"See big brother, I was able to hunt a tier one beast all by myself." The soft words from a kid, about ten years old could be hard echo through the woods as her presence was accompanied with a larger figure.
"Given a few years, I'm sure that you'll be a greta hunter." Cisco, the elder brother mused at his younger sibling, Shyla who was still unawakened. However he was on the second tier whilst on the third array.
The two had just come back from a hunt as they made their way back to a town that was noticeable from afar. It acted as a pitstop for all kinds of caravans and merchants who would ship goods from kingdom to another.
Thus the members of the town weren't completely oblivious to the world around them but the sudden change and dynamics going on was something that was completely out of their radar.
As the two gained entry, the two made their way to a house that was similar in design to those around it. It wasn't anything too extravagant at first glance but they didn't mind.
"Dad look! I was able to hunt down a tier one beasts all by myself!" Shyla mused as she held her game right to her father who had a warm and encouraging smile. "That's impressive. You'll be a great hunter in no time."
Before shifting his attention to Cisco. "The harvest was lacking, finding a single tier one beast. These demons are getting way out of hand as of late." The rage and frustration could be felt in his tone as he glanced at his father, Easton.
"Sweetie , why don't you take the meal that I have prepared for your mother and deliver it to her?" With that, Shyla took her leave giving the two the ample space that they needed. "So how has it been going?"
Cisco started off, the warm and easygoing atmosphere dissipating in an instant. "I should have a couple of days before the corrupted mana reaches my disc. I think that it would be better if I have my disc removed altogether."
Cisco however wasn't pleased with this answer. "And run the risk of you dying. I'm sure that there is a better alternative to this." A ridiculing scoff came from Easton. "We both know that I'll turn into one of those blasted demons if my condition isn't attended to thus either way, I'm dead."
Easton, a tier two expert whilst on the fifth array had faced a corruption after confronting some demons not far from the town of Pinevale. The attack however seemed a little out of place given that he was caught off guard not to mention the exposure of demons to the place hadn't been high to begin with.
It was a huge hoarde and barely making it back and after facing many injuries, he was able to save his life but at the expense of getting his mana disc core corrupted. A single bite or an infection from demonic blood was what it took for such a state.
More slower means were exposure to such strong demonic presence for a prolonged period of time but that could be easily be curbed with followed with a body scan and manually removing the traces of their body but that wasn't the case.
"Come on Cisco, or we're going to be late." The disgruntled groans of Shyla could be heard to which Easton dismissed it off. "Well, you better start moving." Cisco gave a knowing look at his father as he glanced at his prey.
It still had the mana disc core intact and with it be used to awaken Shyla and make her capable of utilizing mana but the problem was that it required to be properly refined and to be done at a much later stage in her life.
So was the norm with the awakenings happening at the age of sixteen, some would grow ballsy and do it earlier however repercussions would follow shortly after. Either the mana would he too potent for their bodies to muster or complications arising during the formation of a disc.
"Okay fine, let's go." Cisco mused as he grabbed the pelt and left the mana disc core as the two made their way to a small glass shop where all kinds of display could be seen.
Ranging from urns to finer works all over the place which seemed more magical with how the light would reflect all over the place. Never failing to captivate Shyla as the two made their way inside.
"Mom!" The little girl, callous of the calm and serene air asked as she made her way to the back. "Yes darling..." A voice could be heard following after hers and in a matter of seconds, a figure could be seen emerge from the back.
Aspyn, Shyla's mother commented as she glanced warmly at the little lady hugging her at her waist level. "We brought you lunch and even more Greta news, I was able to hunt down a tier one beast all by myself." Aspyn seemed shocked as she went along with Shyla's antics.
Of course she knew how it probably wen but there was no need to complicate the matter. "I'm glad that you brought lunch or else I would have passed away." Giving off a sigh of relief as opened the basket presented to her by Shyla.
"I'd like to stick around but I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye mom." Cisco mused as he was about to take his leave. "Does that mean that we're going out hunting again?" Shyla asked with excitement.
"No, I just want to sell some stuff then I'll be back." And with that, his figure left the store and disappeared within the crowd of people who were bustling about. Taking it to a game shop, he was able to sell the pelt for about twenty copper quartz which could be considered average for such an exchange.
'If these demonic attacks do not subside then I'll be forced to look for another occupation for a while. Maybe craftsmanship, or maybe be a mercenary in the mean time but Shyla won't like it.'
