No Such Thing as Good and Evil

The two of them walked down the now dirt path, Faylen smiled as she thought of all the new clothes she bought and the ice cream they just had. As they were no more than a few miles outside of town though, two people approached them, coming out of tall grass to the left of the road like animals hopping out to surprise prey. Both wore full red robes with black rope tied around their waist and the hood up over there heads, causing Shade to not quite be able make out what they were. Though he thinks one was a human based on the lack of echos he senses, and the book attached to his waist via black rope, which he assumed was a spell book, something creatures like humans who have small amounts of echos use to cast spells. Based on the opaque wings protruding from the back of the others robes, he assumed a fairy. But he didn't see any weapons, maybe another mage?

“What do we have here.” The human said.

“She has pretty peculiar wings, doesn’t she?” the fairy said.

The two of them slowly circle Shade and Faylen like animals stalking their prey, when a third voice appeared. “Not just peculiar wings, can’t you sense it, she has a lot of echos in her.” said an all-black wolf with bright yellow eyes also wearing the same red robes but without the hood up. He sat on top of a large rock to the left of Shade and Faylen, probably about 15 feet high.

Fuck. Shade thought to himself. After not sensing the clerk at the clothes shop or Faylen when he first woke up, he began focusing harder, and he had sensed the 3 of them as they were walking down the path. He didn’t think any of them were that strong though, so he didn’t consider going out of the way to get around them. Also, he didn’t think anyone would be able to notice her power as nobody had up to this point.

“Echos? I don’t sense any echos coming from her, or him either for that matter.” The human said, stopping his circling and peering towards them both clearly trying to sense anything.

The fairy stopped circling as well and also tried to sense any echos. “Boss, I don’t sense anything either, are you sure?” the high-pitched voice said.

The wolf stood up and squinted his eyes at Faylens chest. “Oh, I’m positive.” He said. He then turned his attention to Shade. “Sorry buddy, looks like we're going to be taking your girl off of your hands, it seems she may be worth a lot of money.” Shade laughed and looks up at him. “What’s so funny?” he asked with narrowed eyes. Shade took off his bag from his back, put his hand into it, and closed his eyes. This alarmed the two that were circling around him, causing the fairy to pull their weapon out from their robe, a short iron sword, and the human to take the book out of the rope holstering it. “Wait!” the boss yelled, holding his hand out. “Let’s see what he is getting from in there first. That’s a magic bag, its connected to him, so if we kill him, we can only loot the things outside of the bag.”

The two nodded, and stood ready, with sword, and book, pointed at Shade waiting to attack, all while Shade stood there with his eyes closed, his hand in his bag. When he opened them back up, he revealed what he was looking for, lifting out of the bag, Faylens slave collar, holding it in his right hand.

“You think she would be worth a lot of money huh?” He says laughing. “I bought her as a slave, Faylen tell these nice people how much you cost me?”

Faylen looked at the ground with a frown, the smile from the ice cream all but gone, and she mumbled something under her breath. “Speak louder woman.” The leader snarled from his perch.

“One coin.” She mumbled louder.

“One coin? You only cost one coin? I don’t believe that for a second.” the fairy next to her said.

The leader though was interested in something else. He stared at the collar Shade was holding. “Just like my comrades, I sense no power from you, how could a human afford, or for that matter, control a slave?” he said suspiciously with his narrowed eyes.

“Boss, let’s just kill him and take her and be done with it.” The human said twitching, clearly itching for a fight.

“Calm down, you’re just excited to finally run into someone weaker than you.” The fairy joked.

Shade let out a slight giggle. “Fuck you!” the human yelled back.

The leader though didn't seem amused by the joke, and was legitimately concerned at who, or what Shade is. He took out 2 coins from a pocket in his robe and started flicking them up and down in his hand, then looked down at Shade. “I’m feeling generous today, you said you paid 1 coin for her right? I have 2 coins right here. I can double your investment right now. You can take the coins; we'll take the girl and the 4 of us can kindly go our separate ways.”

Shade looked at him, looked at the coins, then at Faylen. She was breathing heavily, with pure fear in her eyes. He then looked up at the wolf and smiled. “No can do.” Faylen looked at him with surprise, even after their shopping trip they just had, she expected him to take the offer and sell her off as it was just a few hours ago he was going to kick her out of the house.

