Vigil slowly opened his eyes. His body was hurting all over, bruised and beaten. His legs were dragging on the wooden floor as he was pulled from his elbows. Looking at his poor figure was an angry mob; they were throwing rocks and fruit at him.
Without warning, Vigil was thrown to the floor. His body trembled as it remembered the slashes on his back.
Standing right next to him was a guard, clad in a white iron plate. The edges were dented and stained with old blood. Vigil felt the bloodshed from his eyes as the warrior gripped a massive great axe.
"We don't see a show like this often," said the guard while gazing towards the crowd. "Front row... shame you'll miss the applause!".
"Rotten pig!" vigil spat towards the warrior's black boots "There's nothing exciting in framing the innocent!" his voice reeked of injustice and hatred.
The guard kicked vigil in the stomach, launching vigil towards the floor again. The crowd cheered in approval while vigil scratched the floor as he gasped for air.
The crowd then fell into a sudden silence and the air suddenly grew still. Vigil recollected himself as he set his gaze upon the gallows stairs. His heart was beating fast, and a new sense of rage was flowing through his veins. It was Prince Marcus. Vigil clutched his fists, blood pouring down from his fingers as he tried to push himself up, but his legs screamed in protest.
Prince Marcus smiled and waved towards the crowd. His posture was stern and calculated, the medals on his coat jingling proudly as he reached the final step.
'If only they knew who Prince Marcus truly is' Vigil thought, the feeling of betrayal lingering on his tongue.'
Prince Marcus approached the end of the gallows, standing closer to the crowd. He pointed towards Vigil. His gaze was sharp, almost predatory, as if daring Vigil to break the silence.
"Citizens of the Crown" Prince Marcus paused. The tension from the crowd was visible, some subtly shifting on their feet. "We are united here today to bring justice for my father's death". Tears started to flow on the prince's face as he clutched his chest.
Vigil clenched his teeth as Marcus echoed his lies through the square.
"The king extended his benevolent hand to Vigil. He adopted him, took care of him, and what did he get in return? Murder." The crowd reacted immediately to Marcus' words, shouting slurs and throwing rocks in Vigil's direction.
Vigil placed his back against the gallows wooden wall, slowly lifting himself up with the little strength he had left. A small rock grazed his right cheek, but that didn't deter him from approaching the crowd.
"I'm innocent!" screamed Vigil, his voice trembling with pain. "I would never bring harm to the king! Marcus wants the throne for himself; he plans to bring war to the kingdom!"
"Silence!" ordered the prince. "You continue to spout lies even in your last moments!". With a flick of his wrist, a court page approached the gallows and delivered a sealed envelope. Prince Marcus showed the closed envelope to the crowd. Embedded in the seal was a Deer holding a large staff on his antlers. The symbol of the Dominion of the Elves.
"Just how many people are involved in your tricks Marcus!" said Vigil as he tried approaching Marcus only to be barred by the guard.
Ignoring Vigil's remarks, Prince Marcus opened the envelope and showed it to the crowd. He looked towards Vigil, a deceitful smile escaping the corners of his lips.
"This right here is unrefutable proof of Vigil's plans. He worked with the elves to kill our king". Marcus paused, his hands trembling has he was holding the envelope "In return for the mana poison, Vigil would have returned the crystal mines, that our king fought hard for, many years ago."
Vigil tried to refute Marcus claims, but the crowd only got louder and angrier. He realized there was nothing he could do to convince the crowd. His fate was sealed the moment the king collapsed at the feast.
"In the name of the kingdom, I Prince Marcus, condemn you Vigil to death, for the crime of treason and assassination of our dear King Edric the wise".
The guard shoved Vigil forward, his rough hands gripping him like he was nothing more than livestock being led to slaughter.
The guard stepped back, his voice resounding across the square. "Do you have any last words, traitor?"
Vigil's lips curled into a bitter smile. His voice cut through the crowd's noise. "Curse you, Marcus!" he shouted, his voice tense with rage. "Curse your lies, your schemes, and your thirst for power! And curse every one of you!" his eyes scanned the crowd, "who's too blind to see the monster you call a prince!"
The crowd fell silent for a moment, stunned by his defiance. Then, like a storm breaking, their shouts grew louder, more frenzied. Vigil didn't flinch. He held his head high, his eyes locked on Marcus, who stood at the edge of the platform. His expression was like a kid who finally got his piece of candy.
The guard raised his axe, and the world seemed to hold its breath. Vigil's thoughts wandered briefly about his life. He couldn't shake the feeling of deep injustice and anger, just what had he done to deserve such faith. He recalled one last memory when the axe reached his neck. The king smiled to him on horseback as he picked him up on the ruins of Aldemarin.
The world went black as fast as the swing of the axe.
And then came Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness. Vigil floated in the void, his thoughts fragmented, and his senses numb. 'Was this death? It felt… empty'
Vigil lost the sense of time, drifting endlessly in the void, alone in the dark. But then, after what felt like an eternity, something stirred in the dark, it was faint at first, like a weak pulse.
Vigil tried to move but his body was too heavy, the void was forming a whirlpool around him, planning to swarm him in. He didn't want to go but the pull was relentless.
And suddenly he felt something different, it wasn't the void, this was different. Cold.
Then came the smell, something metallic like blood.
Vigil was slowly realizing himself; it started from his feet and then slowly spread through his whole body.
'What's happening?' Vigil felt a surge of panic 'Where am I?'.
He tried to sit up, but his body felt uncoordinated, almost alien. His hands touched the ground beneath him. His fingers were brushing against the soil and jagged rocks.
His breath came in shallow gaps, but he noticed something was wrong he didn't need to breathe. Placing his hands on the face, he felt unfamiliar contours. His ears were now pointing outwards and his skin felt cold. His nails were sharp and elongated.
When he ran his tongue over his teeth, he felt the sharp points of fangs
With a gasp, he thought 'What… am I?'.