Crusaders III: The New Age 1.7

1.7           Helmut Volt of Bavaria

The man woke up when he felt the coldness on his flesh. He looked at the fire he had stoked earlier, now only embers on the broken flooring of this great castle. He pushed himself up and adjusted the layer of rags so that the cold draught would be more tolerable. It had been weeks now since he had stayed here; once his home and now ruins among the many others that laid the land. He walked to the fire place with some pieces of wood that he had collected, and placed them there before he stoke the fire up again. He looked at the dead wolf which he had cut up into chunks and now the juicy parts hung over the smoked section he built to keep the meat preserved. It was also his bait for the creatures to come in so he can eat them fresh. The fur of the wolf lies at the corner but it would be days of tanning before he could placed it with the others.

He walked outside of his tower and stood there by the ruined walls looking down to the valley at the lighted settlement. It was once a city named Rosenheim, in the Bavaria state. The castle does not rival that of the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, but it was home to his family for generations. The last war took its toll on these castles as perceived would be used as strongholds for resistance. The bombing of the conventional bombs leveled most of them or tore them like his to resembled uncompleted work of arts.

Helmut left the settlement as he favored the lonely life there, with his own thoughts. He was once a soldier of United Euro; fighting the war for it against the United Continents. They were at a disadvantage with the long borders. He was in the armored division fighting his battles in the iron clad vehicles with the multitude of weapons. Their superiority in the armored was bested by the air superiority of the United Continents. Soon the tides of war changed and they were beaten at every battle by other sides. He had seen many of his men died screaming for mercy from God for their sins, but there was none to be showed them that, except the fast reaction of the chemical weapons.

Once the war was down, and the land ravished, the land at United Europe was declared unwanted as the winner side withdrew its Just when the survivors thought they could re-built, the second plague of the war was on them; evolved creatures were released on them by the United Continents. These creatures became predators and attacked the survivors. More screams of mercy from God were heard but like before, there were none. These creatures are the result of biological advancement became their torture tools. Domesticated creatures once gentle became vicious predators with their tainted genetics and enhancement. The land of United Europe became a hunting ground for them. Even God would cringe at the works on his subjects.

Helmut felt with his left hand on the hilt of his Broadsword; an heirloom of the family. It was claimed that the broadsword was the original Excalibur; the blade would cut anything it touches, mystical ones. He wanted to laugh but there was no sound to be uttered there. Then he heard the familiar sound of his metallic companion.

"You are activated?" Helmut spoke up.

"Yes, I am." The round orb that measures a radius of over six inches hovered before him. "Its unfortunate that my current source of power pack can only function for eight hours before it required re-charging by solar. So conservation was the option to ensure I am of service."

Helmut smiled at his metallic friend and companion. The orb was a standard issue to the officers of the United Europe Rangers, but its power pack was damaged in one of the battles, which reduced its efficiency to the limited hours. The unit then decided to maximize it’s time with the needed that of Helmut, four in the day and the other four at night before it goes to recharged mode.

"Did I miss much? My sensor picked up scents of blood." The orb responded with it mechanical voice.

Helmut did not bother to reply while he walked back to the tower. Soon it would be daylight again, and he was to carry the furs and skins down to the city. The furs and skins would assist in keeping some of the needed warm, until he compiles another load. It would give him time to say his prayers there, as it’s the seventh day of the week, if his memory does not deceive him. It was Father Joseph wished that he comes in for prayers, and also offered him the leather suit he was wearing now. His own uniform had long been discarded and now he wore this one.

Once he had donned the suit, Father Joseph had called him by nickname; Crusader. He smiled at the thought. It was years since he recalled the Crusaders adventures when he was seated on his father's lap.

"Helmut, you would one day be a Crusader like your grandfather and his before then." Baron Dieter was unable to be one due to an early age disease that ravaged his legs, but he had the good natured woman who cared for him to birth him this son. Marlene, Helmut’ mother died at birth thus leaving him to live with the man who was nurtured him as the next Crusader. But the war had stopped his aspiration.