Chapter 5: Reckoning

Moments later, the three assassins found the cave that Aethern mentioned. It was a cave underground and the entrance was indeed surrounded with blue flowers. The three proceeded to investigate the entrance. They cautiously walked inside.

Bison: "Ivy, you feel any vibrations on the ground other than ours? Are there any hostile monsters?"

Ivy: "None, it seems quiet, it's strange."

Killer: "Master Aethern seems pissed off when he saw that woman. Do you think she's linked with our clan?"

Bison: "I don't know. Maybe she was part of the clan long before we joined. Only Master Aethern knows. Let's get this over with and go back to the manor. I'm famished."

Ivy: "Wait, I see something."

Ivy's vision is 10x clearer than that of a normal human being. She can see in the dark easily because of her heightened senses. She saw a monster in the end of the cave.

Ivy: "A monster... In the end of the cave."

Bison: "Must be the alpha. Don't let your guard down."

The three assassins continue to walk at the end of the cave. There they saw the monster they were after. Dead and lifeless. The alpha monster is like a blob with a body of a man with no face. Its lower body is mangled and crushed. The arms are cut off and its chest has a gaping hole in it. They were too late. Someone killed the alpha before they could get to it. But who? And who would have the power to easily kill the monster.

Bison: "Damn. Someone got to it first. They also took the core. This is bad. Master Aethern won't be happy when he finds out about this. Only one alpha spawns in one hundred years."

Killer: "Then we'll have to wait for another hundred? Hahaha! It's a shame. I thought I'd be the one to kill this monster."

Ivy: "That core, that's where the power of the monster is located right? A condensed ball of concentrated energy."

Bison: "Yeah. We got nothing else to do here. Let's go back and report this to the master."

The three assassins walked back to the entrance of the cave and travelled back to their headquarters. Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the forest, an old man is seen sitting beside a campfire and a log. Beside him also is Crowa, bandaged and lying down on the ground with a flat stone supporting his head. He seems to be asleep and groaning.

"Crowa... Crowa... Help me."

"I- I can't. I'm helpless. I'm weak. I can't even swing a sword properly. I'm useless"

"Father, Mother. Please... Please don't go... No, no, no!"

GASP!

He woke up and suddenly got up; he reached out in front of him as if grabbing something. He was sweating profusely and gasping for air. He looks around and stares down. He realized he was missing his right arm as it got sliced off by Athern. He looked at the old man beside him and he stood up. The old man was wearing a black vest and leather armor. His hair is brown. He also has a full beard on his face with a scar on his left eye.

"I'd lie down more if I were you. Your wounds are not shallow you know."

Crowa: "Where are we?"

"The Paleco forest."

Crowa sat down again and felt pain on his right shoulder. The bandage turned slightly red as he was moving.

"You do realize you just lost an arm, right? Stop moving and get back to sleep."

Crowa: "Old man, you saved me. Because of you I'm alive. By the way, who are you?"

"Zeek."

Crowa: " Zeek... The village, what happened to the village? Father! I just remembered! I need to make him a proper burial. I have-"

Zeek: "Don't worry about that. I already buried him. You were out for a day and a half. I can't just leave your father there."

Crowa: "Thank you, Zeek. You have already done more than enough for me. I don't know how to repay you. Where is my father buried?"

Zeek: "Near here, beside a cliff surrounded by bamboos.

Crowa: "I'd like to pay him a visit now and pay my respects. By the way, how can I repay you for all of this?"

Zeek: "Sure kid. About how you can repay me, we'll talk there when we arrive. Make sure to move slowly so that your wounds won't open up."

They walked towards the location of the grave. In Crowa's mind, should I trust this man? Of course, I should. After all, he was the one who saved me. He was also the one who supposedly buried my father. And mother... I swear. I will find you. Even if it takes me to the ends of the earth. I'll find you. I'll find that man who took you. I'll get stronger and get you back. I'll -

Zeek: "We're here."

Crowa saw a clearing with beautiful stout bamboos short and tall growing on the side. In front of him was his father's grave. He was stunned. It was like he just suddenly realized the truth that his father was dead. Tears rolled down on his face and he ran towards the grave. He kneeled down and cried.

Crowa: "Father! I swear. I'll avenge you... I'll find the man who killed you. I'm going to hunt him down and make him pay. I swear."

Zeek: "That's just what I needed. This makes things easier for me."

Crowa: "What?"

Zeek: "You want revenge, right? You want payback for what happened to your family. I feel you."

Crowa: "No, you don't"

Zeek: "Oh trust me, I do. You have no idea."

Crowa: "What is it you want exactly?"

Zeek: "I want you to kill Aethern."

Crowa: "Easier said than done. But that's my plan also. I'll eventually kill him. But not now. In my current strength I won't be able to even lay a finger on him. I might as well die now if I'm going to charge at him."

Zeek: "That's where I come in. I'll train you. But hear this, it won't be easy. There are times that you will want to give up already but always remember your reason why you're doing it. What do you say?"

Crowa: "I accept. Please train me as your student. I'll do anything to kill those bastards."

Zeek: "It's settled then. You and I will help each other. I'll train you like hell and in return you kill the 13 Vindinor assassins, including Aethern."

Crowa: "Thirteen?"

Zeek: "Oh you don't know? There are a total of 12 members in the Vindinor family. Each with their own unique abilities and weapons. I'm sure you already know, but these assassins are not just your ordinary small fry. I don't need to tell you what these assassins are capable of. Once you tread this path there's no going back. Are you sure?"

Crowa: "I am. All I got is this. I don't have any choice. I don't even know what I'll do in the coming days. But that reminds me, how can you train me? I only have one arm I'm basically half useless now."

Zeek: "I have just the thing for that."

Zeek reaches out in his vest and grabbed a red sphere. He showed it to Crowa.

Crowa: "What's that?"

Zeek: "It's the alpha's core. I killed it."

Crowa: "You killed the alpha?"

Zeek: "It was a tough monster, but I managed to kill it.

Crowa: "How can that sphere exactly help me anyway?"

Zeek: "I have a brother in Merioll. He's quite the inventor. We'll travel there and show him this. I'm sure he can make a prosthetic arm for you. You ready? Oh, that reminds me, I didn't quite catch your name."

Crowa: " It's Crowa"

Zeek: "Crowa. Nice to meet ya. There's a long road ahead of us. We might as well start now."

Crowa paid his respects to his father one last time and eventually got ready to travel to Merioll, the capital city.