Night Raven


    The sun poured rays through the holes in the run-down shack as day broke upon the town. Seshwan was already awake seated cross-legged on his bed. Energy flowed around his body as he chanted the phrase of [Tectonic shell] he had memorized. His essence was nearing the next stage. He needed only a few more days to make a breakthrough with his earth essence. He had nearly grasped level four of the apprentice stage. In another few days, he could consolidate his energy and begin the push forward to the journeyman''s stage. As he trained he could faintly hear robins chirping in his room, ''What a lovely sound'' He thought. His mind entered a serene state.


    The peaceful morning was quickly thrown into chaos when a loud crash came from the inn''s main hall.


    "By the gods, what now?" Seshwan sighed. Walking over to the door he could hear Vanessa shouting something indecipherable.


    In the main room, Xerxes sat sunk deep into meditation as red lightning arched down from his shoulders to his fingers constantly, oblivious to the world around him.


    Vanessa was digging through the old dry, rotten cupboard, throwing pans and pots onto the floor as Seshwan entered.


    "Really!? It’s the crack of dawn. What could you be fighting about?" Seshwan asked as he walked out of his room.


    Xerxes opened his eyes, "We aren''t fighting, Mom."


    "Oh, you''re sarcastic as ever, big surprise." Seshwan quipped. "Vanessa, what the hell’s going on?"


    Vanessa stood by rummaging through the cupboards near the floor. Knife in a reverse grip. "Oh, ugh… nothing’s going on."


    Xerxes stood up and walked over to the wall. "She saw a mouse and freaked out."


    Seshwan was speechless as his gaze fell on Vanessa. ''She''s a killer, who''s scared of mice? What in the realms have I gotten myself into with this group?’ Seshwan thought as he stared in disbelief.


    "I can explain."


    Xerxes chuckled. "Yes, please do."


    "Ok, so I got up to make breakfast because you were both meditating. As I was looking for spices in this cupboard I met a rat. Like an inch from my face! It was big! Like the size of a dog, I swear! And the essence energy this thing had! It was at least an expert stage. At least." Vanessa explained trying to recall the exact details.


    Seshwan''s confused face became even more puzzled as he tried to fathom exactly what Vanessa was talking about.


    Xerxes snickered off? to the side, unable to contain himself.


    "So you''re telling me, and let’s make sure I heard you right. A giant rat with expert level cultivation is somewhere in this kitchen?" Seshwan finally asked.


    "Yes!"


    "I think you need to sleep more Vanessa, that’s crazy talk."


    "Fuck you both! I know what I saw."


    Within moments a massive black rat the size of a dog came trotting up the cellar stairs.


    "What in the void is that!?" Xerxes shouted as he jumped onto a nearby chair.


    Clyve, who had still been sleeping, was woken up by the noise and rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Chester, come here boy."


    The rat sauntered over the Clive''s side and laid down next to the small boy.


    "Nope, nope! I''m done. Seshwan, Xerxes, we''re leaving right now." Vanessa said, shaking her head as she collected her gear.


    "Wait. That’s Chester?" Xerxes asked with a surprised expression.


    Clyve sat up and began scratching the rat''s stomach. "Yeah, he''s gotten really big."


    Xerxes recalled the small familiar from his childhood, it had belonged to his father. Though years ago, the now monstrous rodent could have fit in a small pocket in his jacket.


    "Xerxes, you know what that is?"


    "That’s a Demonic Swamp rat. They normally don’t grow this big ‘cause they are hunted by the demon tribes. This guy was a pet my dad kept when I was a kid in the tribe. Back then he was no bigger than a pocket watch." Xerxes explained.


    "I fed him lots of good food now he keeps me company," Clyve said as he patted Chester''s head.


    Vanessa was standing next to the door keeping her distance. "I''m not going near it, it’s a beast that could kill all of us. Let’s goooooo."


    "Stop whining. My god, woman. I at least feel better leaving Clyve here if he has Chester to protect him." Xerxes said.