The wolf snarled at his response but didn't immediately do anything, clearly worried about what Shade was, and why he seemed to be so confident in the face of danger. He looked at him with his narrowed eyes, then down at the coins in his hand. “Let’s see what fate decides then.” He said, then flipped a coin in the air, “Heads we let you go, tails you die.” He caught the coin in one hand, flipped it onto the other and looked at it. He then looked down at Shade and smiled. “Unlucky mate.” In a flash he jumped from his perch and launched himself towards Shade, in midair he pulled an old looking, rusted iron sword from under his robes and lunged it towards Shades chest. Shade though, doesn't dodge, and lets himself get stabbed. The wolf smiled as he looked at the sword in Shades chest, blood gushing from the wound. “Never overestimate your own strength mate, first rule of fighting.” he smirks.

Faylen gasped and puts her hand over her mouth in shock. Shade though, just calmly looked down at the sword in his chest. “Second time I’ve been stabbed in the chest today, though first time by someone else.” He joked, but then looked at the blood coming from his chest and got annoyed. “That fucking clerk lied, this shirt couldn’t block a pencil could it.” he said angrily.

“What?” the wolf replies nervously, wide eyed at Shades lack of response to being stabbed clean through the chest. He went to pull the sword out of Shades chest to attack him again, but as he did, Shade dropped his bag and the collar he was holding, then grabbed the wolfs arm with his left hand, pulling the wolf in close to him.

He whispered in the wolfs ear, “What was it you said first rule of fighting was? Don’t overestimate your own strength?” He threw off his robe with his right hand, then released the transformation spell turning into a dragon. He the grabbed the wolf by the neck with his right hand and lifted him high into the air. The wolf released his grip on the sword and grabbed Shades hand with both of his, scratching and clawing and desperately trying to get away, but Shades’ grip was too strong.

“Dragon!” the human yelled and released a small ball of fire from the spell book at Shade.

Shade though once again didn't move. Instead, he watched as the comically tiny ball of fire slowly moved through the air toward him, then let it hit him, watching it dissipate on his shirt. The shirt at least blocked weak magic as advertised. He thought to himself. He peered over his shoulder at the human. “You want to see fire; I’ll show you fire.” He said sadistically. Just then the leader was engulfed by a somehow blindingly bright but also pitch-black fire. Hell’s fire. Fire imbued ‘with dark’ echos only certain dragons and vampires can use. It’s said to burn 1,000 times hotter than regular fire, and supposedly is the fire found in hell, but of course Shade doesn’t believe in any of that.

The leader let out a blood curdling scream while he clawed at shades hand and writhed in pain. Neither the human nor the fairy moved. They just stood and watched as he burned to death. First his robes burnt off, then his fur, then skin, then muscle. Finally, nothing was left but bone, and even the bone quickly burnt to ash, some blowing away in the wind, but most falling to the ground, forming a pile of grey ash at Shades feet, leaving virtually no trace of him ever being here, all within 30 seconds.

Shade let out a maniacal giggle, then grabbed the sword from his chest and turned around, throwing it at the human, missing. “Well, that’s embarrassing.”

“Please, spare me, please I beg.” The human cried.

Shade though shook his head in disapproval. “Wasn’t it you who said to just kill me and get it over with, now you want me to spare your life?” Before the human could say anything else, Shade took his two daggers out of his robes, lit them on fire with hell’s fire, and threw them at the human, with the two daggers plunging into his eyes. The human fell to the ground as he was engulfed in flame. He began to roll violently over and over screaming in pain, but like the wolf, he burnt to ashes. “Guess you died having not found anyone weaker than you, shame.”

He then looked down at the pile of ash at his feet where the leader once was, he slowly reached down and stuck his hand in the pile, pulling a small blue orb of it. His soul. He opened his mouth wide revealing his razor-sharp teeth, put it in his mouth and swallowed. He then slowly walked over to the ashes pile where the human was. He grabbed his two daggers and re-sheathed them, then reached his hand down, stuck it in the pile of ash and pulled the soul out, holding it in his hand.

