Chapter 1: Over here

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Under a starry night. Screeching of horrifying entities filled the air, the scent of blood carried by the cold breeze. A fortress made of stone and bricks, the entities tried on breaching on all sides but the people inside fought back. Their black hodded cloaks snapped with the breeze. They were almost identical, white shirts under black leather vests, their shoulders carved with a symbol of exorcism, a scattered skull. Each one fighting their own battles against the entities, barely hanging on.

Inside the fortress. A latern brighted the inside of a large green tent, a middle aged man focused his gaze onto a map of the fortress' landscape, the gates marked with an x. Tapping his finger on the wooden table with a stressed sigh, their resolve of defense against the entities filled the background. The green cloth snapped.

"Commander!" One of the cloaked men uttered, panting heavily as he entered the tent.

"Status report." The commander replied as he lifted his gaze onto the cloaked man.

"One hour before dawn, forteen casualties in total. The source of the curses still uncertain." Immediately the commander rubbed his temples with one hand.

"Carry out this message. 'Hold your ground until dawn. Retrieve the bodies of your fallen comrades, or at least, what's left of them." The cloaked man gave a nod then left.

Back to his own thoughts. The commander gazed back onto the map, circling a large cave at the north, a thick forest by the east, a moutain by the south west, possible areas where the source of the curses is located. Each scribble he ruffled his hair from stress. The moutain he circled, there was another group of robed people, watching the situation of the fortress.

"What do you think, Reina? Should we find the source ourselves or aid the exorcists?" A tall woman asked as she stood behind another, addressed as Reina. Her gaze still lingered onto the fortress. A brief of silence followed with the rustling of branches and leaves being carried by the wind.

"It would feel good to help those government lapdogs right, Trisha?"

"Based on the horde of curses, there's at least a special grade curse nearby." Her words paused, lifting the hood of her cloak as she turned around facing the tall woman, named Trisha behind her.

"But I'm not taking a cheap reward, we'll be taking the special grade's core from its carcass, the value is over a hundred curse cores on the market." Her tone was confident, almost arrogant yet the weight of her words were at least reliable.

"Well then, Nathaniel. You're up~" She called out, the group slowly parted as a teenager walked forward, he lifted down the hood of his cloak, Reina's magenta gaze met Nathaniel's hollow grey eyes.

"We'll partake on the hunt. Carry out this message to their Commander."

"Your fortress is pitiful, a sore eye for myself to watch. Therefore, my group wishes to aid the hunt for the curses' source. As long as the source is not found, my men will aid on defending the fortress as well."

"Once the threat is eliminated, whoever located the source gets to have its core. This is a chance for those who do not wish to sacrifice themselves on a meaningless death." Reina explained as she shifted her gaze back at the fortress.

"After the message is delivered, stay in the fortress and keep an eye on what's happening inside."

"Understood? Go." Reina added without asking for a reply, yet a long silence followed as Nathaniel didn't move an inch beside her. She slowly lingered her eyes back to him, their gazes met once again.

"What's wrong? Go, Nathaniel." She said as she crossed her arms.

"Guarantee me a reward." Nathaniel finally opened his mouth. His reply was blunt, which made Reina carve a smirk.

"...If the negotiation is a success, a swear upon the God of preservation I will reward you..." She paused, tapping her fingers on her forearm.

"An hour with this fine lady~" Reina expressed as she ran her fingers onto her long obsidian hair, the cold breeze was oddly on sync, the strands of her hair danced.

The group let out a quiet chuckle, replaced with an immediate click of a tongue from Nathaniel.

"Are you fucking serious, Reina?! You know what I want!" He stated with a furious look on his face.

"Woh there, so scary~."

"Relax, I'm kidding." She replied with a chuckle. Immediately, her gaze dug deeper onto him, almost seeing her own reflection on his pupils.

"But kid, you better find the source first or something~" Her tone suddenly carried some weight. Which made Nathaniel peel his eyes off hers. After a moment of silence. He lifted up his cloak once more as he turned his feet and ran down the mountain.

"What a damn cocky kid, why are you leaving the negotiation to him, boss?" a robed man asked with a confused tone.

"The exorcists' situation is dire, almost anyone they see outside their group on situations like this gets killed solely on suspicion."

"So what's the big deal if some kid I picked up gets killed?" She replied as the situation switched on Nathaniel, five minutes before dawn. The fortress became quiet, the horrifying screeching and the sound of magic now disappeared, what solely remained was carcasses of curses laid on the ground, evaporating like steam. Nathaniel slowly approached one of the gates, the weakest link that only had two robed exorcist on guard. One of them pulled his spear, Nathaniel paused, only a meter apart from the two.

"I have a message for your commander." His gaze lingered onto the man with the spear, the tip pointed on his neck. Without a second thought, the robed man lunged his spear, aiming towards Nathaniel's neck. In a blink of an eye. He lowered his weight to the left, grabbed the middle of the spear and slammed the man on the ground, locking an arm of the man as he sat on his back, yet Nathaniel felt another surge of danger, with the corner of his eye he saw a blade pointed at his neck. The brief of silence was long with the last cold breeze of the night, it lifted down Nathaniel's hod, slowly the warmth of sunlight rayed down onto his face. Their eyes met, the second guard was a woman, her crimson eyes met Nathaniel's, her gaze felt familiar and I'm sure she thought the same.

"I'll take you to him, but the moment you show signs of corruption, I'll cut you down myself." She stated with a cold tone, Nathaniel slowly stood up, and the other robed man did the same.

The two walked beside each other, he noticed her grip on her blade was unique, a back hand grip with the blade facing backward, she pulled out another blade behind her lower back, tapped the metal gate three times, after a moment it slowly lifted up, she unsheathed her other blade. Another exorcist walked past them, as if temporarily replacing the woman's post.

Both walked inside the fortress. Countless of injured exorcists laid on white cloth, being treated with medics.

