Standing over the body of the now dead Wervul a strange light could be seen in Erasi's eyes. It was akin reminiscent which reflected his inner mind as he relived a shadowy memory from his past life he'd forgotten.

A hell hole in a country that at one time stood at the peak of power in the world. As a member of the newly formed American military Erasi had found himself pinned down by enemy forces in the forests of Oregon. Him and 19 fellow infantrymen fighting for their lives as bullets whined through the air. Suddenly a shadow formed over him as he crouched behind a fallen tree while reloading. The enemy. Without thought Erasi drew his combat knife and sprang into action, it wasn't his first bad situation but there hadn't been a worse one he could recall. As he flipped the enemy soldier to the ground he buried his knife right below the sternum.

As the shock registered on the man's face he tried bringing his gun up as Erasi scrambled to secure the arm and disarm him. The memory suddenly cut out to blackness as Erasi shakes his head coming back to himself. There is no remorse or regret in his eyes as he starts cleaning the blood off his hand on the pants of the dead man. Followed up by cleaning off his spear. His face twists incongruent to his calmness as a simple fact dawns on him. He could no longer be a hunter.

" Dammit you shitty bastard, you fucking degenerate..." As Erasi cursed Wervul verbally his mind raced for a solution, as it unlikely the Hunters Guild would believe Wervul accidentally ran into his spear and eviscerated himself. With his head down looking like a discouraged child he knew his only chance of survival lied with his teacher.

" FUCK ME! I didn't want to work for some slimy fat bastard of a noble... Hmm maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be a pretty baroness..." Trailing off as he thought about how stuck up and annoying a noble woman would most likely be.

Finishing cleaning up Erasi decided he'd use Wervul's character against him to buy him some time. Exiting the room looking as dejected as possible he made his way back toward the entrance, the hunter from before was still there eating what looked like a meat pie. Seeing Erasi walk up looking defeated the hunter could only sigh. Wervul was not known for giving a passing grade and the young man was lucky not to be injured.

"I take it Wervul failed you? Don't worry lad you can come back in 6 months and try again." The hunter showed genuine empathy towards Erasi as he figured the lad would have passed had he had a little more luck and not been assigned to be assessed by Wervul.

" Yeah he failed me... Said I wasn't worth seed my dad planted in my mom! Downright bastard he was!" Erasi wasn't the best actor by any stretch but luckily the hunter seemed accepting as Wervul was known for being despicable. " Also he wanted me to tell you that since all that's going to come is shit stains with no skill that he's gonna take a nap so he doesn't want to be disturbed until after noon."

Seeing the hunter give him a weird look Erasi cringed a little before continuing. " I wouldn't have said anything but I don't want anyone to get hurt if you send them over and disturb him."

Laughing the hunter nodded knowing well that Wervul was a sick man and would surely take his displeasure out on anyone who disturbed him.

" Alright young man go turn in your temporary badge. Don't be discouraged, just train hard and come back in six months time. Surely you won't let Wervul keep you from becoming a hunter."

"Yes, that's right, thank you sir I'll go train and in six months try again! Certainly next time I'll pass!" Showing an air of recovery of his "youthful vigor" Erasi responded affirmatively and left the hallway and passing the guards outside the door made his way to the receptionist. Seeing Erasi approach and taking out the temporary badge the receptionist knew he'd failed. As he placed the badge on the desk he thanked the raspy voiced woman and left quickly. He'd only bought himself a couple of hours at most. Once they found the dead body of Wervul there'd be hell to pay and the hunters guild would definitely want him to pay it with his precious second life.

Threading his way quickly through town towards his only chance of escaping Erasi couldn't help but smile. Wervul was dead. Surely his teacher would rejoice, as for the information about Kaldris's daughter and wife the was absolutely no need to divulge it. It could only serve to reopen old wounds and besides the side effects of the mind powder was well known to be irreversible. His wife and daughter would forever be incapable of love or loyalty their minds constantly seeking to fulfill their lust and greed.

'I should definitely keep it to myself!'

About 30 minutes later Erasi found himself in a small house sitting across the table from a bewildered and yet excited Kaldris. After explaining what transpired in his hunter test Kaldris cussed Wervul vehemently even with Erasi holding back about his wife and daughter. Suddenly a serious look drew down his teachers face.

"Son this is pretty bad, surely you bought yourself some time but we need hurry. Come with me lad I'll call in a favor from a buddy of mine!" Suddenly a grin cracked Kaldris's face.

"Get ready Erasi lad you'll be joining a mercenary group, haha looks like I'll get my way whether you like it or not!!!"

Looking at his teachers maniacal grin and laughter Erasi could feel a headache setting in. He knew there was only one mercenary group nearby that Kaldris would have any pull with.

The Bloody Jesters , reputed to be the craziest bastards alive and the one time home of his teacher. Who had obvious loose screws from what Erasi could see now...