Darkness of night remains blinding.

Silence is breathtaking until the swirls of wind makes the leafs dance and breaks the long hold breath of eerieness.

Thick forest as far as eyes can see but no real eyes to gaze upon horrifying sight of creepy forest, there seems to be something extremely fast moving under the trees.

A white light particles or maybe ghost, who knows.

It appeared like flash and vanished with swoosh not leaving anything behind, not even a small pip as even wind died down.

Forest fell silent until rush of wind travelled fast and ferocious, seems as it was the after effect of that white ghost appearing and leaving without warning.

Wind travelled far, making its way to nearby village named fire sword village.

It's named upon the glorious firesword that first became the symbol of revolution and later the means to the achieve that.

Stories are told that long ago this village was rulled by bandits, calling it being rulled is just sugercoating it but reality is as one knows, Most of villagers were enslaved and forced to labour, woman used as plaything while children were their future comrades.

It was then, that a small group of people with their minimal freedom started revolution in secrets.

It was admirable for them to put their life on the line for betterment of people and with enough support they fought hard.

It was then when a youngster, having his blood boil with rage for his deceased comrades and for all the horrifying thing he had to see, had to endure, wielded a fire burning sword.

Stories tell that despite bleeding heavily he held on, fighting till his last breath, moving his way in and finally cutting the bandit leaders head off with the sword that reflected his anger, power and his love for his people.

His name was Arthur wayne.

Unfortunately young hero died soon after but his name lives on and so today is both his death anniversary and this village's independence day.

And one can see how joyfully every individual is celebrating this festival, lamp lights on every doorstep illuminating the who village.

Loud chattering that echoes through all surrounding, fire crackers exploding periodically, music that isn't well organised but everyone is tuned in because joy of being free and happy is overwhelming.

Maybe their everyday life is not as great as one expect but that's exactly why everyone seems so relaxed, like forgetting every thing other than enjoying this very moment.

Center of village seems especially rowdy, free food and drinks, dancers and singers, competition for childish games, heavy gambling and even fighting drunkards for just fun.

There is no end to maddening joy in which every individual seems drunk, they are truly so happy.

But this curtain of madness obstruct their view in someone else's desperation.

A boy, aged around ten with innocent face and chin scratched, rugged clothes covered in dirt and feet without any footwear, slightly bruised seems due to constant running.

His stature is thin, scalp sweaty, eyes dripping wet and expression horrified.

" Help me...help me.." his voice shaken, distorted and most of all frightened, but it remains unnoticed in loud drums and cheerful shouts.

" You shouldn't drink that my lady."

" It's better for blending in Natalie so stop nagging."

A young woman with angelic appearance, blonde hair and crystaline azure eyes.

Her expression were foolish and so were her action of drinking free alcohol, something a lady like her shouldn't do and another woman beside her was infect stopping her, atleast she was trying with no luck.

Blonde woman were an eye-catching figure among all present, everyone gawked their eyes out but non dare to reach any near with glaring eyes of Natalie.

But I guess the boy couldn't see that alarming threat, his eyes only saw hope.

Running hurriedly he came near but suddenly his eyes shook violently, his world shook as he was sent flying back.

His body landed not far, he couldn't understant what happened but unknowingly held his head, maintaining his vision.

Balancing his feet he stood again, watching his now bloody hand covered in dust made him realised of an head injury but he couldn't care less.

" Natalie, he's just a child."

" He's a peasant." Natalie showed contempt, her kicked shook boy's world yet she didn't even register this ruthless act as something bad.

Their voices sounded in boy's ear.

" please help my brother." his voice dry but enough loud to make them understand his desperation.

" Know your place mongrel."

" Shut up, is that any way to talk to a child." Blonde woman spoke with anger, silencing Natalie in an instant.

Her azure eyes observed the boy as she walked near, crouching to match his eyes as she smiled beautifully.

" I am Lily hayes now tell me what's your name and what happened?" as much as the boy was in a hurry, he atleast had the decent manners to not be rude.

" I am Eren Salvatore, my brother is very wounded please help me." one breath taken with all words out.

" Ohh, You brother is injured?, where is he?"

