[i]4 days before, a settlement close to the designated meeting place[/i]

Everyone was on high alert. Walls and barricades had been set up, guards patrolling 24/7 and everyone was inspected before entering the settlement. Even during the road he saw fire pits encased by metal structures to allow better night vision to the patrolling guards atop the walls. Things had gotten dark, everyone was tense and on edge, waiting for the next boom. He approached the gate where he was stopped by 2 guards while another one stood next to them with a list. 
[color=6ecff6]"Hmm, there is no scheduled arrival for at least the next 2 hours."[/color]-the guard said as he scrolled through the list-[color=6ecff6]"Who are you? State your name and purpose for visiting The Redclaw settlement."[/color]- he added as the guards put a hand on their pummels ready to draw at the sign of any sudden movement.
Without a word, Numenor calmly took out a piece of folded paper from one of his inner pockets, unfolded it and showed it to the guards. It was the poster with the dragon-slaying quest.
They looked at each other for a moment then started laughing.
[color=6ecff6]"So you really think you can kill the dragon? Still, your arrival here is unscheduled and we can't let anyon-"[/color] the guard stopped as soon as Numenor lifted his right hand, showing a silver ring with a red gem on top, a signature carved on it. At that moment the guards stood at attention.
[color=6ecff6]"Sir! You may enter, sorry to have delayed you."[/color]
The ring is a witness to the man's experience on the front lines. Even though he wasn't exactly at the vanguard, he helped a great deal with eliminating enemy officials and key targets. He served under General Lugethius since he became part of this war. In fact it was he who recruited Numenor and now he had one final mission for the warrior. Slay the dragon.
Hushed whispers could be heard from behind him as Numenor passed the gates.
[color=6ecff6]"Did he really come from the front lines?"- "Can't imagine what he saw there." - Just hope [b]this [/b]doesn't become the front lines."[/color]

It was dark. As he entered the settlement he saw..ordinary, everything was normal. The inn was busy with drunken people coming in and out, people on the street laughing, children playing. It wasn't that late but still, this was part of the east side, the danger of an attack was present at all times. How could these people live life like this? Maybe seeing the front lines had made him too harsh but even so...nothing, he could barely muster anger. The old him would be furious of the nerve on this people. As he was watching the scenery a knight approached him.
[color=00aeef]"You must be the one they were talking about. The mighty warrior from the front lines eh?"[/color]
Numenor only continued to look at the scenery of the "happy" people before him, well, as happy as one could be at times like this.
[color=00aeef]"Must be a change huh? I can't imagine what you have seen, things that these people [b]can not[/b] see. That's why we are here, protecting people from the dark things of the world."[/color]-the knight said as he joined the cloaked man by spectating the residents.
[color=708090]"Where can I get a room?"[/color]- Numenor finally spoke, his voice smooth and attractive(as heard by the females).
[color=00aeef]"You got the Inn right there with added breakfast and dinner. Usually it's full but lucky for you, not too many people passed by here today. How long you plan on staying?"[/color]
[color=708090]"One night, leaving by first light."[/color]
[color=00aeef]"Not my shift so I probably won't see you again. Good luck on you journey. We thank you for your service!"[/color]- the guard said while straightening up but then he added-[color=00aeef]"You mentioned that you were on a quest[/color]..err..[color=00aeef]posters spread by that Wizard. Just a heads up but the location where you are to meet, the Six Corners, we just got news of the attack. Everyone died and everything burned to a crisp. Makes you wonder how safe we are here."[/color]
Random men:[color=8dc73f]"You, whore, get up on this!"[/color]- one of them said as he gestured toward the tent in his pants while the other 2 laughed. He had been talking to a well dressed lady. She was probably only stopping here on her way to the far west.
[color=00aeef]"Excuse me."[/color]- the knight said as he approached the man.
[color=8dc73f]"Oh, if it isn't Sir HonorAlot!"[/color]- were the last words that came out of his mouth before it became 2 teeth shorter.

