I walk quietly around the monsters sleeping on the ground, making my way towards Mange. Mange is laying on the ground in a very comfortable pose, snoring as he sleeps without a care in the world. I stand over him and just look down at his sleeping face for a moment. I still have a hard time believing everything that Lilac told me, but they definitely have some history by the way Mange treats her. I just want his side of the story on this. I tap my foot against Mange’s side. He snorts as he shakes around. “Who the hell-? Oh, jus’ you, skelly boy.” Mange props himself up on his elbows. “Ya need somethin’?” I point my thumb over my shoulder towards the wooded area further towards the mountains.

 

Mange looks over. “Ya wanna go scoutin’? S’pose we could take a look around.” Mange climbs to his feet and pulls his shield from the ground. As we walk away, I look back one last time to make sure no one is following us. Everyone seem to still be sleeping comfortably enough. We walked until we entered another tree line and got a short way in. I quietly draw my weapon on shield. Mange continues walking in front of me. “So, did ya see somethin’ run this way, or ya just lookin’ fer levels?” Mange asks in a chipper tone. I use my Impactful Strike on Mange’s back. The pulse of the attack splits as it makes contact with Mange’s body. Mange appears to be completely unharmed by the attack.

 

Mange goes quiet for a moment. He turns slightly towards me. “Now, why would ya do that?” I sheath my sword and slam my fist to my chest. Mange looks a little further to see what I’m doing. I point to Mange, motion my fingers near my face to represent talking, then slam my fist against my chest again. Mange looks forward again. “I don’t get what yer sayin’…” I use my Twist Strike on Mange, forcing his body to spin around. Mange quickly grabs my shield, holding my arm out away from my body. His eyes are doing that glare again. My body instinctively begins shivering again.

 

“Ya know what this look is? It ain’t a skill ‘er nothin’. It’s called “Intimidating Presence.” Happens when yer opponent is too strong fer ya.” Mange raises me up. I’m dangling from the shield, holding on tightly as Mange lifts me to face level. “Now, tell me again. What do ya want?” I shiver, but I do the motions again. “Ya want me ta tell ya who I am?” I tap my chest with my fist again. Mange intensifies his glare. “Ya wanna know who I am inside…? I’m Mange… That’s all ya need ta know fer now.” I quickly grab Mange’s arm with my free hand and swing over Mange's shoulder, and onto Mange’s back! Before I can draw my sword, Mange shakes me off!

 

I leap away from Mange. As I land, my shield slams into a tree next to me, nearly cutting through it! “I don’t know what’s gotten into ya, but I ain’t gonna take it! I like ya, Laoch, but this ain't somethin’ ya want!” Mange picks his shield back up and gives me the most hostile look I’ve ever seen him make. “Give up now, an’ we can pretend nothin’ happened. Otherwise, I’ll be sendin’ ya back ta the dungeon!” I can’t stop my body from shivering! I know Mange is more than capable of killing me, but… he needs to tell me his story! It’ll be good for both of us if he does!

 

I draw my sword, slashing the tree my shield is stuck in to loosen it. I pull my shield from the tree and prepare myself to fight Mange! I charge towards Mange, but Mange raises his foot. I quickly leap back before completing the charge! Mange stomps his foot, shattering the ground! Such force! If I was near that, it would have been the end of me! However, all I need to do is utilize my skeleton ability of Grave Keeper! If I can manage to grab him from behind with my weapon drawn, I can make him talk!

 

Mange holds his ground as I charge at him and leap away repeatedly! The only things Mange seems to be doing is stomping and wildly swinging the shield! I don’t think he has too many attacks without a weapon! I charge in close, then leap over him as he stomps! I quickly rush back in from behind him! He quickly spins around to strike me with his shield! I would say that there’s about three to five seconds before he can use his stomp again! That’s perfect! Since I used both of my charges in rapid succession, I stand back for a moment to allow them to recharge! Mange quickly dashes towards me! My body is shivering so hard, I narrowly dodge the attack and leap away! That was so absurdly close, I could nearly see the dungeon again! Mange is really trying to kill me!

