Shiro kicked the daemon to the ground, slicing off its neck. He threw another halo at a daemon on a tree, killing it instantly. Looking down, he grabbed a ball of snow and threw it at a tree. Shiro continued to do this over and over again.

That scythe. That damned scythe. What was it doing all the way here? In this town that they barely knew about.

Shiro shook his head. Now wasn't the time. They were here on a mission. But, since the town already had a rogue, their presence was clearly not needed. They just needed to see if he could handle the situation well before going someplace else. It wasn't like there weren't other inquisitors in Alaska anyway.

"So few daemon here." Brandon sighed, "I guess that's why they really depended on a guy like that."

"You don't like him?" Jake asked with a small laugh

"No...Its just that..."Brandon sighed again, "Why didn't they like us? We haven't even done anything to them."

"Well, could be that the inquisitors that came here the last time were more demanding than they had in mind."

"Not all inquisitors follow their duty, huh?"

"Yeah, you'd be surprised." Jake said, kicking at the snow on the ground. "But, hey. Everyone has their priorities."

"But we aren't them!" Brandon exclaimed. "We are different. They didn't even give us a chance to explain ourselves."

"Well Shiro did assault their protector. So yeah, of course they'd be angry with us. But I get what you mean, kid."

"So what now?"

"Now? We just make sure that the rogue is capable. If he is, we skedaddle. If not, we have no choice but to either train him or relieve him."

"That sucks, especially after they made it clear that they don't like us."

"Brandon, people always judge based on collectiveness. As long as the people who hurt them were inquisitors, that hate will always be towards other inquisitors, no matter how kind they may be. Its the same way a man would hate all daemon despite the fact that it was one specific one that killed his wife."

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Brandon nodded.

"But enough about that. If there are no daemon around, lets continue your training."

"Sure thing." Brandon said, picking up Spearhead.

"Um..., no not with that rei."

"What?!"

"I want you to fight me with your rei. Not Spearhead."

"But how will I ever be compatible if I don't try to use it?"

"Why would you try to be compatible." Jake asked, drawing out two red blades, I don't see the necessity. Do you?"

"Yeah."

Without warning, Jake charged at Brandon. Brandon barely had a chance to block the attack with the spear.

"Your instincts are good. I'd give you that. But put that spear away. It isn't yours."

"Make me."

Jake grinned. "Sure thing." Charging at Brandon, Jake thrust his blade at him. Brandon moved to the left to dodge, thrusting the spear at Jake, who took a step back to dodge. Brando twisted the blade's handle, and the spear's blade transformed, shrinking into a smaller but longer blade, forcing Jake to bend lower. Brandon charged in, kicking Jake in the stomach and sending him into a tree.

"I win." Brandon said.

"Rule number one kid." Jake said, "Never claim victory if your opponent is still on his feet."

"Dude, we aren't trying to kill each other."

"Good point." Jake said, standing up straight. "But I never said that we have to beat each other up badly either."

Before Brandon could react, Jake had slashed at him, cutting his uniform were his heart was. Jumping up, Jake landed on the spear as Brandon thrust it at him, pointing his other blade at him.

"Checkmate kid."

Jake backflipped off the spear, patting Brandon on the back.

"Still doesn't change anything. I'll still use it." Brandon said.

"Why though?"

"I'm already compatible, duh?"

"You mean the function to change the blade type? No, that's not its ability. Spearhead could create an arsenal of spears. What you just did was something even I could do."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know."

Brandon stood still for a while. "Then how am I going to ever be compatible. How am I going to be like Barry O'Neil."

Jake looked at Brandon, bewildered. "So all this time you wanted to be like him because what, he's cool? You've gotta be kidding me?"

"Is there anything wrong with that? I liked him Jake. He was a good teacher, better than anyone else." Brandon cried. "I'm not going to let his legacy be in vain. Not now not EVER!"

A silence settled around them as the sky grew darker. Night was falling. The two inquisitors stood facing each other.

"Brandon." Jake sighed, "A lot of people admired Barry, not just you. A lot of people wanted to be like him. Just that, we all have different paths. This isn't some fairy tail were things would go the way we want them to. You can never be compatible to Spearhead no matter how hard you try, but that doesn't mean you can't still imitate his footsteps. Pave your own path in his kid. In the meantime, I'm starving."