Dark Bargain

Karyan's skin prickled with an icy shiver, "what?" He replied as he turned around. 

"I asked where you come from?" Theron repeated himself, slowly. 

"I told you, I came from the nort- '' Karyan was cut. 

"Kid, if I wanted to listen to fairy tales, I would go to the forest. Villagers might be dumb, but I'm not. Tell me where you came from and why?" 

"Or what? You're going to kill me if I don't tell you?" 

Theron grabbed the ax that was placed on the wall, the blade looked so shiny and sharp that it could easily cut through Karyan's skin. 

"No, but I might have some work for you, kid." 

"Work?" 

"Are you sure you're the sorcerer?" 

Karyan glanced at the door, in case for a quick escape, "yes." He replied with a confident tone. 

"Prove it to me…" 

Back home, if Karyan would ever try a trick like this, his head would've been flying in seconds, "sure, if you need proof." 

He closed his eyes, 'Lanta…borrow me your power…' 

'No!' Her voice was strict.

'Just this one time, please.' 

'No!'

'I will not ask again,' Karyan demanded. 

He was getting tired of being treated like a child, and soon enough; he will be taking Lanta's position, so there was no reason for her to act so stubborn. 

'Just this time…'

As Karyan concentrated, a strange sensation overcame him. It was as if his veins were filled with molten fire, a searing pain coursing through his entire body. 

His skin began to shimmer and change color, taking on an otherworldly hue. His eyes, once a deep red, transformed into a bright, golden glow reminiscent of a serpent's gaze. 

His hair darkened, turning a vivid shade of forest green, as if infused with the essence of nature itself.

With great effort, Karyan opened his eyes and turned to Theron. "See?" he said, the word resonating with a power that seemed to emanate from his very being.

The man nodded and said, "Wow, you really are a sorcerer, but can you kill demons?"

Karyan stepped back, feeling a sense of unease. 

He had never killed a demon before and had never even dealt with one. "Why?" he asked, his voice shaking a little.

Theron tightened his grip on his ax, his eyes filled with desperation. "Because demons stole my daughter. I want her back. And in return, I would pay you a lot of gold."

The thought of the gold was tempting, but Karyan's thoughts were elsewhere. 

His main goal was to find a sorcerer who worked with demons, not to kill them. 

If he started killing them and gained a reputation for it, no sorcerer who had sacrificed their soul to demons would help him find more information about the mind control element.

"No. I have no time for this," Karyan said, shaking his head.

"Even if I'd let you stay here rent-free?" Theron tried to intrigue, hoping to appeal to Karyan's needs.

"Even if you let me stay here for free..." Karyan's voice trailed off as he considered his options.

Theron's offer was tempting, especially since Karyan knew he would be struggling to find a place to stay later on. 

But the thought of hunting and killing demons troubled him deeply. 

"I can't," Karyan finally replied, his tone was regretful. "I can't bring myself to do it."

Theron's expression darkened, disappointment evident in his eyes. "I see," he said, his voice heavy, "I was hoping you could help me."

 "I'm sorry, but I can't do it. However, if you need help with anything else, I'm willing to offer my assistance."

Theron looked at Karyan for a long moment, considering his words. "I understand," he finally said, his voice softer now. "Thank you for being honest with me. I'll have to find another way to save my daughter."

As Karyan turned to go inside, he couldn't shake the feeling of missed opportunity and the weight of Theron's desperation. 

He knew he had made the right choice, but it didn't make it any easier to walk away from the promise of a free shelter. 

But then, Karyan turned back to Theron, his curiosity got the better of him. "Why did the demon attack you and steal your daughter?" he asked, his tone sounded with genuine concern.

Theron let out a heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "It's all because of the evil sorcerers here. They have been performing dark rituals and making sacrifices to gain power from the demons. They've unleashed these creatures upon our village, and now innocent people like my daughter are suffering because of it."

Karyan's eyes widened in shock. "Evil sorcerers? Sacrifices? That's terrible."

Theron nodded grimly. "Yes, it is. And it's not just my daughter who has been taken. Many others in the village have suffered at the hands of these demons. I've been trying to find someone who can help me put an end to this madness, and that's when I heard about you."

Karyan felt a pang of sympathy for Theron and the villagers, but something here was still missing.

'If the demons were attacking this village so often, like he claimed, why were they all so happy?'

"I see," Karyan said loudly. 

Theron looked at Karyan with surprise. 

Even if he just told him the tragedy of his family, this young sorcerer wasn't going to help him. 

"It will be three golden coins for one week."