March 11, 1410

After a month of releasing his energy Ray finally managed to summon his mark at will. He inspected the back of his hand, the black line telling him his true nature. The line went from the palm of his hand to passing his wrist.

“With how far your mark is, you will be about seven percent, you only have twenty-three percent left. How do you feel?” Vincent said.

“Full of energy, my left hand where my mark is, is like I don’t know tingling.”

“Yeah, you get used to it, but congrats you finally become an official hybrid. You are one of us, we should celebrate, right Viola?”

“Yes of course, I will go prepared a meal, what would I like for me to hunt Ray?” Viola asked.

“Ray!” Vincent said, snapping Ray back.

“Uh right sorry, actually can I hunt it, I need some fresh air.” Ray told them.

They both look at eachother.

“Sure, Viola, and I, will get the ingredients ready, you go hunt, just make sure not to use your powers alright, you know where the bow, and rope is right?”

“Yeah, I remembered, I’ll go get them, I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Ray told them.

As he left the training room, it was just Viola, and Vincent left. Vincent sighed before he talked to Viola.

“Alright, what is it this time, Viola,”

“Do you think he’s ok, his face changed when you told him he was one of us now, do you think he is still adjusting to that?” Viola said.

“I hope not, he got this far, and if he is still struggling with his identity there is no way he’s going to survive his mission. You know we have to make choices that involve killing innocents.”

“Not everyone can just kill innocents without hesitating.” Viola said.

“That hesitating gets most hybrids killed. You know our end game. What we are planning to do.”

“Still don’t you remember when you were forced to kill your first innocent, how you felt after you killed that person.” Viola said.

“I wasn’t forced, Viola. The innocents that I killed were killed because they got in the way of my mission, I won’t give them the luxury of knocking them out. They should know better than to fight a hybrid with markings. If anything, the ones that do get in my way die quickly so they don’t feel any pain.”

“That's the best we can do for them, anyway when should we start Ray real training?” Viola said.

“Once we know he can regenerate in a few days, he still needs visit the village for some things, the villagers would notice if he hid his hand the whole time and it won’t regenerate after a couple of days, so let's hold off on that for now, come on, let's get the ingredients ready before fresh-blood comes back, I’m already tired today.” Vincent said.

They left the training room, and headed back into the manor. While Ray strapped on the bow, and the quiver, and he left the manor.

Ray went through the woods trying to find any kind of animal, soon enough he found some rabbits. He aimed his arrow and let it go. The arrow pierced the rabbit's belly. The other rabbits ran off startled by the sound. Ray approached his kill and put it on his belt. He kept on hunting while thinking to himself.

{One of us? One. Of. Us. Why do I feel uncomfortable with that? You are a- I am a hybrid, I will kill any knight who faces me. I won’t make the same mistake back in the mountain. Any knight who I fight I have to kill them. The innocents, the innocents don’t matter to me, I will ignore them. The only thing I need to worry about are the knights, no one else.}

Ray kept hunting until he had enough and finally headed back, as he entered the backyard he saw Vincent letting someone into the house, Vincent saw him and waved at him to hurry. Ray picked up his pace. As he reached the mansion, he opened the door, and went into the living room, where Vincent, Viola, and a man with a mask in the living room.

“Hello.” Ray said.

“Ah you must be the young hybrid Ray, You can call me Driscull, I am one of the messengers of the elders, I bring you a letter from your master.”

Driscull wore a gray mask, with two red lines going horizontal, the man was wearing a gray coat, with black clothes. He reminded Ray of Drogo.

“Wait! Before that Ray quickly sets your kills down, and freshens up.” Vincent said.

Ray nodded, he headed to the kitchen to put his kills on the prepared table, and he went to his room to change, after he changed his clothes he headed back where Driscull held out a mail letter towards Ray, Ray grabbed it from his hand.

“Well, those three things were the only things I had to deliver. I hope you are successful in your mission, young hybrid, best of luck. Mister Vincent, will you lead me out the back door?” Drodi said.

