It's been four days since I've separated from Mary Jane. But I mustn't think of Mary Jane.

  The only thing standing in the way between me and my quest ... Was this mighty orc in front of me. I stood in the middle of Castle Greenthorne, of the Kingdom of Alijone.

  I was hired by a princess whom I can barely remember her name. She was far from the throne and farther from relevance. And her castle had no followers in this day. Her family has seen poor days. And for this reason, she had no one to protect her. Nothing to her name but a large, empty castle and many, many magical artifacts.

  But I, Sir Dominic the Free, fight not for gold, not for possessions. Alas, not for glory or fame. Not even for the cause of goodness and honor. Then what do I fight for?

  "Are you finished?" Cried the orc. He was a majestic being. Orcs are stupid creatures, but this one clearly isn't. He must have been war-trained from birth. He wore shining steel armor and wielded the two sharpest battle-axes an orc could hold. His chest was strong, his head was hard, but his eyes ... His eyes were hungry.

  He beat his battle-axe across his own chestplate, sounding a loud CLANG across the battle, as if signalling their battle to begin.

  I, too, was as well-dressed as he was for the battle. However, I was a little off-balance. A very little.

  I unsheathed my blade. An almost royal greatsword of steel and iron. Long, deadly and filled with might.

  I leapt across the castle, aiming straight for his neck. For that, I knew, was the weakness of armors like his.

  The orc gracefully danced away with his feet, evading my blow and striking me back with the bum of his battle-axe to the face, throwing me back to my place.

  "Sir Dominic the Careless. Legends spoke of your battles and men sung your songs ... But I found them to be quite untrue." Laughs the orc. "It was told that you were as flexible as a monkey, as evasive as a snake. It was told that you could converse with the spirits ... That you sensed all and any, so much so that you could fight needless of your eyes and without a care in the world, but the Sir Dominic I witness right now ... He is not the man from the songs ... You have a slow step."

  "I'm still adjusting to my current situation." I said.

  His right axe came down in a heavy arc. I raised my greatsword to block. Steel met steel with a violent crack that rang through the dark hall. The force traveled down my arms and into my shoulders. My hands shook.

  Not now. I am present.

  He twisted his wrist and the second axe swept low. I barely hopped back. The blade scraped across my thigh plate, tearing leather straps. Heat stung my skin.

  I lunged to regain ground, aiming for his neck again. I was certain this time.

  He ducked.

  This wasn't your average fighter. Not a master by any means, but he knew his way around a battlefield. He's fought for as many orc years as my human years.

  The pommel of his axe slammed into my ribs. Air fled my lungs. I stumbled back, boots sliding against the stone floor slick with ash.

  The torches flickered along the high walls. Shadows leapt like mockers.

  "I am quite disappointed." Claimed the orc. And so was I, but I was too focused to let it faze me.

  I charged to silence him.

  Halfway through the swing, my grip faltered. Just for a breath. Just enough.

  He caught my blade between his twin axes and shoved.

  My sword wrenched from my hands and clattered across the stone.

  Before I could recover, his boot struck my chest. I crashed onto my back. The impact rattled my skull.

  The orc placed one heavy foot on my armor, pressing down.

  "Is this how the esteemed Sir Dominic the Careless dies?" He claimed. Laughing. "I am a confident orc, but even I wouldn't imagine it from me!"

  He lifted one axe slowly.

  And I realized-

  He had not yet taken a single wound.

  I looked to the side. Surely there was something that could save from me from this predicament. Experience was on both our sides, but I knew my prowess. I was a much more seasoned fighter than he was or ever would be.

  And then the answer came from the other side, as I turned and noticed one of the torches was so close to my face that it could almost burn off my wounds.

  I grabbed the torch, separated it from the wall and smacked it straight across the orc's face.

  A deafening scream as he jumped back and started wiping his head. His helmet had already caught on fire.

  Orcs do not favor fire. And much to that stereotype, the orc took off his helmet and tossed it down the trenches surrounding the room. A faint "tsss" sounded about, as I realized the trenches were filled with hot, radiant lava.

  I stood to my feet and looked into the eyes of my opponent, to which he looked back with an ever-so-faint smile decorated with bloodlust.

  "You have committed a monstrosity. And I shall see that you are punished well for it." I proclaimed.

  "So far, only one of us has been doing the punishing." Cried the orc.

  "Answer my question, how many times have you taken the fair princess?" I asked.

  The orc grinned. He licked the tip of his axe from the blood as he hung his eyes on me.

