Even though his hands itched to pull out another weapon and fling himself into battle once more, Alois fought the instinct. This was that rare chance he spoke to the villagers and the recruits about before. Here stood an Icchorian who was not racing to disembowel him, who regarded him with a questioning look now. This was an opportunity that had not been presented since the disastrous event with the Golden Ones, that in his opinion, had been destroyed by the Humans of that time.

“Who are you?” He stated simply, deciding that a name would be a better association for him than beast.

The man stood silently, regarding Alois carefully. The Hunter cleared his throat, standing straighter under his heavy gaze. Perhaps he did not speak the common tongue. Alois switched to his native language, the growling and guttural sounds rolling with a familiarity he had missed, since Yulian was not fond of the language.

“Who are you?” He asked once more, making sure his words were clear. Silence met him again, and Alois frowned. “My name is Alois Engbrecht. I am a Hunter from Leben Festung. Is this your home?”

This was met with a nod and Alois felt a swell of pride. An answer, albeit not a spoken one, was a victory that few had achieved. He had begun to fear that perhaps the Icchorian did not speak at all.

“I have a few questions for you. I would be honored if you answered them for me.”

He waited again and after a moment, the Icchorian nodded. Alois relaxed his stance, allowing his free hand to hang away from his weapons to show that his words held meaning.

“Were there children here before I came?”

Another nod.

“Did they take something of yours?”

He nodded once more.

“And did you kill one of them for it?”

A long pause and the Icchorian finally looked away from him. He regarded the snow with a diminished gaze before looking back at the Hunter forlornly. He nodded.

Alois swallowed, watching his every movement. “What is your name?” He did not expect an answer, but wanted to show his persistence in talking with him. It was to his surprise that a deep voice met his ears, heavily accented and filled with a gentler purpose than what he would have expected from a creature known to slaughter aimlessly.

“Aksel Storlien.”

The name hung in the air between them, Alois could feel his mouth hanging open slightly as he stared. He quickly snapped out of his shock when he noticed the Icchorian’s gaze had taken on an amused gleam. Alois nodded to show he acknowledged his answer and cleared his throat once again.

“Why did you kill the child….” Alois searched his mind to the one text he had found that briefly mentioned the naming systems in place in the Icchorian society that was thought to be dead. “...Lord Storlien?”

This was met with silence once more as Aksel now seemed to consider the ice that still hung suspended near him. He reached up, resting a hand on the gleaming surface. Before Alois grew impatient, he spoke.

“I lost my control. He paid the price for that.”

Golden eyes rested on him once more, their earlier amusement gone.

“And you are here to take his life back from me.”

Alois blinked, finding himself bound by his voice and the implication of his words. The Icchorian knew Alois was here to kill him for the boy’s death, he could contemplate things like justice and revenge. Things that were exclusively thought to be Human emotions and motivations. Alois trembled then, feeling a well of emotions inside that he had never felt before. All his research and obsessive studying now seemed to bloom into fruition in the form of this rare Icchorian. Why would fate dictate Aksel had to die before Alois even had the chance to learn more than any other before him?

Being so lost in his inner battle, Alois did not see the amusement creep back into Aksel’s gaze as he regarded the Hunter. The Icchorian knew he was facing a dangerous Human, but the creature was so unusual. He lost himself in thought during a battle, and here Aksel had come out to receive his just punishment. He would not rush the Human however, he knew that it was their nature to simmer in anger and that justice was something which bled from them as surely as their lifeblood. Soon he would remember the dead boy and those red eyes would glare at him with hatred instead of barely concealed awe.

He let out a soft sigh, shifting slightly to press against the ice. It seemed the Hunter was to take his time, and there wouldn’t be a reason that he couldn’t regard him while he waited. In his long life he had seen many Humans, but none looked quite like this one. Were they changing in the many years that Aksel had been isolated here in the castle? For all he knew, the others of his kind could have changed as well, so long had it been since he had seen one. White hair… that was something significant, he was sure of it. Yet being on a Human complicated it a bit, as many of his books did not have information on the legends surrounding their beliefs. He mindlessly flipped bits of ice off his fur, sifting through his thoughts as he tried to remember what the messengers from the Council of Elders had intoned thousands of years ago. Something about pieces being born with special coloring that would indicate their sealed fate. Special chosen ones who his family had died for. This made Aksel pause. Chosen ones born with white hair… hair as white as snow. He straightened, turning to address Alois freely.

