Grey (Part 5 - Strange Trust)

The run-down inn was quiet the next morning, as if everybody could sense that something ominous had happened. As Grey sat, nursing a cup of coffee and trying to wake up, it seemed like people kept looking at him, maybe even talking about him with their friends. 1

It was complete bullshit, he knew, but it didn't really ease the strange mood he felt coming over him. Bane was out getting food and other supplies, so Grey was stuck alone with his thoughts. They'd barely said a word to each other since the night before, but there was some kind of mutual understanding that they shouldn't talk about it near people. 2

Even though it made Grey a little nauseous when he thought that he'd actually killed someone, taken their life, he hadn't felt that way last night. If anything, it had been exciting, even somehow satisfying to be the one in control of a situation for once, rather than the one at someone else's mercy. 3

Brand's words echoed through his head, saying that his 'gift' came with a darker nature. Finally, Grey was starting to believe that he hadn't been dreaming, that somehow he had made a deal with a demon and it had worked. Too bad demon powers didn't come with an instruction manual, he thought as he got up and left the building. 4

Despite an entire night of trying, the black sword hadn't appeared again, and since then he'd made sure to keep his own weapons close at hand. He wouldn't be caught off-guard that way again if he could help it.5

Grey felt relieved when Bane returned, meaning that they were ready to leave the awful place. One day, and already there were bad memories haunting the little outpost.6

His relief died down once they hit the road. Every time he tried to start a conversation with Bane, the man gave him one-word answers, until he finally just gave up and walked along in troubled silence. Why that stung, when it came from someone he'd only met yesterday, Grey didn't know. 7

An hour of silently power-walking in the hot sun later, he stopped, crossing his arms and glaring at his recently unpleasant companion.8

"Are you going to tell me what your problem is now, or do I really have to spend the next two or three hours being answered in monosyllables?" His voice was calm and low, despite the petty frustration he felt coursing through him.9

There was a deadly edge to Bane's voice as he answered. "I'll lay it out for you then. You're just coming out this way from Haven? Of course you are," he said, his eyes boring a hole through Grey, "you just conveniently forgot to mention that Haven's now a smoking hole in the ground, and you're apparently the only survivor."10

In a flash Bane flipped a dagger into each hand, staring at Grey with a stony expression that was somehow terrifying. "I don't buy it," he said, walking slowly towards the stunned young man with murder in his eyes, "The only reason I can think of for you not to mention something like that is that you had some part in it!"11

Grey just stared at him like he was crazy, which he probably was. "If you really believe that, why did you come out alone with me like this?"12

A sinister smile flickered onto Bane's face. "It would take some powerful magic or an army to destroy a town like that, especially one located somewhere where most magic does not work," he said, "and back at the inn you proved you have some powerful magic."13

"Powerful magic?" Grey scoffed, shaking his head sadly. "Somehow I doubt making a sword appear is considered all that powerful."14

"That inn is still on the border of the null-magic zone," Bane said, seeming to slip back into teacher mode despite his threatening stance, "which means that only someone with a rare amount of power could use their abilities there, even in a weak form like you did."15

"Is that right?" Grey asked interestedly, taking in the logic quickly. It answered a couple of questions. He raised an arm in front of himself, and said "All I want right now is something to defend myself." He grinned when his gamble worked, and a pitch black shield seemed to form itself around his arm.16

Bane didn't look nearly as impressed. "So was it you that massacred that entire town?" he asked Grey quietly, sounding a little disappointed. "If not, I think now would be a good time to tell me what you're up to then."17

Grey felt the mild fear he'd been focusing on ebb away as the other man seemed to calm his temper, and as it did, his shield dissolved into ashes, just like the black sword had the other night.18

"We should probably sit down for this," he said. He'd really wanted to get to know Bane a little better first, but in the end he knew he wanted Bane to stay with him more.19

They sat on rocks next to the road, and talked for almost two hours before Bane seemed satisfied that Grey wasn't making up excuses for his lack of knowledge. 20

