Knight and Day

It was quiet, as if the village was deserted but that was not the case a group of villagers stood outside the old remains of broken home staring at it with wide eyes as if waiting for something...anything to happen. Time seemed to have stood still, until finally there was a sound, a roar of anger and in a blink of the eye the roof of the old house exploded and a massive form flew into the air. A woman hovered above the form of the Lycan. Her sword split apart into a whip like form and wrapped around the Lycan's throat. Twisting her form in the air she pulled the Lycan over her shoulder and sent it crashing to muddy path below. The Brotherhood knight flipped effortlessly in the air and landed with a soft thud.

The Lycan whimpered on the ground, blood pouring from the wound around his neck where her sword whip had wrapped around it's neck. Swinging the sword around it reverted back to it's natural form with a snap. The Lycan tried to move away from her but couldn't move without pain shooting through it's body. "May God have mercy on your soul." she whispered softly sliding one of the silver daggers from her belt and hurling it at the Lycan's heart. The blade embedded itself deep in the lycan's chest burning the flesh and killing the beast instantly. She was a knight for the brotherhood and though she detested the warriors of the Dark Lords she was not a cruel woman. She would never prolong the death of any creature.

The Lycan's body slumped as death took hold of it reverting back to its human form. Katerina traced a cross along her body and kissed her fingers saying a silent prayer for the beast before sheathing her sword with a click. The villagers cheered loudly and circles around the dead body of the lycan to give their own punishment for it's torment it caused to them. Katerina shook her head sadly at them and gathered the reigns of her horse and tilted her head at the village leader who waved at her as she left. She never accepted payment for village she saved, she left before they could say or do anything. It was better that way, too many questions too many compliments put her in a bad mood. Rubbing her hand over the horses neck she walked out of the village and down the path leading back to the human kingdom. "Come on girl...let's head home."

Katerina's fingers gentle held onto the loose reigns of Midna, her steed as she gazed at the old map in her hands. The ends were frayed and weathered after numerous uses. Her lips moved silently while she read over the names of the surrounding villages. No doubt there would be trouble along the way to Central Kingdom. As a Knight of the Brotherhood one didn't really have vacations. Fredrick was probably having a heart attack from her not checking in with him. It had been at least three months since she had been in contact with the retired Knight. Perhaps she should bring him something when she visited him. Maybe it would save her a scolding and lecture that he always seemed to have waiting for her.

Fredrick was her adopted father, after he had found her as a child staring off at the graves of her family and fellow villagers it was he who had brought her back to the brotherhood and it was also he who trained her to be a knight. He was the only family she had left in this world. She would do anything for him, even fight the Dark Lords herself if need be.

Just as she had ventured pretty far from the village she heard the echoing of footsteps. They were too light to be Lycan and it was too bright for vampires which meant it was probably a villager. Pulling Midna to a stop she looked over her shoulder and tilted her head slightly to the side. She hadn't seen this villager when she was there. Perhaps she was one of the ones hidden in their homes. Her question didn't phase her at all, she was asked this on a number of occasions. "I have trained since I was ten on how to kill the Dark Lords minions. Lycan's are easy, silver kills them almost instantly." She placed her hands on the hilt of her sword and looked the girl over. Something was off about her, what it was exactly she couldn't place her finger on but it was there. "You should return home, the forest isn't safe for you." she tipped her head towards her and continued on her path away from the little village.

The girl asked her another question causing the knight to stop and turn again. "I am trained to kill lycan's as well as vampires and necromancers. Normal humans do not have the means nor the ability to take on a lycan." She found it odd that the girl showed no fear in mentioning lycan's. It came out of her mouth as if it were a normal everyday thing. Many who spoke of them trembled in fear at the very mention of them but this girl just stood there. Looking down at the hilt of her sword she thought for a moment on whether or not to let the girl touch it. It's not like it would hurt her and maybe it will satisfy her curiosity and she would go home. Grabbing the hilt she unsheathed the silver blade and balanced the blade on her arm to allow the girl to touch it. Tiny runic symbols were carved along the blade, on one side they glistened a light blue color and on the other a brilliant red.

Katerina could use light and shadow magic though she preferred the shadow magic. It felt better to use in her opinion. After the girl got her fill Katerina swung the sword around in her hand and slid it back into it's sheath. "No I suppose it isn't. But I have given your Village leader some supplies that will aid against the defense of the village. They wont come for a while I took out one of their generals. So you will be safe." That was a lie, no one was ever really safe and wouldn't be safe until the Lords of Shadow were destroyed. But until that time she and the other Knights of the order will travel around the countryside to help those who needed it.

