Serrina Deryn's Story

Syra smiled a little at Duffrane's comment, intrigued at the thought of someone being unsettled by dark, enclosed spaces. A nice, secure burrow is one's greatest friend against predators! She heard the man asking if her kind had any good campfire songs for the occasion, but before she could get an answer in edgeways, another decided to ask her, followed by yet another. Unused to being the centre of attention like this, the poor bug tried hiding behind Rena in an attempt to get away. Abrahem also asked her like so many others, but there was something he said that got her attention, and gave her an idea. Sitting right next to the rogue was Juniper, who gave only a nod of encouragement. How long had she been there?

"M-my kind don't really have much use for music," she began nervously. "But I can give you a story." Syra came out from her ineffectual hiding place and cleared her throat. "It all started years ago, in the Endless Dunes, where I was exploring the surface away from my underground home. I knew how to avoid the predators there, but this time some of them managed to get my scent and were after me. One of the beasts stood right over me, and I thought that was it, but all of a sudden an arrow pierced its skull and it dropped dead at my feet! I looked to see where the arrow had come from, and I saw four surface dwellers armed with all sorts of weapons. Whatever predators they didn't kill they managed to send running, and they saved me. It was the first time I had seen surface dwellers, and I was afraid at first, but when they said they were friendly I had so many questions for them. When I asked who they were, they said they were from the Stag Brigade. They even offered to escort me safely home, when I told them who I was. When I got back, my mother was furious... especially when they asked for a reward!" Syra giggled a little at the memory, thankful for the gloom that helped hide her blushing face. "She didn't let me go out again, but I knew what I wanted to do when I was old enough to finally leave home for good. Join the Stag Brigade."

The insectoid gave a slight bow. "That is my story for you. I... I hope you liked it." With a smile, Juniper clapped her hands in light applause.

Rena smirked at everyone, feeling them growing closer together. Weilu's ditziness, Serrina's snark, Duffrane's spirit, Abrahem's charm, and Syra's youthfulness, all lended to a fascinating dynamic. Hopefully one which would be work together well. She listened to Syra's story with great interest, beaming with pride at her guild's actions away from home. "Sounds like Father Crow's team. The old fool really knows how to treat a lady," Rena said with a chuckle.

Taking Abrahem's advice to heart, Europa made sure to step carefully with every move, as she distributed Serrina's dish. "Here you go, everyone. Enjoy!", she eagerly chirped. As she passed by Abrahem, she made sure to be extra careful in handing over the bowl. "Get well soon, Sir Abrahem," she spoke with a gentle gaze.

Rena looked towards the still smoking stew, her nose trying to determine what it was, to no avail. With a bit of hesitation, the blue knight asked, "Um...not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but....exactly what is this, Serrina?"

“Wonderful story, sparkles. That’s a pity, though, that you don't have anything to sing for us. Seems I will have to entertain everyone with my howling voice,” she gibed in response to Syra’s story, clapping.

Serrina wouldn’t likely admit this aloud, but she did admire the tales told of the Stag Brigade. It was in her nature to. A fearsome troupe of skilled individuals travelling the land, shaping history and creating legends. She may possibly in some small, insignificant way have hero worship for the famous Brigade. Again, she’d never dare say this out loud. She had appearances to keep up and she wouldn’t want to give Rena a big head, after all.

When Rena asked a question about the meal Serrina had just cooked, she met the fighter’s eyes with a playful grin.

“Stew ala Serrina de I Have Absolutely No Idea. Have you ever had it before, Rena? It is a very popular dish where I come from,” Serrina said as she served the contents of the pot into her own bowl, “Homemade Highlander cuisine. I concocted the recipe myself. Do tell me if you like it,” she teased.

As much as she liked to mock her own cooking skills, the meal wasn’t that bad. It had a mild taste, nothing morbidly unpleasant and nothing that would kill anyone… She hoped.

