The door finally opened before the Shaman and who walked in surprised her. It was the small boy who had given the Samurai the pink flower head. He came inside, shivering cold with small bits of blue on his lip. He managed to close the door, he then used the wall next to the door to help him walk until he suddenly tripped over himself and caught himself onto his knee. He didn't stay up for very long as he then fell over, shivering visibly. He laid on his side and hugged himself trying to get warm. He then saw the Shaman sitting against the bed, who watched him up to this point. The boy was scared, he saw her once before but the stories he heard even before that had him terrified of her. A small girl, found alone and taken in by the Northern people. Taught how to speak, how to hunt, but one day the girl was deemed in the eyes of Odin, an outsider to all. She was then cast out into the wild, forced to survive on her own, and in the solitude she became insane. Voices telling her to rip open anything and bathe in its blood, use it as fuel for rituals only she understood.

The small boy was scared but was too cold to move away and unable to defend himself if the stories he heard of her were true. He wished that someone would come in here and save him, he wished that the Samurai would. The Shaman closed her hand with the pink petals and just before it was out of sight the boy saw it clear as day. Instantly he thought that she had killed the Samurai and used his remains to satisfy her and crushed the flower head he gave him as a means to make him hurt more. The boy tightly shut his eyes and waited for the end to come swiftly and hope he would be greeted by Odin. Nothing happened though. He opened one eye and saw the Shaman laying the exact same way he was but she curiously watched him as if he was some strange creature. The boy was scared already and now he was feeling discomfort from how close she was. His eyes started tearing up and the Shaman was intrigued by the water leaking from the eyes. She couldn't help herself but grab the boy's face with both hands and began to investigate. Roughly she squeezed the boy's cheeks together trying to find out if she can get more. The boy was still crying and wanted her to stop.

The short and hard sniffles from the boy got the Shamans attention and let go of his face. She then saw the actual sad part of the water leaking. The boy was sad, scared, and shivering cold. The Shaman didn't think of anything and just wrapped the boy around in her arms. She could feel the intense cold chill coming off the kid but ignored it. She held the kid close and just hoped something good happened from it. The boy wanted to get away from her if he had any energy to but the need for warmth was strong and the only source he had right now had him trapped. He decided to just stay calm and get warm from her. He slowly began to calm down and felt the warmth return to his body.

He was calm and warm again but he is still in the arms of an insane person. He was still worried about the stories told to him but from what is happening, she doesn't seem to be the one the story told of her. She seemed curious and caring towards the boy. The boy saw someone who was just curious and strange but not this blood seeking psycho. The boy decided to get closer and take in as much warmth as possible. Thirty minutes later the boy had fallen asleep in the arms of the Shaman. He looked so peaceful in the Shamans eyes. It reminded her of something but couldn't remember it at the moment. Maybe it'll come to her later. But as the boy was sleeping the Shaman remembered the bed in the room. She carefully looked over her shoulder and saw it was still empty. Gently she held him with one arm and used her free one to help herself up. Luckily she didn't wake him and managed to get themselves comfortably on the bed. The Shaman quietly looked down at the boy's peaceful sleeping face. She then remembered something that brought despair. Whatever it was she ignored it and closed her eyes to sleep.

Next Day…

In the hall of Odin, the Orochi awoke upside down on the edge of the large wooden table. His head ached as he suddenly jumped up to his feet. He felt his head begin to spin, causing him to stumble around until he caught onto the chair Gudmundr sat in from the feast. The Orochi steadied himself and his head stopped feeling dizzy. He looked around the room and saw Vikings all over the table, passed out. When the Orochi saw the two giant doors opened slightly, he started to walk for it. Tripping over a few passed out bodies, he used the chairs next to him to help him walk straight for the doors. As he got closer, the sunlight shined through the small opening and created a blinding wall of light. That didn't stop the Orochi from pushing on, he reached the doors and when he walked through the light and out the doors he was no longer in Valkenheim.

He was now under the great tree that sat in the middle of a river. Out from under the great tree, again, pink petals were falling swiftly and gently down onto the ground and the water around. It was quiet there, not a single sound could be heard. No wind, no birds, not even the trees branches creaked. It was peaceful. The Orochi turned to face the short red bridge that connected to the tree from the mainland. There he saw them again, Ayu, Momiji, and Okuma standing in a circle together.

"Ayu!" the Orochi shouted.

Ayu looked back towards the bridge and saw the Orochi. Her expression was blank even when seeing the Orochi. Momiji and Okuma looked back soon after Ayu and neither they said anything from the appearance of their friend.

"Ayu?" the Orochi asked from the weird looks he was given with no answer.

