What? Heavy thoughts raced throughout my mind. My eyes sharpened on the Young Lord. I didn't know how he knew, but I was going to feign my ignorance. I shrugged my shoulders and looked away. Then I gathered my bearings to focus back on the Young Lord.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Young Lord," I said without a hint of emotion.

"Oh, really Demitri?" Dante rubbed his chin. "Well, I'll leave it at that."

Who was this Young Lord? He seemed to hold secrets, but he was far too young to have them. Thankfully he moved away from the subject and guided the way through the town. He told me the town was called Balenos and that we were still in the Kingdom of Bareth. Although, he didn't know the lay of the land to much detail. I felt disappointed that he didn't know. Which was kind of strange that I expected him to know as much.

The town was bustling with people and excitement. It was the kind that you'd expect from a city and not a small town like this. Goods were being traded, and the people looked happy throughout. You wouldn't have known that these lands were at war only months ago. The terrible faces I saw of the populace seemed like a fleeting dream.

"Why is everyone so happy here?" I asked while throwing the hood of my cloak over my head.

The Young Lord smirked at my question.

"Well, we had a good harvest, and my father is a wise governor," Dante said.

Was his father the Lord of the town? I truly met an amazing Young Lord in Dante. To think that someone of his stature would be wandering around the forests alone. It seemed even more Bizarre. Dante looked genuinely happy and proud of Balenos.

"To this extent?" I said as I scanned the area. I never thought I'd see smiling faces in Bareth again. Whatever Lord rules this area must be a kind and forgiving one. Usually, they would work their subjects and take whatever they wanted. For the people to be so enthralled, he must be well respected.

"We had found a rich ore mine not too far from here and my father ordered its excavation," the young Lord said. "People have come to help in its mining, and in return with so many people visiting, our economy has been bolstered."

"What kind of ore young Lord?" I said.

"Mithril," Dante said with a smile.

My eyes went to shock as I rested them at Dante. Mithril was a rare and hard to find metal in the Western Kingdom. Even a couple of pounds could make one's family well off for generations. A rich Mithril ore mine was located around here deep by the surrounding forests? The Lord and this territory would be rich beyond their wildest dreams. It was no wonder why the people are so happy.

"Here we are Demitri, one of the best shops in town," Dante pointed to a shop. "Also try not to tell people who I am."

"People don't know who you are?" I asked.

"Not everyone does," Dante said as he shook his head. "I sort of have weird rumors about me."

It wouldn't be a wonder if he did. He seemed too exceptional for a young boy. I gave the Young Lord a nod and continued. I didn't care about his reasons, but he helped me, and I believed I could repay that much at least. I opened the door, and Dante followed behind me. The shop had a wooden sign that said it was selling both weapons and armors.

The shop itself looked like a combination of two brick buildings merged. It was most likely doing very well for itself. I could assume that with the amount people, an increase in bodyguarding and monster slaying had risen. The businesses around the area must be glad as well for the increased traffic.

"Hello! Welcome to my store, good sir!" The shopkeeper had a beaming smile on his face.

There looked to be other customers rummaging through the store.

"Good day to you shop keep," I said. "I'm here to peddle some of my wares, some black wolf pelt."

I grabbed the wolf pelt from my side and placed it on the counter. I looked at Dante, and he had produced numerous pelts from out of nowhere. Where was he hiding them? I kept my expression tight but I had no idea that this boy would have had this many pelts. I barely survived against one black wolf, but this boy had ten more pelts. The shopkeeper looked at me with wide surprise, and I couldn't blame him either.

"Good sir, you must be a veteran and an accomplished hunter to be able to kill these many wolves on your own," the shopkeeper's face was in utter disbelief.

I could only give a crooked smile and a little nod.

"I can give you four-no-five silvers a pelt," the shopkeeper said as he tried to keep his composure.

I glanced at Dante and he seemed to be in deep thought.

"I heard that black wolf pelts are sold at fifteen silvers a pelt here or were I mistaken?" Dante said without hesitation.

The shopkeeper seemed a little frightened like he was caught red-handed.

"I'd have to tan and work them to be usable for sale!" The shopkeeper said nervously.

