I couldn't leave the forest and it was driving me crazy. I was getting paranoid by the enclosed sounds within. Echoes and whispers resounded in my mind but I couldn't understand them. The voices grew loud and faint at the same time. Has more of my past deeds come to haunt me?

The sounds faded and the aura that covered the forest disappeared. Suddenly like I was out of a trance I noticed my surroundings had changed. My senses returned to me and I went to search for Dante. I feared for his safety only to find him an arm's throw away. He looked like he was in heavy contemplation.

"Dante! Are you alright?"

Dante looked over to me.

"Hmm…? Yeah, I'm alright."

"What happened?"

"Someone wanted to speak to me."

"Is it someone you know?"

"No, I couldn't see them," Dante said. "Their voice came into my head."

"What did it sound like?"

"I don't remember, it's like I forgot."

I tried to scan the forest but I couldn't feel any other presence.

"We should leave the forest and go back to Balenos." I said.

Dante nodded and we quickly tried to leave the forest. As we left, I felt a pair of eyes staring at me but I couldn't tell where it was coming from. I was on high alert and tried to make sure we didn't walk into any more traps. A sense of relief filled me when we made it back to Balenos. Dante never said a word and seemed to be heavy in thought.

"We're back safely Young Lord."

"Right, what should we do now?"

"We aren't going to do anything, this is where we part." I said. "I think I've taught you enough and I've stayed here far too long."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer, Demitri?"

I shook my head, I had a bad feeling that my troubles might drag this boy down with me.

"Like you said Dante, I'm not the type of man to stay in one place."

"As long as I'm here, you're always welcomed in Balenos, Demitri." Dante gave me a smile.

"Thank you, Young Lord."

"Oh, one more thing Demitri."

Dante had a serious look on his face and leaned towards me.

"If there's anyone who speaks in a mysterious language like I can, be on your guard."

"Like English?"

"That or any other language that you don't know of," Dante said." They might have similar gifts like mine, you should be careful."

I gave my farewells and left the town of Balenos. I was still an outlaw and wanted criminal. I didn't want Dante and his family to get caught up in my actions. They were nobles and had the lives of many under their care. I'm no leader, I'm just a killer and a forsaken one at that. Someone who betrayed his friends and his kingdom. I needed to leave Bareth as soon as possible and head into Demon territory.

I felt the ring on my finger as I walked the lonely road north. My actions had caused much suffering and this was the only act of kindness I could give. With the Hero gone, the demons had returned. I had to make things right and stop them. Maybe it was the sense of guilt I felt in my heart or maybe Princess Helen had planned for this.

Sometimes I wonder why I didn't kill Princess Helen for the crimes she committed as well. Though If I did, the Kingdom of Bareth would be worse off. No matter how horrific her crimes were, she was in the position of power. Only one who is willing to take the role of leadership should kill her. I wasn't in the game of politics and I had no notion to rule.

The Hero I killed had no such place in the upper echelons. He was a sword like me and he was covered thick with filth. With his death, the war stopped as quickly as it was started. Now I was branded the common enemy of humanity for letting the Demons return unabated. I had killed one Demon Lord before and I had decided that I was going to kill the new Demon Lord now.

I grabbed the map I had placed in my pocket and checked it over. Sunlight still shone in the sky but it would soon be gone. The next town after Balenos would take almost a day's journey. I remembered the name of the town as it was famous in the Kingdom. The town was called, "Swillsden" also known as the "City of Pigs." That town was no city but it had a remarkable amount of pigs and boars that lived there.

The road from Balenos to Swillsden was covered thick in forests. Civilization had not strayed too far from their respective towns. The border of where the two kingdoms of Solace and Bareth met were mostly uninhabited. Balenos and Swillsden were on the eastern outskirts of the Kingdom of Bareth. I was already surprised that the horrors of the previous war didn't reach Balenos.

I can only hope that Swillsden had acquired the same good fate. The Demon territory was rife with treacherous landscapes and harsh weather. I would need to get some items before I could cross the region. Mountains separated the Kingdom of Bareth and Demon territory. In those mountains lived many dangerous and dark things.

