Demonic children CH5_EN

Many weeks had passed since the observation mission.
Charme was radiant. This had to be one of the best days of his life.

He had done it. He had passed the Tasks. The last one had ended that very morning.
He was now a Hunter. No longer an aspirant, no longer an apprentice, a real Hunter, for good.
A part of the group, at last.

The monastery was celebrating, which meant a feast for lunch and free times in the afternoon instead of the usual training sessions. No outside business was allowed for the rest of the day.

His new scarf proudly in place around his neck, Charme strut around the monastery corridors like a king.
He crossed some of his teachers, wearing their blue scarf.
"Well done, Charme."
"Congratulations!"

Many of the experienced Hunters greeted him as well, and some went as far as to cheer.

Nothing could ruin his good mood.

One of the highlights of the day happened after the official ceremony, prayer and the meal, once everyone went back to enjoy their free time - choosing of his own personal weapon.
The armorer handed him his first set of knives and other various projectiles, to be carried at all times in his vest, then told Charme to go through the stocks and pick the extra personal weapon that he wanted. The man added that he could take all the time he needed to choose.

Charme did not need time. He had set his eyes on the one he wanted long ago, among all the shelves of the back of the room: a crossbow resting on hangers in the middle of the right-hand wall. A pretty thing, semi-traditional, made of wood and plastic, and medium-sized. It was perfect for his present small stature, but he would probably need to change it for a bigger one when he would reach his definitive height, which he hoped would come eventually.
He was already the youngest, he hated to be the shortest one in addition.

Charme retrieved the weapon from the wall and carried it with more precaution than necessary to the front of the armory.
"Aaah, just like I thought..." smiled the armorer when he saw Charme's choice. "I'll give you the bolts that go with it. Will you want to carry it on your back or in a sports bag?"

Charme considered the weight and size of the crossbow and his knowledge of how other Hunters hid their weapons.
"I'd like to have it on my back, if possible. But I’ll probably use a bag as well for crowded areas."
"Hmm. A strap wouldn't be good for you. A harness to carry it on your back then? Would that be okay? And a bag as well."

The armorer was known to talk to himself while working. Questions usually did not expect answers.
"Thank you." replied the boy.
"You can take the crossbow." He handed Charme a small quiver full of white-ended bolts. "That too. Come back tomorrow for the harness and the bag, they'll be ready."
"I'll be there."

Charme climbed the stairs leading to the Hunter's dormitory, cradling his new weapon.
This would be new as well. The aspirants were never allowed into the collective room, and slept in individual cells. But no more.

The new Hunter crossed the threshold of the dormitory, grinning. About thirty beds were gathered there. Many of his colleagues, sitting on theirs, talked among themselves. He walked past them and towards the end of the room.

A bed waited for him in this room. A bed with his name on it.

A bed... completely covered by the unused weapons of the others.
Charme cast an uncertain look around. All the other beds were taken.
"Hem... Say, guys?" he risked, talking to the group of teenagers close by. "We will have to make some space here."

No one answered.
"Come on! Pat? Aj? ...Guys?"

As none of the teenagers or the adults volunteered, Charme took the lead and set his own weapons against the wall for the moment. He moved to the bed and reached out for the top blade that he recognized as one of Rezi's knives.

"Woah... What exactly do you think you're doing?" came Aj's incredulous voice.

Aj was well known for being the most vocal among the group of youngs, or a loudmouth, as the adults liked to tell him.
"This is my bed." said Charme calmly, with a hint of annoyance.
"So you really intend to touch Rezi’s knives?"
"And Rage’s bow?" added Sibil, the little group’s leader.
"And Fidel’s spear?" took up a third one, all muscles, by the name of Loya.
"Wow, you are braver than I thought." concluded Aj. "I hope you don’t care about keeping that hand."

Charme retracted his fingers at once.
It was a joke, of course, but they were not entirely wrong.
"Err… Right. Maybe I’d better wait for them…"

Everyone in the room laughed.

Charme stepped closer to the other teenagers. Some of the usual members were missing.
"Anyway, what are you guys doing?"

"We are talking about missions. So that’s none of your business." said Aj.
"Hey, I’m one of you now, you can tell me!"
"Well, technically…" commented Pat "You're a Hunter, but not a real Hunter. You've never gone on a real mission. You haven't killed any demons yet."
"I killed one during the Tasks, this morning!" protested Charme. "You were there, you saw me!"
"We mean a demon that’s not half starved and drugged." sneered Loya. "A free one, you know? The one from this morning wasn’t even in condition to use its magic, it doesn’t count."

Charme’s high spirits plummeted. They were still making fun of him. He had not expected any better from Aj and Loya, but coming from Sibil and Pat too..? His new status should have earned him a safe position as a pair in their group, but they still did not respect him.
"I will soon enough. My missions will start, and then I will even be able to participate in the important ones with you guys, and-"

Charme was cut off by the sound of running footsteps, as another teenager arrived in the room.
"Guys! Did you know? Habi is leaving active duty, he just got the High-Members' authorization!"

Charme and the other boys exchanged surprised looks.
"I haven't seen him in days..." realized Charme. He had been very busy with the Tasks. Habi was the only adult Hunter who bothered talking to him sometimes. "Was he on a mission? Did he get terribly injured?"
"No, not at all." answered the Hunter in the doorway. "And he is in the yard right now."