"Maybe it's best I go somewhere else," I interjected.

The shopkeeper looked to be in anxious thought as he eyed other customers. Some gave minor glimpses to our conversation. Others continued trying not to mind, but they heard Dante's voice carry throughout the store. They probably now discovered the nature of the shopkeeper. It isn't good business for customers to find out that you are willing to cheat them.

"I can do seven silvers, good sir!" The shopkeeper said.

"No worries, I trust a vendor of your caliber wouldn't dare to under price him," Dante smiled, and I realized that he already calculated his return from the pelts.

This boy had the personality of a devil; it was cunning of him to let the shopkeeper dictate his prices first. I hadn't been to this town before so I wouldn't know the usual market prices. Dante had the haggling skills of an old merchant. The gap in his strangeness kept growing larger. It was a mystery for a young boy to have so much experience.

The shopkeeper had a worried face as some sweat glistened on his forehead.

"It's a deal then," I said to alleviate his worries.

I assumed the shopkeeper thought it wasn't best to antagonize and cheat someone who killed eleven black wolves by himself. I only killed one, but he didn't know that. He moved the pelts and then gave me a pouch of coins. I checked the weight of the pouch and nodded my head to assure Dante.

Weapons littered around the shop from the plain to the extravagant. Those who sought the gold-encrusted swords and the spears with diamonds wanted to tempt fate. They wouldn't know how worthless their weapons would be until they were dead and buried. Some scavenger was looting their corpses, finding their weapons and selling it back to the very shop that sold them the worthless thing.

I didn't need much but a simple blade. I asked the shopkeeper for a plain short sword and paid three silvers for it. Three silvers were all I need to kill and maim someone else. I looked around the store for a bit and saw a map placed on the wall.

My eyes scanned the map, looking for my location. The town called Balenos was near the border between the two great kingdoms. Just an edge slightly under the jurisdiction of the Western Kingdom of Bareth. It seemed the river had taken me far east from my destination. I'd either have to enter back into the heart of Bareth or go along the border.

I'd be no better in the Eastern Kingdom of Solace. It was a place where I committed many atrocities under the guise of war. The people of Solace knew me very well and hated me just the same. I vexed over the dilemma at being stuck between two countries that wanted me dead.

"How much for the map?" My thoughts were wandering as my eyes still fixated on the map.

"Ah, two silvers good sir," The shopkeeper replied.

I paid for the map and rolled it up before I tucked it into my shirt. Dante wasn't interested in anything else so we made our exit. I left with the Young Lord and handed him the pouch after a clear distance away. Dante counted the amount quite easily and I saw that he was well educated. This Young Lord that I met could quite have been a genius.

"Thank you Demitri, here are seven silvers for your help," Dante handed me the coins, and I fiddled with the silvers before I placed them in my pocket.

The silvers would help me buy some appetizing food while heading north. No matter how far I got in my life, I had always needed money. There was no difference in my life about that. Money was something I always chased after.

"So what are you going to do now Demitri?" Dante gave me a peculiar smile.

"Get something warm to fill my stomach before heading my way," I said looking up at the clear sky.

"Then how about I invite you to come over to my place?" Dante looked to have found a way to keep me in his company. "My young maids are well-established cooks, you wouldn't need to wander around, town and you can save your silvers."

I can't say I would deny many meals with young maids. I pondered a bit and saw the crowds of people throughout town. I didn't want the same thing to happen to me days ago by getting recognized again. So I nodded my head to took up his offer. My own curiosity also wanted me to find out more about this Young Lord.

As I was about to follow Dante, my eyes caught a glimpse of a beggar dressed in white rags.

"Pray to the Gods, beg to them! The world will end soon, and in their glory, you will find your salvation! Cast away your sins! Do it now before they exact their vengeance upon you!"

The beggar was ranting and raving in the middle of the street.

People passed him by as he continued his sermon. He had long black hair that hid his face with an unkempt beard. I noticed that he was wearing cloth of the church. A lunatic priest? This was very strange especially given how highly regarded the Church of the Veil was.

