Part Four: Saifir the Dark
After leaving the minstrel a dried out husk in the alley, Saifir left the small village he was staying in and traveled around the country, fighting Paladin's and taking their honor for his own. In time, he could sense great sources of honor, all over the world. He could find the most powerful Paladins, or the weakest, just by tracking their honor. As he grew in the power of Ronoh, he also lost what little conscience he had left. He would take from the weakest beings without remorse.
He also found that he could channel Ronoh into his physical movements, giving him super-human strength. He could send Ronoh through his fist and strike an opponent, sending them flying through the air like a rag doll. But, as he grew in power, he also grew in rumors. The White Paladin's began to hunt him. And, in search for him, they also began to destroy other Black Paladin's. And, the Black Paladin's did not take this lightly. Before Saifir, they had always been somewhat of a legend, free to take honor without much suspicion regarded toward the dead Paladin's. Of course, some of the older one's new, but they did not go out of their way to put an end to it. They didn't need a war. But, with Saifir's hunting of the Paladin's, the White Paladin's began to strike back. Squabbles would break out, fierce battles between both sides. And these would be spread through both Paladin communities.
The High Council of the Black Paladin's held a meeting one night after a large battle. The topic was what to do of Saifir. A black Paladin, one of the oldest, started the meeting.
"This fool must be stopped! He will start a war! God knows we don't need another!" For, even though the Black Paladin's were more powerful than whites, whites had the advantage of numbers, and, normal heroes would come to there aid, as well as wizards, and most other beings that abided in honor.
"Anything would be better than living our lives in fear of being attacked like we have in the past!" This came from Radnor, Saifir's Black Paladin Mentor. He was one of the most powerful black Paladins. He knew that in all his time as a Black Paladin, none had been as strong as Saifir, even the oldest. He knew that they feared him. But, he also feared him, for he knew if they declared war on Saifir, he would not be able to go against their orders, or he would die. But he was sure he could prevent a war.
"You. You made him! You should be the first wanting to destroy that abomination!"
"And what makes him an abomination? The fact that he has grown in power at unparalleled speed? That he could destroy any one of us here? Perhaps ALL of us here? I think that he would be quite useful as an ally, which is what he is right now. I think we should try to keep him that way. But, I think he should be put under surveillance, to keep him from starting any more, uh, disturbances."
"Agreed. All in favor?"
It was a unanimous Aye.
"Then we shall place our best spies to watch over Saifir. This meeting is adjourned."
In weeks they had found Saifir. And in that time, he had already created more of a ruckus then they had ever dreamed. White Paladin's flocked to him, each hoping to destroy him. But, when they started attacking in groups, that caught him unprepared. He had his first encounter with a group of 5 one night, walking from a village to his refuge in the forest. He was starting to be shunned in the village, even by normal humans. They called him Demon, Saifir the Merciless, because he had never converted a single white Paladin, but mostly, they called him Saifir the Dark. It irritated him when they referred to him as Dark One when they served him at inns and Pubs. The first white Paladin called out
"Demon! Stop where you are!"
Saifir spun, and saw the 5 Paladin's standing there in armor, ready for battle with their swords ignited. Saifir slowly moved his hands down to his sides where he kept 2 daggers along with his sword.
"Are there any among you who wish to live this night? If so, I advise you to wait over there." He said, indicating a tree stump. None moved. One even laughed.
"So, you refuse, and insult. For that, you will die!" He drew his daggers and threw them fast and straight. They pierced through the throats of the two that stood on the farthest outside. He drew his sword, ignited it, then he called on his Ronoh shield. The remaining three charged him, not bothering to check on there fallen comrades. Saifir thrust his sword into the chest of the first as he kicked the second in the head. The third moved around back and attacked, but his sword was not able to pierce through Saifir's powerful Ronoh shield. Saifir dropped and kicked his legs out from under him, then quickly got to his feet and swung his sword at his neck. The second one had recovered from Saifir's kicking him, and swung his sword high. Saifir parried, and attacked low. The young Paladin was good with a sword. As they fought, three dark figures watched in silence at the battle, occasionally whispering to each other at Saifir's power. As they watched Saifir swung low, and as the remaining Paladin countered, he channeled all the Ronoh he could into his arms, preparing for one final swing. The three watched Saifir swing his sword at the remaining's neck, saw the remaining put his sword up to parry, and watched as the remaining Paladin's sword was cut in half, and they watched the half of his blade fall to the ground simultaneously with his challenger's head. The three Black Paladins slunk into the darkness before Saifir could see them.
Saifir cleaned his blade on the clothes of one of the dead Paladin's, and then he took their honor. He felt it's strength flowing through him, and he knelt down to recuperate. Then he heard a familiar voice full of grief behind him say:
"Saifir, what have you become?"
He stood and whirled, and came face to face with the one Paladin he never wanted to see.
It was Trizan.