Dragon's Kneecap...what a strange name. He wonders if they named it after or before the dragon emerged. He took his hood off revealing his face, dark green eyes, a smooth face but for a scar on his right cheek, short hair and overall handsome features. 
Entering the inn, the smell of liquor and food instantly hooked your nose. It was noisy, a lot of cheers, some were singing while one was dancing atop the table and there was always that one table who served as an elbow holder for the hand wrestling and as always you had those who watched and placed bets. He approached the counter and was greeted by a smiling hostess. A young girl in her 20s with long blond hair, blue eyes and a vitalizing smile.
[color=fff200]"And what can I do you for today?"[/color]- she said as she turned around behind the counter only for her to look a little surprised.
[color=708090]"Hmm, do I know you?"[/color]- the warrior asked with a smile on his face. The ambient, these people, he finally started relaxing. How long had it been since he had a normal conversation not involving the war or demons.
[color=fff200]"I feel the same way. I am certain I have seen you before."[/color]- the girl responded while biting her lip as she went into thought.
Well, that was one way to start a conversation. After ordering a meal and a few drinks later he had gotten pretty cozy with the girl. At least he hadn't lost his charms over the years spent slaying demons and cultists. Pretty sure he had tortured a few too.
[color=fff200]"My shift ends in a minute. Wanna take this conversation upstairs?[/color]- her stance and actions were suddenly sultry as she said the last question.

She fetched a key and lead him upstairs with a bottle of wine in one hand, opened the door and they both went in. As soon as the door was closed she jumped at him and they went into a deep kiss. Her soft lips then started tracing his neckline, collar bone down to his chest as she undressed him. Feeling outpaced the man started becoming aggressive, his lips inquisitive while he was undressing her now. The bottle was still in her hand when she almost dropped it.
[color=fff200]"One more drink before before we succumb to our burning passion?"[/color]- she asked with a naughty smile, her hand outstretched, holding the wine.
Numenor took the bottle and drank a few big gulps before putting it away and continuing. As they went on she pushed him into the bed and got on top of him.
[color=fff200]"Do you remember when you said you knew me?"[/color]
[color=708090]"Maybe if I know you better I can remember."[/color]- he responded while stretching his neck for a kiss only for her to get back. She then moved her hair away from her shoulder to reveal a scar, caused by a sharp blade by the looks of it.
[color=fff200]"Do you know what this is?"[/color]
[color=708090]"..."[/color]- still confused Numenor remained silent. Maybe it was the drink or the mood he was in but his movements were getting noticeably more sluggish. His hands had stopped rubbing her and she had his full attention.
[color=fff200]"Do you remember who I am now?"[/color]- the girl asked again, her face was now cold.
[color=708090]"..."[/color]- more silence. He tried to recall but nothing would come to mind. HE tried to lift his hand but could barely get it a few inches above the bed. Something was wrong. He should've seen it the moment he saw the girl or when he drank the wine. HOw could he be so careless as to let his guard down?
Now the girl's face was contorted in anger with tears beginning to form in the corner:[color=fff200]"19 years, 7 months and 23 days ago you came..angry sob..into MY HOUSE and killed MY PARENTS."[/color]- she said, half crying with her voice uneven.
It was coming back to him now as adrenaline was rushing through his veins and sobering him up. Yes, he remembered that night.
[color=708090]"Your parents worked for the Mad king and supplied the demon faction wi-"[/color]
[color=fff200]"LIAR! They were simple merchants who were doing their best to raise their daughter. YOU killed my family. YOU destroyed my life. You should've killed me then."[/color]
[color=708090]"I don't kill kids. But you're not a kid anymore are you?"[/color]
[color=fff200]"Hahahaha. So what? You plan to kill me now? Try that when you're dead."[/color]- and as she said that she lifted her skirt and drew a knife kept in place by a strap on the side of her shin.
[color=708090]"You[/color]..ghkk..[color=708090]don't want to.."[/color]- and then he couldn't speak anymore. The poison had paralyzed his vocal cords.
[color=fff200]"It will soon render you unable to breath. But you won't go that easy. You don't deserve to go that easy. Oh and, I'll be sure to visit your grave."[/color]-and as she said that she traced the knife along his chest, below his chest, to the sides until she struck him. The pain was tolerable but then she took the bottle of alcohol and poured it on his open wound. Unable to make a noise these were the 7th longest 5 minutes of his life. He had been tortured before, always managed a way to escape but he had never let his guard down like now. He deserved it, there was no place for becoming soft in this world. And soon his vision began to fade. 
He was dressed and placed on the bed. The bottle of wine discarded outside. She screamed with a smile on her face as men came up to the room and found his lifeless body. Upon a quick examination he died from asphyxiation. His body wasn't analyzed further, hiding the wounds and he was buried the next day.

