2 State Of The Land

-Alexis Lycan, 18 years old -

"I have already assembled your vassals, Lord Lycan." Sabrina says to Alexis as they walk down the hallway. "They are waiting for you in the village square."

Lycan glances back at Sabrina with surprise in his eyes and a wry smile. "You always know what's on my mind, don't you Sabrina?"

Alexis opens the door in front of them and steps out of his house. The cool morning air brushes against his skin and erases any last traces of sleep from him. The threadbare clothes he has on does little to keep the weather at bay.

"I apologize for acting without your permission, My Lord." Sabrina says softly while bowing her head slightly.

Alexis turns towards her quickly and rests his hand on her shoulder. His grip is strangely firm, but not painfully so. "Don't ever apologize for something like that. The burdens on my shoulders will be too much for me to bare alone." The forlorn look in Alexis' eyes makes Sabrina's heart speed up and feelings of sadness wells up within her. She hates when he looks like this. Alone.

Sabrina banishes all those feelings from within herself. She gives him a bright smile "Of course, My Lord, I will remember that."

Alexis averts his eyes from her radiant smile with a small one of his own. "Make sure to do so." He replies. Alexis then clears his throat in embarrassment. "Alright, let's go."

"Yes, My Lord."

He glances forward once again and eyes the path in front of them. It is covered in weeds and pitifully uneven. The stones were pulled up from the ground and sold to the local masons years ago. Now, only a pot marked dirt trail remains.

The house Alexis calls home is situated on the hill overseeing the village of Starfall. Generations ago, the mere cost of maintaining the Lycans ancestral home was too much for them to bear. It was a grand castle that was the Lycanians ancient seat of power for centuries, before they submitted to the Empire. The family was forced to abandon the castle as they couldn't afford the upkeep and built a house on the hill.

Alexis follows the winding path down towards the village, his village. As he draws closer, he hears the whispers of the village folk, their unease in their voice plain. Wary eyes and trembling bodies meet Alexis' eyes as he enters Starfall. Starfall village has a population of roughly 250 people, not an insignificant number considering the location. In the center of the village was the square where a number of stalls and mats were set out with vendors and tradesmen trying fruitlessly to make a living.

The villagers went about their daily tasks, carrying water and doing various chores in the area. They try to stick together because the bandits liked to target small groups of people. This caused to square to be quite packed. But it was almost dead silent, a sense of unease and dread hung in the air.

Three individuals stood out from the villagers as they stood to attention when they saw Alexis. One man and two women.

"Duke Lycan." The three simultaneously announce and bow deeply.

The villager's eyes widen and they begin start trembling and shaking more than before. A trip from the Duke always led to despoiled daughters and beaten men. Fathers step in front of their wives and daughters, trying to shield them from eyesight. Catching the eye of the Duke was worse than death.

Alexis notices the reactions of the people around him, causing shame and anger to rise within him.

"Thank you for gathering on short notice." Alexis says gently to the three vassals in front of him pushing the feelings down. "We have a lot to talk about."

The man, Ryan Tymer, straightens up. "It was only natural we came when our Lord called." He says crisply. Ryan was an older man, with grey hair cut neatly with an equally neat beard. He was an old adventurer and knight who has served the Lycan family his whole life like his father and his father before him. The Tymer family is an ancient family who served the royal Lycanian family when they were kings.

"This old fool speaks truthfully, think nothing of summoning us." The speaker is an old woman named Angelica who has long, braided white hair. She is the only other maid of the Lycan family and Sabrina's adopted mother. Angelica is a commoner who took care of Veronica, Alexis' mom, before she wed his father. They had blissful lives before the forced marriage. Naturally, Angelica followed Veronica to continue caring for her when the latter moved to the Lycan house as its new Lady.

"Watch your tone when speaking in front of the new Duke, Angelica." A Middle-aged woman with light brunette hair gently reprimands. Her voice is graceful and almost refined, an oddity in a backwater village such as this. The woman is the village chief, a title she inherited from her dead husband, the former chief. Vanessa Fyre is her name.

These three people are the extent of his vassals. All that remain.

Alexis chuckles. "I do not mind Vanessa, it is refreshing." He cuts in before Angelica's inevitable snappy reply. "Regardless though, I appreciate the thought." He says, smiling.

