In the holy city, the demonhunters were a group of honor and prestige . Their organization dated back at least a couple thousand years . Back during the fall of civilization all the world had fallen to catastrophe . Demons infiltrated the lands of men and ma.s.sacred the humans with their mysterious powers . In a very short period of time the entire species was almost completely wiped out .

Then their arch-rivals arrived, just in time .

The G.o.ds appeared, saving humanity from the fires of extinction at the last minute . Yet the pitiful humans could not seek protection beneath the wings of their benefactors forever . In order for humans to survive the G.o.ds chose the most talented men and women, bestowing upon them great powers . From then on they were known collectively as demonhunters .

After more than a thousand years the G.o.ds returned to the ether, and the demons absconded into the deepest pits of the world . Humanity persisted, recuperated . Over time the demonhunters perfected their craft and became the greatest protectors of the holy lands .

For this reason demonhunters were revered, wors.h.i.+pped as the representatives of the G.o.ds themselves . After all, they were capable of performing miracles and other supernatural feats .

However, the people of Bloomnettle Company were deluding themselves . Cloudhawk could command powers like the demonhunters, yes, but he was not one of them . He was different from those n.o.ble persons . Cloudhawk did not hold them – nor even their ill.u.s.trious G.o.ds – in such high esteem . Instead he found them all suspect .

Of course Old Thistle and the others didn’t know his secret thoughts . If they did the shock might well kill them .

Letting them believe he was a demonhunter was convenient, Cloudhawk wasn’t foolish enough to deprive himself of the advantage . The token in his possession would make any elysian commoner fall over themselves to do whatever he asked .

According to this token he wasn’t just a demonhunter . His business had something to do with the most elite of the order, deserving of the utmost respect and critically important . If not then he would not bear the token .

Old Thistle was a merchant, and he knew business well enough to know this was a once-in-lifetime opportunity . He was old, but the young man in his care was in the prime of his life . If he could befriend a demonhunter – h.e.l.l, maybe even gain notice from a master demonhunter – then Squall’s future road would be much smoother .

“Please, how may we be of service?”

“None of this is necessary . Everyone stand up . ”

Cloudhawk didn’t know what all this kneeling was about . More than once he’d contradicted and argued with the token’s owner . How would they react if she showed up before them herself?

Suddenly he started to feel his injuries .

He held his chest and coughed . “I need to get to the holy territories . Skycloud . If you really want to help… then I need a map and some supplies . ”

Old Thistle looked him over . “It’s a long journey all the way to Skycloud, and the n.o.ble demonhunter is weak . As far as I see it, you should remain with our company for a time . It just so happens that our cargo is bound for your destination, the way is much easier if you ride there on one of our carts .

He was right, it was the best scenario . Cloudhawk didn’t know where Skycloud was . He wouldn’t even know it if he found it . Their rules, customs, or even how to enter the holy domain… he didn’t know any of it .

Cloudhawk didn’t ask them any of this . It would be suspicious if an ill.u.s.trious demonhunter didn’t even know what Skycloud looked like . His new companions were eager to help and there was no reason to turn them down .

Meanwhile Old Thistle was running through the arithmetic in his head . This kid was probably a master demonhunter’s apprentice who agreed to go with him on an important mission into the wastelands . Perhaps they discovered something about the demon kin, something so important the master demonhunter continued on and ordered the young man to bring his token back and give a report .

 It would explain why this young man had such a precious item in his possession .

Of course it was only a guess, he had no way to verify whether or not it was correct . If it did involve the demons then whatever information the young man had was certainly confidential . Trying to satisfy his curiosity would only lead to problems, Old Thistle was old enough to know the limits .

As though thinking of something, the old merchant turned to Asha huddled nearby . “This is…”

“… A wastelander, but she’s helped me in many ways,” Cloudhawk hurriedly replied . “I’m bringing her with me to the holy territories . ”

“Ah? How is this proper?” It was the doctor who blurted out the question before Old Thistle could voice his opinion . “She’s a wastelander, we have no authority to do this . Bringing an outsider into the holy territories goes against Skycloud’s rules! We would be charged with tarnis.h.i.+ng the holy domain . We’d be killed!”

Cloudhawk scowled . Was is that serious? It was worse than he thought!

If his ruse was discovered these merchants would be implicated . He began to go over his options, how could he enter Skycloud without potentially getting other people in trouble?

“How about this . ” Old Thistle saw the concern on Cloudhawk’s face . He wasn’t one to make trouble, but he offered an alternative anyway . “We have no right to bring her into the holy territories, but we can arrange for her to settle somewhere safe in the borderlands . For a wastelander this is the best that could be hoped for . ”

“Where?” Cloudhawk asked .

“The Sandbar is the most stable settlement in the area . It’s got to be at least ten times better than wherever she came from . Most importantly there aren’t any restrictions against wastelanders . She’ll be safe there . ”

Cloudhawk did not like the idea . It had been a struggle to get Asha out of the deserts . He couldn’t just leave her out here on the margin, with no way to defend herself .

