CHAPTER 1: BLOOD AND NAME
The earth was damp, almost viscous, as though it oozed with some ancient malice. The buzzing of insects, the rustling of leaves, and the ragged breath of the wind merged into a discordant, unsettling symphony. The air was heavy, saturated with the scent of iron and rotting wood.
A young man with dark hair, dressed in torn trousers and a tattered shirt, suddenly opened his eyes. Confusion painted itself across his features. He lay sprawled upon a bed of moss at the foot of a gnarled tree, a searing migraine splitting his skull.
— Where… am I? he whispered, struggling to sit up, his heart hammering violently in his chest.
Nothing seemed familiar. Not the trees, not the murky light filtering through the canopy, not even his own hands. A yawning abyss stretched open inside his mind.
Seth rose, staggering forward, a prisoner of the silence—too dense, too heavy… until pain erupted, savage and burning, tearing through his skull. Darkness shattered: crimson shards, faceless visages, a rain of blood upon a starless sky. The forest itself seemed to breathe, its icy exhale grazing his nape. And within this storm of visions, a name branded itself into his mind like a cursed incantation.
— Astaroth!!!!!! a voice screamed.
But there was no time to dwell on it. A sinister crack echoed, followed by a guttural growl.
Shadows crawled out of the underbrush. Small and hunched, their green-brown skin marred with jagged fangs and bloodshot yellow eyes. Three goblins, armed with rusted blades and crude axes, charged at him.
The first shrieked and lunged.
Seth's reaction was pure instinct. He rolled aside, seized a thick branch, and swung with all his strength. The makeshift weapon smashed against the goblin's skull with a sickening crunch of bone. The creature collapsed in a spray of blackish blood.
The second roared and leapt at him.
Seth raised the branch, but it shattered under the blow of the goblin's axe. Both crashed into the mud, the goblin's teeth snapping dangerously close to his face.
A burning pain tore through Seth's shoulder. Panic-stricken, he grabbed a jagged stone and drove it savagely into the creature's eye. It convulsed with a piercing scream before crumpling lifelessly.
The third hesitated, snarling… then an arrow whistled through the air, piercing its throat. The goblin gurgled before falling to its knees.
Panting, covered in mud and blood, Seth lifted his gaze.
A man emerged, walking with calm steps, draped in a long gray coat with frayed edges. A black bow rested across his back, and a longsword hung at his side. His dark hair partly veiled a face scarred across the left eye.
— Impressive defense… for an amnesiac, he said in a deep voice.
— How… do you know? Seth stammered.
— Because I recognize that look. The look of those who awaken with nothing. No name, no memory… only fear.
He extended his hand. Seth grasped it, and the man lifted him effortlessly.
— My name is Suo. Demon hunter. And you, boy?
— I… I think my name is Seth. The only memory I have… is that word: Astaroth. Does it mean anything to you?
Suo's gaze hardened instantly.
— Astaroth? Means nothing to me. Sorry.
— Ah… I see.
Suo turned as if to leave, but Seth, his heart heavy, called out in a trembling voice:
— Don't leave me here, please!! I'd like to stay with you—I'm afraid in this place.
— I cannot. My road leads to the capital of Britania, and it is filled with peril… swarming with fierce creatures. A boy would not survive, Suo replied.
Desperate yet resolute, Seth pressed on:
— But I won't survive alone in this forest. Help me, I beg you! I don't know who I am anymore, I'm cold and I'm scared… and your strength is the only spark of hope I have.
The man remained impassive and walked on. Yet Seth refused to yield. For two days, he followed him like a shadow, studying every gesture, every reaction with obsessive focus.
— You are a demon hunter, and I am a man without a past. If you take me with you, you will gain a companion against the dangers ahead. I am willing to do anything to follow you, as long as you grant me this chance. What do you say? A pact. My loyalty in exchange for the hope of reclaiming my origins.
After a long silence, Suo finally relented, though under one condition:
— Once we reach the capital, you will leave me. There, many sorcerers study the unknown. Perhaps they will uncover answers about this Azatoh.
Seth hesitated, then nodded, relieved.
— Very well… To the city then. Your clothes have been in tatters for two days already.
