It looked like the danger had passed so I reached into my bag to treat my wound. I grit my teeth as I poured the red liquid on top the cut wincing as it hissed and healed. Good thing I had come prepared. The problem was while the wound had mostly healed my pants had not. My parents would kill me if they saw this. Though as strange as it was I was now quite used to the life and death situations. If it were me from a few weeks ago I would have freaked out.
"Ardent how does it look?" I looked towards him.
He huffed, "I lost the trace. I underestimated them, that trap was well placed. Though from what I could tell they entered the border forest."
"I see…." I looked up into the sky. There was still about 3 to 4 hours of sunlight left. "Let's keep moving. Who knows what we could find."
"Is that wise Rain?"
"Probably not." I sighed, "But if Axel is in danger I can't just sit by and wait. Please."
"Why not," Taylor said cheerily. "Come on Ardent it's just for a bit."
He smiled, "I didn't say I wouldn't go, just that perhaps we should be careful."
"Thank you," I bowed my head. Honestly without Ardent I didn't think we stood much of a chance. If Taylor and I got the drop on them maybe, but with Ardent it didn't matter. "We'll only explore the shallower areas. Even I don't know what's further in."
After cleaning up the area as much as we could we headed towards the border forest. There was still a pretty obvious and suspicious circle of dirt but I could chalk that up to having Ardent doing a demonstration. Just in case I also had Ardent search for anymore traps. The last thing I wanted was for an accidental death that could have been avoided.
The border forest in these parts was the same and different to the ones closer to Greytree. Here the trees were more evenly spaced apart and the sun could still shine through the leaves. The atmosphere wasn't as heavy but like before standing beneath the trees gave me a sense of comfort. The wind brushing the tops of the trees releasing a soft howl to us below and the pitter-patter of small creatures moving about the brush, it was a natural feeling.
"At least it's not as spooky as the forest by Greytree," Taylor said and shook herself.
"I actually quite like it in here," I smiled. "The first time I came was when I was eight with Morgan. It's almost like a different world here."
"Astute of you Rain," Ardent agreed. "The border forest stretches many kilometres into demon territory and there are dozens of villages within, some very hard to find. The density of mana here is significantly different than any place among the human territories and is a place of much investigation. It is unfortunate but with the current diplomatic issues spending much time here is not possible."
"Speaking of which we should probably shut up," Taylor looked into the distant trees. "I highly doubt that they wouldn't have their own guards around these parts."
We nodded and from then on stayed as silent as possible. If it weren't for Ardent's occasional clumsy step there was almost no trace of sound coming from Taylor and I. I was used to forests like these and knew how to avoid the tree roots and uneven paths. Taylor didn't have much trouble either. Coming from the clutter of the slums I guess she had to be deft on her feet.
Because we had lost the trail there wasn't much to follow aside from our gut instinct. Occasionally Ardent would look around with magic but nothing turned up. There were signs of creatures passing through but neither Taylor nor I could depict it as anything human. Like this two hours passed.
"Rain I think it best we head back. The sun is setting," Ardent said while wiping the sweat from his brow. Though it was quite cold in the forest we had been moving quite vigorously. For an ordinary magician this amount of exercise was unheard of.
Taylor nodded in agreement, "We're quite far in and though you live around here, the border forest is Demon territory."
"You're right…," though I understood the thought of letting whoever was out there get away pained my chest. We had long passed the comfortable range of the border forest, it was already a test of my ability to find a way back out.
"It's alright Rain," Ardent assured me. "I doubt our enemy will attack while we are in town."
"But what about when we leave?" my fists tightened. "You can't stay here with us forever Ardent."
"We can figure that out another day. There is also quite the possibility our enemy has doomed themselves even. The border forest is not for the inexperienced. There is a reason it has become a natural wall between the nations. At times it is luck more than anything that guides you in this realm."
"That is if they weren't used to it…."
Ardent understood my implied meaning, "If they are Demons it has already been our duty to stop them."
"How about we go a little further?" I looked at him pleadingly.
"Fine," Ardent sighed. "But remember the two of you are significantly younger than I."
We moved through the forest again but found nothing but animal trails. Ardent was right. The further we progressed the more the trees seemed to work against us and if it weren't for Taylor's sharp mind to leave a trail, we really might have ended up lost. Just as we were about to pack it up, Taylor raised her arm for silence. We both gestured to Ardent to freeze. Any fumbled movements from him now could cost us dearly.
I quietly came to Taylor's side and she began to signal to me in complicated hand signs. I tilted my head and shrugged. She shook her head disappointed. It wasn't my fault, I never learnt any sign languages. Instead she inched closer towards me placing her mouth near my ear. Her breath tickled and I had to force myself to remain composed.
"One nearby, most likely demon," she backed away as I nodded. Thankfully even she was serious enough not to try pull anything on me now.
I gestured to her that I'd do it. For a moment she looked like she wanted to reject the idea but said nothing. I drew my knife and leaned close to the ground creeping forwards till I could see the demon Taylor was talking about. It was a he and about as tall as I was. His clothing was actually normal to my standards and he held a hunting bow in one hand. It was clear however he wasn't human as scales ran down his exposed legs and arms, clinging around his neck.
