A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 17: Our Demons. (Part 4)

Lara's expression curled into a frown. There was no denying her lack of talent in the field. Magic and mana wise she couldn't use it and her demeanour was more of a charge in and be known even more than Ronalt.

"Then what, you want me to just wait here?" her frown didn't let up.

"Well I'd rather you wait at the inn but I'll settle for that," I crossed my arms. "Taylor and I will make sure to get that man safe. Besides, what were you even planning? You weren't going to take him with us were you?"

"I- I, I was going to figure that out later," her fluster was cute.

I sighed, "Don't worry we'll take care of it. Right Taylor?"

At the sound of her name she flicked back into the conversation, "Ah yeah yup. I'm totally here to save that guy and not just for fun." The least she could do was sound more convincing.

I faced Lara again, "Promise me to wait here. If things go badly run back to the inn and get the others."

"Okay," she nodded clearly unsatisfied.

"Taylor let's go," I turned around only to find her already gone and over the buildings fence. I sighed and followed her while avoiding the spiked appendages. Lara watched us leave as we returned to the shadows.

To be honest it was my first time breaking and entering, or at least on this scale. The strange thing was I was oddly comfortable with it. Taylor even more so though that wasn't strange. I followed her lead as she quickly scouted out a section of the building and found a way in. Her finesse as she clung to the wall finding seemingly impossible handholds and hidden entrances confirmed all the more what she really was. Soon enough she was helping me inside through a tight fitting window.

We quietened our steps and headed down towards the basement. It was the most likely place the man would be. It also seemed like there were no guards. Though the area's major town, security must not have been a concern or at least not internally. It was as we snuck down the basement stairs that I had to change my mind. Taylor held up her hand to stop me and began to signal.

One man, large, looks strong. You lead, I'll take him down.

I signalled back, Don't kill. Try not to leave a trace.

She nodded and gestured for me to go. I peeked around the corner and quickly spotted the demon. Dressed in thick black material the demon looked to be as large as Ronalt. He was also occupied by something in the room. Now would be the perfect chance. The familiar pain spread through my chest as I charged my mana and stepped into the lit room. My intention was to knock him out with the powder in my pocket but his instincts were clearly better. As I stepped within a metre of him his arm swung wide, narrowly missing my head. My concentration broke as I dodged back and the pain receded. A split second later he lunged at me. I blocked the blow with all the force I could muster but his muscles easily overcame my guard pushing me against the wall. He didn't hesitate to pursue me and raised his fist. It was that point in which I realised.

"Taylor stop!" I yelled while trying to keep it hushed. Just in time the man's fist stopped before crushing my face as did the knives poised to strike his neck.

"Rain?" Ronalt backed away surprised and pulled down the cloth hiding his face.

I did the same, "Looks like we had the same idea."

"You shouldn't be here," he looked at me sternly. "You didn't bring Lara did you?"

"Of course not.... Though she came anyway."

"Where!?" he barely kept himself contained.

"Don't worry I made her wait outside. She's not exactly stealthy, though right now neither are we."

He nodded and recomposed himself, "My apologies. I'm not used to this."

"Then you should have stayed in the inn," Taylor chirped from behind him while putting away her daggers.

"I... I couldn't do nothing. If not for the man himself, then for Lara." His eyes softened. Looks like we really did have the same idea. Neither one of us wanted to disappoint her. Though we knew we couldn't protect her forever it didn't stop us from trying.

"Let's just get a move on and finish this," I pulled the mask back up.

There was no sense to not look around the room especially with how suspicious it seemed. We found not a small amount of Demon Lord propaganda and even a small shrine to him. In the closet there were even what looked like multiple sets of some kind of uniform and masks. The demon from before was clearly a fanatic and by the looks of it a part of some group. It was clear from the writing in the room he wasn't a fun of the church of the Goddess either. In these parts the church advocated for equality amongst all races including humanity. It was easy to see where the pro Demon Lord faction would collide with them. I only hoped we wouldn't have to deal with them.

Just as we left the room something began tugging on my brain. It wasn't enough to incapacitate me but had me reeling. The only thing that could cause it, magic. I turned around just in time to see the hammer descend towards my face.