    "Then let’s get a move on. The caravans will be leaving for Lynwood soon, thank you for having us Clyve. It was a pleasure meeting you." Seshwan said, as he collected his equipment and packed his bags.


    "Ok, little man. You take good care of yourself. Steal only what you need. The guild will make sure the guards leave you alone." Xerxes said.


    "You too Big Brother. I’ll see you next time. Don’t be gone too long." Clyve said, more awake now.


    The two brothers exchanged farewells. Clyve gave Xerxes a hug around the waist and wished the group a safe journey as they set off for the Northern gate of the city.


    The Northern Gate of Night Raven


    The party walked along the already bustling streets. With sufficient rest and newfound resolve, Seshwan and the party were ready to set out for their next destination; Lynnwood.


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    "Xerxes when we arrive, I''ll be going to talk to the merchant’s guild representative to sign on as guards. You and Vanessa should network with others in the market nearby. Perhaps even do recon and investigative work about the area. Anything could be useful." Seshwan said, leading the others along the path toward the North side market.


    "I understand," Xerxes replied.


    "Seshwan, what will we do with our horse and cart if we sign on with this caravan?" Vanessa asked.


    "I''ve marked it with the guild''s insignia and left it in the care of the stable master. A member of the guild who''s going back that way will return it. If no one claims it, he will sell it to someone else and the money will cover the stable fees. No need to worry about it." Seshwan explained.


    Once the group arrived at the market, each went to their respective jobs. Seshwan arrived at a large structure built of molded earth and stone. The walls appeared smooth as glass, yet had an earth tone hue. Compared to the other shops and structures in the area, this one stood out. Much like the other merchant’s guilds across the continent, this building had a decidedly unique look to it.


    The mixture of old techniques and new modern techniques that were seen as bizarre by some, were graciously employed by these merchant lords as they desired to have the most outstanding shops. Compared to other guild halls in Scarlet Cove, or any other city, this hall seemed plain yet impressive, with its flat walls and perfectly square glass windows.


    ''Is this even the right place?'' Seshwan thought as he entered the door.


    Within the hall there were scores of merchants pouring over texts, bills, receipts and maps. This guild was far more stern than Black Lotus or even White Dragon*. The layout of the hall seemed to be rather standard as well. With a quick scan of the room, Seshwan easily located the guild services desk, a banker, and many high ranked merchants.


    ''I bet there''s a lot of denarii on these guys. Oh, and there''s a vault in this building. What kind of treasures would they store there?'' Seshwan thought? as he looked around the room. ''No, you’re here for work not to steal. I''ve been around Walter and Xerxes too? long.'' Seshwan shook the thoughts from his mind.


    A young woman approached him from the guild services desk.


    "Excuse me, mister? Do you need something?" she asked while looking toward the floor.


    The moment she approached Seshwan, she lowered her head; he could not get a clear look at her face through her long dark hair that draped over her face while her head was lower. She was much shorter than him which also contributed to masking her appearance.


    "You may be able to help me. My party is looking to sign on with a caravan headed for Lynwood." Seshwan said


    "Lynwood?" the girl questioned, as if shocked.


    "Yes it’s the next town toward Bivio, and the shortest distance to travel without adding a week to our journey," Seshwan explained.


    The young girl raised her head, meeting Seshwan''s gaze with her own. She was no older then fourteen, her skin was pearl white and flawless, though the reason she had lowered her head was clear when she looked up. Her right eye had a fresh ''X'' shaped scar across it and three marks below the bottom eyelid.


    Seshwan was taken aback by the marking.


    "I''m sorry sir, I forgot, I''m not supposed to work without my eye patch," she said while covering her eye.


    ''She''s ashamed about the mark. I guess that would be why she''s hiding it. From the look of it, that’s a new scar.'' Seshwan thought. He couldn’t help but frown.


    "Miss, why are you concerned with Lynwood?"


