The Demon Hunter

The castle was surrounded by demonic beasts. The hunter carried on towards the great gates, the beasts growled and gnarled while pounded the walls. He minded nothing, kept walking, soundless, fearless on their direction. The more he approaches the greater they sound. When the first demon saw him, it turned around quickly to alarm the horde of who had arrived, it was in so much panic. It was not quick enough, its monstrous head fell off the second the demon opened its mouth. The blood on the sword was cleansed in white tissue which turned black as the demons don't bleed red. His blue hood looked more like a blue streak when he ran past the beasts, so fast that naked untrained eyes couldn't perceive.

The knights were prepared inside the walls. They could only wait until the beasts eventually break through the gates, praying to the gods. Luckily these demons weren't able to fly because they were all lesser demons summoned by the King's rival Elliot. The commander look through the only hole in the wall that had clear vision outside and could testify why the pounding had stopped. It was a cold windy night, sky was clear. The remaining live demons were the ones that left when more than half of them was already decapitated.

A scream coming from the commander himself to open the gates was very misunderstood by all the knights. A very difficult situation to figure, of course, seen that all of the knights were sure of certain death. The demon army was big and in these southeast lands the demons never come because of the blessings of Isabella, the Goddess of the Weak. Nevertheless, there was one pound again. They all found themselves sweating in fear again. – Open up! – said the hunter in a very angry and wicked voice. Three more poundings and the commander himself got to the levers to open the gates. – My lord, we all owe you our lives, you can have what you want! – the commander said. – Where is Rafael? Where is the king? – the wicked man asked. The knelt commander who felt like a rookie soldier in front of that man could only lower his head and point to the most high tower. There was blood, a lot of black blood outside and what looked even more on hunter's clothes. He walked with such fierce steps that the knights could only bow to him.

Commander General Arthur walked among the knights like he was hunter's little dog. He dared not to say a word to the fearsome man that killed almost the entire army of demons and scared the rest away. He brought the hunter to the royal tower looking directly to the royal guards with a fuck off sign on his eyes. The royal guards stood down and kneeled. The king, without a doubt had already heard that one man had saved his castle. Yet he didn't seem to take care. His majesty could only hold the royal chin with the royal hand and say: “What?” – None of the people inside the great room could have a glimpse of wisdom to even try to think why this retard didn't even thanked the guy who saved his ass. Why did you took Elliot's Book of the Damned? You knew he was going to lay the nordic demons on you. This attack was only the first raid, the weak ones. You can expected a major attack in a day. – The hunter got very angry, everybody could see that. Rafael ordered all folks off the room so he could speak alone with his guest. – How dare you, Tyler? How dare you treat me, the king, like some of your peasants in front of my entire court and family? Are you hoping to leave this place with your head? – the king clearly got frustrated. Tyler, the hunter, gazed the king with so much hatred that Rafael could actually feel the cold rising his body and the sentiment of fear tingling his head. Tyler got closer and closer, calmly walking to the throne with fist shaking. The dark, ominous vibe took over the room. He thought he would really kill the king for a second. At each tread’s little noise made the king flicker in his chair. Tyler finally got close enough to whisper in Rafael's ear: “You fucking little shit, I can rip your heart clean of your chest and make you eat it... But I won't do that.” – Tyler let the hate go and suddenly spoke with a deadly serious calm voice: “I don't have to do that. All I'll do is watch Elliot's demons kill you slowly and painfully, I bet they can torture you as good as me.” – Tyler then turned away and headed to the door, meaning to leave the castle he just saved.