  "I am quite chaste, Sir Dominic." He said. "But I could not say the same for my brothers."

  Out of various entrances and vents, many smaller orcs poured out, brushing their axes, brandishing their swords, surrounding me and preparing to shed blood.

  Tens, no hundreds, from every perceivable direction ... But only one thought crossed my mind.

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  "Oh, the poor, poor princess!" I said to myself.

  For a breath - I thought how easy it would be to be elsewhere.

  "Will you not use your spiritual awakening?" Taunts the orc. "Is that not what you are so renowned for? Your special ability ... The one that had always made you unstoppable?"

  He was right to notice that I hadn't used my spiritual awakening, as it was one of many things I had forsaken when I separated with Mary Jane.

  That was enough. I've had it with the orc's taunts. If a fight's what you want, then that's what you'll get.

  I screamed a deafening battlecry as I struck the ground with my sword and rose to my feet once again.

  The first orc was the least fortunate, as he had to bear the brunt of my first rage. He leapt at me, but he could barely conceive what was happening as I jumped in the air and took his head off with one clean slash.

  I was showered with his blood. The first was always the bloodiest. Then came the second, and the third.

  I chopped a head, severed a limb, even split an orc in half. I was consumed by my rage. To imagine these vile creatures impose upon the poor princess.

  Death was a mercy they did not deserve, but not everyone got what they deserved, and I only give what I have.

  They surrounded me in arcs. Finally, I was overpowered by a kick to my back which threw me to the ground.

  The orcs started to gather over me, kick, punch, bruise, stab, all sorts of pain they can inflict upon me.

  I was cornered. However, cornered was the best position I could be in at that moment, as I spotted another torch next to me.

  I grabbed it, rolled out of the arc and started to wave it around me. The orcs were hesitant. Terrified. Barely taking a step front and back when they approached the fire.

  As they were distracted, my eyes flickered. It was the flicker of opportunity. I raised my blade and continued to strike them.

  After I was finally finished with the henchmen, I turned to the boss. He approached me, his calm demeanor dropping to a vengeful anger.

  "You killed my brothers!" He shouted, as he brushed his battle-axes upon each other and ran to pummel me with them. But I would not let him.

  I dropped my sword. Grabbed his axes and arms by my two hands like they were playthings. And I looked. Straight into his eyes. Straight into his soul.

  "You and your brothers will rot in hell."

  I pushed him back. He no longer bore the strength to push back. He wasn't weakened, I simply knew where to hold. It was a tendon near his wrists that weakened his movement when held right.

  The orc grinned. A puny, surrendered grin.

  "I have only taken an empty castle." Cried the orc. "If not me, another would have claimed the opportunity. I am a raider. This is what I do."

  I gave him no concern and continued to push him back. He and I could both smell the steam and the ash. We were slowly approaching the lava-filled trenches.

  "I am no different from the king you follow." Added the orc. Rage started to pour out of his eyes and words. "How much land has he taken? How many poor men has he slaughtered? How is your king and his knights any better than me and my brothers?!"

  "Spare me the morality lesson, orc." I said. "I fight not for a king."

  "It is gold you fight for, then!" Cries the orc. "Then you shall have it! Trenches upon trenches of solid gold! All you will ever need for a lifetime!"

  "I fight not for gold."

  "Then, you want to further your name's worth! My brother is a legend. I shall let you fight him. Your songs will be sung for an eternity!"

  "I fight not for glory."

  "Then what is it, you mad man, that you fight so dearly for?!" Cried the orc with the last inch of his being.

  I tipped him across the edge of the trench. He looked down at the glowing red gates of hell. Then he looked back at me. His grin immediately turned to a sorrowful frown. I stared into his eyes, with a simple expression, not of joy, not of sorrow, but of duty.

  "Salvation." I proclaimed, before I let go of his hands and slammed his forehead with the butt of my sword.

  Before he knew it, he was plummeting towards his untimely doom. He fell. And was consumed by a fiery death.

  As soon as I came to, I started to feel the brunt of all my wounds. Most pressing was my left thigh, which forced me to lumber my way across to the dungeons.

  The dungeons were large and empty, as the castle's interior. I made my way towards the final cell, where a fair maiden was kept.

  Early thirties, a freckled redhead with long hair. There was no mistaking it. This was Princess Eleanor. The owner of this barren castle.

  But she was dirt-ridden, sobful, she was knelt on the ground, covering her body with her arms. Until she saw me. Hope struck back to her eyes and feet.

