Duke Of Darkness

CHAPTER 2

The battle cries echoed once more at the border. It was as if the field itself thirsted for the blood of soldiers willing to sacrifice their lives. Rafael stood at the front line, examining his worn shield. His sharp eyes scrutinized the approaching shadows of the feral creatures. He muttered under his breath, seeing how savagely the beasts tore through his men. There was no time to retreat or hesitate in eliminating these menacing creatures that had long terrorized the northern border of the kingdom. This time, the attack was more brutal, larger in number, and more organized than the previous onslaught.

The scent of fresh flesh and blood pierced Rafael's senses. The battlefield and the soldiers' resting ground had transformed into pools of blood and scattered human entrails. Rafael felt frustration and anger at his inability to protect the many soldiers who had fallen to the beasts' onslaught.

As Rafael prepared to advance, a familiar voice called out to him from behind.

"Rafael..!"

He turned, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of an older man with white hair, drenched in blood, lying helplessly on the ground. Baron Laurent Hurbret lay there, a gaping wound across his chest. Fresh blood continued to flow, soaking his uniform. Rafael froze momentarily, then approached the man quickly.

"Sir Laurent...." Rafael knelt beside him, holding the shoulder of the mentor who shared such a deep bond with him. The older man's eyes looked dim but still radiated the steadfastness that had inspired Rafael years ago. Sir Laurent was the only one who knew the truth about Rafael-and had never judged him as the illegitimate son of the king. In many ways, the man had been like a father to him.

"Rafael..!" Sir Laurent struggled to speak, his voice weakening with every word. "I have one request for you... you must... protect the Hurbret family. Annette... Annette needs your protection."

Rafael was silent, the furrow in his brow deepening. "I... will protect her, Sir. I swear it." The words left his mouth unconsciously. Without a second thought.

Sir Laurent gripped Rafael's arm with what strength he had left. "Not just that." His breath came in gasps. "Marry Annette... become the Hurbret family's protector."

Rafael was stunned, realizing the weight of the request. Amid the explosions and the roars of the advancing beasts, Rafael looked into the old, revered face. Sir Laurent's eyes no longer held the light of life, only hope and desperation before death finally claimed him.

"Sir.. I.." Rafael could barely speak, his loyalty to Sir Laurent echoing in his heart, but the request was overwhelming, carrying the burden of immense responsibility. Marry Annette? A woman he had only met a few times?

"Annette...." Sir Laurent whispered again, his voice fading. "She has no one else. Please, Rafael.. I beg you...."

The voice trailed off, and Sir Laurent's hand went limp. In an instant, his body grew cold; the once mighty mentor was gone. Rafael bowed his head, his body tense with a mix of grief and the sudden burden that had fallen upon him. In a critical moment like this, a promise felt more like a weight than just words. Rafael knew he could never break the last request of his mentor. For when everyone else looked down on and judged him, only Laurent had welcomed him without scorn. Therefore, Rafael had to repay that debt.

"Rest easy, Sir," he whispered, gently closing the old man's eyes.

"I will keep my promise."

There was no time to mourn amidst the battlefield. As Rafael stood up, he heard fierce roars from behind. The beasts were attacking again, this time faster, moving with more unpredictable movements. Rafael drew his sword, letting the magic within him surge wildly. The power now coursed through him unrestrained, infusing every move with a glow of red and blue that pierced the night.

The soldiers around him watched in awe and fear as Rafael's every slash brought the beasts down, turning them into ash. With each flash of his sword, he remembered his promise to Sir

Laurent, his vow to Annette, a woman he only knew from his mentor's stories.

Rafael felt something stir inside him-something that reminded him that he was not just a shadow warrior on this battlefield, but a man now bearing the responsibility for the Hurbret family.

A nearby soldier suddenly shouted, "Duke Rafael! From the right!"

Without hesitation, Rafael turned and unleashed a blast of magic from his palm, sending the approaching creature flying. But beyond the explosion, he noticed a shadow standing among the trees-someone wearing a white cloak, illuminated in the darkness. Was that Annette?

Rafael paused momentarily, disbelief washing over him at the sight. But within moments, he realized that the figure was not Annette-just an illusion conjured by the guilt and responsibility haunting his mind.

Rafael stood amidst the battlefield that resembled a chaotic inferno. The dark red fog of war enveloped everything around him, mingling with the bodies of the fallen, both beast and man. His face was wet with blood, some from the beasts without magic, some from bodies unrecognizable, heads severed from their owners. But he did not have the time to discern them; too many bodies lay shredded, too many heads detached.

His eyes fixed ahead, where the campfire that once served as a resting place had become nothing but ashes and debris. Rafael swallowed hard, his throat dry. He wiped his face roughly, trying to clear the dried blood from his cheeks, only to smear it further. Around him, the surviving soldiers moved with trembling bodies, some dragging their feet, others supporting each other, their faces marked by grief and fear.

"Caesar!" Rafael called sharply, summoning his right-hand man. A tall man with disheveled brown hair and a tattered uniform ran over. Caesar's face was weary, his sunken eyes striving to stay focused.

Rafael took a deep breath, meeting Caesar's gaze with a look full of meaning. "Find out about Annette," Rafael commanded firmly, though a flicker of worry crossed his eyes. "And prepare my marriage to her. We cannot delay this any longer."

Caesar stood silent for a moment, processing the words amidst the chaos around him. His brow furrowed, but he asked no questions, only bowing his head. "Understood, Sir," he replied, then turned and moved quickly, signaling a few soldiers to assist in carrying out the newly given order.

Rafael watched Caesar disappear toward the shattered camp, his body feeling heavier than before. The decision was not one he took lightly; Sir Laurent's request echoed in his ears, like a wound that refused to heal. He closed his eyes, feeling momentarily crushed by an indescribable weight.

Marrying Annette was more than just a promise; it was the final shield-the last protection he could offer to his mentor's family.

Another soldier approached, his face solemn. "Sir, we must return to the capital at once. The war is over!"