Rafael looked really shook, but as soon as Tyler finished speaking he look up a minute and right before Tyler reached the door, the king said: “You need me...” – at first that sounded stupid, but then, Tyler really did stop. – You came all the way here just to put fear in my soul? Nah, you came here for a reason, and if I am still alive, that means you need me. – His logic was impeccable, he was the king after all. Tyler made fist again, and then released. – You're right, you have something I want. – Tyler said. – Oh... – Rafael started a disgusting loud laugh. – The mighty Tyler Crowley, hunter of monsters, former founder of the great Order of the Shadow Knights… In the palm of my hand. I could say you are my bitch, but you'll probably behead me, so here is the deal… You tell me what you want and I'll tell you why you can't have it. – As soon as Rafael stopped, this time Tyler laughed.

– What? – Rafael asked, really confused. Tyler gazed Rafael once again, and with a cynic and evil smile he said: “This night you won't survive. I am here to hunt something… Something evil that Elliot shoot onto you… You got a magic bounty on your head and this creature sooner or later will come to collect. The thing is, it won't come if you are already dead… And it won't show until it kill you, so… That means you will be dead by dawn...” – Tyler kept his pace off the room, calmly. He sat at the room's door and pulled up a book. A woman dressed in a custom made plate mail with white silk and red roses painted stood in front of Tyler, unnoticed. Tyler had sensed her already, but was too busy reading his precious little book to care. She, then, pull up a sword and hold at his throat waiting for a reaction. There was none. – I get that you are ignoring me. But why have you come settle this dispute between Elliot and Rafael? – The blond woman said. – I heard these lands needed a bad-ass savior… So, hic ego sum – The hunter said while looking down in his book. – We don't need your help, we can deal with this situation… Step back or else... – Said the woman.

– Or else, what? – Tyler got up in a blink, took the sword so fast of her hand she only realized he was behind her when the cold blade gently touched her back. – Anyway, you will have your chance to save the day… Just don't fuck up. Rafael can be killed at any second now. I am merely waiting for it to unfold. – Said the hunter.

The statement were not taken lightly, in fact, almost all soldiers were in stand by. Guarding the room. Archers were looking over the windows from the outside. The King was so well guarded even Tyler would have trouble if he wanted to kill him. The night was long, and so a few hours passed, the environment was heavy and silent, Rafael couldn't go to sleep as he was too freaked out with this whole deal. Tyler got up and went to the latrine. The girl followed him, at this point it was clear that Rafael made her watch Tyler for he was the more dangerous element there. Maybe she couldn't match Tyler's combat abilities, but she thought she could at least outsmart him. Inside the room, a dark spot was forming at the feet of Rafael, suddenly a dense atmosphere made the air get heavy. Like the gravity was stronger. Rafael started struggling like he was suffocating, he was scratching his throat violently, he couldn't talk at all. The guards didn't know what to do, they tried to calm him down but without success. The medic was called immediately but couldn't figure out what was wrong, the king was dying. Tyler was watching everything without breaking a sweat. He didn't mind that pig in king clothes dying, in fact he was glad about it. Tyler knew what horrendous deeds Rafael had done.

– Please! Help him! – The girl yelled at Tyler. He didn't even blink. – I am sorry for how I've treated you, my name is Lara, please help his majesty! – Again, Tyler kept ignoring her. She turned back and look the room, it was getting too cold. So cold that sweat froze on the skin. So cold that the lips and fingers got blue. Tyler moved and hid so quietly and so smoothly that no one realized.

A black being materialized in front of Rafael, and his throat got black with a hand print. The being looked like a tall thin man with horns and a pointy tail. His eyes were white and his smile was diabolic. Everyone was paralyzed in extreme panic gazing the black creature as it laughed in a terrible way. It pointed it’s finger at Rafael and boom, his eyes were completely blown off his face with much blood.