Flicking a small spoonful of the stew into the fire just for kicks, she looked up and stared at Europa for a few seconds.

“Snowflake, why don’t you sit down? If you keep bouncing around like a jackrabbit you’ll end up spilling on Shiny-Shoes again,” she said to Europa as the girl handed Abrahem his bowl of gruel. Serrina turned to face their leader, “Look at her, Rena. You’re working her to death. Tsk-tsk,” she said.

After sitting down in the dirt around the campfire, she pulled the wolf-totem from her satchel and began idly toying with it.

“It’s a peculiar little thing, isn’t it? Why do you think someone put this in a chest with a magical mirror? Enchanted or cursed, who has bets? Two silvers it’s cursed,” she said, smiling as she trailed her fingers over the carved wooden edges.

“Oh, that reminds me. Sailor,” she said, pulled from her thoughts as she turned to face Abrahem, “Did you enjoy your nap earlier? I wonder if you would volunteer your services in the next fight we encounter or if you would simply prefer us to carry your dead-weight the rest of the journey?” Serrina asked, an innocent smile on her face.

Japheth hadn't been interested in the treasures. Even now as they sat around the campfire he still couldn't recall what its contents had been until Serrina brought them up. Speaking of the elf, he was beginning to grow somewhat fond of her. At least her sarcasm, that is. Humor wasn't a thing for Japheth, not usually at least. He kept up the cold exterior for his own personal reasons and cracking a smile would be uncustomary of the individual.

Striving to uphold his image, he pulled up his bandanna to conceal the tiny smirk tugging at the corner of his lips when Serrina had called out the lady's man Abrahem. He was growing comfortable among the members of the Stag Brigade. It was... Nice, somewhat. He hadn't felt like he belonged anywhere in a long time. But attachment could be a cruel device on adventures like these. It tore him in half. On one hand his mind nearly flooded with warmth at having found companionship with others, and on the other experience and trauma kept pulling and nagging at his conscience, warning him to turn back, to distance himself.

His mind decided to make a compromise with itself. He'd at least volunteer as first watch once they went to sleep, whenever that was. It'd be expected of the scout anyways. Besides, he added. I don't need that much sleep anyways.

The scout would sit still as a statue on a rock beside the campfire, enjoying his meal of mystery soup while Syra shared a story, Weilu maintained her own antics, and Serrina lent her sense of humor all the while his mind warred about new pleasantries and old memories.

Rena smirked and chuckled at Serrina's joking explanation, then slowly had a taste, her lips curling and her eyes glancing to the tops of the trees. "Huh...," she muttered, pleasantly surprised by its edibility. Nodding to herself, she dug her spoon into the bowl, and said, "I should try more highlander cuisine once this demon slaying business is done with."

Europa blushed as Serrina took the bowl from her hands, and, she presumed, handed it to Abrahem. "Uhm....thank you! And sorry. And..... thank you...?" Rena was about to say something, but Europa gave a radiant smile, and waved one hand in front of her face. "Oh, no! It was not Lady Rena, it was I who insisted!". The young girl clasped her hands in front of her waist and bowed her head shyly, before whispering, "....This group....it has been kind for me. I want...I want to make it up for them."

Rena and Europa both looked over to Serrina thinking over to the wolf totem. The blue knight shrugged. "It may have just belonged to the merchants' child. I see nothing particularly remarkable about it." Despite its relative simplicity, the totem was carved well, with deep lines, careful smoothing, and from a good quality wood. Would this really be something one gives to a baby?

The campfire flickered as the hours passed. After being done with dinner, Rena looked over their map of Soltrida, seemingly thinking about their next moves. From her stool, she looked over to Japheth and away from her map briefly. She was surprised to see him still relatively vigorous even in the night. Europa had went to bed earlier, and was now resting peacefully. Eyes closed, face calm, inside the bedroll she looked almost like a white rabbit.

....It started out faint, yet...Weilu could hear something. Ghostly whispers, cutting through the air.


