Ray waited by the end of the clearing for Vincent, he just stood around, looking at the damages he had done, when he finally saw Vincent looking around. Ray waved his arms until he caught Vincent's attention. Vincent started heading his way.

“Did you do what I told you to do?” Vincent asked, as he looked around making sure no one was around them.

“Yes, I talked to Junior, and his brother, and sister.”

“Oh, and what did you talk about?”

“I just apologize for their loss, and they might go on to become knights.”

“Pfft.” Vincent covers his mouth. “Ah, that is great, I doubt it, I planned on turning them into hybrids when they get older, I don’t know about Junior though, I might have to get rid of him if he gets in my way.”

“Oh.”

“Alright fresh-blood let's get going, we did what we had to do.” Vincent said.

As they walk by, Ray spotted Brandon looking in their direction, with his hand on his sword hilt. Ray did his best to ignore him. As they passed a couple of villagers who were carrying luggage, and backpacks on their backs.

“What is that about?” Ray whispered to Vincent.

“Oh they don’t feel safe to stay here anymore, so they are going to try their luck, and try to reach one of the holy cities.” Vincent said.

“I see.”

Ray, and Vincent kept on walking, occasionally saying hello to any villagers they passed by, until they reached the entrance of the village. As they walked to the pathway to Vincent house, Vincent spoke out.

“All right, fresh-blood, what's on your mind?”

Ray mind started going back to the funeral, and all the villagers who were wailing, and weeping. “We will never have that, will we?” Ray said.

“Hmm?”

“I mean, when we eventually pass on, nobody is going to grieve for us.” Ray said.

“Does that bother you?” Vincent asked.

“A little.”

Vincent sighed before he spoke. “No we will not, most likely a huge party will be held, if a blessed person kills us, depending on how people fear us, a big enough party will be thrown to celebrate.” Vincent said.

“Will they throw a party if a knight manages to kill you?” Ray asked.

“Since I am a.… Let's just say they will.” Vincent answered.

“Ok.”

“Well then fresh-blood I wonder from the both of us who will have the bigger impact on the world, and how our death will be celebrated.”

“Right.” Ray agreed.

They arrive at the house, and Vincent tells Ray to wait for him in the living room. Ray sat down on the couch and waited. Vincent took his seat on the opposite side of Ray, and started talking.

“Alright, fresh-blood, I already sent a letter to your master, so you’ll soon be getting your next mission, and most likely leaving the village.” Vincent said.

“Ok, what about our story, me being your nephew?” Ray said.

“Don’t worry about it, remember I already told them you’ll be leaving soon.”

“Do you have any idea what my next mission will be?”

“Most likely the same as this one, killing a knight, but this time will be one even stronger than Sierra. Oh! That reminds me, let's head to the training room, I need to see how much stronger you've gotten.” Vincent said.

Vincent stood up and started heading towards the room, with Ray tagging along. As they finally reached the gray training room, Ray couldn't help but remember the days he spent with Viola.

{Please keep your end of the promise.}

“Well, fresh-blood go to the middle of the room, and expand your mark as much as you can.”

“Does fighting knights really increase your power by a lot?” Ray asked.

“Of course, you were fighting for your life, pushing past what you are normally used to, snow let see how much stronger you got.”

Ray went to the center of the room, and focused, he imagined his fight with Sierra, the people he killed. Ray unleashed his energy, when he felt he had a steady flow of energy coming out of him, he opened his eyes, and looked to Vincent, who started walking his way.

Ray examined his left arm, he saw his mark had grown even more, almost reaching his shoulder, he showed it to Vincent. Vincent grabs Ray's arm, and looks at the black line going around.

“Hmm, is that all you can do, without pushing yourself?” Vincent asked.

“Yes.”

“Ok, you can stop, it would seem your mark is about ten percent, not bad fresh-blood.” Vincent said.

“Thanks, do you think I’ll be able to reach thirty percent before you guys take on the holy cities?”

“Most likely, you still have a year, and half left, so be sure to train as much as you can.”

“I will, if I manage to reach thirty percent, I’ll finally be able to see my sister.” Ray said.

“That’s if you, and her survive.” Vincent reminded Ray.

Ray bit his lip, and just nodded.

“I’ll do my best.” Ray said.

