-Month 1, Day 27-

(Cynwrig) "Ahahaha, you had me on the ropes thinking you were a big deal."

(Saria) "Sh- Shut up! You attacked us off guard, that was all!"

(Cynwrig) "Whatever you say kid. Those old-timers in the Association really hyped you up for nothing, saying you were some 'unbelievably strong being'. Hahah."

The demon kid, despite clearly being different to all other demons he had met before, still had that proud attitude that the demon race was known for. Cynwrig had been skeptic about how powerful this shadow beast-demon tag team really was, but even the shadow beast was completely different from others of it's kind. He was disappointed that it was unable to match him at all in a quick test of abilities, as he had heard many stories of how terrifying they were in combat. Maybe Cynwrig was just better than what he expected of himself. He entertained that thought by thinking of how to best piss off a noble for them to send a shadow beast after him so he could try fighting another one.

At least Cynwrig was in an okay mood after the disappointment that he face just earlier. He confirmed that this really was a "holy demon" that could heal, as his boss described it, and that it housed a shadow beast. What he did not expect was for the shadow beast to be an autonomous being that seemed to think on it's own. Beings like that were not natural beings. It was rumored that these shadow beasts are forcefully summoned from some sort of dark dimension and need to be contracted into complete servitude, because if you don't, they go berserk in a rampant killing spree in an attempt to return to their so called dark dimension.

But he started to doubt those stories now, seeing how this shadow beast clearly wasn't bound by any contract. Cynwrig even recalled the summoner who brought it to this world mentioning that the contract failed to apply for some reason. So really, all he had to do was dump her off at his boss' office and not think about it anymore for a nice under-the-desk payment.

The southern road towards the city that they were on was strangely empty compared to the western, northern and eastern roads of the city. With the recent invasion of the fae in the southern side of the forest, it didn't really come as a surprise that civilians and traders simply chose safer routes out.

After a lot of time of simply walking along the main road, they finally saw their first civilian walking past them. It was a sign that there wasn't much longer until they reach the gates of Elisande. The civilian on his horse had his eyes glued on the demon, wondering what it was doing here.

(Cynwrig) "We're getting close to the city now. Let's take a break away from the road."

She seemed extremely careless, hands folded behind her head as if on the way to some sort of resort.

(Saria) "You want to fight again now?"

(Cynwrig) "Of course not. If we don't act accordingly, there's no way they are letting a demon into the city. You saw how confused that man earlier on the horse was when he looked at you."

(Saria) "Huh? Why would they not let me in?"

(Cynwrig) "Because you demons are all rotten to the core, that's why."

(Saria) "Haah?"

(Cynwrig) "And also because you're a monster. Unless the monster you bring into the city is contracted or chained, the guards won't let you in."

(Saria) "I'm not getting into any chains. I've had those on for the last year. No way."

In complete refusal, she suddenly became serious when I suggested to hold her "captive" to get past the guards.

(Cynwrig) "Sigh... Thought as much."

The kid had been in captivity for a long time according to the info the summoner and Red Crow provided, so he expected her to refuse chains. Well, she looked as if she had no reason to betray him right now, and she was leagues weaker than him, so he could work with that.

(Cynwrig) "Here."

He grabbed something from his backpack and gave it to her. In return he got a puzzled look.

(Saria) "What is this for?"

(Cynwrig) "My cape. I'm smuggling you into the city instead then."

(Saria) "You can do that? Won't you get in trouble?"

(Cynwrig) "The guards all know me because of my fame in Caelum. They won't question my motives, besides, I know a guy."

(Saria) "Wow, so you plan on deceiving them. That's so you."

She accepted the cape, but Cynwrig had just a minor twitch in his eyes with the way she worded that previous response.

(Cynwrig) "Ahem, as I said, if you don't behave exactly the way I tell you to, you're dead meat in that city. All you need to do is act is if I'm your owner. Got it?"

(Saria) "Hnn, fine."

(Cynwrig) "Also, is your shadow beast listening to this as well?"

(Saria) "No, he had to go to sleep after using Shadow Substitute. He told me he spent too much juice, like back when he was summoned."

(Cynwrig) "Shadow Substitute?"