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As I was deciding my next course of action, I noticed a couple shadows following me. They stayed not too far from me but they wouldn't let me out of their range. I had to leave the road and see if they would still follow. Quickly straying off course, I entered the forest. I hid my presence while staying behind a tree.

The shadows moved quickly into the area where I used to be. There seemed to be a group of them in dark garb and they were quiet as air. My vision came upon one of them and I knew who was following me. They were the Black Birds, covert assassins employed by the Kingdom of Solace. So finally the hands of Solace decided to make a move for my life.

The Black Birds had realized I disappeared from the road and drew their swords. They scattered into the forest to find me. This was now a death battle between assassins and I was not going to lose my life here. I pressed myself against a tree in preparation for an ambush. A Black Bird came near and I sprung out to cut his throat before he could make a sound.

Another Black Bird noticed that one of his comrades was missing and came to investigate. What he saw next was my sword plunged into his own neck. The Mithril sword I had was splendid in being able to reap the lives of men in an instant. Some shadows passed by me one by one without a glance. These Black Birds were definitely inexperienced.

I had known only one previous Black Bird in my life and that was Silvia, one of the eight companions to the Hero. She was very similar to me but more meticulous and cunning. She had forsaken her vows as a Black Bird to join the Hero and we welcomed her. Silva's specialty was spy-craft, like hiding in plain sight and information gathering. If she was tracking me, I would've been found instantly.

I began to follow these Black Birds now instead, while staying in the shadows of the forest.

"Where did he go?"

"How could we lose him?"

"Where are Raven and Rook?"

"Damn! He must have killed them!"

"The Cardinal won't be pleased if she finds out."

"The master won't! We must kill him!"

The Cardinal? So there's a new leader of the Black Birds? Silvia had once told me before that the master of the Black Birds was a man. He was also called the Crow not the Cardinal. I wonder who I antagonized enough in the Kingdom of Solace for the Black Birds to be after me. There were only four Black Birds left now and I had to take them out as precisely as I could.

Even with my experience I don't think I can handle four assassins at once. Nearing another Black Bird, I came behind him and mimicked his footsteps. I waited for the other Black Birds to look away. In that swift moment, my hands move to stab my blade towards his heart. As soon as his body was pierced, it evaporated into thin air.

"Shit! Shadow magic." I whispered.

"There! He's over there!"

There were only three assassins, one of the four was actually a shadow created by magic. I dashed quickly towards one of the Black Birds to kill him. He evaded my blow and thrust his sword at me. I blocked with my arm so I could take his life. His blade pierced my arm but my sword went into his heart. Blood streamed out of my arm and I could feel it weaken.

My prospects seemed dimmer as the pain in my arm increased. I didn't have the advantage of stealth anymore. I could only use one arm against two assassins. One of the Black Birds could use shadow magic. I didn't even know if the one I killed was the user. The Black Birds stared at me, waiting, but I was not going to make the first move.

If they weren't going to fight, I was going to run. I slowly backed away and ran through the forest. They chased after me and my blood gave them a trail. I couldn't stop to dress my wounds as they kept close. I looked towards the road and saw men on horseback. I decided I was going risk it and ran into the road in front of them. I only hoped that the confusion would let me get away or that I would be able to steal a horse.

As I got closer, I observed that they were a group of giant burly men. They carried huge weapons with the muscles to show for it. The stoic faces and scars that each of them had told of their battle prowess. They were mercenaries and I had crossed their path. My hopes for escape came to a halt and the Black Birds were able to discern it.

"You mercenaries! If you kill him we will pay you!" A Black Bird yelled.

My body tensed up as I had led myself to my own demise. The head of the mercenary group got off his steed and produced his weapons. When I saw the weapons, he began to cleave the Black Birds in two. The head of the mercenary group was a mountain of a man and he turned around to face me.

"Demitri! I never thought I would see you again."

The mountain of a man spoke and I became conscious of the fact that it was Martin, one of my former companions.