Suddenly the creature looked trouble and with a monstrous voice said: – What… Who has trapped me? – It started gnarling so hard that almost everyone fainted in despair. Tyler showed up from his hiding and got close, looking the demon in the eyes. – Jaghul, king of the darkness… What to do with a being that is so powerful that space itself bends to its presence? – Said Tyler with an equivalent evilness in his voice, except it was more calm and mischievous. Jaghul gave a little laugh and scratched its neck. – You know – said the demon – I can't be trapped for long. The king of hell himself is my master. – Jaghul sat. – No, your master is not coming. – the hunter said. Of course Jaghul didn't believe, or better, didn't understand what Tyler meant. – I will be your master now. I claim you. – Tyler made a cut in his hand and spilled the blood on Jaghul's face. Jaghul started to agonize and contort himself, he was changing, his bones were moving and the skin was lightening. After a while he looked just like a human. – But how? To claim me, the king of hell must give you that thing… – Jaghul stated, perplexed. – Oh, you mean the Jaghul's dagger. Your… Dagger… – Tyler unsheathed the dagger in front of Jaghul's eyes.

Tyler started walking out of the room, Jaghul followed in silence. After a while everyone were awake and confused. Rafael was dying, Lara got close to hear his last words: “Avenge me”. But, surely no knight would even have the courage to do such thing. In a way, King Rafael wasn't such a great king, in reality most people got glad he died, even the general. The only person who was brave, or dumb, enough to give his last wishes a try was Lara.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some days had passed, Tyler and Jaghul were traveling in a carriage, guiding the horses, the new moon marked a special phase of the north land, the snow will fall shortly in the following days. The wind was sibilating, Jarghul and Tyler were wearing some fine suits with furry coats as the night was so cold even the animals were silent in the forest. They were heading toward Tyler's hideout. Not a single soul could be located near them, the only thing illuminating the dark road was a single candle in the carriage.

– You really aren't going to talk to me, eh? – Jaghul said, impatient. – I don't think I’ll follow such an unworthy creature like you, even the dark beings like me have a minimum amount of honor. You can only have stolen my dagger from him. I will not acknowledge your acquirement. I don't know how you did it and I can't serve you. – Jaghul stood up and got ready to jump. – Sit down. – Tyler said. Jaghul didn't believe it, but the contract's power was absolute and so Jaghul sat, discontented. – He gave me the dagger in his own will as I won the challenge. Besides, I don't think you will be able to find more worthy one than me. Have you heard about me? – Tyler looked Jaghul in his demonic eyes and smiled. – Yes, Tyler the shithead, some second class knight which switched into demon hunting, not a big deal actually, do not get cocky with me. – Jaghul replied, very irritated, but in the end he had beheld the contract's power and so he knew Tyler was his master now.

A noise of a branch crunching made Jaghul senses tingle. He looked around to see where it came from. – Did you heard that? – Jaghul asked with a tone of little distress and agitation. – Now, now, Jaghul. I get that demons are pussies but you can be relaxed while I’m here. Besides, it is just my friend, Alicia. She is following us for a while now. – Tyler said, making Jaghul very angry, but less tense. – Okay, I am kidding, her name isn’t actually Alicia. – Tyler, stopped the carriage. – And she isn’t actually my friend. – Pulls up sword. They both get off the carriage. Tyler started tapping the sword to his shoulder looking at the trees trying to locate the person who was following them. Jaghul was very uneasy and was looking at every direction like was about to crack in panic.

– Would you please stop moving so violently like that? It’s just a girl. You are making me regretting taking you in, Jaghul… – Said Tyler, annoyed by the distressing movement that Jaghul was making. A girl jumped out of the hiding place in the bushes. – What the fuck? How did you know it was a girl? – Jaghul asked. Perplexed. – She keeps touching her hair at every step she make. It could have been a guy with long hair, but I rather think it would be a girl. Lucky shot, really. – Tyler explained.