Was that a skill? The shadow element was so rare in monsters that he barely knew about any skills in that school of magic. Yet, he thought he at least knew all of the skills that shadow beasts possess. Smoke Lions and Ash Snakes were the only shadow element monsters besides shadow beasts he knew.

(Saria) "That lets us heal every injury we get. But big injuries makes him spend all juice and go to sleep."

(Cynwrig) "That so?"

Well, he was wondering how she managed to be in fine condition after taking a beating. So the shadow beast knew healing too. Cynwrig didn't know they were able to do that. In fact, he had never heard about anything shadow magic related being able to heal.

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(Cynwrig) "Put on the cloak now, we shouldn't spend too much time idle. The city is big. And don't say anything, just do what I say. Got it?"

(Saria) "Yeah yeah."

...

With her behind him, fully covering her head and body, they started to move on the road again after their five minute break. Saria was without a doubt interested in what this trip to a human town would be like. When she first entered the home of the Claude family, she found it odd how spacious it was, with many rooms in their home that served different functions. And don't even get started about the mansion that she and mister shadow lived in right now. Although they only used one room, humans really seemed to appreciate building big things.

As they approached Elisande, more and more humans came into view. Soon after, the first human buildings around the city. Soon enough there were buildings on each side with many horse-drawn carriages riding by. There were tens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of humans just bumbling about around her, to the point where she almost felt like she didn't fit in. Some human children appeared to be having fun playing something with a ball on a big field while kicking it back and forth. She couldn't help but keep her mouth open in interest.

The houses were weird, she had never seen anything like it. Logs of wood that looked to be cut in half was what everything was made of, save for the occasional building that was made of stone. And the houses that were made of these logs even had flowers and leaves growing out of them, as if they were still trees. It looked like the roof was mainly made of these flowers and leaves.

Cynwrig suddenly told her to hold up when they reached an open gate. She saw it from afar, but there was a tall wall made out of a mix of wood and stone expanding far to the right and left with a big wooden gate right in front of them. It looked like someone had taken blue paint and made a straight horizontal line across the wall as far as she could see. It looked fascinating to her.

(Guard) "Registration please."

She looked towards Cynwrig who started talking to another human that was lightly armored. Cynwrig sternly told her she wasn't allowed to talk, so she did her best not to. No way was she missing her opportunity to see what's behind those walls!

(Cynwrig) "Cynwrig Grey from Caelum. Here's my association license."

(Guard) "Ooh, you're one of those guild heroes, right?"

(Cynwrig) "Yes."

Cynwrig handed the human something from his pocket which the human was reading slightly aloud.

(Cynwrig) "As for my companion here, I need to talk to Arthur Evans. He should be stationed here and know her circumstance."

(Guard) "Of course, I'll go get him."

Cynwrig nodded as the human went into a door in the wall.

(Saria) "Do we get to go in now?"

(Cynwrig) "Hm? No, I just told him to bring me a guy I trust. I don't have any papers for you yet and if they see you're a demon there is no way they are letting us in."

(Saria) "But none of the humans who are protecting the city are looking, can't we just go in?"

(Cynwrig) "Sigh... Look, that would make me a criminal."

Saria let out a short "Huh?" and wondered if being a criminal was considered bad. She thought it sounded cool. Shortly later, another human came up and greeted Cynwrig, even shaking his hand. The man looked to be about the same age as Cynwrig and kind of looked like him.

(Arthur) "Already back I see. Did the request go well?"

(Cynwrig) "That's why I'm here. I need to talk to you in private about it, do you mind?"

(Arthur) "Sure, none of the interrogation rooms are being used right now."

(Cynwrig) "Great. Come along Piggy."

She was starting to get really annoyed that he was calling her that. It wasn't even funny or creative. But she did follow him. None of the guards were paying her much mind and they entered into the wall-door together with the two men.

The interior was lit by fire and the place decked in stone. She didn't have to follow them for long until they entered an empty room. Cynwrig sat himself down on one of the chairs, so Saria followed suit and sat herself too while the guard who guided them closed up after them and sat himself on the other side of the table across from them.

(Arthur) "So, need help or something?"