"Kwashgjimaezaakrlaklrugh...jimaekwashzle'erxzaghrs...."

She could make out their voices, but not their words. A legion of voices, all speaking almost at once. The others, however, seemed oblivious. It seemed to be coming from the nearby well.....yet it was difficult to tell their intent or tone, with so many voices. Men, women, children, elderly, all whispering to her, in a spectral voice.

Abrahem listened, and chuckled softly when the story pattered out quickly, a particularly brief recounting of one's life. Syra did not appear to be one familiar or comfortable with group situations such as these, especially when asked to reveal more about her preceding life. There was yet much omitted from the story which would explain Syra's current predicament, the entirety of her travels after coming of age. Abrahem himself had never ventured to the homeland of Syra's people, but there were environs similar to it. A trip with which he could do without.

During and after the oration, he watched Europa, picking her way even more carefully than usual. Perhaps she had taken his advice too much to heart and not enough to the mind. Part of what made her intriguing. When she murmured to him, he was hard pressed to keep surprise and not a little embarrassment away from his visage. What have I gotten myself into? he thought, accepting the soup graciously, and as quickly grimaced somewhat at Serrina's comment. 'Twas not so much the fact that she was reminding him of the little incident but the derisive way in which she spoke that peeved him.

Setting down the stew almost untouched, he stood up to open his iron-bound chest, examining the contents inside. Removing a diminutive canvas bag along with a pair of iron tongs and a mortar and pestle, Abrahem set the components down on the sled. Extracting smaller, finely woven bags and pieces of rough cloth, Abrahem was about to begin the process of converting the last of his gunpowder components into the explosive compound when Serrina added one last jibe against him.

His left hand quivered, closing and opening slowly, mechanically. Stilling the appendage, he rose and turned to face her. "What is it about me that so infuriates you, she-elf? What harm have I ever wrought upon you that I deserve your derision? I will help in my own time, and my own way, and if you care so much about my help, perhaps you should have woken me. If you would like to carry my 'dead-weight' instead, you are welcome to try and do so. But don't accuse me when you do not understand others." He could remember the voice now, the twisting, terrible utterings, the shadow, but not the words.

Pleased with the overall positive reception of her story, Syra went over to join the others and sample the stew that Serrina had cooked up for them, with Juniper following close behind. Neither of them had had the pleasure (or otherwise) of trying out this so-called Highlander cuisine, and waited to be served with a mix of eagerness and apprehension. Once the pair got their share, they took a seat near the campfire. Juniper decided to let her stew cool a little before tasting it, watching Syra dig in as if she hadn't eaten in weeks. Well, the bug had a cast-iron stomach. Whatever was in this stuff couldn't be poisonous. Tentatively, she tasted a spoonful.

...

"...This isn't too bad, actually," remarked Juniper. "I hope you remember what you put in this." Syra nodded in agreement, eagerly helping herself to seconds. Both of them watched as the elf examined the wolf totem she had picked up earlier, even talking of placing bets as to whether the object was charmed or cursed. Fishing around in her coin purse, the kitsune counted out a silver coin and two smaller ones made of copper. They were local coins, she made sure to check.

"I'll bet this much on it bringing us good luck."

"Why bet money on something like this?" Syra asked.

"Well, if I win, then I'm two silvers richer. Unless more people bet for good luck, in which case the winnings get shared between them," replied the kitsune. "But to be honest, I'm more in it for the fun of seeing what happens, especially if I'm proven right." Once again she turned to face Serrina. "Even if that thing doesn't have any magic, I'd suggest hanging onto it. You might find a good buyer. Assuming that any such types still exist in this land."

It wasn't long after that when Abrahem confronted Serrina, evidently having had enough of her jibes at his expense. Even if he did deserve it that one time with the soup. Not wanting to take any sides in this, Juniper remained silent, watching and waiting to see what would happen between the two. Hopefully nothing that would lead to violence.

