Xehemoth looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin. “We are going to need to find you some different type of clothes, however. It will be very inconvenient to have to run around naked after every battle.”
Michalis blushed again, despite himself. Xehemoth had knelt down to speak softly to Magiran. The girl was taking everything in stride. Overwhelmed, he looked back in the direction of the village. A feeling of calm came over Michalis as he watched the raging inferno engulf his former home.
“Inferno...” Michalis muttered to himself.
PART I
THE LAND OF PEACE
1
Keta stopped walking, and lifted his leg to pull a rock from the bottom of his foot. He had been trained in the harshest conditions by the old Master and so he had grown accustomed to not wearing any footwear, enjoying the feeling of bare earth under his feet. But it still was annoying from time to time.
Regardless, he welcomed the distraction. He had been thinking about what had transpired a few days ago. Back when he had encountered the Brotherhood of Shadows once again. And this time, he had been defeated.
Keta was no slouch in the ways of the sword. He had been trained by Master Xehemoth, who was one of the greatest warriors of his time. It had not been enough. He had failed. And yet, he still lived.
“Hey Night! Hurry up, or we’ll leave you behind.”
Pent Telim had stopped and turned to him, an impatient look on his face. The young Demon had been his travelling companion since he had first engaged the Brotherhood. They had attacked the boy’s village and killed his father, accosting his sister.
Pent had joined Keta’s quest for vengeance, much to his chagrin. The boy was only twelve years old, but he was easily an equal with the sword, if not greater. As much as their personalities clashed, he needed Pent’s strength if he was going to continue his mission to stop the Brotherhood.
Just up ahead was his other comrade, another Demon named Max Revia. He had only been with Keta and Pent for a few days, as prior to that, he had been a part of the Brotherhood of Shadows and an enemy.
Max had been directly responsible for their defeat at Darkrune Mountain, taking down Keta in a fight. He was the nephew of his former Master Inferno, one of the most powerful Demons in the world. He had grown disillusioned with the Brotherhood’s ideals and when he discovered that they were going to sacrifice Luna, his beloved, he had turned against them. But he had been ambushed and discarded. Wishing to atone and rescue the girl he loved, who was pregnant with his child, he joined forces with Keta and Pent.
“Lay off the guy, kid. Keta’s a twig, he can’t keep up with us Demons,” Max said, friendly mocking in his voice.
Keta smiled. He was used to Demons showing off. Their kind were known for their boasting of strength after all, and he had grown up with one of the biggest offenders. “I bet I can travel further and faster than you,” Keta challenged.
Max grinned, his Demonic eyes flashing. “Well of course you move faster, look at you. You’ve hardly got any muscle on you. Just imagine having to carry this around all day?” He said, flexing to show off his brawny frame.
Keta was a bit jealous of his new friend’s physique. He had never been very strong, preferring to hone his speed. He was a sword fighter after all, it just made sense.
“You are both idiots,” Pent piped up, and when the two of them turned his way, he added, “Too much muscle makes you slow. And you, Keta, need to train your body more in case you ever get disarmed.”
Max looked confused at what the boy was saying, but Keta knew better. Everything Pent said was serious. Keta inadvertently felt pity for the boy. When he was younger, his mother had been killed. All his life had been focused into becoming a warrior so he could protect those important to him.
Keta had become a sword fighter with the same goal; to protect. It was the reason he had agreed to partner with Pent. But that was where their similarities ended. Pent was willing to make the cruel decisions in battle. The incident in Frostclaw Village had proven that.
Pent coughed to get their attention. “It’s about time we start to set up camp.”
Max let out a groan. But he understood. The sun was starting to set. The path they were on was a rugged one. It lacked the amenities of civilization, including any sorts of light. He and Pent were Demons, their crimson eyes allowed them to see in the shadows.
Keta could not.
