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Scullvox The Mighty, slayer of a thousand kingdoms. Ancient and proud warrior. Undefeated in combat and blessed by the gods with immortality for his valor and skill. All in the world know the legend of him and know that, should he pit himself against their cause they will inevitably be crushed for how can you defeat that which cannot die? That, of course, resulted in every single king in the world offering titles and riches for Scullvox to settle in their kingdom and commit himself to their peoples and lands, but he never did. He was not a man who took sides based on politics or bribery. He fought for what he found to be just and right, and that was why the gods themselves were on his side.

But even immortals grow tired after centuries and Scullvox began to lose interest in the petty wars of the world. He found that, no matter how many times he crushed evil or squashed down horrible regimes and threw tyrants from their thrones, another would always rise. So he began to search out a battle he could fight that would truly change the world. To that end, he disguised himself and quietly took up residence in a dirty little town far from anything of importance.

And he became Scully, the Caretaker of the orphanage.

The kids that lived in Scully's orphanage came from all over the world. He did not discriminate and he openly encouraged any and all lost or orphaned children to come to him. Anyone who could not care for their kids or any kids lost to war could come to his home. He grew fruit trees and tended cows, and he taught the children to do the same. He taught those that were in his care the ways of the land and of a simple, peaceful life. To those in his care, he was a beacon of hope and joy and peace. None who came to him ever starved, suffered, or longed for anything because he secretly had riches beyond imagining and made sure there was never an unshoed foot or a hungry belly in his hall. They grew up happy and healthy and became good people of the world. Truly, this was the fight only an immortal like himself could take up and hope to win. But naturally, any fight requires a foe...

It happened late in the night when Scully stood in one of the many, many bedrooms of his hall with a tiny young girl cradled in his massive arms. Being that many of his children were orphans of war or poverty or tragedy, Scully had become very accustomed to cradling and cooing many to sleep when they had nightmares or terrors in their sleep. To the children, he seemed a great, giant bear of a man with a shaggy mane of hair and a huge, scruffy beard but hands that were infinitely gentle and arms warm enough to dose right off in. None of them ever had any trouble sleeping after he picked them up and held them close, for they had utter confidence in him even if they didn't know who he truly was.

The shrill scream echoed through the halls and Scully's blood went cold. Old, old instincts flared to life in him and he felt his muscles tense for the fight. He glanced down at the girl in his arms, who's eyes had fluttered back awake at the sound. He gingerly sank down to his knees beside her bed and laid her in it. She mumbled some complaint as he pulled the blankets up her diminutive form and tucked them tightly around her shoulders.

"Quiet now, little Ruth. I'm sure it was just the wind but I need to go check it out. Can you be a brave, strong girl for me?" Scully asked, carefully touching fingers to her cheek as she stared up at him. Her eyes were so large and so deep brown. A beautiful child who's parents had been lost to some war in a distant land. His heart broke at the fear she felt almost every night when she slept.

But tonight, she gave him a nod and smiled, "Thank you, Scully. I love you."

"Love you too, Ruth. Sleep well." Scully said, giving her a scratchy kiss on the forehead. She laughed and shook her head at the touch of his beard. He ruffled her hair one last time before getting up and going out of her room. He closed the door and then his pace changed.

He rushed down the hall, feet falling fast and quiet with the skill of a practiced hunter. Even as big and strong as he was, he had long since learned how to move quietly at all times. It was old skills to him and it took little thought as he crossed his hall and burst into the communal bedroom at the far end.

The window was open and the beds had been ripped apart. There were four children supposed to be in here, girls just a few years shy of womanhood. All were missing now and he could hear cries and screams coming from outside. He dashed to the window and looked out it. Far in the distance, silhouetted against the dark night, he could see two horses bearing riders and captives. His body bristled and the window frame cracked as his fists clenched on the wood. He reached up and slammed the window shut with a tinkling from one of the frames cracking.

They were on horses and it was dark. He could do little to chase them down. Though normally vigilant, his decades caring for this orphanage had made him relax too much. He had assumed that, after this many years in this little remote town, everyone knew him and his own so he had little to stay on guard against. Apparently a new group of bandits had come through and had decided his orphanage was a good target.