" please, come with me."

" Sure." A ray of hope shone in his eyes only to be crushed in next second.

" In return what will you give me?" Eren saw devil smile before him, all her good and caring action seemed like an illusion that vanished right before him.

Her gaze that till now felt warm turned cold yet face continued smiling, Eren felt his heart stop but rather than indulging himself in this chit chat, he was worried for his brother.

" Whatever you want." his body trembled with anxiety, knowing he hardly possesed any money to pay but he couldn't care for reason here, 'if lie is what it takes then so be it' that's were his thoughts.

Understanding him lily smiled slyly.

" But it seems as you don't have any money at all, what can you give me?"

Eren remained silent, clenching his fists with suppressed anger,

" I'll give you my life."

"...."

" Please hurry." desperation only increased as he begged more.

" Your life isn't worth much." smiled lily, her word angered eren but it was reality, bitter and cruel.

" Ooh, look at this little rat glaring." A sudden voice came from behind lily.

A men, strong features with pale face, pitch black hair but most ominous was his blood red pupils that showed pure disgust to everything.

" Your majesty?, you of all people in this shit of a place."

" Call me liam."

" How can-"

" Please I insist lily, As for the reason for me being here. Obviously for you." his face that displayed his authority softened as he spoke with lily.

" Liam..liam.." lily muttered slowly under her breath with a smile and spoke as she familiarized her newfound relation.

" So what are you doing here?" Asked liam as he looked around, his blood red eyes locked on eren.

" Sightseeing, The great white forest."

" White forest?, if you're looking for white ghost then you'll be disappointed."

" please-" Eren barely spoke one word yet his neck felt strangled with invisible force, his vision blurred with tears.

" Please liam, he has something to say." lily looked at eren, he felt the tight feeling lessened as she gently stepped closer.

" So about the deal?"

Eren's hazy mind barely maintained his vision and with her words, his thoughts became chaotic.

What could he offer?

As his last attempt he spoke,

" Whatever you want please." lily sighed with crude smile, a moment of though before she opened her lips.

" Your eyes, they are beautiful.Black like abyss yet so hopeful and angelic..... I want them." Eren flinched involuntarily, he said he'll do anything but what now.

His thoughts jumbled even further, a faint laughter drew his attention.Eren saw liam laughing.

" come on boy, answer quickly. We're not in hurry." Liam mocked, hearing details about this situation from natalie gave him somewhat fun ideas to torture this poor soul.

his sarcasm hit Eren on head yet it gave him some reasoning.

" Okay."

" Then what're you waiting for let's go." Eren hurriedly walked, Lily followed behind so did Natalie.

And for some reason liam did too.

Eren finally reached outskirt with small hut in view in darkness night. He ran ahead as he saw a person walking inside the hut.

" Hey-" Eren entered in with a shout, alarming the invader but looking closely his eyes softened .

A middle age woman with pale face, her face sunken and expression debilitated.

" Aunt sera?"

" I prepared chicken soup, your favorite but I don't see-" Her word got stuck and plate broke crashing to floor as her eyes saw bloody figure of yuta, Eren's older brother.

" You got some nerve leaving us in middle." words alarmed their arrival. Lily walked in with other two tagging behind.

Without saying anything lily crouched to yuta. She saw his blood stained face, various part of body bleeding profusely from lacerated wounds.

A moment passed as she inspected his body and spoke, " He'll die."

" but but.." Eren's mind went blank, he could not find anything to speak, to ask.

" You're cultivators, surely you can do something right?" Sera spoke with desperation, Eren couldn't understand what she meant but it drew others attention.

"Yes, I felt it but it was so faint that I neglected it but now that I look closer, You are an awakened.

Red core, pathetic but awakened none the less." Spoke liam eyeing sera with disgust yet there was something else too.

" Wound's will heal but what about poison, see those black veins all over.

It's poison that corrodes the mana veins resulting whole body dysfunction and finally death.

His vision is also lost, It's beyond curable now."

Sera paled with fear hearing her words, stupified Eren shuddered with horror filled eyes.

" You-"

" I'll give you two minutes, say your goodbyes." lily touched Yuta and unknown power transferred to his insides, with a groan he opened his eyes.

