warning! for those that aren't at the Ch 4 yet, this is a spoil to one of the last new characters you'll meet, though i won't name him

be aware, there is nothing confirming this, its just a thought that i'm playing with so you can consider this chapter a bit of an AU i guess? maybe?


Alternis body was sore and tired. His legs quivered beneath him, threatening to give out at any moment; his arms trembled something terrible, ready to drop as he struggled to hold the sword up; and his breathing was loud and shaky, uncomfortable and weak to his ears. Over all, he felt and looked like nothing more than a big disappointment before Braev the Templar, looming over him and observing the boy that struggles to stand.

"I'm starting to wonder," Braev muses aloud, "if being a Templar is truly fitting for you?"

"It is!" Alternis promises. "I can do it! I can be a Templar!"

It doesn't seem the asterisk agrees though... Frowning, Braev just shakes his head and sighs. "Lets call it a day," the Grand Marshal suggests.

"I can go on for a bit longer," Alternis presses, crouching as he stubbornly readies a charge. "You're about to collapse," Braev points out. "You don't fight like a Templar nor do you stand as one. Your actions, your spirit, that's something else entirely." Alternis almost drops his sword, looking ashamed as he disappointed his mentor. Only to jolt as Braev clasps his shoulder hard, offering a small reassuring smile.

"We'll figure out something for you. You're not a Templar though, Alternis. Templar are patient and sturdy. You move around a lot more than a Templar should, and your attacks are powerful, but seem to leave you more winded than they should..." Braev frowns again as he tries to sort out and think what could possibly fit this boy as a possible job. There's nothing he knows that comes to mind.

Patting Alternis hard as he turns away, completely unaware for nearly sending the boy the toppling over, Braev dismisses him as he goes to his personal library to sort out all jobs that they had in their militia.

Shaken, ashamed, and disappointed in himself; Alternis balanced on his unsteady legs and manages out into the hall, stepping out at just the right time to get rammed.

With a mix of a grunt and a squeal, Alternis and Edea go toppling to the ground outside the oblivious Templar's office. Grumbling and growling, Edea sits up with a scowl to see who she ran into, only to instantly brighten at the sight of the daze boy below her. "Alternis!" she exclaims, her arms jabbing out excitedly around her.

"Just one of the people I wanted to see!"

"Edea?" Alternis manages out as he stares up at her tiredly, the smiling girl easily sitting on top of his waist.

Edea frowns down at him, tilting her head worriedly. "You ok?" she asks.

"Tired," he replies.

"Father's working you that hard?" she wonders, sliding back to let him get up himself, glancing into the office to see her father diving into the many books he had. Alternis sits up with a nod, his eyes half closed as he droops a little. "You should go to bed," Edea suggests.

"That... does sound good."

"Or..."

Alternis perks a little, looking up at Edea. "Or?" he asks.

"You can try my new cookie recipe! I loaded it chalk full of sugar! This'll get your energy going for sure!" Edea big grin was cut off when she caught the blur of her friend charging down the hall, racing away from her and her latest creation. Scowling, Edea spurs after him with furious shouts. Oblivious to them both, a black and red bat watches from above, amusement clear in its blood red eyes. Clicking a little from its wide savage lips, the bat drops and flutters to the room where the Grand Marshal looms.

Braev starts at the sound of the winds. Turning, his hand flies to his sword at the sight of the demonic bat that perches itself on his desk, with paper clutched in his hand. The bat grins at him before fluttering back to the wall of his door, holding onto it and leaning out to watch the children chase each other.

Half tempted to wave the bat away so it wouldn't watch his children anymore, Braev picks up the note and reads, scowling when he saw the request to visit the Vampire Castle.

"Get out," he growls at the bat. It glances back at him, squinting its red eyes at him. Grinning, it chattered at him.

With a sweep of his arms, Braev threatens to swat at the creature. With a squeal, it took off, laughing in shrills. "Damn him," Braev mutters.


The Vampire Castle was as horrific and intimidating as ever. Rusted white walls that held it were cracked and worn, the usually colorful windows were stained red today, bringing out the castle's name, and fitting for the owner. Grimacing up at it, Braev forced the gates open and stalked inside, ignoring as they closed behind him.

"What is it?" Braev demands immediately.

Another black and red bat swoops down, a bit larger than the last, and hovers before him before exploding in a hue of red smoke. A pale man steps out of the spoke, his eyes as red as the bats, his attire as ominous and clean as a lying noble snake. Turning his furious eyes to the man, Breav demands, "What is this about?"

"I thought you didn't like to see me at the Central Command. So I thought it would be better if we met here. Wine?" the man offers courteously.

"What is this about?" Braev repeats.

"What's going on in Central Command?" the man wonders in a polite tone, opening his cabinet and looking over his drinks.

"What does it matter?" Braev snaps.

"There's a new presence in the center, something dark and furious... it almost looks like a black fire amongst the snow. Or maybe red, after a time, some presences just look the same," the man said as he poured himself a glass of red, red wine. "What's so special about this one that encouraged you to take them into your own home? Mindful, this one isn't as chaotic as the last one you found." The man glances at Braev, a curved eye brow raised at the man. "What is with you and finding these angry souls? Do you think you can save them from their own rage?"

"Alternis Dim is a fine young man, there is nothing wrong with him," Braev declares.

"So that's his name... yes, he does seem calmer than when he arrived, though there's still a darkness in him. Be aware of that Braev."

