The dark figure stepped out of the shadows that were surrounding him. The moonlight revealed his demonic body and posture. His red skin almost seem the glow in the soft light of Newa. While the horn on the front of his head had a far more blackish colour. He did not wear anything on the top of his body. His lower body however was covered by a black robe with a moon painted on it. I knew from the start that this guy was trouble.

"By Newa what a MAGNIFICANT night we have here.” The Demon exclaimed with grand gestures.

“We have a noble paladin, a magical turtle and a fake mage who clearly doesn't know how to use magic. It almost seems like a little tea party. Too bad it's going to END here. Don't get me wrong, I mean I found it quite entertaining how you tricked my babies to get you to our den" the demon scoffed.

"BUT! I did not expect a human mage to so cheaply imitate OUR magic! It is an insulted to demons everywhere. That is why I let you get this far out of the cave so I can kill you as grotesk as possible. I Balam will be your judge, jury and executioner."

"Your magic?!” I felt anger growing inside me. “Master Doman taught me this magic. He is the greatest mage alive, magic isn't someones property." What the demon said went against everything I believe in, It filled my heart with rage that there are people who think like that.

"HA don't make laugh boy, I know this name of Doman. He stole our body manipulating magic during the great war and even had the guts to fight us with it. Not that it matters now anyway, those problems are taken care of. But now we found you, a runt who uses the exact same magic we use. We can't have a little shrimp boy like you use our magic now can we? It would be an insult to the entire demon race!" I felt that he was very confident while saying those words. He even spit a little when he said that. Only to finish with a large grin on his face. Revealing rows of sharp teeth.

I Lowered my head, I could not believe what this demon was saying. "You're a liar. The way you see the world is wrong and twisted. magic can never be monopolized, magic should be free and should be used by anyone who wants to”.

"Oooh looks like I found a sensitive subject" Balam replied while licking his lips. His eyes quickly focusing on Zera who was still hanging over Yzer his shoulder. "I wonder what your little paladin friend there tastes like. All the villagers I got were too old and their blood didnt taste as good as I hoped."

I slowly put Zera and her sword down letting her lean against the outside wall of the cave. I took off my cap with Rolly in it. "Hey Zera, would you please watch over Rolly while I teach this demon a lesson about not drinking people their blood. I'm going to make sure we get to the village. I promise." Before I start this fight I changed my hand back to normal. I'm not sure if this is the form I need for this fight.

Zera looked up to my face. She looked frightend. I was determined to fight this guy and survive. I didn't know exactly how to get my determination across to Zera so I just smiled. Hoping that it would subdue her fears.

Desperately Zera tried to convince me "Don't do it sir Yzer! He is not an ordinary demon. He is a greater demon, like a captain of an army kind of demon. He is too strong! That is why I was defeated in the first place. Please just run away, I can't have you dying just to save me.” Zera was begging for me not to fight, but to run.

I stood up facing Balam. For a short moment I turned around. But this time with a smile again on my face looking upon Zera. "Don't worry I will definitely save you, I promised remember."

"My, my aren't you the little hero man. I think I will eat you first and save her for desert. And that turtle friend of yours will be my after eight snack! When I finish you little pests I will have gathered enough strength to break through that awful barrier around that village even when it's not a full moon. You snacks have my gratitude!" Balam exclaimed while launching himself towards me.

"Body of Iron!" I whispered to activate the sleeping magic inside me. I pulled back my arms while at the same time bending my knees ever so slightly.

In a split second I quickly extend my right arm. Hitting Balam on his left cheek while he was still in mid-air. The demon crashed down into the earth while screeching. I jump back, keeping my distance from the demon.

Balam gravelled himself back up. Green blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. He spits out one of his teeth. Suddenly from all sides of the forest the wolves show themselves. They have the same red glowing eyes as their master. I get back even more. Trying to keep my eyes on all my opponents.

"STOP, my babies" Balam yelled. "I will handle this personally, that maggot just got lucky" The wolves immediately stopped and sat down at edge of the shadows. But I felt that their eyes were still fixated on me the entire time.

"Demon magic: body transport" hiding his voice under his breaht almost not audible for anyone to hear.

In less than a second the demon is standing right in front me. The demon fires his fist into my stomach. I could feel my metal body bending. I cough up some blood. How did he get so fast, all of the sudden?

