome aboard!”

“Let me show you to your room!” Lilly shouted, grabbing Wilhelm by his wrist and dragging him along while struggling to hide the blush on her cheeks.

“This used to be my old room.” Lilly explained, stepping into the bright pink room with the enormous bed sitting in the back centre. “But I ended up taking the cellar when I got older, and I guess I just never got around to cleaning this place up.”

The bed itself was rather large, a king sized mattress atop a vanilla coloured frame. Wilhelm tried his best not to look surprised when Lilly told him that she got too big for the bed, and refrained himself from asking how big her's was.

“Well. If you need anything.” Lilly kicked a hoof and stepped back towards the door. “Don't be afraid to ask, Clementine won't be back until tonight, but don't let her stubbornness scare you, she's real nice once you get to know her!”

“Right, of course.” Wilhelm placed his books on the dusty shelf beside the bed. “Thank...Thank you, for doing this for me. I'll find a way to pay you back.”

Lilly froze up, looking back at Wilhelm with an open gap. She motioned to say something before her face once again turned red, her tail whipping uncontrollably behind her.

“Its not big deal, really!” She said. “I'm just glad I could help!”

The two stood in silence, struggling to keep eye contact until Lilly spoke up again. “I should probably get you some clean sheets!”

Wilhelm listened to Lilly's hooves clatter down the hall before sitting down on the bed. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, sighing quietly and resting his fingers against his mouth and chin. The setting sun shone into the window of his room, giving his skin an orange glow. It was so long since he could actually enjoy a sunset. With nightfall came the chance of bombing raids.

He had many questions, some he was sure he wouldn't like the answers to. This place was a far cry from home, but for some reason, he felt strangely at peace with it all.

-
Two weeks later.

Wilhelm took the straw hat from his head and wiped the sweat from his brow, his hoe planted firmly in the soil. It took a few days to get back into the swing of farming, but Wilhelm found his pattern. Being a librarian, Wilhelm's physical activity narrowed down to carrying books from one place to another across his days.

“Psst!”

Wilhelm turned his head to the voice, spotting Lilly behind the tree in the middle of the fields.

“Lilly?” Wilhelm called back. “Shouldn't you be fixing the stable?”

“Yeah, but I got bored.” She whispered, hiding herself from nobody in particular. Without another word she raised her left hand, revealing the pitcher of lemonade held up by her two fingers. “Lookie what I got!”

“You stole that from Clementine's kitchen!?” Wilhelm gasped. “Do you have any idea what she'll do if she catches you!?”

“Well now you know about it...” Lilly grumbled. “So if I get caught, I'm taking you down with me! Now come have a drink.”

Wilhelm sighed and followed the Minotaur behind the stables, watching while she jumped down on a large pile of hay and sighed happily.

“Where's your axe?” He asked, sitting down on the hay beside her. “You always carry that thing with you.”

“Well, its not like I'm going anywhere today.” Lilly admitted. “Thought I could leave him in the house.”

“Him?”

“Yeah, him.” Lilly took a gulp of the lemonade before handing the pitcher to Wilhelm, who brought up both his hands to assist with the weight of the glass pitcher. “I never told you about my axe, did I?”

“Not that I recall, no.” He told her before taking a gulp himself.

“I never knew much about my mom...” She started. “Though the years I did spend with her weren't really happy ones...She was violent, savage, and neglectful. She held my dad as prisoner for many years and ignored me unless she needed a punching bag.”

“That's...That's awful!” Wilhelm frowned.

“Its alright.” Lilly said with a reassuring smile. “Clementine made a much better role model than my mom ever did. It's monsters like my mom that gave the rest of us a bad name...”

Lilly sighed before continuing. “Well, Clementine kind of began to panic when I went got older, she had no idea what was customary for minotaurs and didn't want to deprive me of that...Not that I would have cared, really.”

“The axe has something to do with that?”

“Mmhmm.” She nodded. “A Minotaur's weapon is forged by the Minotaur herself, usually hammers or axes, very rarely swords. I settled on an axe. It was Mirilla that suggested naming him, and I settled on Crom!”

“Crom? Why Crom?” Wilhelm asked.

“He looks like a Crom, doesn't he?”

Wilhelm raised a brow and pondered on her words. He shrugged and took another gulp from the pitcher. “I guess he does.”

“Hey!” Lilly grabbed the pitcher. “Quit hogging it all.”

“Liliana!!!” A voice roared from around the corner.

“Uh oh!” Wilhelm whispered, standing into a crouch.

“Everyone for themselves!” Wilhelm jumped at Lilly's sudden screaming, turning his head to find Liliana had already leaped over the nearby bush and made a run for it, leaving Wilhelm with the pitcher.

Clementine turned the corner, her ears on end and broom in hand. Her eyes widened as soon as she spotted Wilhelm with the pitcher.

“...I know what you're thinking...” Wilhelm shivered, stepping backwards with his hands up front.

“Wilhelm...” Clementine hissed. “You should know better!”

Fight or flight mode engaged, Wilhelm chose flight. And Alexander watched from his porch as his farm hand ran for cover with an angry Kikimora hot on his tail, broom over her head and rage in her eyes.

Days come and go, and Wilhelm finds himself thinking of his home less and less. The quiet calm of the farm lands and manor made him forget of the constant blaring propaganda, marching feet, and air sirens of his old world. Lilly's carefree and happy attitude always brightened his spirits, she asked him questions about how he grew up, what books he was reading, how he was doing, what he was up to in the days to come. Never once did she pry or try to dig up dirt on him. For once, Wilhelm felt as though he could be himself around someone.