Then suddenly Momiji and Okuma just evaporated into black mist leaving Ayu. The Orochi squinted at the scene when they disappeared. Now only Ayu stood there at the opposite end of the bridge, just staring at him. The Orochi was on the red bridge now, approaching his leader slowly. As he was halfway across the bridge, a black ghostly figure appeared out of nowhere and stabbed her with its black mist weapon. Ayu gasped for the air that suddenly left her as she fell back. The Orochi immediately ran over to her while the black ghost figure ran and disappeared. He dropped down to her side and gently lifted her head. Expecting her to open her eyes, she did not. She died the moment she hit the ground.

"No, no!" the Orochi exclaimed.

Then Ayu's body disappeared into the ghostly black mist just like Momiji and Okuma. The Orochi felt his world around him crumble when she vanished and everything around him literally began to fall apart into nothing but black. Nothing was left, it was completely black and lifeless. Not even pure light could shine through this darkness he was devoured into. He felt the cold and emptiness begin to consume him like a sickness. Just when it seemed completely empty and over, the blackness around him rebuilt into somewhere different, a place he has never seen or been to. In a city, he has never seen or recognized that looked similar to what his people build, appeared to be a battlefield. All around him he saw piles of rubble and various debris scattered and lit aflame. Then he saw the area covered with bodies of Knights, Samurai, Vikings and other bodies but could not recognize what or who they were. He walked through the battlefield graveyard and saw Momiji! But what appeared strange to him was that she was holding in her hands and lap a dead Warden. As he got closer to her he suddenly heard metal clamping together. He turned to see a Lawbringer, wielding his poleaxe but not in any stance to attack.

The Knight stood before the two before him. No words but the Lawbringer took off his helmet and revealed himself to be Bonifaas. The Orochi, however, did not know this. The world again began to fall apart around him and with the returning cold feeling. He felt himself slipping away from it all. The grip on life fading. Until he suddenly was awakened by the feeling of cold, water. The Orochi shot himself up from the sudden splash and was panting. He opened his eyes and appeared to be lying outside of someone's front door.

"Haltu áfram! Fáðu! Áður en ég þarf að fá Jarl í þetta skít!" exclaimed the man standing over the Orochi.

The Orochi didn't understand what he said but it sounded serious. He got up on his feet and sped off away from there. He ran a direction away from the man and his house until he felt he was far enough. He came to a halt and saw he ran straight back to the main area of the village. He steadied his breathing and then he started to calmly walk through the village, trying to avoid any eye contact. But soon enough he suddenly felt the eyes of many on him. He didn't return any looks or followed the assumptions of where they were coming from. He just moved forward through everything and ignored everyone.

He did this all the way until he reached the doors of the throne of Gudmundr. He wasted no time and pushed the doors open. He came barging in on Gudmundr speaking with Eir. Both Gudmundr and Eir shot their heads toward the doors and saw an angry looking Orochi.

When the Orochi was close by the throne, Gudmundr and Eir smelled something foul. The only source was the Orochi who entered just as it hit their nostrils.

"Agh! Eir fá hann inn í böðin." Gudmundr said with sounds of disgust.

Eir nodded and approached the Orochi. "Come! You must be cleaned!" Eir said.

"I've figured that out when I woke up." the Orochi said with no emotion.

The Valkyrie rushed the Orochi to a door that led down to a private steam bath. A singular stone circle filled with lightly steaming water. "Okay get in," said Eir gesturing to the small pool.

The Orochi glanced to Eir sternly but complied and begun to strip off his armor. He took off his chest plating and revealed his long sleeve cloth shirt. Eir watched as the Samurai took off his cloth shirt and saw the assassins muscular short body. She then noticed the many scars on his back and on the side of his body leading up to his front. The Orochi then began to untie everything that held up the bottom part of his armor and clothing. He suddenly held up his cloth pants and looked back to see Eir still there.

"What are you doing?" the Orochi asked.

"I'm doing what my Jarl commanded me to," Eir lied as a smile formed under her mask.

"To get me at my weakest?" the Orochi asked.

"No. To make sure you clean yourself." Eir lied again only to enjoy this.

"Hmm. So, Eir?" the Orochi called seriously. "Who taught you?" he asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Eir lied a third time evading the question.

"You know exactly what I mean. Who taught you to speak my language?" he asked again more threatening.

The Valkyrie kept her mouth shut and the smile died. She didn' know if she should answer.

"From what I've seen of your people, you would always take on anything. Even if the situation kills you. So don't tell me you're afraid." the Orochi explained.

Eir was slightly triggered by what he said. "I am not afraid!" she exclaimed and put down her spear and shield.

"Then tell-" he paused himself when he suddenly heard a loud bang right behind him. He turned back to see Eir without her helmet.

Eir shook her head and her long braided blonde hair whipped around over her shoulders. She had a face that spoke of a beautiful maiden and a fearsome warrior. Her eyes were a mellow brown. Her features were godsent to those who ever get to lay eyes on them fully.

