The rhythmic thunder of galloping hooves echoed across the hills, growing louder with each passing moment. Accompanying the pounding cadence were the increasingly shrill shouts of numerous riders, their voices carried on the wind. A large cavalcade was hurtling towards Irene and Jaxith, who stood drenched in the relentless rain.
“What do we do now? Should we run?” Irene asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
“Nothing,” Jaxith replied calmly.
“Jaxith, I appreciate your bravery, but we need to act. You’re not fit to fight, and I’m no warrior. At least we should try something,” Irene insisted.
“That’s precisely why we do nothing,” Jaxith explained calmly.
“I don’t understand you. A moment ago, you prevented me from seeking a doctor, fearing that I may be arrested. Now you want us to wait for them to arrest us? Seriously?” Irene questioned, bewildered.
“If they arrest you alone, it will be harder for me to find you. But if they see us together, and considering the chaos behind us, they won’t take any risks. We need to resolve your issue with the mayor. I don’t want two adversaries pursuing us. One anonymous threat is enough,” Jaxith explained, brushing water from his long silver hair.
“If I go with them, I’ll never return, Jaxith. I messed up with the mayor. You can’t be serious,” Irene protested, her voice filled with worry.
“Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you. After everything we’ve been through, I think you can trust me now, right?” Jaxith reassured her gently.
Irene hesitated, her gaze shifting between Jaxith and the approaching horsemen voices. Finally, she sighed. “Fine, but please don’t make me regret this. Or I’ll never forgive you,” she warned, a hint of worry in her voice.
“You won’t. Trust me,” Jaxith assured her. “Still have the ring?” he asked, gesturing towards the small bag at her waist.
“Yes, it’s still with me,” Irene confirmed, nodding.
“Good. Now, stay calm and let me do the talking. If things go south, I’ll buy you time to run before I join you. Otherwise, just follow my lead and do as I say, understood?” Jaxith instructed calmly.
“Okay,” Irene replied, her voice small.
“Now, when they arrive, I’ll draw my sword and declare you under my protection. So don’t be afraid cause I know you tend to worry about the smallest things,” Jaxith said confidently.
“The last part was unnecessary though, but thanks for the alert, Jax,” Irene said sarcastically.
“Jax?” Jaxith repeated, a hint of surprise in his voice.
“It just slipped out. Forget it,” Irene said, smiling sheepishly.
“Actually, it’s nice. I haven’t heard it in a long time. You can call me that if you want,” Jaxith replied with a faint smile.
“Am I a close friend now?” Irene teased, smirking.
“An annoying one, but a good one nonetheless,” Jaxith said, smiling as the sound of the approaching horses grew louder.
Irene let out a quick, innocent laugh. She was still a young girl, undeserving of such torment. Jaxith was still questioning himself about the motives of Blamore. Who could be so cruel as to send an assassin and demons after an innocent girl, even if she is a thief? It was clear she couldn’t even harm a fly. The world’s cruelty was no mere adage. Irene’s laughter subsided as she turned her gaze back to Jaxith.
“You know what, you’re a weird person, Jax. You’re always so calm and bold, but now you’re cracking jokes? That’s what I call weird,” Irene teased, still smiling.
“You don’t know me at all, young girl,” Jaxith replied, his expression turning serious as a group of horsemen emerged from the darkness, their torches illuminating the path towards them.
“OVER THERE!” someone shouted.
“THIS WAY! COME ON!” another voice yelled, as the horsemen charged towards Jaxith and Irene, they were a few meters away.
The group of horsemen finally reached Jaxith and Irene. Four soldiers, mounted on their steeds, surrounded a distinguished officer in a unique uniform—Ronald, the one who was helping the mayor. Behind them trailed more soldiers, followed by a growing number of townsfolk carrying simple weapons like pitchforks or woodcutting axes.
“Oh God, what happened here?” a soldier exclaimed, his face etched with fear as he gazed upon the monstrous demon’s corpse behind Jaxith and Irene.
