《The Huntress and the Demon》


 Chapter 1: Him and Her

    The continent was at war.


    The demons had attacked the humans, the humans had attacked the demons, and thus there was cause for war.


    Armies clashed on the Endless Plains. The humans'' Central Allied Army from the east, the demons'' Great Western Army from the west.


    The first great battle lasted many days, but in the end both sides were forced to retreat. Yet the war wasn''t over. From then on, the divisions from the Allied Army and the troops from the Western Army fought many times in smaller scaled skirmishes.


    This was one of those skirmishes.


    The Eagle division and the Obsidian troops battled it out on the plains dividing their lands. Though humankind had managed to secure an advantegeous position on the side of a hill, demonkind pushed forward, continuously pressuring them.


    An archery platoon was brought in as support. Eagle Commander used the reinforcements as moral fuel as he attempted to push back. In response, the elite winged demons took to the sky, flying out of reach of the battle below, to attack the archers that had become their enemies'' ray of hope.


    Leading the aerial unit was a male demon with wings like the night sky, horns the colour of pure silver and turbulent blue eyes. In his hand he held a black steel spear, simple yet elegant, elegant yet merciless.


    Arrows assaulted them as they neared, but the demons pushed forward, relying on their tough armour, knocking down projectiles aimed for less protected parts.


    The humans desperately aimed and shot, knowing that if the demons reached them they wouldn''t stand a chance.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Except for one, a girl that had barely left her teenaged years behind, brown hair and green eyes, the bow in her hands remarkably different from those around her. No arrow was nocked on the bowstring however, she was merely looking up at the demons approaching.


    They were different from the stories she''d heard. Their horns and wings were nowhere near deformed or revolting, but could craftman and sculptors to shame. They had no claws, no glowing crimson eyes, no bloodthirsty aura that could make even the most hardened warrior quake in their boots.


    She had doubted the Allied Army''s claims that they were fighting against evil monstrosities that wished to plunge the world into chaos and slaughter. Seems she had been right to.


    However, when her captain''s hatred-filled gaze landed on her, she still nocked an arrow and lifted her bow. She was here against her will, but if she performed badly her village would pay for it. Or even worse, she might never return.


    Her home was in a constant struggle against the beasts that lived in the forest. Because of this they needed many warriors to protect themselves and thrive. Though when the war took a turn for the worse for humankind, all the allied nations started forcefully drafting soldiers. Many of the village''s younger warriors were taken, just like her, so they were in a dire situation.


    The girl had resolved herself to survive and return, the sooner the better.


    The black-winged demon leader watched as the girl on the front lines finally raised her bow. Her sharp eyes observed him, searching for a weakness in his defense. There was no fear, there wasn''t even bloodlust, if he had not been looking directly at her the senses he was so proud of wouldn''t have warned him until it was too late. A delightful chill ran down his spine. This wasn''t a soldier, nor a warrior, this was a hunter, looking at prey, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    He grinned.


    It would be a waste to kill her.


    After shouting some orders, he dove towards the platoon''s front line. He only stopped his descent at the last moment, the wind caused by his large wings, being reinforced with magic, was ferocious. It toppled the soldiers like saplings in a storm.


    When the dust settled, an arrow was aimed at his throat.

 Chapter 2: Human and Demon

    When the dust settled, an arrow was aimed at his throat. She was staring at him, observing him, waiting for him to make a move, ready to loose the string and let her arrow fly.


    He wondered. Why had she not shot him yet? At this range it would be beyond difficult for him to dodge. Under any circumstances, a meeting between a human and a demon usually resulted in a fight to the death. Yet she was waiting for him to make the first move. Curiosity gnawed at him.


    "Why not just let that arrow fly? Your prey is right before you, huntress."


    A sparkle of interest lit up in her eyes.


    "Are you prey? You have yet to attack me, and I doubt you taste good."


    He laughed, and asked:


    "Then why are you here, if not to hunt prey?"


    A sigh escaped her lips. "Because the kingdom wants war, and my home is located in the kingdom. If only barely."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "You do not care for your nation?"


    "Why would I care for a king who doesn''t care about us, until he needs warriors? Make no mistake, I am not here of my own volition."


    "Did they threaten you, huntress?" he taunted her.


    "Our warriors are strong, but we cannot risk everything for a battle we cannot win. We gave in, but my home still stands." Her voice was laced with determination, it would not stay this way. He could not help but admire that will.


    A rough and unpleasant voice interrupted the conversation.


    "What are you doing?! Shoot him!" the captain, his lavishly decorated sword pointing at the demon''s chest, shouted in outrage, but she ignored the man.


    Instead she lowered her bow, the arrow now no longer threatening the one standing before her.


    "Are you sure that''s a good idea?" he chuckled.


    "Why?" she asked in response, "Because you''re a demon? Because he is my captain? You have done nothing but speak to me as if I were an equal, yet that man", she glared, "has threatened me more times than I care to remember. Tell me, where should I aim my arrows?"


    His eyes widened in astonishment, then narrowed in amusement. Her actions pleased him, her words resonated with him. He confirmed his earlier thoughts once again, it would be such a waste for her to die here.


    He put his hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly, saying:


    "I am Arick Zilverhoorn, serving under lord Garm Zwart. May I know your name?"


    "Jyl, the Grey Wolf", she introduced herself, "Nice to meet you, Arick Zilverhoorn."


    "Now then, huntress Jyl, would you care to listen to my offer?"

 Chapter 3: Negotiations

    "Now then, huntress Jyl, would you care to listen to my offer?"


    She furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes.


    "What kind of offer?"


    "You want to aid your village, and I in turn wish to acquire you. Let''s make an exchange."


    His words startled her. Acquire her? "Why?"


    "Your skills, obviously."


    "My skills? I have not shot a single arrow since entering this battle."


    "And yet it is already obvious. I do not need to see your aim to know you are dangerous with that bow." A grin marked his features, but it was quickly wiped away.


    "And in exchange for me, you would help protect my village? How? Send soldiers? Annex the village into demon territory? Do you have the authority to do so?"


    In all honesty, Arick didn''t know how to answer. This whole thing had been an on the spot decision. And he truly did not have the power to promise the protection of a village in human territory. He would first have to talk it over with his lord, but that would take time.


    "In addition," she continued, "how do I know I can trust what you say?"


    Sighing, he responded:


    "There is no answering that question. No matter how I could try to convince you, doubt would always remain. I can do nothing but give you my word and swear on my pride."


    A chuckle escaped her.


    "So humans swear on their honour, and demons swear on their pride? I think I prefer a demon''s promise."


    Jyl looked him in the eyes, searching for signs of deceit, trying to figure out what kind of person he is. What she saw reassured her.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "Regardless, it is a tempting offer. How about we do it like this? There are several hunters from my village participating in the battle, you will assure they get back home. In return I will follow you. We''ll discuss the rest after that."


    "This way your village will not receive any immediate protection, though?"


    "Once thesehunters return, they will be able to take care of themselves. Did I not already say so? Our warriors are strong, now that they know of the danger, they will find a countermeasure. In fact, the elders will likely already be preparing."


    He marvelled at her absolute confidence. It also made him wonder what her village was like.


    "Well then, now that that''s decided."


    The battle around them had meanwhile come to an end. After the archery platoon had realized they were about to be annihilated, deserters had sprung up left and right. By the time the captain realized this, it was already too late.


    Arick sighed in regret, so much pointless loss of life. Quickly clearing those emotions away, he turned towards the demon woman approaching them.


    "What are the battle results, Cecile?"


    "About a fourth of their forces ran, we captured around fifty, the rest were killed in combat. We have three casualties and a dozen wounded who''ll be back in action after at most a month. Good results, all in all! No thanks to you."


    She mumbled the last part with a glare directed at him, but Arick paid it no mind.


    Her gaze fell on Jyl. "Who''s this?"


    "Cecile, meet Jyl the Grey Wolf. Huntress, meet Cecile, my second-in-command."


    "Nice to meet you", said Jyl, imitating Arick''s slight bow from before.


    "It''s a pleasure", responded Cecile. "Say, why are you ''the grey wolf''? Is it similar to a family name?"


    After her leader''s introduction, most of the suspicion left her eyes, replaced by curiosity.


    "It is my beast name. Hunters from my village receive the name of the beast they killed during their first hunt."


    "A beast?! Like the ones living in the Great Forest to the south?" Cecile was stunned. Most people, human or demon, stayed away from that place, and for a reason.


    "Let us talk about this later", Arick interjected, "We need to get your friends out of that battle. But how?"


    In response, Jyl revealed a strangely shaped piece of bone hanging around her neck. She put it to her lips, causing a piercing birdlike cry to sound out throughout the plains.


    "Ugh, that hurts my ears", Cecile whined.


    "Some kind of signal?" inquired Arick, looking at the little whistle with interest. "Aren''t you full of surprises?" He chuckled.


    "It signalsto retreat and gather. I will explain the situation to them so they can inform the elders."


    "You are not going to tell them yourself?"


    She looked at him in surprise. "You would allow it?"


    "Of course", he answered with a large grin on his face, "And I''ll be coming with you."

 Chapter 4: Introductions are in order

    "Of course", he answered with a large grin on his face, "And I''ll be coming with you."


    "Leader!" Cecile shouted, "You can''t just do that!"


    "Yes I can. Before departure I received permission from lord Garm to take some time off if the battle ended in victory." His voice was resolute, he had already made his decision.


    Jyl was smiling widely, happy she would be going home after all, if only for a little bit.


    While they were talking, half a dozen soldiers wormed their way through the human forces, and towards them. They were all relatively unharmed, which was odd considering the heavy losses the Eagle Division was suffering. Completely disregarding the angry shouts of their superiors, they started climbing up the hill.


    The man running in front, covered in blood but his green eyes shining, headed straight for Jyl and pulled her into a hug.


    "I was so worried! I saw those flying demons heading towards the archers, and then arrows stopped coming!"


    "Calm yourself, Lyall. Did I not promise I would not let myself get killed?"


    "I know, I remember, but still!"


    "If you keep hugging her like that, you''ll squeeze her to death, Black Bear!" Another male voice shouted. He pulled Lyall away from Jyl before looking her over.


    "You''re not injured?"The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I''m fine, Aiden", she replied.


    "Who''re they?" he asked, looking suspiciously at the two demons.


    "Wait until everyone is here, then we''ll do introductions." She looked down the hill, where the other four had started their ascend.


    "We''re missing someone?" Sadness permeated her voice.


    "Erin was put in vanguard, the chances he made it are..." Aiden sighed.


    "No wonder Lyall was being so emotional", she glanced at the large hunter. He''d gone back down to aid a woman who had gotten injured in the thigh.


    "He will not like what I have to tell you", warned Jyl, "Please help calm him down."


    Her words startled him, but he still nodded.


    When finally everyone had gathered, Arick was the first to step forwards.


    "I am Arick Zilverhoorn, leader of the Obsidian troops'' winged squad. It''s a pleasure to meet you."


    The six newcomers looked at the demon with varying degrees of suspicion, caution and curiosity. But seeing Jyl standing next to him, they accepted his presence.


    "Aiden, the Direwolf. Nice to meet you too."


    "Lyall Black Bear." He puffed out his chest, emphasizing his large build and powerful muscles a little more.


    Next was the woman whom Lyall had helped. "Rina the Thunderfox." Her light brown eyes serene despite the painful wound.


    "Evelyn, Horned Lion." A stoic expression on her face and with her arms crossed in front of her chest, she looked very unapproachable.


    "Alcaeus Direwolf, nice to meet you. I''m Aiden''s younger brother in case you''re wondering." He leaned his elbow on Aiden''s shoulder, smiling brightly. Their brown eyes were remarkably similar, but Alcaeus was shorter and bulkier than Aiden so it was difficult to tell at first glance that they were related.


    Last was a hunter with blonde hair and dark eyes, his lanky build seemingly incongruous with the fierce strength he possessed.


    "My name is Solon, the Tree Viper." He imitated Arick''s slight bow.


    All eyes gathered on the last person who needed to introduce herself. It seemed she had forgotten that fact herself, as she was startled at the sudden attention.


    "Right...", she quickly composed herself. "I am Cecile Bloedveer, second-in-command of Obsidian''s winged squad."


    With introductions over and done with, Lyall immediately brought up the matter at hand.

 Chapter 5: Discussions

    With introductions over and done with, Lyall immediately brought up the matter at hand.


    "Jyl, why did you have us gather here, now? Knowing you..." his eyes landed on the demon standing next to her. "Do you have a plan?"


    It was Arick instead who answered.


    "The huntress has made a deal with me to get you all home."


    They rejoiced, the were finally going home! But Aiden sensed something amiss.


    " ''You'' ?" He glanced at Jyl. "What about her?"


    Those words were like an ice cold splash of water to Lyall. Having known her the longest, he was the most familiar with her personality. A foreboding pressure spread through his chest.


    "Jyl?" He pleaded.


    She hesitated for a moment, then sighed. Looking him in the eye, she said: "I will be travelling to the village with you, but... I won''t be staying."


    "Why not?!" He shouted, starting to lose his cool. A seething glare bored into Arick. "What kind of deal did you make?"


    Jyl glared back at him.


    "We have already come to an agreement. It is not your place to try and interfere!"


    Just as he knew her personality, she was overly aware of what he was like. She would not allow him to detroy this favorable opportunity. With this deal, she would be able to get these hunters back home to bolster their strength, and possibly get them a reliable ally.


    But, Lyall would more than likely interpret it as her sacrificing herself, something his morals would not allow.


    Just as he was about to open his mouth again, someone''s hand landed on his shoulder.


    Aiden gently pulled him back and shook his head.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "We do not need a demonstration of how stubborn youboth can be. Please do not make this any more difficult."


    "But..."


    "She has already made her decision. You should know better than I what that means." He glanced at Arick, who was observing their interactions curiously. It was a relief he took no offense to Lyall''s objections. Though, Jyl''s talents at judging someone''s personality likely had something to do with it. She didn''t really get along with the easily angered type.


    "Besides," Aiden smirked, "he''s the one who''ll have to deal with her from now on."


    That got a chuckle, albeit a sorrowful one.


    "Fine..." he sighed, seemingly having accepted the situation.


    Jyl sent Aiden a grateful smile.


    Sensing the mood, Arick decided to change the subject.


    "Now then, first order of business, where exactly is your village?"


    Seven hands rose and pointed, all in the exact same direction. Their reaction was both exasperating and remarkable.


    "You will have to narrow it down a little more. What is the name of the kingdom?"


    Lyall shrugged. The others looked at Aiden, who''d apparently unknowingly been nominated as spokesperson.


    "Their shield is a golden eagle on a blue background."


    "That is still quite the large area..."


    Arick knew the one they were talking about. It was an old kingdom, their line of monarchs long and influential. They also had the longest border with the Great Forest of all human nations, by far. He sighed.


    "Cecile, can you go get a map? It''ll take forever this way."


    "What did you expect?" Jyl reacted, "Before the soldiers came, none of us had ever bothered leaving the forest."


    After a minute or two, she returned with a large rolled up piece of paper. Arick was tempted to ask whether she had stolen the thing from the general''s tent.


