“Hitoryu huh? Don’t look as bad as you described Rex” Dmitri pointed out as he and Rex followed Arie into a small town. 

　　　　It was quite busy for a small town, with men and women mostly dressed in either light armor or robes, going about their business. Apart from a paltry glance every now and then, the inhabitants of the town paid no heed to the newcomers. The houses, which were built mostly built with wood were quite small and very close to each other. The roads were smooth and clean, but not tarred. This did not surprise him though since his home-world had a similar setting. Tarred roads could only be found in large cities and major roads.

　　　　“Looks that way doesn’t it?” Rex replied and Dmitri noticed his friend’s grip on his guns had not relaxed since he found out their location. “We could not have landed in a worse location,” he muttered to himself.

　　　　“This is the local inn,” Arie announced and pointed at a building slightly larger than the rest. “It also serves as a tavern if you wish to drink.”

　　　　“We are in your debt,” Rex said with appreciation and a polite bow.

　　　　“And one day I shall collect,” she replied with a bow of her own and briskly walked away.

　　　　“Since when are you polite?” Dmitri asked mockingly. He had watched the exchange and had to hold back a fit of laughter at Rex’s new mannerism.

　　　　“Stuff it,” Rex said and walked to the inn, followed by Dmitri who was still struggling not to laugh.

　　　　The inn/tavern was like something out of an earthen RPG game, except you could actually smell the booze and bad breath from the customers. The patrons who were high from their booze, women and cheery songs paused when the dup walked through the doorway. 

　　　　Rex’s hair color was what drew their attention, but his clan were known for being oddities so the festivities soon continued and his two seconds of fame were up. Rex walked through the mess, careful not to hit anyone. The less attention he drew to himself, the better.

　　　　At the counter, he motioned to the barkeep who came up to him, polishing a glass in his hand. How cliche, Rex thought, but he did not voice his thoughts. 

　　　　“A room for the night,” Rex said.

　　　　“Show me the silver,” the keep instructed.

　　　　“Don’t have any. Port-crashed. Gear and gold fell into the volcano west of here.”

　　　　“Ah, that’s a bugger now it is. See I can’t put yer up fer a room with no money. Bad fer business you see,” the keep said with narrowed eyes.  He spotted Rex’s guns in their holster and interest sparked in his eyes.

　　　　“Thought you said all yer gear fell down the pit?” he said, looking pointedly at the guns.

　　　　“You’ve got good eyes,” Rex said as he drew his weapons and placed them on the counter. Ever since he split up with Bel, the guns had stayed permanently in their awakened state. The inscriptions did not glow as they once did, but the white symbols still stood out sharply against their black sheen

　　　　“Now that’s something,” the Keep said, whistling softly. “Only seen these kinda weapon few times. “ he said with clear admiration as he picked the weapons and examined them. “You lads seen your fair share of fights aint ya.” He returned to the guns to Rex who put them in their holsters.

　　　　“You could say that” Rex agreed with a nervous laugh, and turned around to see what his friend was up to. Dmitri was chatting up some girls whose erratic giggles reminded him of coffee blenders. Over to the side, noticed a group of men giving Dmitri the stink eye and the thought of his friend getting in trouble reminded him of something.

　　　　“You boys seem like you could hold your own in a fight; I might have something fer ya. Most fer some beasts been wrecking havoc north of ‘ere,” the keep said as he scratched his chin in thought. “Not exactly a bounty per say, but I got me a group needs clearing out.”

　　　　“I can do that. What do I get in return?”

　　　　“Good night’s sleep and good food in the morn’. How’s that sound?”

　　　　“It’s a deal,” Rex agreed and shook hands with the keep. “What’re they called?”

　　　　“Ah, can’t miss ‘em. Sounds like a little one thought it up. Name’s -”

　　　　“Flying Dragons, swine!” someone shouted and Rex turned around with trepidation. 

　　　　Just as he had thought, the men he had spotted earlier towered over Dmitri, and were yelling at him. The vampire who had on the most irritating confident smile listened patiently with his hands around two girls who were apparently the source of the argument.

　　　　“That be them right there,” the keep said and blew into the same mug he had been shining since Rex got there. At Rex’s dubious stare he added with a laugh, “Without the swine of course. Flying Dragons is what they is.”

　　　　“Gentlemen,” Dmitri said to the members of the Flying Dragon. “These beautiful damsels do not desire your company. I suggest you take a seat.”

　　　　“Did you not hear me the first time?!” one shouted. “We are the-”

　　　　“Flying Dragon Swine. Yes yes,” Dmitri interrupted with a bored tone. “Not that I care about what you call yourselves but I believe you need a better name.” 

　　　　The girls giggled again and the man lost it. “What are you laughing at swine?!” he yelled and slapped her so hard she fell to the ground. He made to slap the other but Dmitri grabbed his wrist mid-swing. 

　　　　“Women are God’s most beautiful creations. Any man who lays a hand on them does not deserve a hand,” the vampire said, anger evident in his voice. 

　　　　“Who do you th... Aaah!” he yelped when Dmitri tightened his grip, nearly crushing his bones in the process. 

　　　　The instigator’s companion made to attack Dmitri but a loud bang on the counter stopped him. The keep stared them down with a look that sent shivers down their spines. “I suggest you take it outside lads,” he threatened.

　　　　Dmitri released his grip on the man’s hand and motioned for them to follow as he walked out of the inn. 

　　　　“You’re stronger than you look,” Rex said to the keep who had resumed shining the mug. “Why don’t you clear them out yourself?”

