Chapter 1

The boy awoke, his eyes still nearly closed and his body weak. It was time for another meaningless day, Rursus knew that. Even so, it was his life and he wasn’t mad about it. A silent life, a peaceful one. What more could one man or one boy wish for. He knew he was meaningless but there was nothing more he wished for, than to live as he always did. Rursus believed to have already felt enough pain, losing his mom and dad, losing his home as a side effect of someone else's fight. How meaningless that was. While his wished always was the same, it didn’t look like the world would partake in it.

Every passing day more knights run through the village, even some mages appeared. For what reason was not the question here. Everyone knew what it was, or what it was said to be. A demon lurking in the shadows, consuming life after life, village after village. It had no form, no body. It was, as if it was hatred itself reincarnated. A truly terrifying thought. They even said it was looking as if seeking.

As the day passed he did what was normal for him. Working in the fields, harvesting what little had grown this year. When done, it was time to help out in Roberts bar, cleaning and carrying, or more so rolling new barrels into the cellar. Roberts bear was the best in the village, and it surely would’t hold for long. Well it wasn’t really the best of the village, since he had some connections and therefore was buying it from somewhere else. It did, but not change the factor, of him selling an enormous amount of bear. His numbers were only rising, with knight, even mages entering the village and patrolling the fields around it. To add to that, every passing day become cooler, but Roberts shop was in the middle of the city easily accessible, so it was that lots of man and woman used their time here, staying in a warm building, while avoiding their homes, to have some fun wile temperatures were falling. They were not just falling a bit, but rapidly, and this winter would therefore be one of the coldest. Even down to -30°C, they said it would be on the worst days. He could but only pray that it was a miss calculation. At least the standard would only be around -15°C, he thought as he left out a small gasp of relief. Rursus had finally finished his work, and the last barrel was standing firm on the ground, ready to be easily accessed for some new beer. As he turned around, his eyes fell onto the opposite site of the room, where the good wine was being hold in the rest of the barrels. Frustrated, he was surely, knowing how long it would be until he could taste that sweet liquid.

Well taste was the wrong word, since he had often taken a small sip from the wine, while Robert or his wife weren’t looking. His body made one last turn, as he walked through the entry into the tavern above, waiting to get some beer himself. He had finally become sixteen, as the last month had passed and he could not say he did not like beer, it immediately became something he could not ignore and he did not want to remember how often he was already drunk the past month. A small smile appeared on is face, as he made his way to Robert.

As Robert was once again filling up some cups, for his new customers he felt his wife tipping him on the shoulder. He knew what that mend. Rursus had arrived and he took out another cup from the cabinet, he already knew that he would refill this one quit a lot. "The usual?" He asked with a smile as he turned in the direction Rursus was coming from.

"You already knew me very well, so just cut it from the payment later ok?" The boy answered, as he approached Robert, sending back that smile he gave him.

"If you wouldn't spend everything to get drunk, you might have more money for important thinks, ya know" Robert was still smiling, but in his voice you could hear an undertone suggesting, that he didn't not mean it serious, at least a bit.

"Come one, where would be the fun in that?"

Rursus answered, his voice did not change, but even so, he had heard the underlying statement in Roberts voice, but choose to ignore it. Rursus had already talked with him about it and he was not interested in anything that old man imagined for him, nor what his parents. These people were the ones suggesting this job for him in the first place. They wanted him to leave this village and find a job in a nearby city ,or even further ahead, for him to reach knew heights. Sure it was not that they would not befit from his job here at all, but he had long figured out, what the true reason was. It was there old friend Robert, now helping them reach their very goal for them. Not only for needed money, was why he worked in a tavern, it was also for gaining new information and maybe making new connections. They didn't fail in that, realizing that even when he tried to avoid it, he couldn't help but listen and take information in. He was like a swamp taking everything in to him, through seeing or hearing. Id did not matterIn that way they succeed, but in everything else he thought, at least not fully. Rursus was more of a silent watcher, wouldn't talk unless he deemed it beneficial for him in bigger way. He just wanted to live his life silently, and to much talking might bring him in danger. Maybe that was foolish, but it was what he thought and as he did not want to life his life more complicated and it did not brought him any benefit at all, there was often no reason to talk. That was maybe also a reason why he was drinking, spending quit some of his hard worked money directly. In a way he might unconsciously reject what his parents wanted for him. He probably was only selfish.

