As Ubel and Hilda journeyed towards Vok, a moment of tranquillity descended upon them, the only sounds being the footsteps of their horses and the movement of their weapons. Hilda, wrapped in Ubel's embrace, relished in the peaceful silence as Ubel basked in the intimacy of her hug. They continued on their march until the dawn began to break, Ubel's armour and skin still stained with the blood of battle.

  A raven suddenly appeared, alighting on Ubel's hand and issuing a series of guttural caws. Ubel looked at the bird, raising his hand in an attempt to shoo it away, but the raven remained stubbornly perched. Ubel leaned closer to the bird, as if trying to decipher its message, and asked, "What do you want?" The raven responded with another series of caws, seemingly trying to impart some warning or message to Ubel. But Ubel, still mounted on his horse and focused on their journey, failed to understand the raven's intent.

  As if in frustration, the raven suddenly bit Ubel's hand, causing him to feel a surge of pain. Ubel waved his hand in an attempt to shake the bird off, and it finally took flight, disappearing into the sky. Ubel, sensing that something was amiss, ordered his army to halt their march. Hilda looked at him in surprise, her expression filled with concern.

  At Ubel's command, the army came to a halt, and Ubel dismounted from his horse, his senses heightened with a sense of impending danger. Drawing his sword, he stood ready for whatever may come. His army followed suit, unsheathing their weapons as they stood at the ready.

  As Ubel scanned the grass and trees, an arrow suddenly shot out from between the blades of grass, lodging itself in Ubel's forehead and causing a heavy flow of blood to obscure his left eye. Without warning, a horde of attackers emerged from the trees, launching rocks and arrows and brandishing swords as they charged towards Ubel and his army.

  As the battle raged on, Ubel fought with all his might, his one good eye fixed on the enemy as he swung his sword with deadly precision. Despite his injuries, he remained a formidable force, cutting down any who dared to challenge him. His army followed his lead, fighting with bravery and determination as they sought to defend their leader and push back the enemy.

  But despite his best efforts, Ubel's army began to fall one by one, their numbers decimated by the relentless onslaught of the enemy. Ubel fought on, his determination unshaken as he stood alone against the hordes of foes that surrounded him.

  As Ubel stood on the battlefield, he was pelted with a hail of rocks, each blow causing further damage to his already wounded head. Despite the pain, he refused to let go of his sword, his grip tight on the hilt as he struggled to remain upright. His vision was obscured by the blood that flowed from his wounds, making it impossible for him to see.

  As he stumbled and fell to the ground, Ubel was repeatedly trampled by enemy soldiers on horseback, their blows leaving him bruised and battered. Eventually, the pain and exhaustion became too much, and Ubel lost consciousness, his body crumpled on the ground.

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  It was later revealed that the mastermind behind this attack was none other than King Audrey of England, who had used Erik, the same man who had betrayed Godwin in the past for the sake of Ubel, to gain access to the border of Vok and plan this assault. With Erik's help, King Audrey had been able to infiltrate Ubel's defences and launch a surprise attack, leaving Ubel vulnerable and unable to defend himself.

  When King Audrey inquired about Erik with his counsellors, they neglected to inform Grom of the situation. As a result, Grom was not present among the forces that attacked Ubel. Instead, he journeyed to Vok, where he learned that Ubel had taken Freya and the children with him. Grom waited there, unaware of the events that had transpired and Ubel's fate.

  King Audrey ordered his men to fasten a rope around Ubel's neck and attach it to a horse. As the horse began to move, Ubel was subjected to a variety of torture methods, his body writhing in agony. As Ubel drew his last breaths, he managed to open his eyes, seeking one last glimpse of the world around him. Through the haze of pain, he saw King Audrey standing above him, a triumphant expression on his face.

  "You shall be a lesson to all who dare to defy the English!" King Audrey declared, his voice cold and filled with malice. Ubel tried to speak, to offer some final words of defiance, but his strength had deserted him, and he fell back into the darkness, his body limp and lifeless.

  As King Audrey confirmed Ubel's death, he issued a cruel command to his followers. "Leave him for the animals to eat," he sneered, a cold gleam in his eye. And so, Ubel's lifeless body was abandoned on the cold, hard ground, his blood seeping into the soil.

  The sky above was dark and foreboding, the clouds heavy with the promise of rain. A chill wind blew, carrying with it the scent of death and decay.

  The news of Ubel's death reached the Maven through the ravens, causing him to become filled with rage and despair. As the only evil soul descended from the Graves family, Ubel was greatly valued and his loss was deeply felt. Determined to bring Ubel back to life, the Maven journeyed to where his body lay and took it away.

  As he gazed upon Ubel's face, the Maven couldn't help but shed a tear, muttering to himself, "You will come back alive. You will burn them all. You will avenge yourself." And with that, he carried Ubel's body to a secluded spot on the border of Vok, where he came across a massive tree standing alone in a vast, open space.

  Digging a grave beneath the tree, the Maven placed Ubel's body inside and began to perform a ritual of sorcery, speaking in a language unknown to most. As he spoke, a strange energy flowed through the air, and Ubel's body began to stir. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his spirit returning to the land of the living.

  But Ubel's return was not without its complications. When he emerged from the grave, he was naked and disoriented, his body still bearing the marks of the battle that had claimed his life. He stumbled and fell, crawling and walking in a dizzy haze, his mind unable to comprehend what had happened to him.

  Through the Maven's ritual, Ubel had been sent to the future, a timeline unfamiliar to him. Eventually, he was discovered on the streets of Aras, naked and confused, his body battered and bruised.

  As memories of his past life flooded back to him, Ubel Graves awoke within the grave where he had been interred. But this was not the same Ubel who had died - he was a changed man, his character improved and refined.

  Stepping out of the grave and into the open air, Ubel looked around at his surroundings, taking in the familiar sights and smells of the cold wind and the nearby horses. It was then that he saw three soldiers walking and laughing together, and he knew that he had been sent back in time.

  No longer the man he had been before, Ubel retreated back into the shelter of the tree, his mind racing with thoughts of all the changes he could make in this new lease on life. He knew that he had been given a second chance, and he was determined to make the most of it.

  To Be Continued…