12 A Boy’s New Home

"So you killed them all." Sombrely commented Ichabod.

"Aye, I did."

"Divines save you, Gayle, that's the most foolish thing I have ever heard anyone in the Thirteen Hells do!"

"I don't agree with you."

"Prithee, why don't you?"

"It's just a child. A babe. The single, most defenceless human creature in the entire world from the moment that it was birthed. How could I bear with killing it just because of fear of the Church? Would you have been so heartless, my old friend? Would you have let them take it? I refuse to believe that you would."

"But maybe it comes from the Abyss…" Ichabod said as he looked away guiltily not at all convinced with his argument.

"Highly unlikely. Creatures and beings from the Abyss, when they manage to somehow make it to our plane, never come with a complete presence. It goes against the very fabric of creation for them to crawl up, so only a fraction of their soul can make their journey, and even then it must come from one of its lowliest creatures. The point is, their presence is one mired with darkness and corruption."

"And why, in the Thirteen Hells, do you know that?" Asked Ichabod as he gently massaged the bridge of his nose, feeling a great headache coming.

"I've faced one before." He explained. There was nothing more to add.

"Somehow I'm not surprised." Sighed Ichabod, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "What now?"

"Now, I must ask you to raise this child as if it were your own."

"Orc's piss!"

"Don't swear, my friend, it doesn't befit your stature."

"Fuck your stature, I've never been that tall."

"What are you going on about?"

"It's as useless a statement as yours!" Screamed Ichabod as he pointed his finger angrily at Gayle. "What raise him as my own?! Now I know you've surely lost your mind. Let me carefully enunciate each and every reason why that's a terrible idea. First, timing, imagine having to explain that I coincidentally obtain a son as soon as an envoy of the Church is looking for a lost baby; second, we have no inkling of the history of this child, and his upbringing is mired with the unknown; third, there's the issue of the girl, because I assume you'll want her to stay with me, right? Even an idiot can see that she and the baby have grown attached over the last month, and I'm no idiot."

"I never said you were."

"No? Well, it does seem like you are." Chastised Ichabod. "Kran need only investigate the people here superficially for her to become a serious problem."

"Just… Please… For me." Pleaded the weary hunter. "Do it for me."

"Abyss take me." Sighed Ichabod, for what he felt was the umpteenth time, and feeling his heartstrings being strung. "Tell me why, at least."

"I don't know, Ichabod. I genuinely don't know. But it just feels like it's the right thing to do. Every fibre in my being tells me that we should protect this child. My old friend, do you remember all those years ago when we met? I was drunk, hurt, and a complete mess. I've never told you this story before, but I was once the general of a might army; far grander than you have ever known."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want… No, I need you to understand. I was born in a land far from here, on the Central Continent, a place where sky realm martial artists are only fit to guard the door; and I was one of the Generals of my country. I had everything: strength, family, wealth, respect; everything. But I was betrayed. My son was murdered and my wife taken from me, but I vowed to have my revenge. I slaughtered my way until I found the one who ordered the tragedy, the second prince, and almost managed to strike him down, but was caught. My cultivation was crippled, and I was banished from there. I only managed retrain to my current level after many years of bitter struggling and several fortuitous encounters."

"What has that got to do with the child?"

"Everything, my friend, for you see, he reminds me of my own lost son, which is why I could never bring myself to kill him. Destiny, fate, or karma, whatever you wish to call it, has brought this child into my care, my responsibility; this is something that I simply cannot ignore. And now I entrust this child to my closest friend, you."

"I see." Mumbled Ichabod, still uncertain as to whether he should take care of the child or not. "But if this child is linked with you by fate, why do you insist on leaving him in my care?"

"Because there is still much I need to do to protect him. I must first set a false trail that will lead Kran on a wild goose hunt for many years before he even begins to suspect anything. And after that, I will leave to return to my home and pursue my revenge; otherwise, I will never truly be complete."

"I see." Finally sighed Ichabod after taking in Gayle's words, a decision having been made in his heart. "Then this is truly goodbye."

"Aye, it is."

With that, the two old friends clasped their hands tightly and exchanged a few final words wishing each other all the best. Ichabod agreed to raise the child as his adopted son, under the guise of Jack being the result of one of his employee's affairs. Many would suspect the boy to be his, but it was best if they did. Gayle left a few of his possessions for Jack to inherit once he was of age, including the sword that had accompanied him for the better part of his life.

As for Jack, the baby, he was the physical embodiment of the Blue Eyed Devil after ten thousand years in the Abyss. The reason for Gayle not perceiving his presence on the same level as another summoned abyss-dweller is twofold; firstly, his was not a traditional summoning, but rather his complete ascension into a new body tailor-made for him and, secondly, because as soon as he appeared, he was bereft of all power and cultivation and chose to enter a meditative state to fully integrate and comprehend the contents of the Harmony of Everything within his consciousness. After all, this was a supreme cultivation method that a single page required long periods of rumination from one of the universe's brightest minds.

As such, Jack entered a completely passive state shortly before Gayle arrived into the cave. A state where he was no different than a genuine baby. Another reason for his choice to do so, was the fact that his mind and soul were struggling with his new vessel. To enter into meditation was the only logical option.

And so, finally, Jack had returned to the realm of the living.