"Father Kharl, you-"

Kharl raised his hand and twirled his fingers, muttering an incantation instantly. Caleb's words became muffled, forcing him to silence. "Sorry, Caleb, I would instead listen to what I have to say without making a fuss. I am not here to hurt you nor make an enemy of you. Please, sit. I'll remove the spell once you calm down."

Twirling his fingers again, a gust of wind bellows from his hand, sweeps up the chair, and sets it to the side for Caleb. Realizing the situation, Caleb obeys him and sits down without a problem. Seeing his eyes, Kharl trusts Caleb and flicks his two fingers to the side, removing the silence from the boy.

Caleb takes a deep breath and says a few words to test his speech. "What do you want?"

Kharl smirks. "I just want to chat with you before your leave. I am the head priest of this temple first and foremost. But as you can see, I am also a child of Nix, like you. I'm sure you have your questions." Kharl clasps his hands together and presents the stage for Caleb to speak his questions.

"I have many. But a few right now will do. Why do our eyes change? My mother had them, and I've begun to experience the same thing ever since I turned ten."

"Ahh yes, our blood is of Nix, a curse if you will, placed upon us the moment we were conceived in the womb. We carry it like a virus, infecting those we give our seed. However, only a select few who are born have these special eyes. I had similar questions: what does it mean? What does it do?"

"Please, just get to the point." Kharl chuckled and applauded Caleb for his determination to tell the truth.

"Very well. It means that you and I were born with a special attribute of Nix."

"A special attribute...?" Caleb's eyes widened with interest.

"I don't know the full details, but it means we will impact a special purpose in our world. This is a sign that we are destined for something great, good or evil, simple or complex. We have a special purpose that Nix himself has given us through our blood. I've already done my part for this world by becoming a paladin during the Demon War and leading an army through the war, opening the path for the heroes to slay the Demon King. My purpose was served, and I resigned myself as high priest to this temple until the remainder of my days." Kharl's eyes shift back to the dull brown.

"Then what of my purpose...? What am I destined to achieve?"

Shifting his chair to the side, Kharl lifts a book from his studies and flips to a few pages. "Your path will show itself to you. If you worry if you'll cause nothing but a great evil, then simply avoid taking such a path."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"But didn't you-" Kharl slams the book to interrupt Caleb.

"It is up to you to make that impact and how you do it. Now, ask your next question; we don't have all day."

Caleb opens his mouth to speak further, but he recoils back, knowing that he has his answer. "Is that the reason why we are despised? Why does the Empire believe we should be taken into custody? They fear us?"

"Anyone can fear the unknown. Would you feel the same if you saw someone with our eyes and hair and knew that they might be the next savior of the country or world? Does the idea they might be the next Demon Lord or even the Demon King? Would you not react to that news negatively?"

"I think...we should all have a fair shot at deciding on who we want to be. That gives no excuse for the horrors of what the Empire has done!" Caleb's eyes glow brighter as his rage grows.

"What of them? Do the men in charge want to slaughter children just because they look a little different? Is their fear justified? I've lived long enough to know that not everything is simple. Just like us, people who don't share our blood can do great evils and good. Just ours is more telling." A soft chuckle escapes him. Caleb sits back and clears his mind. "If you can learn more and talk with them, you should give that chance."

His words reach Caleb's ears. Wisdom beyond years, Caleb understands the meaning, and understands how naive he's acting. "Very well. I don't know if you're right, but...I can't say I disagree."

"Then your final question?" Facing Caleb, Kharl looks at him with a stern demeanor. Time had begun to run out, and they both needed to move on soon.

Caleb had hundreds in his mind, all wanting answers to the history, knowledge, and facts that he read about at his father's manor. His mind became tangled with endless thoughts. Knots formed, and he struggled to contain it, holding his head while sweat poured down his brow.

"If that is all, then I am afraid our time is-"

Kharl stopped himself from speaking, watching as Caleb's eyes met his. The young boy had nothing else to say but the one thing that felt off about this encounter. He needed to know and quite possibly more, but he decided to speak his mind...

"Your name isn't Kharl, is it?"

The priest's eyes opened just slightly wider in surprise but also admiration. He didn't misjudge the boy in his study. The moment he saw Caleb, he knew he must talk with the boy, hoping his secret would be revealed.

Smirking, Kharl looks at Caleb. "That is right, that isn't my name. How did you come to that?"

"I'll spare you the time, but one thing was bothering me. You claim you fought in the last Demon War, but that happened much longer than you realize. You look human, but everything about you screams that you aren't. You are older than you pose to be and that is something that no human can do. Just what are you?"

"I'm surprised, really. I didn't think you would catch on this fast or early. Your question poses a great point. However, I did indeed take part in defeating the last Demon King and his Lords."

"What was it?"

"Patience, I am still speaking. Ahem... My name is insignificant as it no longer holds a place in history which has written its loss. Kharl is the name of the man who spared me before he died of the wounds I inflicted upon him. It was the great paladin Kharl who saw a young Demon who regretted the atrocities he committed. Bleeding out in my arms, he asked me to make a vow of life. To live in his stead and have a life worth living. So, I buried him and took his life as my own. Using my knowledge of the Demon army, I made a name for Kharl as being the general who cleared a straight path to the Demon King Tarok."

"Wait..." Caleb paused, soon realizing who he was in the presence of...

"Yes, I am...was one of Tarok's generals, one of the Demon Lords who served him..."