If they were to encounter an enemy in the darkness of night, especially with the Brotherhood of Shadows being exclusively made up of Demons, Keta would be put at a significant disadvantage. And so, to maximize their combat potential, they travelled by day.
It was not long later that Pent returned from hunting, a freshly slaughtered boar in tow. Max waved a hand over some dirt and a flame was produced. Keta watched in awe, appreciating the subtle but immense power that radiated from the young man.
Max was a Greater Demon, a rare breed of the Demon clans that possessed powers that rivaled the gods. In his case, he had complete mastery over fire. His true potential was unknown to Keta, but he had seen enough back on Darkrune Mountain to be impressed.
Keta moved to join the others around the fire. “How much longer until we reach Teforia?”
Max had already started eating (he had torn a chunk of meat off and had seared it with his flames in seconds), so Keta had to wait for him to finish what was in his mouth. “We should be only a few hours from the nation’s border. I still can’t believe you have never been there before. The land of peace seems right up your alley.”
Keta let a sad smile reach his lips. “It would be nice, wouldn’t it? If one day the entire world could know peace. But that’s not where Sanction was needed. Well, until now I suppose. If the brotherhood is targeting that country, they will throw it into chaos.”
“And how are we supposed to find them in a country that big? They could be anywhere?” Max asked.
Pent narrowed his eyes. “They can’t hide from me. We just need to find a lead and I’ll be able to track them.”
It was not long before the true bickering started. This had been the norm lately. The two were opposites despite both being Demons.
As per his usual, he got up and went for a walk to spare himself their argument. Before he could get very far, he saw a familiar sight. He walked over to go speak with his other companion, who was quite different to the other two.
Susanoo was a young Demon woman by all appearances. However, she was also a spirit, who spent much of her time as Pent’s weapon. Or rather, she had been Pent’s father’s weapon. Pent had inherited it after his father had been killed. The whole thing was quite complicated. She had been the target of powerful Demonic magic that had sacrificed souls to forge a powerful spirit weapon.
Her magic allowed her to absorb the blood of her wielder and those they kill. Doing so would grant the one who held the blade greater power. Despite this, she was the nicest person Keta had met in a long time. While not a weapon, she could walk around as a spirit form of her body that she had once possessed. It allowed her to live somewhat normally, though Pent was fiercely protective of her.
But today, she was looking distracted. “Is everything all right?” Keta asked, walking up to her.
The woman looked up at him as he approached. “Hello, Keta. Everything is okay. I just need a moment away from the whole macho atmosphere between Pent and Max,” Susanoo said, and the two shared a laugh. “What’s on your mind?”
Keta had always thought the woman perceptive. “Sorry, I think I’m in the same boat as you. Those two...they are quite taxing.”
“They do mean well,” Susanoo pointed out, “even Pent. He wants to stop the Brotherhood of Shadows just like you.”
That was the source of his concern. The boy was extremely skilled as a warrior. He had been trained by his friend Xuan after all, who had risen to a legend in the mercenary field. But Pent was very much unlike Keta. He would kill if he needed to, and even at his young age had ended the lives of many already. If he
faced the Brotherhood, he would have no qualms with killing them all. His defeat at Darkrune Mountain had left him even more volatile, though he refused to speak of it.
Susanoo was the only person in his current party that he felt he could open up to about this, so he relayed these thoughts to her. She listened patiently through the whole story, keeping her calm gaze on him the whole time. When he was finished, she crossed her arms and took a moment to respond.
“Pent reminds me a lot of his father. I’d spent 20 years with him and he told me much about the time before he rescued me. Their backgrounds are pretty much identical. Both were warriors who were obsessed with perfecting their craft.”
In Keta’s brief time with the Frostclaw clan chief Peter Telim, he had come to admire the Demon. He had fallen into despair in the clutches of the Brotherhood of Shadows, but in the end, he gave his life to protect his people.
“Peter Telim was a great man. I never could have imagined him like...that,” Keta said, nodding towards Pent, who was arguing loudly with Max over by the fire.
