Damien walked into the Mercenary office early the next morning, his mind clouded by lingering thoughts of the nightmare that had kept him tossing and turning through the night. Arielle greeted him with her usual warm smile from behind the counter.
"Back so soon?" she teased, her head tilting slightly in curiosity.
"I'm here for another demon-hunting mission," Damien replied, his voice calm but firm.
Arielle's smile faded as she reached for a scroll lying on the counter. She unfurled it, her expression growing serious. "This one came in late last night," she explained.
"A group of demons has been sighted holding human captives. The demons are likely keeping them alive to feast on later."
Damien's jaw tightened. "What rank is the mission?"
"It hasn't been officially confirmed yet," Arielle admitted, "but it's estimated to be either Grade Five or Grade Four. The demons seem organized, which is unusual."
