----------------------------------------
Day 30 of the Second Noctim Cycle.
----------------------------------------
"Hmm... So warm..."
Noir awoke blinded by rays of sunlight streaming in from a window. The curtains danced to the sound of a calm and pleasant breeze. The fields beyond the room took his breath away; already stripped of snow, sheep and cows grazed in them. Only remnants of the crushing winter were left.
"It's been a long time since the sun was as warm as it is now." The boy took a brief look at his body, full of bandages but spared of wounds. He tossed the sheets aside and tried to get up from the bed to take a better look at himself in the mirror to his right. At first it was difficult, his regenerated limbs were not used to physical exertion, but soon he was able to impose his will upon his body.
"My whole body feels different. These bandages are also strange. Somehow, I have more energy with them."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he removed the bandages from his torso. As the cloths fell away and his skin was revealed, the young man's eyes opened wider and wider. He thought, for a moment, that he was in a body that was not his own.
"What the hell? My muscles... were not so defined. Could it also be because of the demonic powers?"
"Indeed, you inept oaf. The regeneration of a demon requires a large amount of nutrients, so the aforementioned loses fat in exchange for an improved body. It's kind of obvious, isn't it?"
"Fuck... I was hoping for a little more peace without having to listen to your voice." Hysterical laughter rumbled through Noir's head. "Ugh... Anyway, you've already proven you're not just a nightmare. What do you want now?"
"I haven't finished explaining everything you need to know. You expected me to entrust my mission to a headless chicken? You keep proving your incompetence."
"I'm getting tired of you and your disrespect. Speak..."
"You're getting tired of me? Don't make me laugh! I'm the one who should be saying that!" Noir thought he saw Blazh's face reflected in the mirror, and he jumped a little in consequence. "Some time ago you said something that made my blood boil... That you were better than the criminals because you worked hard. Besides, you said you didn't need to kill or steal to live. What did you do the next day? Kill Regin Sighur for money! Damn it, you're a hypocrite and you don't realise it! You're a criminal like any other... You didn't hesitate long to change your mind."
"Regin, it's true... he mentioned Blazh." Thought the young man, completely ignoring what they were talking about. "Wait a minute, there's something that interests me about the man you named. Regin mentioned you when I killed him, I remember now. What was your relationship with him?"
"You're not going to save your ass by changing the subject, you useless hypocrite. You don't seem to give a shit about any of this, and that just pisses me off even more." Dayfall's ears began to ring. His head turned heavy, as if he was carrying a rock on top of it. The boy fell to his knees and gritted his teeth to endure the pain.
"Stop this, you bloody lunatic! If you want me to carry out your revenge, this isn't the best way! You know I can ignore your mission all my life, don't you!? I'm not at your mercy!"
"Yes you are... I can put you through this torture every day, every hour until the day you die. True, I have no physical power over you, but I can play with your head in many ways. You better not defy me..." The torture stopped, but Noir was completely exhausted. "You seem much more receptive now. Good. You may be wondering what all this reminiscing about the past is about. Simple... I don't need a Heir without scruples or morals. I need a cautious, intelligent, and honest demon. It sounds odd, it doesn't suit you, but the enemies you'll be fighting will require a lot of mental fortitude, not just physical, and you've made a terrible start with the first thing."
"I still don't get it... It bothers you that I kill because it goes against what I said at the beginning. But isn't that what you want? That I kill your enemies in your name... The one who seems to contradict himself is you."
"No, Dayfall, I don't make such obvious mistakes. I hate those who go against their principles, but more so those whose principles are as despicable as yours. Putting a price on the lives of others and improving your life in exchange for taking others... How many of those gold coins are stained with blood? Do you really think that's being a hero? As I said, Castiel would be deeply disappointed. I'm sure this is not what he expected from you. You don't even feel remorse, you don't feel anything for them... Do other people's lives have any value to you?"
"Don't you dare speak of Castiel as if you knew him... You don't even know me. You have no right to judge me. I was only doing what I had to do to give Evie and my future children a better life. It's hard, but you have to be selfish to survive."
