SVAN CHORYTH

Our journey into the cavern had been uneventful so far as we walked nonstop without any interruptions. Favian was doing a great job keeping me company. She was the chatty type, and as much as I wanted to stay mute or rather have a quiet conversation with Darya, I had to indulge in Favian’s conversations. It was natural to reciprocate being nice to her since she was the only person in the group that was seemingly nice to me.

“At this rate, doing dishes would be a more tasking job than a dark cavern raid,” I mocked.

Favian let out a loud laugh that sent echoes throughout the cave. She covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing further, but it was already too late. I found myself on the verge of laughing too, but I did a good job holding it in. Judging by their reactions, I was sure the rest of the group in front was left wondering why she was laughing, but there was no way they would know.

“Hey, an unwritten rule you should know about, don't make jokes during a mission,” Favian said when she finally got hold of herself.”

“But I wasn't joking. I was just stating facts,” I said to her.

“Don't say I didn't warn you when the cavern reveals its true colors. Be prepared to fight and don't piss on yourself.”

I smiled,

“And don't come running for help when the time comes. I am S-class, remember?”

“Yeah, one with no experience,” she shot back.

“You always have something to say, right?”

“Of course, I do,” she replied, wearing a sly smile.

We didn't walk for too long until we saw human figures approach from the other side of the path as both ours and theirs ultimately led to a T-intersection. At first, I thought that they were adventurers from another guild in search of something in the dark caverns. Though I was curious to know who they were and what guild they came from, I didn't think their presence raised any cause for alarm. The rest of the group in front of us stopped walking forward and started to take steps backward. It could only mean that they had seen something out of place.

“This can't be good,” Favian whispered.

I wasn't scared. I had fought demons and falxes. For me, I didn't think there were creatures scarier or stronger than falxes, so what was the worst we could encounter?

As the rest of the group slowly walked backward, I walked toward the approaching figures and Favian followed closely behind. When the figures became clearer, I couldn't hide the shock written all over my face. People and falxes together could only mean one thing. They were demons. Favian reacted as well, as she abruptly stopped walking and stood behind me.

“This is worse than it looks,” I whispered back to Favian.

At that moment, there was good reason for me to be scared even though I did my best not to show any hint of fear. There were four falxes, which was no problem. But ten people, possibly demons was way too much for only me to take care of.

Two persons broke out from the group ahead and approached us.

“Okay, perhaps this is a good sign,” I said.

They were two females and both of them were approximately the same height, maybe the one leading to being slightly taller. They were both wearing similar clothing, a close-fitted upper garment with matching slacks, knee-high boots, and hooded cape coats that weren't covering their heads. I focused my gaze on the one leading the approach and for a moment, I forgot she was my enemy. There was a seriousness on her face that matched her poise and though she didn't look dangerous, from all my experiences with demons, I knew that behind that pretty face was a killer who wouldn't blink twice to end my life. I was aware of the risks I was taking by letting her get close to me but I was confident that I could handle them.

It was beginning to look like Eliora was right. Who else except adventurers were allowed to explore the dark caverns? I didn't care about what their mission in the dark cavern was, I was only interested in knowing which guild they worked under.

I quickly scanned through both of them, searching for their adventurer's badges, if they had any, but unfortunately, I didn't see one. If I saw their badges, it would have been easier to know what guild they came from, but unfortunately, they did a good job of concealing them.

“I am sure you aren't here to chat with us,” I said to the auburn-haired demon standing in front of me.

“I am quite ashamed. It's awful to see a child doing an adult's job. Look at them behind, probably thinking about the best time to run.”

I didn't know if she was talking to me or talking to the rest of the group standing behind me. She was right. In some definitions of a child, I would be a perfect fit. I was the youngest of the group, yet, I was the only one brave enough to confront a perceived danger.

“Funny. I guess children are the ones in charge, considering that you look my age.” I replied.

She bit her lip, tucking some hair behind her right ear.

“Hope you are as strong as you are brave,” she said to me.

I stared at her wordlessly, smiling.

“I am curious to know why the guys at the back got scared.”

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“Same as you are. Why don't you ask them?”

“I thought you all were part of the same group. But you are giving me the impression that you aren't,” she said, as she walked past me.

“Speaking of groups, are those creatures part of your group? I don't remember any guild in Stavren having…. what do they call them? —Falxes.”

I expected a surprised expression from her but none of that came.

“You know, you all are going to die in this ill-fated encounter. But I will save you for last. You seem to be an interesting young man.”

Favian who was standing behind me was visibly trembling. I wondered how she would react if she had watched a demon fight.

“Don't get ahead of yourself, you know you can't take on all of them yourself. You should be thinking of how to leave this place,” I heard Darya say to me.

“Come on, I know. I just need to confirm Eliora’s speculation.”

“Your mother's speculation,” Darya corrected.

I was eager to know what kind of ability the auburn-haired demon had. I didn't expect anything out of the ordinary because I knew that demons were so full of themselves.

