5 Chapter 5

Lovell walked over to Lau's tent, readying himself, as he entered.

"So, you're Leaving us now, after twenty years with us?" Lau softly spoke, lacing his fingers as he rested his head on top.

Lovell nodded as he moved in closer. "Yes, I think it's time for me to start my own journey. That is not apart of the one I have had here." Looking over, Lovell could see Ark standing behind Lau just as he did with Morris.

"Is it now?" Lau was questioning Lovell's motives as he leaned back.

"Yes, my time, with the Goanna Mercenaries, has come to a close, Lau, sir." Preparing for the worst, Lovell pulled back his sleeveless-trench coat and placing his hand on a pair of long swords. Lovell looked over to Ark. Lovell notices that Ark was gaining quite a few grey hairs, possibly due to all his and Grailla's pranks over the years, grinning at Ark, "Don't you kick that bucket just yet there, Ark."

Ark growled and was about to go after Lovell but was stopped by Lau. Stepping back, Lau lowered his hand. "Well then, do take care of yourself out there, Lovell." Lovell bowed his head to relief that his resignation went smoothly, as he left their presence. Lovel stopped in the entryway as he glanced back, "Safe journeys Lovell." Lua was concerned for Lovell before watching him walk off.

Lovell returned to his sleeping corridors. Lovell started to pack his things when he noticed Grailla running up to him in a hurry.

"You're leaving?!" Grailla huffed.

Lovell looked over at her as he noticed Grailla seemed distraught. Lovell knew, Trying not to change his mind, continued packing to distract the pain of parting. "Yes."

"But why? I thought you wanted to stay?" Grailla's voice cracked as the words spilled out. "You never acted like you needed to just get up and leave? Why now? Tell me, please?"

"I have things to do that need my attention." Lovell saddled his horse, finding it hard to talk to Grailla.

"Like what?" Grailla began to protest.

Lovell paused for a moment before looking at Grailla. "There…there is someone I need to find and protect. I made a promise long ago," continuing once more as he placed his things on the saddlebag. Grailla ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "Look, Grailla, this promise involves protecting them, not just for their sake, but the whole world." Lovell tightened down his belongings, then grabbing the reins. "If I do not find them before others seeking them out, they will be killed."

"Who?! Who is that important that you cannot stay?!" Grailla's words were filling with grief as she tried to get Lovell to look at her.

Slipping the reins over his horse, Lovell sighed as he looked into her eyes. "This person would put them in danger if I say who they are around you and the others. Only Morris and Ark knew who they were." Grailla stared at him, waiting for more. Lovell could not bear to look at her, as Grailla's stare filled Lovell with the pain of leaving growing harder. "But I will say this, they are the goddess's reincarnation, and…and I made a promise to protect her just before I was taken here." Lovell's words shook Grailla to her core.

The words left Grailla as she stared at Lovell. Lovell pulled at the rains to lead his horse to the edge of the camp. Lovell held his head low, trying to hide his true feelings of regret. While trying to keep Grailla away. Grailla shook off her shock as she caught up to Lovell. Lovell hoisted himself into the saddle as Grailla grabbed the reins.

Looking up at Lovell, tears began to well up in Grailla's eyes, "Good luck, Lovell, and be safe." The tears stream down her tanned skin coercing her face.

Smiling, Lovell reached over to Grailla's hand. "Just wait till my return, will you?" Grailla nodded at Lovell's response.

Lovell slipped something in her hands. Letting go as he rode forward into a gallop. Grailla leaned on an old post holding the letter Lovell's mother left him all those years ago and giving him an excuse to return to her. While Lovell's own emotions escaped him. Letting tears stream down his face. Grailla stepped back as Lovell turned the horse. With a flick of his wrist, Lovell took off. Leaving Grailla behind as Ark walked over to comfort her. While he watched Lovell disappear through the landscape.

