Although they didn't change that much physically, Greg and Lea had an atmosphere around them that didn't suit their age.
They had become a lot more mature than what children of their age should be like.
The two of them sat beside Regis as they ate.
"It's that time again…" Greg muttered.
Although he didn't provide any context, Regis and Lea understood him.
Every end of the week, they would raid a village on the outskirts of the human territory.
This had become something that they dreaded.
"Ugh, I still can't fucking believe what that asshole did to us!" Lea cursed as she looked at the tattoo on her right hand.
During their first time raiding a village, the demonic human leader threatened that they would die if they were to not kill a life in a minute.
However, at the end, he revealed that the tattoo wouldn't really explode and kill them.
It was just a form of surveillance and a push in order to make them do his bidding.
After all, they would kill while thinking that their lives were on the line.
This made them be able to justify their actions to some extent.
However, without that justification, the guilt of killing innocent lives weighed on them fully.
"I don't want to live like this anymore…"
Greg muttered once again.
This time, Lea kept silent.
She didn't belittle him, nor provoked him.
After all, that was all she wished for too.
Normally, children would be able to talk with their friends about all sorts of things.
A never ending conversation about the things they had in common and about the things that they like.
However, Regis, Greg, and Lea, all had solemn expressions on their faces.
After all, their experiences and the traumas they were going through right now couldn't be described with mere words.
Therefore, they often liked to sit under the shade of a tree and find comfort in silence.
***
Splurt—
Blood gushed out as a body fell to the ground.
"He was the last one…" Regis said softly, staring at the corpse of the old man he had just killed.
Again, another peaceful village was driven by them to ruin.
He felt overwhelmingly calm.
He knew it in his heart.
That he had become too used to killing.
That he had become too indifferent to life.
Clank-!!
Hearing something, Regis turned his head and saw Greg.
He had just dropped his bow to the ground.
"R-Regis…"
"..."
Regis remained silent as he solemnly stared at Greg.
"W-What's happening…" Greg stuttered as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
"W-Why do I-I… feel… good…?"
Greg touched his lips and was confused.
He was smiling.
He felt happy.
Regis tried to walk towards him, but he took a step back.
"No, don't come closer! I think something's wrong with me…"
'So even with the calming soup, it still happened, huh?' Regis thought to himself.
Demonic power wasn't meant to be wielded by mortals.
Even those who had gotten their stars corrupted by demonic power had become insane.
What more of them who had oure demonic power running through their veins?
'Lately, the other children were also becoming more irritable…'
Regis even remembered one child who played with the corpse he killed before absorbing it.
However, he could hypothesize a few things from these events.
'Whatever he was preparing us for, it must be close…' He thought about what kind of plan the demonic human leader has for them.
Surely, he had taken the time it would take for the demonic power to affect them into account.
Not minding Greg, Regis placed his hand on the former's shoulder.
"Calm down. Don't let the demonic power take control of you any further."
His words helped Greg clear his mind.
"Guys? Are we done here?" Coming towards them was an exhausted Lea.
Noticing the strange expression on Greg's face, she asked, "Did something happen?"
However, Greg only shook his head.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
He glanced briefly at Regis, clearly signalling him to not speak a word about what happened.
***
Inside a forest, Regis was sitting alone in an area.
'I bought myself about two hours, let's hope that it will be enough.'
They were currently on their way back to the camp.
However, since the journey was long, they had to take a break for a few hours in order to get some rest.
He made some excuse to the demonic humans in order to have some time alone.
They didn't really make things difficult for him since they were exhausted and the tattoo on his right hand was the perfect tracking device.
So they did not need to worry about him escaping.
Therefore, he used this opportunity to find a suitable area.
And now, he was planning to form his first star.
Sitting cross-legged, Regis closed his eyes and calmed both his heart and mind.
This only took him a few seconds with the help of his Tranquility.
Soon enough, memories began to surface in his mind.
Inside his memories, he was in a room sitting beside a little girl as they both listened to the kind middle-aged woman in front of them.
(Trying to form my first star really excited me.)
(After all, it was something that all people look forward to.)
(I made sure that my control over my aura was very refined. I even made sure that my aura was pure.)
The voice of Aunt Amabel echoed inside Regis's heart.
She had told them about her experiences in life, something that he and Dahlia were both interested in.
He still vividly remembered the time when Aunt Amabel told them about how she tried to form her first star.
And so, he followed everything he learned from her.
(Then, I tried to manipulate all my aura into the shape of a three-pointed star.)
Regis tried to utilize the demonic power in his heart and shape it into a three-pointed star.
(I gave it my all.)
He also gave it his all.
(I did the process systematically with full concentration.)
Drops of sweat fell from his temple as he focused.
(It was like controlling water into your desired shape as it was quickly freezing.)
Regis felt as if he was controlling magma that would explode at any given time.
(You need to both be precise and quick.)
He did as Aunt Amabel had done during her time.
(And not let your heart waver even by the slightest bit.)
His heart was calm.
(You must focus but keep your mind empty at the same time.)
His mind was empty.
(It was really exhausting.)
Regis was beginning to feel exhausted.
(But in the end…)
(I failed.)