Then as quick as that thought went through my brain a high to low kick landed on me from behind. Balam somehow got behind me before the pain in my abdomen left my body. Before I could fall to the ground Balam sucker punched me right up my jaw. Within a second Balam got from my back to my front. Thought were racing through my head trying to understand how he did this. He must be using some kind of speed magic, or maybe he has a great aura. I couldn't make anything of it yet. I have to to let him hit me, so maybe, just maybe I can figure out how he does that. If I drop my guard I can focus on how he moves.

"What is happening Zera? I don't understand. How come Yzer can't do anything? One moment that asshat is standing there and then POEF some blue smoke and now he is standing behind him."

"I'm not sure but I read about this while I was still a squire. Apparently this is a high level demon magic to transport his entire body from the one point to another." Zera said with a quiver in her voice.

Rolly his expression changed "That's probably how he got those wolves behind the gates too!”

“That is entirely possible." Zera replied whilst her eyes are fixed on the fight in front of her. Adreneline was pumping through her veins just watching this fight. Yzer is our only hope if we want to survive this. Before I knew it I yelled:

"Please win Yzer, by Aurora I need you to win."

my heart was racing. I felt so powerless just watching Yzer and this Balam fight.

Balam now holding Yzer up in the air onto his shirt. Yzer his body looked all bloody and almost lifeless.

"Looks like you don't fully control OUR demon magic do you insect. Shall I let you in on a little secret? Demon magic works best for demons especially those whom just have had some human blood." His tongue almost went inside Yzer his ear wen he said this.

"YZER! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! PLEASE DEFEAT HIM, I BELIEVE IN YOU!" I screamed even harder than just then.

Balam tilted his head to look at the commotion past Yzer his body. He tilted his head back now looking directly into Yzer his face.

My head is head hanging down, but I made sure he saw a grin ever so slightly appear on my face.

"What are you grinning at boy." Balam spouted at my face, saliva flying through the air. "If you didn't notice I just beat you to a bloody pulp and now I'm going to eat you and your cute friends" Balam said while trying to strike fear into my heart.

"Well, " I replied with my head still down. "Luckily I sort of check those boxes."

"What boxes boy." Balam was clearly confused.

"The boxes about demons being the best at demon magic, not about the blood drinking though but still. Sort of check those boxes."

"You, a demon? Have you gone entirely mad worm?!? Are you trying to win me over now so I don't kill a fellow demon. Brat, I got the upper hand here. I just kicked your little ass with no sweat!"

"You're right, " My body was almost broken, and I felt pain everywhere. But I was not ready to give up yet. I had to use my final resort. Eventhough there are witnesses. I can't have them die because I was afraid. "I'm not a real demon and not a real human either. I'm half" I felt calm when I said this, I had made my decision. I going to use It. "Demon magic: body release.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As soon as I said that Balam his hand started to catch ablaze. Balam let out a loud scream while loosening his grip, letting me go.

A puff of blue smoke appeared and Balam made quite some distance between us. Two horns from both sides and one at the front started to grow from my head. I hurt, it felt like knives slowly growing from my skull. Some dark blood flowing from the sides. I could feel silver eyes lighting up as they started to glow ever so more in the light of the moon. My hair flowing around me deving gravity itself.

"What you just said about kicking my ass and stuff, I let you. I now know how you move and how your magic works".

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Balam screamed. "IMPOSSIBLE, this can't be happening, no, no, this is just a trick! You're just a huge imposter!”

"Body change: blade form" My right hand quickly changed into a large long sword with a hilt on his wrist when I said those words.

I launched myself to the front exchanging multiple blows with the demon. Each exchange quicker than the last one. My blade cutting true.

No, no not possible, he is keeping up with me. No he is even wounding me! “How can you possible keep up with my teleportation power?” Disbelief was overflowing from Balam his words. We both create some distance when he said those words.

“Simple, your technique is good. But it isn’t flawless. After every time you vanish a part of you is already at the next place you had in your mind. That part of you emits magical energy but can’t do anything. It’s like a small lighthouse so the ship knows where to sail, on and off on and off. You kept it pretty well hidden but after those blows I could see that lighthouse as clear as day. I know where you’re going to be before you’re even there."

