[Shieba]

"W-what's going on?" Suddenly getting a feeling of dread, Rak'ard nervously walked up to the Felloxes. "Did...did..." He beckoned towards the burned ruin. "You...?"

"Me?" Dyugra laughed. "No, that's not my style. When we got here, there was no one in sight I could slaughter. They're all hiding like little scared rabbits. This human just here told us there's a 'Devil of Fire' kinda burning stuff down now and then here. Funny thing, the description matched you exactly. Even funnier considering you seem to be able to throw fire around, isn't it?"

"M-me?!" Surely, that was impossible. Surely, this cruel Fellox was joking. Surely, this had to be some kind of misunderstanding; maybe there was a Lucain looking rather similiar to him around here and--

--a girl screaming, flames everywhere around him, humans trying to extinguish the fire without coming near him and more flames lashing out at them, not like normal fire, more like hands born from hell and burning; burning wood and bones and flesh and screaming, so much screaming. And laughter. Cruel laughter, from a voice sounding like his own and--

Rackard tumbled. His head hurt, it hurt so badly, but he barely registered it through the dread settling into his bones. He felt nauseous; the smell of death and burning flesh still in the air, like a sick, cruel memory and, oh Zu'hai, this couldn't have been him, no no no, this was impossible, this could not be...

And then there was Dyugra laughing at him and Rak'ard felt tears in his eyes. Hilal ignored Dyugra for once. "Hey...are you alright?" he carefully asked.

"I...I don't know...I just..." Rak'ard shook his head. How could he explain? What was just happening right now? Who was he?

[R 3.4] [D 2.5 (Level Up!)] [H 2.2]

[Shieba]

"Did you do that?" Hilal asked, still sounding more concerned, but there was a certain wariness in his voice that made Rak'ard's stomach churn.

"I...don't know. I can't remember." He swallowed. "But I am rather certain that I've been at least here while...this happened. I just saw some sort of...flashback." He shook his head, but the images seemed to have engraved themselves into his mind. "It was horrible."

"This is too damn brilliant!" Dyugra laughed. "The poor little boy is a bloody murderer and can't even remember it. So, why don't you try it again and tell us if it's so much fun as the human told us the 'Devil of Fire' had while roasting stuff around here?"

Rak'ard still stared at the ruin, wide-eyed. This was not possible. Was he...some monster? Was he like Dyugra? This couldn't be true...he felt no intention to mindlessly destroy inside of him. But still, something told him that this was no cruel joke his mind played on him. There was a feeling of certainty he couldn't fully explain and he wanted to push it away as far as possible, but it was there. Lurking, as if it wanted to shower him with the full extent of...his...deed...at any given moment.

For a moment, Rak'ard couldn't tell if he was more afraid of himself or of his powers. But he was afraid. He looked at Hilal. "I...I'm not like him." He pointed at Dyugra. "I can't be like him! I'm not a monster!"

"I know." Hilal nodded with certainty and it reassured Rak'ard. "I can see it in your eyes. Even if this had indeed been you...you are different now."

[R 3.5 (Level Up!)] [D 3.1] [H 2.3]

[Shieba]

"I sure hope you are not like me", Dyugra commented. "Because that would mean I could turn into a wimp as soon as I get a rock on my head, obviously."

"I...what should I do now?" Rak'ard looked around. If this was indeed his doing - something he needed to find out - he had to make amends. "I should...probably look for someone and ask questions."

"You are still hurt." Hilal looked at Rak'ard's remaining wounds. "And these people seemed not really willing to talk; not even to Dyugra and me. Which has been, however, Dyugra's fault to begin with...however, I think you should probably let some time pass, as a safety measure. There is no use straining yourself in this state."

Rak'ard was about to answer when he suddenly spotted the man from before staring at him from a distance away. He just had to know. "Excuse me?" Rak'ard limped towards the man, trying to look as harmless as possible.