She noticed Nathaniel's pace was slow. She tapped the back of her blade on his shoulder. "Faster." She demanded. Just then, they reached another part of the fortress, thirteen bodies covered with black cloth, a crowd of exorcists gathered around. Some mourning over the bodies and some just watched, in the distance. The woman saw the commander. The two walked towards them, only to pause.

"C-Comander, I can't find my leader, Jester. My group is already underneath those black cloth."

"H-He's alive right? T-That's right I just can't find him." A girl blurted in front of the Commander, her voice cracked with teary eyes. Her gaze were painful red, as if she'd been shedding so much tears already.

"Jester's surviving groupmate...Bring Jester's remains." The commander replied with a slow tone as immediate he was handed something wrapped with black clothing, cover with dried blood.

He handed it to her. The girl slowly gazed down at the thing on her hands. Lifting down the cloth only to see a dismembered arm, she immediately hugged it tight, letting out a sorrowful cry as she was on her knees. Everyone couldn't bare to watch. They all understood how she felt, even the Commander who looked away, grunting his teeth.

The girl lifted her glare to the Commander. "...Their deaths weren't in vain right?..." She reached onto the Commander's polo, gripping it tightly, her knuckles turned white. "We're going to reclaim our lands, right? We can win against the curses right?" She repeatedly asked, cletching the dismembered arm on her chest.

"Of cour—" The Commander paused. The morning light slowly rayed onto their hoods. "...We still don't know a damn thing about them!" The commander lashed out at the top of his lungs. Nathaniel and the woman beside him were shocked from his sudden change of tone.

"Everyone's dying trying to maintaining its numbers!...Humanity, doesn't stand a chance at all!" He ruffled his hair in frustration, he exhaled. His tone becoming lower. "...But we still have to move forward, to protect what humanity has left inside the walls. Some of us follow the path of preservation after all." He added as the girl slowly stood up, wiping her own tears. Heading towards the bodies covered in black clothing. The scene sank down as the other exorcists mourned onto their fallen comrades. While the Commander came back to the large green tent.

This was a chance to talk to the Commander, which the woman beside Nathaniel thought as she guide him forward.

"...You want the special grade's core huh? You damn people sure love to play mercenaries." He uttered as his gaze remained onto the map on his desk.

"We don't need your assistance. It's not uncommon for people like you to kill others for a special grade's core." He added as he slowly lift his gaze onto Nathaniel. The woman still standing beside him with a blade on his neck.

"Even a mere child can see that this fortress won't stand for one more night." Nathaniel stated as his tone was firm and blunt, unfazed despite his situation.

"Take a good look outside." The commander replied as he shifted his gaze outside the tent, a small gap of the tent's entrance was enough to glimpse the exorcists sitting on the ground, mourning for their fallen comrades and even some grunting from the pain of their injuries.

"Try saying that in front of them." The commander challenged, shifting his gaze deep onto Nathaniel's eyes.

"Do you decline? If so Reina will take her fifthy men and search for the source themselves, slaughtering anything or anyone they see." Immediately, Nathaniel felt a sting on his neck, the tip of the woman's blade ran a thin line on his skin, a tiny trail of blood ran down his neck.

"If I die here the same will happen, not unless they see the signal of a successful negotiation. Those fifthy men will becoming your enemy." Nathaniel added as he slowly shift his gaze towards the woman.

"...Drop your blade, Scarlet. Do as you like Trailblazer."

"If your words are true then so be it, Nathaniel. Whoever finds the special grade gets its core, but Scarlet here will follow you just in case you try to flee." The Commander replied, the blade on Nathaniel neck dropped. Scarlet unsheated it behind her lower back, a unique place for scabbards of two blades, but little did they knew. Someone was eavesdropping.

"...Fine." Nathaniel replied as he clicked his tongue, he stepped outside, raising his left arm onto the sky. His index and middle finger pointed up. He took a deep breathe.

"Scarlet, do you trust that boy?" The commander asked as he watched Nathaniel do his gesture outside of the tent.

"...I don't know, but I've met him in the past." Scarlet's gaze followed towards Nathaniel. A trail of black fire came out of his fingers, raising up to the sky, like a flair.

"Is that so?...he doesn't seem to remember you." The commander commented as he watched Nathaniel lower his arm.

"...Keep a close eye on him." He ordered as he shifted his gaze back onto his desk.

Scarlet replied with a nod, she held her right hand, a silver ring wrapped on her middle finger. She figdeted, before putting it in her pocket. Stepping outside of the tent, following Nathaniel who was already heading out, towards the gate.

The trail of fire reached incredible heights, enough to be seen by Reina and her group, who was still waiting on the moutain at the south west.

Reina's gaze lingered onto the disappearing trail of black flames. "Seems like the kid did it, the morning has just begun. Just enough time to find the source before nightfall." She explained as she turned around, facing her group.

"The hunt begins!" She expressed with a smirk carved onto her lips as they descend down the mountain.

Nathaniel continued to walk, wrapping his neck with a bandage to seal the wound Scarlet opened. The corner of his eye caught Scarlet tracing his steps a few meters apart. Both reached the sealed gate. Scarlet exchanged a nod to the gate keepers, the steel gate slowly lifted up once more. Before they could step out. A weak voice called out, her fists clenched, knuckles turning white.

"...Y-You're going after the special grade, right?...P-Please, let me join with you. I-I can carry my own weight, I promise! " It was the sorrowful girl from earlier. Despite her tone shaking and weak. Nathaniel gazed upon a pair of eyes, filled with anger and vengeance, a gaze that reminded him from himself. Scarlet was about to open her mouth, to decline her selfish request. The fatigue of her struggles from last night's curse raid was still evident despite being hidden from her cloak.

