Author's Apologies: Hey everybody! Thanks for all the positive reviews you've given to Hunters' Day Off. I really appreciate them...but I just like to say sorry. I'm really sorry that I didn't make the second chapter for Hunter's Day off, and instead, I made a stupid prequel. Well, I have an excuse for that. Before I was able to read any reviews in Hunters' Day off, I was already working on this prequel because I believed that the story lacked something...how did it happen? I continued making the prequel even after reading the reviews, and whew, I finally finished it. If you're reading this, I'm probably already working on the second chapter for Hunter's Day Off. So quit reading this and indulge your eyes into the prequel called...

How It Came To Be
Chapter I

Blood dripped.

Red fluid trailed down his cheeks to his chin. And drop per drop, it fell to the floor. His tattered clothes barely stuck to his body, and cuts lined his arms and face. He was down on his knees, like a lifeless stone figure of pain. On his right hand, he held a burnt piece of papyrus—stained with his blood.

"Marron!" the rest of the Sorcerer Hunters called out to him.

"Marron!" his older brother Carrot repeated, "What in the world are you doing?! Why'd you get in my way?!"

His head turned to his comrades; they saw all his cuts and bruises in full-view. Sweat combined with blood. His nicely fixed hair was now in disarray and tangled by the attack. Every part in his body resembled hurt. They could hardly form out his bloody visage because of the strands of hair stuck to his face. Yet he still pushed himself to utter words.

"I-I'm okay..." he lied.

He met his brother's stare with his, "This sorcerer knows our abilities, Carrot. If I let you take his attack...it—it might have killed you. Luckily...this spell I used weakened his attack." He tried to smile.

"I should have known," Tira gasped inwardly, with her deadly whip stretched. It was ready to strike. She gripped it so tightly that her knuckles were stressed under her white gloves. She was on her dominatrix outfit now, and so was her sister. They have decided that the sorcerer Marron was speaking off was a force not to be reckoned with.

They stormed the sorcerer's stronghold early in the evening but he was nowhere in sight. They tracked him and found out that he fled to his dungeon lair. And so their battle began. The Sorcerer Hunters attacked their enemy with full force—but to no avail. They fought him endlessly yet they haven't gained the upper hand. They were beginning to fall one by one. Marron was the first.

Their battle ground was rough and dim. Only torch lights brightened the environment. Concrete walls of rock and wood enclosed the place, and the air seemed to be thick of smoke and dust. The stone that formed the very dungeon looked weary and old as if it would crumble at the very blast of dark magic—but it did not. Perhaps the sorcerer had a hold over the dungeon, or maybe dark magic itself empowered it.

And there before them was the dark shadow they were assigned to annihilate. The sorcerer—Maedes Cort.

"You're a smart one," the sorcerer jeered. He stood defiantly against his enemies. "You must be Marron.

"I have heard of you. You are the Sorcerer Hunter who had mastered Mesopotamian magic. And this magic along with your wits could be a deadly arsenal against any foe...but," he grinned grimly, "your petty magic tricks are worthless compared to mine. I have no need of mediums as outlets for my power. I have no use of such papyrus you hold in your hand. My power can never be controlled into mediums such as that. For I am invincible!"

He laughed arrogantly. "I am what you call an Ultimate Sorcerer of Spooner!"

"Your nothing more than a measly sorcerer we destroy everyday," Marron's jaw tightened. "You are just like the rest of your kin. You waste you time incessantly ranting about—brandishing you power and highness among others. But you could have finished us off seconds ago. That is the weakness of the sorcerers we face. Your pride will end your life!"

"Easier said than done, is it not?" Maedes snapped back at him, "Such words shall bring your death Sorcerer Hun—!"

Gateau came from nowhere and instantly clasped his massive arms around the sorcerer's chest. He had completely immobilized his whole upper body. Then he began tightening his hold on the sorcerer as if he was struggling to break free. But he was not. He just stood there and looked at his assailant.

"Gateau," Maedes spoke again, "a Sorcerer Hunter with such primal physical force and speed that he could easily render anyone helpless to his strength."

"However," Gateau's hands began to unclasp but his muscles labored to prevent the sorcerer's effort, "you are as useless as Marron."

"Choco!" Gateau yelled, "Use your garrote! Hit him in the heart! Do it now!"