  "Sir Dominic!" She cried, as she grabbed onto the bars of her cell.

  "Princess Eleanor." I merely answered. "The Orc is slain."

  She couldn't speak more. Her being was hungry for freedom. I grabbed the key from a table near a different cell and I freed her with it.

  Immediately after that. I fell to my knees. I couldn't stand much more. She realized my condition and started to panick.

  "Oh, dear!"

  I woke up what seemed to be the next morning. A large, kingly bed. I unblanketed myself and noticed wraps around my wounds. The bloodiest lying by my thigh.

  I slowly rose and made my way out of this fair chamber. Which led me to a fair dining room. Princess Eleanor was seated, cleaned up, well-dressed, smiling at me as I exited my room. She was waiting for me.

  Still serving the food and laying the dishes and plates on the table was an older lady. Likely the castle's servant. She was sickly, but competent as it seemed.

  "Please, join me for lunch, Sir Dominic!"

  Lunch? Had it been half a day since I was gone? That is good. That makes today my fifth day.

  I joined her for lunch and sat on the chair directly next to her.

  "Would you like anything specific to eat?" She asked.

  "A dull meal. Nothing that excites the senses." I said.

  She signaled her servant to fetch my request. I sat, eyes on the table, waiting, perhaps a little awkward and silent.

  "Thank you. Sir Dominic. I am truly grateful for your arrival on short notice." Said Eleanor as she looked at me. Likely studying my wounds. "Such a legendary name as your own, I didn't think would come to aid a forgotten princess. Let alone ... Wound yourself so heavily for her sake."

  The servant arrived and placed a dish of bread and cheese in front of me. Just perfect. I started to eat.

  "I'm glad, your highness." I said. "Did the orcs hurt you?"

  A moment of silence as she looked at the ground. She shuddered, ever so faintly, before she shook her head and smiled at me. Her eyes carried a shattered sadness. She placed her hand on mine, and looked into my eyes with gratitude and warmth.

  "I wish to repay you, but I have no gold." She said. "I will send you off with sweets, bread, meat and vegetables. As much as you can carry."

  "Only meat and vegetables, please. Your highness." I said.

  "I will bestow you with a title. I will speak to another prince in another, more fortunate castle ..."

  "No need, your highness." I said.

  "Then I, will ..." She started to stumble over her words. She didn't know what else she could offer. "I will give you land. Large, fertile land. Or a wife. I can arrange a more fortunate relative for you to marry. I'm sure you won't find it difficult to find a suitor."

  "I must be on my way." I said. "I've spent too much time idle. I must set off."

  "Then, please. Tell me, Sir Dominic ... If it isn't for gold, not for titles or land or marriage ..." She asked. "Why do you quest?"

  Her grip kept softly held on the back of my hand. She was waiting patiently for an answer. She knew not how to thank me. I continued to face my food. Thinking. Should I tell her? I think I trust her. She was innocent enough.

  "Then you shall know. Your highness." I said. "That I fight to distract myself. From the separation of the green. Mary Jane. The devil's plant."

  She is surprised. She removes her hand slowly and thinks.

  "Yes, your highness." I said. "I've been long known by many as Sir Dominic the Careless. I was always under the influence. But now I have decided that it was time to let it go and become free. That is why my name is now Sir Dominic the Free."

  "A ..." She started to say. She thought long and hard of how she wanted to respond to my claims. " ... Just and noble cause. I wish to help you. By any means I can."

  "I have heard of a scroll you possessed." I said. Her eyes shone. "In your library of magical artifacts. One that I desire to make my quest easier."

  "The Angel's Blessing. It must be!" She cried. "At a moment's notice-"

  "No, your highness. A different one. Less desirable by most." I said. "The Cat's Spell."

  "The Cat's Spell?" She repeated. "You desire the spell that sends a man to sleep for twelve hours?"

  "That is all I desire." I said.

  She hesitated. Embarrassed. I felt what she wanted to say but I waited for her to say it.

  "Unfortunately I ..." She started. Looking down. Shaking her head. "... I gave it to another knight, last year."

  "Then, I thank you for the meal. Your safety and satisfaction is all I require as pay, your highness." I said, as I rose from my seat and made for the door.

  She hesitated for a moment, before she asked a question. A strange one.

  "Tell me, Sir Dominic the Free." She said. "If the devil's plant gave you such power, such fame, such glory ... Why would you wish to forsake it?"

  I stopped. Thought for a moment. Then I turned to her. I said,

  "Is it truly power, if it is given, and not earned?"