Sad Luka patted his friend on the shoulder. "You know her. She is strong in her own way and she won't get lost in the world. Sometimes I thought, she was too smart for her own good. That's why she got into trouble so often."
Mirko kept looking out of the window. "Thanks to you, she became so smart. Don't you remember how you taught us reading and writing? Then she spent all her time at the library since childhood." They both chuckled. After a half hour, they became wary. Demyan still didn't return from his father. What were they discussing?
Finally, the door flung open and Demyan with one step fell to the ground. They were surprised and scared. What had he done to his own son? Demyan got lashed thirty times for disobeying and acting out. His clothes were torn on his back and drenched in his blood.
He regained some strength and walked over to his bed and sat down on it. Both were hovering around him and asking him, how they should help him now. Demyan waved them away and told them to mind their own business.
Luka was stunned. "Like I am sorry, we showed some concern." He turned to go back to the window clearly offended. Mirko was a little more understanding. "Please, calm down, both of you! We know you are hurt because of Petrona..."
Demyan angrily cut him off. "Don't... mention her... ever... please." That name became a sensitive topic for him. "Should I take a look at your wounds?" Demyan turned away from him. "Just let me rest. It will heal on its own soon. There won't be any scars so don't worry."

The next day both Luka and Mirko dressed in vampire uniforms followed Demyan around the castle. He was teaching them the grounds and everything they should know and be aware of. Demyan needed to do some paper works and after he was free.
During the noon they went for some rest at his quarters. Mirko was still thinking about the wounds Demyan got from the punishment. Demyan annoyed, waved him off. "Don't talk about it." Mirko still bugged him and insisted.
Demyan sighed. "I told you, I am fine!" Luka lay in. "Why do you need to know everything? He told you he is fine!" Mirko still didn't give up. "But they looked horrific! How much pain you must be in right now?" Demyan massaged the temples of his forehead. At last, he unbuttoned his shirt and showed them his back. It was completely healed.
They both gasped. "How is that possible? It wasn't even 24 hours." Demyan rolled his eyes. "Did you forget I am a vampire? I heal at inhuman speed." That left them thinking. Mirko pointed at his right eye. "So why do you have that scar then?"
That made him flinch. "It's a long boring story..." Mirko and Luka sat down on the ground like children to listen to his story. Demyan sighed. "Fine! Fine!" He walked over to grab the chair and pushed it to them.

"It happened during my last war campaign, shortly before I met you all. For a year I was going around the Waste Lands and fighting all... goblins, orcs, and demons. I became close to a soldier, who kept my back safe.
His name was Andrei. A young ambitious guy, who was a little shorter than me. Short black hair and blue eyes. In contrast to me, he was very lively and cheerful. Despite me being grumpy, he was a good comrade and warrior. I guess we were friends, that was, what he said. That scar was made by a high-ranking demon lord and his cursed sword.
We were fighting for the last three days and we all were tired. I made a stupid mistake, because of my ego and was arrogant. I left our formation for what seemed to be an easy kill. It was a trap and I fell right into it.
The demon lord was cunning and waited for me to be dumb. He was turned with his back and I swung my sword at him to finish him. It was an illusion... He was hiding in a trench and jumped up from behind and was coming to cut me down.
Andrei came in between us. The sword scrapped only my eye but cut Andrei in half... I stabbed the demon lord and killed him to mark the end of our campaign... but for what cost? Andrei was still alive when I came running to him...
I asked him why he did that and he told me... who wouldn't do it for his Prince and also a best friend. I returned victorious, but at the same time with a deadwish. That's why you, were almost successful in killing me that time in the forest when we first met."

Mirko still wasn't satisfied with his curiosity. "So, you can't heal it because it was made by a cursed demon sword?" Demyan leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs and arms. "There is a possibility and procedure to heal it, but I chose not to. I want it to be kept as a reminder of a friend I once had.
If I would heal it completely, there would be no trace of Andrei ever existing. He was an orphan, without a family. Such people after dying are forgotten for good." Luka understandably nodded. "We do tree monuments for such warriors, with their names..." It never crossed Demyan's mind.
That would be a great idea, which he should use at his castle. They talked till the evening and a servant knocked on the door. Mirko was worried. "Not again! I hope you won't be punished..." The servant informed Demyan to get ready for dinner.

             A female guest was waiting for him in the drawing room with the King and Queen.