The cold December air drifts the clouds away. Rain falls soft of the naked branches on the muddy ground. The frozen ground chased all the animals away. There is no sound of birds, no bleat of a sheep or not even the soft chatter of the chickens. Even the mallards were silent. Was it the cold wind or rather the grim mood? Silently Alana looked at the new grave. The dark earth is covered with flowers and a self-made wooden cross. The thick oak tree next to her grandmother's resting place groans. "Come on" whispers Katinka and turns around. Her long black dress whispers while she walks down the hill. Alana sighs and follows her sister, wearing the same long-sleeved black dress. "I just don't understand how? Or who? Who would do such a thing" sighs Alana. Katinka places her arm around Alana. "Me neither" she blows and continues; "They said it was an animal attack." "What animal would come in the stables?" "A hungry one" whispers Katinka. Katinka sighs. She looks over to the drinking stall and gives Alana, who sits herself down around the camp fire, a shoulder bump. "I think we deserve one" she says and walks towards the booth. Alana swallows. And all for nothing" growls a villager. "Shh, the soldiers will hear you" growls another villager. "So what? Nothing matters anymore, his mother... She died last night. From a broken heart!" "It wasn't always like this" sighs Jasper. "There we are again, old Jaspar with his stories" sighs the second man. Alana carefully moved closer. "There was a time... When everything was different. A time of prosperity and happiness. A time without demons." "The mad professor and his ideas about demons. Nobody has seen that beast in years, that time is long gone" sighs the first man. Jaspar chuckles. "Yeah, you're probably right... You shouldn't listen to me." Alana looks at him intently. "But I know that one day that time will return anyhow. The time of peace and tranquility. Everything was okay until that demon came and seized all power. Now the headmaster thinks only of himself. All he wants to protect is his riches. But I know she's still walking around and there will come a day when she'll be strong enough to show both him and the corrupted headmasters that the times of prosperity can return. A light twinkles in his small round eyes when he sees that Alana her eyes meet his. Alana smiles gently "Stop before I hang you from a tree " the soldier roars abruptly and pushes him aside. Startled, Alana jumps up. She steps back when the soldier stares at her. Jasper coughs and scribbles straight. He adjusts his gray beret. "You'll see, if she knows anything about the old legend, every corrupt headmaster is in danger" he smiles. "Are you deaf?! Go home" the soldier roars again. Jasper coughs when the soldier pushes him again. He puts his round glasses correctly again on his plump wavy nose and rubs his bleak wide lips. "Forgive me... Sir soldier" he mocks and lifts his hands up. The soldier walks threateningly towards him, but a call from his superior distracts him. "Consider this a warning dwarf" growls the soldier and walks away so fast that his black cape blows off it. Jasper grins and walks away in silence. But his story... It was a bit like her dream? And yet? Don't be silly, Alana. You were born and raised in this village! But deep inside she wants to know more... Maybe she can convince him to teach her once again. She wants to learn more about ancient history. Carefully, she sneaks past a duo of soldiers and makes her way to Jaspar's little house.The cottage is located on the corner of the last street. A little lonely and hidden in the shadows, but maybe this was for the best. She doesn't want anyone to start asking questions. After all, Jaspar was the village crazy guy, as they called him. She takes a deep breath and knocks on the wooden door of the small house. Her stomach twists and turns as she waits for it to open. "Professor Jaspar? I'm sorry" she starts and knocks again. As she knocks, the door opens slowly. "Jaspar" she asks and peeks through the crack. No sign of life can be seen. Would she? She looks around suspiciously before stepping into his house. The dark house is shrouded in a sultry incense scent. Books and artifacts are scattered all the cupboards and tables. "Jaspar" she asks and looks at the crackling fire. Slowly she steps to the light wooden dresser. A thick book catches her attention. Silver letters in old Elvish curl over the crooked pages.Alexi, king of doom Decorates at the top of the pageBrother of Prince Leonidas, king of son Geolias and future heiress to the throne. Alana gently rubs the page. King Geolias was dying after fighting Hate. On his deathbed, he crowned Prince Leonidas and not Prince Alexi. Alexi was not worthy of being king in Geolias' eyes. His son was unworthy since he refused to marry the princess. Alexi and his lover, the king's stable-wife, fleed the castle to the remote fortress of Hellgrind. There Alexi got three heiresses. Darwin, Roxanne, and Desam. It wasn't long after Desam's birth that Hate raided the fortress. On a stormy night, under the cloak of lost travelers seeking shelter from the bitter storm. Alexi blindly answered his plea, marking him and his family for evil.King Leonidas and his wife, Queen Amanda live with their son, Lemmy, and their daughter, Helenah in the"What are you doing here?!" sounds abruptly in Alana's ear. Startled, she jumps up and stares into the professor's little gray beady eyes. A