27 Chapter 27

Hunter woke to see he was in his room; he gripped his head, trying to remember what happened last night. He held his head, trying to remember Shadow's face but drew a blank as he focused. Grabbing his pillow, he tossed it to the wall as Azoth entered. Hunter stunned that Azoth saw him this way.

Azoth turned to him, "Seems something got you frustrated?"

Hunter sighed, seeing that Azoth was in a decent mood. "Yeah, last night, the masked man challenged me." Hunter clenched his fist as he stared at it.

Azoth's face stiffened. "You mean he was here?" Hunter nodded. "And you never went to me for back up?"

Hunter turned to the window. "The letter said he wanted me to come alone, or he would not show up, and if I got you, he would know."

Azoth folded his arms, "I see, but you did see his face?"

Hunter growled as he closed his eyes. "Yes and no, I was able to break some of his mask, and to see his face, but he must have erased my memory. In order to protect his identity."

Azoth's eyes narrowed at Hunter. "Well, at least we know he is amongst the men here just like at Mourn, but he is a slippery fellow as well." Turning to the doorway, "Hunter, I hope that you are aware that if I find you useless, I will dispose of you."

Hunter clenched his fist, har enough to make himself bleed. He stood up and headed to the training grounds. Hunter remembering how Lord Azoth acted yesterday compared to this morning, was unusual. Hunter shook it off as he swung the practice blade in anguish as he growled at the world. Kyle walked up to him, Hunter stopped, grabbing a towel to join his friend.

Wiping the sweat away, Hunter looked at Kyle. "Hey, Kyle." His voice harsh towards him.

Kyle sat down on the bench, "So, what's got you in a knot?"

Hunter sat beside him, slumping his head between his hands. "I fought that masked guy last night."

Kyle touched his back. "So, what happened in the fight, and did you get who is so we can find this traitor or spy?"

Hunter sat up, looking at the sky. "Yeah, the name he gave me was Shadow, and I lost the fight against him."

Kyle removed his hand. "Ooh, that sounds rough, but you landed a few good blows, right?"

Hunter looked at Kyle, "One, and only one." Kyle anguished at the thought. "The worst part is that I saw a part of his face, and I can't remember it for the life of me!" Kyle smiled at Hunter's frustrated state.

Kyle stood up, looking at Hunter. "well, I must be going. Hopefully, things turn out better the next time where you win against the bastard!"

Hunter noticed Kyle was boosting him up as he stood up, "Yeah, your right, Lord Azoth would be disappointed if became week and useless!"

Hunter watched as Kyle left as he returned to training, but not long after Hans and Erin noticed him. Hans grinned as he walked over. "Well, if it isn't Hunter?"

Hunter turned to Hans, discuss dragged across Hunter's face. "What is it you want, Hans?"

Hans laughed at him. "It seems to me you need a lesson on—"

Erin stopped him. "We Have our orders Hans and if we mess with him here, Azoth will know of it." Erin was not in the mood for jokes that morning as she looked at Hunter. "Besides from what I hear there's a traitor that beat him. The masked man that let Lovell slip the first time."

Hunter figured that Erin heard his and Azoths conversation earlier. Hans scoffed at Hunter as they left, Hunter sighed looking at his hand. "Am I really changing?" closing his hand, Hunter looked over to the sun. "If so, why now and why am I so confused about what to do? Dam it!" Hunter tried to make sense of what was going on as he laid down on the ground.

Staring at the sky, Hunter closed his eyes, trying to make sense of it all. Vann leans over him as Hunter opened his eyes. "Having troubles HU-NT-3T?"

Hunter scowled at him, "Its Hunter, and it's not your problem, master Vann." Looking around, Hunter noticed that it was past noon.

Vann sat back on his heels, looking at him. "You are quite intriguing 'Hunter' to the point where none of the other clones gain any real sense of…how do I say this…"

Hunter stood up as Vann thought on it. "Sense of truly living?" Hunter answered.

Vann clasped his hands. "Yes, thank you! Anyway, I find that you might need a reminder that you are not a real living person—"

"Like hell, you know, Vann! Every person that I have met or has seen me tells me I'm different in their own way!" Hunter bellowed. Vann was taken back at Hunter's reaction. "Now if you excuse me, I have places to be." Hunter walked away as Vann caressed his chin in intrigue.

Hunter walked down the halls, frustrated at what was happening. A hand grabbed him from behind, Hunter jumped, turning to see who it was.

"What's the matter, Hunter?" Hunter notices it was Vail. "You seem more distraught than usual?"

