The Past Never Stays Buried

I haven't driven a wagon in a long time. Being on ship and all for a couple years as dulled the finer skills I took for granted like this and fighting. I'm sloppy in my battles and adhere to my more beastly nature during. My self-control is shot, and it shows.

The old me whilst part of The Blank would have hunted and Erased every monster the conflicted with me same with the woman in the back. They'd be dead, and I'd move on to the next hunt. I haven't though which is proof of how much I've changed. I'm uncertain if it's for the best though especially with a child alongside me. I've been reluctant to take another sister during my travels or an Anchor.

Maria was a weakness of the Jäger I probably should have silenced but didn't. I wonder why. Maybe in respect of her Chain. One of which I've decided to hunt same with the others. The circle must be closed once and for all.

I bite my lip a bit when the horses turned and bucked a bit and I had to rein them in a bit. By the goddess I'm more used to metal working than working horses. While I do complain a bit of this unfamiliar experience this has been a bit of a convenience for me, because most of the time I go by foot or through use inhuman forms instead.

Transformation isn't difficult for me to do but it feels uncomfortable to the point that I've grown to dislike it. I can only transform at certain times and under specific circumstances. This isn't one of them so my use of animals to travel long distances is preferred and a blessing.

I rested back on the wood and canvas of the wagon. In one had I had the reins and in the other I pat the top of my future Demon Hound partner. I pat her head while applying a bit of Od and Carnage to her system at every turn once I feel her body has adjusted. Soon the blood within her will begin to cement itself then I'll begin to train her for the Hunt.

All Hunters can have a primal and pure partner of whom they bond with on a nearly intimate level. Pure by the means that animals cannot be corrupt and evil for they have only instinct and not free will. Through the introduction of blood and build of trust between beings soon she will be a force to fear. I've had only two partners in my lifetime being a lizard that conducted lightning and fairies. Three of them I remember to this day.

I looked up to the sky and smiled at the memories of the three sister fairies that traveled with me and shielded me from harm. One time came to mind and it was the day we lost our little addition as well. I was a bit more zealous in my youth as well.

Eight years ago

Rumors are a powerful tool to use. Most overlook them but rumors are what can easily topple a kingdom or make a poor peasant into a noble man. Rumors are the "he said this" or "I heard that" that spawn from the essence of truth in some manner. It can be based on real events over exaggerated to make it sound more appealing. It can be talk based on pointless assumptions on subjects' men cannot comprehend. I myself have heard many different sorts of rumor and banter from my surroundings. I've listened in closely to men and woman which lead me to this hunt in the west. It's been a while since I've been isolated, and my Master has taken up the task of expelling a revenant up north. I'm left to do this alone, finally.

My master would reprimand me on the use of rumors to lead me along my hunt, but I see this going no other way. In a world of monsters and magic words are powerful when collectively linked. I've heard from both sides of the plan, a feat many magic users have yet to succeed in without losing their souls. I myself have been on the other side too long and now have permanently made my place in the land of the dead. Spirits of the dead are even around me now. They're moaning and groaning about how they didn't deserve their deaths. They demanded and plead for me to surrender my body to them so they may live again. I know they won't try me. Many of the dead and monsters of the deep have tried to take what's mine and failed. I hate it when they try; it makes me feel cold and relive their demise, but my right arm is hungry for more souls to take. The feeling of absorbing a new soul is if for a lack of a better word...euphoric. A painful pleasure that burns into my very soul putting though a pain in which would make most men faint from it but then the feeling of power. The feeling that courses through my body takes me out of Hell back to heaven and finally down to the living world in a crash.

Got to love that feeling.

I know by the increase of the tattau on my arm it does as well. I'm still missing a couple Signs though, but I can feel that I'm nearing one. A rumor lead me to a small town but sadly I'm lost a forest. I haven't seen the light of day for over three days now. The rain just keeps falling. I hope this isn't a bad omen.

I closed my eyes to the dark and the whispers of the dead in this haunted place.

Somewhere in a forest I sit and watch a couple men after a successful kidnapping resting under a tree. They do this to shield themselves from the rain. The sit here in the forest on their last rope wondering about the forest of darkness in which they reside in. They sit wondering just why they were sitting there with a girl in which they doubt they can cash anything much from her. They sit wondering if they should just leave her to die after having a bit of fun with her. It's none of my business to get in the way of humans and their vices. It's not my role.

