CHAPTER 1

After I had escaped the underworld and into the human world, my physical body had changed into a spirit. I had heard tales of the human world from my dad, and that only those with strong magical abilities can manifest themselves into being. It’s not that I was lacking in that area, it was that I wasn’t taught how to do it effectively. I was, however, taught how to possess bodies and form my own image using someone else. This was a technique most demons use to create offspring and bring their existence into the human realm. Which is how we can have two different types of demons, earthborn and the underworld type. The problem with this method is, I end up erasing the existence of a person’s soul from their body as my spirit becomes one with them— I guess it’ll be alright, I am a demon after all, who’s going to punish me for doing what my kind is meant to do? I do feel a little guilty though, because had I stayed with my dad a little longer, I could have learned how to form my body without the aid of a human. I guess I’ll get over it. The human in question should thank me anyway, I’m about to make their lives one-hundred more times exciting after all.

I’d like to think of this as destiny, me leaving the underworld to become the world’s best healer. I mean, there is afterall, a cathedral outside of the entrance to the underworld, built directly across. Above the entrance to the underworld there is a decorative grotesque and walls alongside leading to said cathedral, indicating that there is only one method of leaving. This place, from what my dad had said, is on the outskirts of civilization. This is for the humans to properly control and protect other humans from the demons that lurk within the path between the connecting worlds. What that means is, if a demon were to escape the underworld, the humans could fight them off and push them back into the underworld. Of course, that’s for the ones that they can catch. I won’t be caught off guard. In my spirit form, my dad had taught me how to go undetected from any being, which is how I was able to make my escape from him when I could. I look around to see if there’s anyone around but there are no sights of anything or anyone. Not even guards? Very strange. I was told that this place is heavily guarded by adventurers, knights, and magic users who are aided by clerics to prevent any deaths, but it’s so empty. I take a step forward. I feel a slight tremble in the ground. Above me on the entrance’s wall, the grotesque’s eyes begin to glow a red, like it’s watching over me. I take another step. the ground trembles once again, and the sound of humming from above is heard.

“Hold on…”

I look up and take a third step, keeping my eyes on the grotesque, watching as its eyes glow a deep red, emitting a loud humming sound and causing the ground to shake. This was the human’s alarm system. By now, they should know I am here. Which would mean they’ve developed a way to detect the undetectable. I begin to chew my lip. If the humans had found a way to see me, then who’s to say it’s not the same for my dad. I may have gotten away from him but for how long… My body feels cold and my hands numb. I don’t want to move, I can’t move. I fidget with my fingers and clench my fist to reassure myself that it’s all in my head. If I can move my hands then I’m o.k. in a way, right? … I wasn’t ready to leave the underworld. Maybe I should just go back. Learn more and try again when I know I can’t be seen by anyone. But what if my dad doesn’t forgive me? Did I disappoint him finally? Would he hate me? I can feel my lips quiver and I let out a slight whimper. But just before the urge to cry started to overwhelm me, it was stopped by voices nearby.

“I don’t understand.”

“We can never be too sure.”

“It’s been so long right?!”

“Yeah, most creatures had already migrated here so why would new ones appear.”

“Maybe a bird?”

“That’s why I don’t understand! If it’s nothing, why send us! I swear, the system needs to be fixed so it doesn’t waste our time.”

It’s humans?! But wait, there seems to be a monster with them? Three humans, one man with a blade, another with a book, and a girl with blue light hair and green eyes in a nun outfit holding a golden staff with wings and red tags. A beastman is also by their side, laughing along with them. I don’t remember my dad ever telling me about any coexisting creatures. Wait, they can’t see me? They can’t see me!

The man with the blade speaks up,

“O.k. I don’t see anything. It must be broken.”

“It could be a spirit?” says the man with the book in his hand.

“I hope not, those things creep me out.”

“You’re a monster yourself! What do you mean ‘creep’ you out?” The man with the blade is a little snarky…

“It doesn’t matter! I was raised here! We’re a little bit different than what comes out of that cave y’know!”

“Guys please. Let’s just get this over with.”

The cleric seems to be the reasonable one, and she kind of looks like me too. She’s the one I’m going to possess. Just my luck.

I take a step forward and the grotesque begins to hum louder, the ground shakes.

“Oh! It seems there is something here!”

“I really wish it was a bird!”

