Perhaps the idea to team up with Mattos to take on the demon lord was slightly rushed. Although Alpinheim swordsmen were reputed for their skill with a blade and defensive magic, Mattos seemed to demonstrate more talent than she had seen before.

The Jota Demon Hunting Academy, where Xellie had trained, would spend half the year taking in students from various schools in the region. The goal of this was to allow the schools to focus on their specialties while educating them to team up with trained demon hunters.

It was through these programs that Xellie had seen examples of Alpinheim magic. But, She had never see it to the levels that Mattos seemed capable of.

His desire to save the city appeared genuine, which meant he was likely a good ally, so long as he felt things were progressing toward his goal.

However, Mattos hadn’t explicitly stated so, but his tone was enough for Xellie to realise that he REALLY hated Valkyries. She would have to keep her relationship with Raye a closely guarded secret, otherwise who knew what Mattos might do?

The mountain path wound its way down into the forests, the occasional possessed flora snapping at them as they walked by.

As the forest canopy closed in, the wildlife quieted down. Only the trickle of a nearby brook and the rustle of the leaves filled the air.

“Where is it?” Mattos muttered, poking into the bushes with his silver sword.

“Maybe it’s a very strong gnat,” Xellie replied, scanning the forest canopy, shading her eyes from the sunlight filtering through.

“What makes you so sure it's flying?”

“Hunch.”

“Well, it’s right there.” Mattos poked Xellie with his elbow and pointed into the shadows between two gnarled oak trees.

There stood a child, with straw-coloured hair, twisted horns and a short orange-furred tail. The child held a chipped stone-bladed scythe, twice as long as he was tall.

“Oh no, I don’t wanna deal with one of these today.” Xellie sighed and knelt down so she was on eye level with the child, glancing up at Mattos, who nodded.

“You living!” the child shrieked. “Abandoned us! Shame on those who walk alive leaving us on the ground!”

“I won’t show remorse for not being there,” Xellie told the child firmly. “How do we bring you peace?”

The child stared at her blankly.

“YOU BRING DEATH!”

Xellie jumped to her feet, holding her sword before her.

“This isn’t a reasonable one I guess,” she said to Mattos.

“It’s a possessed child?”

“Not possessed... they died and want revenge.”

“DEATH BRINGER I WILL BRING ALL TO YOU.”

The child turned and ran into the forest.

“Can you barrier it?” Xellie asked Mattos, knowing that barrier magic and shield magic belonged hand in hand.

“Yes... uhh... yes quickly.”

Xellie sprinted after the demon child, her longer legs catching up with it quickly and tackled it down to the ground. A flash of hazy blue light blocked the path in front of them.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” The child's screams brought leaves down from the treetops. He slipped out from under Xellie and flew toward Mattos.

Mattos sidestepped the demon child, turning quickly to not lose view of it.

The child launched itself toward Mattos again, who struck the child with the sword pommel, knocking it to the ground.

The child rolled aside, this time leaping toward Xellie, bringing the scythe toward her face.

Xellie jumped into the air, and kicked the scythe aiming to knock it away. She had forgotten the scythe was made of stone and a wave of nausea overcame her as her foot made contact.

She landed on the non-kicking foot, avoiding putting weight on the injured one.

Mattos allowed himself a snort of laughter at the spectacle.

The child ran at Mattos, who blocked the scythe with his silver sword, holding it away from him as the child pushed harder and harder.

Xellie drew her sword, activating the energy blade.

The child heard the crackle of energy, shoved Mattos away and threw the scythe at Xellie.

Xellie lifted the sword to block the scythe’s path.

“Careful!” Mattos called, projecting this magic shield between Xellie and the flying scythe.

The scythe sailed through the sword and crashed into the shield, dropping to the floor.

“Huh, I suppose it wouldn’t work against that,” Xellie muttered swinging the energy blade toward the kid. Mattos’ sliced downward with his silver sword.

Mattos’ sword made contact first, then Xellie’s which went through Matto’s sword and through the demon child.

The child vanished.

Mattos let out an audible sigh.

“Your foot okay?”

“It has to be,” Xellie replied, sitting on the ground and taking her boot off to inspect the damage. “Yikes.”

Her foot was very swollen, and by her own judgement, likely broken. She bandaged it firmly, gingerly taking her time to get her boot back on.

“Will you be okay walking?” Mattos asked, watching in concern.

“I’ve done worse.”

Mattos helped her to her feet, offering an arm for her to hold as she walked. Xellie, rejected the gesture, opting to use a tree branch to help her walk instead.

After a short time walking and the forest opened up, Mattos stopped and gestured to Xellie to do the same.

“Let’s rest here. Maybe your foot will be better tomorrow. Or at least a bit less painful.”

“Thank you,” Xellie replied thankfully.

Mattos found a small log to raise her foot while she slept. Then went about setting up a magical barrier around their camp so they could rest without worry.

--

Xellie found herself in a city with fantastic wide streets lined with tall buildings. Aqueducts crisscrossed the streets, the snow-capped mountains glimmering in the sunlight behind.

She couldn’t remember how she got here, or where this place was.

As her initial confusion gave way to curiosity, Xellie realised the metallic and sickly smell of blood filled the air. She looked down. Dark red blood trickled through the cobbles, following the street downhill.

A closed door in a limestone house took her attention. There was something behind that door that had to die.

Gripping her sword, she pushed the door open, scanning the finely furnished room for life.

Nothing was here.

She quietly and swiftly ascended the stairs. Every door was ajar, except one, adorned with hand-painted stars and rabbits.

She pushed the door of the nursery open.

A mother sheltered behind the crib with her baby and a second young child.

“Please... no... please no.” The mother sobbed.

“Don’t hesitate.” a stern voice told Xellie firmly.

She raised her sword, feeling a smile come to her face. Giddy with excitement, Xellie ran toward the mother.

This is so wrong!

She sat up with a gasp, back in the small camp with Mattos.

A dream? The entire experience had felt so real and extremely disconcerting. The feeling of enjoyment that had come over her when faced with such carnage sent a wave of nausea over her. Unable to stop thinking about what she had seen, she quickly got up and ran over to the bushes.

It was just a dream. It was just a really horrible dream.

She kept reminding herself over and over it hadn't been real. She stood leaning over the ground, resting her weight on her hands above her knees.

Looking down at the ground she saw her boots. Her foot wasn’t in pain anymore.

“You okay over there?” Mattos called, sitting up from his position on the other side of the fire.

“Yeah!” She called back, turning to walk, then thinking better of it and adding a slight hobble to her footsteps.

“How's the foot?” Mattos asked. “Any better? Did the pain make you sick?”

“Uh.” Xellie sat down cross-legged beside the fire, poking at it with a stick. “I think it’s just badly bruised not broken.”

“Then why are you sick?”

She sighed loudly, watching the embers glowing at the bottom of the firepit.

“I had a really bad case of miasma poisoning some time ago... and I guess, it still gives me nightmares.”

“Sorry to hear.”

Xellie shrugged dismissively and lay on the ground, her back to the comforting fire. Nordausa wasn’t very far from here and soon she’d be able to see her brother again. Perhaps he knew a way to stave off nightmares.