Elucard clenched his teeth as he throttled Wiccer’s neck. The human’s face flushed blue as he gasped out for air. Elucard squeezed tighter as Wiccer scratched his fingernails down Elucard’s black armor.

“I’m sorry,” Elucard whispered. Tear stains streaked down his quivering face. “I must do this!” His voice shook, but louder now.

Wiccer’s eyes cracked red as his body went limp.

“I’m sorry!”

Elucard’s eyes snapped open, he gripped his covers and sat up in bed. He panted, breathing in gulps of air. Sweat dampened his linen sheets.

“All-Father…” Elucard’s voice croaked through labored breaths.

“The same dream as last night, Master?” Elucard’s student Kyzo reared his head around the corner. He untied his long white braid and took off his shirt. The scars from Elucard’s rough training shimmered in the morning sunlight.

Elucard swung his feet to the side of his bed. He pressed his hand on his wet forehead, his eyes still wide from the nightmare.

“Every night since the cat’s blade cut me. I’ve seen those visions—the ones where I slay my loved ones over and over again.” Elucard sucked in air through his nostrils and calmly exhaled. His racing heartbeat fell to a crawl.

Kyzo sat down on his bed next to his master’s. “Have you been able to interpret any of it yet?”

“I can only assume it’s about my past…” Elucard lowered his head. “…How my actions always destroy those closest to me. Jetta, Wiccer, Koda… No one is safe.”

Kyzo reached a hand to comfort Elucard, but pulled back when Elucard lifted his eyes. His stomach churned as he turned away from Elucard’s painful eyes.

Elucard moved to the nearby bureau and dunked his face into a washbowl that rested on top of it. The cold water sent a shock down his spine, pushing his dark thoughts back into the recess of his mind.

He thought about holding his face longer. Every morning grew harder to wake up. To live his life. To see the disgust on faces who were once his closest friends. Every day he ruined his life just a little more and every day he thought he’d hold his head in the water just a little longer too.

But he didn’t.

He looked up to the grimy mirror that hung on the wall and practiced hiding his broken thoughts. He curled his mouth into a ridged smile and blinked away his icy glare. He turned to Kyzo, now preparing for bed.

“How was the night patrol? Any trouble?”

Kyzo raised his blanket over his shoulders and he sunk his head into the feather-stuffed pillow.

“The streets are as restless as ever. Even with three new ARO units and larger presence of guards, crime still rises.” Kyzo turned to his side facing his master. “Will the streets ever return to normal? Or will we have the unrest of civilians for more years to come?”

Elucard reached for his armor and scarlet cloak. “I’ll see that you get a break and have you join me on the morning patrols next week.” He ignored his apprentice’s concerns. The chance to bust a head or two always kept his mind busy. The streets always needed his Watchers, it felt good to be needed. Elucard looked over his shoulder and saw that his student was already fast asleep.

Get some rest, Kyzo.

***

Elucard sprinted like a cat over the thick roots and branches sprawling throughout the city of Lost Dawns. Leaping over wide alley gaps and bounding across the rooftops, he lived for this part of his day. Patrol.

It was the one time he could be himself and live carefree in the canopy of the city. Away from worries and responsibilities. Where he wasn’t a former criminal or the captain of a military unit. He was just Elucard Freewind, and just like his namesake, he felt free as the wind.

Diving off a tower into a long drop, the elf tucked his knees in, wrenching his body into a spin before rolling as he hit the clay tiled roof below.

The yikahti, Lear, leaned against a chimney waiting for his captain, who was punctual as always. The striped cat slid a straw from his ear and stuck it into his mouth.

“Captain, this yikahti has something to report.”

“Speak, Sergeant.” Elucard crouched at the edge of the roof, watching the townsfolk below as merchants set up their peddle carts and wares.

“The king gathers the council of tribes for a meeting to discuss the possibility of a venture to New Estinia.”

Elucard nodded. “I’ll make sure Calsoon is present for the meeting. He’s done an excellent job of guarding the king so far.”

“Aye, sir.” Lear took out a folded parchment and a stick of charcoal, jotting down Elucard’s order.

“What else?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“There are rumblings of a small extremist group called the Spellbreakers,” said Lear.

Elucard raised an eyebrow. “Extremist group? Connected to the riots and the Varis War?”

“According to our reports they are on the rise connected to the Arcana War. An Anti-Mage movement,” finished Lear.

Elucard collected his thoughts. “Okay. This could become something bigger down the road, but for now keep an eye on them. This could just be hot air.”

“As you you say, Elucard.”

Elucard walked to the edge of the roof and looked out into the city. “Anything else?”

“Recruitment is still dry, Captain. We lost two more members over the past month.”

“No one trusts me anymore,” sighed Elucard, “Any of the vets?”

“No, sir, just wet behind the ear rookies.” Lear grew a thin smile. “Malady has stayed, of course.”

Elucard twitched his ears in annoyance. Taking in the traitorous elf may have not been his idea, but Wiccer saw to it being Elucard’s responsibility.

“He has been a thorn in my side ever since we gave him amnesty,” growled Elucard. Each jeer and critique Malady made at his expense had Elucard wishing for the chance to hang the Rabbit himself.