Maedes' eyes blazed red, "You have just wasted your energy shouting. She could do nothing to stop me!"

Chocolate took no moment to hesitate. With a swift leap to the air, she had already accurately darted her needle tipped garrote straight to his chest. It hissed almost silently through the air; only the very keen eye could have seen it coming. But Maedes was right; she could do nothing to stop him.

The garrote somehow bounced off from an invisible shield and went back to Choco. She didn't have anytime to react—it came too fast. Choco's eyes widened at the incoming strike. She only had seconds to breathe. She couldn't stop it, or at least deflect it. No! Her eyes screamed.

She heard the sound of leather wrapping around metal. It was only then that she realized she was still alive. She was lightly scratched in the shoulder, but not severely harmed. Choco held her bleeding shoulder reflexively and raised her face to see who saved her. Tira—of course.

She used her whip to catch the garrote and was able to bring it down to the ground. She saved her sister's life. But it seemed the other way around though. Usually, Choco saves her sister in their sorcerer hunting endeavors. For the first time, she felt ashamed that she panicked and almost harmed herself. Was it carelessness, she thought, or am I losing myself? She was lucky that Tira was there.

"Uh...thanks..." Choco slightly blushed.

"No prob..." Tira answered with an impish smile.

Their chitchat was cut short when they were startled by Gateau's agonized scream. He didn't have any strength left to contain Maedes. He almost slumped to the ground as he gave in, but the sorcerer lifted him to mid-air and sent him sprawling to the ground. Two down, three to go. Maedes craved for death. Death and blood.

"Is this the most feared Sorcerer Hunters in Spooner? Have I overestimated you?" he began to move his hand in a circling gyre. It was his final attack: a great burst of dark magic.

"It seems that you are nothing more than hapless insects that were caught in my web. Is there anything else that might amuse me before I shred you into pieces?"

Carrot gritted his teeth, "Sorry. This isn't our finest hour."

"Oh, so it seems."

"Well then," he had formed a blackish energy ball of pure dark magic. Electric material from his hands cycled the energy ball. And with a brisk shift in motion, he rose it up into the air, "prepare to DIE!"

Dust and air gushed upward with the sorcerer's energy, and it stalked the energy ball's path. The wind shuddered with its immense power. The booming force rushed to them like a thunder clap. Was this their end? Could they do nothing else but to watch themselves die? The questions came and left the minds of the Hunters, it seems that they have no other choice but to accept their fate.

With a desperate attempt, one of them jumped into the front line and embraced the incoming slaughter. The effect was an explosion. Debris and shrapnel flew from places and crashed with the concrete designs of the sorcerer's dungeon. More dust enveloped the area, and steam seemed to appear all around. All were stunned at what had just happened—even Maedes. He couldn't believe the energy ball he made would create such little devastation. It was impossible?! Maedes' hands clenched into fists, unless I have—?!

He scanned his whole attire. His black robe lined with golden edges—none. His brown leather boots—none. His belt fashioned with gold—none—wait! There it was! A thin rectangular papyrus was attached to his belt. Odd characters were written on it; a diminishing spell. Hell and Blood! Maedes swore and crumpled it. It eventually burned to ashes because of the black energy that emanated out of his body. How could it have happened? Why didn't I sense it coming in contact with me?

Marron's eyebrows met, "I told you, your pride will end your life. You brought your guard down when you formed the energy ball believing we were under your mercy. And so you never felt or saw it coming."

"Hah!" he spat, "The spell is removed whenever the medium is destroyed. How could you defeat me now? Definitely, you can't play the same trick on me twice. Not if..."

He felt a shadow overwhelm him. He didn't know who the energy ball hit, and his worst fears came to life.

The sorcerer cleared his throat, "Uh-oh..."

His eyes traced enormous furry legs under the dust and steam. He took a slight glance upward and saw Carrot on his zoanthropy form. He snarled at him, his demonic way of laughing. And the very walls trembled at his growl. With a gruff stomp, the sorcerer was crushed under his feet. The beast roared in triumph continually until he heard the sound of a whip clash with the floor. The zoanthropy quivered as he turned to face the Misu sisters standing behind him. They were ready for a little flogging.

"Kuwee?" Carrot's voice turned weak.

