The next morning a knock wrapped against my door. It was Henry.

“Alucard, the fish are waiting my boy. Get ready and meet me upstairs". He said in an excited whisper.

He didn't wait for my reply as I heard him making his way up the steps. The sun had just started to rise as I could see the light stream through the window. The soft bed had swallowed me. My limbs felt heavy and disconnected. When I slept in trees, getting up in the morning was much easier than this. Maybe it's because of the fact that I kept waking up for the fear of falling? Maybe because of the mosquitos constantly circling my head? Or maybe the bends of the branch I laid upon fixing my spine into new shapes! Nonetheless, at this moment I was like a child that wanted to stay in bed. Why so early! Why did I even agree to go fishing? The image of more cooked fish appeared in my mind.

Fine! Groggy, I climbed out of the bed and got dressed mumbling under my breath the outrage I had felt. I got ready then opened the door and made my way up the stairs where I found Henry waiting crossed armed.

"My boy, Anna gets ready faster than you. And she looks more presentable." Henry said as if he was about to laugh.

He then turned around with a large bag on his back. Why is he not using the woven basket from the day before? Attached to the bag were two fishing rods, the one he used yesterday and the other much smaller. It looked like it was more equipped for a child. So I was actually going to get the opportunity to fish this time. I had never fished before. I was excited about the prospect… I think.

Henry started to set off and as he did so, he said in a very serious tone: "We don't have much time! At this pace, the fish will forget what we look like and be too shy to bite!"

Realizing he was raising his voice a bit high and possibly waking up the neighbors, he lowered it: "too shy to bite."

I noticed he was leaving me behind so I sped up to catch him. As soon as we reached the boundary of the village I felt the unnaturally bright sun glaring in my face. I squinted my eyes and pressed on after Henry down the mountain pass. We seemed to follow the same trail we did the day before.

I could see Henry was in a rush as he didn't waste any time on tall tales or singing. After an hour or so we broke through the dense woods and reached the opening of the lake. Henry sat down and placed his worn bag right next to him. He then proceeded to untie the fishing rods from its sides and handed the small one to me.

”Time to fish like the wind my boy!” He said with confidence in his tone.

I looked down at the bamboo fishing rod in my hands. The string swinging just above my feet.

“I don't know how to fish.” I said in shame.

Henry looked concerned and said: “Your father never taught you? How is that even possible? Any father worth his salt teaches his son how to fish!”

Those words brought back the flashes of my father begging for his life. Almost like a sting, my eyes clenched and a tear rolled down my cheek. I could not contain my regret.

Frantically Henry began to retract his statement: “ Sorry, I didn't mean it like that! I should have not been so insensitive. It's one of my many faults.”

Henry turned to the lake and cast his line. “I could always teach you?” He said in a comforting manner.

I sat down next to him with my head held low. It's not your fault Henry, I wanted to say aloud.

I felt the guilt swelling in my throat: “Mr. Henry… I did something really awful. Something I don't think I will ever be able to fix.”

What have I done!?

I just confessed. How weak-willed am I? I need to think of something that can divert what I have said!

Before I could open my mouth Henry began to tell a tale: ‘’My boy, would you believe me if I told you when I was a young man, I was not only a singer but a merchant as well? Not hard to believe with my amazing vocabulary right? Well, you see I started out selling miracle potions made from the finest river water and mixed with blueberry juice. Don't get me wrong… it took days to get the color just right. A miracle in itself! The sapphire liquid brought people from far and wide to purchase my product. A potion that could cure any disease and fix any wound. With my newfound wealth, I was able to even hire actors to play the part. They would pretend to be cripple and by drinking my potion they could miraculously walk or talk or feel their limbs again. Hell in some cases they could even fly!

