The return to Castle Brightblade.

Victus had been using mead to deal with his grief. His helm lay on the counter before him next to a pile of flagons. The barkeep glared at the knight with a scowl. Sleeping on the counter was bad for his business, but the knight was too heavy to move...and the last man to try got thrown.

Victus mumbled in his sleep. He was having the same nightmare. Tapping on Victus's head awoke Victus with a start, scanning the room for threats, his hand reaching for his blade on his back. He found the General and his gaze that was of rage eased back into self-loathing. He was silent until the general finished.


"You want me to...slay those who were my shield brothers."
Victus looks to Tahlem and his face is drawn out and pale, so much so that his facial scars from Piltover almost appeared to go to his chest.

"I...am bound to the Castle Brightblade. I owe it a final rest." Victus placed his helm on his head, and thus his armor was on and the Knight was safe from all the pain and woe of the tragedy of Demacia. He got to his feet.

"When do we march?"

"Maybe they knew about the Void and decided to attack while we were weak and distracted. Maybe the Ruined King was bored. I does not matter why. All that matters is ending this."

There was one thing bugging Victus's thoughts, and he decided to bring it up after walking a few more feet.

"Does Demacia keep track of destroyed or extinct houses? Will they be forgotten?"

Victus looked over the walls. The devastation here was much worse than it was in the capital, but there were no bodies in sight.

"I was 16...that's when I left my first house, Ironwill. They had asked me to do the impossible. They wanted me to spy on Freljord. 'For the good of your country' the lord had said. I spat on his feet and left then and there.

I wandered for a week, working for food however I could as I had no gold to my name. Brightblade had heard of me and offered me a place in their house. I had initially refused until they offered me a blade and the chance to earn the black platemail. All I had to do was fight their fights and defend the castle. That was it. They wanted nothing more. I had freedom.

Now.... they are dead.....We should go to the armory. It is well fortified. This way."

Victus entered the keep and glanced about, ghosts floated in Victus's mind, reenacting scenes of the past. Victus did his best to not dwell on them and walk into the guard tower, but the images followed him.

Victus was shaking his head.

"The Brightblade Flambard is in the keep, near the audience chamber of the Patriarch. The armory will have the armor of Brightblade knights and some other weapons and some regular suits of plate. Useful to get into the hands of the army, but nothing compared to the nature of the family blade.

The Flambard is a greatsword with a powerful fire enchantment and protect its user from flames, but it will be cold steel to any man now. It responds only to the Patriarch of Brightblade. Now, it is merely a piece of history.

I will grant you Demacians this, you have long memories. Freljord can not truly recall my clan. The name is a whisper in their minds. Brightblade will at least last in name."

As they entered the tower, Victus grabbed piece of flint from a belt pouch and struck it against his bracer to light a torch. He used that torch to light a second one and passed it to Tahlem.

"The way is dark and treacherous to the unwary. This adds to the security of the place. I knew a few drunk knights having died in this tower. Watch your steps." Victus went down a set of stone stairs that were damp and cool. They were also stained with blood.

Victus stopped a moment and swallowed. He then slowly went down the steps.