Those Who Remain

" It was lmost too quiet when the carriage pulled up. We all piled into the back. Not sure where we were going. All we knew was that we had signed up to join the order. Each of us had been distinguished for being able to slay spirits. None of these men with me were green. They all held their fare share of scars, both physical. And mental. We were packed inside like animals. And the trip was long. I did not know if the others had any idea. That this ride was going to be like the luxuries of the royals by comparison to what we'd be facing. But I knew. Those smells in the air. Blood. Forest. It brought back memories. I knew where they were taking us. And I had an idea of what was to be done".

The air was acrid. Dry. Yet. He could smell water nearby. Smell the forest. So many things going through his mind as he piled out of the caravan like carriage. There was only one of these coming in. And there would only ever be one leaving. Unlike the others. Belmont had a deeper knowledge of what was to comee. He was after all. Like the current members of the spirit hunters known as Remnants. He was from the village that the original fonders had come from. He had travelled with these men on the road. And now he sought to fight by their side once more. Doing the duty that needed to be done. Taking the vengeance. And justice. That he, and those who had died deserved. Belmont knew where he was. He was home.

" We recruits stood before the lake. The place that was now known as the dark kingdom. A place I had once called home. We had been unlucky in our place of awakening. In our choice of location. Too near this place that was home to so many spirits. So many demons. It seemed appropriate that I return here upon my inception. It helped me remember just what it was that I was joining this order for. Just what I was fighting for. And I was sure it was the same for the others who had already joined the order. For us there was no peace. That had been taken from us. Scarred into our senses and souls. The smell of flesh, blood. Burning wood and home".

As they all exited the carriage one of the remnants lined them up. Presenting them each with a number. It meant nothing in the short sense of things. The man then withdrew a map. And showed it to each man walking down the line. Pointing out a particular section of the dark forest to each before another Soldier, clad in his armour emerged. " Remember those locations, for it is there you are to go. This is your test. To join us you must first survive 3 days alone in this place. Not only that. You must remain within the borders of section you are given. Running from your quarry is not an option. We do not run. When we are faced with insumountable odds. We will attack and we will die. We will inflict as much damage upon our opponent so that someone else. One of our other brothers may finish the job. Do you understand this?".

" So this was to be our test. I udnerstood it alright. TO stay within the borders. To stand at constant watch for three days and nights. To sleep was to invite death. For in these woods the demons lurked. Even then I could feel their gaze upon us. Looking. Waiting until those with the armour and weapons left. To them. we would be easy prey. There was a sinking feeling in my gut. However. I steeled my spirit, tempered it like a fine blade with my anger. My hate. My memories. I would do as they asked. And if I did face death here. I would have ripped the creature a hole in its defenses. So that another recuit might exploit it. So that another Remnant might be born. That. Was my duty. ".

All repeated at once. Belmont included. A confirmation of this in the form of a " Yes sir!". At this stage, several others, non remnants clearly came out from the other caravan. They each carried a knife. Belmont had at first imagined that they would be giving them a tool to kill with. However. This was not the case. The knives seemed to be for the purpose of cutting through the clothes of each man far more easily. By the end. They were left naked as the day they were born. Not even underwear to hide their shame. The Remnant officer stood before them all and spoke. " Dead men have no code. No honour. No pride. No shame. For when you chose to join this order. Make no mistake. You died. Just know that your corpse belongs to us. And so long as it does. We will make sure it gets to stand up a little longer to perform its duty. Just how long that corpse stands however. Is down to you".

" Each man was escorted to their locations. One by one we were all taken away. Eventually it was my turn. I heard and smelled the things in the forest. I had seen the map and knew that my locations was no coincidence. As we both arrived there. The remnant merely nodded to me. I returned the gesture. A shared knowledge of where we stood. Marks upon the ground were people had died. I now stood in what had beenn my village. But was no more. I understood the words that the officer had spoke. That we were all already dead men. The horrors of that night would never leave me, nor would the anger at the helpless feeling that rises up. A scar a memory. whenever I thought of facing a demon. Its precisely that hate. That anger. That allowed me to fight as I did. And continues to be the source of my strength. And my will power. ".

Naked. But not cold. It was hard to be cold when your mind was trained, thinking on other things. An hour after the officer had left. The sounds of horses racing into the distance told Belmont that he was now offically. Alone. There were other men in the forest true. But no one was armed. No one had any chance against what was to come. The inevitable clawed fanged death that would ravage them had it any the chance. The only question was which one of them was going to choose first. He was not ashamed to say that he did not wish to be the first. Belmont remained as he was. Knowing that if he stood in one position too long then his muscles would seize and become stiff. Making it harder to fight. However. Moving about would cause noise. Would attracct more to his location. But perhaps thats what he should want. To take as many of them on before he died as he possibly could. But then. His corpse belonged to the Remnants. Not to him. And he did not wish to return it in such a disasterous state. So. He kept himself as warmed up as he possibly could. Stretching occasionally. But keeping silent. Till it happened.