"You're hopeless... Well, you'll change as time goes by. They all do." A stony silence spread throughout the room. Noir pondered and the entity carefully chose his next words. "This is not going anywhere. Listen... I didn't care about taking other people's lives either, as a demon I believed I was superior to all mortals. But humanity gave me something I could never have before. Comfort, affection, understanding... I started to appreciate the mundane life of humans. That's why I fought on their behalf in the holy war. But everything I have done for them has been for nothing... I brought my people to this world because Averno was no longer habitable. I thought that after giving my life for humanity they would be grateful and help the innocent demons who did not participate in the war. But no... they never learn from the past."
Noir was reassured by Blazh's change of tone. Maybe all they needed to understand each other was a little empathy. "The contradictory duality of mankind. We are capable of protecting and destroying, of doing good and evil. Are demons really so different? The day I lost control and killed that family that was all I could think about. For as long as I can remember, demons have been shunned... Why?"
"Orus said it well. Humans fear the unknown. Perhaps they see us as an invasive species. But you have seen that we are as capable of love as a human being. We can live in peace, we just need... sympathy."
Blazh's voice broke for a brief moment, and feelings of helplessness escaped from that crack. Though his voice begged for it, the fallen god had no choice but to hide his emotions under a serious tone again.
"By nature, we demons are not born with a choice. Humans are. Galactea, my predecessor, granted humanity the ability to follow the path they chose to be right. We were created to represent evil. We were never given a choice until now. Thanks to my sacrifice demons can choose to follow the path of good, something we always wanted deep down. Who wishes to live in perpetual chaos?"
"No one... Even humans desire peace from time to time." Noir paused for a moment. "But they are not... I mean, we're not as incorrigible as you think. Humans made you appreciate peace, didn't they? Without us your people might never have had a chance. I know it's not a perfect world and a lot of things need to change, but... There are good humans too. Evie is the most wonderful woman I've ever met. She helped me understand more Castiel's love for this world, though I still struggle with it. Didn't you have someone like her? A human... who changed your mind?"
"I did... When I first came to the mortal world I befriended a knight paladin. It wasn't easy, but we became inseparable in the face of life's adversities. I also fell in love with a woman; though also demon-born, she was very different from any of us. She was the first demon to love the human world. All this made me believe that I could also live as a human... But I couldn't. I could never detach myself from my past and the violence."
"So humans really made you change the way you see the world. A demon who longs to live as a human... You are far from being the incarnation of evil you were talking about." Blazh laughed genuinely.
"Even the most powerful demon can do nothing against a show of affection. Humans are afraid of the unknown, we are attracted to it." Blazh sighed. "It's good to have a calm conversation, but I must make one thing clear now that you know my opinion on the matter. To become a worthy Heir you must stop killing for money. You must quit being a mercenary."
Noir raised an eyebrow at no one but his own reflection. "I understand that you want to instil your values and all that, but that's my source of income! I won't be able to help you with anything if I don't have any money. And I can't leave Wolf..." His words were cut off as soon as he remembered the scene at the sawmill. "Wolf, he..."
"You've been slow to remember. That drunken thug betrayed you. Jane and Cerberus probably did too. You can't trust people of that ilk, you're not to be trusted yourself. That's what comes of hanging out with the wrong people." Noir shed tears into his palms, he felt both hurt and vulnerable. "At least now you know you can't trust anyone completely. Your demon status will cause many people to turn their backs on you. It's a reality you'll have to deal with."
"Wolf... We were supposed to change the world together..." The mercenary looked up again. In the mirror he could only see a man with a gloomy look on his face, full of anger, hatred and spite. "And those thugs who beat up Evie... I haven't forgotten their looks. Faith and Frank too... they'll all die."
"I like that better. But don't be consumed by your feelings, that'll make you unable to think straight. Rise from the ashes and show the world what a demon is capable of!"
"That's right... I won't let myself be trampled again. I won't forgive those who hurt my loved ones!" The young demon was too carried away by the moment and along with the scream of rage expelled small amounts of demonic miasma. The sheets and pillows were stained with a black colour that absorbed every other hue. "Oh, shit."
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Ah, yes, about that... I can help you control your powers, but giving instructions isn't the same as having a teacher of flesh and blood. There are two people who can help you with that and a lot more. They have known demons since the holy war and even before that, they have faced the most powerful specimens that have ever existed. Their names are Gabeorn Macria, the Golden Knight, and Amy Avnasyr, the Omnipresent. They are still alive, I have no doubt, but their whereabouts are unknown to me. The kingdoms are different from those of my time, so it is impossible for me to locate them."
