POV: Kykvandi

It was morning again. I was lying in Erroi's bed. I looked around. Hræ was lying in a bigger bed a metre away. And then I heard the snoring. It was deep, powerful and worst of all, it reverberated with the furniture, making everything shake.

-How did you even sleep through all of that?-

I have no interest in speaking with you, creature.

-Count your blessings, parasite.-

I felt hands holding me down. “Calm down, Kykvandi!” It was Hræ. I breathed in and out and it seemed to calm her down enough to let me go. Erroi woke up from the ordeal, armed with a flask of foul tasting green fluid. Afterwards, the morning was uneventful, save for an old man coming in to check on me.

He removed my top and examined my mark, poking, prodding, and even scraping some of the skin off. It burned, but I kept my composure.

“What is the point of this?”

“I've been called to examine exactly 2 wrath demon corpses, and both times, the skin and organs blistered and boiled into sludge hours after dying. It is rare to find a living, willing participant to help me discover just what this scourge is and what it came from, and possibly how to treat it.”

Am I just an experiment to you?

-At least you will be of some use to the world.-

I do not wish to hear you babble on. Begone.

-Petulant child.-

“Is something wrong? I can feel your skin heat up.” The doctor had his hand on my shoulder and Erroi held out the bottle for him.

The assassin piped up. “Hey, why don't you introduce yourself to him?”

“Hello, I'm-”

"I hope that's the last of your foul medicine.” the doctor chuckled a little. Erroi looked at me. “You best pray this is the rest of it.”

“I'm not drinking that.” I felt sick even looking at it.

“Not your choice buddy.” Erroi wasn't giving up.

-I'd listen to him.-

“Shut up!” I saw Reivi's face contort into the wood. I rushed in and punched with all my might. They grabbed me and poured contents of the flask down my throat. I could see him in the corner of my eye, taunting me.

“Tough luck, parasite.”

POV: Erroi

I held the flask of sedative in my hand for the doctor to grab, and I could feel the glares Kykvandi gave it. The doctor finished his examination of Kykvandi's charcoal coloured skin, when his muscles tightened visibly. He was getting angry again. I walked up to him and gave him the bottle, but he was looking intently on a spot of wall behind me.

He lunged forward, his arm covered in flames, and punched a hole big enough for me to fit in. Hræ grabbed his arm first, and was punched square in the stomach. That's It! I grabbed his arms and held him down to the floor and prayed this poison would kill him as I gave him the rest of the medicine. Even after he had swallowed the rest of the sedatives, he was still trying to claw at the floor, in a frantic attempt to destroy my house.

“You've done nothing but torture my soul!” He lost consciousness before damn near losing his mind! I checked on Hræ, she was gasping for air, but it was nothing permanent. We laid him back on the bed, this time with restraints. We prepared breakfast, hoping he would not wake. Not ever. We left a plate for him before discussing our plan.

The doctor was writing in his notebook. “We could surrender him to the holy knights. I'll make sure he's alive.”

“He doesn't like being caged. Princess, wait with fixing the hole.”

Hræ was nailing boards over the hole. “I think he needs to find some way to release his anger.”

My thoughts exactly, but I fear what he'd do to strangers if left uncontrolled.

“Out of the question. We need to constantly look after him to avoid unnecessary deaths.”

The doctor explained. “There are mercenaries in the town south, maybe they could shape him up if you followed him.”

This was getting somewhere. “Mercenaries? What order?”

Daughter and grandfather spoke in unison. “Mikellans.”

“What are Mikellans?”

Hræ pulled out a flyer with a description of the tournament.

Mikell wishes to see your skill!

Do you wish to test your power against worthy foes?

Then join our next tournament for the chance of winning great riches!

Our next competition will be held at Haski-Munnr

Join us and be victorious!

This was the most bullshit thing I'd seen in over 30 years. But this could perhaps either help me or help my friend.

“This looks stupid. I'm in.”

Hræ piped up. “Can I join too?

The doctor slammed his book on the table. “Absolutely not! It's dangerous and pointless!”

“I just want to watch!” They were getting loud.

“How about you join as a medic? They could always use someone who can treat wounds.” This seemed to satisfy both parties, Somehow. Breakfast continued without arguments and I'd have someone else there to help if Kykvandi lost control again.

The doctor asked me about my friend. “Why do you keep forgiving him for his violent actions? He could have killed Hræ and you still keep him around.”

“Look old man, I don't want him hurting her either, but he's got nothing without us, and I can't just let him suffer like that.”

“Do you think the tournament will help him control himself?”

“I think he needs to release his pent up aggression without hurting someone too bad. It might make it worse, but I'm grasping at straws to help him.”

If this escalates beyond the mercenaries' control, I might have to kill him. But can I truly avoid hesitating killing one of my only friends?

Kykvandi woke up. Again. He was struggling against his restraints until he saw me. I approached him slowly, a ceremonial knife held underneath the plate of food for him to see. He didn't resist any of my actions, and just let me feed him like a child.

“You punched a hole in my wall.”

“I'm just glad you're okay.”

“We are. For the most part.” He saw Hræ squirm when he looked at her, and began holding back tears. “I'm so sorry.” He always sounded like he was hiding the truth. Until now. Now it was only pain in his voice.

“There's a tournament being held in a town south of here. I'll be registering you as a fighter. I hope it'll help you release some anger without hurting anyone too bad.” He nodded and continued lying there. “I'll be going there now. You stay.” he had his eyes closed, probably trying to forget what happened.

So this is Haski-Munnr.

Fields and fields surrounded these walls, thicker than I'd ever seen. Inside the walls were markets and stores on the outer edges. After that, smiths and furnaces, spitting smoke. In the center were houses, surrounding a keep, made of iron and a massive colosseum where I guess these Mikellans would be hosting this tournament.

