The demon had smoke coming off its body. It had crouched on its hind quarters four bat like wings covering everything but its curled brown horns. It unfurled its wings reveling green veins pulsing on burnt skin. Its body lurched forward from its fatal position before towering above us. Just like its wings green veins were beating on its mauve colored body. Sharp claws grew out of muscled hands. Scales grew in various places while sitting on top of its neck was a hideous face of a lion with dead fish eyes. Curved yellow teeth sprouted from its gapping maw. A ragged brown cloth was tied around its waist with a string. A red tail swayed behind it.
A huff of breath left its mouth. "Guess it is still hungry. My pets weren't enough for it." Claudina rubbed her wrist before slashing her bare hand with the dagger.
The demon twitched as blood freely splashed on the ground. "Looks like it's a newborn…that delayed reaction seeing easy prey confirms it. I have half the mind to tame it." "HEY! Newborn or not a demon is a demon!"
"I was just joking. But it's quite strange. When I summoned a demon, it wasn't a newborn since the current lowest ranking demon was a Child demon."
She was right though. A newborn demon…while there were demons to begin with, a newborn demon after two hundred years? It's completely unheard of. Unless someone made a blood pact with one of the older demons then maybe it would be possible.
But all demon rituals were banned. If they are found doing it secretly they are hanged in the square for forty days as an example for the others while their property is seized and their decedents are demoted to slaves.
Then how?
I sneaked a glance at Claudina. The first thing someone thinks about when talking about demon rituals is…Claudina. Did she summon it? But she herself is surprised.
No. Let's collect evidence before pointing fingers. I will help her first. Then I will question her. Not like she will ever give a straight answer.
Since Holy magic doesn't work on her I will repel any attack the demon throws her while she attacks it without any defense.
I was snapped out of musings when the demon whimpered like a child. My eyes widened. Surrounding the demon were multiple red butterflies tearing away scales and skins. I hurried looked down at the puddle of blood. Butterflies were hatching halfway from the cocoons.
Claudina slashed her hand again. Waterfalls of blood gushed out, falling atop of the newly hatched butterflies. Multiple cocoons formed immediately on fresh blood.
"Claudina…" I was afraid of hearing answer. "Claudina... be-before…was that an 'entrancement'?"
"No. Nor an illusion. It really happened."
Dammit!
I felt sick all over again. I pressed my hand on my mouth.
"These butterflies are parasites. They won't let me die nor can I kill them. So I decided to use them in return for staying in my body. Just so you know I sometimes eat them when they are still larva. They are all black and slimy. Their heads are always moving inside my mouth no matter how many times I chew. Sometimes they suck the inside of my throat when I swallow them with water. So I am forced to slice open my throat whenever that happens. I get revived by the butterflies again. And the cycle continues."
I felt dizzy. "I didn't ask for lesson!"
"You should try some in private. They closely taste like ga-"
"Oh gosh, shut up!" I was holding my head from stopping it from spinning. She's gross!
Then she the audacity to laugh!! I want to punch her in the face. I really do.
The demon banged its fist on the ground, shaking and screaming. The butterflies scattered before coming back in droves to tear more bits. It was unnerving.
"It has weakened." Claudina turned to me. "Cast protection on yourself. Should the demon attack me ward it. After I pined it down cast the sealing spell. The moment the sealing begins cast a barrier. I will run as fast as I can to enter it. If I can't; continue the barrier regardless."
A simple plan for me while a dangerous one for her. What if I miss the demon and attack her instead. Sure Holy magic has no effect on her so even if I hit her by mistake she won't take any damage. The demon can attack her in that fraction of moment.
"Will you be…alright?" I asked.
"I fought with S-grade monsters if not higher. Yet I am still alive. Have you forgotten about the parasitic butterflies? They will revive me."
I took a deep breath. "Then be safe."
"Of course. I intend to live a long life."
She slowly approached the demon. She bought her slashed hand. On the back of her hand I saw the Crowley's Ancient power. Huh, it is still with her…
A black brand that held multiple swords. The middle sword being broken into pieces and those pieces had stabbed through stars. The surrounding three swords had pierced objects. The one on the right had punctured the sun, the left one had the moon and the last one at the bottom had a crying eye.
"σπечwert!"
A sliver glow spread from her hand. She grabbed the light from the top and let it slash the air. Now in her hand was a silver sword while the scabbard rested on her other hand.