The Orochi was not fazed by her actions. "What are you doing? Removing your helmet does not mean anything," he said.

"Maybe not to you but here, revealing myself means I give up my purity as a Valkyrie. Valkyries are supposed to hide behind their masks and give our enemies safe passage to hell or to Valhalla." Eir explained with a stern look towards the Orochi.

The Orochi was now a bit unsettled by what she said. Giving up her purity? He asked himself. "Is this the Northern way of saying you dishonored your people?" he asked with curiosity in his eye.

"Dishonoring the Valkyries, yes. To my people? Never. I only want to ensure the safety of my home and its people in it. You would do the same thing if you were back at your home." Eir explained.

The Orochi closed his eyes immediately in anger as he was reminded of his home. "If I was back at my home, I would cut my own throat before the Emperor himself. Becoming such a dishonored warrior is not worth living where I come from," he explained holding back the anger.

"Why aren't you there now?" Eir asked relaxed now.

"I have told my story enough. Now you will answer my question, who taught you my people's tongue?" the Orochi asked opening his eyes and gave Eir a firm dreadful stare.

Eir knew she couldn't avoid this question any longer. She took a deep breath and said, "Fine. There was a time, I was just beginning to see where the gods above were leading me. I was younger, immature. Blood starting to boil when excitement drives you. I was on my second hunt with my father. We had traveled further down the mountains into the green and out of the snow." Eir explained as she sat down her legs crossed before her helmet.

The Orochi had removed his bottom garments and slowly eased into the water as he listened to the Vikings story.

"I had tracked down the deer we had been following into the green forest. Young and dumb I was, I had run after it to shorten the distance. Soon I slowed my steps and crouched low. Creeping up on it as gently as I could. My father was still far behind but when I pulled my bow and arrow and readied to shoot, it was shot by someone else. I was thinking it might've been my father who had caught up with me and snuck up on the deer but no. It was another person, a boy. He appeared out from the trees and appeared to be alone. I was dead silent as I was scared and uncertain as what I should have done. I just stood there scared stiff. That didn't last long until we both met each other's eyes. He was scared just as I was but neither one of us draw our bows on each other." Eir continued leaning back against the stone wall.

The Orochi began to cup water in his hands and wash all over.

"He seemed to be of the same age or maybe near or older. He wore your people's traditional armor as did I that could fit me. Except when my father called out for me, the boy took out his arrow from the deer we had been tracking and took off from the direction he came from. It was awkward how I told my father that I just found the deer dead. I lied to him because I was worried he might've tracked him down and kill him or worse." Eir added starting to remember her past as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I thought that would have been the only time I would have ever saw him. A few seasons later I was old enough to hunt on my own as far as I desired. I don't know why but I decided to travel back into the greener lands and eventually I came upon a massive looking deer! Antlers bigger than my arms could reach out and its size alone outsized me! I prepped my bow and arrow, steadied my breathing and hands, then released. I believed in my skills that I had killed the large beast when it fell with one strike to the chest. I hurried over to my kill and who would have thought I run into the same guy as before. I didn't know it yet but I heard a voice and the sound of an bowstring stretching to its extent." Eir explained feeling elated.

The Orochi cupped water in his hands and poured it on his head.

"I was caught off guard. I slowly turned to see who it was behind me and saw it was him. I felt it was him somehow. And I think he felt the same way towards me. We were both surprised by the awkward reunion and the same uncertain feeling again returned. We froze together, shock in our eyes. I was trained to fight and defend myself but when meeting him it felt like I couldn't, I guess it was the same thing for him as he then slowly eased on the bowstring and lowered it. I said my greetings to him shyly but he had-" Eir was cut off by the Orochi suddenly.

"Get to the point here!" the Orochi demanded.

"Hmph… After some time we had continued to run into each other again and again. We slowly became odd friends but no way to speak to one another. But one day when we randomly ran into each other back at the same spot where we first met he somehow learned some of our languages and was wanting to help each other learn to speak to one another. It was a hard task and sometime later we were both able to help each other learn how to speak the other native tongue." Eir explained feeling elated.

"So after just random encounters with each other, he decides to be friends by helping you learn our language and you help him? I am sensing something is missing here." the Orochi said leaning his body down towards the water.

"Well, some other things happened that I'm just not too comfortable with talking about. At least be grateful that I am even telling you this." Eir said with slight red on her cheeks that went unnoticed.

"Alright. So you two finally managed to speak to one another, yes? What happened?" the Orochi asked.