He would go on about the books he read, or the adventures he went on with his father before he grew up. He told her jokes or spoke up those fun little comics from this place called “America” that he managed to get his hands on. And before long, he lost track of time, and found himself only being familiar with his new life and his new friends.

He listened to every story Alexander had to tell, or techniques on how to make the most delightful pies from Clementine. Mirilla would tell him about her people or the wondrous adventures she had in the forests. He would go into town without fear of being watched by an invisible hand, able to act and speak his mind, for once in a very long time he felt at home. But most of all, he enjoyed his time with Liliana the most, the books she's read or the journeys she's undertaken. And most of all, how she dreams of being a great hero like those valiant Minotaurs from her stories.

The sun began to set on another hard days work, and Wilhelm once again returned to his room after cleaning himself of the stink of sweat and dirt from the fields. He opened his door and stepped into the pink room that was once Liliana's, only to find her sitting on top of his bed with a book in hand. Her brows were farrowed and she looked distinctly frustrated.

“Lilly?” Wilhelm asked, stepping inside. “Are you alright?”

“I'm fine...” She sighed, clapping the book closed. “I've just read all my books so many times, I thought I'd try one of yours.”

“But you can't read it.” Wilhelm stated, sitting down beside her.

“This language is stupid!” She cried in protest. “The letters don't even look like letters!”

“Here.” Wilhelm laughed, taking the book from the Minotaur's hands. “I can read it for you.”

“Y-You really don't have to.” Lilly pouted, brushing her long red hair with her left hand.

“No, its okay.” Wilhelm continued. “I have nothing else to do anyway, and I always liked reading about the Roman empire.”

“Who were the Romans?” Lilly leaned in closer, her horn almost poking against the side of Wilhelm’s head.

“They were a people that ruled a powerful empire thousands of years ago where I come from.” He explained. “But before that, they were a republic until Gaius Julius overthrew the senate and became the first Caesar.”

“Caesar is...Like an Emperor?”

“Well, he was the Emperor.” He explained as simply as he could. “In the language the Romans spoke though, he was called Caesar. Julius Caesar to be exact.”

“First Caesar, huh?” Lilly mused. “Must have been a pretty scary guy.”

“Most famous too. Thousands of years later and everyone knows who Julius Caesar was. There are still statues of him standing to this day.”

“Must be nice.” She moped. “Maybe one day someone will build a statue of me...”

Wilhelm laughed before continuing, flipping the pages to a simple foot note. “Though, I was always fond of Tiberius myself. Never did anything too remarkable compared to other Romans, but was still renowned enough to rule the Empire after his predecessor.”

“Tiberius? Dang, maybe I should have called my axe that.”

“Crom is still a good name.” Wilhelm protested. “I...I think.”

“Enough with the history lesson!” Lilly leaned in closer, her breasts pressing against Wilhelm’s shoulder and back, causing his face to go beat red. “I want to know about your great heroes and warriors!”

Wilhelm continued until the sun sank and the candles had to be lit. He read her whatever he found interesting from Earth's history, ranging from the Romans to the Crusades to Genghis Khan and beyond. Lilly found herself lost in the books, leaning in closer and closer with every passing story of warriors and kings and conflicts.

Soon Wilhelm lost himself in the history lesson as well, reading paragraph after paragraph without even realizing that Lilly had rested her head on his lap, her horns brushing against the bottom of the books cover while she looked up at the foreign words.

“I think its time to call it a night.” Wilhelm yawned, closing the book.

“Aw, come on.” Liliana complained while rubbing her eye, she already fell asleep during the reading.

“It must be passed mid night by now, and we both have work to do tomo-” Wilhelm cut himself off, his eyes trailing down to the minotaur girl resting on his lap.

“Maybe we should just go to bed!” Wilhelm choked, pulling at this collar.

“I agree~”

Wilhelm blinked once before he was pushed against the bed, with Liliana's brown furred legs resting on either side of his waist. She sat down on top of him, careful not to put down all of her weight on top of him.

“Lilly?” Wilhelm looked up at her, his vision blurring as she pulled off his glasses.

“C'mon Will.” She whispered. “You knew this was a long time coming. Stuck in a house with a lonely Minotaur, how long do you think we could stay as 'just friends'?”

“But...” Wilhelm tried to speak up, but Lilly cut him off again.

“I mean, we get along well, you actually laugh at my jokes, you're really nice to me, you don't think I'm weird, and you don't get mad at me when I get you in trouble with Clementine. Its like this was meant to be, unless...”

Lilly's ears flicked while she looked away with a frown. “Unless you really don't want this to be a thing...”

“But...” Wilhelm finally found his chance to speak. “...What if your dad hears us?”

Her ears perked up again, not expecting to get a question like that. Slowly, her frown twisted into a mischievous smile, her face moving closer and closer to Wilhelm's.

“Well we'll just have to be quiet now, won't we?” She whispered softly into his ear before kissing him on the cheek.

She kissed him on the cheek again before finally locking lips with his, moaning softly and pulling away. She giggled as softly as she could, pressing her breasts against his chest. Wilhelm was surprisingly brave in this situation, his hands sneaking under her shirt to feel her back and sides. Their hands move across one another's bodies, their lips parting only for a second before greedily pushing lips together once more.

Through their eagerness and excitement, their cloths had finally found their ways to the bedroom floor. Liliana climbed back on top of Wilhelm, her breath hot and heavy and her face scarlet. She trembled, trying not to fall and crush him.

“You...” Liliana gulped. “Haven't done it before...Have you?”

“No...” Wilhelm admitted, his already red face turning even brighter.

“Me neither...” She took in a deep breath and aimed his member with her fingers. Slowly, Liliana lowered herself onto Wilhelm's rod, gasping and covering her mouth with her free hand while it parted her lips. She closed her eyes and bite into her own flesh, using all the power of her being to stop herself from rocking the entire manor with her screams.

