Chapter 41 The Insincere Farewell of Cordon (1/2)

In the few days that followed, a lot happened in the small Village of Cordon. The Knights who had passed on were all burned on Pyres, their ashes collected and stored in urns.

Arita also went to interview the surviving Knight. She demanded an account of every detail, and the Knight, though reluctant had obeyed. It was from this account that Arita learned the story of how the boy had changed to begin with, and the detail the villagers had all failed to acknowledge...he had to be fed, even a cup of blood would do, but it needed to be done.

Through all this information, Arita deciphered that the change he had undergone was permanent, and that the only reason the massacre had occurred was that some kind of ruthless, life saving instinct had completely overpowered the boy's will. Though no one seemed willing to accept that. This was the reason why, despite her beliefs, Arita did not release the boy from his chains. She only removed his mask. When she later ordered a hunter to bring something back alive, he was annoyed, but he obeyed the order. Arita then brought a Rabbit to Rassa.

When Arita entered the cell, the boy looked up cautiously. He seemed surprised that the Magician was once again approaching him, and this time with a meal.

”I heard you need to feed regularly to prevent what happened before,” she stated.

Despite having his mask removed, the boy rarely spoke. His sentences were always short, and sometimes he just wouldn't answer at all.

”I cannot escape”.

He gave a tug on the chains and Arita raised an eyebrow, ”Will that still be the case when your instinct for survival overpowers you again?”

The boy turned away, unwilling to answer. Arita waited a moment, then approached Rassa, raising the Rabbit to his mouth. He gave a deep sigh, as if regretful, then Arita watched as two fangs extended from his top jaw and sunk into the rabbit's neck. The rabbit froze nearly instantly, it's heartbeat rapidly working in its fear.

Rassa frowned with concentration as he drank. How had Red Eyes made the Knights feel so Euphoric as he drank from them? How did he activate such an ability? Rassa drew a few more times, then he sensed that if he were to take any more the rabbit would die. For a split second, he considered just draining the rabbit dry. Afterall, the Anthrite made him hungry near constantly as it drained his energy. And in hindsight, it was just a rabbit, they were likely going to kill it for meat anyway. But compassion won out. He would have to learn control anyway. Why not show them he was not greedy at the same time? Rassa drew back, then to Arita's surprise, licked the Rabbit's wound.

”Why would you...?”

She trailed off as she watched the Rabbit's wound seal over.

”You're not still hungry? The Villagers mentioned that they found mass graves in the forest,” Arita reasoned.

Rassa looked up at her for a moment, contemplating whether or not to tell her the truth, then he turned away once more.

”A monster cannot control his bloodthirst”.

Arita's eyes widened, ”So you are trying to show them you are not what they believe you to be?”