Chapter 15: Their differences.
Three days passed by with no more trouble than a heavy downpour. The demon issue aside I decided to settle at home and watch for any suspicious movements. The time flew by quickly as I went back to my daily lifestyle. I helped Axel wherever I could, baking bread in the morning, crafting tools in the blacksmith, gathering reagents for the apothecary, avoiding Margaret's new mixture, sewing new clothes for the kids… it was like I had never left. The biggest difference however was Taylor and Ardent. Ardent had taken it on himself to teach the children rudimentary magic, something to be honest I was jealous of, especially when the children happily showed me their results. I couldn't even light a small flame without passing out. As for Taylor she hung around, mostly near me. She still wasn't used to town life and followed me around quite like a curious puppy. At times I even taught her a few things.
Beneath it all however my sword and bow were always close by and Ardent had set up his spells to detect trouble. We would be able to act at a moment's notice but that moment never came. On one hand I was glad, on the other I was dreading not being able to do anything but wait. About the demons I wasn't sure what to do. Taylor wasn't much help and I didn't want to risk telling Ardent. It didn't seem like we were moving anytime soon as on Greytree's end more and more problems kept popping up. In the end I decided to sit and wait as I settled my thoughts.
It was midday and I was teaching Taylor the basics of mixing potions when Ardent came into the apothecary.
"Rain I received a message from Ronalt," he said simply.
"And?" I turned my attention to him.
"He wants to know when you'll be ready to depart. As it stands our previous entry route is not viable so we'll most likely have to change paths. At the moment he will still be several days as they wait for correspondence from the Capital but we can't sit idle for too long, especially as we now know the Demon's offensive is close by."
I gazed out the door he came from, to where the outside of Axel was still visible, "Axel is still in danger. I need to find whoever it was who came here and make sure they're gone for good."
"I completely understand that Rain," Ardent nodded. "However they're in demon territory and we might never find them. For now at least it seems they're gone. If protection is what you want I can still ask Ronalt to send those knights."
"No," I said a little too quickly. "I mean, it's fine. I'll handle it somehow."
He looked at me concerned, "Rain don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Come to talk to me if you need help."
As he turned to leave Taylor poked my side and whispered, "He's right, besides having a Master Wizard on your side is handy."
They were both right, at this rate I wouldn't get anywhere. I called out, "Actually Ardent can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," he seemed quite happy and settled back into the room.
"What do you think about demonkind? Are they as dangerous as people say?"
He scoffed immediately, "Goodness no. Propaganda Rain. Since the dawn of civilisation us humans have been using the demons as a common enemy to attain peace and the same could be said for them. In saying that our relationship with them has never been peachy but if you ask me they're as much harm as an unknown man or women… though if you include the stigmatism between the two races it would probably be more dangerous… unless you had a disguise of course then they wouldn't care… then again you would still have the stigmatism against them so-,"
"I get it Ardent," I stopped him as he began to wander. "Do you have much experience with them personally? I remember you saying you visited them once."
"Did I?" he tapped his chin in thought. Damn was that from a previous life? "Well I have. They're fine as any person not trying to kill you, though that does depend on their subraces. Some of their cultures can be quite different to ours."
"Right…. Taylor you don't care a bit do you?" I turned to her to make sure.
She was holding up a vial that was fizzing suspiciously, "Nope. Demon, human, same to me."
I rubbed my temples, "Thanks for the input." There was a lot I needed to think about.
A sudden pop resounded next to me and glass shattered to the floor. The vial Taylor had been holding was gone.
"Oops," she said apologetically.
"What did you put in there?" I sighed. At least this wasn't as bad as teaching her how to cook.
*
The next day visitors came to Axel. It was a sight we were all used to. Coming in from the south three large carriages being pulled by oxen like creatures and sitting on top of them the regular traders. Servius and his family. They had come by recently so it was a surprise to see them so soon however I had the feeling their visit had something to do with me.
The town acted as usual and led them to the inn where they could store their goods. I played my part and greeted them hiding the strain pulling at my mind and actions. My eyes couldn't help flick to the thick clothing covering their skin. I couldn't remember a time when they wore more revealing clothes. Even the females were all rugged up and some wore hats that I had never seen pulled off. My desire to do so was rising.
"Hey," Servius called to me awkwardly. His arms and legs were covered and a scarf wrapped his neck.
"Hi," I greeted him with a false smile.
"Hiya," Taylor popped out from behind me.
Servius stepped back showing his clear dislike of her, "I see you're here as well."
"Where else would I be," she grinned evilly.
He tried to ignore her and whispered to me, "Rain is she your umm… girlfriend?"
"Why yes!" Taylor butted in before I could reply.
I pushed her away, "No she is not. She's a traveling companion and friend. And yes her default personality is like this, you get used to it."
"Oh Rain you're such a tease," she laughed and poked my cheek. "I'll leave you two to talk."
I glared at her. She was having way too much fun messing with me and with how she stuck around me a lot the townsfolk were beginning to doubt me when I said she was just a friend. Should have brought Lara instead, at least she'd lay low. No wait, maybe Taylor had been the right choice. If Lara were here I feel her natural attraction would cause even more issues.
"Rain?" Servius waved his hand in front of me.
"Ah sorry I was distracted," I shook away the thoughts.
"So how's it going?" it was a simple question but the way he looked at me meant so much more.
"It's… it's going well," I smiled. "Will you be here long?"
His lips split into a grin, "Probably until tomorrow. While I'm here want to play around?"
"Servius we're no longer kids we can't muck around too much," I laughed.