“I don’t see anything though…”

The man with the book opens it up, “All those shrouded in darkness reveal yourselves in the face of the light.”

The ground stops shaking as a light emits beneath the man with the book. The light then expands and surrounds the area. There is no doubt this is a spell to reveal hidden entities, but…

“I don’t understand, there’s nothing here.” the man with the book says.

“This archaic method of detection is broken! That’s what it is!”

“I’ll go in for a closer look, with my divine purification magic, it should cause whatever is here to go home.”

I watch as the girl in the nun outfit steps forward and to the entrance of the underworld. Her voice is so sweet. When she spoke, I could hear the gentleness that came from it, like a cool passing wind in the summer. I’m sorry nun girl, you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ll make it up to you when you become the ultimate healer thanks to me.

“Wait.”

The beastman speaks up, “My instincts are telling me for you to stay back. Don’t go any closer.” 

The girl turns to him, “What do you mean?”

“Creatures like myself have the ability to know when there’s danger to come. It’s by means of survival! If you step any closer to that area, you’ll die!”

“Then come with me. Your instincts will guide me to the right path and avoid such a fate.”

The beastman gets flustered.

“I-I guess! O.k! Stay behind me.”

The two walk together towards me. The beast man has his hands up as the nun confidently walks closely behind him.

“Anything?”

“I can’t see a thing and my senses aren’t picking up anything. I think for a moment, whatever is here had malice intent. Which is why…”

“... Your instincts perked up.”

“Exactly.”

Malice? Me?! I mean sure I want to take control over this girl’s body but, it’s with good intentions! You mean benign intent, benign! They stop close to me, the beastman looks and sniffs around, then looks to the nun and nods his head. She stands next to him before kneeling and folds her hands. She closes her eyes.

“Hey! Should we come up to help?” shouts the man with the blade.

“No, stay back. If anything goes wrong, you two will be able to protect the entrance to the church.”

The man with the blade looks to the man with the book,

“I hate these spellcaster types, I just want to fight.”

“You know I’m a spellcaster too right…”

“You read from a book.”

“Which are…”

“You know what I mean!”

“I suppose you’re correct, the spells involving divine magic do take a bit longer.”

The man with the blade sits on the ground.

“Can you hurry up already?!”

The nun ignores him, she then opens her eyes and looks at the beastman,

“If you sense something, don’t hesitate to pull me away. You have my permission.”

The beastman smiles awkwardly, “Got it.”

I’m still upset because he said my intentions were bad. But I’ll show him. I’ll possess her with a pure heart! I kneel down and reach out to her, my hand close to her cheek. I could practically feel the warmth radiating from her skin, I can tell this is a kind lady. Everything about her is so heavenly. From her voice, to her looks, to her personality. I am so going to make it up to her!

“GET BACK!”

“Eep!”

The beastman grabs the nun and steps far back with her in his arms.

“There’s definitely something here. And it’s after you in particular.”

“Me?”

He nods, “I’ll be more on guard. I may not be able to see this thing, but you’ll be protected as long as I am next to you.”

“Thank you.” She smiles at him, “You can let go of me now.

He stammers and lets her go, his stance changes, he’s in a position to move more fluidly.

“This is my fault…” I say out loud, “I had my intention slip out while thinking about her! Ugh.” Now how am I going to do this? With this beastman’s instinct and his perception increased, this might be more difficult than I had thought. Maybe if I possess him first? Then I could move into the nun.

“O.K!” I think I’ve got this. I move towards the beastman, unlike the nun, his voice is harsh with a slight growl in his words, he’s hairy, and although his personality may waver from a timid boy to a bold man, he’d no doubt want to kill me without a second thought if he could see me. I reach out to grab him.

Within a split second he moves back.

“It changed targets!” he looks to his friends behind him, “You two, be ready, it seems whatever is here is trying to do something! But I’m not sure what. It may be trying to get near us to destroy us from within.”

The man with the blade gets up, “This is interesting! An unseen enemy, all we have are your instincts my man. Keep it up!”

The beastman smirks as a response.

“How’s the divine magic going?”

“It’s taking time but with you here, we have nothing to worry about. I trust you.”

“Heh. You can count on me then.”

This is so annoying. Possession is so easy for me to do, but with this beastman in my way, there’s not much I can do! I start to chew the skin under my thumb’s nail. 

“Did dad ever teach me how to handle stuff like this…”