“Are you an Icchorian?”

Alois jumped at being spoken too, and it seemed to be a moment before he was able to understand the question. His gaze suddenly burned into Aksel in shock even as he winced from another jab of pain in his side.

“Are you out of your mind? I revealed I am a Hunter from Leben Festung here to kill you. Why would an Icchorian hunt another of their own kind?”

Aksel tilted his head again to regard him. “But you never stated you were Human.”

Alois was reminded suddenly of the comments his men would make when they meant to tease him or get on his nerves. He felt his eyebrow twitch in slight frustration. “That should be an obvious fact. One that does not need to be stated.” He growled through grinding teeth. Aksel merely stared at him, and somehow Alois was able to get the sense that the Icchorian didn’t quite believe him.

The Hunter clenched his fist, letting his anger well up enough to quell the pain he felt in his side. “I am not in the mood for whatever mind games you intend to play. I am here to take revenge for a child who died too early by your hand.” He could feel the shift in the air, even if Aksel did not move in response to his words. His senses were on alert, like before when the Icchorian had first moved into the courtyard.

Alois reached down and drew his second choice of weapon, a short sword that was about the length of his forearm. He wasn’t as skilled in it’s use, but he’d have to make due. The Icchorian could not be allowed to maintain his position of power over the village below.

Casting a glance once more over the courtyard, he briefly thought of a plan. Without a doubt the Icchorian knew the layout of the castle and it’s courtyard very well, so Alois would need to get him out of his element. Since he was not sure if the other was able to draw strength from the surrounding element that his power manifested, Alois would just have to consider the possibility that Aksel could yet be stronger still. A brief flash of insecurity rose up but he quickly pushed it to the back of his mind. He was the first line of defense for those who could not protect themselves. It would be an honor to him, whether he bested the beast or died trying.

Alois decided to see if Aksel would follow him still, he darted quickly to the left, towards the tree closest to the opening he had used to come in. Aksel watched him until he lost sight of the Hunter behind the broad trunk of the tree.

The Icchorian shifted, stepping forward and to the side so that he could peer around the tree at the Hunter. What was he trying to accomplish hiding where he would not be able to maneuver freely? Surely the Hunters were taught a bit more basic survival instinct than that.

Alois could hear Aksel moving, and he couldn’t help but smile. So the Icchorian was invested enough to follow him wherever he led. Then he just needed to get him outside the castle walls. He ducked quickly to the side opposite the one that Aksel seemed to have decided to approach. He made sure his footsteps crunched loudly in the snow, and only turned to look at Aksel when he reached the opening of the small doorway. He didn’t say anything, merely smirking his challenge at the beast he was determined to bring down.

Without a word the Hunter ducked into the dark opening, and Aksel could only wonder at how strange he was. Why wasn’t he attacking after speaking so grandly before? Had he become afraid, even though Aksel did not smell fear on him. He sighed, and decided to follow and see what the Hunter was planning. It would be a shame to let him have come all this way for justice, only to leave him shivering in the cold.

He moved at a more sedated pace, and listened closely for sounds of the Hunter in the opening beyond the castle walls. Once he reached the end, he was able to pick up the scent of two other Humans, warriors like the one that he faced now. Yet a quick scan of his surroundings revealed them to be gone. So no reinforcements either. He was quickly beginning to doubt the efficiency of the modern day Hunters.

He was unable to finish his thoughts however, as the bank of snow that had piled next to the opening came toppling down on him with a loud cry from the Hunter. Alois clung to the wall’s edge on a stone that jutted further than the rest, and he could only swallow his laugh as he jumped down on the now snow ladened Icchorian. He whipped the sword into the air, aiming for Aksel who had stopped moving in his surprise at being overtaken.