There was a booth handling registrations. I walked up and spoke to the large man hosting it. He shook my hand firmly, which was a new experience. “Hello, I'd like to register my daughter as a field medic for the tournament.”

The doctor approached with a badge. “I am an elven taught doctor, and this lady is my assistant. I believe it would be in her best interest to be given field experience.”

The large man nodded and wrote down Hræ's name on a list. “Do you wish to join our competition of strength, young man?”

At least buy me dinner first you dirty boy.

“Yes, and also my friend who isn't here right now.”

“Your names, please.”

“I am Crowen the swift, My friend is... The barefist Ed.

“Ah, Monikers are the best of names for this tournament. What does your friend look like?”

“He is a tall man with long grey hair and a crooked nose. He also has red lines on his face.”

“So then he is a demon. Is he a criminal?”

“I can guarantee everyone's safety, unless they're his opponent.”

“Well spoken. Done! The tournament will be held in a week. You're lucky, today's the last day to register.”

POV: Milder

We had been travelling for five days without sign of Kykvandi, or anyone, for that matter, and Seicig couldn't change the sensitivity on her necklace until we had a blacksmith to do it for us. We were going to have to find him without magic.

Even without Kykvandi, I couldn't give up. Our next stop before the Great Wall was Haski-Munnr. If there were no pyromancers there, I'd have ruined my relations with Kykvandi for nothing.

"Alright, we'll set up camp here. Saethwyr, set up the rods, Varr, light a fire, and Djarfr, get cooking." Like clockwork, we set up every tent and table for the rapidly encroaching winter night. I sat down to admire our work once all was done; jerky and eggs on plates, fish roasting over the fire, and everyone bundled up in their woollen cloaks.

This truly made everything worth it for but a moment.

Seicig approached me. She was cleansing her eye with a fine handkerchief embroidered with her family crest.

"What's our plan for capturing Kykvandi?"

"I don't know." She lowered her rag and scowled at me.

She came closer and explained, "We need to rest in the town. I heard from the residents in the town north that Mikellans were hired to protect the Wall after Veggr was attacked. If he attacks us there, we can rely on them to subdue him."

"What makes you sure he'll be there?"

"He went south when he left us, and the forest ends miles before you see the town. We're left with farmland to scour, and a town fraught with festivals and food."

"You saw how much food I gave him. It could last for weeks." I still wasn't sure if her plan was actually worthwhile, but the more Seicig explained herself, the more I was convinced.

"And that's how long we'll wait."

"We don't have enough money for that! We're no longer knights and we have no other way to earn money!" Seicig was unfazed

"I may have a way. Remember my teacher?" I nodded to let her continue,

"The eastern compass?"

"Yes. He might sponsor our journey if he knows we have no one else to ask." She dug into her tent and disappeared. Minutes later, she returned with a clear orb on a tall stand, a gift from her family to speak with them from afar. She rested her palms on it calmly, and lowered her head. A cloud formed within, slowly building up speed. A face appeared, and condensed into a wrinkled, sharp face.

The pair greeted each other in the hundreds of greetings angels used.

"Ah hello, Seicig. To what do I owe this visit with my greatest student?" His voice was as gravelly as I expected, dragging over the words.

"Remember Milder? I've been travelling with him and we need a sponsor for our peace agreement project." I was surprised by her curtness. It seemed counterintuitive to not build up slowly for such a favour.

"How much do you expect to need?" His expression hadn't changed, but I was preparing myself for a rebuttal.

"8 kilograms of gold coins will do. It should be able to last us enough to return to the Capital."

"For you, I would carry 20 kilograms every fortnight with my bare hands. Expect a carriage and letter with my insignia within a day. Where are you?"

"We are approaching Haski-Munnr."

"Good, good! Anything else you wish to speak about?" All of a sudden he had changed from a stern teacher, into a doting grandparent.

"I've been experiencing inflammation in my left eye. I cleaned the wound of infection and reduced the inflammation, but the pain still persists."

"...That's expected of horse flies. I take it you've been in stables very often. But nevermind that, how is your family?"

"They are well. Saethwyr has chosen to be my guardian during this excursion."

"Why not your mother or father? Surely they would be a better choice for this." Seicig lowered her head in sorrow. It seems we were the first to discover the dynamic of their family.

"They would not leave their land for this mission." The sage flinched for a moment.

"I meant no harm with my words."

"Then none is taken."

"I will send some of my most skilled men to assist you in your journey." Seicig's eyes were welling up, but I felt no sadness from her.

"Thank you."

"You deserve better than this, my greatest student. Goodbye." The man's face faded back into mist, and the orb became clear again

"Goodbye, my master." Seicig sat on a stump and breathed deeply. I let her sit there to rest her mind from the ordeal. She stood up and dusted herself off and we went back to our tents.

Money was good, we'd always need that, but soldiers would make our small operation more noticeable. We'd need a cover story.

Not even a quater of an hour after we had retreated to our tents, Seicig burst out of hers, screaming. "He's that way!" YES! I jumped on Daufi and followed Seicig on her buffalo through the thicket for ten minutes before Seicig stopped. "He has returned to human form. We need to fan out."

"It's not worth it! Let's just leave him."

"This could be our only chance. Do you want to throw it away just like that?" She gazed at me intently, waiting for my answer.

"This place feels wrong. Something is watching us." Seicig realized it too, the animals stopped making sounds, not even branches creaking. Just the wind, howling strongly. Seicig didn't see the thing observing us, but I did.

It was Ofol. Standing out of Seicig's sight, for a moment before he disappeared.