The girl appeared to be younger than she was, Scarlet was a very known mercenary. Her fitting was very light, leather clothes with many blades hiding. She touches her hair and asks: “And how… Would you know I was touching my hair?”. – I can hear really good. – Tyler answered. Jaghul was rather impressed. – Seeming it’s just a girl, would you be kind enough to let me kill her? Consider this a faithful act of loyalty to you, I wont even mind. – Jaghul said. The girl laughed, hold her waist and stared. – Jaghul, it’s not like I am doubting your loyalty or your skills. But I know you are powerless for now. And I think she is a quite well known mercenary, I think her face… looks... familiar? I don’t know. Well… I can’t decide. – Tyler taps the sword again. – What can’t you decide? – Said Scarlet. Tyler looked her in the eyes and a malicious and diabolical force suddenly transposed himself. Even Jaghul, who was a demon, flinched. The girl could only open up her eyes in contemplation of such impacting evil intimidation.

– Whether to kill you or… Maim you. – Said Tyler. The girl was clearly shocked, but she laughed. Jaghul couldn’t understand at all and raised an eyebrow while his head lightly tilted. But Tyler, for a brief moment, felt. He felt a little emanating aura the girl let escape while she feared Tyler’s malicious energy. – So I see you too are cursed… Or no… Not cursed, transformed. – Tyler said while gained a fighting stance before the girl. – You think you are so strong, don’t you, mister Tyler? This is the last thing you are going to see, though. – The girl said. Her skin started turning dark and the muscles started growing as if she was no longer human. Claws and big pointy teeth. Her clothes were destroyed and only part of the tissue remained throughout her breast. It was not a demon. It was a creature of the void abyss. Jaghul tried to name the creature, but words simply didn’t grasp the monster. Tentacles fell of her back and glowed green. Her eyes were white and the respiration became accelerated. The creature just roared mightily a few steps away from Tyler, his clothes all shook due to the wind that it created. His face was of annoyance, his eyes close for a second and he cleaned a saliva drop from his cheekbone with his thumb. – Well, that was just disgusting. – Tyler said. The humongous creature screamed again more voracious. – Yes, yes. You are a scary monster ready to eat, oukay. Let’s get this done with, shall we? I am getting hungry. – Tyler said. The monster attacked with his huge palm and hit the ground which trembled. Tyler jumped over the creature, pulled up his blue scarf to cover his face, pulled up his blue hood and landed a slash cutting most of the tentacles. The monster turned and opened its mouth which shot a big dark ball with dark energy that hit Tyler. He was send flying until hit a tree.

Jaghul couldn’t do anything, he wanted to help but was incapacitated. Tyler got up with a sigh, stretched his hand to the side and said: “I have crossed swords with many lords and… Even demonic lords. And they all got angry.”. – The creature replied: “Why?”. Tyler then pulled a demonic purple aura ultra greatsword, with the right hand, out of the void. – Because mine’s the longest. – He then gained an offensive stance with two swords. – I will end those pathetic jokes. – Said the monster and immediately rushed down to Tyler with a dark energy sprint which teared apart every tree and rock in the way, drilling violently the environment. Tyler sprinted too, faster and more devastating. The monster was decimated, cut in three pieces. The head flew all the away to find home at front of Jaghul’s foot. Tyler’s summoned sword disappeared and he climbed back to the carriage, like nothing happened. Jaghul was beginning to discover the trouble which he got into. That man was perilous, he had just annihilated a big monster from the void abyss, things that should never come to this world and that man killed it like it was an insect.

Tyler was sitting in the carriage, waiting for the horses to wake up, they fainted due the massive aura collision. Jaghul walked slowly and got up the carriage. – So, I think, maybe you are wondering… Is that Tyler person such a boss? – Tyler couldn’t stop the jokes, he actually was the person who could probably say “fuck the modesty, I’m not a novice” anyway, that was what Jaghul was thinking. – Enough with the ironic and ridiculous sense of humor. What the fuck is going on? What a creature of the abyss doing on this layer of the veil? What did you mean by “you are cursed too”? Are you cursed? And, most important, what is the deal with the whole blue scarf and hood thing? Do you know that’s silly? – Jaghul said searching for an answer, because where they were going was suddenly really not important. –Well… – Tyler sighed. – To be honest, I am getting tired of being the only one who knows this, so I am going to tell you. The darkness is falling, the shadows are coming to life. I am cursed, only, I cannot tell you about that. But what I can tell you, is that I seek the chosen one to have my curse undone. Or so is the rhyme which that old scary lady told me. – The hunter said. Jaghul was genuinely please with the explanation, though it raised more questions than answers.