    Handing it over, she conveyed: "General Gyrn wants to see you."


    He nodded and started unrolling the map.


    "Right now", she added.


    The words made her leader freeze up. Cecile couldn''t help but grin at his reaction.


    "Then you handle this." He pushed the map back into her arms before taking off. The grin had vanished from her face.


    Aiden quickly relieved her of her burden, looking it over with sparkling eyes.


    "This is the Endless Plains?" asked Jyl. She was pointing at a green coloured region in the middle of the map. It stretched out from the north to the south, about three times as long as it was wide.


    "So it seems. This patch down here should be the Great Forest, the area on the left then is human territory and on the right is demon territory."


    Lyall looked at it oddly. "What is this blue here on the top and right?"


    They all turned to stare at Cecile, who sighed.


    "It''s the ocean, obviously."


    "Ocean? I think I overheard some of the cooks talking about it, it''s where most of the army''s fish comes from." Alcaeus attributed his own observations.


    "Fish live in water. So then this ocean is composed of water? Like a really large lake or river?" Aiden deduced.


    The whole time, Cecile kept giving them weird glances, hoping her leader would return soon, so she wouldn''t have to deal with these people anymore.

 Chapter 6: Setting off

    Meanwhile Arick had arrived at the general''s tent, with the general himself impatiently waiting outside.


    "You called?" he asked casually.


    ''Yes. Yes I did." Gyrn was glaring at him, his voice harsh.


    "I sent your squad to take out the enemy''s archers, yet when they return you were nowhere to be seen. Then, your second comes asking for a map, saying that you''re planning to go on a holiday. Mind explaining?"


    Arick groaned. If she was going to say anything, she should have just told the whole story. Instead she had annoyed Gyrn. And worst of all, she had likely done it on purpose.


    "In order to acquire a reliable subordinate, I promised to take her friends home." He tried to summarize.


    "So basically, you were doing whatever you want, completely disregarding the battle, and on top of that you were planning to run off."


    "Technically, yes. However..."


    "And this ''reliable subordinate'' is human?"


    "Yes."


    "So you''re planning to enter human territory during the middle of a war. Do you not realize how dangerous that is? And how do you know this human isn''t planning to betray you?"


    "Gyrn, I am plenty aware of the dangers."


    "Are you? If I let you go and something happens, it''ll be on my head."


    "Since when do you care about that kind of stuff?"


    He sighed, the anger disappearing from his features.


    "My brother would get mad at me."


    "Garm trusts my judgement."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Another sigh escaped the large demon.


    "So, what''s this subordinate like?"


    "The serious type, and incredibly loyal. Her skills with a bow are phenomenal. If I hadn''t noticed her in advance, she would have shot me down with a single arrow."


    "Why did you notice her in advance?"


    "She was on the front line, and her superior had gotten mad at her because she wasn''t doing as she was told. You see, apparently hunters from her village were taken to join the war by force, on the threat of their village being destroyed. None of them were fighting because they wanted to."


    "How low will those humans sink? Threatening one of their own villages to get a few more soldiers."


    "You know Garm dislikes people talking like that."


    "Yes, I know", he huffed. "But you do realize that is how most demons view humankind. Your new subordinate won''t be an exception."


    "I am aware."


    "Is she though? She won''t even be tolerated in the city unless she possesses a demon''s mark, and that''s despite Garm''s efforts to decrease hatred."


    "Are you trying to dissuade me?"


    "I''m trying to keep you from doing something you might regret."


    "Again, not like you."


    General Gyrn snorted, glancing towards the battlefield.


    "Then do whatever you want. It''s not like you''ll listen to me either way. You''re explaining the situation to Garm though, don''t expect any help from me. Oh, and take Cecile and Mirus with you."


    He grabbed the gigantic sword punctured into the ground next to him.


    "Enought talking. I have a battle to win!"


    Arick smirked. Now this was the Gyrn he remembered.


    Taking to the sky, he watched as the demon warriors opened a path for their general, signaling that the end of this battle was near.


    Back on the hill, the hunters were standing in a half-circle around Aiden, who was still holding the map. Excitedly discussing, they completely ignored Arick.


    "Have they been like this since I left?" he asked Cecile.


    She nodded wearily.


    "Honestly, where are they from? They don''t know what the ocean is, and I''m pretty sure they can''t read."


    "I did hear that the literacy among humans, especially in remote areas, is very low."


    "How did the talk with the general go?"


    "Well enough, I suppose."


    "He allowed you to go? In that case, I guess we''ll see each other back at Black Mountain."


    "You and Mirus will be coming too, orders of the general."


    "You''re kidding!" Disbelief and reluctance fought to take control of her expression.


    "I am not", he grinned, "Would you go get Mirus, please?"


    She glared at him, but still did as he asked.


    "We''re going to be leaving soon!" Arick informed the group of hunters. "Have you found the location of your village yet?"


    "No", responded Aiden, "We don''t have enough to go by. However, if we follow the edge of the Forest, we''ll know once we get close."


    "Alright. That would also make it easier to avoid humans, I suppose."


    Arick pointed at a large hill to the south.


    "Go get your stuff first. We can meet up over there when everyone is ready."

 Chapter 7: The Endless Plains

    The sun was already over halfway down when three demons and seven humans started their journey south. They were all wearing backpacks stuffed with necessities, weapons hanging from their belts. The demons had taken off their heavy armour, replacing it with leathers designed for easy movement, while the hunters had donned the beast hides the human army hadn''t allowed them to wear.


    They kept a decent pace, the only thing slowing them down was Rin''s wound. Alcaeus and Lyall flanked her on both sides in case she needed help, which so far hadn''t been necessary.


    In front were Aiden and Mirus. Despite having just met, they were getting along really well, discussing topics ranging from geography to history to politics.


    Evelyn and Solon were holding the rear position in silence, eyes and ears at the ready to pick up any and all irregularities.


    The two winged demons had decided to walk as well, they would attract unwanted attention if they were spotted in the air, especially since there was very little cover on these plains.


    Arick took being grounded the best, curiously observing the formation these hunters had created. The way they each took their positions naturally told him they were used to travelling through hostile territory. Though, he didn''t know the strengths of the individuals, so the true functionality of the way they were positioned escaped him.


    In the end, the most peculiar of them all was the huntress. She had no fixed position, instead she constantly moved about. Sometimes she scouted ahead, at others she investigated their flanks, or let herself fall behind to cover their tracks. Every now and then she exchanged a couple words with Aiden, Evelyn or Solon before heading off again.


    The one most troubled by the journey was Cecile. She constantly grumbled, or sent Arick death stares. He knew she would dislike being forced to accompany them, but it was even worse than he had imagined. Without needing to discuss, everyone unanimously decided to just leave her alone till she calmed down.


    Two hours into the journey, Arick joined the two up front for some conversation.


    "How long do you reckon it will take to reach the Forest?" he asked.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "At this speed, with how far south the battle took place, approximately three more days", replied Mirus.


    "Three days?" interjected Alcaeus, "I think I''ll go mad if I have to look at these plains much longer. Grass and hills in every direction! Is this why they call it the Endless Plains?"


    Mirus jumped at the opportunity to display his knowledge.


    "It''s part of the reason. Not only are these plains immensely large, there are also no recognizable landmarks to orient yourself. Getting lost in these hills is a very real concern.


    However, the real reason why this place is called ''endless'' is how long it''s existed. It has been the boundary between demonkind and humankind since before the first demon Emperor. In fact, I have yet to discover a single record that describes anything else than plains being here."


    "Is it that strange?" asked Lyall.


    "Of course it is!" retorted Alcaeus, "Over time, forest should have started claiming this much open area, or at least some kind of vegetation should have started growing here, but there is only grass as far as our eyes can see."


    "Not to mention people", Aiden added, "With this much unused ground, you''d think it''d be turned into farmland by now. Instead both humans and demons seem to completely ignore this area, leaving it as a no-man''s-land where they wage their wars."


    "That''s because this area is practically infertile. Crops won''t grow here, cattle won''t eat the grass, anything larger than grass can''t sustain themselves. Many hypothesized why this is: if it has something to do with the scarcity of water, the layer of dense rocks just beneath the surface, the disparity in temperature during summer and winter, among others. There are even those that think the gods created these plains as a divide between the humans and the demons."


    Arick snorted. "The opposite is more likely. Demonkind and humankind divided because the plains were there."


    "So you''re saying that they developed different cultures because they were seperated, or that they divided themselves because they didn''t get along?" Aiden''s curiosity was peaked, but Arick just shrugged.


    "How would I know? It sounds like something historians bicker about. Fact of the matter is: demons and humans are at war. And this isn''t even the first time either, there have been numerous wars throughout the ages."


    "Yet there is a mixed group travelling together peacefully right here." Jyl''s voice reached them from behind, startling the six in front. They all quickly turned around, only to see her walking soundlessly at a distance of merely two meters.


    "Were did you come from so suddenly?" Mirus managed to squeeze out.


    "Nowhere in particular", she replied, "I just wanted to tell you that the sun is about to go down, we should start making camp."


    Having said that, she turned to once again check the rear.


    "Does she do that often?"


    Arick''s question caused Lyall to sigh.


    "More that we''d like."

 Chapter 8: Hunter and Beast

    The morning of the fifth day they finally entered the forest. They''d had to avoid one human patrol when they neared the border, but otherwise they hadn''t run into any trouble.


    Another peculiarity of the Endless Plains meant that when the Forest came into view, they were practically already on top of it. That evening they set up camp on a nearby hill, the demons nervous and curious, the hunters eager but cautious.


    The forest itself was magnificent, a mix of old and new, light and dark, quiet yet filled with sound. The Great Forest was truly one of a kind. The three for whom this was their first time entering looked around in wonder at the imposing trees, of which many could outlive a demon''s impressive lifespan, or already had.


    By the time Arick had gotten his mind back in order, the hunters were already prepared to move on. They had once again moved into formation, though there were a couple differences.


    Now Lyall was the vanguard, a big and heavy spear in his hand. Behind him stood Rin, holding a large bow, with a quiver filled to the brim tied to her back and several small throwing knives hanging from her belt. On either side of her stood Aiden and Alcaeus, the two brothers wielding identical spears and two heavy daggers as backup. Their rear was covered by Evelyn, two shorter spears were tied to her back, while she was holding a longer and heavier one in her hand.


    Solon and Jyl had disappeared, but Arick doubted they were far. His own longsword was still sheathed, though he could change that in the blink of an eye. Cecile and Mirus were walking side by side, she with a shield and axe, he with two swords at his side.


    It wasn''t even midday when the first incident occurred. A loud hissing put everyone on guard, ready for anything. But half a minute of rustling leaves and cracking branches later a large serpent fell to the ground, its body twitching one last time before it died.


    "A young tree viper", Aiden commented as he walked towards it and picked it up.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Young?" Mirus gulped, looking at the four meter long snake.


    "Barely two years old", he opened its mouth and pointed at the fangs, "Doesn''t even have its adult teeth yet. See? No poison."


    Cecile practically choked at his words.


    "Poison?! Why would a snake of that size even need poison?!"


    "To fight prey bigger and stronger than it, of course." Lyall looked at her as if she was stupid.


    His words left her speechless.


    Aiden took one of the knives off his belt and started expertly gutting and skinning while the other kept watch. Before long he had a neat package of meat wrapped in snake skin.


    "Was it Jyl or Solon who fought that tree viper?" asked Arick.


    "Solon", Alcaeus replied, "Fighting in the treetops is his specialty. And knowing Jyl, she''s probably farther out."


    "Will she be alright? Being away from the group sounds risky."


    Lyall snorted. "There''s nothing this close to the edge that could possibly threaten her."


    "Each of our first hunts were much deeper into the forest. The worst you could run into here is perhaps an adolescent wolf or bear of one of the weaker species." Alcaeus elaborated.


    "How dangerous would a tree viper be rated?" Mirus joined the conversation, his curiosity finally getting the best of him.


    "They''re tricky to rate. In a straight fight an adult viper is about as dangerous as a lone direwolf. However, if they catch you by surprise from above, which is how they usually hunt, your chances drop significantly."


    "You also have to consider that the older they are, the tougher their scales become", Rin added a bit shyly.


    "Indeed", nodded Alcaeus, "A fifty year old viper is on a completely different level compared to a ten year old viper."


    The group kept travelling at a decent pace. Except for the tree viper, which became lunch, they didn''t run into any beasts.


    As the shadows started to lengthen they set up camp between the thick roots of an ancient tree. A campfire was constructed, with around it several small shelters made of sticks and leaves. Using the plants and herbs collected during the day, Rina created a thick soup.


    One type of herb was lit on fire and left along the edges of the camp, in order to dilute their scent, as the hunters explained.


    At one point, Jyl returned, carrying a bag of beast hide filled with meat. It was cut into small portions and roasted over the fire to supplement the soup.


    After a satisfying dinner, most went to sleep immediately, leaving Aiden, Arick and Evelyn to take the first watch.

 Chapter 9: Nightly talk

    The night was pitch black, only the embers of their campfire provided the three some light.


    Surrounded by that absolute darkness, not knowing what was lurking, Arick was having trouble keeping his calm, so instead he decided to distract himself.


    "Where did the huntress go off to this time?" he asked.


    "Jyl? She probably found herself a place to sleep near the outside of the camp", responded Aiden, "She dislikes having her vision obscured by the fire."


    "It seems I acquired quite the peculiar subordinate", Arick chuckled.


    Her skills were undeniable. However, he was unsure whether she would be able to fit in once they returned to Black Mountain. From what he''d seen, the way of life of his city compared to their village was just so incredibly different.


    "That reminds me. What did you mean when you said ''he will have to deal with her from now on''?"


    Aiden grinned mischievously.


    "Exactly what it sounds like. Jyl is very independent, and at times ridiculously stubborn. You must have noticed by now, she always tends to do her own thing. It takes some getting used to."


    "She is generally well liked around the village," Evelyn added, it was only the second time Arick had heard her speak, "but some people tend to have issues with her personality."


    "Similarly, there are also certain people she absolutely can''t stand", he chuckled, "Though, you should be able to get along with her just fine."


    "Why do you think so?"


    "Trust me, you would have noticed. Plus, otherwise she would have never agreed to make this deal with you."


    "You know her well."


    "We''ve often hunted together. You need to be able to entrust your back to each other in those types of situations."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    His voice was filled with confidence, as if it was a matter of fact. What kind of experiences had they gone through? Arick could only guess. Though, from what he could tell after spending a day in the Great Forest, this was not an easy place to live. A snake that made an experienced warrior like Cecile pale, they considered easy prey. It wasn''t even considered a dangerous encounter, though it was still the edge of the Forest.


    "In a way, her beast name is perfect for her", he continued.


    "The grey wolf?" Arick asked.


    "A very dangerous beast." Aiden nodded. "Killing one on her first hunt earned her a lot of admiration.


    Most wolf species hunt in packs, but grey wolves are lone hunters. They use stealth to sneak up on their prey before launching a devastating attack on vital spots. Their senses are very sharp, it''s pretty much impossible to approach one unnoticed, and they are also intelligent, able to avoid traps and find holes in tactics."


