"Why do I have to go?" Baz whines.
"The Director was very clear with her instructions," Jessica answers calmly, "She very explicitly said you had to go."
Aster pulls a face, "Can we just ignore her? He's only going to be a nuisance and keep whining the whole time."
"Oh, definitely. I'll do nothing but get in the way," Baz agrees earnestly. "I'll even throw a fit." He's not going to skimp on trying to get out of doing this job, even willing to throw away his dignity. Anything not to work.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Valentine speaks up all of a sudden from where she's sitting behind Aster's desk. Kit had honestly forgotten she was still here. She had just been so quiet this whole time. "You keep whining about what? One job? So pathetic!" she turns her face away, nose upturned. "I'm ashamed to even know you."
"What?!" Baz cries. "No, no, don't be like that. You don't mean that."
"I do!"
"But you don't actually ACTUALLY think that, right?"
"Do I really have to say it twice?"
Jessica sighs. "The Director also said this would happen…" She leaves to go back to the reception desk, where Kit can see her making a call; he has a guess to who it is directed towards.
"Hm. Funny how Fluorite's always able to predict everything he will do. But I guess that's why she's his sister. Well, being honest, I would also be surprised if he didn't try to worm his way out," Aster comments with wry humour.
"Has he always been like this?" Kit asks xem. For as long as he has known Baz, he's been a lazy good-for-nothing.
"As hard as it is to believe, no. Actually," Aster reveals a mischievous smile, "he wasn't the brightest child. It was surprisingly easy to get one up on him. I remember this one time-"
"Aster!" Baz yelps. "You're not allowed to reveal any of my embarrassing childhood stories unless you want me to do the same!"
Xeir expression immediately sours. "Actually, never mind."
"What? No, I want to know!"
"Absolutely not!" they both say at the same time.
At that same time: "Baz! Jessica calls him over to her desk.
"Ugh." His expression drops. It looks like Baz also has a hunch as to who Jessica is on the phone with.
When Jessica hands him over the phone, Baz puts the phone next to his ear, but immediately has to pull it away, his expression twisting in pain. They can't hear exactly what the Director is yelling at him, but it is loud enough the garbled noises from the phone reach them.
It grows boring after the first thirty minutes. And it only escalates from there.
When Baz comes back, his expression miserable. He plops down on the floor, leaning his back against the desk.
"What did she tell you?" Kit asks.
"What didn't she tell me?" Baz answers glumly. "I swear, she was so mad I almost thought she would teleport next to me just from pure spite."
Aster bursts out laughing.
Baz scowls. "It's not funny."
"It kinda is though," Kit is trying really hard not to laugh.
"This is all so unfair." Baz hides his head between his legs.
"You're acting like a baby," Valentine gives him a small kick in the shoulder.
"Shut up. You would be too if you were being forced to work against your own will."
"How are you such a lazy bum?" Talk about kicking someone when they're down.
"I think you're overreacting," Kit tells him, "it can't possibly be that bad."
"I don't care. She can't force me to do some stupid pest extermination job just because she's older," Baz is still sulking.
"Actually," Aster looks up from where xe'd been reading the file, "this is a Bureau directly assigned job. So, it's technically not your sister forcing you to do it."
"Why's the Bureau assigning a job? I didn't think anything big enough had happened for them to get involved in."
While it wasn't unheard of for the Bureau to get involved in this town's business, it had been quite some years since it had happened.
In the grand scheme of things, this town was so unimportant most people in the country would never even hear about it in their lives. But for the BMA, it was actually an extremely important location. The reason being: it was the only settlement, city, town or otherwise, that was actually located next to the Forest of Mist, the one barrier between the human world and the Lands Beyond. Because of its proximity to the Lands Beyond, the magical energy levels were higher than anywhere else in the country.
Even though there were other towns, and even cities, that were in proximity to the forest, none of them were less than at least fifty kilometres away, and those were the ones considered to be closer.