"After more time passed on we met again. We had planned on it but this time it was different. We had built a forbidden relationship behind our people's back. Thinking that was safe, we slept together…" Eir was now blushing and her voice breaking. "One night together. The next day I woke up roughly, not by him but by the last person I hoped to ever wake up to, my father. He thought something bad happened and came searching for me. He was trying to quietly get me out of there but then my lover woke up. My father was of the Wolf Clan just like Gudmundr except he wasn't friendly towards anyone foreign. So he first thought to draw out his sword and shield. My lover then drew his sword. I knew that one of them was going to get hurt or killed so I got in between them and tried to stop them from fighting. My father, hearing me speak in my lover's tongue, was outraged and shoved me out of the way. This angered my love and was enough to push him to attack. I was weak when my father pushed me down but I had to do something. It was either my people or the friend I fell in love with." Eir quietly sobbed trying to keep it together even if it hurt to talk about it.

"Who did you choose?" the Orochi asked too curious to care of her feelings.

"I… I chose my lover. In my decision, I wanted to then help him but by the time I finished fighting over a decision, my father had stabbed my lover and pushed him down. I crawl over fast when I saw him drop. I laid on top of him and tried to stop my father once more. He yelled at me, shamed me for what I was doing. I wanted to reason with him that if he let him live, we would both leave together and never come back to avoid disappointing him further. He didn't take it and said he would kill us both instead." Eir explained remembering the pain it put on her.

"What did you do?" the Orochi asked slightly hearing her whimpers and sniffling.

"I did what I decided. I chose my lover over my own blood. I picked up my spear I had trained for a long time with and used my training to fight him off. It was hard but after many years of sparing with my father I learned his weak points and exposed them. Speed was my ally and I used it to throw him off. I used my spear to trip him and when he fell he lost his grip on his shield. I took it and now had the advantage over him. He was able to block most of my attacks but not when I used his shield to smack him in the skull. He was breaking slowly and I would be the victor in the fight. When I finally knocked his sword out of his hands, I gave him one more chance to let us leave. He wouldn't and threatened us that he would find us and kill us. I knew what I had to do but I hesitated. No matter how much the pain I felt overwhelm me, I killed my own father to cover up the shameful deeds I had done." Eir explained crying.

The Orochi sat in the water, his hands covering most of his face except his eyes. He actually felt bad for Eir.

"When I killed him, I rushed over to check on my lover. I knew he was hurt and was going to tend to his wounds but… he- he died in the mix of the battle!" Eir said crying her heart out, panting.

The Orochi now knew the story of the Valkyrie and that's all he was wanting or was it? He had finished with cleaning himself and got out of the bath. Now standing before Eir nude he asked, "What did you mean from before that I reminded you of him?"

"Huh? Oh, I just meant that you and he had some things in common. The Shaman for one, you don't know her and yet you protected her when she was in danger. I and my lover may have gotten to know each other well but he too protected me." Eir explained wiping away the tears.

The Orochi felt he had the answers he was wanting and moved on to get dressed.

"So you got your question answered, what now?" Eir asked him giving him a dirty look.

"Now? Now I go and wait for an opportunity." the Orochi answered putting on his cloth shirt.

"Opportunity?" Eri asked looking up to the now completely dressed and armored Orochi.

The Orochi looked down before him was Eir's helmet. He picked it up, cautiously, with his hand. Examine it carefully, he saw the marks it was dented with from a fight or from the making of it. But the thought stuck with him… opportunity. His opportunity he was waiting for to go home.

Makeshift camp….

Tents were scattered all around. Some around a small campfire with Black Stone soldiers enjoying themselves in conversation. Apollyon had her own tent, secluded from the rest of her army. She sat on a wooden stool, her helmet removed and sitting up on the wooden table beside her. She sat on the stool just glaring at her helmet. Her long grey hair flowed down to her shoulders. She wasn't planning anything at the moment and just relaxed to her solitude.

It was good for a while until that feeling returned. The cold feeling. Just when things were beginning to be so comfortable, the blue flaming skull appeared from behind her head and hovered around to face her. She did not glance over at the ghostly figure at all. Her focus was on her helmet and appeared would stay focused on that.

"What is it?" Apollyon asked in a disgusted manner.

"Legions have begun to form against you. Soon others will follow." said the blue flaming skull.

"So what? Soon I will show the world what we are. And I will finally prove to him what I can do after all this time." Apollyon said elegantly.

"The girl." said the blue flaming skull.

"Oh yes, her. You gave me a vision when I touched her. Who is she?" Apollyon asked intriguied.

"She is apart of him. The man who is determined to snuff you out." said the blue flaming skull.

"Stop with the riddles and tell me who is she to him and who is him?!" Apollyon demanded.

"A child, born from blood. Stolen from a dead family put into the lives of thieves, care for her as her own until they're captured by the North and from there raised as one of their own. Until she was cast out to fend for herself. The man, who will bring a legion of three, against you is the one who set a course of travel. A favored one of your own." the blue flaming skull explained.