The days slipped by when Lovell rode in over a low laying field. Lovell looked off into the distance to see signs of a small town. Lovell remembers the city as it was the town of Stonebeak. Lovell felt some hope as someone might know where to find the person he was looking for.

Lovell rode into town and hitching his horse at the local stables before entering the city. The old wooden buildings and muddy roads made the village of Stonebeak feel dead and forgotten. The men and women had fallen on hard times due to the silver mines drying up. With no signs of a dragon to replenish the lands.

Lovell looked down the main streets seeing women and men arguing as fights broke out. Lovell turned down a road and noticed a pair of young animilian men harassing an elvish woman. Lovell noticed the elven woman was trying to shoo them off as they persisted. Lovell felt rage build up as the two animilian continued. Lovell then cast a paralysis spell on the men, freezing both men in fear.

As they tried to figure out what was going on, Lovell slipped closer to them and rest his arms on their shoulders. Lovell smiled as he told the men to back off or worse things than death awaiting them. The men slowly looked over at him. Seeing Lovell's smiled, let them go from paralysis. Without hesitation, the two animilian men ran off with their tails tucked between their legs.

The elven woman bowed at him. She thanked profusely for his help. Lovell asked her to stop before asking if she knew anyone if someone had seen a young woman with pale skin, silver eyes, and white hair. The elven woman shook her head but directed him to the local pub's location but warned him to try to stay clear from the local gang leader. Where they usually hanged out, heeding her warning as they wave each other goodbye.

Lovell thanked her before heading to the bar. Lovell had his hopes up, to where he could find some information on the woman. Lovell walked up to the pub and could hear a group of men inside. Lovell sighed as he knew that things could go wrong if the gang's boss was there. Lovell went to enter the pub but stopped as another customer was flung out of the establishment. Lovell took a deep breath as he enters the pub.

Lovell glanced around to see a giant burly male demon with a grin of satisfaction over his face. Lovell could feel his luck went dry as he looked at him. He was surrounded by other men who were laughing as Lovell turned to the bar and sat down.

The demon looked at Lovell as a grin stretched across his face. "Hey, flatty! Come here, and I'll give you a nice time!" Lovell didn't want to pick a fight with this daemon, as he proceeded to ignore the male demon as he harassed him.

Lovell remembered what the elven women said to him about the gang leader picking up chicks that walked into the bar when he was there. To the demon, Lovell did look like a chick with his long hair and youthful face.

"Hey! Blondie! I'm talking to you!" The man started to get riled up.

Lovell grew annoyed as he glanced at the demon. "For one, I'm a guy, and two, don't mess with me, demon!" Lovell snarled as his eyes began to glow.

Lovell hoped that his reactions were enough to tell the demon to back off. The daemon smiled as he brushed it off Lovell's taunt as a laugh out snuffed out. The male demon then walked over as the man reached over and placed a hand on Lovell's shoulder. Lovell glanced over as he felt uncomfortable with the man's actions.

"Please remove your filthy hand, sir!" Lovell was gritting his teeth. Lovell felt the urge to strike at the man.

"WHAT did you say, blondie?" The demon bellowed as the bartender scuttled away from the commotion as the man tried to show his dominance.

Lovell glared towards the demon than at his lackeys. Lovell hoped not to have any more confrontations as his eyes glowed even brighter as the yellow colour became clearer. "I said remove your filthy hand, or are you deaf, demon?" Lovell became more agitated as some of the lackeys started to turn tail. When they notice that Lovell was dangerous.

"H-hey b-boss, let's let this one go." One of his men stuttered as he tried to reason with his boss.

"You are cowards. He's nothing but a mutt!" Barking back at them. Gripping Lovell's shoulder now. "I might as well kick him out just like the last person I took out!"

Lovell snapped from the word 'mutt.' Lovell rose slowly as he firmly planted his hand on the counter. "Repeat that one more time? I did not hear you clearly?" A lower growl erupted from his throat.