The auburn-haired demon slowly unsheathed her sword strapped diagonally across her back as she inched closer to the adventurers behind us. As much as I wanted to charge at her and prevent what looked like an impending massacre, I knew it was best to observe because every other demon, including the falxes, didn't care to attack as they just stood and watched her. I didn't need anyone to tell me that she was strong.

Something felt different about the auburn-haired demon. I knew she was a demon but I just had a feeling that she was different from other demons I had encountered. Maybe it was because she was the first demon I’d encountered that acted as a normal person should. Vixra was creepy and talked a lot. The demons I fought at Landchet didn’t say a word to me and Crit, I couldn't possibly describe him with words.

The adventurers behind us took defensive positions against the auburn-haired demon. The first person who charged at her was the big guy who was the party leader. He swung his battle axe in her direction as the trajectory of its swing was aimed to decapitate her. I could easily predict what would happen next. A block of ice, rock, or maybe metal would appear from nowhere to stop the big guy’s axe. Surprisingly, that didn't happen as she swung her sword to meet the head of the axe.

“Is she a stillbringer?” I queried, surprised.

Only stillbringers could possess such sheer strength. I mean, she was able to stop a blow from an axe that big, wielded by a person twice her size. Another adventurer, a female, launched ice spikes in her direction as the big guy quickly disengaged to avoid the spikes. It seemed as though the demon wanted to move to change her position but she couldn't. Her feet were stuck as an earthen constraint shackled her to the ground. I was almost impressed by the adventurers until she effortlessly freed herself, immediately conjuring rocks that stopped the spikes from hitting her.

The auburn-haired demon ignored the ice caster and charged at the axe-wielding guy. The expression on her face was that of someone who seemed to be having fun. Her movements were fast, as fast as that of a stillbringer, but I just watched her conjure spells.

“Is it possible for someone to have abilities of a caster and stillbringer at the same time?” I queried.

It wasn't impossible. She was a demon after all, people that we didn't know much about. If they had people among them that had abilities of casters and stillbringers, It wouldn’t come so much of a surprise to me. I remembered Darya once telling me that I was a stillbringer even though I am yet to experience myself as one, and if what she said was true, there was no reason to doubt the possibilities of what I was just witnessing.

The axe-wielding guy swung his axe at the auburn-haired demon as rocks erupted from the ground in the same direction as his swing, hurtling toward the demon who was unfazed. She countered the assailing rocks with top-notch precision, conjuring rocks, one for every rock launched in her direction. Both opposing barrage of rocks met somewhere at the midpoint between both conjurers causing a mini-explosion. The demon emerged from the dust rubble and I was barely able to keep track of her. The big guy tried to swing his axe again but he was a little too late. He was no match for her speed as she decapitated him in a single arm swing.

I was impressed, almost carried away from watching the demon fight.

“What do you think?” I asked Darya.

“She is an interesting one. But I can't quite figure out what kind of ability she has.”

The rest of the adventurers charged at once as spells of different forms and colors were conjured to take down the auburn-haired demon. I couldn’t clearly make out what was going on since there was a considerate distance between where I stood and where the action took place. I saw rocks and ice conjured and shattered, flares of fire rising and falling and I even got to see streaks of lightning conjured, disappearing as quickly as they appeared. Within a short period, everywhere went quiet as only one person walked out from the scene, the auburn-haired demon.

I wasn’t surprised, I didn't need to watch her fight to tell the outcome of the encounter. When she got close to me, she said,

“It's nothing personal. As I said earlier, it's just an unfortunate encounter.”

If I am going to die, why don't you do me a favor and answer a few questions,” I said to her.

She smiled,

“I can see you aren't scared which makes me wonder what cards you've got up your sleeves.”

I raised my hands like I was surrendering to an obvious defeat,

“None,” I replied.

“We both know that I would be lying if I pretended not to know who you guys are, given the recent attacks on the prominent Houses here in Stavren.”

“She nodded,

“You know, sometimes knowing too much is bad.”

“I guess. But I am struggling to understand why. What's your plan? Who do you demons work for?” I asked.

She turned to the other lady who came towards us with her,

“Demons? I didn't know we were called that,” she said, quite surprised.

“It sounds a bit evil, don't you think so?” she asked me.

“It's quite amusing coming from someone who just killed a group of people that did absolutely nothing to her. Well, I don't care at all but I would be glad if you answered my questions.”

“Oh, the questions. I would be stupid to answer them. Wouldn't I?”

At that moment, I knew that I wasn't getting anything out of her. I could easily trigger realm slip and flee but I had to protect Favian since she was a witness to everything that had just happened.

“I am sure you know how to run,” I whispered to her.

She nodded, still visibly shaken.

“I will keep them occupied. Run as fast as your legs can carry you.”

Favian quietly walked backward and when I screamed “now!” she ran in a full sprint. The auburn-haired demon made an attempt to go after her but I quickly triggered the grey domain and stopped her, swinging my sword in her direction. She reacted well as she stopped my blade with hers. I smirked,

“This should be fun.”