It was all smooth sailing until one fateful day. A young woman brought her newborn baby to my stand. You see, her baby was born without arms or legs. A disability that made the father renounce the girl. The mother on the other hand cared deeply for the child and decided to leave the father for his shallowness. That's when she heard about the sapphire potion. The thought of her child being able to live a normal life drove that woman to travel months across the kingdom to reach me. At which point she raised a single gold coin and begged: "Please, whatever it costs. Give my baby the life she deserves.’’

The baby was crying and the whole crowd was staring at us. I couldn't back out now. Money is money after all. I took the gold coin and gave her the bottle. She then blended back into the crowd and my day carried on as normal. Three days later she returned and told me she was seeing results but she needed more. I then took another coin from her and gave yet another bottle. I didn't think much of it. Just another delusional sucker. Then two days later she came again. Her face was pale and the baby no longer cried. She gave the same story and I took the coin against my better judgment…

She never returned after that. I thought she woke up and realized my miracle cure was a sham. The truth was much worse. I found out the woman and her baby ended up dying of starvation. All the money she had was spent on my potions. You see my boy, my greed killed them both. If I had just told her the truth or given it to her for free… “ Henry became quiet, staring at the water.

After a few moments he spoke again: "Finding out what I had done broke me. I couldn't sell my potions anymore. I couldn't live with what I had done. I gave away everything I had to an orphanage then became a hermit.

Years I traveled trying to find a way to forgive myself, until one day I stumbled upon a small village in the middle of nowhere. There was a young woman there that saw past my faults and made me want to put down some roots. We got married and were expecting a child.

She ended up dying giving birth to a beautiful baby girl. Anna… Maybe it was my punishment for what I had done? And maybe I even deserved it. In the end, I vowed to teach Anna to be better than I ever was. To be light that will unravel the shadows I had left behind."

Henry paused again for some time. I could see the sadness he was trying to push back. "I see that woman's desperate face every night when I go to bed. The only way I can get any sleep is the thought of all the good it has caused. It was only because of their suffering that I realized the path I was on. I would have still been a con man who only worried about filling his pockets."

I stared at the grass below my feet." Thank you." I said as the tears fell from my face. Maybe he is right. Maybe there was some hope. Maybe one day I could have a normal life and this would all be a distant memory.

Henry started to pull on his fishing rod. "Get the net! This is a beast! Is that you, my ring-tail!" He shouted while battling.

When he finally pulled the line out of the water, a fish the size of my thumb was dangling from it. I could see the surprise on Henry's face. After only a moment of silence, both he and I broke out in laughter.

"I am surprised my line could hold such a monstrosity." Henry said through his cackling.

It was as if a long-forgotten emotion had found its way back within me. I couldn't even remember the last time I had laughed this deep into my stomach.

Henry then opened the side pockets of the bag: “My fish basket is light and strong but it's nice to have some luxury every now and again”. Henry said as he was taking out balls of paste.

“Anna packed these for us. They are the most delicious rice balls you will ever eat.” Henry said as he handed me one. “Anna was very distraught last night seeing you hold your nose while eating her vegetables. She spends hours in her garden trying to perfect her growing techniques’’

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I put my head down as I couldn't think of an excuse.

Henry laughed and then whispered while looking as if someone was eavesdropping: ”Can I tell you a secret. I am also not a big fan of vegetables.”

I smiled as he made me feel at ease. Eating the rice ball, I was saddened as I was unable to enjoy Anna’s efforts. The same rotten taste as the vegetables loomed over the rice ball. This time however I forced myself to eat it normally as my way of showing appreciation.

The rest of the day was peaceful. Henry taught me how to cast a line. I caught plenty of grass, but it didn't discourage me. I kept at it. Each throw was better than the last. As the day was coming to end, a weight tugged on the end of my rod. A fish!

Henry got up and guided me:" Don't rush it. Let it come to you."

I did my best to follow his instructions as I didn't want to lose my first catch. With one last tug, its head broke the surface and hung on the very edge of my line. It wasn't very large but it was mine.

Henry helped me get the fish off the line and it signaled the end of the day. The sun was starting to go down. We packed up, grabbing the bag filled with fish. We then accented the mountain pass again, making our way back.