Japheth's eyes widened at the situation that had arisen between Abrahem and Serrina. Apparently the lady's man had decided to bark back. The scout remained silent from his seat on the rock he'd chosen for his perch, spoon frozen in place at his lips as he waited to see what exactly might happen between the two after an exchange like this.

Serrina laughed in response to Rena’s compliment, glancing from Syra, to Japheth, then to their leader. A leader that she was beginning to realize wasn’t too hard on the eyes.

“Uh, I wouldn’t suggest that Rena. This may be homemade, but most Highlander food is 50 percent inedible and 80 percent alcohol. This,” she said, gesturing in a circle to the near-empty food pot, “is the improvised version with all of the wrong ingredients. But hey, try it. Who needs taste buds anyway?” Serrina finished with a smirk.

She listened silently to the rest of her companions as she ate from her bowl, feeling a trickle of warmth as she saw Weilu pour herself a second serving. She’d have to keep reminding herself that the girl was a bottomless-pit to save herself the surprise.

Her attention was pulled away to a different companion.

“Want the recipe, do you? Alright. And thank you,” she said to Juniper, not yet knowing what to call the rogue, “At least someone has hope that I’m not going to become possessed by a demon or be cursed with eternal bad luck,” she said around a mouthful of food, “More hope than what I’ve got.”

Normally one wouldn’t want to lose a bet, but seeing as winning meant a demonic-possession, curses, or something much worse than she can imagine, Serrina did not mind losing just this once. Plus, it was only two silvers. What ever was she going to do without two pathetic silvers? She’d be so lost without them.

Serrina moved to take another spoonful from her bowl but nearly dropped it from surprise at the unexpected reaction from Abrahem. She chuckled tensely.

“Oh ho, that got a rise out of you. Touched a nerve, did I?” She teased before taking a breath, “I’m not so sure myself, He-Human,” she was mocking him, “Maybe the fact that you just called me she-elf, or maybe,” she gasped, “I just like to make fun of you. Oh, never thought of that, did you?”

Europa was startled, frightened even, by Abrahem's sudden change in attitude. Serrina must've really ticked him off. She looked between the two of them, meekly pleading, "Please, don't fight!..We must save our energy....". Nearby, Rena sat cross legged, staying silent. She raised a puzzled eyebrow towards the two, but remained quiet, and decided to watch and see. These kinds of confrontations were better resolved directly, she felt. If the end result was violence...so be it. She did, however, let out a little jab, "Try not to kill each other on the first night." At least, most of the group, such as Japheth, Juniper, Syra, and Duffrane were behaving themselves. "Weilu must be taking a leak...", the blue knight pondered under her breath. She then let out a little chuckle as a distant memory suddenly came into her mind. She was but a mere child squire, then, wandering the castle cluelessly, admiring the grim gargoyle statues and enormous royal portraits, when she accidentally came peeked into a guestroom - and saw two enormous, naked, middle-aged maids sticking to each other, sweating, clinging, rolls of fat slathered over rolls of fat, making wet, sloppy noises, and performing bizarre, rhytmic acts which frightened and confused her dear young mind. Of course, when she was older, she learnt that it was an act, a consumation, of 'love'.

Rena gazed into the fire and smirked to herself. 'Love' ..... the concept was almost stranger than the act itself. She has had quite a few lovers, all of them males. The thoughts of female lovers had crossed her mind once or twice, but she always found the idea unappealing and untraditional. Especially after that sight from her childhood.


Meanwhile, on Weilu's side. The noises ceased almost immediately as Weilu placed her head near the well. Dead, empty silence followed.And it stayed. And stayed. For a long time. Until suddenly...a red blur shot out from the bottom of the well, went over her head, and fell, tapping her temple lightly, before bouncing and dribbling to her feet. Annoying, but not painful. Not too much at least. The red blur stopped moving, and as Weilu paid attention, she could see....a large, palm-sized crystal ball, with a foggy body and a glossy sheen, a faint red glow radiating from within. If Weilu looked close, she could see fog swirling slowly, dancing gracefully, inside the scarlet-tinted orb. It was shiny...otherworldly.....a real treasure.....Its mere presence seemed to be trying to seduce the pink haired glutton, bedazzling her with its ethereal beauty.

