The man and Ray travel for half a day, before Ray slips on the ground, his leg finally giving out.

The man stopped, landing on top of a rock and looking at Ray, he was smirking. “Having trouble keeping up fresh-blood?”

“I’m fine, and I’m not fresh-blood, my name’s Ray Friede.”

“It’s alright, I like calling you fresh-blood, when I feel like calling you by your name, you’ll know.” The man said, as he dropped down from the rock, and walked towards Ray.

{Really Master? This is who is supposed to be helping me?} “Where are we even going?” Ray told the man, through shallow breaths, he forced himself back up on his feet.

“We are heading towards my village, going by you speed, it should take us about four days to get there. It’s a good thing I left two days ago, otherwise the knights will start to get suspicious. Come on, I left a bag of supplies nearby. Once we get them we’ll rest.”

Ray force himself to travel. Ray was struggling to keep up. Soon enough the man told him to stop and they landed on top of a tree. Ray saw a green, and brown bag leaning against the tree they landed on. The man grabbed it, and jumped back down to the ground, he started pulling things out of the bag. Ray jumped down to join him, as he landed he fell to his knees.

The man set up a sleeping bag, and started setting up a tent. Ray wanted to help but the man told him to stay put. After he was done setting everything up, he stood up and looked at Ray. “Alright get some rest, I’ll take the first watch.”

“Are you sure?” Ray asked.

“Hurry up, you got six hours before I wake you, better get to it.”

“Thank you… Um, sorry I didn’t get your name?” Ray asked, hoping it wasn’t rude he had been this long without asking him for his name.

“It’s Vincent, now get some rest, we'll talk when you wake up.”

Ray nodded and headed inside the tent. When he entered it, he looked back at Vincent. “Shouldn’t I shower, or change clothes?”

“It's fine, I have another sleeping bag, I will throw that one away when you are done, just go to sleep already.”

Ray went inside the tent, he instantly slumped down on the sleeping bag, he felt his eyes getting heavy. He took a breath of relief, before he finally fell asleep.

***

Ray woke up with a jolt, he checked his surroundings, he was still inside the tent. Ray calmed himself. He smelled smoke coming from outside the tent. Ray got up, and headed out the tent. When he opened it he saw a campfire was made.

“Hello?... Vincent, are you here?” Ray called out. Ray looked around but he couldn’t see Vincent anywhere. Ray noticed it was already nighttime, he fell asleep for more than six hours.

{Did he go somewhere? I’ll get some kindling in the meantime, who knows holng we will be here.}

Ray went around the area, and gathered as much as he could, as he went back to the campfire he set down, grabbing some and putting it on the fire. Ray sat down and started poking at the fire, making sure it didn’t go out.

Ray checks his surroundings. He noticed the trees were different from the one back in Aldlake. They were Sycamore trees. They surrounded the area he was in. Everywhere he looked was nothing but the trees, and the darkness. Ray could hear the faint sounds of the birds, and the tumbling of leaves. Then he heard a voice coming from behind him.

“Hey, you’re finally awake.”

Ray turned around, and saw Vincent carrying a few rabbits.

“Uh, yeah. Sorry for sleeping in for so long.” Ray apologized.

Vincent prepared the rabbits, as he put them on sticks over the fire, he sat down next to Ray. “Don’t worry about it. I could see you were exhausted, a lot happened after all.”

“Yes… A lot.”

“Well we got time. Tell me exactly everything that happened.” Vincent said.

Ray was anxious, but he told Vincent what happened. His encounter with the knight James, how he left him on top of the mountain. How he killed the twenty knights, how he failed Charles.

After Ray was done explaining, Vincent took a moment to think about it, before he finally spoke out. “What were you thinking about allowing that knight to live?” Vincent asked Ray, in a calm but angry voice.

“I…I wasn’t ready to take a life, because of that Charles died because of me.” Ray bitterly said.

“Your right, if you would have killed him, and headed back towards the cottage, you would have prevented Charles' death, he would still be alive right now.”

The words coming out of Vincent's mouth stung him, Ray knew it was true, he could have prevented Charles' death, if he wasn’t so weak. “I’m sorry for not letting you know, before we left the area.”

“It’s fine, he was just a weakling to me. But the knight would have probably awakened when I found you. You were most likely spotted by someone else when you fought James. When you beat him, did you check the surroundings?”