Jaxith swiftly unsheathed his sword, but held it defensively at his side, shielding Irene behind the blade. His posture conveyed a clear message: the hybrid was under his protection, whether as a threat or a shield, they can view it however they want but the obvious part was that Irene is under his protection.
“In the name of the gods, what am I seeing? Is this a dream, or worse, a nightmare?” Officer Ronald exclaimed, his shock palpable. He had encountered a demon of such magnitude only once before, and the individuals standing before him hadn’t even seen one before. The man, cloaked in blood, his black sword stained crimson, was undoubtedly the slayer of the monstrous scarlet giant. Beside him stood the hybrid girl, the wanted thief, whom he was clearly shielding from them.
“Outlander, by direct order of Mayor David Holston, I demand you identify yourself and explain what transpired here," Officer Ronald declared, his voice firm despite his inner turmoil. Fear gnawed at him, but he couldn’t afford to show weakness. He knew he was outmatched, he can’t deal with this man aggressively because he and his men couldn’t have possibly defeated the demon. A cautious approach was necessary to deal with this enigmatic figure.
“Who I am is irrelevant. What matters is that I saved your precious town from a catastrophe you were too blind to foresee,” Jaxith replied, his tone icy. Irene noticed a stark change in his demeanor, a chilling indifference that was foreign to her. It was like he was a completely different person.
“I suppose I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Officer Ronald conceded, a forced smile playing on his lips.
“No need for thanks,” Jaxith retorted dismissively.
“Regardless, that girl is a wanted thief. The mayor himself has placed a bounty on her head for stealing something of great importance from his mansion. I demand you relinquish her to us,” the officer insisted.
Jaxith’s head tilted slightly, his gaze piercing the officer’s eyes. A fierce intensity ignited within him, a stark contrast to his previous calm. Irene was startled by this transformation, a side of him she hadn’t seen before. She had believed him to be bold and composed, but this was something else entirely, something frightening. Could this be his true nature and all of that time he was treating her differently?
“It seems you’re unfamiliar with the language of swords, officer. A saint knight of your standing should understand that my stance is clearly protective, not combative self-defense,” Jaxith growled, his voice laced with menace. As he spoke, he effortlessly caught an arrow aimed at his chest by his left hand! The short, barbed projectile, likely fired from a crossbow, had been launched from the officer’s group. Jaxith’s calm demeanor shattered, replaced by a chilling intensity as he examined the weapon before looking angrily at the guards. Irene, though surprised, wasn’t as shocked as the others. She had witnessed far more extraordinary feats from Jaxith. The large body behind her is far more than enough, catching a flying arrow seems much easier.
“EVERYONE, LOWER YOUR WEAPONS! THAT’S AN ORDER! DISOBEDIENCE WILL BE PUNISHED SEVERELY!” the officer bellowed, his voice trembling. His authority, once unquestioned, had been undermined. The failed assassination attempt had shaken his confidence, he hoped that nothing goes wrong, and now his men, sensing his fear, began to lower their weapons hesitantly, their fear is increasing even more.
“I extend my apologies on behalf of my subordinates, the current scene is far from serene, and the presence of that girl and the monstrous body behind you does not alleviate the tension,” Officer Ronald stated calmly.
“Jaxith, remain composed, I believe we can resolve this matter peacefully,” a figure emerged from the crowd, advancing to the forefront. It was Mr. Desmond, the proprietor of the stable.
“Officer Ronald, that individual is a renowned monster hunter, a close confidant of mine informed me about him. He assured me of the man’s exceptional abilities as a monster hunter, though I certainly didn’t anticipate such extraordinary prowess. However, I can vouch for his integrity, and considering the events of this morning, we may require his assistance. You, more than anyone, are aware of the situation,” Mr. Desmond explained politely.
“In fact, sir, could that creature outside be linked to the current situation and the demon before us?” a soldier inquired, standing beside Officer Ronald.
“There’s only one way to ascertain the truth,” Officer Ronald replied calmly, as Jaxith listened intently, the rain continuing its relentless descent.