On our way, Henry began to hum a melody I had not heard before as he walked behind me. It seemed a bit more of a lullaby than a song as it reminded me of my mother. She would always comfort me in this way. Allowing me to focus on her voice, I always calmed down then fell into a deep slumber. I wonder if Henry did the same for Anna? Maybe this was her Lullaby he is humming? Or maybe I'm just overthinking and Henry was just humming an old tune.

I realized I was so deep in thought, as I was staring extremely deeply at the ground. I raise my gaze to the horizon only to notice something odd. The sun was no longer glaring at me... I no longer needed to squint as I did most of the day. Wait! How low is the sun? I looked around to find the sun almost gone. We need to hurry. The village was still far to go and if I could see without strain then maybe the Abyssal could do the same?

Regardless, I turned around to face Henry: “We need to move. The sun is low and the village far.”

Henry looked in the direction of the last bit of light left in the sky and said: “I lost track of time! You are right my boy! Anna is going to scold us. Go ahead, I will be right behind you. I might be old but running is still something I can do.”

I began to give a light jog so as not to leave Henry behind as he was still carrying the bag with the fish on his back. As we ran I kept looking back to make sure he was still behind me. He seemed to keep up but I could hear his breaths starting to get harder as time went by.

After 10 minutes of jogging, Henry’s age began to set in. He was falling more and more behind until he came to a full stop. I turned back to see him holding his knees and gasping for air.

I ran back grabbing the straps on the bag on his back and said desperately. “I can carry the bag. The sun has completely gone down. We can't stop here.”

Henry under his absent breath exclaimed: “Go! I will catch up. Get to the village. I just need a few seconds to rest.”

I then heard the sound of a rustling bush emanating behind him. A low snarl… A small shriek. And then it crawled out of the dense foliage.

A beast a bit larger than myself, crouched and ready to strike. I could see by the way it was moving, it was extremely fast. It had large sharp teeth but no lips to cover them. Large black eyes, which were fixated on us. Its large sharp claws were pegged into the ground, prepared to pounce. On the right side of its chest was the same blackened mark as mine. But what I feared the most was the stinger it was swinging back and forth behind its back.

Was this the Khubaza?

Velvart Khubaza [https://i.imgur.com/oVEejzn.jpg]

I knew in an instant we didn't stand a chance. Like prey seeing a lion, every fiber of my being begged me to run. Henry swung around as he noticed my face filling with fear.

As soon as he realized what stood before him, he moved himself between me and the beast then yelled: “Run! I will hold it back as long as I can!”

The beast reacted to Henry’s frantic shout and leapt towards him, claws extended. My heart started beating out of my chest. I could feel my veins fill with blood, to the point of bursting.

And then…

Everything seemed to slow down to almost a standstill. What is this feeling? Was this my reflexes reacting to danger? The beast was stuck mid-air, slowly closing the gap. Henry was completely unmoving and I felt extremely heavy. Almost as if my body was still constrained by time. My claws were slowly forming. A process that I never thought I would see in such detail. The nail twisting to form a sharp point, then elongates.

My thoughts however, seemed unhindered. Should I run? I could… But then Henry would die protecting me? Is that really what I wanted? For a man that showed me such kindness to get ripped apart right in front of me. How would I tell Anna? Worse... How would I live with myself? Knowing I could have done something and chose not to. No! I will no longer sit by and watch! I will save him! No matter the cost.

I started to squeeze every muscle in my body past its limits. The immense pressure in my veins was now tenfold. I could see the blood vessels under the skin of my arm erupting. Each pop a sting, like fire burning the skin. Push! Push past the pain, past the doubt. Use every last drop of strength you have and save him! I launched my body past Henry to intercept the Khubaza whose claws were about to rend flesh. If it wasn't for the large distance the creature had to leap, Henry would have already been dead.

