With Twy dreaming of a beautiful future. Aster was able to get the work done fast. He wrapped the parts that would fetch a high price in the cloths: goblin's nails, teeth, and some of its organs, bones, and flesh.

“Sadly, this one doesn't have a mana shard inside.” he zipped his backpack close before he stood up from the ground.

Twy snapped out of his revelry and sent a curious gaze to his partner. 'Mana shard?'

Aster met the kitten's eyes as he shouldered his bag. He could guess what his thoughts were and replied, “It's the thing that formed inside demons when they accumulated a lot of corrupted mana.”

'So it's basically like a magic stone — didn't know they also have that here.' Twy nodded his small head in understanding.

When Aster saw that his prediction was correct, his gaze moved towards the building and then to the tower beyond it. “Let's circle around first, to see if there's a way to reach the walls.”

Twy raised his right paw in response.

The two moved slower, especially when they saw the wreckage of the fences and other places where a demon could hide; however, they did not face any scuffle at all.

They arrived at the back of the building... a little more peaceful than what they expected.

'There's a forest up ahead — what now?' Twy turned his head towards the young man; his tail formed a question mark.

Aster rubbed his chin. His eyes turned to the building behind him and then traced back towards the silent forest.

'In both places, demons can easily ambush us; though the forest is more open, there's a chance we'll get surrounded by a pack of Demon Hounds.'

He once again glanced at the vintage structure.

'As for the house, my sword will be restricted — but,' Aster's eyes settled on the confused kitten. 'Twy can do the weapon's job with his new technique; however, if there's no path inside... we'll only waste time.'

After weighing the pros and cons between the two Aster opened his mouth. “I'm leaning more towards the building, are you with me?”

When he heard that Twy turned his head at the forest. He saw shrubs, more grasses, and other plants that were as tall as him.

He looked back at Aster and raised his right paw. 'Why suffer?'

“Good.” the young man nodded before he pointed his finger. “There's a back gate over there. Let's go.”

Twy followed his steps and stopped when they reached the wooden fence.

Aster tried to open the door, yet no matter how hard he pushed it wouldn't budge. He looked Twy. “Let's jump over.”

'Okay.' the kitten nodded before he used the young man's upper body as a platform to land on the other side.

Twy looked around the backyard and saw nothing but a well, a clothesline, and a wooden shed. He meowed softly at the wooden gate.

The moment Aster heard that and ascertained the calm emotion of his partner he scaled over, landing next to Twy.

After giving each other a nod they continued forward.

Aster's had his shield ready and Twy kept his ears open as they moved closer to the building.

Their steps are light and only the sound of breeze spread around the surroundings. That's why when this serenity was broken by an irregular noise... Twy's ears picked it up.

“Meow.”

Aster didn't even have to look at his partner and immediately pulled out his sword from its sheath. He looked around the place but didn't see anything strange.

Once he finished checking the space for a second time, he glanced below. Aster saw Twy whose eyes were closed and ears twitching in rhythm like he was listening to a good music.

The young man did not distract him and stood in silence for almost a minute; it wasn't until Twy opened his eyes and snapped his head towards the left that the hush was broken.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Meow!”

The kitten looked at his partner and pointed at the warehouse.

Aster nodded, he then walked towards its door. He signaled Twy with his head before he used his shield to bash the warehouse open.

'FBI, open up!' If Twy could shout, he would just shout that.

The poor old door was destroyed, sending splinters flying around, but before Aster's eyes got used to the darkness of the shed something charged out.

He was rolling sidewards when he realized something; as soon as he gained his balance, he shouted. “Dodge!”

Twy was a little late to react and the creature tackled his side... it sent him flying to the ground.

'Fuck that hurts!' he screamed in pain before his burning eyes settleonat the goblin. 'I'll kill you!'

Twy's mana burst, but instead of appearing in front of his target, he missed it greatly with his body skidding through the ground.

The pain finally registered to him when he stopped near his partner... he howled like a beast.

“Are you okay!?” Aster ran towards the kitten. He immediately checked his legs and saw that one of them was broken.

'Shit, shit, shit, shit...!' Twy cried inside; even though he was being vigilant he still failed to evade and now he was injured.

