A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 13: Their differences. (Part 2)

Servius narrowed his gaze at her, "Fine."

As we left I spotted Ardent talking to a few of the other traders quite vividly. He was asking a lot of questions as he usually did. The traders were handling it quite well but I could see the strain in their eyes which completely went over Ardent's head. I had to wonder if they'd be fine.

The river was part of the reservoir of water that kept Axel alive. Water would flow into an underground network of streams to pool into a large lake beneath the nearby mountain. The river was its outlet and controlled by the town. It was a place where many people visited to relax and the easiest entrance to the lake. The system of pipes leading from the lake to Axel had apparently been built even before Mattias' time as Mayor meaning it was of demon make.

It took about half an hour till we reached the familiar place and welcoming us was the peaceful sound of water trickling through the earth.

"It feels like it's been ages since I've come here," I squatted by the water. Really it had only been about two month's real time. I heard movement behind me. "Taylor if you push me in I'm taking you with me."

"Tch," she clicked her tongue. "You're no fun." Though if she really did want to there was no way I could stop her before I realised.

"You two get along well," Servius looked at us enviably.

I dipped my hand into the water and splashed it Taylor's way, "It wasn't always like this." She easily avoided the droplets of water.

He sighed, "You're lucky. If I wanted to find someone like her I never would."

"Again we're not like that but why? No demon girls that you're interested on that side?" I asked nonchalantly but a small pit entered my stomach. I felt like I was asking what I shouldn't be.

Despite my worries Servius replied as naturally as he ever would, "My village is tiny and we all know each other. It's hard travelling there you know. I'm more familiar with the humans in Axel than anyone else."

"Come on surely you could talk to someone?"

"Hey it's not as easy okay. We've got tribes and cross breeds aren't something people are fond of most the time. First I'd need to find another scaleskin and even then we'd need to get along. You humans have got it easy, you're all the same."

"I never thought about it like that," I chuckled. "So you're a 'scaleskin'?"

"Most our village is," Servius nodded, took off his jacket and pulled up his shirt. The skin on his body aside from his chest and stomach were covered in flexible looking scales. They reflected the light and reminded me of a fish's skin.

"Can I touch it?"

"Go ahead," he nodded.

I placed my hand on the scales gently. It felt strange beneath my touch, a texture similar to that of a lizard but more firm and yet at the same time soft. Slowly I traced to his stomach which felt like my own skin. Another hand joined mine.

"Wow how weird," Taylor commented.

Servius snapped his shirt back down, "I didn't say you could!"

"Don't be such a prude," Taylor pouted. Maybe it was a bad idea to bring her.

I cleared my throat to stop them glaring at each other, "So is that it?"

"What do you mean?" he looked at me confused.

"As in is that the only thing that makes you a demon? Can you do anything else like spit acid or something?"

He laughed, "Nothing that cool but I can swim pretty well and hold my breath for over an hour."

"I thought you said you couldn't swim?" When we were kids he never wanted to even when it was midsummer.

"Well I couldn't without showing my body could I?" he put his jacket back on. "Dad would have killed me if I did, no matter how hot it got."

"Ah, you must have had it pretty rough." I smiled again. I understood what Mattias had been saying now. Servius was still just like I knew him and he hadn't changed a bit. He wasn't some enigma but just a person I knew. My best friend growing up. He was a demon and at the same time someone precious to me.

"Actually Rain I need to tell you the truth," he looked at me guiltily. "There's another reason we came to visit today."

I felt my heart beat harder as my brain tried to calm it. The worst came into my mind and I instinctively lowered my hand to my waist where my knife was sheathed. I hadn't brought my sword but it should be enough.

"We came to make sure we were still welcome. When I told my dad he got seriously mad and we started to prepare to leave immediately. We rely on Axel a lot and we want to keep a good relationship so I had one more job." He faced me seriously, "Rain come back with us tomorrow. We want to show you our way life."

I looked at him surprised unable to say anything. It wasn't as if I would be the first to go with them. Many of the townsfolk had and in fact for a long time I had dearly wanted to.

"I'm glad you talked to me today like always but it's not enough. One day you're the one who'll lead Axel. We all know that so we want you to understand us. Will you?"

My eyes widened and I sent a glance at Taylor who just shrugged. "I... I'll go." In the end I answered with ulterior motives. As much as I wanted to go with Servius, free passage into the Demon's territory meant a chance to find the people who destroyed Axel. I wouldn't let that chance slip away.

"Really," he grabbed my hands ecstatically. "I'm so glad!"

"Yeah, calm down though. It's really not a big deal."

"It is for us!" he couldn't stop smiling.

"I'm coming as well," Taylor said putting her head between us and splitting us apart.

Servius scowled, "You're not invited."

"It's my job to keep Rain safe," she pointed, justifying herself. It was the first I heard of it. "Where he goes I have to as well."

"Just let it go Servius. Even if I say no she'd follow us anyway."

"And you wouldn't even see me coming," Taylor smiled darkly.

Servius eventually gave in.