------Market District, Regoir City (Garthrund Calendar, the Year 1089 of the Reign of Gods)------copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0TWAtp8Lp

A year ago, the city of Regoir was shaken by the arrival of a cloaked monster.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoVeijbbj3

Silver hair, red eyes, and donning bloodied clothes that seemed to resemble Druid equipment, anyone who came close to the shambling man knew that one look was enough to kill them.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQZcl484uj

He trudged through the city, aimless and reeking as if he had lost his purpose and sought only the sweet release of death.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQZRbYtvB0

But it was never to come.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡT08PjfaCu8

He was the last Marsh Druid, a Druid tribe long gone. And by a cruel twist of fate, he was cursed, now doomed to forever trudge the earth and seek the one who turned him into this... abomination, a monster stuck between life and death.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XoR9MGwFb

Stripped of his humanity, family, and love, he no longer had anything in his mind but a single objective: Kill the vampire who attacked his home, killed his loved ones and took his humanity, the one who turned him into the same monster.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLPgTsDyRs

The pain he went through - the living hell he felt as his Druid lineage rejected the vampiric curse that coursed through his veins - just to get to where he was so great that when he eventually came to, all he could ever recall was his hatred towards a certain vampire and his name: Heath Erhonial.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGPjGEhetM

He will kill anyone who stands in his way, he cared not for the future of his actions, he will do all to exterminate the monster that took all away from him.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡylwVXmmtiY

All he had was rage. A rage that had long forgotten the cause, but had a seemingly everlasting effect on his psyche.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7bbpbGmrK

Of course, no one knew this. And soon enough, a platoon of the city's royal guard came to meet him as he walked through the market of the city.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYmRqWeYYN

"Halt, monster!" The captain of the guard called, "If you have some humanity left in you, you will leave this city at once!"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBdgQdoJw6

The bloodied man stopped in his tracks and looked at the captain dead in the eye. His red eyes seemingly glared through the captain's very soul.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCS74EBzow

The captain, shaken but maintaining his control, ordered his men to attack the seemingly unarmed man.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9gmAktcAm

The guardsmen struck and stabbed the man, further enlarging the bloodstains in his clothes until his garments took to the color of his very blood.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqlzWn0tEb

The guardsmen laughed in pride. Uttering curses and mocking him for foolishly entering the city that was under their protection.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlfksJJUt4

And when the guards grew tired, they stood around the kneeling man, looking to see if he was dead or alive, but not knowing he was both.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1FjUO5czG

He was wounded fatally, his breathing shallow and pained, but as he lifted his face and glared at the guard in front of him, the guardsmen knew that this was no ordinary vampire.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMqwtDpR72

The man uttered only a single word:copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fsfL8jpM0

"Die."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sKVg2Op9n

The man now had not only his own blood on his garments.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQs9BHN2ZM

Tendrils of dried, deadwood adorned with thorns suddenly appeared out of man's bloodied cloak, seeped into the bricks of the city, and sprung up the ground the captain's men were in. The thorns cut through the resistance enhancements and metal of their armor with ease and impaled the men through.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡixnZzFQwOi

The captain can only look in horror at the sight before him, his men writhing in pain and agony, flailing their limbs like ragdolls in midair.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBZ5eMPlPz

The tendrils seemed to suck the guards' blood dry, up to the point where the men underneath the armor looked like skeletons with skins.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpfsksxxb1

The blood from the guardsmen seeped through the tendrils and went to the man, aiding in the healing of his wounds.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61G4jE5N4n

"Who--what are you?!" The captain asked the bloody figure approaching him, who only groaned at each step.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDzE98bWjQ

The captain wet his chain-mail pants as the man, nay, the monster now stood inches away from his toes. He cried desperate tears, praying for the gods to spare him the horrible fate that befell his subordinates.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTOJgU1TD7

The captain fell down and sobbed, silently begging for his life to be spared but having enough pride not to ask the monster in front of him to do so.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgacYMzIGl

But nevertheless, his prayer was answered.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqJ446bOls

