As promised, Arlim and Cora sat down with Zell the following morning to relate everything that had happened in the previous three days. Agitha had left with Merc before the sunrise on an unknown errand. Arlim decided it was time to also reveal his past to his children. The average looking black bearded gentleman wasn’t sure how they would react but it was important to him that they know the entire story.

“To begin with, before you two were born I wasn’t a farmer.” Arlim touched his chin as he tried to settle on a place to begin his story. “I met your mother after she was framed for a terrible crime by a lord of the kingdom after spurning his advances. I was a bounty hunter responsible for tracking down and destroying monster hunters that turned against humanity. With my somewhat unique ability to completely erase my presence, and my years of study in alchemy and toxins in particular I was known as the most efficient in the kingdom at what I did.” Arlim paused a moment and Cora spoke.

“Mom was one of your missions? You were supposed to kill her?” Cora was taken aback. She had never known her father to be anything but soft spoken and kind.

“I didn’t enjoy the work, but I excelled at it and believed it necessary.” Arlim was not apologetic as he continued. “I trailed your mother to a city called Coalmarch in the north. I infiltrated her camp the night before she made it to the city, and was about to poison her water skin when I saw her dancing with her sword in the moonlit meadow nearby. For the first time in my career, I hesitated and was mesmerized. Something in the way she moved was so pure and joyful that I could not bring myself to condemn her in that moment. I retreated and followed her into the city the following day. She showed none of the cruelty and arrogance that usually came from my targets. She was kind and funny, nearly everyone she spoke to was smiling and laughing. She played games with the street urchins and left loose silver coins in places they were sure to find. I grew more certain and began to question the crime itself. A family of poor farmers had been slaughtered and their shack burned after ‘interfering with the wicked huntress’.” Arlim’s eyes hardened in remembered anger.

“The lord had the family killed just to use you to get back at mom?” Zell was mortified, and struggling to process the stream of revelations.

“Yes and what’s worse I wasn’t the only one he sent.” Arlim took another steadying breath. “Another bounty hunter called Grohle also accepted the contract. He was not interested in the details of any job. His methods were straight forward and he was known to cause collateral damage in his missions. He made his move in broad daylight and I moved to intervene but was stunned by Coralia’s display as she clobbered him instantly unconscious and dragged him by the collar to the local magistrate.” Arlim chuckled in spite of himself at the memory.

“I worked up the courage to approach her in a tavern that night. I explained what was happening and she was beyond enraged. We traveled together to Vinia City to present the case against the lord. We were victorious together and the lord was executed. We stayed in touch, and eventually fell for each other. I retired while she was pregnant with Cora and we moved to the valley to live in peace. You both know the rest, she was called away to the war and was lost as she defeated the general of the monster forces. She was declared a great hero of the kingdom and that brings us to what happened three nights ago.” He leveled his gaze with his children, ready for any number of different responses.

“That’s so amazing!” Zell blurted out “Why didn’t you tell me you were so awesome this whole time?” Zell was staring at his father in absolute admiration.

“Z, he killed hunters for a living. He killed humans. It may have been a necessary evil but It’s still awful. That must have been tough dad.” Cora was more somber, almost pitying.

Arlim accepted both of their reactions with the same gentle smile he always wore. He looked at Cora directly as he continued.

“We now know your mother’s victory was not complete. The mana lamprey general was weakened but survived. At some point in the last nine years, it began feeding on both of you. Zell already knows this and encountered it. Agitha arrived four days ago and filled me in. We devised a plan to trap it.” He paused trying to determine the best way to explain it to his daughter.

“We decided the only way to draw it in would be to use you as bait. There were two reasons for this. The first was obviously to destroy it. The second was to get the pearl in Cora’s chest safely removed, and only a mana lamprey can detach a pearl safely from its host. Agitha hid in the woods nearby while I prepared a cocktail of paralytic toxins. I hid myself in your room after you were asleep and erased my presence.” He stopped to take a sip of hot tea and continued before any questions could interrupt him.

“The mana lamprey arrived around midnight and I watched as it did its work. I cannot describe the loathing I felt.” A lump of disgust rose in Arlim’s throat as he recalled it. “After the pearl was removed I threw the hollow dart loaded with the poison I concocted. The monster was paralyzed. I saw fear in its cloudy eyes. I dragged it to the basement and took my time extracting this.” Arlim placed a cloth covered round object on the table and unveiled it.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The object was a black sphere, filled with a constantly swirling and shimmering liquid.

“The heart pearl of a mana lamprey. With this, the creature’s destruction is complete. Your mana and your lives are yours once more, and your mother is avenged.” Arlim wasn’t celebrating his victory. He was giving a mission debrief, and his children glimpsed for the first time what he must have been like in his other life.

