My dagger was stuck deep in his heart. I never remembered any blood; maybe he didn't bleed. His eyes were green, and I hated the look he gave me. Was it pity? Was it shock? His hair was blue like the sky as if he were made from up above. I still remembered his eyes and that look. That awful look.

            "Forgive me," my mouth moved, but the sound didn't come out.

            Those green eyes, did I hate those green eyes? Or maybe it reflected the envy I felt for him. If I didn't envy him, I don't think I could ever call myself human. He had everything, and I had nothing. I won't deny my jealousy. He was supposed to be better than all of us. He was meant to be better than me. But he had the eyes of perdition...

            Sunlight touched my eyelids, and I stirred awake.

            My right eye confirmed my surroundings, and I knew I lived for another day. I already lived through thirty winters, and perhaps I could live through another. The forest seemed to wake up as I did, becoming alive than it did the previous night. I threw the pelt off my body and felt dirty all over. Though it was still the kind of dirt that I could have washed off. I limped over to the river and cleaned myself up.

            How I missed the inns and castles that I became accustomed to. After I ran, I could stay at those places no longer. I used to say that it would make people weak and soft. I didn't know that I would have been one of them.

            I glanced up the river and saw that it stretches over the horizon. I thank the Gods that Cassandra and her men didn't find me while I slumbered. Maybe they hoped that I was dead. I had nothing to live for, but I still wouldn't die so easily. Some of my wounds clotted over, I looked at them and knew they were going to be scars. More wounds to signify the things I've done.

            My stomach rumbled, and I moved my gaze over to the wolf carcass. At least I knew I could fill my belly up with meat. Black Wolves don't make for good meals, but the pain of hunger was too much. I wanted to satisfy it at least. Best that I die with my stomach filled.

            Wasting some daylight, I made a fire as I had the luxury of time now. I carved some wood branches with my knife and propped a fire spit together. I was going to roast the meat and dry my wet clothes. I squatted and waited for time to take its course. My idle hands tried touching my face. The left side of my face still stung, and my left eye couldn't open yet.

            Cassandra's fists were harsh indeed.

            I searched the surrounding vegetation in my vision and caught sight of some flowers. I moved over to examine them. There were some "Arica" flowers, and I plucked them out. I knew what they were called because of a girl I grew up with. She used to sell flowers in the city until she was forced to sell something else. I wished I could've saved her back then; it was one of my first failures.

            After I had plucked enough, I went back over to the fire and watched my meal cook. I balled up the flowers tightly and compacted them in my hands. Using the handle of my knife, I smashed the flowers on a log. I repeated to smash them until they became a paste-like salve. I dabbed my fingers slightly in the salve and brushed it over my face. I felt a slight sting, but I knew it would keep down the bruising. I cut part of the pelt and created a makeshift eye-patch to cover my left eye with the salve underneath.

            Some time had passed before I was able to eat the meat. The meat was gamey and tough as I tasted it. I wished that I had some seasoning to alleviate the flavor. I think I had done more chewing than eating. I cut some more meat to roast and packed it with me before I traveled. I didn't know where I was and my sense of direction was gone.

            I just knew that I had to head north to go into Demon territory. I wanted to go there to right some wrongs.  It was there that my honor and valor were still on good graces. It's been many years since I've last been there with the Hero and the others. 

            The sun was high above me before I was ready to make my journey. My clothes were dry now, and I cleaned them over again. The dark leather armor and trousers I wore no longer stained with blood. My brown boots looked fresh like tree bark. At the very least I would not look like I was near death anymore. Though my wounds, if you saw them, would've told you otherwise. I bundled up the wolf pelt with me, and I moved downstream.

            The river looked large enough in size that I could only hope that there was a town that way.

            An explosion echoed throughout the forest, and I heard the sounds of fighting. I rushed to see what was happening. I only had a small knife with me, but if anyone needed help, I would assist them. Unless it were something beyond my control, I help those in need. It was something I learned with the Hero. I wasn't a heartless person, but of course, I cared about my survival more. I heard a boy's voice mixed with the sound of roars and growls.

            I stumbled upon him, and my eyes would not avert their gaze. He looked to be around nine or ten years old, just a small child. But he was unleashing magic spells like they were nothing. Many beasts surrounded him, and he looked calm as if it were a stroll outside. It was like he was a monster, no, monsters showed no fear, but he showed no mercy. In a blink of an eye, the beasts all died to his hands.

            This boy…he seemed to remind me of him.

            <"Alright! I leveled up!"> The boy said. <"How many skill points did I get?">

            What words was he using? It seemed like nonsense to me. I never heard words of that tongue before. Did the river take me far south to the land of the ancients? No, it couldn't have been. Otherwise, I would've seen the great desert.

             I watched the boy closely. I saw him touching the air, but there was nothing there. He was talking to himself, but I couldn't understand him. Could a small boy like him even speak coherently? Was he mad? Maybe he wasn't from around here? I tried to ponder this, but he stopped and looked in my direction.

            "I know you're there! Come out!" The boy said.

            This time, I clearly understood his words. The common tongue of the Bareth land. So it appeared that I did not leave Bareth. I emerged from the forest and appeared to him.

            "You can speak my language?" I said.

            "Of course, I can! I was born in a town not far from here." The boy said as he looked up at me.