Robert did not much, but raise his brow to Rursus statement, and followed along, for what the boy asked. Only could he wonder what the boy was thinking and he was to tired for conversing. If you really could call it one at this point, it was but a mere exchange of some friendly words. A conversation was useless anyway, he had experienced it himself countless times, the boy was just dodging his questions when he would ask him about what he would plan or avoid talking to someone he thought would be a good connection for Rursus. That boy did not want to move any further from where he was and maybe, just maybe that peace was good for him after losing his family. All this was certainly not false, but Robert could only think, that it would be better if he moved on and lift his own live. Sure he had a new family, but they always felt like he was somehow different and shouldn't work on the field and live in a small village. They all felt as if they were holding him back, he considers if that was true as he was filing up one glass with booze

"Thanks", was all Robert would get as he was giving Rursus his beer. Rursus had long ago seen through that old man. He could almost perfectly guess what he was thinking, now that he new him so good. He first got to knew him at a age of mere five, and his parents or more so his adoptive parents, brought him with them into the tavern. It was like it would soon be a cold night, snow making walking hard and darkness finding you way. So a little rest wouldn't harm and they went into a tavern carrying the name "Roberts inn", what a name he thought… . He remembered, as if it was yesterday.

Sitting himself in a chair with s small table on the edge of the room, as he let out a gasp of relaxation, finally being abel to rest after working on the field over half a day, then walking all the way into the city, taking his second job here and now finally sitting done. Even so he did not feel mad at all about so much work, he was more happy helping the ones which gave him a roof above his head and a filled stomach, when he was most lost in his life, he was barely three that time. Now that he remembers his small grin disappeared and his view wandered aimlessly through the room, remembering what was lost that day, but also what was found and gained. It was just that he knew that sadness would help nobody, so he accepted the change, even so it could never replace the lost. He did no longer want to think about it, so he concentrated on something different.

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Four knights and probably one mage he guessed, seeing them talking at a table across from him. Nervous and even quit angry they appeared to him, beer certainly did not help. Rursus did not want to get involved, but couldn't help but being interested and so he started reading the lips of the man one the right side from which he could but barely see one side of his face, the left side was obstructed by the knight in the front. Rursus was sitting ten meters across from them and started transforming movements into the words he thought it to be, he hadn't perfectly got a grip of it, but he definitely would understand something.

"north… fifty kilometers away… moving south… were we…", the man had moved his had forward and his view was blocked so he could not read his lips, finally he moved back into his standard position. "they… annihilated..-", the man which lips he was reading and who in the moment seemed to share knew knowledge, seemed to be used as a courier, which he got from a backpack laying besides him. He could only see a tiny part of it, but its position suggest it was that mans. Further amplified where his thoughts to his more practical and used clothing. While the rest were wearing something more clean and appropriate. He should have gotten that the first moment he saw these guys and got a little bit angry at himself for overlocking such a clue. It couldn't be helped. He was to focused on the man talking and had ignored the rest. Not that it was a problem, it did not matter if he saw it or not. Well it mattered to him, since he disliked overseeing something. While all that was rushing through his mind he had, but thought about that, the moment the courier had abruptly stopped talking. He was looking at Rursus, starring him into his eyes as he stood up, ignoring comments from his partners, walking straight at him. Rursus panicked a moment, at the mans sudden movement towards him, quickly getting a grip of himself, calming himself, by breathing slowly and controlled. There was no use in standing and walking away, from the eyes looking at him, he knew he would only make matters worseIt was the reason for him to just sit straight and look him in his eyes. Not backing up, this situation needed respect he thought. The knight even so wearing more old and used cloth and seeming exhausted, looked somehow prideful to him. Looking weak down would not help him.

