A REAL HERO IS,

There were moments when reality felt distant as the realm of memories consumed thoughts. Words remained lost as Fritz lacked a response to Vashti pulling away. On occasion, the reaper would discover himself drowning in memories, unable to escape the menacing pondering. Those reminders of the concept of being capable of accomplishing more to save those he cared about weighed heavy on his shoulders and appeared permanently latched to his conscious. The thoughts swirled like a tornado, consuming the entirety of his focus and leaving his stare blank. Noises fell upon deaf ears, the ancient warrior entering the trance of remembering. The screams, crackling of fire, swords clashing, metallic smells of blood and the mangled appearances of the wounded; a display of the war's tragedy and sorrows.

A crestfallen expression remained on his face due to the fixation, the reaper having difficulty pondering another topic of focusing on the present situation. Eventually, there was a soft touch to his face that possessed a tenderness that slowly gained his attention. In response, the hero blinked a few hasty times until his blue eyes gradually trailed down to the brunette who broke the trance. For a few moments, he merely stared, remaining speechless while his senses returned. The mild pain of his arm was noticed as Fritz glanced at the bandages, freshly blooded from the laborious activity of fighting. A gentle sigh graced his lips while his eyes lingered there until his friend spoke, causing his blue eyes to flit towards her. The words of an apology reached his ears, Fritz watching as Vashti's head leaned against his chest, the situation obviously upsetting her. There was a moment of hesitation before the reaper tightened his grip around the girl.

"... Don't worry about it," he mumbled. "It's just... one of those days."

Those days where everything appeared to be a sensitive topic, resulting in extensive thoughts of sorrow. Each word threatened to become a possible trigger towards the depressing events left in history. There were always days where the probability of fixating on those melancholic memories was increased. A neutral expression claimed Fritz's countenance, the reaper attempting to avoid displaying the sorrowful emotions while he rubbed Vashti's back in an attempt to comfort her. Throughout the years they known each other, the ancient warrior always hated witnessing her cry, the sighting going lengths to generate intense heartache for the reaper. It was always difficult for Fritz to comprehend exactly why witnessing the brunette cry created immense aching of his heart, but it increased his determination to comfort her.

A REAL HERO IS,

The anger filled responses that were given towards Fritz gave no effect to the hunter. There were always people who maintained aggravation towards the actions he took and after numerous years of living, the reaper had grown acquainted with the emotion being displayed. Any words that contained anger were ignored considering it was obvious that Vashti needed to relax. After years of being a warrior, the elite hunter found it difficult to notice the error in his ways. Numerous soldiers sacrificed their lives for their cause, a superior or the innocent which was something understandable according to Fritz's view. In the hero's case, it was to protect the innocent to avoid them meeting the horrible pit of emotions received from losing loved ones; the memories of his burning village fueling it.

As it currently stood, that desire fueled him in abandoning the medical team in order to save his battle hungry apprentice. The situation was upsetting to Fritz considering his lecturing seemed to fail. Kill counts had never been astonishing to the ancient warrior considering the maturity that arrived with those numerous years spent as a soldier. The reaper bore a countenance of frustration and irritation due to the brunette's insistence to raise her kill count. Each defensive move was causing mild stinging to his wounds, which only increased Fritz's irritation.

"KILL COUNTS DON'T MATTER!" The reaper exclaimed while he continued defending himself. "DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO ME?!"

When the chase suddenly started, Fritz merely watched as Vashti finished the creatures. A hint of concern entered the warrior's expression as he gazed at his apprentice who seemed keen on fighting more. This reckless attitude that was being displayed showed a willingness to push herself far beyond her limits, but there was weakness that could be sought in that. At times, admitting a requirement of assistance showed a strength spoken beyond words. Slow steps were taken as Fritz began to approach, the moment of silence allowing him to listen to the gentle crouch of snow beneath his feet and the pounding of his heart. The constant brawling was exhausting his body that craved time to heal, but pushing himself further was easy; it had been accomplished for centuries. The radio sounded, another report about a terror sighting sounding which caused the reaper to pause until he witnessed Vashti fetch her radio.

Steps held haste as Fritz quickly reached out to pull his friend into a tight embrace. The sword fell to the ground, getting buried in the snow in favor of ceasing the impulsive fighting desire. The motions caused his injured arm to shout in pain, but it was ignored in hopes of capturing Vashti in an embrace.

