Ray went deep into the forest, before turning the other direction, heading into the forest entrance. Ray wanted to make sure no one could see he came from the direction of Vincent house, with the sun setting he blended in on top of the trees.

As he got closer he started hearing voices, he slowed down, and look down, he could see torches moving around, they were three people shouting the name of Paul, a knight, a woman, and person that look familiar to Ray but couldn’t get a good look because of the shadows of the trees.

{It’s been six days, I wonder how long they will search for him, only a matter of time before the others lose hope.}

Ray continued on, as soon as he was near the entrance he picked up his speed so he wouldn’t be noticed, he stopped by a tree branch, and looked at the village. Taking in one last look before he attacked it. Ray put on his mask. Ray looked towards the bottom, and saw a group of people, and some knights getting ready to do a search party. Ray quietly jumps as high as he can, towards one of the house's roofs.

{My first mission, will I be able to keep the casualties only for knights? I’ll be sure to complete it, just watch Viola.}

Ray started jumping from the rooftops, heading closer to one of Vincent's shops, until he landed on top of the clothing shopkeeper. Every Store in the area was closed, there were no homes here. Most of the villagers have already left this area, Ray stood up and quickly looked around, until he finally spotted the knight walking down the sidewalk.

{Ok, deep breaths, I’ll kill him quickly and head to the next direction.}

Ray gently landed on the floor, and sneaked up to the knight, before he could react Ray put his hands where the knight ears were.

“I’m sorry.” Ray whispered.

“Huh,” The knight said, before his head twisted in a way it wasn’t supposed to. The knight crumpled to the floor, blood was coming out of his nose.

Ray took a deep breath to calm himself, and started heading to the next knight, as he was jumping through the rood, he saw some of the villagers walking around.

{It’s a shame, they won’t realize how quickly things will change for them, after today.}

As Ray headed to the next knight location, he found the knight walking with her back towards Ray. Ray did the same thing as the first one. Sneaking up behind the knight, and putting his hands on the side of her face.

“I’m sorry.” Ray whispered.

Like the knight before him, she crumpled to the floor, her facial expression had a look of shock, never knowing what exactly happened to her, Ray jumped to the rooftop and headed for the next knight.

{Two lives I just destroyed, who knows they might have had family, loved one, and I just took them away. No! I need to stop thinking like this, if Vincent finds out he is going to be mad, dammit I killed twenty knights, easily, why can’t I repeat that? Dammit, what is the deal with me? Next time for sure.}

Ray headed for the next location, as he jumped on top of Vincent shops, he looked around, and found the knight, but the knight was talking to two villagers.

{Damn I can’t risk it, Vincent wanted me to kill a couple before the bells start ringing, next one it is.}

Ray found the next knight, kneeling down, dusting his shoes. Ray quickly went behind him, putting his hand on his head, and snapped it.

“Sorry.” Ray whispered.

{Dammit! Ok that is three down, four more to go, should I hide the bodies, it won’t be much longer now before someone finds the body, and the knights start ringing the bells, no the only thing that matters is doing the mission right, I have to find the other knights.}

As Ray jumped through the roof, he could see the church near to him, he could also see Viola house in the distance.

{I wonder where she is right now, I’m sure she’s at a distance where I won’t be able to see her, but close enough to know what I just did, I wonder what she is thinking right now? Ok focus, next one is close, a couple more rooftops. I’m almost there.}

Ray landed on the rooftop, and saw his next target. The knight was looking at a piece of paper, Ray did the same as the others, as she crumpled to the floor Ray picked up the paper. Ray saw it was time when they were supposed to switch with other knights.

{Damn, if she scheduled you an hour later you might have survived today. Funny how small things like that can save your life, or end it.}

Ray jumped to the roof, leaving the body, as he arrived at the next knight location, Ray saw that the knight was with a villager, both of them talking to each other.

{Shit, should I wait, or should I just go to the next-}

[Ding! Ding! Ding!]

A bell was ringing in the distance, close to where Ray killed the first knight.

{They already found the body? This isn’t good, I only manage to kill four of them, alright might as well kill him, since they found the bodies.}

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ray jumps to the back side of the knight, who was just reassuring the villager a moment ago, and snaps his neck. The villager fell on his behind startled by what just happened, he started crawling backwards, and soon looked at Ray with fear in his eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” Ray told the man.

The man got up and started running the other way, while screaming out loud.

“Someone help! There's a hybrid here, he just killed a knight, someone, please help me, there’s a hybrid!” The man yelled.

Ray jumped back to the roof, as he approached the next target the other two bells started going off, soon the lights in every home were lighting up.

{I gotta get a move on!}

As Ray was jumping, the villagers were already leaving their homes, and heading for the village entrance, Ray arrived at the next destination, and saw a group of villagers around the knight, screaming.

