Two Weeks Prior:<br/>Zane watched the monster in front of him, standing across the ruined court yard as the beast charged him.  It was mostly humanoid, with the body of of adult male.  It’s head however was that of a bull, and the horns atop it where sharp as spears.  It also wielded a large double blades ax, which shined in the dusk sun as he raised it to cleave Zane in two.  Zane jumped to the right, his left rapier flashed upwards to slap the blade the other direction.  When the blade imbedded itself in the cobblestone beneath them, Zane’s right rapier steamed forward like an arrow, punching a deep hole into the beasts chest.  However, it was much harder to kill than that.  Reeling back from the stab, it released its ax and charged Zane horns first.  To close to fully dodge the horns, Zane instead ran towards them and hopped up, one of the horns impaling him through the stomach.  But from this position, the monster couldn’t see Zane as he reversed the grip on both his blades, plunging them down into his chest.  Both lungs pierced and his heart ruptured twice, the abomination fell quickly.  Pulling himself from the monsters horn, Zane watched as the hole filled with the dark smoke that constantly flowed from him like ink.  After filling the hole it began to change, into the section of his body that had Ben removed.  Satisfied the monster had done no permanent damage to him, Zane sheathed his twin blades and walked off.<br/>It was then he first felt the pull of the Dark King.  Zane felt a force pulling on his mind, seeming to drag him towards the heart of the ruined country.  The castle of the Dark Kingdom, something wanted him there, something that could control half of his being.  It felt as though Zane’s feet would carry them there whether he wanted it or not, but his mind was still his own.<br/>Pushing free of the power, Zane looked to the dark horizon as he considered what just happened.  The magic had to of come from the man who held the other half of his soul.  He could not take back what was his alone.  The King would be opposed.  That meant there would be other Zane could ally himself with to obtain what he wanted.  Looking towards the opposite horizon, Zane began to walk away from the power that had tried to control him.<br/><br/>___________________<br/>Present day:<br/><br/>Zane had wondered the wilderness, being set upon by a tremendous snow storm.  He had seen smoke before the snow had arrived, and hoped he’d reach the source soon.  He soon came upon the town, the house not destroyed, a small novelty to Zane, though he acknowledged it was an odd one.  Walking into the town, he quickly spotted the many posters, advertising recruitment for a war.  As it seemed a good place to start, Zane followed them to a stall.  Walking toward the men, who’s eyes filled with fear at the ghostly man in front of them, Zane stopped directly in front of them.<br/>“I volunteer.”  Zane said, finding his old voice strange to hear.  He was soon met by a large number of guards, he placed him in cuffs and took him to their leader.