The creature stopped his breathing and out of exhaustion or something else, collapsed in front of the captain, face-first into the captain's pee that spread through the brick floor of the marketplace and formed a small puddle.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gmBZaX6YX

The skies, as though heralding the arrival of a catastrophe, was gray and dark as if it was already in the early evening. It was still eight in the morning.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZitsAlOc3

Rain fell across Regoir while a lone figure stands in the roof of one of the houses in the market district, watching the events that transpired.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAFpruyf56

The hooded figure smiles, in anticipation of what the coming of this man would bring to Regoir.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr1ZU4jLSK

Or rather, the world.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI3CCneKpQ

-------The Heroes of Change Guild House, Southwest Market District, Regoir City (Farenthia Calendar, the Year 1090 of the Reign of Gods)--------copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡerZx3wvylp

"Oh, you're awake, Hea."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdovMyAGNx

Heath opened his eyes to a woman looking at him intently. It was the same lass who had yellow hair and long ears. Her golden eyes looked at him with a mix of concern, affection and... irritation?copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡXADThs3tkm

Yuno. Or as Heath liked to call her: Boss.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡAymPfoODsP

A wave of pain engulfed Heath's forehead all of a sudden. In reflex, he held the area in pain, causing Yuno to reach out to him.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRPc5pT1mb

All of Heath's memories were the usual he remembered everything before he passed out but only up to the point where he was taken in by the Guild Master. Needless to say, he knew the basics of the situation he was in.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡqumeLMQEzx

He came into this city a year ago, got into this guild. Before he passed out, Heath was with his guildmates in the Tower doing a quest. They ran into their objective, a snake-woman adept in illusion magic - a Lamia - that cast an illusion spell which caused him to pass out. He then fainted and was bought back here in the Guild House.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo9V9jyd0z

He fathomed the circumstances but felt uneasy of the fact that the Tower contained creatures that can manipulate the undead.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeJr9jViMl

Undead, huh, he thought.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6jFNUt1j3

He was supposed to be dead. Or rather, he was dead, but not in the sense that one might think.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVQGzr1WaH

He was a vampire. Not a full-fledged one that you see in horrorific folktales trying to suck the blood of maidens as you might think. Though needing blood at times, Heath was still "human" enough to be sustained by human food.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIzndSlzpE

By a miracle or a curse, he was only a Halfling - something in between being a human and being something else.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NUITgr1St

"Halfling" was a general term for anyone that had the characteristics of a monster but the consciousness and tastes of a human.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG9Za0Df5w

His Druid lineage must have kept him from slipping into being a fully fledged vampire. Who turned him and why, he couldn't remember, nor does he want to. It seems that every time he thinks it over deeply, he is slowly consumed by an unexplainable rage.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeGscUH7Bd

It made him berserk once, when he first entered the city. Now, he's learned to be careful, so as not to hurt his guildmates and the city.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FVW0OAMJu

"You, alright?" Yuno asked.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vjnTgIIlM

"How long was I out, Yuno?" Heath asked, confirming Yuno's inquiry, in a sense.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzS5mstago

Yuno smiled. Glad that the Heath before her was the same. She was worried that the Lamia might have muddled his memory.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAlO4X5Ceh

"Goodness, answering a question with a question," Yuno replied with a relieved smile, "This is why no one can speak normally with you, Hea."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeyCE2Ma4T

"Maybe," Heath sighed. He was used to the playful treatment of his Guild Master. "But I'd rather want to jump straight to the point that beating around the bush, Boss."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kZ0pXfoCF

"You're Hea, all right," she said while stroking her chin, "I guess there's no point in being suspicious of your memory."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZoXUJmIYa

Yuno knelt down to Heath's side, looking him in the eyes. Heath saw both relief and love in those golden eyes of hers. He felt himself blushing and looked away as he knew he could never reciprocate the same look for Yuno, his very own Guild Master. It was strange enough, having the person whom you were under look at you in THAT way.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmjim33ldd

Well, it wasn't strange to see Yuno like this, especially since she outright confessed her love to him in the Summer Festival a few nights ago.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32pUzxSNYE