    “The city was taken over by several bandit groups not too long ago. There is currently no law in the city but trade has not stopped." she quietly said.


    "Miss, I''m sure my party can handle themselves; we''re all fairly capable."


    "Well alright, then sir. I''ll have you fill out the forms. A caravan is scheduled to leave later today for Lynwood."


    She led Seshwan to a wooden desk and handed him a travel guard form.


    "This is a standard travel forum saying the guild is not responsible for any parties who sign on as guards. We cannot compensate for losses, damages, or dismemberment. Lastly, the bottom section is for payment. It details the amount of denarii the party will be paid. I''ll fill that part in, once you''ve told me about your party. The more members, the less money the guild will give you, to prevent a large guild from abusing our payment system." the clerk explained.


    "There are three of us; a rogue, an archer and myself, a guardian knight."


    "And what''s your average cultivation level?"


    "Two of us are pinnacle apprentice stage, the other is either the same or just stepped into the journeyman stage."


    "Alright, the guild will offer you and your party one thousand denarii to escort the trader to Lynwood, do you accept?"


    "Yes!" Seshwan said as he signed the contract.


    "Then the contract is all set… wait, in the information section you left guild affiliation blank? Understand we need you to be affiliated with a guild to ensure you’re not thieves or bandits."


    ''Shit, I can’t write Black Lotus. Damn,'' Seshwan thought.


    An idea crossed his mind as he considered his options.


    "Miss, could I register a guild in this town?"


    "You can indeed, our guild also handles guild registration."


    "Then I shall return, once I''ve talked it over with my party." Seshwan said, "You know miss, I never got your name."


    "Oh, I''m so sorry. I''m Diana Est, clerk of the merchant guild Midland Traders." Diana answered.


    “Well, Miss Est I shall return.”


    In the market Seshwan wondered, thinking about the possibility of starting a guild for small contract work like escorting. Though the decision was not for him to make, he had to have the input of Xerxes and Vanessa.


    Unfortunately, the two others were nowhere to be found in the market.


    A loud crash, resounded from further in the market, breaking Seshwan’s concentration. Up ahead a cloud of dust rose as a stall collapsed. Xerxes stood up out of the debris and stumbled as he attempted to gain his footing.


    ‘What in the heaven realm is he doing? Why can’t I just trust you to not cause trouble.’ Seshwan thought as he quickened his pace.


    To his surprise, Vanessa lay on the ground at Xerxes’ feet, blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. A large silhouette appeared in the dust cloud, a hulking mass of a man in heavy armour stepped into the street. Accompanied by six other men.


    “What the hell’s going on!” Seshwan shouted.


    The warm tingle of Xerxes'' communication started in Seshwan’s ear. “These guys ambushed Vanessa in an alley. They''re all bandits from Silver Moon. I’m going to wipe them all out.”


    Seshwan activated his lightning essence to reply, “Xerxes, don’t! Your demon blood being activated in the middle of town and during the day will cause you massive backlash.”


    “No choice, this guy in front of me is in the mid-journeyman stage and I can’t beat him without it.”


    “No!”


    Ignoring Seshwan’s instructions, Xerxes’ eye changed to a blood-red hue, the iris morphed into a slit demonic form. The previously white-yellow lightning that was pure and bright changed to a chaotic black-red. The temperature of the air in the city plummeted and became dense.


    The sky which had been previously clear turned black as night. The bandits looked on toward their opponent. A kid, no older than seventeen, now releasing a power on par with a Master stage essence user.


    “What the fuck is this!?”


    “There’s no way!”


    “He’s just a punk! It’s just an illusion...”


    The largest bandit stepped forward, “I’m not scared of your parlour tricks boy. Lightning essence in the apprentice stage is only good for being obnoxious. I’ll still slaughter you! Then it’s her turn.” He said, smirking at Vanessa.


    Xerxes stood motionless with his head down, “We will see who gets slaughtered,” he said as a grin spread across his face.