He then turned his attention to the Fairy, who hadn’t moved an inch since he transformed. The sword once pointed at him with murderous intent, now on the ground, their hands empty, shaking. “I’ve never understood the whole ‘standing still in fear’ thing. Why not run away, why just stand there? Did you not just see me burn your friends to death, you had plenty of time to run. Or did you figure I could fly faster than you anyway and I would catch you eventually.” He said with the same evil sadistic tone as before. The fairy though didn't say anything. He slowly walked towards them, tossing the soul of the human in his hand up and down like a ball. “Honestly, I wish you did run. The thrill of the chase is something I haven’t felt in a long time. Watching someone run away while slowly seeing them realize they were going to be caught and killed. Oh, the faces they make, nothing makes me happier.” He said with a shiver going down his spine, now mere feet from them. “You know, when I heard your voice earlier, I thought I noticed something.” He threw his hands out in front of him, and a gust of air blows past the fairy, causing their hood to come off, revealing the fairy was a girl, just as he had guessed.

He slowly continued to walk over to her and as he did; her whole body began shaking harder than ever, the black rope around her waist flopping around violently. He smiled a devilish smile ear to ear, razor sharp teeth peering through his smile; this fear was the fear he had seen many times in his life. While it’s technically the same fear Faylen had for him which saddened him, this was different. He loved seeing this version of fear. Fear in people who flaunted their power and abused it. Corrupt nobles, corrupt knights, bandits and many others. Dominating people like that, watching them slowly come to terms with how weak they really were, how their life was no longer in their own hands, watching them beg for mercy, just thinking about it got him excited.

When he reached her, he looked down into her eyes with his, towering over her by a good 2 feet, his gaze telling her exactly what was about to happen. He opened his mouth wide again, and while maintaining eye contact, stuck her human friend’s soul in his mouth, slowly swallowing it. He then took his hands and slowly worked them through her blonde hair, gently caressing her cheeks feeling her smooth skin. “You know what happens to women when they lose fights in the wild, don’t you?” He said softly, but the girl didn't say anything, she just looked up at him with eyes wide, face shaking and breathing heavy, her life flashing before her eyes.

He took his hands and moved them down her neck, to her chest and her waist, slowly moving them up and down, all while keeping constant, unwavering, unblinking eye contact. “It’s hard to get a good feel for what kind of body you have under these thick robes, why don’t we do something about that.” He said, then pucked his lips and blew a small amount of hellfire onto the robes, the robes erupted into a black blaze, burning them away in an instant, leaving her completely naked. “Oh, you weren’t wearing anything under those, not even underwear. What a whore you are, huh. Was this for easy access for that boss, your voice sounded like you liked him.” He then leaned in close and whispered “But I guarantee I’m bigger.” He paused, expecting some kind of reaction to that, but she still didn't say anything, she just kept on shaking uncontrollably. He whispered in her ear again “Maybe you should have considered how much you fear dying before becoming a bandit.”

He pulled back from her a bit and looked at her. Bright blue eyes, wide open, long blonde hair going down to her waist, her body thin and well-toned, that of someone who clearly works out a lot, with a small chest, and ass, barely an ounce of fat on her. “Not my favorite type of body, I typically prefer my women more…” the thought of what he prefers in women caused him to remember Faylen. He turned around to see her still in the middle of the road, surrounded by ashes from the two he had burnt to a crisp. She stood there in shock herself, clearly having never seen people burn to death in such a manner, though how many have. He thought about how if he raped this girl in the middle of the road while Faylen watched, it would bring back some terrible memories for her. Not only that, but this was a well-traveled road, and someone would more than likely come and see him, a dragon, something he didn’t want.

He looked back at the Fairy, “Tell you what, I’ll give you a choice, I can set you on fire and burn you like your friends, eat your soul and be on my merry way, or we can go to the woods over there, behind the tall grass that you so kindly appeared out of. I fuck your brains out for a while, explore everything your body has to offer, but then I let you go, and you can back to doing whatever you want, though I would suggest someone as weak as you probably stay away from banditry in the future.” He said moving his face close to hers, practically touching it, “So, what will it be.” He whispered.

She paused for a second, shaking, tears formed in her eyes before looking down at the ground, “Do whatever you want to me, just, let me live, please.”

“That's the answer I was looking for.” He said with the same sadistic voice and evil smile, then slowly wrapped his tail around her right leg, working it up her thighs and to her, pussy, then slowly rubbing it with the tip of his tail. He then put his hands around her waist and whispered. “I’m going to have so much fun with you.” He then turned to Faylen, “Faylen.” But she didn't look at him, still staring into space. “Faylen!” he yelled. She snapped back to reality and looked over at him. “ I’m going to take this young girl for a ride behind the trees on the other side of the grass, if you wouldn’t mind, could you sweep the ashes from her dead friends into the grass, or at least cover them with dirt or something. Also, go put the collar back on, ill re-connect to it when I come back.”