"Do what you want." Nathaniel bluntly replied as he stepped out of the steel gate, followed by Scarlet, clearly unhappy with Nathaniel's judgement. The girl followed, before the gate closed in behind them.

Crunching of their boots filled the silent atmosphere. Scarlet's right hand resting on the grip of her blade strapped behind her lower back. The girl holding her arm tightly under her cloak.

"How much land did your scouts investigated since last night?" Nathaniel finally broke the silence, he asked as his gaze remained forward.

"Ten kilometers around the fortress. Countless hordes of curses encountered but no special grade present." Scarlet explained as she summarized the scout's findings.

"I-I ummm..." The girl blurted out all of the sudden. Which made Nathaniel and Scarlet pause their steps. The corner of their eyes gazing back at the girl.

"I-I have an idea where the source might be. Last night, before last wave of curses rushed to the fortress. I heard a primal shrieking far to the east."

"I-It didn't sound like the curses that was raiding the fortress."

"I-It's just a gut feeling but I think it was from a special grade curse." She explained while nervously fidgeting her fingers.

"...Let's head east." Nathaniel immediately replied as he changed direction, heading towards east. Scarlet, despite feeling skeptical, she had no choice but to follow, her cloak snapped with the morning breeze. While the girl couldn't believe herself that Nathaniel considered her words. She held her arm behind her cloak once again, following the two.

Their search continued for hours, looking for any signs of curses while covering a long path to east. Crashing water can be heard, a river ahead masked by a good layer of trees, strange figures could be seen in the distance. Curses, their outstretched limps creepingly dragged on the grass. Their pale heads focused on the bright sky. They stood still, like trees that surround them.

Nathaniel turned around, exchanging nods with the two before they faced the curses ahead. Scarlet unsheathed both of her blades as the girl took a deep breathe, a transparent bow appeared on to her hand.

Once their presence felt known to the curses. Their still figures suddenly bolt onto heavy sprints. Charging towards them with horrifying screeches. Scarlet's eyes focused on their numbers. Seven identified curses.

Nathaniel and the girl stood beside each other, both took a deep breathe. The girl lifted her transparent bow, drawing back its string as a transparent arrow slowly appeared. Nathaniel outstretched his left arm while his right rests on his bicep. A small black flame appeared at the tip of his outstretched pointing and middle finger. The curses were close. They shot their projectiles. Immediately both shot another. Four collapsed on the grass. Three remained, they were too close. The girl gasped in panic as Nathaniel changed his stance, his palms ignited by his flames.

The curses reached them. Nathaniel blinked and the remaining curses were headless, collapsed infront of them as droplets of green blood reached his cheek, evaporating in a slow pace. Scarlet was infront a few meters away as she unsheathed her blades on her lower back.

Nathaniel felt the same familiar feeling when their eyes met behind their hods once again, yet he can't point his finger on it, or rather he doesn't bother to, maybe in between.

They head towards the river, a good place to rest for a while. Surveyed their surroundings before they sat under separate trees, being shaded by it's leaves and branches. The running river with the warm breeze past through their cloaks. A comforting yet tense silence that followed.

"A-Are you an Elemental user?"

"I-I just want to clarify that's all, since well, you use flames." The girl blurted out without consideration, an attempt for a conversation.

"...Yes. You two are Physical users if I have to guess." Nathaniel replied as he recalled how the two killed curses. Scarlet using her blades while the girl used a transparent bow and arrows.

The two nod, their gazes met each other. "Why did you want to join us? You're clearly not physically ready to face a special grade." Nathaniel added as he crossed his arms, shifting his gaze to the girl, leaning more onto the trunk of the tree.

The girl clenched her fists that was resting on her thighs, shaking yet driften by something. "...I-It's all because of that thing...my friends died. I'll kill it." Her tone cracked yet her lapis eyes were fierce.

A long silence then followed. Before the girl opened her mouth again.

"Hey umm...you're not an Exorcist like us, right?" The girl asked as she fidgeted her fingers.

"Since your talk with the Commander I thought—" Nathaniel cut her off.

"That's right, unlike you two. I kill curses for my own sake and not for someone else." He added, his tone sounded harsh.

"...Oh really? For some reason...you remind me of myself." The girl replied as her gaze drifted up the leaves on the trees.

"I'm not like you. I wouldn't know how an exorcist feels like."

"If I were you, I would abandon fighting curses to reclaim our lands and fight for my own purpose." Nathaniel explained as he shifted his gaze onto the running river.

"...I can't do that.." She whispered enough for the two to hear, holding her arm behind her cloak.

Before Nathaniel could open his mouth. A cold breeze from the rushing river brushed their faces.

"Then enjoy your short life as an exorcist. You deserve it." Nathaniel expressed as he picked up a leaf on his shoulder.

"...What's your purpose?" The girl suddenly asked as she shifted her gaze to Nathaniel.

"To kill someone." He bluntly replied as he figdeted the leaf on his fingers.

The girl suddenly let out a light chuckle.

"Then doesn't that makes us the same?" She asked, immediately the leaf on Nathaniel fingers burnt into a crisp, shifting his gaze to the girl

"It's clearly not!" He sounded annoyed, like a child despite harsh attitude.

Another silence followed. Scarlet pulled out the silver ring from her pocket, fidgeting it while casually stealing glances at Nathaniel.

"What's your name?" Nathaniel asked, his gaze seemed to deepen onto her lapis eyes.

"...Chloe."

"And you're Nathaniel and Scarlet right?" The girl named Chloe added as she shifted her eyes from Nathaniel to Scarlet.

"So you're the one who was eavesdropping." Scarlet recalled the events back at the fortress.

Chloe let out a light chuckle. The tense atmosphere now carried far by the wind. A comforting silence followed as they rest their feet under the cool shade of the tall trees they lean onto.