"Keh!" One man large in his build and size wearing cheap typical Iron armor with some fun underneath for warmth and cushioning. The man had a scar in his left cheek but not from a slash with a sword like most would assume. Instead it came from branch while the band were running through the forest with their package. His looks aren't what most women would call appealing, but that doesn't mean he hasn't had his own experience with a multitude with them.

Swine all of them.

"Fuckin wet!" The man drank from his water skin. By the flush of his cheeks though that was anything but water. "Always Fuckin Wet!"

"Yeah," one man who was medium in his build dressed in simple travelers' clothing and hat agreed with his own sort of ire even though he choose not to. "Damn I'm hungry boys. Not even a a little grub with all the shit towns we hit." The man had his own skin but with water in it. He lifted it up but stopped the moment it touched his lips. He grunted and placed it back down. "I'm tired of all this rain and water. Must be a curse or something."

"At least we be dry right now." Said the largest man of the group with a disgruntled look on his face. "At least we didn't leave empty handed." Eyes of mischievous intent turned toward the little girl that they capture. A small brown haired girl wrapped in two pigtails down her back at the age of maybe 13 or 14. Well that would make her a young woman now though and about as old as me. She wore a simple light brown dress and white gown. Bound and gagged in the mercy of these five men she was afraid. What girl wouldn't be afraid in this sort of situation? This girl is afraid but was standing fast. She's willing to put up a resistance to anything these men plan to do with her.

I closed my eyes. Again, this wasn't any of my business. I rested my mind to get some sleep after three days of walking.

"How much ya think we can sell fo her?"

"If not much then I want her!" A gangly creature of a man stepped up to the top of the roots bearing down on the little girl.

I blanked out the rest of what the men were talking about. Most of it was horror talk of sacrificing women to a pagan tree god. The short gangly one who suffered a limp kick to his manhood took the little girl by the hand and dragged her to the tree. He drew a knife to cut her up and began with cutting her dress open from the neck down. The man would've had his way if not for one little sprite should've minded its own business. I knew it was a mistake to bring the other one with me, but I can only blame myself. He doesn't understand how I work or manage so I've only myself to blame for this.

"Yer! Wat's that?" A flower petal fell on the short goblin like man's hand. "W-Who's there?" The man looked directly at my spot under the tree in its small cavern. He could probably see the sprite poking his head out of my side pack that houses the little ones. That is the only way he could even see me at all or even know where I was. "Hey," the goblin man called out again brandishing his knife. "C'mon on out!"

I was about to ignore the goblin until I felt the cursed tree behind me move. It was time to move after all. Lightning stuck over head with enough light to reveal my form to the both the little girl and the goblin of a man. The men shrieked at the sight of my black ghostly form or maybe the hood in the shape of a wolf with red eyes. I don't know or care. I had better get out of this tree before it swallows me and makes me its new sacrifice. You talk about ghost stories at the wrong time and something like this happens.

Slowly, I took to my feet whilst stuffing the fairy back into pouch on my leg. The girl looked at me with cold sweats falling from her forehead as the light engulfed my form revealing me to the group once more. My appearance is meant to be foreboding and to keep the curiouser individuals at bay. It seems to be working in a way.

The goblin of a man stepped back falling over the root he was standing almost landing on the fire. "What the!?"

"Who the fuck are ya." The largest demanded.

"What are you doin' here huh?" The one with the strange hat challenged more out of fear than anger.

Each of the man brandish their own preferred weapons which didn't seem like much. I don't like to kill unless I know I can get something out of it, but then again that girl might fetch a good price at her home. Play the role of the savior and extort a prize from the parents. Wouldn't be the first time I've done this and walked away usually with a magical artifact, priceless heirloom, or coins. Who knows maybe the family this girl belongs too may relinquish a sword made to slay dragons. I've one on my back that can slay a dragon or so the story goes. It can kill anything and everything so far to my knowledge.

