I saw Devin running out of the chapel in a mad fury. Her short stature wavered as she attempted to run. Thinking back on it now, I should have included her more in my daily exercises. She was always more interested in the library. So, I often abandoned her there to get a bit of peace. Then the wretched power now emitting from Devin hit me. Devin had a curse of demonic affinity. I stepped away from a group of villagers talking to me about something or another and made to find my parents to let them know.

"Young sir, we haven't finished the conversation about my boy," Clive's father said.

"Sorry, I have something to discuss with my parents. We can talk again after our next hunt," I responded.

That satiated the man, at least for now. People on the lower rungs of society always seemed to latch onto their better's coattails. He and his son were no better than the rest of them. My father had warned me about what it was like for him as an adventurer. Although they became good friends, his companions were nothing more than tools for his ascension in society.

As I entered my family's newest Manor, I couldn't help to admire some of its grandness. This Manor had been the largest estate my family had ever called home. The long narrow hallways only added to it. On their walls lay paintings of previous Lords and Ladies long since dead. I still didn't get why they were all there. My family didn't know a single one of them. We were outsiders not even a year ago. Finally, I found my parents through the large oak doors that blocked many of the building's rooms. As I entered the sitting rooms, I called out, "Father! There was a recipient this year with the curse of demonic affinity."

"Who was it?" My father asked.

"Devin," my voice stumbled when I said it. Devin, indeed was to be a monster? Would I lose my newest toy like that? I continued, "Father, I saw her running out of the chapel and into Hillcrest."

"Poor girl, she was always so sweet on you," Mom said. She had been lounging with her head resting in my father's lap. She stood as she continued, "Dear, please check in on Sanders and Patricia. They will worry about their eldest if she doesn't come home tonight." Mother always had a soft side for Devin. Her indulgence in her was the launching point of my fascination with her. Father thought of Devin like he saw the rest of Hillcrest beneath his station.

"Alfonso," Father said, "If you see the boy… girl, you bring her back to the Manor. We must ensure she doesn't cause problems while the inquisitors make the journey. Know that she is no longer the person you knew before. Once someone receives the demonic affinity, they become no better than monsters. Monsters your mom and I used to slay, and one day you will too."

"Alexander!" Mother screamed. Her eyes grew wild as she glared down at my father, where he still sat. "I know how you feel about demonic affinity users, but Devin was our son's friend. It doesn't matter what obstacles you use to block. Now you will send for the inquisitors, but that is the only part you will have. If you disagree, I might spirit the girl away and leave you to deal with the consequences." My mother gave me a wicked smile to my father.

"Fine, but the girl stays here where she can't hurt anyone while we await the inquisitors." My father left the room, presumably to send for those inquisitors.

"Alfonso, why are you standing there with your mouth open? I asked you to check in on Devin's parents," My mom pointed towards the door. With no more delay, I made my way out of the Manor.

What did it make Devin now that she was a demonic affinity user? The thought crossed my mind while I started down the main road. The main street in Hillcrest cut the town into two parts. The route also served to cut the Manor's estate into two pieces. The Manor was in the heart of Hillcrest, with the centreline of the main road running through the estate's rose hedges.

Focusing back on Devin, I kept pondering the question. She would no doubt become an exile from our kingdom. Her leaving didn't hurt much since I would be on my mission soon. But, I had hoped she would store herself away with me. That way, I really could keep her all to myself. Nobles often took mistresses, and Devin would have been an exotic one at that.

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My parents had arranged for me to join an adventuring group. This group consisted of the daughters of their old party members. The only thing preventing my leaving was that we were still on the look for a healer. So, although disappointing getting Devin out of my life in such a final way wasn't bad. Her leaving with inquisitors was better for both of us. Wasn't it? At least I wouldn't have to try and explain my and her situation to anyone again.