---
The Market of Brisenne
Before their departure, Suo led Seth to the market of Brisenne, a filthy town of muddy streets and thatched roofs, nestled at the forest's edge.
Seth wandered among the stalls, enthralled by the shouts of merchants and the mingled scents of spices, grilled meat, and sweat. With the few coins Suo had given him, he finally bought a warm loaf of bread.
But no sooner had he bitten into it than a ragged boy darted out of nowhere, snatched the bread, and vanished into the crowd.
— Hey! Come back here, thief! Seth shouted, chasing after him.
He toppled stalls, knocked over a basket of apples, nearly tripped on a stray dog. At last, he cornered the boy in a narrow alley.
— Give it back! he demanded, breathless.
The boy, barely fifteen, with sharp eyes and disheveled hair, still clutched the bread in trembling hands.
— I was… hungry, he said in a hoarse voice. I thought you wouldn't mind. You don't look like you're from here.
— I'm not. But that doesn't mean I can let myself be robbed of everything, Seth replied, panting.
Silence hung between them. Seth sighed, his empathy breaking through.
— You live on the streets?
— Always… only the rats listen to me, the boy confessed sadly.
— I see… I too carry miseries I cannot yet understand. If you're starving, you can find better than stealing bread. Keep it, I'll buy another.
The boy, surprised, watched him leave.
— My name is Kael! he shouted after him. Remember it, I hope…
Seth kept walking, though Kael's gaze lingered on him from the shadows.
---
Days passed, and Suo gathered the provisions needed for their journey—five to seven days at least. He secured them a room in the inn Rusvalta, infamous for harboring criminals and reckless travelers.
Seth used the time to restock supplies. But Kael, the boy he had met, secretly followed him.
— You're really going to keep tailing me forever? Seth asked, raising a brow.
— Hard to hide from you, huh? I'm a thief, after all. My job is to sneak, Kael replied with a sly grin.
His eyes flicked to Seth's supply bag, then to his clothes, betraying curiosity.
— Tell me who you are. You don't look local, and I saw that man with you. Your brother? An acquaintance?
— My name is Seth. The man, Suo, whom I met two days ago, is a demon hunter—or so he claims. Why do you ask?
— Because I've never seen you two before. That means you're strangers. Where are you going?
— To the capital. Britania, I think… though I'm not certain of the name.
— You're insane! Hundreds of travelers have died on that road. They say cursed zones lie ahead, and rumors speak of a phantom village. I once tried the journey myself, but after only two hours, I turned back.
— Suo is strong. I know it. He'll protect me… even if I don't always trust him, Seth admitted.
— Then take me with you, Seth. If Suo abandons you—or worse, turns dangerous—I'll help you. Besides, I want to leave this place, just like you said.
That night, Seth spoke of Kael to Suo. The man stared, impassive.
— My agreement is with you alone. If you choose to trust a thief, the consequences are yours. At the first suspicious move, I will abandon him. Clear?
Seth nodded, understanding the risk.
The next morning, they left Rusvalta. Kael came running.
— Sorry I'm late, had a few things to settle! he called, smiling brightly.
— Are you certain about this? Suo asked, skeptical.
— Yes, Master Suo. He's trustworthy, and we have an agreement, Seth answered earnestly.
— You're too naïve, Seth. Thieves are greedy and full of vice. At the slightest slip, I will cut him down, and our pact will end, Suo warned.
— …Understood, murmured Seth.
And so the three companions set out, entering the vast forest that bordered the capital. The first hours passed in tense quiet, but a heavy atmosphere soon weighed upon them.
Along the road, ruins of ancient civilizations loomed—mute witnesses of forgotten tales. Dirt paths bordered by twisted trees and thorny bushes whispered secrets buried in shadow.
When twilight fell, a suffocating stillness wrapped around them. Low thuds echoed in the thickets, composing a sinister symphony.
— Stay sharp, Suo ordered, hand on his sword. Beasts prowl in the dark.
Hearts pounding in unison, Seth and Kael exchanged a knowing glance. Fear lingered—but so too did a newfound determination. Together, they would face whatever awaited.
And so they pressed on, deeper into the forest, knowing the road to Britania would be nothing but a chain of perils and despair.
To be continued…