"Gabe Macria... I've heard that name before." Noir thought. "Your friend and your lover, it is easy to deduce. I think I'll be able to remember their names. But is it normal for my powers to get so out of control? Does it happen to all demons?"
"No, that's how I know you're a hybrid. Those born with a human part usually manifest their powers much later, and by having human genes their bodies try to reject that corrupted heritage, so to speak. You got the better part, lucky boy, for many die devoured by the darkness before they reach puberty." Noir's senses went on alert, not by his will but by Blazh's. "Someone is coming this way. I can hear their footsteps. You'd better do something about all that miasma you've released."
The boy turned his attention to the bed, filled with the dark and slimy substance. With time running against him he had no choice but to wrap the pillows in the sheets and throw them out the window, making them disappear in a matter of seconds. Even Noir himself was amazed at his superhuman strength. "It's made it all the way to the other side of the hills... Impressive."
"I'll talk to you later. You have a visitor."
The footsteps stopped in front of the door, the knob of which turned slowly. Noir hurried to put his bandages back on and sit down on the bed. The person on the other side of the door took longer than usual to enter as they didn't want the door to creak and wake the patient.
"Is he awake yet...?" A young girl timidly peeked in to check on the patient's condition. Noir, however, matched glances with her as soon as he saw her, so the girl instantly hid behind the door. "Ah! I'm sorry... I'm not used to having guests. It's the first time someone like you has come here."
The mercenary inclined his head. "Someone like me? I'll take that as flattery, I suppose." Noir got up from the bed for the second time and searched for his clothes, alarming the girl and causing her to come out of hiding.
"Ah, sir...! You should not get up yet. I beg you, your wounds might open up again."
"No need to worry, I've fully recovered. I only had a few small scratches. By the way, um..."
"Oh, right."
The young woman lowered her head to introduce herself. Her long blonde locks shimmered in the sunlight and her candid turquoise eyes accompanied the clear sky. Her innocent expression and flushed cheeks captivated the young demon, who was in awe of the young woman's unexpected beauty.
"My name is Iris Spring. I am the granddaughter of the woman who rescued you from the river. We brought you here, to our humble farm, to treat your wounds. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Stunned, Noir replied. "T-the pleasure is mine. I am very grateful for what you have done for me. Without your help I would surely have frozen to death."
The two looked at each other for a brief moment. Noir was much bigger than her but he felt small next to Iris's adorable smile and kindly gaze.
"Hey, hey. What are you two doing standing there?"
The old woman appeared at the door carrying a small child, as well as being accompanied by the ever-faithful Butterfly. The two youngsters quickly distanced themselves and turned their backs to each other. Iris had completely forgotten her shyness and Noir couldn't believe he had let himself be charmed by a girl he had just met.
"We weren't doing anything, Grandma! I just... I just wanted to see how he was doing." Iris didn't know where to hide her head, embarrassment had overtaken her again.
"She really does look like an angel. It's no sin to admire another woman's beauty, kid. Just don't cross that line."
"I know, you idiot... Evie is the love of my life." The hybrid said, but only inside his head. The old woman's cane struck Noir, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Um, I see. My granddaughter's treatment has taken effect. You have the proper energy for a young man again." Seeing that there was nothing on the bed, Mrs. Spring raised an eyebrow as she looked at Noir. "What happened to the pillows?"
"Oh, that... It was too hot and I threw them to the floor! Who knows where they are now, huh?" All he could think of was to lift his shoulders and pretend he had no idea, but the sweat pouring down his forehead gave him away. Either way, the old woman didn't think much about it and left the child she was carrying on the floor.
"Jack, go with your sister to prepare lunch. I have to talk to this man."
The boy, whose features contrasted with the older sister's, obeyed and left the room with Iris and the dog. The old woman and the young man were left alone in a room where only birdsong could be heard.
"I like to help people in need. Even bad people. They must be judged fairly, they cannot be punished through suffering or death. But that doesn't mean I can trust them." From inside her multi-layered dress she pulled out a pouch brimming with golden coins, plus a few small blades. "I found these when I washed your clothes. It's obvious you don't make an honest living, young man. You were almost killed by knights... You said so yourself."
