Night fell. The only sounds that could be heard were the steps of a rather young boy walking on the terrace with a lamp in his hand. He had hair reaching his shoulders, which alternated between black and pure white strands. His eyes were brown. He wore a shirt with a buckle on his shoulder, and a pair of racoon ears were poking out from the sides of his head. Pushing the wooden doors away, he entered a room. Before his eyes appeared a silhouette of a man who was sitting on the ground.

“Master, are you dyeing your hair again?”, asked the boy, and then he closed the door behind him. He put the lamp on the ground and sat down next to it. The man to whom he had spoken to only smiled. However, this was not a grateful smile, more full of venom. He put down two bowls, one with water, the other with paint, and looked at his reflection in the mirror.

“It irritates me that I have to do it so often, otherwise it comes down quickly.” He spoke to himself. The boy who came to him was playfully poking the lamp with his finger, but stopped immediately when he accidentally touched the fire and burned himself.

“Is it soon?”, the young raccoon asked, but then the man came closer to him and bent down. The man whom he was addressing had his hair dyed black. Unfortunately, it was impossible to determine his natural colour, because even his eyebrows were dyed. His eyes were green, and they did not feel pleasant – you could practically see cynicism and excessive self–confidence in them.

“Yes, it will be soon.” He answered. He took some cloth to wipe his neck, on which the paint had gathered, and then he straightened up. He looked out of the opening in the wall at the starry sky and smiled again. „Soon we will go for a trip and see many places. But it will be quite fun.”

“Won't it be boring?” The young boy asked him.

“If I say ‘fun’, it means ‘fun’.” He answered in a harsher tone. “I hate it when you ask me about such little things. Listen to me more carefully. I assure you, however, that you will not be bored for sure.” Then the black–haired took a spear leaning against the wall and started to make various, very admirable moves with it. “Why do you think we trained so much? So that we could have a good time afterwards!” He said, throwing the spear through the hole in the wall. The young raccoon stood up and looked out of that window to see that it had hit a tree not far away.

“You convinced me, Master...” He answered with fear. The older man at that moment was walking around the room, looking after various knives and poisons, he had a whole collection of them.

“Well, my dear... if we're going on a trip, we should pack up too, right?”

“Huh... Yeah.” He answered carelessly. “So what should we take?”

“There's one thing I'm going to ask you to… bring me.”

“What is it?”

“One thing”, he answered meanly and pat him on the head. “You will find out soon enough, but I advise you to be prepared.”

“Can't you tell me now, Master Goro?”

“That would be too boring.” He answered with a smile. “Alright, enough bullshitting: you'll get me some blood.”

“Blood?!” he shouted.

“Did I tell you to raise your voice?”

“N–No... I'm sorry,” said the boy and curled up.

“But it won't be that easy. I mean, getting the blood of those infected with Hemasitus.”

“...Master Goro, are you crazy?” He swallowed saliva. “I think you remember what happened just two days ago... When Hagan finds out about it...”

“Hagan can kiss my ass!” he growled. “What happened two days ago allowed me to understand how great of a weapon this parasite can be. Contact with the skin is enough for a man to die.”

“But... do you really want this? And how am I supposed to get it for you? I'm going to get infected!”

“If you’re careful, you will be fine. You’re just going to... sneak into this clinic, find secured blood samples for tests and bring them to me.” He answered with a mean smile. “I am your master, you should do what I tell you to do. Well, who saved your life?”

“Well, you...”

“Well, you have an obligation then, don't you? And don't worry, I won't let your life be endangered.” Still smiling, he was combing the boy’s hair. “So will you do it for me?”

“Yes, I will” The boy answered hesitantly.

“Excellent. That's what I expected from you, Prash. When it comes your job, you have to go to Rebellar. So I advise you to leave in the morning, because it is a long way from here.”

“I understand this will be useful for our... trip, right?”

“I think you know very well why” Goro sat in the chair that was near his "collection". He took one of the knives and started to turn it around in his hands. “Because this trip will be... full of adrenaline, blood and tears. Isn't this something you've been waiting for with me, Prash?”

“Yes, I waited for it!” he answered.

“Good”, Goro answered. “As soon as you return, come back to me. Try not to run into that fool who is to come back here tomorrow. You know who I'm talking about, about Hagan.”

“Yes, Master.” The boy answered by bowing his head.

“And one more thing, Prash. Stop having talking with such a... tone. It irritates me, and you know what I do with things... that irritate me.”

“I beg your forgiveness...”

“And you're getting it right now. I'm talking about the future. Now go to sleep, you have a mission in the morning. And you better get some sleep... because soon our dear deity will come.” He said with a mysterious smile. Prash, feeling unsure, again bent down his head, took a lamp and left. Goro threw a knife at the wall, which stuck deep into it. Satisfied, he sat down comfortably on the armchair, still smiling.