Carlyle stands, his mind totally immersed in the book in his hands. He doesn't even bother to put it down when I round the corner. He merely glances up at me.

"Sit." he says.

"Is there a need to?" I ask.

"No." he closes the book. "You're going to kill Heclan Nelson. He lives in this town." he pointed to one I'm familiar with, it's the first and last stop I took with my master before we came here. "Heclan Nelson, he went into hiding fifteen years ago. His murders were especially brutal, he'd capture someone off the streets and torture them until they died. Fingers, toes, ears, all cut off. Sometimes he would befriend someone only to kill the person later."

*Growl*

My body began to paralyze.

"There were a few survivors of his attacks but they were all beaten black and blue. The ones who survived were left within an inch of their lives, they'd comment on how he would tell them how worthless they were while he landed punch after punch. He liked his victims weak and came after the ones who's lives were already bad."

Get him. Kill him.

So it was saying something. I wasn't just imagining it. My breathing became stunted, it finally said something, it's been weeks since I last heard it.

"I'll decide whether or not to kill him." I declare.

He looks me in the eye, "You're going to kill him." he says.

"I'm not going." I say.

His eyes narrow, "Why are you so different from last time? This guy's a killer too, a much worse one than the last. Are you feeling sympathy for them?"

"...I, as a member of this group, I'd prefer to not have to kill for a mission. I don't get to choose like the others right? So at the very least I'd like to request not to go on this one."

This is what I should've done last time. If I have a problem with something I should say it, I could always tell my master my complaints but I felt like I couldn't do it to Carlyle. I shouldn't just become his puppet. And, if this demon wants to kill Heclan, then I can't just go kill him like I did with Nack, not at least without a better reason this time. Else, I'd regret it.

"..."

Nothing but silence from Carlyle.

He leans in close, "Rainen Weaver," he whispers. "You are going to go and take him down."

"Don't back down when someone is threatening you if you can help it."  my master taught me.

"Why do I have to go?" I ask coldly.

"Because your master wants this for you." he responds.

"Oh, really? It didn't seem like that last time he came here."

He moved his jaw a little.

"You really take after him don't you?" he scratches his cheek. "I'm trying to help you here. I don't care how forceful I have to be."

I get off the barrel. "How are you helping me? Making me go out and kill people, even if they are criminals I should have a say."

"Look here. Reinhard has been having a hard time with you, he's been constantly worried about you. Your apprehension to killing is only going to hurt you in the future. If you care about your master, then please go. He. Is. Worried. About. You. I'm assigning you this because I want you to get over it, you won't be able to if you don't face it head on. It's also for Reinhard."

Pulling the master card huh. I'd like to say something but he's right on those parts. I could tell that something was bothering him.

"Alright, but because it's for my master."

Carlyle nods, "Okay, you three leave tonight."

-------

I pat the horse. The night is cool and the stars are out, the moon isn't as bright today. Traveling in this darkness is going to be harder. I mount the horse, and ride out the gates of the city, the sound of the hooves as they beat against the ground echo throughout the empty lands.

I follow behind Hannah who leads the way. Why would I need two people to watch over me? Do they think that I'll botch the mission?

We ride for over three hours, only stopping to rest our horses. Soon enough, we reach the town, it has its own gates and guards. If I were to describe the place, I'd use the word, prosperous. Not many people wander the night streets but the houses look well built, the people we see outside are well fed, and the armor of the guards seem well made.

If this town were slightly bigger with another two thousand or so people, I could see it becoming a city. The trail that we followed to get here goes through a small forest, one that a parent wouldn't mind letting their kids play in.

"We're going to rest first right?" Hannah asks.

"Yeah, we'll find an inn for tonight." Henry's horse slowly gallops through the street.

"Ever wonder if we've gotten the wrong information?" I ask.

"No... well, one time I did." Hannah says. "The old lady that I was sent to take down, she was way too nice, handed out some free food to children, worked in a stand. She was like any other old lady that had no one to take care of her, she worked because she had to. I started to think that the info was wrong."

"And it wasn't." I say.

"Right. She was just acting, attacked me at night. My mistake, I was able to get the upper hand but I'll never make that mistake again. The person who's gathering the information knows what they're doing."

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We continue without much talking for a few seconds.

"So~," Hannah says. "how old are you?"