"Born from blood? Enough riddles! How are they connected?!" Apollyon demanded again annoyed by not understanding what it was telling her.

"They are bound by family blood. They have yet to learn this. Do as you wish with this." said the blue flaming skull.

Apollyon was about to lose it until she understood now. The Northern girl and Bonifaas were brother and sister. The man who she considered her favorite as an equal, the same man who went traveling across the land and now was planning on killing her, that was Bonifaas. It seemed impossible but if this is true then she now she had a chance to use leverage. This gave her a devilish smile as she knew what this meant. She can now really put the hurt into Bonifaas. She chuckled a bit that soon turned into hysterical laughter. Her laughter soon died down and now began to wonder what will she do once she has the Shaman in her grasp. The blue flaming skull disappeared and left her alone.

"Oh, Bonifaas. So foolish and childish. Breaking your sister will be satisfying." Apollyon said sneering over the thought of Bonifaas breaking at the sight and realization of his sister dead.

Inside a tent amongst others, Mercy sat on her flat rug of a bed. Her legs up to her chest with her arms holding them in place. She was stuck thinking about what she did the other night. Gutting and mauling the man who had raped and beat her friend. With her inside the tent was Holden. He laid flat on his back, his armor piled at his feet. He noticed Mercy still in the position she sat in and he knew what was bothering her.

"Killing him was your decision. He hurt you and he paid for it." Holden said turning over to face Mercy.

"Killing him is not what is bothering me." Mercy answered keeping her head in between her legs.

"Then what is?" Holden asked.

"While I was doing it- I didn't feel bad about any of it, I actually felt… good." Mercy answered.

"Good slowly killing him?" Holden asked raising a single eyebrow.

"Yes. It made me feel alive. Like I actually torturing him until death." Mercy answered then asked, "Oh god! Am I a monster?!"

"No. You were just heated at the moment where you would want to see him suffer. So feeling that is something a lot of people who have been there known what it feels like." Holden answered.

"But I felt good during it! Surely that must be wrong?!" Mercy exclaimed nervously.

Holden knew this was going to be a hard talk so he lifted himself up and sat with his legs crossed. "In the eyes of God, it is wrong even to just kill a man. Wrong to hate a man. What you felt was indeed wrong in God terms but in my and all Lawbringer terms, you passed fair judgment. He got what was coming to him and it's over. What you felt doesn't matter anymore. Forget it and pray for forgiveness if you want but don't let this hang over you." Holden explained.

"Ok then." Mercy said before laying down and drifted off to sleep.

Holden felt proud of himself. He has never been one for emotional comfort but he was now for someone. He too then laid back down and drifted off to sleep. Someone though was standing outside of there tent, it was the Warden. He came to get Mercy and planned on leaving during the night. Except it seems she was not wanting to by hearing her tone. The Warden decided to not bother her and returned to his tent to rest for the night.

Svengard….

The Orochi opened the door to the room he was given with the Shaman and saw an interesting sight. The Shaman and the small boy were playing the game she invented. They appeared to be having so much fun until they heard the door open and then closed. They looked over to see the lone Orochi standing at the door blank facial expression.

The boy instantly grew a smile when he saw the Orochi. He jumped up to his feet and ran over to the assassin, wrapping his arms around the Samurai's leg in joy for his return. The Orochi was surprised to see the boy again but he doesn't know what is driving him to be happy with his presence. Was it because he was just an interesting character? The reason behind it was a mystery. The Samurai was tired and was wanting to sit on the bed but feeling the boy's entire weight holding him down he just dragged his foot across the floor until he reached the bed. The small child seemed to enjoy it as he laughed so innocently while being dragged across the floor. His giggles even tickled the Shaman where she too was now chuckling at the scene.

She sat and watched trying to hold back the smile and laughs that were wanting out. When the Orochi finally reached the bed he spun on the foot the boy was holding onto then landed right onto the bed. The kid let go of the Samurai's leg and was thrown back lightly, sliding across the floor. He wasn't hurt and was only dizzy for a second before he went back to laughing so innocently. The Orochi felt comfortable around the boy as did the boy feel comfortable around the Shaman now. Just as things were settling down the door to their room suddenly swung open. It was the Valkyrie who barged in on them.

"Hey, d- " Eir paused the moment she saw the small boy sitting on the floor just below her. "Hvað ertu að gera hérna ?! Farðu út! Fara heim!" Eir shouted down at the small boy, pointing towards the door.

The small boy gave her a pouting face and ran over behind the Shaman. The Shaman was enjoying this and shrugged to Eir with a smirk. Eir groaned in annoyance when the little twerp didn't listen.

"Relax. He isn't bothering us." the Orochi said defending the boy.

