On the road again...

(You realize that without my mental magics we're basically traveling blind! How an I going to warn you about bandits on the road if I can't hear their thoughts?)

Demon hadn't stopped complaining about her new collar all morning and Alex was a little tired about it. (Learn to live with it, it should be like looking through a veil, easier to see out than in.)

(Then feed me MY soul! Make me strong enough to break free from these shackles!)

(Not a chance. You're old enough you should be able to practice this on your own.)

(I can't even feel your brain and it's RIGHT HERE!) Demon ran her head into the back of his helmet, (And Dumb-dumb over there doesn't have a brain big enough to feel anyway!)

Alex sighed, the pampered boy paladin and his squire were obviously following him. The fact that they were keeping pace with him while on horseback made it painfully obvious, at only a few paces behind was even more painful. Alex had been doing his best to ignore the idiots, but Demon had been wearing his patience thin.

Alex stopped in the middle of the road, and the two mounted boys stopped as well. "Do you two have a destination in mind or are you just planning on following me without paying me to serve as a guide?"

The squire seemed embarrassed, the noble on the other hand was offended. "You've wandered off into the wilds without a caravan. Are you a madman? What will you do about bandits or wild monsters?"

"There were no caravans leaving south today, so I left alone. I obviously have nothing worth stealing so only idiot bandits would attack me, and wild monsters are myth, they are just wild animals not monsters, they don't attack unless provoked."

"Doesn't matter. You obviously need protection and I'm going to be a hero so I'm going to protect you! You should act more grateful!"

"I haven't asked you to protect me, I don't want you to protect me, and I'm not paying you for something I don't want."

"Alexander Lionheart told me that heroes don't need paid, that saving people in need is payment enough."

Alex squinted at the boy, that was something he used to say...A LOT, but he didn't recognize the kid. "And did he tell you to be annoying about it?"

"How Rude! Why can't you be the least bit grateful! Are you a villain or a knave?"

"I'm just a mercenary. A common sell sword. People exist in three genders for me, people I'm being paid to kill, people who are paying me to kill, and people I ignore."

(So savage. Me likey.)

(Shut up Demon.)

"So go back to ignoring me then! But you'll be glad I'm here before you get to...wherever you're heading."

(If we kill him can I ride the horsey?)

(Shut up Demon.)

(I'll pay you...with MY BODY!)

(SHUT UP DEMON!)

(Booooooring.)

Alex needed to vent his anger, and as tempting as **** was he wasn't ready to walk that road right now. So he focused it all on a dead tree not far off the road and screamed in rage, the tree in turn exploded in flames and sent burning chunks of wood flying dozens of meters in every direction.

Alex then turned on the noble lad and pointed at him, "Listen boy. Heroes don't save anyone, even if they think they do. They call themselves heroes and kill under the pretense of righteousness, but they kill. And that's all they do is kill things, they don't save anyone, they don't save anything. They're too busy killing to save and protect. And that's the truth, you can idolize them, but Alexander was a fool who thought that he was doing good, he lived his whole life thinking that he was saving lives...but he was WRONG. And he quit being a hero when he learned the truth, he never saved anyone!"

"Lies! He saved me! He SAVED MY LIFE!"

Alex lowered his head, the anger draining from him, "Well then...good for you. But he was still a fool and he killed thousands of people, and saving one isn't going to save his soul from all of that."

"And what makes you think you know about Alexander Lionheart? You're just a mercenary...who can cast magic...so...yeah. What do you know?"

"Nothing." Alex said confidently, "I know nothing and I like it that way. I get a job, I do the job, I get paid. I'm a tool, and I'm fine with being a tool. It's simple and I don't have to think about it."

"You're a fool."

"Everyone is a fool. Wizards who lock themselves in towers, kings who listen to greedy advisors, nobles who think that heroes are closer to the gods than farmers are, and the bandits who think that they can get anything for free. All of them are fools. You'll learn the truth, or you'll die believing in lies."

The boy must have been close to tears, Alex was done being angry and annoyed, but he was still both. Then the lad asked,