I lifted my hood slightly up to reveal hellish red eyes that made the man creep back away from me. What made it worse was the fact that my hood responds to the power I use. Once it comes off my power becomes unshackled. At this point I can almost stare holes in the courage of man. I pulled my face mask down revealing my frown. "Trying to sleep."

"What!"

"I was trying. To. Sleep." I asked one of their questions from before.

The goblin one and large man stepped up to me. "When did you get here?" The large one grumbled.

"I was here before you," I answered.

"Oh," the goblin readied his knife, "A smart one huh." The man tapped his knife on his hands. "Some ass makin fun of me. His guts'll take the place of the slag's, even if I have to drag 'em outta him!" The man licked his knife. I stepped toward and snatched the knife from this weak grip and replaced it to his mouth so fast I caught his tongue on his top lip.

"I have a better idea." I slashed inward in a spray of blood. I cut him as deeply as the dull knife allowed and that was it. He kept his tongue but had a nicely sized slash on it. The side of his mouth as well is cut open a pinkies width or so. "AHHHH!" The man screamed with his mouth wide open and hands up in shock. I placed the knife in one of his open hands and closed his fist. "You can have that back," I said in a bore tone as I walked past him to the larger man.

"That story about guts and sacrificing as well, do you believe it truth or a rumor?" The big man grumbled not at all feeling sorry of his friend whose mouth I made wider and just stared at me.

"What of it if it is, you got sometin' to offer boy?" I heard the faint level of hostility grow in his tone I think because of the fact that now that my jaw was revealed so was my skin color. My age never matters when this comes up. If he's one of them this might not end well but by the look of wariness in his eyes the big one isn't stupid. He saw what I did and knew the level of skill it'd take to do it.

"No, I'm just tired and wanted to get some dry sleep, but I can't under a cursed tree. I would leave if I were you if you don't want to die."

"B-Bastard, you mud puppy do you know who I am? Mmm?" The man smirked at the nickname he used on me.

I took a breath and shook my head and said, "I don't care, if you stay here this will be the last place you will ever see. Your deaths mean nothing to me." The man with the traveler's hat gulped at the tone I adopted. From the normal emotionless to a deathly cold monotone. Ever since I lost my emotions I can only project through my energies and the traveler was seconds from running.

"Are you fuckin stupid boy," the goblin cried with his knife up and other hand around his mouth.

"Some mud pup can't scare us."

"Yer' outnumbered so how do you like your chances?" The large one looked ready to attack.

I felt my arm tremble. I took it in hand and breathed out slowly. "Leave now or die," I warned them.

The big man growled and clenched is weapon. "I was goin to let ya off muddy," he said with a small growl before pulling his chain mace back. "But ya just ta stupid like the rest of yer kind." The man spun the chains, "So now I'll crush yer head in!" The chained flail came down towards me. I simply stepped to the right toward the path and watched them fire past me. My right arm bolstered growing in sized not that my coat would show it. I positioned my hand at my hip and uppercut upward into his jaw. The sound of a cracking jaw and shattered teeth that gave way resounded in the clearing despite the pitter patter from the rain. My gloves got covered in blood as the man fell down to the ground wallowing in pain.

"If I'm the mud pup," I stomped the back of the man's neck into the wet dirt and roots. "Then why are you the one in the mud right now?" My arm decreased in size sending a wave of pain though my body, but nothing I couldn't handle without showing any sort of indication I was in pain right now.

"Y-you bastard." The man I've yet to engage cursed.

I looked back to the girl ignoring the men entirely. I pulled her gag off and drew a knife. She flinched against the action, but I held her in place and in one swipe cut the bindings from her hands. "If you want to live stay down." I gently pushed her down to her knees and took to my feet to face the remaining three. I rose my left arm up and pointed towards the men.

"You muddy… What are you pointing at?" I was pointing at something and the man in the middle pointed to himself. I shook my head. They heard something move behind them to which I had to lift my face mask back up and take a step back. The men looked back to the tree. A tree that grew faces of anguish, pain, anger, and much more. A large opening in the bark grew a maul large enough to swallow a man whole with the faces moaning and groaning in pain. The girl screamed as a large hand shaped branch came down and crushed two of the five men in a splatter of blood and guts.

