"This can't be right..."

A tall, cloaked figure holding an obnoxiously large sword on his back was poring over some of the notes he had gathered. Throughout the last couple of moons, he had been traveling to various parts of Sestyra, investigating a phenomena unknown to anyone who had witnessed him. He stood in one of the grand libraries in Pont-Ciel, matching up his own notes versus that of a dusty old historical tome, before he ended up shutting the book, placing it down on a pile of books he had spent the last several days reading. He would thank the librarian who had helped him out, tipping them for having to put up with him for so long, before making his leave. The librarian would look at the books on the table, noting that every single tome was about the Faceless, the Divines, and the ruins that dotted the Free Territories.

Looking up at the sky when he got outside, Valo's eye would narrow. It was unusually dark for being so early in the day, and it seemed as though an endless blanket of clouds had covered the entire sky. It was unnatural in itself, but what really sparked his curiosity and concern was that the clouds appeared to be moving, and rather quickly at that. No matter what direction they came from, they all seemed to be converging upon a central point, as though something was sucking them in.

"Well, if there's one thing I know from experience, it's that that's never a good sign. A wizard who got in too far over his own head, perhaps. Or maybe it's another so-called demon king clawing it's way into our plane. But what's a man to do but head right for the danger?"

Shrugging, the man would start heading for where the clouds converged. As he got closer, the wind grew stronger, the weather more volatile, and the more people began to flee. It seemed it was past the woods outside of Pont-Ciel, and Valo would head into them without hesitation, keeping his guard up all the while. Before long, he would find himself in a grand clearing, a powerful vortex of wind and darkness gathering in the center of it all, surrounding a dilapidated tower.

"Well, if it isn't the lesser half of the Wolves of Sestyra. I had a feeling you couldn't resist a good natural disaster." A voice would call out, and Valo would look up into the vortex, seeing several figures standing on the tower itself. "You've got a funny sense of words if you call this natural." Valo would reply, taking a look around. "Though if I had to guess, you're anything but yourself."

He would hear a strange laugh, and the vortex would start to ease up around the tower. A man had become clearly visible, dressed in typical bandit wear as he gazed down upon the Wolf. Valo looked up at him, looking as though he were suddenly unamused.

"That face... you're..." He began, trailing off. Flashes went through his mind. Many years ago, this man and his bandit gang attacked Valo and his child Runa when they were out hunting. And yet, Valo was all but certain he had very much slain this man. A more focused look at the man's face confirmed his suspicions. There was a large scar along the left side of his face, where Valo had previously cleaved the damn thing right off, and within the eye socket was an eye with two pupils staring back at him. An incomplete copy. A Faceless wearing decayed flesh.

"Do not dally. You are to eliminate him." A distorted voice would ring out, and from behind the bandit would emerge a tall individual clad in all black armor, all features completely hidden as they looked like a walking shadow. The bandit seemed nervous suddenly, and would bow before the man, before leaping off of the tower to land in front of Valo, who looked at the black knight with caution.

The bandit would charge at Valo, and at the same time, three shadows would emerge on the other sides of the arena, making their way towards him with a swiftness. More Faceless, an unusual amount in one place... Valo would grab his sword, lifting it off of his back as he charged magic into his free hand. He would swing it as the bandit got closer, the bandit ducking underneath Valo's attack, but playing right into his hands. Immediately, Valo would unleash the magic in a powerful blast underneath the sword, striking the bandit head on, before immediately taking the expelled magic and drawing it back to him, creating a bright blue sword made of magical energy. He would turn around,  repelling and blocking the Faceless assault from the other three enemies. They were quick, and vicious, and Valo gritted his teeth before gripping his sword tightly, spinning it around him with great force, striking one of the Faceless and causing the others to temporarily retreat as their companion was slammed into the ground powerfully.

"FATHER!" Valo would hear a familiar voice shout, and he'd look up to see Runa rushing towards him. Valo's eyes widened in surprise, not realizing that they had followed him out here. "Ruu! No, stay back! This is too much for-" He started to warn Runa, but was cut off as the sound of flesh tearing echoed through the clearing. Valo felt his feet leave the ground, and he looked down at his left shoulder to see a magical tomahawk embedded in it, the black knight having taken advantage of the distraction to strike the Wolf. Valo fell to the ground, coughing out blood, as Runa screamed for their father.

No... no, he got hurt because of me... Runa panicked, rushing between their hurt father and the rest of the enemies, holding their shield and sword at the ready.

"Ruu, you need to go... I got this." Valo grunted, pushing himself off of the ground to lean against his sword as blood leaked from his left side. It was a nasty wound, but despite that, he felt like Runa was in over their head.

"I'm not abandoning you, Father." Runa said, their voice trembling slightly as they looked up at the man clad in black armor, fear overcoming them as they recognized the silhouette from their nightmare. The bandit laughed, pulling out his daggers as he paced around the clearing, and the two Faceless entities twitched uncomfortably, but remained in place, as if waiting for a command.

"Ah yes, the child who fancies themself a knight. If it is death you wish for, then you can join your father in Moros's embrace." The knight spoke, his voice resonating across the clearing.