"Is that all?"

"No. My bats tell me that this boy is started training to serve the militia, he's working on the Templar asterisk?"

"What does it matter?"

"That it would take him a very, very long time for him to master it, and I think you know that too. Its very, very rare for someone to master multiple jobs."

"And I suppose you have one in mind that would suit this supposed angry boy that you've never met."

"I do. Its a rare and dangerous one, and usually frowned upon to use because of it. That's why there are very, very few of them."

"What job is this," Braev growls. The man leans back, taking long sip of his drink. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out the familiar red stone and tosses it to Braev. "That's a Dark Knight asterisk. Its very powerful, to a point you could consider that they could rival your own asterisk. In the old times of war, so many dark knights could been, and most died out with it."

"What makes Dark Knights so dangerous? And why in Crystal's Light should I give this to him?!"

"Dark Knight thrives on power. The more power they use, the stronger their attacks, but the less energy they'll have. So driven are they, that they can kill over one hundred men at the cost of their own life. I offer this asterisk to you because its one that will for sure respond to him easily. Perhaps even eagerly. This boy, he'll have a hard time with other jobs because of his anger and hurt. That negativity is something that not even your daughter can completely erase, though she can outshine it if they stay strong together."

Braev tightens his grip on the asterisk, half tempted to throw it back to the man, but he wouldn't deny that the lord of the castle was right in some sense. He could see how Alternis could be a Dark Knight. The power he pressed into his attacks, leaving him winded... Dark Knight seemed fitting by that standard. "There is no one to teach him how to be a Dark Knight."

"You still can, you've faced a few in your time, though you didn't realize it then. You can help him master it, teach him patience and how to balance out his energy with his power."

Huffing at him, Braev stuffs the asterisk into his pocket, turning away and stomping off, ready to leave and never see this man for as long as possible. "One more thing Grand Marshal."

Braev stops, glaring at him over his shoulder.

The man holds up a red sword that looked heavier and wider than the usual thin and light one that he has at his side. "When he is ready, give the boy this. This sword is a survivor from an ancient war. It'll be happy to be beside a Dark Knight's side."

"It won't encourage him to become some mad killer like you're sure he is?"

"Everyone's a killer Braev, it all depends on our reasons. If this boy is lead to kill, let it be to protect what he loves and wants to protect. Turn that darkness to something good than just a constant evil."

Reluctantly, Braev accepts the sword, eyeing the blade up and down, nodding in small acceptance that it would do. "And," the man said, stopping Braev from leaving once more. "For your daughter." Braev arcs a brow as he stares, long and hard, at the stuffed, black and red hellhound plush in the man's hands, spikes covering the dog like creature with a forked tongue hanging past its pointed teeth, beady red eyes staring back at him. "A cerberus toy? What makes you think she'd like that?"

The man shrugs, offering his own smile as he said, "My bats tell me that she misses having toys since that wolf tore them all up. And she's a Templar's daughter, a warrior child. I'm sure she'd like a fierce companion." Braev frowns at the viscous looking toy, opening his mouth to refuse it, the man cuts off, "And I'm sure she'd be happy to receive a present from her neglecting father on her coming birthday. Which is tomorrow isn't?"

Braev stiffens at the realization, paling as his daughter's birthday dawns on him. Already he could hear his wife's scolding tone echo in his head. "Fine," he bit out, grabbing the toy and stomping out of the castle with the sword and asterisk. Behind him the man smiles a rare smug smile as he watches the Grand Marshal grumble himself away.


"I love it!" Edea squeals surprisingly at the sight of the nightmarish dog her father offers her. The said man struggles to grasp how she could adore such a thing. Was he neglecting her as much as that man implies, that she would adore anything Braev gave her? The thought was turning a bit worrisome...

Whirling on Alternis with an evil grin, perching the hellhound on her head, she evilly declares, "Fenrir and I are going to feed you are our cookies Alternis."

The say boy look terrified at that, glancing at Braev frantically. Since it was her birthday this wasn't something he could say no too...

"Oh what a darling little dog!" They all turn to see a woman walking in, smiling as her eyes lock onto the toy in Edea's grasp. "Mom!" Edea exclaims, rushing to her and shoving the toy in her face, both oblivious to the worried nurses behind her. "Isn't it cute?!" Edea gushes. "It is! Look at him sticking his tongue out, so adorable. And this needlework! One of the best I've seen!" Mazher gushes alongside her daughter as they both enjoy the devil dog.

"Grand Marshal?"

The baffled Braev looks down to his adopted son. "Where did you find that toy?" the boy asks warily, not fully understanding the girl's attraction to it. Braev just shakes his head, not answering.

Outside in the cold, at the Vampire Castle, the man stands at his door, grinning as he stares at the present the Grand Marshal probably reluctantly sent him. A casket of red wine. Such a perfect gift to offer a living myth. Only his smile dropped when the note that Braev left him was ambiguous on whether or one of the bottles of filled with blood.

The Grand Marshal knows that he can't stand it, though he doubts the man sent him a bottle of blood amongst the four bottles.

Still... the man shakes his head as he picks up the casket and takes them inside. A bat flutters alongside him, whispering in his ear and bringing the smile back to his pale face.

It was good to know she liked his gift, and that he offered her some companion as her days of solitude grow closer as the boy and her father become consumed with work.


again, this isn't for sure and you can probably consider this an AU history, especially in this chapter