"A little shouldn't matter," he huffed and turned to the older man behind him unpacking the carriage. It was Servius' father, Phillius and the leader of the caravan. Like Servius he was dressed in thick clothing that covered almost all his skin bar his face. "Dad Rain and I are going to go for a bit."
He looked at us both, "Aye you do that. I'll be talking with Sir Mattias."
"Let's head to the river," Servius said happily and began to pull me gently. "It's been a while since we've gone." I followed him though he quickly noticed another presence hanging by my side. "Does she have to come as well?"
Taylor tilted her head at me.
I was going to ask her to stay but the thought of what she could get up to without me nearby sent a chill down my spine. "It's fine she won't do anything bad… I think."
Servius narrowed his gaze at her, "Fine."
As we left I spotted Ardent talking to a few of the other traders quite vividly. He was asking a lot of questions as he usually did. The traders were handling it quite well but I could see the strain in their eyes which completely went over Ardent's head. I had to wonder if they'd be fine.
The river was part of the reservoir of water that kept Axel alive. Water would flow into an underground network of streams to pool into a large lake beneath the nearby mountain. The river was its outlet and controlled by the town. It was a place where many people visited to relax and the easiest entrance to the lake. The system of pipes leading from the lake to Axel had apparently been built even before Mattias' time as Mayor meaning it was of demon make.
It took about half an hour till we reached the familiar place and welcoming us was the peaceful sound of water trickling through the earth.
"It feels like it's been ages since I've come here," I squatted by the water. Really it had only been about two month's real time. I heard movement behind me. "Taylor if you push me in I'm taking you with me."
"Tch," she clicked her tongue. "You're no fun." Though if she really did want to there was no way I could stop her before I realised.
"You two get along well," Servius looked at us enviably.
I dipped my hand into the water and splashed it Taylor's way, "It wasn't always like this." She easily avoided the droplets of water.
He sighed, "You're lucky. If I wanted to find someone like her I never would."
"Again we're not like that but why? No demon girls that you're interested on that side?" I asked nonchalantly but a small pit entered my stomach. I felt like I was asking what I shouldn't be.
Despite my worries Servius replied as naturally as he ever would, "My village is tiny and we all know each other. It's hard travelling there you know. I'm more familiar with the humans in Axel than anyone else."
"Come on surely you could talk to someone?"
"Hey it's not as easy okay. We've got tribes and cross breeds aren't something people are fond of most the time. First I'd need to find another scaleskin and even then we'd need to get along. You humans have got it easy, you're all the same."
"I never thought about it like that," I chuckled. "So you're a 'scaleskin'?"
"Most our village is," Servius nodded, took off his jacket and pulled up his shirt. The skin on his body aside from his chest and stomach were covered in flexible looking scales. They reflected the light and reminded me of a fish's skin.
"Can I touch it?"
"Go ahead," he nodded.
I placed my hand on the scales gently. It felt strange beneath my touch, a texture similar to that of a lizard but more firm and yet at the same time soft. Slowly I traced to his stomach which felt like my own skin. Another hand joined mine.
"Wow how weird," Taylor commented.
Servius snapped his shirt back down, "I didn't say you could!"
"Don't be such a prude," Taylor pouted. Maybe it was a bad idea to bring her.
I cleared my throat to stop them glaring at each other, "So is that it?"
"What do you mean?" he looked at me confused.
"As in is that the only thing that makes you a demon? Can you do anything else like spit acid or something?"
He laughed, "Nothing that cool but I can swim pretty well and hold my breath for over an hour."
"I thought you said you couldn't swim?" When we were kids he never wanted to even when it was midsummer.
"Well I couldn't without showing my body could I?" he put his jacket back on. "Dad would have killed me if I did, no matter how hot it got."
"Ah, you must have had it pretty rough." I smiled again. I understood what Mattias had been saying now. Servius was still just like I knew him and he hadn't changed a bit. He wasn't some enigma but just a person I knew. My best friend growing up. He was a demon and at the same time someone precious to me.
"Actually Rain I need to tell you the truth," he looked at me guiltily. "There's another reason we came to visit today."
I felt my heart beat harder as my brain tried to calm it. The worst came into my mind and I instinctively lowered my hand to my waist where my knife was sheathed. I hadn't brought my sword but it should be enough.
"We came to make sure we were still welcome. When I told my dad he got seriously mad and we started to prepare to leave immediately. We rely on Axel a lot and we want to keep a good relationship so I had one more job." He faced me seriously, "Rain come back with us tomorrow. We want to show you our way life."
I looked at him surprised unable to say anything. It wasn't as if I would be the first to go with them. Many of the townsfolk had and in fact for a long time I had dearly wanted to.
"I'm glad you talked to me today like always but it's not enough. One day you're the one who'll lead Axel. We all know that so we want you to understand us. Will you?"
My eyes widened and I sent a glance at Taylor who just shrugged. "I… I'll go." In the end I answered with ulterior motives. As much as I wanted to go with Servius, free passage into the Demon's territory meant a chance to find the people who destroyed Axel. I wouldn't let that chance slip away.
"Really," he grabbed my hands ecstatically. "I'm so glad!"
"Yeah, calm down though. It's really not a big deal."
"It is for us!" he couldn't stop smiling.
"I'm coming as well," Taylor said putting her head between us and splitting us apart.
Servius scowled, "You're not invited."
"It's my job to keep Rain safe," she pointed, justifying herself. It was the first I heard of it. "Where he goes I have to as well."
"Just let it go Servius. Even if I say no she'd follow us anyway."
"And you wouldn't even see me coming," Taylor smiled darkly.
Servius eventually gave in.