The man was angry, a boy probably mere fifteen or sixteen had looked at him. and he knew it was true, even so his partners did not believe him. It was not that what had made him upset, a kid, boy or maybe even a man looking at him was not a problem, but it was how he starred at his face his mouth, as if he was reading every word he said, as if seeing through him like a open book. He did not like it, nor was it good if a boy would now about their mission and what would probably soon happen. So it was, that he grabed him by his shirt pulling him out of his seat against the table, silent but clearly demanding, with an angry voice which would not accept lying.

"What do you know?" It was a deep and control voice, which send a shiver down his spine, but considering what he knew: the comrades behind the knight or more so courier and the importance these words may hold. Considering that he moved forward before as if he tried to talk more silently and hide his voice and his body structure which was more sunken together, even so that was not his style when he was now looking at him now, he concluded that lying would be the better option. While you would normally be careful with a mage on someones side, Rursus had put the chances that that man, had any spells to get information out of him and that he would be ready to use them, against the probability that he would even be able to use one of such spells, or be ready to make a show to interrogate him, a boy and cause trouble. That was by the way not likely for a man that had just tried holding the knight back. So his decisions stood firm.

"I do not knew that i caused a problem for you, pardon my for my staring, but I do not know what I am supposed to know and do not want to cause any trouble, so could you please let me down. I assure i will not stare anymore or cause any more problems fore you." It was a firm and strong voice that uttered these words, his words were truly as he meant them, and he was ready to just ignore what he heard. Maybe it was foolish but he could not do otherwise. He just wanted peace, he thought sadlyThe man seemed to look confused and angry, at such a calm and collected reaction, as well as answers and surprisingly even let him down while his right hand was clenching into a fist, slightly hitting the tale before him.

The knight was controlling himself, even if it was hard. He would not be provocated by a mere boy. His partners were already pulling him back talking to him, silently. They did not want to make a bigger scene and the owner was already coming at them.

"What is the reason fur such unsightly behavior? I do not care if your knights or mages, you can't not just start a fight with a customer, more so witch just a boy, in my inn! So would you mind telling me the reason!"

Rursus was thankful for Roberts intervention, it surly would make everything easier. Not that he had not taken that into calculation, when he thought about standing his ground. Now the mage stepped forth and decide to intervene himself. That was surprising considering that mages were seen as powerful people, some stronger ones even nearly the same as nobles. Quiet some of them even were nobles themselves, especially the more powerful one. That all made them quit an authority. It was also that mages rarely stepped in for themselves, only when it was truly important and required their intervention. Well it was probably more that the mages which were nobles, did not like having to intervene for something so beneath them. Rursus eyebrows raised, but a tiny bit at such an act and in his head it became clear, that what they talked about was more important, maybe it was even about the demon. He wondered if that could be the case. The mage so he thought would not intervene, because he thought him to be important or even a threat, but because he was still tense from the previous conversation with his men. He probably was their leader, except for the courier which should be under another mage somewhere else. Even so he was clearly his superior and the knight immediately backed up when he whispered in his ears. Rursus could not read someones lips from such tiny moments. In addition, he was still focused on what had happened that he nearly oversaw it anyways.

The mage answered: "It is merely, that it seems one of my man got a bit drunk, so please excuse him he always his overly aggressive when he had drunk some beer. Please excuse my man now, an advise your young customer here, to not stare at other people, even if he may admire them." A fake smile, on the mages face as he spoke with authority. No more words were needed and they headed back to their places. Now they would soon leave he thought. The courier still seemed angry and trying to resist but quickly gave up, but not before looking back on more time, starring at Rursus aggressively, with quit a fighting spirit.

"What did you do?" Robert asked with quit a confused face.

"I do not know myself, I but simply looked around as my view fell onto them… I am sorry if I have brought you trouble."

"Do not worry, they do not seem to be after trouble, just avoid them. Got it?"

Rursus affirmed, Robert had collected himself again and brought out a weak smile as he turned away, going back to work.

"That would be two man and five tan then." Roberts wife Gisele said.

"Don't say anything. Cut it from your payment, as always right?" Rursus approved with a nod and a light smile. After he had got his payment, he stood up, winked back to Robert and left.