The daemon grinned happily as he moved in closer for Lovell to hear him more clearly, "I said, you are nothing but a mutt. Got a problem with that pretty boy?"

Lovell let him finish before socking him square in the face, knocking him back into the tables. The remaining lackeys of his looked at Lovell before turning tail. The man wiped his nose, smeared blood over his hand. The demon looked at the blood before looking at Lovell, who was standing stance now. The boss could see Lovell's pride filling the room as he stood over him.

The demon growled before charging at Lovell. Lovell dodging his attack easily as then knelt the man in the gut, stunning him. Lovell grabbed him by the collar before he could recover and lifting him. Lovell landed another swift punch in his face, feeling the man's nose shatter under the force. The male demon had cleared his mind as he smiled, prepared for Lovell's next strike.

Lovell then moved in to punch the male demon's face but was caught off guard. The man uppercut Lovell in his face. Lovell stood unfazed as he spins and drops kick him to the ground. The man coughed up blood while his collar bone snapped. The demon turned to Lovell as he pulled himself around as the man kicked Lovell across the room. Lovell rubbed his head as he looked up to see the man charged at him. Lovell rolled out of the way and aimed for the demon's side, kneeing him hard before twisting his body to kicking him across the side of his head. Lovell huff as he watched the man, waiting for him to get back up. Lovell breathed a sigh as he found the demon was unconscious from his last attack.

Lovell wiped his face, "Never, ever, call me a mutt, demon. You can count your lucky stars this time, kynroc(idiot)." He walked over to the bar and sat down, leaning against the bar. "River Kin, please, oh, and no ice either."

The bartender complied, he placed his drink down. Lovell was beginning to enjoy his drink. Then the door slammed open as a squad of hunter society police came rushing in. Their rifles up, armed, and ready. Looking around at the situation, Lovell knew he was not going to get his info anytime soon.

While they positioned themselves, the officer of the unit walked in. The officer looked around to see the daemon lying on the ground out cold. Then the officer turned her attention towards Lovell—who did not want to talk— as he had wanted to relax after fighting the man. As she walked up to him.

"You there! What happened here?" The officer demanded as they looked at Lovell.

Lovell closed his eyes, hoping this will go over okay. As he took another sip, she walked over and slammed her hand next to him—her other hand placed over her handgun. Readying to pull it out on Lovell.

"I asked, WHAT HAPPENED here?!" the officer demanded once more as she gripped her gun.

A chill ran down Lovell's spine just forms her presents, since Lovell was part of a gang of mercenaries only days prior. It also did not help that there were possibly fifteen to twenty or so armed hunter society police within the room.

Lovell knew that if he did not comply with her, things could go very wrong, extremely fast. Lovell started to open one of his eyes to look at her. When Lovell noticed that the demon from earlier started to get up. Lovell stared at him as the officer began to ask him once more to see that his eyes were pure white as the man stood up. Then with a blood-curdling scream, the demon charged towards them. Lovell dropped his drink as he reached for his dagger from his back.

"Watch out!" Lovell screamed while the officer turned to look see what was going on.

Lovell moved swiftly as he pushed her out of the way into some tables. The officer rubbed her head as her men did not react as they stood stunned as she looked up to see demons racing towards her. Roaring as she let a blood-curdling scream out of her mouth. The monster approached rapidly as Lovell turned, pulling his dagger out and went to strike the beast down.

Lovell's dagger grazed the enraged demon's face, only to see that it did nothing. Lovell became nervous as the beast started to change into a monstrosity. The monster demon stopped and turned to Lovell and swung his enormous arm at Lovell, sending him across the room. Lovell crashed into the tables on the other side of the bar.

While the officer looked over at Lovell as he groaned. The officer was in utter shock as the officer found that she could not move. Were the officer could only stare in horror at the monstrosity before her. The demon turned to Lovell and readied himself for another attack when the officer's men fired and took it upon themselves to fire at the beast. Their bullets piercing the beast hide. To where her men turned their attention towards her. The beast roared once more as it prepared to go after the next her next. Lovell found his footing as he stood up.

