My name is… Hmm... through the two years I've been 'aware' I've always called myself: “OHIO-99” but the few friends I have just call me “Ohio”
I don’t have a face, my head is just a big gray ball with black lines stretching both horizontal and vertically across it… The word “Cute” has never come to mind when people look at me. I don’t blame them...
What I blame people for, is how they link me to crimes I didn’t commit, for giving me the name "Gray-Face", calling me a demon, and making me sleep in fear, that I may not wake up the next day because my head is on a steak.
Even so I’ve risked my life to protect those very people from time to time… “Not everything you do, will make sense, even to you.” Some one once said…

Though, there was one guy… perhaps a mentor, or something… this guy somehow saw me differently, I’m not sure how I know... in fact I don’t even remember his face. I just have fragments of memories with this guy in them, in which he seems proud or happy to be around me…
That’s one of the reasons I wander the world, to regain my memory of this man. As well as to see the sights the world has to offer...
As you may have guessed I don't have much memory, about two years ago I became... 'aware.' Kinda like being born; you don't remember your birth, or your first years right?
You were just aware that you existed one day... that same feeling started for me about two years ago. Aside from those memory fragments, I don't know anything that I may have done before that.


Winter, who doesn’t like this time of year? White snow falling from the heavens, feeling of joy and togetherness through out the land… it’s truly a wonderful time, when you are inside.
When you’re stuck outside it’s a whole other story… The bitter cold lashes out making your whole body stiff, it’s also rather hazardous to your health to be like that for long.
The sheer cold is what led me to a bar in the town of North Kimald.
Personally I don’t like bars, when people get drunk, they often see my head as a punching bag… and those that aren’t dead drunk, are usually bounty hunters who see my head as a bag of cash…
And North Kimald has to be the worst… It always cold up here, practically an eternal winter, and everyone tries to drink themselves warm… while amateur bounty hunters come in droves perhaps thinking that any escaped, or active bounty would come here where no one in there right minds would go. Which is crap, if I wanted to you know; not be found I’d hide in some God-forbidden cave somewhere… Anyway, not wanting to be seen as “Gray-Face” I had dawned my large mushroom hat and half cloak, the two garments completely shrouded my head and the cloak covered my upper body. Now I was just a wandering mute in the eyes of others.

Opening the bar door let out a slight creek, light pouring out to the ever dimming twilight land behind me. A handful of people in the bar raised their head to look at me, thankfully they just shrugged me off and returned to ether drinking, or staring at their bounty papers.
<Drunks, and bounty hunters… nothing new here.> I laughed to myself.
I walked up to the bar and sat down on one of the stools, trying to ignore the noise around me. “What can I get cha?” the old bartender asked, as like many in his profession he was rather large, his gut even extend over his belt… “Well? We don‘t take free loaders so order something!” I sighed in my mind, knowing his next move. <Water…>
The man nearly jumped out of his skin… just as I thought he would…
“What the!? Oh shit…” Taking a deep breath the barkeep remembered me from a few days before. “You‘re that mind-magic-guy right? Man that scared the piss outta me…” he then shrugged before reaching down under the counter and pulling out a glass.
Although water wasn‘t considered a “order” as you don’t pay for it he didn’t say anything about asking me to leave. While it's not common knowledge, it is known that if someone can speak straight into your mind he’s generally a powerful mage that you don’t want to piss off… now me? Ha! I don’t know a lick of magic; I do however have psychic powers which are so rare I only just recently learn an easy name for such power.

The man sighed as he sat a glass of water down in front of me. “Look… You’re a powerful mage, I’ll let ya stay here, as long as you don’t bug my customers or blow the place up…” I just picked up my glass and amusedly replied; <No problem.>
As for that water, I couldn’t drink it ’cause that would requite a mouth.
I could, however, hold my hand over the top of the glass and absorb the liquid through my hand when I turned it upside down.
And to be honest, I wasn’t even sure how that worked half the time. It’s just instinct really, kinda like… breathing: You don’t have to think about it, you just do it.

A few minutes passed by and I finished “drinking” my water, I replaced the cup right side up on the counter and I simply sat back and thought to my self.
I had stopped into this town again, I had been here before, but after a noble was murdered I quickly and quietly left as people were pointing fingers at me, and I didn’t need another false accusation on my head.

I returned a few days later, after the whole thing had blown over. The reason? To find anything in this town to jog my memory.
I had come to this bar after a full day of searching… And after that full day of finding nothing that matched the fragments in my memory I decided to leave for another town after it stopped snowing.

Suddenly the bar door slammed open, three people came walking in, each wearing a thick black hooded cloak and all quite covered in snow.
The ‘leader’ or so I assumed, pulled their hood down, to reveal a young woman, her long blue hair was strange, not just in color, but in the way it was worn; the left side of her bangs hung down over her eye, but bent away forming sort of an L, her right bangs were trimmed up so one could see her right blue eye, the rest of her long hair was caught underneath her cloak.
Her visible eye glared around the room, as if looking for something… or someone. Perhaps they were bounty hunters? No… they seemed too used to the weather, then they were likely town guards, then again it’s possible the ‘Guild of Calamitous Hazard Prevention’ have members on patrol after that assassination. So these guys could be GoCHP’s.
While I was pondering what they were, the woman walked over to the bar right and stood right behind me.
“You… I don’t think I’ve seen you here before…” She said glaring at me. Her voice albeit annoyed, sounded sort of sweet… and a bit younger then she looked. She turned to the side and crossed her arms over her stomach as she continued to glare at me “So tell me: Why are you here?”
I shrugged and turned back around and tapped twice to get the bartender’s attention.
The woman’s arm shot out from her cloak gripping my shoulder tightly. “Hey! I’m talkin’ to you!” her free hand finding it’s way to the hilt of her sword inside her cloak.
This was getting out of control… Thankfully the bartender walked over. “What’s all the ruckus? Hmm?” I directed my thought-speak to the man so only he could hear <Do me a favor… please, tell her I’m a mute!> I pleaded with the man. He looked at me confused, then back at the woman.
“Oh this guy?” He asked scratching the back of his head. “Ahh, you don’t need to worry about him.”
The woman’s attention shot to the bartender her expression turned to one of confusion “Oh?” the bartender pointed at me and calmly said “Yeah, he’s just a wandering mute. He can’t answer you if he wanted to.”
The woman paused for a second before her face turned red “OH! I’m sorry!” she bowed as both a gesture of regret and likely to hide her embarrassment I calmly waved my hands in a “no, no don’t worry about it” sort of way.
She apologized again before her companions walked up to her “Ms. Frost… now that you’ve made a scene perhaps you should sit down. As we do leave for…” One of the started the woman turned around “Uhh, yeah I know... Sorry.” the three then sat down at a table and turned their attention to the menus on it. The woman also did her best to ignore the comments from the other patrons who happened to witness our little quarrel…
Something about her told me she was… a greenhorn, fresh out of training or just finishing it up. From the way she seemed so eager to prove herself and so like many greenhorns like that she was looking for trouble.

Considering it was a bad idea to stick around and risk another encounter like that I flashed the bartender a thumbs up and promptly left the building.
<Good…> I thought to myself <It stopped snowing.>
Wrapping my small cloak tightly around me I started trudging through the freshly fallen snow. I couldn’t wait to get to a warmer climate.

Smoke rises from the fires that lick at the sky.
Ash from the burning huts and buildings slowly fall to the ground.
And all around me I hear screaming, clashing weapons, the sounds of battle…
The sounds of war.

Being lead by my hand I run. From what, I’m not sure. To where, I do not know… As I run I glance on my left seeing the body of a woman impaled by arrows…
Who ever the enemy is they aren’t shy about killing women, and are likely none to merciful to children.
Looking forward, I see a man leading me… he’s taller than me, I think, it’s strange I can’t seem to make him out... he seems to be a silhouette… or a shadow come to life.
He takes me around the corner of a half destroyed stone house a few feet away an archer with his bow already knocked with three arrows turns and pulls back on the strings aiming at us.
The man leading me waves his hand and… and a shield appears in front of us, out of thin air… did he summon it?
With out leaving me time to think I hear the ping of three arrows as they bounce off the shield and a heavy shove as the man pushes me into the destroyed house. I stumble into a pile of hay looking back at the man he calmly stays; “Stay here… until you can no longer hear the sounds of battle. At least one of us must survive this ordeal.”
The man grips the shield he created moments ago and turns to leave, he glances back at me flashing a weary smile before taking a breath and running out the door.
I hear him screaming off in the distance, his battle cries, and promises to avenge the fallen… then one final bloodcurdling scream… as I open my sight receptors wide and lunge forward.
<NAHH!!> a psychic yelp escapes my mind, I gently lean back against a tree as I place my hands on the soft grass looking around, the warm daylight sun soaking the land.
It was all… just a dream then? It seemed too vivid to be a dream… perhaps it was my memory acting up? Who knows…
Pressing a hand against the tree I noticed it was still warm, I must have been sleeping against it for a while, I likely passed out because it was so comfortable out today…

I sat up and pulled my cloak back around me re-buttoning the bottom two buttons that some how came undone while I was sleeping. I stood up and adjusted my mushroom hat and looked forward. Off in the distance I could make out the large walls of a city. <Well…> I thought to myself <I’d better get going.>
I took a look around me to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. Before I took the first step toward the town.