round pair of glasses rest on his wavy nose. His long gray hair is covered under a blue beret to match the blue robe that covers his short round body. His long gray beard has a knot that makes his protounding chin come out.Stuttering, Alana takes a step back. Jasper looks at the book and rolls his eyes. "Professor, I... I'm sorry. The door was open and. Please teach me about Hate." "Shh" Jaspar orders and looks around in frustration. "Who knows you're here?" Alana shakes her head. "Professor, back in the day. You told me these stories and just now." "That was before the town lord's men silenced me. "Please, Jaspar." "Who are Hate his followers? How many demons are there? How can you recognize them? What are his powers?" "Shh" Jaspar repeats again and sighs. Go home. Sew some clothes or whatever it is ladies are supposed to do." Alana sighs. "And I thought you were really someone who could help me" she scolds and leaves his house. Jasper looks after her with a sigh. He walks to the dresser and opens the drawer. A silver amulet, covered in a thick layer of dust, adorns the wooden drawer. The dark ruby that adorns the center of this amulet gleams menacingly. Jaspar looks up thoughtfully at the door from which Alana disappears.Alana lets out a deep sigh and places her hands in her side. "Damn," she curse/ softly. Why wouldn't Jasper help her? Lost in thought, she walks along the babbling river. The clear water seems to calm her tormented mind. "Hello Alana" greets a familiar voice. A strange accent rests in the heavy bass voice. She turns around cursing. Muriel, who else. "Hello Murriel" she greets irritated. "Your mother said I would find you here." Alana frowns. Of course. "Have you thought about what your father said?" Alana bites her lip. The boy's blond curls waves in the wind. His big green eyes are focused on her. Except for the overbite, freckles and unibrows. Murriel could be an attractive boy. She knows he wants an answer. Obviously, she can't blame him, but Alana can't give this. Not yet. "My father said if you agreed, we could possibly get married next week. The twentieth." "That's my birthday," Alana stammers. "Perfect! Then we don't necessarily have to throw two parties. Saves the dimes." Alana takes a suspicious step back as he steps forward. "I know you'd rather wait for your father, but if you agree now, we can start living together tonight." "Calm down Muriel, you're going very fast suddenly" Alana begins. Muriel sighs. "I don't want to keep waiting Alana. My father is old, I want to get married, have children. And all before he.." "Children!" Alana yells in shock. She takes another step back. "Murriel I. I need a moment" she blows. "Alana" growls Muriel between his teeth and grabs her wrist. "Let go of me Muriel," Alana commands fearfully. Muriel takes a step backwards and groans annoyed. " Look, I need to know now" he yells. "When..." His voice gets interrupted by the call of an owl. He looks around. The sound of a bird reaches his ears. He swallows. "When your father returns" he starts and walks closely towards Alana. "Alana" shouts Jaspar and walks towards them panting. Surprised, Alana looks up at Jaspar. "Murriel, hello. Alana will speak to you later, now I must demand her attention" Alana stares at Jaspar in surprise. Has he changed his mind? But why? Murriel growls unintelligibly and let's go of Alana. Angry, he walks away after one last look at Alana. Alana swallows and takes a deep breath. Jaspar saved her without realizing it. "Professor," she asks. Jasper nods. "I'm sorry for my behavior before Alana, I don't know what happened to me." Alana nods. "I'm sorry professor I..." Jaspar lifts his hand. "Before we start let's agree not to lie to each other?" Alana nods. "You want to know about Hate? And I can't help thinking; why?" Alana swallows. "I want to know more about history. Especially now that people are whispering about a war everywhere. I just want to be prepared; you know. On the worst. So, I can defend myself" Jasper smiles gently. "Alana, I promise I'll teach you in that case" Alana nods gratefully and follows him. She sits down quietly in the grass and looks at Jasper. The half-dwarf stops his pipe and places it between his lips."So we will start..""Where do witches come from?" Alana suddenly wakes up from her thoughts. "Witches are divided," the professor replies hesitantly. "Most are in the dark forest or under the protection of the witch-queen". "Katara first hid there, right?" The professor nods in agreement. "The forest was her home. Just as it was the home of her family. Some witches have lived in that forest for generations. Safe, hidden, free to do as they please and most importantly, free to practice their magic. They say that the old forest itself is alive. That the trees come to life, move.even talk." "And this is because of all the witches hiding in the woods?" "Witches, fairies, elves, nymphs...the forests are buzzing with life. And alas, death. Most who travel through the forests never reach their destination." "So Katara's family lives there in the woods," Alana suddenly asks, captivated. Jasper shakes his head. "Katara's family was slaughtered after she damned Reki. Some say it was because of Hate himself and others say it was revenge from of his knight clan. What just happened no one will ever know but it is certain that her bloodline ended with the mysterious child." "Witches aren't marked by anything, Alana asks and