The group’s view of the town emerged from behind the hills as they approached the dirt road, while the frail sun struggled to break through the gray clouds.


    Rina leaving earlier than the rest said she had something business somewhere else so she left for a bit


    3 hours later of walking the group was now able to see the town


    “Look!” Auron exclaimed, increasing his pace. “Rest and a meal are just a few steps away!”


    Leona kept her head down while moving and smiled gently. Her spaced-out look remained. “Something doesn’t sit right…”


    Erik carrying a sleeping Rina narrowed his eyebrows in discontent as he scanned the area. “Are you suspicious that another monster is attacking?”


    Elias, as quiet as ever, walked behind them. Dissimilar from before, he was taking a longer time to look at the town. He was meticulously observing the decaying rooftops while smoke was faintly rising from somewhere it should not be.


    There were no birds chirping. The friendly sound of children playing and laughing in the square was absent too.


    There was something deeper than ominous but troubling.


    The group was greeted by eerily vacant streets. Not open doors or cut windows, just bare cement. The remnants of ash mixed with blood, creating an odor unmatched to anything encountered before.


    “Do not tell me I am about to witness something awful,” Leona whispered to herself, whiting knuckled around the staff. Her breathing got slightly heavier.


    Uncertainty hung in the air, prompting Auron to slow down. The smile he once possessed melted away like snow on a warm, sunny day. “This is troubling. Where is everyone?”


    Elias was unmoving, tension ulitmately swirling around him commanding him to rest but his eyes sharpened. At the far away church tower, lying there motionless in the shadow, something dark concealed just out of human sight.The Initial Indications


    While walking further into the town, Auron went on to knock on one of the doors. “Is anyone there? Hello?”


    Nothing.


    Eventually, a shaky hand parted the door an inch or so. An elderly woman cautiously opened the door. She squinted through the door, clearly scared. "You shouldn’t be here


    She cautioned, as if expecting someone to overhear.


    “What’s going on?” was Auron’s question.


    But a commanding voice from somewhere in the alley cut the dialogue off;


    “New playthings for the Master, huh?”


    Through the shadows of the alley, peeked a deformed large body adorned in demonic symbols, skin glowing faintly red.


    A ram''s horned head with a mouth filled with bloodstained teeth grinned deviously,


    “The Master shall be pleased.”


    Leona gasped.


    “A demon…!”


    In silence, Elias reached for his sword.


    There was silence.


    Bloodthirsty eyes examining the group menacingly.


    “We shall obey Lord Krell,” the words dripped from its lips like poison.


    Auron sprang forth,


    “We shall stop you from hurting innocent people!"


    The demon cackled back,


    “You embarrassing fool, do not take me so lightly!”


    Auron and Elias made moves at the same time, only for Auron to be restrained by Elias''s hand firmly gripped on his shoulder.


    Elias looking at the demon declared exerci


    Smiling the demon let them go


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    “Let’s go” was all Auron could choke out.


    “What should we do then?”


    “We search for an inn to gather intel. Charging blindly solves nothing.”


    Silence again, but questions formed in their heads and left unsaid for Elias made his case plausible.


    “Fine...” he spun away, catching the demon’s eyes with his last words.


    They exchanged messages without actually exchanging words.


    The gaze seemed to imply, there is no need to worry.


    As I previously said, upon exerci


    With one last look at the demon, Elias turned to leave.


    Their gaze locked.


    A vow went unspoken.


    As he entered the ruins of the former inn, Erik violently smashed his sword against the broken table in the room. “No one is allowed to do anything! Did you see that creature?” he complained.


    Leona replied in a nod, “What do we do about the people?” while shaking with fear.


    Elias continued to sit in the corner in silence with arms crossed.


    “Do you have anything to say, Elias?” Erik snapped. “Didn’t think so.”


    Auron shifted uncomfortably back and forth between them, conflicted, yet still confident in Elias.


    Later, when others had finally succumbed to an unsettling sleep, Elias got up, tightening his coat around him. With the moonlight Rays falling upon him, his eyes had a soft glow to them.


    “Listen to me, don’t come out,” he said in a whisper loud enough for no one to hear.


    He silently made his way out into the streets submerged in darkness and then melted away into the fog.


    As Elias got closer, he saw the church tower and he paused. He could hear faint screams from within — the villagers, imprisoned, tortured.