"I-I think I know what to do now, let's kill that thing! " Chloe declared, a soft smile remained onto her lips. Nathaniel and Scarlet nod in reply. Chloe's smile was oddly contagious, making the two carve even a small smirk onto their lips under their hods. Continuing their hunt for the source of the curses.

They spent hours trailing the east. Exterminating curses they encountered. Each horde, the numbers increased. The sky was now orange. They stood in front of a thick forest, the atmosphere felt heavy as birds scattered away from the countless branches.

Chloe's grip on her arm tightens, she suddenly bolts inside the forest. Nathaniel and Scarlet followed, tailing Choe's pace as Scarlet unsheathed her blades. "Something feels off..." She thought to herself as her gaze focused ahead.

"Over here. Nathaniel." Chloe called out behind the trees. Disappearing from their sights.

"Over here. Over here. Over here." Her voice repeatedly called out. Ahead, there was a flat terrain. Nathaniel and Scarlet passed though the last tree, they saw Chloe's figure at the center. Drawing back her transparent bow. Aiming towards Nathaniel. Both of their eyes widen. "Look out!" Scarlet exclaimed at the top of her lungs.

Nathaniel clicked his tongue, his cloak snapped as he blocked his body. Immediately his cloak was punctured, the transparent arrow barely missing his head, scrapping some of his hair. Nathaniel stumbled down onto the flat terrain, Scarlet immediately stepped in front of him, her blades pointed at Chloe. Her eyes widen as her eyes met Chloe's. One sclera pure black as dark veins creeped onto cheek, down to her right arm. "She's corrupted." Scarlet stated as Nathaniel slowly stood up, brushing his cheek with the back of his palm. Immediately, his palms ignited with black flames. In the distance, Choe drew her bow once more. "Over here, here, here." She blurted with a distorted tone as a pair of transparent arrows on her fingers.

Already feeling overwhelmed, the ground suddenly shook beneath their boots. A titanic figure emerged from the soil, tentacles attached to it's body slapped its surroundings, cutting down trees and the landscape. The three managed to dodge. A dust cloud masked their vision. They coughed violently, a few seconds passed. The sunset rayed onto the entities figure. It's skin matching the soil, it stretched its long limbs as it let out a horrifying shrek. Different animals from the forest fleed. It's size much higher than the trees, over eighteen meters tall.

"This must be it, a special grade curse." Scarlet thought to herself as she held her blade close, her grip tightened. Chloe shifted her gaze onto it, both their black eyes met. In a blink of an eye, a tentacle punctured Choe's stomach, dropping her transparent bow as it disappeared before hitting the ground.

"CHLOE!" Nathaniel called out, only to be respond by hurling tentacles. They dodged it again, it punctured the already damaged soil. Two watched Chloe's body afloat on the curse's broad shoulders as droplets of her blood hit the dry soil.

Nathaniel coiled his body, shifting his weight onto her left foot. His left arm muscles flexed, drawing it back to his ear, and his eyes locked onto the tentacle that restrained Chloe. For a moment, time froze, a long black flame appeared onto his grip. A swift, powerful motion, he unleashed the flames, like a spear, his body unwinding like a spring as it shot forward with deadly precision. It reached the target, only to be deflected by another tentacle. The sheer number of tentacles around its body slowly turned black

Nathaniel clicked his tongue. "...As expected, it can control negative energy, Aura." Nathaniel thought to himself.

"Leave its tentacles to me. I can cut it down." Scarlet stated confidently as she stood infront of Nathaniel, her hands covered with a black color that slowly mixed with her entire blade. The corner of her crimson eyes met Nathaniel's. He gave a nod in response.

The special grade suddenly got onto its knee. Throwing up miniture versions of itself. "Disgusting." Scarlet muttered to herself as they watched the curses slowly got onto its feet. Immediately the newly born curses pounced towards two, letting out its horrifying screeches. Nathaniel and Scarlet exchanged nods as they clashed with the special grade with its spawn.

Nathaniel burnt the miniture versions with his black flames as Scarlet spun in one sweep motion just before the tentacles reached her, cutting it down. Her boots dug onto the damaged soil as she raised down her head, calves flexed as she threw herself towards the titanic curse. Her body and blades spun endlessly as she torn off it's skin, making her way up to its neck. The titanic curse shrieked in pain as its hand reached towards her spinning body. In a blink of an eye, she stopped her momentum, her boots dug onto the curse's pale earthy skin as she threw herself onto it's reaching arm. Spinning once more like a blade, cutting up its joints and tentacles that tried to stop her. It's arm immediately dropped to its hip as she did the same to its other arm.

Its tentacles slowly regenerated as Scarlet's boots reached the ground, she knelt on one knee. Her breathes ragged. Nathaniel leaped towards its stomach, Scarlet's slashing still evident. He dug his left arm onto its wound. Nathaniel's black flames exploited its wounds. The titanic curse exploded violently as it collapsed onto the ground, shaking the damaged terrain as dust clouds filled the atmosphere. Moonlight rayed onto them. Nathaniel pantly heavily as he stood infront of Scarlet, holding out a hand. Scarlet's gaze met Nathaniel's, she unsheathed her blades before she held his hand, standing up on both feet. Someone was missing, the dusk cloud slowly cleared up. Amidst of the special grade's carcass evaporating, they heard a familiar tone yet it was distorted. "Over here, here. Nathaniel." There she is, laid against a pile of soil as her bloody body was gently covered with moonlight.

Nathaniel knelt in front of Chloe, gazing onto her lapis eye and corrupted eye, the black veins on her cheek pumped weakling. The wound on her stomach still bleeding violently. Nathaniel reached Chloe's cheek, intenting to burn the black veins that creeped her body

"People who were corrupted by curses can't be brought back." Scarlet pointed out as she crossed her arms, anticipating what he will do. Nathaniel paused his reach.

