I abandoned my dreams of knighthood.

I became a priest instead.

Not my cup of tea but I needed to find the red-eyed demon.

I've read up on demons all I could but I couldn't be sure which one he was.

He seemed to appear on the battlefields, wherever there was chaos and blood, and I'd seen him many times since our first encounter years ago.

It'd been a few months since I last saw him and I couldn't be sure where he'd gone until our headquarters received a note from a noble asking for my assistance.

I wasn't sure why I'd been specifically asked for, after all, there were plenty of priests, but then I found out it was Roderick.

As a priest the idea of letting him suffer I needed to repent for.

Oh well.

I needed to repent for lots of crap. The others thought I was very godly and studious but the truth was I was just asking him to forgive me for all the shit I thought about.

I didn't feel like seeing Roderick again but I knew he lived near Elijah now and I wanted to visit him again.

He's twenty now.

We all are.

I can't believe we've come so far. I bet Elijah is married with kids, he's probably running the butchery. I wonder if he goes hunting with Roderick though I can't imagine Roderick actually hunts so much as he just watches like a sissy.

I scammed the Bible and archives for information on demons I might need.

I'd performed an exorcism before with success but it didn't feel the same as the red-eyed man. Actually, it felt much scarier and it was only possession whereas I'd seen a demon in the flesh. His looks imply he must be a fallen angel, otherwise, I'm sure his form would be beastly, though it's rather stupid of him not to hide his red eyes.

Then again I also have red eyes which I'd many times been accused of evil just for having.

I dawned my uniform and accompanied by two knights, Conrad and Zsigmund, both fathers now, we set out for the mountains where Roderick resided.

"Vhey saw the same demon as us?" Zsigmund questioned and I nodded.

"It seems vhat vay..."

"Vhat vill you do? Vhat man could not be killed how can ve even attempt to catch him?"

"I don't know quite yet but I know god vill save us," I assured them, trying to sound more faithful and confident than I actually was.

I missed sparring with them. All my time was dedicated to the Bible and to prayer. It's not a direction I saw myself going but my fight was with demons now, not with people.

We found ourselves needing to set up camp and the feeling of familiar dread set in as a watched the campfire and remembered the night which felt so familiar.

On our way to Austria, the fire, the demon...so many similarities.

Hopefully, after this, it would all be over.

Sucks for me that I'm stuck as a priest till the day I die.

I've been encouraged to stay away from women, not that I need to be told twice. I still had little to no interest in marrying.

I sighed and sat by the fire longer than I should have. I'd need more rest but I could relax in the wagon until then.

At the first sign of light, Zsigmund who was on watch woke us up and we set out again. It took a few hours, even though Conrad tried getting the horse to go faster. If we had swift-foot it would've been a much faster trip but swift-foot was in his final days, he was a scar covered ear horse and despite our efforts and his young age he wasn't healthy enough to recover his strength he'd lost on the battlefield.

The road became bumpy as the roads became rural and I heard a whisper in my ear.

"Are you looking for me?"

No one else heard it and my frantic scanning of the area alerted my two friends and we stopped briefly to look more closely but saw nothing.

Either the stress was getting to my head or the demon was actually in my head.

I wouldn't be influenced by the voices of demons and I quickly began to read my Bible and pray until I stopped shivering from the cold terror I was left with.

I wish I weren't so afraid of this demon. This red-eyed man looking creature but everything about him felt wrong.

I focused on the verses I marked earlier yesterday.

"Ephesians 6:10-12," I began to recite aloud. "10- Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. 11- put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12- for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, bust against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Silence fell over us but the verses brought some comfort to Zsigmund and Conrad.

Albert had wished to join us but he was assigned on patrol. We could've used more help than the three of us but this was meant to be a short trip. However, if the demon stayed here for a whole then I too would have to stay.

Eventually, we reached the market and I caught a glimpse of a young boy playing.

Could that be Leo at the butcher's shop? He was swinging around a fake sword and I requested that we stop.

I wanted to see Elijah on the way.

The butcher seemed surprised to see me and a bit concerned.

"Velcome to the shop is vhere anything I can get you?"

