Krassius stood on a tree branch in the forest near his home, surrounded by fog that seemed to shimmer in the dim light of his surroundings. In the night's distance he could see his father, Scylinus, beaten and bleeding slumped in the corner of the family barn. Above him stood a demon cloaked in black robes with eyes the color of fresh blood. Watching intently the boy's ears strained to hear them through the shimmering fog. Like nails grinding into raw bone and flesh the demon spoke fiercely to Scylinus.
"It has been a long time, can you recognize who I am? I'm here for the blade of the red dragon. I'm here…for your redemption."
Looking up to the man, Scylinus' eyes widened in horror, though he did not say it aloud he recognized the demon before him. Turning his head down to his bloody wounds and then up to the trees in the distance, Scylinus spoke with righteous conviction.
"You'll kill me then, Myakou? With my own sword? The Laison blade is the sword of humanity, my family and I are the protectors of humanity! You've lost all honor, look at what you've become! How can you give me redemption, seek it for yourself, that's what you deserve."
The righteous screams echoed loudly through the barn, reaching deep into the forest beyond. Yet near the end Krassius could hear that those screams changed to pitiful laughs and tears that flowed miserably down his fathers face.
The demon Myakou's face folded deeply within itself, his eyes began to emit a bloody light that emanated all around him. Raising the Laison blade he stared down coldly at Krassius' father, his dreadful voice piercing the stilled silence of the night.
"Do not speak of redemption and honor to me Scylinus. I will not hear the lies of a traitor. You have a single chance, a single opportunity to tell me what I want to know. Where is the red dragon blade? If you do not speak the truth, then you and your family will die."
Krassius watched on in silence, the man threatening his father struck an instinctive fear within his soul. The chilling voice and eerily calm demeanor grated against Krassius' mind beckoning him to flee for his life. Though he could not be sure, Krassius became convinced this man was a demon his father had once fought, now here for revenge. The red dragon blade, Krassius had never heard his father mention such a weapon, yet, if his father had kept it secret he knew it must be for the safety of humankind.
Grimacing in pain, Scylinus stared coldly at Myakou but did not speak. As the muted silence enveloped the two, a low rumble reverberated through the forest. A growl like that of a mad dog escaped the lips of Myakou. Yet, a deathly smile soon invaded his mouth in contrast with the growling anger as he spoke down to Syclinus.
"Your youngest son, does he know the truth? How about that woman you call your wife, she's sleeping inside is she not?"
Staring sharply into the eyes of Scylinus, Myakou measured his next words carefully,
"I will spare you Scylinus".
A terrified look of shock slowly clawed its way onto Scylinus' face, he couldn't help but question the words that had just been uttered from this demon. Light seemed to fill the pupils of his eyes as the tenseness in his body finally relaxed. Slumping deeper into the ground and smiling lightly to himself he raised his tear filled eyes to gaze upon Myakou.
As if sensing the hope filling his heart, Myakou let out a grating laugh that screeched and wailed into the night.
"I will spare you, so that you can watch as I torture and kill that wife of yours".
Myakou watched Scylinus carefully, savoring the despair that gradually creeped along the face of his enemy. There were no screams of agony or pain, and no tearful pleading parted from Syclinus' mouth. Instead he sat there silently, his eyes hollow and his breathing ragged.
Krassius, still hidden on a branch in a tree not far from the barn, looked on with fear and horror. He wanted to scream and yell at this demon, he wanted to fight and claw his way to victory against him. Yet his body betrayed him, he felt only fear and a deepening sadness that cast a suffocating shade over his young heart.
'Father, I'm so sorry.'
Krassius could only express his apologies within himself, too afraid to speak and draw Myakou's attention.
"You win. I wasn't told much, they…they didn't reveal much information to me."
Syclinus spoke softly, glancing up at the trees in the distance.
"The red dragon blade is in hibernation, it sleeps within the soul of the innocent and only rage will set it free."
Holding his hand aloft, Myakou raised the Laison blade above his head, speaking his final words to the broken man before him.
"It changes nothing, all of you must die. Remember in death this was all your doing!"
Lightning slithered sharply upon the skies illuminating the darkness. The power of the Laison blade burned strongly within the hands of Myakou. The blue glow and static surrounding the blade became a second moon reflecting the light of his rage. Crashing into Scylinus' body the air filled with the smell of burning flesh. Blood and entrails plastered the burnt ground, leaving no resemblance of the man that once existed.
Turning away from the scattered remains, Myakou paused and looked up to the tree in the distance. His lips turned upwards as a distorted grin rose along his face and the sharp canines of his teeth shone brightly under the red glow of his eyes. After a moment, he looked away and slowly…casually walked into the night's embrace.
Krassius had sunken low into the branch of the tree. The entirety of the event had carved out the dreams and hopes from his heart. He sat there drenched in sweat, his rapidly beating heart causing his body to tremble.
"My father has been killed. Humanity's protector is gone. The Laison blade…my birthright and the blade of the Human Dragon has been stolen. I watched, I did not help, I could not help. I..I am weak and humanity will be doomed if I stay this way."