So even if it was an insignificant town generally speaking, the Bureau had always made sure to keep a close eye on it. This was also the reason why the position of Director of such a small town was entrusted to a member of the Elemental Magician clan; had been for generations, and not just anyone as it would have been in almost any other case. Truth be told, if this were just any other town, perhaps there wouldn't even be a Bureau office here.
"Hmm." Aster finishes reading the report. "Looks like the job isn't in town, but it's around these parts. Apparently there's been some sort of monster killing the livestock grazing near the Forest of Mist."
~~~
It took them more than two hours to reach their destination.
Baz had wanted to drive, but they had immediately shut him down.
"I'll drive," said Aster, "since I'm the only one that actually knows how to."
"I call shotgun then!" Baz raised his hand.
Kit sighed. Well, it's not like he really minded having to ride in the back.
The trip goes by without any incidents, or at least he thinks so, because he falls asleep about halfway through, only waking up when the car stops.
"We're there?" he asks, stretching his neck to get rid of the crick.
When they step out of the car, all they can see are miles and miles of grazing land stretching out in all directions, the only break in the landscape are the hazy outlines of the trees at the edge of the Forest of Mist in the distance. There doesn't seem to be a single living soul in sight.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Baz peers around them.
"Yes, I'm sure," Aster sighs in exasperation.
"Are you a hundred percent sure?" Kit double checks.
"Yes! Yes, I'm sure! Oh my god!" xe throws up xeir hands in the air.
"Okay, fine. We believe you," Baz calms xem down, "it's just… What do we do now?" They both wait for xem to take the lead, being the only one with experience at this sort of job.
"The file said this is the area around which most of the killings had been happening. So finding the creature's trial should only be a matter of time. Let's spread out and try to find any residuals it might have left."
"Sure. That sounds like a solid plan, but…" Kit trails of.
Baz, "It's just that…"
"What is it now?" Aster looks just about done with them.
Baz shares a look with him. "Um… What exactly are we looking for?"
Not for the first time since xe has known them, xe has to resist the urge to scream.
~~~
After Aster has finished giving them a quick lesson on tracking down magical creatures, they're finally ready to start the mission.
"So we look for any physical evidence such as hair, footprints, or droppings?" Kit reviews the basics with Baz, Aster having decided it would be better for them to team up while xe went off on xeir own.
"If they leave droppings," Baz supplies.
"Right. Or look for any places where the energy feels different from its surroundings."
"Which would indicate traces of supernatural activities."
"And once we find them, we notify Aster."
Baz nods.
"I think you should look for physical evidence. I'll look for natural energy disturbances."
"Huh?! Why do I get stuck looking for some creature's shit?"
"Because you don't remember how to sense for natural energy!"
"Ugh. Fine."
He takes out his fountain pen and a paper tag, quickly drawing a senses-enhancing seal on it. The drawing lights up with a faint bluish hue when he activates it, and he sticks it to the inside of his robe. It would be less likely anything would happen to it there. This way, he would be able to cover more ground more quickly.
After this is done, he mutters a quick spell under his breath; the spell for being able to sense natural energy. He feels a dull throb between his eyes, a sign that the spell has started working. Even though humans aren't naturally able to sense different types of natural energy, there is a spell that with a small alteration to the brain's pathways would allow the caster to sense the energy in a radius of a couple of metres. He had never liked performing this particular spell though, everytime he did, he would get a migraine. The first time it had been so strong he had to sleep it off all day the following day.
To his right, Baz has started looking for any traces of the creature.
"Here," he passes him another senses-enhancing seal he has drawn.
"Hm?" Baz turns to look at him again, taking the seal from his hand. "Oh, thanks." He activates the seal himself, and attaches it to his sleeve.
So careless, he thinks, but doesn't say anything. Over the years, he's learned it's no use trying to change Baz. The only people who have ever been able to force him to do anything are Fluorite and his mother.
They spend the next couple of hours trying to find some sort of clue, but to no avail. It isn't until they get closer to the edge of the forest that they do.