    "And you''re saying the huntress is similar to one of those?"


    Evelyn was the one who responded. "The elders sometimes say one of the strange things of our village is how the hunters take on qualities of the beasts they hunt."


    Her words caused Aiden to laugh.


    "I''m pretty sure I know who those words came from."


    It was quite the interesting statement, Arick thought. "Are they true?" he asked, eager to find out more.


    "Perhaps", said Aiden, "For some more than others. A prime example would be Solon, who prefers the same habitat as the tree viper. Or Rina''s speed, which she trained specifically to be able to hunt a thunderfox. Alcaeus resembles direwolves in his preference for groups..."


    Evelyn snorted.


    "And Evelyn here is just as tenacious as a horned lion, though a lot less social. In the end, you could definitely say that our beast names tell more about the hunter, but not everything."


    "In a way, that reminds me of what Garm preaches about: you can''t judge someone while only knowing one aspect... Anyway, what I was wondering about. Why do you and your brother have the same beast name? Is it a coincidence or is it normal among family members?"


    "I suppose it is a valid question. In our case, it has to do with family. You see, there are different ways to hunt certain types of beasts that are often passed down from parents to children. So in some families the parents will choose a beast that makes the best challenge to test the child''s skills."


    "And for you that beast is a direwolf?"


    "Yes. Direwolves move in packs, so the challenge is to seclude one from the others. That is of course not the only way a beast name is decided. In Jyl''s case, she hunted the most dangerous beast she could find that corresponded with her specific skillset. For Evelyn, the choice was made for her. A pride of horned lions attacked the village in the year she was supposed to have her first hunt.


    Anyway, the hunting methods passed down are as varied as the beasts in the Forest, so each family tends to have their own traditions.


    Though, you''ll see that for yourself when we get to the village."


    Aiden grinned knowingly.

 Chapter 10: Predator and Prey

    Their journey through the Great Forest continued according to a steady rhythm: waking up at sunrise, cleaning up camp, eating breakfast, walking, lunch, more walking, making camp at sunset, dinner, sleeping and guard duty.


    The meals were always a combination of scavenged greens and beast meat, both acquired while travelling. For lunch they ate grilled pieces of meat supplemented with raw greens, dinner was thick soup, while breakfast consisted of leftovers.


    Morning was always the most dangerous time, which was why they hurried eachsunrise to leave as swiftly as possible. The hunters explained that most beasts searched for prey as soon as they awoke. This fact was easily confirmed by comparing the amount of attacks before and after midday.


    Throughout the journey everyone kept to a fixed role.


    Lyall was vanguard, whether in or outside of battle he led the charge. He made himself the example by taking the troublesome jobs, he kept everyone going by never showing weakness himself.


    Though Lyall acted as their leader, the one who made the decisions was Aiden. He always kept an eye on everything and everyone, assigned tasks, decided their tactics during battles, and determined when and where they would rest.


    Alcaeus was the emotional centrepoint, keeping moral high and resolving disputes. When someone wasn''t feeling well, he was the first to ask.


    Their rearguard, the one watching everyone''s back, was Evelyn. Her position required a lot of trust, yet it was never questioned. If necessary, she could keep back multiple opponents at once to allow her comrades the time to begin a counterattack.


    Rina was at the centre. Despite being shy to strangers, she was always available for conversation. During battles, her arrows and daggers never failed to hit their target, but her duties also consisted of cooking and taking care of injuries.


    Dealing with enemies from above was Solon''s task, he prevented surprise attacks from beasts that live in the trees. When not doing that, he hung around Evelyn, or spoke with Aiden or Jyl, though Cecile soon joined that list.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Mirus gravitated mainly between Aiden, Rina and Alcaeus, initiating conversations about as large a variety of topics as possible. He liked helping take care of injuries, while in battles he pinned opponents down using his agility and the versatility of his twin blades.


    When Cecile finally calmed down it didn''t take long for her to start mingling with the hunters. She often took part in contests of strength or skill, or discussed the pros and cons of using particular weapons against certain enemies.


    Arick very much enjoyed watching the interactions between the different members of their group. He also did his utmost to learn as much as possible about the habits and peculiarities of the village that raised these humans. In order to keep his promise with Jyl, he needed to know how he could help.


    Speaking of Jyl, he hadn''t seen her a whole lot since they entered the Forest. She travelled alongside them, but not exactly with them. Except during meals, they never saw her. It frustrated him that he had yet to see her fight and so could not accurately determine her fighting strength. The hunters seemed to find this fact amusing.


    It was about a week and a half before he finally saw her in action.


    Roughly an hour before midday they suddenly heard a reverberating roar. Everyone was immediately on full alert. Another followed quickly after, coming from directly ahead.


    "What do you think?" Lyall asked Aiden.


    "Let''s go take a look", was the reply.


    Rina beckoned Arick with an excited smile on her face, confusing him even more.


    "You''ll want to see this."


    They soon arrived at an open area, created because a gigantic tree prevented anything else from growing. There stood a three meter tall brown bear angrily roaring and flailing around. Multiple arrows decorated its fur, blood flowing from the wounds. They were all at least halfway embedded into a variety of vital points.


    The bear noticed them, momentarily stopping its movements to hatefully glare at them. In that blink of an eye, Arick noticed a dark figure falling from the tree above it.


    The beast dropped to the ground. On its neck stood Jyl, pulling her spear from the flesh it perforated. Not paying her audience any attention, she started skinning the bear.


    "Need some help?" Aiden offered.


    "If you would."


    Rina nudged Arick. "Impressive, right? How she makes it look so easy. Though, the only reason it lasted as long as it did, is because of its thick fur and tough hide."


    "It seems we''ll be eating Brown Bear the next few days!" Alcaeus laughed.

 Chapter 11: Welcome home

    Jyl weaved through the undergrowth at high speed, her senses alert, her eyes constantly searching.


    This morning she had found a pattern carved into a tree, which meant they were finally nearing the village!


    Patterns like these were used by hunters and guards to determine their distance and position. They were spread throughout the forest surrounding the village, each one different from the others, designed so that only those who were taught could decipher them.


    Of course, this included the seven hunters eager to return home.


    There had been no attacks on them since they entered the village''s sphere of influence. Obviously, the beasts could pose a threat and for that reason they were either hunted or driven out.


    This didn''t mean Jyl suddenly had nothing to do. Disregarding the fact that the chance of them running into a beast nonetheless wasn''t zero, there was still the matter of scouting the area to search for more patterns or perhaps some guards.


    She really hoped she would run into guards, they could warn the villagers of their arrival beforehand. If they walked into the village just like that, especially with three demons accompanying them, it would turn into a mess. She wasn''t looking forward to being swamped by curious villagers.


    Though, if it did turn out like that, she would snatch Arick and go talk to her grandfather while the others kept everyone distracted.


    That seemed like a good plan, Lyall also wouldn''t be able to interfere that way. Despite him not being open about it, she could still sense his disapproval in the way he treated Arick.


    Changing direction, she moved to the group''s other flank.


    How would her grandfather react? Even without Lyall in the equation, the chances of him just accepting her leaving were small. Of course, he wouldn''t outright forbid it either, since she already made the promise. She wondered what he would come up with.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Another pattern caught her eye. Briefly studying it, she calculated that, at the pace they were travelling, the village should come into sight before nightfall.


    Jyl was eager for that moment.


    After informing Aiden, and consequently cheering up the other hunters, she once again split from the group to continue scouting.


    It wasn''t even half an hour later when she heard noises from ahead.


    Swiftly and silently she scaled a tree. Hiding amongst the leaves she travelled from branch to branch, drawing closer unnoticed.


    A group of guards from the village. She recognized the two walking in front, they were retired hunters who were now responsible for teaching the younger generation. Behind them walked half a dozen teenagers, clad in the simple leathers characteristic of aspiring hunters. These younglings would probably be having their naming ceremony next year and were in the middle of their mandatory guard duty.


    Time to shake them up a little.


    Taking one arrow from her quiver, she quickly carved a simple pattern into it. Then she readied her bow, making sure to be just conspicuous enough for the veteran hunters to notice.


    The teenagers yelped when an arrow suddenly pierced the ground, right in the middle of their sloppy formation. One of the teachers chuckled in amusement, the other pulled the arrow out.


    "Had that been an enemy attack someone might be dead", he lectured, "You should pay attention to your surroundings, then you might have seen it coming."


    He showed the pattern to his colleague.


    "Who do you think it is? There shouldn''t be any hunting parties returning from this direction."


    "Hunting parties would have no need to do something like this. Surely you realized who our archer is."


    "You mean..." He grinned happily, immediately motioning for the group to continue walking, though he adjusted their course.


    Soon the two groups met, followed by a happy reunion as one of the teachers pulled Rina into a hug.


    Leaving the father and daughter be, the other retired hunter addressed the returning group.


    "It''s good to see you all again", he smiled, "With how long you''ve been gone, some were beginning to give up hope. And... you''ve brought guests?"


    "Are those wings?" one of the teenagers gawked at Cecile.


    His teacher slapped the back of his head. "Don''t stare at people like that. Where are your manners?" He turned to face her. "My name is Cane the Earthdrake, a pleasure to meet you. You are demonkind, I presume?"


    "You are correct. I am Cecile Bloedveer, the pleasure''s all mine."


    "How about we do introductions and explanations while we walk?" Aiden interjected.


    The man nodded. "You two, go inform the elders. We should arrive at the village this evening."


    Hidden nearby, Jyl was smiling widely as the two scurried off.


    They were almost home.

 Chapter 12: The feast

    When they arrived, the sky already dark red, the chief elder stood waiting for them.


    He welcomed them home enthusiastically, and practically pulled them through the gate into the village.


    "We''re having a feast tonight!" he informed happily. "You all are the guests of honour, so make sure you show up!" A glare was directed at Jyl, who had joined the group a couple minutes earlier. "Especially you! No disappearing acts this time!"


    "Of course, our guests are also welcome to attend. Though I would like a couple words with you first, if you don''t mind."


    While the chief elder led the three demons to town hall, the hunters all hurried home. They had been away for over two months, so they all wanted to be reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible.


    The roads were lively. A constant stream of people travelled to and fro, carrying all kinds of articles to prepare for the feast. Long tables were put together, fires were lit, food was prepared. Soon the central square was filled with excited voices and enticing smells.


    A group of musicians played their instruments, people gathering around them to dance and sing. Children were allowed up past their bedtime, while their parents searched for friends to converse with. Teenagers decided to test their luck, asking their crush to dance. Hunters bragged about their latest kills. Elders discussed which of their grandchildren was the most talented. Fights were started and broken up.


    When the ''guests of honour'' arrived, the feast was already good and well underway.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Though, no one was bothered by this. They immediately joined in: singing, dancing, eating, fighting, talking and generally having fun.


    The villagers quickly swarmed them, asking for a story. The strangers too were soon immersed in the merrymaking, the differences in their appearance and their initial awkwardness attracting plenty of attention.


    "You should have seen their faces when they entered the Forest for the first time!" Alcaeus told the tale to any who wanted to hear.


    "Come on, let''s go dance." Rina dragged her boyfriend towards the musicians.


    "Serving under the emperor are the four lords, each ruling ..." Mirus explained to Aiden, the two sitting in a calmer corner of the square.


    "Who''s next?" Cecile called to the hunters, ready to test her mettle against them. Evelyn and Solon watched from a couple meters away as Lyall came forward.


    He raised his spear and flashed a grin. "I think it''s about time I even the score."


    Near the head of one of the tables sat Arick and the chief elder, still deep in conversation. The elder, whose name was Daren and who was Aiden and Alcaeus'' grandfather, was very interested in the state of the world outside the Forest. Most of all, he was worried his people would get caught up in the war, like the seven who had been taken.


    "At the time, most of our more experienced hunters were away, dealing with a wandering Crimson Tiger. To this day, I don''t know whether I should count us lucky or unlucky for that coincidence. It meant we didn''t have enough manpower to fight back, but at the same time, I am unsure whether, unprepared as we were, fighting back would have ended well. More might have been taken, or killed.


    In the end, the soldiers were in a hurry, so they took the capable hunters remaining in the village and left. I still regret not being able to do anything then."


    Arick listened in silence as elder Daren recalled what happened that day. This man had been forced to watch as his village''s young adults were taking, unable to do anything. Among them were his own grandsons!


    It made him all the more determined to fulfil his end of the deal.

 Chapter 13: Grandpa

    The feast continued the entire night. Despite this, when the sun rose everyone went back to work. Those who had nothing urgent to do, mainly the hunters and the adolescents, cleaned up the square.


    It amazed Arick that this all happened as if it was natural. No one complained, no one needed to take charge.


    Jyl also helped, having once again appeared out of nowhere, only to be berated by elder Daren for not having attended the feast.


    "I did come," she responded dryly, "though you never specified how long I should stay."


    An exasperated sigh escaped the chief elder.


    "Once you''re done here, go visit your grandfather. He was really disappointed you didn''t go see him yesterday."


    Walking away, he grumbled under his breath: "I should just let him handle her. Though, she probably got if from him in the first place. Urgh."


    Half an hour later, Jyl approached a small home near the outer edge of the village, dragging a confused Arick with her, and followed closely by Lyall.


    Without hesitating, she opened the door and walked inside. An old man with silver hair was sitting at the table, sipping tea as he watched them enter.


    "Hello, grandpa", said Lyall.


    The man turned to face them, though Jyl knew he had noticed their arrival long before they even opened the door. His eyes lingered on Arick, slightly narrowing.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Come, sit", he invited, "Daren and Alcaeus have already told me parts of the story, but I would prefer to hear your side of things."


    The living room consisted of two benches covered in pelts on either side of the old wooden table, a window showing the field bordering the house, and a bunch of hunting trophies lining the walls.


    Jyl knew much of thehistorybehind the pelts, claws and scales her grandfather had collected over the years. He would tell the stories to her over and over when she was younger, teaching her about the forest and its beasts through them.


    "Hear it from Arick and Lyall", she said, "I will make some more tea."


    With that, she excused herself, leaving the three men in uncomfortable silence.


    When Jyl returned, Arick was busy explaining their deal. Ignoring Lyall and her grandfather''s expressions, she filled everyone''s cups with sweetroot tea and took a seet.


    Lyall''s emotions were easy enough to read, but her grandfather kept his expression neutral.


    When Arick finished speaking, silence descended. All eyes were locked on her grandfather, waiting for his reaction, some more patiently than others. After a minute or two, Lyall couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Grandpa! We can''t just let him take her!"


    His aggresive words failed to incite a reaction from Arick. Jyl suspected that had been his goal, get the demon angry so her grandfather would disapprove of him. Though, if he thought that would work, he was underestimating about everyone in the room.


    It earned him a glare from Jyl anda hit over the head.


    "Have you not been taught manners?" reprimanded her grandfather.


    "But grandpa!"


    "She has already made a promise. We can''t justforce her to break it, that would be unacceptable."


    He sipped some tea.