Hunter sighed, his eyes softened. "I'm just going through things I don't understand, that's all."

Vail tilted his head, "Your change has caught many of the other Sevens attention, and not in a good way."

Hunter sighed, "I know, and they are probably thinking its due to my encounter with Lovell."

Vail nodded. "In my honest opinion, you don't seem to fit in with the others here anymore, but you are stubborn. That's for sure. I'm betting Azoth said the same thing yesterday?" Hunter nodded. "Look, I won't tell them I think this is good, but you staying might be unwise, as well."

Hunter turned to Vail. "What do you mean?"

Vail looked outside. "Look, I was one of the ones who was conscripted to the military here and made my way up here. Hunter, you need to understand what the real world thinks of us as Faremin soldiers and not listen to orders." Vail turned to Hunter. "You might not know this, but the Lord will kill those he hates not if they are a benefit to him, or will force them to become something they're not, just like Azoth."

Hunter's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

Vail nodded, "Azoth was once known as Terrance as you know that he tried to stop our Lord once but failed. The rumour is that he changed over willingly, but that's not the case." Vail turned to Hunter. "His lordship used a spell that takes the inner darkness and draws it out fully to his command. Almost like how you started out in this world, but the difference being that it caused a ripple effect."

Hunter swallowed at fear built up. "How so?"

Vail turned away. "Darkness Fever, ever heard of it?"

"Yes."

Vail turned to Hunter. "That's the ripple, the only way to recover from it is unknown, but Lovell has recovered from it a little coming from my sources." Hunter's eyes darkened at Lovell's name. Vail sighed. "Look, I know where he is heading, and I'm telling you this for other reasons, but Lovell is trying to find his old gang that's held up at Evermore Cliffs, where Azoth wants to go." Hunter grinned but stopped as Vail smacked him. "But don't engage him. Just watch him and see how he treats his friends before leaving us."

Hunter looked at Vail. "What do you mean 'leave'?"

Vail smiled, leaning in. "I mean that you are not returning," moving up to his ear. "Traitor."

The words drained the life out of Hunter as Vail walked away. Hunter felt as if he was being played the fool walked to Kyles room before being stopped by Azoth. Hunter looked up at him as he walked over. "We leave in the next two hours." Hunter froze as Azoth spoke, Azoth walked past him. "Be ready to fly at dawn."

Azoth left, as Hunter shaken at what transpired. Hunter looked back to see Azoth walking sternly to the main hall. Hunter closed his eyes as he felt fear from Vail's words and Azoths intimidating presence. Hunter looked at his hands, clenching them before heading to Kyle's room. Hunter remembering what Lovell said that day when they talked for the first time. Stopping, Hunter felt strange inside as tears welled up. He tried to shake it off as he made his way to Kyle's door. Hunter hesitated, before knocking at Kyles door.

Hunter heard Kyle scabbling on the other side, "Who is it, I'm not dressed at the moment!?"

Hunter closed his eye before answering, "It's me, Hunter, I'm letting you know that I won't be here in the morning. Azoth and I are leaving in an hour. And was hoping to catch you before I left." Hunter felt it might be the last time he saw his friend. "Are you half decent?"

"Yeah, give me a moment." Hunter sighed as he waited. "You can come in now." Hunter opened the door seeing that Kyle was only in his pants as he entered. "So, what can I do for you before you leave?"

Hunter walked over to the bed, "I just wanted to say that you should be careful because of that Shadow guy." he thought of telling his friend the truth but knew that if he told him he would report him. "You aren't a fighter, so…" He trailed off, trying not to think about what was going on, feeling somewhat embarrassed at him, showing concern for him.

Kyle smiled. "Thank you, Hunter, for the warning, and to think you are worried about me for the first time."

Hunter went beet red as he tried to hide it as he stood up. "W-well, I must be going." He stopped turning slightly to Kyle, who wasn't paying attention. "I'm not taking the bike this time, but my dragon, Harpoon, to the Evermore cliffs if you come searching for me." Hunter could only hope that he would.

Kyle walked over to him, gripping Hunter's shoulder, "You'll be fine, and besides, you are you. You always live somehow." Hunter felt the guilt toss his insides as he listened to Kyle.

"Well, see you, Kyle." Hunter walked out as he headed to Harpoons stall, readying him for the journey.

After checking over everything, Azoth walked up, asking if everything was prepared. Hunter nodded as he looked up at Kyles window wondering if they would ever see each other again, before mounting Harpoon and taking off to the Evermore cliffs.