On my map this place was called: Shinwelt.
Of the three cities I had visited in my time of being aware, this one had to be the largest, and likely one of the most prosperous: It’s unnecessarily large main city doors stood tall, and felt intimidating.
I cocked my head as I gazed at them… such large doors couldn’t be easily opened or closed, so this town likely had ether a curfew, or the town guard and GoCHP’s were active 24/7.
As my thoughts coursed through my head my feat carried me through the town’s gates, a few guards eyed me, but none really said anything… except for one…

“Welcome to Shinwelt.” a young, and bored voice called out. Unable to answer back I ignored it.
“Huh? Hey…” I continued to walk forward gazing at the city, it was defiantly more of a business town, with all the hustle and bustle I could see, this town had a lot more people in it, and got much more business than the others I had been to…
The buildings were tall and some, honestly, felt like warehouses, people were very numerous, and considering that the first inn I saw was about 3 stories high these weren‘t all locals…
My marveling was then interrupted by a hand slamming onto my shoulder and spinning me around. “Hey buddy, you already seem suspicious enough, and I don’t like it when people don’t answer me when I greet them…” a young man growled at me, his unkempt blond hair hung down the back of his neck, his gray t-shirt and odd dark teal jeans, with white pant legs sewn to them at the knees the man looked oddly casual, considering he was talking like a town guard… then again this place already seemed strange.
The man grew more impatience with my silence; “HEY! Don’t ignore me, unless…” he grinned as his left hand reached for his blade… This guy was CRAZY! He was gonna pick a fight with me in the middle of this busy street?!
I knocked his hand away and took two steps back before I raised my hands up in front of me fingers spread out and waving from side to side, hopefully he’d recognize it as a sign of peace…
He still had time to take a step back as and have his sword halfway out of it’s hilt before he recognized my gesture. He paused eyeing me for a moment, watching what I was going to do.
I had to get this guy off my back. I pointed to where my mouth would be, then turned my hand and pushed it outward gesturing “talk” then I shook my head. I did this a few times as the man seemed to slowly grasp what I was ‘saying.’

“Oh shit!” he finally said out loud sheathing his sword and dropping his shoulders. “You’re a mute?” I quickly nodded. He walked up to me and apologized “Aww man I’m sorry, it’s just I saw your get up and thought you were… well it doesn’t matter.” he shook his head “Man, you’ll have a tough time if you have to wander around being unable to talk…” I shrugged thinking to myself <Well… not everyone is as hotheaded as you.> I thought to myself <Though you seem like you’re bored of the same old, same old… so I guess that’s understandable…>
While I was figuring out the kid’s problem, the gears in his mind grinded out some of his own ideas, as he suddenly snapped his fingers and grinned “Tell ya what, I’ll make it up to you by being your voice!”
… What?
I stood in awe, this guy really was crazy. I shook my head but he didn’t seem to understand. “Ahh no need to thank me! Come on I bet you’re hungry, or tired. Let’s get you to a hotel. I know a great one and can cut you a deal there.” I reluctantly followed the man, a deal is a deal after all…

The hotel we arrived at was damn near the center of the town, and had an old and somewhat rundown feel to it… in fact I could swear that I saw a peace of the ceiling fall in as we gazed at it. “Yep, this is one of the best inns in the city!” he proclaimed happily “That and, heh heh… it‘s my home…” he muttered to himself…
No wonder he considers it the best, he bias towards it.
I shook my head and waved my hand to get his attention and then gestured “after you” towards the door. He nodded “oh yeah sorry about that.” then walked toward the door as I followed in suit.
Inside there were a handful of people there, most of which were conversing amongst themselves. Only two really looked up or glanced at us. The boy walked over to the front desk and grinned to the man working at the desk “Zach! You‘re home early…” “What’d you do this time? Lemme guess some babe walked into town like yesterday and you tried another lame pick up line huh?” the boy, or Zach as he was called; laughed “Ha ha… I told you never to mention that again. Heh heh….” Zach glared at the old man, the two were defiantly related, father and son most likely.
The old man laughed “Ha ha! Well my boy you should be ashamed, after all that girl damn near killed you! Some town guard, you‘re sopoused to be defending us?” He said the whole thing was dripping with sarcasm though.
Zach shook his head “Whatever old man… anyway I thought I’d make my self useful, I brought you a customer.” the father gazed at me. “Oh, I should mention he’s mute.” Zach mentioned in an ‘oh yeah not important but…’ sort of way… just the way he said it bugged me. But it wasn’t important.
The old man looked sadly at his boy “Zach, come on we aren’t that desperate for business.”
<…What’s that supposed to mean? You got something against people pretending to be mute?>
Zach looked back at me, “Well I owe him one, see I kinda thought he was a bandit or some bounty trying not to be noticed and...” his dad sighed “So you DID screw up today huh? And I suppose you promised a discount as compensation?” I nodded then looked at Zach <so you’ve done things like this before… figures.> I thought to myself as I shrugged my shoulders.
Zach scratched the back of his head nervously. “Yeah, yeah… so can you do it?” the man nodded “Sure, how many days?” before I could hold up my hand Zach blurted out “Three.”
<What? I don’t need to be here that long, plus I don’t think I have enough for that!!> I some how stopped myself from yelling.
“Three days it is.” he huffed happily… I crossed my arms mentally groaning to myself… somehow I think they planed this.
Regardless Zach’s dad grabbed my room key and handed it to Zach “Alright, show the man his room.” Zach grabbed the key and started heading off “Room, 17 right?”
Without waiting for an answer Zach lead me to the room.

Up the stairs to the third floor, “Yeah… when we put the numbers on the doors we accidentally did it backwards. That’s why the lower numbers are on the top.” he explained as we arrived “Alright here it is.” he unlocked the door and opened it up leading me inside.

I gazed around the room, it was rather plain, a bed with blankets and pillows, a dresser and a table to set things in and on. And a night stand with a book and paper on it, the book more than likely a religious one. It was nice and quiet though, despite the noise out side it just sounded like a small gentle buzz… just what I liked.
“Here you are, one of our finest rooms.” Zach said proudly. I looked back at him, I somehow began to size up just who he was: Zach seemed like the rather laid back type, like the kind of person who puts things he needs to do off till the last minute and then tries to get someone else to do them, yet at the same time he seemed reliable, that was apparent by the way he seemed eager to help his dad.
“Well I need to get back to the gates, make sure nothing happens but I’m almost off my shift I’ll help you after I get off alright? Later!”
With that he rushed out the door. I could only shake my head <What a strange guy… oh well…>
I sat down on the bed, it was soft, comfy really. <Man… three days? But… I guess I get to sleep in a nice bed for once…> I thought lying back.

I lay back on the bed, stretched out, I sighed to myself…
<It’s been forever since I got to sleep in a bed… I’d take one of these over the cold hard ground any day…> I thought to myself.
<Though… at the same time nothing quite beats being able to travel where I want, when I want…> After that my thoughts took another turn:
<Still it’s difficult traveling when you’re the most wanted man around…>

Gray-Face… heh, a simple name but even muttering it strikes fear into people.
Gray-Face the king of bandits.
Gray-Face the bringer of doom.
Gray-Face the immortal demon.
So many variations of the name and title I could puke… if I had a mouth and regular digestive system that is.
<I have to be careful… I can’t let people know who I am, I can’t befriend anyone, and no one can be with me… Any one near me is a threat, or can be targeted as such.>

With that I thought about nothing more than to leave.
Zach, the thoughtful fool, seemed to be determined to stick by me for whatever reason…
That was dangerous. For him and for me. I sat up and stretched my arms as I thought to myself; <Well, so much for a nice bed… I’m gonna skip town.>
I nodded to myself and made sure my hat and cloak were securely on before I crawled out the window.
I managed to crawl up the side of the building, and somehow made it unto the roof.

The roofs were amazing, the closely built building made the roofs seem like another town, with it’s own roads.
It was really like there was a city on top of the city there were small poorly built huts, tents, and whatnot were littered amongst some of the rooftops… likely made and placed by children, as private getaways, or ‘secret clubs’ or something.
Wasting no more time I started hopping from roof to roof, trying to make my way to the city gates. On top of the roofs I was sure I wouldn’t bump into Zach… or so I thought.

A little ways away from the gates, was a large wooden tower, it was in a state of disrepair. Though there was evidence that it was likely used in the past as an archer tower, or something. In the center of the top, was a door on the floor used to get in or out of the top of the tower, I looked out over at the gates, making sure Zach, wasn’t there.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I nearly fell off the edge, regaining my balance I turned around to see Zach’s head poking out of the tower’s door.
“I know the view is great but dude, you shouldn’t sit on the railing, you could slip and fall to your death.”
I felt my weak, drained, and down right annoyed. Not only does he randomly appear, but now he’s telling me what’s safe and what’s not?

I felt like sighing but something caught my attention. Off in the distance, outside the town were a hand full of men, carrying a variety of goods on their backs.
They seemed to be traders… wandering merchants, but something was wrong… they were running scared.
That’s when I noticed what was behind them:
Large, grayish-brown, and charging full speed, a huge beast looking like a cross between what you would call a mammoth and a lion, roughly 13 feet tall, and weighs a ton or two despite not exactly looking like it.
<But what’s a Regen doing out here? Aren’t they forest dwellers!?> My mind screamed at it’s self.

I grabbed Zach and pulled him over a little, as I pointed at the creature he took a look, I glanced back and watched his eyes go wide with shock
“Oh shit… isn’t that a Regen?!” I looked forward watching the beast tear two of the men apart with it’s claws sending their shredded corpses flying.

Zach ran back to the trap door “You get to safety, I’ll warn the other guards!”
I shook my head, <No way, you can warn them all you want it’s too close now.> I thought as I hopped onto another roof and began weighing my options:
I wasn’t sure, whether I should run, or fight.
I had no reason to fight it, but…
If I didn’t a lot of people could be killed. Even so, I never killed one of those things before!!

I looked to the streets, the trader was running through the streets warning people, while the beast charged through the open gates and began battling a hand full of the town guard.
It was a severally one sided fight, the guard were completely unprepared and were getting torn apart.
Before long the town guard at the gate were ether incapacitated or dead. The beast let out a mighty triumphant howl and with it’s massive hand grabbed one off the dead soldiers off the ground before stuffing it into it’s mouth and tearing it apart with it’s massive jaws.

Aside from my shock at the gruesome sight I realized: this one must be one of the weaker forest monsters, it must have been unable to keep it’s kills, and unable to steal the kills of other monsters in the forests, it must have been driven to starvation and thus is attacking anything it can eat. It must have smelt the food on the trader who just ran through the town and attacked him and his caravan.

I shook my head trying to rid myself of useless thoughts, and the sight before me. Glancing away I saw the people running away…
<Maybe I can fight, if no one is there to see me… I can do this… I think.> I thought to myself, I couldn’t let this monster do anymore, however as I was about to rush down I noticed a strange sight…
<Zach!?> the blonde man had his sword unsheathed and was steeling himself for a charge at the beast, with a loud yell he started charging <Damnit! Stupid kid!> I cursed as I began running across the roof tops trailing behind him slightly.

