In the first five years of his life, he learned to speak and read our language, in the next five he mastered it. Besides that, his writing became impeccable and he took on the school of magic. He only had two elements, Light and Dark, but little did I know these two would make him a truly extraordinary man.
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The extraordinary, confidence-filled slash split the air in two as the sword descended downward. A strong gust of wind made his hair fly wildly about, however, a confused expression plastered his face. “Uhm…” he grunted, and slashed again, then again. Yet, no matter how much he tried to do so the sword just… didn’t seem to work as he expected it to. But this is the same thing as Ivan’s memories, what the hell? With Rodney, I was able to just… apply them.
He sighed and sat back down, petting Onyx’s fluffy head, and looked up toward the moon. “How much time has passed?…” Kai’s soft voice fell into the Obborik’s twitching ears, and he only gave a short puff in response. “Yeah, you’re right… we should meet up with them soon.” He said, albeit hesitant and worried about how much they now knew. I will try to test the water and run if it comes to it.
Kai looked into the distance, at the city that looked small and insignificant from so far away. His gaze blurred as memories flashed by in his mind. Despite spending less than one year there, the acquaintances and friends he made, he would never forget. Too bad I didn’t have time to say goodbye. Filled with regret, the last moments he saw Karfi and Natasha flashed in his vision. How did she figure it out… thankfully she warned me in advance otherwise I would…
And again, the image of the Inquisitor that chased him for so long and almost killed him, the same one that ended up in a pool of her own blood with a missing limb and a shattered spirit. Thinking of what he did to her, Kai felt… liberated. The disgust or dread he expected never truly arrived, and neither did the little feeling of disgust he had stayed for long. He too, wanted to live. Even if it meant… doing that. I must live. With that thought, he leaned against the tree and stared into the forest. That same place that resembled a shackling prison for the entire duration he had fought for his life now looked small and insignificant like a drifting leaf.
Despite that, he looked at it with a sense of lodging. Its green crown began to change to a rusted yellow, something Kai didn’t notice until after he left it.
Lights from the town changed locations, as some people went to sleep and some people just awoke. He imagined Karfi opening up the bar, and Natasha sipping from her drink as the poor man ran around like a slave trying to serve all the alcoholics that came to love his little location. Tausi sat down somewhere nearby, surrounded by drunks but minding none of them as she studied her letters. He imagined himself watching from the yet-to-be-cleaned windows, and his reflection - a scrawny boy with a fox mask - staring back at him.
It quickly faded, though, and the mask fell and cracked, and alongside it, so did Kai.
…
He swung his sword, letting out focused grunts with each slash. His form looked similar to the man’s, to Ivan’s, but he lacked the power, presence, or technique behind it. No matter how much or for how long he copied the movements, they lacked essence. Kai cursed under his breath and looked at the rising sun, its soft rays kissing his pale skin as a greeting. It didn’t hurt anymore, not as much as it would any normal person. Kai felt welcomed and embraced, like a parent kissing and hugging their child before sending them off to school.
With a deep breath, he placed the sword in his ring and walked toward the city. His cloak fluttered with the morning breeze, and he closed it tighter around his body. Onyx kept his small size as they neared, and Kai took his softly melted old mask, then placed it on his face. He then pulled up the hood, hiding his hair.
The duo didn’t enter the town, definitely not after being on the most wanted list right now, but took a small detour toward the main road. In his hurry, he barely noticed a figure with the corner of his eye, one that he was much too familiar with. The guard that did the night shift sat squatted, collecting some mushrooms, and their eyes locked for a split second. Kai sensed the panic in the man’s gaze, on top of his trembling limbs.
He recognized Kai and saw within him not a boy who used to only go out at night, but a monster who would drink the blood of innocents. The boy didn’t pay him much mind and turned to leave with a soft pain in his chest. However, as he took that first step, that old guard’s voice rang in his ears. “You… you never meant harm, did you?” His shaky voice said as much about his feelings toward Kai as stabbing him in the chest did. Yet, he gathered up the courage to ask, even when the fear for his life reached its peak.
“No,” Kai replied simply, his back still turned, then disappeared within the thick vegetation, leaving the man alone, stunned, yet relieved. His figure kept dashing through the thick forest until he finally arrived somewhere on the main road. He stopped and sat down behind a tree, hidden by bushes and leaves. That place was where he met Yasa last time around, and where they agreed to meet in two weeks’ time. I’m not sure how much time passed but it should be soon, at least.
He did his best to hide his presence. Then, he looked through Ivan’s memories and tried to recall the basic sword training he had received from the was-Lord. However, that proved more difficult than he anticipated, even though the techniques seemed to be simple. Not to mention there wasn’t an ounce of magic imbued within them. They were simple physical swings that would barely dent the hide of any magical beast.
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However Kai found himself in awe as he recalled the sheer presence the man had using them, and how it felt like a single swing could take over an entire army. That was, of course, until he died from the unknown assailant, with regret and pain in his heart. I hope you found a better life, at another time. Kai thought in prayer and sat down cross-legged. Replaying the swings over and over again in his head became the only way he had of learning them, however, he felt that there must be a better way.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out a sword and started imitating the way Ivan moved. Just like before, though, there wasn’t much progress.