I jump towards him again.

"Fists of steel!" I exchanged my sword to change my hands to steel. I used a fast side step to come close to Balam. I was close enough to see his pupils widen in shock.

"No this can't be. A snack can't defeat me!" Balam screamed almost in utter fear.

When he said that I pulled back both my arms launching them straight into Balam. Sucker punching him in the gut. The force of my blow was enough to fling Balam straight against a tree. A loud crack resulted from the impact. Balam his body almost lifeless embedded into the tree.

Balams coughed and spoke up his voice was cracking while still filled with anger “You’ve won for now my dear snacks, but I’ll return and when I do you’re going to wish that I just had devoured you the first time we met!”

Under his breath he spoke some words of magic. I couldn't understand the language he used but he then vanished into a red puff of smoke and dust.

"I guess he bit the DUST!" Rolly yelled from back extremely excited.

From the side of my eyes I saw the black wolves starting to shrink. Their bodies slowly returning to normal. The red glow disappearing from their eyes. I was exhausted. I closed my eyes to feel the warmt of morning light. It appeared we fought the entire night. I released the demon form my body was still currently in "Demon magic: locked". When I did I slowly opend my eyes to see that wolves started strolling towards me very slowly.

All of the wolves one by one put their head against my legs. I think they were greatfull to me for setting them free.

"What are they doing Rolly? I thought these guys were viscous beast." Zera couldn't comprehend what was happening at the moment. There was so much she had to process. The fight, Yzer, the demon Balam.

"No they aren't," Rolly says. "they were under the control of that demon Balam, they couldn't help it. They were probably in a lot pain. I think they are just gratefull to Yzer for freeing them. Trust me I'm an animal, their animals it's an animal thing."

I pet them, their soft fur rubs against the bottom of my hand. After some time one by one the wolves went by me as they ran off back into the woods.

I make my way to Zera and Rolly. "You did well keeping Rolly save Zera. Thank you, I understand if you are now afraid of me being half demon and all. I'm going to bring you back to the village and then leave you. I hope you can ignore your paladin duties for now and not kill me knowing what I am."

I was completely serious. Paladins were under orders to kill and eliminate all demons they see in sight. Even if i'm only half demon i'm not an exception.

I could see that Zera her hands were shaking when she handed Rolly and the cap back. But in that small moment our fingers touched. Her hands stopped shaking.

I don't know what to think of Yzer. He IS half demon, as a paladin it is my duty to kill him. All demons are evil, but Yzer, he isn't. Yzer saved me, he risked his own life to save mine. So he can't be evil. Thoughts were racing through my head, my hands are shaking. when I look up Yzer is standing right in front of me. He asks to not kill him and ignore my duties. As I reach out to give Rolly and his cap back my other hand is slowly creeping towards my sword. I can't stop shaking, my entire body and soul is in termoil. My entire life I thought that all demons were evil. But He is different.

As I hand Rolly and his cap over my hands stop shaking as my fingers slightly touch his. In that moment I knew, that I was wrong. This boy isn't evil, I could feel his kindess going through my skin. The feelings I had before, the butterflies I had are still there. He is the one who saved me. I will not kill him, I want to be with him, I want him. I think, I think I'm in L-L-L, come on Zera, I think I'm in LOVE.

"No! You can't do that" Zera quickly said. "Yes I'm a paladin and yes we hunt and kill evil demons but they never said anything about half demons and you’re not evil! A-A-And besides you saved my life. On the honour of Aurora as a holy paladin my life is now yours! I will serve you master Yzer!"

"Wow that escalated quickly, did not expect that at all" Rolly had to pull his mouth open.

I don't know what to say. She blindsided me completely. "Well maybe that is a little overboard. Just not killing me is enough."

"No master Yzer! It is just the paladin rule: we must serve those who save us."

"I didn't know paladins had such rul..." Zera swiftly put her hand ontop of Rolly his mouth. Making him unable to finish his sentence.

"Y-Y-Yes we do it is uhm written in, the uhm holy book of Aurora yeah that is!" Zera claimed vigorously. "You have to take me with you on your travels, your journey is my journey. Were you eat, I eat. Where you sleep, I sleep." Sleeping together in one bed with Master! Well played Zera! And nobody ever read the entire book of Aurora or knows it by heart. This is perfect. This way I can get closer to Yzer and make him mine before he knows it!