 

Within the time I took leaping away, my charges both became ready again! I step out of his line of sight behind a tree! I’m sure he has my health bar showing, so hiding isn’t an option, but I can at least distract him! I make a false maneuver to the left, then leap to the right of the tree! As soon as my feet touch the ground, I dash towards Mange! He swipes his shield at me as I use my Twist Strike, turning him around before his shield makes contact with me! He raises his foot to stomp! I use my leap to jump straight into the air! Mange’s stomp fires off as I drop down from above him, landing on his back, causing the pressure of the land to make a second stomp, forcing Mange to lock in his footing!

 

I quickly raise my sword to Mange’s throat! We both stop moving as if time has stopped! I hold on tightly! I can’t believe we’ve even come to a crossroad like this, but I need Mange to talk to me! No backing down! “Ya don’t have the guts! Even if ya do, yer Grave Keeper ain't guaranteed ta work!” While Mange isn’t wrong, I doubt he’s actually willing to take the risk! I hold my position! Mange snarls in frustration! “Yer willin’ ta take that gamble?! I’ll kill ya as soon as it fails!” I raise my blade closer to his throat, rubbing it between the fur.

 

Mange stays silent and motionless. I raise my elbow, preparing to swipe my blade across his throat! “I was a slave!!!” Mange shouts loudly. I stop moving. “I was born a slave in Scovir! Raised a slave! I got tired of seein’ my people tortured, and rebelled! I became a Hero killin’ humans!” I continue to hold my blade to Mange’s throat, but loosen up a little. “I defended my people fer a month ‘er so b’fore bein’ captured by strong mercenaries! They went back ta business as usual, but made me watch as they killed a number of my people fer rebellin’!”

 

I trace my finger on his back, spelling out “Malakeye.” Mange snarled. “Malachai bought me shortly after! He tried tamin’ me like a wild dog, but I fought ‘im off! Tha’s when he sent in Lilac ta die by my hand! She didn’t want ta fight, so I didn’t! She-she didn’t… fight me…” I feel Mange’s muscles loosen as he calmed himself down. I loosened my grip and pulled my blade back a little. “She was the only one ta treat me well among all the humans, and even my own people… I… I loved her…” I let go of Mange. Mange drops to his hands and knees on the ground.

 

“I spent years tryin’ ta gain their trust. Malachai put a collar on me, an’ let me move a little. Every time I tried ta run ta Scovir, he’d kill me with that damned collar, pullin’ me back ta his side… like some damned beast!” Mange slams his fist onto the ground. Mange exhales. “One day… I thought I ‘ad finally got a shot ta prove m’self when Lilac got ta carry the trigger ta my collar. I thought Malachai was finally comin’ around, but I… was wrong… I found a moment ta talk alone with ‘im. I begged on my hands and knees that he let me save my people…” Mange’s voice begins trembling.

 

“Not only did Malachai reject my request… he also sent a party ta destroy Scovir! Kill everyone, he said! No ties left ta cry about!” Mange clenches dirt in his fists. “He told me Lilac was bein’ paid ta treat me nice! She didn’t give a damn about me otherwise! After that, Malachai struck me and… I snapped… I went wild fer the first time in years! I broke my collar off… beat ‘im ta his last two health… dropped my equipment… and ran! I didn’t know what else ta do!” Mange begins bawling his eyes out. “What do ya do when ya failed everyone ya love?! I went ta Scovir… an' it was gone! Nothin’ but ash! I wandered with no home fer twelve years! I helped merchants in hopes they offer a drink ta wash out the memories! I wanted ta forget! I wanted th' pain ta stop!”

 

My eyes start swelling with tears listening to him. I couldn’t hold myself back from crying anymore. I crouch down next to Mange, wrapping my arm around his back. He holds one hand over his eyes, crying into his hand. “I jus’ want th' pain ta stop…” Mange starts to get his crying under control a little. “Ya know… I wanted ta die this whole time… but because a' the way bein’ a Hero works… I was too scared ta do it… I was afraid I’d either end up back ta Malachai, or in the ashes of Scovir… There was no place fer me ta escape to… until I met ya, Laoch.” I quickly look up at Mange. Why? What’s so special about me?