"Monster!" one man yelled before he was grabbed. The tree took the two men in a wooden hand and brought the remains to its maul. The last man ran for the hills into the rain leaving me, the girl, and the ones I'm carrying. The girl fell back on to her butt in near panic but stayed in place.

"Misty can you help me?" A light exited my back pouch and twirled around me.

"Of course." The fairy smiled at me and perched herself on my arm. I basked in the I'd within the area and took aim.

"Ketka tala pardon," I chanted in a prayer lost to humans but not to us. The markings in my arm responded in a ghastly blueish glow.

Misty smiled and twirled around my arm compressing the Od for one blast instead of a stream. She stopped on the top of my hand in the same stance as me. "Bye Bye baddy." The magic expelled from my hand in a ball. "Fire ball!" Misty roared, and the spell came to life as the branches can down on us. The hand blasted back and the bulk of the ball of light flew into the maul of the tree and exploded outward engulfing the spirits of the damned in hell fire. I let my hands fall and Misty flew over to my shoulder. "Anything else Lovely?"

"No," I shook my head. "Thank you." Misty giggled and pecked my cheek. I rose and eyebrow at the action, but she just winked and returned to my back pouch. I drew Hate and slashed a mass of roots headed my way with ease. The fire was slowly spreading.

"And who said wet wood can't make a fire." I heard behind me but ignored it. I vaulted over a root and rolled out of the way of a hand. I reached into my sack and tossed a grenade over and ducked under some roots. The explosion rocked the tree back but it happened on the opposite side of the girl thankfully. "Pak," the newest addition to my entourage poked his head out of my pack. "You started this so protect the girl."

"Okay." The only male fairy I have flew out of my right-side pack to the girl with two of his chosen weapons in hand.

I leapt over to the base of the burning tree and climbed with my feet up as far as I could. I stabbed my Hate into the base and growled when it barely gave way. I kicked up and slammed my weight down cutting the base all the way open. I tossed another grenade into the opening with the fuse lite and walked way to the girl. She looked over to me as I sheath my sword and the explosion went off blasting my coat forward and her back a little. The tree groaned with its many faces but didn't move anymore. The tree is dead.

The sun suddenly started to break through the sky after days of travel.

"The sun is out." Misty emerged from my back and perched on my left shoulder.

"Reaaaly!" Another light came out as well and took my right shoulder.

"Tris, " I greeted the fairy with a pony tail that falls between her wings like a tail.

"So nice. Bout damn time we got some light." The last one slouched on my head. I picked her up and placed her next to her twin Misty who has short child bob cut of hair instead of the long hair Misty does.

"Come one Dawn don't be that way," the other sibling tried to say but way cut off by a palm to the face.

"I've been wet for over two days and not in the way I like." Dawn grumbled. Tris turned a healthy shade of golden from her sister fairy's words. She still shook her head at her almost shameless use of words. I looked up and let my face mask fall finally. I looked over to the girl who was standing up looked at me, almost admiring me, silently. I looked behind her and reached for a knife. A root came to life and lifted to take her. "Yaa haa!" I was about to help her but Pak was doing his job well and exorcised the spirit easily forcing it out of the roots to the sun were it faded to hell or wherever ghosts go.

"Sure to kill every time." Pak smiled at the girl as we hung at eye level. "Holy Knight in training Temple Pak is here."

Tris rolled her eyes.

"Dumb ass," Dawn cursed being in the right for once.

"That's mean." Pak looked back pouting a little. "I just saved an innocent girl's life again."

Misty giggled. "Pak you such a trip." Pak didn't understand just what the female fairy meant by that and smiled again thinking it was a compliment. It wasn't.

"You talk too much to. I hate men that talk too much," Dawn played out harshly.

Pak stuck out his tongue then said, "I bet that's why you have dreams about him too huh?"

"WHAT!" Dawn turned gold, dark gold over her entire body flashing a glare to Pak that if looks could kill he would be six inches under already. Before Dawn could attempt to and probably succeed in killing Pak I rose my hand to her and took her wings in hand. "H-Hey you son of a bitch! Let me go!" The fairy struggled with her spear waving around in a frenzy. "I'm gonna kill him!"