As numerous selections ran through his mind, the loud sound of commotions could be heard coming from the main gate to which he felt obliged to investigate. As he drew closer, he could read the atmosphere and tell that it was anything but good.
"A tier six! We're all doomed!" A shaky voice mused which amped up the cold air to be more scared and shook up. Some dreading that it was the end of Pinevale town while others already praying.
'A tier six what?' He asked in his head as he tried asking around before he got his answer. "It would seem that a tier six demonic expert is making it's way here to Pinevale!"
His face was baffled, his throat parched as he heard the words. "What do you mean a tier six demonic expert?!" His voice grew raspy and shaky. "Yeah! A tier six demonic expert is coming here to Pinevale!" The message similar to the first time however his mind seemed to be in denial.
'A tier six demonic expert. But why would one even be here this deep into the blessed lands? Have the members of the church simply failed to trace it or have they completely given up in trying to subdue it?' Either way, he knew that he had to brace for what was to come.
In a dash, he headed back to the shop as the alleged demon kept on coming towards the small town that was in front of it. 'I didn't think that they would be this shook with my arrival.' Hedon mused as his cart drew closer to the town till it wasn't that far from the walls.
They were structured in a way similar to kingdom walls but much smaller, wrapping all round the village with two entrance points on opposite sides of it. "Stay back you foul demon or we will be forced to use force!"
The announcements directed at him felt nothing more than jokes as he hopped off the cart. 'Had he already vanquished another town to acquire that cart given how stylish it was? Maybe a small vassal or even an entire kingdom?'
Hollister mused as he glanced at the figure. The first striking feature about Hedon was his horn which came off as weird given that he had only one horn instead of a pair. His eyes were easy to tell given that his figure was cloaked in a black hood.
'An entire kingdom huh?' He almost let out a chuckle as he shifted his attention at the one who had made the announcement. 'The strongest one here and they're at the third tier, pitiful.' He mused before his voice boomed for all to hear.
'It would seem that there aren't any traders this time of the year. A shame that there aren't any more toys for me to play with.'
"My name is Zephyrus, a demon that means you no harm as I am simply passing through. I know that you may be wary of me and I have no doubt but ic you grant me access, then I'll be on my way to my destination!"
There was no response as they saw him then return to his cart which was about to draw nearer to the wall. "Stop, you are not allowed to make any more movements whatsoever! Foul demon!" Hollister's voice reigned once more.
His figure could be seen on the front lines on the walls as he along with many others looked down at Hedon's figure. The notion of a demon meaning no harm was a fairy tale to them and they knew how treacherous such vile beasts were.
"What makes you think that I won't kill you and this small town of yours?! It would be wiser to let me in and allow me to go on with my journey!"
Hollister could be seen approached by several figures which contemplated on the notion of letting him in.
"There's no way that we would do such a stupid thing!" One of them spoke up. "It's a tier six demonic expert, three tiers higher that Hollister and could easily swat this entire place with a flick of it's wrists! It would be better to heed it's demands!"
Another posed which became a back ana forth banter on deciding whether to allow him in or not. "A direct confrontation is something that we can't by any standards allow to happen. It would be better to heed to this demon."
"Also with it's high tier, it would have easily broken through an killed us all if it'd like." Hollister came to a conclusion at the end. "This is the end of us all." Some of them could be seen voice their disinterest with this choice but they were between a rock and a hard place.
If they didn't allow him to pass, then the chances of him attacking would be certain while by letting him pass, the matter simply laid with the fact that it would keep it's promise. Either way, they lacked the choice and could only bend the knee to the situation.
Hedon who had been waiting for a while saw the gates rise up and he made his approach closer to Pinevale town and before long, his cart was inside the town to which he hopped off his cart.
Hollister was the one who took the initiative to greet him. "As you requested." He spoke with tension packed in his speech as he barely stuttered the words out of his mouth.
Hedon raised his hand up and right in front of his face to produce a platinum quartz. "Take it." He urged with his smile growing slightly. At first he wanted to reject it but due to fear, he took it to which Hedon retracted his hand.
Up close, Hollister could tell that there was more to Hedon that seemed. He, along with the few present hadn't seen a demon with human skin personally given that the stuff they heard would come off as stories but what really came as a shock to them was that he had one horn.
Hedon however glanced around, his eyes darting from building to building which made Hollister grow anxious. 'Is he going back on his word?' He wondered with his fingers digging deep into his skin.