To sum it all up, he turned her down. That in itself made it awkward enough for him.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡxja24Huku1

"Yuno," he said, sliding down to exit the bed, away from her, "how long was I out?"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30HmkfqtSa

"Two days," she replied.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr7sSiTjOk

Huh, so I got some sleep then, Heath thought. And then he remembered why they were fighting the Lamia in the first place.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kXrQPemaY

"Did we kill the damned thing?" Heath asked, knowing they needed to kill the Lamia for a quest that paid quite good. The money was for a debt they had to pay.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡISQYoEtWHR

"Yes, Jennia and Horgath's group took it down," Yuno replied. Referring to the woman and her group that Heath saw in the dungeon while he lost his memory.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡckXOoWBKYf

Speaking of which, it was strange also, he couldn't recall what the Lamia showed him. But for some reason, something told him it was important, albeit only a little. He didn't know why, and so he dismissed it in his mind.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmrphqoanw

Heath stood up to clear his mind. He needed to find a new quest or errand. Both as a source of income and a way to relax his already throbbing head. Fighting the monsters in the Tower seemed to calm him down, as if his body looked for it, the thrill of a hunt. Of a battle.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq8rmv8WtK

Yuno stood up also.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdrLYkQCJS

"I'll go tell the others you're up," she said reaching for the door, "Anything you need, Hea?"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡPELAjLLF33

Heath gave it some thought. And on cue, his stomach grumbled.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0D3ASLhby

"A decent meal would suffice, Boss," he said to her smiling, embarrassed.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡthg3htndcu

She nodded with a smile.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WYMbqjBgN

The door creaked to a close as Yuno came out of the room.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyPbhvd0AE

Heath sat at his bed and yawned. It was evening in Regoir. But even so, the Market District was bustling with life as traders and customers agreed with the price, taverns filled up as tired adventurers sat down laughing and talking with their huge mugs with mead or wine, and the street lanterns lit up the city.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25OpTHOqrj

Heath opened his window and looked over the view in his room on the second floor of the Guild House. As always, it was a sight common to the city. But it enthralled him all the more. It was as if before he had lost his memories, someone had described how this looked like to him before and it piqued his interest.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhcL1dWBvx

It always made him wonder what caused him to lose his past. The painful part was he had a feeling that he was forgetting something important to him, but at the same time, he also felt like losing his memories liberated him from some "shackles".copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡREaDpNtgpl

Heath couldn't put it into words, but knew he had mixed feelings about his past.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ1tjCoQqz

But whatever it holds for him, he will deal with it when the time arises. He knows he should. And he will, hopefully.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLc0kaPmlK

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at his door.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTLo8Vk2Xz

"Come in," he called.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOal7eSDjg

The door was opened by a boy with brown hair and ever-so curious eyes.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA2kRIhsGh

"Heath! You're awake," the boy's familiar voice said.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TinmVXucc

His name was Mythral. A hobbit from the Greenlands of the south-east. Despite appearances, he's roughly 182 years old.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4frMFDcw4F

"Hello, Mythral," Heath said with a smile.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cp3MBeFu0

In the corner of the doorframe popped a feminine face. The green hair, blue eyes, and long ears gave away Venna.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡkitLqj8Y3V

"Oh, Venna," Heath called. Vaguely remembering the fact that this woman looked at her closely two days ago, "You really did well looking at my eyes, huh?"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJMjVks0eU

Venna blushed and stood behind Mythral.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt3xLACBy3

"So you remember, huh?" She asked, looking away.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡu71C2S1aao

"No need to look so shy," Heath said, with a twinkle in his eye he added, "You can do it again if you want to."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFLRRl8QKh

Heath was greeted by a throwing dagger to the face, narrowly dodging it. The dagger stuck itself in the wooden head of the bed.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtUpEqIsVL

He let out a laugh, he picked up the dagger and gave it to Venna, who was now walking towards him.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMV7SKzlw2

"Hahahahaha! Didn't think the cold assassin Venna could be this flustered," he teased.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiCYS7B3zM