Cora was silent, she didn’t know how to feel exactly. She excused herself to walk outside.

Zell was far less reserved. He immediately begged his father for stories of his lone wolf life of tracking down evil monster hunters.

“Another time, I promise.” His father said. “For now focus on eating and resting. Your body is still in shambles from the mana surge you went through.”

“I could teach you to meditate, it might help your mana replenish faster.” Rin offered as she entered the dining room from the hallway. “You’re hiding it well but I know you still feel like death.” She added.

“Yeah that would be great actually.” Zell gratefully replied.

Rin simply nodded and continued to the kitchen.

“I think that girl likes you.” Arlim said to Zell nudging him on the arm and grinning foolishly.

Zell blushed fiercely and floundered several responses before practically fleeing outside.

Arlim continued to smile as he took another sip of his tea. He studied the swirling dark orb on the table. For the first time since his beloved Coralia had left, he felt the hole in his soul begin to mend a tiny bit.

Zell took a few deep breaths once he was safely outside. He noticed Cora sitting on the tree stump used for splitting wood. He wondered if he should say something.

“Are you alright?” He asked her in a concerned voice.

“It’s just alot all at once.” Cora replied while she absently drew a pattern in the dirt between her feet with a small twig. “Dad was a killer, a monster was cutting me open in my sleep, the sudden trip to see you after hearing that you nearly died, and you’re so calm about all of it!” She exclaimed looking at Zell. “How?”

Zell sat next to her then. “A whole lot has happened to me these past few weeks. I guess I’m just treating it like it’s all happening to Bait instead of me. Oh Bait is my monster hunter name by the way.” He added quickly, noticing her quizzical expression.

Zell then filled her in on everything that had happened, from the troglin encounter to the attack at the inn, to the mana lamprey and the demon.

Cora absorbed the tale with wide eyes, and suddenly found a new level of respect for her little brother. She also found herself a bit envious of his exciting adventures and began to wonder about the world beyond the valley she had known her whole life. In any event she felt better after talking to him. She put an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. They sat there for a long while in the mid morning sun, talking a little but mostly just listening to the birds and the distant busy market and enjoying the company.

The sudden sound and appearance of a jingling coin purse landing on the dirt just in front of them jolted both siblings from their reverie.

The thrower was a little girl in shabby clothes and a boy’s crude haircut. Zell recognized her immediately as the pickpocket from the other day. She chirped in an adult tone that didn’t quite fit with her adorable tiny voice.

“The princess told me you saved the city. I want you to have this back with our apologies.” She said with a sincere bow. With no further explanation she turned to leave.

“Wait, can I talk to you?” Zell stood still shakily.

“What is it?” She asked a bit defensively.

“Umm. I just think it’s amazing how you took both of my coin pouches without me even noticing, even though I was expecting it. How does such a young person have that skill?” He finally asked the question that had been bouncing in the back of his mind since that day.

“Oh.” The girl was surprised by the fully unexpected compliment and the genuine admiration on her victim’s face. “That’s because of this.” She pulled her hair back and turned her head. The top of her ear was little more than a grotesque line of scar tissue. “In the empire of the elves I would still be a child but I’m forty three years old. My family was captured by slavers when I was a baby. Before I was able to escape, my former master was displeased by my long ears and cut them off. I’ve been picking pockets to survive longer than you’ve been alive.”

“I see.” Zell noted his sister’s horrified look and felt revulsion and sadness himself at the girl’s desperate plight and dark past.

“Don’t look so piteous.” The girl chuckled. “I’m doing fine. This look is intentional, like a work uniform. Thanks to the princess we have a pretty good life.”

Zell wanted to return the pouch of coins, but understood that would be an insult. He didn’t want to end the interesting encounter but didn’t know how to prolong it. His sister either read his mind or was equally interested.

“You know the city probably better than anyone right?” Cora spoke up. “When my brother gets better would you be willing to show us around? I’ve lived in the same valley my whole life and am a bit nervous on my own.” Cora added with a meek smile.

Zell was astonished at the act. Cora was normally brash and confident, he hadn’t ever seen that expression on her.

“That’s right.” Zell added seeing the opportunity. “We’d be happy to pay you to take care of us, and I can pack a picnic.”

“Hmm.” The girl pursed her lips, considering the offer. “Why not? I have no duties the day after tomorrow. Will you be sufficiently recovered by then?” She asked.

“I’ll make it so.” Zell promised. “My name is Bait, this is my sister.”

“Cora.” Cora took over. “What’s your name?”

“Teya” The girl bowed again. “I’ll meet you here at this time the day after tomorrow.” With that she turned and left.

After she disappeared around the corner, Cora turned to Zell with a lifted eyebrow. He read the expression and told her the short story of meeting the girl for the first time.