Prolouge

Another monster fell to his blade. He smirked as he sheathed it. This was pathetic. The monsters weren't even a decent challange these days... not that they ever really had been. Fighting the higher-up minions of the Sinistrals tended to jade you though.
         He sighed as another monster screamed and lept at him. This he dispatched with his axe. His mind turned to other things. He doubted Maxim would ever come back. It had been a year now, and he was most likely dead. Thogh he would not say it, this shook him to his very foundations. Maxim was nearly a match for him, nothing should have been able to kill him. And if somehow Maxim could die... he could die too.
         His thoughts were abruptly turned as the castle came into his view. Now was not the time for such thoughts. Now he must fulfill his obligations.
         "Dekar! You're back!" The prince cried as he ran up to him.
         "I was only campin' out there for 3 days, it's not like I went missing or something." Dekar said with a smirk on his face. "But anyway, now it's time for your training."
         The prince backed away nervously. "Ummm... but... you just got back and... don't you think you want to rest or something?"
         Dekar's smirk grew wider. "No no no, I think it's time for your training. Draw your sword."
         The prince sighed and did as he was told, preparing himself for another one of the beatings Dekar called 'training'.

         Dekar pondered in his room later. He really had humbled the prince over the course of the year. He'd had to beat the shit out of him quite a few times to do it, but it had been done. Just being shown how weak you were by some monsters once wasn't enough he guessed. Perhaps next week he could start some actual training with the boy.
         He sighed as he realized that it wasn't likely he'd be around for next week. That camping trip just hadn't done it. Going out with Maxim and his friends had set off something in him and he felt his adventuring genes calling out to him. The sinistrals were gone, but there were still plenty of other, less drastic, problems in the world. There would be something out there to satisfy him, he knew.
         Packing his things yet again he relaxed into his bed. One or two more days at the castle and then he'd have to go. He couldn't help it. His thoughts drifted again... to Maxim. Soon he slept, but his dreams were disturbed with images of death and sacrifice...