Venna sighed. Out of relief, it seems. She too was worried that the Lamia's magic might have altered Heath's memories. It would have shattered her beyond recognition. Heath was the only one she wished would never forget her, he saved her by remembering her after all.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5opLGTdE3D

"Yep, you're Heath, all right," she said.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY7g1xAbH8

Heath suddenly stood up and looked closely at her face. Venna felt herself turning red, her heart beating faster.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXZiW8dULz

She turned away, blushing. For some reason, Heath seemed more playful than usual.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78qW3tLV5e

"I win!" Heath laughed out loud.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡArK8Kk98tG

"Shut up," she said.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RHhl2zbjQ

Sitting down his bed once again, Heath smiles apologetically up to his two comrades.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5BGLesqcy

"I'm sorry, everyone," he said, "I must have worried you all."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8PrX3UydE

"No problem, Heath," Mythral assured him, "I knew you would come through. But the ladies really thought..."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡns1fg8TuWZ

He took a glance at Venna who glared back in return.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSFUhIMUBU

"Needless to say," Mythral said, turning back to Heath, "everyone's glad that you're back, Erhonial."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yaffj7CBj

Heath looks to his two comrades, then to Jennia, Horgath, Connie, May-Mai, Foronard and the other guild members that were outside his room.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvYJqBCGbG

He cannot thank them enough for welcoming him, despite his current state. Especially Yuno, the one who saved him from his troubles and gave him purpose yet again.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCzO24LEXz

"Thanks, all of you," he said.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡA974M8vTan

"Heath!" A shrill voice made by a girl that had wings and wore pajamas exclaimed. She ran towards him with outstretched arms and tackled him with a hugcopyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E7hCRxdmQ

"May-Mai," he said, returning the hug.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOurfAkvUzN

Jennia and Horgath entered together with the other guild members.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1gFfmzNgV

"Horgath really teared up when he found out you got knocked out," Jennia chuckled.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1QOZ3E0y4

Horgath looked at his wife with an embarrassed face, "Oy, oy, I was worried 'bout our boy here. I know that Lamia ain't enough to take him down but you can't--"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡndmLEqV1jk

"Hush, hush," Jennia stopped her defensive husband, "I get it, dear. I get it."copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y7Bs2g2xo

Heath couldn't help but chuckle at the interaction of these two renowned knights in pajamas.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K0oQvrMum

"Anyway," Horgath said while slapping Heath in the back, "how about joining us all for some dinner, boy?"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkMkY4a3oq

"Sure," Heath answered. It has been only two days, but he felt like he should catch up with his guildmates before going back to the Tower.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfRBJy6fFC

"Alright," Jennia exclaimed, "Foro, prepare your specialty!"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUT0IYAHCW

The lizardman could only smile in response.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm99ZgI1Gu

"My, my," Foronard said while shaking his head in mock disbelief, "trying to get me cooking are you, Jennia?"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dPWlLBbK8

"You betcha! May-Mai, drag the boy out if you need to! Tonight, the guild eats together!"copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WZzvAT3a1

The others roar in response.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtzOD64uNK

Heath could feel someone's arms wrap around his.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyrTvSTAnA

"Let's go, Heath!" May-Mai said, brushing aside a stray strand of her wavy silver hair.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf9AraxUVi

"As you wish, my lady," Heath replied.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0W7okBpVJ

Heath walked through the main hall of the Guild House, adorned with skulls of the strongest monsters the guild has defeated.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ4sdTmEgs

Heath looked at the smiling faces around him. For the first time in the longest time, he felt at ease. At ease even if the outside world considered him a monster, even if he had a troubled past and amnesia to boot, and even if he was unsure of why he was like who he was now.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡjissRTlAdx

And it was because of them, his comrades, his friends, his family.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQTrsS6YJ2

It was because of them, The Heroes of Change Guild, that he was sure of his new mission: to protect them, the ones that accepted him, with all his might.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TNFRR8Z8w

Never will he imagine that the time to test his will to uphold that mission was coming near.copyright protection77ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBpyEj2tg9

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