“Yeah, sure,” Vincent led him to the back, and finally closed the door. As Vincent headed back into the living he took a seat, while Ray, and Viola stood unsure what to do.

“Open the letters you guys got, read them, then tell what they say, Ray you will go first.” Vincent told Ray.

Ray understood and opened his letter, he silently read it.

Brat, Vincent has told me everything that happened, I also read the news of what you did, though she is saddened Charles is no longer with us, I am relieved you avenged his death. But don’t forget who you are, the knights you killed don't deserve your kindness. Do not make that same mistake again. Use Charles' death as motivation to keep on killing those knights. I will tell Eda what happened,she is currently in the village of Aris. She can also use this for motivation, also speaking of your sister, she already managed to complete two missions without any trouble. I expect the same results from you. This will be your first mission, because of what you did, the church will be sending more blessed knights to the outskirt villages, we could use this to help us train you and the others, soon enough there will be a blessed knight heading to the village where you are staying, She will be the new captain of the knight where you are staying. I don’t know her name, but she is a blessed knight who can fully summon her blessing, she won’t be the same as those knights you killed. You have by the end of the fifteenth of next month to finish this mission, be sure to spend your time wisely, I send a letter to Vincent to watch over this mission, don’t fail your sister.

{My first mission, We are in the tenth of this month, I got a month left. Also don’t fail Eda… I won't. I will survive this. I have to kill that knight, but how am I going to be able to find her?}

Ray looks up to see Viola, and Vincent staring at him.

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“Oh sorry, I got carried away.” Ray told them.

“It’s fine what did your master say?” Vincent said.

“Because of what I did back at Arc Village, the church is going to be sending more knights to the other outskirt villages, including this one. My first mission will be here in this village.”

“Oh? Who is going to be your target?” Viola said.

“Master Senya just told me it was a blessed knight, who has full control over her blessings, but I don't know how I am going to be able to identify her?” Ray answered her.

“That should be easy, most blessed knights are put in charge over regular knights. Since there is no blessed knight in this village at the moment. When she comes she will most likely take over the captain Brandon.” Vincent said.

“What will I do if there is more?” Ray asked.

“Doubt it, if there were more coming to this village, your master would have known about it. She wouldn’t give you a mission, unless she believes you can overcome it.” Vincent said.

“How is she getting this information anyway?” Ray said.

“Sorry but that is a secret, get stronger and you might eventually learn it.” Viola said.

“Not you too.” Ray said.

“Huh?” Viola said.

“Nothing, but there is one thing I don’t understand, why did it take me murdering those knights for the church to send more knights, what about the other hybrids, didn’t they murdered bunch of knights too?”

“No, nothing like you did, the most recent hybrid like you, killed about seven people. Those hybrids who are barely starting their mission have only killed their targets. For new hybrids it’s hard enough to kill their target, so they don’t have the energy to spare for regular knights.” Vincent said.

“What about that knight I spared, he knows me, if he comes to this village, he is going to be able to recognize me.” Ray said

“I don’t think so, most likely the church is going to have him report back in person, losing twenty knights is something the church will most likely punish him for. He will be traveling back as fast as possible, the fastest way doesn’t pass this village, so I doubt he will come here.” Vincent said.

“Ok, I will keep on training, I want to start my mission at the end of the month, give me more time to train.”

“Sounds good, I’ll be sure to train you well.” Viola said, with a smile on her face.

“Count me in as well, it’s been a while since I beat someone.” Vincent said, while stretching his arms.

{I really hope they are not talking about me.} Ray thought to himself.

***

March 14, 1410

After a couple days have passed they finally reach the news that a blessed knight will be arriving in the village tomorrow morning. Ray, and Vincent went over their plan on what to do.

“Alright thanks to the news the captain has spread to relax the village, the blessed knight will come tomorrow, they most likely will give a speech in front of the church. Most of the villagers will be there. Remember how I told you to act.” Vincent told Ray.

“Yes, of course, the only thing I want to do is recognize my target. Do you think we will be able to tell her strength?” Ray asked.

