Deep in the Einslingar Dungeon complex, resides a skeleton clad in rusty plate armor. The nameless skeleton knight loved the dungeon with all his bones. Every day he would patrol the floor walking through the goblin village and spider caves. Knowing that he was a protector of these innocent goblins who worked the land day in and day out growing mushrooms was immensely satisfying. Even now, he watched as goblin youth played with adolescent spiders, riding them up the walls and laughing as they hung from the ceiling.

  But now, this skeleton was defending itself from a group of four adventurers. Catching a sword on the parrying hooks of his flamberge zweihander, the skeleton had a moment of respite. At that moment the skeleton wondered why such powerful people would be attacking this village. It wasn't like the goblins had anything of great value. Nor were the spiders particularly aggressive to those who stayed outside of their territory.

  The skeleton was snapped out of his thought as a fireball slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground. The skeleton looked up at the caster who had just knocked him to the ground. The skeleton could see a cold indifference in his eyes. That human wearing red robes with golden accents looked at him like he was a bug being crushed under his shoes. To him, the assault of these four made no sense. They did not appear to be like the common bandits he had fought before. So why were they here?

  The skeleton reflected on the two months it had been since he had awoken in the dungeon. Having explored the depths in the company of his fellow skeletons, he had grown fond of his home. Over the course of weeks, the skeleton had grown stronger, acquiring equipment and leading a troop of like-minded skeletons. Protecting the inhabitants of the dungeon was a noble occupation after all. The skeleton had read about chivalry in some of the books he had found in the dungeon.

  Tales of knights and their heroic deeds had inspired the skeleton to become a champion of the weak, protector of the fleshy goblins and furry spiders. For the last couple of weeks, the skeleton and his troop had brought down dozens of vagabond thieves who had been frequently raiding the dungeon, killing all who entered their sight. Even children were not spared from the massacre. What the skeleton had not counted on though, was that these bandits would be missed. Yet now, a strong and organized hostile group was here.

  Earlier today, he and his troop had been ambushed by this group of four that seemed unstoppable. One by one, members of his troop were obliterated until now where only he remained. Standing up in defiance, the four invaders looked somewhat exhausted and irritated with him. Almost as if his resistance was merely an inconvenience. Before the warrior approached him, the caster said something, causing the warrior to halt. The caster once again summoned a ball of fire, but this time it was sent into the ceiling above the skeleton. There was a loud bang as the fireball exploded and the cavern rumbled as the ceiling above the skeleton collapsed burying him in earth as the world went black.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  . . .

  Hours later, a rusted gauntlet emerged from the pile of earth. The skeleton hauled himself out of his earthen tomb and took a look around. What he saw was heartbreaking. At the center of the goblin village, those he fought to protect were now a pile of corpses, the skeleton recognized each and every one of them. In the cave where the spiders dwelled were only ashes of what used to be.

  Every resource in the dungeon had been pillaged. Even the dungeon core had been smashed to pieces. The skeleton sank to his knees. What could have warranted this? Where is justice in the world? That was when the voice spoke,

  "What is this 'justice' you seek?" said a serpentine voice.

  'Who is that?' the skeleton thought, as he looked around seeing no one.

  "I ask you again, what is this 'justice' you seek?" the voice hissed impatiently.

  'I don't-' the skeleton began internally.

  "Answer the question!" the voice shouted.

  The skeleton paused and took a moment to think. What is justice? Is it equality amongst all races? No, for there to be equality everyone would need to be the same, and that is not what he wanted. Is it the ability to force people to sustain a world of his vision? No, that would be tyranny. How about the strength to protect? Yes, that was it. The skeleton realized that justice is not a social program, but instead, it is a doctrine of order. Justice is the oath of chivalry made to protect the weak. It is the resolve to commit atrocities and bloody ones' hands so that the masses can live a life of peace.

  'The justice I desire is the strength to protect, and annihilate all who threaten that which is mine to protect,' the skeleton broadcasted this message to the voice.

  "Very well, then in exchange for the means to achieve this goal, you must bear my colors and be a champion in my name, do you accept?" the voice proposed.

  'Yes, I accept,' the skeleton announced his resolve.

  "Very well, then I shall transform you into the race of which has killed many of your kin, and thus you will have the means to change this world for better or worse. I look forward to seeing your journey skeleton," and with that, the world faded into blackness.