It had been two hours when Vincent came back to the house. Viola was in the living room, while Ray stayed in his room. Vincent called out Ray. Ray went outside his room, and stood behind the railing, while Viola was still sitting down.

“Fresh-blood!” Vincent said.

“I’m here!” Ray quickly answered.

“I am going to join the search party they are doing, I’ll be back in about three hours, that should be more than enough to satisfied Samantha, I’ll give her the excuse I got work in the morning, and offer her my services for free, I have to be able to take care of her until she’s eventually moves on.” Vincent said.

“Do you want me to tag along?” Viola asked.

“No, you can stay the night if you want to, I need you to wait until I come back.”

“Sure.” Viola said.

“Uh Vincent, did anything happen at the meeting?” Ray asked.

“Yes, quite a bit. I pretended to be furious that we lost Paul, demanded to know what they had been up to. Using that, Brandon was stupid enough to share information on what knights are going to be doing in the next few days. So when you start your mission in a few days, I am going to need you to kill some knights who are going to be patrolling the village.”

“Wait! You said I only have to kill those who attacked me, not those who didn’t do anything to me?” Ray quickly said.

“Well now I am saying you are going to have to kill some knights, I told I can add things to your mission, the rule still apply but I need to you at least kill a couple of knights, not all of them, but enough that they have trouble rebuilding, and they have no choice but to asked me for help.”

“Oh, ok. Who will I know to kill?” Ray said.

“Don’t worry, Brandon, is going to show me their knights patrol, I’ll be sure to mesmerize it, when you head out, and you will be able to get some kills, before anyone notices, and start ringing the bells.” Vincent said.

“Do you need me to do anything right now?” Ray asked.

“No, just stay put, I don't need you to raise any more trouble, until you start your mission, get some rest, your arm should be completely healed by tomorrow.” Vincent said.

Ray looked at his hand, two fingers were missing the top part of it, the rest already grew back. Ray shuddered as he put his hand back in his pocket.

“Ok, be careful.” Ray said.

Vincent turned around, and waved his hand as he left. Viola stood where she was sitting and looked at Ray.

“I’ll be in the study room, you should take Vincen's advice and get some rest.”

“Wait!” Ray said.

“Yeah?” Viola said, confused.

“Just give me a minute. I want to make sure he is gone.” Ray said.

Viola gave him a confused look, Ray opened Vincent door, and went in. He crouches as he approaches the window, and Vincent slowly walks down the sidewalk, carrying a lit lantern. As soon as he was far enough Ray walked out the door, bumping into Viola.

“Ray you are not supposed to be in there, if Vincent finds out he will most likely kill you!” Viola said.

“I know I'm sorry, I couldn’t help myself, but there is something I want to talk to you about, it’s about Vincent.” Ray said.

“.... Go on.”

“I saw a letter, he was worried about you.” Ray said.

“No, that’s enough. I don’t want to hear it.”

“But!”

“No! No, Ray, you should have never gone in the room, forget what you saw, if Vincent is writing about me, and you are saying he’s worried about me, it won’t be something good, I don’t need to hear it.” Viola said.

“Ok.”

“Go to your room, tomorrow is one of your last days to do whatever you want, after tomorrow, you need to decide what day you are going to attack, everything is going to change around here.” Viola said.

“Yeah, that’s what I am afraid of.” Ray said.

Viola put her hand on Ray's head.

“You will survive ok,” Viola said.

Ray remembered Eda words, and said them out loud.

“No matter what, I will survive.”

“Exactly. How about I treat you to whatever you want after you complete your mission.” Viola said.

“Ok.”

***

April 02, 1410

The day before Ray was going to attack the village, Ray went up to Vincent and asked him for a request.

“Vincent.”

“Yes, fresh-blood?”

“Since this is the last day the village will be normal, can I go troll around for a bit, get one last look of it before I eventually destroy some buildings?”

“Why do you need to do that?” Vincent said.

Ray shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, I just feel like doing that.”

“Hmmm, ok. Take a scroll with you, so people won’t be suspicious that you didn’t join the search. If anyone asks you, just say you are running an errand for me, and try not to talk to any knights. The last thing I need is more trouble.” Vincent said.