“Hmm, most likely she still has red lines, you wouldn't stand a chance against the other colors, though I won’t be able to tell if she is going to be stronger than you or not. When we see them tomorrow, I will invite myself to the church. They owe me a favor, since I helped them last time. That will give you a chance to wander the church. Try to find the main support pillars of the church, since your mission will be here, I need you to destroy that church.

“Why do you need me to destroy it?” Ray asked.

“I can use the excuse to rebuild it, since it will take a while for items to arrive here, the knights who do survive your mission, will want to rebuild as fast as possible, I will come in and rebuild it for free while in turn they feel indebted to me.” Vincent said.

“Wow ok, how will I be able to wander the church, won’t they be suspicious of me, if I just wander off on my own?” Ray asked.

“I will make up some lie, to not have you in the room, while I talk to the new commander of the knights. She most likely will have one of the knights showed you around, and when you do just keep a track where the church main columns are alright?”

“Ok I understand.” Ray said.

There was knocking on the back door, they heard Viola's voice.

“I’ll go get it.” Ray said, as he walked towards the door, he let Viola in and they went back to where Vincent was.

“Hey, how is the planning going?” Viola asked Vincent.

“It’s going fine, let me run it down by you.” Vincent said.

After explaining what they were planning on doing. Viola nodded her head, as if she approved of this plan.

“Going by all the chatter the villagers were going on about, there is going to be a mob when that knight comes, the villagers are still freaking out about the massacre Ray caused.”

“Sorry again, for the trouble.” Ray said.

“It’s fine, Viola, will you be in the crowd tomorrow.” Vincent said.

“No, I don’t feel like going to that sort of thing.” Viola said.

“Alright then, Ray it looks like it’s going to be us again.”

***

March 15, 1410

The next day, Ray and Vincent got up early, and headed to the village. As they arrived they saw most buildings were empty, there were no people around.

“Do you think they all went to the church?” Ray asked.

“Most likely, let’s pick up the pace.”

They walked faster towards the church, as they got closer, they could hear voices coming from the church. As they turned the corner, there was a group of villagers in front of the church. Two knights were on top of the stairs.

As they approached the crowd, they could hear the villagers talking about the massacre that Ray caused. As they got closer some villagers turned towards Vincent and started asking him questions.

“Mister Vincent, have you heard the church is going to let a blessed knight be staying here to protect us.”

“Do you think we will be safe from that bloody hybrid that killed all those knights?”

“Some villagers are already packing their things to leave to the holy cities”

Vincent raised his hand to quiet the villagers down, before he spoke to them. “We will be fine, first thing first, has there been any mention from the blessed knight that is supposed to come to our village.” Vincent asked them.

“No, the two knights in front of the church are part of the group that just arrive, they told us their captain the blessed knight needs a couple of minutes before addressing us.” the villager said.

“I see, let hope they don’t need too long, I can see the rest of the crowd growing anxious.” Vincent said.

They turned their eyes towards the doors of the church, Ray could still hear some villagers talking about the crimes he had commited, some villagers were worried, others angry that such a thing could happen. Ray started getting uncomfortable, he was breathing hard.

“Knock it off, control yourself.” Vincent whispered to Ray.

Ray controls his breathing, he looks around and nobody seems to have noticed him.

“Sorry.” Ray whispered back.

“Just watch the doors, don’t attract any attention.” Vincent whispered.

After a few minutes have passed the doors finally open, a woman, two knights, and a deacon walked out, and stood in front of the church

The woman was wearing silver armor, over it a long red cloth with the marking of sez in front of her chest, she had blonde hair that reached to her shoulders. She walks to the edge of the stairs and looks at the crowd. She looks over the crowds as if inspecting them one by one.

The two men were knights who stood behind the woman, they wore simple clothing, swords were seen by their sides. Behind them was a deacon, he wore a black garments, his neck had a long scar around it.

Everyone in the crowd was quiet waiting for the new commander of the knight to speak to them.

“Hello everyone, starting today, I will be taking over command of the knights station here. I hope to have everyone's cooperation, you can call me Sierra.” The woman said.

{My target, my target is her, Sierra!} Ray thought to himself.