    "That being said, I cannot trust my only granddaughter to someone I don''t trust. Let''s see... How about a naming ceremony? If you obtain a beast name, then at least I know you''re skilled enough."


    Arick was stunned, but a quick glance at Jyl told him she had no qualms with her grandfather''s condition. There was no backing out.


    It seemed he would be staying a bit longer, whether that was a good or a bad thing he didn''t know.

 Chapter 14: Past and future

    After Jyl, Lyall and Arick left, chief elder Daren went to visit. As the chief elder he controlled much of the daily life in the village, so he should always be aware of what is going on.


    Or that was the excuse he gave, in fact he was just curious.


    "Good morning, Harald."


    "Wipe that smile off your face, Daren, I''m not in the mood."


    "I can tell."


    He watched as his friend poured himself some more of his favourite tea, supporting his chin with one hand, a scowl on his face.


    "So it''s true Jyl will be leaving with the demons?"


    "Yes." Harald''s voice was a mix of anger and sadness. "Though I''m not sure why you still ask, I''m sure you already heard the whole story from your grandsons."


    Daren shrugged.


    "Is it not polite to pretend I don''t know?"


    "Where did you hear that from?" With a snort he glared at the chief elder, but the only response he got was an amused smirk.


    "So, how did you manage to postpone their departure?"


    "... How did you know?"


    "Please, who do you think I am? We''ve known each other since we were children. Not to mention, I would''ve done the same thing."


    "Of course you would have. And then Aiden would find ways to thwart your plans, while Alcaeus puts half the village against you."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "That''s about right." Both grandfathers smirked.


    "A naming ceremony." Harald answered the earlier question.


    Daren was stunned. "You''re going to put that demon Arick through a First Hunt? That''s ... actually not a bad idea."


    The man across him narrowed his eyes. "You are not thinking in the same direction I am. I do wonder what kind of shemes go through your head."


    "It''s nothing in particular special. Just, this should help everyone accept this whole arrangement more."


    "In what way?" Putting down the cup, he furrowed his brows in confusion.


    "You might have just thought this up as a way to buy time, but for this village a naming ceremony is something of great importance. It symbolizes that someone is strong enough to survive out there in the forest, that they can be trusted to protect their own lives, and the lives of others."


    "I know, what does this have to do with Arick?"


    "You realize why Jyl decided to take him up on his offer, yes?"


    "To protect the village, and to get the others back home." Harald was getting more and more confused.


    "You are a great hunter, but you are really clueless about these sorts of things", Daren chuckled.


    "With the war going on, there is no telling whether our village could get caught up in it. By the mountains and the sky, we have already had some people taken from us. What your granddaughter is trying to do, is get us an ally. To acquire someone who could help us out if it turns out to be necessary.


    But will our people accept outside help so easily? We have been separated from the world outside the forest for far too long. If Arick goes through a naming ceremony however..."


    "He will be accepted into the village as one of our own", Harald finished, understanding where this was going.


    "Exactly! We need to bring this before the other elders as soon as possible."


    "So I unknowingly helped them out."


    "Regardless of what you would have done, you know Jyl would never have backed down from her decision." Daren held pity in his eyes. He could only imagine how difficult it must be for his old friend.


    "Yeah, I know. That doesn''t mean I like seeing her go."


    "She got that from you, that stubbornness and that determination. It makes me remember that time you almost got yourself killed when we were ambushed by an elder tree viper."


    Both pair of eyes landed on a large dark green scale lining the wall.


    "What was I supposed to do", he snorted, "Let all those younglings get killed? We both know I had the best chance of stalling the beast and making it out alive."


    "See what I mean." Daren laughed.

 Chapter 15: Training I

    In a remotecornerof the village sounds of metal hitting metal rang out.


    Lyall and Arick, both with their spear in hand, clashed again and again. They were covered in sweat, a testimony of how long they had been at it already, but also of how intense their little spar had been.


    By the side-lines stood Jyl and Harald, patiently observing.


    "He''s pretty good", Harald admitted, "His movements are sharp and controlled, he has a good read on the situation, however..."


    Jyl nodded.


    He was too stoic. This way of fighting was more fitting of a battlefield where there was little room to evade. Against beasts however, you couldn''t afford to get hit.Even if the blow didn¡¯t outright crush you, the chances of it being poisonous, or able to track you through a blood trail you leave behind, are not something you want to risk.


    Evasion was crucial, especially for the solo hunt Arick would have to undertake. There would be nobody to help him if he got hurt. He would have to leave and return on his own.


    "And then there''s his stealth", said Jyl, causing both of them to sigh.


    Disregarding his ability with the spear, his hunting skills were pathetic. Even a ten year old aspiring hunter could outdo him when it came to stealth, instinct or agility. If they sent him out into the forest in his current state, he would succumb to the first beast he stumbled across,before it even came to a fight.


    "He''s been trained to fight against people, not beasts", Harald determined.


    He glanced at his granddaughter, who was studying the fight with furrowed brows and determined eyes. To his own annoyance, Daren had assigned her to prepare Arick for the First Hunt. He understood why, but that didn''t mean he was particularly happy with the arrangement. Not to mention the fact that their fighting styles were completely different, which was why they had asked Lyall to spar with him.


    On the other hand, Jyl didn''t seem bothered by the whole thing. This was her first time training someone, and Harald could tell she was determined to do her very best.


    She had asked Rina to teach him about the plants and beasts in the forest, and it didn''t take long for that other demon named Mirus to join them during those little sessions. Lyall and Aiden had been roped in to help him in learning different battle techniques designed for fighting different types of beasts. The practical classes Jyl taught herself. She would head into the forest with him to give him a feel for everything he was taught. And also to ''scare him to death in an attempt to teach him'' as Arick put it.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    When the black winged demon had first told him about Jyl''s teaching methods, Harald had been unable to keep back his laughter, ruining the serious image he had attempted to project.


    On the other end of the field Aiden and Alcaeus were teaming up against Cecile. Using her axe and shield, she managed to hold both of them off at the same time. Though, they were giving her more trouble each time they tried.


    Despite Daren telling him to keep an eye out, the three demons were fitting in quite well. Even the obvious differences in appearance didn''t discourage the curious villagers. In fact, the horns weren''t even considered particularly special, as there were many hunters who liked to dress in the pelts, scales or feathers of beasts they had hunted,and wore accessories made of claws, teeth, horns or beaks. On the contrary, it was the demons who sometimes lookedstrangely at the villagers.


    Jyl clapped her hands, signalling the end of the fight. Both Arick and Lyall were breathing heavily, but they didn''t let their fatigue show in their posture. Harald couldn''t help but nod in approval at that, it was important never to show a beast weakness or it could make use of it.


    "We should go eat", she said, before turning around to leave.


    "How did I do?" Arick asked his opponent.


    "You''re still defending far too much", Lyall lectured, "If the thing attacking you wasn''t my spear, but a lion''s claw, there''s no way you would get out of it unscathed. You need to learn to evade more."


    "Many beasts out there are far larger than you", Harald added, "They also have more power behind their strikes. However, if you make use of their size by circling them, you can gain an advantage."


    Their responses got a sigh in return. It had been a week and there wasn''t much progress, so it wasn''t difficult to determine what worried him. As far as Harald was concerned, the longer they stayed the better, but that obviously wasn''t an option for the three demons. They had their own lives to get back to, and, even more pressingly, the war.


    "Don''t worry too much", Aiden tried to cheer him up, "You have a good teacher in Jyl, and you have the capabilities to learn."


    "She is definitely a good hunter, but honestly, I am not really sure what to make of her teaching methods."


    Lyall smirked. "She got those from grandpa, you know. He taught us to stay alert by sneaking up on us at the most unexpected times. Though I''m pretty sure he also enjoyed scaring us by popping up out of nowhere."


    Harald snorted at the accusation.


    "It worked, did it not? You should be glad I took the time, you brat, if it was up to that father of yours you wouldn''t even be able to sneak up on a hibernating bear, nevermind a hunting one."


    "Let''s go, let''s go!" Cecile shoved them out of the way. "Rina is cooking lunch today, and I for one don''t want to be late!"

 Chapter 16: Training II

    Arick and Jyl were once again at the corner of the village, though alone this time.


    Jyl was holding her bow, a basket of arrows tipped with sand bags on the ground next to her. She put one on her bowstring, causing Arick to back away.


    "You''re not going to shoot those at me, are you?"


    "Evade", was the response he got, immediately followed by the sharp sound of an arrow flying at him.


    He quickly stepped sideways, only barely in time.


    Before he could further question her teaching methods, more arrows were fired in his direction.


    Though she only aimed at his limbs, he could barely keep up, being hit more and more often. As a demon his body was a bit stronger than any human, but that didn''t seem to help him at all.


    He had to both keep an eye on the arrows and his surroundings in order to determine how to evade. It got even more difficult when she started shortening the interval between shots.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    What was she trying to accomplish with this? The whole thing frustrated Arick.


    His thoughts had distracted him, and by the time he noticed an arrow was aimed at his chest.


    On instinct he opened his wings and pushed off.


    Hovering two meters above the ground, he wondered if she would stop now. Humans were unable to fly, so she would likely forbid him from doing so.


    Instead, when he looked at her, a smile was present on her face.


    And two more arrows were headed his way.


    Silently cursing, he manoeuvered through the air, avoiding them with more ease than he had before. He was faster when flying after all.


    Jyl kept shooting, making it more and more difficult for him to manoeuver. She trying to force him down, he realized.


    Utilizing all the tricks he knew, he ducked and weaved through the waves of arrows. She was very good at this, though, forcing him into corners, pushing him down.


    He grit his teeth and persevered.


    About half an hour later she finally let up. Arick was spent, his wings felt sore.


    "That was definitely an improvement", Jyl said, "But why did you not fly from the beginning? You are so much faster in the sky."


    "Was I allowed to? Humans do not have wings after all."


    She furrowed her brows. "So what? The flying beasts will not obediently sit on the ground when fighting land-bound beasts either. You have wings, use them."


    Arick smiled. He really did like the way she thought.


    "Now then, let us head to the forest, you have more training to do."


    But he wished she would be a bit more merciful as a teacher.

 Chapter 17: Exploring the village

    One particular afternoon, Alcaeus ran into Arick on the street.


    "Well, well", he smirked, "It''s nice to see you again and all, but aren''t you usually out training with Jyl around this time?"


    "Usually, yes. I am currently attempting to prolong my break."


    "I didn''t take you for the type to slack", Alcaeus'' eyes narrowed in amusement.


    "Because I am not", Arick responded. "However, it has been two weeks and I have barely had any time to explore the village."


    "I take it Jyl is being hard on you. How about I show you around? I doubt it''ll take long for her to find you, though."


    Having said that, he lead Arick further into the village. Alcaeus halted regularly, either giving explanations or talking to someone they passed along the way.


    The hunter was very popular, everyone eagerly initiated conversation with him. Whether it was the situation at home, the movements of beasts in the forest, difficulties craftsmen had encountered or simply small talk about the weather, Alcaeus always showed the same amount of interest and was happy to give advice and emotional support.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    No wonder Aiden had commented on his sociability before.


    They passed by the blacksmiths'' forges, the tailors, the central square and town hall, they spoke to some farmers and some hunters, until they ended up at a training field.


    Unlike the remote area Jyl and Arick used, the place was filled with people.


    Archers were practising in one corner, duels were going on here and there, aspiring hunters were being trained by retired veterans.


    "This is where most of the hunters and guards spend their free time, but everyone is welcome", Alcaeus explained.


    "I see Cecile is also here."


    "She has been coming here regularly. With how she was acting at the beginning of our trip, I honestly didn''t expect her to fit in so well."


    "She does love fighting", concurred Arick, a smirk on his face.


    "And she''s good at it. Some unmarried hunters have been eyeing her recently."


    "Oh? Is strength looked upon highly in a partner?"


    "Of course. Have you forgotten where we live?"


    Arick nodded in understanding.


    "Speaking of which, I see Solon is following after Evelyn again."


    His observation caused Alcaeus to laugh.


    "Don''t mention this to them, but there has been a bet going on as to when he''ll finally confess to her.


    Anyway, let''s keep moving, Jyl should be onto our trail by now. Shall we visit Mirus next?"


    "Sounds good."


    They found him at the healer''s hall, accompanied by a white haired elder in spotless robes, discussing herbs.


    Alcaeus blinked in astonishment at the discovery. "I didn''t think he would be interested in medicine too."


    "Do not underestimate his curiosity", laughed Arick, "At this point, I believe there is nothing he is not interested in."


    Suddenly the hunter stiffened, slowly turning to look behind him.


    "Seems like time''s up", he whispered.

 Chapter 18: The start of the hunt

    Jyl watched as Arick checked his equipment one last time. He was trying to hide it, but she could tell he was nervous.


    It was understandable. She too had felt that way when she set off on her First Hunt, and she''d had much longer to train and prepare.


    Three weeks was nowhere near enough, but time was running out. The demons needed to leave for home within the week. Black Mountain they called it, capital of Obsidian, ruled by lord Garm Zwart. She couldn''t deny she was curious.


    With a shake of her head she put the topic aside. There were more important things to focus on right now.


    She had done her utmost to prepare him, and he had definitely improved, more than expected even, but he was still nowhere near the level required of a hunter.


    However, he had a clear advantage the villagers didn''t. Well, two actually.


    The first was of course his ability to fly. Those wings added greatly to his speed and manoeuvrability, to a degree she could barely keep up, even when he was limited by the trees. Surprisingly, it even aided his stealth a little, since he didn''t need to watch out where he put his feet.


    It had confused her when he initially showed no signs of exploiting this advantage. She guessed it had something to do with the fact that even among demons those who could fly were rare.


    The second was his magic, an ability innate to all demons. Just as he didn''t fly to keep it fair, he treated his control over wind as a trump card. Honestly, it had taken quite the effort before he was willing to show it, nevermind use it during practise.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    If he was so reluctant, it made her wonder why he had cast his magic when they first met. Perhaps he had wanted to impress her, or maybe test her? Regardless, it was a powerful ability, when used at the right moment.


    Having finally finished all preparations, Arick walked out the gate, and into the forest. All his acquaintances had come to see him off, but as soon as he disappeared from sight most of them dispersed. They couldn''t help, and they didn''t know when he''d be back, so what was the use of staying?


    Eventually, only four people remained: Jyl and Harald, Daren, and Cane.


    "Shall we go?" Daren asked, motioning for the other three to follow.


    It wasn''t the village he was walking towards though, but the Forest.


    This was kept a secret, but there were always a couple of experienced hunters to keep track of someone''s first hunt. The aspiring hunter wasn''t allowed to know this, since it gave them a false sense of security. After all, they were only here to watch, they could not interfere in any way.


    The main purpose was making sure nobody cheated, and to bring the body back in case they failed, but it was also used to judge talent and ability in a real life-and-death situation.


    Usually the watchers consisted of three or four hunters, of which at least one elder, one person involved in the person''s training, and of course no one who was part of their family.


    Jyl remembered her own First Hunt very well. She hadn''t known about all this back then, but Daren had complained afterwards about the trouble they''d gone through to both keep up and stay hidden. It was something her grandfather liked bragging about to the other elders, even though he hadn''t been allowed to come himself.