Finally, she felt herself sit atop Wilhelm, a twinge of pain coursed through her as blood mixed with her other fluids. Still, she found the strength to go on and planted her hands firmly against the mattress. Her hips rocked slowly, feeling every inch of her lover inside her filled her with an overwhelming sense of glee. She bit her lower lip when Wilhelm's hands touched her again, starting from her hips and up her stomach until he sunk both his hands into her large mounds, squeezing them gently with every motion of her hips.

All of her willpower went to stopping herself from making too much noise, not even realizing how fast her hips were rocking at this point. The pain was over quickly and she soon found herself overcome with sensations and emotion. Wilhelm was sweating, struggling to maintain his composure, but it was in vain. With a muffled grunt, he poured himself out inside her, causing Liliana to squeak and freeze on top of him.

“S-...Sorry...” He mumbled, averting his eyes from hers.

Liliana blinked and giggled, leaning over until her chest touched with his again.
“No need to be sorry...” She cooed. “It just means we need more practice.”

Wilhelm looked back at her, he couldn't help but laugh until Liliana quickly shut him up with another kiss. They wiggled until they could cover themselves as best they could with the single blanket the bed could provide, Wilhelm squeezed between her breasts as the sleeping Minotaur cuddled close against him.

In time, Wilhelm all but forgot his old life, he could barely remember what it was like before he found himself living with Liliana, Alexander, and Clementine. Only now his usual routines of toiling soil and picking crops was interspersed with being dragged away by Lilly for “practice” whenever her father or the manors caretaker was not looking.

“Will!” Lilly called out, stepping inside the old barn. “Where are you hiding!?”

There was no answer. Lilly's ear twitched and she bit her lip, pressing her hand against her chest while her hooves dug into the dirt with every step.

“W-...Wilhelm?” She was worried now, frightened even, did something happen? Last she saw him he was going into the barn. He didn't leave, did he?

“W-Gah!” Liliana yelped when the arms suddenly wrapped around her, the weight catching her by surprise and pulling her to the ground.

She landed on the hay pile with a gasp, hearing the slight “oof!” coming from behind.

“Jeez...” Liliana sighed, her head resting on Wilhelm's stomach. “You moron! What if you slipped and got one of my horns in your gut!?”

“Didn't really think about that.” Wilhelm admitted, looking away and scratching his head. “Just thought I would ambush you for once.”

She shook her head and pressed against his stomach, looking up through the opening in the ceiling.

“The stars are out...” She whispered, nestling herself against Wilhelm's stomach.

“Yeah... I like the stars here. They seem brighter.”

“It's like we're in our own little world, huh?” Liliana asked. “Away from all the troubles of the world.”

“I can't say I'm really familiar.” Wilhelm chuckled. “I haven't really gone any further than town in the past year or so...”

“They're always fighting.” Liliana continued. “The Church and the Demon Lord, I mean. But we're so far away from either that it doesn't mater...At least for now.”

Wilhelm was silent, he was told the stories of the endless wars between the Ecclesiarchy and the Demon Host. One fought to eradicate all monster kind, while the other wished to enslave both species under through passion.

“One day, I would like to see the world like our little haven.” Liliana turned her head upwards and looked into Wilhelm's eyes with a warm smile. “Where humans and monsters of any kind can live together without the fear of being burned at the stake or herded away like cattle.”

“I...I would like that to.” Wilhelm admitted. “Where I came from, people were always fighting. And after one of the most violent wars in history, another started a few short years later...”

“Then here's to a brighter future!” Liliana raised her arms and wrapped them around Wilhelm's neck, pulling him closer into a deep kiss.

Their lips seperated slowly, Liliana opening her bright eyes to look up at Wilhelm with a loving smile.

“Maybe one day, you and I will see that future together.”

Wilhelm blinked. Returning her smile the best he could with a small laugh before leaning forward passed her horns to press his forehead against hers.

“Maybe we will...”
--

“By order of King Peter II of Estonia.” The crier called out, a scroll unrolled in front of him as he announced to the residents of the manor. “War is coming to Estonia! The Ecclesiarch swine has broken the truce between the mid-lands and the east and has called for a crusade against the nation of Zant and Estonia!”

“No way!” Liliana gasped, looking to both Wilhelm and her friend Mirilla who were standing at the wagon they were filling with hay bales.

“A champion has risen from the ranks of the Ecclesiarchy, one they call the next 'hero'!” The man continued. “Soltar Khan marches on Estonia!”

Wilhelm looked to both Mirilla and Liliana, their faces twisting in horror and their skin turning white.

“...Who...” he gulped, his blood running cold at their reaction. “Who is Soltar Khan?”

“He's one of the Ecclesiarch's greatest generals...” Mirilla whispered. “They say he's larger than any man. And stronger than all but dragons...The smiling general...”

“All able bodied men are required to serve! In the name of the king!”

Lilly's ear twitched at the sound of her father's grunt. Turning towards the porch to see the old man walk steadily towards the messenger.  He was going to pledge his loyalty.

“Dad...” Liliana bit her lip, she had to think fast. “Just...Just let go.”

The minotaur stepped forward, her hooves kicking hard into the gravel. With a deep breath, she stood to attention and slammed her fist against her chest.

“I! Liliana, pledge my loyalty to the king in stead of my father!”

“Liliana!” Alexander shouted, moving to step in front of his daughter.

“I!” Mirilla stepped forward. “Mirilla! Pledge my loyalty to the king!”