“Ok, let's head back upstairs, we still have the whole thing ahead of us.” Vincent said.

***

April 07, 1410

Two days have passed when Vincent, and Ray finally got a newspaper detailing what happened to the village of Alton. Ray read through the paper, it mentions the fight between the hybrid called Ray, and the knight who prevented more deaths.

The paper also had an illustration of Ray, he was wearing the black clothing with his mask, whoever drew it, had a good idea on how Ray looked that night. The paper went on to explain how this was the same hybrid who massacred twenty knights. The hybrid is arrogant and is claiming no matter what happens he will survive.

{Good, now Eda will know I passed my first mission. I hope I live up to her expectations. I wonder what she's doing now, how her current mission is?}

“So what do you think about it?” Ray asked.

“Well it might attract some attention, since they realize you are the same hybrid who killed those knights back when I first found you.”

“Should we do anything about this?”

“No, there really isn’t anything we can do, as long as we keep a low profile and just help the village we will be fine.”

“Right, are you planning on going out today?” Ray asked.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Yes, I am almost done getting all the necessary paperwork done, after that, I just have to watch the village get rebuilt in my image.”

“What about the church, do you know what they are planning?”

“No, not yet. They are still awaiting orders on what they should do, hopefully they just pack up and leave, making my job easier, but if not, then I’ll work with what I got.” Vincent said.

“When will you leave?”

“In a few minutes, would you like to go with me?” Vincent asked.

“No, I’m ok, I'd rather stay if you don’t mind.”

“All right, suit yourself.”

After a couple of minutes had passed, Vincent left the house, and headed towards the village. Ray went to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat, afterwards he headed towards the study room. Picking up a book that Vincent was reading.

“The history of Aetom.” Ray read the title.

{Aetom? That the holy city, the one after Adruil. The second city we will attack against if we succeed with the first one. I wonder what kind of connection Vincent has to Aetrom?}

Ray studied the book, before he knew it two hours had passed by, Ray put down the book, and headed to his room to shower. As he went up the stairs, he heard knocking coming from the front door.

{What the? Can’t be Vincent since he has keys, and Viola is no longer here, it must be one of the villagers.}

Ray went to answer the door, as he opened the door Brandon was standing on the front porch.

“Uh, Bra. Bradon, what are you doing here?” Ray stuttered out.

“Hello Sam, may I come in?” Brandon asked.

“Oh uh, if you are looking for Vincent he has already left, I am the only one here at the moment.”

“That is fine, I wish to speak to you.”

“Really, what about?”

“May I come in?” Brandon asked again.

“Yeah, sure.” Ray said, as he stepped aside. Ray closed the door behind Brandon, and noticed he was carrying his sword strap to his back.

Ray led Brandon towards the living room, where they both sat down on opposite sides of each other.

“So, what can I do for you?” Ray said, as he grasped his hand together.

“I just wanted to get your opinion on something regarding the night of the accident.” Brandon said.

“You mean when that hybrid attacks the village?” Ray said.

“Yes, to be honest this has been bothering me ever since I found out about that massacre in the village next to ours.”

“The massacre of the twenty?”

“That’s right.”

“What do you need my opinion for?” Ray asked.

“Well I just want to know what you thought about it?”

“Why?”

“Just because.”

{What the hell does he want from me?}

“I think that hybrid needs to be stop, and have justice served to him.” Ray said.

“Did you already read the newspaper regarding our town,”

“Yes, Vincent showed me the newspaper, how Sierra bravely fought against the hybrid, and how much the village suffered because of it.”

“Yub, funny how they specifically included Sierra, but not the other knights who gave up their lives right?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” Ray said.

“The church only cares about the blessed one, knights like us are disposable, we didn’t get lucky.”

“Brandon! What are you doing here?” Ray said.

“Like I said, I just wanted to get your opinion on something.”

“Ok, what is it? I am kinda busy, so you’ll have to leave soon.” Ray said he was eager to get him out of the mansion.

“Ok, let me jump right into it then.”

Ray started to feel more uncomfortable, the more eager Brandon was becoming.

“After finding out that a massacre has happened, I was checking the dates, and you appear shortly after.”

“Wha?”

“Then during the night of the incident you were no one where to be found.”

“Vincent, and Viola forbid me from going out.”