My shoulder slammed into its ribs, stopping it in its tracks. It was surprisingly lightweight. A factor I had not considered as my body's momentum flung us off the side of the mountain. With my shoulder still wedged into the Khubaza's ribs, it grabbed onto me as we started to fall.

I knew it was trying to use me as a means of breaking the impact by placing my body between it and the ground. It was smart enough to know what would come next would not be pleasant. Unable to break its hold, my body crashed into the boulders below. The crushing force knocked the wind out of my lungs and gave the beast a chance to sink its claws deep into my stomach. The piercing pain forced me to scream, but no sound escaped my mouth.

It felt like I was trapped underwater fighting just to pull air back into my lungs. To my despair, the fall was far from over as we only hit the first cliff edge. Then came the second impact, which violently flung the Khubaza in the opposite direction of me. It could not keep its grip as my flesh tore and parted from its claws, leaving gaping trenches in my body.

After that was an eternity of crashing and slamming into each rock on the way down. I could feel my bones breaking with each strike. My lungs were still empty, I kept gasping, trying to douse the fire in my lungs. I could also hear the Khubaza receiving the same punishment right next to me. We seemed to be falling in tandem but its body was not as robust as mine. I could see flashes of its bones shattering and limbs being bent in unnatural positions.

This battle was to be settled on who could sustain the most damage. I kept trying to grab my head to avoid whiplash but it was inevitable. The rocks gave way and for a split second, I could see the base of the mountain. This last one is going to hurt… Hitting the ground head first, my body spread itself onto the surface. As I laid flat on my stomach pool of my own blood, I kept forcing myself not to lose consciousness. Where is it!? Where is the khubaza’s body? My neck was unresponsive. In a panic, I swiveled my eyes to try and find it.

There! Its condition looked far bleaker than mine. Its body was completely destroyed. Its limbs broke backward to the point where I could see the bones protruding from the skin. It would be in no shape to attack me. Then as if it could hear my thoughts, its arm popped itself back into place. The sound made the hair on the back of my arms stand up. It's regenerating!?

How is this even possible? With each twitch of its body, a bone moves back into place. At this rate, it will be back on its legs in a matter of minutes! I need to strike now! I shrugged trying to get my body off the ground. With a large grunt, I was only able to muster a few inches before falling back down. I could hear the dislocated bones moving inside my chest. Is this how I would die? Laying here helplessly while that thing gets back up to eat me, alive. I won't ever be able to fix what I have done or see my mother again. At Least I saved Henry, and Anna still gets to have her father. The thought eased my mind.

Then...

A voice shouted from afar: “Alucard!” Panic and heavy breathing fueled its emotion.

Is that Henry? I could hear his footsteps, running down the pathways of the mountain. No! If you try to save me now we both will get killed. My sacrifice would have been for nothing. I tried to shout: “Get away!”, but my voice was too weak to travel the distance.

Closer and closer the footsteps became. My mind was racing. No no no no! Stop! Please stop! Get away from here! Please! I could now see Henry out of the corner of my eye. He looked bewildered and was throwing caution to the wind. The khubaza took note of his arrival by laying absolutely still, all the while moving its tail in position to strike him in the back.

Not Again!

USELESS!

That familiar feeling…

NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOO!

My body got up and moved on its own as the khubaza struck. I was like a shield as the stinger went through me. My one hand pushed Henry back, knocking him to the ground. A beastly roar parted from my lips in response to the pain.

My joints started to give way as the poison spread through my veins. I need to finish this before I am paralyzed! My claws extended, I jammed them as hard as I could right under the creature’s infernal mark into its chest. Its beating heart pulsing around my fingers, I squeezed then ripped the entire area out of its body. The beast grew limp then ceased to move.

I did it!

My legs buckled and I fell on my knees. My arms hanging on my sides, I turned my head to Henry to make sure he was okay. He seemed to have fallen onto his rear, but he was fine, except for the astonished look on his face.

The loss of blood from my gaping wounds started to take its toll as my vision blurred and then.

Nothing...