Page 7 of To Free a Soul
Each member wore their uniform, including the mouthcovering and hood. Many shrouded themselves temporarily in thick black cloaks, while others had donned white ones to match the snow as camouflage. That was the only spot of colour for now, although in the warmer seasons, they often shrouded themselves in thin brown or green cloaks to match their environment.
She swept her gaze over the many collecting in the courtyards or outdoor training areas, some of them weary-eyed and bleak as they rubbed their tired faces. Once their overseer of training yelled, many of them promptly stiffened in alertness.
“I’ve told you before that they appear like Demons,”Weldir responded, his voice distant as always, but no less husky and inviting.
“Yeah, I know. I just keep forgetting until I see them from afar,” she stated. “If I wasn’t well familiar with their uniforms, I wouldn’t be able to decipher the difference.”
She’d trained with them many times over the past two decades, to the vexation of most guildmembers. Being an honorary Demon Hunter, not in name or rank, ruffled a lot of pride-hurt feathers.
She’d been an outlier; someone who’d trained with them but lacked a position within the guild.
It still amazes me how often humankind will evolve similar ideas, even when they’re worlds apart.The Demon Hunter Inc., Knights of Shadow, Night Stalkers, and Demonslayers, were all names of different organisations that were created to hunt Demons.
Most wore very similar black outfits, choosing to fade into the shadows like their enemies by wearing tight-fitting, quiet material.Then again, I think the Anzúli– who all spoke to each other through scrying tools –have been guiding them.
Their outfits resembled each other’s just a little too closely for coincidence, as did their ranking system. Even their strongholdswere similar no matter what part of the world she travelled to, although this could be due to history having a hand in it.
Since she was from Austrális, she considered them all Demonslayers, but in this country, they were controlled by the Demon Hunter Incorporation.
I don’t like how they force trade here for protection, though.In most other places across the world, their assistance was free or trade was appreciated, but Unerica still had a rather unfair bartering system. The Knights of Shadow– or Shadow Knights – were more like religious templars.Their god of worship? Somehow, they’d taken Uxos’ partner, Yavol, as their leader. Then again, Yavol was the god of war and destruction, so Lindiwe found that to be rather fitting.
Just further proof the Anzúli are guiding them...
She searched the soft pinks and lilacs of the dawning sky.
Fluffy clouds glowed with orange, like the very edges of their minuscule droplets had caught fire. She’d flown through many clouds and had come to discover they were nothing but puffs of water, each time leaving her feathers damp. When she’d flown for too long, she often tried to gulp at the clouds for refreshment.
Maybe it’s time I change my feathers,she thought, wondering if the horizon could give her an answer on that matter.It’s been over a hundred years since my cloak was first created.
She often pondered on whether or not her monstrous children would react to her differently if she didn’t appear like the very creatures they fought against.
But I love my raven form, my cloak.She had a deep attachment to them, as they offered a sense of freedom.And I wouldn’t know what other kind of bird to pick.
An eagle?If so, she’d rather choose the wedge-tailed eagle, as it was larger than the one in Unerica, and much more ferocious.Most of their feathers are brown.Which, for Lindiwe, was just too close to a raven’s dark plumage and could easily be mistaken.
I could choose a rainbow lorikeet or a parrot.Then again, she wasn’t inclined to be too colourful either.
There are many species of owls...And she did like their meaning: wisdom. Many cultures considered them a warning, while others saw them as spiritual protection.I guess an owl would be a good choice.
“Hey, Weldir,” she started, pulling her satchel closer to her lap. “I’m ready to leave now.”
“I was wondering why you had that thoughtful look upon your face.”
Her brows furrowed deeper. “I didn’t have a look on my face. This is how my face always is.”
“Then you must always look thoughtful.”
She’d spent nearly eighteen years here, and it was the longest she’d spent anywhere. It was understandable that she was forlorn. But it couldn’t compare to the yearning in her heart to find that home in Austrális, the place in which she was born.
“Are you going to say goodbye this time?”he asked, with a hint of curiosity in that rough voice of his.
Shealmostshivered in delight at it, knowing what would come after she left this place.
“No. I’ve never been great at goodbyes, and I told the Anzúli when I first arrived that I may just up and disappear. The elders will explain it to the others.”
It was time to withdraw from society and life, and be Weldir’s semi-obedient servant once more. Wholeheartedly.
“Before you take me to your realm, I want to thank you for allowing me to stay here for as long as I saw fit. I obtained a lot of useful knowledge that will help us, and it was nice immersing myself amongst people again after so long.”