“No, I was panicking, I didn’t remember to do that.” Ray confessed.

“Well James should have been the only blessed knight, otherwise the person who watched you would have interfered in the fight, or at least tried to stop you when you took James to the top of the mountain.”

“Why did they kill Charles? He was human?” Ray angrily said.

Vincent sighed before answering Ray. “The knights have a strict code now, when it comes to hybrids, anyone who is seen helping them is considered an enemy of the church. Since they can’t identify hybrids, this is their best option.” Vincent revealed.

“They could have checked his blood!”

“They could have, but it wouldn’t matter to them, a hybrid only produces black blood during their early days, or when they used their mark, beside those a hybrid can blend in a normal village.”

“Right.” Ray said, thinking back to his master words.

“You need to make sure to never make that same mistake again. Letting someone live who knows you are a hybrid. Since James saw your face, you’ll have to be more careful from now on.”

“Yeah, I understand. I need to learn from this, so it won’t happen again.”

“Well I already have the letter for your master, for when we get to the village, we will head to the entrance, a couple miles from the entrance there should be some horses we will ride, we will make it look like we came from a different direction. Once we officially settle down, I will train you until you can fully get your mark to appear at will.” Vincent said.

Stolen novel; please report.

Ray looked at his palm, where his mark manifested. He felt a slight burning sensation coming from it. “Do you know why we get marks?”

“Well not really, there are theories, but Rita has never been able to proved them.” Vincent stated.

“Rita?” Ray repeated.

“Nevermind that, as I was saying, one popular theory is that since the blessed knights get their marks to represent their god Sez, we hybrids must be the same.” Vincent said.

“So we represent a different god?” Ray asked, he was confused.

“Well it’s a theory, so take it with a grain of salt. I know someone who is doing research on it, but there are obvious obstacles. She wants to find out how we came to be. But there really isn’t any information on that kind of thing, the earliest we know of a hybrid being recorded is during the fall of the first pillar almost four hundred years ago.” Vincent explained.

“Right, the church blames you guys for that.” Ray said.

“....You guys?” Vincent repeated.

“Oh! I mean hybrids.” Ray quickly corrected himself.

“Right, well here hoping she is able to find her answers. She is always busy with that, while I get these kinds of missions.”

“Is there a reason my master told you to train me?” Ray asked.

“Not really, I was the one that was available, I already had most things under control. So I asked them if there was something I could do to pass the time. Your master sent me to you. Of course there is another reason, but you are still too weak to completely learn about us, just know she chose me because she knows I get the job done.” Vincent claimed.

“Wait, so is my master, your master too?” Ray asked.

“No.”

“Then she is above you, because it’s like she is ordering you.” Ray said.

“That's enough for now, once you prove your strength I will tell you some things, but until then work on getting stronger, that’s the only way you’ll survive.”

“Oh, well is there anything you can tell me?” Ray asked.

“You asked a lot of questions.” Vincent stated.

Ray shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just curious.”

“Well you can wait, the food is almost done, once I’m done eating, I’m going to rest, after that we will head to my village.”

“Ok.”

***

February 05, 1410

After three days of nonstop running they finally arrived at Alton village. They both stop on top of some trees overlooking the village.

“Well, we are finally here, Alton village.” Vincent proudly stated.

The village was surrounded by a wall of wood, there were three bells spread across the village to warn of danger, in the middle of the town was a church. The village seems to be cut in two sections, the left side was made mostly of shops, parks, while the right side was filled with wooden houses. A mile away from the village was a mansion.

“The mansion that you see over there, belongs to me.” Vincent said, as he pointed at the mansion Ray was just looking at.

The mansion was a two-story house, made of blue bricks.

“Come on, we still have to get to the horses, we can’t be seen walking into the village. Good thing it’s already night time, less people will ask questions about you.” Vincent said.

“Wait, so what are you going to be telling people about me?” Ray asked.

“Don’t worry, for now I’ll just say you were an orphan that helped me, in a time of need, and to pay you back, I decided to raise you, or something like that. We’ll work out the details later.”

“Will the villagers believe that?”

Vincent let out a laugh. “They will believe almost anything I say, now come on, I want to get home already.”

They went around the village, making sure not to be spotted, Ray could see some knights walking around the wooden fence that surrounded the village, but none of them could spot them.

