[10 minutes before]
It had been the usual day in the field, and the last sun rays were still shining when Junas got back home.
"I'm back, Eve. Is Kona here yet? Eve...? Where are you?"
Thump, thump.
A heavy knock suddenly shook the front door.
"Kona! What the hell are you doing? Do you want to bring down the house?" shouted Junas, walking towards the entrance.
But then, as the dark-haired farmer swiftly swung the door open, it wasn't Kona that appeared in front of him.
It wasn't that little scrawny boy, no.
Behind that door stood a man, one so tall you'd think his bald head would scrape against the clouds, with shoulders broader than the doorway. His eyes were completely covered by a white bandage, and down his bare muscular chest descended two black ink marks.
Attached to his belt rested an enormous dark blade, wide and sharp. There was no mistaking it, that great sword was Cornille - the Night Blade of the West.
And that man, well, he'd known him for almost 30 years. Krulls - the Grim Reaper's Right Hand, as well as his former boss.
Krulls' deep, raspy voice echoed through the village:
"Well, well, well... Hello, old friend! How are you doing?"
A large, unsettling smile was now distorting that scarred face.
Junas' eyes widened in an instant, and his mouth opened slightly. He took a step back, and his stance shifted forwards:
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The former mercenary's voice, despite his visible confusion, wasn't hesitant.
"Ah! Now you ask mewhat I am doing?"
The blindfolded giant took a step forward, and his tone lowered:
"You've grown a pair answering me like that, filthy rat. Undeniable. Well then, I'll tell you, for old times' sake. So, first of all, let me ask you this. Do you recall what happened the last time you saw me? I'm sure you do."
Junas' jaw clenched, as he gazed directly towards Krulls' hidden eyes.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, I'm sorry, fields' prince! Well then, let me enlighten you."
The giant bent down, even closer. His hand rested on the hilt of Cornille.
"It was about 12 years ago, during an escort mission in the eastern side of the mainland. One of those disgustingly rich merchants had paid our squadron a large sum to accompany him towards the west."
The giant turned around, spitting on the ground.
"We'd reached the edge of a forest, and were planning to stop for the night. It was there that those bastards ambushed us. It was during that brawl that you ran away."
Krulls rotated his head slightly, partially facing the former subordinate.
"Thought I hadn't seen you?"
Junas was terrified. He'd taken another two steps back, and was now tightly gripping the wall.
"They had us outnumbered, almost 10 to 1. Honestly, it was remarkable how you managed to escape. I have an image-"
The giant turned around, facing him again.
"I have an image imprinted in my mind, you know? The last thing I saw before both my eyes were ripped off."
His voice was now pure hatred.
"I had more than 10 men on me: I was completely surrounded, and there weren't any openings I could take advantage of. Glancing beyond that wall of bodies, however, my eyes met a friendly face. Your face, Junas."
He spat again.
"You were right there. You could've easily opened up a gap in their ranks. But you didn't."
Junas tried to straighten his posture.
"What do you want, Krulls? I'm sorry for your eyesight, but-"
"AH! HE'S SORRY! Listen up, filthy rat. Traitors absolutely disgust me, you know?"
Junas gulped.
"Because of you, I lost my eyes. How do you think a blind warrior fights? HE DOESN'T."
The giant walked towards him, gesturing with his hands.
"But look at you, instead! You have a nice house and a beautiful family now! It must be nice. What were their names? Eve and Kona, right?"
"My family is none of your business, Krulls. If something is wrong, that's between you and me."
"My story isn't finished, peasant."
The giant tilted his bald head.
"So, after losing my eyesight, I got captured by the ambushers, who sold me for a big sum of money to some lord in the west. That bastard wanted me as a trophy to brag about: 'Look, I have enslaved the Grim Reaper's Right Hand'. However, his idiotic talk was rapidly shut down after I cut his throat."
Krulls grinned.
"You see, during my stay there, there wasn't much else I could do, as a blind slave. So, I spent most of the time thinking and meditating by myself. I know, you wouldn't expect it from someone like me, uh?"
The unsettling grin widened.
"But then! Just as my hopes were lost, the Gods blessed me with a third eye. The eye of the mind, Junas."
The two of them remained silent.
Then, in the blink of an eye, a swift, impeccable movement abruptly shifted the air: Cornille's tip was now touching Junas' chest. The giant whispered:
"Grab your blade, traitor. I'll be waiting for you at the square. My men have already gathered quite the crowd, you know!"
Krulls lowered the blade, and turned around to leave.
Junas, instead, was petrified.
What the hell just happened? How is he alive? How can he see? A third eye...?
Kona and Eve aren't here, luckily. Furthermore, that crowd he was babbling about... They've probably gotten some hostages to lure me. This is nonsense, but... I have no other choice.
---
As Krulls had promised, the square was occupied by an impressive crowd. The giant's men had made sure that the whole village was there. Eve included.
As Junas stepped towards that swarm of bodies, a path opened in front of him. At the end of that human corridor, above the heads of Gerga, the monstrous giant stood still.
"JUNAS! JUNAS! What's happening dear?"
As Eve, her eyes full of tears, was trying to reach him, one of Krulls' men blocked her.
Junas, however, tried his best not to look at his wife.
Maybe… Maybe he won't know it's her. He knows her and Kona's names, but what about their faces? My past has come back to haunt me, but them… They've suffered enough.
As the dark-haired farmer reached the center of the rabble, the bald monster stared him down.
"People of Gerga, I salute you. My name is Krulls. Today, I will put an end to Junas' life. Now raise your blade and fight me, if you want to die a warrior."
The farmer raised his sword and adjusted his stance. Against an opponent of such might, he had only one option: speed. He would have to be swift, rapid; measure every movement, evade and dodge every attack. One hit of that dark blade…
----
It had been a one-sided massacre.
The dark-haired man could barely stand. His sword was heavy, his breathing short, and his clothes red.
In the two minutes that had passed, Junas wasn't able to land a singular hit. And not only that: Krulls…
He's just toying with me. Like cat and mouse.
The former mercenary stood among the screaming crowd. He could do that only because Krulls had allowed it.
If he wanted to, he could behead me in an instant. The way he moved, back at the front door… That wasn't normal. He's too quick, especially for a body of that size.
"What are you thinking about, traitor? Your last wishes?"
Might as well try my best...
As Krulls stood still, Junas dashed forward: the deep wound received on his right thigh was pulsing, but he pushed forwards.
He raised his blade, faking a wide attack from the right.
Krulls stood still.
At the last second, Junas lunged downwards, turning the rotation into a straight movement.
He was aiming to pierce the right ankle.
And yet, Krulls stood still.
I have him. I HAVE HIM.
Then, as the farmer's dull blade was about to make contact with its target, the air shifted. It felt as if a hurricane had just hit Gerga.
In front of Junas, Krulls had disappeared, and his blade hit the ground.
As the man dropped on the ground, with his blade screeching away, he felt the cold touch of iron on the back of his neck.
Shivers ran down Junas' spine.
The giant, pressing down Cornille, smiled.
"Junas Valen, traitor, rat, peasant. Your life ends here."
Just then, a boy's scream obscured the evening sunset. A sound of pure rage.
And the blade stood still.