I was rather hungry but I was abstaining from meat in an attempt to better cherish the life on earth, if that makes any sense.

"I vas hoping to see Elijah vhile passing through town," I informed and he clammed up and nervously looked around.

"Elijah...isn't here right now..."

I frowned and shrugged.

"Vhen vill he be back?"

"He...probably never..."

What was that supposed to mean?

"Is he okay?"

"Ja, Ja. He's vell, just a bit occupied...and a bit d ferment, I can say..."

Elijah had told me years ago I'd know his secret soon enough. I suppose his father was trying to keep it for him.

Maybe he had a family already. Maybe he accidentally got someone pregnant last time I saw him and was too embarrassed to admit it. Oh well god will forgive him and I can pray over him.

"Do you know Vhen I can see him, I must varn him before I go."

He looked very concerned.

"About vhat?"

"I can't say. I don't vant to alarm the public but I believe Elijah and this town vill need divine protection."

He nodded and called Leo inside.

"Who are you?" He asked me.

"I am a servant of the lord," I responded and he nodded and hid behind his father.

His father gave him an amused smile and waved me goodbye.

"Vhat vas fast," Conrad commented and I nodded.

"He isn't home vight now."

"Ve might be in town a bit so I'm sure you'll see him again soon," Zsigmund assures me and I nodded hopefully.

"I vouldn't vant to keep you avay from your families too long," I relayed and they smiled.

"Our wives vill be fine," Zsigmund assured me.

Truth be told I thought it was foolish of them to take wives when they had more important responsibilities such as protecting our brethren and saving the souls of thousands.

I went with them on every raid. I encouraged them and I shared the word and I was there for advice.

I felt like I was living a lie. I wasn't that kind of person.

I had them so convinced I managed to become a priest at my age.

Twenty is rather young in my opinion. The last priest was in his forties before he was burned to death by a Nordic tribe. The savages.

We arrived at the mansion and were welcomed by servants who attended to our horse and our luggage immediately.

Zsigmund and Conrad maintained professionalism and remained silent with swords drawn to look more intimidating.

I didn't mind. I'd love to frighten Roderick. Show him my strength, my status.

I probably need to pray about my bad habits of hoping Roderick would fear me. I couldn't really help the personality I was born with.

Hopefully, by helping a noble my name would spread as a successful priest and exorcist. I still wanted my name to live on in history. I wouldn't stop until I was known.

Servants greeted us as we entered the ballroom where Roderick waited for us nervously.

I saw the hesitation and nerves in his eyes before addressing him.

"Sir-," I hated calling him that, "Roderick."

He nodded.

"Father Gilbert." I'm sure he equally despised calling me such a thing.

Father. It still felt like a strange thing to be called.

"I understand you have concerns about a demon?"

He fidgeted nervously and nodded, "I know it sounds strange..."

I shook my head and for once was able to sympathize with him.

"No. I too saw the man you described, he..." I pause before elaborating father, "he assisted a group of rebels who took the lives of Helmut and Claud."

He looked terrified.

I suppose he never knew some of the boys from his childhood had died so gruesomely. Though he never cared for anyone other than Elijah and occasionally me.

I noticed the ring on his finger.

"You're married?" I asked him changing the subject. Maybe we could talk like friends, get rid of some of the tension.

He shook his head, "it's a promise ring."

That's stupid.

"I'm courting Eliza," he informed.

"I don't know who Vhat is but I'm sure she's happy."

He looked up in surprise.

"She never told you?" He asked.

What?

He turned to a back door.

"Eliza, I believe you have something to tell Gilbert," he called and the door creaked open.

A brunette woman in a rather Plan dress for a noble entered the room, head down, avoiding eye contact.

"Er- it's nice to meet you, Eliza," I greeted. She seemed strange to me.

I turned to Roderick. "Is she having problems vith the demon as Vell?"

He nodded and walked over to her, she took his arm and face still low stood before me.

Something seemed rather familiar about her.

"I've already met you..." she whispered nervously.

She sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before lifting her shoulders as if to brace herself and she raised her head to meet my eyes.

What the fuck?

"Elijah...?"