Lovell glanced around to see the officer's men standing between her and the monster. While they cower as the demon charged towards them. Lovell flipped his dagger over, then throwing it through the air. Landing it square in its back as it bounced off. The demon turned around to see Lovell staring at it in disbelief. Lovell let out a nervous laugh as the beast started to charge once more at him.

"This is not—" Lovell rolled out of the way, dodging the demon's charge, "—good."

Lovell landed off to the side while he knelt on the ground. The beast crashed into the tables as Lovell went for his handgun. The creature stood up and shook off the debris. Once it was clear, the creature turned to the officer as her men cowered in front of her. He began to lick his lips, reading to strike them down to get to her. Lovell pulled his gun free and aimed at the beast.

BANG!

Lovell fired a bullet at the demon through the heart. With the last of its strength, the beast turned to Lovell and reach out to kill Lovell. Yet Lovell aimed once more and fired once more through its skull. The monster demon crashed to the ground as Lovell took a deep breath.

"Lyshta(Fuck), that was too close," Lovell swore as he lowered his gun before putting it back into the holster.

Lovell walked over to the body. Then walked over to pick up his dagger from the ground. The officer began to regain some of her bearing while she approached Lovell.

"So, what just happened?" The officer asked. Watching Lovell inspect his dagger for damages.

"I was hoping you might have the answer to that. really?" Lovell asked as he turned to the dead demon before sheathing his dagger.

Lovell turned to face her, as he could see from the expression she has not dealt with many bloody confrontations, including one that resulted in death. Lovell glanced over at her men as they tried to pull themselves together

"W-well, it looked as if he could have taken 'choke mint.' An illegal substance that enhances one's prowess but has a nasty side effect. I never saw it used before, but telling from what I witnessed and from other reports. It might be the most likely suspect." The woman crossed her arms as they sat down.

She was trying to keep her composure in front of Lovell. Already aware that she was shaken, as he had noticed her knees ready to buckle before she even sat down.

"So, who makes that shit?" Lovell turned to the body as her men fished, covering it up.

"We believe the Faremin have been creating it for their soldiers, but we have been hunting down the culprits selling the drug to the average folk for some time—" The officer tried to sound confident in the investigation before pausing. As she began to question Lovell's involvement. "You know? How do I know that you are not the one who gave him that drug?"

Her face was filled with skepticism. While she glanced over at Lovell. Lovell leaned away and stared at her. Seeing her concern as he was the only one here before she entered.

Lovell was closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. "You do not know that." Lovell looked at her as he sat up, "but then again, why would I have saved you? And why would I have done everything I can to kill him." His question's prompting her to think over her judgment. The officer started to glare.

"Who can collaborate with your story? For all I know, you could have just been covering your ass?" The officer narrowed her eyes at Lovell.

"Well, for one, I just got into town, and two, the bartender can vouch that this all ordeal started when—" Clearing his throat. "—when the demon started to woo me over. Thinking that I was a woman when I walked in." Lovell noticed that the officer's face turn red.

'Is she embarrassed for thinking the same thing as the daemon?' Lovell thought to himself. Lovell rolled his eyes as he continued, "Then I punched the guy after asking him what he had called me. An M-U-T-T."

"Mutt? Really?" The officer blinked rapidly as she stared in disbelief at Lovell. Lovell just glared at her as she said the word. The officer got the hint as she shrinks back, "Okay, then, note to self do not call you that word or death might ensue."

Lovell growled at the word and leaned back in his seat. Before Lovell look over at her. "So, am I free to leave?" The officer turned to him as she glared at him to say no written over her face. Lovell childishly smiled as he closed his eyes. "Well, you see, I am in searching for someone important—"

Before Lovell could finish, two young men came rushing in. As they huffed, they looked around the room. One of the young men—with brown-hair—was drenched in sweat. While the other one—with the black-hair—was staring looked at the corpse.

