The Hunted

It was dark and murky. The night was filled with dimming stars showing the end of their life span, and the usual purple moon of Argatha was tinted with a hint of violet hue.

.In the dark of night, Under the light of the purple, violet moon,in a dark corner of an alley, an unknown group of people gathered, although amongst them one was in labor.

 "Arthia! "You have to hold on; we can't expose our tracks!" One of the men said it with a sense of urgency in his voice. "Can't you see she's in pain? She can't hold it in," the woman beside Arthia said in defense.

"II agree she has to give birth to the child before we can continue; look at the sky; five dying stars are aligning; it's a phenomenon. If the other party has an astrologer, which they definitely do, they would be able to deduce the source, which is most likely the unborn calamity." The elder among them spoke.

All of them glanced at each other as if coming to the same conclusion: they carried the lady in labor and continued on their journey; after all, they were on the run in the first place.

A few moments later, they arrived at a forest, The trees, unlike the usual vibrant shade of green, were most witheringly laced with a gloomy shade of black. the forest called the lightless region, a place where children and creatures of darkness lurked.

"We will split ways here; at least it will give the miss time," said one of the men. They looked at each other with resolve and ran in different directions of the forest, leaving only the two women and the elder.

"I'll take us somewhere safe," said the elder. He then raised his walking stick, stomping it back on the ground. They all vanished. Seeing them again, they speared in a dark cave. "Elder! Are you sure this is safe?" Right in front of them were rows of sleeping cardiac bats, and they all seemed like evolved demon monsters, so she couldn't help but ask in fear.

"Don't worry, this forest is populated with the children of darkness; they all have to bow to the lightless star. Just carry on," the elder responded with an assuring smile.

Meanwhile, at the border of the forest, another group of people came. "They are in the forest, but once we step inside, I won't be able to read the stars from the inside; after all, this is the lightless region," said a handsome middle-aged looking man. He was glamorously dressed; it was as though his garment was weaved from stars; well, actually they were. He was called Nordvic, and he was known as one of the few astrologers on the continent of Argatha. This time he was helping the Bane family track some Noble demons.

He continued, "But once you're inside, you can track the one you're looking for with an item, but it comes with a price."

"And the price?" asked the leader of the team warily. "It's nothing, actually; you're young master just has to use his fate to power it," Nordvic said as his eyes gleamed cunningly. The man from the Bane family scowled and retorted immediately, "Impossible! "How dare you?" before he could finish his speech, he was cut off halfway. "Give me the item," the young master of the Bane family said suddenly.

The Bane family is one of the six sacred families in the kingdom of Norgia. Located at the north end of the Argatha continent, it was in the domain of humans called the pastures. They were one of the sacred forces of the kingdom of Norgia.

A few days ago, the astrologer of the Bane family predicted that a being of calamity was going to be born. This news sent tremors through out the whole family. Immediately after the astrologer died of a calamity, it was to be expected that was the consequence of divining a calamity. That was one of the few reasons why there were few astrologers in the whole continent.

While the Bane family was contemplating what to do, one of the young Masters of the Bane family, Simon Bane, the fifth son of the Bane patriach, stole the shattered pieces of the soul wheel of the astrologer of the Bane family. He then hired Nordvic to find the family in which a calamity was to be born. Nordvic traced the prophecy to the family of Noble demons, and that was when the chase started.

You see, Simon, when he was little, once came across a fortune-telling encounter. It was an inheritance that allowed him to steal the fate of others. It was a very powerful inheritance, but it had its requirements, and that was that it could only devour king-level fate and above. Simon himself was born with a Duke's fate, so when he heard about a calamity-level being about to be born, it was inevitably attractive to him. He had to get the fate of a calamity at all costs.

So when he heard Nordvic talking about the item, he agreed because he didn't care if it took fate in return; as long as he could find the child of calamity, he would have the fate of a calamity.

Nordvic was surprised after all; what was this young lad searching for that was worth trading his fate for? He didn't care anyways; after all, even if Simon refused the offer, he would have persuaded him at all costs to take the item. After all, Simon wasn't the only one with secrets; he had his mission too. He smiled ominously and replied, "Okay, young master." He handed the item to Simon; it was a golden compass.

"Are you sure you're not? You've not omitted any detail." As Simon collected the item, he said suspiciously, "Because if anything happens to me, the Bane family will hold you responsible."

"You don't have to worry, young master; it's not in my interest to harm you." Nordvic smiled as he said, "Then how much does the item cost?" Simon asked,

Nordvic replied "Using the item is payment enough for me" They stared at each other for some seconds, then Simon said "Then you can leave; you will get your payment as soon as I leave this region" Nordvic smiled, ignoring the hidden meaning behind Simon's words "As you wish ".

Simon and his crew departed into the forest, leaving two guards at the entrance.

 ' What a funny cub using my payment as insurance for his safety! Don't worry, boy, you will be safe as long as you get rid of the stargazer for me," Nordvic thought to himself as he left.

(A/N: Guys, this is my first time writing a novel, so I will really appreciate it if you correct me and encourage me as the story goes on. Thank you.)