Ray fell on his knees, gripping his disember arms, trying to stop the blood, while screaming at Vincent. While his mark faded from his body. “Wha, what the hell is wrong with-!”
Vincent smack Ray across the face. “Focus your energy, do not lose it, use the pain to help you, I don’t even want to hear your complaints, now do it.”
Ray stared at Vincent with hate in his eyes, the pain coming from his hand was overcrowding his mind. He looked at the part that used to be his hand, now completely dead on the ground, his hand, still oozing blood.
{Dammit, it hurts, it hurts. Deep breaths, deep breaths, I can do this, this is only part of the training.}
Ray slowly stood up, his right hand letting go of his now disember hand, using his anger to keep his energy output going, he ignored the pain, and stared at Vincent.
“Hmm, took you long enough. Now then, you will get used to this, to be able to call forth your mark, even if you get dismember from your hand.
“How am I supposed to do that? I can barely summon the energy to cover my body as it is.” Ray complained.
“Like I said, do the same, as you were when Viola was teaching you, this is almost the same practice. Now I’ll be back. I have to be somewhere in the meantime, don’t come back up, until you can ignore the pain, and cover your body with your energy.”
“Wait, wait! How am I going to explain this?” Ray waved his arm, which was covered in blood.
“Don’t you remember I told the knights we are going to be busy for a couple of days, besides you are a hybrid, it’ll grow back, and I should mention, every day I am going to cut off your hand about a couple inches, so you’ll have a better feel of it” Vincent said as he left the room.
“But why am I doing this kind of training?”
“When you eventually fight Sierra, or any blessed knight, they are going to aim from where your mark first appear, cutting off the part where a hybrid was turn can be an advantage for knights, that why you need to get used to it, in case Sierra, or any blessed managed to cut off your left arm.”
“But what about the others, like Eda, she was turn in the neck, she won’t be able to go through this kind of training.”
“Your master didn’t have a choice, Your sister won’t be able to go through this kind of training, if someone does manage to cut her neck she won’t have to worry about it anymore since she will die.”
“No she won’t!”
Vincent sighed, and left the room.
{I have to get this right, damn it still hurts.}
Ray looked at the stump that his hand used to be his hand, there was still blood coming out of the wound, some black blood can be seen coming from it. Ray kept doing deep breaths.
{Alright again, the faster I master this, the faster I can complete the mission, just focus and expand your mark.}
***
Vincent walked out of the house, and started making his way towards Viola house, he paid no mind towards the villager, and the knights he passed. Soon he arrived at Viola's house, he knocked on the wooden door, and heard Viola's voice inviting him in. He walked through the door, and went into the living where Viola was waiting for him.
“I’m sure you know why I am here.” Vincent said, as he took a seat.
“Because of Rita.”
“Why do you take her side in the matter? I am sure my reasoning is not outrageous, I simply want her to live a happy life, like when we were together.”
“Vincent, she does love you, but she will always follow my master, despite the things the two of you have gone through, my master will always come first in her life.”
“That is going to eventually get her killed.” Vincent stated.
“It might, but at the end of the day she is the one who is making that choice, you know well as I my master would let her leave, but she won’t.”
“Because she wants to protect your master.” Vincent said.
“You both have valid reasons for wanting to stay or leave, but you need to respect the choice she made. The reason she didn’t want to talk to you about it, is because she knew you wouldn't take it well.”
“Alright that is enough about Rita, we need to discuss what you did with him, you had no business including him in your mess.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
“I… I just wanted to make sure he would be ok, I was worried about what you were going to make him do, when you found the letter Rita left you.”
“No, you know I wouldn’t have involved him with that, and plus why didn’t you want to be there when I gave him the training.”
“I care ok! In a way he reminds me of what I lost, I can’t help it, time and time again whenever I meet someone like him, I can’t help but be reminded of what I fail to protect.”
“It would be best if I send you on your way, I don’t want you getting in the way of the flesh-blood mission.”
“I’m not stupid Vincent, I won’t make the same mistake as I did in the past.”
“I hope so, Viola, because if you do, well you know the kind of mission they give out when someone of your strength steps out of line, out of all the hybrids that have done it, only one has made it back alive, and got forgiven. I doubt you’ll survive that.”
“I won’t risk my chance of becoming a lead.” Viola said.
“Good, you should not risk your chance for someone you barely met just two months ago.”
“... I know, I’ll keep working on it, I keep trying to do what you told me, but I just can’t, no matter what I tell myself I just can’t.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Well when you lose as many people as I have, you get used to it, I told you to imagine them as a nobody, somebody who you won’t acknowledge. Somebody who only purpose is to eventually leave.”
“I don’t know.” Viola mumbled.
“Well then, besides that since you are staying, this is something I will have you do, when fresh-blood eventually starts his mission, you will be the one to supervise him.”
“What!”
“You will watch him, until he completes his mission, you will not interfere at all, if he is going to die, then you will make sure he dies without saying anything about us, do you understand?”
“...Ok, but what will you be doing in the meantime?”
“I’m surprised you took it without complaints.” Vincent said.
“I told you I will accept my punishment, I make sure not to interfere until he completes his mission.”
“Good, then to your previous question, I will be in the village, when the bells eventually start ringing, and help out the villagers. The knights will first be busy with fresh-blood. I plan to use the first few minutes to get as many villagers safe.”
“Do you think he will be able to kill Sierra?” Viola said.
“Hmmm, most likely. I really didn’t get the sense that Sierra was strong, but the way his training is going he should be able to overpower her.”
“Yeah, the only thing that worries me is him wasting his energy on the regular knights, that's how most of the new hybrids die.” Viola said.
