"Now I have a clearer picture. Can I get a couple of textbooks from your library to progress faster with my training?"

"No. It's forbidden to take the books outside the library. You can only study there."

"So, I can read the books only there but we can fight with swords here, right? And what if someone sees your magic sword?"

"You ask too many questions," Eugene shook his head. He was very restrained in answering a million of my questions earlier but now he looked me straight in the eye, probably, for the first time since we met, and I noticed his anxiety and fatigue. He liked all this no more than I did, and he was definitely hiding part of the story.

I could hardly imagine the consequences of the ruined Balance but some of the pictures in their textbooks describing the similar scenarios left no doubts about their large-scale and catastrophic nature. While this was not obvious in the human world, Eugene's look gave out that their world had been already under changes. He would be much more willing to help his comrades now, instead of babysitting a freshman who was unfortunate enough to be in the backyard of the night club when Charon was there in search of someone to pass on his curse. Could one blame him for waiting to get rid of this? I could not. Every meeting with the soul was unbearable: the feeling of the death pain and mental anguish were realistic as if mine. Having lived their feelings for a day, I could not wait to get rid of this punishment. It is possible to fight one's own demons but withstanding this for others, feeling physical pain for several hundred years without days off and holidays was incredibly hard. It was a change that I was already experiencing, and I could not even imagine how a person could change in a few hundred years…

We walked in silence, and I did not know the final destination. Eugene silently handed me a training sword. I liked its characteristics – the blade appeared only right before the fight, resting all the rest time; a magnificent handle which seemed some unnecessary accessory or case for glasses.

"We've been walking for an hour. What if today is not the day?"

"Every day is the day. Delays cost lives and destruction."

"What do you want us to do? You're the Guardian. There must be a way to track demons."

"Yes, you're right, but they'll sense us then."

"So, what's the problem? Is that bad? We're looking for them," it did not make any sense: Eugene had the opportunity to find a demon but we were idly wandering the streets of Boston instead.

"The thing is that it works like a locator in both directions. All creatures feel when I use the power of search. Once they know our location, we'll be in danger. We'll face tens of demons at a time. Do you get now why I'm not looking for such adventures? Maybe later."

Meanwhile, we reached an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The area was not illuminated by a single lantern and one could see the road only due to the full moon shining brightly in the night sky. There was not a single cloud in the sky, so we could view all the constellations. They seemed particularly bright and beautiful today, and the cool night air gently embraced the skin, fresh from walking long. Why hadn't I walked so late when almost the entire city fell asleep and I could get to such creepy but romantic places? It was a pity that the magic of the moment was overshadowed by a wrong company. More than anything, I would like to have Jackson by my side, hugging me from behind, looking up together at the night stars admiring their beauty.

The silence was broken by the explosion in a few meters away from us. I screamed and tried to find the culprit.

"Darsy, stand behind me." Eugene whispered. He took out his sword and stared off into the distance.

I strained my eyes trying to see anything in the darkness, a few moments later a bright spot, resembling a human, emerged on a black background.

"What happened? Who's this?"

"Stop asking questions and better hide somewhere nearby, so I could find you if the demon's not alone."

"Look, this's my hunt, and I need to pay my debt to restore the Balance, not hide behind your back. Or are you always going to mentor me whenever something else shows up at hunting? I'm not crazy about the idea. I'm scared to death, but the sooner we're done with this, the better," as I quickly chattered, the bright spot was approaching. One more step and we would be able to see our opponent. Apparently, we were in plain sight because the fireball exploded pretty close this time, and we had to hide behind the barrel so the next time it would not hit the bull's-eye.

"You don't get it! You need to have more skills to fight him. He's too strong for you. I expected to meet the Nefarious or Murky Shadows, but not the demigod. He's the son of Typhon."

"Oh… Wait… Isn't he supposed to have three heads and a lizard body or something?"

"Cerberus is a demigod. He can take several different forms, including the one you've mentioned."

"Is he immortal?"

"No, but he's very powerful. If you fight him you'll die, so we'd better get out of here."

"No. He started first. He tracked me down, so he won't stop until he kills me. I don't want him attacking me in a broad daylight, or while I'm taking shower or sleeping!"

I have never been particularly brave. On the contrary, I was a terrible coward and almost always avoided making important decisions that could lead to any changes. I often had panic attacks, insomnia, emotional breakdowns, so I always preferred to stay in the comfort zone. I had neither phobias nor passion for adventures. And now I had to fight the son of God, representing the fiery forces of the earth. Apparently, like father, like son. He skillfully threw fireballs, but I could throw something as well…

Leaving my hiding place, I shouted,

"What's taking you so long?" I winced. They say an angry opponent is not an opponent –he often makes mistakes. I was shaking all over, so this would hardly help me.

I heard a creepy laugh. It reminded a volcano erupting lava to the rhythm of laughter. The monster had come very close. He looked like the lava of different solidification degree in the human form of black and fiery colors. The liquid was dripping from him and instantly solidifying.

"I don't want to rush. Everyone's been waiting a long time for this, and I plan to enjoy the murder."

"How do you plan to get the Force? What if it vanishes into thin air when I die?"

"The Force will move to the one next to you after your death. That's how it works, the same way you absorb the abilities of those you kill."

"So, death is the only way to get rid of it, right?"

"Yes.

I needed all this talking to make the monster approach me, so I would grab him by the hands. And as soon as he got close enough, I tried to implement my plan, but instead of the predicted result I just burned myself. The pain was unbearably stinging even when I took my hands off the laughing creature. I was unconsciously screaming, and my hands were shaking from the insane burning sensation.

I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye. Eugene was pulling out his sword trying to protect me. I burst into tears. Why on Earth did I think I would handle this? Who said I was fit for this mission? Why do I have to pay someone else's debt? Why do I have to suffer because of someone else's mistake?

"I'm Cerberus! Did you really think you could fool me so easily? I'm not some ordinary demon! These tricks don't work on me! So just relax, and we'll get it over with!"