“You assumed I was spineless and cowardly, but look where that landed you,” Melek said as he stood in front of Harand. Harand was kneeling on the dirt, his feet turned out to the sides.

Melek’s blade remained in his hand, the line of blood on the edge contrasting with the shining steel as it dripped off and onto the floor. Harand’s face turned up and his gaze left the pile of intestines for the first time. He looked into Melek’s eyes. “Fuck you.”

“I have had enough of this. Just because I am soft spoken does not mean I am unwilling to fight. Are you ready to meet your god?”

Harand spat on the floor in front of Melek, narrowly missing his boots. Melek flicked his sword around in a wide arc and deftly parted Harand’s head from his shoulders. It rolled after it hit the floor and came to a rest a couple feet away with its eyes still open.

“Good riddance,” Melek wiped his blade on his cloak and sheathed it before departing. He closed the door behind him and left that chapter of his life behind.