"Enough." I said firmly. Dawn scowled but didn't move from my shoulder when I placed her down. "Good work Pak and…"

"AHHHHH!" I didn't get to finish for the little girl screamed and backed away from us and Pak. I blinked and looked around to nothing to warrant that.

"Huh?" Pak looked confused. "I-I just saved you."

"She afraid of you 'useless'. Good job scaring another little girl." Dawn commended with and smirk and use of his nickname.

"But I-I didn't do anything," he whined.

"Y-You're elves …all elves." The girl stepped back away from the bleeding Pak who suffered from his own attack. "From the other world to kidnap me."

I looked over to Tris and she looked blankly over to me. I gave the same look to the twins to the same I stopped at the girl and bent over.

"Other world?" Pak rubbed his head then shook it. "What other worlds are there?" The girl blinked staring into my hood with curiosity and some assurance as far as I can see.

"She's scared," Dawn commented on.

"I can tell as well. Did you hear what she called us?" Misty looked over to Tris. "Elves, haven't been called that for a long time."

The little girl's eyes shoot from one "elf" to the next in confusion. "Y-You mean you're not from the other world…or elves."

Dawn sighed and laid back. "I ain't given the girl the talk so one of you three do it."

"Sister," Misty looked over to Dawn who just laid there on my shoulder.

"We are "elves'," Tris rose two fingers on both hands to symbolize the quotations. "In some of the folklore of many of you humans believe in, but in all actuality, we're not them."

"We," Misty pointed to Pak, Tris, and then herself, "Are 'fairies' not elves. They're our cousins I guess you can say. We share the ears, hair, magic, and base desires to find a home in this world, but they're tall like humans and can be seen without the need of belief."

"And our home is with him." Dawn pointed to me from her arched over position with only her little hand showing before putting back down leaving her legs the only thing visible.

"Yes," Misty cleared her throat, "Elves build kingdoms even though they were torn down by man. They still live but in the other world I suppose."

"Mainly thanks to him," Dawn interrupted Misty once more who looked over to her. Dawn huffed and turned on her side away.

"You understand little girl." Pak asked as he flew up back to eye level of the girl. Said girl looked down at the ground in response.

"Must have been a lot to take in," Tris noted as she leaned on my neck to rest in the sun.

"I suppose so," I agreed before undoing my cloak and removed it from my body. I walked over to the girl and dropped it over her shoulder. "Here, to cover that." I pointed to the opening in her dress.

She took my cloak, "Thank you," she said before wrapping it around her body. I nodded and removed my hood from my head showing the girl my face and head and to soak up the sun's rays as well.

"Your village of yours, can you lead me too it?" I asked.

"Yes, sir I can." She said respectfully.

"Lead the way."

"Yeah and hurry it up girl we ain't got all day," Dawn complained.

"Ignore her." Pak but on a reassuring smile. "Dawn is like that to everyone."

"It okay." The girl pointed in a direction. "This way."

The Present

That was a long time ago when life was so simple. I didn't need to think for myself; I needed to only do. Find and hunt til time stopped for me. It wasn't until I got older that my view of the world became complicated.

I wonder how Misty and Tris are to this day and if they found that home in the other world. I hope so after everything we went through together and after the Battle of Mol'rend.

I wonder about that girl as well I saved. The town Mayer was nice enough to give me a sword for my troubles. The people were nice as well. Sadly the story didn't end on a good note.

I looked down to Arsenal who was resting on my lap. I took a hand and pat her gently in her nice warm coat with her making it warmer by shaking her head back and forth when I started. That was the past thought and this is now. This wolf is my next proxy, and my blood will make her grow fast. It shows in the week we have traveled together that she's growing. I can say that in one or two months she'll be fully grown and ready for training.

The same can be said with Miata. With every touch, pet, and kiss a bit of my soul and its presence injects itself within her but only from skin to skin contact. I've repeatedly removed my gloves and I've kissed the little girl on her forehead enough to see the difference in her presence. She won't ever notice it but once she grows she will be stronger and faster than the normal man. She'll be capable of protecting herself without me.

I pat the wolf on her belly as she slept and the memories faded.

