The silhouette, appearing warped in their vision, slowly approached the confused men. The Knight Commander immediately brandished his sword to prepare for a strike.
'Enemy or ally? As far as I'm aware, Khamael was my sole companion. The tribe people are under the Demon Nobles' control. In case they escaped by chance, they still wouldn't have the capacity to be this sane. It is most probably an enemy.' Mikhail arrived at a conclusion, one he didn't want to arrive at.
Sarakiel hid behind his commander since he hadn't summoned his holy sword yet. In lieu of that, he opted to do his best in supporting Mikhail as a healer.
All the while the distance separating the two sides was decreasing, the knights gradually got a clearer view of the wanderer. Shortly, they were able to discern their guest's identity.
"Khamael?"
"Yes, My Lord. Were you surprised? I did not mean to sneak up on you."
"It's-"
There was an awkward pause in between Mikhail's reply, his face displaying an unreadable expression.
"...fine."
The older Percival withdrew his sword and returned it in the scabbard hanging on his waist. In the meanwhile, Duke Helian went beside Mikhail to acquire a glimpse of his countenance.
'You could've shown some concern for your younger brother, Lord Mikhail. He went through lengths just to get here.' It's nothing new of a complaint. Withal, Sarakiel did not dare blurt it out.
The siblings' relationship wasn't that cohesive nor tranquil. Duke Helian determined that interfering in a family matter wouldn't lead to anything productive. Hence, he merely addressed the newcomer, saying, "It's a relief to behold that you are unscathed, Lord Khamael."
"I share your sentiments."
In their brief chat, the Duke heed several aspects that were quite a disparity from the usual Khamael. Sarakiel chose to bring them up one right away, "My Lord, why is your voice a bit hoarse? It did not register to us that it was you who greeted us because of that."
"I do not know myself, Lord Helian. I guess it will revert to normal once I'm completely in full health."
"I see. Th-" Sarakiel was about to carry through his questioning when Mikhail rudely interrupted him.
"How did you break out from that horde?"
"The events transpired quickly, so I'm unable to provide specific details. Nevertheless, I could remember the demons and monsters ceasing in activity and my body being mended. The next thing I knew, I was gawking at an empty shore."
"Who helped you?"
"I have no idea, my Lord."
'How curious.' As he listened to the discourse of the siblings, Sarakiel was pondering on his own.
Khamael's behaviour seemed strange to him. The way he was answering all of their queries, without an ounce of hesitation, resembled an accused who was reaping their retorts from a script of excuses.
Oblivious of Sarakiel's speculations, Mikhail dismissed prying further regarding Khamael's saviour of a character.
"Come here. We need to deliberate on how to proceed with our mission. Let's not waste time."
"As you wish."
Duke Helian suddenly had a feeling that he couldn't get a hold of. It made his fingers fidgety as it was bugging a part of his conscience. He scrutinized the facial features of his nearing comrade, struggling to hunt for an explanation.
"Hmm? Lord Khamael, your scar is missing." The Duke managed to scratch an itch off of his anxiety, picking on the first deviance he investigated.
"I beg your pardon?"
"The scar under your left eye is gone. You were so adamant in not removing it, right?"
"What do you mean, Lord Helian? I simply healed the wounds in this body."
"Come ag-- Wait a minute. Healed the wounds in this body? Didn't somebody heal you?"
Khamael only gave him an odd grin, and that confirmed Sarakiel's inauspicious presumptions. It was similar to a thunder striking his head, puzzle pieces gathering by themselves.
'Something is wrong.' Mikhail caught up with the Duke's current perspective. He shut his eyes to heighten his senses, subsequently taking out his sword again.
"Sarakiel, my barrier is in effect."
"I figured, my Lord."
"Also, there is a herd of demons and monsters drawing in."
"Way to put us in a tighter spot, My Lord."
At that moment, the Khamael afore them looked jovial with his malevolent smile, speaking as if he lost a game of tag.
"Oh, am I discovered this early?"
Mikhail and Sarakiel took a step back.
"Now, what might you be?" The commander began to probe the supposed foe.
"I wonder." Khamael's impostor uttered as he advanced in an equal manner.
"How did you invade my barrier?"
"There was a barrier?"
They kept up with the fashion of traipsing backwards and forward while the inquest was afoot.
"Where is Khamael? That's not his body, isn't it?"
"It could be."
"Aren't you going to deliver a proper reply?"
"If you question me properly, I will."
Sarakiel did not listen to the ongoing dialogue, for the reason that he was doing his own thinking.
'This is a demon, and a powerful one at that. Judging by the atmosphere surrounding it, we are definitely outclassed. Perhaps, is it a Demon Noble?'
On the assumption that they wouldn't be leaving soon, Sarakiel thought apropos of his secret conference with the Emperor.
'His Majesty was certain that another Demon Noble will present itself. Naturally, I doubted it. It's such a preposterous incident for multiple Demon Nobles to appear contemporaneously. Although, how did the Emperor assimilate this occurrence? If he knew of it, he could've warned the two Lords.' Duke Helian's mind was riddled with plenty of data to deliberate, that it was almost nauseating for the knight.
Sarakiel locked eyes with the demon after he mustered up the necessary courage to declare his statement.
"Are you named Malphas?"
"Interesting, how did you know my name?" Malphas said, mirthfully tilting its head in amazement.
"That's none of your business." The knight's confidence to interrogate the abhorrence increased. He just had to authenticate the Emperor's findings.
The demon raised its right eyebrow, then cocked its head to the other side, uttering, "You seem to be misunderstanding something, human. I call the shots here. It is puzzling, you see. Mortals should be unqualified to voice our names out."
Malphas instantaneously disappeared. The knights swiftly surveyed the dark for its movements. Although, they belatedly realized that it reappeared right at Sarakiel's rear.
"What are you--!"
A blade abruptly punctured Sarakiel in the abdomen. Astoundingly enough, it was Mikhail's sword. Without a delay, Malphas bashed the Duke's body, making sure that it would hit Mikhail who was stunned at what just transpired.
"Humans like you are no fun. You match that dead lad in the forest. That woman who put up a fight fared better."