"Sorry, I'm going to need you to run that back again?"

     "You heard me, I need you to kill...", Connor then realizes what he just said, "O-oh shoot! I didn't mean it in a literal sense! I mean it more in a metaphorical sense", he continues to stutter for words, "Like, I don't actually want you to stab somebody. I just want you to stab into an...idea. A concept?"

      Connor would've gone forever if his bodyguard didn't stop him. Kohta holds his hand up to shut up his boss.

    "Yes?"

     "Slow down", Kohta says, "This is another reason that woman won't give you a chance. Who'd want to go out with a man whose mind is all over the place?"

     Connor looks at the floor and nods. He takes a couple of deep breaths and exhales out in a calming fashion. 

     "Better?"

     "Better", Connor raises himself up, "Okay, let me say that again. I need you to kill the idea of Beastfallen being terrible people".

     "What's with the sudden empathy for those scum?"

     Connor scratches his collarbone, "I'm sure you already know about my dad".

     "Yeah what about", Kohta begins to realize where the conversation is headed, "Oh, okay I think I get it".

     "I didn't inherit his powers so I was allowed to live, but both of my parents were sent to execution by drowning", Connor says, his tone betraying his brave face, "If they didn't die then I would have just lived a normal life. They didn't do anything wrong. Those poor farts where just at the right place at the wrong time".

     "That's just how this game works. Sometimes it's not even your fault".

     "But the game doesn't need to stay like that", Connor shoots back, "Let's take your folks if they were killed just because they had that stupid Mark. You would be okay with that?"

     "You do know that Mark only chooses the worst of us? If that mark lands on somebody who has a decent character, it moves along. But when it finds scum like me, then it makes itself home. Not saying your parents were terrible people, but I'm sure they committed some atrocious acts to get that mansion".

     Connor scowls, "Don't speak ill of my parents".

     "Yes, I'm sorry", Kohta says, "But to answer your question from earlier: yes, I'd be okay with it".

     A tense silence fills the air within the carriage. 

     "My parents came from the Wild Area. It's no surprise that they inherited powers from the Beast's", Connor finally says, "They worked their ass off and eventually managed to buy this plot of land. What started out as a small house soon turned into a massive mansion, then into beautiful gardens, and finally, I was born. Two people with nothing became something---and all of their hard work thrown away. Just because they had that stupid mark. And even if what you said is true, that doesn't mean they were evil".

     "But---".

     "The only reason I'm still at that place is to restore their name! I will show people that Beastfallen don't deserve to die. And you're going to help me with that".

     "How, exactly?"

     "You know those raids that are happening up North?"

     "Yeah, I've heard of them".

     "I'm almost certain that those raids will transition on the smaller villages. Specifically, the village where Agacia came from, Cora", Connor leans in, "I need you to travel there and bring her son here".

     "And why would I do that?"

     Connor frowns, "Agacia is a wonderful woman", he sighs in defeat, "But even when I offer to pay for all expenses she refuses. She will only accept when I give her raises but that can only do so much. She's so stubborn! And you know how expensive it is to travel in between villages. Even with her work ethic, she won't be able to pay in full until she's an old woman".

     "Yeah, first there's the permit to leave, the people to hire, the carriage, basic supplies, and also buying equipment to deal with the Beasts in the Wild Area", Kohta frowns, "Why doesn't she work for the mail? Those guys are the only ones who can come-and-go".

     "They don't accept women", he scows, "And also those who work in the mail have to be the strongest and smartest of us".

     Kohta frowns, "So, how much will you be paying me?"

     "Enough, more than you need, really".

     "Well, that's good enough for me", Kohta laughs, "So, just tell me how we're going to do this. What information do you have on the kid?"

     "His name's Alonso and he should be living with Agacia's cousin, Samuel", Connor says, "From what she's told me, which isn't much, those two should be somewhere in the slums. Here".

     Connor hands his friend a scroll.

     "I hired an artist to draw him as exact as possible, or from what she's told me", Connor's tone becomes serious, "Here's your mission. Go towards Cora, find Alonso, and bring him back here. If you can, fight against bandits and make your powers visible for everyone to see".

     "What!? You know that I'll be killed for that, right?"

     "Don't worry, I have a plan for that", Connor says, "So, will you accept?"

     Kohta looks deep inside his employer's eyes. Those dark green eyes stare daggers and almost seem to say, "You're going to accept this".

     Kohta sighs, "Sure, I'll take it".

     Connor's eyes soften, "Great! Thanks, pal of mine!"

     "Piss off".

     ***

     The first thing the man sees is somebody intently staring at him. Alonso observes the body as if he were some scientist about to dissect a body. 

     "Oh, you're awake", he says, "Welcome back to the world of the living".

     The man doesn't seem to register anything at the moment. Understandably, he's groggy from the very unsafe surgery he just went through. He tries to speak but he ends up looking like a dying fish.

     "Sorry, did you say something?"

     "s-shuft...uhpp kid", he finally says. 

     "Huh?"

     The man lips his licks, "I-I...I said shut up!"

     His fingers light up in a display of anger he lunges forward to attack the child. Alonso easily avoids the attack, he grips the arrow, and with a disapproving glare, he smacks the man on his shin.

     "C'mon", Alonso says as the man grabs his leg in pain, "There was no need for that".

     Ow, I didn't mean to hit him that hard. Yeesh, that looks like it hurts, He looks at the man clearly in pain, welp my bad.

     Alonso gets on a knee, he plants the arrow to keep him up.

     "Sorry, I didn't mean to hit you that hard. Y'know, it was the whole fight-or-flight thing my body does", he sighs, "Sometimes I wish my body would choose flight, but well---Not much I can do against myself".

     The man begins to light up his fingers once more, this time the fire being much more intense. 

     Alonso then gives the wound a small poke with the flat end of the arrow. Immediately the man shouts in pain.

     "Ouch, hope I didn't open the wound. But honestly, you need to stop trying to attack me. Right now, you can barely pee by yourself"

     The man looks as if he's about to attack once more, but his expression softens as an invisible force keeps him on the floor. 

     "W-what happened?"

     "That's what I wanna know, too. I walk home and begin my daily crying ritual, and next thing you know, somebody in my home threatening to kill me", Alonso sighs, "Then you begin to bleed like crazy so, me being the kind person I am I helped you out".

     "...Was there anything else?"

     Alonso laughs nervously, "Well, I'm not sure why but we negotiated a deal. Uhm if I helped, you would tell me how you made fire from nowhere".

     The man stays quiet.

     "To be honest you don't have to show me. I don't know what came over me at the moment so whenever you feel up to it, you can leave. Just close the door as you leave", he laughs pathetically at his own joke, "Sike, I don't have a door".

      Now it's the mans turn to observe the child. He starts at his feet: the boy's toenails are bloody and broken. Proof of his constant travels up the trash mounds. His calves specifically look built. The brown overalls barely offer any sort of protection. The boy is painfully skinny. Soon, his body will start eating away at his muscle, more than it already is. But, despite his frail body the man can't help but feel, intimidated.

     It's the eyes.

     Alonso's hazel eyes are full of grit and tenacity. For some reason, the man can tell if the whole world decided to against him, he would still fight. 

     The man finally relaxes, "I'm a Beastfallen".

     "Say again?"

     "Have you ever been outside the walls? Do you know anything about the Wild Area?"

     "Kinda. My mom always held back information since she never wanted me to leave the confines of the village, he scoffs, "And then she went and left the village".

     "Well, as payment for saving my life, I'll give you a brief history lesson".