Girls, almost young women really, were only ever taken like that for one thing. Scully wouldn't let that happen. He would make sure these brigands understood the error of their ways before they died horribly under his boots.

"Scully?" A squeaky little voice asked from the doorway.

Instantly, he let the tension in his shoulders ease and he unclenched his jaw. He let his face soften before turning back to the door. Standing there was a little boy in a long nightgown with a stuffed dog in his arms. He stared up at Scully with wide eyes. A couple more children appeared behind him, all looking equally scared and sleepy.

"Scully, where did they go?" One of the children asked.

"Did someone take them?" Another said, panic suffusing her voice.

Scully stepped forward and took a knee in front of the gathering kids. He was so very tall that he loomed over normal people. To children, he was a giant among insects. So he liked to think he could shrink himself down a bit to look less intimidating. He held out a hand and touched the shoulder of the scared girl, "Jenny, everything is going to be alright. You all just need to go back to bed, okay?"

"R-Really?" Jenny sniffled, her face growing more concerned.

"Uh-huh. I'm going to fix everything and then tomorrow we'll all have a super special breakfast. But pretty girls like you need your beauty sleep, okay?" Scully said in a strong voice, betraying none of his rage or fear for the girls.

"Okay." Jenny said, her face brightening at the thought of a special meal.

Scully got back to his feet and looked across the hall. Two teen boys were standing there. The eldest young men in his orphanage, old enough really that they could start looking for jobs and moving out into their lives. He was never one to push though as they all found their own ways in time. He stepped past the children as they started to head back to their rooms and beds.

"Scully, what's going on?" One of them asked.

"Bandits broke in. The four of them were taken. I'm going to get them back. I need you two to make sure everyone is in bed. double check the locks on all the windows and doors. I think the girls may have left theirs open and that's why they broke in there. Take swords from my room and set a watch at the front door. If anything happens, go straight into town and get the sheriff, okay?" Scully said, grabbing them both by the shoulders in rough, scarred hands. He looked sternly into there eyes and said, "You are strong men and I need you to protect everyone while I'm gone."

"Scully, what're you going to do? Shouldn't we get the sheriff now?" The second teen asked.

Scully shook his head and waved for them to follow him to his room. He walked over to a massive chest beside his bed and pulled the cover off it. He flipped the lid open to expose an armory of weapons. An axe, a medly of swords, a bow and quiver, and a belt full of knives. He started belting on weapons and the boys stared in awe at him.

"S-Scully? Why do you have all those?" The first teen hissed.

"Yeah, you're a big man, but are you really a warrior?" The second said.

"You two are smart enough. You've seen my scars. You know I'm not just a farmer and caretaker. Here, take these and try not to cut off your own feet. I've seen you two sparring with sticks before. You're not half bad but against real combatants, you'll be killed. So just show the swords and look mean, but go to the sheriff if anything happens." Scully said, turning and handing each of them a scabbard with a short sword.

The teens looked uneasy but they stiffened and nodded when they took the weapons. He nodded back to them and headed for the door.

*******

The trail hadn't been hard to follow. For a normal human, it might've seemed impossible. But centuries as a hunter and warrior had Scully inhumanly talented at many things. He knelt behind a tree and looked at the small encampment the bandits had setup an hour's travel from the town. There were at least twenty of them and they had his four girls tied up and gagged in one of their tents.

Scully pulled his bow from his shoulder and knocked an arrow. He took a breath and mentally prepared himself for the fight. It had been so, so long since he had gone into battle and he was not keen on it. Immortal or no, taking a foot of steel in the gut was agony. He looked down at himself and lamented his lack of armor. He was wearing sackcloth pants and nothing else. He'd left the orphanage so quickly for fear of losing the girls that he'd not bothered trying to dig his old armor out of the closet.

-Part 2 Below-

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Submitted by Dericwadleigh on Sat, Jun 03, 2023 to /r/WritingPrompts/

The prompt

An immortal warrior with centuries of combat experience settles down to run an orphanage. Slave traders kidnap some of the children...big mistake.