The beast’s large ears perked slightly and turned to face the challenger. With a loud roar, flashing it’s bloody teeth and claws, Zach’s charge ended abruptly as he tripped falling on his face and his momentum caused him to flip over onto his back, his shocked eyes stared at the frighteningly large and now blood stained beast.
The monster raises it’s left arm, claws ready to make short work of the kid.
I jumped from the roof and landed in front of the boy, my hands firing outward creating a psychic bubble between us and the beast.
The beast swung it’s arm hitting the resistance of the bubble and slowed to a stop it took a few steps back in confusion looking at it’s paw.

I reach up and grabbed my hat with one hand and my cloak with another.
With a fierce tug I pulled both off and let the wind take them my gray head now revealed to the man behind me.
I looked over my shoulder and watched his eyes somehow go wider “Y, you’re? What ar…?”
I gently waved my arm out to the side and telepathically calmly said <Leave this to me, YOU get to safety.> after that I turned back to the beast, as it roared at me. I may have seemed calm, but in reality I was freaking out… I was really gonna fight this thing?
I shook my head shaking my doubts off <Let‘s go!> I yelled as I began running at the monster.

The beast swung wildly trying to attack it’s new threat… me. I somehow ducked under it’s left arm’s swing and instinctively jumping over it’s right. It’s left arm came again only much weaker than the first two. As I just landed on the ground I couldn’t dodge it, so I tried my luck and slammed a fist into it’s paw. Luck must have been on my side as the creature was stunned at the pain in it’s paw long enough for me to deliver a well aimed kick to the nose the monster staggered back in pain, holding it’s now bloody nose.

I took a few steps away and closed my sight receptors, focusing on creating a vortex in the palms of my hands, as it began to draw energy, air, and mana into a small sphere that was slowly becoming larger filling up my hands.
When I opened my eyes as the sphere was complete, the beast had shaken the pain off and was running toward me.
I held the baseball sized sphere with my right hand while dropping to the ground lading on my left, using my falling momentum plus a small push of psychic energy I swept my feet around and kicked the creature off it’s hind legs. Still using the momentum I had I swung my legs up and managed to leave the ground through the air I soared a few feet away from the beast, landing somehow on my feet. I placed both hands on the sphere and focused on crushing it with my psychic power.
The sphere, now smaller than the original mass of air and mana, as well as highly unstable... As it should be.

I looked forward as the beast climbed to it’s feet, I wound up my pitch placing the sphere in my right hand and pulling it back. The monster now ticked roared loudly, It wouldn’t help
<Stay down! Ballad of…->
I lunged forward throwing the sphere with all my might.
As it went flying through the air it exploded, the psychic containment around the air and mana failed almost instantly as the two mixed together and became a fire ball <…-Insanity!!> the fireball collided with the creature slamming into it’s head and chest nearly burning it‘s head completely off.
The monster staggered back a few steps… right where Zach was starting to get to his feet, the monster slowly began falling backwards, if it fell on him he’d be nothing more than a stain on the road!
<NO!> I was to far to grab the beast physically but I reached out and wrapped a load of psychic energy around straining my mind trying to hold the beast up and move it aside.
But it wasn’t to be, using the Ballad of Insanity really took it’s toll.
After a few seconds of holding it in place, I felt my mind ‘snap’ my whole body stopped moving I fell to my knees as I became paralyzed in the pain of the psychic drawback.

<Za…ch…> I groaned to myself, as I heard a dull thud and squishing noise, followed by a scream.
Through the pain I managed to look up and witness what just happened.
Zach’s dad who must have been watching from a distance, rushed in and pushed Zach out of the way, however he himself was crushed by the beast, from the waist down the monster lay on him.
Zach now down at his father’s side nearly intears “Dad! DAD!!” His father just smiled as he looked into his son’s eyes “I’m… sorry Zach… all this time I.” the dying man coughed heavily even coughing up blood.
My God… every part of him underneath the monster must be completely crushed…
“All this time I… forced you to stay in this town… b, because I was afraid.. I was afraid of the outside… afraid of getting hurt… afraid of you.. Getting hurt… Za, Zach listen to me!” The blood from his crushed body began leaking out from under the beast at this point.
“I… I don’t want you to be a, afraid… Don’t ever… be a… afraid… of p, pai…. Pain…” the man’s strength quickly faded, I felt like shit as mine slowly returned at that moment.
“Son… I love yo…u… And… no matter what you do… I‘m proud of you…” as he said that his eyes shut, and he passed on.
I climbed to my feet holding my aching head. <Zach…> the boy was holding his father’s hand as he trembled in sorrow and anger.
<I’m… sorry.> Zach looked back at me, eyes full of shock, anger, confusion… I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, the only thing I was sure of is that he wasn’t sure what to do anymore.

I was about to say something else… however that’s when the people came back, and in a crowd I heard them yelling… each and every one of them were yelling angry… all at me.
“Gray-face! You’re the one that brought the monster here!” one said, after that objects quickly began flying at me
<No! I, I didn’t!>
“Get out of my head demon!”
“You won’t control me!”
“Get out of here!!!”
Threats, on threats, pelted at me more so than the rocks they threw. With no other choice I slowly turned and began running. Regretting leaving the grieving boy behind.

I got about half way toward the forest and stopped against a tree, I sighed looking back.
<…I save them and this is what I get?…> I shook my head, though we didn’t exactly know each other I couldn’t help but feel horrible about Zach, he lost his father because I couldn’t hold the beast… because I was too weak.
I held my head as I began walking toward the forest. <…Why can nothing go right when I’m involved…> I asked out loud, knowing nothing would answer me.

Nothing ever goes right…
Whenever I try to help someone they turn against me, or they get hurt.
Even what should be a simple act such as speaking can’t even go right…
Every time I try it’s always “mind control” or “dark magic” not-ever “telepathy” or “thought-speak”

<Why am I alive if I only cause trouble, for myself and others?> I thought to myself sitting against a tree in the forest.
I had managed to drag myself some distance away from the city, Shinwelt into the forest, and because no one seemed to be perusing me anymore I had sat down to rest my legs, and wonder why I existed.
Through out my time of being aware, I was never sure why I existed… in the short two years the name “Gray-Face” quickly became publicly known and feared. Even though I haven’t done anything wrong…
Was it just my fate to be the target of fear?
Am I to be the face of everyman’s enemy?
Why would God create such a being?
Nothing good came from my existence… yet I’m too afraid of death to die… What a sorry excuse for flesh, bone and blood I am…

SNAP!

Twigs, or branches were snapping, someone was running through the forest… whoever it was they were rather close and just now started running. I rose to my feet and turned raising my fists in a defensive stance.
<Who’s there!?> I yelled though a loud thought channel. “Guahh!” After a quick shocked yelp I heard a thud from the opposite side of the tree I was on. Walking carefully around the tree I saw a boy beginning to pull himself to his feet. With his blonde hair and his black backpack, gray t-shirt and half teal, half white pants. I recognized him almost instantly <Zach?> I dropped my fighting stance and helped him up. “Y, huu… huff… You… I was… huhhhh” Zach leaned against a tree falling out of my grip, from how hard he was breathing he must have ran a long way. <Calm down… take some deep breaths.> I told him.
Zach nodded and after a little bit of time his breathing slowed, returning to a regular pace. He then looked at me, “First off…” He said sounding tired “Who are you? And what are you?”
I sighed to myself before raising my hands to explain <What you see… is who I am.>
Zach glared and crossed his arms, with a annoyed huff he growled “Somehow… I have a hard time believing that the legendary Gray-Face would risk his life to save mine…” His glare softened a little “So please, tell me who you are… You owe me that much.”
Honestly… I couldn’t believe my ears (not that I had ears) this was the first time someone was willing, no… asking me, to explain myself.
I slowly nodded, now thinking I was in a dream of sorts. <Very well…> I started:
<My name… is OHIO-99. I’m human, though not like you… I posses psychic powers, which I am using now to speak directly into your brain.> Zach nodded “Yeah… I guess it would be hard to speak without a mouth.”
He seemed to be taking this well… <Exactly. As for where I come from, and what I’ve done… I can’t answer you on those. I can’t remember anything past 2 or so years ago.>
Zach dropped his head his expression changed, he seemed deep in thought trying to remember something.
“Two years ago? …that’s… when the Gray-Face legend, and rumors spread. I think.” He then looked up at me with a raised eyebrow “So… are any of those rumors true?” I shook my head throwing an arm down <No! I would never do anything of the sort!> Zach’s held up his hands “Whoa, calm down… I was just askin’…”
I sighed again <Sorry, it’s just that everyone is after me for things I didn’t do. I get blamed for things simply because they don’t know, or understand me.> I dropped my shoulders and looked away, it was hard thinking about it… all the times I saved someone they turned around and said I had something to do with it in the first place, or begged me not to kill them, or tried to kill me themselves… Reliving the memories was hard.
“So, what is it that you do exactly?” I looked back at the boy and shrugged <I don’t know… I usually just wander the land.> Zach tilted his head slightly “Why.”

Why? …Why indeed?

<Because, there is something I’m searching for, a lost memory perhaps. Who knows… Other than that I want to see what this world has to offer… who knows maybe I’ll find a place that accepts me.>
Zach nodded and after a moment he said in an all to serious tone; “Mind if I come with you?”

…Hold on, HOLD ON! Wait, what? Did he just ask what I think he asked!?
I stepped back staring at the boy is shock, his face was completely serious, but that didn’t stop me from asking: <A, are you serious?>
He only nodded. I couldn’t believe this guy! <You do know how dangerous traveling with me is… right? You could get hurt, or killed just because you are traveling with me.>
He nodded “I’ll take my chances.” He seemed determined to join me for whatever reason.
<…Alright. If you want to follow me feel free. Know that you can leave any time too.> I finally said after some thought.
It might be nice to have someone to talk to every so often. And it’s not like he couldn’t defend himself… so if worse comes to worse, and ‘IT’ happens… he should be able to fight ‘IT’…
Also… my weakness ended up letting his father die. I owe him this and more I suppose.

