“Come on then!” shouted the demon hunter named Markus “Strike me down, come on!” he goaded as the demons circled him. He was running dangerously low on crossbow bolts and his saber alone only did so much. There were three of them, originally five but with the element of surprise the first two were child’s play. These bastards… slaughtering an entire village, simply because they could… Markus’s blood boiled and he attacked, lunging at the demon in front of him. He missed though, giving the demon an opportunity to punch his ribs. “You Damnable Afflicted” he spat “Burn in hell!” he yelled in a shrill voice, slicing off the beast’s hand, another attacked from behind but he was ready, issuing a crossbow bolt through his forehead followed by a swift blow to the heart before he could recover. Taking advantage of the confusion, Markus threw a silver throwing knife into a demon’s shoulder and executed the other disarmed demon. It was one on one now, the demon was swift in his attack, pinning him to the ground as the two grappled, the demon trying desperately to bite Markus’s throat. Markus then plunged a concealed knife into the beast’s back, over and over again, until it laid dead on top of him. He rolled the body from his chest and took a moment’s rest. Markus breathed heavily, though unwilling to unbutton his thick, black leather coat. He pulled his wide brimmed tricorn leather cap over his eyes, which were already partially concealed by his ash colored hair. He sat there, covered in blood simply breathing for quite a while before standing once more to report back to his client about the job. At full height he was roughly six foot two, tall even for a man. His lanky body seemed unnatural with very little muscle definition. He whistled for his horse and rode back to Rosam to report the kill and finally find Jonathan Arc.

 

             The intel he had retrieved took him to the town of Rosam. A seemingly insignificant place, especially for someone like Arc… he had spent so much time locating Cross Valley simply to learn that Jonathan had closed up shop and moved to this quiet little town… but why? For three generations the Sabbaths had dwelled in cross valley, only venturing outside to hunt the damned… why leave? He felt the gaze of onlookers peirce him. He was strange looking, even for a traveler, not in any apparent way though… he was not deformed or grotesque, more that he was not the typical demon hunter, something was amiss with the hunter named Markus. He arrived at the foot of a conspicuous mansion on the outside of town, it was in rather poor condition and was dim looking to say the least… hardly fit for a Sabbath, but inside he ventured to seek council with Fourth Generation Head; Jonathan Arc.

 

            It took considerable courage to knock at the door. The sound of the rapping echoed through the empty chambers and was answered by an illustrious maiden with a voice like soft silk and eyes like warm disks of green.

“Good evening Ser” she said with a cheery voice, her auburn hair reaching down to the small of her back, combed aside from her face allowing Markus to bask in the full beauty that was her smile. He stuttered for a moment

“Ah, yes! I umm” he muttered, clearing and deepening his voice. “I would like to speak with Master Arc” he said, puffing out his chest. She giggled

“Right this way then Ser” as they walked through the halls Markus could not help but fixate on the gentle curves of the maiden’s body, so elegant and soft, he blushed fiercely but struggled not to betray his thoughts to her. “Right inside Ser” she smiled as she left Markus before the door. He stood there for a moment, nervous but opened the passage.

 

         Before him sat a man of roughly 40. He was huge to say the least. His shoulders were massive and his body in peak condition, like a titan in human skin. Even through a heavy three piece suit his muscle definition was apparent. He has slicked back blonde hair and impossibly blue eyes behind a pair of wire spectacles. He bore a cross tattoo, a symbol of his trade under his eye and wrote tirelessly on a piece of parchment. From his neck hung a sublime silver cross, large and elaborate, gleaming from its chain.

“Sit” he said as Markus placed himself in an armchair across from him. Markus sat their, watching him write until he dropped his quill and locked eyes with Jonathan. “Speak”

“My name is Markus Church, I am here so that I may study under you and avenge the death of my family” he said with a bowed head

“And you have talent?” Markus then produced a number of letters from his coat, handing them to Arc

“Letters detailing my success in demon slaying, I’ve executed dozens in my journey to find you” he pleaded “Please, I’ll train as much as you need me to,I”

“That’s enough” he said as he skimmed through the letters “Your last name, it is familiar…” he said “I recall aiding a family of the ‘Church’ moniker a decade ago. They had all unfortunately perished” He said

“I am a relative, the successor to the Church name” he pleaded

“The men who wrote these letters were foolish enough to deceive but I am not” he said “Young lady I suggest you find a new field of work, this one does not suit you” he said throwing the letters into the roaring fireplace. Markus removed his hat revealing himself to be a young woman in disguise

“You are acting unfair’’ she pleaded “I am as qualified as anyone to hunt demons!”

“This is not negotiable Ms. Church! If you desire to apply as a chamber maid I will consider your application, now begone from my manor” now she plunged a dagger into the wooden surface of his desk

“I have spent the last twelve and a half years, scouring every damnable crevice in Ebren to find you, my family is gone, I was forced to live in a whore house for five months before escaping to look for you, I’ve lost everything but my will to fight, and I’d sooner die fighting you right here in this office then spend the rest of my days as your damned chamber maid!”

“That is a fight you would lose” he said

“I don’t care’’