 

“I saw ya had a level. Ya helped others with no reason other than it was th' right thing ta do. It reminded me a' th' day I turned on Scovir. Th' things I did. Th' things… I shoulda did...” Mange looks towards the ground, holding each nostril, then blowing loose snot all over the ground. It was disgusting to watch up-close… Mange stands to his feet. “Ya give me hope, Laoch. I might be th' higher level, but yer th' Hero I needed. Thank ye… fer listenin’ ta th' ramblin’ of an old Jackal.”

 

Mange picks up his shield. “Sorry fer… all that killin’ ya stuff… I’m not much fer talkin’ about myself…” I give Mange a thumbs up. Mange and I continue walking into the woods. “We’re already here. Might as well get a couple kills fer the walk in the mornin’.” I put my sword and shield away, then suddenly hear a bush ruffle nearby. I turn to look, but I can’t really see anything. I guess if they ran, they aren’t worth chasing for a little experience. I turn back and follow Mange in search of food for the others.

 

Before we know it, the sun begins to rise. Mange and I gather the creatures we managed to capture and carry them back to the campsite. I ended up capturing an Elk. It’s very heavy, but thanks to the incredible strength I’ve gotten as a Hero, it becomes light work to simply throw it over my shoulders and carry it. Mange has an elk, as well, along with two large birds. If I recall, they’re called Phantom Hawks, due them snatching prey so quickly that most assume it was a phantom. As we make it back to camp, we see that everyone appears to already be awake and active. Once we were close enough, a smell wafted through the air. A wonderful aroma of something being cooked.

 

Mange starts drooling. “No… she didn’t make m’ favorite, did she?” Mange starts jogging, to which I also picked up my speed. We arrive at the camp and drop the meat we gathered on the ground. Mange runs over to the fire pit. Lilac is rotating a large fish over the fire. It’s scales have been removed, and the head cut off, so there isn’t much to identify it by. Mange is sniffing the fish. “That’s not a Venom-Tip Lake Trout, is it?” Lilac gives him a smile. “Hehe. Your favorite? Perhaps it is~” Mange reaches for it, but Lilac slaps his hand playfully. “Ah, ah, ah! Let the children eat first. I’ve captured a second one for the adults.

 

Mange smiles a little. “Oh, come on, now! I was jus’ gonna taste test it ta make sure ya pulled the barb out right!” Lilac gives a cheeky look to Mange. “Mr. Mange! When have I ever removed the barb out incorrectly?” Mange seems to gaze deeply at Lilac. “I guess yer right. Ya never-“ He stops himself. “I, uhhh…” Mange seems to be tripping over his words suddenly. Lilac gives a cute laugh. “Don’t worry. I know what you want to say.” The leader walks over to me with a… unique expression, to say the least. “Does it not appear that they may be… speaking romantically?” I look back at them to see their… awkward affection towards each other.

 

While Mange and I did just talk last night, and he also admitted that he once loved her, I don’t understand why they would be suddenly acting like this. Although, I feel like they both had told me all that stuff in confidence. I won’t share it with others if they don’t want me to. As Lilac said, it’s not my story to tell. The leader looks back at the meat we had gathered. “Well, when we get back on track, we may need to acquire a cart to carry our supplies.” Lilac shouts over to us. “If it’s a cart you need, I know of someone near here who owes me a favor! I’m sure he can supply us with one for your supplies, as well as carry your young, if you desire!”

 

The leader looks at me. “Do… you think we should trust her?” I can’t speak on the sentiment of all the other monsters, but since both Mange and Lilac told me similar stories, I feel as though I can trust her. I give the leader a thumbs up. He crosses his arms, letting out a loud exhale from his nostrils. “Well… I suppose if you are confident in her, Laoch… I will at least trust your call.” After a hearty meal, everyone was well fed. The sun was still in a rather early position, so we continued our journey towards Zvesgard. Despite that we’re just searching for a home, I remember that Mange wasn’t to keen on going there. Maybe I’ll ask him about it… when he’s finished flirting…