A flowing, tattered  cloak fought against rough winds, the sound of cloth snapping wildly reverberated off of the crumbling, moss coated walls. The hooded figure moved slowly, the familiar clatter of chain bindings against armor was almost soothing to the male. As he wandered, the knight closed his eyes, imagining the sounds were not from his own doing, but that of his brothers that marched beside him. A faint smirk formed on his dried, cracked lips as the fantasy slowly played in a futile attempt to drown out the world around him. The tainted spawn, once citizens whether noblemen or peasants watched mindlessly in their filthy, destroyed hovels, their lipless mouths ajar and eyes wide with desire to consume.<br/><br/>It wasn’t long before a soft, pained groan shattered the mans daydream, his focus quickly settling upon a woman, or what was left of her that blocked his path. Her eyes were sunken, leaving only dark pits that resembled the darkness of a bottomless lake. Her body was nearly skeletal, torn and dried flesh hugged bone tightly where it still existed. Mere rags that concealed nothing hung low around her, what was perhaps once a fine, linen dress, and in her hand a rusted dagger. Another inhuman groan escaped dried, wheezing lungs before it shambled toward him, instinct quite clear as it attempted a lunge, the dagger aiming directly for his throat between armored plate.<br/><br/>Aluren wasn’t sure if he was joyous or enraged to be brought back to this world, even if a small gift was given to him, a chance to cleanse the world further. Recoiling his head, the once soldier avoided the lunge only to side step, causing the woman to miss her mark, collapsing to the floor and losing the dagger in the process. An audible snort would emit from beneath the males hood, his grin hidden as he slowly approached, pulling a rather elegant long sword free from its sheath on his belt. He quickly approached, watching in mild amusement as his foe scrambled to reclaim her weapon. It was clear she had at least some wits about her, though driven by a mindless hunger that ruled any and all thoughts.<br/>The clatter of steel hitting stone erupted within the streets as Aluren’s sword quickly severed the reaching arm, causing her to howl wildly in her anguish. A plated boot would find its way to her back, pushing his weight into her until the dry crack of bones would be heard before he reached down to grasp her neck, his fingertips curling around her throat. Forcefully pulling back on her and leaning in, he’d chuckle softly before whispering where an ear perhaps once was. “Not today, filth.”  With that, his sword pierced the back of her skull, only to emerge from her mouth, shattering what was left corpses front teeth before he kicked her away.<br/><br/>White, wisp-like energies slowly emerged from her mouth, coiling and freeing itself within the air like a flowing ribbon before it was drawn toward the males form, merging what was left of her soul with his. He sighed softly, almost upset that she was dead so soon before he continued his aimless trek. Finally leaving the castle city walls and making his way to the outskirts, he inhaled deeply, taking in the rather fresh scent of the nearby forest. A sense of calm fell over him, with his needs and desires replaced with a simple serenity.. until the clashing of swords from the nearby forest reached him.