" Eren!" Rough voice, barely audible.

" Where are you?" yuta's hand weakly moved but soon found warmth he was looking for.

" Eren, why aren't you..cough.." he coughed blood and that elevated his pain even more.

" Don't speak brother, just rest." Tears flowed down Eren's cheeks,.

" Yuta say your goodbyes." lily intervened not waiting anymore.

" seems as I don't have much time haha.."

Cough..

Weak laughter that caused him even greater pain, making him vomit even more blood but with his last bit of power he lifted his hand.

" I wanted to eat roasted chicken with you but I can't so eat my fill okay.

I love you Eren." With those words his last wisp of breath vanished, leaving suppressed eerie silence.

Sera lost strength to remain standing and burst into tears, her weak body hugged Eren who desperately held on yuta.

But not even moment had passed when painful scream reached eren, Sera which held him tightly were now dragged back as liam pulled her hair.

" Vampire in hiding, were you on her side?, that's why you are hiding?" Liam spoke in grave tone, anger seething under his skin.

" Aunty Sera... Let her go.."

" Doesn't matter now but that bitch and you-"

" Let her go~let her go.." Eren begged on his leg but Annoyed liam kicked eren away, his face that showed hostility smiled madly.

" This woman here is a vampire runt, don't you know vampires? Monsters who drink blood for pleasure and kill for fun, she is one."

" I am not."

" Don't lie in front of innocent child." His words and action were anything relative but next second as his grip tightened on her hair, faint glow appeared.

Eren saw aunt sera, still the same except now with red eyes.Eren felt his heart broke again. Something he didn't expected but feeling of betrayal caused him even greater sorrow.

" No...agh..Eren, I am not like them, I'm not monster...please..." Her eyes trembled in despair, maybe she could withstand the brunt of pain but not the resentment from Eren.

" see, She lied just now and she's lying again, come one runt what do you wanna do with this monster?" Liam licked his lips in unexpected manners, his bloodthirst became strong yet he held back.

" She's not a monster, let her go." Regaining some logical reasoning, Eren begged more yet he was again kicked away like a ragdoll.

Eren stood again only to see liam smiling menacingly, his heart throbbed in fear but he stepped forward with shaking legs.

" You are too soft, Can't you see me helping you kill this bitch."

" I'll give anything, My tongue, hair, lungs, or or kidney. Whatever you want." Eren spoke as he looked at lily.

" No Eren, don't..Agh." Sera felt his heart beat louder and louder, she was happy that Eren didn't hate her but that envoke even more ominous despairity inside for some reason.

" That's the spirit boy, let me think." Liam stopped for a moment as his grip over her lessened.

Mild but hope shone in his eyes only to crumble into despair as he saw madness in liam, he froze seeing his maniacal smile.

" Hahaha.."

Next second his fangs dug deep in her throat, ripping her apart and with little bit pressure her head fell with thud.

Sera's expression, vividly pained reflected in Eren's eyes for a moment before vanishing as he lost last of his light.

" It's about time to collect the payment." Liam neared Eren but lily stopped him.

" His eyes. they're not beautiful,Not anymore." Eren stood motionless, with tears flowing uncontrollably.

Just as lily and others were about to leave they heard loud pained scream, tuning back they saw what made their heart skip a bit.

" You wanted this." Eren threw his gauged out eye to their feet. One eyes flowing with tears and another now blank where just blood trickled down.

Another second passed, Erens's shaking fingers dug in as he painstakingly gauged his another eye, throwing it away without much hesitation.

" For those two minutes." However exhausted, he kept his legs straight and expression hardened.

He couldn't notice Lily picking his eyes before storing them in container and slipping that in her storage ring as he was now blind but not before long he felt warm sensation all over.

Eren felt a hand over his head and all his pain vanished like it never existed, He couldn't understand what happened but he couldn't care less.

Less than few seconds and he was all healed, lily walked away without looking back.

Eren heard footsteps getting fainter and fainter, Eren felt urge to shout, vent his anger and cry his heart out but he did nothing of a sort,

instead he said,

" One debt paid, one remaining."