The group had fallen a bit behind schedule thanks to the very long morning they experienced. At least there were no other insane events, not during their walk. The walk was quiet for the most part, the woods empty. There were almost no roads this close to the border of Ratier. Very few brave traders and knights ventured this way… Who in their right mind would want to be near what was considered the edge of civilization?

Whether you were from Zelphar, Ratier, or Thimdur… You believed the same thing. Only monsters, death, and wastelands awaited those who left the safety of the 3 kingdoms. Even with his vision at the age of 15, if someone had told Kazius a week ago he would be willingly going to the wastelands with a hooded woman, a Demon, and a dense Elf woman, he would not believe it.

Still, he no longer had a choice but to do something this extreme. None of the 4 of them could stay in the kingdoms. They would be hunted like dogs if they tried. Though the idea of Azanor causing mayhem to those who betrayed him did sound a little amusing.

Indeed, the situation was dire, yet Kazius found himself feeling far from hopeless. He did feel just about done with craziness for some time, but he knew it was far from over. He wondered; would he one day see this chaos that had become his life as normal? If his vision was right… It may very well be the case…

“I came back to the mortal realm and it is just trees, trees, and trees. I’m booooored. Eve, we should play a game.” Azanor complained.

“Sorry you didn’t get the mortal realm vacation of your dreams, have you tried going back where you came from?” Alice asked with a huff. The two got along like water and oil. Alice seemed agitated with the Demon while Azanor seemed to be enjoying when she got upset.

“Ooooh, ouch. How hurtful… I see manners have been lost in your family after so many centuries. Yet here you are, same tastes in friends… What are you, anyway, Kazius? A vampire? No… You would be burnt to a Crisp by now… I can’t quite tell” Azanor would state with a laugh and shrug.

Alice would freeze when the Demon spoke, stopping her walking.

“Shut your mouth.” Alice would threaten, appearing to be fuming.

‘Her family might be a sore subject… It seems Azanor knows something about her… Crafty fucker…’

“Or what? We both know you can’t do anything even if you wanted to~” Azanor taunted.

“No! Fighting is bad! We’re friends!” Eve exclaimed, getting very pouty and huffy, giving the two a determined look.

“I can’t believe I am saying this, but Eve is right… There are enough people trying to kill us, let’s not add each other to that list, alright?” Kazius added.

“Fine fine, I will play nice…” Azanor dismissed with a wave.

“I… Will do my best to tolerate.” Alice agreed with a sigh.

Eve would grow pleased at that, beaming happily, “Yay!” She cheered.

‘At least someone is having fun.’

After that event, the walk would go back to being peaceful… Though of course once they were actually near town, things changed… It wasn’t like the 4 of them could just stroll in. Azanor would cause a panic if anyone saw him, Kazius himself was no better either. He looked mostly human, but his eyes and teeth would be an issue. Eve did look the least suspicious out of the group, but… She was Eve… Who knows what she would do if she was sent into town alone… Then there was Alice…

Kazius would look at the hooded woman, “I think you should go into town, take Eve with you… She at least looks like a normal holy maiden… If anyone asks, you’re her escort… That should be good enough to go in and get supplies…” He trailed off. “Here” He added, “I will trust you with this… We won’t have use for money in the wastelands… Buy a magic bag or ring to store our tents and supplies in too… Will it be enough?” He asked, unsure how much she had herself.

Alice would perk up at his words, “I have… More than enough, but I will take this too just in case.” She admitted, being honest it seems.

“Yay! Leave it to us!” Eve chirped, saluting in a clumsy manner.

With that, the two would head out, leaving Azanor and Kazius alone… Will they be okay? Then again, he was the one left alone with the Demon.

“Boo, how come those two get to have all the fun… I want to go into town.” Azanor whined.

“Yeah and then what? Have the guards on us within seconds? Cause a mass panic?” Kazius questioned with a sigh.

“Yes! Exactly, it would be hilarious!”

‘I am glad at least he is listening… Who knows what he would do in town… I definitely made the right call… Still… He knew that Azanor was stronger than them… he was bored yet he was being suspiciously compliant despite his complaints. He was here to be entertained yet he whined about being bored often…’

“For someone here for entertainment, you sure complain about not getting to have fun… What are you after?” Kazius would finally ask. The Demon was odd. He was staying when he could have taken Eve’s soul and just left… Kazius’ gamble worked… Yet part of him felt like he was being played. It could be the trust issues he had after dealing with his former friends… But trusting a Demon was also…Not something he was ready to do. Even if Azanor seemed to not be a liar nor causing trouble, how long would that be the case?

“Hmm~ You are quite smart… I will be honest… You all entertain me as you are… But the show hasn’t even begun.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… Demons, we consume souls and gain more power from them… We usually obtain them through deals… That is the only way we are entitled to the soul of someone we kill… So, I can see certain things in you… Not all, but… I know things about your soul you probably don’t even know.” Azanor explained, pointing at his open eye as he winked.

“I just am curious… What sort of being will you become… Will you keep playing hero? Or will you learn to enjoy the pain of others, even if just a little… You have the most interesting soul I have ever seen… And… Well, I am sure Alice will be a pain if I spill her business. She is an entertaining soul herself… I dreaded meeting someone like her, but she seems more amusing than intimidating… As for Eve… Well.” Azanor would chuckle, “I won’t tell you everything, not for free anyway.”

‘My soul, huh? Then there was Alice… Why was she so secretive? Not like I can blame her… I understand it, especially with my past... Still, this was all I will likely get out of him, better not try my luck and have him trick me into some sort of deal. I will ask about The Demon World some other time… Even if I am curious. ’

“Don’t get me wrong though, I still very much enjoy witnessing suffering… So if you fail that would be interesting too… I would enjoy that too.” Azanor cooed with a wide and wicked grin, “Though I am not as tasteless as our king… He just tortures mortals until they agree to a deal… No… His way is boring… Other demons too… They lie to get their way… What fun is in that? I enjoy a challenge… Then again… Eve was…” Azanor would chuckle, smiling slightly, not in a twisted way surprisingly enough.

“Anyway, those two are taking too long. I will go get them.”

“What? NO! I told you, we would cause a panic.” Kazius scolded.

“Fine fine… How about I teach you something neat for free?” Azanor suggested.

“Free? So I won’t be signing away my soul, right? Or my first born?” Kazius questioned wearily, indeed not so convinced.

“Oh come on, you can trust your good old pal Azanor… I told you, I don’t lie… And what would I want some baby for?”

“Right…”

‘Like I would believe that, all I have is your word.’

“How hurtful… And here I am being so kind.” Azanor stated in fake exaggerated distress. He would then chuckle, “Alright alight… Look, I will just tell you, how about that? Sense deep within you, I am sure you can feel something there… A darkness… Maybe a power you’ve used… Focus on it, spread it around you.” He would explain… Demons would do deals for power… And understanding the power of people was something they could do to some extent, at least the basics.

Kazius was confused at first. No way such a vague explanation made sense! Surprised though, he would indeed find he could envelop himself in shadow, becoming one with the shadows.

“Of course, someone strong enough will know you’re there so don’t do anything stupid that gets you killed… Unless I am there to watch of course.”

“… Thanks…” Kazius admitted. He was annoying, but… This would indeed be useful.

“Anyway… I’ll race you!” Azanor exclaimed, disappearing just like that.

‘Did he teleport? Or did he just move too fast to even be seen. Where the hell did, he go?’

“Wait what? No! Why you…” Kazius grumbled in frustration. The Demon really did just do what he wanted. He needed to find the girls and him before there was trouble…