"Hello. May I sit to have a drink with you?" He prodded.

I nodded, slowly returning to my seat, refusing to break my gaze. Then, while no one was watching, I transformed back into my normal form. I earned no other reaction, except for the intrigued look he had when he first spoke to me.

"The name is Dayith. What is yours?"

"Kancia," I replied, thinking there was no harm in divulging such information.

"Well Kancia, I must say, your hair and eyes are rather stunning."

Upon hearing those words, Systiere jumped at the opportunity to express her opinion.

"Kancia, he is flirting with you," she spoke, filling my head with her words, instead of allowing me to construct any judgments on this so-called Dayith. "You should flirt back."

"Systiere, I did not come here for someone to court me. I am on a mission. Besides, we need a soul to eat."

"Oh, c'mon. Someone is flirting with you, and you are focusing on your target. Honestly, Kancia, you are too serious. Your target is probably long gone. But this handsome man is right in front of you. Enjoy the moment."

"We don't know what species he is."

"That makes it fun. Anyway, don't mind me. I am just enjoying the show."

I growled in irritation.

"Are you alright?" Dayith interrupted.

"Pardon," I replied.

"You spaced out. Am I already boring you?"

"No, I often get lost in thought."

"Well, while you were spacing out, I ordered some drinks for us."

"That was quick."

"I can sense you are trying to be guarded. However, I will have you know that I am aware of what you are. You are a bereacher, a fine specimen I might add."

"If you are one of Marak's men, I will have you know I will not be your prize or a pet."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Your kind interests me, especially your breed. To see what advantages you have over the common human is completely and utterly astounding. To think some psycho and his gang want to hunt you all down."

"What do you know about Marak and his men," I questioned, leaning in closer.

"Enough to make me want to help you get out of your predicament," Dayith replied confidently.

"Let me tell you something," I leaned back, crossing my legs, "Nothing that man can find will ever eradicate us. We are a plague that has no cure. We will only stop when every person is dead."

"What if I told you, that there is something that could end you? Something far beyond your comprehension and that of any other living organism on this planet."

"Nonsense. No such thing exists."

"There is, regardless if you believe it. And because of it, you will need my help to end it before it begins."

"And why would I trust you? I don't know if you know, but we bereachers can see what lies behind a being."

"Then look through me all you want. I have nothing to hide."

"That's the problem. I can't read you. You have no aura that will help me understand who you are. For all I know, you could be a heartless, egotistical, and manipulative deceiver. And from my experiences, along with what I have heard you say so far, it seems like you are that person," I stared at him, boldly. "Besides, every guilty person has acted innocent, hoping to cover how much of a filthy dirtbag they are."

"That seems a tad virulent to say," Dayith pretended to look as if my statement offended him.

"I speak the truth. Your lives are too short to waste beating around the bush."

"Then what will I have to do for you to trust me?"

"Before I tell you, why are you so adamant about offering your help?"

"Let's just say I had some friends much like yourself, who had to undergo a horrific death."

Looks of remorse covered his face, and his eyes were conveying no different. On the contrary, there was something about him I did not trust. I was something who had seen many things, known information from my peers that would take lifetimes to gather. To make a deal with the unknown, was like allowing the demon down below to dictate your future. I wanted no part of it. 

Although, despite my gut pulling me away from interacting with this unknown person, there was something inside me that wanted to interrogate him further. It was a desire to know more, as if learning more about him would somehow make the unknown, known.

"I don't intend to further question you regarding your friends. What I intend to do is understand what you might gain from doing this. A statement about your friends' deaths does not explain your drive to save my race from extinction, that I am certain, will not happen."

"If you are asking me, why would I save the vicious hound instead of the hundreds of rabbits, my answer is simple. I have endured too many episodes of watching the unrighteous carry out their wrath on the helpless. Your kind holds the sole purpose of purifying these seas of the dirt that make them murky. Without you, our world will one day enter an age when criminals become kings. It may not happen tomorrow or the day after, but it will happen."

"I think I am done here. Your statements are ridiculous and I have no idea what type of person you are."

I promptly got out of my seat and left the table, tired of his comments on a matter that did not involve him. Walking further, I brushed past the other people in the tavern. Then when I was about to open the door, I heard a voice in my head.

"I will tell you why you cannot read my soul."

I did not have to identify the voice to know that it belonged to the man I was talking to. But how could he speak to me telepathically? That was a means of communication reserved for Systiere and I. Turning around, I stared at the male.

"Go on," I urged him.

"Not here though."

