12 Chapter 12

Hunter bumped into him, "Oh, sorry old man, I didn't see you walking there." He looked over Hunter. "I didn't hurt you, did I."

Hunter looked up at him, smiling, "No, no, I am at fault here, young man." Hunter clenching at his words. "May I ask, why are you in such a rush?" Hunter knowing that they were searching for the very information that he had acquired earlier.

Lovell's friend sighed, "Well, I'm looking for a family by the last name of Humbly. Do you know them by chance?"

Hunter smiled, "Yes, they live just a little out of town, the only house nestled on a hillside." Pointing towards the Humbly house he just came from, His friend thanked him as he rushed off to their meeting point, Hunter sneered as he watched. "Well, that was very convenient, now Erin did mention the same barracks around here." Making his way there as he dispelled his disguise, smiling ear to ear in glee.

Finding his way to the Faremin barracks, Hunter walked up to the gates before being stopped. "No citizens allowed!" Hunter looked at the guard. "That an order- "

"Stand down, soldier, that's one of ours." The Captain walk from the shadows. "Nice to meet you, Hunter Wilds."

Extending his hand to Hunter, grabbing it. "Likewise, Captain Vail." Vail showed him to his office.

Vail pour some tea, "What brings you to hear Hunter, the best killer in all of the Faremin Kingdom?"

Hunter sat back as he grabbed the tea, "A mission from his majesty." Taking a sip before noticing Vail's taste in décor. "Some taste you have, all rare beast of the world?"

Vail looked at one of his prized mounts, "Yes, but they are for show, here till we fully establish ourselves here. Marewood will either join us and live or join Gold Heart and be destroyed, simple, really." Taking a sip, "Oh, by the way, Hunter, did you find your target here in town?"

Hunter put the tea down. "Yes, but…"

"But what?" Vail became curious about Hunter's motives.

Hunter leaned back, growing concerned. "But he has company. Getting him away from them willingly will be hard; for one, I want to convince him to join us before killing him." Hunter turned away from Vail's gaze.

Vail leaned forward as he sat on his desk. "And why have him join us. It does seem to me that not killing him will be beneficial to use." Sitting back up, Vail took another sip. "Besides killing is your specialty, isn't it?" Vail placed his tea down.

"He might be Azoths, son, that's why?"

Before Vail could say anything, a knock at the door caught his attention. A soldier told him that the preparations for Marewood not joining was done, Vail dismissed him, "Sorry Hunter, but our wonderful chat is done for the day. Take rest in the officer corridors for the night. Hopefully, he has left town by then?"

Hunter got up, "I'll be leaving in the morning to check, my ally is good at telling the future. If they scramble, I'll send Void after his sent." Hunter smiled, "And thank you for your time, Captain." AS he left to the door, "Oh, one more thing, that tea? It was an excellent choice in taste."

Vail looked at Hunter's cup; he noticed that he never drank a drop, even after seeing him take a sip. The guard escorted him to the room before leaving. Hunter looked out the window, feeling uneasy about something. "What am I feeling right now?" Grabbing his chest, Hunter couldn't shake a strange feeling that he was doing something wrong. Hunter stared at Juna's surface as a feeling of guilt seemed to wash over him. He tried to shake it off, but it remained. Hunter started to think about his achievements over the years to distract the unwanted feeling. He remembered his first kill as an emotionless person, the same day he was brought into this world. Hunter found he was changing into a real person, from a mindless clone of a grieving grandparent to something he couldn't understand the meanings. Tears started running down his face; Hunter wiped his face, confused in why he was now crying. "Get a grip, Hunter; this is not you. You're a coldhearted killer." His thought turned to how Lovell was to his friends and how those who knew him were kind to him when he talked with him. Others have done the same, but why them? What did they do to make him feel what he was feeling? Hunter got up and washed his face trying to collect himself before heading to bed himself.

Hours before dawn, Hunter got ready. As he exited the room, Vail walked past, not even noticing him. Hunter, still distraught from his inner conflict, shook it off before getting Vail's attention. "Hey, Vail, got a moment?"

Vail's tired eyes turned to Hunter, looking at Hunter, he noticed something different in Hunter that wasn't there yesterday. "What happened to you last night after our chat?" Vail trying to rip the scab off Hunter.

"Hunter walked up to Vail. "Is it that noticeable that something is happening to me?" Vail nodded, Hunter, sighed, "I have no idea, but that's not the point any word on, you know what?" Noticing Han walking up to them.

Han towered over them, Vail yawning as Hunter tried to walk past him. Han grabbed Hunter's shoulder, "Wake up, Vail, your late as it is," Turning his attention to Hunter, "Where's that four-eyed companion of yours? He was supposed to make sure things were caught up back at the castle clone."

Hunter turned to Han's face, rage building up at him. "Making sure things run smoothly on my mission!"

Han burst out laughing, "You mean babysit you, clone? What a joke? How was it who gave you the mission, your mommy? Oh, wait, you have no mother! You're just a lowly clone!"

Han continued laughing at Hunter, "Kage!" Hunter growled a black fire erupted behind Hans forming a hell hound. Hunter glared into Han's eyes, "Now either let me do his majesty's task that was given to me or die here and now!"

