A Night To Forget

Kiro and Cyrian left, Luna was left with the potion on the palm of her hand and her friends left for dead lying on the ground. She was breathing heavily, looking at the healing potion deciding if she should drink it or not:

"It's a valuable gift but a cursed one being received by that filthy hand"

She thinks a bit more and then finally decides:

"I would never let them like this, not in a million years; I would do anything it takes to protect them"

She gulps down the potion; she feels a horrifying burn in her stomach until her wound is healed completely. She gets up and screams at the top of her lungs:

-Help! Help! Anyone!

Moments later, a couple of villagers appear, responding to Luna's call:

-What is the matter?!

-Quick they are injured; please help them before they bleed out!

The villagers carry the three on their backs and head to the village. Meanwhile, Kiro and Cyrian were headed to the stables with the artifact on Kiro's hands:

"Nothing has happened yet, besides that sudden nose bleed.  Maybe it had nothing to offer in the first place…"

-Why so quiet reaper?

-I was just lost in thoughts, so where this client of yours did came from again?

-From the north, one of his butlers was looking for a man to do the job in a tavern inside the capital.

-Wait…what were you doing inside the capital?

-Drinking my guts out obviously, at least it landed me in some decent drezas.

-Agreed, anyway shall we celebrate at my place after we have collected the money?

-Just what I wanted to hear, I could eat a beast man right now.

-Well, you are welcomed

Time passes, Kiro and Cyrian eventually arrive at the stables. They spot a carriage and the butler that Cyrian met at the tavern waiting for them.

-That's him

They approach the man and dismount their horses:

-Do you have what my master seeks for?

-I certainly do

Kiro pulls out from underneath his coat the cursed totem.

-Excellent job

The man extends his hands to grab the totem:

-Before you put your hands on the merchandise I would like to see our payment first- said Kiro while pulling the totem towards himself.

-Ahhh… I almost forgot, I hope you forgive me.

The butler enters the carriage and gets out with a bag containing 30,000 drezas.

-Would you mind dividing the bag in two; in the meanwhile we will count the money as you divide them.

The butler groans silently and starts dividing the money. Time passes, the money had been divided in two bags, each containing 15,000 drezas. He hands Kiro and Cyrian their money and slowly heads to the carriage:

-Well, it was a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen.

He enters the carriage and takes off. Kiro and Cyrian watch as the carriage disappears into the trail of trees.

-Alright, let's head back to my place and eat something, what do you say?

-Actually, I have a better idea.

-What is it?

-There is a tavern exclusively used by the Capital's guards, and they say it serves the best ale you can find all over Hellar.

-So you are saying to get inside the city where our posters hang everywhere, so we can enter a tavern where everyone would be ready to pierce our torsos with swords for a cup of ale?

- Maybe two, depends if the rumors are true.

-How do you plan in getting inside?

-The receptionist at the guild is a good friend of mine; she can rent us some uniforms for the night.

-Well, if you know what you are doing, then sure, besides, I never took time to actually party for a bit here.

-Then what are we waiting for, let's go.

-But wait, how are we going to pass through the gates?

-I have you covered.

Kiro enters the stables and comes out with two hooded mantles.

-That worked a few times but I don't think the guards will fall for this trick again.

-Did you forget that the only thing they actually care about are those extra 50 drezas they add to rip off passing travelers?

-I guess you are right about that.

They both wear the mantles and head toward the capital.

Time passes and eventually they find themselves on front of the gates.

-State your reasons for coming here travelers - said the guard

-To visit our older brother, he lives here.

-Kind of strange to visit a relative during the night, don't you think so?

-We were planning to maybe have a few drinks.

The guard throws a grin at his partner and says

-Well, there is a toll to pay for entering, it's….

-350 drezas, I'll give you 375 if you shut up and let us through.

The guard glared at Cyrian, and then said:

-400 or the only place you are going is to the barracks so we'll give you a lesson or two about keeping your mouth shut!

Cyrian grins and says

-See? I told you what corrupt pieces of shit they are, here you go, 500 drezas.

The guard was clearly outraged by Cyrian's attitude, but he couldn't let 500 drezas go to waste.

-Enter, and If ever hear your voice, ever again, I will cut off your tongue!

-As you say boss –Said Cyrian sarcastically

He handed the guards the 500 drezas and entered the capital.

-You realize you just gave away 500 drezas to them?

-As I would care, I made a ton with the last job, besides; I love to see their tiny bit of pride being crushed by their massive greed. Let's head to the guild now.

Kiro followed Cyrian through the empty streets to an enormous building.

-That's got to be it, right?

-You bet.

They dismount their horses and leave them at the guild's stable. They enter the guild and see its empty hall, with only one person at the reception, a girl with glasses reading a book.

