The sun was rising as Ryuji and the others were going at a fast pace. They wanted to get to the next checkpoint by afternoon, either way, it would be a bad time to travel. They had to go through a swamp, and this swamp was known for its fog. It was thick and dense, that you couldn't see one foot in front of you. And it was easy to get lost. Not only that but some creatures were not exactly friendly.

(Ryuji) - How often have you had to go through this swamp?

(Olaf) - It is the only place that ties the capital and your village.

(Hayato) - We wouldn't be in such a hurry if we would have had horses.

(Kenta) - Not many travel on foot nowadays.

(Olaf) - We couldn't take the horses from Ryuji's village, they need it more than us.

*Sigh*

(Sol) - It is painful to go on foot. And it's hot.

(Hayato) - Stop crying.

*Step*

*Step*

(Ryuji) - What kind of creatures that belong to this swamp?

(Kenta) - The kind you don't want to meet.

(Olaf) - Unlike other swamps, this one has exiled creatures that belong nowhere. And they are controlled by Hate.

(Ryuji) - What do you mean controlled by hate?

(Kenta) - Hate is a demon that offers powers to those who seek revenge.

(Sol) - Once you form a pact with Hate, you can no longer control yourself. Some even go berserk.

(Ryuji) - That sounds horrifying.

(Olaf) - Some say that Hate uses black magic and can appear as a voice or in dreams.

(Ryuji) - It does sound familiar now that you mention it. It happened to me twice, the first time when my father got injured and the second time when you returned to the village.

(Olaf) - We are lucky we didn't lose you to him.

(Sol) - With your powers, and under Hate control it would have been a disaster.

(Hayato) - He could have been assigned as a commander for the Hate army.

(Ryuji) - Commander? Army?

(Olaf) - There are many things you need to learn about the world you just stepped in.

(Kenta) - There is no longer only your village, your farms and forest, now there are other realms and cities that you could not even imagine.

Ryuji stopped and was speechless, he did not want any of this to happen and yet there he was. From the normal farmer boy to a young adult with unknown powers, in an unknown world.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

*Pat on the shoulder*

(Olaf) - We are here for you, we will guide you the best we can through it. And you will do the same when your time comes.

Everyone turned to Ryuji and smiled. All this time Ryuji thought he is alone, and that he will have to do everything himself, but this burden was lifted by the smiles he received, and understood that he is not alone.

They arrived at the swamp entrance by noon, and they decided to take a short break. While they were sitting at the entrance a few traders were passing by. Olaf stopped them, asked them how is the road ahead, and bought some supplies from them. Then they continued walking through the swamp.

The swamp was quiet. No movement, as if it was dead.

(Ryuji) - Where are those creatures hiding? It is too quiet.

(Olaf) - They tend to appear when the sun goes down.

(Ryuji) - Out of nowhere?

(Kenta) - Once the fog settles they can appear out of nowhere since you can not see them.

Halfway through the swamp, they see a cart stuck in the mud.

(Olaf) - Greetings!

(Trader) - Oh, thank God!

(Olaf) - How did this happen?

(Trader) - My horse got scared of something and ran away. Leaving me and my cart stuck here.

(Olaf) - That is indeed a big problem.

(Kenta) - Where were you headed?

(Trader) - Back to the capital.

(Olaf) - We can help you get there, we are headed there too.

Olaf and the others pushed the cart out of the mud, and they helped the trader make it through the swamp. As the fog started to lay down, they left the swamp.

(Trader) - We made it just in time.

(Olaf) - Looks like we were lucky.

The trader fell to his knees and started crying.

(Trader) - I can not thank you enough.

(Hayato) - Don't mention it.

Ryuji felt something was weird about the events that happened. The traders before could have helped him get out of the forest with one of their horses, but they didn't. Even if they were headed in another direction. As Ryuji was in his thoughts, the trader pulled out a knife and jumped at him.

(Trader) - Nobody moves!

*Shocked*

(Sol) - What are you doing?

(Trader) - You are going back into the swamp with me now!

*Step*

*Step*

Kenta noticed that the trader's eyes got bright red. It was one of the signs that he was controlled by Hate.

(Kenta) - Calm down, and no one will get hurt.

(Trader) - You have no idea what I had to go through.

(Olaf) - We can talk about it.

*Shaking his head*

(Trader) - No, no, no, . . .

Ryuji was scared, he could not move, and the others could not help him without him getting hurt. Ryuji passed out, his eyes started glowing a bright blue, and he grabbed the trader's hand. In a split second, the trader's eyes stopped glowing, dropping his knife and letting Ryuji go. Then Ryuji passed out.

(Olaf) - It happened again. But this time he cured someone controlled by Hate.

(Kenta) - How is this possible?

(Olaf) - That's what we need to find out.

(Sol) - This kind of power was never mentioned before.

(Olaf) - But there is someone that might know about it. We have to meet with him in the capital as soon as possible.

(Olaf) - I am afraid that Ryuji could lose control and become something that we would not be able to stop.

Olaf grabbed Ryuji and put him in the cart, along with the trader and they continued walking towards the capital. They had to make a few stops along the way, but there was nothing else ahead that could harm them.

It took them two more days to make it to the capital. Ryuji and the trader remained unconscious the whole way. And as they approached the gates, Ryuji and the trader woke up.

(Ryuji) - What - What happened?

(Olaf) - Calm down, we are safe now.

Ryuji looked behind Olaf and saw the big gates of the capital.

(Ryuji) - We made it? How long was I passed out?

(Sol) - Two whole days.

(Ryuji) - It happened again?

(Olaf) - Yes, but don't worry, no one was hurt.

(Kenta) - On the contrary, you might have cured the trader.

(Ryuji) - Cured?

(Olaf) - There is much more to your powers that we don't yet know of.

*Sigh*