Taylor had agreed not to tell anyone what happened. I was surprised she was being so flippant about it and when I asked her why she just laughed and replied, 'Demons and humans are all the same to me. I've seen scum and it doesn't matter what race they are.' The way she said it so easily was a bit concerning but she had excused herself soon after. Ardent did like I asked and informed me that Greytree was also doing well, though it would be quite awhile before we could resume our actual journey. The battle had ended a lot quicker with Greytree discovering the demons early but it also meant that there were more demons lurking in the forest. They were taking their time to make sure everything was safe. Regardless it was nice to know things over there were clearing up, and it also just meant more time for me to handle my side.
Dinner was strained, mostly due to a secret I wasn't meant to know. Just how many of my parents knew the truth? I could guess who but didn't say anything, there was only one person who would know for certain. After the meal I found myself outside Mattias' office. He was inside taking care of business and like a child I postured myself outside not knowing whether to disturb him or not. Back then I just wanted attention and now I was preparing to break the reality I thought I knew.
"You can come in you know," Mattias' voice came from the room surprising me. I opened the door slowly. "You used to do all that all the time when you were younger and like I said back then, just come in. Though honestly you were much cuter when you only reached my waist."
"I grew up," I stood at the edge of the room calming myself before closing the door. "I need to talk to you."
My seriousness broke through to him and he nodded putting away his work, "Please sit down." I sat opposite of him. It felt like I was in the middle of an interrogation. "Rain… I've taught you many things and the others, they taught you less but you're a grown man nonetheless. I won't impede on your decisions. She's a bit crass but I feel her heart is in the right place. I and the others will support you. I'm sure you'll make beautiful children."
"What?" I stared at him blankly.
"This isn't about that Taylor girl?"
"No! She's really is just a friend," I groaned and rubbed my head.
"But last night I swear I saw her enter your room. The others were quite excited that you'd finally-,"
"That's enough!" I had to cut him off for my mental health. "She was just pulling a joke that's all." Damn Taylor causing misunderstandings, if I had brought Lara instead this never would have happened.
"I see…," he was obviously and annoyingly disappointed. "What did you want to talk about then?"
I had a hard time rebuilding my composure, "I went to the border forest today." My eyes met his and locked on, "I know."
For a moment Mattias said nothing and simply stared back at me, then he nodded and sighed, "So you know…. Just to make sure, I assume you met someone you shouldn't have?"
"Servius," I answered simply.
"Well…," he held his hands together. "We were planning to tell you after the Winter Festival. You finding out this way must have been a surprise."
"Who else knows?"
Mattias smirked, "Most the town actually. A few of our newer citizens don't but we all agreed to keep it a secret."
"Why? We're human and they're… they're demons," I felt my jaw clench involuntarily.
"To answer that Rain let's go back many many years, to be before Axel was even founded. Would you like to hear the tale?" He smiled softly as if reliving the past. The youth in his eyes clouded revealing the older man inside. The wrinkles on his skin, his slight slouch, I had never seen him look so aged.
"I have time," I nodded and prepared myself.
"Then I shall first make some tea," he stood up and moved to the wall were a tea set sat on top a tray as if waiting. He poured the boiling water and began, "Rain perhaps you know from Ardent that before I came here I was a knight."
"I do."
"Yes, I became a knight around your age and at the time all I wanted to do was serve my Kingdom with honour. Back then I went by the name of Matarus and I was very much a different person. Our King at the time was a strong man of pride and honour, an inspiration to the youthful like I was. Thirty years ago the conflict between us and the Empire ended in stalemate. As a result the Kingdom lost a lot of land and to rectify it the King made an order, to take that land from the Demons. As one conflict ended another began." He sat back down slowly passing me a steaming cup and sipping at his own.
He continued with a forlorn gaze, "It was a massacre. The Demon tribes had been mostly peaceful and when we came, we attacked with a ruthless violence. They outnumbered us but stood alone without a common King or Lord. Though at times they threatened a comeback we in turn doubled our efforts to crush them. At the beginning I was intoxicated with the battle. To us the Demons were the enemy, strange uncultured beings that had no rights compared to the glory of mankind. Over two years we pushed them back taking their territory until they were forced to retreat behind the border forest where we could not touch them.
"Axel, where we live today was one of their homes and I personally led a company to annihilate them. They were civilians Rain, but we didn't care. In the end hardly a soul remained alive. And as we celebrated our overwhelming victory I could only feel hollow. This was not how I desired to serve my Kingdom.
"A new border was formed and Greytree was built sealing off the western front. I returned to the Capital and for a few years tried to forget what I had done. If you're wondering it was at that time I met Ardent in the Empire. He was a mischievous brat back then," Mattias smirked but then focused once more sombrely. "I was promoted to Knight Captain, a position that would have increased my standing to above my peers by leagues had I not left soon after. I was on the path to become a General or Commander but in the end I refused. Instead I chose to be awarded a plot of land and I retired early.
"The land I chose was here Rain, Axel. The place of my nightmares. The King passed from illness and his daughter the current Queen now rules the Kingdom. And like the changing of the tides I too hung up my sword and worked to rebuild this town. Margaret, Walter, Lane, Morgan, Nill, Bert, Marcy, Tarhand, them and a few others chose to come with me. Many of us changed our names, mine I changed to Mattias, for us it was an oath of change, to let go of our old selves. Day by day we worked to repair the burnt out homes and make the town live once more. We had our own troubles and steadily built up our foundations as more people we once knew joined us. Then we found you and our town had its first child." He smiled at me, "Without you for us to raise we might have given up.
"The Demons came a few years later. At first I thought they wanted revenge and in return for peace I offered my own head. Instead they forgave me. I couldn't believe it, after all I had done, for them just to let it go was beyond me. Since then we've had prosperous relations with them. Our town benefited with the rare trade as did their village from the goods they could not obtain otherwise. It was a simple agreement that turned to a unique blessing."
After staying silent for so long I had to interject, "But they're Demons…."
"They are still people Rain."
"They invaded Greytree…," I frowned. "I was there, they massacred innocent people like it was nothing." I was mixing up the cycles but I couldn't just ignore what I had seen.
"It seems you've been through a lot… but I did the same to them," Mattias smiled ironically. "Rain when you were afraid of the dark what did I do?"
I folded my arms unsure where he was going with this, "You and Lane spent an entire night outside with me. I got over it."
"Yes, but why?" He proceeded to answer the question himself, "It was because the dark was no longer unknown. We showed you what it was and taught you how to live inside it just as you would in the daylight. Fear, Rain, comes from the unknown. Fear can breed hatred and become injustice. You right now like I was in the past don't know the Demons. Now I know they are not so different from us."
I sat again in silence. The demons I had seen were supposedly few. When they invaded Greytree I believed it was their nature but now it turns out I had known many demons all along. Servius and his family… they were my friends.
"I don't expect you to come around instantly," Mattias finished his tea. "As an adult you can make your own choices, even if that means revealing our secret."
"I'd never!" I responded immediately.
"I didn't say I thought you would," he smiled.
For a moment I said nothing. "Who else knows?"
"A few trader friends that we deal with, most in either Greytree or the Saltwater Port, your Aunt Nera in the Capital, that's all."
I nodded and slowly stood up, "I'll say goodnight now."
"Goodnight Rain," he smiled one last time.
I opened the door and turned to him, "Thank you Mattias, Dad." With that I left and went to my room to think. Taylor had been courteous enough to not be there.