Demons work in a type of hierarchy. The lesser demons serve higher demons, and the higher demons serve the Demon Lord. That was what Ramielle had read in Danica's book.
The demon that had her in its clutches at the moment must be a lesser demon since it said earlier that its master would be pleased... possibly with it bringing Ramielle to him.
Ramielle struggled against the filthy being's grasp again, but it was to no avail. She looked down, seeing Daniel following close behind, shooting at the demon.
There must be something she could do. She thought hard to recall any memory... or anything about demons' weaknesses that she could have read in Danica's book. But nothing resurfaced in her memory.
Maybe she could stall it somehow?
"Excuse me, mister demon, sir?" Ramielle said, trying to get the demon to focus on her.
"Are you seriously trying to start a conversation with a DEMON? You've gotta be kidding me!" Daniel shouted from below, in a somewhat exasperated tone.
"I am just trying to see if we could reach a compromise!" Ramielle answered.
"Why are you humans talking over me as if I can't hear you?!" The demon slurred. Ramielle saw as Daniel almost tripped over his own feet.
"Lesser demons are slow witted and have a mind the size of a pea," a voice told Ramielle from within her mind. "Keep jesting around with its so-called feelings and that should stall it long enough for you to vanquish it before its master opens a portal for it." Ramielle thanked the voice with her mind, still not knowing where this voice might come from. It seemed to help her numerous times the past two days though, so she thought that it must have good intentions.
Ramielle cleared her throat, "So mister Demon... may I ask what your name is?"
"Stop talking to it!" Daniel yelled, clearly starting to run out of breath.
The demon turned its gaze toward Daniel and Ramielle saw what seemed like a frown forming on its features, "Excuse ME. Who are you to tell people not to talk to me, filthy human boy?"
Ramielle saw Daniel's right eye twitch, "For the love of --- Wait, what? Did you just call me a BOY? I am 21 years old, you stinking pile of shit!"
The demon halted and jumped down to stand in front of Daniel, "What did you just call me? I sure hope you don't kiss your mama goodnight with that mouth of yours!"
"WHO ARE YOU TO TALK ABOUT MY MOTHER, INSECT!?" Daniel retorted, steaming with anger, aiming his guns toward
The demon gasped, letting go of Ramielle, "How dare you? I am NOT an--" Ramielle cut the demon's words short by leaping into the air and driving her dagger into its head.
Daniel was staring with his mouth a gape.
The demon screeched and squirmed, throwing Ramielle onto the roof of a building. As she landed, pain awoke in every part of her body.
"Rami!" Daniel shouted. "I am alright! Shoot it before it disappears into a portal!" Ramielle shouted back at him.
Daniel did not waste another second and shot the demon in its head with a bullet from both his guns. Ramielle thought that he looked quite impressive.
The demon collapsed to the ground and desolved like coal in flames until there was nothing left of it.
Daniel ran to Ramielle, "Hey, are you sure you're okay? Let me help you down." He opened his arms, ready to catch her. The sight warmed Ramielle's heart and made it beat a little faster. "I am... okay," she answered, feeling her cheeks heat up.
She slid off the edge of the roof and Daniel caught her with no effort, and Ramielle noticed that he held her for a second longer than he had to before gently setting her down.
Ramielle winced a little when her legs had to rely on themselves again. But she felt like she would be alright even if her body was a little sore.
Daniel chuckled, much to Ramielle's surprise, "You keep surprising me." She tilted her head to the side. What did he mean?
"The way you used the demon's stupidity against him... even making me argue with it... you sure are something, Ramielle."
"I received some help, I cannot take all the credit," Ramielle answered with a shy smile. "The voice told me that lesser demons like that one are slow witted and emotionally sensitive."
Daniel tapped her forehead with his index finger, "Well, whatever the heck this weird head of yours tells you, it works."
Where he tapped her forehead felt tingly and Ramielle noticed that her cheeks were becoming warm again.
Then she remembered something, "Why did you call me 'Rami' earlier?"
Daniel's cheeks turned pink and he cleared his throat. Then he walked past her, "Enough. You're so noisy. We need to get back on the road."
A grin spread on Ramielle's lips. She knew by now that Daniel acted this way when he was flustered. It was... what was the word?
"Cute," the voice in her head told her. Yes, Ramielle thought. Daniel was cute.
After travelling for hours, they reached another village. According to the map in Danica's book, there was only two villages left before they reached their final destination. Ramielle wondered how many creatures they were going to encounter before reaching Danica and Hector.
Ramielle had noticed that Daniel's breathing had become heavy and his footsteps had become slower. He seemed to be struggling. He did not get much sleep the previous night and she thought that the fight with the demon made him even more exhausted.
"Daniel, maybe we should rest a while..." Ramielle suggested. He shook his head, "No, we're almost there."
Reluctantly, Ramielle followed him without further protest.
They finally set foot in the village, which looked very similar to the previous two. This time, Ramielle did not cower behind Daniel. Instead, she made sure to be extra vigilant and ready to protect Daniel. She would never admit that to him, though. He would say that he was capable of protecting himself and that he did not need any of her assistance.
Daniel started to sway and leaned on a nearby building's wall to support himself. "Are you alright? Do you need some water?" Ramielle asked with concern. She hoped he would suggest that they should rest but instead he snapped at her. "No! I'm fine! Stop fussing! I don't need your help!" Ramielle let out a little gasp. She wondered why he would not let her help him and why he was so cold all of a sudden.
Daniel seemed to be fuming, and then he pushed himself off the wall to continue walking through the village.
Instead, he started swaying again and collapsed on the dry cobblestone road.