He walked towards my location. Together we departed from the building, following the paved stone path leading out of the village. There was a silence between us. I knew deep down he was probably a distraction to keep me from being aware that I may be playing into a trap. I knew that humans could do nothing to harm me, but I would never allow these criminals to have the satisfaction of me being their first catch. I am the predator. They are my prey. And I intend to keep it that way. 

As the path started getting darker from the collection of trees that blocked out the moonlight, Dayith led me off the path and into the forested area. We walked further, pushing past the branches that got in our way until we reached a clearing. Once we stood in the middle, Dayith turned to me, as if ready to tell his entire life story.

"The reason you cannot see my soul is that I am not a mere human."

"I think we established that long back," I chuckled sarcastically.

"I am a sorcerer. A powerful one. Many years ago, I was trying to save my world from criminals like the ones you have encountered. I want to create a world where people would be more conscious of their actions because there was a stronger ruler to enforce the rules. To my disdain, there was someone more powerful than me who could stop me. She imprisoned me in a realm where she believed would prevent my dream from becoming a reality."

"Let me guess, that woman was your former lover. Just like every sorry man who hasn't had the pleasure of experiencing my wrath."

"You wouldn't be wrong. The two of us were friends for many years. Over time, we fell in love. Her love for me ceased the instance she discovered my plans for our planet. Once she banished me, not to mention deprived me of my magic, it took many years for me to regain my powers. I tried once more to carry out my plan when she passed away, sending my consciousness in a body I created, yet my enemy's successor destroyed that body. Because of her, my world is nothing more than debris floating in space. I don't want another planet to endure that same fate, which is why with your help, we can defend the innocent."

"You want me to believe that you are from another planet and that you are some powerful sorcery because you could get into my head. I am leaving. I could have done something better with the time you wasted."

Once again, I left him, convincing myself that not a single word he could utter would change my opinion about him. He was nothing less than delusional, and unlike him, I have more achievable goals that require my attention. I stared at the dark greenness of my surroundings, refusing to turn back to glance at him. 

I became lost in thought when flames of yellow and orange engulfed the forest. My skin began to sweat from the heat as anyone would from the beating sun on a summer day. The sight took me aback. Spinning around, I realized the flames surrounded me, giving only a few feet of room around me to move.

Beyond the fire, I could see a figure emerging from the flames. It was definitely not human. Seeing what resembled horns on the figure's head, I expected to see a demon. Yet those only existed in fairytales, making this creature a pretender. Emerging from the flames, a pair of blood orange eyes burned brighter than the surrounding flames. Its black skin was darker than any night sky.

"Kancia, do you really think you can survive anything," the figure gravely whispered in my ear.

Wickedly, he smiled, baring his sharp, yellowed teeth on full display for the corner of my eye to see. My body shuddered. This was not right, and I did not like it. For the first time, I feared for my life. To escape, my feathered wings helped me fly into the air. Although the creature was far quicker than I was. He immediately grabbed one of my wings and my neck. Slowly, he tore the wing from my body, like it was paper. The pain was excruciating. 

Blood from the opening gushed out, soaking my clothes. Sensing my fright, Systiere took over my body, transforming my hands to claws before attempting to sink them into the neck of my captor. With as much as force as possible, she directed my hands to his nape. Coming into contact with the thick skin, my claws broke off. Now the two of us were truly helpless.

"Am I being punished for my crimes," I thought, while tears continued to well in my eyes, "For so long I yearned for death and now I am getting it."

When my last breaths seemed to falter, a beam of red energy hit the face of the creature, burning it. The demonic being let go of me, dropping me to the floor as it tried to extinguish the pure red flames violently burning on his face. A pair of hands grabbed my arms, pulling me from the creature.

"I will protect you."

Gazing upward, my eyes met with Dayith's illuminated bronze eyes.

"I am going to send that demon back to where it came from."

He stood in front of me with his hands out. Red magic rings circulated around his palms. Moving his hands, the demon evaporated as it growled in pain. It was a horrifying sight to witness Dayith easily eliminate the creature with his hands. Nevertheless, a feeling of relief came over me. I was no longer in danger, only severely hurt.

Finishing the last of my captor, Dayith rushed to my side. He paused for a moment, noticing my lost wing. Gently, he placed his hand on my wound. Initially, I winced from the touch, but his soft gaze urged me to remain calm. Gradually, I could feel something form on my back. Looking in the sensation's direction, I saw a black feathered wing attached to my back, as if I had left the attack unscathed.

"Thank you for healing me," I could barely say.

"Now you believe me," Dayith asked.

Barely able to speak, I nodded.

"What was that thing," my voice was shaking.

"A warning that humanity has the weapon they need to end your wrath against the criminals."