With soundless steps I reached his back and making sure no one else was nearby grabbed him, placing my knife at his throat.
"If you want to live do as I say," I growled in a whisper.
"Okay okay," he dropped his bow.
"Do you know Axel?"
"Y-yes," he went to nod but stopped as the knife bit into his neck.
"Are you part of the group planning to attack it? If you lie I'll know and trust me when I say slitting your throat is the nicest thing I could do to you."
"No! I'd never attack Axel. We'd never do that," he was starting to sweat.
"Who is we?"
"My village, Kerchest. We're just a small village please. We'd never do anything to hurt Axel. I swear you have the wrong-,"
"That's enough," I held my grip tight but it didn't look like he was lying. For that matter I didn't know that there was a demon village so close by. "If you're not the ones who are going to attack Axel then who are?"
"I-I don't know. We wouldn't attack anyone."
"Could you say the same for Greytree? You're people just tried to invade."
"We have nothing to do with them! We're just trying to survive. Please believe me. I like humans. My best friend is a human. In fact he lives in Axel and-."
I let go immediately, "Servius?"
"Rain?" we faced each other gobsmacked. I was too focused to recognise his voice and I had never got a clear look at his face.
"You're a demon?" I was beyond shocked. Almost every month for a few days Servius and his family of traders would come by Axel to do business. Without them Axel wouldn't be even half as prosperous.
He looked at me guiltily, "I… yeah. Sorry I didn't want you to find out this way."
"Then you're entire family as well?"
"Yes."
Taylor appeared next to me jumping down from a nearby tree, "Well this is interesting."
"Wah!" Servius fell to his butt in panic.
"You know him?" she pointed her knife casually at him.
I sheathed mine, "He's a friend… I think."
"I'm a friend, a friend!" he said quickly. "Come on Rain please, I'm still me. In fact you're the scary one with what you just did."
It was the same face and queasy smile I remembered. Green eyes with pupils a bit thinner than a normal person, his hair slicked back and black. Yeah, he looked and felt like my friend but now a pit had birthed in my chest. The scales on his arms and legs became even more obvious like an infection. 'Demon', the word echoed in my mind and all that I could see from it were the dark armoured figures who had raided Greytree. They massacred the innocent, killed me and did so much more that I couldn't help hate them. Yet here I was looking down at my so called 'friend'.
"Hey Rain… you're kind of scaring me," Servius crept back still on the ground. "We're buddies aren't we?" He gulped, "Just what happened to you?"
"I've been through a lot," I replied more coldly than I meant to and he flinched. A part of me felt corrupt, conflicted on what to do. "Who else knows about you?"
"S-sir Mattias and a few of your other parents… I think. I never really asked."
I narrowed my gaze. Did they really know that they were Demons? No, there was no doubt they did. My parents were smart, or at least most of them. "Servius do you really not know about the people targeting Axel?"
He shook his head, "If I did I'd tell you. Everyone in the village would tell you. We rely on Axel more than you realise."
I sighed and reached out my hand to help him stand. He took it with a bright smile that I couldn't return.
"You believe me?" he asked hopefully.
"I think I do…, but I need to check on a few things first." I needed more information. It was a crime to interact with demons like this let alone trade with them.
"Yeah… I'll need to talk to a few people as well. I really screwed up by you finding me," he laughed ashamed. "What are you even doing this far from Axel? I'm pretty far from Kerchest as well, but these woods are home."
"We're…," I paused unsure to tell the truth, "looking for someone."
"And they want to hurt Axel?"
"Yes, but don't tell anyone," I eyed him seriously.
Again his expression pained me, it was as if he was looking at me for the first time, "You seem to have done a lot since I last saw you."
"You could say that," I half smiled. If only he knew the half of it.
"Can you get back home alright?" with that single question and concern I knew for certain that this was the Servius I knew. Demon or not he was still the awkward kind soul. "It's getting dark and the forest can be dangerous."
"It's alright, my friend is quite capable."
Taylor widened a grin, "Oh very."
Servius unconsciously backed away from her, "Then… I'll see you later right?"
"Probably," I replied uneasily. "Come on Taylor, it's getting late."
"You sure you're done here?" she smirked towards Servius and flipped her knife in hand. He flinched visibly frightened. He had never been the bravest person, a wonder why he was so far in the border forest alone but as he said, for him this place was home.
"Taylor don't," I pulled her back.
"I'm just joking." She put away her knife and winked at Servius, "See you later."
I kept my hold on her and dragged her away before she could do anymore harm. We left Servius to scurry back home and went to where we had left Ardent. He was still standing exactly as before. His feet were poised incredibly carefully afraid to make a noise.
"You can move Ardent," I said.
"Did you get them?" he asked as he relaxed.
"Not quite," I sighed. This entire experience had just brought on more questions. "Ardent do me a favour and send Ronalt a message. Tell him to pull back the Knights he was going to send to Axel."
"Why?" Ardent stared at me curiously. "It would be much safer to rely on their help."
"Please," I begged with my eyes. "I'll explain later when I get the chance." There was no doubt that Axel had been trading with Demons. If the truth reached the Kingdom's government then chances were they'd sentence us all to death for treason. A small town like Axel disappearing meant almost nothing to them.
We left the forest.