POV: Erroi

Another day, another struggle . My daughter was sleeping on the bed next to mine. Everytime I looked at her, it just reminded me of what I did. But no use moping about the past.

"Good morning, princess."

"Noo, five more minutes, please."

"Alright. I'll make breakfast today."

"Just don't overcook the eggs, okay?"

"It was the ONE time and I was too drunk to walk, last time I remember."

I got up from my bed, got my old clothes on and walked outside to the campfire. The pheasants I caught yesterday were drying well in the clay oven. I looked around for any eggs in nests. Suddenly, in the distance, some great tits wandered in my line of sight. They didn't see me, but I spent a good moment gawking at them and their nest of tittles.

They had a massive nest. Once they left, I took 3 eggs, and crawled down to the ground.

I dusted off the pot, put some fat in, and began the fire. I swirled the melting fat around, and cracked the eggs open, into the pot. Hræ walked out of the door. Just in time.

”Good morning, princess. I got some fried eggs and pheasant.”

"Are you expecting anyone today?”

“I always expect someone approaching. Nothing goes by without me noti-”

"There's someone coming here right now.”

Damn, she's right. Wait, I didn't hear no footsteps. Oh no...

He was wearing a dark tunic. he had strange red markings on his face, almost like tears.. I pulled out my knife.

“Go inside, princess. Now.” Her expression had gone pale and she quickly went inside and locked the door. I stood before the door and prepared to give my life for her.

"Leave. NOW!”

"Crow? Is that you?” The stranger among the trees had a big iron sword on his hip.

"I guess I couldn't have been invisible forever. Who sent you?”

"Don't you remember me? We used to work together.” I don't remember working with theatre performers.

"Unless you want to die alone, tell me who you are.”

"After we eliminated everyone on that island colony, I left the service.” Oh... That.

"Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?”

"Hmm. I killed... 5 instructors in my first year.” Wasn't it 6?

"Oh, you, beast. Wait. It's you!” I put my knife back and walked towards him with my arms outstretched. We exchanged a warm hug. He looked tired, and his eyes had rather noticeable bags.

"IT'S SAFE NOW!” Hræ opened the door and saw us hugging.

"Who is he?”

"An old friend. Say hello to...”

"Kykvandi.”

"Say hello to uncle Kykvandi! Kykvandi, this is my daughter, Hræ.” He walked to her and shook her hand. At least, he tried to, but just fell over after the first step. He was unconscious, just like that. I picked him up and dragged him to my bed. His skin looked really dry.

"Princess, can you get me some water and prepare the table for breakfast?” She complied and brought me my waterskin. I opened his mouth and poured it down the hatch. He regained some semblance of consciousness and began drinking the entire thing faster than a man dying of thirst.

"Thank you.”

"Don't thank me yet. We've still got breakfast to go through. But first. Were you followed?” He shook his head.

"Alright. Want some wine?”

"Yes please.”

I got out some wine I had been storing since this whole mess. A good 15 years old. I got out some cups I made and helped him to the table. He sat opposite me and Hræ. I poured him his wine and sat down. Hræ gave me her cup for me to fill it. She's old enough by now. Kykvandi leaned forward and began drinking the wine like his life depended on it.

“What name do you go by now?” He was trying to strike up a conversation.

“Erroi. Anyway, enough about me. How was life after you quit?”

"Good, good. I met some new people. They were nice, for the most part. I met a wrath demon.”

"What's a wrath demon?”

"You don't know? Apparently, humans can become demons now.” This was news to me. I had never heard of something so preposterous.

"Okay, okay. Maybe I should start from the beginning, then. Any questions?”

"I'm guessing you lived out your life same way I was. How did you scrape by?” Kykvandi leaned back in his chair. He seemed melancholy recalling that.

"It was easy to hunt animals. During the winter, for the first year, I didn't have enough food to survive, so I had to eat a hunter who came too close. It wasn't too bad, but I would eat other things if I had the option.” Gruesome.

"Did you live by yourself?" Kykvandi began squeezing the cup. His face slowly morphed into a scowl. I put my arm in front of Hræ, before the cup exploded in his hand, sending wooden splinters flying everywhere. Exploding cups were common with Kykvandi around.

"DAMMIT!" he clenched his splintered hand, bleeding all over my table!

"Hey! Here's another cup."

"...Thank you."

"Don't break this one. I only have 16 other cups, so your story better not have anything too crazy."

"...Sorry."

"How'd you end up here?"

"I... I met up with some... knights who were trying to sign peace treaties between human and demon governments in Zerura." He seemed disgusted at the concept. I saw no reason to disagree.

Hræ piped up. “What's Zerura?”

“It's where your uncle Kykvandi and I were born. Did you tell them no?"

"...Yeah."

"My man. Keep going then."

"One of them was a psychic woman."

"I bet she had nice birthing hips." Kykvandi scowled again and began hitting his palm against his head like a madman.

"Dad, what's wrong with Kykvandi?"

"Kykvandi. What's wrong?" he grabbed his head in pain.

"RAAAAAARGH!" he pushed the table away and curled into the corner. He was in terrible pain. I couldn't begin to imagine what he was going through, but to leave him alone wasn't an option either. All I could do was watch hell unfold and offer my support.

"Hræ, bring the doctor! I got you, man!" I held him tight. His body started spasming uncontrollably, and it was getting hotter. He looked at me with fear in his eyes.

