6 06 Post Hunt and Hargeon

*Pant* *Pant* *Cough* *Cough* Atlas was struggling.

He looked over and sighed in relief that Laki was still unconscious from his blow.

There it was that fueling anger he drove upon as a kid at times but never unleashed this is what it was.

The beast within him finally awoke.

He had worked hard throughout his childhood to prevent this side of himself out.

The only thing preventing him from unleashing his bestial instincts was the consequences is would have for his mother.

But without her with him, years and years of torment was unfortunately unleashed on these 3 mages.

Although he looked upon the bodies brutally mutilated by his bestial side, he did not regret his actions.

In this dangerous world even he was not delusional enough to believe that if given the opportunity again these bandits would not change their ways.

No amount of jail time would change any of that, they fought to kill so he did the same.

He was just the one that came up on top.

Knowing the laws of the land from his earlier talk with Laki, he knew the law about murder and killing other humans.

He would need to practice caution when fighting, to let this side out could lead to him being hunted down by not only the government, but guilds as well.

He would have to learn to kill with more caution and subtlety.

"Fucking hell man, I went way overboard for these god damn bandits" Atlas muttered.

Although the beast is strong and deadly it knew no restraint leaving his already weak body from days of travel even weaker.

'A little bit longer and I don't even know if my body could have survived" Atlas thought.

Using his katana as a makeshift crutch he could only hide the two bodies he killed first close by in bushes hoping some animal finds them before any human.

There was no reason to hide the third body, what was on left of that were scraps and they were flung away from his brutal finisher.

Finally, somewhat satisfied with his job hiding the most incriminating evidence he made his way over to Laki's unconscious body.

Before waking up Laki he took some time to rest up so he could somewhat complete a journey to the town Laki was speaking about.

With the constant pressure of working and hate directed from his tribe his bestial side was always there along side his conscious dictating his decisions and personality.

For the first time in what felt like eternity he just sat and stared out over the horizon, an activity he had not been able to do since he was 8.

'I may not have been able to protect you on this realm mom, but I will be with you in time and I vow that I will have the power to protect you then, just wait for me'. Atlas thought.

And just like that time went by and the sun was beginning to descend down towards the horizon.

'I better wake her up so we can make it to the town before dark' Atlas thought standing up.

With one final look around him he etched the area in his mind vowing to return when the time came to sail back home.

Not for a reunion but to terminate the parasite that ruined the life of his mother and himself, his so called father, the tribes chief.

If anyone was around to see they would have noticed the blue eyes of Atlas return to their ice cold blue as he growled, "For he thinks himself the alpha of the herd but he is just another prey that will fall with the hunt".

And as fast as the beast arose within him it returned to is slumber waiting for the time is would strike again.

Eyes returning to their normal shade of blue, he made his way over to Laki.

Not wanting to waste the energy of lifting her up he dragged her along the ground to move her away from the scene to prevent her from investigating it.

Satisfied that they were far enough he decided to return the favor of shaking the life out of her.

Smiling happily, he was very excited to wake her up this way, but to his misfortune the dragging shook her out of her unconscious state.

"W-Wha-t happened? Laki stuttered out as her eyes blinked open.

Switching to a more innocent smile Atlas lied, "After I slashed through that one spell another bandit hit you from behind knocking you out, I was able to fend them both off before they ran off to free their comrades. The ones I guess you trapped earlier."

Scratching her head Laki muttered out, "Well at least the quest reward was only for the items they stole not for the people themselves".

As Atlas began to say, "Hey its almost" Laki shot up hugging Atlas for a second time that day saying, "I'm so sorry for not being more helpful, I need to be more powerful, I cant believe that you…".

'Not this again.' Atlas thought sighing deeply in his mind as he tuned out another minute ramble from Laki.

'Where the hell is she finding this energy?!?!?! Was she just not knocked out'. He thought utterly confused about how it was possible for someone to be so filled with energy after being knocked out.

And once again Laki ran out of breath to only breath in deeply again as if prepared to barrage him again.

Atlas was ready for this and caught her lips again saying, "We should really get moving its turning dark and we should really get to that town you were speaking of."

Releasing her lips Laki immediately replied cheerfully, "Ok lets go!" Beginning to leave behind Atlas as he just stood there in the same position frozen from shock.

'What is wrong with these people, how can someone be so unfazed and be able to move through emotions so quickly?!?!?!'. Atlas thought.

Laki looked back yelling, "Hey its almost dark lets get going!!! By the way the town is called Hargeon!"

"Yea whatever", Atlas muttered making his way over towards Laki at a slower pace forcing Laki to wait for him as he slowly caught up.

(One hour later)

An hour of mental torture for Atlas finally ended when a town became visible in the distance.

"Is that Hargeon?" Atlas said interrupting the random story Laki was in the process of telling him.

"Yes we made it just in time! *YAWN* Let's stay the night in town. I can turn in the items for the reward tomorrow and we can figure what to do after that ok?" Laki said.

"Sure" Atlas simply replied.

'Yea there is no we. The only reason I am not ditching you tonight is that your offering to pay for my room, but tomorrow morning that is when I will leave and can freely explore this new world. In no way am I ever going to see you again Laki never ever ever ever ever ever again".

TIMESKIP (X790)

Standing outside a rundown tavern on the outskirts of Magnolia stood a young one-armed male staring up at a crest that once carried the respect of being the strongest guild in all of Fiore.

"So I guess were going to meet again Lavi. *Sigh* Well there is no point in delaying the inevitable." Uttered Atlas.

Flinging his traveling pouch over his shoulder he took the final steps to the large doors and entered.