    The four of them sped through the undergrowth, attempting to keep up. Her grandfather and Daren were having some troubles though, they weren''t as fit as they used to be.


    "Go on ahead", Daren said, "We''ll catch up."


    She and Cane nodded.


    It would only take a day to reach the territory of the beast Jyl and Harald had recommended to Arick, and then the hunt would begin.

 Chapter 19: His First Hunt I

    The first day had passed without any difficulties. Since he had still been within the village''s sphere of influence, no beasts had caused him trouble. Though, that would change from now on.


    He cleaned up his camp as soon as he woke up, and burned one of those scent-dispersing herbs the hunters liked to use. It would keep beasts off his trail, so Aiden had recommended he use it every time before and after spending the night somewhere.


    For breakfast he took out some dried meat and fruit. The rations he''d been given were only enough for half a dozen meals, so he would need to scavenge some food of his own.


    After eating he once again took to the sky.


    It took some effort to keep his mind from wandering. Travelling alone was after all quite boring, but it meant he had to stay alert even more. With only one pair of eyes and ears it would be easier for danger to sneak up on him.


    At this point he''d even prefer Jyl''s grandfather for company, despite the man''s obvious dislike of him. It''d gotten better, but as soon as that one topic in particular came up...


    Groaning, Arick reminded himself to stay attentive.


    Any minute now he would be arriving at the hunting grounds of the beast he was targeting. After that, it was a matter of luck and patience. He hoped to come across it as quickly as possible, then he could fight it and go back.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Daren had explained to him why this was necessary, so he hadn''t objected. However, that didn''t change the fact that this forest made him nervous. The was the Great Forest, after all, it could hardly be compared to the oak and beech forests of Obsidian, where the most dangerous animal was a normal wolf or bear.


    Yet he was on his way to battle a bird of prey the size of a building. One of the monstrous animals that are called ''beasts'', inhabitants of this Forest.


    On the other hand, this dangerous environment was why the Village and its hunters interested him so, why he had decided to accompany Jyl to her home.


    Movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention.


    Two green mice the length of his forearm were scurrying among fallen leaves, apparently searching for food. Despite walking around busily, not a sound could be heard from them.


    These little beasts were at the bottom of the food chain, and were only able to live here because of their advanced stealth. They were also the preferred prey of his target.


    That posed the question: should he continue on, or stalk these two in hopes they attract it?


    He quietly touched down on a branch. For now he would wait, it would be more productive than wandering around randomly.


    While trying to stay as still as possible, he passed the time observing the mice. Patience was not usually something he had trouble with, but after a couple hours the boredom threatened to overwhelm him.


    He wished that bird would show up already.


    Shaking his head side to side, he attempted to regain focus. It took a couple tries before he managed to calm himself down. Though, how much longer would he be able to keep this up? Perhaps he should move on after all.


    It was at that moment that a blur passed through his field of vision, taking one of the mice with it.


    He smirked. Speak of the rat and you''ll see its tail.

 Chapter 20: His First Hunt II

    Ignoring the panicking leftover mouse, Arick unfolded his wings and took off.


    He shot up into the sky, silently rising abovethe bird of prey. It was leisurely sailing through the air, its spoils hanging lifelessly in its claws.


    It was the king of the sky in this region. There was nothing around here that could properly oppose it, so why bother being cautious? Though, that confidence in itself allowed Arick to approach closer and closer, so he wasn''t about to complain.


    He let his wings take him a bit higher and readied his spear. With the element of surprise on his side, his chances of ending this quickly were looking well.


    Wait... Not yet... Now!


    He dove down spearhead first, with the weapon aimed at the bird''s neck.


    The air pressed against his body as he descended, it was both a constricting and exhilarating experience, but he didn''t let himself be distracted.


    Just as he became convinced of his victory, the bird of prey noticed something wrong. It dropped its prey and closed its right wing, moving its neck out of the way in the nick of time.


    The maneouver didn''t succeed completely though. Instead of the neck, his spear tore through its left wing close to the bone. The bird''s balance was thrown out of whack.


    Arick pulled his spear back and spread his wings. He steadied himself in the air, preparing for his next attack. The bird was having trouble, not paying him much attention, so he took the opportunity as it presented itself.


    Instead of the uncontrollable dive from before, he descended in a curve, approaching his target from behind. This way he stayed in its blind spot, while also presenting him with a larger area to hit.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Now that it was aware of him, attempting to attack its neck wasn''t worth the risk.


    Finally it regained its balance, though its wing was still giving it trouble. Arick estimated the bone must be at least fractured, the fact it could even stay in the air was impressive.


    But not unexpected.


    He stabbed his spear into its back, causing the bird of prey to screech loudly in pain.


    Immediately he backed off again. His attack hadn''t done as much damage as he had expected. Without the dive, it held much less force, and he had also accidentally hit its spine, which had hurt it, but was strong enough to block the spearhead.


    He ducked out of the way as it started a counterattack, swiping at him with its claws. Luckily its speed and accuracy were diminished because of the wounds, but he still found no opportunity to lash out with an attack of his own.


    The situation remained unchanged for several minutes, and Arick noticed his opponent was slowing down.


    In the meantime, he had gotten used to its unusual combat style. Until now he had always fought against people, whether demon or human they fought similarly, but this beast was different. It was also far more used to battling in the sky than any opponent he had faced before.


    All this made him extra careful during the fight, even when it became evident it was having more and more trouble with its wing.


    But he was not the only one who was paying attention. Noticing its own disadvantage, the bird fled.


    It let itself drop a dozen meters, repositioned, and flew at its now diminished top speed above the tree tops.


    Arick chased after it, using hit-and-run attacks until it eventually succumbed, crashing into the canopy.


    A quick thrust with his spear to make sure it was really and truly dead, before he dropped to the ground himself.


    He was exhausted. The hunt had taken several hours, completely depleting his stamina. He laid on his back, breathing heavily, but his senses were still alert, this was the Great Forest after all.


    Half an hour later, he rose to his feet and plucked the silver-coloured feathers from the bird''s head. Since he''d only had three weeks to prepare, they had skipped the skills necessary to procure useful parts from the beast, instead allowing him to just bring these prominent parts of its appearance back.


    Carefully rolling them in some cloth and putting them in his backpack, he checked the sun''s position. It was time to head back.

 Chapter 21: Naming ceremony

    Chief elder Daren stood on an elevated stage in the middle of the central square. A mantle of brown fur hung from his shoulders and his left hand held a bone staff. The multitude of accessories made from claws and teeth tinkled every time he moved.


    On either side of him sat Harald and Cane, also dressed up for the occasion. Harald wore a cloak of pitch black fur with silvery tiger stripes, while Cane had donned a grey-brown scale armour and a head ornament with four horns on top.


    Nearly the whole village had gathered around the platform, watching as Arick made his way towards the chief elder.


    Arick himself did his best not to let his nervousness show. It wasn''t everyday that so many people stared at him at once. In fact, this was only the third time, the first being when he graduation from the military academy, the second when he was appointed leader of his own winged squad.


    Jyl, as the one responsible for teaching him, walked beside him, but only until they reached the platform. With an amused expression she pushed Arick forwards and upwards.


    "Go on", she wispered, "They won''t bite."


    After having glared at her for enjoying the situation, he ascended the stairs. Only to find Harald smirking at him as well. Really, like grandfather like granddaughter. Luckily, Daren seemed to be taking the whole thing more seriously. As he approached, the elder spread his arms and spoke:


    "Today a new hunter joins the ranks, having passed the test he was faced with, having killed a beast alone!"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Cheers erupted from the crowd, startling Arick with their intensity. He had realized this before, but the villagers were pretty excitable, they grabbed every opportunity to be merry and enjoy themselves.


    "And so," Daren continued once it was silent again, "as is the tradition, he shall be known by the beast''s name."


    Cane handed the chief elder acloak madeof brown feathers, its back decorated with seven familiar silver-coloured ones. Daren then laid it on Arick''s shoulder, giving him an encouraging smile at the same time.


    "Arick, the silver-crowned falcon!"


    He cringed, both because of embarrassment from the bird''s name and the volume with which the crowd expressed their approval, earning him a chuckle from Daren.


    "Now, to celebrate!" the elder shouted. The villagers in response raised their voices even higher, something Arick hadn''t deemed possible.


    The elders dragged him off the stage and towards the main table, where food was already served and ready to be eaten.


    As they pulled him along, Arick noticed that Jyl was nowhere to be seen. Knowing her, she had sneaked out during the excitement. He wonder where she went during these occasions.


    Before he could let his thoughts drift off, Daren pushed him into the chair at the head of the table, while Harald shoved a large chunk of meat onto his plate.


    He frowned at the size of it. "I hope you do not expect me to finish that."


    "Of course", scoffed Harald.


    "According to tradition, the hunter gets the best parts of their own kill", Daren added smilingly.


    "Though tradition says nothing about sharing it", Alcaeus'' voice sounded out.


    Turning his head, Arick saw a group of people approaching, all of whom he knew. Alcaeus walked in front, followed by Aiden, Mirus, Cecile and Lyall, with Solon, Evelyn and Rina in the back.


    "Well then, we''ll leave the youngsters be", Daren excused himself, taking Harald with him into the crowd.


    "Congratulations on a succesful First Hunt", said Lyall.


    "Yeah, congratulations, silver-crowned falcon", Cecile teased him.

 Chapter 22: Celebration I

    "Yeah, congratulations silver-crowned falcon", Cecile teased him.


    Rina poked her in the back. "Don''t make fun of him. It''s a rarely acquired beast name, something to be proud of. By the way," she adressed Arick, "you''re wearing that wrongly."


    "What do you mean wrong?"


    "There are two parts." She hoisted the cloak off his shoulders and seperated it into a lower and upper part. The lower one was longer, reaching below his knees, but near his back it was shaped like an M. "This was created to accomodate for your wings." She put the two longer limbs underneath both his wings and connected them in front of his chest. "And this goes on top." The upper part was shorter, a reverse triangle shaped part to cover the area where his wings connected to his back, and a hood.


    "I am guessing this is not a common piece of clothing around here."


    Cecile snorted. "Her mother is a tailor, she ''borrowed'' me to create that. She wanted to know what would work."


    "Thank her for me, please", he told Rina, "And thank you for showing me this."


    "My pleasure", she responded happily.


    "What a strange ceremony though", remarked Mirus.


    "How so?" Aiden asked, motioning the others to take a seat as well.


    "I mean, it barely took half an hour, and the only thing that happened was Arick receiving that cloak and elder Daren proclaiming his beast name."


    "Isn''t that fine? Much better than those overly lenghty and needlessly ceremonial ones from back home."


    Arick smiled wryly. "Do you remember that hour long speech during graduation? We had to wear those heavy formal garbs while sitting under the hot midday sun."


    "Sounds troublesome", Alcaeus chuckled.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "It was", concurred Mirus, "That old man liked hearing his own voice too much, if you ask me. He was a great teacher though, all the stories he could tell. Did you know he was almost 450 years old?"


    This little piece of information shocked the hunters present.


    "450?!" Lyall shouted, his eyes wide.


    "I heard demons live longer than humans, but that''s more than I expected." Alcaeus managed to stay relatively calm in comparison.


    "Grandfather isn''t even a fifth of that age", wispered Aiden absent-mindedly.


    Cecile watched them with a raised eyebrow. "You didn''t know?Under normal circumstances a demon can easily become 300 years old."


    "How were we supposed to know? Before being forced to leave the village, we had only ever heard vague rumours about demons. And the only thing the army deemed necessary to tell us was that you were the enemy, evil creatures that needed to be killed."


    Alcaeus'' response caused a scowl to appear on Cecile''s face, while Mirus sighed.


    "Did you believe them?" asked Arick.


    "Believe them?" Lyall scoffed, "They practically kidnapped us!"


    "If it wasn''t for Jyl, and you, we might still be searching for a way to escape", added Solon.


    "Did you know?" Rina asked, drawing Arick''s attention, "Jyl chose to come along that day. If she had wanted to, she could have just stayed hidden among the treetops."


    "It was stupid of her, but also something she''d do regardless of anyone''s opinion." A sigh escaped Lyall.


    "She let herself fall from that branch, scaring the captain half to death", Alcaeus snickered, " "If you are taking them, you are taking me too", she said."


    "I don''t know if I should praise her bravery, or call her foolish", commented Cecile.


    Lyall nodded wholeheartedly. "Exactly! We could have taken care of ourselves, she was needed far more in the village."


    "The huntress said something like that too when we first met. Is it because of the war, perhaps?"


    The six hunters looked at each other, as if deciding who would answer. Aiden was the one who finally opened his mouth to speak.


    "Partially, but the main reason has to do with where we live."


    "The Great Forest? I was not under the impression you are having trouble with the beasts."


    "Not with the ones around here, no. However, there are far more dangerous ones deeper in, those that even our best hunters cannot easily deal with.


    Usually they stay within their territories and don''t bother us, but during especially harsh winters some head out in search for food."


    "It doesn''t happen very often, and usually we can hold them off well enough that they don''t deem us worth the trouble", Alcaeus continued, "However, almost fifteen years ago we were attacked by a pack of starving horned lions. They managed to sneak into the village under the cover of darkness. You see, the majority of beasts hunt during the day, so we weren''t expecting them.


    The village lost a lot of good people that night."

 Chapter 23: Celebration II

    "The village lost a lot of good people that night."


    "And you cannot afford to lose any more", Arick nodded, finally understanding the situation. He should have asked Jyl about it much earlier. After residing here for three weeks, he had started to take the peaceful demeanor of the villagers for granted.


    Quite the error, considering these people had to fight for survival on a regular basis. It made one wonder why they chose to live here at all, in a place even his own kind, despite their supposed superior constitution, avoided like aer.


    "Anyway, with the six of us back here, and once the army won''t be able to find us anymore, we''ll be fine", Rina commented, trying to lighten the mood.


    "Find you?" asked Mirus.


    "I guess you haven''t heard", responded Alcaeus, a gleam in his eyes Arick didn''t recognize. "The elders have decided we''ll be moving to a another location more to the south-east. There''s a split in the river there so it''s easily defendable."


    "You seem well prepared." Cecile whistled in approval.


    "Naturally. We have discovered several good locations over the years. You know, just in case the village is destroyed or in danger. It''ll take a few weeks to get everything up and running again, and we''ll need to avoid trade so we don''t give ourselves away, but it''s for the best. At least until you deliver on your end of the deal with Jyl." Aiden teasingly waved his finger at Arick, a smirk on his face.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I don''t like it!" Lyall grumbled, "It feels like we''re selling her off."


    "Here we go again...", mumbled Rina, before noticing some friends among the crowd and excusing herself.


    The others merely ignored him, already haven gotten used to him bringing out his displeasure whenever the opportunity arose. Lyall, too, quickly forgot he had even mentioned it as the conversation continued.


    "Has the village been forced to move in the past?" asked Mirus curiously.


    "It doesn''t happen all that often", Alcaeus pondered, "But if I remember correctly, grandpa experienced it once. Though I don''t recall the reason."


