"You're not seriously thinking of hunting this thing?" Celia, with her hands on her hips, scolds me.

"As much as I don't really have any interest in hunting it with her, Julia would be mad at me if I didn't. I should be gone no more than a couple of days."

"Caleb... My lord, you need to reconsider."

"Sorry, but I kind of got trapped in this situation."

"I can't help but worry."

"Why? Cause I am my father's son? Cause I'm barely eleven? I am starting to really dislike being treated as a kid."

"That's because you are!" Celia's eyes flare a bright red, and a soft emergence of her Demon blood boils within her. I stop in my tracks and look at her.

"Yes, I am a kid. But I am also a student of Eckhart, one of the strongest knights in Heistorm. If what he taught me fails me, then I was just too weak. But, for once, I have confidence in myself that I will be okay this time."

"If you have to go, I am going too."

"Celia, I can't let you-"

"I am going too!" Small bursts of flames envelop her hair and hands. The color of her hair glows brighter from her anger.

"Are you going to stop me if you don't go?"

"If I have to protect you that way, so be it."

"You're stubborn."

"So are you."

"Fine, you can come with us. But please, don't risk yourself to any danger."

"I should be the one saying that."

"Well, I wasn't a Demon commander in the past, so I guess you could. Lukia is waiting for us. Let's go." With a hint of regret, I equip my backpack while Celia grabs what she needs, including some regular clothes and a cloak to protect against the weather.

Taking a small stroll through the village, approaching the main gate, I can feel the heat coming off Celia. It seems nerves and excitement begin to cause her flames to radiate from inside. Lukia, with her hood over her face, turns to us, immediately surprised to see Celia alongside me.

"Who's she?" Lukia speaks in a disapproving tone.

"This is Celia; she is my personal servant and maid. She...requested to come along."

"This isn't what we agreed on."

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"It doesn't matter, I will accompany my Lord." With a sharp glare, Celia's eyes stab into Lukia.

"As long as she doesn't mess things up, I guess she can stay. But if she gets in my way, I won't hesitate with her."

"That makes two of us." Celia's eyes flare once again to a vibrant red.

"Why do girls have to be scary." I sigh and walk out the gates with the two bickering to each other.

*

Just a few hours into the journey, Caleb, with his sword at his side, his artifact attached to his gloves, and a small dagger, travels with Lukia and Celia. Being much younger than both of them, he felt alienated by their conversations and constant back and forth with each other. Realizing that it wouldn't end, he just closed off his brain to focus on the road ahead. Without any mounts or local use of transportation, the journey would cost them a day to arrive just as it grows dark, and if they kill the creature the next day, it will make it a few days' journey back.

Knowing the chances of finding a rare creature as the one for the hunt is, Caleb anticipated longer. More hours pass, and Celia, wearing a soft orange overcoat and cloak that blends with her hair, walks a little behind. Her eyes shift back and forth between the trees as if something is watching us.

"It must be some local wolves or wildlife. I wouldn't get too anxious about it." Lukia speaks to her.

"As long as one of us remains vigilant, our chances of being surprised are drastically lower. Don't mind me."

"Suit yourself; if you grow mentally tired of it, let me know so I can stop watching you look like a fool."

"You think you're better than me?"

"I didn't say that, but while I guess we are on the topic, yes, I am better when it comes to tracking, hunting, using a bow, and survival."

"I don't like you."

"What a surprise; I really don't like you either."

"Can you guys just stop talking?"

"No, I don't think I will-"

"Shush! There's something." Being aware and on overwatch, Caleb spots a few figures hidden in the shade. "We are being stalked. And my guess is that it isn't normal wildlife. Get ready to fight."

Both Celia and Lukia stood still alongside Caleb, their eyes trained to scan the environment, looking for any signs of movement. The cold air brushes past the group, the silence of the forest and its trees unnerving.

"Maybe I was wrong, maybe it was nothing-"

In a blur of movement, a large Dire wolf pounces on Lukia; somehow too fast for anyone to notice, it begins to ready to sink its jaws into her neck. Four more Dire wolves respond to their pack leader and charge forward.

"Celia! Cover me!" Caleb yells, drawing his blade, and slashes the massive Dire wolf on Lukia. The beast steps to the side and attempts to bite back at Caleb. The jaw bites down on the blade and tries to pull it away from his hands. Caleb responds by summoning a barrier to push the jaws away and slashing its side—the crimson color of its blood sprays against its fur, painting it with its own.

Celia steps in front of Lukia and Caleb and faces the approaching wave of Dire wolves, their grotesque and massive bodies bare their fangs and leap forward. Celia musters the strength from within her, knowing that some of her old power is still deep inside her, and begins to call forth a fragment of the inferno.

"Wall of Fire!" Scorching the flames in her hands, she guided the flames to create a line of flames that encircled the group in a forty-foot circle. The roaring flames are impressive, but they are incomplete and flicker from a stable flame to a gap in the circle. "Is she okay?"

"I'm doing fine! Just took me by surprise, is all!"

"Celia, these flames-"

"They won't hold for long; my power isn't what it used to be. The best I can do is buy us time to prepare!"

"Alright, listen up, these creatures will attack us all at once when the flames disappear; when I give the word, we are going to move away, and I am going to use my barrier to disable them; Lukia, that will be your time to strike!"

"Sounds good, just let me know when it will-"

At that moment, the massive jaws of the pack leader burst through the flames, approaching the distracted Lukia. She looks in horror as she cannot move quickly enough to evade...