A long silence followed with the cold breeze of the night. Her words made Nathaniel what he was doing, he witnessed people die countless times, what makes this time different. "...I know that." Nathaniel replied as he continued to reach onto her cheek. Scarlet's eyes widen. A hand weaklingy held Nathaniel's wrist. "Over here, Nathaniel." Her distorted tone rambled as her hand guided Nathaniel to her chest, making him feel her beating heart. "Here, Nathaniel." She weakingly rambled again. Nathaniel's hollow eyes felt empty as she gazed at Chloe's lips, curling into the innocent smile she once had. Scarlet looked away as she wiped the tear running down from her own cheek. "T-Thank you for letting me join, Nathaniel." Her eyes slowly closed. Her body slowly engulfed with black flames as Nathaniel's hand remained onto her chest, feeling her slow beating heart. "Warm" She muttered, enough for only herself to hear. Her heart beat stopped as the flames ate up her body, yet her soft smile remained until the very end. Nathaniel slowly stood up, making his way towards the remnants of the special grade, a glimmer reflected from his eye. The core, shaped as a sphere, inside was an image of the special grade's twisted face. He picked it up, big enough to fill his hand, Scarlet stood behind him.

"Do you feel remorse?" She asked as her words carried some weight. Nathaniel took off his cloak, wrapping the core tightly as he carried it with his left hand.

"...No, I've seen countless deaths of people being eaten alive by curses. Even personally taking their lives because of corruption." He paused as he slightly turned his head, the corner of his eye met Scarlet's gaze.

"What makes hers any special?" Nathaniel replied with a deep tone as he slowly walked towards where they came from.

"You're heartless..." Scarlet commented as she shifted her gaze where Chloe's body once laid and back to Nathaniel's back.

Nathaniel's paused his movement. "Maybe." He replied with a blunt tone as he continued forward. The moment he disappeared from Scarlet's sight, the façade crumbled. His fingers trembled as he held the core wrapped with his cloak, and his lips twisted in a barely suppressed sob. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes.

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End of Chapter.

Chapter 2: The Right Choice?

A whisper of afternoon breeze hit tall walls of the empty fortress. The Exorcists gathered outside, hopping on their own horses and others sat on horse carriages. The Commander in front. Signaled his horse to move forward. The loud crunching of its heavy hooves brushed the ground. The Commander gazed forward, deep in thought.

A memory lingered, just from earlier. Inside the green tent, face to face with Scarlet.

"The source of the curses has been slayed, Nathaniel got his hands on its core and a fellow exorcist, Chloe was corrupted." He said, as if summarizing her report.

"That's right. I'm certain she was corrupted when the curses seiged this fortress two nights ago." Scarlet commented as she pulled out a piece of cloth from her pocket. A symbol of exorcism that was stitched on their shoulders. She placed it on the wooden desk.

"...It's forbidden to bring her remains because of her corruption. This is what I could bring back, for her loved ones." Scarlet added as her fingers left the cloth.

The Commander picked up the cloth. A long silence followed, before the Commander opened his mouth. "Every exorcist that I watched over. Most of them came from the outer wall of the capital, and Chloe was one of them." He paused as he shifted his gaze onto his palm, the symbol of exorcism reflected on his pupil. "...She became an exorcist to escape a twisted life of poverty." He slowly lifted his gaze towards Scarlet, meeting her eyes.

"The moment of her dying breath, do you think she regretted her choices?" His words carried heavily. Chloe's dying smile lingered onto Scarlet's mind. The distant voices from outside of the tent became audible.

Scarlet turned, her cloak snapped, one hand rested on the grip of her sheathed blade strapped on her lower back.

"...Who knows?" She whispered, enough for at least the commander to hear as she left the tent.

The commander gazed down at his palm once more.

"...She must have. Everything, is afraid of the end." He whispered to himself as a horse neighed, making him come back to his sense.

A few exorcist behind him. Scarlet was riding her own horse. The silver ring on her middle finger reflected the sunlight. A memory lingered onto her mind as the warm breeze hit her face, the night when the special grade was slayed. Scarlet followed Nathaniel from a distance, her footsteps were weak and delicate because of the fatigue. The sound of horses passed through the trees. She finally made out of the forest. Her gaze lingered onto Nathaniel's back, facing a tall woman, behind her was a group of robed people, still on their horses. Nathaniel held out the core that was wrapped with his cloak, Reina's gaze followed as it dropped on the grass. The core glimmered as it was being rayed with moonlight.

"Good work, Nathaniel~." Reina commented as she lifted her gaze to Nathaniel.

"Our deal. I'm not taking no for an answer." Nathaniel recalled their deal back at the mountain as his fierce gaze lingered onto Reina's.

"I, Nathaniel, son of Ethan. Upon my father's death. I seek vengeance through a duel with Reina." He lifted his hand close to his face. Manifesting black flames as his gaze deepen into Reina's eyes.

Reina's fingers twitched, white strings coming out of the tips. Her hands moved like a puppeteer. "I, Reina, Son of Earl. Responsible for Ethan's death. I accept his son's duel." Her tone firm as her voice was carried with a cold breeze. A long silence followed as Nathaniel coughed blood, the flames on his hand extinguished as his body collapsed on the grass.

"...Using magic even though you're at your limits. Of course you're gonna pass out." Reina said to herself as her eyes remained onto Nathaniel.

"...Did the kid really kill a special grade curse?" One of the robed men uttered as they all gazed down at Nathaniel's fallen body.

"...No, he didn't do it alone." Reina lifted her hand, her fingers twitched once more. Scarlet stepped out of the darkness of the trees above her. Her eyes widen as she wasn't walking consciously, she was being controlled, thin strings could barely be seen around her body that weren't present moments ago. She tried to reach her blades, sheathed behind her lower back, yet she couldn't lift a finger. Just continuing to walk forward. Was she weak because of the fatigue? No, that can't be it.

"...An exorcist?" The robed man uttered as he managed to cast a gaze at Scarlet's shoulder, a symbol of exorcism evident.