They passed the village, and traveled a few meters away, before they headed towards the trees, until they reached a clearing where a horse was waiting. He seems to be sleeping next to a campfire.

The horse woke up to the noise they were making. It was a black horse, it already had its saddle on it. Vincent calmly walked up to it, and started petting it. “You’re alright, boy,” the horse snuzzle back at him.

“That’s your horse?” Ray asked.

“Yes, Ali, the finest one in the village, alright come on, hop on.” Vincent said, as he mounted the horse, and got near Ray, holding out his hand. Ray took it and got behind Vincent. Ray was unsure it was his first time riding a horse. “Just put your hands on my shoulders, it's going to be a short ride.”

The horse started picking up speed, and started a full on sprint. They soon reach the path that leads towards Arc village. Ray felt the wind on his face, he was enjoying it, after ten minutes the village entrance came into view. There was a knight who seemed to be on guard duty. Vincent slowed down Ali, and waved at the knight.

“Mr. Drew, you're back.” The knight said.

“Yes, while I wished I could stay and talk, I need to be on my way home, it’s already late, and I wished to sleep on my bed.” Vincent told the knight.

“Of course Sir, is this your guest?”

“Yes, now if you’ll excuse me.” Vincent motioned his horse to move, before the knight could ask any more questions. Ray could feel the knight's eyes on him, but ignored it, and looked forward.

They travel through the shopping district which most of them were closed, the ones that were open, greeted Vincent. It took them almost twenty minutes until they finally reached the other exit of the church that led to Vincent mansion.

Vincent mansion was the only house in the path, Ray looked around, and it was an empty field, with a couple of bushes around Vincent home. Ray wondered why he live so far from the village. They finally arrived at the house, Vincent tied his horse.

“Come on, I’ll show you in quick, before I put Ali away.”

“Do you live with anyone?” Ray asked.

Vincent looked uncomfortable for a second. “No, come on in.” Vincent said, as he open the door.

The mansion was dark, Vincent took out something from his pocket, it was matches. Vincent lit one up, he grabbed a torch that was in front of them, he lit it up. Vincent went to what seemed to be the living, and threw another match into the fireplace. Slowly the flames lit up the house.

“Here, go light up the others. I’ll go upstairs,” Vincent said, as he held out some matches for Ray.

Ray took the matches and headed towards the other rooms. Ray grabbed a torch that was hanging on the living room wall and lit it up. Lighting up the room as he passed them by, the kitchen, the dining room with a metal table covered with a white sheet, then the hallways, and he went to another room, which was pitch black. Ray waved the torch; It was a room filled with books. In the middle of the room were two leather chairs, and a table between them. It was a small library. There were open books on the table, and in the chair.

Ray lit up the room, when Vincent came in.

“Oh, hey just finished up here.” Ray said.

“Yeah, sorry for the mess, I’m surprised they are still here.”

“These aren’t your books?” Ray asked.

“No, I’m holding on to them for… a friend, I'll pick them up in a bit, follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”

As Ray followed Vincent, he went over the mansion. Painting covered the walls, there was luxurious furniture. Ray also spotted a pathway leading towards downstairs, he didn’t notice before.

“Are you wealthy?” Ray asked.

“Yes, I own most of the shops in the village, but I'll tell you the rest tomorrow, let's rest up for now, I still have to go back to Ali.” Vincent reminded him, as they climbed the stairs. “Ok the room at the end of the hallway is yours, the room next to it is mine, you can freely go anywhere in the house, just not my room, alright.” Vincent said.

“Ok.” Ray answered.

“Well, there should be some clothes in the room, I’m not sure if they fit you though tomorrow we go get you some clothes that fit, in the meantime take a bath, and head to bed. Tomorrow we will go to the village.”

“Ok.”

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, goodnight fresh-blood.”

“Goodnight Vincent.” Ray went to the door, and entered his room. The room was bigger than any he had before, a bed laid next to the window, there was a desk in the corner, the closet was open, and a few clothes were hanging. Ray quickly picked one out, and took a bath. After being done, he laid on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

{Wow, so this must be how the rich lived, even Charles…} Ray's hand touches his neck. {I couldn’t even get a gift from him… It doesn't matter anymore, at least Eda has hers. Hopefully she is still doing ok.}

After a couple of minutes, Ray finally went to sleep.