The scabbard was sliver gray with tiny specks of white glitter around it. The locket of the scabbard was so black to it seemed unreal. Blacker than the hair of the goddess worshiped in the Valleys of Shade. Almost as if this was the deepest part of space. The hilt of the silver sword had stars emblazed on it with thin silver vine like design covering the grip. A rose curved entirely out of a star sapphire rested on the pommel. On the sword itself were words: 'Let Thy Vanquish Evil When Thou Wield The Stars' Blessing"
The Stars' Blessing!
I didn't know it existed let alone it belonged to the Crowley Dukedom! And here I thought Holy magic has no effect on Claudina.
She raised The Stars' Blessing and the butterflies started to drift apart. I shuddered from my awe of a national treasure and casted protection on myself.
As soon as most of the butterflies had moved, Claudina leapt forward. She moved so quickly that my eyes couldn't keep up. In a moment she was in front on the fatally injured demon and plunged the sword straight in its chest. Just as quickly she moved before she jumped back as well. She raised the sword again and the swarm attacked its wound endlessly. She smirked.
She again and attacked it, this time hacking on its right arm. She repeated the next two attacks like the first one.
At this rate it's the demon that needs help…
The demon was gasping while trying to swat away the butterflies in futile. It really is a newborn. Its attacks and regenerating abilities is below the level of a demon. Did Claudina say it was low ranking one? Low ranking demon is still a demon. I need to investigate as soon as I get home.
After the fifth attack something happened. The demon howled just once. Caught by surprise I saw that some of the older wounds were regenerating. That's bad!
"Claudina! Its wounds have started to regenerate!" I yelled over.
Claudina leaped away but not before stabbing it in the stomach. I clasped my hands together "O' Holy Heavens! Please defend us from evil so we may not go astray, so we may not fall under vengeful sprits, so we may be able to stay under you!"
The demon lurched forward holding its neck. I launched the next verse "O' Holy Heavens! Now that we have seen all evil and suffered cruel unjust, please grant us a right to continue to stay in your divine path!" The demon's limbs and wings started to twist.
My throat hurt. This is what I get for chanting the 'Celestial Earthly Revelations'; the holiest yet unholy book of the temple. No one higher than the Pope and current saint or saintess can view them. It's for good reason too. Just by reading causes severe headaches, dizziness, nausea and sometimes laying in bed with a high fever. Worst case scenario is death. And here I am chanting it. The spells in the book can kill anything and everything; it doesn't discriminate between humans or demons.
Since Claudina is fine the rule maybe doesn't apply to her. Although I hope I can make it to the end...
I slowly opened my mouth for the third verse. "O' Holy Heavens! Now everything has been said and done, injustice and justice mixes, yet we implore you to forgive us once more for we are but under your wing and protection!"
I coughed out blood. By now the demon was beyond recognizable. I tried not to look but the glimpses that I caught told me that the demon was knocked out. All that was left was to seal the demon.
I fell down to my knees. The mana that I received from Claudina was almost depleted. No, I need to seal it no matter what. I kept trying to raise my hands again yet failing every time. I coughed haphazardly while clutching my chest. I felt something other phlegm; I opened my hand and found teeth half covered in blood. I felt faint.
Something cold stopped me from falling. I shivered pleasantly. It was good feeling something cold and soft against my enflamed skin. The temperature was high so I was suddenly worried that whoever was holding me was another demon. Looking up I saw Claudina holding me. It was not too tight like before but rather gentle. Her expression was unreadable. Then again when was it that I could understand her expression?
"Heh!"
"What's so funny?" Her voice sounded cold. "You hated when anyone got this close to you. Why the sudden change? You should have let me fall." I huffed with every word I said.
"What was that spell?"
"I used the book of 'Celestial Earthly Revelations.' Filled to brim with spells like that." I answered weakly.
"Why?" Her grip hardened. I blinked at her. "Because the demon…"I trailed off.
"No. I am asking why you used those specific spells when you knew what they would do to you."
I gaped dumbly at her.
"Why did you not follow the plan?" She sounds angry. Is she worried about…me?
"Look what you have done to yourself."
"You like to see me suffer." I was getting sleepy.
"I do. That is when I am the one that caused you to suffer."
"I see. Sorry for not following the plan but I think I still can seal the demon." My eyes started to close.
She held me closer. "That doesn't matter now. Rest."
"But...the sealing…" "Rest."
I obeyed and immediately fell asleep.