Aerovind savored the creamy flavor of the milk, taking a small sip from his jug. "What would my mentor think if he could see me now? A skilled killer reduced himself to giving away his coins to a little girl. He wouldn't be pleased, but he's no longer alive—perhaps cursing me from the depths of Hades."

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the table, staring at the candle's flame. "I had to do it; he was too dangerous to keep alive. How ironic, the way he trained his own killer."

Lost in thought, Aerovind's concentration broke with a voice from the outside world. Reflexes kicked in as he snatched up his sword handle, springing to his feet. Making his way to the window, he squinted through the dense snowfall. The sight was sorrowful.

A man was beating a girl outside, snow falling thick around them. Ela's uncle, snowflakes dusting him, taunted her with rough manhandling. With dark eyes gleaming with hatred, he viciously lashed her, tearing her clothes and drawing blood.

Bounding her wrists behind her back, she desperately tried to escape, but it only seemed to infuriate him more.

"Why, Uncle Graham?" Ela cried out, her face buried in the snow. "I didn't do anything wrong. I even gave you all I had."

Returning to his seat and gripping his sword, Aerovind scoffed. "They said humanity was the hope of the world. What a joke!" he muttered. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.

Grinning wickedly, Aerovind sheathed his sword and kicked open the door, stepping into the blizzard.

With the cold wind against his face, he walked to Graham House.

As he approached, the sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh reached him. Hastening his steps, he positioned himself in front of them. Graham, a chubby man with a mustache and goatee, had a runny nose and beady eyes.

Stomping closer, Aerovind's menacing smirk twisted before he snarled, "I think you took the silver coins I gave to the girl." Yanking his sword from its sheath with a metallic ring, Uncle Graham's widened eyes showed fear.

Ela lay on the ground, her clothes ripped and snowflakes whirling around her. In a quick motion, Uncle Graham whipped out a knife, grabbing her by the hair and pressing the blade to Ela's throat.

"You can go to fuck yourself!" he snarled.

A loud guffaw from Aerovind echoed through the forest, causing geese to take off into the sky. Villagers peered out their windows, wondering about the disturbance.

"You think I care for the child?" Aerovind shouted. "I'm a vaelorin killing bastards like you won't make much of a difference. I suggest you say your prayers." Ranting, Graham's face contorted with rage as he grasped Ela's neck, the blade digging into her skin.

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In the blink of an eye, Graham's mouth parted in a guttural groan as Aerovind's sword pierced his heart. A shadow fell over his face; his skin turned from red to purple to blue.

Aerovind grinned maniacally, toying with Graham's heart, his bloody hands providing a shocking contrast to his sinister smirk.

The villagers hurriedly closed their windows at the sight of Graham's body lying in a pool of blood. Aerovind's eyes took on an almost feline shape.

"You have been quite troublesome," he said softly, returning his gaze to its normal expression as he bowed down. "Send my regards to my mentor in hell."

Ela, fearing death, stared at Aerovind's wrinkled face. "I hope you aren't too sad about him leaving. Let me take those shackles off your wrists." Aerovind's voice was calm and soothing.

Releasing Ela from the shackles, he saw her grab the sword from Graham's chest, stabbing him multiple times. "I hate you!" she shouted between sobs.

"I wish I could have killed you, you pig! I hate you!" Aerovind seized her hand before she could stab him again. Seeing tears on her cheeks, he said, "Come on, let's head to the cabin; we need to attend to your wounds."

As he finished his sentence, Graham's wife stepped out, aghast at the sight. "Graham, no!" she screamed, collapsing in a dead faint.

Tears streamed down the young woman's face as Aerovind stood, looking on without emotion. "You should bury him," he said calmly. "The wolves will smell the blood and come for his remains."

"Why did you kill my husband? Whyyyy?" she wailed, clasping her knees to her chest. Swaying back and forth in her grief, Graham's wife sobbed, "Answer me!"

Aerovind's face betrayed the same emotion as he spoke. "It wasn't right for him to take advantage of a defenseless ten-year-old girl and steal her silver coins."

Graham's wife rose, her chest heaving as she looked up at him with fury. "You killed my husband just to save this little slave!" Aerovind said it coolly, gripping the handle of his sword.

"If you're so eager to get back with him, I can arrange an eternal reunion. What do you say?"

Aerovind's words were like venomous darts to her chest, and she clutched her chest as if she were having a heart attack. She fell to her knees, sobbing.

"Do you dare to threaten me? You have taken away everything. Who will save us from starvation and keep us warm in the winter?"

Just as she finished speaking, a terrifying whisper filled the air, and Ela screamed in shock.

Aero spun around to see what was wrong, and what lay before him was petrifying. Graham's lifeless body stood eerily upright, its exposed organs and grotesque transformation defying nature.

The gaping hole in his chest began to mend, but it was far from a natural healing process.

Fur sprouted where his skin was missing, and his eyes turned a menacing shade of red. Twisted horns erupted from his head.

"Ela, run to the cabin, and you, get inside the house now!" Aero's voice was laced with anger as he drew his sword.

Graham's wife turned to flee, but just as she was about to make her escape, the monstrous form lunged forward. A stream of blood appeared in the air, and she turned to check.

It was Aerovind defending her, but the blood flowed from his arms as the creature's teeth pierced through them.

"Run... agh, and please, take Ela with you to the cabin." Aerovind's voice strained with pain as he fought to protect her. Graham's wife was left speechless, her gaze fixed on Aerovind's sacrifice.

"What are you waiting for? Go!" he roared.