Ten minutes earlier… Knight has arrived the city while letting out a sigh of relief. The tension and unease he had felt in his mind when he had felt during his walk had been slowly been building during his brief his journey. It had got so bad at one point he had started to jog towards the city only for the feeling to ease up to a more bearable tug forward. With this bringing him some comfort he was finally able to ease his pace back to a walk until the end of his trip. Now having arrived at the gates of the small city he could finally begin following his newly acquired rule. First he need to take a quick look around the city and then he could finally make his way to the capital. As Knight strolled through the city, his mind wondered to his upcoming journey north, it would be much colder up there so he was hopeful that would mean less bandits. Going to the capital always made him happy because it allowed him to see his dear friend li- and suddenly his mind snapped back into action as his rule flared back into his consciousness with a vengeance. This could only mean that his rule was about to be broken and he would not stand for it. Knight took off in a dead sprint, although he wasn’t sure where he was going he knew that his rules would pull him to his destination like it always did. Too many people that knew about Knight’s rules they suspected that his rules where some kind of magic that had bound him during some kind of evolving oath but Knight knew he had made no such thing and simply thought the pull of his rules was due to intuition and luck. As Knight came to an impasse on the main road and a side road he frantically began to search the streets until his eyes landed on the young boy fleeing up the street like his life depended on it. Knight also gleamed from the situation that the kid’s life may very well be on the line in this race due to the infuriated man chasing him. Although Knight didn’t possess any magic to analyze the man, his years of experience as a martial artist told him that the man was planning and able to easily kill the lad he was chasing. Knight planned to intercept the man after the lad had ran past him, but with a sudden hit to his head sending him sprawling, Knight decided that this plan was no longer viable. Luck was on the youth’s side however because as he tumbled he happened to land right onto Knight’s feet. At first, Knight assumed this would cause the man to end his chase now that he had involved another man but much to Knight’s dismay, the man’s bloodlust seemed to have taken over his mind. The lanky drunkard simple continued his pursuit without even glancing at Knight’s imposing figure. Knight quickly analyzed the man strength and assumed that the man was probably a berserker due to his current frenzy. Nodding to himself Knight waited for the man to grow closer and with lightening quick reflexes struck out at the man with a open hand which found purchase around the lanky man’s throat. This is when Knight went from calm and calculating to enraged. Upon grabbing the man Knight discovered two things. Firstly the man wasn’t a berserker because as soon as Knight touched the man, his eyes snapped onto Knight and went wide with fear which led to Knight’s second discovery. This perfectly sane man had been chasing a kid while exuding killing intent, unlike his first assumption where he assumed the man was suffering from the affliction of his skills. Disgusted and infuriated that a full grown man would dare try to kill a child, Knight simply hoisted the lanky man into the air with one arm. Sensing that he had made a grave mistake, Branch frantically pulled trying to wretch himself from Knight’s grasp only to find that he was truly stuck in the steel bear trap that was Knight’s grasp.

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  “You dare try to kill a mere child!” Cried Knight, his words filling the streets with his own killing intent. “A full grown man such as yourself, and a adventurer nonetheless. I will not let this stand! I challenge you to a duel to the death! Accept and face your doom!”

  Upon hearing this Branch’s eye flew wide open before narrowing and letting a smug smile appear on his face. In Branch’s mind, he realized something. Although he had offended a knight, as long as he didn’t accept the duel the knight wouldn’t be able to kill him. Knights were honor bond by their oaths to not kill civilians unless they have committed a major offense and technically he hadn’t done anything yet that would allow Knight to kill him unless he accepted the duel.

  “I decline the duel.” Choked Branch, his neck still firmly in Knight’s grasp. “Now release me!”

  This is when Branch realized that he may have not have thought his plan through as the dark knight in front of him let out a grim chuckle.

  “As you wish,” responded Knight with a hint of dark amusement in his voice. Without another word Knight suddenly spun with grace one would not think would be possible in his heavy armor, hefting Branch over his shoulder before throwing him head first at the nearby alley wall. The man was clearly stunned by his sudden rapid departure from the large man as he sailed through the air. Branch’s musings about his predicament didn’t last long as he collided with the stone brick wall. With a sickening snap, both of Branch’s arms bent into awkward shapes after trying to cushion his impact. They appeared to have only been somewhat successful in their attempt as the rest of branch was a mess instead a wet stain on the wall. His nose was smashed and several of his teeth were now more worse for the wear as his arms had only slowed him enough to not smash his head open upon impact. Although Branch was clearly not in great shape from the crash he had retained his consciousness during the event which was somewhat amazing but that were his luck ended. As Branch rolled onto his back he saw a silent not stock his way turns him.

  Fear radiated from Branch as he let out a scream and yelled, “No you can’t kill me think of your oath! Think of your oath!” Trying and failing to escape Knight by shuffling backwards.

  Upon hearing this Knight slowed his pace until he came to a stop at Branch’s feet.

  In a cold and certain voice Knight spoke, “I have no such rule,” and with one strong stomp crushed Branch’s chest with his metal boot. The crack of his ribs and the wet popping sound of Knight’s foot being pulled out of his chest was the last thing Branch heard as his life ended. Knight then let a sigh escape him, shook his head, and turned around to where he had left the injured youth. Much to Knights dismay the young lad was nowhere to be found.

  “Great!” Knight thought aloud. “Why are new rules aways so hard to follow?”