    Aiden nodded. "He only told us that story once, and grandfather was still pretty young at the time, so his own memory of it was pretty vague.


    Back then the village was located more to the north, closer to the kingdom, and we had better relations to nearby settlements. Though, from what he said, our traditions already differed too much, and the reason for moving back then had something to do with that."


    "Well," chuckled Alcaeus, "humans are not known for their easy acceptance of those who are ''different''. Our time with the army showed me that much."


    Cecile raised one eyebrow. "Quite a strange thing for a human to say himself. However make no mistake, it''s not like demons are that much different in the end."


    "That doesn''t bode too well", responded Aiden.


    "It is unfortunate, but there is a reason why the war has gone on for so long. Luckily, lord Garm has been trying to improve on this, and hate towards humans is lower in Obsidian than in most other regions."


    "Speaking of which, you''re leaving tomorrow?" Lyall asked.


    Arick nodded. "Tomorrow morning, to be exact. The three of us have been gone long enough. Not to mention that the return journey will take time as well."

 Chapter 24: Leaving the Village

    The sun had only just risen, still coloring the sky in the east with shades of orange.


    At the entrance to the village stood Jyl, dressed in her grey furs, with a pack slung over her shoulders and her spear in hand. Her quiver and bow were tied to her back in a way they were ready to be used anytime.


    Her three travel companions hadn''t arrived yet, but they were already on their way. She had seen them exiting their temporary homes on her way here. In the meantime she said goodbye in her own way to the village she had spent over twenty years of her life.


    She recalled her days strolling through the streets, she remembered the homes of every single one of her friends and acquaintances, and of course the forest surrounding it, which she knew like her own spear.


    This would be the last time she would ever see those sights after all. It wasn''t like she never expected to return to her village, but by then they would have moved, and everything would be different. This feeling, she could have never even imagined this a couple months ago.


    It just went to show you could never take something for granted, a sentiment she thought to have accepted long ago.


    She was shaken out of her thoughts when she noticed her friends, old and new, walking towards her. Arick acknowledged her presence with a slight nod, before continuing his conversation with Aiden.


    It had struck her as odd how quickly the eldest grandson of the chief elder had taken to the demons. But at the same time, Aiden''s curiosity towards the outside world was nothing new.Stolen novel; please report.


    On Arick''s other side walked Alcaeus, for once not in the midst of talking. Which was quite the rare occurrence. She didn''t deny he was charismatic, but the way he wormed his way into conversations with ease, and always deemed it necessary to add his own input, though usually quite interesting, made her want to avoid him more often than not. She wasn''t one for long dialogues.


    Lyall was missing. It didn''t surprise her, as he had come to say goodbye earlier in the morning. He had pulled her into an awkward hug, told her to take care of herself, pushed a gift into her hand, before turning around and practically running away. He was probably trying to keep himself from asking her to stay. It was endearing in its own way.


    Rina had decided to come as well, which was both surprising, and not all that strange. Jyl had never made much of an effort to befriend to cheery girl, especially since Rina tended to join larger hunting groups, while Jyl preferred only one or two companions she knew well, when she wasn''t allowed to go alone. But at the same time, the were around the same age, and had often trained together, so they were more than just ''acquaintances''.


    Evelyn and Solon walked in the back of the group, not that she expected anything else. The silent rearguard and her tree-dwelling shadow might be a bit older than of the rest of the group, but they had often hunted together. When up against a more challenging beast, there was no one better to watch your back, and their calm companionship was pleasant during extended travels.


    The other two demons followed behind Arick silently. Mirus rummaging through his pack, checking if he hadn''t left something, while Cecile was eagerly facing forward, probably happy to be going home. She had gotten to know them a bit better during their stay in the village, which would be a good thing once they arrived, since everything there would be foreign to her.


    Chief elder Daren and her grandfather were of course also present, walking up to the group from a different direction.


    Goodbyes and well wishes were quickly exchanged, as most of that had already been done yesterday, and the four prepared to go on their way.


    Arick and Cecile opened their wings, each grabbing a passenger, before ascending up into the sky.

 Character list (Arc 1: the Village)

    Jyl, the Grey Wolf


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Jyl, the Grey Wolf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">huntress</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">bow, spear</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village, Arick Zilverhoorn</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Arick Zilverhoorn


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Arick Zilverhoorn</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">winged demon</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, sword</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">wind</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">lord Garm Zwart</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3(5)</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Aiden, the Direwolf


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Aiden, the Direwolf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, heavy knife</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Lyall, the Black Bear


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Lyall, the Black Bear</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">black bear</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">heavy spear</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Rina, the Thunderfox


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Rina, the Thunderfox</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">bow, throwing daggers</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Evelyn, the Horned Lion


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Evelyn, the Horned Lion</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">multiple spears</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alcaeus, the Direwolf


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Alcaeus, the Direwolf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, heavy knife</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Solon, the Tree Viper


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Solon, the Tree Viper</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">knives and daggers</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Cecile Bloedveer


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Cecile Bloedveer</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">winged demon</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">axe and shield</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">fire</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">Arick Zilverhoorn</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3(5)</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Mirus


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Mirus</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">demon</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">dual blades</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">earth</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">Arick Zilverhoorn, general Gyrn Zwart</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    lord Garm Zwart


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Garm Zwart</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">lord Garm</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">demon</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">sword</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">earth</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">Obsidian region, demon emperor</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    general Gyrn Zwart


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Gyrn Zwart</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">general Gyrn</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">demon</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">two-handed sword</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">earth</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">lord Garm Zwart, Obsidian region</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    chief elder Daren, the Direwolf


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Daren, the Direwolf</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">chief elder</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, heavy knife</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    elder Harald, the Black Tiger


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Harald, the Black Tiger</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">grandpa, elder Harald</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, bow</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Cane, the Earthdrake


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Cane, the Earthdrake</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Alias</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    <td colspan="1">Race</td>


    <td colspan="2">human</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Weapon</td>


    <td colspan="2">spear, throwing daggers</td>


    <td colspan="1">Element</td>


    <td colspan="2">-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">Affiliation</td>


    <td colspan="5">the Village</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">strength</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">accuracy</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">patience</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">endurance</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">speed</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">knowledge</td>


    <td colspan="1">2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="1">constitution</td>


    <td colspan="1">4</td>


    <td colspan="1">versatility</td>


    <td colspan="1">5</td>


    <td colspan="1">sociability</td>


    <td colspan="1">3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Notes:


    - 1 = poor, 2 = beneath average, 3 = average, 4 = above average, 5 = excellent


    - All villagers have a minimum ''constitution'' and ''versatility'' of 4 because of the environment they inhabit.


    - Most villagers have a ''knowledge'' of 2 because they are seperated from the world outside the Great Forest.


    - All winged demons have a flight ''speed'' added between brackets.


    - All demons have a minimum ''constitution'' of 4 as a race characteristic, though those with poor health are an exception.


    - Everyone with a militairy background has a minimum ''strength'' and ''endurance'' of 4.


    - Magic ability is not included in the stats because not all charactershave it.


    - This list will be updated as the story progresses.

 Chapter 25: Travelling homewards

    The group of four, three demons, one human, flew high above the Great Forest, the trees passing below them swiftly, the clouds ever so much nearer.


    Jyl marvelled at the sight, the likes of which she could only compare to the time she had climbed the rock formation far south of her village. Her grandfather had taken her there to celebrate their last hunt together, for he had finally decided to retire, his age getting the best of him.


    She remembered staring absent-mindedly at the view, much like she was now, trying to imagine the beings living their lives far beneath her feet, and watching the clear blue sky above her head, reaching out as if she could touch it. That was definitely a day she would never forget.


    Though this time she was even higher up, and she could see even further, the mode of travel left much to be desired. Being carried like this was not only uncomfortable, but also left her feeling helpless. So despite the wondrous scenery, she preferred walking on her own two feet.


    Not that she planned on saying that to her companions. Especially considering how eager they were to get back to their homes. Flying was a lot faster than walking after all, despite taking regular brakes to rest.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    They would fly about two hours, then walk some time, before taking to the sky again.


    Mirus seemed comfortable enough being carried by Arick. In fact, she suspected this was not their first time travelling like this. He spent the time talking about any topic he could think off, to the point the others had soon lost interest. Except of course, when he managed to swallow another fly, then Cecile would smirk at him, and joke how many he could catch before the next stop.


    Luckily, they didn''t encounter any flying beasts, not that there were many this close to the northern edge, and while travelling on ground Jyl would always keep a close eye on everything. Her companions may have learned plenty during their time with the hunters, but they were still far from being able to survive in this forest on their own after all.


    It took five days for them to reach the end of the human kingdom, and from there on they travelled along the Endless Plains instead, as it was far safer. Though Jyl couldn''t help but miss the familiarity of the forest.


    The journey all together was pretty monotonous.


    One evening, as the group had just finished setting up camp, and the summer sun had barely touched the horizon, Arick called out:


    "Jyl, do you mind walking to the forest with me? I would like to talk with you about something."


    She slightly narrowed her eyes at his words. He had used her name, instead of ''huntress'', as he had taken to calling her since they had met. Whatever he had to say, it was probably important.


    Nodding, she followed him down the hill and into the trees.

 Chapter 26: The mark

    Once they passed the treeline Arick choose a spot on a thick fallen branch and sat down. Jyl, on the other hand, kept standing, watching him inquisitively. He seemed hesitant to talk about this subject, for whatever reason. She didn''t push him, instead keeping an eye on their surroundings.


    "We should be arriving at Obsidian''s borders within a few days", he commented, "And as you can likely imagine, humans are not exactly welcome. With the war going on and all."


    "Even though I am travelling with you?"


    He shook his head.


    "But there is a solution, is there not?" she conjectured, "Otherwise there was no point to our deal."


    Once again he hesitated. Was he worried she would back out despite everything? Or was it that that he preferred not having to resort to this measure?


    "Out with it", she said, her voice low. The sun had already started painting the landscape orange and she would not allow this matter to be delayed, especially seeing his apprehension.


    "There is an old practice, hardly ever used, but recognised by law, that allows a human to enter demon lands. It would require me to place a magic mark on you."


    She narrowed her eyes.


    "And what exactly would this ''magic mark'' do? It cannot be as simple as a paint marking if this method still works during a war."


    "Basically, it would create a connection between me and you that allows the transference of mana. This has a few other effects, such as being able to estimate each others location, and ..."


    At this point Arick noticed Jyl was looking at him oddly, and a sudden thought struck him.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "You do not know what mana is, do you?"


    The huntress nodded slowly. It obviously had something to do with magic, but no one had ever bothered explaining that peculiar ability of the demons to her. Despite the fact that humans knew about it, since they have learned to emulate the phenomenon to a certain extent.


    "Okay, let me give you a short introduction to magic", he said, signalling her to pay close attention, "In order to use magic, you need mana, and mana is created from eather, which is in the air all around us. The reason demons are able to use magic naturally and humans are not, is because we are able to convert eather to mana inside our bodies by absorbing it through our lungs. That mana is then stored inside us until we have need of it.


    Magic, on the other hand, is when we actively push the mana out of our bodies, changing it to match our particular element, and in doing so become able to influence the world around us. Mana can also be released without giving it an element, but in that case it will just revert to aether.


    There are six elemental affinities: fire, water, stone, wind, light and dark. A person''s affinity is decided at birth. It is also possible that two people with the same affinity influence the world slightly differently, for example, one can be good at drawing moisture from the air, while another has the ability to freeze water at will."


    A few moments of silence passed as Jyl digested this information.


    "So, if this mark allows the transference of mana, I would be able to use magic...?" she asked doubtfully.


    "Yes, I would convert mana for the both of us. Which is no problem at all honestly, considering my reserves are almost always full."


    "That sounds extremely beneficial, why is it rarely done?"


    "In case you''ve forgotten," Arick chuckled ruefully, "humans and demons are not exactly on good terms. A demon''s mark would probably get you killed in most human cities, and it''s not as if a demon would easily give their mark to a human."


    "Alright then, let us get this over with, the sun has almost set."


    "Are... you sure you should accept so quickly? You seemed quite suspicious of my intentions earlier."


    "What were you expecting when you acted so strangely. I honestly see no reason why not. In fact, I seem to be getting more benefits out of this mark than you." She tilted her head, one eyebrow raised.


    "Alright then", said Arick, standing up from the branch. "Your hand please."


    He took his sword from its sheath and made a small wound on his palm, then placed his hand atop hers.


    "This might feel a bit weird", he warned, "your body is not used to holding mana."

 Chapter 27: Obsidians border

    A couple days later the group of four neared a wall, separating the Endless Plains from the land beyond. To Jyl''s amazement it was at least twice Arick''s height, and he wasn''t exactly short, and made from smooth, dark stone.


    She only wondered for a brief moment how it was even possible to create something like this, when she remembered demons could use magic. Still, this was completely different from the gusts of wind Arick would sometimes create, or the small flame Cecile had shown her during their travels.


    "We ended up a bit further south than expected", Mirus commented, "It shouldn''t be much further to the gate though. An hour on foot?"


    "Why don''t we just go over?" questioned Jyl. Even she by herself would be able to do it, not to mention there were two people capable of flight among them.


    Arick shook his head. "Air mages have set up a perimeter, they would immediately detect us if we did that."


    "Trust me", Cecile motioned towards the wall, "It''s not worth the trouble it''d cause. Much easier to just use the gate. And with Arick''s military rank they won''t even bother inspecting our stuff."


    "Why would they do that?" asked Jyl.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Smugglers", Mirus answered, "There are always those who care nothing about wars, and are far more interested in how much profit they can make. Luckily, they''re less of a problem here than up north."


    Despite not completely understanding, Jyl nodded. Things out here were very much different than the village, but she would adapt soon enough.


    The four of them once again took to the sky, arriving at the gate not even a quarter hour later. As they descended, Jyl immediately noticed many gazes locked onto her, but her own attention was directed somewhere else.


    Two towers rose high above the wall on both sides of the gate, both made of the same smooth stone as the wall. The roof was made of thin stone plates positioned akin to lizard scales, completely different from the straw roofs she had seen in human villages, and the wood used at home. When she asked Mirus, he said it was slate, or at least magically reshaped stone that was made to look like slate.


    "Actually, the latter is more likely. They can make it stronger that way than it would be naturally."


    Meanwhile they had arrived in front of two guards, who immediately requested identification. The two seemed apprehensive of the group at first, but they relaxed a lot once Arick showed them his military badge.


    Though they still refused to let Jyl in until she showed the mark on her hand. And even then they treated her as if she was a risk.


    Jyl continued to ignore their stares, instead questioning Mirus and Cecile about anything that drew her interest. Like the meaning of the mountain drawing on Arick''s badge, or the different coloured shoulder pats some of the soldiers possessed, the ways of using certain weapons she had never seen before, or why someone had a smoking stick in his mouth.


    After a bit of negotiating on Arick''s part, the four were provided with horses and went on their way.