“Well, he has three more weeks until he faces her, that’s if he decides to do it by then, he has plenty of time to master the training I’m giving him.”
“Right, three more weeks, and both our time here comes to an end.”
“Yes, that is correct. Even if he fails, there'll be much work to do in the village, I still have time before I am needed for anything.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how far are we into the plans?”
“Well I can’t tell you much, but we have less than two or three years before we begin our first attack, in which you know your master elder Doris would lead the charge.” Vincent said.
“Less than two or three years, do you know if you are going to be involved in it?”
“No, if everything goes as planned I will be going against the knights in Aetom, besides that there isn’t much more I can tell you, well when you become a lead, elder Doris will most likely tell you everything.”
“Do you think we stand a chance?”
“None of us would be doing this, if we didn’t believe in the elders. Granted I do want to leave, and live my own life, but only with Rita, so the faster we do this, the faster I can convince her.”
“You are not going to let it go will you?” Viola asked.
“Of course not, when I see her again I will talk to her again about my offer, if she declines then I will stay by her side, and make sure she survives.”
“If you say so, do you plan on staying longer, I can make some food in case you are hungry?” Viola asked.
“No, I only came to talk to you, I’ll be on my way, I need to stop by some of my stores to make sure to know what they are planning to do.”
“You really think some of them are going to leave the village.”
“Of course, what better protection is there, than the holy cities, which are filled with knights.”
“That is only going to get them killed in the long run.” Viola sighed.
“Depends on which city they go to, if they managed to go to Aevum, then yes, most likely most of them will die, knowing elder Samuel, who knows what his plans are. Well then, be sure to come over in a couple of days, when he masters the training, I’m going to have him fight you, to be sure he can manage in case his mark gets cut off during a fight.”
“Ok, I will visit in a few days. Until then take care of yourselves.”
***
In the church of Alton, a meeting took place. The people who attended were Sierra, Stevan, Brandon, and Roger.
“Alright let's get started, I brought you all here, because of the recent news we got, from the nearby village, and we need to discuss what we are going to do regarding our constant patrols, and we are having villagers leaving the village and heading towards one of the holy cities. Unfortunately we can’t offer anything more than basic direction.” Sierra said.
“Despite all the help we can offer, they still do nothing but complain about the things we have no control over.” Stevan said.
“Now, now deacon Stevan, they are only worried about their safety, this place that has never seen any serious crime, has now two violent murders. It would cause anyone to be anxious.” Brandon said.
“Yes, it is as you say, Brandon. This is worrisome for the villagers, especially because we can’t find any trace of the hybrid who did those murders.”
“Going by how they were killed, and left no tracks, the hybrid must be someone who knows what they are doing, who knows how far they can call upon their mark at will, I don’t why that hybrid killed those men.” Sierra said.
“They are hybrids, since when do they need a reason to go on a killing spree, they kill anyone they want without remorse.” Stevan said.
“I agree with Stevan, not every hybrid needs a reason to kill Miss Sierra, most of them are like that.” Brandon said.
“I know, I know, I was being too foolish, whatever the case we need to be more careful of the woods. I wish the villagers would take my advice having some of the knights accompany them, but they are too stubborn.” Sierra said.
“If there is another death, Vincent is going to blame us for it.” Roger said.
“We have to be in Vincent's good graces, if we anger him, it won’t take him long to have the villagers behind him, and get us kicked out.” Brandon said.
“Yes, I remembered what you told me about how he almost had all of you kicked out of the village for the little accident that happened.” Sierra mentioned.
“I’m telling you-.”
“I don’t want to hear it Stevan, it already happened, no use complaining about it. Now, putting aside Vincent, do any of you have anything to report.” Sierra said.
“Well Miss Sierra, I am already hearing rumors about the murders of the two men being blamed on us. Since they happen the day after you arrived they are going to resent us being here.” Roger said.
“Yes, that is why we have to try our best to avoid another death, I want to keep some knights station at the entrance in the woods, we should be able to convince anyone that goes through to let us make sure they come back safely, if someone is taking longer than expected then the knight will go and investigate, that what I have come up with, any other suggestion?” Sierra said.
“I agree with it, we should have at least two station there at all times, we should let the villagers know when we hold the meeting if they see both knights missing they shouldn’t be going in the woods, of course we can’t force them, but hopefully they listen to our reasons” Brandon said.
“Ok, now then for the next subject, Roger, the reason I called you here is because this concerns your home village Aris.”
“What of it!?” Roger said, with a worried look on his face.
“We got word that knights are being killed there, there have already been ten deaths, the knight in charge there is like me, blessed.”
“What are we going to do?” Roger said.
“I can’t do anything, we can’t afford to send any help to them, the reason I am telling you is because you are the only knight who came from there, and all the help you have done. I will allow you to choose what you want to do.” Sierra said.
“Miss Sierra?”
“I will allow you to go, but if you do decide to leave, this will be the end of your job as a knight, you will never come back from this, understand.” Sierra said.
“I understand.”
“So what will you do?”
Roger looked at Brandon, for reassurance, but Brandon only nodded his head, not giving him the answer he wanted.
“I will stay, I will believe in the knights that are there, plus the only thing I have back in my village is my mother, but she lives outside of the village, she shouldn’t be in danger, even if the village gets targeted.”
“Very well, that is all you need to know, what I need you to do is get a group of knights that we will use to be stationed at the forest, let me know when you pick them out.” Sierra said.
Roger nodded his head, and left the room, now it was only the three of them left.
“Now then, this is my plan in case a hybrid decides to attack the village. Be sure to listen closely to Stevan, and Brandon.”