After a few more steps. Scarlet stood in front of Nathaniel's fallen body.

"I'm surprised, Nathaniel wouldn't work with anyone. So, what do you want in return for helping him slay the special grade, hm?~" Reina asked, her tone playful yet her gaze was deep into Scarlet's crimson eyes.

"...Bring me back...to the fortress." Her tone weakened as she became unconscious. Her body still upright because of Reina's strings.

"Trisha, carry them on a carriage." Reina called out as she picked up the core, the woman named Trisha caught Scarlet as the strings disappeared from her body.

"...To think that these two teenagers would pull it off." One of the robed men commented. Reina paused her steps, the man's words made her mind creep into some thoughts, before she hopped on her horse as she gazed up the full moon on the dark sky.

"...Let's go! A detour to the fortress and back to the capital! " She commanded as the group rod their horses and carriages. The sound of hooves and wooden wheels filled the air as they rode though the moonlight.

Twenty four hours passed since then. Inside a horse carriage under a starry night, ragged and stressful breathing could be heard. It shook violently, Nathaniel immediately opened his eyes, sweat running down his temples with his heart racing violently. He slowly sat up, a nightmare he can't seem to remember again. Nathaniel shook his head as he got off the carriage. He turned his back, only to see a tall wall that reached the sky, at least fifthy meters tall. He realized they're back at the capital. The streets were mostly empty as the houses were full of light.

"Slept good, Nathaniel?" A feminine voice asked infront of him. He shifted his gaze at front. It was Trisha, tall with short charcoal hair. Her mustard eyes met Nathaniel's.

"Where's Reina?" He asked. Trisha pointed a thumb behind her, a two floor tavern could be seen. Distant voices of their group, their silhouette could be seen dancing on the windows.

Nathaniel made his way towards the tavern. Only to be interrupted by a grab on his shoulder.

"Eat before your duel. Reina's capabilities are beyond special grade curses. You already know that." She uttered, as if a demand. Nathaniel held his stomach as he was lost in thought.

From the second story of the tavern. A glimmer reflected as the special grade core was unwrapped from Nathaniel's cloak. It was Reina and a merchant, inside a cold room, with bookshelves, a grandfather clock beside and potted plants in each dark corner. They both sat across each other. Reina's boots on the table as she leaned back from her wooden chair. The core held with one hand. An open window, moonlight casted down between them.

"This better fetch me up a good price as usual, Nick." Reina expressed with a smirk on her face before tossing the core, the man named nick caught it with one hand.

"...Oh it will." He replied as he examined it. The twisted facial feature of the special grade inside the core made him carve a smile on his face.

Laughter and chatter from Reina's group could be heard underneath the wooden floor. The sound of beer mugs and cutlery filled the room.

"Seems like your men are at it again in my tavern. Seriously Reina, they'll dry my supply if you let them loose overnight." Nick commented with a sigh as he tossed the core back to Reina. The smell of beer and meat seeped in the room.

Reina sighed as she put her boots on the wooden floor. "Nick, we've been outside of the capital, fighting curses for their cores.'

"Let us stick around in your tavern until tomorrow. Give my group their meat and drinks. I'll pay for everything." She explained as she gazed at the core.

"That's all I wanted to hear." Nick replied with a comforted smile on his face as he started counting gold coins.

Reina watched him as she propped an elbow on the table.

"...Do you really love money that much?" She asked with a lazy tone as her gaze lingered onto the gold coin between nick's fingertips.

"Who doesn't? Just looking at it...makes me feel happy." He replied with a smile as his gaze lingered onto it as well.

Reina playfully sighed. "At least get me a drink you cheapskate." She said as she settled down the core on the table.

"Ah right." He lifted his gaze. "Let's have a drink then." Nick added as he shifted his gaze onto the closed door.

"Brooklyn! Bring out some good liquor!" He called out. "Right away sir." A reply from the other side of the door, as if someone's been standing there the whole time.

"Brooklyn? A new servant?" Reina asked while strings appeared between her fingers, like cobwebs. Nick's attention was busy counting gold coins on the table.

"Uhuh? Ah yes. I got him from the Outer wall. Poor people out there would do anything to live inside these safe walls made by the Archon of Preservation after all."

"But that upbringing made him stupid and useless." Nick replied as his gaze lingered back onto the gold coins between his fingers.

The corner of Reina's eyes, she saw Nathaniel outside of the tavern, sitting on crates as he was eating bread, it tasted hard and dry. In front of him was Trisha. Their mouths were moving but she couldn't make up what they were talking about.

"Is that so? Anyways, can you be a witness for me? I got a duel coming around midnight." Reina stated as she shifted her gaze onto the grandfather clock. Fifteen minutes left before midnight.

"A duel...?" Nick asked but immediately, Reina cut him off.

"Oh, by the way. It isn't his fault that he's stupid and useless. You're just using him wrong." Reina said as she shifted her gaze outside the window. Her eyes casting down to Nathaniel.

"There's a different way to correctly control anyone." She stated with a smirk onto her face.

Two minutes before duel.

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End of Chapter.

Chapter 3: A Slave to something

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Nathaniel and Reina faced each other on a dueling ground. Their boots pressed onto its old concrete floor, cracked from previous duels for who knows how long. Reina's men gathered around, even some windows from the tall houses cracked open as some watched what's about to unfold. The crowd cheered their gazes lingered onto the dueling ground. Some guessing who will be the victor, even some wanting to see one of them fall dead.

Nick stood infront of Nathaniel and Reina, arms wide open. He cleared his throat. "In the name of the Archon of Preservation, Alexios. We now convene a duel between Reina and Nathaniel."

"The usage of both positive and negative energy is allowed. Escape, Incapacitation and Death will be considered defeat." Nick announced as the gathered crowd cheer in anticipation while the people inside their homes watched and even some tried to sleep it off as if duels wasn't uncommon.