"Stop... you are tired and need to rest," he mumbled softly.

All the reaper wanted was for his friend to remain safe and these reckless actions were not assisting the matter. The extensive time and effort taken towards defending her would be futile if he allowed her to continue her rampage. Currently, the hunter possessed a single hope, which was to trap Vashti into an embrace in hopes of soothing the burning anger.

A REAL HERO IS,

The sudden block from the disguiser was creating a perilous situation for Fritz as a grimace settled onto his face. Pain was rippling through his damaged arm, the movements of the attempted lunge alongside the abrupt stop causing subtle irritation. The warm embrace of the red liquid dribbling down the length of his left arm remained oddly chilling due to the circumstances. Without fear marking his eyes, the reaper stared at his enemy for a few moments as he prepared to pull away in hopes of escaping the grim situation. The disadvantage in environment was already horrible and now Fritz had managed to trap himself into an interesting scenario. There was always solace, an escape route, which was something that the warrior believed even given the grim situation due to his steely determination.

There had to be salvation for the current situation he had managed to capture himself in. Surviving was a requirement considering even as time passed, there were plenty of people who needed rescuing, although, Fritz found himself relieved in saving Vashti. The broadsword was drawn back into a defensive position, the reaper remaining uncertain given the dire circumstances he managed to rope himself into. Unexpectedly, salvation arrived in the form of a long haired brunette who decided to disobey orders. Before the terror had the opportunity to strike, a harsh kick was given to the creature, sending it flying. The warrior's eyes widened with surprise over the display and shortly flitted to Vashti. It was obvious that the young woman was furious based on how she shouted at the creature, claiming it hers. The interaction passed quickly in front of him, his friend earning the disguiser's attention again before running off.

The reaper flinched as he found himself displeased with the current situation alongside the condition of his left arm. Wordlessly, Fritz continued forward, initially at a slower pace while his blue eyes scrutinized the horrible condition of his arm. Numerous gashes marked his flesh, obvious by the darkened splotch the tatters of his sleeve obtained. Pain continued biting at his wounds, informing him of the injury's level. Gradually, the elite hunter's eyes trailed towards the way Vashti and the disguiser had left with full knowledge that yelling was pointless. A deep breath was taken as Fritz began to run in the same direction, mild pains sparking in his wounds as he accomplished the task. That hesitation from his friend's prior attack weighed heavily on the reaper's conscious as he grew frightful of a similar situation occurring elsewhere. While he began sprinting, his body argued with insistence towards resting and recovering from the wounds.

Time was not available for healing since Fritz wanted to make certain his brunette friend would not meet her finale here. The reaper pushed himself, using his long strides to carry himself through the maze until eventually meeting the threshold that led outside of the icy structure. Upon leaving, the warrior found the struggle between Vashti and the disgusier who intended on ending the mere apprentice. Determination filled Fritz as he continued running, ignoring the pleads of his injured body while he drew closer. The grip on his sword was tightened while he swung the blade towards the creature with the intent of disposing of the terror before more damage could be accomplished. The initial attack succeeded as his blade ripped through the flesh, making a clean decapitation of the creature which shortly transformed to ash. The blackened substance coated his blade, Fritz slowly drawing back into a standing position.

His wound was screaming with pain despite barely being used, making the reaper's eyes wander towards it. The hero's breathing remained deep, the immense amount of running alongside the injury taking its toll. Immediately, his blue eyes regarded Vashti, his expression making his displeasure obvious.

"I gave you a job, you were suppose to do it," the reaper stated.

Afterwards, the blade was given a single shake before being returned to the scabbard where it would await patiently for the next actions. Despite rescuing him from peril, the reaper was not prepared to admit it considering the brunette had clearly placed herself in harm's way again, which was something he could never approve of.

A REAL HERO IS,

Gradually the situation seemed to grow foreboding as Fritz inched further from the corner of the corridor. An explosion of ice showered through the air from the destruction and thunderous cracks echoed from the walls due to the abuse inflicted by the disguiser. When Vashti claimed he was 'playing hero', the reaper glared towards her as though suddenly reminded of his irritation currently aimed at her. Attention was given both towards the terror's wondering and the explanation his brunette friend provided in defense of her actions. Only a nod of affirmation proved that the elite hunter was attentive as he continued listening to the disguiser for a few more moments. Even managing to remove the disguiser from the maze seemed tedious considering it could always throw projectile darkness at them should it feel cornered.