"Aww, man! The hunter society police beat us to the mark." His voice was filled with disappointment.

"We never did anything; this young man did." One of the officer's men spoke out.

The both of them turned to see Lovell, covered in blood, as they stared at him. Then they noticed that Lovell had a slim build as they turned to away back to the other officers. Lovell felt a little insulted by their body language towards him. Then glanced back to the officer.

"Yeah, right?" They spoke in unison.

The look of skepticism covering their faces. Lovell was hurt by their comment. As he gritted his teeth. Knowing all he went through just moments ago.

"It's true, this young man is the one who took down your quarry." She gestured over to Lovell, who looked annoyed by their insult. "He even saved my life as I could not do anything."

They looked back at him. Their stares were like daggers as Lovell narrowed his eyes at them.

"She is not lying, you know. What is so hard to believe about that?" Lovell gestured as he spoke.

The two young men turned to each other as they spoke. "You look way too weak to have done that."

Lovell moaned as he rests his chin on one of his hands. "I did defeat him, but things got a little hairy and ended up on the wrong end of my barrel." Lovell looking back at the body. "I killed him out of self-defence. I was originally wanted to just knock him out and be done with it. As I had other things to attend to."

The officer stood up while the other officers left with the body. The officer patted Lovell on the shoulder as she smiled at him. "Good Luck with them."

As she felt. Lovell felt uncomfortable knowing something was about to bombard him. Lovell slowly turned to the two young men as they looked like dogs drooling over a bone. While they waited for the officers to leave the vicinity.

"Who are you?"

"Are you part of the Hunter Society?"

"If so, what's your hunter rank?"

"And what division are you from?"

They asked one after the other, bombarding Lovell before he could answer. Lovell then waved his hands in the air to stop them.

"Back off! Sheesh." The two men stopped as they stared at Lovell intensely. "First off, sit down as I would rather you two be sitting still over hovering."

The two young men pulled over a chair and sat down. The bartender brought something substantial for Lovell. Lovell thanked him before turning back to the two men. "Okay, one, my name is Lovell Krisnik." Clasping his hands together.

"Now, I'm nothing more than a traveller looking for someone—in other words—I'm not a hunter." The two men turned red as they stared at Lovell. "So, yes, I am not accessioned with the hunter society—so in other words—back off on the hunter stuff." Lovell sighed as he looked at the two men. He began to think they were trying to get into the Hunter's Society as they thought he was part of it.

"So, who are you looking for anyway." The brown-haired man promptly asked, sheepishly.

"Well—another thing is—is it not rude to introduce yourselves? Seeing that I have introduced myself?" Lovell was beginning to become unimpressed with their behaviour.

"Oh, right." The brown one was rubbing his head childishly.

To Lovell, they looked to be no older than sixteen to eighteen years old. Knowing that he also looked young, due to him being part theyan, did not help his case. As it made them not respect him as an elder.

"Well, let's just say that it's kind of a hard topic." Juggling his hands around. "You see, we're—" The brown-haired once was cut off. As the door slammed open

Armed soldiers wearing heavy armour rushed in as they surrounded the area. The three of them turned to see what was going on. The brown hair one turned pale as the Black-haired one covered his face. The two young men knew what was going on. While Lovell looked at the soldiers lining up as a man wearing more ornate armour walked in and looked over at them. Lovell could tell he was their commanding officer as he pointed at the two men.

"Take those two and then grab the other one. He will be brought in for questioning." The commander ordered.

His men nodded as they rushed over, grabbing the two men. They struggled as they tried to escape. Lovell stood up and asked about what was going on as he tried to determine what was happening. The commander looked at Lovell and ordered his men to retain Lovell. Lovell shoved off his men as he walked over, but one man walked up behind him. Striking Lovell hard enough to knock him out. Lovell was out cold as the men packed him out while the other two were escorted out. The bartender was shrinking to the storeroom once more. As the Soldier left the establishment.