After the sun started to rise again the people in the camp started to burn the bodies of the wendigos. Or at least what was left of them.
But I found that their actions were just a waste of time. For, I could tell that they had all died. I had even already eaten most of their souls.
They tasted disgusting, but they contained an energy that could not be compared to that of any normal human. so, I forced myself to continue to consume them.
Now that the massacre was over, children started to come out of the tents to play. It never ceased to amaze me how children could leave horrific events behind and just play with their friends like there was no tomorrow. Even if that time only lasted for a few hours.
I could hear them laughing and running around while their parents were still cleaning up the mess.
As I walked back into the camp to meet up with Leonor, I could see how some of the children tried to approach me. only to be soon dragged away by their parents or caretakers.
There was only one child that was not dragged away. He was a lot smaller and frail than the others. I could smell his fear, yet he also seemed to admire me.
I found this odd and came closer.
"What is it little human?"
His eyes grew wide as he started to realise that I was only an arm's length away from him. Some people that were passing by started to murmur amongst each other.
"Y- your scales are red and shiny. I like red."
"I see. Would you like one?"
The child became flustered and took a step back.
"There is no need mister demon. Really."
But before he could do anything else, I had already ripped out a scale from my arm and handed it to him.
"Here, it would grow back anyways."
He took the scale and looked at it in wonder. "thank you so much mister demon!"
I smiled and continued my way. There I saw that Leonor was already waiting in front of the tent.
"That was nice of you. You know not every child has someone to look out for them here especially when there are higher priorities."
"How was that nice? If you ripped out some hairs and gave that to a child, would that also be nice? Besides, I only gave it on a whim."
She smiled and led me into the tent. "Well, your scales more special than hairs, I suppose. He could make a jewel out of it to win over someone he comes to love. Or he can tell stories about it to his children later. It could even be used as the centrepiece of armour. Also, demon scales, hairs, fangs, and bones could be used in various spells. And if he ever really needs some help, he can always sell it."
I rolled my eyes. "so basically, in this world I am a walking goldmine? Why are there even children here in the first place? I am sure that there would be more wendigos than that, otherwise your situation would not be as severe."
"the wendigos are like a pack of wolves. They are where they can find food. but they are smart enough to go for the easiest prey. If we left the elderly and children in the villages, then they would get attacked there."
"Then the villages probably are not optimal for battle, as it would otherwise be more efficient for you to fight in familiar grounds."
She sat down on one of the chairs surrounding the table and moved some of her dark hairs that had fallen in front of her eyes to the side.
"Yea I guess that that's the case. Or they did not want the wendigos to attack their actual home. I have not been around these people for long. You know, I was mainly traveling form place to place, looking for more knowledge."
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Great. As much as I would like to continue this conversation. There are some people outside that seem pretty pissed off about something."
I moved to the side and a moment later the curtains of the tent opened.
There stood rough a man, wearing iron armour in front of the opening. He was nearly two meters tall and was completely bald. Next to him stood a younger man that smelled a lot like him. From this I deduced that he was the man's little brother.
"You are quite daring human! what in your right mind made you think that you could just burst in like that?"
The man spat on the ground in front of me.
"Shut up you red piece of shit! I am here for her."
Leonor stood up so fat that her chair fell down. "Brian this is not the time! I have to discuss the situation with Rubedo and then see how I can properly repay him."
The man that was apparently called Brian just shrugged. "We could handle this all on our own. There is no need for the demon. So how about we get you a good priest to get rid of that monster and then you can figure out a way too properly repay me!"
I wagged my tail from side to side, like cat that was about to catch a mouse. "Alright you waste of carbon dioxide, why do you think that I can't just eat you here and now?"
The man smiled and pulled out a necklace from under his armour. The necklace had a silvery cross hanging from it. " you see, I am pretty close to a man of god. So, I doubt that you would be able to lay a finger on me without burning up."
I came closer and inspected the cross. "There are two ways I could place this. One, that man of god that you talked about, is an idiot. Two, you are an idiot. Either way, this is just a piece of metal in the shape of a cross. You would be better off if you had just brought a knife."
The younger brother of Brian seemed to understand that there was no way that he was safe if I chose to make a move. He quietly backed away and hid somewhere else in the camp.
"You are lying. Your kind always lies. And about you lady, I advise you to come with me. it is already a shame that someone like you has asked for help from dark forces like this."
Leonor walked over to Brian and slapped him in the face. After this a red mark in the form of her hand could still be seen on the place where he had been hit.
"You know just as well as anyone else that we were losing the battle. We needed help, so I got some! If you are really going to wine about shame in front of my tent, then why don't you prove your worth in front of the others? Let's do this the most honourable way. We are both going to show our willpower and resistance to pain. If you pass out before I do, then you won't doubt my decisions anymore. And if I pass out first, then I will go see a priest!"
Brian smiled when he heard her proposal. "I think I know which game you want to play. Sure, go ahead. I don't think that there is a way for you to win anyways.