“So what’s the plan? Shinwelt is furious, I tried to calm them down, but everything I said only resulted in them getting more and more riled up.” Zach said crossing his arms. “They demanded we hunt you down, I offered to trail you for the GoCHP’s to ease their worries.”
I nodded <Well that means that staying in the city isn’t the best plan. You should head back, grab a tent some sleeping bags whatever we need. You can carry them in your bag right?>
Normally I wouldn’t care, I can’t catch most diseases like humans, however a tent is something I would love to have, having had one once it was wonderful keeping rain, wind and other such things away while you slept.
“Yeah, that sound good. You stay here.” I nodded <Alright I trust you.> Zach grinned “No worries I’ll be back.” He then half jogged the way he came. I nodded hoping the kid would return alone, in preparation that he returned with a search party I climbed a tree and waited.

After an hour of waiting Zach came trotting back in, “Hey! Err, OHIO! I got it! … Ohio?” He noticed my absence and looked around “Shit! Did he abandon me?”
Zach sat the tent down and growled to himself I felt happy that he kept his word, I was about to jump down when I heard a strangely familiar sound… A cross between a lion’s roar and an elephants bellow? And what’s worse it was getting closer.
I turned around to see what I feared a Regen! Smaller than the one from Shinwelt, but it was angry and charging right as Zach!
<Zach! Get down!> Zach jumped in shock, and only managed to glance at the creature before it’s shoulder slammed into his face sending him into a tree “GUAHH!!” his body hid the ground in a crumpled heap, shivering in pain, the monster wasted no time having lost it’s momentum bit down on the boy’s right arm I was already on my way down, and now on he monster’s back, wrapping my arms around it’s neck and pulling back in a chokehold. <LET HIM GOOO!!!!> I yelled into the monster’s mind and by some act of God the monster’s jaws unclenched. And the beast began stumbling backwards.
Zach began screaming, and looking at the condition of his arm it was clear to see why, the monster’s teeth treated his flesh like paper, clearly biting through almost if not all the way through. “M, My, MY AR ARRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!” The beast left me no time to see more than the glance of the horror I received as it’s arm reached back and latched onto my leg, pulling me from my chokehold the monster raised me up into the air in front and the next thing I knew the ground had a nice indention of my body. My head and stomach wracked with pain I managed to sit up, realizing I could loose I warned the boy in a futile effort. <Z, Zach! Run!> I had one of my sight receptors closed but could see him behind us, still in pain staring at his arm, only something was odd…
His arm was… black? Yeah! Black, or at least wrapped in black flames… but could this mean?
The next series of events happened rather fast, but it felt like time stopped for me.
Zach’s arm was wrapped in black flames, the flames bound tightly and formed a new arm, large black, blade protruding from the forearm and wrist, it was almost like a full-arm-gauntlet but more solid, and organic.
He stared at the thing in shock, and the sudden disappearance of the smell of blood alerted the Regen. It turned to the boy who was looking back and fourth between his new appendage and the creature.
Suddenly he gritted his teeth realizing the thing in front of him caused him pain, he charged at it fearless, the only thing in his mind must have been anger, pain, revenge, with his emotions in a pitch he moved in a flash before the Regen could react, before I could even twitch Zach’s new arm blade and claw pierced through the Regen’s spine.
Zach ripped his arm out violently the beast letting out a final whimper as it slid to the ground.
I stumbled back and shook my head <Yo, you aright?> I asked my head aching.
Zach was breathing heavily, he seemed to be, or have been, sweating heavily as well. “I’m… Fine.” He said, sounding a little shocked at his own words. He then looked at his now blood drenched arm “What is this.” He asked I shook my head maybe I would be more safe than I thought… he has ‘IT’ as well… but it looks like he can control it… for now.
<I’ll… explain later…> I walked over to the tent he dropped <Let’s find the river and set up camp… I need a rest, and I’m sure you could use some water at the least.> He nodded “Alright… then you have to answer me!” I nodded wanting only to sit down for now.


Hours past as we found the river and set up the tent, by now sun had finished setting, and the lunar flowers were glowing their soft green-yellow glow, along with a sent that keeps most monsters away from rivers at night. Making rivers like the one we were at perfect camping spots for travelers.
Also Zach’s black arm had faded away, his normal arm held not even a scar nor scratch from the injuries he received hours earlier. With the time we took setting things up my pain had subsided as well.
The two of us were sitting in silence by a warm fire on a couple of tree stumps. Zach stared at his arm while I stared into the flames.
I didn’t know where to begin; I saw that power of his, and after some thought I know what activated it, I knew more than I wanted to about that power.
I had hoped he would take a safe road and count his blessings that it happened once, and that would be the end. But… “OHIO… What was it?” I somehow knew he would ask sooner or later. Without removing his eyes from his hand he asked me again “What was that power? You seemed to know about it… tell me.” His voice was slightly scared, but held firm with a thirst for the knowledge I might offer, and over all else; the truth.
I sighed <Zach… that power is dangerous.> He glared at me “Don’t give me that! You tell me what the hell happened!”
I nodded <Alright, alright…>I really didn’t want to tell him, at the same time if ‘IT’ became active again and lost control, that’d be bad. <OK, the power you activated IS dangerous, I know; I have ‘IT’ too. While mine is not exactly like yours, they are the same power.> I started. <These powers are called: RAGE.>
I paused as Zach repeated the word; “RAGE?” <Yes. RAGE is a power that sleeps in every human being.>
<Each RAGE is activated by an emotion, the emotion is different for every person. When a person feels their emotion, to the point of where that’s all they can think about, to the point to when nothing else in the world matters… THAT is when their RAGE activates.>

Zach nodded “So when I was, in pain? That’s what caused it?” I nodded to him <Most likely.>
“So why is this so dangerous? It saved my life! And yours.” I shook my head <You must be lucky…>
I stood up and turned out to look at the river, <Mine… My RAGE… “Face of Anger” I loose control of myself, I have trouble telling friend from foe, my sense of justice gets muddled up because when I’m angry I can’t think clearly. Of the few RAGE I’ve seen people are just like me, they get wrapped up in their emotions and all they can think about is battle.>
The boy sat back and gazed at the fire. “I see.” I felt my tension flow out of me as he said that. He must understand that it shouldn’t be used…
“Even so, this… Pain-in-my-arm… my PainArm saved my life. I’m sorry but I’m going to use it.”
…Or not… <Damnit Zach you don’t get it!> Zach grinned “I do get it. It’s dangerous, like playing with fire, or a fully loaded gun. I just have to make sure I can control it.>
Zach stood up and closed one of his eyes, “All I have to do is think about pain when I want it out. And then remove those thoughts when I want it to disappear!” He held his arm out and the black flames from before wrapped around his arm, they quickly solidified and became the black arm, blade jutting out from the forearm and wrist.
I took a step back as he smiled “That wasn’t so hard…”
Could it be? Could he really control it? If all he had to do was focus on pain than maybe… but could a harmless pinch in the arm really keep the thing out?
So many questions and uncertainties circled around in my mind. Perhaps he could master the power. For him it didn’t seem to have any drawbacks on his mind, but once he learns how strong it is, will he want to use it more?
…
Could he be a gift from God I wonder… He has RAGE just like me, and here he stands, could this be a sign that such power can be controlled?

I shook my head as he began waving his black hand at me “Hello? Earth to Ohio!?” <Huhh?> I asked shaking my head and sitting down on the tree stump. “You kinda zoned out there for a minute, you didn’t even answer my question.”
Question? Man was I really that out of it?
<Uhh, what was the question again?> Zach huffed “I asked: What should I call this thing?”
Why the hell was he asking me!? <I don’t know!> I shrugged, hell I didn’t want him to use the thing, let alone name it! <You said “PainArm” earlier right? How about that?> Zach nodded “PainArm, sound lame, but better than anything I could think of.”
As he said that his PainArm seemed to burn and it’s ashes faded away, leaving his normal arm underneath it. <We’ve… had a long day.> Zach nodded “Yeah, I’ll stand first watch, you could use a rest you’ve been through more than I have.”
I shrugged, frankly we’ve been through about the same but whatever, as tired as I was I wasn’t about to complain. I crawled into the tent and didn’t even bother to get in the bedroll, I just flopped to the ground and let sleep take me.

interesting.......

if japanese ppl pronounced your name or called you by Ohio, it would prolly sound like theyre greeting you Good Morning. Ohayou........Ohio.....

I know about that XD Though I've been using the name for years so I'm gonna stick with it anyway.

DANM DUDE!
cool story and
stuff, ohio!

Unsure of anything else I suddenly became aware of my surroundings
I stood in a field of knee high redish-green grass, atop a hill in front of me a single albeit large cheery blossom tree stood.
The light of the full, blood red moon shone through the tree; it’s oddly pale eerie light made the whole land seem dark, and evil.
I dragged myself forward towards the hill, my feet felt like they were made of lead, my knees; jello… even so I managed to maintain my balance, and keep dragging myself forward.
Atop the hill in front of the tree… a figure? Yes, so it seemed! A man stood there; shrouded in black, he looked familiar… could he be the man from the dreams? As I finally came close enough to see him, I stopped dragging my feet and stared.
The man nodded at my presence, and then he ‘spoke.’
<Heh heh heh….> An evil, dark, and almost angry laugh penetrated my mind. <Still running from me?>
My evil voice amusedly growled. I knew this voice with it’s dark tone, and the bloodlust behind every word… yes… sadly I knew this voice well.
<Maybe…> I replied crossing my arms <Are you still chasing me?> If he attacked, I might not be able to defend myself with as sluggish as I was moving… But I couldn’t let myself seem defenseless either. Against this foe, the thing he wants is to make you sweat…
The man hunched over, laughing a little <You are a fool! … There is no escape.>
He brought his hands to his face, <Sooner or later… I WILL be free! You can’t run from me…>
The man turned around, his face… or rather; his round head matched mine; aside from the color:
The black tint emphasized his dark nature, as a blue tri-thorn pattern stretched across the back of his head, three points ending in the front, one on the top, and two on the sides.
The sakura tree behind him, all the flowers, leaves, everything: It all exploded off, leaving the bare branches.
The man leapt into the air psychically yelling: <You can’t run.. FOREVER!!!> unable to react fast enough I ended up falling on my ass as I stared in shock at the raging ‘me’ as everything else went black.