“Yes, master.” she said nervously. He realized the fear Faylen had wasn't just from the bandits burning anymore, it’s from him. She’s once again terrified of him, like she was when he first transformed. That fear is something she'll have to get over at some point, the world is full of dangerous people, he thought, then vaulted into the air, flying beyond the grass to the trees and out of sight from the road, fairy girl tucked in his arms.

Faylen watched him fly off with the fairy, memories of her first time with Shade pouring back. She thought about what he was going to do with her, to her, and she began to breathe heavily again, remembering her first ever time being raped as a slave. A slave, that’s all I am, a slave. She thought depressed. She looked at the metal collar lying on the ground and walked over to it, reaching down and picking it up. The back was still open from when Shade had taken it off. She placed it around her neck, closed the back, and heard it click closed, once again, his property.

She then thought about the two people burning to death, how quickly they disappeared and how little Shade seemed to care about doing such a thing. She then looked down at the ash on the ground and panicked, thinking of how she could clean up all this ash, not wanting to draw his wrath if she failed the order he gave her. She started kicking the ash, but that didn't work, it only spreads the ash out more. She decided to dig a hole next to where the piles of ash are. She knelt and frantically dug a hole with her hands about a foot deep, then slowly swept the ashes with her hands into the hole. She then topped the hole with dirt and looked around the road. No signs of ash anywhere, she sighed in relief, thinking she might get to live another day.

She then looked towards the woods where Shade had flown off to. While she can’t see them, she can hear them. The cries of the woman, the same cries she yelled years ago. She knelt in the middle of the road and just stared at the woods, stoically, waiting for Shade to return.

After about an hour, Shade returned, walking out of the tall grass in his human form, without wearing a shirt, and buttoning his pants back up. “You know I gotta say, I made fun of these clothes but look, they aren’t torn or anything even after I transformed back into a dragon, though they can’t stop shit when it comes to swords.” he said throwing his tunic back on, then looking down at it. “I mean look, not only did it stretch properly when I transformed, but it also kept its original shape, turning back to the size of a human, maybe I should give this warrior brand more credit.” He then scanned the road. “Wow, nicely done, I don’t see a spec of ash anywhere, it’s like those bandits were never here.” He then looked down at Faylen. “Why are you kneeling on the ground?”

“I was awaiting your return.” She replied softly.

“Oh, I guess I was gone quite a while wasn’t I, standing for that long would be annoying. Well anyway, let’s get going, we’re almost at our destination.” He said reaching down and putting his hand on the collar, re-connecting to it. Then he picked his bag back up, threw it over his shoulder and began to walk down the dirt path once more.

Faylen slowly got up, grabbed her two bags and threw them over her shoulders, then began walking next to him. She couldn't stop thinking about the fairy girl though, and what Shade just did. How could he just walk out of the grass like nothing happened? How could he joke around after what he just did? She had begun to think more fondly of him after the last few weeks of living with him and especially after the shopping trip they just went on. But was she wrong? Was he the monster she feared when she first saw he was a dragon? He did buy her at a slave market after all and used her like one for weeks. She then again thought about the burning corpses she just watched become ash and shivered in fear. She didn't want to make him mad, and maybe invoke his wrath, knowing now he would kill someone at the drop of a hat, but she decided she needed to say something. “Where is the girl?” She said softly.

“What?” Shade replied.

She paused but held her conviction and spoke again, this time assertively. “Where is the girl, you said you would let her go.”

“I didn’t kill her if that’s what you think, I’m a man of my word you know. Last I saw she was crying behind some tree.” he replied.

"Why...." she whispered.

"What? Speak up."

She paused again but found her courage. “Why did you do it!” She yelled.

Shade, surprised by her tone and assertiveness, turned and looked at her. “Do what exactly?”

“Rape her, why did you rape her!”

“I gave her a choice, didn’t I?”

“That wasn’t a choice at all!” She yelled even louder than before; then quickly realized how loud she said it and looked at him in horror with wide eyes, fearing for her life. “Sorry, I’m sorry master.”

He stopped walking and stood still in the middle of the road. All the fear that she had suppressed to say something came rushing back to her as she begun to panic, thinking she had made him mad and was about to be burnt to cinders. She bowed to him. “Sorry, master, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that, i promise it won't happen again.”