The man just stared. "You...you are wounded...the Devil of Fire is wounded!" he suddenly shouted. "Men, to arms! This is our chance!"

"No, no, wait!" Rak'ard pleaded, but the man was already arming himself with a metal pole and slowly but surely, doors opened and other humans joined him, together with a few pets. "This...let me explain!"

"The time for words is long gone, devil." The man grabbed his makeshift weapon harder. "You'll finally die now!"

[R 4.1] [D 3.2] [H 2.4]

[Shieba]

Dyugra was next to Rak'ard in an instant. "Well, killer-buddy", he grinned, "how about I give you a hand. Good job getting them out, now it's time for the fun part!"

"No!" Hilal obviously had problems to decide between protecting the people from Dyugra or protecting himself from the people and looked back and forth nervously before turning towards the advancing townsfolk. "Please! Cease your advance! While I know nothing about this devil haunting you, I know for sure that Dyugra is possibly worse! Go back into your homes!"

"Dyugra?" The man leading the others stopped. "That is...Dyugra?"

"I sure am, fool." Dyugra said. "I think I had a little fun in that town close to here, right? Nothing really worthy to remember, but you've probably heard about it."

"How about a deal?" Hilal offered. "You let us leave and we take the Lucain here with us. He is wounded and needs help and our base is in Whisper Forest - quite a bit away from here."

The man hesitated and looked at the other humans, but a few nodded. "We...just want to live in peace", he finally said. "Alright. You may leave - we're no warriors and not ready to deal with two killers."

Hilal nodded, relieved, and turned to Rak'ard. "Is this alright for you? You don't have to stay with us, but it seems you have no other place to go right now."

Rak'ard had to agree...he wanted to make up to those people for what he had possibly done, but he couldn't do so if he was dead. He didn't want to die - he wanted to find answers. "I accept. Thank you." He turned towards the townsfolk. "I...am sorry. I can't remember what happened here clearly, but whatever I have done, I'm so very sorry."

None of the humans said something, but the unrelenting hate and fear in their eyes was answer enough for Rak'ard.

[R 4.2] [D 3.3] [H 2.5 (Level Up!)]

[Shieba]

Dyugra leaned back casually. "So one question remains - Why should I actually care about that deal of yours? I find these guys over there rather killable."

Hilal snorted. "Because both me and our new friend don't want these people to get hurt even more and together, we can and will overpower you. And you know that the day you lose to me, I will know no mercy."

"I won't let you hurt these humans", Rak'ard confirmed. "And I'm in a better shape than before."

Dyugra grinned. "But still, your travels will be slow. Alrighty, these guys here can live for now. But you won't be fast enough to keep up with me at full speed. So be a good buddy and keep Hilal by your side so I can go ahead and clear the way for everyone with lots of blood, okay? Later, then." And he wasted not a single second, turned and ran.

Hilal cursed. "Do you know where Whisper Forest is?"

Rak'ard checked his mind, but clearly, this was something he knew. "I do. And don't worry, I'll be fine. I might a bit longer than you guys to get there, but I will. I promise."

"Good." Hilal nodded. "I assure you, someone will guide you to the chateau as soon as you arrive there." He turned to run after Dyugra, but stopped. "I...never asked your name."

"It's Rak'ard."

"Rak'ard, then." Hilal gave him a weak smile. "See you at home." And he also took off.

Rak'ard looked after him for a second, then glanced at the humans who were still waiting tensely. With a sigh, he turned and headed slowly into the direction the Felloxes had taken. 'Home', huh? Wherever his home was, it surely wasn't in Whisper Forest. But for now, he had to find a place as safe as possible to nurse his wounds - physical and mental alike. And then he would return to his place and the desert and seek for answers.

Leaving the town and slowly the last outskirts of the place behind he had obviously spent at least some time of his life in, Rak'ard headed off, into the distance, into a new future.

[R 4.3] [D 3.4] [H 3.1]

(DONE)