<Hughh…!?> I shuttered, rolling over onto my side as I woke up. Sunlight was beating on the tent lighting things up around me, I must have been asleep all night… And I guess I had yet another nightmare. Shrugging off the unpleasant dream of that, along with other memories of nightmares I crawled out of the tent and looked around, Zach was no where to be seen. <Something doesn’t feel right…> I thought to myself.
Wasn’t Zach supposed to wake me and have stand guard while he slept?
Did he run off? That was unlikely, he asked to join me plus he must have some questions about that power of his.
Could he have been attacked? Somehow I don’t see him losing to any wild animals or bandits… So I didn’t have to worry about that.

Realizing sitting thinking was getting me nowhere I crawled completely out of the tent and stood up; giving myself a good stretch before looking around the river area.
Judging from the sunlight, it must be just a little after sunrise. So it was still early; good, considering the fact that I usually sleep in.
I turned around and instantly found the missing Zach: The boy was sound asleep leaning back against a tree. As I moved closer I could even hear him snoring softly. <Heh… stand guard my ass.> I laughed to myself.
The kid must have dozed off with out realizing it now usually something like that is dangerous, but then again he isn’t exactly a wanted man, so it’s safer than if I did it.
If the situation was different; I would have let him sleep, and went hunting for food, myself. But…
<Oi!> I yelled into his mind, as my foot connected with his knee. His eyes shot open then quickly closed, he groaned as he brought his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. “Guhhh… O, Ohio?”
He looked around “When… when did I fall asleep?” I shrugged as I amusedly satiated the obvious <How am I supposed to know that?>
Zach shook his head and crawled to his feet, “So… what are we doing?” he asked rubbing his face a little, likely trying to wake up more. <Well, if we don’t want to starve I suggest we get some food. I was about to go hunting.> Zach nodded weakly, judging from his reactions he must be less of a morning person then me. <I’ll go get us some food, you pack up the tent and if you can get a fire goin’ that’d be great.> Zach nodded again “Yeah…” he then headed over to the tent and began taking it down. Seeing him doing his part I nodded and walked off.

Normally, I would climb a tree and wait for an animal to come along; trap it with some psychic energy (Usually by binding it’s legs together, or if it’s a bird, by clamping it’s wings shut.) jump down and collect it… But waiting like that takes time. And right now much more than I was willing to spend.
Plus, there was a meeting place for animals today.
I retraced our footsteps from yesterday and as I approached my goal I began slowing down, and making my footfalls as silent as I could. A short way from my destination I began to listen carefully:
Sure enough there were sounds, movement all over ‘it.’
I snuck over to a tree, and peered around the corner; there were a few wild bores all around the second Regen we killed yesterday… (Or to be exact, the one Zach killed.) Though these aren’t the ‘bores’ you’re likely thinking of: These are similar to the pig like things: Only they are a little larger and have less of a snout, and more of a mouth; which hold quite a few sharp teeth. Aside from that they are quite similar.
I felt a smirk slide onto my mental face. <Looks like I was right…> the pigs were scavengers, they can usually be found eating leftovers that lager predators like the Regen there would leave behind. Or even just eating the fallen predators such as the Regen.
Thus, if you leave the right bait, they’ll come in mass.

I popped out from around the tree, my sudden movement grabbed the monster’s attention we all stared at each other for a few second before they suddenly they went in a frenzy turning to run… After all they are scavengers, not predators.
I reached out with my right hand to direct my power <Gotcha!> I yelled as one of the creatures fell over, it’s hind legs ensnared by the invisible energy.
It squealed loudly as I approached, with it’s ever limiting movement it thrashed as much as it could, attempting to bite me, scratch me, anything to be free.
Though I knew I had to eat I honestly felt a little bad for the creature, the only thing I could offer it was a quiet; <Sorry…>
With little effort, using my psychic power; I severed the creature’s neck from it’s spinal column; causing a clean, quick, and painless death.
Releasing my psychic hold on it I bent down and hefted the creature up placing it on my back I carried it back to the camp.

“Man… this looks good!” the ear-to-ear grin plastered on Zach’s face was priceless <Heh, they say that good food can only be measured by taste though. Give it a bite!>
In truth I pulled that saying out of my ass, I hadn’t heard anything of the sort.
That didn’t stop Zach from stabbing his fork into a small hunk of meat off the cooking rig we had set up and taking a bite out of it.
Zach paused after taking that single bite, he didn’t even chew, he just stared off into space…
Was it bad?
Undercooked?
Overcooked?
His silence was driving, me the cook, crazy.
Suddenly Zach swallowed his mouth full in a single gulp and his jaw dropped “Hooooooly shiiiiiiit…” he dragged both words longer than necessary “That’s damn good!” his face returned to normal as he pointed his fork at me “But, something occurred to me; how do you eat? And how do you taste?” his eyebrow rose in confusion as he waited for his answer.
Hmm? How do I eat? Heh… <Well…> I said scratching the back of my head. <Perhaps a visual demonstration is in order, as a picture can be worth over nine thousand words.> I reached out and grabbed my own ‘steak’ and pried off a small handful of meat; holding it in my hand I focused on it with my mind the meat slowly dissolved and I could feel the energy flow into my hand along with a sensation filling my mind.
A vague sensation; feeling warm, while making me think of meat, I guess you could call it my equivalent of ‘taste’ seeing as I didn’t have taste buds.
Zach stared in awe “You… eat through your hand?” <Something like that.> the meat completely vanished, or rather was completely absorbed. <It’s really instinct to me, I just know how to do it. But I really can’t explain it.>
That simple explanation seemed to satisfy him. As the rest of our conversation ended up with the two of us just dividing up the meat and eating (or in my case absorbing) it quickly.
When we were getting full Zach took some extra meat drying, or cooking near the fire: A recipe he said his father taught him called “Jerky” apparently if done right the meat doesn’t spoil and is safe to take with us, it was also nice because doing that was also cutting back the wasted meat from the pig to nearly 0. Something I approved of greatly.

After no more than an hour and a half after we woke up we were packed up, well fed, and ready to move out.
Zach had the tent, jerky, and his small cooking ‘stove’ packed into his bag… which despite it’s small appearance it is apparently a ‘D-bag’ or ‘dimensional bag’ a bag heavily enchanted with magic, which not so much increasing the size of the bag, but making objects smaller once placed in side it… or something to that extent. D-bags are uncommon in general due to their price and difficulty to make, thus usually reserved for traders and travelers… It’s curious as how Zach, or his family got a hold of one.
Regardless the two of us were packed up and on our way out of the forest. As it occurred to me that I never told Zach about my predicament I didn’t want to stop, instead just turning a little bit to watch the road with one sight receptor, and see him out of the corner of my other. <Listen, I should tell you. As I am; Gray-Face, I am constantly the target of bounty hunters.>
Zach just stared ahead “So? I knew that.”
<Yes of course you did. What you may not know is-> The kid suddenly cut me off “Look if you’re gonna warn me about how dangerous it is traveling with you save your breath or whatever you use to speak.” He cracked his right hand and looked at if for a moment “We haven’t even been traveling for a day and I already have ‘this’ thanks to joining with you I wonder what else is in store for me on this little trip.” I was about to say something else when I heard a branch up in a tree snap.
My attention shot forward as I stood my ground, listening carefully.

<… Where are you at?>

I dulled my sight receptors slightly, focusing my hearing… I listened to the rustling of leaves somewhere in front of me and my sight receptors only opened again when I saw a knife flying at me!
Unable to think or dodge, subconsciously I created a bubble of psy-energy in front of me, not enough to stop the knife but the way the blade hit the bubble it curved away sending it into a tree behind me and Zach.
<Hunters!> I yelled aloud as I moved behind a tree, my heart raced. Zach was behind a tree too, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade, then he shook his head…
Why isn’t he drawing his blade!?
Ignoring him I looked out from my cover as two people dropped down from the branches, both looking identical; the black hoods of their half cloaks hiding the top their faces, with tan bandage wraps around the nose down ending in sort of a tattered scarf, half of the gray body-armor they wore because of the length of their cloaks, their black puffy pants were wrapped from a little past the knees with tan tape wrap, and each of them had a wicked dagger, double bladed with the back side ending with two spike like points… GoCHP Grunts.
They are usually added to a 3-man squad, with the leader being an older more experienced member. With the grunts getting their own squad of grunts after a year or two… or when deemed experienced enough. Sadly, considering how I failed to notice them before they threw a dagger at me, they were likely very experienced almost ready to receive their own squads, that would mean their leader is ether even better, or was placed with them to slow the down…
Yet where was the leader? If the two exposed themselves like that they were ether ordered or did it on their own… The two looked around, one of them spoke up “That had to be Gray-Face…” The other nodded “Yeah, should we wait for--?” the other grunt shook his head “Hell no. He’ll get away if we wait.” The other nodded as they began charging toward our hiding spots.

I looked at Zach going to warn him but… he was smiling!
<Why are you-?> before I could say anything else he brought his right hand to his mouth and bit it… Hard. I could see his eyes closing shut in pain he then released his bite and opened his eyes and looked back at me as the two grunts suddenly popped out in front of us wasting no time one of them swung his dagger at my neck taking a step back I managed to dodge the blade, I then fell to the ground landing on my hands before kicking both legs out one of which connected with his gut. He staggered back before falling to one knee, where was the other and why wasn’t he attacking?
“New hostile!” the other grunt yelled “T, Take ‘em out!” The former yelled gasping for air.
Looking back to where Zach was, the grunt now stood hand against the tree trying to balance himself, following his line of sight I saw Zach with his PainArm out stretched, looks like he intends to fight too, I nodded as Zach charged in at his opponent.

