1 The Nightmare

Ever since and before written history began the human race has had special people who were 'blessed' in certain ways. Some possessed innate talents in the Arcane and Mystic arts, others possessed the mental capacity or physical strength of a hundred. A few even possessed the blessing of an abnormally long life. These blessed were seen as heroes and staved off the roaming hordes of monsters so human civilization had a chance to grow. And grow it did, At first seen as chosen ones, those first blessed became the rulers of the new world. Civilizations rose and fell, humankind spread to the known three continents and millennia passed. As populations grew it no longer became special to be 'blessed' , most of the human population of the present are like that now. But as more people with powers emerged, things there were once drenched in mystique were found to be similar and were categorized, named, and studied. However, there were some abnormalities. Some people did not fit into the categories that now defined the world, Some had abilities that were far more mysterious and powerful than the majority, and for that they were feared. The reason was simple, their power, unlike those around them, was nearly identical to the magical characteristics of the most powerful of monsters. Beings humans had been fighting against since time immemorial, creatures that would send thousands to their grave, the very definition of the word 'monster'. That was what those 'blessings' mirrored.

Those who were deemed monsters in human flesh, such as myself, were branded as 'cursed', and I myself had not one, not two, but three 'blessings'. Some 'blessings' those turned out to be.

The difference between a blessing and a curse is as thin as paper. Two sides of the same coin, really. It's like how some people can see a miracle, while others see the same thing and see it as a horrifying curse. I learned that little fact of life pretty fast. Don't feel bad for me though, I am quite the magnificent bastard if I do say so myself. I am most certainly no innocent snowflake. In fact the best way I can possibly depict the very reason I, and all those like me, are feared is the very situation I am in right now. Haha, I'll finish writing about today later.

-Callahan Nyx, Year: New Era 861-

…..

Somehow it's refreshing writing down my thoughts and feelings every once in a while. I slammed the worn leather diary that I was writing in shut, stuffing it in the large sack that was lying by my feet. Pulling the drawstrings on the large rucksack, I sealed the bag and threw it over my shoulder. I stood up from where I had been sitting and began walking down a narrow dirt path. Trees and dense foliage surrounded the path as far as one's eyes could see, which was not very far. The forest was so dense and thick, that if I looked off the path I could see only about twenty feet into the woodlands. It was like the numbers of an endless army, where no matter how many or how much you cut down, there will always be more with no end, an unceasing tide. The Forest instilled such a powerful, unconquerable feeling that seemed to symbolize nature's defiant attitude towards the will of man. An awe-inspiring thing.

Though I could not see clearly, not long after I continued walking, two, no three shadows, were moving just barely out my line of sight. They began to slowly surround me like wolves. Though judging by the creaking and clanking of armor, this pack, that was slowly encircling me, were of the two-legged variety.

The path I was on, was one of the few paths that cut through Dragon-ridge Forest, one of the world's darkest, densest, and most dangerous woodlands. Despite its characteristics, this path, that seemed as though the forest would swallow it at any time, was the only route that crossed the border between the Kingdom of Gandole and the Ascret Republic. It was very well traveled.

The entire forest was infested with monsters, from large Silver Wolves, to even Dragons and Drakes, the woodlands were filled to the brim with ferocious vitality. That wasn't what made the journey dangerous however. What made this particular route contend with the most dangerous patches of forest in the world was that this was bandit country. Very heavily contested bandit country. The reason for this was simple, merchants from either the Kingdom of Gandole or the Ascret Republic would have no choice but to come this way. Such was the reason I was now facing three bandits at once. I looked like a soft target, oh how wrong they were.

The group gradually showed their ugly, mud-caked mugs as they closed in on me. 'They had to be nothing more than a bunch of penniless street rats who got a hold of pointy sticks', I concluded when I got a better look at them. Only one of them was wearing armor, and it was tattered leather armor at that, the other two wore filthy dirt colored clothes instead. Only the guy with armor had a sword to, the others just had rusty spears.

Only the guy with armor stepped onto the path. With a smug smile he puffed out his chest and haughtily declared, "Drop yer valuables if you wanna live. A lone traveler like you is quite defenseless ya know. Nobody'll even find yer body."

"If you walk away now, you can still live", to the bandits words I smiled and said those words coldly. The bandit hesitated a moment before shouting.

"SO YA REFUSE! KILL EM' "

"Ha… 'Kill Yourselves.'" In an instance, as if having a sudden change of heart, the bandits, about to go in for the kill, stopped in their tracks. With a silent and eerie demeanor they raised their weapons to their necks, and slit their own throats.

Three bodies fell, and I continued on my journey down the narrow dirt path. Onward towards the Ascret Republic.

…..

The power of suggestion, a truly terrifying ability. The official name for this curse was 'The Siren God's Howl', an ability only the greatest of Sirens and hypnotic monsters possessed. It was a unique and fascinating ability, in that one could never force someone to do something, only suggest. It affected a targets emotions and psychological responses, in order to achieve the desired result of the verbal command. For example if I asked a random person to give me something to eat, they would feel good will towards me, and want to aid me from the goodness from the deepest depths of their heart. For example, if I asked someone to kill them self they would feel immeasurable depression, sadness, and anger at the world, resulting in them promptly ending their life. Truly this was a power only a monster could posses. The worst part about this ability is that I can never speak normally; every word is coated in this blasted power.

Throughout the day I demonstrated this ability nearly two dozen times, resulting in hundred of deaths. Such was to be expected though. When the sun began setting and the woods became dark, and as the trees stretched endlessly long shadow upon the ground, I found a suitable place to sleep. It was a cave not far from the path that was a bandit nest I recently...liberated,

It wasn't very deep, nor was it very wide, but it was large enough for me to start a fire safely within. I had nothing to worry about as I slowly undressed my outerwear to warm by the fire. No monster would ever approach me in my sleep without me knowing because of my second ability "Aura of Absolute Desolation', an ability that made beasts and monsters fear my presence instinctively. Of course this only applied to those that were not of the high intelligence category. Humans and those creatures that were of a similar intelligence, would feel at most chills and goosebumps, unless of course they met my line of sight. Then I could scare anything out their wits, though I usually covered my eyes by wearing a cloak with a a very deep cowl. So if I tried to canoodle with someone I would most likely lose my date then and there...if they weren't turned off by the ghost like aura and the fact I wouldn't speak that is.

Thinking back to today I could have used my eyes to scare away bandits, but as of right now I'm running from the authorities of the Kingdom of Gandole, so I would prefer to leave little to no evidence if possible.

After a short dinner of dried meat and water I rested my head on the clothes laid out by the fire, using them as a pillow of sorts as I slowly dozed off into the night.