"Yes, but if it figures out it has the advantage, it won't follow either of us out," Fritz responded quietly. "Disguisers are smarter than the other terrors. Stick to the radio and if you think of a backup plan, let me know. Because if it won't leave the maze, we may be forced to be distractions until somebody else comes since we can't lose sight of it."

There was calmness to the hero's tone since years of grueling battles had resulted in numerous instances of becoming a toy for the malicious. Constantly, the reaper was attempting to figure out a secondary plan should they be incapable of leaving the maze. When getting behind the disguiser was mentioned, Fritz was going to respond until Vashti rounded the corner with her sword prepped. Any loud arguments against the concept were held since revealing his apprentice's position would possibly create a bleak situation depending on the injuries. Slowly, Fritz inched closer to the corner, watching the display and noticing a fatal flaw, Vashti hesitated. Should they be required to battle inside or outside the maze, any hesitation could result in death, especially with an intelligent terror. Pondering continued as the reaper realized that allowing his brunette friend near the terror entirely could become a fatal flaw.

The original plan that the elite hunter possessed was dangerous, but enacting it was required. Risking the lives of other people, especially of the woman who remained his only friend, was not an option. Self-sacrifice was a notion that never bothered the mind of the ancient warrior, which was obvious by his willingness to take damage in order to protect those around him. When given the chance, Fritz rounded the corner and slashed towards the disguiser without hesitation. The terror dodged him, but the reaper made himself an obvious threat with continuous short swings aimed towards the menace with the guise of a child. Gradually, the elite worked his way around the creature and once they were back in the tunnel the led back the way him and Vashti had came he noticed the forming darkness.

Pulling away from the disguiser was not an option as several pointed objects formed and were suddenly fired. Instead, the reaper side stepped, avoiding the attack that smacked into the weakened maze walls, causing pieces to tumble with the possibility of blocking the path. Once the pieces began plummeting towards the snowy earth, the reaper sprinted forwarded, bringing his fingers up to create a high pitched whistle in order to gain the terror's attention. When the disguiser began following, the radio was hastily grabbed and brought to his lips.

"Vashti, go through the maze and evacuate everybody. I'm not allowing you near this terror if you're going to hesitate. That will get you killed, so get every citizen out of here, I'll be its toy for now," Fritz stated.

Before an answer could even be stated, the radio was deactivated, making it impossible for messages to be received or sent in order to maintain some stealth. Each running step reminded him of the weight in his jacket, the armor plates making themselves pronounced with the hefty nature of his clothing. A glance back confirmed the suspicion of projectiles possibly being thrown as he witnessed the formation of dark spikes. When the disguiser got prepared to throw them, the reaper ducked around the closest turn, pressing his back against the wall. The spikes were launched towards the corner, pain sparking in the elite hunter's left arm as the corner got demolished and he discovered he remained too close. Instantly, Fritz pulled further away from the corner, numerous gashes lining his left, leaving a slowly forming puddle on the snow. The intensity of the wounds were focused below the shoulder, the plates in his jacket providing protection.

"Awww, did somebody get hurt? Does this mean you're almost done playing? The disguiser chuckled, slowly making its way closer.

A deep breath was taken by Fritz as he ignored the pain, patiently waiting for the disguiser to reach the corner. Minor shifts were made in stance, the hero positioning himself to lunge out with his sword. The instant his blue eyes noticed the child terror at the corner, the sword was trusted forward in an attempt to finish the creature, but stopped abruptly. A grimace entered Fritz's face as he witnessed the creation of a small, black shield blocking his sword and the malicious countenance the terror possessed.

A REAL HERO IS,

Fresh from the hardships of a mission, Fritz had managed a walk towards the TRS headquarters. The spring weather made for a pleasant walk, a gentle breeze passing through while the sun warmly embraced the earth. As expected, the once pristine surface of his sword covered in the ugly black dust. His uniform had met a similar fate, resulting in the elite hunter opting to change into his regular clothing. Instead of the usual dark with accenting red of his TRS uniform, he wore a simple grey hoodie and a pair of plain blue jeans. Hanging from his shoulder was a black duffel bag that contained his filthy uniform alongside various other items he tended to carry. The sword remained at his side like a faithful companion, awaiting the moment it would be drawn. The following days had drifted by in the usual patterns as he frequently participated hunts and enjoyed the isolation in extensive evenings at home. Although, there was a subtle change in treatment when he wandered the halls of TRS headquarters. A majority of people gave him the regular respectable gazes towards a comrade, but there was the slightest shift.