Susanoo laughed. “You are quite odd for a man, Keta. Most go through this kind of phase. Well, Demons at least. I have no idea if Humans possess that same drive. Regardless, it is a rite of passage, and they become the men they will be the rest of their life when they find a worthy goal or love, something meaningful like that.”
“When Peter saved me at the cost of his arm, something changed in him. He settled down with his family and accepted his role to lead the clan. Pent...he can’t accept the way things are right now. He needs guidance.”
Keta fixed her with a stare. “Is that where you come in?” He asked.
The spirit woman waved a hand dismissively. “Me? You are a funny one, Keta. I’m a woman, I don’t understand you boys and what makes you tick. I am loyal to him because he is the son of the man who saved me, but beyond protecting him as his weapon, I am at a loss.”
The fact that this woman was a spirit weapon still boggled Keta’s mind. His own weapon Abyss was a Demonic sword, but it had no ability to manifest as a physical being...at least that he knew of. But as of late, the weapon had been speaking to him more and more. The dark voice in the back of his head, urging him to…
Keta’s eyes snapped open, and he shook his head. He hadn’t realized it, but his vision had started to blur. It was the same as when he held Abyss in battle, and he had to struggle to stay in control. But, the sword was sheathed in the strap across his back. Why was it affecting him now?
“Are you okay?” Keta jerked his head around, and saw that Susanoo was looking at him with wide eyes. “You just started spacing out and staring at me.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I’m just tired. I suppose I should sleep if the others will take watch,” Keta said, passing the whole thing off casually. The last thing he wanted was to worry anyone else. The woman nodded and after the two said their goodbyes, Keta went to a spot not far from the others.
As he yawned, he tried to forget about all the horrible events that had happened lately. Max was a Demon with the same type of powers that Master Inferno possessed. And Pent’s abilities as a sword fighter were more than a match for the other members of the Brotherhood. Perhaps, he thought as he fell into slumber, they actually stood a chance.
***
Pent Telim had suffered defeat.
In the past two weeks, he’d been in a great deal of fights, and he’d lost more than he would like to admit. His injuries were signs of his failure. Master Xuan would never had allowed himself to be so clumsy. And yet, he had shamed his master several days ago, when he had been defeated by a girl he had trusted. It was an embarrassment.
“Hey kid, what’s the matter? Out of comebacks?” Max taunted. The Demon had been part of the Brotherhood of Shadows until just recently. In the end, he had turned his back on them and had suffered defeat just as Pent had. An enemy until Keta had decided to team up with him.
That damn fool Keta was always making rash decisions. Pent understood the idea of course. He had seen firsthand what Max could do. He was a powerful warrior, descendant of one of the Demon lords of legend. And he just so happened to be the nephew of Inferno, the current leader of the Brotherhood of Shadows. But to welcome an enemy who had just opposed them to join their ranks...madness.
And to make it worse, Max descended from one of the greater Demons. To a Demon, he was equivalent to being of nobility. That fool, a noble? Utterly ridiculous.
“You wish,” Pent said, keeping his gaze forward. There was something on his mind that he needed to address however. He had refrained from speaking on it earlier, but now that they were alone... “Max, I need to ask you something.” Pent said, turning to face him.
“Eh? What is it?” Max asked, with a sheepish grin. “You’re always so serious. Don’t you ever feel like acting like a kid every once in a while?”
Pent let the comment go, even though he felt it was an insult to his character. “Do the others know?” He said simply. If being a Greater Demon was akin to being nobility, then his discovery was all the more aggravating.
Max looked at him curiously. “Know what? We’ve only been together for a few days haven’t we? I’m sure we’ve still got lots to learn about each other. For instance, I don’t even know your favorite food,” Max said.
Pent didn’t fall for the small talk though. “Most people can’t tell of course. Humans and Demons are indistinguishable from one another aside from the eyes, after all. Whatever the hell Keta is doesn’t count. But I am from the Frostclaw Clan. I can smell the difference between Humans and Demons.”