I can count on this little wolf to keep a good pair of eyes and a nose on Miata the entire time just to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish. I can't watch her forever, and once I leave I don't wish for her to be alone. I plan for the two to become inseparable for that reason. With the right training and how I'm aligning their souls together Miata will soon have Arsenal as a partner and she won't a jäger either. That's for the best, and having a pup with the ability to smell out the yoma kind can be useful.

I have no need for a partner anymore but Miata, once I let her go she needs a protector and a friend.

I looked back to Miata as she kept an eye on our friend in the back. I learned that the woman's name is Ophelia and ranked 4th compared to her brethren, and not willingly. I was forced to break into her mind and take hold of the surface answers before I ran into the mental block on her mind. She's been a bit difficult and resistant to my interrogation. I don't necessarily like physical torture especially on a mind so young. Probing the mind of this little girl has been quite… easy.

She reeks of prior tragedy and is suffering from an old loss she's yet to recover frim. I call her a little girl because her soul, her inner self, has yet to hit its adolescence. She's like a child with a loaded gun. Dangerous and unpredictable but she's susceptible to mental and emotional manipulation. Miata is stronger than her and she's a child still.

I looked back as the two talked with one another and frowned. I'd prefer if the two of them didn't really converse, but Miata has persisted with speaking her fellow little girl. When I used my spirit sight I see a 12 year old and a 6 year old enjoying playful batter back and forth, but I'm not a fool. Ophelia has decided it was within her best interest to teach my little girl choice things and it's caused me some unrest. I've persisted to seal her with every time she decided to teach Miata something she shouldn't have and the process is very painful and invasive. She's lightened up after the fourth time.

I looked back to my pup and pat her back to get her up. The wolf lazily rose her head up to look up to me and I gestured back with my head. "Keep an eye on her." The wolf looked back to me understanding what I was saying. She climbed up and jumped up to my shoulder. Then she kick up to the wagon and climbed on back. I was almost uncertain of my choice to place a portion of my own humanity into the pup. I've pondered on whether or not that it would reject it then die. Thankfully, it took to my humanity well which is good. That's why it can understand what we say and is intelligent enough to follow along with what we say now. It took some time but after healing her it seems to be taking root.

I plan to do the same to a native bird here to use as a messenger from one contact to the next. That man that died before, the driver of the wagon, could have been a good contact. I say the high point of this is the fact I found all the bera he had gotten from me and from the other four. I pulled the gold from my pocket and rattled them in hand before pushing them into a pouch on my side.

I'm surprised they didn't kill the horses but grateful they didn't. We have a nice brown stallion with strong legs and deep black eyes and a black painted one with the same black eyes. Both are healthy and unharmed and rode well even with their original owner dead. The yoma didn't even touch them but there is still blood from the horses' back and along his left leg. I need to clean the two off at some time. If I could I would stop right quick and get it over with fast, but fresh water wasn't easy to come by. What I did find I didn't wish to pollute with monster blood.

This is the second time I've run in with the modified wendigo of this land and this is the second time that normal animals have been left alone with only human casualties. Before in Miata's town the chickens in their pins we're left untouched and they didn't even touch the horses being a means to escape.

Why do they attack only humans and not animals as well? Many animalistic wendigo in the past would attack anything as long as has meaty portions. They don't need to restrict to just humans while it's more enjoyable for them if they do. Maybe these can't survive without long pig. If so they're blood thirsty beasts erasing their Severity to Red. They must be destroyed or collared, and I don't plan to collar trash.

I rose my nose up and took in a good scent of mud and fish. I looked over to the side and in the distance I could smell fresh water maybe eight or nine miles from me. Only reason I can tell is because of the head wind blowing on the horses and the wagon. I can finally give them a bath and take one myself.

"Papa!" I tensed fighting the urge to jump like a little girl or yelp like a dog scared of its shadow. I looked back then down panting like a dog. This is what happens when you are deep in thought and then a loud girl screams in your ear. "Hehehe," Miata giggled when she saw me tense like I did. Slowly I took a moment to breath in then breath out before acknowledging what happened.

"Y-yes-yes," I breathed out still not looking down at the girl but up seeing that she was above me instead of below me.

"Ophi said to call you a bastard," she announced proudly and turned her head towards me to praise her.

My eye twitched. "Really now?"

