The Path of Hatred

"Get away from me you freak!" The girl screamed and jumped back when she had to avoid a needle thrown at her feet. She brought out her sword from behind her back as she stared at the cloaked figure that appeared from behind a nearby tree. Wrapped in black and a mask with three holes to boot, the figure slowly approached the girl with a ominous air about it.

"Stay back, or I'll hurt you!" She warned, feeling fearful of the figure itself that continued to approach. She swung her sword in an arc, releasing a beam of energy that flew straight for the figure, hitting it dead on. An explosion engulfed the cloaked figure, the girl covered her eyes to protect herself from the bright light of explosion and made her way over to the crater left behind after the attack had landed.

She stopped mid-step as she found a sword jutting out of her chest; she fell to the ground in shock and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"I expected more..." The figure said softly as he plunged the blade into her heart.

She screamed, awaking in a cold sweat as she looked about her room, "What a terrible nightmare..." She took a deep breath in, but let it out in fear as she saw the same cloaked figure standing at her bed, save for it was red cloak, the mask appeared old and worn with three holes for eyes and the mouth.

"It seems I overestimated your current abilities, Xivie." The figure stated as he waved a gloved hand in the air.

"What happened?" Xivie questioned.

"I am surprised you died so quickly. That is troubling." The figure stated, "Do you think you'll have a chance if you continue to slack off, your calling is coming quicker than you can imagine."

"What is your problem?! You continually barge in my life, getting in the way and always saying that I'm destined for great things!! Yet you come back every so often to say I'm not good enough." Xivie quickly shut up when she found a blade pressed against her throat.

"All I have to do is extend the blade and you will be dead." The mysterious man said, "I should not have been able to defeat you so swiftly. You are the wielder of that magnificent blade, I'd hate to try to find a new one." The figure put his own sword away.

"That was all a test?"

"Next time, it might not be. Right now, I can tell you don't have the strength or the will to make difficult decisions and I hope that changes quickly, for time is running out. You must know what has to be done."

"What does that mean?" Xivie started.

"That is a secret." The figure chuckled, suddenly vanishing from her presence.

Xivie contemplated the man for a little bit; he was enigmatic, she felt alone knowing that she was the only one that could see him thus far. He was by heart, a powerful figure, one that knew how to make others fear him but also be grateful for his assistance. He was her teacher, yet he was also someone who let no one near him within emotional range. She could feel impossible despair radiate from him, but also a sickening amount of hatred for something she couldn't comprehend at the time.

She drifted off into a slumber as these thoughts continued to plague her mind. From afar, the figure stared at Xivie outside her window before turning and vanishing to a shack far from civilization.

"As long as she can continue to grow, she will fit the bill just perfectly. There is no way there can be another, not even enough time before he begins..." He walked straight through the shack's door, as if a ghost.

(WIP)