A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 12: My resolution to act. (Part 3)

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?"