Tulip chased after Asmol, he had dived into the main palace area and forced his way towards the west side, scaring and making many of the servants who happened to be in the way run away in terror.

“Goddamnit! What does he even want?!” Tulip followed as close behind him as possible, running as fast as her high heels could carry her. “These fucking shoes!” She quickly took them off and began to run barefoot, making her a lot faster.

“Ah!”

“H-h-huh?”

“W-who the hell was that?”

Servants exclaimed their worries as Asmol pushed through the halls, letting nothing else distract him and focusing on his goal.

The prince's old chambers.

By the end of the hall, a door came into vision. It was made of polished wood but had gold coloured metal laced onto it, Asmol’s vision narrowed as he ran towards his goal. Burning the sight of the door into his mind.

“What the hell is he doing?!” Tulip’s thoughts raced as she chased down Asmol, he was running towards the door and didn’t show any signs of stopping.

“S-Surely he doesn’t intend to…” But she thought too late. Asmol ran into the door with brute force and shook the door off of it’s hinges, causing the castle walls to shake.

The door collapsed and fell to the floor with a thud, Asmol stood atop it and breathed out heavily. His eyes darted around the room and peered around, looking for something.

Tulip continued running after Asmol, stepping to the door of the room. She was panting from the sudden chase.

“Cease...hah….this immediately!...hugh…” Tulip stood hanging onto the wall for a moment and recollected her breath, breathing in and out. “Am I really that out of shape? No no he’s just weird.” Tulip thought.

Asmol paid her no mind and began turning the room over the room to find what he was looking for, throwing the bed over and opening any drawers and closets he could find.

“Hey! This is a royal’s room you know!”

‘Even if the owner is long dead’ Tulip thought.

Asmol heard nothing as he searched, he picked apart everything he could find. Trying to discover what he was looking for.

Soon enough one of the floorboards creaked under his foot, which didn’t go unnoticed by Asmol.

He knelt down and tore the floorboard away from the floor, peering at what was underneath.

There was a small pendant, it was so small that it looked like a pea inside Asmol’s hand, which had picked it up.

He stared at it for a good minute, emotions streaking across his face and tears dripping down his cheeks.

“Dan….a..?” Asmol’s voice was cracked and metallic, but the softness in his tone could be felt as he carefully treasured what was in his hands.

His mind raced back to all those years ago, before his imprisonment, before he lost Dana.

Before it all…

////////////

“Come on dad! We’ll be late!” A little girl with silver hair led a large man by the hand, pulling him through a crowd to a destination only she thought she knew.

“I know I know~” The large man followed behind her with a smile on his face, this man was Asmol. He was much cleaner and softer looking than he is now, perhaps it was due to the girl who dragged him along.

“We’re still quite early, we don’t need to rush, Dana” Asmol picked the girl up and put her on his shoulder, making sure to be careful of her body. “We can still see that play you wanted no matter how early we are”

Dana looked at Asmol in surprise and then pouted a bit, “I thought it was gonna be a surprise…” She murmured.

Asmol laughed and said, “You’re going to need to get a bit older if you want to pull wool over your old man's eyes!” He walked over to a nearby stall and ordered a small meat skewer, giving it to Dana.

“Don’t be too mad at dad okay? You wouldn’t want to see me cry would you?” He put on a small show like he was sad and whimpered a little, making it completely believable to Dana.

“N-No! I’m not mad dad! Look!” Asmol looked up and saw Dana using her fingers to give herself a big grin, Asmol smiled upon seeing it.

“Good, I’m glad. Now let’s head over to that play you were so excited for shall we?” Dana quickly gave an energetic nod and Asmol walked over to where the play was starting.

Many people were gathered around a small troupe of actors who were putting on a play, the theme was a comedy that based around a very beautiful man being chosen as the king's concubine, and being preferred over the queen herself.

Asmol wondered how they were even allowed to do this play inside the kingdom but Dana was enthralled with it, the queen slapped the beautiful man with a fish and Dana began giggling with delight.

‘Oh well, so long as she’s happy’ Asmol thought.

The play continued on for about two hours, by the end the whole cast seemed a bit sweaty. But they also looked very happy.

Dana gave a round of applause, Asmol didn’t really care but seeing how happy his daughter was made him clap along too.

“That play was amazing! That pretty man was so funny!” Dana skipped around on the road in front of Asmol, not too far from him.

“Yeah, that bit where he got slapped with the fish was actually quite amusing.” Asmol walked slowly behind her and watched her carefully, making sure she was safe.

Asmol and Dana continued walking down the road while chatting the time away, as they neared their house Asmol gave Dana a wave and said, “You can go on ahead without me, dad will only be a moment sweetheart.”

Dana skipped into the house and closed the door, Asmol gave a small sigh and turned around to the alley nearby the house. His eyes turned venomous and he walked towards the alleyway.

“Why are you following us?” Asmol’s voice rung out clearly and without respite, he was cautious and annoyed.

…

There was silence for a few moments before a man clad in black stepped out from the alley, his hands already saddled onto a dagger.

“Asmol the demon's blade...It’s been a long time since you went missing from the frontlines...everyone thinks you’re dead.” The man clad in black said softly.

“Well you have the wrong guy, now go home before I make you.” Asmol clenched his fists and looked at the man.

“Wait wait, I’m not here to do anything to you…” The man brought out a scroll from his robes and threw it over to Asmol, “It’s a royal request, the king wants you to come and work for him once more.”

Asmol looked at the paper in his hands, it had the royal stamp. It was legit.

The man thought Asmol would take some time to consider it but what he did surprised even him.

Asmol immediately tore the paper in two, dropping it to the ground as it waved with the wind.

“Hear me and hear me now, I am not Asmol the demon's blade. I am Asmol, a hunter who lives by hunting animals and protects his daughter. Now leave.”

Asmol turned around and walked back into his home, opening the door to be greeted by Dana with a large smile on her face. Asmol gave her a head pat and began on making them dinner.

The man clad in black looked through the window, peering inside to see Asmol, and then Dana.

“Daughter...huh..” He cackled to himself as he stood up and left the residence, “Let’s see how long you can protect her for then…”