(Cynwrig) "About that. Piggy, say hello to Arthur."

(Saria) "Stop calling me that you loaf! And, uh... What's up."

This Arthur guy wondered what this was about. He hadn't looked at her properly yet, and now that he was on the same eye-level as Saria his eyes slowly widened.

(Arthur) "Waaait a second..."

And now it finally made sense in his head.

(Arthur) "Is that the same demon we evacuated everyone for?"

(Cynwrig) "The same one."

It almost looked like he was about to get up and get out his weapon until he realized that there was little reason to escalate the situation.

(Arthur) "Why in god's name is that thing here with you? I thought this was an extermination."

(Cynwrig) "Sorry, only a few people are supposed to know about this. I need to get this brat into the city."

(Arthur) "You are bringing a demon to the city?!"

He was trying to whisper it as loudly as possible to Cynwrig.

(Cynwrig) "Look, we are doing this without arcanite shackles or any kind of contract because I know she isn't going to be any threat. I'll keep an eye out on her and we'll act like she is under contract with me. I'm a recognizable face, I reckon I would actually gain popularity if people saw me walking around with a tamed demon."

(Arthur) "Dude, do you have any idea how much this job means to me? If they find out I let a damn demon in without following protocol I'm sure to get in trouble! You know how much of an ass my boss is."

Saria couldn't help but think that going to the city turned out to be more trouble than she first thought. Apparently this human would be exiled or something for letting her in.

(Cynwrig) "It's on orders from Blackhill."

(Arthur) "Blackhill? The Association executive?"

(Cynwrig) "I already submitted a permit but you people take weeks to review them. Blackhill is in the city right now, but won't be by the time you're done reviewing it. Man's busy."

The Arthur man looked at Cynwrig for a while and then just sighed while loosening his jacket a bit.

(Arthur) "I'll write a temporary permit for you in that case..."

(Cynwrig) "Hah! You're my man!"

(Arthur) "You know it's going to have my name on it, so if that demon does something in the city-"

(Cynwrig) "Not happening."

(Arthur) "Good. I want Blackhill and you personally to back me up in case you mess up like always."

They shook hands in a very odd way, clapping their hands between their thumbs and hugging each other straight after. Seeing humans interact like this was weird to Saria. Eventually, they started talking about "how they have been" and other stuff while she bored herself, being ignored by the two old guys. Mister shadow was still asleep, and it was odd not having him comment on things all the time. She reckoned she would just have to endure it and listened to what the two were talking about to pass the time.

When they finally seemed to be done talking about family this and job that, Cynwrig and Saria were allowed to leave. But not before following Arthur yet again to a room where he wrote on some paper. Why that was important was beyond her. The man had already said he was okay with it.

(Saria) "Are we not done here soon? Are you going to talk to him more now?"

(Cynwrig) "No, he is just filling out your contract permit. This entire place is extremely bureaucratic."

(Saria) "Hnn... It's boring."

(Cynwrig) "Well, I don't disagree. We'll be out here soon enough."

Arthur handed Cynwrig the thing he wrote and they hugged again. Were they close? They had to be, Jack and Erin told her all about how humans that like each other like to hug and stuff.

Finally, they were on their way out. Fi-nal-ly. She could be sitting at the table on the orchard eating some delicious tropicots right now, but no, she had to endure this human talk. Which reminded her that she had packed loads of fruit in her backpack before they left. Once she got out of this hellish talking place she would eat as many as she could.

(Arthur) "And remember, watch out that it doesn't do something."

(Cynwrig) "You got my word."

(Arthur) "Good. Now, welcome to Elisande!"

Arthur let them out of a back entrance and Saria could now properly see the town. They went down the main street and she immediately fidgeted to get her backpack off while they were walking to get something to eat.

When she stuck her hand down the backpack, she realized what had happened though. Cynwrig fought them and smashed her up against a tree. All tropicots in her backpack were utterly ruined by that fight. This actually hurt her soul so bad, she started to cry.

(Cynwrig) "Huh? What? Why are you crying?"

(Saria) "I hate this city already! Stupid humans!"

To express her anger, she slammed the backpack to the ground.