"Say Mama, why do people fight each other? Magic should be used on curses right?" A little boy asked, he was being carried by his mother as they watched outside of their window.

"I don't know, sweetie. Why not ask your father tomorrow? He's a knight after all." The mother explained as Nick opened his mouth once more.

"The reason for this duel being that Nathaniel wishes vengeance for father's death." Nick claimed. Brooklyn stood beside Trisha, his gazed focused on Nathaniel.

"Why is he working with the woman that killed his father?" He asked, Trisha glanced at Brooklyn with the corner of her eye. "See it through. You might hear it for yourself." Trisha bluntly replied a she crossed her arms. Her eyes focused on Nathaniel and Reina.

"Any complaints from both participants?" Nick asked as he glanced from Reina to Nathaniel.

"Nope~" "No." They both respond. "Now begin!" Nick declared as he slowly stepped back, now standing the crowd as Nathaniel's hands immediately engulfed with his flames as Reina's right hand twitched, strings in between her fingers.

"...You've grown quite tall haven't you?" Reina said as she gazed up Nathaniel head, his height slightly surpassing hers. Nathaniel clenched his fists.

"You were about this tall back then~" She teasingly added as she leveled her left hand on her stomach, her thumb brushing off her polo.

Nathaniel leaped forward, throwing a barriage of flames manifested punches. Reina stepped back in response, her cloak snapped in each step. She remained unfazed by Nathaniel's flames. The crowd was stunned with his precision and speed.

"Can't you chat with me for a bit!?" Reina's tone teaseful as her fingers twitched once more. From Nathaniel's shoulders and calves, thin strings attached as it violently pulled him back. Nathaniel quickly regained his stance, the strings on him burnt into flames. Reina's smirk still carved onto her face.

The crowd cheered louder as the cold breeze of the midnight dew passed through. "Do both of them use Elemental Magic?" Brooklyn asked, his gazed lingered onto Nathaniel's palms ignited by flames and Reina's finger tips attached with thin strings.

"No, Physical magic manifests man-made objects while Elemental manifests natural objects . Hence, Reina's physical and Nathaniel's Elemental.

They both watched as Nathaniel continued his attacks, alternating from close to long ranged combat with his flames.

"...He's gotten stronger and his mind is calm too, and he knows. In terms of magic quality. Elemental has the edge." Trisha commented with a proud smile carved onto her lips as her focus remained onto Nathaniel.

"...I just need to focus...Control your heartbeat, feel the mana course through your blood." He said to himself as he exhaled, the black flames on his palms lightened even brighter.

Reina whistled, realizing Nathaniel's flames becoming more intense, her forearms slowly being coated by a black color, similar to Scarlet's and even the special grade's tentacles, yet hers radiated a magenta color on the edge of her coated forearms.

"...Aura, a negative source of energy that can dispell magic manifested by Mana, a positive energy."

"Shit, even I can't use it. If only I could, I can beat her!" He yelled in his mind. Reina slowly approached him as strings started to surround him.

"...No! Wishing for things that I don't have is useless!" He told himself, he immediately leaped up. Reina looked up. Only to see Nathaniel coil his body. Both arm muscles flexed, drawing it back to his ears. black flame appeared onto his grip.

A swift, powerful motion, he unleashed the flames, like a spear. It shot downward with speed. Reina deflected it with her aura coated arm. "Was that really it—" Time froze. Nathaniel's fists casting a shadow onto her face. She could feel warmth of his flames, it stung. Reina's eyes widen, immediately she twitched a finger.

Multiple strings attacked around Nathaniel's legs. His body redirecting on the concrete floor, Nathaniel ignited his legs on flames as the strings hummed silently before it burnt. He stumbled onto the floor. Immediately standing up, his palms ignited with flames once more as a sweat ran down his forehead.

A long silence followed even for the crowd. Reina then opened her mouth as the smirk on her face disappeared.

"Nathaniel, about your dad. Ah shit, what was his name again...Ether, Ear—" Reina was cut off. Nathaniel shouted. "Ethan!" From his answer, Reina smiled from within.

"Right, Ethan. You get forgetful fast when you get old." She said as she ruffled her hair.

Nathaniel's lips twitched in irritation. "Look, I hate to bring it up to a duel but I've killed plenty of petty criminals in the outer wall. I just can't remember your dad."

"Did I really kill this man called Ethan?"

"How did I kill him exactly if that's the truth? Maybe you're just mistaken Nathaniel." Her words cut deep. Nathaniel grunted his teeth in anger, the height of his flames reached his shoulders.

"You sadistic bastard! If you fought fair and square...my father wouldn't have lost!" As Nathaniel lashed out. Reina's smirk slowly returned, carving in each word Nathaniel uttered, knowing full well he took the bait.

"If you...if you didn't take me as hostage!" Nathaniel's grey eyes now full of fierce. His tone carried with anger and frustration.

"Ah~"

"Now I remember! He was a fool who offered his life for his son!" Her tone became harsh yet manipulative. Nathaniel rushed towards her with clenched fists.

Trisha sighed "So much for that." Nathaniel threw a fistful of flames towards Reina without hesitation. Reina caught it flawlessly with her aura coated hand as her strings tripped him on the cold concrete floor.

The crowd was confused, they didn't understand what just happened. Reina stepped her boot on Nathaniel's back as she held his arm, he grunted in pain.

"Getting emotional on a duel? You got a lot more to learn kiddo~" She pulled his arm, a snap echoed. Nathaniel let out a painful groaned as his arm dropped on the floor.

Reina stepped off the dueling ground, walking past Trisha as the aura from her forearm disappeared.

"Fix his shoulder for me, would you Trisha?" She asked yet it sounded more of a demand. "Got it." Trisha bluntly replied as she walked towards Nick.

