"So a past party member of yours was also named Verenia? What happened?" Verenia asked Aisrin. The two were outside the Guild talking, waiting for the guild to finish processing their materials.
"She... she was eaten... by a Lycan." Aisrin said solemnly.
"That's terrible." Verenia replied.
"It is. It was my fault, I took her along and I didn't even manage to protect her." Aisrin continued.
"I'm sure she doesn't blame you." Verenia comforted Aisrin.
"Hahaha! You're probably right." Aisrin laughed.
"So... are you half elf?" Verenia asked curiously.
"No, I'm half Shadowkin. Demon spawn." Aisrin answered.
"Shadowkin? The upper echelon of Shadow Demons? That's interesting. They normally don't dirty their blood lines with other races." Verenia muttered loud enough to be heard.
"Really? Why?" Aisrin was interested in the new bit of information.
"Well, I'm not sure. All I know is that they banned it amongst themselves. So you being Half Shadowkin, is something like taboo." Verenia explained.
"How do you know all that?" Aisrin inquired.
"Well, because... I'm... the.... the... The daughter of the Demon Emperor." Verenia whispered the last bit and began looking around. Aisrin stared blankly at her.
"Okay." Aisrin replied blankly.
"You don't seem to be bothered." Verenia looked confused.
"Because nobility or royalty isn't all that important to me." Aisrin answered firmly.
"But, you would be considered a part of royalty yourself." Verenia replied.
"Nah, I'm just me. Anyway, I've got someone to look for. Want to join me?" Aisrin asked.
"I suppose. You're a strange person Sin-san." Verenia agreed and commented.
"Thanks." Aisrin nodded and stood up.
"Where are we going?" Verenia questioned Aisrin.
"To the taverns, and probably the brothels too." Aisrin answered honestly.
"Hah?" Verenia looked at Aisrin strangely.
*Dorstend*
Iwata stood before the graves of Aisrin's family.
"Now I must ask, why is it that the traitorous family of the fake hero, is so neatly taken care of? Have you seen him? Perhaps you are his grandfather? Say, can you answer, Old man?" Iwaya turned to a badly beaten Abrahm. His face was swollen and bleeding. One of his eyes had even been ruptured.
"I'm just the old butler. I haven't seen anyone. I'm just an old man paying his respects to his old employers." Abrahm calmly replied.
"I find that entirely unbelievable. You know something, and you'll tell me." Iwata laughed and drew his sword and cut a finger from Abrahms left hand. Abrahm flinched, but made no noise.
"You're one tough son of a bitch! I so want to break you! Haha! I want to see you dispair!" Iwata held himself and squirmed grossly.
"Do as you will. I've made my peace." Abrahm answered.
"Oho? Does that mean you have had contact with Aisrin-kun?" Iwata chopped another finger off.
Abrahm said nothing and did nothing.
"Your silence speaks volumes. So, He's beyond a Black Class Bounty now huh? This is at least White. Such power! Tell me, what was it like? Was it instant? Or did he make them suffer? Tell me! I want to know all about him!" Iwata then took Abrahms whole hand.
"You want to know? Then I'll tell you. But I promise, when you kill me afterwards, you'll wish you'd never come here. Aisrin is beyond you! You fucked up, royally! Hahaha! My only regret in this life, is that I won't be able to witness the suffering Bloodrend has coming! You want to know if it was instant? You can still hear the silent screams echo! Hahaha! You'll never be the hero! You piece of-" Iwata cut Abrahms head off, a nasty glare in his eyes.
"Such a poor choice of last words old man. Burn this to the ground. Dig those up and string 'em up again. They don't deserve peace." Iwata snapped and walked away. The soldiers in his charge immediately set to work.
"I'm coming for you, Aisrin-kun!" Iwata grinned maliciously.
*Fargo*
Aisrin and Verenia had been in all the brothels and almost all of the taverns. Aisrin was leading Verenia to the next tavern.
"Who are you looking for?" Verenia finally asked.
"An old friend." Aisrin replied.
"Oh." Verenia said plainly. Aisrin opened the door to the next tavern and entered. It was rowdy, like the rest, but this one seemed to be a soldier favorite. Aisrin sighed and sat at the bar. Verenia sighed as well and joined him.
"Giving up?" Verenia asked.
"For today. We've got to go back to the guild to receive the rewards... Excuse me sir, can I have... something strong." Aisrin asked the bar keep.
"You got it bud." The bar keep nodded and fetched a glass, a bottle and poured the contents into it. He gave the drink to Aisrin and Aisrin slid a copper bit to the man. The man took it and leaned in.
"What do you need to know?" The bar keep asked. This took Aisrin aback, especially because he didn't intend to ask anything.
"Uh... I'm looking for someone. He's missing an arm, really tall and dark skinned. Lots of scars. Drinks heavily and is a bit immature." Aisrin answered.
"Hmm, well, some of what you said matches the captain over there, but he's not very immature, and hardly drinks that much. But, he's tall, dark, has a metal alloy arm, and a massive quantity of scars." The bar keep pointed at a man in the back. Aisrin turned around, and nearly shit bricks.
"Thanks." Aisrin replied and walked over towards the man sitting in the corner. He was dressed in a knight captains armor and his hair was disheveled and long, scruff grew on his face. But there was no mistaking...
"Not drinking doesn't suit you." Aisrin set the drink in front of the captain.
"I don't need it." The captain answered.
"Yeah, but I owe you a bar." Aisrin replied. The captains head snapped up and glared at Aisrin. Realization slowly began to dawn on him until he began smiling.