Wilhelm looked to the three, his heart pounding in his chest. He had forgotten what life was like during war times. He felt like the timid Wilhelm he was all that time ago when Liliana and Mirilla found him atop that hill. He wanted to just slouch back and let it all pan out, stay on the farm and away from danger. But then he looked at Liliana, the women he loved so much, and his courage returned to him.

“I, Wilhelm Shwarzwald! Pledge my loyalty to the king!” he cried, slamming his fist against his chest.

Liliana looked down at him, her eyes wide with shock. She wanted to punch him, or yell at him for being so reckless.

“Very well!” The messenger returned their salute. “It is an honour to have you three at our side! The regiment marches in one days time! Glory to Estonia!”

Liliana watched the messenger march down the road before bursting out. “What the hell was that!?” She cried out, shoving Wilhelm at his shoulder and nearly off his feet.

“I'd like to ask you the same question.”

Alexander's voice was booming and commanding, freezing the minotaur in place as the chill froze her spine to the core.

“W...Well...”

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” Alexander asked, his arms crossed. “This isn't some damn monster chase or a bandit problem, Lilly! This is war! And not just any war, its war with the damn church!”

“I wasn't going to let you go off and get killed, dad!” Lilly cried, stomping her hoof against the ground.

“That is my decision to make!” Alexander roared, his voice caused everyone to jump, even Mirilla.

Alexander took a deep breath and wiped his face. “The pledge of loyalty has been made, there is no stepping down now.”

He looked to Wilhelm, his eyes piercing the man's soul to the core.

“You look after my little girl.” He said with a point. “If things look dire, you grab Liliana and Mirilla and you come back here as fast as you can, got it?”

“Yes sir...” Wilhelm agreed, unwilling to debate anything with the man that had given him a home for so long now.

Alexander stomped off, slamming the door behind him after he entered the manor with Clementine following behind him in a hurry.  With her father gone, Liliana turned her attentions back to Wilhelm.

“You!” She shoved him again. “What the hell do you think you're doing!?”

“What do you mean?” Wilhelm replied, this time standing defiantly against her attack.

“You made a pledge to the throne, Will!” She shouted. “You can't step down from that!”

“Neither can you...”

“There's a difference!” Liliana's face was turning red now. “I'm warrior, you're just a farm hand!”

“You're not a warrior...” Wilhelm's words cut deep, even the silent Mirilla gasped to herself. “All you've done is scare off smaller monsters and apprehended criminals for the town guards.”

Liliana was held still, looking down at Wilhelm as he stepped closer.

“You're not going on some adventure or a quest, Lilly. This is war. People don't just get hurt or have accidents, they die, in droves, by the hundreds, sometimes thousands. There will be thousands of men there who will want nothing more than to kill you.”

“Well...W-well...” Liliana stuttered, unable to find words.

Wilhelm reached up and pressed a finger against Liliana's chest, her entire body shivering at his touch.

“If you think that I'm going to leave you alone out there even for a second, then you're dead wrong...Do I make myself clear?”

“I...” Liliana looked to Mirilla, who quickly retreated back from the argument. “...Okay...”

“Good.” Wilhelm walked past her and went back to the barn, leaving the minotaur and the elf alone in the front of the manor.

“I've never seen Wilhelm so...Assertive.” Mirilla admitted, looking up to Liliana.

“Yeah...”

--

Wilhelm sat at the end of his bed and stared off into the wall ahead of him. His heart was pounding in his chest. All he wanted to do was take Liliana and run, but he knows she wouldn't allow that. He was no fighter, he was a damn librarian, and the work he did on the farm only made him stronger, not some great hero with a warrior's spirit.

He pressed his hands against his head and grabbed on to his hair and sat in silence. It was like someone had pried the happiness from his soul. He wished that he could revert the way things were to last week and just leave it there.

“Will?” Wilhelm didn't even hear his door open, looking up to see Liliana peaking through the ajar door. “Can I come in?”

“Yes...” He sighed. “Yes, of course, come right in.”

Liliana stepped in side and shut the door behind her, standing in front of Wilhelm in her usual night gown. Her hands were locked together behind her back and she refused to make eye contact, looking down at the floor like a little girl who was just caught doing something bad.

“Will...” She finally started. “I'm sorry for yelling at you today... I'm sorry for getting us all involved in this mess...I wasn't thinking, I was being stupid, I lost myself in my damn ego...”

“Lilly...” Wilhelm stood up and approached the minotaur standing meekly in front of him. He wrapped his hands around hers and pulled her closer until they both sat on the bed.

Lilly still refused to make eye contact, attempting to hide the tears welling in her eyes. Wilhelm didn't say a word and did his best to smile. He wiped her tears away with his thumb and cupped her cheeks within his hands.

“As long as we have each other.” He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. “We'll be alright.”

Lilly pulled away and finally looked him in the eyes, smiling a weak little smile and wrapping her arms around his neck. Without another word, Wilhelm moved in and pressed his lips against hers. And without resistance, Liliana lied back against the bed with Wilhelm moving himself between her legs. The two illuminated by the moon light.
--
Hundreds stood at attention just outside of town, standing side by side in front of a podium. Their armour was cobbled together and rigid, their weapons were whatever the volunteers could find that could be considered a weapon.  Though some of the volunteers were much better equipped, inheriting equipment from their families or having the money to buy something other than a blunt sword or woodsmen axe.

Wilhelm stood at attention, his body adorned in chain mail from head to toe with a skull cap sitting atop his head. His sword was sharp and sturdy and he carried a round shield in his left hand. Beside him stood the more professional Mirilla and Liliana, their equipment made themselves at an adept level. They stood quietly side by side, watching as the man in military garb took centre stage.

“Greetings, brave defenders of Estonia.” The man began. “Humans and Monsters alike. I am Captain Felix of the Estonian army, and I am tasked with commanding you into battle.”