    “Fuck off and die kid!” the large bandit shouted, brandishing a great sword. Swinging for Xerxes’ head, the force of the blade kicked up a cloud of dust. Mid-swing, the blade stopped dead.


    As the dust settled, a figure appeared. On the other end of the blade, Xerxes held the edge of the sword between two fingers and his thumb. “You could hurt someone with this. You should be more careful.” Xerxes chuckled.


    “What is this kid?” the large man''s face twisted in terror at the scene before him.


    In an instant, Xerxes appeared face-to-face with the bandit. Gripping his throat Xerxes leaned in and whispered, “Let me show you a parlor trick.” With a wink of his demonic eye, Xerxes ripped the full-grown man’s head clean off his shoulders.


    “What the fuck!? Was that?!” The other bandits shrieked.


    Xerxes dropped the body and head to the ground licking the blood from hand.


    “This guy tastes awful” Xerxes laughed as he spat the blood to the ground. “Guess I’ll sample the rest, just in case.”


    Xerxes’ gaze fell to the other bandits. Before the bandits could react, he arrived at the next target, leaving an afterimage as he moved nearly five meters in a second. Before the poor souls could make a move, one by one, Xerxes delivered single strikes resulting in immediate deaths. In ten seconds, only one of the six remained alive.


    Blood soaked the street where some of the bandits had previously stood.


    Xerxes walked to the last survivor, lifting him off the ground and stared into his eyes, “Receive the curse.”


    “No! Please, no!” The man shrieked in terror. Tribal black bands spread across his body as Xerxes set him down and released his grip.


    “The curse I’ve placed on you guarantees death in several days. I’ve given you enough time to report to your bosses, Grackus and whoever else. After that if you want to live you must make the trip to the Demonic Forest and seek a shaman named Raoul.” Xerxes said, as he turned around and walked away.


    “You bastard! I’ll kill you!” the bandit shouted. He rushed up behind Xerxes drawing a dagger and striking Xerxes in the back.


    A metallic clang rang out as the dagger snapped off on impact with Xerxes skin.


    “I’ve given you time to live. That’s more than someone like you deserves. Till that curse takes your life or you have it purified, you will be unable to kill anyone, anything you attempt to use will be destroyed including your body. You will also be unable to die, no matter what you do to yourself your body will not die till you complete your task. You will become a ghoul that will serve me. There’s only one way out of this.” Xerxes explained further.


    “No way...” the poor man moaned.


    “Your life is mine till you complete my task. Now be gone!” Xerxes ordered.


    The bandit snapped to attention, without control over his body he fled town toward Lynwood.


    “Hey, Seshwan, that bastard from Silver Moon is in Lynwood. Let’s go kill him next.” Xerxes said. His eyes reverted to normal.


    Seshwan walked up to Xerxes, placed a hand on his shoulder and punched him in the gut.


    “I told you not to! The guards will have your head for killing in the city! Are you that dense? Or do you not care?” Seshwan scolded.


    Xerxes scanned the crowd, while he had been killing these men, the people around were shocked and scared. Guards had rushed in but had not interfered out of fear. Vanessa had collapsed from a blow to her abdomen and was currently lying on the ground out cold. The bodies and limbs of the bandits had been sent flying, damaging a few shops and littering the streets of the market with blood and corpses.


    “You cannot do as you please here. Get your shit together!” Seshwan scolded again.


    Xerxes coughed as he recovered from Seshwan’s blow. “I’m sorry,” he said. Just before he vomited out blood and collapsed to the ground. The strain on his body had caused him to pass out.


    “You knight! That demon is under arrest!” one of the guards shouted.


    “He’s one of my companions. Please don’t be rough on him.” Seshwan said as he watched Xerxes being detained.


    “You will also be taken in for questioning!” The guard shouted.


    “What no! I’m not with him, I swear!” Seshwan pleaded.


    “Come quietly sir,” the knight said with shackles in hand.


    “God, I hate you, Xerxes,” Seshwan said under his breath, as he raised his hands and got down on his knees.