Poor and unbearable zoanthropy screams were heard throughout the night.

The Sorcerer Hunters left Maedes' lair later in the night when the castle began to crumble. It appears that the source of the castle's fortification was Maedes' dark magic. And with him dead, there was nothing left to empower it. Carrot had excruciatingly transformed to his normal appearance after escaping. However, Marron had been severely hurt in the battle. The wounds he gained were far too deep that it surpassed Tira's healing capabilities. And the diminishing spell he cast was actually too dangerous while he was at that state. Nonetheless, he took the risk and used it. Sometime in the night, he passed out. So Gateau carried him as they returned to their hideout in a village near Maedes' bastion.

Their hideout was a little cottage. It was semi-furnished and purely made out of wood. The interior designs were dull but livable, and some belongings of the recent tenants were left behind. This only meant that they abandoned the cottage in a hurry.

Carrot was so worn out with his transformation that he heaved himself into one of the hay-beds when they reached the cottage. And Gateau delicately placed Marron on another hay-bed. Soon the others surrendered to their exhaustion and laid their jaded bodies to some wooden benches just beside the beds to relax. But Tira couldn't get herself to rest, and so did Chocolate. Tira couldn't understand why she wasn't able to heal Marron though she had mastered her healing skills. And Chocolate couldn't help but wonder why she suddenly panicked and lost herself in the battle. Was she losing her edge?

Abruptly, a question ran across both their minds.

"Were you in it too?" Choco turned to Gateau for answers.

He nodded. He seemed to know what she meant.

"Then when did you both talk?" Tira was confused, "I never saw you talk to each other...or at least even make a gesture..."

Gateau chuckled, "You can call it Mutual Understanding."

"Mutual Understanding...?" Tira blushed.

"Yep," he grinned, "He and I seem to be connected...or something like that. When he pushed Carrot out of the sorcerer's attack and took it himself, I somehow, realized that Marron knew something we didn't. And that he was planning something. So when I attempted to stop the sorcerer," Gateau yawned wearily, "I felt him pass me one of his papyruses. Then I placed it to Maedes without him knowing and hoped for the best.

"And as you saw yourselves," he crossed his arms to his chest, "his plan worked and our asses were saved."

"Hmp," Tira pouted and her eyes narrowed beneath her dark shiny glasses, "that's not mutual understanding. It's called sheer instinct and coincidence."

Gateau's grin only grew wider, "Why are you so worked up on it, anyways?"

Smoke almost burst out from her ears. Her movement stiffed, and she seemed to quiver with anger because of her exertions. Her finger pointed furiously at their oblivious companion, "Because of him! Why did he have to risk his life?! He knew that it was too strong for him!"

"If he hadn't then we would have died."

"And what if it didn't work? Then Carrot—he might have died!" tears almost streamed out of Tira's eyes.

"That's the risk we take everyday, Tira. You should be well aware of that." Gateau said firmly.

Her voice turned grouchy, "I just can't believe that Marron would risk his brother's life and his own just to accomplish the mission. I was so worried that time..."

Choco faced her sister with puzzlement, "Who were you worried about? Darling or Marron?"

"Uh...uhm..." she panted, she didn't want to say it was Carrot. She knew that her sister loved him too—maybe even more. And she flaunted it almost everyday. Tira feared of what her sister might feel when she learns that she too has feelings for her darling. For she believed that Chocolate was superior to her in many ways. Not just in their age difference, but also in their attitude among other people. Tira was shy and mild-mannered while Choco was flirtatious and a bit of a show off when it comes to her affections. She even thought that her sister was prettier and sexier than she was. She had a very low self-esteem, but she didn't seem to realize it.

Chocolate was about to repeat her question when smoke suddenly popped out of nowhere and a feminine figure formed out of it. She had a blue outfit that reached her thighs, and intricate golden designs were etched on its ends. Her wings flapped momentarily to blow away the smoke. But some of it must have entered her nose; she coughed wildly and lost her poise.

"Greetings—Sorcerer—Hunters—," the winged angel with a childish tone spoke between coughs, "it's—your—lovable—Dota!"

Dota dusted off her skirt from excess dirt and smoke, "Sheesh...I think I should use a better entrance...something less smoggy...and more angelic...don't you think?" she winked with a tease.

The three just shrugged.