"Oh, oh. She's found out your little secret. What are you going to do?"
Noir snatched his bag of coins from her but let her keep the knives to show that he had no intention of harming her. From the pouch he pulled out exactly ten coins and placed them in the old woman's free hand. "I am an adventurer, Mrs. Spring, and I am in charge of clearing the world of monsters. Thanks to me your cattle are still alive and your lands have not been taken over by invading beasts. But I can understand that you are uncomfortable with my presence. We adventurers can bring trouble with us, can't we? So I will pay you for the trouble and leave as soon as possible."
Noir didn't even bother to ask about his equipment, he simply walked towards the door determined to leave. The old woman, somewhat embarrassed, clenched the coins in her fist and shouted to get his attention. "If you want me to trust you at least tell me your name. I can't sit a stranger at my table."
The boy stopped right at the door, as if he already knew beforehand that it would yield that result. "Noir Dayfall. My name is Noir Dayfall."
"Okay, Noir Dayfall. Why don't you stay for lunch? My granddaughter is going to prepare something delicious. She's not only good with healing magic, she's also good cooking, you know?"
"Tempting offer, but..." The old woman didn't let him speak, she simply dragged him into the dining room. She wouldn't take a no for an answer. "All right... I can stay a little longer."
----------------------------------------
A while later.
----------------------------------------
"It has good colour, but..."
Noir stirred with the spoon the vegetable soup. He didn't dislike hot, soupy dishes, but his stomach craved meat, protein to recover lost energy. The mooing of the cows, on the other hand, awakened his voracious appetite.
"What's the matter, Noir? Aren't you hungry? That's strange." Mrs. Spring asked.
"It's not that. I was just... thinking."
His mouth was actually watering at the thought that there were animals he could eat near him. But out of respect for Iris he decided to scoop a few spoonfuls of soup into his mouth. He tasted a couple of times, only to be surprised by a sublime vegetable mixture.
"It's true! Iris is very good at cooking. Not to suck up, but it's been a long time since I've tasted anything this good."
Iris, who was feeding her little brother, turned her attention to Noir and smiled slightly flushed. "Thank you for your words, sir... I'm glad to hear that."
The man simply nodded in response, even the lovely Iris couldn't muster a smile on his face. The young woman's joy soon faded as she noticed Noir's inability to smile. Her eyes remained fixed on him, with them she tried to figure out what was wrong. But Jack, who was waiting for his next bite of food, threw a piece of bread in her face and brought her back to reality.
"Jack! Don't throw food at your sister!"
Exclaimed the old woman, who was sitting on the opposite side from Noir. On the far right of the rectangular table were Iris and Jack, and on the left an old man with grey beards and numerous wrinkles who had only opened his mouth to chew and swallow. Noir glanced sideways at him from time to time, curious if he would ever say anything.
"Well, eating without a good chat is a bit boring, don't you think? Noir, haven't you wondered why Iris knows so much about healing magic?"
"Because she likes it, I imagine."
"Yes, of course, but there's a lot more to it." The woman moved her chair a little to reach out to Iris and caress her hair. "Here where you see her, this hard-working, skilled young lady used to be mommy and daddy's spoiled little girl. My son used to read her stories about the legendary heroes of the holy war, about great mages and sorcerers. It was the only way to get her detached from her parents." The old woman laughed with some difficulty. "In the end it was such her love for stories that she decided to copy her favourite kind of hero. What's it like, Iris?"
The sweet, angelic-looking young woman put both hands on her chest, closed her eyes and visualised in her head the image of a merciful sorceress who reached out even to her enemies. That helped her explain better what she wanted to achieve. "To be a powerful sorceress of the healing arts and to fight the misguided through reconstruction, not destruction. To help those who have been brought down and give them a second chance, to save what little goodness is left in this world. That is my dream, Mr. Noir. I dream of one day being able to travel and help people with no violence."
"Sounds like you want to be an adventurer. At least that's the definition of what one does." Noir dissembled drinking water as he heard a few grunts coming from the old man and Mrs. Spring's disappointed sigh.