“And lastly this is the one I am having the most trouble with, and I am sure you will be able to understand my point of view, is that the day before the incident. When you, and I were talking you told me something before you left, do you remember what you said?”

“No, I do no-”

“Stop lying to me!” Brandon shouted as he hit his knees with his fists. Ray jumps at Brandon yelling.

“Brandon, take it easy.” Ray said, as he tried to reach out to Brandon.

“Do not touch me!” Bradon warned.

“Ok, ok.” Ray said, slowly.

“What did you say to me, on the day before the attack?”

“I didn’t want to become a knight?” Ray said.

“After that!”

Ray took a deep sighed, and looked at Brandon, who was angry, and seemed to fight back tears.

“I don’t know.” Ray said.

Bradon stood up, placing a hand on the sword hilt. The tension rising in the room, Ray prepared himself.

“You told me not to fail them, correct?” Brandon said.

“Yes, I remembered now.”

“You know what that hybrid said to me before he left that night?”

“No, how would I know that?”

“He told me I failed them.”

“What are you implying?” Ray said, as he looked up at Brandon.

“The coincidences surrounding you don’t make sense, everything I just mentioned makes me believe that you. That you are the hybrid known as Ray.” Brandon coldly stated.

Ray quickly stood up, and faced Brandon, their stare lasted for a minute before Ray broke the silence.

“You haven’t been well, Brandon. I suggest we both forget this whole conversation even happened.” Ray slowly said.

“No! No I can’t. I need to know the truth, even if it costs me my future, my life.” Brandon said, as he tightly grabbed his sword.

{Call his bluff, he can’t kill me, even if he wanted to.}

“Think this through, I don’t want to get hurt Brandon.” Ray said

“It’s too late for that, Ray.” Brandon said, as he unsheathed his sword.

“What can I do, to prove to you I am human?” Ray said.

“I don’t have much time, and it is too late, I am pretty sure, you won’t shed black blood by now, so the only way to prove to me that you are human is to die, right here, right now.” Brandon shakingly said, as he pointed his sword at Ray.

Ray was looking at the sword that was pointing at his neck, Ray took a deep breath and looked Brandon in the eyes.

“So you are willing to live with the fact you killed an innocent, exactly the opposite of what you were sworn to do.”

“Everything in me is yelling that you are the hybrid, Vincent, and Viola too, there have been too many signs, and I can no longer ignore them.”

“I won’t stop you… I can’t stop you, so if you go through with this, I only ask that you give me a quick death.” Ray said.

“You think you deserved an easy death, after killing the people I cared about!?” Brandon demanded.

“Brandon I didn’t do that, please don’t do something you will regret.”

“I have many regrets- killing you will not be one of them.” Brandon said.

“That’s only if you are right, isn’t it.” Ray took a step closer, the sword touching his neck.

{I really don’t want to kill you Brandon, please don’t go through with this, I’ll let him cut by before I stop him, I’ll have to call his bluff at the last moment.}

“Brandon, enough people have already died, why do you need to want more needless death?”

“I’m sorry, but this sick game you hybrids have been playing has to stop, goodbye Ray.” Brandon put his other hand on the sword, pulling it back, aiming for Ray's neck.

{I’ll let him cut me by a couple of inches, just before he gets in the middle of my neck, if he does go through I have no choice but to kill him.}

Ray put up his hands, and closed his eyes. He could hear Brandon breathing heavily.

The front door was forcibly open, the door hitting the wall with a slam, both Ray, and Brandon saw Vincent, and a few knights coming through the door, the knights aim their swords, and arrows towards Brandon.

“Brandon! What the hell are you thinking?” Vincent screamed.

“Brandon, lower your sword, think about this.” One of the knights pleaded.

“I already made my choice.” Brandon stated.

Brandon swung his sword, but before it could reach Ray's neck, Brandon was hit by an arrow that pierced the left side of his neck. Brandon stumbles, dropping the sword, and grabbing his neck. The blood gushed out of the wound. His face went pale, as he tried to tug at the arrow that was in his neck. Ray stared at him wide-eyed.

“M. M. Monster.” Brandon whispered to Ray, as he collapsed on the ground, his blood getting on the wooden floor. Ray was shaking as he took a couple of steps back, he fell backwards onto the couch, and saw Brandon dead eyes looking straight at him.