“Jaxith, there are numerous questions that require answers. Your association with that girl is inherently suspicious, and your proximity to that colossal demon is even more so. Since you seem unwilling to part ways with the girl, I suggest you accompany us to the mayor’s mansion. Mr. Desmond is a reliable individual, so if he vouches for you, I am amenable to the arrangement. You even managed to thwart the creature’s entry into the town, though the reason for its arrival and your simultaneous presence with the hybrid at the same place remains enigmatic. Nevertheless, I believe you to be a decent man. I assure you that both you and the girl will be provided with comfortable accommodations at the mayor’s mansion tonight and tomorrow morning, you can meet with the mayor directly. However, fleeing at this juncture would not benefit either of you. I genuinely believe we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement. What do you say?” Officer Ronald stated, attempting to maintain control of the situation and ensure a peaceful resolution.
“Jaxith, heed my words. Sheathe your sword. No one will dare to harm you or her. Trust me on this. I am uncertain about the nature of your relationship with her, as you appeared unfamiliar with her when you came to me yesterday morning. However, that is irrelevant at this moment. The paramount concern is the prevention of harm. We rushed to the scene upon witnessing the ominous clouds and hearing the eerie voices. We are grateful for your intervention in dealing with that creature. Now, I implore you, with utmost respect, to refrain from escalating the situation," Mr. Desmond pleaded, urging Jaxith to cooperate and facilitate a peaceful resolution after the guard tried shooting him.
Jaxith’s gaze swept across the crowd as Mr. Desmond spoke. Though his attention was directed elsewhere, he listened Intently to the man's words. His gaze then fell upon Irene, her face pale and etched with fear, she was even holding his coat involuntarily, a reaction to the escalating tension. She glanced back at him, her eyes meeting his own, the intensity of his scarlet irises amplified by his serious demeanor. She nodded subtly, signaling her acquiescence to what the officer and Mr. Desmond is offering them. While he did not require her approval, he sought to instill a deeper sense of trust within her, assuring her that his sword would remain sheathed only when she felt truly secure. Unbeknownst to him, a part of her fear stemmed from his very presence.
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With deliberate movements, Jaxith raised his sword, its edge glinting in the dim light. As he turned his attention back to Mr. Desmond, he began to slowly sheathe the weapon.
“Very well, Mr. Desmond,” Jaxith replied, his voice firm and his demeanor resolute. Irene, upon hearing his words, visibly relaxed, her fear subsiding.
“However,” Jaxith interjected, his gaze shifting to the crowd, particularly Officer Ronald. “I will not tolerate any suspicious actions, intentional or otherwise. I require a horse for the journey to the mansion.”
“I can provide two horses, one for you and one for her. My men can walk the remainder of the way,” Officer Ronald offered politely.
“That is unnecessary. I prefer her to be close to me,” Jaxith insisted, subtly conveying his distrust. Officer Ronald understood the underlying implication.
“As you wish,” Officer Ronald conceded, turning to the soldier by his side.
“Soldier, dismount,” Officer Ronald commanded.
“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied, dismounting and leading the horse towards Jaxith. However, Mr. Desmond intercepted the soldier, taking possession of the horse.
He returned to Jaxith, offering him the reins.
“I understand your apprehension about trusting them. That’s why I brought you the horse. Nonetheless, I believe the mayor may require someone of your caliber. Regardless, I appreciate your willingness to listen to reason. Trust me, a non-aggressive approach is always the most prudent course of action,” Mr. Desmond explained, handing Jaxith the bridle.
“Thank you, Mr. Desmond,” Jaxith acknowledged, accepting the horse.
“As I said before in the stable, you are now a friend. I may not comprehend the reasons behind your decision to aid her, but that is of no consequence and none of my concern. You are a good man, and that is what truly matters,” Mr. Desmond replied politely.