Hans let Hunter go, "Well if it's serious, you really needed four eyes." Hans clearing his throat. "Well, I will be on my way then," Kage growled as he watched Hans walk away.

Vail, now fully awake, looked at Hunter, "Well, that took care of him, Hunter, you and Kyle became friends, am I right?" Hunter nodded, "It seems that that might be changing you as well as something else. Try and not to be attached to Kyle." Vail touch Hunter's shoulder "because if he dies, you might lose yourself altogether." Walking off, Hunter stood there for a moment as Kage walked up to him.

Hunter rubbed Kage's head, "Am changing for the better or, the worse?" Hunter pondered to himself as Kage left. Turn on his heels, Hunter wondered off to the Humbly home. As he approached, the sun had risen high in the sky. Hearing some commotion from within, "What's going on?"

Hunter moved to the kitchen window to hear what was going on. "Are we going after him?" The words echoed out of the house. Hunter knew that Lovell had left and no other reason to stay. As he reached the entrance, Hunter noticed two figures entering the town. Ducking to the nearest alleyway, Hunter watch as they passed by.

It was Fang and Luna, Luna ran in front of Fang. "It Feels Like forever since I've been home, right, Mr. Krisnik?" She smiled at him.

Fang sighed, "Luna, just remember why we are here for?"

Luna pouted at him. "I know, and this time he feels close. I know we will find him soon as well as the others." Hunter heartfelt as if something was tearing it apart inside him as he watched them go by. "But… my home is about to be part of either Gold Heart Empire or the Faremin Kingdom." A sad look has drawn across her face.

Hunter stepped out of the shadows, "Either they join the Faremin, or the will be killed, which would you want ma'am?"

Luna turned to Hunter, surprised by his appearance form the shadows. "You scared me, but to answer your question… I would be fine if they joined the Faremin…." Her eye's stared at Hunter. "You seem lost inside, mister? Is something wrong?"

Luna leaned towards him; Hunter stepped back, his face turned red. "It's not your concern, ma'am."

Took a closer look at Hunter, drawing his sword at him. "Your Hunter Wilds, of the Faremin Forces! What are you doing here, fiend!?" Fang was ready to strike as Hunter stepped back, a cold sweat ran down his back. "Answer!" Luna stepped in front of Fang's blade. "Luna, this not the time! For all, we know he's here for you!"

Luna shakes her head, "No, he's not, but he isn't a bad person either. So, what if he is the enemy, it's better to show kindness in times like this anyway." Hunters' heart began to hurt even more as he fell to his knees. Fang lowered his blade in dismay, as Luna use healing magic on him.

"How the mighty falls?" Fang grabbed Luna's are. "Let's go; it's something that can be healed with any form of magic for what he has." Luna looked at Hunter, her face showing how helpless she felt being unable to help him. The pain was worsening as he braced himself off the ground. "Let's also hope we never cross blades Faremin scum." Fangs glare piercing Hunter's soul.

Once gone, Hunter felt relief as the pain subsided. "What did I just do, and what happened?" Hunter confused why did what he did, stood up as he headed off. "KAGE!" Kage appeared before him, as he regains his senses, "Track Lovells sent, it's time we finished this mission!" Kage howled as he sniffed the ground for Lovell's sent, Kage found the sent, Hunter mounted Kage as he took off towards Lovells sent.

Kage followed his sent to an old cabin deep in the western woods. Hunter jumped off, searched around to find any clues of Lovell's location. When he stumbles upon Lovell lying on the ground unconscious before him, Hunter walked over to Lovell's lifeless body, noticed he was in a deep dream of some sort, grabbed some rope and tied him up. Kage shook himself off before letting Hunter place Lovell in his back. Hunter felt that same feeling of guilt wash over him, grasped his heart and shook it off himself. Jumping back onto Kage's back as he readied himself for the trip back, called Kyle to Let him know he would need to go back for the bike after dropping off Lovell. Kyle yelled at him, barking off why Hunter didn't use it to bring Lovell back with him. Hunter explaining where he was and the situation, Kyle realize something was wrong and waited till his full return before asking what was going on.

As Hunter settled down, Kyle walked over, "What's going on, Hunter?"

Hunter realized that this friend caught on. He was battling something. "Not sure myself, but I will not let it hold me down."

Kyle ran up to him, grabbed his shoulder. "You know that's not what I mean." Hunter stood silent, "Hunter, you don't seem yourself, and something is very wrong. If… if this goes on whatever is hurting you, it will destroy you before you destroy it." Hunter remembering Vail's words, shook Kyle off. Kyle stood back as his friend walked away in pain.

Hunter found a quiet place as he punched the wall, the pain raising once more. "You seem to be fighting yourself, their Faremin?" Hunter looked over as he noticed a now awake Lovell sat staring at him. "Do you feel guilty for kill Morris or are you finally growing a real heart because of some kind you have yearned for was too much for you to handle?" Lovell staring in pure hate towards Hunter. His eyes filled with a desire to kill Hunter when he had the chance.

Hunter stood up as he walked up the prison bars. "Well, you act a lot like him."

Lovell stood up, walked over to the bars. Not letting gazed turn away from Hunter, "You mean Morris?" His anger building as he watched for an opening to strike Hunter.

Hunter rested his arm on the bars staring at Lovell intensely. "No Azoth Wolf, also known as Terrance Krisnik!"