Tipping her head she continued on her way thinking the girl's curiosity would be stated and she would return home where she belonged. This forest was teeming with all sorts of unnatural creatures. Midna huffed softly beside her and nudged her shoulder gently as they walked. The girls voice rang out again and Katerina stiffened. Turning again she crossed her arms and leaned on her hip. "Just how long are you intending to follow me?" she looked down at the pail in her hand and nodded towards it, "Did you mother tell you to fetch water? Instead you are following me, come I will take you back." Tugging the reigns she gently grabbed the girls arm and began to back track to village. It was getting late so she would have to find shelter for the night. She had hoped to leave the village behind and make it to the outlying village of the human kingdom but instead she would end up staying here. Just wonderful.

"NecroMANcer...not mencer." Though if the Necromancer did get close enough he could make mence meat out of you so they could technically be called a necromencer. Shaking her head she tried to rid herself of such foolishness. what was wrong with this girl? Didn't the villagers inform her of the world outside? What dangers there were and what to do in the case of one? She was far too innocent for her liking, she was something that could be broken easily. She didn't like that.

As they walked she kept a firm grip on her arm but not enough to hurt her but enough to let her know that she wasn't going anywhere. She wasn't the first villager to follow her but definitely the only one that had stuck around. The others would run off as soon as she turned to look at them. Cowards. But many were in these dark times. "They do it to protect their families. I'm sure your father and brothers did it to save your mother and yourself. It is not wise to fight creatures that you have no way of defeating but humans are strange creatures. We do things we know we shouldn't in hopes of saving the ones we love."

The Knights eyes darkened for a moment as she recalled an event in her childhood that lead her to the Order's influence and the price she paid to get there. She had done a great many things in her time as a knight. Things that sometimes weren't the most godly but were needed to achieve victory. The village gate came into view again and Katerina tugged the girl faster, a single brown raised at her whining. Why wouldn't she want to return to her village? To her mother?

The villagers stared at her when she returned fear spiking in their eyes for a moment before hardening at the sight of Adella. She asked one of the villagers which house was Adella and they pointed to it but not before giving Adella a cold glare. This did not go unnoticed by Katerina but she said nothing. Tying Midna at the post outside the house Katerina knocked on the door and waited till it opened. Giving a small bow she gently pushed Adella forward, "I believe this belongs to you."

Katerina didn't answer Adella's question, for she had no loved ones. No she protects strangers, humans, women and children but never loved ones. She was a killer, no matter what term you use, she was a killer. Women like Adella should stay far away from her. For her own good and safety. Katerina gave her a sideways glance at her comment, she was starting to get that feeling. People were staring, giving the poor girl cold glances and cruel stares. She had never been in a village that basically shunned one of their own. Katerina had seen village whores treated better than this girl at her side.

The woman opened the door and stared at her with wide eyes obviously she wasn't expecting to see her bringing her daughter back. The knights brows furrowed slightly, how dare she talk to her child in such a way. Of course it was her daughter but there you shouldn't scold them so harshly. The poor girl. Katerina reached over and took the pale from Adella offering her a small smile. "No she is curious but no trouble. I am looking for a place to stay for the night. If it is no trouble would you mind sparing a bed?" She lifted the pail slightly, "I'll even fetch the water." turning she headed over to the well located in the middle of the village. The villagers already had a roaring fire started near the lake where they sat cheering over the dead body of the lycan.

Humans were such strange creatures. A little boy wandered up to her as she pulled the rope to bring up the water bucket. "She's cursed you know." Katerina looked down at the boy who stared up at her with big brown eyes. Setting the bucket on the side of the well she knelt down in front of him and tilted her head slightly, "What do you mean?" she asked softly. The boy fiddled with his toy sword and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, "She was born dead...but came back. There's a darkness in here...she's stupid...and slow. We don't want her here...can you take her?"

Katerina simply stared at the boy confused as to why such a young child would speak so harshly about one of it's own. But even she had seen that there was something wrong with the girl. But Katerina didn't see any darkness, curiosity yes, but no darkness. Gathering the pail she patted the boy on the head and walked back to Adella's home and handed her mother the bucket of water. "Here you are."

"You have my thanks." She knew the village was poor and did not wish to burden the single mother any more than she had too, Katerina only needed a bed to rest for the night. Not that she would sleep, she rarely slept. For her dreams were plagued with images of her past, of fire and death. She rested enough to keep her energy up and no more. Tonight would be no different, she would keep an eye on the village as well. She had ordered the village leader to pour quick silver over the wooden gates protecting them from the forest, the Lycan's would have to climb the gates to get into the village and one touch of the silver would burn their flesh. It would protect them until the Lycan's wore the silver out.