His eyes soon flew open, though, as a pair of footsteps approached his location. With twitching ears, he retracted his presence and listened carefully. One… two… three. Could be Yasa’s group. However, he didn’t peek but instead hid even deeper into the bush. Hesitant… He discerned from the way their feet moved, that such an estimation could not be easily trusted. I don’t think any of Yasa’s people would be hesitant, unless…
Kai gulped, a pit forming in his stomach at the idea of the group knowing his real identity. If they knew, then what were the odds they would trust him enough to journey together? The odds of them selling him out were greater than that.
He shook his head and quietly tried to get away, then flee. Yet, in that same moment that he set his heart on leaving, a sharp, imperative voice yelled out from behind him. “Stop right there.”
And he stopped, not of his own will, but because of a strange, powerful magic gripping at his legs. Looking back with constricted pupils, he saw Yasa, the large man, and Lutha. The latter waved his fingers weirdly about, and thin, purple threads stretched from his hand toward Kai. With a flick of his sleeve, Kai flew toward them before he could even process what happened.
Yasa’s hand flew to his face, ripping off the mask and unveiling the hood at the same time. “I knew there was something weird about you.” She said with a hint of disdain. “Only going out at night and sleeping all day. Damned thing, I ought to report you to the City Lord and sell you for petty coin.”
Hearing her words, Kai’s body shook and he didn’t dare raise his gaze toward her. Onyx tried to let out a bark, but Lutha once again waved his hand and the Obborik was rendered immobile too. He wore a deadpan expression on his face, not really caring about their life but not wanting to end it either.
On the other hand, the burly man looked at Kai with disgust, and his muscles spasmed with rage. Yasa, in contrast, was much calmer. She didn’t have an angry or murderous expression, but neither was it void of emotion. “And I should have, would have.” She continued with a bitter voice. “But Natasha convinced me otherwise. We agreed to accompany you to Lustra, and that we will do. Our word is our bond. Past Lustra, though, you’re on your own.”
With that said, she waved her hand and Lutha undid the spell binding him and Onyx, but neither moved nor said a word. “If you’re wondering how I found out, it wasn’t hard to. Especially not with the entire nearby Inquisitor’s force scouring the forest and house for you.”
“On top of that they’re still looking for you, flipping every rock they can. The risk we’re taking is substantial, and therefore-” She stopped speaking and silence fell as her ears twitched lightly. Throwing the mask to Kai, she signaled for the group to move, then glared at the boy. He followed as well, albeit slightly behind, occasionally glancing at the large man who seemed ready to kill him in one blow.
“Therefore we have a few conditions. You will not camp with us, you will only speak to us if absolutely necessary. You will find your own food and you will not prey on anyone or anything other than plants or animals. Do you understand, vampire?” Kai nodded, his heart hurting from hearing that word.
You’d think I’d get used to it being used in such a derogatory way… He winced and accepted the terms with a soft sigh. Well, it’s not that bad… though- Once again looking at the large man, he gulped. It’s definitely for the better.
Their walk proved to be silent, only occasionally accompanied by the weird critter scurrying away and the bird’s flapping wings as they flew away. Kai’s weak footsteps stood in stark comparison to the large man’s, who occasionally turned to glare at Kai. Upfront, Yasa’s eyes glowed softly, and she soon took a sharp right, deviating from the main road.
Kai’s journey through forests proved to be useful for following the group, which proved to be just as if not more efficient than him. Especially Yasa, whose path looked as smooth as flat ground.
And so, they walked in silence for as long as the moon hung in the sky, and for as long as the sun watched over the land. They didn’t stop to drink or eat but only walked until the town was nothing more than a faint memory of lights. Finally, Yasa’s hand rose, and the group stopped abruptly. Kai almost bumped into the large man in his zombie-like state of following the group. Luckily, he stopped last second and quickly backed away.
“I think they stopped following us.” She said and Lutha’s hands joined together. Small, multi-colored particles gathered toward his ring finger, forming into a transparent crystal attached to an empty silver bague.
Follow? Kai asked himself but didn’t dare inquire out loud in fear of bringing further scorn toward himself.
“Alright then, we can set up camp here.” She continued, paying as much attention to Kai as one would a beggar, only shooting him a warning glare. Backing off a good 15 meters away, he sat under a tree with Onyx. With a wave of his wand, he rose a small circular wall of earth, within which he placed several pieces of wood, and lit it up with a faint fireball.
The wood immediately started to crack as it burned. Kai sighed, his stomach rumbled, and he quickly took out two skewers and two large pieces of meat which he then began slow cooking over the fire. Onyx coiled up behind him, offering both support and warmth, all the while licking his snout and drooling on the ground.
Kai’s ears twitched as he leaned over, trying to listen in to whatever the other group talked about. Unfortunately, the distance and the burning flames made it almost impossible for him to hear more than ineligible murmurs. He took a deep breath and focused on cooking the meat, a content feeling that didn’t belong to him rising up within his chest.
This feeling didn’t care about the past or the future, and little more than the current moment mattered to it. Right now, all it could think about was the sizzling meat, the warmth of his companion, and the peace the two together created. Indeed, let’s focus on the present.