"Hey Nick. That liquior would be great by now~" She expressed in front of Nick. The one sided duel was over.

The tension simmered down as the crowd dispersed. Reina's group making their way back to tavern.

The midnight breeze became colder as Nathaniel remained on the horse carriage. Trisha finished tying his sling, she let his presence. The sound of wood could be heard as she opened a crate. The cold breeze made him shiver. Trisha tossed a hodded cloak on his head.

"Don't catch a cold Nathaniel." Trisha expressed as she left, making her way to the tavern. Nathaniel was left alone with his thoughts as he wore the cloak, to radiate warmth.

Trisha entered the tavern, a sight of her comrades drinking beer, eat meat, dancing, and even singing. The tavern felt warm, and the scent was sweaty.

"Aren't you suppose to be on supply watch?" One of her comrades asked as he drank some beer.

"Nathaniel insisted that he should." She bluntly replied as she grabbed a mug of beer on a waitress' tray beside her.

"Oh right, as usual. He sulks like a child when he loses. Just let him be, he shouldn't be in a tavern anyways." He replied with a chic, his face reddened because of alcohol.

Trisha's gazed shifted into a corner of the tavern. Reina leaned back onto a chair as her boots were on the table, taking sips from an expensive bottle of liquior.

"Not bad, not bad at all~" She muttered to herself in between sips.

Trisha stepped forward, her boots creaked the wooden floors, snatching a plate full of warm bread and smoked meat. Handing it to Reina as she sat beside her.

"Say Reina, would there be a day where Nathaniel would burn you alive when you're asleep?" She asked as she took a piece of meat from Reina's plate, its juicies still drip on the wooden floor before it reached her mouth.

Reina chuckled from her question, her fingers twitched as thin threads started to cut the meat into smaller, bite sized pieces.

"Oh deary~"

"I'd bet my own life that he wouldn't do such a petty thing. He's still a mage, bound to his past and pride after all." Reina explained as she picked up a piece with her fingers, tossing it into her mouth. Before Trisha could open her mouth. The sound of cutlery and food dropped on the wooden floor. Both shifted their gaze onto the direction of the spill, only to see Brooklyn on the floor as Nick stood infront of him, holding a whip firmly between his fingers.

"For fuck's sake, Brooklyn! Don't you know how much that tray costs!?"

"Get your shit together before I send you back to the Outer wall!" He yelled as he hit Brooklyn with his whip, each strike still wasn't even enough to cover the noises of Reina's men around the tavern.

Trisha sighed as her gaze lingered onto the pitiful sight. "I hate Servant owners like him. Even I would want him to drop dead." Trisha expressed as she drank some beer. Immediately, Reina started to laugh loudly.

"What? Did I say something funny?" Trisha asked as her gaze shifted onto Reina.

"No, I'm not laughing at you, deary~"

"Just look at him. What a depressing sight." Reina squeezed in every word between laughter. Both their eyes wonder back to Nick and Brooklyn.

"A slave to money, holding a whip, acting as a master to a servant he bought with money." Reina added as she wiped a joyful tear on her eye. Trisha's expressed remained confused.

Reina followed with a sigh as she took a sipped from her bottle again. Her laughter finally simmered down.

"...He just doesn't get it. All of us are slaves to something." Reina added as her tone carried some weight. The liquor was cold, just like the atmosphere outside, where Nathaniel sat on the carriage alone, slowly drifting to sleep. A familiar laughter woke him up.

"Look at you sulking, did you lose again?" A manly tone said as he stood infront. Nathaniel slowly opened his eyes. Their gazes meet, the man's eyes were charcoal, his hair and beard danced with the cold midnight breeze.

"...Father." Nathaniel uttered to himself, his fierce gaze slowly turned into something soft and innocent. Tears pricked on his eyes as he blushed lightly.

His father, Ethan, brushed his hair lightly.

"There there you crybaby" Ethan's hands paused as he gazed down at his son's face.

"Are you angry? Do you want revenge, Nathaniel?" He asked softly. Nathaniel nodded violently. Ethan chuckled lightly, a hint of concern lingered.

"Well, you are my son after all. I would just waste my breath if I scold you." His gazed deepened into Nathaniel's hollow grey eyes.

"...Oh dear, how should I say this...No, only you can figure it out yourself. What a strong mage truly is." The voice sudden became distant and his warmth vanished, Nathaniel felt a touch on his shoulders. He immediately pulled out his hand, already engulfed in black flames. The illusion of his father, gone with the winds as Brooklyn stood in front of him. Holding a plateful of smoked meat and bread.

"...Master Nick...asked me to bring you this food." He handed him the plate. Nathaniel started to eat as Brooklyn walked a few meters apart him, feeling the cold breeze of the midnight as he gazed up the tall walls that reached the dark sky.

"...Did you also came from the Outer wall?" Brooklyn asked as his gaze lingered onto the walls.

"...What?" Nathaniel bluntly replied after he swallowed. Taking another bite of the smoked meat.

"S-Sorry, it's just that you're distant around Ms. Reina's group." He replied as he shifted his gaze onto Nathaniel, watching his throat throb as Nathaniel swallowed.

"...That's right, unlike you. I fought for where I am now. I don't need to eat scraps in the kitchen and I'm free to choose where or when I eat." Nathaniel's tone was harsh and fierce as he chew onto some bread, it felt lukewarm in his mouth.

A long silence followed with a dust of wind. Brooklyn hugged himself as he gazed up the walls once more.

"...If I ran, ran as far as I could. Across the walls and curses...What world would there be?"

"If there's a world beyond magic, curses, war and slavery...a world of peace."

"...Does a world like that truly exist?" Brooklyn's tone was quiet that carried hope and sorrow.

Nathaniel didn't answer, his gaze lingered onto the walls. Being taken back to the little childhood that he once had. Six years ago.

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End of Chapter