"Hmph." Angelica mumbles causing Ryan to watch it all with a grin.

Vanessa bows again. "Of course, My Lord" she says watching Angelica with a playful look in her eyes. "Please follow me, I have prepared a room for us to talk in private." She gestures to the biggest building in the village. The chiefs home.

As the group follows Vanessa, Alexis takes one last look at the villagers who quickly avert their eyes and hide away. He feels melancholic but the sad sight bolsters his resolve to do whatever needs to be done.

-

Slumped over the desk in his room, Alexis lets out another sigh, adding to the countless ones he already let out in the past hour. The meeting he had with his vassals hours earlier had completely sapped him of all his energy. The land was worse than he thought. All the wealth was thoroughly picked clean, and the villagers were stripped of all their will. There was no money to be found. His new domain was in a sorry state.

Sabrina watches over him a gentle look in her eyes. She starts to walk forward but freezes mid step unsure if she should proceed, wanting to do something to comfort him but unsure if she should. Alexis hears the rustling of her clothes signaling that she had moved but then stopped. He tilts his head so she's in his eyesight. "C'mere Sabrina." he says softly, almost delicately.

Sabrina's heart speeds up once again as she complies and steps up to Alexis. He reaches out and grabs her and lightly pulls her to himself. She allows herself to be pulled into his lap and feels the warm heat from his body radiating through his clothes. It feels nice. Safe.

He wraps his arms around her waist and rests his head on her shoulder from behind as she's facing away from him. Her face reddens as she blushes.

"What am I going to do Sabrina?" he asks softly. "We are 7,500 golden dragons in debt. One golden dragon is enough for us to live comfortably for a whole year!" His arms tighten around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "To make matters worse, most of that is to the Ricanian Guild! They are notorious for hiring unscrupulous adventurers to get their money back... with interest."

Sabrina's heart pounds even harder as she feels the anxiety and worry in his words. She wants nothing more than to comfort and help him. Her precious Lord.

"I believe you will come up with a solution that will help us all, My Lord." Sabrina whispers. "I believe in you with all my being. And I will be by your side throughout everything, if you allow it."

Alexis eyes widen at her words and his heart lightens significantly. He reaches a hand up and brushes her cheek with it while his other arm is still wrapped around her. "Thank you, Sabrina. Thank makes me feel a bit better. I don't know what I would do without you." She shifts in his arms as he says this.

Sabrina gracefully moves his arms and stands up keeping her back towards him. "I must go, My Lord." She says shyly. "I still have tasks to do before bed. Get some rest Duke Lycan." He didn't see her blushing face, but he knows why she is fleeing. He is not stupid.

"I will see you in the morning Sabrina." Alexis replies slyly.

-

Alexis finally crawls into bed thirty minutes after Sabrina left. He tosses and turns fitfully for what seems like an eternity. Sleep eludes him as the day's events crash into him over and over. Eventually though, the tendrils of sleep ensnare him, and he starts to drift away.

As Alexis falls asleep, he suddenly awakens in a dark room. The walls, floor, and ceiling are covered in black tile which are uniformly cut and pristine. The tiles are polished and well taken care of, seemingly cleaned just moments ago. There is no light source, but he can see perfectly. More than feeling scared or bewildered he feels calm. Strangely so. Black smoke drifts throughout the room wrapping itself around his body and spinning through the air though there is no wind.

"Where am I?" He asks aloud, more to himself than anything, as he is not expecting an answer. But he receives one.

"In my domain." A hauntingly beautiful voice whispers from behind him. "I called you here, Alexis Lycan."

He spins around quickly and sees the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. She is wrapped in black smoke and mist which seems to flow off of her. With raven black hair and black eyes like the void. Her face is perfectly proportioned and pale, not unhealthily pale, but a more delicate and mesmerizing color. Her hair reaches her down to her knees and was rich and full. She was slim and toned, almost like a dancer. She is wearing an all-black gown and cloak, adding to the mystique. And on her forehead were two black horns, almost hidden in her hair.

"Who... Who are you?!" Alexis stutters as he steps back away from the mysterious woman in shock.

"Me?" She tilts her head to side cutely, like a puppy. "My name is Arabella." She smiles a beautiful smile, revealing white teeth with two long fangs.