"Anyways," she continued, "how was the assign—Marron?!" her eyes shifted on each Sorcerer Hunter until they landed on Marron. She had never seen Marron in such an injured condition. He seemed to writhe continuously as he laid on the hay-bed, and his blood stained features only made the view worse. Dota squinted repetitively at the sight of him, "What happened?! Did you whip Marron too?!"

"Of course not!" a vein popped out of Tira's forehead. She couldn't believe Dota would think that way. "He did that to himself..."

Gateau shook his head, "Actually, it was Marron who saved our lives against that powerful sorcerer. That's why he's in a bad shape."

"Oh, poor Marron..." Dota went closer to Marron and tried to wipe off some dried blood out of his cheek, "Then why haven't you used your healing gizmo on Marron? Why are you trying torture him like this?"

"I'm not torturing him!" her temper was getting the best of her, "and just so you know, Dota, my healing gizmo doesn't have any effect on him. His wounds are probably worse than they seem."

Dota sulked and shook her head with displeasure, "Oh Tira...I can't believe you! I can't believe you took his words so personally!"

"What?!"

"Just because you aren't Marron's type doesn't make you have the right not to heal him!"

Gateau and Chocolate were taken aback by Dota's bold and baffling statement.

"WHAT?!" Tira shrieked.

"Oh I heard everything."

"As I recall," Dota moved her index finger in a circular motion while plunging into her memories, "I was walking by the halls of the Stella Church..."

I was strolling by to the library in the Stella Church. I was trying to find a book about a sorcerer since I don't have any knowledge about this guy. Big Mama said there might be some info in the library so I checked. But I didn't expect to see Marron and Tira there. They didn't seem to notice me entering since they were in some sort of argument.

I hid myself among the book shelves and began my eavesdropping. It's was harmless, I said to myself, but I didn't realize what they were talking about until it was too late...Shucks, too bad...

"Oh don't joke yourself, Marron Glace!" Tira tapped her finger on Marron's chest.

"I'm not, I'm telling the truth." Marron didn't seem mad though.

"Oh, really?! I saw you staring at a woman before...you might think no one saw you taking a slight glance on that Yester Day girl, but I know how men look like when they're checking out women!"

"Oh, what are you talking about, Tira? I was assessing the woman's condition. Besides, what do you know about men checking out women? You don't even have any experience about it. And you're not even a man..."

She thrashed her hands in annoyance, "Why? Why is it always so hard to talk to people who are so narrow-minded?"

Marron raised his eyebrow at her statement. Clearly, she was speaking out of temper and not from her mind. He just sighed and let her continue.

"Did you forget about your dear brother? The guy who checks out women everyday, did you forget about him?"

Marron simply nodded.

"Don't you think I'd know how men check out women before I began stopping Carrot from doing it?"

He was silent.

"And what are you talking about that I don't have any experience about men checking out women?" her lips twitched and a vein seemed to pop out from her temple.

"Let me answer that with another question," his golden orbs flickered, "Did anyone ever date you?"

"No..." her answer was hesitant.

"How about this: did anyone ever ask you out?"

Still, "No..."

"Finally, my last question," he smiled devilishly, "other than me, Gateau and Carrot, has any other male talked to you?"

"No!" she gritted her teeth with agitation.

Marron took a random book from the shelf beside them and began to read it, as if he was ignoring Tira's rage raise up another level. "Clearly, Tira Misu, you're nobody's type."

She breathed hoarsely, but she didn't stop from containing her anger, "How dare you say something so uncouth! And so untrue! Why, do you think you're such an eye-catcher?!"

"No, but I'm not so upset about it like you are." He was trying to avoid her stare, he seemed to fear what he might see if he didn't.

"That's because I'm not nobody's type—'cause—'cause—" her voice turned softer and she blushed under her glasses, "I'm still somebody's type you know..."

"Well, you're not my type..." he flipped the page of the book he was reading.

She clenched her fists with such fury that she seemed to radiate a red aura that usually comes out whenever she's infuriated by Carrot. This only meant she was going to KILL Marron now.

"Don't you think that's enough for me not to heal that narcissistic girl- hater?" Tira cut Dota's story short.

Author's Note: I don't know the term for the paper Marron uses on their battles so I just called them papyrus...ehehehe...