-Working night shift?

The girl raises her head as Cyrian takes off his hood.

-Cyrian!

The girl rushes at Cyrian and throws herself at him, giving him a big hug.

-What are you doing here?! You know it's dangerous for you to visit the capital!

-Don't worry; I won't be here for long.

-And who is this friend of yours?

-Well, he needs no presentation.

Kiro takes off his hood to reveal his face:

-The…the...reaper?!

-Am I really that notorious? Does everybody need to mumble as soon as they recognize me?

-What are you doing with…him?

-Having a drink, what's the matter?

-He is a wanted criminal?!

-And so am I, what's the deal?

Kiro interrupts them by saying:

-I didn't know you had a girlfriend.

The girl blushes hard and covers her face.

-No…it's not what it looks like!

-We grew up together; Miya is more like a little sister to me.

-Yes…that's right.

-Anyway, Can you give us two guard uniforms?

-For what?

-We won't be causing any troubles, I swear, we just want to taste the ale at the guardsmen's tavern.

-I see, but I want them returned before sunrise!

-Understood

-Go get them at the back.

-Can't you get them?

-But…it's dark and scary!

-Whatever

Cyrian heads to the backroom to get the uniforms. Meanwhile, Kiro turns to Miya and says:

-You like him, don't you?

-Yes ….Wait! No...Why am I saying this to you?

-Knowing Cyrian I'd suggest you make a move and fast, before he gets interested in someone else.

-You think it might happen?

-I thought you said you didn't like him.

-I…don't, shut up!

-As you wish.

-You…you don't seem as bad as they say.

-What did you expect?

-They say you are a demon who hunts down souls and devours them afterwards.

"No wonder why everyone mumbles as soon as they see my face"

-That's all lies; do I look like a soul devouring demon to you?

Cyrian gets back with two guard uniforms:

-Come on reaper, dress up before all the ale barrels get dried by the bastards.

They both dress up as guards; they put the helmet on, covering their faces.

-Let's move Reaper, and as for you Miya, you have my thanks.

-Ughh…Just go and get wasted, like I care – Said she while slightly blushing

Both Kiro and Cyrian leave the guild.

-I know a shortcut to the tavern, follow me.

Cyrian leads Kiro through some dark alleyways, during their way; Kiro spots the same alleyway he used to sleep in:

"The times I had no hope, the times where I always feared death, as I imagined my corpse rotting in some slum, I won't end up like that ever again, and after all, even if you gathered every soul in this damn kingdom, they would never cost more than my life."

After some time, the duo finds themselves in front of a tavern, near the barracks, the atmosphere was filled with music, and the place was filled with drunken guards laughing and dancing.

"What in the hell was I thinking when I accepted coming here with my own two legs, this place is a rat hole"

-Come on reaper, let's get in

Kiro and Cyrian enter the tavern, and sit on a table on the corner, a red headed waitress approaches them:

-I would want a cup of that famous ale you serve darling

-What about your gloomy friend over there?

-I'll take the same.

-That makes two cups; I'll be back with the ale.

As the waitress leaves, Kiro watches as the guards dance and celebrate:

"How did I convince myself to come here just for a cup of ale?"

The waitress comes back with the two cups of the famous ale:

-Enjoy gents

Cyrian takes the cup and gulps it down in an instant, while Kiro drinks it slowly:

-Bring another one!

And round after round of chugging down ale, Cyrian was completely wasted. He started to dance alongside the guards, as Kiro watches with his half finished cup:

"How am I supposed to get that idiot home?"

Cyrian then falls unconscious to the floor:

"That was enough"

Kiro stands up and pick up Cyrian's unconscious body. A guard sees this and approaches Kiro:

-Couldn't your friend here handle some good booze?

-With the amount he drank I'm surprised he is still alive.

Kiro carries Cyrian to the stables, Cyrian finally gains back conscience

-Where…we…go?!

-I don't have a single idea where you live and it would be a miracle if you even remembered your name right now, so to my place it is.

Kiro takes his horse from the guild's stable, and loads Cyrian on the horse's back, as he sets off.

After leaving the capital and going through the forest, after some time they find themselves at Kiro's mansion. Kiro carries Cyrian into the hall and puts him on the sofa beside the fireplace.

"I hope he doesn't drool all over the sofa"

Kiro then himself went to sleep as his eyes became heavier and heavier, until he decided to close them. He found himself in the endless blossomed field of the spiritual realm, but he noticed that Esgrieth was missing

In her place he saw a thing similar to his shadow, but it was standing right in front of him, standing on its own two feet and staring him with a couple of flashing bright red eyes, grinning at him with a couple of grotesquely sharp teeth, it wasn't his shadow, but the demon he had released from the totem.