image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
As the two made their way back to the inn, the gazes of those present turned towards Arbious, their expressions carried a mix of astonishment and curiosity. His red eyes had proven to be a difficulty to get used to, as often many people in the town would turn to look at him in suspicion. More so, the massive scythe he now wielded carried an undeniable aura of power, its presence and formidable size commanding attention and respect. Whispers filled the air as the dwarves exchanged hushed conversations, captivated by the sight before them.
Aware of the attention he was drawing, Arbious maintained a composed demeanor, allowing the weight and significance of the weapon to speak for itself. As for his red eyes, well, it was too late to do anything about it.
It was evident that the mere sight of this scythe, especially in his hands, had the ability to instill fear in the hearts of those who gazed at him. Truth be told, Arbious couldn't wait to use the scythe in action. However, in order to do it, he would have to help in the extermination of the goblins. Something he wasn't looking forward to considering he wanted to bring them back into the demonic army.
Mila, who stood by his side, suggested that they go upstairs. A notion that Arbious understood fully. Not wanting to draw more attention than he had already received, he hastily agreed to her suggestion.
They went up the stairs, allowing the tension within the inn to clear. The voices of the dwarves started up again once they were gone, making Arbious let out a slight sigh of relief. Together, they made their way to the room where they would be staying.
Upon opening the door, they were greeted by Graybeard, who looked at them with suspicion. "Where were you?" Graybeard asked, his expression one of both curiosity and worry.
Mila looked back at Arbious with a confused expression only to realize her mistake. "Oh... We forgot to tell him that we were going out..." She whispered, "Could you say something?"
Understanding the situation, he nodded, deciding to speak for her. "She was helping me pick a weapon for tomorrow's fight. Is there a reason for your worry?" Arbious asked.
Graybeard looked relieved that what Arbious said was all there was to it, and as his eyes shifted to the enormous scythe that he held, he proceeded to ask another question. "How much was that thing?" He mused dwarfishly.
"One gold and thirty bronze coins..." Mila replied, her response carrying a hint of sadness with it.
"Whoa! I didn't know he carried that much money!" Graybeard exclaimed. "You must be rich then! Where did you hide all that money?"
"It was Mila who paid for this scythe." Arbious replied, his eyes darting to the scythe's sharp and formidable blade.
"Have you gone mad girl?" Graybeard spoke with frustration evident on his face. "It took you 6 months to gather that sum of money! To spend it all at once... What were you thinking?!"
Mila looked away. Sensing her unease, Graybeard lightened up. "It's fine..." He spoke, his attention shifting to Arbious. "You better find a way to pay her back..."
...
Graybeard let out his pent-up worry with a small sigh, sitting down on a chair by the table. "Well, as long as you're safe, and he has something to fight with, I'm fine with that. But why did you need a weapon? You said you could use magic. Don't tell me you're good at wielding two-handed weapons too. Especially one as hard to wield as a scythe."
Well, I can't exactly use my magic, if I did, this town might be destroyed... But I can't just say that to him.
"Although I can use magic, my mana reserves are not the best... Casting each spell takes a lot out of me, so having something extra to fight with could prove to be helpful." Arbious replied.
"There's no harm in that. A good call I suppose. But I would've bought something cheaper so I could buy a few healing potions with it." Graybeard mused.
Healing potions? hm... since I'm in human form, potions will have a healing effect on me, but I'm not sure how holy magic will affect me. I should look into the effects of that.
Lost in thought, the conversation continued, "But Gray, we have plenty of hand-crafted potions. So, buying them would be a waste of money." Mila chimed in.
"You can only go so far with those..." Gray replied. "But I suppose dealing with a few goblins shouldn't warrant such preparation..." Before Mila could offer a rebuttal, Gray's voice erupted in a loud and angry tone, cutting her off abruptly. "But that doesn't excuse you from leaving without informing me! Go to your room! You're grounded."
"Gray!" Mila exclaimed, her voice tinged with desperation, attempting to plead her case, only to be immediately interrupted by Gray once again. "I said... NOW!"
Disappointment filled her eyes, yet she complied with Gray's demands, knowing that she had made a mistake, and her explanations would not suffice.