"Well, he needs to go home. His family is probably worried about him." Eir said in a concerning tone.

"He doesn't live far does he?" asked the Orochi.

"Gods I hope not. It's getting dark out and he shouldn't even be wandering by himself." Eir said irritated.

"Then let's take him home." said the Orochi who got up from the bed and looked over to the Shaman and the boy. He then looked back to Eir and nudged his head towards the boy.

Eir realized at the last second and said, "Komdu lítill einn. Við munum taka þig heim."

The small boy was hesitant at first but soon joined the two, holding onto the Orochi's cloth bottoms tight. Together the three walked out into the night, leaving the Shaman alone to herself in the room. She felt kind of left out but knowing that she had a friend that may be smaller than her certain made her feel great. Eir, the Orochi, and the small boy walked down the lifeless village, in the cold winter breeze. Eir has been in this weather long enough to just shrug it off. The Orochi was wearing enough cloth to the point he was hardly feeling it but the boy, however, felt everything with the very thin cloth shirt and bottoms he wore. He was visibly shivering beside the Orochi and could feel it through the small hand that was holding on his cloth pants still. The Orochi looked down at the small child and felt bad.

He felt terrible seeing and feeling the boy shiver this much. He stopped which halted the boy and Eir. He began to remove hive armor pieces until his cloth shirt was left. He took that off and put it on the boy. It was too big for his body but big enough to keep his body warm. Eir was surprised to see what the Samurai had done for someone not of his own people. This gave her a different thought on the Japanese in general.

"I didn't think you cared about us?" Eir asked cocking an eyebrow.

"I don't in battle, but we all have things to care for and worry about elsewhere. I am no different. I had a family too. I was young and stupid. But a life like his shouldn't be for nought. You would fight to protect him and others because you care. Just as I would, even if I'm on the wrong side." the Orochi explained picking up his armor pieces on the snowy ground and nudging the kid forward to continue walking.

"So you really have joined our clan." Eir said with a bit of shock.

They continued forth to follow the boy while the Orochi said, "No. I have merely did what I must to survive, for now. I just expressed that even someone small like him don't deserve to know the harsh reality of this life. The expenses of supplies, clothing, food, weapons, or men to fight wars for you."

"Be glad I have taken a great interest of you or I would have run back to my leader and told him of your treachery if I don't kill you first," Eir said jokingly.

"You may try. Don't forget you are in the presence of the Emperor's champion." the Orochi joked back.

"Oh! Excuse me, your excellency!" Eir joke again bowing towards the Orochi.

Eir laughed and the Orochi grinned under his mask. This walk continued on until they reach a single wood house. The windows showed a flame was lit inside that brightened the front door area just a bit to see. The boy rushed over quickly in the snow until he reached the steps leading up to a porch. He then calmly put out his hand and knocked on the door. The boy waited, he looked back to Eir and the Orochi while he did. His face was innocent and peaceful, the kind of face you wouldn't ever want to upset.

The door opened slightly by whoever was inside. The boy turned back to see who it was and began talking to whoever it was. It took a few minutes of talking before the door opened more and revealed the parents of this child. One of the Raiders who had been in the throne room, holding him down when he first arrived. Beside him must've been his wife as the women instantly dropped down to the boy and loved him as a mother should. The Raider was clueless as who brought him here and the two knew that question came up when the small boy pointed towards Eir and the Orochi.

The Raider and mother looked over and saw the two standing side by side. They were shocked to see, a samurai, help a small defenseless boy find his way home. The Orochi could feel the clueless eyes of the parents scan him. He kept the idea in his head, he did what anyone would have. He knew he did the right thing and wasn't expecting anything nice to come from it. The Raider said something to his wife and she rushed back inside with the boy, only to return with the Raiders large ax. She handed it to him hurriedly as she appeared she could not hold it for long. The Raider took it and began to walk over to the Orochi and Eir.

"Should I stop him?" Eir asked keeping her eyes on the Raider.

"No, let him come." the Orochi said remaining where he stood as he felt the cold winter night brushed against his bare skin.

The Raider clearly stood taller than the small Samurai warrior but it wasn't his main concern. The Viking raised his ax and put his hand on the sharp edge. He then gently cut himself on his palm, then he crouched down, letting the blood drip off his hand until he wiped what was left across his chest. This was a sign of recognition he gave to the Samurai. He then stood back up and returned to his home, not looking back.

The hairs on Eir's neck stood as she felt an awkward tension from the situation but was relieved when neither reacted harshly. "I… I have never seen him act like this before," Eir said.

"Like what?" the Orochi asked looking to the window of the house, seeing the boy speak with his mother.

"Respectful. He is by far the most hard-headed person here yet he just showed you recognition… for returning his son?" Eir was surprised and confused from it all. She didn't think anyone, ANYONE would ever be nice to a Samurai. It kind of scared her but at the same time felt awkwardly nice.