The look in his eye was not a pleasant one, a troubled and shaken man who has seen his fair share of combat. Even so, he remained stalwart and calm.

“I have fought for this country for twenty years.” Captain Felix continued. “I have stained the field with blood, I have razed cities and fortresses, and I have commanded men to both victory and defeat. This was expected of me, it was my duty as a soldier for this great nation... But our opponent in the coming days are not simple rabble of mindless flagellants and glory hounding knights, The Smiling General: Soltar Khan has done what the Church could not do in over two hundred years and subjugate the wild men of the south steppes. And they now march under his banner...”

Felix took in a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead before continuing.

“If you run from battle, if you throw down your arms and surrender...You, your loved ones, everything you have ever known will die...It is expected of me to fight and die for my country. But you, you are farmers, workers, shop owners, and travellers from all across this land. It is not expected of you to spill blood and yet you stand before me as soldiers. For this, you have my eternal respect.”

Felix stood to attention and gave the crowed a long salute, his breaths long and heavy.

“We will link up with the Estonian-Zant joint army on the main road. From there, we march to battle...Good luck, and may whomever your god be watch over you.”

The regiment began its march down the road, as unorganized as it was. Wilhelm scanned through the crowed, noticing the few monsters peppered in between the men, mostly Lizard-kin but a few others as well. The regiment was flanked at both sides of the road by towns folk giving their tearful goodbyes, calling out to the ones they love as they walked by, some even stopping to embrace one another before the long road ahead.

Liliana stopped her march, her father and Clementine stood beside her. Mirilla was already off, hugging and saying goodbye to her mother and father, leaving Liliana and Wilhelm alone with the other two.

“Dad...” Liliana choked before her father embraced her, wrapping his arms around the daughter that towered over him.

“You're not my little girl anymore.” He sobbed. “You're a grown woman now, and a warrior at that.”

Before she could respond, Clementine joined in the embrace, her furry ears flopping against both her head and Liliana's side.

“Please be safe, dumpling.” She cried, her face red and stained with tears. “The house is going to be so lonely without you around!”

Clementine pulled herself away, wiping her tears before turning to Wilhelm. Surprisingly, she hugged him as well. “And you be careful as well, you trouble maker! I don't want you coming home in a box!”

“I'll...I'll try my best.” Wilhelm said to her, returning her embrace.  Clementine pulled herself away from him, pressing her hands against his cheeks and kissing him on the forehead.

Wilhelm's eyes met with the tearful Alexander's, who placed his hands on the young man's shoulders.

“You look after one another now, alright?” He choked out. “You bring Liliana home, and she'll bring you home, alright?”

Wilhelm gulped down the lump in his throat and placed a hand on top of one of Alexander's. “We'll be home before you know it...I promise.”

With their final goodbyes, Liliana and Wilhelm parted with their family, hooking up with Mirilla once more and continuing their march. Eight hundred volunteers marched to join in a war that nobody know if it could be won. Eight hundred soldiers left their homes to join thousands more.
--

The army marched for weeks, following a trail of corpses and fires in the wake of the Khan's army. Villages and towns burned to the ground, refugees slaughter in droves, human and monster alike. For some, it was a warning of the Smiling General's fury, for others it was fuel for their personal lust for revenge. The army marched until they finally reached their foe, in a clearing of grass surrounded by a forest on all sides.

The enemy, these “wild men” did very little to conceal themselves, mocking and shouting and taunting from across the field with their weapons swinging wildly into the air. Their armours were covered in furs, most of them wearing some sort of animal skull on or around their heads. Still, they waved the banner of the church and screamed its chants into the air.

“There's a lot of them...” Wilhelm gulped, his weapon trembling in his hand.

“Can't be many more then what we have.” Liliana stated. “Not since Zant came with reinforcements at least.”

“If we stick together, we'll make it through this.” Mirilla added. “I know we can...”

Wilhelm looked to his right, down the rows of men standing at attention. His captain was speaking to another from Zant, he recognized the man. A rather prestigious noble: Sir Wolfgang spoke to several captains as well as a few knight-lords and Generals. He was young, but if the stories about him were true, that didn't matter.

“Oy, look!” A voice cried out from the front line. “Over there!”

The waves of wild men parted, slamming their spears to the ground and their axes against shields. Out of the enemy lines lumbered a creature so large, one could not know he was human at first glance. He towered over any other man on the field by at least two men in height, his muscles were unprotected and visible through his cloak and his chest gleamed with the armour adorned with a roaring lion. In his right hand he carried a rather savage blade with a curved end, stained permanently with gore and chipped at multiple angles. But what stood out most of all was the mask hiding his face, a silver face piece with two eyes and a mouth twisted to look that of a laughing jester.

Before the defenders of Estonia and Zant stood Soltar Khan: The Smiling General and the Church's secret weapon.

“Why...” Mirilla trembled, the bow in her arms shaking visibly. “Why is he so large? -How- is he so large?”

The other two said nothing, their eyes fixated on the giant that marched across his ranks.

“Hold your ground!” A voice commanded, it was none other than Sir Wolfgang. “They bleed just like any other men! And if it bleeds, then it can die! Stand with me! Defenders of Zant! Defenders of Estonia, stand with me and drive back the darkness!”

His words struck true and the soldiers burst into cheers, bashing their weapons against their shields and ground. Soltar Khan was less than flashy however, and rolled his shoulders before simply pointing his sword towards his prey. The wild men erupted into a violent collaboration of screams and cries before charging through the fields, weapons raised and teeth bare.

