The morning air was quiet and smelled of damp earth.
In the courtyard of the Van-Drakken estate Kaelith stood alone. He did not wear gold or jewels. He wore a plain linen shirt and trousers stained with sweat. He held a simple steel sword. To Kaelith the sword was just a tool like a farmer's plow.
He swung the blade in a basic vertical cut. He had done this same move every morning for twenty years. He was the strongest swordmaster in the world but he did not feel like a legend. He felt like a student. To Kaelith the System that hovered in his vision was a gift from the Gods. He believed the Gods gave him this talent so he could protect his home. He trusted the System and the Priests with the simple heart of a child. His trust was 100% absolute. He believed the High Priest was the voice of God himself.
"Kaelith you are going to wear a hole in the stone."
Kaelith stopped mid-swing. His stern face melted into a warm smile.
Mihu stood in the doorway. Her hand rested on the curve of her stomach. She was six months pregnant with their first child. To the world he was a hero but to her he was just a husband who worried too much. Kaelith sheathed his sword and placed his hand over hers. He felt a faint thump against his palm. He would kill gods to keep this child safe.
"Uncle Kael! Look!"
A young boy named Julian came charging into the yard holding a wooden stick. He was Kaelith's nephew and he was like a son to him. Julian mimicked Kaelith's stance with great focus. Kaelith knelt in the dirt to adjust the boy's grip.
"Lower your shoulder little hawk" Kaelith said. "Be a man who only draws his sword to keep the peace."
Kaelith's parents watched from the porch. His father nodded with pride and his mother sat nearby knitting a blanket for the baby. Kaelith looked at them all and felt a deep sense of gratitude. He was a man with everything to lose and he trusted the world to let him keep it.
The iron gates opened and a carriage with the Church crest pulled in. The High Priest stepped out in silk robes. Kaelith knelt in reverence. He did not just respect this man. He believed the Priest was holy and perfect.
"Holiness" Kaelith said. "How can I serve God today?"
The High Priest placed a thin hand on Kaelith's shoulder. "The Gods have chosen you for a trial. A Great Ancient Rift has appeared in the deep forest. It is spawning monsters that threaten the Sanctum. Only your blade is pure enough to close it. It will be a hard fight Kaelith but God is with you."
Kaelith looked back at Mihu and Julian. He hated to leave them but his faith was his life. If the Priest said God needed him then he would go to the ends of the earth.
"I will go at once" Kaelith said.
"Good" the High Priest smiled. "Your family will be safe under our protection until you return. We will guard them as if they were the Gods' own kin."
Kaelith kissed Mihu's forehead and waved to his parents. He walked away with a light step. He trusted the Priest's word more than his own eyes.
By noon Kaelith reached the deep woods. The mission was not a small task. The rift was a massive tear in the sky that bled black fire. Dozens of high-level demons poured out. Their skin was like iron and their claws could melt stone.
Most armies would have been wiped out in seconds. Kaelith stood alone. He did not use magic or flashy spells. He simply moved. He danced between the claws of the demons. His sword was a blur of silver. He cut through iron skin and bone as if it were paper. He took many hits. His shirt was torn and his blood stained the grass but he did not stop. He believed God was giving him strength.
He fought for hours. His lungs burned and his muscles screamed. Finally he stood before the core of the rift. He gathered all his strength and struck. The sound was like a mountain breaking. The black fire vanished. The demons turned to ash.
He fell to one knee gasping for air. He was covered in wounds and his sword arm was numb. He looked at the quiet forest. He had survived a mission that should have killed him.
"Thank you for the strength" Kaelith whispered to the sky.
He leaned on his sword and stood up. He was exhausted and bleeding but his heart was full of joy. He had done his duty for God. Now all he wanted was to see Mihu. He wanted to hear Julian's voice. He wanted to sit at his father's table and feel the warmth of his mother's home.
"I want to go home" Kaelith said.
He began to limp back toward the estate. He was tired but he was happy. He could not wait to tell Mihu that the world was safe again. He did not know that the Priest he trusted had already betrayed his soul.