The whispers resonated in her head, everytime she turned her eyes to the orb. But its sheer beauty almost drowned out the noises entirely. That red cloud....dancing for her, shining for her.... only for her...

Duffrane accepted his bowl with a smile. When he heard Serrina name the dish he raised an eyebrow. "Sounds exotic, then again sound isn't typically the best part of a meal." He said before trying the stew. For a moment he went to reach for the flask concealed inside his coat, then looking around at his companions he thought better of it. He was pleasantly surprised by the taste, and reminded himself to go back for seconds after. He continued to enjoy the meal as Syra told her tale, listening intently to the insectoids words. Despite her initial shyness the girl told the story well and Duffrane joined Juniper in applauding.

The old pirate stretched and leaned against a tree, relaxing a bit before going over to the pot for more of Serrina's highlander special. He became somewhat worried as Weilu went for seconds before him, but relaxed once more when he saw that there was still some left after she finished filling her bowl. He then sat almost bolt upright at the mention of gambling. "Two silvers that it's cursed you say? Well then." He reached into one of the many pockets and produced a gold coin with foreign etchings on it. "One gold against bad luck, I think it's one of those cat things that mages use for rituals and the like. What was it? cat-ice, cat-lice? Catalyst! That's the one. No one in there right mind carves something like that to curse it. Well in my own opinion anyway."

At this point Serrina was at her jibes against Abrahem again. Duffrane smiled and settled in for a bit of entertainment when he noticed that the suave sorcerer's hand quivering. Attempting to diffuse the situation before it happennd Duffrane chimed in. "Now now Serrina, Abrahem did carry one of the extra supply bags..." but he was cut off by Abrahem's outburst. The two of them argued back and forth and the old pirate begun to feel a bit worried, if the fighting went on too long others might start taking sides, and he had seen too many mutinies in the past.

Abrahem exploded into chunky bits of meat, creating an explosive force which vaporized everything in a twenty-kilometer radius. The end.

---

Abrahem's eyes glittered as he stared at Serrina, hand once again quivering minutely as conscious effort to still it ceased. Her words dashed against his mind, splintering into fragments of emotion and thought, his anger stoking, consuming, raging. Stilling. Muscles slackened, his body losing the tension which had strained it, screaming out to move, to act, to retaliate against the offense which had made it trigger. No more did that idea plague his mind, but the anger remained, albeit greatly diminished, causing Abrahem to regard Serrina with a now-cold expression.

"Perhaps you do enjoy making fun of me, something which I would bear, possibly gladly. Perhaps I overreacted at your jibe. I am not who you think I am, however. Do not accuse me of uselessness. Goodnight." Snapping the last word, his heels ground into the dirt as his body pivoted before long strides drew him away from the camp, away from the firelight and companionship, ignoring the need to pack his materials before he slept.

Advancing into the surrounding woods, he sprang into existence a fire, collapsing it to non-existence with a thought. In. Out. On. Off. Light and shadow. Darkness. Darkness. Words. He wracked his memories for further recollections of that dream, of its significance to his person, yet could not succeed. Gritting his teeth into a rictus of disappointment and frustration, he settled down against the trunk of a nearby tree, allowing the turbulence that filled his mind to calm before returning to the camp. That was not characteristic of him, such an outburst. What had happened to him?

(Sorry for the delay. Things have been pretty hectic. (^_^;) )

Serrina snorted at Rena’s words but said nothing and turned to face Duffrane, ignoring both her leader and Weilu. She waved the wolf-totem around in the air.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, handsome. There are some marble-brained crazies out there in the world. I bet they would purposely carve this thing into something innocent-looking just for shits and giggle. You see,” she began to explain eagerly, “Things like these, it’ll sneak up on you, just when you let your guard down, and then—poof! No more Serrina. I hope you were glad to know her because she just got replaced by a demon,” she kidded in her wildly fruity tone of speech.