A cold breeze blew harshly. The horses started moving again. After a while they could see a shining light on the distance. They were arriving at a great festive city, Karalanda. The guards let them pass right through without even asking anything. Jaghul noticed a guard winking at Tyler, they were probably allied in some way. – I like this city, is really hard to be ganked and the locals cheer me up every time. It is a pleasant city for someone like myself. – Said Tyler. They were passing at midnight through the very big avenue of the city, the colored lamps enlightened the way, Jaghul never saw anything like that. Big crowds in every tavern. The music was high, apparently they had arrived on a big partying day. People were dancing and laughing, everyone looked happy or drunk.

They left the carriage with one suspicious looking soldier and headed on foot to an inn. The inn was falling apart, but when they got in, the inn keeper instantly recognized Tyler and opened a secret door behind a bookcase. A big saloon was after, filled with strange looking people. They all stared Tyler and Jaghul. Tyler looked everyone of them in the eyes and shouted: “What you bastard dogs are looking at? You’re looking like you saw a pair of demons.” They all started laughing hard and greeted the two arriving guests. Jaghul did not understand what was happening. But then, he suddenly noticed. His anger and his kill will were both gone. It didn’t feel like he was a demon anymore, rather, something different. Tyler sensed the exact moment that happened and was watching Jaghul in the eye. – You felt, didn’t you? You know something is different, that hatred is gone. The darkness within is weaker. – Tyler then hugged Jaghul which stared at the wall in front of him, and without really knowing why he started to cry.

– Brother? – Jaghul asked in reaction. Tyler responded: “Yes, brother. I am here.” – A white bearded fellow stood in front of them, with tears in his eyes too. He was a big strong man. – Boss, please have a sit. We were all waiting for your return. – said the man. Jaghul was very confused and couldn’t stop crying. Some bards started playing a very calm string music. Some ales were brought and Tyler couldn’t stop smiling. The center fire-pit was fiercely burning. A very attractive woman in a red dress approached too. They were sitting at the biggest table in the room. – Jaghul, I think master Tyler wants you to remember instinctively. But I don’t like to wait, so I am telling you who you are. – Said the woman in red. – My name is Karsee, I am a witch, you see. It is my pleasure to finally meet you. Why? Well, let me tell you a story. You will see it will look like an impossible tale, but the longer I talk, the more familiar it will sound.

The strange people sitting at the table gave a good and a comforting feeling. Tyler was drinking ale at large sips and Karsee was about to start. – Ok, You’ll do it all wrong. You win, Karsee. I will tell him. – Said Tyler, a little bit drunk. The music stopped and all eyes in the room, again, directed toward Tyler.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

– Look, it is rather a long story. So, I will resume a bit and speed things up. – Tyler then, begun to remember what happened before he was cursed and his brother turned into a mindless forgotten demon. – This is how it all started… We were running… – Tyler was looking at the crowd as he was telling.

He visioned himself and Jaghul running through a dense, dark and humid swamp, Jaghul was very tired as he had just passed the Crowley clan’s test. The warrior’s path as they called. They were running from a big wyvern which was terrorizing a village. It was their job to kill it. The wyvern dropped from the sky suddenly and reached Jaghul by his arm. Tyler could only reach for his bow and shoot arrows imbued with bloodwolf’s blood, which is a very powerful toxin for wyverns. One arrow missed the wyvern but found it’s target. A silver hawk that was flying alongside the wyvern. The Hawk fell, and so the wyvern. Jaghul fell into a soft portion of mud, he was okay beside the arm. Tyler pulled his sword and front the mighty wyvern. – But why? – Said Tyler, regarding the fall of the wyvern. The creature wasnt’t hit by the arrows. More than that, they had already hit the wyvern with the bloodwolf’s blood before and it didn’t seemed to cause any effect as they were running because the wyvern hadn’t showed any weaknesses. – The silver hawk. – Jaghul told. Sometimes sorcerers take form of animals, in this case a silver hawk. The wyvern was gone. As they approached the silver hawk a strong shine took over its body and transformed its form into a human. It was a sorceress, she probably conjured a spectral wyvern, that’s why the wyvern wouldn’t react to the toxin. But why? Why was a sorceress terrorizing a village.