“Pick your head up.” He said in a serious tone.

She picked her head up and looked at him, he was staring back at her, but not angrily, more quizzically.

“That’s the first time you’ve ever raised your voice at me.” He said.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry master, i swear it won’t happen again, I swear, please.” She begged putting her hands together and up to her head.

“I’m not mad Faylen, more curious. You're mad at me for raping her, you seem surprised I would do such a thing, which is odd considering how much stuff I did to you in the past.”

She paused and replied softly. “I… am your slave, you can do whatever you want to me, and I can’t say no.”

“And she was a kidnapping, murder hungry bandit. Do you think so little of yourself that you think you’re worth less than a measly bandit? Those people who trained you must have done one hell of a job. Tell me Faylen, you haven’t mentioned the other two, the two I burned and ate the souls of, why is that? Are you mad about that as well?”

She didn't say anything as she realized ,while she had thought about how scared she was from seeing them burn to death, she hadn’t thought about the actual act of burning them, killing them.

“You hadn’t, had you, only considering the girl. I wonder why? Isn't killing someone worse? You're not alone in thinking this way Faylen, many people do, and i think it's crazy. If i had just killed her, killed all 3 of them, nobody would have batted an eye. Some people may have even said i did a good deed, made the roads safer. I though only killed 2 of them, and raped the third, letting her live. Somehow that's worse than killing the first 2? How have we as a society gotten to a point where killing is just glossed over? Why does society get more mad at what i did to the person who's actually still alive?"

Faylen stood there for a moment and debated if she should respond. She didn't want to make him mad and risk her life, but she wanted to say something still. After a moment, she clenched her fists and steeled herself one more time. "You asked me earlier today if i was no longer scared of you, and i wasn't. You may have bought me as a slave, and used me as one at times, but you were far kinder than any other owner I've ever had. That face you had on before though, that face you made as you stared into her scared, helpless eyes. The evil smile you had on. It's the same smile the slavers who captured and tortured me used to wear. The same smile they wore as they ripped my clothes off and raped me. You acted no differently then they did. You were getting off on raping her, you enjoyed it."

"And so what if i did!" He yelled, which caused Faylen to flinch in fear. He sighed and lowered his voice back down. “While we continue toward our destination, why don't i tell you about how i live my life, or at least try to." Faylen nodded nervously, though she was curious to see how he was going to try to rationalize what he had just done, and the two of them began to walk down the dirt path once more. "You may think some people are good, and some are evil, but that’s not exactly true. You see, everybody is righteous, everybody has a cause, even the people you may think are evil. Those evil people have convinced themselves that there’s some end to their means, that the bad things they're doing will end in something good for themselves or for others. There's no such thing as purely good people and purely bad, just a bunch of shades of grey. Take for example those bandits. Do you think they wanted to be bandits, poor and broke, needing to steal and kill to survive? Of course not.” He said slowly getting louder and beginning to animatedly gesticulate as he spoke. “I’m sure they had families and loved ones and I bet you they’ve done nice things for them in the past. But that doesn’t change the fact that they’re bandits, and they’ve likely killed, raped, and sold hundreds of people. So, is me killing them, right? Maybe not, but if I captured them and gave them to some sort of authorities, you know what would’ve happened? They would’ve been hung anyways. So, let’s say, instead of raping her, I did the ‘just’ thing and handed her over, she would be dead by tomorrow. Now, she gets to live, and maybe she has some ptsd from it, and maybe she has nightmares going forward, but she’s alive, unlike the other 2. And I bet you what, she won’t be doing bandit shit anymore after this. So she gets to live, and the world becomes a safer place. Now I’m not going to pretend that I’m some hero, or that raping her was an objectively good thing to do, of course not. I'm not going to pretend like i don't enjoy seeing fear in the eyes of these people, because i do. I do enjoy watching people who spent their lives abusing others feel the same fear the people they abused felt. I do enjoy hearing them beg the same way they made others beg before them. I do enjoy that, does that make me evil? Maybe it does to you, but it doesn't to me. You see, here is ultimately how I live my life, or usually try too at least. If I think you're a bad person, I'll be more than happy to do bad things right back to you. Some people don’t like that. Some don’t like people being the judge, jury and executioner. Some think you should be the better person, think people should be just, and good at all times even though they themselves aren’t. But why do I have to be the beacon of morality? Those bandits get to kill, murder, rape and then I must treat them justly, fairly? No, fuck that! If I think you’re a bad person, I’m going to do bad things to you and not care while doing so. Now if I think you’re a good person, then I’m not going to do those things to you. Though, obviously, you’re not a bad person and I’ve done some bad things to you, so immediately everything I’ve just said seems like pure hypocrisy, so you’re free to just throw everything I said in the garbage. You can think of me as a monster if you want, I’ll never claim not to be. You can hate me if you want, I won’t stop you. You’re more than free to think however you want, I’m just telling you how I live my life and how I decide to treat people. If you want to be a saint, you want to run around trying to help people, save the world, go right ahead. But i think you'll quickly find that these people you're mad at me for how i treated them aren't worth your anger."