Serrina tried to listen to Duffrane speak, but it was quickly interrupted by Abrahem’s outburst.

She crossed her arms over her chest and readied her mouth to speak. Surprisingly, nothing came out and she snapped it shut instead.

She had been planning to say something along the lines of, ‘I will accuse you of whatever I want, and I’d like to see you try and stop me!’, but a sliver of clarity broke through and she figured that starting a brawl in the middle of a creepy, magical forest with an angry, magical pirate wasn’t the wisest idea she’s ever had. So she would refrain from badgering him for at least the rest of the night. Then after that, she’s not holding back anymore and Abrahem was just going to have to learn to deal with it.

She watched her companion trudge off into the darkness then turned away, remembering that there might still be goblins out there who probably want to kill them, and very willingly choose not to remind him of that fact.

Pulling her knees closer to her body for protection against the heavy, cold air, Serrina unmindfully picked up a stick and prodded at the burning wood in the fire pit out of boredom. She hummed aloud.

“I think I’ll stay up for a little while longer,” she mused, more to herself than to any other of her companions, then turned to face Duffrane, “You, however, should get some sleep. An old man like yourself should rest after a long day of hard work. We wouldn’t want you collapsing from those aching old bones of yours,” she teased.

Rena was both disappointed and relieved when Serrina and Abrahem's confrontation ended in an anticlimax. Nonetheless, she should continue keeping an eye over the two of them. Wouldn't want any incidents in the middle of a battle. She turned to Japheth, and said, "Japheth. You're in charge of night watch," before turning to the others and finishing, "The rest of you, get some rest soon."The campfire slowly went dim, and the forest's darkness overtook the camp.

Night passed, and the morning sun greets them. Barely. With the shadows of the forest obscuring most everything. Immediately, the Stag Brigade moved on, eager to exit the forest as soon as possible. Rena checked her map incessantly, as they walked for what felt like hours. The trees around them were shriveled, unhealthily thin, with branches which reached out like dried fingers. And so deep into the forest, they could hear no more birds. No critters skittering about. Only the rustling of shadowy leaves.

Even as they found no adversary through the forest, the sharp-minded ones among them could feel someone watching them.....from the shadows, behind the trees, away from their eyes... a voyeuristic force, hidden in this suspicious woods. Still, as much as Rena kept looking back, she could not find any true hint of danger. For now.

Eventually, they reached the outskirts of a forest, and the sandy bank of a great river. Rena slowed down as her heels dug into the smooth, taking a moment to admire both the returning blue skies above, and the radiant green water ahead. An old, abandoned wooden ferry was docked nearby. The blue knight turned to her comrades, and gestured towards said ferry. "There. Our ticket to the Highlands." If one looked down the river and beyond, one could see the rugged highlands, slightly tinted blue from the atmosphere. Even from here, they could see its great size and vast landscape.

Europa hesitantly piped in, "B-be careful...". The girl, otherwise nearly useless in combat, was left to carry Jay's comatose body, looping his arm around her shoulder, clearly struggling. The old wood creaked beneath their feet as they stepped on to the ferry. Rena began relaying orders. "Duffrane, find the wheel and get this ship going. Weilu, Japheth, check the cargo hold, see if there is anything we can salvage. Serrina, Abrahem, patrol the area, alert us to any difficulties. Juniper, Syra, help Europa find a spot to place Jay in." Her brows furrowed in determination, her gaze forward and sure.

Slowly, the ferry went down the great river, and to their left and right, they could see the exterior of the great forest. From this river, those trees didn't look nearly as large....