– Later I discovered it was because of me. But that’s for later. The thing that happens now it’s what matters. – Said Tyler as he was telling the story. – Let me continue.

The sorceress was beautiful, her dress as full of glyphs and runes. Normal people can’t normally feel magic, but Jaghul and Tyler felt a very dense vibration in their bones as they got closer to her, meaning the magic of the sorceress was strong enough for common folk to feel. Tyler wanted to kill the sorceress, Jaghul on the other hand wanted to question her. They were both naive. Strong magic like that can only be wield by a powerful sorceress. The sorceress opened her eyes and used a levitation trick to get up on her feet. The boys couldn’t believe. She then spoke. – Well, then. The incredible brothers… I don’t have much time – she ripped the arrow from her shoulder. – As you don’t know, I have not much time. And I would like to take Jaghul now. So, Tyler… Will you let me take your brother? I bet you will not. – She talked like a lunatic. Tyler felt heavy, he couldn’t move or speak. Tyler fell on his knee but Jaghul was alright. The wyvern dropped from the sky again, she conjured it again, Jaghul was taken. She transformed into a silver hawk and as she was leaving she said something. – Tyler Crowley, I summoned demons to destroy your clan, when you get to your beloved home you will find everything destroyed and your brother is going to be a demon. The funny part is that you don’t even know why.

– That bitch got into my nerves, I could only cry that time, I was powerless. I got home and found what she told. Just like dad, everyone I knew was dead. Not dead. Ripped, gutted, eaten, destroyed. I couldn’t even recognize them for the pieces were all mixed up. I couldn’t even tell my family apart. – He took a big sight – Then I was lost, I didn’t know what to do, where to go. So I tried to kill myself.

Tyler found a very big cliff after spending days walking nowhere until his legs hurt and the thirsty and starving were enough to make him crawl out of weakness, then he crawled some more and that cliff was a good idea. They were all dead after all, his family, friends. Even his little brother was nowhere to be found. Seemed like a good idea.

– Welp, at that time I got lucky. A very old guy with a big heart wanted to help me.

The old man was sitting at the cliff’s peak. His clothes were ripped apart and dirty. His white beard and long messy hair were a sign. “He’s probably just some old wanderer or beggar” Tyle thought “He is thinking of dying just like me.” The old man was looking up, not down the cliff. The sky was blue and beautiful, the white fluffy clouds looked so sweet and pretty. For a moment everything went silent as Tyler got to his knee and just looked up as the old man was doing. The contemplation of that beautiful scene made he forget briefly about his pain, his thirsty, his drama. All of that didn’t matter for the sky. He just wanted to be able to fly. But then the sorrow strike him strong and he began to cry. – What is wrong, mister? – The old man talked without looking away from the sky. He showed true concern in his words. Tyler kept crawling looking down until he reach the cliff’s peak and stare right down. There were no river, no trees, just rocks and dirt. Nothing could survive such fall. – You know, you shouldn’t kill yourself, it’s not very healthy. – Another time that would be a perfect icebreaker for a conversation. The old man tried again: – If you are going to kill yourself at least tell me your story. – which Tyler felt the need to respond: – My story?

– Yes, your story. Everybody’s got one, what’s yours?

– Mine’s too damn sad. I’ll probably start crying and wouldn’t be able to finish it.