continues, everyone can practically be a witch, right?" "That's right," replies the professor hesitantly. "Witches are no different from ordinary people unless they mix in dark magic. Then you get effects like this witch's eyes or Katara's her sign." "This witch?" Jaspar smirks. "Yes, the soldiers captured a witch today, I thought you saw since you always pay so much attention" he jokes. Alana sighs "However" Jaspar continues; "witches usually wear amulets, so you can pick them out". "That's stupid," Alana says. "Yes, but their power is usually stored in the amulets" Jaspar replies. "Make no mistake, they are not just amulets anymore after a witch has worn them. They are powerful objects. They can protect or curse you. If you have the gift yourself you can even use the power from the amulet. Of course, for doing tis you have to be already advanced in witchcraft. A witch amulet can be very dangerous especially in the wrong person's hands. If witches live in the forest what is this witch looking for so far west? Who is the witch? What's her name? It can't possibly be Katara. Katara has been killed. And the professor just said this isn't Katara. She doesn't have the mark. "Alana child" begins the professor and continues; "why do you suddenly want to learn?" "Why did you change your mind?" Alana says.Jaspar chuckles. "I missed your fire" he mocks. "I can already see that you can be so much more" Jaspar winks. Alana looks at him deeply. "What do you mean?" "I see that you are destined for great things. That's why I changed my mind." Alana bites her lips. Why does he speak in puzzles? What does he mean? What greatest things? Jasper laughs. "Your head is an unsolved mystery Alana", laughs Jaspar. "Professor, why won't anyone teach us the ancient history? Why can't anyone tell the ancient secrets?" "History is not that old" Alana. "It's just"... the professor stops abruptly and stares deeply at Alana. "But what professor?" "I'm sorry, I just realized it was eighteen years ago." Alana stares into the man's silver eyes and bites her lip. "Eighteen is old enough, it's the right age," he whispers almost inaudibly. "I'm sorry Alana, so you wanted to say?" Alana swallows confused. "But there's something I don't understand. They said Hate hasn't been seen since and yet things are still happening in his name." "That's so child. Unfortunately, Hate does not work alone. There are people who think that he is the true leader of this world. " His servants who cause suffering in his name are six robbers, begins Jaspar. Six brothers. They do the dirty work of Hate. The chores he doesn't want to do himself. Nobody knows exactly who they are. First and foremost you have Godfrey, also known as Godfrey the soft. With him, you have the best chance that he will let you go or save you. He is... human. If you go from old to young, you have Heinrich, the obedient. He doesn't ask, he just does. Hate is his master and he will always obey his orders. Next up is Wolfgang, the emotionless. He kills anyone who annoys him or gets in his way. Hate finds him the best for this reason. It's his buddy as he says himself. He is most attracted to the dark side of all six. Albrecht, the ruthless. He is known for his short fuse. If you don't cooperate, don't do what he says he will punish you for whatever. Or he just kills you. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty. His twin brother is Rogue, Rogue the daring. He just does. He doesn't think and that's his problem. But Hate doesn't seem to mind that. He is the one that jumps of rooftops and just walks into an enemy's camp. He doesn't back down. As last you have Thedon, the playful and the youngest. Many say that he is still a child. Hiding isn't his best side either. He is young and you can see it. He is a bit clumsy and slow and he thinks more before doing so. Plus, he's not one of the smartest either. He will rarely attack himself." "How can he tell them apart?" Alana asks doubtfully. "Each has his own outfit and characteristics", replies Jaspar and scratches his round stomach. "Like" Alana insists. Jasper stares at her nervously. He sighs and stops his pipe. "I actually only got to look at Heinrich. I've never seen the other robbers. I only know how he is dressed. And I can tell you it's not pretty." "When did you see them professor?" Alana asks. "Long ago child" Jasper answers mysteriously. "What does he look like?" Alana asks curiously. Heinrich has a long leather belt around his chest. The belt is from a leather bag on his back. Goddess can know what's inside. His black long cape is torn at the bottom and has a dark large hood that partly covers his face. A dark gray cloth rests over his nose and mouth. He is dressed in a gray leather vest and dark cotton trousers, which are untidy in his black boots. And on his hips are two leather belts. To one of these belts, his long sword is attached. I can't give you more details, I only saw him briefly." "Professor, how do you know all this", Alana asks doubtfully. "I've seen things you can't imagine," the professor mumbles. "Things I hope you should never see. Don't underestimate them, they're fast and strong." "And they do things for Hate, why?" Alana asks incomprehensibly. "Especially because their own lives depend on it," I suspect Jaspar answers and sighs. Alana stares ahead, deep in thought. Jaspar lets out a soft sigh and pulls on his pipe again. His beady gray eyes observe Alana like a wolf keeping an eye on his sheep.