There was a shout, followed by the constant barking of commands before the clear skies above filled with burning arrows, peppering the horde of wild men with a constant barrage. The enemy fell in droves, some still charged into the fray as their flesh burned. The arrows were followed by large stones and flaming pots that crashed into the battle field, crushing or lighting more of the enemy ablaze.

But still they continued their charge, unfazed by the screams of their comrades and the smell of burning flesh around them.

“Charge!” The familiar voice of the young Wolfgang cried, drawing his sword and riding his armoured horse first into the fray.

The defenders charged, line after line left the foliage of the forests with their weapons bare, anything from the blades, maces, and spears of the professional army to the pitch forks, picks, and axes of the volunteers lunged themselves into a bloody battle.

Wilhelm's ears popped when shield smashed against shield, a shock of pain coursed through his arm when he himself made contact. If this happened over a year ago, he would have been thrown to the ground and most likely killed, but the hard work he had done for Alexander and Liliana had made his back strong and his legs like steel. He felt his fear disappear, lost in the adrenaline that spiked his blood. The man in front of him growled savagely, foaming at the mouth as some sort of battle ritual or intimidation tactic.

During the times the army set up camp, Wilhelm had a chance to get some practice and tips from the Estonian and Zant soldiers who were moving around the camp and giving advice to the new recruits and volunteers. The wild man was fixated on proving his strength, obsessed with over coming Wilhelm through brute force so much that his sword rested in his hand by his side. And Wilhelm took the opportunity presented to him.

With a grunt of effort, Wilhelm brought his sword to bear and stabbed to the side, circumventing the wild man's shield that was too busy being pressed against Wilhelm's. The man didn't even have time to act before the cold steel of the blade pierced his unprotected neck on his left, cutting into the flesh and rending his wind pipe and jugular. He wheezed and coughed blood, crimson pouring from his mouth and neck before crumbling to the ground.

It didn't feel as Wilhelm intended. He felt no guilt or anguish from his kill, all he wanted to do was defend himself from the next attack.

“Will!”

Wilhelm turned to the voice, spotting the next wild men charging at him with two axes drawn. He was fast, faster than Wilhelm could bring up his shield to defend himself. But the axes never made contact, instead falling out of the wild man's hands as an arrow pierced his eye.

“Stay focused, Will!”. He turned to the next voice, finding Liliana once again at his side and followed closely by Mirilla.

Liliana fought like a devil, tearing apart several men with every swing of Crom. The lizard women and salamanders among them seemed to be making as much as an impact as the minotaur was, cutting their way from opponent to opponent until they too were lost in the crowds. Wilhelm followed behind Liliana, joining Mirilla and keeping any kind of enemy not in front of Liliana off her back.

He constantly span in circles, stabbing at anyone stupid enough to get close to Liliana. Losing himself in the cutting and chopping and stabbing that he didn't even realize who his next opponent was before it was too late.

The edge of his blade cut into naked muscle, barely even drawing blood from the wood. Wilhelm's blood ran cold as he looked up at the towering behemoth that now stood before him before a fist came crashing into him. The knuckles mad contact with his shoulder, shattering his arm completely, and all he could do was scream in pain before he barrelled into the ground.

The ground shook with every step from the giant, the metal on his face in a permanent grin. He twisted the sword in his hand and cracked his neck from side to side, as if to savour the kill he was about to make. Wilhelm struggled, slipping against the ground until he rolled on to his back and brought up his shield in vain. He had a feeling he was going to die, but not at the hands of Soltar Khan.

But before the giant's blade could cleave him in two, a loud roar was heard, followed by another giant crashing into the Khan's side. Liliana smashed the handle of Crom into the Khan's side, her horns causing sparks while it scraped against his mask. He lost his balance only for a quick moment, taking two steps back before regaining his balance.

Liliana fought like a true monster, pulling her ask away and bringing down blow after earth shattering blow against Soltar's blade. The earth sank around them and those unlucky enough to be caught in the cross fire had little time to react before being cut to ribbons. Her teeth were bared and her muscles bulged with every movement of her axe, but even in all this, the Khan didn't seemed too worried and kept his composure through the fight.

“Lilly...” Wilhelm wheezed, struggling back to his feet, his sword arm was useless and he wouldn't be able to do much with just a shield, so he opted for the blade and threw the shield to the ground. He struggled with all his might, stumbling across the battlefield in a pitiful attempt to aid his lover.

But he wasn't fast enough even for that.

The Khan's elbow struck true, shattering Liliana's helmet into pieces. She regained her footing, but not quick enough. Once again, she raised her axe over her head, ready to bring it down against the giant, but instead felt a numbing pain in her chest.

Soltar Khan's blade was aimed against the ground, it took a second for both Wilhelm and Liliana to realize what had happened. Her eyes widened and the grip on her axe loosened even before the blood sprang from the wound that had appeared down her chest.

“No...” Wilhelm gasped, his limping turning into a full spring towards the falling Liliana. “No no no nononononono-”

Soltar turned his attention to Wilhelm, stepping over Liliana's body with his sword brought back at the ready. He towered over Wilhelm once more, ready to end his life, but was stopped when a lance pierced his back, and punctured through his left pectoral.

The Khan let out a quiet “Hrngh.” as his own blood sprayed against Wilhelm's cheek. Turning around to see Sir Wolfgang charge towards him, galloping on his horse into battle with his blade drawn. Soltar turned his attention away from Wilhelm and charged the young knight, the two locked in a struggle that caught Wilhelm completely by surprise.

He ignored the duel and ran to Liliana, hunched over on her side and holding her chest.

“Lilly!” Wilhelm cried, looking around for any sort of aid in the carnage. “Mirilla! Mirilla where are you!?”

Their elf companion was nowhere to be found, the two were alone in a sea of gore and bodies. He took a deep breath and grabbed on to Liliana's back piece with his one good arm.

