The morning after the demon attack dawned with a thick fog hanging over the village, casting an eerie glow on the muddy streets. Aiden and Elara were exhausted, both from the relentless work on the fences and the chaos of the previous day's battle. They'd fought demons for the first time, a real, terrifying encounter that lingered in their minds even now. They hadn't emerged unscathed—Aiden's arm was bandaged from the demon's claws, and both of them felt the bruises from the desperate struggle.
Today, the inn was unusually quiet, as if the entire village was recovering from yesterday's scare. Aiden and Elara lingered over breakfast, picking at their food while stealing glances at the few other patrons huddled at nearby tables. The talk of demons was everywhere. Whispers filled the room, snippets of worried conversations about demon activity increasing in the area.
"So you saw that spark too?" Elara finally asked, breaking the silence between them.
Aiden nodded, glancing at his hand as if he might see that strange flicker of flame again. "Yeah… I don't know what it was, though. It felt like something inside me was trying to break free, but… I couldn't control it."
"Maybe it's a power," Elara said, her voice low and careful. "But if it is, it's not the kind of power they expected when they summoned us here."
"No, it's definitely not." Aiden shook his head, frustration simmering beneath his words. "They called us here to be demon exorcists, yet we're stuck repairing fences and struggling to survive."
Elara looked down at her own hands. "Well, maybe we're not exorcists, but… there's something there, don't you think? If we can just figure out how to use it."
Aiden felt a flicker of hope at her words. She was right—maybe they didn't have traditional powers, but something inside them had responded when they were threatened, even if it was faint and uncontrollable. He wanted to figure it out, to make sense of this strange ability, but there was no one to guide them, no way to train, no teachers willing to help two powerless strangers.
Their conversation was interrupted by the innkeeper, who approached their table with a look of curiosity mixed with concern.
"You two did well yesterday," he said, folding his arms. "Not many can face demons and come out standing. Especially unarmed like that."
Aiden exchanged a glance with Elara. "We just did what we could," he said, trying to keep his voice humble. "The village was in danger, and… well, we couldn't just stand by."
The innkeeper nodded thoughtfully, then lowered his voice. "There's talk going around that you two aren't just travelers, that you might be… from beyond this world."
Aiden stiffened, but Elara kept her expression steady. "Rumors spread fast," she replied carefully.
The innkeeper's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press them. "Just be careful," he said, voice dropping to a near-whisper. "People here don't trust easily. Especially not those from other worlds."
With that, he returned to his duties, leaving Aiden and Elara to process his words. They exchanged a tense look, each reading the unease in the other's eyes.
"Do you think… he knows who we are?" Aiden asked quietly.
Elara shook her head. "Maybe he suspects, but it's hard to say. People in this world don't seem thrilled about anyone who might be different."
Aiden clenched his fists. "Then we'll just have to keep a low profile. We need more time—time to figure out whatever power we might have."
As they finished their breakfast, Loran, the rough-spoken fence repairman, appeared in the doorway. He spotted them and beckoned them over with a wave of his hand.
"Back to work already?" Aiden asked, trying to keep his tone light as he approached.
Loran's gaze was sharp. "If you're willing. But after yesterday's incident, the mayor wants a word with the two of you."
Aiden and Elara looked at each other, alarmed.
"Why?" Elara asked, keeping her voice steady.
"People saw you out there, fighting off demons. Mayor thinks you might be of some use, after all," Loran replied with a faint smirk. "Not many are willing to face those monsters without weapons."
The mayor's house was a modest building at the center of the village. Inside, it was simply furnished, with worn but well-kept furniture. The mayor, an older man with a stern face softened by a graying beard, was seated behind a large desk piled with papers. He motioned for them to sit.
"I understand you helped defend the village yesterday," he began, his eyes appraising them carefully. "Unusual for strangers… especially ones with no apparent powers."
Elara sat up straighter, meeting his gaze. "We did what we could. The village was in danger, and we weren't going to stand by."
The mayor nodded, impressed. "A commendable attitude. And rare. Now, we don't know much about you two, and most travelers don't bother with villages like ours. So I'll be straightforward. There's a rise in demon attacks lately. Villagers are scared, and we could use every able hand to help keep them safe."
Aiden leaned forward. "What exactly are you asking?"
The mayor folded his hands, his expression unreadable. "If you two are willing, I'd like you to stay on here and help guard the village. I'll pay you, and you'll have the villagers' protection and support. We may not have much, but we take care of our own."
The offer was tempting, but Aiden and Elara exchanged a look, each seeing the uncertainty in the other's eyes. Staying here meant putting down roots, accepting this life as it was—a life of defending against demons, far from the heroic roles they'd been promised.
But the thought of leaving, of heading back out into the unknown, wasn't appealing either. Here, at least, they had a roof over their heads and the possibility of earning enough to get by.
"We'll help," Aiden said finally, making up his mind. "At least until we're able to find our way."
The mayor seemed satisfied with the answer. "Good. There's been talk of another demon sighting near the southern edge of the village. It's small, but if you'd like to prove yourselves, this is your chance."
They agreed, and before long, Aiden and Elara found themselves trudging toward the village's southern border. They kept their eyes sharp, their senses heightened, ready for the sight of anything unusual.
As they walked, Aiden couldn't shake the memory of the faint spark he'd seen in his hand during the last attack. He wanted to tell Elara, but part of him feared it would only raise her hopes. And what if it was nothing? What if they really were powerless here, and he was only imagining something out of desperation?
They reached the edge of the village, where the forest loomed thick and dark, the air damp and heavy with the scent of moss and earth. Elara peered into the shadows, her hand resting on a makeshift club they'd been given by one of the villagers.
"You ready?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Aiden nodded, gripping his own weapon tightly. They advanced slowly, every nerve on edge, the silence around them growing thick and oppressive. Then, suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush to their left.
Aiden tensed, his heart pounding as he scanned the shadows. "Did you see that?"
Elara nodded, her eyes sharp. She raised her club, ready to strike. Another rustle, and then a figure emerged—a small demon, hunched over with skin that seemed to ripple like dark smoke. Its red eyes locked onto them, and it let out a low growl.
Aiden stepped forward, his grip tightening on his weapon. The demon crouched, preparing to strike, but something in Aiden surged, a heat rising in his chest, and he felt the strange warmth again—a flicker of fire, barely visible, dancing around his fingertips.
The demon lunged at him, and Aiden swung his weapon wildly, trying to focus. He could feel the heat, but he couldn't control it. The demon's claws grazed his arm, but Elara was there in an instant, slamming her club down on the creature's back.
The demon hissed, writhing before it finally collapsed, fading into a dark mist that disappeared into the ground. Elara panted, catching her breath as she looked at Aiden.
"Did you…?" she started, her eyes widening as she noticed the faint, dying embers still flickering around his hand.
"I… I think so," Aiden murmured, staring at his hand in disbelief.
Elara reached out, placing her hand over his, her eyes filled with wonder. "It's there, Aiden. I don't know what it means, but… you have something. We both do."
Aiden felt the warmth of her hand, grounding him, calming the chaos of emotions swirling inside. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt the faintest glimmer of hope. It was small, uncertain, but it was real.
They returned to the village that evening, bruised and exhausted but feeling a new sense of purpose. The villagers greeted them with wary gratitude, murmurs of approval and curiosity following them back to the inn. As they sat together, eating a quiet meal, they both knew that this was only the beginning.
Whatever powers lay dormant within them were waking up, and soon, they would have to confront their full potential. The path was still uncertain, but for the first time, Aiden felt like they were moving toward something real, something worth fighting for.