Jaxith nodded in acknowledgment to Mr. Desmond before mounting the horse. He extended a hand to Irene, who hesitated momentarily. The horse let out a low grunt, alerting Jaxith to something amiss. Despite her apprehension, Irene calmly accepted his hand, using it to steady herself as she mounted the restless steed. As she settled behind him, Mr. Desmond took his leave, leaving the group to depart.
Jaxith couldn’t shake the peculiar sensation surrounding both the horse and Irene. Her fear of riding the animal was evident.
As they rode, Jaxith noticed a significant number of men following behind the soldiers. It seemed they had gathered to address the disturbance that had caused the commotion.
After a while, Jaxith realized that Irene had fallen silent.
“You alright back there?” Jaxith asked.
“Yeah,” Irene replied.
“You’ve been quiet for a while, so I thought something was wrong,” Jaxith said.
“No, no, just a tough couple of days. Using my divine energy like that really drained me, so this rest is much needed,” Irene explained calmly.
“You did well, by the way. I’m sorry for yelling at you when you threw the stone at the demon. I didn’t want you to interfere, and that’s one of the reasons I didn’t want you to use your magic. I never wanted you to face him, but you did it anyway. That was brave of you. But from now on, try to stay safe. I can manage on my own, but you’ve proven your strength. I knew you were good the moment I saw you,” Jaxith said, his tone returning to its usual level, the tone Irene is used to.
“I just couldn’t stand seeing you do everything by yourself. I don’t want to be a burden. You’re helping me after all, so I understand why you yelled at me. But wait! You mean you’ve been thinking about me using divine magic from the beginning?” Irene asked, looking surprised.
“Of course, I have,” Jaxith replied.
“And I thought I outsmarted you in the hills. Great thinking, Irene,” Irene said sarcastically.
“There were two reasons why I didn’t want you to do it. The first one is safety, and I’ve already told you about that. The second one was apprehension about not even working and so risking everything for nothing,” Jaxith explained.
“Why wouldn’t it have worked?” Irene asked.
“Listen,” Jaxith began, “monsters are like animals, each species possessing unique ocular structures that suit their specific lifestyle and hunting techniques. Demons, particularly ordinary ones, share similar eye characteristics. However, the large demon we encountered is an anomaly, he’s a scarlet demon. Scarlet army demons are distinct from normal demons, possessing enhanced strength and abilities, I rarely encounter them by the way. I had prior knowledge of a scarlet giant, but my understanding was limited as I’ve not stood against it before. Tonight, I gained a deeper insight into its capabilities, particularly its yellow-plated eyes. This type of eye is highly adapted for nocturnal vision, excelling in low-light conditions. While it can function during daylight, its true power manifests at night. Yet, it has a significant weakness: it struggles in foggy or vaporous environments, even more so than humans. Despite this knowledge, I was concerned that the scarlet giant might possess a modification to the normal yellow-plated eyes since it’s a scarlet demon after all, and so, that would negate the effectiveness of your spell. But by using it, you risked your life, and I had no choice but to go after an uncertain outcome. Fortunately, its eyes were typical of a yellow-plated variety.”
“Oh, that’s a lot of information, but I think I understand. Although, there are some terms I don’t recognize at all, like ‘scarlet army demons’ and ‘normal demons.’ This morning, you mentioned some other strange terms too. You seem to know a lot,” Irene said quizzically.
“That’s because I’m a monster hunter. And don’t worry about not knowing those terms. You’re still young, and not everyone is familiar with them. Only historians, mages, priests, and those who delve into the history of the gods tend to have knowledge of such things. Some people simply read about them as a cultural pursuit,” Jaxith explained.
“Okay, so what’s the difference between normal demons and scarlet ones? And where do I fit into all of this?” Irene asked.
“You’re definitely normal. Listen, this is a long story that I don’t think you’re ready for right now. But to understand your situation, scarlet demons aren’t like normal ones. They don’t live in our world. They’re summoned from their own realm, like you saw with the scarlet giant or the more common hounds. Summoning a powerful demon like the scarlet giant requires significant dark energy and advanced knowledge of the scarlet summoning art. So, it’s impossible that your demonic parent was a scarlet demon. Do you understand now?” Jaxith explained.