They walked the rest of the way in silence as Faylen pondered what he had until they reached their destination. A small two floor wooden cabin in a forest, with smoke coming out of the chimney. There was a wooden post with a sign hanging from it in front of the path to the front door that read ‘Leomoiras Herbery.’ “Herbery, is that even a word?” Shade asked out loud. The two of them walked up to the wooden front door and he knocked on it using the golden doorknocker.

“Come in!” A voice yelled from inside. The two of them walked inside and looked around. The inside of the cabin was lined with wooden shelves holding different herbs, and spices, as well as medicines and potions. There were a few bookcases on the right of them with various books and grimoires. In the center of the cabin were half a dozen wooden tables with wooden chairs surrounding them and with bowls, pots and grinders on top, for making potions and medicines. Behind the tables, in the back of the cabin was a counter, and behind the counter, a young vampire girl with long straight black hair, purple eyes, pointed ears, and black wings, wearing a long purple dress. “No need to knock, you can just come right inside any time you want, well within store hours that is!” she joked.

Shade looked around confused. Leomoira was the last name of the person he's looking for, but she wasn’t an herbalist? He made his way past the wooden tables and to the front counter. “What can I help you with today! Need any medicines, potions, or just ingredients to make your own?” the girl asked cheerfully.

“I’m here for a different reason actually, I’m looking for someone.” He said in a confused tone still looking around.

“Sorry sir, we don’t offer information services, and I don’t know many people anyway, I’m not sure I could help to begin with.” She replied.

“Well, the person I’m looking for is named Leomoira, I’m looking for Aerith Leomoira, do you know where she may be by chance?”

“My mother? Sure, she’s in the back working on a batch of potions, I can go grab her, may I ask who's looking for her?”

Mother, she had kids?! “Just tell her its….an old friend, companion.”

“Ok…ill be right back.” she replied suspiciously. She walked to the left through a door connected to the back counter. A few minutes later, a new voice appeared.

“An old friend?” a voice said questioningly.

“That’s what he said.”

“And how many friends do you know me to have?”

The door swung open and through the door walked Aerith, looking the same as ever. Almost a twin of her daughter, small face, white skin, long black hair, bright purple eyes, large black wings, and wearing a long red dress with a white chef apron over it. She walked up to the counter, slammed her hands on it and leaned over. “You don’t look like anyone I know.” She said angrily.

When Shade had traveled with her, he had never went into human form, so she didn't recognize him. “Hello Aerith, long time no see.” He said with a sly smile, taking his 2 blades out of their sheathes and putting them on the counter.

She looked at them, then slowly picked them up. She felt the blades, the shaft, looked closely at the paint and the handle, then back to Shade, her eyes widening. “Where did you get these?” she asked nervously.

“Their mine.” he replied.

“These were not a human’s blade, I ask again, where did you get these.” She said nervously yet angrily as well now.

“Mom, what are tho…” the girl said, but was cut off.

“Elmyra, not now.” Aerith said sternly, holding her hand out to Elmyra but not looking at her, then pointing one of the blades at Shade, “I’m going to ask you one more time, where did you get these!”

Shade smiled, “Their mine Aerith.” He said, throwing off his robes, then he transformed into a dragon, his large wings hitting and knocking some of the chairs behind him over and his head bumping the ceiling. Elmyra lets out a gasp and begins trembling.

“Sh….Sha…Shade?” Aerith whispered, trembling now and moving away from the counter, dropping his blade to the ground.

Shade then transformed back into a human and looked at the knocked over chairs. “This house isn’t very dragon friendly is it, but yes, it’s me Aeirith, long time no see.” He said throwing his robe back on.