"Hehaahehe." I heard the woman laughing behind me as well. Telling my girl to curse at me is bad enough but to laugh about it is something I can't let go.

"Miata," the little girl ducked her head at the emptiness of my voice. "Take the reins for me."

The girl blinked and looked back up to me. "But Miata don' know how."

I pat her on the head and pulled her to me with my hand still on her head. She climbed up to the front and sat next to me. "Just hold these," I handed the reins to her. "And hold on while pulling either left or right to go that way."

Miata looked at the reins the back to me with tears. "But Miata don' know which way left or right," she cried cutely. I wiped the tears that threatened to fall and smiled softly at her.

"Always the cry baby Miata."

The girl shook her head and wiped her eyes herself. "Miata isn't crying."

"Good," I nodded. "Now I will be in the back for a second." I took to the back and slipped into the back avoiding most of the stuff in the back.

"Well look who it is," Ophelia mused from her spot on the floor, "come to chasten me big brother?"

I bent over to the woman and got in her face. I rose my hand up to her face and wagged my finger left and right. "Woman don't you ever learn? Please reframe from telling me my girl anymore curse words Ophelia or else," I clenched my fist and we both watched it take to a glow from the minuscule amount of aura encasing it. If she wants to play games with me I'm more than willing and we have all night once we stop.

Keen to my unspoken promise of coming spiritual torture the smirk on the number four's face diminished slowly as I leaned back up and sat up on the bench. Arsenal jumped up to the bench and laid her head on my lap. The wolf dog has become overly affectionate since her spirit healing.

I pat her head and scratched her ears with my gloveless hand but sustained my visual attention on the thing in front of me. This inhuman but human thing. "Now," I continued on. "Since I'm back here would you kindly tell me a little more about yourself or do you wish for another session?"

She knows what I mean by that as well. I don't harm her physically because she's easily endured pain that could put some Jäger to shame. So spiritual torture was my method of obtaining answers. No one in this world has a more damaged spirit than mine. This damage spirit would drive even the strongest willed of individuals plummeting into madness until their deathly escape.

I've a wound given to me by Her. A wound that allows me to transfer that pain to others if need be which is why I was made The Hunter to begin with. Why I'm the best assassin, hunter, murderer, and killer. Why they tried to kill me only to be annulled by me in the end.

"I…" the woman looked unsure and lost a bit of the bearing she held before. It's funny. Not too long ago she was insulting me and Miata for being human and now she's at my mercy in every form of the word. "You know it isn't fun to do this if you don't react like you should?" She jested in hope of changing the subject away from lighting her spirit form on fire like I have in mind. It would be so painful for her and would feed a certain part of me if I allow it to host for a moment. I decided to humor her after all I've already broken her.

"Don't care, can you not tell Miata words like that. She's only a little girl Ophelia. I hope you can understand that." The woman closed her human eyes to me and nodded solemnly.

"I meant it only as a joke and it's not a curse word or anything. It has meaning outside that and it is true isn't it?" she questioned with her human eyes on me. "I can't imagine you becoming who or what you are and having a good childhood with loving parents to take care of you."

"I didn't," I answered honestly. "I've had one parent and she was a slave."

"Ah, so you're a runaway maybe from the west province, yes?"

"If it helps you find solace you may think that way if you wish."

"That would mean that you possibly been exposed to her then. That would also explain your… talents." I've no idea what she means or who this "her" is, but I'm sure I'll find out eventually. This woman seems a bit unsettled by the woman she's referencing to.

Suddenly the woman shakily leaned up with a fair amount of resistance from her body. She grit her teeth as she scoot her human and frail body to the other side of the wagon to face me. She's gained back her mobility somewhat it seems. It's happened a little sooner than I had thought. With the mixture of my blood and the power block the brown of her eyes has yet to fade away into its silver from before. I expected her immobile until those silver eyes returned. I might've miscalculated her tenacity.

So far it's been around three days since we've been cursed with her presence. It's been two since the questioning began. I don't many more questions left I want answered. I've taken much of what I wanted including faces and identities of the Handlers of this land. That's another factor we have in common with this group of monster hunters. Since I have most of what I wanted to know now I'm at the decision of what to do with this thing. I know we're nearing to the holy city and wonder if I should bother with bringing this woman with me. Maybe I should just kill her.