Suddenly, as Weilu and Japheth walked, they hear a ricketing sound below them. And it wasn't their own footsteps. Too heavy, too strained. The ground rumbled. The eagle-eyed Japheth would notice something suspicious....a seam, running across the middle of the otherwise plain wooden deck...

....A trap door!



The trap door violently swung open, creating a noise not unlike the roar of a great beast, and from underneath.... a hulking demon, muscular with deep red skin, spikes erupting from its shoulders, shiny, vermillion horns jutting from its head, undersized leathery wings from its back, and a pair of hairy legs with iron hooves. The Infernal Fiend lands with a thundering thud in front of the two, alerting its presence to everyone on board, while gripping its slick, blood red trident. Its eyes milky white, its teeth stuck in a permanent, bloodthirsty grin. An unknown heat seems to radiate from this infernal fiend, though at this distance, only Weilu and Japheth could feel it.

Rena was consulting her map, when she turned her attention onto the creature. "DEMOOOOOONNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!"

At last, their first demon opponent lets its presence known.

Abrahem would find his sleep underneath the tree at which he lay his back, slipping into a fitful trance between sleep and consciousness. He dreamed yet did not, mind occupied by a darkness which neither of his states could comprehend, knowing only that it was not of him, of this world. His head slamming to the ground from the shifting of his body would wake him with a yelp, pain drilling into his skull despite the loamy quality of the earth. Eyes burning from the disturbed rest, he crept back to the camp, ignoring Japheth as he finished the process of creating the gunpowder. Loading the produced chemical into cloth sacks, he replaced the two spent bullets from earlier, now unable to create more until more materials could be acquired. Storing the materials, he collapsed once again into sleep, this one unbroken.

---

Waking with the others, Abrahem took his breakfast in silence, requiring almost no preparations for the continuing journey. As the party exited the glen, he glanced back, examining the area. A brooding regret settled over him as he stared, the feeling of something left undone. Yet he was glad to have left the place. Something had happened, and he would rather forget the cause as quickly as possible. He had nothing to forget, he would find.

Reaching the bank of the great river, Abrahem would drop the ropes which enabled his dragging of the sled, resting the strained muscles of his back, arms, and legs. He had forgotten just how quickly the weight could wear on the body, especially with the extra sack of supplies he had volunteered to transport. It was almost a wonder that no sentient creature had encountered them as the party traveled through the forest. It appeared that no demons had ventured this far south as of yet. A blessing and a curse, as it meant that their journeys would be only more difficult later.

Eyeing the aged ferry incredulously, Abrahem thought, It will be a wonder if the vessel is even in working order with no one to maintain the upkeep of the establishment. No reason to put forward doubts when there was no other form of crossing the river without great effort on the hands of the party. Assigned his task by Rena, Abrahem looked at Serrina pointedly, not quite sure whether he had forgiven the elf woman for yesterday. Snapping his eyes away, he moved off to secure the surrounding area, only somewhat lucid in the process with thoughts turned inwards.

All thoughts fled his mind when Rena yelled, "Demon," his body reacting even as his conscious attempted to reconcile the movements. Running towards the ferry, his pistol slipped into his hand, hammer cocking in his preparation for the encounter. The size of the creature was formidable, even from seventy meters away. Halting still a distance from the ferry, Abrahem cocked his head, standing for several seconds. Flames exploded from the ferry as Rena was smashed into the mast. Time slowed to his perception, mind trawling through ingrained memories for the appropriate spell. Where was-

Every living creature within three hundred meters would feel a sudden depressurization accompanied by an ionizing smell instants before an iridescent beam stabbed through the air, exploding against the daemon's chest in a sunburst manner. Out on the back, Abrahem fell to his knees, one hand on the ground as he gasped for air, having never utilized the spell in almost one and a half decades and never with this magnitude. I suppose learning how to banish demons was useful after all. Too bad I was never good at it, he thought, pain spiking in between words. Stumbling as he stood and lurched forward, Abrahem moved towards the boat, examining the damage which his spell had done, his magical reserves almost spent.