 Chapter 28: Black Mountain

    Four horses stood atop a hill, overlooking a large city. Houses of all shapes and sizes, though all made from a combination of stone and wood, lay spread throughout the valley. Many people crowded the streets, giving an image akin to an anthill. Smoke circled into the sky from the many chimneys, and the clamour could be faintly heard even where they stood.


    However everything was dwarfed by the enormous mountain of black stone the city was built next to. It was bigger than anything Jyl had ever seen before, its overbearing presence impossible to ignore.


    Three buildings had been built into the mountain''s side. On the left was a large spire created as if to be a work of art, with different coloured stone twisted and bent to form beautiful patterns. On the right, seemingly the opposite of the spire, was a congregation of buildings built purely for function, the design simple and direct.


    Between these two and on an even higher elevation stood something that could only be described as a fortress. Built out of the same stone as the mountain, it combined impenetrable defence with elegant design. A marvel of architecture that could, in Jyl''s opinion, only have been created using magic.


    "It''s pretentious, isn''t it", Cecile suddenly said.


    When Jyl looked at her questioningly, she pointed at the spire. "The mage tower. If you ask me, those guys like to show off way too much. You should see them walking around in those brightly coloured robes, proud like peacocks."


    "But you can use magic as well", commented Jyl.


    "All demons can use magic, but mages are those who specifically pursue it. The study it, practice it, try to unravel its mysteries. Some mages join the military, or work as crafters of different kinds, they''re usually decent people. However, some remain at the tower as ''scholars'', and they''re annoyingly haughty. Trust me, it''s better to stay away from them."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    While Cecile informed Jyl of her dislike of mages, Arick led the group to the city''s entrance. Their reactions, though they kept their emotions better under control, mirrored the ones they got at the wall.


    Once through, they ran into a different problem. The citizens possessed none of the soldiers'' restraint, so Arick pretty soon had to ask Jyl to hide beneath her hood in order to prevent panic.


    Jyl didn''t mind in the slightest. In fact, she found their reactions round-out amusing. As long as they didn''t attack her of course. Which one citizen did try. Unfortunately apples didn''t make good weapons, and after asking Mirus what kind of fruit it was, she happily ate it.


    The look on his face was enough for even Cecile to easily forgive the man.


    No more incidents occurred after that luckily, though Jyl questioned her companions relentlessly about just about everything, and their destination soon came into view: the entrance of the structure opposite the mage tower.


    Once again they passed through a security check, but this time everyone had to show identification, then they climbed stairs. A lot of stairs. Cecile said that was the downside of building in the side of a mountain, despite that she didn''t even look tired once they arrived at the lowest building. In fact, the only one who looked even a bit tired was Mirus, his explanation being that he was administration, so not required to be physically fit.


    It was also why he entered the building instead of travelling higher with the other three. There were apparently four levels, the lowest being the administrative building, above that thedormitoriesand cafeteria, then the training grounds, and finally the offices and homes of the commanding officers.


    Soon after Arick left as well, he needed to report in after being away for so long. That left only Jyl and Cecile, of whom the latter immediately decided to give the former a tour. Not knowing what else to do, Jyl allowed herself to be dragged away.

 Chapter 29: Settling in I

    The first place Cecile wanted to go was the cafeteria. Not surprising, since it was midday and they hadn¡¯t eaten yet.


    ¡°The food is only so-so, but it¡¯s all free¡¯, she told Jyl while walking towards a queue. ¡°You do need to be careful to be on time, the kitchen is only open an hour for every meal. If you¡¯re late, you¡¯ll have to make do with leftovers, or nothing.¡±


    As she turned around, Jyl appeared more interested in the building itself then in her explanation. Cecile sighed, either the huntress was asking questions, or she was doing her own investigating, with a complete disregard for what other people thought about her behaviour.


    Suddenly she noticed all the stares directed at them, her good mood immediately sinking underground. Her face flushed red in anger.


    ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± she shouted.


    Everyone quickly looked elsewhere, as if afraid to draw her wrath towards themselves. After her outburst Cecile stayed silent, her talkative mood apparently over. Instead she continued glaring at anyone who even glanced their way.


    That uncomfortable mood lasted until a brown-haired demon entered her field of view.


    ¡°You should have told me you¡¯re back!¡± he shouted from halfway across the room. Her anger immediately cleared, a beaming smile appearing on her lips.


    ¡°We arrived just now¡±, she called back, ¡°Get over here and I¡¯ll tell you all about it!¡±


    The man practically skipped the rest of the way, giving Cecile a big hug once he reached them.


    Both his hair and his wings were a pleasant sandy brown, while his eyes had the colour of rich dirt and seemed to possess a natural twinkle. He wasn¡¯t particularly tall, and with his plain features he stood out in no special way, but his muscles possessed a wiry strength Jyl associated with someone used to running long distances.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± The man finally noticed the other person present, throwing confused glances from Jyl to Cecile and back.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°Ah, right!¡± exclaimed Cecile, ¡°Jyl, this is Jeffrey, my fianc¨¦e. Jeffrey, this is Jyl, Arick enlisted her.¡±


    ¡°Jyl, the Grey Wolf. A pleasure to meet you.¡± She imitated the demons¡¯ greeting, with her hand on her heart and a slight bow.


    He responded in kind. ¡°Jeffrey Zandspoor, I am a scout of the Obsidian military.


    Excuse me for asking this, but how did a human get enlisted to our military?¡± Cecile punched his shoulder as he asked this, but he was more interested in hearing the answer.


    ¡°I struck a deal with Arick to help protect my village¡±, she said.


    Jeffrey looked at her questioningly, but she seemed content to leave it at that. It wasn¡¯t even that she didn¡¯t want to tell him about it, if Cecile read her correctly, rather that she didn¡¯t feel the need to say any more, instead observing the food being distributed a couple meters ahead.


    ¡°Care to explain?¡± he turned to Cecile.


    She put her hand on his shoulder knowingly. ¡°Jyl¡¯s always like that, don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡±


    Having said that, she narrating everything that happened the month and a half they were away. Though she had to pause for a couple minutes midway as Jyl started questioning her about the types of food she had never seen before.


    When she was finally finished telling the story, lunchtime was almost over.


    Jeffrey didn¡¯t mind, and Jyl hadn¡¯t really been paying attention, Cecile however was sad when they had to part ways. Especially since Jeffrey would be leaving for an assignment, and he likely wouldn¡¯t be back for several days.


    Soon Cecile and Jyl continued their tour, this time heading towards the dormitories on the level above.


    ¡°What is a ¡®fianc¨¦e¡¯?¡± the huntress suddenly asked.


    Cecile looked at her with an astounded expression. ¡°Well¡­ Do you have marriage in your village?¡±


    ¡°Something like it, I think.


    Alcaeus talked about it once, he had heard the human soldiers speak of getting ¡®married¡¯ after returning from the war, and hold a ¡®wedding¡¯ at the ¡®church¡¯. We suspected it to be some kind of partnership promise between a man and a woman, but we never really figured out those two other words.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s about right, I suppose. A fianc¨¦e is the person you are going to marry, and a wedding is a party to celebrate two people getting married. And a church, well that¡¯s a human invention. It¡¯s some kind of large building where they pray to their gods.


    Mirus said it is somewhat similar to when we ask the elemental spirits for help. Though from what I heard humans can be very dramatic about their ¡®faith¡¯.


    Say, does your village have gods?¡±

 Chapter 30: Settling in II

    ¡°Say, does your village have gods?¡±


    Jyl was starting to regret asking that question. From Mirus she would have expected an extensive explanation, but Cecile wasn¡¯t usually this talkative. Especially about a topic that held no relevance to the matter at hand.


    Glancing at the woman next to her, she quickly determined that Cecile was trying to keep the news of Jeffrey leaving off her mind.


    ¡°I have heard stories about the beast-gods deep within the Forest¡±, she said, reminiscing about some of the tales her grandfather had told her.


    ¡°You pray to beasts?¡± Cecile exclaimed.


    Jyl furrowed her brows. How had she arrived at that assumption? ¡°No, but you asked about gods, and those are the only gods I know.¡±


    The beast gods were evil creatures, only held back from devouring the entire Forest by the dryads. Her grandfather had once assured her that, even if all the village¡¯s hunters combined forces, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to wound one.


    ¡°It would be kind of weird, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Unaware of Jyl¡¯s thoughts, Cecile nodded in understanding.


    At that point, the two of them had arrived in front of a large stone building. Well, most around here was built of stone, but Jyl just couldn¡¯t get used to it.


    ¡°This is the female dorm, the one next to it is the male dorm. Make sure you don¡¯t mix them up! During the day this place is usually pretty empty, with everyone either out training or on assignment.


    During the evening you¡¯ll find most of the people living here in the rec room though.¡± She pointed at an open doorway to the right. ¡°The door next to it leads to the shower rooms, and that door near the stairs belongs to the dorm mistress¡¯ office. If there¡¯s anything you want to ask or need to say, you can talk to her. We¡¯ll also need to ask her to get you a room, come on.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Jyl followed her as she knocked on the engraved wooden door, then immediately entered, not even waiting for a response. Not that the woman inside seemed to mind, as she looked up from her work and smiled at them.


    Correction, she smiled at Cecile. When she noticed Jyl her facial expression quickly turned into a frown.


    ¡°My friend here needs a room.¡± Cecile glared at the woman.


    She sneered. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you escort the human to the dungeons.¡±


    Anger distorted Cecile¡¯s expression. She had known this woman for many years, and though they weren¡¯t particularly close, she had never experienced anything but kindness from her. That she possessed such an attitude towards humans was not only startling, but also showed that lord Garm¡¯s policies weren¡¯t completely effective. Not that any of that would prevent Cecile from speaking her mind.


    Though before she could even open her mouth, another voice sounded.


    ¡°I would like to see you try.¡±


    Two pairs of eyes locked onto Jyl in surprise, neither having expected the human who¡¯d been acting nonchalant till now to step in. With one hand on the dagger dangling from her belt, and her eyes glaring imposingly at the overly rude stranger, it was obvious she had taken the comment very seriously.


    The woman couldn¡¯t help but tremble under that threatening glare, and immediately knew she had made a mistake. She wasn¡¯t a soldier, only administrative staff, and didn¡¯t have the mental fortitude to withstand this kind of pressure.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡±, she whimpered, shrinking further and further into her chair, her gaze unable to free itself.


    Jyl, satisfied with the response, relaxed her posture, allowing the woman to let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°So, a room?¡± Cecile smirked, amused by the way the situation had suddenly taken a turn.


    ¡°Ah, yes!¡± The woman shot out of the chair, jumping at the opportunity to get rid of the dangerous human. ¡°One of the rooms on the third floor still has a free spot. The other three tenants have guard duty at the city walls, so they¡¯re rarely here.¡±


    She grabbed a key from the rack and pushed it into Cecile¡¯s hands. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m quite busy¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯re going¡±, Cecile said, still smirking.

 Half-Demon Drake (NaNoWriMo 2018) fragment

    Chapter 1 - Day 1, 0:26


    Slowly I awoke.


    My entire body felt heavy, and my thoughts were clouded over, as if I had slept far too little following a long and exhausting day. Despite this slow state of mind, I quickly noticed something strange.


    I was on the ground.


    Furrowing my brows, I attempted to remember how this came about. Nothing. But considering how I was feeling in general, it wasn¡¯t all that surprising.


    Carefully my hands moved to lift me up. To my relief, I at least recognized were I was. My computer screen and the reading lamp next to it lit up enough of the room for me to see.


    The door to my left was slightly opened, though I could not see through that gap from where I sat . My bed stood in the opposite corner, adjacent to it the window on one side and a wardrobe on the other. Together with the desk and the two bookshelves it made for a simple yet well-lived-in room.


    Weakly I lifted my body off the floor and dragged myself into my chair. For a couple minutes I just stared at the wall, attempting to deal with the heaviness of my body and the fog clouding my mind. I had little success with the latter I¡¯m afraid, but physically I soon felt much better.


    It was also around that time that I started noticing the noise outside.


    Giving in to my curiosity, I stood and headed for the window. I pulled the curtains aside, my eyes widening at what I saw.


    The streetlamp across the road, the reason why I needed curtains in the first place, was bent, the top nearly touching the sidewalk and letting out sparks. Two cars stood nearby, one obviously having crashed into the other.


    But those were only passing observations.


    Blood flowed from various body parts strewn about. One head I even recognized, as I had often passed the man¡¯s house when heading off to school. Among the gore stood a dog-sized rat, and not a small species of dog either. It was gorging itself, not at all paying attention to the screaming people headed its way.


    The group of four were being chased by a black and yellow four-armed bear. At least that was the closest thing I could compare it to. It was gaining on them fast, roaring loudly.


    I immediately closed the curtains. Considering how I was feeling, dealing with that beast, should it notice me, would be unpleasant.


    Taking a seat on the side of my bed, I once again attempted to remember. The street outside, and that monstrous creature, seemed to have loosened some, but the images were incongruous.


    Not letting this discourage me, I spent the better part of half an hour sorting through the memories as they returned. Soon I could make out the lives of two different individuals, one being the human named Drake, to whom the room belonged, and another which was definitely not human, having instead more in common with the beasts rampaging outside.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The whole situation was odd.


    Deciding I had little more to gain from staying in the house, I gathered some basic necessities into my backpack and headed out.


    I used the backdoor, and slipped from the garden into the little alley behind it. With no streetlamps back there to guide me, I had to find my way through the thick black of the night. But that proved no issue, as I could see perfectly well.


    My human common sense told me it was abnormal that I felt so at home in the darkness, but my beastly other half had never known anything else.


    So I made my way through the unlighted back alleys at a firm pace, continuously avoiding the monstrous creatures scouring the streets. Even though I hadn¡¯t a doubt that I could take them, it was much less troublesome to just leave them be. Though I was quite curious about what had seemingly drove them to madness. And why I wasn¡¯t affected.


    The place I was headed to laid on the edge of town, and had long since been made an emergency shelter for when the river occasionally flooded the surrounding land: the local high school. Because of the foresight of its builders, it was positioned on a hill, safe from the rising water. The founders of the town hadn¡¯t been as smart, unfortunately.


    Anyway, it meant the place was the most likely refuge for all the civilians who lived around here, and the best place for me to get some answers.


    They were something I sorely lacked.


    Another reason for me to head there was to see how the people fared this night, not to mention what they would do going forward. This was still my city after all, no matter the change to my own circumstances.


    As I travelled I came across no other people, only parts of them littered some streets. There were definitely not enough of those considering all the houses around here, so most were likely either still hiding or had fled. Which of the two was the right choice was impossible to say, but I hoped for their survival none the less.


    Meanwhile I was trying to adjust to my own situation. My new perfect night vision wasn¡¯t the only thing my human form had gained from the beastly self. My hearing was much sharper, not only picking up a wider range of sounds, but also pinpointing their origin with great accuracy. My sense of smell let me know what had passed by the streets I passed, and how long ago, though the ever-present metallic scent of blood made me uncomfortable.


    My physical capabilities had also improved, most notably my stamina. I¡¯d have to test exactly how much at a later time though, since the high school was barely half an hour walking from my home.