“Calm down, don't panic —it's just one goblin,” Aster assured him before he put down his backpack next to Twy. His eyes narrowed towards the snarling goblin. “There are potions in the side pocket; though, I don't think you can even drink one before I could slay that bastard.”

Twy struggled against pain and opened his eyes. He watched his partner's back. 'Damn...'

Aster slashed the moment he had enough range. His sword didn't connect though as the demon dodged to the side.

The goblin then tried to attack the young man's right flank with its nails, when its wrist was suddenly hit.

Aster used the pommel of his sword to parry its attack. His left foot slammed into the ground — the surface of his shield reflected the grime on the demon's face.

It wasn't sent flying though, like a drunk it only took a few steps back.

Aster's sword then descended, sealing its fate.

The fight between the two happened so fast that Twy didn't even have time to monologue.

However, before any celebration could happen a sudden crashing sound entered.

Twy unconsciously raised his head and his eyes couldn't help but widen — a dark purple fire was hurling towards Aster.

'Aster!' Twy cried out, but the sounds were soon swallowed by the explosion.

Thankfully, Aster was able to raise his shield in time and was sent flying from the impact.

“Kikikiki!”

A sinister laugh came from above. The two's face lost their colors the moment they raised their heads.

They saw a demon with maleficent, bat wings on its back. It has a small body and disproportionately big head with small horns on its wrinkled forehead. Like goblins, it has a dark gray skin color, but the aura it gives off greatly differs.

“An Imp!” Aster shouted before immediately running towards his backpack.

The demon sinisterly laughed once again before sending another fireball. It was as big as the previous one.

Despite that, Aster was much faster. He evaded it, but the blast of heat almost tripped him forward.

The young man gritted his teeth as he sheathed his sword. He then held his shield with both hands.

'Thankfully, it didn't notice Twy yet!' Aster thought when he saw the imp launch another fireball. He calculated its trajectory and took a step to the side.

Aster then raised his shield facing the explosion before he lunged forward the moment the ball of fire exploded.

Using the shockwave he arrived at his destination faster. He rolled to the ground and scooped his bag and wore it in a second when his hands... stopped.

'Where's Twilight...?'

Aster's heartbeat quickened when he didn't see his partner next to his bag. It almost jumped out of his throat; however, before he could panic an anxious cry came from his back.

'What are you doing!? Run! That fucker's gonna attack again!' Twy popped out his head from the side pocket of the bag and hissed towards the demon in the sky.

Aster who almost descended into despair, suddenly laughed before he ran.

'What are you laughing, you idiot? We're gonna die!'

The young man could feel the kitten's emotions sinking, but he didn't stop laughing.

He held his shield with his right hand — it glowed in gloomy white light before he bashed it into the incoming purple fireball.

No explosion happened, only the sound of wind bursting.

Both Twy and the imp were left surprised, and Aster used that chance to run inside the building's door.

He kicked it open, sending the flimsy door out of its rusty hinges. Good thing that he did because there's another goblin waiting inside.

Aster went in and kicked the demon's chin. He swapped his shield back to his left hand before jabbing his unsheathed sword into its head.

Once he pulled out his sword, Aster rushed through the hallway. They then found themselves in an open hall of the ground floor.

He turned his head left and right. The sound of the demon's laughter was becoming louder, but no matter how much he looked there was no room anywhere.

Aster had no choice but to climb to the second floor when Twy suddenly made a shrill noise. The young man looked at his partner and saw him pointing somewhere.

His eyes followed the direction and he saw an inconspicuous door, blending in the shadows of the staircase.

He jumped over the railings and pushed the door open... it wasn't locked. Aster entered and softly closed it before the demon could spot them.

They could finally catch their breath.

Aster sighed as put down his backpack next to him before leaning against the door. “That was dangerous.”

When his vision adjusted in the dark, enough to see a few inches in front of him. He asked the kitten. “Are you alright Twy?"

However, Twy meeked out any response. Aster worriedly turned to look at his side. He sighed once again once he saw his partner was fine just dazed.

“What's wrong? Did you pissed from fear?” the young man tried to lighten the atmosphere inside this dark room but failed.

Aster could sense the seriousness coming from Twy, especially when the latter met his eyes.

The kitten then raised its paw... pointing towards the darkness ahead.

“Meow.”