Arbious observed silently as Mila turned to open the door to her bedroom. At that moment, she cast one last longing gaze in his direction. Graybeard, assuming his role as the authority figure, pointed sternly towards her room, guiding her with unwavering authority. Closing the door behind her, Mila entered her bedroom. Seeing that she was gone, Graybeard motioned for Arbious with a gesture to come closer. With his curiosity piqued, he approached Graybeard, who pulled him in closer and whispered, "Step outside lad."
Is he threatening me?
Gray exited the room, and Arbious trailed closely behind him. He couldn't help but wonder what he had in mind and what he wished to discuss. As they stepped into the hallway, Graybeard cast a careful glance around, ensuring their privacy before he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of secrecy and caution. "Sorry about that... But I have to be strict on the kid."
It was difficult for Arbious to pretend that he was interested in what Graybeard had to say. Specially since he smelled of alcohol. Yet in the circumstances he found himself in, he had no choice but to listen and provide adequate questions to not seem suspicious.
"Why is that?" Arbious asked.
"Come downstairs, I'll explain everything to you in full detail," Gray replied, leaving for the first floor.
With Graybeard acting secretively, and his curiosity piqued further, Arbious decided it would be best to hear out whatever the dwarf had to say. He looked at his scythe, deciding to leave it behind in their room. Having the scythe present with him might have dragged unwarranted attention from others, Arbious thought as he descended the staircase.
Upon reaching the ground floor, the familiar and boisterous atmosphere of the inn enveloped him once more. Laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses filled the air, creating a lively ambiance. Yet, Arbious's attention immediately dragged towards Graybeard, who sat alone at a secluded table in the corner, noticeably devoid of any alcoholic beverage. His unusual choice not to indulge in the revelry amused Arbious even further.
Arbious approached Graybeard, taking a seat as he leaned back against the chair. "So... What happened? Why do you have to be so harsh on her." he questioned, seeking clarification.
After a moment's silence, Graybeard explained. "I don't know why I'm even telling you this, but it's because I'm the only one she has left in this world. Mila's mother... She was captured by the knights of the holy order. They killed her because she was an elf... With her final dying words, she instructed me, a complete and utter stranger to take care of her daughter... But I'm afraid that even with all I've done for her, that she has been through quite a rough time as well."
Arbious knew of this already. Yet this would prove to be the best chance for him to learn more about her. "What sort of hardship?" Arbious asked.
"You know... She is a girl after all... They need a lot more attention than us guys. A mother figure is detrimental to a child's growth. I feel as though I haven't done enough for her, and well... With her ears disfigured..."
"Wait disfigured? What do you mean?"
"Sorry... But I've spoken too much..."
Her ears were disfigured... How interesting. I was not aware of that detail. "How unfortunate..." Arbious softly spoke, seeking to seem sympathetic while he was thoroughly amused.
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"The Holy Order... Rather nasty business... One would want to steer clear of their way at all costs. They seek nothing but to appease the angels and believe that God created humans in his image. Those who are not like them are creations of the demons, or so they claim."
Arbious listened in silence, not knowing how to reply. It would be rude not to say anything at all. "Surely they don't deem all of them as demons. Look at the Southern Continent and how they deal with demi humans. It looks to me that things aren't as bad as you make them out to be."
"The South Continent? Don't make me laugh. Come on... They are absolutely hated by the Holy Empire. Have you actually seen places like Dorma Rhode? Have you ever been South? The people live miserably in a nation made for them. Their demi human king is a puppet of the so-called Holy Emperor Lucious."
This was a shocking revelation to Arbious. The ravages of war had not reached the south. For good reason. The divine protections over the land itself made it difficult to invade, and not to mention the presence of the dark elves, combined with the might of the spirit of nature would make it difficult for a full-scale demonic invasion. To think with all these advantages on their side, the south still suffered greatly.
"But I don't understand. Why is that the case? I was under the impression that the demi humans lived peacefully."
"Yeah, peace brought on by the oppression of their masses." Graybeard replied with a tinge of sarcasm. "The demi humans can't have their voice even heard. The human nobility there have so much power that the vast majority of the demi humans are either slaves or are too poor to even eat."