"People can change. It seems we helped him to see me differently." said the Orochi. He saw the boy still speaking with his mother. Until the boy peeked towards the window and saw the Orochi standing outside, their eyes meeting.

The boy smiled when he saw the Samurai and the Samurai felt good to see him home. Someone deserved to be home tonight and luckily it was the boy. "Take me back to the room now." the Orochi demanded calmly.

Then together Eir and he began walking back to the room. "You don't want your shirt back?" Eir asked.

"He's got something to remember while he grows up." the Orochi said.

They kept quiet all the way back to the room. When the Orochi entered inside he saw the Shaman, passed out, on the bed, her body stretched out in different places that just said, do not disturb. The Orochi would take the corner again like he always did. Sleep in the corner of the room to keep himself safe from any danger. But was there any danger anymore? He has a mutual alliance with the Shaman and became friends with Eir. He earned respect from a Viking that he would have fought and killed in battle. He joined the wolf clan with Gudmundr and has earned his respect. What was there to fear here? It seemed like he earned the respect of the Northern people but doesn't feel entirely safe yet. As he sat down in the corner of the room he remembered something. The pink flower head he crushed with his hands. He reached under himself to feel for anything he might have sat on. He found nothing. Feeling distraught takeover, he needed the flower. The flower was a special connection for him now he couldn't lose. He began to search all over the floor in case he missed it or if he didn't check entirely. He needed something of this flower to make him relax or else he felt like he would have betrayed the boy's friendship.

He kept searching and searching for anything of this flower. He was like a cat, chasing a red laser pointer around the ground. He kept searching until he felt someone watching him. He looked back to see the Shaman peeking over the bed, curious but worried what the Samurai was doing exactly. The Orochi then realized the Shaman had been here all day, so she must have it or know where it went.

"Do you have a pink flower?" he asked the Shaman.

The Shaman had no idea what he was saying to her as she then lowered herself behind the bed. The Orochi then realized his mistake and had to think of a different approach. He pointed towards the corner of the room, opened his palm and used his other hand to gesture himself sprinkling something. The Shaman saw what he was doing and knew a bit of what he was trying to say or find. She took out a single pink petal and thought it was this he was referring to as it was the only thing she found in the room. The Orochi was relieved and hurried over to the Shaman on the other side of the bed. As the Samurai reached for the petal, the Shaman pulled her hand back from the Samurai. The Orochi was confused why she wouldn't give it up. She then put her finger to her eye and trailed it down her face, then used the same finger to point at the Orochi's eye but accidentally poked him in said eye.

The Orochi jumped a bit when he felt his eye get a poke and fell back. The Orochi did not understand what she was doing. The shaman saw him confused and did something else. She bit down with her fangs really hard on her finger, causing much pain and began making herself bleed. A tear then began to form in her eye, she used her finger to follow the tear then pointed back at the Orochi.

"Af hverju lekaðu vatn? Trúleysi óvart þér." said the Shaman gently with her voice. She looked upon the Samurai, curiously but not hiding the sad emotion she felt from biting herself or from something else.

The Orochi sat there, clueless to what she said to him. Only by her actions did it give him a clue what she might have said. He thought of the few things she could have said and what she was actually saying with her actions. With no way to respond appropriately, he gently put out his hands cupped together, his head bowing before the Shaman. He thought the only way for the girl to understand how important this was to basically beg without words.

The Northern girl was confused already. She wanted an answer yet none was given, none that she could've understood. Seeing she had more petals stashed in her pouch, she awkwardly gave up the lone pink petal by gently putting it in the Samurai's hands. The feeling of something put into his hands made the Orochi react. He then closes his hands and brings them down to his eyes. Opening his hands he saw the petal. The desire for it easily went away and he was able to relax again. He changed his mind now. This petal would be his ticket to return home. Not because it had any special powers besides being pink. He would hold onto it as his good luck charm to find his way home again.

The Orochi looked up to the Shaman and as he was going to give her a sign of thanks, he was instantly drawn to the object in her hand. Another pink petal the same as his. Luckily the Shaman wasn't paying any attention to him now and he used that moment to quietly walk away before it got any more awkward. She was interested in the pink petal now and wanted to find the reasoning behind his sudden desire for the one petal. A discussion or interaction for another time as it was time for the two assassins to get some sleep. The two went to there preferences of sleeping places, the Shaman taking the bed up and the Orochi taking the farthest corner in the room. The room began to darken and they both soon drifted off to sleep peacefully this night.