I looked at ‘my’ grunt, he had recovered from the gut kick I gave him and took up a defensive stance. “I, I don’t know what magic you work, or what you did to that poor kid. But I WILL DEFEAT YOU!!” He yelled <Magic? Poor kid what are you-?> I tried to ask before we were all interrupted “So this is where you guys were!” the voice in question, belonged to a woman, as I looked to where it came from (along with everyone else) we all stared at a girl standing atop of a tree branch…
She looked familiar somehow, wearing what could barely be called a skirt, as well as a unzipped vest, but the real eye catcher here was her long blue hair; while the length of her hair stretched down to her lower back, it was her bangs that caught the most attention on the right side of her face were trimmed, but the left side was strange; hair hanging over her eye but curving away to form sort of an “L” shape. She had a grin plastered on her face, a very confident grin at that. “Gray-Face… Look’s like you’ve went and brainwashed some kid from Shinwelt.” She said looking over at Zach, so that’s what it looks like… figures.
“Whatever magic you worked on him will be undone… but first things first…” she grinned while her eyes turned to a look of determination as she griped the sword on her back “It’s time you died!” She pulled the sword as it sparked, and as the blade left it’s sheath it suddenly caught fire… but not any ordinary fire, the fire in question had an azure tint.
This day just keeps getting worse!! She lunged down from the tree and swung at me before landing at the ground I bent back dodging the slash, I could feel the heat almost blister my chest as the blade past me. Lunging forward to retain my stance I then stepped back a little if I wasn’t careful she could easily harm me just with the heat of that sword… To make matters worse with her there the Grunt seemed relived and more determined, this would be an unfair two on one fight… or so I thought…

“RAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” Zach suddenly came charging in much to everyone’s surprise throwing the now unconscious Grunt he was fighting earlier at the woman “AHH!” the body slammed into her sending her to the ground as Zach shoulder tackled the other Grunt into a tree. The woman growled as she threw the body off of her. “YOU!!” She then charged at me, I had more then enough time to prepare for this assault though: Having already created bubbles of psy-energy around both of my feet I used one to jump away from her slash and back at a tree, landing on the tree I used the other to lunge off and plant my foot right into the woman’s face. The force of which knocked her on to her back again as I landed some distance away I turned around feeling bad about hitting a woman, I offered a quick <Sorry.> she shook it off standing up taking up her stance again. She pointed her sword at me and smiled “FIRE!” She shouted sending a fire ball off her sword, I ducked down low dodging the attack. “FIRE!” She yelled again, as I was already bent down I lunged up just barely clearing the blast after landing she yelled again as I began running around her in circles.
It quickly be came a game of cat and mouse: She yells ‘Fire’, I dodge a fire ball, usually leaving only a few inches between me and the azure flames.
I decided it was time to fight fire, with fire. As I was running I began focusing, pulling energy and mana in from the air around me inot my right palm. Unfortunately The Ballad of Insanity was an attack that takes a lot of time into making, I usually can’t do it if I’m not standing still. But that was also if I wanted to kill my opponent… Which I had no intention of doing.
Moving around for a minute I managed to create a sphere that was 1/4th the size, and 1/4th the power of a normal Ballad. It would have to do, as my movements were getting sluggish.
I stopped as she woman pointed her sword at me again “Done huh!? FIRE!!” A 4 foot fire ball was launched off her sword, I threw the sphere at it shortly after leaving my hand it exploded into a small fire ball roughly 1 or 2 feet in size, even so it ripped through her azure fire and began flying at her “WHAT THE!?” she jumped out of the way slamming into a tree on accident, she must have hit her head as her eyes closed and she collapsed against the tree.

I nodded raising my fist in victory, it was then I realized I had lost track of Zach again. After looking around I found him walking back over towards me. “OHIO! Hey, you alright?”
I nodded <Looks like you’re alright too.> Zach grinned “Hell yeah! Which those dudes could say the same, both got away before I could finish ‘em off.”
<Finish them off? You don’t mean you was planning to kill them... Right?> Zach just looked at me confused “I thought-… Hmm?” He then looked over at the woman, she struggled to stand breathing heavily, she was likely out of energy from all the fire balls she used, and that smack up against the tree couldn’t have helped. She gasped for air as she tried to stand in a fighting stance “Y, You… you both…” She then began charging at us “I’ll KILL YOU!!” she shouted swinging her blade at me, Zach jumped in the way grabbing her sword, fire and all with his PainArm <ZACH!?> I yelled but the next thing I saw was his arm casually snapping the sword’s blade off, breaking the metal like it were a toothpick. That arm of his was likely indestructible, or at the very least resistant to heat. The woman watched in horror as her blade’s fire was extinguished she looked at the hilt of her sword as that was all it was now.
She slowly fell to her knees looking up at us hate full of her eyes, the boy stood above her and raised his unnatural appendage “I’ll make it quick…” he growled his tone dark and his eyes to match his tone… Suddenly my mind ran at a thousand miles an hour; I had flash backs to the dream earlier, flashbacks to my fragmented memory, flashbacks to all the wasted lives I’ve seen, and the few I had no choice but to take myself.
<STOP!> I yelled grabbing Zach’s PainArm, he looked back over his shoulder at me <We do NOT kill people.> I barked into his mind. “I just… what if she comes back?” I shook my head <No… We do NOT kill people. Especially people who are only trying to uphold justice or the law, even if they are mistaken.> I shook my head again <If you try to do that again I will not hesitate to bring you down.> After that Zach’s eyes went wide, he seemed to understand that I had zero tolerance for murder and backed off, taking a few steps away from the woman.

I stepped forward <Listen, I’m sorry for my friend but-> “Y… You mock me?” She asked glaring at me <What? No.> “Then why, why are you sparing me?” I shook my head as I shrugged <You are a GoCHP, you’re just doing your job hunting down bounties. I’m just fighting to live.> I then looked at her and held out my hand <My name is OHIO-99, may I ask what’s yours?> she huffed as she stood up on her own, <Fine, fine, you don’t have to tell me.> I thought for a moment then asked something even I found strange: <Listen, me and my friend here are actually just questing to see the world. If you’d like to join us you’re welcome to.>
At that moment both the Bounty Hunter and Zach thought like-mindedly with a unison “WHAT!?” blurted from both of them. “Are you crazy!? She tried to kill us!” I leaned back and scoffed <And you tried to kill her… somehow I think we are all even, and there are a lot of misunderstandings. Ya know.> There was a silence for a few second before suddenly the woman started laughing.
Both Zach and stared at her as she covered her right eye with her right hand “HAHAHAHA!!! Y, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME IT’S ALL A LIE!?! HA HA HA HA HA!!!” She was laughing like a maniac, like someone who had just lost it, she pointed at me “T, the ha ha! The legendary Gray- HA! F, Face!? Just asked me to join!? Ha ha!” her laughter slowly died down as she turned and dragged herself away. Heading back to Shinwelt as she muttered to herself “He asked me to… he asked me to join him… Heh heh… heh heh heh…” Zach attempted to move forward but I caught him by the back of his shirt <Let her go… she won’t trouble us anymore.> Zach looked back at me and merely told me; “You’re too soft…”
<I shrugged if this comes back to bite us you can slap me with your PainArm when we get to hell.> I laughed. Zach shook his head as the appendage I just mentioned dissipated.


The two of us began moving again, heading outside of the forest, the sun at high noon. I spotted a cave off in the distance it looked good for a rest <Let’s stop in there.> I pointed to it, Zach nodded, “OK…” he seemed frustrated still. I couldn’t understand why he was so upset… but it didn’t matter he’d cool down before long.
I only hoped that little bloodlust he had was caused by his PainArm, I’d rather not end up like that Regen. And I honestly didn’t want anyone else to… Thinking back on all of it, and my own frightening power reassured me: RAGE truly is dangerous… And should not be messed with.

Ha ha, those last two posts are actually one chapter, however it was too long for me to post all at once. XD
Anyway this story is not dead, just getting started infact. >=D

After our encounter with those GoCHP grunts Zach and I ended up heading to a cave, as the sun was beating down rather hard to day… however we quickly learned that the cave wasn’t the best idea.
“Well… you got us into this mess, YOU get us out!” Zach growled as we slowly backed into a corner. The cave was home to a small army of cave goblins; 4 foot tall demons, all that love to cackle, they wield old worn out weapons abandoned by people, or taken from fallen victims. Normally demons like this are not much of a threat, however… they trapped us.
As we reached the back of the cave hearing the sound of a river, or a lake, being thirsty we headed to the back of the cave… that’s when we learned it was a small machine being used to create the noise, and as we tried to leave our… ‘hosts’ convinced us otherwise with their assorted weapons.

“Well!?” Zach jabbed me with his elbow <I’m thinking, I’m THINKING!!> I hollered back into his mind. Goblins, what could scare them enough to let us go?
“City dwellers!! Keh-he-he-he-he! How lucky!” One of the many demons cackled “Gray headed one doesn’t look too tasty!” Another thought aloud.
The demons talked aloud with each other about their ‘success’ that’s when one of their words caught my attention: “God” Well… actually it was “gob” but still.
<Uhh, HEY!> not sure where I was going with this I hollered aloud into all their minds at once they all shut up and looked at me. I was more nervous than ever.
<Uhh, Heh, you have no clue as to who I am do you?> I asked trying to sound more confident than I actually was. “Why should we care gob!?” a small murmur arose amongst their ranks.
<B, Because, I’m…> I must be crazy but before I could think the words flowed out anyway <I’m a God.>
There was a long silence before most of the goblins began laughing wildly one of which pointed laying at me “You? God? Ha ha!” Zach even glared at me “Ohio! What the hell? There is no way they’d buy something like that.”
Realizing I was just digging our grave deeper and deeper I knew I had to do something… ‘Godlike’ … or else we would be in BIG trouble.
…
DUH! The obvious hit me at that moment! <Heh, fools!> I laughed confidently aloud causing the army to stare at me with their laughter dying. I reached out with my hand and grabbed one of the Goblins with my psychic power lifting him off the ground and holding him in the air “GOB!? L, LEMME GO!! GAHHB!!” he screamed as I spun him upside down, the rest of the goblins suddenly gasped and a murmur arose again. Shortly they suddenly began bowing “We are not worthy!” some chanted, others offering apologies
This was too much, I dropped the held goblin gently on his head and then bowed <Now, if you’ll excuse me and my… ‘angel’ here, must be going.> The goblins nodded “Yes, yes! But oh lord please! Would you and your angel care for some food? Water? Treasure?”
Now the goblins seemed eager to earn my blessing, wanting nothing more then to get away and stop playing God I tried to decline… however. “Water would be nice.” Zach ordered with a grin. I looked at him and whispered into his mind <Are you crazy? We need to go!> Zach smiled “No rush, let’s milk this for all it’s worth… Heh heh.” I couldn’t help but grow frustrated with him, though honestly I was growing thirsty myself.
<Alright, a quick drink then we must be off.> the goblins clamored over who would get the water in all truth it took them bout 20 minutes to fetch such a simple request. Stupid debates over what kind of container they should bring the water in, and so fourth.
“We are pleased to present you with your most humble request my lords…” the delivery goblins said as they handed us our water. I grabbed my bowl of water and quickly absorbed it, Zach gulped his down rather quickly too. After which I stood up <We thank you, may uhh… blessings fall upon your cave.> I said grabbing Zach and quickly moving to the exit of the cave <Let’s go ‘angel-boy’> I said as he trailed behind.