If he could smile, he would be grinning, from ear to ear. The southerners were suffering at the hands of the church. Why he was only finding out about this now was beyond him, but he was certainly not going to let this go to waste.
If what he says is true, then the south should be something I must look into. As Arbious reveled in thought, Graybeard continued, but his voice slightly lower than before. "Sorry for pushing this all onto you... A total stranger, but who are we at the end of the day but just that, utter strangers."
"Don't worry about it, hearing people's problems is somewhat of a specialty for me." Arbious replied back instinctively.
"Oh, I see, so are you some sort of a people's person then?" Gray asked curiously. his eyes sparkling with more questions.
"A problem solver," Arbious replied with a cold, sarcastic expression.
"That is commendable! We dwarves, we dislike communicating sober, if you get my drift." Graybeard replied playfully. "Not to dig into your past all too much, but who are you exactly?"
"I'm but a lone traveler, but I suppose you want the details huh?" Arbious asked.
"You know what they say! The devil is in the details." Graybeard replied, raising his hand in a gesture to order an ale.
The devil is indeed into details huh...? I suppose I can entertain him with something.
Put on the spot, Arbious quickly fabricated a story for himself. "I'm a traveler from Octavia... My parents were quite wealthy, and I showed promise in the arcane arts. So, I attended a school for magic."
"A school for magic you say?" Graybeard mused. "Well, I'll say, you certainly showed promise with those flames earlier. You know, I did consider having Mila attend one of these schools. We could've certainly been able to afford this but well, she decided against it."
Why is he talking about her? Does he not realize how obnoxious this is? To interrupt someone and shift the conversation?
After being lost in thought, Graybeard added. "My apologies'. I understand I may seem ignorant for saying like that in the midst of your story."
"There is no harm in it. Do not worry, I'm not one to take offense so easily." Arbious added. Especially by the likes of you.
"Now. where were we?"
Arbious continued his story. "Well, my entire life I was bound to this establishment. From learning the arcane to the word of God, we practiced all aspects of magic there. Life there can be tiring even, the constant reading of text, deciphering knowledge. These things do not come easily and can lead to dead ends."
Graybeard nodded.
Arbious grew a serious tone. "But it didn't take long to find the corruption within their system."
Leaning in, Graybeard asked in a tone of secrecy. "What sort of corruption?" he asked, genuinely curious as to what Arbious was going to reveal.
He likes gossip... Perfect...
He continued with the lies, "The schools of magic make it so that mages who attend there consider others inferior to them. There is blatant racism within them, just like the Holy Order. And from what I've heard, the mages have been looking for ways to use demonic magic."
"Absurd!" Graybeard spoke, twisting his beard in thought.
"It's only a rumor... But that is the reason why I decided to leave their establishment."
Graybeard, without a thought, placed his hand on the table as he leaned in closer. "You wouldn't leave such a prestigious lifestyle for mere rumors... Meaning you found something that gave some truth to those rumors..."
Ahhaha! He's buying it like an utter fool.
"Over a year ago, I was headed to speak with a professor who thought us our knowledge of elemental magic. A powerful mage who I looked up to. It was then when I ended up taking a detour on my way to his office. You see, most of the laboratories in our school were underground and I wanted to check out the magical artifacts there."
"Would it not be wrong for you to do so without permission?"
"We students told and encouraged to explore the school grounds. What I found odd when I found armed guards stationed outside one of the laboratories. I hid of course, not wanting to be seen, but someone discrete enough for me to observe. and I did. A woman left the laboratory, in her hand a demonic crystal, its aura and crimson hues permeating the air, there was no doubt about it."
"If what you say is true, then the wizarding world may be doomed. Someone must put an end to their corruption."
"But what can I do as a single person?" Arbious asked, wanting him to sink deeper into his lies.
"I suppose you're right..." Graybeard replied, though his mind clouded by the deceptive poison Arbious had stung him with. "Thanks for sharing this with me."
"Repay gossip with gossip, isn't that what they say?"