"Uhm Zera your nose is bleeding” I replied “I don't think you're fully healed yet. Come on my shoulder and I'll carry you to the village.”

"Yes Master Yzer! But promise me you take me with you".

"I guess there is no talking you out of it is there?"

Zera vigorously shook her head. Her golden braids flapping from side to side.

"Fine but just call me Yzer okay?"

"Yes master Yzer!"

I lift her up on my shoulder and grab her sword from the ground.

"Yzer maybe she has a broken nose or something because it starts to bleed again, like a lot."

As we went through the woods life came flowing back into it. The birds started to chirp as the morning light shone upon tour faces. Everything here felt different. The way back to the village went without a hitch. It felt like the entire journey from the cave to the village gate was not even a ten minute walk. As we arrived at the gates they slowly opened and the priestess was standing there. Waiting. The guard who opend the gate in the watchtower was silent this time.

"I feel the dark presence has vanished Yzer. Well done, and you saved the paladin I see. Are there other villagers who made it?"

I look towards the ground. "I..."

"I understand, you don't have to explain yourself. Well we will get you your reward. One hundred silver pieces and a feast as promised."

"Leave the silver pieces. It is probably all the money you guys have right? I can't take that from you. I found out while talking to the villagers. Can you please fix up my friend here in exchange for the silver. I'm afraid I'm not good at healing magic." A smile on my face appeared when I said that. I felt good to say that I made a new friend.

Rolly's faced was set in shock. "B-b-but the silver..." as a small tear fell out of his eye.

Zera her face was in utmost shock. A-a-a friend?!?!... Her mind already went into overdrive. Maybe I should put some more effort into him to make him mine. Even though I kept flirting with him all the way back to the village. I mean I’m even leaning with my entire body over him!

That night they ate and drank like there was no tomorrow. The villagers were happy and they were safe. The guard that laughed at Yzer was nowhere to be found.

The next morning we packed our things. As promised Zera was healed, but they said that she should take it easy for a while. Before I left I asked around if they knew anything about the sage of the black water. The priestess told me she heard there were some rumours about a sighting in the surrounding villages just a ten day walk from here.So we set out to embark to the first and nearest village. The village of Fogheim.

"Master Yzer, I know you didn't want to take the silver coins but couldn’t we just take a little?"

My faced changed "I did not think of that". As my hand went across his pocket expecting it to be empty. Felt heavier than before. Inside were three silver pieces.

"Will you look at that," Rolly said while I held up the pieces. "That gorgeous priestess reversed pickpocketed you."

"I'm glad she did! Now we can sleep at an inn for a change!"

"Wait what?” Zera her faced looked shocked. “You normally don't sleep at an inn?"

"Nope we normally camp out or sleep in a church of light. No biggie, me and Rolly done it that way for a loooong time."

Zera her expression changed. She has only ever slept in inside inns. And always a grand room for herself provided with all the comforts she needed. The priestess was looking at the adventurers while they disappeared into the distance. “We will see each other again Yzer, Rolly and Zera. I feel our paths will cross again someday. Master Doman would be proud of you Yzer, and your father of you Zera."

Meanwhile in the Demon world:

"Damn that little bloody half-blood! I didn't believe they existed! " Balam yelled. "Because of him I failed my mission. When I heal and get my powers back I will find you and I will kill you even if it's the last thing I do! But first I have to report back to her…"

“You got your ass handed to you didn’t you Balam?” A loud voice from behind Balam said.

“Abaddon….” Balam his voice trembled.

“You have brought shame to us Balam, you certainly know the consequences if Warage ever found out don’t you BALAM.”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, I…I…. will redeem myself, I will I promise, please Abaddon spare me.” Balam was on his knees begging to the other demon to spare his life.

“Don’t be such a weakling Balam, because you’re cowering like a fool my time isn’t even worthy being spent on the likes of you. Just make sure you kill him next time or there won’t be a next time.”

“Yes, naturally” Balam swiftly stoop up and made a deep bow towards Abaddon.

In the Upper world:

"Did any of you guys hear anything?" I thought I heard something.

Zera: "No Master Yzer"

Rolly: " Nope me neither"

"Strange must have been the wind then."