'You don't know what it is like to fight a demon and live' Those words had haunted Kay since they were first uttered days ago by Dais. He had hardly spoken again since that day.
She didn't want to bring up an obviously painful topic but she had to know, especially if it could bring her closer to her goal. She had to ask him tonight, tomorrow they would reach Faibree and this was not a subject she wished to bring up around potential prying ears.
That evening as they set up camp she finally broke the unnatural silence.
"Dais, when the demons attacked my clan all I was able to do was hide and watch as my people, my friends and family, were slaughtered by those despisable beings. I have to avenge them, with my last breath if that is the way it must be. Days ago you told me that I did not know what it was like to fight a demon and live, but you have it would seem.
"I hate to ask you this but..."
"You want to know about that," interrupted Dais, "Under normal circumstances I would never speak of it but as I was the one who chose to aid you in your quest I will tell you."
Seven years earlier; Outside of a small village near Faibree
The young man shifted his pack as he headed back to Kafe. He looked to be barely into his fourteenth summer. He had shoulder length black hair and blue eyes.
As he came closer to the village he was greeted by a young girl around ten summers in age, she had short black hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white blouse and a pale blue skirt. In her arms she was carrying a small package.
"Brother! You're back early, how did father's swords sell?" she asked.
"They sold very well, I've even got some commissions for next year. He really is a master at forging a blade," answered the youth.
"True," she grinned as she turned to head back to the village, "Oh! Dais?"
"Yes Serra?"
"While you were in Faibree a traveling monk arrived, you should go see him while he's still in town. Oh! I'm supposed to be taking this to Lynda. Tell me all about Faibree after dinner tonight okay?" And with that she took off to complete her errand.
'A monk? Strange... we hardly ever get travelers here... I'll have to ask father about him when I give him the money from his swords,' he thought as he continued to head back to town.
"Father, I'm home!" exclaimed Dais as he entered his father's workshop.
"Dais? You're back early, excellent timing though son," greeted his father as turned to see his son. He had short black hair peppered with gray however unlike his children he had brown eyes. Around his head he wore a steel-blue headband. He was wearing a short-sleeved gray shirt and gray trousers over this he wore a blacksmith's apron.
"So how was Faibree? Did you sell everything I sent with you?" he asked as he walked over to Dais.
"Yes sir, your blades are starting to become quite popular now, I got nearly twice the money we made last year. I even got some commissions for you," answered Dais as he gave his father the money and commission notes from his trip to the city.
"Good, very good. Now then, I hate to ask you this without giving you any time to rest, but could you do your father a favor? I'd do it myself but I have some other business I must attend to," he said as he walked back towards the workshop to retrieve a magnificent sword, "I just finished it today, could you take it to Brother Varg for a blessing? He won't be in town much longer but I would hate to miss an opportunity like this."
"Varg? Oh! He must be that monk Serra mentioned. Is he staying at the inn?" asked Dais as he took the sword from his father.
"Yes he is, he's probably packing right now, but I'm sure you will have enough time to get it blessed if you head out now."
"In that case I had better get moving," said Dais as he left the workshop with the blade.
When Dais arrived at the inn it did not take him long to determine which patron was the monk both his father and sister spoke of.
At first glance Father Varg appeared to be a tall, frail man. He had short, slate gray hair and amber eyes that were incredibly wolf-like. His clothing marked his status as a wandering monk of Govad, the wandering wind god without a temple.
"Excuse me, Father Varg..." began Dais, when Varg looked at him Dais noticed something odd about his face. He couldn't quite place what it was.
"Is there something I can do for you... I'm sorry, I thought I had already met everyone in this village," said Varg.
"I just got back from Faibree, I'm Caleb's son. He asked me to bring this to you before you left Kafe," said Dais as he unsheathed the sword. He was about to give the blade to the monk when he again noticed the inexplicable, almost unnatural look to the man's features.