Halfway out of the cave we saw some one running in… not just anyone, with her blue hair and her large chest barely hidden with her black vest and that… thing, which can’t really be called a skirt. <Isn’t that?> The GoCHP girl was running looking behind her when she looked forward her running screeched to a halt.
“N, N, N, N, NO! Not you! A, Anyone but you!!” she gasped, she was sweating rather hard, and judging from her breathing, my guess is that she had been running for some time, likely away from something that scared her, or someone that was after her.
<Hold up, what’s wrong? What’s chasing you?> She bit her thumb unsure of what to do. When I saw a man rushing in from behind her… He was dressed in garb similar to the Grunts, baggy black pants but only his feet were wrapped in tan cloth, a black hooded half cloak, although the hood was down, his face from the nose down was still wrapped in tan cloth, while his blonde-white hair was cut short hanging back, the man was wielding a large two handed scimitar with one hand. He stopped and pointed the massive blade at the blue haired girl as he growled; “Give up this game woman… I grow tired of chasing you.”

The girl looked at him her eyes wide with shock, I swear I could feel how afraid she was as she looked back at us. The fear in her eyes, something sparked with in me then, I felt… Angry? No! That I would avoid no matter what… No, I felt something as deep within me as I stepped forward placing a hand on her shoulder and pushing her back a little <I don’t know who you are… but I don’t like you.> I sighed out looking at the assassin who raised an eyebrow “Gray…Face? Heh heh heh… Looks like it’s my lucky day!” The man laughed assuming fighting stance “I kill the girl get the bounty on her head, and the priceless bounty on yours!”
What the? A bounty on a GoCHP? Now why would there be something like that?
I shook my head, now wasn’t the time to think such trivial thoughts.
I clenched my fists assuming my fighting stance <Let’s go.> He nodded as the challenge was accepted he charging at me. His oversized blade slashed wickedly through the air, he was able to control the weapon with ease despite it’s size, weight, and the fact that he was wielding it with one hand… Even so he was sloppy, that one slash alone left a thousand openings in his defense. Plus the way he did it left me numerous ways to could doge the attack.
I jumped to the side as the black cracked the ground where I once stood, with a quick twist of his wrist he pulled the blade into another slash, the blunt side aimed at me.
I ducked under the blade and stuck out my leg sweeping it around in a low kick, as it connected with my foe’s shins the momentum of his attack mixed with my kick ended with him spinning to the ground.
I spun around as I rose up standing tall… but not for long though; as I then extended my elbow I dropped unto the assassin using both gravity and a small push of psi-energy to help bring out the full force of the attack.
“GUHH!!” The assassin coughed before he lost consciousness he lay limp on the ground still clutching his oversized blade.

I stood back up clapping my hands together to get what little dust was on them off <Well that was easy.> I thought with a laugh. I looked over at Zach and the GoCHP, Zach’s expression was complex, a mixture of confusion with amazement. The woman was in complete shock. “H, how did you?” She stuttered trying to form even one sentence I shrugged then held out my hand to her <Listen, I would really like a few answers.> The girl quickly shook her head as if to regain her composure, she then turned to the side and bit her thumb again, she seemed to be thinking deeply, debating with herself. Finally she turned to me and said “Ok… Fine I guess…” her expression looked painful as she choked out the words, her cheeks tinged red “I guess I owe you that much. Gray.”
Gray? Is that the name she’s chosen to call me by? Well, I guess taking the “face” part made it feel less offensive…
<Anyway.> I started <Who was this guy? He’s dressed in the same garb as someone who just graduated from being a Grunt in GoCHP.> I pointed to the sleeping man next to us as I asked. She looked at him, then back at me and sighed “T, there is some sort of bounty on my head.” She crossed her arms as she said this; “I guess one of the higher rank members didn’t like failure… Rumors said that he places a bounty on the head of people who fail missions… guess it was true.” She sighed and dropped her shoulders as she explained.
<You ‘guess’? You mean you don’t know for sure?> I asked pressing the matter, she shot an annoyed glance at me “No I don’t know for sure. All I was told is “That I’ve been stripped of my rank and should await execution.” I thought it was a joke but… then he came after me.” Despite her annoyance at me she didn’t seem to be lying plus; if this were a trap, the set was far too elaborate, there was no reason to send two well trained warriors if you’re only going to get an assassination attempt with one… Especially considering that the target in question beat the aforementioned assassin. But there was something else, something I couldn’t exactly explain, something deep within me told me that it was OK to trust this woman.
<You remember my offer right?> I asked suddenly, the woman nodded weakly “About that… is it… still on the table?” Her face turned a deep shade of red as she looked away trying to hide her face, Zach growled “NO! Why should we help you!? You trie-“ I raised my hand <Hold up.> I started <I don’t see a weapon on her, and the only place to hide one is in that cleavage of hers.> As I explained, her face turned redder, I swear I could almost see steam rising off of her as well. <And I doubt that she’d try to hide anything there.> Zach just scoffed as he turned away.

I looked at her and pointed to myself <Name’s OHIO-99,> I then pointed to Zach and said <Mr. Angry over there is Zach Conman.>
The former GoCHP turned to me, her cheeks still red “I’m… Malendia… Malendia Frost.” She whispered, she seemed a little ashamed at her decision to join the most feared man on the planet in order to survive. “S, so… umm. W, where are we going?” She asked looking away likely wondering if she could back out of this choice if she had to, while Zach just slowly turned his attention to me “Yeah, I just realized I never asked ether. Where to?” I felt as if I were just put on the spot. <Uhhmmm…> I began to stroke the bottom of my face, my ‘chin’ as it were as I thought deeply <Well, I had no immediate plans, but South Kimald, is said to lack a GoCHP hall, so let’s head there. We should get as far away from the Guild of Calamitous Hazard Prevention as we can… considering our predicament in all.> Zach nodded “OK…” Zach reached into his bag, Malendia and I watched as his arm disappeared deep into the bag, suddenly he pulled it back out holding a torn old peace of parchment, <Is that a?> Zach nodded “Yep, it’s a map my dad had.” A map, oddly enough they too were rare, because of how enclosed the cities are upon themselves, the only town known to make them in Shinwelt, and even then they make them in small numbers. “A d-bag, and a map… just who are you guys?” Malendia asked crossing her arms.

Zach and I memorized some of the land marks and the roads needed to get there, after that the map disappeared back into his d-bag.
The whole trip would likely take a day, well, that is if there was no incident and if my… companions didn’t start to complain or anything. <Alright then.> I ran the side of my fist against my ‘cheek’ and gave the duo following me a thumbs up <The trip should take a day, two at the most. Let’s get going…> I turned around facing the exit of the cave as the last thought hit me. <Oh…> I turned back to look at them <Let’s all at least TRY to get along. OK?> I pleaded. Malendia just turned away defiantly and Zach just huffed a annoyed; “Whatever…” I could only shake my head.

Well this has truly been an eventful day: We were attacked by the same person who later had no choice but to join us: Malendia Frost, a swordswoman, and now a former GoCHP member. Her… voluptuous appearance can only be matched by that… difficult personality of hers IF she just calmed down and realized we weren’t bad guys… Who knows, perhaps we could even be friends.
But honestly her defiant attitude can quickly grind even my nerves.
Let alone Zach doesn’t seem to be the best at holding his temper, I guess these next two days could be hard… I’ll have to stand guard both nights so they don’t kill each other…
Searching through both my pockets and the ‘sleeping’ assassin I found that I had developed a small amount of coin, not a lot, but what few coins I had collected would let the three of us sleep in a decent inn when we arrived at South Kimald.
That is if we all arrived in one peace.
“Hey! Stop staring at my chest!”
“I ain’t even lookin at you! Quit your bitchin’.”
“B, bitching!? Where the hell do you get off swearing at a lady like me!?”
<Uhggg… Man, this could be a long trip…> I couldn’t help but shake my head… <These are the companions I wanted so badly? Can I get a refund?> “What do you mean by that?” Zach yelled cracking his knuckles “Hmmph! It’s not like I WANT to join you guys.” Malendia growled in defiance.
… Perhaps I should keep my thoughts to myself. Ha ha ha…

South Kimald… I wonder what waits for us there? Hopefully we’ve left trouble behind us… at least for a little while. But then again knowing my luck, that’s not very likely.

Holy!!!!
want more!!!

Say, can you read my stuff?
I'm sure its good too right?

RIGHT?!

I've noticed a lot of people say that: "I want more" or "I want to see what happens next" I don't really understand...
Well, I mean, I understand the latter; conclusion is always something that a reader wants...

But what about my writing is so good?
What is it that you like?
What is it that makes you want to read that conclusion?
What makes waiting for updates worth it?

I've never considered my work to be all that great.
[Until now] I never really sat down and thought about writing a story all the way through.
The few times I sat down and wrote was merely out of boredom, or a spur of the moment thing where I described a battle or some situation that seemed like fun trying to write about. (Like in my other story: Faceless Non-Existence)

To me most of my work has been... like doodling.
Just done because (at first) there was nothing better to do.
So I'm curious as to how people think it's good.