    “No more deaths will occur,” he thought to himself as he placed his hand against the stone wall and glared into the distance tracking the direction of the sound to below the church.


    Going to the church he found no security at the front, entering he was met by no resistance but as he was looking for the passage leading to the lower parts of the church.


    Lord Krell emerged from the shadows as a demon with red, glowing eyes towering over Elias with the body parts of his minion who he ate. With an imposing physique and possessing greater malice. His devilish form even outmatched that of an underlin.


    “Someone was sure to sneak off,” the demon chuckled. “But the timid one? How delightful...”


    Elias spoke not a word as he pulled out his sword.


    Krell chuckled, “What are you going to achieve, small boy? Slice me with that plaything? You cannot contend with—”


    Attacking Krell, he saw that the blade was passing through him and doing no damage


    Krell hitting him to the side and tore his arm off said "how pathetic, killing you would be a waste of time"


    Elias getting up healed his arm "I see your a demon general" Elias said in a calm voice" yes I am Lord Krell demon general of the 8th division a pleasure killing you today" Krell mockingly said with a laugh


    Elias looking at him with pity told him " I am so very lonely"


    Laughing Krell told him that he should kill himself in that case


    Elias getting tired of this demon inverted his blade causing water rise from the ground and started swirling around the blade of Elias.


    Spinning his blade in a circle the water followed the direction


    The air thickened with mist.


    Krell paused and tilted his head.


    "You... What are you?"


    Elias cast his gaze upward, his eyes cold and calm.


    "I am your salvation from this world ."


    And before the blink of an eye, forward he lunged, the sword dimly glowing with the flowing streams of water.


    So fast, so silent; a ghost he was in the night.


    Krell roared as he swung his big claw.


    Elias ducked under it and sliced straight across the demon''s arm, blade filled with water.


    The steel cut deeper than any blade ever could.


    "IT BURNS IT BURNS AHH?!" Krell howled as he stumbled backward.


    Elias remained silent, but his eyes were ablaze.


    Water spiraled into blades all around him, and with a flick of his wrist, launched Krell into them, tearing through flesh.


    "You hide this from them?" hissed Krell amidst bloodied laughs. "Are you frightened of what they would think? What you are?"


    Elias'' face stayed devoid of emotion.


    "I do not want them to know."


    Krell charged again, but this time, Elias drew water from the air and condensed it into chains that snapped around the demon''s arms, binding him firmly. "IT''S BURNING AHHHH HELP ME!!!"


    Krell gasped, wrenching at the chains that grew tighter. "You... could have destroyed me from the start."


    "I know," murmured Elias.


    With a final step, Elias shoved his blade into Krell''s heart, the water exploding out with the force of impact and freezing as it spread — encasing the demon''s body in solid ice.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Elias turned and walked away, leaving the frozen corpse behind.


    The villagers were timidly returning to the streets by morning, their expressions still wary but hopeful.


    Auron rubbed his sleepy eyes.


    "What... went on?"


    Leona stepped outside and gasped.


    "The demon... it is gone"


    “so I was wrong?” Elias’ emotionless gaze traveled upward.


    “Yes!” Auron chuckled while embracing him. “It appears a hero did indeed appear out of nowhere!”


    “where did he go?” Leona said hesitantly as her eyes remained fixated on Elias. “How did he leave without a single indicator of a battle? It’s like the demon completely... redeemed itself.”


    Shrugging his shoulders, Elias answered in a monotone voice.


    “Unlike certain people who idlely stare, a real warrior does exist.” Erik scorned.


    “Come on, please stop.” Auron whispered.


    Staying obedient, Elias went back to tending his sword.


    Holding his ground at the rear of the group, Elias made his way out of the town. Oh the familiar notion of obeying orders.


    Auron matched his slow pace as he walked next to him.


    “Things for you seem to always go downhill,” Auron stated self-reflectively. “And I know one thing for certain — it appears to trouble you more than it should.”


    His head slightly turned in response, glancing Auron over.


    “I do appreciate your presence, especially around these times, Elias,” Auron halfheartedly admitted.


    Elias’ lips curled gently into a smile. “Yes... Me too,” __in response__, Elias could only enlighten in agreement.


    Quieting their discussion, Auron smiled lightly. He glanced over at his peers ahead who were joyfully teasing and exclaiming. While Elias on the other hand was observing and embracing the gentle rush of the wind.


    The truth about his actions was available to be uncovered — however, the secret remained intact,


    at least for the time being.