" The first death of the night was brought about by the sound of a scream. It sounded out within the forest. Birds scattering everywhere. I'll never forget it. The look of those black birds flying off into the distance. And then. The feel of that warm breath on the back of my neck. I can never explain to any regular citizen just how it feels to go up against a demon stark naked and unarmed in the middle of a forest likely inhabited by far more than just one. Although I wouldn't be making the same mistake as the first man to fall. Screaming only told them where you were. Only brought more to you. Only identified you as prey. I was prey once. But now. I'm the hunter. And they will know of it".

The smell of it was the second thing to identify the creature to him after the feel of its breath on his back. Almsey felt the memory of that day rising up within him once more. And like a wave. The hate and anger washed over him. The creature was likley on its way to the scream when it encountered him. Another human. Naked. Easy prey for it to tear apart. Ands o it would. But. It could never have expected what was to happen next. Almsey simply turned around and faced it. The creature was a hand and a half taller than any warhorse. And had the appearance of a predator. Fangs, claws. It resembled some kind of lizard with the horns of a ram. It stood there, confident. Waiting for him to fall down on his knees in fear. But that was not what was to happen. Rather than scream. Rather than run. He charged. Rushing towards the creature. Piling into it with all his might. Amplified by his anger.

" It was amazing, the rush of adrenaline pumping through me as a piled into the creature. I saw the look on that things face before I connected with it. One of surprise if you could call it that much upon its ugly maw. It gave me a grim sense of satisfaction. Although when I actually impacted upon the thing it was a whole different story. Imagine trying to ram into a carriage and trying to tip it over. Thats about as hard as it was in my attempts to try and over turn this demon. The size and the weight of it was immense. Without a sword. I was surprised I could do anything to it. But, you'd be surprised what a human is capable of when they're in that kind of state. And I'm sure the same surprise was shared by that demon right before I killed it.".

Turning around and rushing the demon. That had been the easy part. The hard part was actually making it have any sort of effect on the creature before it managed to shread him to bits and pieces with its talons. Yet he managed to do just that. Pushing enough, with enough rage fuelling him, along with the massive adrenaline dump. Well it was slow but the creature seemed to lose its balance with the intial push. And down it went, slamming into the earth like a great oak. First thought was to jump on top and thats precisely what he did, paying no heed of whether or not the sound of such a beast falling would attract others. With it down on the ground. Belmont picked up a large rock next to him. And ploughed it into the beasts face. This dislodged one of its teeth. And seemed to serve only to anger it. A claw rose up. He leaned back, the swipe moving past him. He ploughed the rock into its face once more. And again. And again. And again, until his hand was covered in a bloody mush. And the creatures face was now completely gone. Bits of bone and chunks of flesh clinging to his make shift weapon.

" Honestly as I sat there stradling the creature I couldn't help but be amazed that I'd actually managed to do it. To actually kill a demon with little more than my own body and a rock. But maybe that was part of the point of our induction. To show us that, a human was capable of killing something far stronger. No. Not a human. A remnant was capable of killing a demon.A spirit. Regardless of what she or he was armed with. For. The remnant themselves were the weapon. The sword in the hand of the monarchy. At least. Thats how they saw it. The higher ups just viewed us as another part of the army. Albiet. A specialist part. But our loyalities were our own. Our goals were our own. Mutual understanding and benefit. It was that kill. That marked me as a Remnant. ".

After killing the demon Belmont hadn't been so stupid as to make waste of its body. The creatures claws and fangs were sharp and useful. He found himself a stiick nearby and adorned it with the fangs, using some of the meek clothing upon the creature to tie his make shift spear enough. He wasn't used to long arm weapons. Yet it was far better than just using a rock to pummel in a demons face. Besides. He didn't think he had it in him to tae down another one of them with a charge. Three days past. More came. He killed them. And when the end of the third day came. The sound of horses indicated they had arrived. His superiors. There was the sound of fighting. Then. They emerged. He was tired. No sleep in three days with the constant struggle for survival. They offered him a hand. And pulled him up from the ground which he sat. " Stand corpse". The only words that the officer offered to him. They led him back to the carriage. There, nearby was a mass grave. Tossing in the bodies. Or what was left of them. Inwards. " You are our only survivor this time, which is good. I'd expect no less, most don't survive at all". A hand on his shoulder. Pushed back into the carriage. The sound of horses.

Peace.

Sleep.

" Anger is what seperates Justice, from Revenge"

Total EXP:2563
Total Texp: 2
Total PWC:2283
Items: 10 very common items