The day was livelier; the hat Matthias would train his sons brought spring to his sons' solemn. "Dad, dad, what will you teach us first?" The you squealed in delight, tugging on his father's arm.

  "Nothing, we must fish first." He replied curtly.

  "Fishing? But dad we have to train." The eldest pined.

  "Life es first; we ot train oy stomachs."

  The five set out on the o waters, heading south, away from the northern sea.

  The water, still as gss, only small ripples and waves slowly brushing along the deck. The two eldest began w along the small ship, barely enough room for them all. Whilst the you wrestled with each other on the deck.

  It was more in lih dang with two left feet than it was wrestling.

  'Is this really what I wanted?' He asked himself. Sed you knocked his brother overboard, spshing into the o below. Looking to his farther, eyes asking for approval. A smile worth proteg.

  'Perhaps it's not so pointless after all.' A slow smile f at the edges of his mouth.

  *Whoosh*

  A sudden gust of wind threateo capsize the boat. A rger boat came speeding past, its wake tossed the small fishing vessel into chaos. Water soaking everything and everyone.

  "Matthias, is that you?" A man with a rge beard reag down to his chest called out.

  "Gai! What is wrong? Why are you rushing south?"

  Gai looked back towards home, terror seizing his face.

  "Run Matthias, run! Monsters have made ndfall. Get out of here now!"

  The hair on Matthias' arms stood up, heart pounding in his chest. Fear sent his stomato knots, his world stopped.

  "Boys! Row! We must get your mother!" He bellowed, five of them worked feverishly to move the small boat. His hands gripped the side of the boat until his knuckles turned white. The southern sky darkened as they approached; bck clouds filled the horizon.

  The town was cast alight, burning with white fmes. Buildings bzing white, the harbor so often filled with ships now a bination of fleeing ships and burning vessels.

  A roar that beloo no know came from the acropolis, erupting like a volo. Sound creating waves through the water. It hit like a sledgehammer, knog Matthias and his boys to the floor.

  The ringing in their ears sted long after the impact.

  "Dad...Dad... you hear me?" The eldest shouted over ringing.

  "Yes...yes I hear you." He rasped out.

  "Stay...here..." Disorientated, Matthias rolled into the water, making the desperate swim back to shore.

  As he swam, a giant lizard emerged from the burning dome of the acropolis. The size of a three-story adobe, scales bck as night, trasted by reptilian red eyes, rge eaglelike wings folded. Sing all below, its cws digging into the marbled foundations. Matthias could almost make out a smile, from all the age below.

  Breag shoreline, determio save his wife, Matthias ran towards the burning town. All around him were chaos, fires raged; Screams rang out from across the town; children cry, and men scream out in pain as they are cut open by a shadowy horde of bck warriors.

  deep bck armour, faces hiddeh helmets. Some carried swords of darkness, whilst others used their bare hands to crush the townsfolk's skulls.

  Amongst the rubble and smoke, Matthias searched fns of his wife.

  "Matt-hias." A feeble whisper came from behind a nearby stall. He ran towards it, quickly lifting off the debris. Damas y, a rge gash ran across his torso, his eyes fading with each breath.

  "Damas! I'm here, where is my wife?" He asked hurriedly.

  "U-up...there..." Damas raised his hand pointing to the acropolis. His final breath leaving him, head falling bato the ground.

  'Faster' The voi his head urged.

  Weaving through the stalls, out of sight of the shadowy warriors, cries of help ignored, fear clouding all judgement.

  The once pristine grass fields leading up to the acropolis are smothered in blood or burnt to the ground. Bights in small groups sughter their way through survivors.

  "No, no, no!" A cry of agony ing from behind. An elderly roteg a child. Matthias couldn't stop. He o keep going.

  ing to a cluster of vilgers piled on top of one another, at the base of the steps leading up to the acropolis. All beaten and bloody. Some missing limbs, others their heads.

  "Matt...hias." Soft, gentle sobs greeted Matthias, barely above a whisper. Her white dress was stained red, blood c her pale skin.

  "My love...No." Tears filled his eyes as he saw her crumpled body.

  Struggling to breathe, she gurgled ached. Her lungs, filling with blood.

  "My...love...please...the...boys." Her chest heaved, spitting out the crimson liquid. Matthias held her tightly in his arms.

  "Shh... Keep still, you must be strong." He whispered softly, stroking her hair. Her once luscious locks were now matted with dirt and blood.

  *k* *k* *k*

  Marches of metal boots drew closer, desding from the top of the acropolis. Led by a taller figure; bck pte armour refleg the white fmes that engulfed the town, darkened visor that resembled a skull; and a long cloak that swayed with each stride taken.

