Emma

It was a sunny day, the weather was hot enough to scald a lizard, hotter than a stolen tamale. As the day wore on, humid, sweat, drenching, oppressive heat. Even the trees were looking for shade. The oceans refused to hug the shoreline because of the heat. Vesnar* songs were being sung just for the memories and the wishes of being cold. The cornfields looked as it had snowed, so hot the corn popped on the ear. The lakes had boiled away yesterday, the locusts were begging for respite. Death Valley is cooler than it is here at night. No clouds in the sky. Everyone complained at the Saracen's head as they found it the only refuge possible left to escape the sunburns. It was the most famous tavern in Landnor. While the people were cursing Miva* and the sun, a young man was sitting calmly as he was drinking his last cup of beer peacefully. He was wearing a black coat and had a birthmark on his right hand.

" Damn, Miva is blessing us today, too many blessings for this hell, right Marbas? "

" Hein ? I guess so Mr. Benet "

" You don't talk too much right? Time passed quickly I still remember your voices running from me after stealing food. You were some nasty little thieves but I loved you anyway! You were just unlucky and innocent orphans"

" Those were some nice memories indeed! "

" Are the others doing well? "

" Well, I lost contact with them for years "

" I truly hope they're doing okay. And you too Marbas you're always welcomed here! "

" Yeah, I hope so, and thank you "

Suddenly a big guy with an annoying voice pushed Marbas while screaming at the tavern owner:

" HEY, OLD MAN! GIVE ME TWO CUPS OF BEER, I WANT THEM SO COLD "

It was the most famous bandit's chief in Ofsida, William the huge. He was arrogant, a man with no honor. His hands were huge, they can crush any neck so easily. He wasn't well mannered as he lived his childhood as a bastard, joining gangs and escalating scales, raping and assaulting, stealing and murdering until he becomes his own's boss.

" HURRY UP OLD MAN, GIVE ME YOUR SHITTY BEER BECAUSE I'M DONE WAITING "

Marbas hated this kind of people, this guy deserves dying but not right now.

" WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOOL? "

Marbas replied with a famous citation he loved: " Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences ."

Will had a rage, he grabbed the boy by his massive hands and carried him to the air, and whispered to his ears: " LISTEN SMARTASS, I THINK YOU WERE MISTAKING ME TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL I AM. I'M GONNA TEAR THAT LONG TONGUE OF YOURS IF YOU SPEAK ANOTHER WORD, UNDERSTOOD WHORIE? "

Mr.Benet interfered :

" No please Will, not at my place! "

" SHUT YOUR MOUTH OLD MAN. HE'S LUCKY I'M IN A GOOD MOOD, BUT IT CAN CHANGE WHETHER HE WANT IT OR NOT, IT'S UP TO HIM. GO AHEAD SLATTERN, SPILL SOMETHING FROM THAT DIRTY MOUTH SO I CAN BREAK IT "

Mr. Benet looked at Marbas, it's like he was telling him to not go into trouble for his sake, for the sake of the tavern :

Marbas remained confident and calm.

" THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, YOU'RE JUST A SNATCH. PISS OF AND DON'T COME BACK OR ELSE THERE WILL BE SOME BAD CONSEQUENCES! "

" Marbas please leave! I don't want to see you again in my place! "

Marbas remained silent as he was leaving the place.

" MARBAS! OVER HERE! "

Five kids waved at him as they were playing with swords close to the church.

" Hey what's up! Long time no seen Tristan, Gareth, Perceval, Gwein, and Lamorak. Where are the others? "

" They have history classes! Master would you mind joining us. It's you who taught us sword skills after all! "

" I would like too but I should talk to Robert "

Bishop Robert was one of the important people in the circle, responsible for Landnor recruiting. His church is in Ofsida, the biggest city in Landnor. He's a man of power and a mentor for young Marbas. He tricks people with his fake innocent and angelic look as he was so charming. But deep down he was a cruel monster who sends innocent children to Pruinae. The city of the military service of the circle. He recruits orphans with specific requirements as they brainwash them to become murderers and soldiers.

Marbas always hated him as he've seen through his disguise

" What do you have for me, Robert? "

" Oh, my sweet child, my precious Marbas, my genius work of art! Congratulations on getting your last mission as a circle prodigy! "

" I don't have time for chitchat Robert! Get to the point! "

" Where are your manners boy? Or did you forgot I was your mentor? "

Marbas grabbed his red dagger, in a brief moment where an ordinary eye could never catch it he pushed the bishop into the wall :

" Listen, you bastard! I've always seen your truth. I know you're the most heartless man, sending innocent children to that hell and selling your girls rapists. You're lucky the circle still needs you or else I swear by all what is divine that I'll be glad to stitch this dagger to your hearth "

" Okey, okay just let go of me!"

Marbas have let go of the bishop but he was still cautious.