He is so focused on trying to sense any sort of abnormal energy, he doesn't notice when his foot steps on an unusually soft surface. He feels his foot sink into it, the slimy sensation registering a second to late. He looks down, thinking he has probably stepped on some shit, but instead he sees…
"It's a dead animal!" he yells, jumping back in horror.
It looks like the corpse of what used to be a sheep, but he can't be sure with most of its body missing or mauled beyond recognition. What appears to be its wool is matted with fresh blood and its insides have been completely turned inside out. It turns out, what he had stepped in were some of its guts that were spread around it.
He immediately releases the spell. He feels like he's going to be sick. The shock is so strong, he doesn't even register the headache building behind his eyes.
He's had his encounter with dead animals before, but this… this is beyond gruesome. There isn't even enough left of the poor animal to give it a proper burial.
In a few seconds, Baz and Aster are by his side.
"Oh fuck," Baz sounds like he's about to throw up too, "that looks nasty."
Aster, on the other hand, kneels down to inspect it more closely. "It looks like it was killed not too long ago. If that's the case, then the creature responsible for killing it can't be too far away." Xe stands up. "Let's go."
"Inside the forest?!" Baz widens his eyes in fear. "Do you want to get us killed?!"
"What? You believe in all those housewives' superstitions?" Aster taunts him.
Baz gnashes his teeth. "They are not superstitions and you know it damn well!"
Though the Forest of Mist is a common scaring tactic used on children, the truth is, there are some facts to back it up. While it's not a place crawling with monsters and demons that will take you away if you don't behave like in children's nighttime stories, there are quite a few grade 4 creatures inhabiting its lands. Not to mention, any non-magical creature that would try to go across the forest to the Lands Beyond would disappear without leaving a trace. This much at least, was fact.
"Relax, you crybaby. It's not like we're going to go in that deep. I told you, the creature we're after must be close by."
"I really don't think it's a good idea to go in there, though," Kit says.
Aster rolls xeir eyes. "Fine. If you two are about ready to piss your pants, I'll go in alone. You can wait for me here." Without another word, xe starts heading towards the forest line, the trees and the perpetual mist surrounding them swallowing up xeir figure in seconds.
They turn to look at each other, coming to a wordless conclusion. If the creature were to come back, better with Aster than by themselves.
They nod at each other, and follow xem into the forest.
As soon as they step beyond the first trees, he can feel the temperature drop. A chill runs down his spine, and he can't shake off the feeling there is something in the shadows, watching them. The mist makes it hard to see, and after searching for Aster for a few seconds, they give up and try to call xem.
"Aster!" Baz calls out, "Where are you?!"
"Over here!" the answer comes from a few metres ahead of them.
They hurry towards the sound of xeir voice, and find xem kneeling in front of another animal's carcass. If possible, this one looks even worse than the one outside the forest.
Aster makes a shh sign at them. 'It's close' xe mouths at them.
He can feel the hair at the back of his neck stand on end.
Silently, Aster summons xeir axe, gripping the handle tightly in xeir left hand, ready to spring to action at the slightest notice.
Fuck, he thinks. What the hell is he supposed to do if the creature attacks. He doesn't have anything. Baz at least has his fire he can defend himself with.
Suddenly, there's a rustling sound between the trees.
He can feel its presence now. It's definitely close. The pressure in the air increments by at least a thousand.
Then, from behind a tree, the creature jumps out.
Calling it a creature would be a mistake though; this thing is more like a grotesque blob of mass with four legs. Its body is completely pitch black, and in the place where its face should be, there is just a gaping maw with rows and rows of pointy teeth stretching as far back as the eye can see.
It lunges at them, letting out a blood-curdling scream that pierces his eardrums.
In one smooth motion, Aster has cut it in half mid lunge. Its blood splatters everywhere, getting on his clothes and face. It's black, the same colour it had been, and cold to the touch.
"It wasn't just a creature," Aster says after giving him and Baz a few seconds to recollect themselves, "it was a demonic creature. And if I'm not mistaken, there should be more on their way."