  Fnked by two women who towered over their leader, garbed in short bck robes, long legs covered by thigh high boots, long flowing white hair tied in intricate braids, silver skin shone in the fire light. Faces emotionless, unfeeling; they marched silently.

  "My...love..." She whispered weakly. "They...must live." Her head lolled bato his p. Her heart slowed to a stop. His fingers still clutched her limp hand. Eyes gzed over staring into nothingness.

  "No, no, no... No! My love please!" Matthias held her tight, not letting go.

  The dragon roosting atop the acropolis took flight, heading towards the harbor. Its shadow blotted out the sun, wings beating heavily in the air. Matthias nearly pinned uhe pressure of its wing strokes.

  ‘The boys.’ He thought. Matthias let her go, cradling her head on the ground. "I'm sorry, my love." With tears in his eyes, he sprinted back towards the o.

  The dragon circled the fleeing vessel.

  Red eyes narrowed in on the prey, diving down from above. Reigning down white embers onto the small ships. Muffled screams reached nd as the ships erupted in white fmes.

  "NOOOOOO!" Matthias could only wat horror, helpless, his sons burning in the distance. Matthias colpsed to his knees on the beach, staring out at the burning vessels. His family taken from him, everythiroyed.

  He was alone.

  "Why...why...Why!" He screamed out, gripping fistfuls of sand in each hand. White hot tears ran down his cheeks. He fell forward, body weak from exhaustion and sorrow. The legion of marg boots halted behind Matthias; the leader stood at the edge of the beach watg him.

  "Why?! WHY!?" He wailed out again, face torted in pain. Fag the leader in bck.

  "Do not dare speak to our lord." One of the guards hissed, stepping forward menagly. A powerful bck arm held her back, a silent and to stay.

  "Your temple housed a god, hiding amongst you. Your downfall is your own doing." The other female guard spoke coldly, eyes staring down on Matthias with apathy.

  "Kill me...please... just kill me!" Matthias begged for release. The faceless leader remained silent, staring into Matthias' soul.

  "P-Please..."

  "Our Lord does not do favours."

  Hand rising, the leader gestured for the dragon cirg the harbor to e. A flick of his wrist, a strange ring glowed on his finger, white leaking from it. Within a heartbeat the terror of the town, nded on the sand. Steam hissed from its scales, c its body, shrinking it down in size. The billowing cloud bursts into fmes, turning to ash.

  Rising from within, a child not much older than Matthias' you son. Short cropped bck hair, crimson eyes, pale skin. a white dress flowing down to her knees with matg white shoes.

  “Praise me.” She demawirling her dress as she moved.

  Without a word, he marched once more; his legion of warriors marg in unison. Silent. Only the thumping of their boots on the gravel.

  "Aww. Did I not do good?" She pouted in disappoi. Skipping after him.

  The sight of the girl...that indifferengered Matthias greatly.

  "You will pay for what you did!" He roared charging at the girl. The girl turned meeting his eyes, a sly smile on her lips.

  Time suddenly slowed around Matthias, a pain radiated from his throat, a tightness squeezing it.

  Blood gushing, rolling down his throat, chog him as his lungs became heavy. Gasping for air, struggling to stay upright, the nameless leader produced a tendril from his left arm, a whip made of bone, curved at the tip.

  The girl o him giggled in delight, dipping her finger into the wound.

  "MMMMM, Oh. I see. You had family out there" Matthias' eyes widened in fear, uo speak or move. His skin turned cold and pale.

  "They all screamed, begging for the fire to stop." She leaned in closer. "Not even the o waves se my fire."

  Matthias' vision began to blur, voily ing out as a guttural groan. Blood oozed from his mouth.

  "You should be thankful; I've brought ao your suffering." Her crimson eyes never leaving his own. The ground came up to meet him. Cold dirt filled his nose as he gasped his st breath.

  With a bright fsh, Matthias awoke in the nd of the dead. Tall looming cliffs surround him on all sides; the nd was grey and barren, the air stale, dry, and lifeless. His chest bore no wounds, no pain or blood, ahe memories were still fresh in his mind.

  The fear, sorrow and helplessness burned deep within his soul. A silent red from his gut, hand clutched at his stomach, fist g tight. Uo tain it, tears rolled down his face, teeth gritting together. A gentle haed on his shoulder, startling him from his sorrow. "Wele... Matthias."

  "Who are you?" He growled out, voice ced with anger. "You are dead, a victim of the gods selfishness. However, ... I am here to give you a choice."

  MaskedManNull