“I think I get it. And you’re right, I’m not ready for any long stories right now. I’m really tired,” Irene yawned.
“Don’t fall asleep yet. Hey, I forgot to ask you something. How old are you? All the things that happened made me forget to ask,” Jaxith asked.
“I turned fourteen a week ago. I remember that day very well because I woke up screaming from a strange nightmare. For a moment, I even thought that this nightmare was somehow connected to what’s happening to me now,” Irene said.
Jaxith was surprised by Irene’s words. “So what did you see that made you scream and think it was related to the assassin sent after you?” he asked, eager for any information that might help them.
“Well, it was somehow not clear…” Irene paused, a flash of red seeming to cross her mind. She placed a hand on her head.
“Jax, listen, I think it’s silly. It was just a nightmare,” Irene said, Jaxith turned to look at her but she completely avoided his gaze. Jaxith noticed her discomfort and realized that the dream must have been significant. What could she have seen that made her so uneasy?
“It’s okay,” he said calmly while looking forward again, “it’s just a dream. Don’t worry about it too much.”
The group descended the hill and the townspeople began to return to their homes.
“Jaxith, we’re leaving now. You and the guards should continue along this road. The mayor’s mansion is at the end. We’ll return home. Good luck,” Mr. Desmond said politely.
“Thank you, Mr. Desmond. Good night,” Jaxith replied calmly.
“Good night,” Mr. Desmond said.
“Mr. Desmond, tomorrow morning, I’ll send a soldier to ask you a few questions. He’ll just write down you’re answers,” Officer Ronald said.
“No problem,” Mr. Desmond replied, shaking Jaxith’s hand before leaving.
“Ready to keep moving?” Officer Ronald asked Jaxith.
“Yeah,” Jaxith replied, adjusting the reins to urge his horse forward.
“We’ll reach the mansion in about fifteen minutes. You can see it at the end of the road. It’s the only large building there,” Officer Ronald said.
“Jaxith, I have a little question. Why does this officer have a completely different suit than the other soldiers and officers?” Irene asked in a low voice, pointing towards Officer Ronald, who was ahead of them.
“You mean Officer Ronald?” Jaxith asked in a low voice.
“Yup,” Irene replied.
“That’s simple. He’s a saint knight. I’m not surprised a town like Orstone would have one in service,” Jaxith explained calmly.
“Great, another ass name that I don’t recognize,” Irene pouted.
“God save me,” Jaxith muttered, rubbing his forehead.
“I fuckin heard you,” Irene retorted angrily.
“Language, young girl,” Jaxith replied instantly, his tone serious as he glanced back at her.
“But you just made fun of me!” Irene exclaimed, surprised and unsatisfied by his response. Jaxith simply stared into her eyes, his scarlet eyes narrowing in a way that made her feel uneasy. She averted her gaze, crossing her arms and pouting.
Jaxith calmly turned his attention back to the road.
“Damn, how can his eyes be so fuckin scary when he’s serious?” Irene thought, watching him from the corner of her eye.
After a few minutes of silence from Jaxith, Irene realized he wasn’t going to start a conversation. “Okay, you’re way stricter than I thought. Do you know you’re being boring?” she asked, still crossing her arms and looking away.
Jaxith remained silent, ignoring her. This only made Irene angrier, so she tried a different approach. “You know it's not polite to ignore people who are trying to talk to you, right, Jaxith?” she said, still looking away and smiling.
“But you were looking at the trees, I thought you were talking to them,” Jaxith replied calmly, without even looking at her.
Irene was surprised. “What the…? You weren’t even looking. How did you know?” she asked.
“Your tone just confirmed that,” Jaxith replied calmly. Irene relaxed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
“Now I know your secret. You do have a hidden third eye beneath your long white hair, right?” she asked confidently.
“It’s silver, not white,” Jaxith replied boldly, his tone making Irene feel like he was dealing with her as a complete idiot. She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and looked angrily at Jaxith, who was simply guiding the horse.
