Evangeline wandered to the courtyard, expecting to find her ‘rival’ Reginald. This person could be her greatest crux in her journey to stopping Asteroth. She had to see what kind of fighter he was. She indeed found him in the courtyard training, but she was actually rather surprised. Rather than a fit, intimidating demon slayer he was a five foot eight spindly boy, exercising with a polearm.

     “Reginald?” she called. He stopped his training and looked towards Evangeline, and walked towards her

     “The very same!” he replied jovially “And you must be Evangeline Church, Claudette told me all about you! She rarely grows fond of strangers so quickly but now I see why; what you did is really something” he said with a full grin

     “Yeah, um… nice to meet you… if you don’t mind me saying I thought you’d be…” she said, still slightly confused

    “Less handsome?”

    “Taller. I thought you’d be taller” she said, being that she stood a whole four inches over him.

    “Yeah, a tad underwhelming I suppose.”

    “How’d you get here anyways? You know, as his pupil”

    “He found me in a bar, I got into a fight with some guys I owed money. Each time they knocked me down I got back up… for some reason he found that admirable, to be honest, it’s all I knew. Get back up or die, you know?” he said

    “Yeah, I know”

    “Well he saw something in me and took me here… he gave my sister a job and took me under his wing”

    “What about your debtors?”

    “He ‘persuaded’ them to clean my tab”

    “Figures” She said “Do you know why he left Cross Valley?” She asked

    “Actually, no. I’ve wondered the same thing, whenever I ask he gets really testy. I got tired of running extra laps so I stopped asking” he groaned

    “And your sister?”

    “She was taken in as a chambermaid” he said “She gets a pretty nice salary”

    “Enough chatter you two” Jonathan said as he entered the courtyard “Your training begins now, I would like to see you spar with Reginald” he said, rolling a cart of wooden training weapons into the center of the yard. “Select a tool” he commanded as Evangeline examined the selection of weapons. From the cart she selected a wooden practice rapier. Reginald on the other hand selected a long wooden pole. Unexpectedly, he  suddenly lunged, leaving a brief opportunity for her to evade.

     “Sorry, I’ve only ever sparred with master, I’ll not be holding back” he said as Evangeline readied to retaliate.

    “Good” she said as she returned a lunge, she striked with astonishing speed and superb technique. Regi nearly lost his balance, completely surprised by her deft use of a saber. Another strike came from her left, resonating off of the wooden staff, she kept her strikes tight, and quick, stopping him from using his pole arm to its full extent. She was a natural talent “I’m guessing you’ve never beaten Jonathan”

    “I’m getting closer though” he said deflecting her next strike, gaining some distance to actually use his weapon

    “Then stop pulling punches” She mocked. This time Reginald attacked more decisively. He spun the staff over his head and struck downwards onto Evangeline who rolled away from her strike, giving her an opportunity to strike back against his side. He attempted to thrust at her but she deflected the strike and poised her wooden sword directly under his chin at his neck.

    “You got lucky” Reginald panted

    “Wanna test that theory?” she replied as she backed away

    “Impressive, I will admit, you are talented, but I would like to see another match with a different weapon perhaps” and so for the next seven hours they sparred with a variety of tools and weapons, occasionally being bested by the young Reginald Ajora but more often than not conquering the young demon hunter.

    “Enough” Jonathan bellowed “I’ve seen enough” he pointed at Evangeline “you have raw talent, but that is all you seem to have, you must hone your skills, you need guidance. We will break until supper, you have shown some improvement Reginald, but I’ll expect a better performance tomorrow” he said as Claudette stormed into the courtyard

    “Master Arc! Master Arc!” she yelled

    “Yes Claudette?”

    “There’s been another attack in the town! Another one of those strange demons has been terrorizing people!” she yelled

   “A strange demon?”

    “Yes, a breed I have never seen before, we dealt with one of them two weeks ago, they’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, I hoped it was simply an anomaly but it seems a new demonic presence had decided to make a play for the mortal world” he said, throwing a heavy jacket over his shoulders.

    “Wait!” Evangeline called chasing him to the door “Take me with you” She demanded

    “Why? You are my student, not my partner” he replied

   “There are at least a dozen of them Master Arc” Claudette replied “Maybe you should take some backup”

    “Fine” he said reluctantly “I don’t have time to argue, just don’t get yourself killed” he said leading her and Reginald away from the manor.

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     The demons were all over the town center, feasting on the bloodied bodies of the fallen townsfolk.

     “What are they?” Reginald asked in shock and horror at the human like demons with jet white hair, completely saturated in blood. They drank greedily from the felled bodies with white glistening fangs.

     “They’re fast, so stay on your toes, consider this a field test.” he glanced back at his students “Don’t die”

     “Sir!” they replied in unison as the demons fell upon them. The first one came for Jonathan, but his silver cross warped into a cross shaped knuckle dusted, and he pile-drives his fist into the beast’s skull, producing a symphony of cracking sounds as the demon laid on the ground convulsing. “Scatter” he commanded as his pupils fanned out. The demons were fast, more agile than any creature Evangeline had ever fought, though they lacked the strength of most demon breeds. A lone white haired demon attacked her, she shot it twice with her crossbow and found it not enough to deter its approach. She parried its attack with her saber and decapitated the resilient beast. She turned to Reginald and saw him struggle to keep the monsters at bay.

     “Ajora! Hold on I’m coming!” she yelled as he ducked from a demon’s strike, allowing her to roll over his arched back and thrust her saber into the neck of a surprised blood drinker.

    “Thanks for the assist” he said “But I had things under control” he heaved as he struggled to catch his breath

     “I could see that” she replied sarcastically

     “Are you enjoying this?” he asked as she stood back to back with Reginald Ajora, retaliating against the demonic assault.

      “Ever since I lost my family this is all I’ve wanted to do”

     “Enough chatter! Finish the job!” Jonathan bellowed