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            No matter what, this was strange to my senses. If I saw the boy from a distance, I would think he could barely stand let alone have a conversation with me.

            "What were you saying earlier?" I asked.

            "What?" The boy replied.

            The boy looked to be afraid.

            "You were saying something earlier," I said. "Before I stepped out, what was that?"

            "Oh, you heard that?" The boy said.

            I nodded my head and stared at his face. I tried to decipher what he would be thinking.

            "It's another language," The boy said.

            "Oh? What is it?" I asked.

            "English," The boy said as he crossed his arms.

            "English? I never heard of it," I said.

            I stared at him with some suspicion in my eyes.

            "It's from some place far away," The boy said.

            "Then how do you know it?" I said.

            Sweat seem to drip from his forehead as he looked panicked.

            "It's…uh…my-my mother! She knows it! She taught me," The boy said.

            I eased my posture and relaxed.

            "Oh, okay," I said not trying to show my emotions.

            The boy exhaled a bit, and his face indicated he felt relief at my approval. I didn't believe him really, but I was going to play with his charade. He was just a little boy no matter how amazing his abilities were. The boy looked human enough and seemed to want to explain himself. I couldn't press the matter any further.

            "Where's the closest town?" I asked.

            "It's quite a distance from here," The boy replied. "The closest town is my home."

            "Can you take me there?" I said.

            "What for?" The boy said as his eyes showed distrust for me.

            I couldn't blame the boy; we had just met. Still, I'm surprised he could understand not to trust strangers for someone his age. Usually, a boy his age would do as he was told. My senses told me that he was no regular boy at all. My gut feeling that he was dangerous.

            "To sell this wolf pelt," I said and produced my bundle.

            I was going to sell the pelt anyway but what I really wanted to know was where I was. I needed to get out of the country. There was too much trouble that followed me. I hoped that this boy wouldn't ask too many questions. The boy looked at the wolf pelt with a nod of his head and seemed to understand.

            "Oh," The boy said. "How about we make a deal?"

            "Deal?" My eyes sharpened on him.

            "Yeah, I'll show you the way to town but could you sell some of my things as well?" The boy said. "Of course, I'll give you a commission!"

            I raised my eyebrows slightly while I looked at the boy.

            "Why couldn't you sell it yourself?" I said.

            "Nobody would buy them from me," The boy said. "They would think I stole it."

            I could understand, as a street rat myself I stole many things when I was a boy. Many merchants wouldn't deal with me, but there were some that would. Only to give me a fraction of the market price, it was, of course, all stolen goods. Was this boy already thinking about making money at his age?

            "Okay," I said. "It's a deal."

            The boy offered a handshake, and I felt how tiny his hands were. This was all too strange, no matter how I looked at him he was a child. I couldn't stop feeling that he's much older than he was. I didn't know any magic that could reverse aging, and he doesn't look like a demon. I knew that I should find out more about him, but I was worried about what I would find.

            "Alright boy, since we're partners you can tell me your name," I said. "My name is Demitri."

            "My name is Dante Lyons," Dante said.

            A family name? So he was a noble as well. Only the rich and privileged had family names to which they didn't let anyone forget. Yet his clothes seem too poor, and he didn't act like a privileged child. A young noble wouldn't think about selling wolf pelts. This boy was very abnormal to such an extent. Now he completely reminded me of the Hero.

            "Well, lead the way Young Lord," I said.

            Dante turned and went away from the river. I guessed if I followed it downstream I wouldn't have found the town for days. We found a road, but he ignored it and led me around the twists and turns of the forest. It was if he was following a map. Had he learned the ways of a hunter? It was very perturbing to me, but I kept quiet, and I saw the little glances he gave me.

            <"I should level up inspect.">

            "What?" I said following close behind.

            "Nothing," Dante replied waving his hand.

            This Young Lord was a strange boy; I couldn't help but wondered about his real age.

            "How old are you Young Lord?"

            "I'm  ten winters old."

            "…"

            Truly,  it was unbelievable.

            After some time had passed moving through the forest, we arrived at a town. It was strange how far we were from town and where I found him. It seemed like a journey for a boy who only saw ten winters and he was out all by himself. He even knew how to get back home with ease. I pointed my gaze towards him, and it seemed like he was playing with the air again. He saw my face and returned a look back to me. His face was stiff as if he were in shock and then it transformed into a grinning smile.

            "Demitri," Dante said.

            Dante stopped in his tracks and looked up at me.     

            "Young Lord?" I replied taken aback at his look.

            "Could you keep it a secret that you saw me out in the forest?" Dante said. "My parents wouldn't like it if they found out."

            This boy looked to be scheming something as he gave me some pitiful look on his face.

            "Your secret is safe with me Young Lord," I gave a quick bow of my head.

            Dante smiled at me, and I gave a shrug of my shoulders.

            "Okay, then your secret is safe with me too," Dante said.

            Dante gave me a smirk, and I was perplexed at his statement.

            "What secret?" I said.

            "I saw your stats and your title," Dante said as he looked at me with a hideous grin.

            I didn't understand what he was saying.

            "I know who you are…Hero Killer..."

---

            ~ The Hero knew people and places almost too well. He would know the names of people he's never met and walk through uncharted territory like it was the back of his hand. It was frightening to witness.