Instinctively Dais pulled back his arm and now held the blade in a defensive stance, "What are you?" he demanded to know as he stared evenly at the monk's wolfish eyes. In that instant the monk let out a cruel laugh and his glamour faded, in the place of the 'monk' was a demonic being, the only feature of the monk glamour it retained were it's wolfish amber eyes. It seemed to be a disturbing cross between man, demon, and beast with it's clawed hands, leathery wings and it's feral wolfish face.
"And here I thought no mortal eyes could penetrate my illusions,"
Dais froze in shock at Varg's transformation, barely recovering in time to dodge a blow to his left shoulder.
When his first claw missed, Varg slashed at Dais with his other hand. Thinking quickly Dais met the clawed limb with his blade, grazing the demon's knuckles with a shallow cut. Crying out from anger rather than pain Varg began to attack far more aggressively than before and with such speed that Dais was barely able to guard against him.
Fighting against panic and keeping on the defensive Dais finally noticed an opening in Varg's own defense. Taking advantage of this apparent weakness he lunged forward to attack.
There was a brief shimmer in the air and time seemed to slow for Dais. Before him now was no longer the demonic creature Varg had become. Before him now was his sister, her face bearing the most terrified expression he had ever seen, and his blade was mere inches from her throat.
Panic filled Dais as he threw himself off balance to avoid striking her. Suddenly her visage of terror was replaced by a cruel grin as she lunged to strike at his heart with a clawed hand.
There was a violent flash of light, the demon shrieked as it's glamour melted. It's claw ricocheted away from his chest. Both combatants were shocked by this turn of events but Varg recovered first. Dais screamed in agony as the claw raked the left side of his face. Blocking out the pain as much as possible he managed to regain his balance and went on the defensive once more.
It did not take him long to realize that he could no longer see with his left eye. Unfortunately his opponent realized this as well and began to focus his attacks on Dais' blind side. With his defense compromised Dais changed tactics and went on the offensive, desperately hoping to hit Varg in a vital place. The demon laughed, grinning manically as most if not all of Dais' attacks cut only air.
"I must admit this has been fun, but playtime is over mortal. Are you ready to die?"
Dais ignored the beast's taunt, rather than respond with words he slashed in the direction the voice had come from. Varg let out an earsplitting shriek as the blade sliced through the tendons of his right arm. Enraged the demon leapt at him, intent on dealing a fatal blow.
Again there was a violent flash of light, this time however Dais felt over powered by a surge of energy begging to be released. He did not know where it had come from, what it was, or even if he could control it. Nor did he care; he simply asked it, begged it, to destroy the demon and released it all at once.
With the energy's release Dais collapsed exhausted. Before him the demon stood badly damaged by the surge of power but still alive. It's face contorted with hatred it moved forward shakily, as if in great pain, but determined to kill the one who had damaged him so.
Unable to resist any longer Dais waited in despair for the fatal blow to land. However it did not come. He looked up and saw his father, armed with a forging hammer, between him and the demon. Many other villagers, armed with makeshift weapons and hunting bows began to surround Varg. Normally they would not have posed a threat to the beast but in his weakened state he would be no match for them.
"I will not forget this!" he growled as he used his leathery wings to take to the sky. The archers fired at the airborne demon, some even managed to hit him. Unfortunately the beast managed to escape with it's life. The last thing Dais realized before he slipped into unconsciousness was that his hair was now stark white.
Present time
"To this day I still do not know where that energy came from, it hasn't happened again since that day. After that day though everything was different. Word spread about what had happened... People I had known my entire life, not to mention complete strangers, treated me as if I were a freak of nature or some divine hero... I couldn't take it after a while so I left."
"But what about you're family?" asked Kay as she poked the dying embers of the campfire with a nearby stick.
"Serra insisted that the power was our mother protecting me from beyond the grave, but other than that she and father were the same as always. I really didn't want to leave them behind but I just couldn't stay in any longer," answered Dais, "It's just as well I've told you this now. We will reach Faibree tomorrow, it's been seven years since I've been in this area."