I weigh my options, I could not answer, I could lie, or I could tell the truth. We both live in the same city, so knowing the age really narrows it down but the population of the city is huge. She might recognize my voice if we meet anyways.

"I turned sixteen this summer." I answer honestly.

"Oh~ how young." she licks her lips.

I feel a chill go down my back.

"Do you have someone your interested in?" she asks.

I think for a minute.

"No."

"Hehehe. I see."

Whoops, maybe I should've lied.

"Watch out thirteenth, she'll bed almost anyone." he laughs.

"Hey! That's not true!"

"Hahahaha, maybe."

"It is not true."

"Then what were you trying to find out about our newest and youngest member?" Henry smirks. "You like them young and inexperienced right? Taking that first time of theirs, and teasing them all the way."

"...N-not true at all." her voice wavers. "Experienced men are good too."

"Hahahaha. Watch out thirteenth, she'll tempt you at any time."

"No worries, she can't take my first time." I say.

"W-what! Are you saying you aren't attracted to me at all?" her face goes pale. "Don't tell me... you like men!?"

"Woah, hold it there. I am perfectly straight."

"T-then I'm no good?" she pulls her lower lip down.

"There is an obvious answer to why you can't take his first time Hannah. Think about it." Henry says.

Realization dawns on her face, "Really?! You're, you're experienced?!"

"Hardly, but I've uh... done it."

"GUH!"

"What's wrong Hannah?" Henry asks.

"I feel like an arrow pierced my heart. I lost the chance to steal a perfectly fine boy's first time."

"Glad you think I'm fine." I say sarcastically.

"But, you know, I still wouldn't mind having some fun with you." she bats her eyelashes.

"No thanks, I'll need to make sure to keep this mask on so I can protect myself from you."

Henry bursts into laughter, "Hahahaha, that's right."

She pouts, "I can at least kiss him." she leans over and kisses my cheek.

I can feel my face getting hotter.

"Aww, look at him, he's blushing. Kukukukuku."

"Arrrgh, let's just get going."

Henry calls out, "Hey, hey thirteenth, are you sure you've done it? You seem more like a young maiden. Hahahahaha."

I reach the nearest decent looking in and get off my horse. I tie the reins to a pole and quickly enter, the blood's moved on. It's true that I've done it but my master kind of tricked me. I was stuck in that place for a good while, eventually I got a little curious, and that's that.

The last time I've had someone I liked, liked, was when I was younger, around nine. It... didn't turn out good.

I shake myself and walk up to the counter.

"What can I get you today sir?" the barman asks.

"I'd like..." I think to myself. "two rooms."

"That'll be two silvers for one night."

I reach into my back pocket feeling around. The silver coins, copper coins, and gold coins have all different shapes/pictures on them. Just by feeling around I can tell which one it is. I pull out four silvers, two mighty lions are facing each other.

"Here." I drop them into his hand.

"Two nights. Jack! Show him to his room!"

"On it!"

A young straight laced looking boy quickly scuttles towards me. I hear the sound of a door opening, sure enough, Hannah and Henry just entered.

"Oh, I'd also like room in the stable for our three horses."

"Another silver please." the bulky man sticks his hand out.

I flip the coin into his hand.

"Jack, put their horses into the stable after you show them to their rooms."

"Understood." he turns to us. "This way please."

The three of us follow the boy. Instead of stumbling like I thought he would, he strides across the room and up the steps with great confidence. His back is straight and his head is up, just like how my master taught me to be like. "It's bad for your back." he said. "Keep your head up! It makes you look confident."

"These will be your rooms, here are the keys. Please keep them locked at night, just in case anyone would try to rob you."

"Thank you." I nod and take the keys.

He goes back down into the main room.

"Hey, why are we getting two rooms?" Hannah asks.

"So we don't have to sleep in the same room as you." Henry replies.

"Heh, it's so the thirteenth and I don't have to worry about you interrupting us." she says.

"I'll throw you two in the same room if you don't stop bickering." I say.

"Hahaha, no worries thirteenth."

Henry seems a lot merrier today.

"Oh, by the way," I turn to them before putting the key into the knob. "how are we going to identify the person?" I ask.

"Ah, don't worry about that." Henry says.

Hannah nods, "Yeah, we've got all the details about him. He's around here."

"What does he do?" I ask.

"The report says we can find him selling apples, it also says he has kids."

"How is that going to help?"

I toss Hannah the key.

"He's a big part of the orphanage, five kids were adopted by him."