“Come on, Lilly.” He struggled as he helped her to her hooves. “We have to go, we have to get out of here!”

Either by miracle or by luck, Wilhelm escaped from the battlefield wile supporting Liliana on her shoulders, helping her keep her balance on her week legs.

They struggled through the forest for some time, long enough until the sounds of steel clashing against steel and the shouts of men were at a distance behind them.

“Stop...” Liliana cried, her knees buckling. “Please, just stop... I can't keep going...”

Liliana crumpled into Wilhelm's arm, he struggled to hold up her weight but still managed to sit her down against the trunk of a mossy tree.

“It's going to be okay, Lilly.” Wilhelm assured with a nervous smile. “We just need to find healers and get you patched up good as new.”

“Name a healer that can fix a hole this big.” Liliana joked, laughing just enough to force a cough out of her.

“Then we'll just get two.” Wilhelm continued. “Or three or four or as many as we need!”

“Wilhelm...”

“Or-or I'll learn to d-do it myself a-an-a-an-and I'll fix it!”

“Will...”

“Or we'll find a monster and make whatever pact we need to make you be-”

“Will.” Liliana held on to Wilhelm's face, looking into his tear filled eyes. “Its okay.”

“It's not okay.” Wilhelm sobbed. “I was supposed to keep you safe! That was my one job!”

“You couldn't have done anything...There was nothing you could do.”

“I should have found something! Anything!”

“Will.” Liliana pulled him closer, pressing her forehead against his. “It's not your fault...”

Wilhelm broke down, holding on to Liliana and sobbing openly.

“Do you remember the first day we met?” She asked. “When we found you on top of that hill? You were so puny back then, I thought I would break you with a passing glance.”

“I was really small, wasn't I?” Wilhelm whispered, finding the strength to calm himself down.

“You were so twitchy and scared of everything.” Liliana chuckled softly. “But you always spoke to me with respect, you laughed at my stupid jokes, and you always blushed when I complimented or made a comment about you.”

Liliana still held on to him, looking into his eyes. “I thought you were some nut at first... But the more I spent time with you, the more I came to love you. I love you, Wilhelm. I love you so much, I love you more than anything in the world. That's why you have to live on. For me, for both of us.”

“Then please, Lilly.” Wilhelm spouted in a broken whisper. “Please, please don't go, don't leave me. I can't do this without you.”

“All you have to do is let go, Wilhelm...” tears rolled from Liliana's cheeks as her eyes became weaker and weaker. “Its easy...Anyone can... Let... go...”

Liliana's hands dropped to her sides as her eyes became lifeless, her head lulling towards the ground. Wilhelm looked down at her with wide eyes, opening his mouth to speak but no words followed.

“L...Lilly?” He finally managed to blurt. “Lilly!?”

Wilhelm gritted his teeth, holding the body of his lover to himself as close as he could with his one good arm. He wept loud and bitterly, crying out into the sky for anyone, anyone at all to help him.

“This is just a nightmare...” he repeated to himself. “I'll wake up back home with Liliana and everything will be fine...”

He shouted, demanded himself to wake up, with each failure he just yelled louder, until he heard a new voice.

“I heard it coming from this way!” The voice shouted, it was rough and shallow, not like the more refined accents of the Estonian's.

“Must be one of the heretic still prowling around...” Another voice added. “Find it and kill it!”

Wilhelm remembered Lilly's last wish, he wanted to stay with her and wait for the bitter end, but he knew she wouldn't want that. Her body was too heavy for him to carry, so he went for her axe: Crom.

“Come on!” He cried, trying to pull it onto his shoulder, but it was impossible to lift such a massive weapon with one of his arms.

“Damn. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” he shouted in defeat. The voices and foot steps were coming closer, he had no choice but to abandon both.

--
Wilhelm didn't know how long he ran, the sun was already gone and he could still hear voices behind him, shouting to one another or taunting him from a distance. He couldn't feel his legs anymore, his chest burned and demanded that he stopped, every muscle surged with pain and felt weak, but still he ran.

He ran, all that was on his mind was the body of his lover that he abandoned and her beloved axe. He couldn't cry anymore, he was all out of tears, but he ran. He ran until the ground gave out under him, and with one final scream, he fell into the dark.

The ground gave up under him and he slid into a dark cave, its walls smooth and without faults, as though it was man made. Wilhelm shivered and stuttered with every movement, surrounded in a dark his eyes could not pierce. The voices stopped, and all was quiet, he was alone.

As much as it pained him, Wilhelm returned to his feet, limping forward further into the darkness. Then, ten steps into the darkness, there was light. He yelped and fell back, two torches on either side of him lit up with no provocation, what did he stumble upon? Once again, he rose to his feet and continued forward, torches lighting his way every ten steps.

Two hundred steps exactly, and a two final torches lit, revealing a large stone double door in front of him. He stood still for what felt like an eternity, finally mustering the courage the approach the door. It opened as soon as he closed in, the vacuum nearly blowing him from his feet. The opened door hissed with a haunting howl, and once again, two torches on either wall lit up, revealing a room.

Wilhelm stepped inside, finding a large stone block at one end and a stone arrangement like a desk on the other. It felt like a living space and a crypt all wrapped into one. But in the back of the room, dead centre against the wall, there was a pile of bones, its boney claws holding on to a few objects.

Wilhelm approached it slowly, expecting a trap or some sort of monster, but neither came. He was alone with the remains, using what strength he had left to kneel before the corpse examine it. It held on to what looked like a journal in one hand, and a vial of green liquid in the other. Carefully, he removed both with his good hand and crawled towards a torch to get better light.

To his surprise, the journal was in English of all languages.