    Suddenly the unmistakable sound of shoes hitting asphalt reached my ears. Four people, no five, one was a child. They were running in the same direction I was, , on the main road though, and were being pursued by some small six-legged monster. Well, small for one of the monsters, it was still the size of an average dog.


    I picked up my pace, bypassing the group, and once I had enough of a head start I entered a backyard. I took position in the shadow of the house with overview of the main street. Soon enough I saw the humans run past, not even noticing me hidden in the darkness. Their pursuer however immediately took note, briefly pausing to decide what to do, before once again focusing its attention on the fleeing people.


    For a second I pondered its strange behaviour, but quickly I realized this was yet another question with no answer, yet. For now, I left cover, pouncing the prey who thought defenceless humans more interesting than the predator laying in wait. It didn¡¯t even have time to screech as my front paw landed on its head, crushing it instantly. The beetle-like creature dissolved into dark smoke, leaving only who things: a human corpse and a black crystal, its core.


    Without hesitation, I swallowed the core, adding the measly amount of energy to my own. As I wondered if I could even process the power as a human, the realization of my change hit.


    I looked down at my black-furred paws and swivelled my head to observe my flanks and the tail swinging back and forth. It seemed I had taken on my monstrous form, not even intending to. I suppose that answered that particular question.

 Chapter 31: Meeting with the lord

    Arick walked at a quick pace through the black-walled corridors, effortlessly finding his way through the maze-like fortress. Someone who had never traversed these hallways before would get hopelessly lost, something done on purpose to deter enemies, but he knew them like the back of his hand by now.


    Eventually he stopped in front of a dark wooden door at the end of one such corridor. For a moment he hesitated, wondering if lord Garm would be angry at him for departing so suddenly and at such a strange time.


    He shook his head. It was no use feeling anxious, especially since it was already done. He just hoped general Gyrn hadn¡¯t been too harsh during the debriefing.


    ¡°Come on in.¡±


    On the other side of the door was an office, with a large desk opposite the entrance, and bookshelves filled to the brim covering either wall. An enormous window occupied the far wall, giving a far-reaching view of the military grounds and a part of the valley below.


    Two other people were present. One of them, namely the one sitting behind the desk, was obviously lord Garm Zwart himself. The other, with his back leaning against a bookshelf, was his brother, general Gyrn Zwart.


    ¡°You are back, I see¡±, said Garm matter-of-factly.


    ¡°I apologise for being away so long.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. I did say you could take some time off after that battle. Though I had expected you to take a trip back home, not go travelling into human territory.¡±


    Arick stayed silent. It hadn¡¯t been his idea of a holiday either.


    ¡°And for a human, no less¡±, snorted Gyrn, ¡°I really hope you found it to be worth the trouble. Not to mention all the headaches employing a human in our military is going to cause.¡±


    ¡°I know¡±, Arick responded, ¡°I am very much aware, and I told her so as well. From what I have seen, she should be able to handle herself.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the high opinion you have. Where is she now?¡± asked Garm curiously.


    ¡°On a tour of the military grounds with Cecile, I believe.¡±


    A slight smile tugged on the edge of the lord¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡¯ll have to introduce her to me sometime.¡±


    Arick sighed in relief. ¡°So you will allow it?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you first tell me about what went on during your trip?¡± Garm narrowed his eyes as he said this.


    Most would interpret that expression as intimidation, as trying to get him to reveal as much as possible. Arick knew the man well enough however, to know he was merely interested in what he had to tell.


    Though, ¡®merely¡¯ was perhaps the wrong word. Because when one of the four demon lords asked you something, you answered.


    After he finished narrating everything that had happened since meeting Jyl on the battlefield, silence descended in the room. Both Arick and Gyrn waited patiently as Garm contemplated everything he just heard.


    When it seemed it would take a while, Gyrn asked a question instead.


    ¡°This village is really located inside the Great Forest? That hunting ground of monsters? How can anyone survive in that place for so long?¡±


    ¡°Apparently they have been living there for many generations, despite the dangers¡±, responded Arick, ¡°They even hunt beasts for food and clothing. One of their younger generation hunters was able to fight Cecile to a standstill, even besting her several times.¡±


    ¡°Bested her? The one even Gyrn has trouble with in a straight up fight?¡± lord Garm questioned, shaking out of his thoughts.


    Arick nodded. ¡°Without using magic, of course. But you should also consider that they were trained for hunting beasts, not fighting people.¡±


    Gyrn stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You sure these are humans you¡¯re talking about? Even without magic, the average demon is stronger than a human.¡±


    Chuckling, Garm glanced at his younger brother. ¡°It seems Gyrn is itching for a fight.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡±, Gyrn harrumphed, ¡°I barely get challenged anymore . Can¡¯t let myself get rusty.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I can¡¯t say I am not interested in meeting these people as well.¡± Lord Garm turned to Arick, a familiar gleam visible in his eyes. ¡°For now, I will allow this Jyl to stay here. Keep an eye on her. When we are sure we can trust these people I wouldn¡¯t mind negotiating with them.


    Considering the length of the border we share with the Great Forest, people with skillsets like theirs would definitely be welcome. The biggest problem obviously, the fact these are humans, is not something that can be easily resolved.¡±


    Arick bowed, and, with the discussion having reached its end, turned to take his leave.


    The first step had been taken, what happened from here on would depend mainly on Jyl.

 Chapter 32: A friendly spar I

    Jyl took in her new room with great interest.


    On one side were four small cavities, segregated by wooden walls and with curtains for some privacy. They contained a simple bed, and a couple shelves against the far wall to keep stuff on. Three were obviously taken, leaving only the furthest one empty. The rest of the room was taken by two large wardrobes and a table. All in all it was simple, yet the inhabitants had managed to make if feel homely none the less.


    ¡°You like it?¡± asked Cecile from behind her.


    A slight smile found its way onto Jyl¡¯s face as she nodded. It wasn¡¯t home, but it would do.


    ¡°Great¡±, Cecile exclaimed, ¡°Then let¡¯s continue the tour. I still need to show you the training grounds, the weapon storehouse, our side-entrance into the fortress, Arick¡¯s office, of course, oh, and the library.¡±


    She guided Jyl up another flight of stairs. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me why the military has its own library, we just do, for some reason.¡±


    ¡°I cannot read¡±, Jyl commented.


    ¡°All the more reason to pay a visit. Though we¡¯ll have to find you a teacher first¡­ Mirus could do it, but he¡¯ll probably be busy for the next week or so.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been away for a while, so his superior in the administrative division will likely give him extra work.¡± She snickered. ¡°Normally, administrative officers like him don¡¯t really accompany us to the battlefield, but since he is trusted by both Arick and general Gyrn, they always take him along.


    Ah! We¡¯re here.¡±


    They entered at a wide dirt-covered courtyard, flanked on both sides by half-open sheds. Multiple groups of demons were spread throughout the grounds, either practicing or watching others battle.


    It reminded Jyl of the hunters at the village as they practiced in between hunts. In a way the familiarity was comforting, and as she watched she couldn¡¯t help but note the similarities. But at the same time, there were many differences as well.


    Amongst the demons, the most popular weapons were swords and axes, unlike the spears and large daggers the hunters mostly used. Many also used wood and iron shields, which she recognized from her time in the human army. Those wouldn¡¯t survive a single hit against any of the beasts her village regularly dealt with.


    An older man, who had been watching the others from a distance, approached them.


    ¡°Good day, Cecile¡±, he greeted, ¡°Who is your companion. A¡­ human¡­?¡±


    Jyl watched the man curiously, wondering how he would react, but Cecile scowled at him.


    ¡°Not you too, Yoa.¡±


    ¡°Not me what?¡± he asked. Realizing something, he glanced at the unfamiliar woman. ¡°I¡¯m guessing most have not been reacting well to her?¡±


    Cecile deflated at his words. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re acting that way, but it gets irritating.


    Anyway. Yoa, this is Jyl, Arick recruited her during the last battle. Jyl, Yoa here takes care of the training grounds. He always hangs around here somewhere, so if you need anything you can just ask him.¡±


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you¡±, Jyl said.

 Chapter 35: At breakfast

    It was just before sunset, that time when the sun was not yet visible but the sky was already showing signs.


    Careful not to wake her exhausted roommates, Jyl slipped into her clothes and made her way out the window. With a powerful leap, she grapped the edge of the roof and pulled herself up.


    It had long since been a habit of hers to watch the sunrise, that she was far from home at the moment wouldn¡¯t change that.


    Once the shining orb had breached the horizon though, she didn¡¯t linger long. She jumped into a nearby tree and quickly climbed down, before quickly heading to the cafeteria to eat.


    The streets were still quite empty this early in the morning, as most were only just now waking up. The few that she did come across ignored her for the most part, having already gotten used to the human over the last week.


    The cafeteria itself was also pretty empty, except for a group a scouts sitting near the window. The scouts, used as they were to travelling near enemy territory, always habitually rose from their beds a little while before sunrise.


    Grabbing a couple slices of bread and a plate of scrambled eggs, she walked over to join them.


    Jeffrey, noticing her approaching, made some space next to him and beckoned her to sit, an invitation she gratefully accepted.


    ¡°Those annoying humans, they¡¯re planning something, I tell you!¡± bellowed a buff demon several seats to her left.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the first time they¡¯ve withdrawn their troops, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean anything¡±, commented the tall, black haired scout across from him.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°So you say, but last time they managed to nearly double their forces before attacking again¡±, the first snorted.


    ¡°Not that it did them any good¡±, a woman with bright blue horns interjected, ¡°They still lost in the end.¡±


    The man on her right, with strikingly similar features, poked her in the side. ¡°Don¡¯t downplay it. We still suffered significant losses.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not¡±, huffed his sister, ¡°It¡¯s just fact, they haven¡¯t won a single battle yet. Why do they even keep trying?¡±


    ¡°Because their church says we¡¯re evil, and the people believe it¡±, Jeffrey commented begrudgingly, ¡°So to appease their dissatisfied people, the kings wage war.¡±


    The buff demon snorted. ¡°They just want our lands, to satisfy their own greed.¡±


    ¡°That northern kingdom that Emerald¡¯s fighting, sure. But I heard the king in the south isn¡¯t actually all that interested in war. He¡¯s only attacking us because the church will otherwise accuse him of being a heretic.¡±


    Hearing an unknown word, Jyl added herself to the conversation. ¡°What¡¯s a heretic?¡±


    The demon scouts all turned to look at her, startled by the sudden question. They¡¯d all gotten used to the quiet human Jeffrey had introduced as a friend of Cecile, but they still tended to forget she was there sometimes.


    ¡°Well,¡± the tall scout started hesitantly, ¡°a heretic would be someone who goes against the beliefs of the dominant religion in such a way that they would be deemed evil.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re not actually evil?¡± she questioned.


    ¡®They can be, but not necessarily. The term heretic is used specifically for people who go against the teachings of the humans¡¯ churches. Let¡¯s take for example you yourself. You have a demon¡¯s mark and are living among us, so if a church discovered you they¡¯d definitely label you a heretic.¡±


    Jyl looked down at her hand, at the mark that even now connected her to Arick¡¯s mana. She still remembered the uncertainty which he exhibited when bringing up the subject of the mark.


    ¡°What happens once someone is labelled a heretic?¡± she asked.


    The scouts exchanged glances, no one really wanting to answer that question. Jyl was after all a human, they weren¡¯t sure how she would react to what her fellow humans would do if they got their hands on her.


    Eventually, it was Jeffrey who turned to face her.


    ¡°Heretics are usually publicly humiliated and then executed.


    She nodded, a determined light in her eyes. ¡°Then I just need to make sure not to get captured.¡±

 Chapter 36: Learning

    After breakfast Jyl headed towards a remote corner of the third level, where the military library was located.


    The building gave off an oppressive feeling. Its weathered stone walls and peculiar architecture making it seem like it belonged in a bygone era. The black stone and high ceilings definitely didn¡¯t help one relax. Combined with the fact that it¡¯s purpose held little interest to the physical-oriented demon warriors made it so the library was pretty much deserted at all times of day.


    Jyl too held little interest in the building, the only reason she even approached it being that Mirus was teaching her how to read.


    Unlike humans, literacy was deemed as a matter of course among the demons. They all learned how to read and write from a young age, either at one of the academies or from family members. That also meant that not being able to read or write in their society not only caused one to be looked down upon, but made it pretty much impossible to do any kind of job.


    In other words, Jyl really need to learn.


    Her fist lesson had been yesterday, when Mirus had introduced her to the alphabet, and taught her how to use a pen. She had then spent the entire morning repeatedly writing letters, and several simple words, to get used to it.


    Entering through the heavy double doors, she was immediately assaulted by the strong scent of stagnant dust and old paper. It was an uncomfortable smell that made her throat feel dry and her nose itchy.


    The same old man from the day before sat at a desk, not even looking up to see who entered. His gaze was fixed to a thick tome with no title on the cover. Since he was ignoring her, she paid him no mind either, quickly ascending the stairs to the second floor.


    Mirus had picked a quiet, remote corner on the second floor for the lessons. Those were his own words though, to Jyl this entire place seemed quiet and remote. Though she had to admit it was one of the better locations, with a large window and a great view of the city in the valley.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    She arrived before her teacher, but he didn¡¯t make her wait long. Armed with a bunch of scrap paper, some simple reading material and pen and ink, he greeted her enthusiastically.


    ¡°Good morning, Jyl! You¡¯re up early as always. Jeffrey told me I just missed you at breakfast.¡±


    She simply nodded, instead focusing on the material he handed her.


    Like the day before, he first had her practise writing, just copying lines from a children¡¯s book. After that he let her continue trying to read the rest of the tiny book.


    Starting to feel bored, she decided to ask Mirus something she had been wondering for a while.


    ¡°How does magic work?¡±


    Startled by her sudden question, it took Mirus a couple seconds to gather his thoughts.


    ¡°Well, what do you already know?¡±


    ¡°Arick told me a bit about aether and mana¡±, Jyl replied.


    ¡°Alright then¡±, Mirus nodded, ¡°Let me tell you a bit about the types of magic.


    First of all there are the four ¡®elemental¡¯ types: earth, fire, water and wind. They¡¯re pretty self-explanatory, and by far the most common. Arick, for example, belongs to the wind type, while Cecile can control fire.


    Aside from the four main types, there are two rare ones, called light and shadow. Don¡¯t let the names fool you though. The ¡®light¡¯ magic type allows one to heal others, while the ¡®shadow¡¯ magic type governs illusions.¡±


    Jyl rested her head on her hands and continued to stare at the wall for a couple minutes, thinking.


    ¡°Will I have the same magic type as Arick?¡± she eventually asked.


    ¡°Because of the mark? No. Everyone has their own affinity, independent of where you mana comes from.¡±


    She nodded. That matched with what Arick had told her.


    ¡°How will I know my affinity?¡±


    ¡°Hm? That¡¯s simple. You just have to try using your magic, you¡¯ll know immediately.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡±, she affirmed, closing her eyes to focus.


    ¡°Not here!¡± Mirus shrieked, ¡°What if you put the library on fire?! Try it at the training grounds later.¡±


    She nodded, a bit disappointed. Later, she reassured herself, she would try it later.