　　　　“Pigs the lot are, but they fly the overlord’s colors,” he replied. “Don’t wanna start no trouble.” He looked at Rex with a knowing smile as he said, “But I reckon you lads don’t mind a little trouble do ya?”

　　　　“You might think we mad a pact with her,” Rex replied and shook the keep’s hand in a firm handshake, then walked outside to join his friend.

　　　　“Going to help your friend?”

　　　　“It’s not him that needs helping,” Rex said over his shoulder as he stepped outside where a small gathering had already formed outside the bar. “This province never changes does it?” Rex said wistfully as he watched people leave the bar with drinks in tow to watch the fight.

　　　　“Last chance fools!” the man who had started the commotion threatened. “Fall to your knees and apologize and I will consider sparing you.”

　　　　“Ten against one,” Rex said as he joined the spectators on the sidelines.

　　　　“Haha! Your friend cowers in fear of us,” the leader laughed. “Why don’t you follow his lead and go crying to your mommy. Or are you the big sister type,” he joked and his buddies laughed loudly at Dmitri.

　　　　Dmitri, however, failed to see the humor and in a split second, he was an inch away from ripping out the leader’s throat, but Rex intervened, grabbed his wrist and tossed him to the side, where the vampire crashed into a wall, breaking it.

　　　　Stunned by the attack he did not see coming, the leader drew his sword to save face by cutting Rex where he stood. Rex sidestepped quickly, spun around and stomped the sword into the earth, burying it under his weight. 

　　　　The flying dragon leader tried to pull his sword back up and Rex allowed him by removing his leg. The sudden freedom threw the leader off balance as he hands flew skyward and before he could bring it back down, Rex punched him in the gut, causing him to double over. An uppercut to the entirely exposed shin launched the leader a few feet off the ground, then back down to the ground in an unconscious heap.

　　　　Confused and enraged, the other nine lunged at him swords drawn. Splinters of wood tore into the flesh of several stopping their advance and Rex almost laughed when he saw a pissed off Dmitri holding pieces of broken wood.

　　　　“Don’t you louts forget about me now,” the vampire said as he threw the remaining bits of wood at the soldiers. They blocked the projectiles with their swords, but Dmitri came right after, and made short work of the closest by ducking under his swing, sweeping his legs off his feet and ended with a rising punch to his back that knocked him out cold.

　　　　“Dmitri?” Rex called and the vampire nodded rather reluctantly.

　　　　“No killing. I got it,” Dmitri replied as he wove his way through the mob, dodging, punching and kicking this way through them.’

　　　　Mere seconds later, the duo had completely subdued the flying dragon’s and were standing victorious over them.

　　　　“Impressive lads,” the keep called. “The name’s Kota Al’ret. Pleasure,” he introduced holding out his hands and they each shook him in turn and introduced themselves; Rex using the pseudo-name Terry.

　　　　“I’ll take care of these louts,” Kota said, motioning to the men Rex and Dmitri had just beat up. “You boys deserve a good sleep, drinks and some food,” he offered and they gladly accepted.

　　　　Several hours later, while Dmitri lay asleep upstairs in his room, Rex polished his guns at the counter. Sleep had eluded him ever since Emily left and his nights had been plagued with nightmares after another. And there was the ever reoccurring factor that he was not a true living being. It was one thing to find out the first time and choose to ‘die’ by fusing with Bel, but now that he had been released again, what was he supposed to do?

　　　　His existing meant he deprived the true Rex from living, yet was he truly so selfless as to choose death because it was the right thing to do? What exactly was the right thing anyway? Take coming to Elysium, a realm he was forbidden from; what was his purpose? To stop Bel? Or to save Emily? If he was forced to choose what would be the right thing?

　　　　“Damn!” he cursed through gritted teeth as he took another swig of his drink. The alcohol had numbed him a little, but he did not get drunk as easily as others did. It would take a lot more to put him in the dreamless sleep.

　　　　“Having trouble sleeping?” Kota asked. Rex looked up and noticed the keep was still shining the same damn mug, and found the endless action a little hilarious.

　　　　“Something like that,” Rex replied as he sat up straight, “Last one,” he said as he held out mug.

　　　　“Sure,” Kota replied and filled the glass with a brown liquid. “Want ter ralk bout it?”

　　　　“Nothing that serious,” Rex joked as he downed the drink in one gulp. “Just trying to sort some things out in my head is all.”

　　　　“Seems yer got some heavy baggage,” Kota said.

　　　　“That obvious?”

　　　　“Standing across from y’all on this side of the counter, I’ve seen hundreds like you come and go.”

　　　　“I sense a life lesson here somewhere.”

　　　　“Share it.”

　　　　“What?”

　　　　“That thing that terrifies you so much. Share it with your friend. It takes a special kind of vampire ta waltz into enemy territory for a friend.”

　　　　Rex’s eyes went wide with panic, but Kota’s expression did not change and he knew the keep had no intention of selling them out. “You’ve really got some good eyes,” Rex praised him for the second time that night.

　　　　“I know. Ya better go to bed. I imagine you will be heading to the capital at first light.”

　　　　“That’s right.”

　　　　“Might even make it in time for the execution.”

　　　　“Execution?” Rex asked with curiosity.

　　　　“Bit of shame really. Rumors has it the overlord’s son assisted an outlaw. His father decreed his punishment.”

　　　　“What’s his name?” Rex asked, as a terrible feeling rose in his gut.

　　　　“Drake,” Kota replied, “Drake Dragonbane.”

　　　　The empty glass Rex had been holding in his hand smashed to bits from the sudden pressure applied to it and blood trickled down his hands to mingle with the alcohol, blood, sweat and tears that had soaked into the very pores of the counter.