{I really didn’t want to do this in front of people, ok I have to kill him before the villagers tried to attack me.}

Ray jumped into the crowd, in front of the knight, and pierced his heart. Ray pulled back his arm and jumped away, as soon as he did he could hear a blood curdling scream coming from the villagers, Screaming could also be heard from the distance, while the bells were still going off.

{Ok, ok, one at a time, where's the next one? The knight should be around here.}

Ray landed on the roof of one of the houses, and looked around, Ray then spotted the knight running towards the village entrance. Ray jumped down, and caught up to the knight, knocking him down. Ray got on top of him, and pierced his chest, reaching for his heart. Ray pulled out his hand which was dripping in blood, Ray heard footsteps, he looked up and saw a group of villagers, which were still in their nightclothes heading his way. Ray jumped back up, and headed for the next target, ignoring the scream that came from the villagers when they saw the body of the dead knight.

{Ok, that’s six, that should be enough, where can I find Sierra? Since this is the most recent I’ll wait here, wait is that her?}

Ray saw something move fast from the distance, it seemed to be jumping from roof to roof. Ray couldn't see well because of the darkness, Ray went after the person, going as quietly as he could.

{It is Sierra! If I’m lucky I can kill her easily and just head back to the house, ok slow and steady, she landed on the ground! Alright I’ll take a peek and try to get behind her.}

Ray got close to the spot where she landed and, and slowly poke his head out. He saw Sierra aiming her arm at Ray.

{Shit!}

A bolt of energy shot out of Sierra's arm, hitting the roof Ray was on. A high-pitched boom sounded in the air, Ray got flung back from the force of the blast, he quickly recovered himself, and landed on his feet, he looked where the blast came from, and when the dust settled. Sierra was standing, looking at Ray with pity in her eyes.

{I really need to work on spying on people. Damn, so much for that plan.}

“That mask, those black clothes, are you a mark hybrid?” Sierra said.

“....Yes.”

{Stupid! Why am I so stupid?}

“What do you want?” Sierra asked.

“I only need to kill you.”

{Are you serious? Might as well tell her everything.} Ray silently cursed at himself.

Ray engulfed his body with his energy, and charged at Sierra, charging his fist he threw a punch where Sierra was standing. Sierra quickly jumps upwards, and with a swing of her left hand sends three energy bolts towards Ray. Ray covered his face with his forearms, and they made contact with the energy bolts. Ray was flung back, his back hitting one of the house's walls, and he fell to the ground.

Ray quickly got up and turned the corner of the house, Ray got as far as he could before jumping to the roof, he saw Sierra still looking for him, Ray released an energy blast towards her direction. Sierra managed to spot the energy in the corner of her eye, and shield herself, before it did too much damage. She quickly got back on her feet, and the both of them looked at each other.

“Tell me, are you the one that killed those civilians a couple of days ago?” Sierra asked.

“Why does that matter to you?”

“So when I kill you I can put the matter to rest.”

“I didn’t.”

{I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.}

“Thank you for answering my question, now then let me finish this before more villagers get hurt.” Sierra said.

Sierra charges at Ray, trying close combat, Ray insticly dodge her attacks, and aims his hand towards Sierra face.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll be the one to finish this.” Ray said.

As he released the energy in his hand, hitting Sierra right in the face. Sierra hit a couple of rooftops, soon she caught herself, and stood back up, Her forehead was bruised, with blood coming out of the wound. Sierra took a deep breath, then she drew forth her blessing. Her body is covered in a red fiery aura. The red line appeared on her skin, going from the top of her head to her forearms, the rest of the body covered by the knight's silver armor.

Ray did the same, covering his entire body in his black aura, his mark going up his left arm, until it rested on his elbow. They both took a stance and charged at each other.

While Ray hit hard, Sierra was quick, they exchanged blows, Ray tried to land a hit anywhere, while Sierra kept trying to attack Ray hearts. Ray threw a lower punch aiming for abdomen, Sierra went to block it, but it was a feint. Ray grabbed Sierra's arm, and threw her through a house. Sierra rolled a couple of feet in the pavement before standing back up.

“What's going on? My house! What did you do to my house!” A man yelled.

The man walked to where Sierra went through and saw Sierra through the hole she made.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

“Get out of here! Take your family to the village entrance. It is not safe here!” Sierra yelled at the man.

“She’s right, you know.” Ray said.

The man slowly turned around and spotted Ray on top of the roof.

“If you stay here you might die, so if you value your life, get out of my sight.” Ray said.

The man was wide-eyed, he took a gulb, and started yelling names in the house. Ray jumps over the house and in front of Sierra.

“Now then, shall we pick up where we left off?” Ray asked.

Sierra put her hands in fist to answer.