Griffin laughed loudly as the retreating witches came to a halt and from the shadows emerged more. He was always strategic, luring the Crescian knights out of the city to butcher them far away.

He alighted his horse, a sword in his hand. His eyes turned vividly purple, a crazy surge of energy coursing through his whole body. This is how it felt like to be powerful. With a firm grip of his sword, he charged towards the crowd of Crescian knights, swinging it gracefully as if he was born for the task. Not a single strand of his hair was out of place as he split Crescian knights from bowls to brains.

But a roar in the sky was what it took to kill Griffin’s confidence in the war. "Oh shit!" He cursed as the dragon’s shadow descended on him, turning a hound of witches into ashes.

Alexander alighted the dragon and joined the Crescian knights in the war. The Valorian knights came in at the same time sealing Crescia’s victory.

Alexander spotted a stranded Griffin in the crowd, a sword in his hand dripped in blood. The witches who were his royal dogs were being butchered now that they had the advantage in numbers. They tried to flee but they were trapped between the Crescians from the city and the Valorians from the West.

He walked towards Griffin, his grip on his sword tight. He had escaped death once but not this time. He’d make sure to split him from balls to brains and burn his stinking body.

Clang! Their swords locked, killing intent visible in their eyes. A surge of power was channeled through each sword’s before they pushed each other away in such a great force that Alexander almost lost his balance. Surprised by how strong Griffin had grown, he opted to be careful.

The Crescian and Valorian knights who saw the battle unfold were quick to get out of their way as this was no ordinary fight. Their movements could not be followed by a naked eye.

Alexander slashed at Griffin to only cut thin air. His movements were unpredictable! A cut could have landed on his shoulder but he was quick to dodge it. Griffin seemed to enjoy it and turned on the offensive side.

He repeatedly brought his sword at Alexander with much greater force that he almost lost grip of it. Angry by his performance, Alexander went up in flames throwing off Griffin a few feet away. He marched towards him before he could compose himself but Griffin was quick to dodge though he left his sword on the ground. He had to be careful now.

Griffin dodged several of Alexander’s attack before he grabbed a sword from a dead knight. A flaming Alexander walked around him in circles and when Griffin looked around, most of his witches were being killed and those who tried to flee were lucky enough to have an arrow through their chest. His only hope now was the Arcadians but with the dragon hovering around the city, his hopes were crushed. Could Isadora really put her own castle on fire? It was her home, and people she loved might be in there. He mistook her care and love for a weakness.

"You can’t win this war. Surrender now," Alexander said taking off his flaming armour.

"Not like you’ll spare me," Griffin spat.

"I’ll give you a rather slow death that I I’m certain you’ll enjoy," Alexander said with a smirk. They started walking around in circles, each throwing threats and tantrums at each other.

"Your mother they say, couldn’t bear His Majesty a child so she took in a two months outcast and raised him as a son behind the king’s back. She went out of the kingdom into hiding for nine months to fake a pregnancy. And as foolish as your father was, he gladly accepted you as a bastard and made you the crown prince. She only got your sister many years later."

Alexander was surprised by the new information but he didn’t have the privilege to ask questions. Instead, he found the words disgusting though they held some truth. How Griffin got hold of such information, he had no idea.

"Enough with the talk. I’ll kill you and slice your body into pieces before I feed them to Isadora’s dragon."

"Do you think she loves you?" He asked coming to a halt and so did Alexander. "I can’t believe a king like you could be used by a woman!" He spat.

"King or not, you’re going to die," Alexander said before he charged towards Griffin. But this time, he wasn’t aiming to clash swords at him. He moved in such a crazy speed that Griffin could only see afterimages of him. Unable to discern which one was the real Alexander, he stood in a defensive stance only to feel a gust of wind blow past him.

Alexander stood on the other side, his blade painted scarlet before Griffin coughed behind him. He turned around to see him hold his stomach in disbelief, dropping his sword on the ground. Alexander walked in front of him only for Griffin to kneel in pain.

Griffin looked up to see a vague image of The One in the morning sun that blocked his view of the bastard’s face. "You bastard!" He cursed before coughing out some blood. That was no fair play.

Alexander crouched on his level to mock him with one of his smiles. "You weren’t good as they say. Your reign is now over."

And as if that was not enough, "Only when I see your head separate from your body shall I be at peace!" He rose with his sword in hand as a smitten Griffin cast his face on the ground. He saw Alexander lift his sword in the shadow and closed his eyes tightly anticipating for the searing pain. And the next thing he knew, his head was rolling on the ground before his body went limp.

"Long live the King!" The knights chanted as Alexander held Griffin’s head high. The remaining witches were captured for torture but on looking at the city, he saw Isadora was still hesitant to burn the castle.