[i]First light of the following day[/i]

The man who was charged with the body carried him in a horse carriage some miles into the woods where it was the official burial ground. They usually burned the corpses first but that was usually family. This guy, who no one knew, the only reason he was even being buried properly was of how insistent that knight was. The knight was also the reason the body was getting buried along with its belongings. He went on and on about honor blah blah, this guy fought in the front lines for them blah blah. Finally arriving at the burial site the man started digging. He was a real good digger. The hole was nice and deep and ready to swallow a body. Just as he was about to throw the body in he noticed a ring. Well no one would notice a ring missing. He got his sausage fingers pick the ring and started removing it when a hand shot for his arm, painfully squeezing it, cracking the radius. He was about to yell in shock when the other hand shot for his throat. The grip was stronger than steel and it kept getting stronger, applying more pressure as the neck finally gave in and cracked. He threw the lifeless body of the gravedigger in his own grave. He put a hand on top of his shoulder and cracked his own neck as bones got into place. He really thought the girl liked him cause of his charms. Just as he was about to leave he made a dark figure approaching. Using his enhanced vision he saw that it was the girl and more than that she was riding HIS horse. Preparing to dance on his grave? It seemed like divine justice.

The girl approached the hole all the while humming to herself and got off "her" horse. Now standing in the edge she looked down only to see the body of the gravedigger. Suddenly she panicked and looked around. Where was he? How could a corpse disappear? Just as she turned back a hand reach for her head and slammed her next to a tree trunk. A blade was raised before it stabbed the tree just inches away from her throat. Looking sideways, head still against the trunk she started:
[color=fff200]"How did..."[/color]-but the feelings of shock and surprise were quickly replaced by anger-[color=fff200]"Now what? You going to kill me like you did my parents? THEN DO IT!"[/color]-she said in a burst of anger but a hint of sadness showed on her face as she muttered the last words:[color=fff200]"Monsters never die anyway.."[/color]
The old him would have pitied the kid. He would have blamed himself for her predicament. Maybe he would have let her go? Who knows..were the thoughts that crossed his mind as he shoved her head close to the blade, lining the edge to her throat and slid her across the blade towards him, finally leaving her lifeless body to fall on the ground. Grabbing her and dragging her by the hand he threw her in the grave.
At least she deserved a burial..

Now he was on his horse, finally on track. Stopping there just before he reached the city was completely not worth it. And something had changed in him. He couldn't put his finger on it but something was definitely off. Maybe because of how he felt nothing while killing the poor girl? She posed no threat to him and he had no desire for revenge but at the same time he had no reason for NOT killing her. His hunger had lessened and he began sleeping less and less. For 2 days straight he rode to the designated meeting location. Stopping only for his horse to rest. And at last he arrived at the Six Corners. It was as gruesome as the knight proclaimed it to be. Death, decay, melted flesh and wood, a common sight in the front lines. He had seen this too many times to even give it a second glance. What happened happened.
Using his vision he looked in the center and saw multiple humanoids gathered there. Could be their employer and the adventurers or the cultists waiting to ambush them. Either way he would find out.

He started approaching them, atop his horse, at the ready for battle.