Everyone hurried out of the room.

Habi was naturally calmer and more laid back than most of his colleagues. More cerebral. He did not seem surprised to see their group, but also other Hunters appearing in the stairs and floors overlooking the yard, as he crossed towards the armory with his bow in hand.

"Hey, Habi!" hailed Sibil from the middle of the stairs. "Is it true? Are you going to return your bow?"
"Yes, it is true." answered Habi in a tired voice. "I will be handling communications and studies and research from now on."
"Coward!" shouted Loya.

The only ones who left active duty were usually Hunters too old or too hurt to continue, but Habi was intact and in his early thirties.

"I don’t expect you to understand."
"What about your partner, is he going to follow you?" asked Aj.
"He won’t. This is a personal decision."
"So you are going to leave him alone?" Aj sneered. "Or to become Charme’s partner?"
"The High-Members will decide of his reassignment. Now, if you are done asking stupid questions, I have my bow to return."

Another Hunter asked from a window on the third floor, forcing his voice to be heard:
"Does this mean that you are leaving the monastery?"
"No. I will still live here. I am still a Hunter, and I will keep my green scarf."
"You insult us." spat Aj.

A pebble landed on the top of Aj's head. Looking up, he saw on the upper floor Habi's partner, who seemed only annoyed.
"Shut up, kid."
"It doesn't bother you at all, then?" he threw back at once. "You really intend to let it happen without saying anything?"

The partner shrugged.
"This is none of your concern, and they have already given their agreement. Drop it."

Aj finally stopped talking, but Loya beside him took up:
"You really think that we will let you sleep beside us like nothing happened, Habi? Your cowardice could be contagious."
"Be careful, Loya. I'm stopping field missions, it doesn't make me non-violent. I am still a Hunter, and able to give you a lesson if you keep on insulting me."
"I'm not afraid of you."

Loya jumped down the stairs and drew out one of his knives.
"Don't do this." sighed Habi.
"Are you backing down?" mocked the teenager.
"Not at all. I only worry for your health."
"Worry about yourself!"

Loya attacked.
They started trading blows, to the metallic sound of clashing blades. It was clear that Habi had the advantage, in the almost lazy way he dodged and parried the attacks, when the other boy was putting all his energy into it.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" whispered Charme to the teenager beside him - Loya's partner.
"It will be over soon enough..." said Pat, unconcerned.

"HUNTERS!" commanded an authoritarian voice.
"Oops!" breathed Pat.

Everyone froze for a few seconds. The fighters stopped immediately, disengaging their next move.
All the Hunters slowly turned to face the source of the voice and bowed their head respectfully.

The man standing there was not a Hunter. He was neither a monk nor a blue scarf. A High-Member.

"Loyalty! In my office! Charme as well!"

The two boys did not argue and climbed up the stairs.

"Ability." the High-Member went on. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Yes, Sir, my apologies."

Then Habi left striding towards the armory.
The leader shouted around:
"Hunters! Don't you have better things to do?!"

The next moment, not one of them was in view.

The High-Member greeted them severely at door of his office.
"Charme, get inside. Loyalty you will wait your turn outside; it will give you time to cool down. I don't want another incident in that time, is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir." said the teenager, biting back words that would only cause him more troubles.

Charme entered the room without waiting, as ordered.

The office was a small room with minimal decoration and only had a desk, three chairs, and a bookshelf in the back. Two windows had a direct view on the inner yard where the events happened – not a very clever move, looking back.

The man closed the door and took place in his chair, gesturing for the boy to sit as well.
"Charme. How is your first day with the scarf going?"
"It’s going well, Sir."
"Did your colleagues give you a good welcome?"
"…Yes, of course, Sir."
"How do you feel? Killing for the first time can be a bit of a shock. Some Hunters feel guilt at first."
"I’m fine. I helped making the world better."
"Are you looking forward to killing again?"
"I can’t wait to start field work." stated Charme, with bright eyes.
"This is exactly what I wish to discuss with you. As you know, Hunters usually work in teams of two outside the monastery. Since you are the only one of your age, and all the others are already in pairs, we are going to make an exception…"

Charme avidly waited for what came next. He might inherit Habi’s partner, after all.

"…You won't be assigned a partner for now."

All of Charme’s hopes went crashing down.
The leader went on, insensitive to the impact of this news:
"In the next few days, you will go into town alone, here and in the cities around us, to put your lessons to use and interact with civilians. You will look for potential informants, as you were taught. It will also be a good opportunity for you to practice finding demonic energies.
"But… alone..?" couldn’t help the boy in a small voice.

The High-Member pressed his lips in a thin line.
"…Pardon?"

He quickly controlled himself.
"Ah… Nothing Sir. Thank you, Sir. I won’t disappoint you."
"That’s all. You are free to go. Send me Loyalty on the way out."

Charme stood, bowed and left the office. He gestured with his thumb to indicate that it was Loya’s turn. The teenager was waiting, sulking against the wall.
Loya sighed and entered, closing the door behind him.

As Charme walked away in the corridor, he thought he started hearing raised voices behind him.