"It actually makes more sense now," Bane said softly, staring at his feet. "Except.. how did you remember that you could use magic?"21

Grey swallowed hard, thinking fast. He didn't think dealing with demons was all that normal or acceptable, and he didn't want to scare Bane into leaving him. At the same time though, Bane seemed like a man who didn't miss much, and Grey had the feeling that he would put the pieces together himself if Grey wouldn't.22

"I had a.. strange dream." He took a breath, and continued. "A man offered me the power to help fix my problem, and I guess I accepted." 23

Bane looked like he was going to say something, so Grey lifted a finger, motioning for silence, and began undoing the straps of the leather wristband he'd had on since leaving Haven. When it fell to the ground, Grey held out his arm, palm upwards, for Bane to inspect.24

The burnt lips looked darker than they had last time he saw them, and he wondered if it was because he'd used the power that came from them. 25

Bane stared for a while, not speaking, holding Grey's arm out to see the brand better. "This definitely comes from a demon." He looked Grey in the eye as he continued. "Demons gain power through corruption and domination, and that's what demon magic will do to you. It will slowly corrupt you with every use until finally, you have no control anymore, you're simply an evil vessel for the demon to consume at his leisure."26

Grey nodded, even though he felt like throwing up. "I'll stop using it then," he said, sadly, "power's not worth that much to me."27

"No," Bane replied, looking him in the eyes, "there's something off about yours.. when a person uses powers that go against their nature, those powers have a physical toll. You should have felt sick and weak after using them, or something noticeable at the least. As long as you don't get any of those symptoms, you should be fine to use them, as long as you don't overdo it. If evil magic were in your nature, the power would begin to twist your body and give you vaguely demonic features. I don't really think that's the case either, though."28

"I don't really know how to use it anyways," Grey admitted with a sheepish smile, "it only seems to work in the heat of the moment."29

"You're serious?!" Bane looked at him condescendingly. "Maybe you shouldn't bluff like that until you can back it up, I still could have easily killed you back there."30

"Yeah," Grey said, wondering if that was true, and if Bane would have. Probably. He felt foolish when he couldn't stop himself from asking the question still on his mind. "Is that what you were planning on doing when we left?"31

Bane actually looked a little surprised, and maybe a little embarrassed when he lowered his head and murmured "Not really." He looked up again, even having the nerve to give Grey a crooked grin as he continued, "But I did like seeing you squirm a little."32

Silence crept up on them, but it was amicable again. It lasted a good ten minutes before Grey thought of something.33

"How do you know all of these things anyways? I mean," he stopped for a moment to think of how he could say it, "I doubt everybody is as well informed as you seem to be, and I was wondering if there's a reason for that."34

Bane smiled lazily, looking nothing like the scary person he'd been not too long ago. "I was adopted by a man with a lot of responsibility, so I was mostly raised in his estate's monastery," he said, shrugging as if to prematurely ward off any sympathy he'd get for that statement. "The days were boring, but I got a kickass education out of the deal."35

Before Grey could comment, Bane beat him to the punch. 36

"I think we should go there," he said, his eyes lighting up, "The scholars there might be able to help you, either with your problem, or at least with how to use your power properly."37

"You wanna leave now?" Grey asked skeptically, looking at the darkening sky. 38

"No, I want to relax, eat something, and dig into what I bought at the bar." Bane reached into his bag and pulled out a large glass bottle. 39

"More 'magic' liquor? It didn't seem very strong, and I finished a big glass of it!" The bottle looked like it could hold maybe four of those glasses, if that.40

"It'll be stronger now that we're away from the mountains. How much you want?" Bane asked, holding an empty cup out in front of him. 41

"Maybe half of that?"42

Grey didn't know if he regretted it when Bane poured it in for him, slyly grinning again for some reason.43

"Your funeral," Bane said, handing him the cup.44

Grey just shrugged, deciding to take that as a challenge.45