Occasionally people would witness his passing and it would proceed with several giggles. Others would provide him with a strange sweet smile, some randomly told him congratulations, then others would begin the strangest of conversations involving relationship advice. For the reaper, he could not comprehend the peculiar behavior. It ended with the presumption of it being another strange thing of the modern world. Nobody seemed keen on informing him of what they were congratulating him about. Thus, Fritz attempted to ignore it while he weaved through the halls of headquarters to give his report. He focused on the tapping of his boots on the tiled floor, eyes remained leveled as they scanned the hallways with a neutral expression. There was the unique oddities that he has witnessed through a portion of winter. An inaudible sigh escaped his mouth as he adjusted the grey sweater he wore. After a few minutes of wandering, he managed to pass his report to somebody else which warranted him the opportunity for a break.

Once freed from the binds of responsibility, the reaper hastily made his way through the hallways. A majority of workers may have turned to the cafeteria, but considering his species and the strange behavior, Fritz opted to keep moving. Only a casual gaze was taken through the welcoming double doors to witness the social congregation in the cafeteria. It confirmed what he favored, which simply head outside to be alone. The tall man's long legs granted him speed as he walked through the headquarters to the back door that faced the sparring grounds. His blue eyes gazed over the battle scarred land which bore the torment of numerous sparring parties enacting duel on the rough surface. Slowly, the elite hunter ventured to a bench that remained in the grassy section of the area which would be presumably safe from any noontime sparring.

Currently, the sparring ground remained empty which was likely a result from the water and puddles of snowy slush; a lingering reminder on winter. It made the dirt infested ground muddy and dangerous due to the numerous groves and dents. The reaper stationed himself on the bench, hanging the duffel bag over the back of the wooden surface. Warm sunlight had long dried the any remnants of wet that the wood had absorbed. Swiftly, the leather scabbard was removed and leaned against the bench with the point touching the ground. For a few moments, the elite hunter leaned back on the bench, allowing the warmth to embrace in the wonderful silence of outside. Once the brief relaxation period was completed, the warrior grabbed the handle of his sword and removed it from the scabbard. Numerous black splotches covered the weapon due to the terror altercations of the morning, even reaching down to the sword's pommel.

Carefully, the blade was set across Fritz's lap while he reached back into the duffel bag to grab a rag and small spray bottle. A few spurts of cleaning product were applied to the sword's blade, its owner gently rubbing the soft cloth against the metal surface. While the cleaning proceeded, the hero analyzed his weapon carefully for any nicks or various other damages to the blade. Numerous times the blade required fixing or general reforging despite the meticulous maintenance that Fritz gave the weapon that remained commonly by his side. With blue eyes fixated on the broadsword, the reaper remained mostly unaware of his surroundings while he scrutinized his companion.

A REAL HERO IS,

The smirk that crossed Vashti's face towards his squirming only caused Fritz to struggle against her grip further. Close proximity was never truthfully a problem, but rather the reaper disliked being grabbed at times. There were moments where he remained passive, although, those commonly accompanied the hours where he remained off duty. In a crowded area made it particularly tense, especially on duty when terrors could be lurking through the groups of citizens with simplistic ease while a pair of hunters lacked focus to perform their job. The presumption towards the squirming being judgement based, the hero rolled his eyes. The opinions of other people were insignificant to him unless it was a constructive criticism or numerous rumors that had spiraled out of control. One was a positive input for improvement meanwhile the other was a fabrication of malicious intent or presumption.

When Vashti stated that her secret intent plan alongside the fact that his hands would be full, Fritz released an irritated groan. There was more regret sparking over the concept of giving the brunette the idea of joining the TRS considering her stubbornness and troublesome nature.

"Vashti, I am serious! Not listening to the person meant to teach you is a recipe for disaster!" The reaper exclaimed in a final gamble to cease the trouble.