I thought of my options and not many of them are good. One day someone somewhere is going to begin looking for this missing toy. While they may not feel us in their senses, all beast hunters have an awareness to track their prey, and one day they will come for her and will interrogate her about me. Thankfully I'm a professional mind breaker and placed the necessary mind trips in her mind to snare any and all information about me she might come up with. With a wave of my hand the snares will fade taking all and any information they trapped with them. Always have a way out, the motto all thieves live by.

Arsenal suddenly dropped down and trot to Ophelia and licked her hand. "Go away mutt. Now." The woman pushed the pup way before turning the pale reflection of a heated glare my way. "I can't believe I'm still effected by your touch." I smirked lightly at just how that statement could also be taken. A smirk that Ophelia saw and frowned at. "You know what I mean!"

"Right, my touch effected your body in an unforgettable way right."

"Shut up," she said to my unnecessary teasing. "You're a strange human."

"And you're an inhuman being that isn't like the Awakened being you mentioned or those Yoma I've slain. You're more an enigma than I am."

"No," she shook her head. "You are."

I shrugged and took to my feet. "You still don't have your powers so take it easy with your movements."

"Why," Ophelia rose her arms and stretched. "I feel ahhh!" Ophelia dropped down back to her make shift pillow of carpet and cloth. I did seal away her powers and place pressure on her spirit until it broke. While she doesn't remember how or when she will remember just why it happened subconsciously. The process is coming along nicely and in just another day I will have my very first agent; granted she'll a sleeper agent but an agent regardless. She won't even know what she's doing while doing it and will think it was be on her own accord. What better way to gain the advantage over possible enemies than to use their tools against them?

"We're going to stop at a lake soon. Would you like some water or food? I'm not sure how much you eat or drink on a daily basis." To be honest I've yet to feed her anything or give her anything to drink just to test her reaction to such treatment. She's not suffering from hunger pains and her stomach has yet to shrink possibly meaning they don't need to eat human sized portions on a daily . I can go two weeks without food and a month without water during long travels without any hunts or mishaps but that's because of synergy of Ki, Chi, and Od. For long hunts this lengthens the time but I run a risk of doing this as well.

"Ara what makes you think that I don't eat entrails of human men or drink blood instead of water?"

I tilted my head to the side a bit as I stared at the woman claiming to be a blood-starved beast for some reason. Even though she took in a bit of my blood I did the same as well. The difference between us and the wendigo is the fact that we don't survive off the blood or the human meat. I shiver at the thought of eating human. I'd rather eat an elf or a fairy than a human. I leaned back a little and responded evenly, "Because, I am not clueless and if you keep this up I will let you starve 'Ophi'."

The Claymore let out a breath. "You will not call me that. Your little brat is enough."

"That "brat' has name."

"You're right, the girl."

I came to the realization that I'm wasting my time talking to this thing and walked to the front. "I suppose you don't want some food then huh." With that I walked up to the front and sat next to Miata.

"Papa, did Miata make you mad at Ophi?" The little girl asked.

"No sweetie," I said taking a page from an old friend. "But you said a bad word," I said looking down at the little girl.

"Ohhh." The girl nodded her head and sucked herself in. "Miata do a baddy."

"Are you crying again?"

"I's not ah cray baybi." I didn't ask if she was but she's child and prone to think of prior information when they pertain to the same subject.

"Then prove it." I glared directly at the girl awaiting her to stop. Miata snort what I can assume is snot and rapidly wiped her eyes of the proof that will prove her crybaby status to me. Miata looked up to me with blood shot eyes and a smile. "Good now you see that over there?" I pointed out and Miata looked at my hand then followed it out. "What's that Miata?"

"A lake!" She said excitedly. "Papa can we go pwease?"

"Yes," I stated. "We can wash up and eat." Miata's expression turned sour. "I'll also wash your hair and your back princess."

She smiled and nodded making a soft "Mmmhmm" noise before happily whipping out the reins to get the horses moving. Ever the fast learner it seems.

A/N: This chapter will introduce the possibility of him regressing back to his past without meaning to. The bits and pieces will fit together in time.