One day down. And somehow it ended without incident… well, almost: If Zach didn’t feel the need to stop and argue with Malendia every five minutes we would have made a lot more progress.
But I can’t shoulder all the blame on him; Malendia didn’t back down ether, even at a whisper beneath his breath… and I suppose I share some blame too: As I got tired of breaking up their consistent bickering. And let them argue for a while.
Even so, we managed to set up camp, hunt for food, and eat at the same fire without killing each other.
Of course though, just to further express her anger at traveling with us; Malendia went off complaining about the size of the pig I brought to the ‘table’ as well as the fact that she hates tough to chew meat.
(How am I supposed to know if it’s tough to chew or not!?)
And THAT was the easiest part of the day… after setting up the tent Malendia yelled at both of us:
“Oh but of course… I’ll just drop my guard and go to sleep making myself vulnerable to a couple strange men. One of which tried to kill me earlier, and the other is the most wanted man in the damn world!” Or something to that extent.
Irregardless, the former GoCHP ended up staying up for night watch, to warn us if any bandits or wild animals or such came attacking.
Of course Zach; being both cautious, and difficult… Insisted: “You tried to kill us too! Somehow I don’t think that we should just trust you and go to sleep so you can slit our throats!”
Man what is with these two!? Honestly…
So… being the nice guy I offered to stay up on night watch as well, letting Zach rest easy.
And hopefully it would give me a chance to discuss some things with our new companion.

But I was never good at starting conversations. The two of us ended up setting on log, keeping quiet as we stared at the fire we sat up a few hours earlier. The only real movement was my leg bouncing slightly due to an inability to sit completely still, and Malendia every so often would glance at me, then return her gaze to the fire.
I shifted through so many bad conversations starters in my head:
<Say, how’d a pretty young girl like you get stuck in an organization like GoCHP anyway?>
Somehow I think that’d just piss her off more, I doubt she’d like a ‘strange man’ calling her ‘pretty’.
<Well since it’s just you and me, alone for the next few hours… do you feel like talking about anything?>
OK Tell me that wouldn’t sound odd considering the situation.
<You know I’m not as bad as everyone says.>
Can you say “Date-Rape”? or “Psycho”?

Man this crap is harder than I thought…
“Hey…” I almost jumped out of my skin as Malendia called out… In contrast to her annoyed yelling tone from before, this one was softer, calmer, and honestly sounded sweeter. I turned my head over to look at her. <Uhhh… yes?> Her tranquil ice-blue eyes gazed at me, her expression was softer now than I’d seen all day.
“Umm, well it’s nothing really.” She said her tone changing, sounding slightly defiant as she turned away.
<Oh I see.> I returned my gaze to the fire as well.
Wait! What the hell am I doing!? This is the most we’ve talked all day don’t waste this chance!
I turned back to the GoCHP <Say, this silence is killin’ me, would you mind if we just ya know… talked?>
I half expected her to shoot me a glare-o-death, or to snap and yell at me… but the only thing I received was a calm, inquiring “What about?”
I scratched my ‘chin’ as I thought about that. <Well, anything. I am kinda curious about you.> I wasn’t sure where I was going with this but I figured it was better than nothing.
<I mean, from the few that I’ve dealt with in the past, GoCHP’s are usually faithful to the end… and I have never heard of a GoCHP receiving a bounty unless they rebel or try to usurp power.>
Malendia drooped her shoulders “Yeah about that…” she looked over at me her expression held depression.
“I returned to HQ after you spared me, those two Grunts had already reported my mission as a failure… which would usually mean I’d be subject to re-training.” She snapped a twig off part of the log and began to fiddle with it as she continued “They told me: ‘Because of your failure you are hereby exiled from the Guild, branded a renegade with a bounty to match.’ Can you believe that?” She then snapped the twig in half and threw it into the fire “Me!? Exiled!?” She dropped her head. I reached out without thinking and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at me, with confused eyes. <I’m sorry I asked, it must be hard.> she shrugged my hand off “Yeah whatever…”

There was silence amongst us for a while, no words could be said really… But after some time, Malendia sat back up and while staring forward asked me: “So, what about you? What’s your story Gray?”
<First of all, it’s OHIO… OHIO-99. Not Gray.> She shrugged like it was no big deal.
I swallowed my aggravation and replied: <Anyway, my story? Heh, not much to tell, a couple years ago I became ‘aware’ of my existence.> The odd choice of words sparked interest in the Former GoCHP she sat looking at me listening attentively, but not before asking a quick question; “What the hell do you mean by ‘aware’?”
I couldn’t help but shrug and shake my head in amusement <Do you remember your birth?> “No…” she paused and brought her index finger to her bottom lip as her eyes turned toward the sky “I can’t say I reme-… Wait. Are you avoiding my question?” her eyes returned to me with a sharp glare.
I merely shook my head raising my hand waving it around gently as I spoke; <Not at all, you don’t remember your birth, but you know that one day without realizing exactly when; you became aware of your existence, that same thing happened to me about 2 years ago.>
Malendia thought about it for a moment then gently nodded “Oh… OK I see, but, if you were aware like that suddenly how would you know right from wrong?” I paused for a moment and held my chin a little <Hmm… my ‘first memories’ place me somewhere in between Shinwelt and North Kimald, I found myself just sort of dragging one foot in front of the other. As I did I one day came across a small group of bandits attacking a traveling trader, something sparked within me, and I knew that the bandits were doing something evil so I stepped in and chased em off…> I stated that last part with great pride <However…> My tone dropped as did my shoulders <The trader took my intrusion, and appearance bad. And as if I were a monster.>
Malendia shrugged “So you’re telling me the “Gray-Face ‘legend’ started from there?” I nodded <Yeah, anyone I tried to help ended up hating me. Over time I began to stalk some people who talked to themselves and slowly picked up on things, like the city names, some of the laws from the city. Basic information gathering you know?> Malendia sat back with a complex expression on her face, she seemed to be trying to absorb everything.

Our conversation died there for quite some time. I ended up sitting back and staring at the sky and stars in them. When ever I glanced over at Malendia she was staring at her hands, while looking lost in thought. Almost a hour past when suddenly she stood up, the sudden movement grabbed my attention as I began to watch her. She walked over to the fire and held her right hand out at it… The hell was she doing?
Her gaze slowly became strained as her focus tightened her arm slowly began shaking as if straining to move something. Suddenly she pulled back her arm taking a deep breath “Damnit…” I titled my head as I finally spoke up <What was that about?> Malendia shook her head, “I… was trying to manipulate the fire, like I did with my sword.”
Well that got me no where, but did quirk my interest <What do you mean? It wasn’t enchanted?> She shook her head “Oh no, it was enchanted alright: Enchanted so that it wouldn’t melt.” She gazed at her hand as she continued her explanation “See due to a training program in the Guild I received the power to manipulate blue fire using my mind, however… it’s difficult to create blue fire. And when applied to weapons it usually becomes so hot it melts them.” I nodded <Ahh I see.> she nodded “The R&D Department said I should be able to create my own Blue Fire, but so far I can only create the azure flames from a spark which is why we lined the mouth of my sword’s sheath with flint.” I stood up and stretched my arms <OK I see… once you get a bit of this blue fire though… you’re able to do…?> the GoCHP answered my question happily “Almost anything! Form it into a weapon, shield, blast it at my target. You know it’s pretty versatile once you get it going.” She then dropped her shoulders “The problem is getting it going. Apparently I can’t create it from normal fire like this, and I can’t seem to manipulate ordinary fire.”
I nodded and thought about it for a moment <Well why don’t you use the mana in the air?> Malendia looked at me with a raised eyebrow <Seriously. Just focus on the mana, just kind of draw it in. As you likely know mana is the essence of just about everything magical if you can manipulate fire of any kind you should be able to manipulate mana.> Malendia thought about it for a moment then it clicked in her mind.
“Y, you’re right! It’s so simple too!” She then calmly held out her hand as closed her eyes she opened them and suddenly floating above the palm of her hand was a small blue flame. With the small flame Malendia had dawned a grin similar to a kid being in a candy shop.

However her expression slowly dropped “It was so… simple.” she looked over at me “Any one of those R&D imbeciles could have figured it out… why was I kept in the dark?” She asked I could only shake my head <I don’t know.> Malendia gazed at the flames, then turned her hand and put them out.

For a few hours Malendia played around with her ‘new’ power, she apparently still held the hilt of the sword Zach broke earlier she had been playing with it and the flames and created a sword of pure blue fire on the hilt, thus creating a sword of fire. Once she had that down she extinguished the flames and placed the hilt in a sash around her waist.
After she sat back down she sighed happily “Well that was refreshing.” I could only laugh a little <I’m not any sword master or anything but you do have some pretty good moves.>
Malendia grinned “Ha ha! Of course! You shouldn’t expect a Frost to be anything but the best!”
…
…
Wait did she just say she was… that she was!? <Did you just say you were a Frost?> my tone was shaking as were my hands, but Malendia just looked calmly and nodded “Yeah, and?”
If this woman was a Frost that would mean she’s the daughter of Machiro Frost… The current Guild-Master of the Guild of Calamitous Hazard Prevention. And in short one of the most powerful men in the world. But something didn’t feel right.
<Wait, if you’re a Frost that means that Headmaster Machiro is your father right? Couldn’t he just wave the bounty off your head and clear up this whole mess?>
Malendia nodded “I think so… but I can’t get in contact with him any message I send would likely be recognized and shredded… But that’s alright, if I just lay low and keep my head down word will spread around the Guild and he’ll figure it out and knock some heads.”

Our conversations ended there and we waited as time passed; minutes turned into hours until finally the sun rose off in the horizon.
I opened the tent and kicked Zach <Wake up, it’s morning.> The boy just groaned and turned over “Man I didn’t sleep well… give me a few…” I shook my head <Nope.> My foot connected with his knee again “Argh!” Seeing that Zach was slowly getting up I turned and left the tent.
Malendia sat waiting on the log watching the sunrise. <He’ll be out in a few.>
She rolled her eyes “Joy.” I shrugged hopefully these two will drop their hostilities. As I thought that Zach crawled out of the tent and after a stretch he began to pack up the tent putting it inside his D-Bag once it was rolled up.
Zach then pulled out breakfast, we had stockpiled plenty of Jerky and so decided instead of hunting again we’d eat on the go.
As we started walking I looked back at the two and calmly requested <OK we should arrive at South Kimald today, but I’d really like it if we all at least tried to get along on the way there.>
Zach just nodded with a peace of Jerky hanging out of his mouth “Uh-huh…” obviously he was too tired to hold an argument. Malendia on the other hand just shrugged “Sure, sure. No problem.”
I sighed in relief as I absorbed the Jerky in my hand. Hopefully this meant there would be no fights today. Or at least less bickering than yesterday…
Heh perhaps if I’m lucky today might even be… peaceful.