“Oh? That’s a...neat trick? Why are you telling me this?”
The ignorance of this man infuriated Pent. “Because you fool, Humans and Demons have a different scent. And back on the mountain, I could detect both scents from you,” Pent said.
Max’s face betrayed him for a moment before he masked the surprise. “Huh? What are you talking about, kid?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Max! You can’t fool me. Now tell me, does anybody else know that you are a half breed?” Pent snapped at the Demon, who flinched.
“Calm down, small fry!” Max said, putting his hands up in exasperation. He took a look behind him, before turning back to face Pent. “Nobody knows. Why the devil would I advertise something like that? I’m from the clans as well. I know damn well what it’s like to be a half breed in our world.”
A half breed was not looked upon well in either society. The Humans viewed it as consorting with the enemy. And many clans believed that Human genetics were inferior. Pent had always believed that anyways...until he had seen what Max was capable of.
He relayed this thought to Max, who listened intently and chuckled at the end. “Yeah, well...pretty sure that’s due to the fact that my uncle is a greater Demon. It’s in my blood to be powerful, yeah? Just imagine if I was a pure blooded Demon like you.”
The thought amused Pent. “You know, I just realized something. You and I never fought up on that mountain.”
While they had been reluctant allies with some of the Brotherhood during their travels through Darkrune Mountain, their alliance had come to an end. Max had defeated Keta, but Pent himself had been defeated by Formetis.
The warrior inside him was raging at the prospect of a chance to best this opponent. What better way to prove his abilities than to defeat a greater Demon, someone who possesses such power simply from his bloodline.
“Oh hey, now that you mention it, we never did. That’s right, you got taken out by that Human, didn’t you?”
Pent gasped and leapt to his feet. He had come to terms with the fact that he had been beaten by a girl. Formetis was formidable with her magic. But he hadn’t realized that by losing to her, he had lost to a Human.
“Whoa! I’m sorry kid, I was just teasing ya. I didn’t mean anything by it.” Max said, stepping up to him. He reached out a hand.
Pent narrowed his eyes and growled until Max pulled away. “I don’t need your pity, Ma
x. What I need is more focus.”
“Eh? What are you talking about?” Max was looking at him with curious eyes now. When Pent didn’t elaborate, a devilish smile crept to his lips. “Come on, we’re all friends here. You can tell me.”
Suddenly Max reminded him very much of his old teacher. Master Xuan always did like to tease him. It pissed him off.
“We’re not friends. But if you must know, that girl we met up there. I met her before. I let my guard down around her and she betrayed me. And back on Darkrune Mountain, I underestimated her. I won’t let it happen again.”
Max nodded. He turned to look over at Keta, who was sleeping in the distance. “Quite noble a goal that one has, aye? I’ve made some bad choices in my life. The Brotherhood was supposed to be my shot at redemption. But I just ended up making things worse.”
“Yeah, you did. But I can understand where you are coming from. I never really thought much of the Brotherhood of Shadows, but I can see how they might appeal to our people,” Pent relented.
Max laid onto his back and stared up at the sky. “I remember my mother used to tell me stories of my uncle and how he fought against the corrupt Empire for his people. I wanted to be like him.”
“What, you wanted to be a genocidal maniac?”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. Whatever. You really are his opposite aren’t you. Are you really so shallow that you wouldn’t change the world if you could?”
That line infuriated Pent. “You two are idiots, you know. You can’t change the world by yourselves. I fight to protect my family. There is no goal more noble.”
Max got up. “You know what. Talking to you is like talking to a rock. I’m going for a walk. I’ll take first watch, so why don’t you sleep?” Before Pent could respond, Max was gone.
“Madness, the both of them,” Pent muttered to himself. It didn't matter. He would have to ensure he did not lose again to Formetis. He had underestimated magic and it had nearly cost him his life. He would not do so again.
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