“Ok, by the way is Viola coming today?”

“No, she joined the search party, in my place, I will join them later, to keep my reputation, you will stay here for the night again.”

“Right, I’ll go get ready, in the meantime.” Ray said, as he went up to his room, and changed, he stopped by the study room, to get a blank roll of paper, and something to write with. He said goodbye as he headed out the door, into the sidewalk.

Ray walked down the path, remembering the first day that he came to the village. As he approached the village entrance he saw two knights standing guard. They nodded their heads recognising who Ray was, and let him in.

As Ray went through the village, it was mostly empty, like the first time he arrived.

{A lot of people must have volunteered to search for Paul.}

Ray passed a couple of stores. Saying hello to the villagers, some who were heading to bed, others getting ready to join the meaningless search party.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

{During the fight should I keep the destruction to a minimum? No, the only thing I should worry about is killing Sierra, and leaving the area as soon as possible.}

Ray decided to visit the house of Paul.

As he approached the house he could hear wailing. As he approached the house, Ray found a teenager at the front of the house. The teenager looks towards Ray, and walks up towards him.

“Hey, you must be Mister Vincent's nephew.” The teenager said, his voice in a rusty voice, his eyes were red, from crying.

The teenager was shorter than Ray, by a couple of inches, he had the same dark hair as Paul, Ray could almost see Paul, in the teenager's face.

“Uh yeah, Ra- Sam!” Ray said, as he pretended to cough.

“My name is Paul, but you can call me Junior.”

“Ok, Junior, I was just running an errand for Vincent, and wanted to see how you guys were doing?” Ray said.

“We will be ok, I think, the others are taking it hard, but since dad is gone, I’m going to have to step up, and take care of them.”

“If you ever need anything I am sure Vincent will help you guys out, after all I… I mean your dad was a great worker for him.”

“I really appreciate it, my mom, and I are really grateful for Vincent's help, he didn’t have to join the search party yesterday, but we are glad he did.”

“Yeah, he’s like that, I’m sorry I couldn’t join.”

“Don’t worry about it. We have plenty of help, who knows we might still find him alive.” Junior said he was hopeful, Ray almost avoided his gaze.

“Paul.” Ray says.

“.... It’s Junior. Ok.”

“Ok, Junior, is your mom upstairs too?”

“No, she went to join the search.”

“Are you planning on joining it too?” Ray asked.

“Tomorrow, today I’m in charge of watching my brothers, tomorrow my neighbor will be able to watch them.”

“Ok, that’s good.”

“Hmmm?” Junior said.

“You know, joining the search, I’m sure you have been restless ever since he’s been missing from the woods!” Ray quickly said.

“Right.” Junior said.

“Well I should be going, and Junior?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really sorry about your dad.”

“...Yeah, goodbye Sam.”

“Goodbye Junior.” Ray said, he turned around, and left the block.

{At least he won’t be in the village tomorrow, when I attack, I should avoid fighting in this area. The last thing he needs is a destroyed home, I wanted to meet the mom too, maybe next time.}

Ray continued walking and decided to visit some of the stores that Vincent owned. Most of them were close, the ones that were open, welcomed him with open arms. After pretending to go around their stores making false checks on the scroll Ray left the shops. As he stepped out he could see it was already starting to get dark. Some villagers were carrying lanterns. Ray decided to make one last stop.

As Ray turned the corner in front of him stood the church. All the church brazers were lit, illuminating the area in front of the church. There were some villagers hanging around the church, either talking to some knights, or talking to other villagers. A hand grabbed Ray's shoulder, which made him jump.

“Oh, sorry didn’t mean to scare you.” A familiar voice said.

Ray turned around to find Brandon staring at him.

“Oh, yeah sorry, I was just going around the village, checking on Vincent shops.” Ray said as he held the paper scroll.

“I see, do you need something from the church?” Brandon said.

“Oh no, I just wanted to see around one last time.” Ray said. As he rubs his right palm.

“One last time?” Brandon said.

