A Hero With/Out Time

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

"I-I don't know. We wouldn't attack anyone."

"Could you say the same for Greytree? You're people just tried to invade."

"We have nothing to do with them! We're just trying to survive. Please believe me. I like humans. My best friend is a human. In fact he lives in Axel and-."

I let go immediately, "Servius?"

"Rain?" we faced each other gobsmacked. I was too focused to recognise his voice and I had never got a clear look at his face.

"You're a demon?" I was beyond shocked. Almost every month for a few days Servius and his family of traders would come by Axel to do business. Without them Axel wouldn't be even half as prosperous.

He looked at me guiltily, "I... yeah. Sorry I didn't want you to find out this way."

"Then you're entire family as well?"

"Yes."

Taylor appeared next to me jumping down from a nearby tree, "Well this is interesting."

"Wah!" Servius fell to his butt in panic.

"You know him?" she pointed her knife casually at him.

I sheathed mine, "He's a friend... I think."

"I'm a friend, a friend!" he said quickly. "Come on Rain please, I'm still me. In fact you're the scary one with what you just did."

It was the same face and queasy smile I remembered. Green eyes with pupils a bit thinner than a normal person, his hair slicked back and black. Yeah, he looked and felt like my friend but now a pit had birthed in my chest. The scales on his arms and legs became even more obvious like an infection. 'Demon', the word echoed in my mind and all that I could see from it were the dark armoured figures who had raided Greytree. They massacred the innocent, killed me and did so much more that I couldn't help hate them. Yet here I was looking down at my so called 'friend'.

"Hey Rain... you're kind of scaring me," Servius crept back still on the ground. "We're buddies aren't we?" He gulped, "Just what happened to you?"

"I've been through a lot," I replied more coldly than I meant to and he flinched. A part of me felt corrupt, conflicted on what to do. "Who else knows about you?"

"S-sir Mattias and a few of your other parents... I think. I never really asked."

I narrowed my gaze. Did they really know that they were Demons? No, there was no doubt they did. My parents were smart, or at least most of them. "Servius do you really not know about the people targeting Axel?"

He shook his head, "If I did I'd tell you. Everyone in the village would tell you. We rely on Axel more than you realise."

I sighed and reached out my hand to help him stand. He took it with a bright smile that I couldn't return.

"You believe me?" he asked hopefully.

"I think I do..., but I need to check on a few things first." I needed more information. It was a crime to interact with demons like this let alone trade with them.

"Yeah... I'll need to talk to a few people as well. I really screwed up by you finding me," he laughed ashamed. "What are you even doing this far from Axel? I'm pretty far from Kerchest as well, but these woods are home."

"We're...," I paused unsure to tell the truth, "looking for someone."

"And they want to hurt Axel?"

"Yes, but don't tell anyone," I eyed him seriously.

Again his expression pained me, it was as if he was looking at me for the first time, "You seem to have done a lot since I last saw you."

"You could say that," I half smiled. If only he knew the half of it.

"Can you get back home alright?" with that single question and concern I knew for certain that this was the Servius I knew. Demon or not he was still the awkward kind soul. "It's getting dark and the forest can be dangerous."

"It's alright, my friend is quite capable."

Taylor widened a grin, "Oh very."

Servius unconsciously backed away from her, "Then... I'll see you later right?"

"Probably," I replied uneasily. "Come on Taylor, it's getting late."

"You sure you're done here?" she smirked towards Servius and flipped her knife in hand. He flinched visibly frightened. He had never been the bravest person, a wonder why he was so far in the border forest alone but as he said, for him this place was home.

"Taylor don't," I pulled her back.

"I'm just joking." She put away her knife and winked at Servius, "See you later."

I kept my hold on her and dragged her away before she could do anymore harm. We left Servius to scurry back home and went to where we had left Ardent. He was still standing exactly as before. His feet were poised incredibly carefully afraid to make a noise.

"You can move Ardent," I said.

"Did you get them?" he asked as he relaxed.

"Not quite," I sighed. This entire experience had just brought on more questions. "Ardent do me a favour and send Ronalt a message. Tell him to pull back the Knights he was going to send to Axel."

"Why?" Ardent stared at me curiously. "It would be much safer to rely on their help."

"Please," I begged with my eyes. "I'll explain later when I get the chance." There was no doubt that Axel had been trading with Demons. If the truth reached the Kingdom's government then chances were they'd sentence us all to death for treason. A small town like Axel disappearing meant almost nothing to them.

We left the forest.