"Yes, you've got it right. That is the only reason for our constant bickering. For generations our family has confined itself to living in the country, tending the animals and watching the sunsets in peace. But one day that idea got into her head and... we don't know what to do. The world out there is so dangerous and unpredictable... I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to her. She's only seventeen, Noir."
"Whoops, a bit young for you, hybrid. I hope you didn't have any dirty thoughts. Well, if you did I would have known."
Before the boy could respond someone slammed a loud bang on the table, shaking everything on top of it. The elderly man, who stood much larger than he looked, pointed his finger directly at Iris. "Never in my seventy-seven years of life have I seen a more impertinent brat than you! There are rules and a tradition in this house that must be followed to the letter, no argument about that! Where the hell have you seen a woman fighting alongside a man!? Your place is here, on the farm, and that won't change!"
The old man stormed out of the dining room, even going so far as to shove the innocent Noir who had nothing to do with the argument with his shoulder. But before he walked out the door he looked back at Iris one last time and said:
"I am old, but I have not lost the ability to think. Don't assume that my death will change your future; I will soon find a suitable husband for you who will teach you how to be a woman. No one is going to end my family's legacy, least of all you!"
The noisy man finally left with a slam of the door. Jack didn't understand anything and Mrs. Spring tried to comfort Iris in her arms, who with an expression of absolute terror let out only a couple of tears. "We may all be free to choose our own fate, but... I don't share the words of that crazy old man, but the world of adventures is too much for Iris. She is too innocent and kind, in a business full of malicious men they would take advantage of her. I value her willingness to help others and I am very proud of her, but her safety comes before all else."
"That's understandable. It's also not something I would recommend. I'd like to show you something, but... Does she know about it?"
Iris instantly understood what he meant, and nodded. "Actually, I was the one who discovered it. The bullet in your chest, appearing floating unconscious downstream, the bag of coins and the knives in your armour... It's easy to deduce you're an adventurer."
"Clever girl. No wonder the knights discovered your identity. You're so clueless, you're lucky you have your head attached to your body."
"Always so witty..." Noir pulled out the bag of coins and held it in the palm of his hand so that both women could see it clearly. "A bag brimming with gold coins can make any job seem worthwhile, can't it? But there are many factors to consider. Experience, the type of quests, the guild you join, equipment, occupation... In the case of Iris, healers are in high demand, especially if they are young and talented, for high-risk missions where many team members can get injured. That said, your safety depends a lot on your teammates. Some protect the healer above all else and others... use them as a distraction. Of course, healers have the lightest armour and smallest weapons required to fight. They are very susceptible to dying for nothing."
"And... What are you getting at with that? You're just proving me right." Replied the old woman.
"Yes, you're just agreeing with her. Is that your way of recruiting new guinea pigs?"
"It's simple." He tossed a coin to the air and picked it up to then show it to Iris. "If after all I have said to dissuade her from becoming an adventurer she still wants to be one, then nothing will stop her. If so, then accept this coin as your first payment and join my guild. I assure you that you will not be at risk as long as you are by my side. You can also leave at any time if you don't feel comfortable. What do you think?"
Both granddaughter and grandmother gasped at the man's rash proposal, who seemed completely confident in his method of persuasion. Iris's eyes suddenly lit up with a gleam of hope, but her grandmother was nowhere near as pleased. But as much as she wanted to avoid it, Iris's decision was the absolute one.
"Wait a minute, are you sure about this? She's still a kid, idiot. How can you even think of bringing her into that guild of conspiracists and crackpots? You're sending her to a certain death."
"Have you forgotten already? Recon no longer exists for me. This will be my own guild. No more assassination missions and reckless use of my demonic power, from now on it will be different. I'm going to earn my living by truly helping. That's what you wanted, isn't it? Or have you changed your mind already?" Noir said in his mind.
"You sly bastard... You've got it figured out fast. We'll see how you apply it in practice. Are you sure she'll accept? Her family can become her top priority."
"She will. No one gives up their dream so easily." The hybrid brought his focus back to reality to listen the healer's response. Before she said anything she looked at Jack and Mrs. Spring, and again at Noir. It was an important decision, she couldn't just jump in and answer what her heart wanted her to answer. She had to consider everything. "Well?"
After seeing that Grandma didn't refuse and that Jack seemed rather excited, Iris flashed a big smile and rose from her chair to say: "I accept!"