My life from here on out would be too hard to have someone like her to drag around anyways. She would only prove to have slowed us down. Not to mention that life of an adventure was thankless, even for my parents. Not to mention the pay could have been more livable. My parents had only risen to their position because they took a contract from the king. They would never have gotten this if it weren't for the king knighting my grandfather for his work in the last great conflict. In return, he gave them a small town to lord over. But there was no guarantee that my life would go the same way.

Devin's life would not be easy either. But in the least, she would be fed and sheltered. Devin would be a tool for the king to use against his enemies. That stung a little thinking of Devin in this way. I was not too fond of another man using her in this way. Devin was frail, and if the king broke her, I wouldn't forgive and forget. Devin was mine and always will be mine. Without my mom and me, she would be nothing. She would still be a boy. Or worse.

I had known she wouldn't make a good adventurer or, for that matter, a soldier. But there was no other path for her now. I couldn't defy the king even if I wanted to take her, even with the title of Hero. This king had at least stopped the vicious process of killing demonic affinity users. In exchange, he forced them into the lives of career soldiers. So, in time I might still have my opportunity to claim her again.

I took a contemplative sigh, letting those thoughts go. There would be time to rise and claim my title and birthright of Hero. Then no one could stand against me, not even this king. For now, I was at Devin's family bakery, and I, for one, was not going to make the mistake of my father and stand in the way of my mother's objectives.

Devin's family bakery was along the main street of Hillcrest. It was in the same fashion as the other buildings in town. The bakery had a brick first level with strong lumber supporting the second level. The green of the lumber came from the willows that grew in the swamp.

I entered the bakery and let the smell of fresh meat pie on the countertop waft over me. "Alfonso, can I help you with anything? Devin hasn't come back yet from the ceremony," came the voice of Rupert, Devin's younger brother.

"I needed to get a message to your parents," my voice grew stale at those words.

"Dad! Alfonso is here," Rupert called through a thick, woolen curtain. The curtain acted as a barrier, separating the kitchen from the storefront.

"What is it?" Sanders said as he moved out of the kitchen.

I decided to pull the carpet now and not disguise my purpose here. If Devin's parents didn't hear it from me now, they would soon hear it from all their neighbors. "Devin received the demonic affinity," I said as I met the gaze of Sanders.

"This is not a funny joke Alfonso." Sanders stammered.

"This is no joke Sanders," I responded.

"You are serious, aren't you?" Sanders said as he paused to take in a long breath. "Hm, I guess he won't be taking over the bakery after all. I might have to hire an additional hand. Curse that boy!"

I stood there with some shock crossing through my face. This manner of speaking of a father struck me as odd. Did he not care that his daughter would be a soldier for the king?

Sanders continued, "Thank you for letting us know, Alfonso. Now I need to talk to my family alone."

Sanders had a slight look of disappointment on his face. He always said that Devin and Rupert would help run the family business. Now his eldest daughter would be only an enslaved person in military service and his majesty.

"Sir, I will be by again tomorrow morning to collect Devin. My father does not want her to be running around town unsupervised."

Sanders gave me a brief nod, and I turned to leave the bakery. When I return tomorrow, Devin will be my prisoner, and the friendship she tried to cultivate will end.

Then it occurred to me. Devin had said she did not plan on returning home tonight. That meant that she was probably already trying to make a run for it out of town. The idea of her alone in the woods trying to flee sent a chill through me. After all, the wood was unsafe for someone like Devin after dusk.

"Umm… Sir, I think Devin might have run off," I said.

"Knowing that boy. Yes. Alright, Rupert, go and see if you can't find your brother," Sanders responded.

Rupert and I made our way out of the bakery and into the streets of Hillcrest. Time was of the essence if we were going to find Devin. It would only worsen things for her and my family if she escaped now.

"I am going to get my mother. Why don't you see if you can't find a city guard to help us out," I asked Rupert.

"Okay! I can do that."

"Meet back at the front gate?"

"Yeah, that will work. I will wait for you there."

We made our separate ways through the celebration of the commencement of this year's ceremony. It was the liveliest time of the year for Hillcrest. All the extra people made it harder for me to return to the estate. But, to locate Devin, we needed to act before she did something too reckless.