Upon hearing the compliment, the warrior's eyes narrowed into a glare. It appeared that his friend was not keen on taking anything of what he said to heart. The concept was frustrating for any mentor since it suggested the possibility of foolish mistakes, which was a worry. The hero took his job of protecting others as significant since those feelings that remained fresh in Fritz's mind were still emotions he desired nobody to go through; the feeling of losing everything important. Thinking about it kept his determination sharp, resulting in his squirming increasing. Fortunately, freedom from Vashti's grip was granted which allowed the hunter to take a few steps away from the brunette; he did not desire to be grabbed again. His attention returned to his friend when the question was asked, but before he could answer, the woman hastily ran off at extreme speeds.

"VASHTI! I AM SUPPOSE TO COME WITH YOU!" Fritz shouted, despite being certain that she was already gone.

There was a vexation being created from Vashti's action, the reaper merely desiring things to progress smoothly. The primary concerns being any stray disguisers that managed to slip through the cracks considering he remained one of the few creatures that could view them. The irritation became obvious on Fritz's face as minutes ticked by, the reaper taking steps forward in search of both terrors and his apprentice. His blue eyes scanned his surroundings in hopes of finding her quickly by some miracle, but the search was shortly ended. When the brunette returned, Fritz narrowed his eyes and prepared to lecture her only to receive a meager clearance statement and his apprentice running off again.

"VASHTI! FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS STOP THIS NONSENSE! WE HAVE WORK TO DO!" Fritz shouted immediately when his friend began moving away.

An annoyed sigh escaped the reaper's lips as he began possessing the temptation to merely leave his apprentice to wander in order to perform a proper patrol, but leaving Vashti alone was a recipe for trouble. After a few moments, the hunter gave chase, his concerns about the safety of the citizens fueling him forward. Today was definitely going to become an excruciatingly long day.

A REAL HERO IS,

Snow gently danced from the mass of grey clouds above. A moderate cold existed in the air, but numerous tourists still marched through the open gates of the imposing ice structure. The entire castle was decorated in a fresh layer of snow, displaying winter's frigid beauty. After slipping through the crowded gates, Fritz wandered towards a less densely populated area near the gates. The reaper leaned against the icy wall despite the chilling cold that ran down his back. The temperature regulation charm was secured tightly around his left wrist in caution to his dominate hand being required to wield his weapon. Despite his new apprehension to temperatures caused by his species, the warrior still found himself mesmerized by winter's beauty. The delicate snowflakes drifting down from above, the manner clean snow sparkled and generally the oddly inviting solitude.

While he gazed above at the clouds, Fritz crossed his arms and remained motionless for a few moments. A soft sigh flowed from his mouth, the hero pushing off the wall and taking a couple steps away. Today, he was dressed in his TRS uniform which proved that he was on duty. The red accenting that popped against the darker colours of his uniform confirmed his seniority and skill as an elite hunter. Resting within the leather scabbard was the broad sword, his ally on a majority of these lonesome ventures. The expression on the reaper's face contained concern over the task he had been handed on this mission. Full-fledged hunters were expected to teach hunter apprentices in their craft, which was a duty that Fritz was not excluded from, however, this training was different. As his closest friend had promised, she managed to join the TRS which was something he frowned upon.

There was little choice in the matter of being Vashti mentor, and Fritz preferred considering he was already aware of his friend's stubborn attitude. Although, considering the impending stress of being both a hunter and an RCMP officer, the hero was genuinely worried about the brunette. Having to constantly rescue her from harm always tolled on the reaper's mental state since it suggested the concepts of failing to save her. The idea always frightened Fritz, his mind trailing towards it plenty of times when those silent moments ambushed him or after freshly saving Vashti. The warrior's blue eyes glanced at the entrance as he watched families filter into the tourist hub. Merely watching the numerous visitors was mildly concerning to the full-fledged hunter considering it provided the opportunity for disguisers to slither into the crowds of innocent people or other terrors that managed to discover an entry point.

The reaper's eyes narrow as he activated his soul viewing eyes, people's morals being revealed instantly before his blue eyes. There was a monochrome mixture as Fritz scrutinized the various individuals entering the ice castle. Although, the condensed mixture made the soul viewing difficult which resulted in Fritz's gaze trailing out from the crowded section. Watching caused the hunter to ease, his paranoid nerves settling slightly at the sight. Another sigh trailed out of his mouth, leaving in a white cloud of steam as the retreated to the comfort of the wall to wait patiently for his apprentice's arrival. Once again, the warrior leaned against the wall, occupying his thoughts with teaching plans for the time being.