The sword was stopped mid swing however, and Alois’s gaze widened to see it held in place by Aksel’s hand. The sharp smell of blood filled the air between them, and Alois found it suddenly very hard to remember what he was doing at the sight. Aksel took advantage of the momentary lapse of movement, and his other hand shot forward, delivering a blow to the Hunter’s chest, sending him flying into the forest’s edge. The Icchorian tossed the blade to the side, scowling slightly down at his bloodied hand before his instincts kicked in and he ducked as far down into the snowbank as he was able. Four thick knives buried themselves in the snow behind them, lost from sight with the force they were thrown. He had to grudgingly admit that the Hunter was persistent, he knew he had broken the injured ribs with that last hit. A bit more force than he had intended had been used, but he had been caught by surprise. The Human’s frail torso most likely wouldn’t hold up after that.

He listened for any sounds before straightening up. The snowbank was heavy against him, and it would take a moment to free himself. A quick scan of the treeline revealed that the Hunter was leaning heavily on a tree not far from him, but did not seem to be moving any time soon. Aksel reached forward, and hefted himself up out of the snow. He glanced at the sword, and after a moment of consideration, picked up the blade that was stained by his own blood. The snow about it had melted from the heat of his blood, making the sword slightly sink a bit out of sight. He gave it an experimental swing and nodded, and slowly made his way to Alois.

Breathing had become very difficult and Alois knew that three of his ribs were broken at least. He gripped his side, wincing as his chest stung with every inhale. No doubt he also had deeper injuries that would take doctors in the Capitol days to discern. He’d be lying to himself if he assumed the injuries weren’t most likely fatal. He grit his teeth as he watched the Icchorian pull himself up from the snow and pick up his weapon. Gone was the gentle air of before, it seemed he had managed to finally upset the Beast of the castle. Alois reached down with some difficulty, pulling out his last remaining throwing knife. He held it backwards, ready to brandish it the best he could against the short sword.

The steps of the Icchorian sounded loud in the forest, but to Aksel, Alois’s heavy breathing was louder still. He could hear the harshness that tinted it, could feel the weight of his injuries ride the air. A coldness settled in his gaze, the same as when the unfortunate child died by his hand. The knife in the Hunter’s hand was inconsequential, it would not help him now. He came to a stop before Alois, gazing down at him as he brought the blade up to press against the scarf about his neck. With a deft movement, he cut through the cloth, allowing the steel to rest against his flesh.

For long moments there was silence punctuated only by Alois’s harsh breaths, before Aksel finally spoke.

“It is a shame you must die. I would have like to learn about why you think you are not Icchorian.”

Alois growled before coughing roughly, wincing as blood was spat out into the snow. “Just shut up and kill me. You’ve won. I can say that I died proudly by-”

Aksel waited a long moment waiting for the Hunter to finish his last words before he noticed the ruby gaze had moved from him, to the sky behind him. He felt a brow raise in question as he stared for a moment more at the Hunter before finally peering up to follow his gaze. The sky was thick with dark grey clouds, and Aksel could see that small white flakes had begun to fall gently from the clouds and on the waiting land below. So the snow had begun to cross the Castle’s walls once he left. He would need to return soon to stop it once more, lest the land in the valley was covered how it had been many thousands of years before. He sighed, turning once more to the Human who had provided the minor distraction from his duties.

He found himself pausing however, the smile on the Hunter’s face was one he had not seen on any other before in his long life. Alois seemed content, pain forgotten as he watched the gentle snowfall with an awed air of reverence. Even his coughing had stopped, no doubt from internal injuries that even Aksel could sense despite the lack of an open wound. His entire demeanor had changed, and it was another long moment before the Hunter seemed to remember the Icchorian that was standing there.

“I now die proudly and fulfilled. Alois Engbrecht goes now to his parents’ sides.”

And forever out of Yulian’s reach.