– Actually, every story has a bad part. But the secret is that as long as you live you can still make the good part bigger than the bad part. The story you are telling yourself will end in this cliff. But you can tell a different story if you live a little longer.

Those words made Tyler think for a little while before he fainted. He woke up at a very small settlement, the old guy dragged him there. A tent and a fire pit in the middle of the forest. A very humble place to live, in contact with no one else except yourself. Tyler couldn’t get up, he was too weak, he looked around and saw the old guy. He was just sitting there watching a piece of boar meat cook in the fire. – Awake, are we? How many days have you been wandering like that? You are going to get yourself killed if you do that. – The old man slowly stood up and brought a bowl full of clean water to Tyler and made him drink. Tyler drank the water like a wild dog. – So, what have you chose? Will you still think of suicide? If so, I can’t stop you. I am a lot stronger than you, though. But as someone said sometime in the history: you should always do somethings, even if you have the power to it. – Tyler gave a little uncomfortable arrogant laugh. He didn’t wanted to, but his pride talked higher. A fragile old beggar was stronger than an elite Crowley’s clan hunter? It was a sick joke and even in that position, Tyler had standards. – Well, if you are so strong, give me a few days to have my health back, and then we will know if you can truly say that you are stronger than me.

A few days have passed, Tyler was back in shape, or he think he was. At least he thought he wouldn’t have to be one hundred percent to beat an old guy. They were face to face, unarmed.

– Well? I ain’t got all day, come kid, come get your ass kicked.

– Don’t force it, old man. Or else I’ll give you more than a simple beating.

Tyler unleashed a punch aiming the diaphragm, looking to disrupt the air supply and make the opponent lose strength and stamina. The punch connected successfully. The old man laugh – Is that all you got? Maybe you should take more time to recover… Like ten years or so. – Tyler did not understand. He punched again, this time the old man’s face. The old man parried with his left hand gracefully, then punched back Tyler’s face. The strength of the punch made Tyler spin and fall, dishonored.

– How is this even possible?

– Your resolve is bad, your stance is weak, your heart is frail. Should I keep going?

– You talk about things I don’t understand.

The old man calmly drove his hands behind his back in a very assertive pose. Then walked up to Tyler and gently smile. – Should you be my apprentice I can teach you things. My name is Ludwig du Frott. I am a master of the sunblade. In my life I traveled the world aiming to hone my skills and my spirit. I am getting old, but my path is still ongoing. It’s a never ending task, you see? I am the fifth master so far. My predecessor taught me many things and gave me the mission to find the next clansman to pass the tradition.

– Well, I am a suicidal dude with a dead clan and a lot of hatred for you. Even though you saved my life. So I guess I will have to pass. Now, if you can point me the direction of that cliff… I got a new motive to commit suicide after getting my ass kicked by an old senile. – Ludwig laughed.

– You are more interesting than I thought. You know, it’s been a while since I met someone so funny as you. He was a sick sarcastic bastard too, your dad.

– My dad? You don’t even know who I-

– You are Tyler Crowley, son of Gravan Crowley and Sara Crowley. Your dad died when you was five years old. I recently discovered that your whole clan got destroyed by demons. That is very odd. My condolences. I thought you were dead too, you know. I too thought of suicide the day we met. You see, I can only teach one person in life, and it was going to be you. Your dad and I got a history. Long story short he saved my life. And as result I swore I was taking his child to make my apprentice, as long as you want it, of course.

– What makes you think I am Tyler?

– You have your father’s eyes and mouth.

– So you are telling me, you chose me to be your apprentice?

– Yes.

– Even though I am out of motives to live? I mean, that cliff is really attractive, have you looked at the bottom?

– Let me tell you what. Let me teach you for a year. If you still want to kill yourself after that I will get out of your way.

Tyler looked him in the eyes and then to the sky for a couple of seconds.

– You know, I was desperately looking for a reason not to jump that cliff. So I accepted that offer and thought I could regain my reason to live. And so I did.