Katerina let the boys words tumble over her mind. Adella seemed like a very sweet girl, a little off but otherwise sweet. "NecroMANcer's Adella...mancers..." she corrected once again slipping off her jacket and setting it on one of the wooden pegs on the wall. Under her jacket she wore a white and red shirt with a corset tied tightly around her middle. The fabric of the shirt poofed out over her arms and chest giving it an almost poetic appearance. Her boots came high up her thighs covering the black pants that covered her legs. She kept her sword at her side, for she had a feeling that if she took it off Adella would be drawn to it like a mouth to a flame. Nodding her head she took a seat at the small table and looked at Adella. "Listen to your mother Adella, please." she said firmly her eyes locking with the young woman's.

It had to be hard being a single mother of a child that no one in the village liked. She felt pity for the woman but she felt it more for Adella. She obviously had no friends, even the little boy in the village said that she was cursed. Katerina had seen her fair share of curses and Adella wasn't cursed, slow yes but not cursed.

Adella and her mother obviously didn't see eye to eye. In a way, Adella reminded her of a fairy, only able to hold one emotion at one time, single minded and innocent. Yes, Adella was a fairy in Katerina's mind, a fairy that deserved a better life than what she had here. Perhaps she could take her to Fredrick, he lived in Central Kingdom as part of the Kings guard. He had been wanting someone to spend time with and Adella wasn't wanted here. Even her mother seemed to dislike the girl. How anyone could dislike their own child was a mystery to the knight. Children were a blessing even if they were different. Later, when Adella was sleeping she would ask her mother if she could take the girl. Katerina feared for the girls safety now that the little boy's words stuck in her mind. In these times humans didn't trust anything they couldn't understand, that included their own people. Adella's life could be in danger and if Katerina left knowing what she knew and something happened to the girl she would never be able to live with herself.

Katerina turned to Adella when she asked her to come with her to see her favorite chicken. Katerina had never known people to have favorite chickens. Cows, horses, even pigs but never chickens. Katerina herself wasn't a big fan of the loud feathery creatures. They always seemed to chase her around for some reason. "It is no problem." the Knight said with a small smile, standing she motioned for Adella to lead the way. It would give her mother a few moments to herself to collect her thoughts. Bowing her head to the older woman she followed Adella out of the house and towards the chicken coops. A few villagers watch them warily, whispering behind their hands. The village leader, an older gentleman that was blind in one eye walked up to her and bowed slightly. "My lady knight, I thought you had left." the elder looked at Adella with a harsh glare before turning back to Katerina, "I hope the girl isn't bothering you. If you are in need of a place to stay my home is always available."

Katerina motioned for Adella to go get the eggs and looked at the nosy villagers looking at them from the windows of their homes, some were at the well gathering water and others were just standing waiting to hear what would be said. "Adella is no problem." The village leader nodded his head and tightened his grip on his walking stick. "I am staying with Adella and her mother for the evening. Tomorrow at dawn I will be on my way." The Elder's eyes shifted from Katerina to the old house she was referring to. "She is a troubled girl, My Lady Knight. We allow the girl and her mother to stay because of her father. He was a great man and a good friend. But she is only becoming more and more strange. I fear that she will bring her curse upon the rest of us." Katerina's lip twitched slightly, the grip on the hilt of her sword tightened making her leather gloves create a cracking like sound. How dare this old man talk about the girl as if she were nothing more than a stain on his clothing.

Stepping forward she leaned close to the man's face, her dark eyes glaring into his, "Only the weak and foolish fear what they do not understand." she whispered darkly through her clenched teeth. The Leader gasped slightly and took a step back from Katerina who turned away from him slowly and made her way into the chicken coop with Adella slamming the wooden door closed. "Which ones of these is flower?" she asked looking at the tiny demons clucking around her boots.

It was men like the village leader that made Katerina lose her faith in humanity. She understood that they lived in dark times but kindness went a long way. Especially to those who deserved it most. Katerina shook her head and stepped around the fluffy chicken, "No you haven't made me angry. Your village leader has." she wrinkled her nose at the little chicken that rubbed against her leg. Chickens...evil little creatures.

Adella brought over the chicken who had the odd name of "Flower". "Hello Flower. It's nice to meet you." She gently rubbed the chicken's feathers with her fingers and flinched when one of the chickens pecked at her boots. The woman could face hordes of vampires, of lycans and demons...but chickens...not so much. In her opinion they needed to be eaten not played with. But these were Adella's friends so she would not kick it across the village.

"But you're not a chicken Adella, you are a person." she touched her shoulder softly and smiled, "Come, let's get the eggs and head back." she gazed out the little window of the chicken coop and watched as the sun set over the horizon and deep howl of the lycan's echoed in the forest. She would patrol the boarder of the village before she settled in for the night just to be sure they were safe.