" There's a carriage passing at night by the woods, it belongs to Lord Weinberg. He is traveling to Capudinem with his wife and his only daughter Aerith Weinberg. Your mission is to bring Aerith alive to the church, don't save her parents, because the circle needs the girl. only. Understood Marbas? "

Marbas turned his back to the bishop as he was leaving.

" YOU DEAR TURN YOUR BACK ON ME BASTARD! YES, YOU'RE A BASTARD. THE BASTARD OF THAT GUY HABORYN, THAT'S WHY YOU WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HIM. DO YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU? "

Still, Marbas never responded and left with no reaction to the bishop's saying.

" Big brother you're leaving already! Please stay with us, just a little!"

" I wish I can strong men but I think you can handle yourself because you're my subordinates after all. Lamorak can I trust you to take care of your brothers. Take this it's a shining stone if you ever need my help just break it okay? "

" nooooo " the kids were deceived as their big brother will leave them again.

" Don't be so upset your big brother must kick some ass! Say Hi for me to the rest of the children! "

" May the gods be ever in your favor big brother ! "

(Gods, hmm. I doubt they ever existed)

The promised night came. However, something was strange: everything was calm, no sign of bandits or Emma. All Marbas saw was some blood stains.

" Oh no, fuck! I'm late! "

He followed the bloodstains through the woods and infiltrated like a silent shadow but what he found was unexpected. It was a massacre! The two parents were dead but there were multiple bandit corpses next to theirs. He found Will's huge corpse laying on the ground and his cock was cut. There was some horror in his facial expressions, it's like he faced a demon before his death. Marbas sat on the ground gazing at the dead body, and repeated the same citation: " Soon or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences "

He added :

" Oh, destiny, Karma, you keep surprising me day after day! "

Marbas always loved philosophy books and poems. For him, finding the meaning of life was a way to find his lost memories. The more he knew about the fabric of the universe's system the more he was able to solve the human brain problem. Marbas sees the world as a cosmic massive brain with an equal blast of energies.

Suddenly, he was terrified as he saw a strange figure with a long white robe and a goat mask staring at him, it suddenly disappeared. What was confusing is that he couldn't sense any aura. Marbas starts doubting his sensory abilities, he began overthinking and analyzing. He snapped out of his confusion as soon as he heard a girl's crying voice. This voice made him wake up from his delusion or was it really a delusion?

He decided to follow the sound, a young girl full of blood having a trauma with a knife on her hand. She was trembling with fear. Marbas finally realized the situation, she slaughtered everyone!

No wonder why the circle wanted her.

He took his coat off and gave it to as it was definitely a breezing cold. When the girl started to calm down he whispered at her ear with his gentle voice saying: " This coat will turn you into a brave and a strong woman "

The girl became speechless, she saw him yet she felt very familiar.

He had her same dark aura surrounding him, no, maybe his powers are far greater and scarier than hers. She then began speaking:

" Aren't you afraid of me? Look at my face, it's a monster's face, I am a monster who killed these men"

She showed him her left side, her left eye was very dark with a red pupil, her left side of her mouth was wide, and had monstrous teeth. She also had a very long golden horn in her head. It's like her left side was not hers at all, it was someone else's, a monster.

However, Marbas never flinched or shook. He wasn't scared from her, instead, he smiled and replied :

" Each one of us has a monstrous side. It's a question of whether we overcome it or not "

The girl blushed :

" So you don't think I'm an ugly monster? "

Marbas replied :

" No "

The girl suddenly caught feelings for that strange guy, he was very charming and gentle, she starts admiring all of his dimensions, his wavy dark hair, his beautiful emerald eyes, he was the incarnation of a living moon that keeps shining all of this darkness. She saw hope in that guy.

It's very normal, she spent her whole childhood scared of her dark secret, and she was feared by everyone who saw her true nature except for this guy. He accepted her with her true self.

She then saw her parent's corpses and had a burst of cry.

" They killed them! They tried to rape me! "

He then hugged her tightly :

" And they got what they deserved! Let's leave for now! "

He carried her in his arms, she could've smelled his manly sweet scent. She swore she will never forget it or forget her charming prince. Her eyes widened, and her heart was beating fast.

" What's wrong my lady? "

She remained silent for two seconds and then he saw tears coming from her grey eyes, but this time they were coming with a gentle and innocent smile.

" Thank you! "

He smile back at her and he continued carrying her to the church.

After they got to church, and before that he'll leave to Pruinae to give a report for his mission. He looked at her with his shimmering green eyes and said with a serious tone:

" Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what does inside of us while we live. Never lose yourself Aerith! "

Apart from that day he never heard anything from her as he was busy completing his training in Pruinae to become a circle's elite soldier.

Two years have passed, a new member was presented to the circle.

Her name was

Emma.

(Oh, it's her, it's the same aura, she has a different look though. )

Marbas wasn't so surprised as he saw this coming

She suddenly approached him and whispered in his ear:

" Long time no see my dear charming prince. Miss me already ? "

Index:

*Vesnar: God of Snow and Ice in Nuabya's mythology

*Miva: goddess of flames and sun in Nuabya's mythology