"What do you mean we're dealing with demons?" Kit's voice comes out shaky. He's too scared to feel ashamed. "Nobody told me there would be demons!"
Besides from a grade 5, demons were the worst type of creature you could come across.
"That's probably why the Bureau requested you come. Demons have to be sealed away after they're killed or they just keep coming back to life."
"But I've never sealed away a demon!"
"Well there's a first time for everything, right?"
"I don't even know if I can!"
"But you know how to do it, in theory at least, right?" Aster raises an eyebrow at him.
"I- I guess! But you can hardly expect me to master it on the go! Especially if my life is at risk!"
"Eh. You know, I always thought nothing is worth doing unless your life is at risk. If anything, this should serve as your motivation."
"There," Baz has finally collected himself enough to speak, "is something deeply wrong with you." Kit nods in agreement.
"Yeah, I've heard that before. Anyways, I recommend you get started on those seals, or that thing is going to be coming back real soon."
~~~
He manages to remember the steps to sealing away a demon correctly. It does take him a few tries to get it right, since his hands kept shaking so much he would mess up the seal each time.
It definitely doesn't help the fact that while he was trying to draw it there was the danger of getting his head ripped off his shoulder any moment.
Not long after Aster had warned him, the demon's friends had made their appearance.
"Don't worry about them," Aster had told him, "you focus on getting that seal. We will deal with the creatures."
He has to draw the seal with a stick on the ground because he doesn't have any paper wide enough to draw the purification array on. After he finally manages to finish it, he takes the two halves of the demon and drops them in the middle of the circle. He tries not to think about the sensation of the demon's scaly body against his skin, or the sickening squelching noise it makes when he picks it up and when he drops it on the floor again.
He chants the purification spell quickly, and the circle emits a blinding flash of white light, turning the demon's body to ash.
He turns to where Baz is currently incinerating one of the demons. At first, he had been unsure of Aster's assurance that they would both deal with the creatures. Baz had looked about ready to pass out. But after the first few seconds of initial shock, and Aster yelling at him to get himself together, he had risen up to the challenge.
Honestly, he would forget Baz was actually a good magician most of the time. He, unlike Kit, seemed to excel at almost everything he tried without much effort, it was just that his chronic laziness and easygoing attitude made it impossible for anyone not well acquaintanced with him to notice.
He picks up the body of the second demon, dropping it onto the circle and repeating the same process he did with the first.
After five times, he's got it down to a science. He doesn't even have to place the demon's whole body onto the array, just their head will do, and the more he does it, the quicker it becomes retracing the seal's pattern.
He loses track of time, but finally, just when his arms are starting to feel numb and exhaustion is settling into his bones, they stop coming.
Aster is quick to dispatch the last of them, but still, as experienced as xe is, one manages to slip past xem.
Baz has his back to him, dealing with a creature of his own, and Kit is too busy sealing away another demon's soul, so neither of them notice the demon heading their way.
Kit notices it a split second before it reaches him, but not in time to dodge out of its way. He tries to scramble backwards on all fours, letting out a scream. (Once again, not one of his best moments, but he has worse things on his plate at the moment.)
The creature sinks its teeth into his lower leg, the majority of it disappearing from view and into what would be the demon's mouth.
He's aware of his shin bone making a cracking noise, but it's like he's watching himself from outside his body, the pain only registering dully in the back of his mind.
As if in slow motion, he sees Aster running towards him and decapitating the creature in one smooth motion. Its now severed head loses its grip on his leg, rolling away after Aster kicks it. There's a lot of blood (his blood? the creature's? a mix?); more blood than he's ever seen in his life. And yes, it's definitely his blood because it's soaking the entire lower half of his pant leg and spreading rapidly, and it's red, while the demon's blood had been a tar shade of black. The cloth had ripped apart where the demon had sunk its teeth in, leaving his wound in plain sight, and he can see a bit of white bone peeking out between all the bloody mess.
'Ah, shit,' he thinks numbly, 'that can't be good,' before he passees out.