Unable to contain herself, she leaned forward, forcing him to look into her eyes. “Okay, smart guy, care to explain WHAT THE FUCK DOES A SAINT KNIGHT DO?!” she shouted angrily, her voice echoing through the area, obviously everyone around heard her. She widened her eyes, clapped her hand over her mouth, and glanced at Officer Ronald, who was staring at her.
She turned back to Jaxith, who was looking at her with the same serious scary expression. Quickly, she retreated behind him, lowering her head to avoid being seen.
“Fine, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean any of that, I’ll shut up,” Irene whispered, her voice barely audible to Jaxith.
“Well done, Irene. You just succeeded in making a complete fool of yourself,” she thought, feeling annoyed. She felt like a complete idiot.
Officer Ronald glanced at Jaxith, who nodded calmly.
“She’s still stressed from the scarlet giant. Don’t blame her. She’s witnessed a lot in the past few days,” Jaxith explained calmly. Officer Ronald nodded politely and turned his attention back to the road.
Irene heard Jaxith’s explanation, a cover-up for her mistake. She hated her rebellious attitude, always leading her to stupid mistakes like the one she'd just made.
“They’re a mixture of divine casters and normal officers,” Jaxith said calmly, still looking forward. Irene perked up.
“What?” she asked quizzically.
“Saint knights,” Jaxith replied calmly.
“Oh! So they’re divine casters who also wield swords?” Irene asked, surprised.
“Not quite. They don’t have the same amount of divine energy as a divine caster, and they rarely know powerful spells. But divine casters have a major weakness: they’re terrible at close combat,” Jaxith explained calmly.
“That’s why they usually avoid direct conflict and leave it to other soldiers,” Irene said, slowly understanding.
“Exactly. That’s the beauty of saint knights. While they may not possess explosive divine power, they excel in combat. They’re well-trained in melee combat and can quickly use divine magic in the heat of battle. That’s why they rely on weaker spells: they focus on quick spells that complement their fighting style,” Jaxith explained thoroughly.
“I see. But then why was Officer Ronald afraid when you defeated the scarlet giant? Shouldn’t it have been easy for him? He even thanked you for saving the town because they wouldn’t have been able to stop the giant. Judging by what you just said, saint knights should be way stronger than that,” Irene asked.
“Anyone would be afraid of someone who could take on a scarlet giant alone. As for why he was thankful, it’s simple: he specializes in pyromancy, the divine art of fire, which is useless against a scarlet giant,” Jaxith explained.
“Why?” Irene asked.
“Scarlet giants have a high resistance to fire. It would have taken a lot of time and casualties to defeat it,” Jaxith explained calmly.
“Right, that makes sense. But how did you know he specialized in pyromancy?” Irene asked.
“The hilt of his sword. I recognize those types of swords,” Jaxith replied calmly. Irene was astonished by his incredible deduction skills. He seemed to notice every detail, leaving little room for surprises.
“You seem to know a lot. Were you a soldier or something?” Irene asked, impressed.
“Not even close. Just a monster hunter,” Jaxith replied, but Irene didn’t seem convinced.
“Okay, um, thanks for explaining,” Irene said politely.
“No problem,” Jaxith replied.
“Oh, listen, I-I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just get like that when I’m angry. I truly didn’t mean any harm,” Irene apologized, looking down. She felt genuinely bad about her behavior.
“And thanks for covering me with Ronald,” she added in a low voice, seeming to have learned her lesson.
“It’s fine, Irene. Just don’t feel bad about it for too long. I need a good night’s sleep. The last thing I need is you having nightmares from guilt and waking me up,” Jaxith said sarcastically. Irene slowly looked up and noticed Jaxith smiling at her.
“Trust me, you’re the weirdest human on this continent, Jaxith!” she exclaimed, smiling. Jaxith let out a faint laugh and looked forward again. Irene rested her forehead on his back and laughed innocently.
With their conversation over, they were getting closer to the mansion. Their long day was finally coming to an end.