“As I’m sure you know, young master, wastelanders are given no respect in Skycloud . The Sandbar isn’t as safe as the holy territories but does benefit from its influence . It isn’t anywhere as lawless as the other settlements out there . I have friends there who could look after her . ”

“I’m not going to the holy territories!”

Cloudhawk hadn’t made a decision, but Asha took a stride forward and made one herself .

This frail and delicate young beauty looked at them with firm resolution . Many nights on their journey here she’d awakened from terrible nightmares and every time she thought about the elysian lands her whole body broke out in a cold sweat . She was haunted by the demons in her dreams, terrible images she would never be able to let go .

Cloudhawk looked at her and she looked back . Inwardly he sighed . The trauma she’d experienced ran deep, she would likely never see an elysian but through a lens of hatred and fear . No benefit would come from crossing over into the holy territories, not as far as she was concerned . He had no choice but to shut his eyes and respond in gentle agreement . “So be it . ”

At least everyone would get what they wanted .

Old Thistle cast a glance to the young man by his side . “Squall will be responsible for anything you need, honorable demonhunter . Please do not hesitate to trouble him for the slightest request . And you, child, take this opportunity to seek advice from our guest . ”

It was easy to guess the old man’s relations.h.i.+p to his young charge .

Demonhunters were an arrogant group, while borderland merchants were low on the social scale . Even the richest businessmen couldn’t buy their favor . However, since they were in a position to help each other, it was a rare opportunity for his charge to learn from a real warrior . He couldn’t let it pa.s.s them by .

The merchant company continued on its way .

Cloudhawk, Asha and Squall traveled in an emptied horse-drawn cart . In looking his young host over, Cloudhawk spied a strange tattoo on his chest .

“Heh, weird right? Truth is it surprised me, too . Old Thistle says I had it when he adopted me, something having to do with my family . That’s about all I know . ” Squall sat cross-legged in the middle of the cart . “We haven’t been properly introduced . My name is Squall Rover! I’m older than you, but you can just call me Squall . ” [1]

Squall did not give them the same rigid, intractable impression most elysians let off . On the contrary he was lighthearted, playful, and easy going . Compared to his respectful but cunning caretaker, Cloudhawk liked Squall quite a bit more .

 He pressed for more information . “You were adopted?”

“Yup, I’m an orphan . My home was destroyed by demon kin . I was still small, I can’t really remember anything about the place or my family . Old Thistle found me before I starved and saved me . Over the last fifteen years he’s taught me to read and write, even helped me get selected by the demonhunters . He’s just the same as a real father . ”

There were demons even in the elysian lands?

Cloudhawk really wanted to ask that question but he felt it would risk his cover .  You’re a demonhunter but you don’t even know where demons live? Cloudhawk decided to speak as little as possible to keep his ident.i.ty from being revealed . After all, he who spoke often erred much .

Squall, conversely, was quite the chatterbox . His eyes gleamed as he went on . “Hey, brother, you know honestly I envy you . You get to meet the governor face to face . You know he’s an idol of mine, I’d give five years of my life to say two sentences to him . ”

“Why’s that?”

“Do I need a reason?” He didn’t understand why Cloudhawk would ask such a question . “Master Arcturus Cloude’s name rings across the heavens . There isn’t a person all through Skycloud City who doesn’t know his name!”

That’s his name? Arcturus Cloude?

Squall had called him ‘Master’ . That could only mean one thing, the governor was also a demonhunter . About the only thing Cloudhawk knew about master demonhunters were that they could face a demon one on one .

He’d learned the strength of a demonhunter while out in the wilds . Like the strength of a thousand men!

“Besides that, the Cloude clan has always led the demonhunters of Skycloud! They have a thousand year history, and the legends say they stood with the G.o.ds against the demons in the great war!” Full of adoration, Squall went on . “From their inception to this day, they’ve never been beaten . Master Arcturus, Master Baldur, and Master Sterling are three brothers of the Cloude clan who represent their exceptional family – and all of Skycloud! One is the Governor, one was the former Knight-Commander of the Order of Demonhunters, and one was the Grand Marshal of the demonhunter army brigades . Such a pity…”

“What pity?”

“The only brother left is Master Arcturus . Master Sterling abdicated his position many years ago due to injury . He hasn’t been seen or heard from in a long time . And Master Baldur… a year and a half ago he entered a nest of demon kin and was killed . They tried to keep it quiet but word got out . What, you didn’t know this?”

“Of course I do . ” Cloudhawk closed his eyes and leaned back, the picture of casual indifference . “Master Baldur had a daughter, didn’t he?”

“Yes, that’s right!” Squall was so full of excitement he slapped the floor and rose to his feet . “Master Baldur was killed but his daughter is something else! The most incredible talent in a hundred years . No one’s seen her face but they say she’s a beauty that could topple cities and is absolutely brilliant . She’s widely considered to be the next successor to lead the demonhunters . ”

1 . In Chinese they call him ‘Little Wind’, which sounds like a euphemism for a fart . The ‘little’ is common in Chinese and is used in reference to people who are younger than you that you have a good relations.h.i.+p with .  

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