At the border forest of the Velkar Empire, Ash collapsed.
An old man in dark robes stood over him.
"You survived slaughter. Why?"
Ash answered weakly, "Because I will kill them."
The old man's eyes sharpened.
His name was Kael Draven.
Once the deadliest assassin in Velkar.
He took Ash in.
Not out of kindness.
But curiosity.