"Damn, it's about time you Pansy Fuck!" Blackhawk laughed.
"I knew I'd find you were the alcohol was. I just didn't expect you to not be drinking, and you're a captain no less!" Aisrin pointed out.
"Yeah, well, I quit drinking, heavily, after the Lycan incident. Cleaned up my act as well. Man when they told me you murdered James and disappeared, I lost it... You didn't right?" Blackhawk took a swig of the drink and asked.
"No, I was set up by Bloodrend. They were colluding with the Empire. That's were I've been for six fucking years, as a damn slave." Aisrin explained.
"Those bastards. I heard about your family, I'm sorry, I didn't make it on time." Blackhawk said solemnly.
"Don't worry... They'll pay with blood." Aisrin replied.
"So you're putting together another party?" Blackhawk asked him.
"No, I'm just naturally attracting members I'm not looking for." Aisrin answered.
"Makes sense. So who's this girl with wide scared eyes?" Blackhawk nodded at Verenia. Aisrin looked at her, finally realizing she was there.
"Verenia." Aisrin answered.
"Verenia! As in... our Verenia?" Blackhawk questioned. Aisrin nodded and then shook his head.
"Yes and no huh?" Blackhawk drank the rest of the alcohol.
"Who exactly are you Sin-san?" Verenia asked Aisrin finally.
"I'll tell you later. Anyways captain, I'm headed back to the guild to collect some rewards. I'll be seeing you." Aisrin stood up and turned to leave.
"Later then." Blackhawk dismissed. A happier look on his face.
*Guild*
"Twenty goblins, eight orcs, twelve golems, and nine ogres. The monster materials totalling out at fifteen gold coins. The miscellaneous chest items come to ten gold coins. Finally the magic stone is a total of twenty seven silver coins." The receptionist gave Aisrin and Verenia a large pouch of coins.
"Not bits?" Aisrin pondered aloud.
"Fargas has switched to its own coin based currency. Soon bits and tablets will be just worthless hunks of precious metal. If you wish to exchange, we'd gladly do so." The receptionist explained and offered.
"Hmm, no, but you can have what I have." Aisrin pulled his old pouch out and dumped the contents.
"Thank you, these can be repurposed into coins." The receptionist bowed.
"Sin and Verenia? There's a few people here to meet you." Agustus announced. Aisrin looked at Verenia and sighed.
"You brought this on us." Verenia replied.
"Where is Regina and Syphir?" Aisrin muttered.
The duo followed Agustus out of the guild and into an opposite building. It was a nice furnished area. Ten other people dressed elegantly sat in the room as well. Agustus entered an opposite room and returned with drinks for the two.
"Thanks." Aisrin said and took a sip. Verenia watched Aisrin in horror.
"What?... what?" Aisrin asked, but then the room began to spin and his strength left him.
'Always with the poison!'
"Funny how the girl could sense the poison before he could. I guess his level is just for show." A woman laughed. Agustus grabbed Verenia and dragged her over to the others. She was kicking and screaming.
"Scream all you want, we have sound proofing magic in place. The others as well?" Aisrin heard one of the men talk, and immediately hate filled his body. The gruff man who sold him off of the ship, someone he could never forget.
"Look at the hate on his face!" Another person, unrecognized by Aisrin, pointed out.
"I feel like I've seen him before... but where?" The gruff man pondered.
(Poison identified. Detoxification in progress.)
One of the passive skills Aisrin gained after trial and error was Poison Resistance, it fell under his Poison Magic. Strength began to return.
"I'll tell you where you've seen me, prick!" Aisrin growled angrily. Agustus came back into the room with Regina and Syphir in tow.
"Oh, he can talk? Did we not give him a proper enough dose?" Another of the mystery group inquired.
(Detoxification Complete.)
'Never again will I be taken by a Poison!'
Aisrin jumped up and drew his daggers. Everyone went on the offensive. Agustus drew his blade and pointed it to Verenia's throat.
"I'd think twice about that. If I so much as see that blade touch her, you won't even be able to regret it in hell." Aisrin warned.
"Put a tough front on all you want. You can't do shit." Agustus taunted and pricked Verenia's skin, drawing blood.
"Takeover." Aisrin growled. A black aura exploded from Aisrin. His hair turned black and his eyes glowed red. One thin black horn protruded from his head.
"What the fuck!" Agustus retracted his blade from Verenia.
"Too late. You wanted to know where you've seen me. Think back six years on a ship you stowed me away on and sold as a slave." Aisrin spoke, his voice full of malice.
"Impossible!" The gruff man trembled.
"I've returned, and I'll have answers." Aisrin shouted. He rose his hand up and rope like shadows rose from beneath the group, entangling them.
"Pierce." Aisrin closed his hand and the shadows pierced all except the gruff man. Hunger overtook Aisrin. He had faced many beasts, but never felt the hunger like this, and flashed over to the fallen corpses and began to dig in. He bit into the woman first, tearing her flesh from her neck. The blood filled his mouth, the sweet taste causing him to tremble in delight. The crunch of her bones gave him a sense of Euphoria and soon she was a disfigured mess. The others followed after.
Aisrin turned to the man and grabbed his throat.
"Who was the man who captured me? The Magician with the power to corrupt minds?" Aisrin asked, blood dripping from his mouth.
"I don't remember! He sold you to me for cheap and left!" The man had defecated himself.
"Die then." Aisrin pierced him as well and dug into his neck as well. Rendering flesh from his body in a ravenous manner. The girls stared in horror at Aisrin, except Verenia.
"That's why Shadowkin don't breed outside themselves." Verenia muttered.