“Your…you’re…dead.” She whispered eyes wide open in shock, taking another step back from the counter, bumping into the shelves behind her, causing some jars to fall and shatter on the ground.

“Clearly not, I’m disappointed you thought I would let myself get killed.” he replied shaking his head.

“You…were gone…for so long…what else was I supposed to think?” She said, then paused for a second , then she closed her eyes and put her 2 hands togethers, breathing in and out a few times. She then opened them back up, looked over at Elmyra and said calmly. “Elmyra, could you please put the closed sign on the door, I imagine he’s not here for a simple potion.”

Elmyra opened a gate in the counter and shuffled past Shade, looking at him the whole time with fear and curiosity.

“Well, I might be here for a simple potion. I’m not so sure. You see, I didn’t come here for myself, I came here for her.” he said, turning and pointing to Faylen, who had been hiding behind him. “I think she’s cursed. But I, and apparently no one else, can figure it out. So, I thought, why not take her to the best curse breaker I know.”

“Shade, I haven’t been a breaker in a very long time, I run an Herbery now.” She replied walking through the gate in the counter and toward Faylen.

“Well first of all, I don’t think that’s a word. Secondly, I’m hoping you may at least have a general idea of what's wrong with her, even if you can’t cure her, I’m hoping you could at least point me in the right direction.” He said looking over at Faylen himself, as Faylen looked back at him nervously.

Aerith walked up to Faylen who didn't make eye contact with her. She began to look at her closely up and down, but stopped at her neck. “A slave collar?” Aerith said peering back at Shade menacingly.

Shade grabbed the collar quickly and removed it, dropping it to the floor, releasing the connection between the two. “Do you sense it; do you feel the echos?” he said trying to change the subject.

As he took off the collar, Aeriths head jolted back to Faylen. “What in the world” she whispers with wide eyes. “Who is this girl?”

“I’m not sure. The weirdest part is, she can’t use any echos, and most people can’t seem to sense them. Well, nobody except me, you and a single bandit. Apparently, people think she's the spawn of the devil or something.”

“Interesting, very interesting.” Aerith said, walking around Faylen, studying her wings, while Faylen shook nervously. Aerith then walked over to Shade and got right in his face. “There's another matter at hand first though, tell me Shade, why was she wearing a slave collar?” she asked menacingly, her purple eyes bearing into his.

“Well, I uh, bought her, at an, uh, slave auction.” He replied taking a step back from her and towards the front door.

“Oh, a slave auction huh? And for what purpose did you buy her?” She asked with a perfectly stoic face, turning her head slightly in fake curiosity, with murderous intent pouring out of her.

“Well, for this I think.” he replied.

“You think, do you?” She then slowly walked back to Faylen and grabbed her head, forcing Faylen to look into her bright purple eyes. “Tell me dear, has he do anything to you, touched you in any way?” She asked, eyes piercing into Faylen in a way even the best trained slaves couldn’t resist.

“Y-Yes.” She whispered.

Aerith let go of her face and turned to Shade. “Did he now. Is this what you’ve become, disappeared for a decade to become a slaver?” She said with a menacing smile and a bright blue ball of electricity forming and crackling in her hands.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Aerith, lets calm down, no need for violence.” He responds with his hands up, backing away, tripping over a chair and knocking a bowl off a table.

Faylen realized Shade was in danger and spoke back up. “He…he also did a lot of good things for me too.” She said loudly.

Aerith turned back to her. “Oh, like what?”

“Well, he uh, he bought me clothes.” She said opening up her non-magic bag and taking out of it…. the black succubae lingerie she had tried on at the store. She had immediately put it in her normal bag while in the dressing room after taking it off, so it was the only clothing item she had in her non magic bag.

Aerith turned back to Shade with an even wider menacing smile, the feeling of death radiating off of her. “Oh, did he now, he bought that for you, how nice.” She said in a sadistically sarcastic voice as the electricity in her hands grew larger and larger.

“Well, shit.” Shade said smiling, accepting his fate.

Aerith then threw the two massive balls of electricity at Shade, they soared through the cabin and struck him in the chest, sending him flying through a wall next to the front door and right past Elmyra who was still standing next to it. He flew into a tree a few hundred feet from the cabin, and slammed to the ground, paralyzed from the electricity while simultaneously being electrocuted by it. But he smiled as he lay there in pain, as the pain hurt a lot less than the other thing he felt right now, nostalgia.