Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 35: A wonderful World.

In a large well known pub in the city of Hvern stood two people chatting about the events of past and present. The pub they were in was famous in Skov as it was the base of most bounties. The pub was the unofficial gathering point for mercenaries, they would meet in this large two storied building and pick up bounties from the bounty board, or they would gather members if they thought the bounty was going to be difficult. The board was large the size of an entire wall and as long again. Hundreds of fliers with people’s faces, names and locations sprawled on it. The lower the piece of paper the smaller the fee, higher the better. Everyone who entered this pub wanted the job, they were the jobs that would set them up for life, but they were also the most difficult.

“This war has really gotten us a lot of work,” said the first gentlemen. His name was Urt a veteran merc. He was famous among the pub followers.

“Indeed it has Urt, but we have also lost a deal of clients and friends due to it.” The man responding was Loi, an older man who had retired from bounty hunting but went to the pub on a regular basic. He was famous for hunting down some of the hardest bounties in his time; He even beat an Asura in its prime. A feat not many can say have done. The scars of battles riddled his old face, each scar a different direction and depth.

“Yes my friend it has, hunting mage is a different sort of ball game, and compared to criminals we are used to.”

“The young ones just can’t keep on their toes to handle it; if I was only twenty years younger I would try my hand.”

“Don’t be a fool, you have done but enough.  The old are old for a reason; we must pass on our knowledge to the young. That is our job now.”

“We will see if we have any young after this war.” A grim tone stricken in Loi’s voice.

“There will always be criminals and there will always be bounties, merc will never die out, it matters not who is in charge. “

“You are right old friend. As always sometimes I wonder if you should be the older one?”

Both men laughed and took a drink of the pubs famous drink ‘Brewend’

“Anyway did you hear the big news?” Loi asked Urt, He just shook his head. “The three have moved as one, they are aiming for the top bounty.”

Urt's mouth hung wide open, “I can’t believe it, and alone they are comparable to a titled mage. I would even go as far as saying they are unblooded Asura. “

Loi nodded “true true, monsters all three of them, each with a grudge to bear and each with a skill to show.”

A young merc was nearby listening in on the conversation. “Excuse me? Who are the three brothers you talk off?”

Urt turned to the young lad, barely twenty; he held a sword under his arm still in its scabbard. His blue eyes wide with curiosity. “You must know them if you’re a merc?”

The boy just shook his head swaying his long black straight hair before responding. “I am from a town south of Skov, I have come here to show my skills and earn money, and I am completely blank to this world.”

Loi smirked and nodded at the boy. “Brave, I respect that. I will tell you who they are. Sit with us.”

As the boy walked over to the two men he was brimming with excitement.

Loi continued to talk once the boy sat down. “The three brothers are duped the name Barker brothers. They are the three most famous and probably most powerful bounty hunters in Skov. They are brothers but usually they work alone. The older of the two is simply called Junior, no one knows his right name, He is the smartest and he uses a gauntlet that has large blades on the end of each finger. The second brother is the middle child, Dan he is the strongest his strength compares to that of an enchantment mage. I once saw him punch through a solid brick wall. Unusually his weapon of choice is a large white scythe. His skill with this weapon is godlike; few have gotten away from him. Finally the youngest is Kyle the fastest. There are stories of him being able to keep up with Haya of godstep. The fact that he managed to fight Haya claims the rumour true, his weapon is unknown all that we know is he will do anything to win, and anything is biting, clawing and spitting. A true survivor. “

The boy just sat stunned at these amazing three men. It took him a moment to speak but once he did an answer was already waiting. “Who is this bounty that needs all three of them?”

“You really are out of town” said Urt.

“Espex the Demon Walker.”

“Huh?” was the answer the boy gave back.

Urt simply pointed towards the bounty board to the highest bounty. A picture was drawn on a piece of paper of a man with purple eyes and hair.

“Is he that dangerous? Surly one man can’t be that bad?”

“Son you don’t understand, his very name is a problem. He is a mage a titled one at that. He can transform his body into that of a demon, that very man took the eye of Junior one of the barkers. “Loi responded.

“Gosh, well I hope the brother’s luck. Does he travel with anyone?”

Shock hit Urt and Loi it was Urt who responded. “Damn! He never used to but recently he has, a slim woman they are always together now, she is apparently very powerful herself as Espex is training her. The brothers won’t know this they only live for the next hunt.”

Loi laughed “Life is all about surprises they will manage they always do. What was the girls name anyway, we may need to add her name next to Espex.”

Urt looked at the boy and Loi. “Emm Sam… no that’s not it… Sath? No emm…” He pondered for a minute before it came to him. “Samth, her name is Samth that’s it. I read it in the paper.”

The boy dropped his sword on the table and looked at Urt. “Are you sure it’s Samth?” panic in his voice.

“Yes lad why?”

“So he is the mage that she wondered off with… That silly girl.” The boy got up from the table and bowed his head to both men. “Thank you for telling me so much. I am very grateful but I have found my next bounty.” The boy picked his sword up from the table and began to walk forward towards the exit.

“Boy you are going to die! We don’t even think the Barker brothers can take him. What makes you think you can?”

The boy turned and smiled “I am not after Espex. I am after Samth.”

Loi asked the follow up question. “Why she doesn’t have a bounty?”

Again the boy just kept smiling. “I will be taking her home. She is my little sister, and a bad one at that.”

Both Urt and Loi looked at each other with amazement and laughed.

“Son we like you what’s your name?” asked Urt.

The boy just kept walking away towards the door and smiled and waved his hands. “I am called Jmor. “

Urt looked at Loi and sweat poured down each off their face. Off course they both heard that name Jmor was the name of the death god. A master of the sword unstoppable by any and all means. His name reached Skov even though he was a hunter in the southern county of Duth. The biggest bounty in one county sat with a group of bounty hunters and is now on the hunt for the biggest bounty of another country. Both Urt and Loi started to laugh once they released this. 

Loi spoke as he laughed. “The word is truly wonderful.”