Chapter 11

Campfire

It had been a few days since the battle on the beach against the Sea Pirates. Shinon and the others were less then a day's travel away from the camp of Unforgiving Sword mercenaries, led by Kilvren the Black Blade...one of the most well known and skilled swordmasters in all of Tyseria. Dinah had already scouted ahead and confirmed the camp to be where Eli was informed, along with sharing visual confirmation that Kilvren was present to. All that was left was for the mercenaries to invade the camp, and eliminate Eli's enemy.

It was late in the evening, the night before their big battle, and the crew found a quiet spot to make a campfire and rest for the evening. Shinon had found a well fed boar in the forest, killed it, and brought it back to the group for dinner. Hrothgar was able to cook and season the boar meat in a way that all the mercenaries could enjoy. It was clear the man had enough experience traveling the wild and living off the land, the Paladin knew how to make a good boar meal.

Dinah sat high above the campfire in a tree, keeping watch and staying vigilant. Griffin had found a nearby tree to lay against, and he had drifted off to sleep. Eli, Hrothgar, and Shinon sat around the campfire and conversed.

As the trio sat around the campfire, Shinon finally decided to ask the question that had been bothering him since he met Eli.

"So, what's the deal with that big ugly bracelet you wear and try to hide under your cloak all the time?" Shinon asked, pointing to Eli's arm. "Don't tell me it's just jewelry, because I've seen it do some pretty weird things."

Eli and Hrothgar exchanged looks, unsure how much detail they wanted to go into about everything that was around the bracelet. Finally, the young mage realized he had been around Shinon enough to know that he could trust him with this particular subject. He also knew that Shinon, more then others, might need to be aware of all he had to say.

"You said you're not from around here right?" Eli spoke, as he looked into the fire. "You're from a place far from Tyseria?"

"That's correct," Shinon responded, "but don't change the subject!"

"If you're not from around here then you've never heard of the Devilkin." Eli replied, ignoring Shinon's rudeness.

"That's correct..." Shinon responded, clueless of what a Devilkin could be.

"Well, then let me be the first to tell you." Eli spoke, his eyes deepening with intensity. "Devilkin are savage and demonic people that have gone psychotic due to their intense bloodlust and rage. They exhibit supernatural powers of strength, speed, and fire. The Devilkin race, if that's what you want to call it, is the reason that Tyseria lies in shambles. Because wherever a Devilkin goes, carnage and destruction follows. How can civilizations grow, if they are always being destroyed by rampaging rage monsters? Such is the curse of our region...wandering warriors are taken over by their bloodlust and then go on a massive killing spree until they are put down."

Shinon's eyes did not break contact from Eli's. He listened intently, quietly beginning to put pieces together his mind. Eli continued to speak.

"There are many rumors of how the Devilkin came to be. Some say it's a plague or sickness, and it infects people without prejudice. Others say that it's the blackest of magic, cast over our entire region like some kind of curse. But those that have been inflicted, or a very few who have survived encounters with loved ones who become Devilkin know the truth. A Devilkin is created when a person is on the brink of death, and a certain Shaman appears to them giving them the choice to continue living. That shaman then casts very dark and ancient magic on the individual, changing their essence into the dark, demented, and damned essence of a Devilkin."

"What...why are you telling me all this?" Shinon asked, though part of him already knew the answer.

"You asked about my bracelet..." Eli responded calmly, as he gazed furthered into the fire. "After I first began my transformation into the demon, years ago I heard about a powerful sorceress who created magical objects to help contain the devil's curse. I sought her out and she trained me how to contain, more or less, my devil...and this bracelet has magical properties that helps keep me in check so that I do not lose control...again."

There was a pause in Eli's speech, before he spoke again, turning to look Shinon deep into his brown eyes. "You asked why I am telling you this, and it's because you too have the Devil's Curse. The freakish things you have been experiencing as of late have been signs that you're transitioning. One day, soon, you'll lose control, give in completely into your bloodlust, and the psychotic beast within will be unleashed and more then likely, you will be unable to recover from that. Most people can't."

"Then I'll just take your bracelet and where it as my own!" Shinon barked back, upset at this news and unsure whether to believe it...but deep in his soul, he already did.

Eli chuckled, "If only it was that easy. Each bracelet is made in tune with an individual's personal presence...I have no idea what that means, but the Sorceress who trained me told me that. Furthermore, they are no good until after your first Break into full Devilkin mode...but typically when that happens, the majority of individuals are unable to return to their human or laguz form. I was one of the lucky ones...I have yet to meet another."

"Well...damn." Shinon replied as he looked into the fire. Then he stood up, glared at Hrothgar and Eli and spoke so quickly and aggressively, spat fell from his mouth and onto them. "That's just a bunch of crap! A ghost story for a campfire. Fitting for a good time before a big battle, but nothing more then that!"

Shinon walked away and Eli looked to Hrothgar for support or guidance. Hrothgar patted him on the shoulder and spoke. "Give him time. You broke the news to him, so now he must process it. Your truth, plus what he is no doubtfully is going through on his own, plus what he has yet to experience, will eventually lead him to piece together the entire truth. And our truth is that we are so close to a big part of your goal, that you don't have time to worry about his eventual problems with the Devil's Curse."

"But you didn't tell him the full story, did you?" Dinah's voice was heard, as she hopped down from a tree nearby, having heard Eli's entire speech.

"What do you mean?" Eli asked, a little intimidated at how easily the woman was able to maneuver around without being seen or heard.

"It's clear to me..." Dinah replied, "You were injured severely to the point of near death five years ago, when your town was destroyed. That was when the Shaman approached you, and that's when you were cursed...am I right?"

"Yes, you are." Eli spoke grimly. "That day my life as a normal human was taken from me, and I was cursed to be a monster...but that same curse will be what empowers me to get my revenge on those that took away my parents, my family, my friends, and everyone else in the Sunder tribe. My curse, will be my gift. When the time is right, I will take off this bracelet and let my demon out fully."