Katerina didn't reply to her question. Yes, the elder had made her angry, because he was an old fool and the villagers were cold heartless morons. People couldn't help the way they were born. So Adella wasn't a quick learner and acted differently, that gave them no reason to treat her as a monster. Another chicken pecked her boot and clucked at her feet. Chickens were demons in disguise. No matter what anyone said, Katerina would always believe it. The knight offered Adella a small smile and continued to pet Flower gently, "That's good because it would be a same for her not to like me."

They made their way out of the chicken coop, much to the knights delight, and back into the cool fresh air of the village. A couple of children stopped playing to watch them curiously. What an annoying bunch of people, didn't anyone know the meaning of the world privacy. Katerina's dark eyes turned to Adella as she spoke. She said it so matter-of-factly, as if there true. Which it was, but she held no sadness in her tone. She walked quietly beside the young girl pondering what these villagers could have done to her to make her so...nonchalant about it. Katerina turned and placed her hands gently on the girls shoulders, "Now you listen to me Adella, I have traveled all over this land and I have fought terrible evils. I have seen curses and what they do and you are not cursed. The village might be cursed with fools and superstitious bastards but you my dear are not cursed. And don't ever say that you should be killed. There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing, you're simply different and that is not a bad thing." she gently tilted the girls face up to look at her and smiled, "No one is going to hurt you I promise."

It was decided, even if she had to fight the girls mother, Adella was going to leave with her. These villagers were likely to kill her if she stayed. Idiots. Now she secretly wished she had never given the Elder the quick silver, these people should get attacked for how the treat one of their own.

This poor girl, sometimes Katerina wished that she could kill humans like she did the Lords of Shadows minions. Humans could be just as evil as Lycan's and vampires. How could anyone treat someone as sweet as Adella be treated like a piece of dirt. It made her sick. Her faith in humanity linged on a small shread of hope but if anything happened to Adella...let's just say it wouldn't end well for the village.

The walked back into the house and the Knights eyes fell upon her mother. How could Adella's own mother think she was cursed? Weren't women suppose to have a bond with their children? Sitting down she kept a curious eye on Adella's mother while they interacted with each other. She was so...detatched. It was as if the only reason she put up with Adella was because it was her child but that she really didn't want her. When Adella spoke Katerina turned her head to watch how the mother would react to the news but she just...shrugged it off as if it was nothing.

"Adella just spoke, I think it would be best to answer her." the knight said stirring the contents of her bowl. She didn't want to know what was in the stew but it was food and she needed something in her stomach. Bringing the spoon to her mouth she ate the stew with no emotion on her face. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly cuisine. But it would do. Sitting back she sipped on her drink and kept her eyes on the mother a stern look upon her face. "I am on my way to Central Kingdom...and I wish to take Adella with me." Well, that progressed quickly. Perhaps it was that she was annoyed by Adella's village and mother that she spoke so quickly.

Of course, Katerina knew what she asked was far beyond ridiculous but if Adella stayed in the village eventually these morons were going to kill her. That and she didn't trust Adella's mother. She didn't like the fact that Adella's mother chose to ignore her. The Knight fiddled with the silver cross that hung down to her cleavage and watched as Adella toyed with her food. She wasn't happy here, anyone with eyes could see she wasn't happy here. Why these people didn't just go to Central Kingdom was beyond her. The supplies she gave the Village Leader would only last for so long and by the time she returned the village will probably be gone and the rotting corpses of the foolish people would be laying on the ground for the crows to eat.

"I'm taking Adella with me when I leave." she said firmly finishing her meal and pushing the bowl away gently with the back of her hand. Katerina wouldn't take no for an answer she could easily kill everyone in this village if she needed too to get the girl out though she had a feeling that she could easily leave with her and they would through a damn party. Katerina watched as Adella was ordered upstairs and waited till she heard the door close before turning her attention back on Adella's mother. Sipping her drink she waited for the woman to finally grasp what the Knight had said. "Because she deserves to be somewhere where she's safe. A little boy in the village just asked if I could kill her for them. And even Adella believes that she should die because everyone think's she's cursed and the worst part about it is that you, her mother, wouldn't even acknowledge what she said to you about not being cursed." Katerina stood up from the table bracing her hands firmly on the old wood. "And then you even had the nerve to ignore what I said to you. She's not ill, she's very bright and very smart." Looking up at roof to where she could hear Adella marching she looked back at the mother and narrowed her eyes. "You treat her as if she's not worth your time. So yes, I am going to take her because she deserves better than this.