Harrowgate… (Yesterday)

Bonifaas sat in the designated Warlords quarters, alone. Daubeny had gone out to sort the troops correctly. As he was more of a commander than Bonifaas. However, the black armored Lawbringer has been sitting in the room for hours, sharpening both his and Balendins poleaxe. He didn't put much care into his own weapon but was certainly careful with Balendins. He was aggressively sharpening his own weapons blade edge, hoping it would get done faster. It wasn't that he wanted to finish it fast but due to him being stressed out and after so much happening he couldn't think straight.

He continued to gently sharpen the three sharp tipped ax head. Seeing as it was his friends he wouldn't want it to be ruined from anything. After three more strokes he stopped. Lifting it up and examining the edges on both sides he'd say he had done a pretty good job of keeping it sharp. After giving himself a mental thumbs up he walked over to the stone wall closes to the bed and leaned the weapon against the wall. Bonifaas then decided to go outside and see how everything is going. He opened and stepped out the door to the room he was given and was now in what appeared to be the throne room for the War Lord that had ruled here. Continuing his way out, the sun shined on him and through the holes of his armor, he felt it all. It was a gentle warmth today and today felt like it was going to be great. He walked around the castle of Harrowgate, exploring the areas it offered and when it came to being on top of the wall, he could see the army of Iron Legion in separate formations with Daubeny taking charge shouting commands.

Today still seem to be going great and he hoped it stayed that way. As he walked along the top of Harrowgates walls his eyes were drawn to a small group of soldiers appearing out of the thick forest. They were Iron legion soldiers fortunately by their apparel but something felt off about them. He kept his eyes on the four being the leader being an Officer. The grouped began to pick up the pace over to their destination which was through the crowd of the army and right over to Daubeny. Bonifaas watched the situation down below unfold. Something was said that made the crowd riled up a bit. It was beginning to worry Bonifaas but he didn't want this to get out of hand so he held himself back and just prayed to god that this wouldn't get out of hand. What appeared at first as a bad thing turned out to be good as he heard the distant roar of the army cheer. Whatever was happening down there must've been good for them all. He was glad that nothing bad happened. The cheers died down and all was calm again. Bonifaas moved on to enjoy the beautiful sight of the forests and mountains surrounding the land. Taking in gods creation as a masterpiece of art.

"M'lord?" called the Commander from behind.

Bonifaas looked over his shoulder to see the Commander approach. "Don't call me that," Bonifaas said in disgust when he was called upon like a general.

"Apologies but I assumed you would be the one to speak with about anything regarding attacking Apollyon?" asked the Commander.

"You came to the right person but I am not a leader or a general," Bonifaas said looking back towards nature.

"Then the formalities can be held back on this one I guess." said the Commander.

"Careful of what you say. Don't forget it was I who beat you and was luckily held back from killing you." Bonifaas warned.

"I did not forget and that was greatly imprinted in my head, thank you." said the Commander hiding the shaking in his voice. "I came here to speak to you about Apollyon but now I have a question. Why do you take control of this place and its legions armies if you don't accept being called Lord or General?" asked the Commander.

"I am taking nothing from you. I only seek your assistance to end a tyrannical power, sought to commit a great sin. As for the leader title? I am the last person you'd want to control your armies. I only have one goal and I shall say it again more plainly. I want to end the reign of Apollyon and her legion. She wants others to suffer then we shall return the favor. I will ensure that she dies with her legion with the help of the two other factions." Bonifaas explained.

"What?! Bringing the two other factions will cause chaos! Neither would want to listen to us or even side with us in that matter!" the Commander exclaimed in shock and denial.

"My friend, you killed? You know his story. Bringing the factions together to gain power and then kills the two faction leaders? I could tell you that isn't true but I have nothing to show for that except my words to hear. Tell me about your thoughts. Does it really seem like a child's fairy tale that we could bring the two factions and bring a new age of peace?" Bonifaas said calm and firm.

"Yes! We see things differently from what they do and after the years of the legend being spread around I'm surprised the Vikings and the Samurai didn't join together and end our existence!" the Commander exclaimed.

Bonifaas released a stress-filled sigh and said, "We must give this a chance."

"No! Bringing them together will only cause another great war! The borders we kept safe and secure! The people we all sworn to protect! Think of all the times of peace we've had up until now! Sure battles have broken out but we all held our ground for our land and that is the peace we need to keep! To leave everyone alone!" the Commander said gripping onto his own helmet.

"Enough!" Bonifaas shouted turning to face the Commander angrily he added, "If we want any certainty of winning we need to get every bit of help. Even if they are not a knight."

The Commander was in denial and probably thought they were all better off with being Apollyon. To avoid any more awkward conversation he quickly turned around and walked away giving himself and Bonifaas distance from each other. From then on the rest of the day was pretty quiet and nothing else had developed. The Conversation about the attack on Apollyon was indirectly forced to be put on hold for hopefully tomorrow.