"Get away!"

"Please just calm down!" He was catching on fire, and threw a punch at my face. It landed squarely on my nose. Now the real challenge was staying conscious. Come on, Hræ, get the doctor soon. My hands were slowly being pushed apart. Kykvandi was growing in size. His groans of pain started lowering in pitch as his clothes were tearing.

The door burst open and in came the doctor! "How has your day been!?" He looked the the monstrosity I was clutching and pulled out a flask of green water.

"No time, make him drink this!" He threw it at me, and I caught it quickly. I jumped back and prepared myself for the struggle to come. Kykvandi ran out of the door into the forest. Before I could follow suit, the doctor grabbed my arm.

"Why in the bloody blazes do you have a wrath demon in your home!?" He looked at me with the indignation of a father towards his child.

"He's my friend! Long story."

"It's dangerous! You need to put it down!" I grabbed his neck and tried my best not to commit patricide. Hræ tried to stop my hand. “Not now, sweetie.”

"Do you have any non lethal options?” I removed my hand from his neck to let him breathe.

"Wrath demons are fiery creatures. If he starts spitting fire, the whole forest could burn!" Oh no. What could I say to convince him?

"Hræ sweetie, take care of your grandfather while I try to pacify him.”

"I'm coming with you!" Now is not the time to be rebellious!

"Absolutely not! That thing can kill you!" Her grandfather held her arm tightly. And now, he was being unreasonable.

"Doctor, what is this green water?”

”Opium water. Even a small dose will leave it unable to maintain it's rampage.”

“Doctor, do you have more flasks?”

"You're thinking of letting her go!?"

"She knows the risks!" He scowled at me, disappointed at my answer.

"Then I do not.” I ran into the house and returned with the wine bottle we used. It was still pretty full, but I had a mission. Goodbye, old friend. The contents of the bottle fell onto the gravel in front of my house, and its renewed purpose was holding half the sleeping medicine. Hræ held the flask and we bolted through the trail of destruction.

"Why'd you let me tag along in the end?”

"You're an adult, you know the risks. It's time you learnt of hardship.”

"What about grandfather?”

"I'm sure he'll be fine.”

“Do you have a plan, Dad?” Be still, my beating heart.

“Would you prefer distracting him or sneaking up on him?”

“I'll distract him, Dad.”

“Okay. Stay safe.”

“Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“What if we have to kill him?”

“That is a choice I hope you never have to take.” We spent the next moments in silence.

We were getting closer to the sounds of toppling trees. Kykvandi had now reached 3 metres in height. He looked right at me and continued on his path. He wasn't being a threat currently and no fires had appeared yet.

"Change of plans. I didn't expect him to get as big as a sun beetle.”

"Should we try crawling onto his back, dad?”

"I'll go first, Hræ.” I ran towards his back and gripped on the flesh that wasn't too loose. He noticed immediately and began trying to grab me. I persevered towards his neck. The giant only got more violent. He became so focused on pulling me off he started kneeling.

"NOW, HRÆ!” She ran up to the demon and threw the bottle in his open mouth. It broke against his teeth and he chased Hræ. I quickly poured the bottle into his throat and jumped off. He glared at us and continued his path. Kykvandi slowed down and collapsed on the ground.

"Are you hurt, princess?”

"I'm just a little shaken up. How is your fr-”

FSSSSSSS

Smoke was surrounding Kykvandi's body, and after a few minutes, he was back to normal size. Finally. He was almost naked, save for the cloth around his crotch which had miraculously survived. For such a skinny guy, he sure was heavy. Hræ helped me carry him back to the cabin, where I was to receive ANOTHER lecture about Don't hurt my precious child, you devil and so and such.

I was curious, as any man would be in this situation and took a peek. DAMMIT! I spent the rest of the walk in utter anger at the injustice of the world we live in. We arrived and brought my friend onto my bed. It was weird to see the resemblance between a giant that could crush you with barely any effort, and this frail man.

He was of course angry I let his grand daughter run head first into danger and that of course I should have raised her better. He slapped Hræ on the cheek and prepared for another strike. I grabbed his hand before I did something I would regret.

"We don't hit people in this household. I can make an exception, if you seem so interested in not following the rules.” He retreated his hand and motioned me away from his grand daughter.

"I hope you remember by whose hand you survived all those years ago, before you decide to attack me for no reason.” That hypocritical bastard!

"I am thankful for you letting me stay, and letting me take care of your grand daughter, but realize this. She's my family, just as much as she is to you. The difference is I let her grow up, you tried to shelter her from this world. The next time you decide to hurt her, I will go back on my promise.”

"You wouldn't kill me! You told me you gave that up.”

"Would you like to see how good I am at keeping promises?” He relented and began treating Kykvandi inside.

"Hræ, I need bandages and warm water. Do you know where they are?”

"Your redwood cabinet in your house southwest of here, grandfather.”

"Yes. Get it now, I'll do what I can here.” Hræ ran out to the doctor's house. He began washing his hands with my newer wines and picked out leaves and sticks out of Kykvandi's wounds.

"Hey, I gotta ask, since you know more about demons. Why was he heading west?”

"There's a town there that recently had a demon attack, by this man I believe, But that's further north. What do you think it could be?”

"I dunno.” Once Kykvandi wakes up, he's gonna have to answer a lot of questions. I sat down on a chair and let the adrenaline wear off. I don't think my heart can take so much action in one day.