Angels were far less fallible than humans, but they still had the occasional lapse in judgment. And their mistakes were usually far more costly.
Felice had fallen in love with a human, her error compounded by the misguided notion that the man shared her affections. However, upon the revelation that a child was conceived, the angelic being was spurned. Enraged at this rejection, Felice withdrew her guardianship from the land, forsaking it to incursion by the forces of Hell.
She retreated from the world of Trinitaria into the Heavens to raise the child amongst her fellow angels. After many years, Felice perceived that the time was right for her son to claim his worldly birthright from his miserly and misanthropic father, as well as restore Heavenly authority to his homeland.
And when the Nephilim descended from the Heavens, the Templars were waiting to meet him.
Glowing with radiant angelic light, Hadriel’s blade sliced through the demon lord’s neck. The great horned monstrosity’s fiery life force flamed out as its head was separated from its body. Exhausted from his travails, the Nephilim plunged his gore spattered hand and a half sword into the blood churned earth and leaned on the pommel.
“Think old Craghaven will grant me an audience now?” Hadriel puffed between heaving breaths. His companion, High Templar Varius, observed the mangled bodies of hellspawn strewn about the dilapidated keep, admiring the Nephilim’s handiwork.
“I shouldn’t wonder. You’ve spent near a month cleansing his lands of the evil that was unleashed after he jilted your mother and she cursed this place. Seems to me he owes you. Especially now you’ve killed Vagramoth, which has long been thought an impossible feat.” The older warrior, who was one of Felice’s most stalwart earthly companions in his younger days-currently Hadriel’s earthly mentor-gestured to the corpse of the once mighty and indomitable demon lord.
“Somebody should bring him the good news that Greywood Keep has been freed from its hellish overlords. Might as well be me,” Hadriel agreed congenially as he hefted his sword and sheathed it across his back.
“I’ve heard of you,” the decrepit Baron of Craghaven croaked at the stranger standing in front of him. “You’ve been roaming my lands for weeks now, slaughtering demons. My people love you for it, and some even say your deeds are so mighty that you can only be one of the fabled Nephilim.”
The old man hacked out a grotesque chuckle that echoed off the dank flagstones of his great hall. “But we both know that’s not true, is it? You travel in the company of High Templar Varius, which means you’re just an upstart sellsword with delusions of righteous grandeur. There have been others like you. And yet, the demons come back. The demons will always come back.”
A pensive look that was almost remorseful abruptly materialized on the timeworn visage, then disappeared just as quickly. “So, why are you really here? What do you really want?”
Thus far, the unflappable stranger’s face was shrouded in mystery under his hooded cloak. He removed the garment, and an audible gasp escaped the Baron of Craghaven’s rickety lips.
“You?! After all this time?!”
“I’ve come to restore the authority of the Heavens over this land, and to claim my birthright.” Hadriel the Nephilim beamed with the angelic light of his mother, while his countenance resembled the Baron’s from long ago, when he had been a vibrant young man. Craghaven squirmed uncomfortably under the implacable gaze of his estranged son.
“Y-you have no claim! You’re a bastard! I w-won’t acknowledge you!”
“As you said, I have cleansed this land of its demonic scourge, yet you would reject me as you once rejected my mother? Do you truly value your pride more than the well-being of your people?”
“Impudent whelp!” the Baron shrieked furiously, spittle flying from his mouth. “You’ll pay for this insolence! I’ll see you cut down where you stand!”
“Is this why you granted me an audience? To murder me?” Hadriel coolly unsheathed his longsword as the half dozen men-at-arms scattered around the hall tensed, anxiously awaiting the Baron’s response.
“I thought I was meeting yet another delusional fool who fancied himself the savior of Craghaven. Had I known you were a bastard usurper, I wouldn’t have let you through the city gates.”
“So, what happens now?”
The Baron smiled a wily and venomous smile. “Now, nobody will hear from you ever again.”
“I ended Vagramoth’s reign of terror not two days ago. Do you think six mere guardsmen will be enough to stop me?”
“You had Varius to help you against the demon lord! He’s not here to help you now!” Craghaven squirmed and prevaricated as his resolve faltered.
“Are you so determined to send your soldiers to certain death?”
The old man staggered to his feet, gesticulating wildly and shrieking, “I have more! Hundreds more! And they will all gladly skewer you if I command-”
Craghaven’s lunatic raving was cut short by a crossbow bolt that suddenly bloomed in his throat. Stunned at this abrupt turn of events, he clawed vainly at the quarrel as blood pumped through his fingers. His life force ebbed, and the frail Baron of Craghaven toppled backwards into his throne, rattling out a final shuddering wheeze. The guardsman who delivered the killing blow lowered his crossbow and addressed the wary Nephilim.
“Did you truly kill Vagramoth, and liberate Greywood Keep from the demonspawn?”
“Aye, that I did.” Hadriel nodded.
“And are you truly a Nephilim? Are you truly the offspring of our long absent guardian angel, Felice?”
Again, Hadriel nodded his assent. The soldier dropped to one knee. His fellow men-at-arms wasted no time in repeating his gesture.
“Then we swear our allegiance to you. You have done more for Craghaven these last few weeks than this callous bastard ever has. For decades, he let the hellspawn terrorize his lands, too arrogant and proud to do what was necessary to save his people.” He glared at the stiffening corpse on the throne. “And for that, we are at your service.”
Hadriel returned his sword to its scabbard and rapped a gauntleted fist against his polished breastplate. “I will do all that is within my power to be worthy of your oaths. Are there any loyal to the Baron who will resist?”
The apparent leader of the guardsmen shook his head adamantly. “You witnessed for yourself what a cold-hearted wretch the Baron was. Believe me when I say that no one in all of Craghaven holds any love for the man.”
“Then why not put an end to his hapless reign until now?”
The soldier shrugged. “With no one to rule, our already chaotic land would have been thrown into even further chaos. Besides, we did not have Felice’s blessing to take such drastic action.”
Hadriel smiled knowingly. “Yes, I daresay my mother would not have approved. However, she has not been blind to your struggles. That’s why she has continually guided Varius and his Templars, empowering them to defend Craghaven in her absence.”
The Nephilim stood tall, radiating an aura of righteous gravitas. “And that’s why, at long last, she has sent me.”
If you enjoyed reading my Thoughts, consider showing your appreciation by helping to make my dream of quitting my day job a reality.
I know that feeling well. The work you put into it shows, though. You’ve set this up for a good series, if that’s your plan.
Enjoyed this, Josh!