"Truth!" Graybeard exclaimed; His eyes gleaming in excitement as his ale finally arrived at the table.
As Arbious was about to get ready to leave, Graybeard grabbed onto his hand. "Before you leave, listen... Mila's been through quite a lot... Really... She has. I can see she's drawn to you... For some odd reason. She seems to be even happy when she's with you. So don't let her down, and do NOT give up on her. You got that?!"
Arbious nodded.
"You won't find many women who are willing to pay that much money for someone else... I hope you're planning to repay her." Graybeard spoke as he let go of Arbious's hand.
As if I could ever forget...
Graybeard stood from his chair with him to see him off. "Also! I have a separate room for myself. I went out of my way to make reservations. You should stay with Mila for the night. But don't get any funny ideas."
"I left the door unlocked, so you should be able to get inside still," Graybeard spoke looking over to his friends near the bar with envious eyes.
That would explain why I was able to reopen the door to put my scythe inside...
Arbious looked out the window by the entrance to the inn, seeing that the darkness had descended, and the day had come to an end. With that, he disengaged from the conversation, leaving Graybeard to go fill up on his drinks. On his way upstairs, he was greeted by a dwarf who made his way in the opposite direction. He was far older than the others but did not reek of alcohol like they did.
With a slight nod, Arbious passed by him. For once, he had come by a dwarf he didn't detest in an instant. But then again, it was possible that he was on his way to drink alcohol, so there was that...
Arbious entered the room in which he'd spend the night. Seeing the scythe he had left by the door brought him a sense of reassurance. The scythe was deemed for greatness, and soon, he would get to test it. He stretched his body, feeling the pent-up energy from all the adventuring he had that day leave his body.
He was still getting accustomed to the body. For now, the body was adjusting to his powers and as such was far more vulnerable. Rest was necessary, but only for the time being. Once his magical powers had fully adjusted to the human form he would no longer need to rest.
As he stepped inside the bedroom, his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The room was sparsely furnished, with only two beds at opposite ends of the rooms. The window curtains were partially drawn, allowing a soft glow of moonlight to seep through.
Mila slept in a bed near the window, the moon shined upon her. She was already fast asleep, her chest rising and falling rhythmically with each breath.
A nightstand was next to the beds, Mila's drawers were left open, clothes hanging from their wooden frames. He figured his would be empty, so he didn't open or touch anything.
Arbious had made his way over to Mila's bed, his red eyes looking down at her vulnerable self. He could barely see her ears, but they were disfigured as Graybeard claimed them to be. After all the effort he had put to save her life on that day she would still bear these marks. In the eyes of the void, would she be someone worthy to gain entry?
Arbious contemplated on choking her in her sleep, his shadow casting his intentions onto her. And yet things did not seem beyond repair. On the off chance she could open them, then it would've been a mistake to end her. He needed to guide her, to have her remain alive long enough for him to get what he wanted.
Returning to his bed as the long day drew to a close, an unfamiliar sensation crept over him—an undeniable urge to yawn. It was a peculiar reminder of the limitations imposed by inhabiting a human body. Despite being a God, the human form demanded rest, and weariness settled upon him like an undeniable weight.
Sooner or later, his body would adapt to his incredible powers. Yet as of now, acknowledging the necessity of sleep, he reclined on the bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
What Graybeard had told him today was nots something he did not know, and yet there was something that struck him as odd. Arbious had taken Mila from her mother at her request, yet Graybeard claimed he spoke with her. That was simply impossible. No matter, as the one who had taken her in, whatever lies Graybeard wanted to feed her, Arbious would not mind.
As he drifted into slumber, his nature as a demon continued to swirl in his mind, unsure of the path he would tread and the choices that awaited him in his mortal realm.
His eyes closed out of tiredness, but his mind remained active. As a God, he was not designed to sleep like a mortal. Even when his physical body needed rest, his vast consciousness raged on, and yet with all the thoughts passing through his mind, he was comforted by the fact that he was no longer imposing as a Demon God, but rather, as a lone traveler, without a care in the world. With that in mind, the never-ending tormenting thoughts that troubled him as a Demon God began to fade, letting him sleep as a human should.