“Why?” He asked himself in German. “Why is this in English?”

The journal only had one entry.
“I am lost... When I arrived on this world, I was lost, wondering from place to place in search for a new home. I was born in the United States of America in 1985, in university I was mocked for my experiments and projects, but here I was unrestrained. The Patriarch took me in without question, he saw my work and thought me a genius. He explained magics to me and how they work, in time we became great first.  I dabbled in both magic and science, mixing the two for great effects. With my help, we created a force that could repel the savage monster hordes. With these new soldiers, the demon lord could no longer kill and claim what he pleased. House Vanguard rose to power, its last member: Argustus Cain, was the most promising. They were stronger, faster, and more durable than any knight or hero withing the Order of the Sun. But even they met their match against Nine-tails Akane.

House Vanguard was wiped out, Akane went missing, my friend the Patriarch passed away and his successor changed the order forever. He instilled a dogma of fear and hatred, he hunted down those who held true to the old testament, and I was forced to flee with what little I could grab.

To whomever finds this, what I have with me is the last vial of product that created House Vanguard. In small doses, it can enhance your physical abilities, in time, it can make you more than human. But to drink it all at once will change you, it will make you something that the world has never seen before. This vial can make you one of the most powerful creatures on the planet, or consume you and destroy your mind forever. With this, do you choose to destroy it, use it, or leave it, it is now your responsibility.

-Professor James Bagan. Last year of the Exalt, Earth year: 2012.

“2012?” Wilhelm couldn't believe it. From what history he gathered, the last year of the Exalt marked the death of the final Patriarch and the year that brought the Ecclesiarch into power. How could someone born in 1985 arrive here a thousand years before he did?

Wilhelm picked up the vial in his hand. To become more than human? He gazed up to the stone ceiling above him, it very well may be his grave.

“How am I supposed to go on without you?” He asked. “Its like all the light is just gone...”

He looked at the vial one more time before pulling the cork out with his teeth and spitting it aside.

“If I survive, then so be it...” He whispered. “But if I die...Then I can be with you again...”

He downed it all with one gulp, throwing the vial against the wall and sitting on his knees. It hit him like a bulldozer, his chest felt like he just swallowed molten lava. He coughed violently and fell to his stomach, balancing himself on his good arm as his skin felt as though it was lit on fire. Suddenly, his back bulked under a brutal pain, like one he had never felt before.

“Lilly...” he cried, the muscles on his back expanding rapidly.

He thought about the women he loved, all the time they spent at the manor. He thought about how he felt as though he found a new family, how he laughed with Alexander, how Clementine would scold him for not taking better care of himself. He remembered the first time him and Liliana made love, and all the times after that. Every kiss, every hug, every laugh, every joke, the times they bickered, the times they said “I love you.”

He thought about how it was all taken away from him. Taken by a freak of nature, taken by hateful men with machine hearts, who killed without mercy or reason for a faith that was not practised in the land they terrorized. He thought of the shame of leaving Liliana's body behind.

“I'll kill you...” he growled, clenching his teeth until his gums bled. “I'll kill you all...”

He yelled as his arm grew large and muscular, followed by his legs. He felt his broken arm restructure itself painfully under his flesh. He smashed his head against the stone ground, cratering it under him with each strike. Blood dripped against the broken ground and flowed into his eyes, furthering his unquenchable rage.

“I'll kill you all to the last man. I'll kill your leaders. I'll kill you're gods. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you...”
--

“Ey?” The man dressed in furs and skulls asked, pointing at the circular hole in the ground with his axe. “Whats this then?”

“Why are we even still chasing this scum?” Another asked. “He's obviously long gone...”

“What if he's hiding in here?”

“Why would he be hiding in a hole so clear as that one?”

“Cause he's a coward, he was pissin his trousers through the woods all night. And I think I see light down there.”

“Fuck me...” The leader cursed. “Fine, alright boys, lets go nab us a coward.”

Five men entered the pit, walking down the torch lit halls side by side.

“Where you hiding, buddy?” one of them called out. “We found yer dead friend out there in the woods. Were's you sleepin' with that thing? That's fucking disgusting, mate.”

The four others laughed at his words.

“Come on out, we'll make it quick, I promise you. I'll even let you beg, it won't do you much, but I heard it makes you feel better...”

He stopped his men from advancing, standing in plain sight with his arms outstretched. “Come on out, and lets finish this like men!”

“Yes-”

The wild man's blood ran cold as he felt the hot breath at his neck, slowly turning his head to see a behemoth of a man standing before him, shirtless and wearing nothing but a pair of ripped trousers. All he could see in the giant's shadow was two bright red eyes staring back down at him.

“Lets...”
--
“What the hell could have done this?” Captain Brunner asked, keeping his distance from the mess in front of him.

He heard the screams when he and ten of his knights were looking for Estonian survivors who may have lost themselves during the battle, what he didn't expect to find were his wild men enemies splattered against the walls of an old cave.

“Everybody, we ride back to command.” Brunner ordered, using the wooden ladder they brought along to climb out of the hole. “Whatever did this is still out there.”
--

Wilhelm stood at the tree trunk that his lovers body rested against. She was cold and lifeless, but seemed eerily at peace. Her axe was gone, a notion that burned an unending rage withing Wilhelm's heart. But he was different now, larger, faster than any man and stronger than strong. He would find Crom, and bring it back to its rightful owner. But first, he had a job to do.

He lifted Liliana's body in his arms easily, her arm dangling from the side. Somehow, he felt that Liliana would have enjoyed being carried like a princess, but it was too late for thoughts like that.

First, he brings her home. Then, he finds her axe. And then? He doesn't know.

But he knows this.

Many men are going to die...