My mind wandered to a man who was like an older brother to me. He was clean shaved and bald; he always wore the pristine white cloth of the church. His name was Helem Edwin. We called him Master Edwin because of his lineage and his hierarchy with the Church of the Veil. He always talked about the Gods and the fate of our lives. I wondered what he was doing now that our group had disbanded.

I gazed at the lunatic priest a bit closely to see his erratic movement and gestures. I finally realized that he was blind. Then as if he noticed me, looked in my direction before continuing his madness.

"You will never be saved! Unless you confess!" The beggar in priest's clothing ranted on.

If he weren't blind, I would have thought he was talking to me.

"A Holy War is coming again!"

I guessed that this town wasn't as isolated from the war after all. It wasn't realistic to think that a war between two countries wouldn't affect the people around the borders. The town being this way could have been an anomaly from the young Lord and his family. Master Edwin would've said it was the Gods purpose and that fate had allowed the town to be so prosperous.

"Who is that?" I asked and pointed to the beggar.

"I have no idea, he came about a month ago," Dante looked troubled. "He doesn't really do anything but lecture people in the streets."

The Young Lord rubbed his chin while he looked around the town. The Beggar ranted and raved to the air around him. People walked by him, and some even threw coins at his feet. I wondered what he'd seen that had made him become this way. Usually, priests would have a mental fortitude higher than regular people. He'd probably been through something hellish for him to be made blind and turned into a beggar.

"It seems no one pays any attention to him," Dante crossed his arms. "Plus he's blind, so people, do feel sorry for him."

"I understand," I said and nodded my head in agreement.

I picked a silver from my pocket and threw it towards the blind beggar.

"Demitri, we should go now," Dante didn't seem amused by the ravings of a mad man.

I was about follow Dante but hesitated a moment as I kept my eyes on the beggar for awhile.

"Demitri?....Demitri?" I heard the beggar saying my name with a coarse voice.

The beggar fell to his knees and searched for the silver coin I had thrown towards him. He picked up the silver and grasped it in both hands. It looked like he was praying as he knelt on the ground. Then he began to mumble incoherently and wandered off. I was startled at what he was doing but I assumed that it was just the actions of a poor wretched soul.

I took my eyes off him and followed after Dante. My slow pace only rushed Dante forward as if to tell me to hurry. My thoughts still strayed back to the old beggar. This wasn't the first time I ever saw someone like that. I had seen plenty of people displaced during the war. Many people had gone crazy from all the death and the destruction that war caused. I sometimes think why I hadn't gone insane from witnessing the same things. Perhaps I am mad and just don't know it.

Maybe it was because of Master Edwin who was our physical and spiritual healer. He always saw the good in people and the karma of good deeds. Maybe if he had not been there, I would've gone insane long ago. After seeing the beggar and thinking of Master Edwin, I felt the need to go into a church and beg forgiveness for my sins. I doubted that it would be enough for me to atone through prayer alone although.

I followed Dante a short distance to his house which seemed to be isolated inside the middle of town.

It was a mansion fit for a Lord as it had a grand gate and numerous green landscapes. The mansion was enormous, to say the least and gave off a magnificent aura. I saw many servants walking about doing their chores. This Lord's family must be very old and well off to employ so many people. There were even numerous guards scattered about them. It seemed like the family had their very own private militia. I didn't know many noble families that could afford a sizable militia besides the Royal Family.

They all gave me sharp stares as I followed the Young Lord around.

As we neared the entrance, a well-dressed man and woman exited from the mansion. They had a look of relief when they saw the Young Lord, and I assumed that they were his parents. In an instant, they rushed to Dante's side. All the guards gripped their weapons, and I stepped back a little to give them some room.

"Dante! Where have you been?" The man asked.

"Ah! I'm sorry father, I've been studying under my teacher here," Dante said pointing to me.

Both his father and mother looked at me with shock on their faces.

"Teacher?" Both parents said.

I cracked a smile and was disturbed as well.

What have I gotten myself into?

---

The last war between the great kingdoms of Bareth and Solace raged for a year. It was a great one year war that shook the land. It was a war that started because of a dispute of territory and morality, but it was much more simpler than that. Simpler and sinister in its machinations.