“Yeah, I mean, Vincent told you right? But don’t tell anyone, but I will be leaving the village soon, I don’t know exactly when, just wanted to take a good look around!” Ray said quickly.

“Oh, well I am sorry to hear that, will you be returning to your home village?” Brandon asked.

“No.”

“...Ok,” Brandon said.

“How is everything, you know since Paul?” Rya asked.

“We are doing the best we can, but since the two men were killed, and now this, people are on the edge, I am sure you notice some are already leaving the vllage, hoping to find a better place to live.”

“Yeah, hopefully you guys will be able to find him, are you going to be joining the search party?” Ray asked.

“No, Miss Sierra, asked me to stay guard around the church, in case something else happens, one of us will be here.”

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but do you guys have any suspects?”

“No, not really, we just know Paul has lived here his whole life, he wouldn’t get lost in those woods, and the deer that Sierra found with a wound given to it by a hybrid was different from the one that killed those men, so we might actually have two hybrids that we are dealing with.”

{There’s three, actually.} Ray thought to himself, fighting the urge to hold up three fingers.

Ray looks towards the church. “Can I ask you something?” Ray said.

“Sure.”

“With Paul missing, and the two men who were killed, aren’t you, you know afraid of losing your life, don’t you have something you want to live for?” Ray asked.

“No, not really, I never met my parents, I grew up in an orphanage, didn’t really have anyone to call a friend, or be close with. When they eventually kick me out, a knight convinces me to join. And I did, I’m glad I did, I have a lot of people depending on me, I won’t fail them.”

“Yeah, I could understand that.”

“Did you ever want to become a knight?” Brandon said.

“....Once,” Ray answered.

“You know it is never too late to try to become one.”

“No, I could never be one.”

“Come on, I can recommend you, though the training will be tough.”

“No!” Ray said, a little louder.

“...Sorry, I didn’t mean to anger you.”

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have raised my voice, I should get going, Vincent wanted me back before he joined the search party.”

“Ok, well if you ever need anything you know where to find me.”

“Yeah.” Ray took a few steps before stopping.

“Brandon?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t fail them.”

“I won’t.”

“Goodbye, Brandon.”

“Later Sam.”

{You most likely won’t keep your word, after all I might have to kill you tomorrow, I wonder will you be able to even stop me.}

Ray headed back to the house, as he went in, Vincent was in the middle of putting on a jacket.

“Oh good timing, I was just about to leave.” Vincent said.

Ray nodded his head, and passed Vincent, Ray went to the backyard, and layed on the grass looking at the stars.

{It's been a while since I last saw the stars, I wonder if Eda is looking at them too?}

Vincent stood over Ray. He quickly looked around to make sure no one was around before talking.

“Wanted to let you know, you are going to have to kill at least five to seven knights before you face Sierra.”

Ray sighed, and sat up. Staring at the trees ahead.

“How many knights are going to be patrolling the area tomorrow?”

“Around ten at most.” Vincent said.

“I’ll be sure to kill them quickly.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to waste my energy, on knights other than Sierra, still if that many join the fight, it might be a hindrance to me, I want the fight to be short as possible”

“Why?” Vincent asked.

Ray couldn’t answer.

“Look at me.” Vincent said.

Ray sighed and looked up at Vincent.

“Tell me the reason why.”

“I don’t want the villagers joining the fight.”

“Please tell me you are still on that, you killed Paul!” Vincent said.

“Because I had too, it’s different with innocents.” Ray whispered.

“Listen fresh-blood this path you choose is going to be filled with nothing but bodies. Knights, and innocents, you have to start acting like a hybrid, abandoning that shred of humanity you have left, there is no coming back from this.” Vincent said.

Ray layed back down, and looked at the stars.

“I really hope you can make up your mind before you fight Sierra, otherwise that hesitation will get you killed.” Vincent said, as he left back into the house.

{Do I really have any other choice, other than killing the knights? Of course I don’t, if I fail master Senya might kill Eda, I can’t let that happen. Eda, why did I ruin our lives that night? Was death really that much worse than what we are doing? I wish I could talk to you.}