“He has been a valuable asset. His swordsmanship rivals Legion and his prowess with stealth and hand to hand combat is greater than your own,” responded Lear.

Elucard gave a long and defeated sigh. “Don’t remind me,” he muttered underneath his breath. “Having him as a recruit is worth having ten greenhorns.”

“We’ll get more. The allure of warriors who don't play by gentlemen's rules is what drew them to us in the first place.” Lear grinned. He licked his pencil tip and pretended to jot down a set of words before speaking again. “Word on the wind says that Wiccer has been taking lunch at the Mystic Fang these days. Perhaps-”

Elucard’s ears perked up at the name ‘Wiccer’. “Have you been spying on him?”

“No…”

“Lear, you know I don’t want to talk to him, and he doesn’t want to hear a damn thing that I have to say.”

“Elucard, you still have to work with hi-”

“We work together just fine. He leads our company, not ARO. If that’s what he wants, then that’s what I want. No friction.”

“But-”

“Anything else, Sergeant?” Elucard raised his voice and his blood began to boil with the image of his dreams rising to the surface of his mind again.

Lear took a long breath before answering. “Timber has returned from her mission in the Risen Forest.”

Elucard stood up and tightened his gloves with a frown on his face. Another member that he would, no doubt, lose. “Thank you, Lear. Go grab some breakfast chow.”

Elucard hid a smirk as Lear lowered into an exaggerated bow. The cat had been an ARO member since the beginning and still he struggled to salute an officer.

***

Elucard trekked through the tall grass. He was careful to mind his step, for this was the field where marksmen trained in camouflage. He channeled his Rabbit-trained senses into his eyesight, searching for a shadowy shape that could be an elf in a ghillie suit or a kanis.

“You looking for me, Sergeant?” the unmistakable gruff voice of Timber echoed around Elucard.

He still couldn’t make out the image of his wolven subordinate. “That’s captain to you, Corporal.”

Elucard spun around fast as an indistinct bulk of grass and foliage rose from behind him. The figure drew back a canvas hood to reveal the kanis face of Timber. “Lieutenant now, Captain.”

Elucard nodded with a grin. “Congratulations on your commission. The new colony in the Risen Forest must have treated you well.”

Timber pulled off her netted hood. Its green and brown fabric shook with the movement. “I can’t complain, honestly. But I missed true civilization. A meal and a drink at the Mystic Fang will always trump army rations.”

Elucard motioned his hand towards the chow hall. “Walk with me, Timber. Let’s discuss your future plans.”

Timber shouldered her bow and followed Elucard.

“You were gone for two years in the Risen Forest,” started Elucard, unsure how to tackle the conversation. “Had any of the Watchers written to you during your expedition?”

Timber didn’t look up as she walked beside her captain, choosing to let the dismal tension stew.

“Have you talked to anyone since your return?” Elucard tried again.

Timber bristled her claws across the fletching of her arrows, counting each one under her breath. She gave Elucard a quick glance.

The elf narrowed his eyes. She was playing mind games with him. Timber had always been the silent type, but she was loyal to the core and always spoke her mind when it was called for.

“You heard about the difficulties of our mission as the Ghost Fox, didn’t you?”

Timber pushed her quiver away before finally speaking up. “Essie has been writing to me. She told me of your departure into cruelty, how your methods tore away everything the Watchers respected about you, leaving only a misshapen creature in its stead.”

“She said all that?” Elucard shook his head with a faint smile. Poetic but true.

“You nearly killed the king’s uncle, beat Blayvaar within an inch of his life, and drove away Wiccer. You single handedly destroyed everything we worked towards.”

Elucard bit his lip; it was a hard aspect of his past to swallow. Her words struck him like a morningstar to the head.

“You can’t be trusted any longer, Elucard.”

Elucard searched her eyes for any form of forgiveness but found only apathy.

“Then why do you stay?” The logical question. Perhaps there was still a sliver of hope that he could earn his place among them again.

“We are still soldiers. We serve Long Whisper, not you.”

Elucard paused. He regretted digging up these events.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry for how I handled the mission.”

“How you handled the mission?” she snorted, “How about being sorry for being an emotionless dirtbag?”

“I am…”

“Was it worth it, Elucard? Completing the mission but having the Watchers — your family turn their backs on you?” Timber prodded.

He paused, letting a berth of silence mask his true thoughts. Yes. Anything to complete the mission. He narrowed his eyes, slamming the door on his controversial thoughts. “No.”

“Well hopefully you’ll have a better head on your shoulders for future missions.” Timber pulled her ghillie suit off and tucked it into her rucksack.

“It’s been a long day, I can walk the rest of the way to the barracks on my own,” she said with a dry inflection in her voice.

Elucard bowed his head and walked away from Timber. The conversation didn’t relieve his state of mind.

***

Elucard walked into his apartment

The moon had finally risen and he was ready for bed. Taking off his armor and tossing his cloak on a wall hook, he fell face first into his pillow.

Kyzo had already gotten ready for his night patrol.

“Rough day, Master?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kyzo shook his head. He fastened his scabbard to his belt and carefully creaked open the door. “Good night Mas-” He smiled as he found Elucard already fast asleep.