“And then slice here to ensure the killing blow.” Uroshan explained to young Morthil.
“Alright, I understand. Will that be all for today?” Morthil replied.
“Slice here to ensure the killing blow.” Uroshan repeated.
“Yes I understood you the first time. What do you want?”
“Slice here to ensure the killing blow.”
Morthil swallowed hard. He understood now what was asked of him. Even though all his training up to now was preparing him for the ritual, he hadn’t actually performed it yet. Then again, if Uroshan and old Shirenak thought he was ready, they would know best. Shirenak was the head of the shaman order of Murenar, and Uroshan d’Thuranni was the professional that was hired from Tantamar to train Morthil.
“So uuh, here then?”.
His question was answered with a blank stare. Uroshan knew he was just stalling. The captured human was gazing at the three of them with hate filled eyes. He knew what was about to happen from the ample descriptions Shirenak had used to instruct Morthil the days prior.

The collar felt heavy on his shoulders. Soulcatcher, was it? It was newly constructed by the shamans of Murenar, together with the weapon Morthil was holding, Reaper. They were attuned to one another, the instrument and the vessel. Together they would save Murenar from certain extinction.
Morthil whirled into action, the back handed strike hitting the human exactly where Uroshan had shown. Despite expecting the blow, the human’s face only registered surprise, having been caught off guard by the speed of the execution. As the nameless human spilled his life into the aether, Reaper hungrily gathered it into itself. One of the runes on the hilt started glowing, to show the leeching was successful.

“Tonight, that life will transfer to Soulcatcher, and the runes will shift accordingly.” Shirenak explained again, knowing full well that Morthil was already aware of this fact. He just wanted to break the young lad’s focus on the dead body. The body he had slain. ”Training for today is over, go home and rest.”

Morthil felt conflicted. This was what he had been training for years for. But he had also just taken his first life. Taken, not murdered. It would be reincarnated into a suitable body in order to hopefully break the curse one day. Males were not born in Murenar anymore, after all. In fact, Morthil was doing them a favour. Their sad existence in over populated areas where they had to scrape for a meagre living would be exchanged with a life where they were treasured and loved. They just didn’t understand it yet, that’s all.

He packed up his gear, including the new collar and weapon. He was to never ever let them out of his sight, or he would risk the death of his entire village. He descended the hill where they trained back down to the village.

“Hey little hunter! Done for today? I made you those raisin cookies that you love, have some!” Aunt Chijata said as he passed her house. Hers was the first house he would pass every day on the way down, and she knew he was usually hungry from training.
Nibbling on the cookies, he continued. Next up was the mill, built high on the hill to catch the most wind. It was run by aunt Murii, who had a banana bread recipe that was so good it would wake the dead. Sadly she wasn’t in today, as there was no steaming piece waiting in the window still like usual.
Ah, the butcher’s house coming up. “Hey there Sicari, came by for your proteins?”, said aunt Penellopi . “I’ve made a batch of the garlic sausages to celebrate your big day, have as many as you like.” Morthil thanked her and started munching while continuing on his way.
By the time he reached home, his pockets were bulging with food and small trinkets that all his aunts gave him. He was greeted in the living room by his mom, Moirane, who was setting the table.
“I hope you are hungry, I made your favourite, lasagne.”
“I’m starving! Today was really intense!”, Morthil said as he said down, awkwardly poking himself in the ear with his new collar.
“Just remember dear, we all depend on you. I know you can do it, I’m so proud of you.”
Morthil ate his meal thinking about today’s events as the glow emanating from Reaper slowly shifted to Soulcatcher.