Few hours and I'll be at the village...
One hour. Then two... Feels like minuets.
"HALT!"
They have gates now... Guards and archers above too. with someone in more expensive clothing I assume the chief of the village. Already aiming at me...
"STATE YOUR NA- by the divine OPEN THE GATE!"
Do I know this man? he looks vaguely familiar...
As he rushes closer towards me I see his face properly.
Scar from his brow to cheek through the eye and matte Black Hair. Same as the Boy I helped 20 years ago Marqus. Seems He's now grown up.
He now stands in front of me with an ecstatic look. And I surprised...
Back then I helped his mother gather Herbs from the Forests nearby whilst I stayed for the months the Guild commissioned for our party.
I smile and shake his hand once again. I haven't Actually smiled in... in well forever.
"How'd you notice it was I? I look less from what I once was." I look different. more Hardened by memory
"Your face is the same... Not even a Day has changed your appearance. It's clear as the day... I heard from merchants that heard From Vlad that you were killed in a battle against Wolves Within the woods."
My smile fades to a cold expression.
"Is that what they said... I'm not surprised"
Marqus' concern grows to cover his face.
"Krys have dinner with my family. it the least I can do."
This evening I ate at the round table With Marqus and his family. A Main tradition for guests of this Town I even met his mother again. she seems the same but older. Much older. her hair grey and movement slow. if my math if correct then she'd be 64 years old or about... Whilst around the table they spoke of the last 2 Decades and why the humans aren't allowed in the Town no longer ( The Heroes Party Of course ). Turns out Vlad and Baron of the Heroes had done unforgivable things to two of the Women with one found dead as a bloodied pulp and the other mentally broken to this day...
About 2 hours into the conversation I took Marqus aside and told him of what happened To me 20 years ago... And After...
"Whilst travelling through the forest... Vlad the leader, Marianne The Healer, Baron the Knight, Yinn The sorcerer and Abel the Archer...
-20 YEARS AGO-
It was the year of Veles 670.
When the War was still going on and the so called 'peace' was achieved.
we were on our way to City Radian and I was lagging behind carrying their 'necessities'
Vlad said " KRYS! HURRY YOUR ASS WILL YOU!"
I was winded at the time and couldn't get a word out with the back of my throat being dried and torn.
Baron had had enough and decided to sit down and tell Vlad to camp in The Forest for the night and head further on in the early Dawn.
During that night I had been 'Told' to make my own fire, tent and make the food for them. that meant i had to gather fire wood and make kindling to keep myself warm. as it was beginning to turn to winter.
whilst I prepared the Food they had been chatting and glancing back in my Direction. which I had payed little attention as Baron would've kicked me if I tried to listen. However I did take glances towards them from time to time...
Marianne had pulled out this black book with strange Runes from a demon that had been killed a month or so ago. Before the Party. Back in The Academy of Magic and lifeskil I'd Remember seeing her in The library learning and studying sorcery and Ancient Scripture whilst I headed to the survivalist course as I didn't have much power or magic back then and couldn't increase without decades... or Even centuries.
So I Knew that if anyone could decipher that demonic language than it would be her...
The very Next morning I awoke to see all Five towering over me.
Vlad and Baron smiled. they didn't blink and immediate intent to kill was felt throughout my spine
Marianne couldn't look down at what was about to happen (The Bitch!)...
Yinn and Able were quiet and didn't show any of there emotions. and hardly any killing intent.
Baron then pulled me up from my bed and punched me in the face and stomach multiple times... until I could hardly breathe and only saw and spat blood.
I hadn't noticed until Baron dropped me but Marianne had made a Chanted-circle that I had been thrown into.
after a moment I had realised that they were sacrificing me and using a demonic spell.
turns out that spell was made as a type of capital punishment for Overworld Demons.
The spell adds the sins of the casters onto the castee as if they were the one that committed them... Vlad then Stabbed me through the Stomach 3 times then slit my throat. my blood spilling across the dirt and grass.
I Tried to move but Baron Had noticed and crushed by legs Flat into the earth. and then Vlad kicked me. dislocating and shattering my Jaw..."
(After that I was sent to the Underworld. Hell...
I remember Falling thousands of Kilometers then hitting ground that shattered my bones and the floor I was on itself. sending me into deeper and deeper layers.
I had Fallen to the Deepest Recesses of the Underworld. the place Over-Bound Demons Roam. There I was tortured for decades...
skin peeled, flayed, torn and eaten Then Regenerated over and over again...
After Centuries I Had lost all feeling of Pain. physical and emotional. This gave me The Advantage and I took it.
I Began to kill The Demons Around me. Slaughtered them with my hands and ate the flesh I tore off... gaining their strength as they turned into ashes. I kept doing This over and Over. gaining more and more power Making Even The demon Fear me.
For the Next Millenniums I reached the next layer above the bottom. And Kept Going for Eternity... Even Met Death a few times on my way back to the overworld... and Now here I Am).
--
After Telling Marqus my story, He looked Horrified and then disgusted at what happened to me.
"And You remember all of it Krys?"
"yes I do" I say looking of to the sky. I keep Forgetting to look up at the stars sometimes... its nice to see them. calming-
changing the conversation I'll ask him...
"Marqus."
"uh Yeah?" he sluggishly asks whilst taking a drink
"Where's the closes-"
before I even finish asking he speaks.
"Head to the coastal village Near Radian City. I Hear Abel Works there now as the Leader of a group of Mercenaries. And the Closest...
Keep an eye out for him Krys. You may have gained strength these last 20 years but from how I remember Abel He was Fast with a bow and faster with a Knife. and smart in tough situations."
"Thanks for the Information. I owe you one." sincerely...
"Till we meet again."
I'll head out early morning...