"Mom, it's true! I saw a demon in the forest. She has black hair!" Nes tugged at his mother's skirt, much to her annoyance.

Currently checking potatoes from a stall, his mother paid him no heed.

"She's wearing a hood and she has these blue evil eyes." He stretched his eyes open with his fingers, exaggerating it to emphasize how dire the matter was. No matter how he tried to explain, his mother didn't believe him. "She looks a lot like the woman in the forest."

His mother dropped the potatoes and pinched him in the bum. "Don't you dare say something about Desha. She's a kind woman who helped us with the cow a few days ago, you ungrateful spoiled brat. I will hear nothing more."

The man behind the stall laughed. "Aye, the forest you say? Didn't we kids warn you not to go there?"

"But a demon!"

His mother pinched him again. "Nothing about the demon!"

"No! I didn't say she's Desha! She looks like Desha but a different person!"

"Enough!"

"But mom! You gotta believe me!" His voice sounded desperate. "It's like the demon copied her!" His mother didn't believe him, still. He turned to the seller and asked, "Don't you believe me, Mister Hek?"

"The forest is a dangerous place, Nes. Best not to go there." He ruffled the kid's messy blond hair.

His mother paid for the potatoes and put them in her basket before thanking the man. She moved to the next stall without waiting for Nes.

Nes looked at the man and glanced at her mother with a pout. Why don't they believe him? He's telling the truth!

They should capture the demon before it's too late. What if the demon curses their village? What if she kidnaps one of the children and eats them? What if she eats them? They're doomed! It's because no one believed him...

As if Astrea granted his prayers, he heard loud neighs and a woman's familiar commanding voice. He turned to the flock of villagers and saw two women that stood out among the crowd. They wore a lavish royal red cloak with the academy's insignia boasted the back. His face brightened at the sight of them.

"Heloires!"

He ran to them, weaving his way through the people. "Lady Amalia! Lady Ria!" he yelled, flailing his short arms up in the air to catch their attention. "Lady Riaaaa! Lady Amaliaaa! I need to tell you something!" The noise of the crowd calling out their name drowned his voice. He jumped up and waved his hands. "Demon! I saw a demon!"

That caught their attention.

They dismounted from their horses, but before they could get near him, he felt a harsh tug by the arms. He whipped his head to see her raging mother.

"What are you doing?" She hissed. When the two students walked up to them, his mother fixed her posture and flashed them a smile. She hid his son behind her skirt. "It's nothing. You shouldn't believe him. He's begging for attention. I failed him as a mother. And kids these days have a wide imagination." She bowed. "Forgive me, my ladies."

"No! It's true! There's a demon in the forest! I saw it! I talked to it!" Nes defended his claim.

"Huh, they still call it demon here." Ria stroked her chin and looked up.

"How did you come across a letherian?" Amalia fixated her gaze on the small child; her voice was strait-laced and she did not beat around the bush. If there's one thing she learned from her previous missions, every information contributes.

Nes got taken aback. For the first time, Lady Amalia talked to him! To him! Never did the lady interact with the other kids in the village. She was straightforward; she held an air of noble and undefiable authority. She would never waste time on irrelevant matters. This was an event to boast about to his friends.

"Come on, kid. Tell us, tell us!" Ria exclaimed.

His mother shook her head. "No, no. He's talking nonsense! And- and there's no such thing-!"

Amalia raised her hand and his mother stopped. "Let him speak."

A grin broke the kid's face. He knew they're going to believe him. "I met the demon in the forest. I was lost. She was wearing a hood and we went back together."

"How did you know it was a letherian if it was wearing a hood?" Amalia pressed on.

"She revealed herself and I immediately ran back to the village. We were at the forest edge. I told everyone but no one believes in me! So please, Lady Amalia." He clung to her cloak. "If the demon lives, we're all doomed!"

"We'll keep that in mind." Amalia gave him a curt nod and his smile broadened.

His happy mood didn't last long by the yank on his arm. His mother glared at him. "You're butcher to me later."

He gulped.

"Gather the others. We'll scout the forest. There should be a woman living alone in a small house. We'll ask her if she saw anything odd as of late. If not, we'll cover more ground." Amalia swiftly turned to their horses. As she fixed her saddle, her fingers stopped midway from the reigns and she held her breath for mere seconds.

She felt it.

Amalia turned to her companion to see her pause. Ria's marmalade eyes directed towards the forest before meeting hers. She felt it as well.

The faint tremor below their feet confirmed their assumption.

One thing passed to mind. "Kuhra."

~~

"They're after me," Desha spoke.

The ground shook.

"There isn't much time. Hurry! Go!" She dragged her out of the door. The ground shook once more, followed by another bellow.

"No! I'm staying here with you!" Adeleine clutched her mother's sleeves, tears spilling the corner of her eyes. "I don't want to go."

"You can't do anything. You'll only die! Don't be stubborn, Adel. Now go!" Desha's blue eyes used to gaze at her softly, now it's glaring at her. "Don't make me force you."

Adeleine shook her head and pleaded, clutching at her mother's hem tightly yet so hopeless. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she begged her to stop but, Desha's decision was absolute. She cannot let her daughter be in the crossfire. She'd rather die by herself than watch her daughter be drenched in blood due to her sins.

She held out her hand and called, "Marga!"

A small hurricane formed from the leaves. Brown feathery wings spanned out as the wind burst in all directions, blowing hair out of Adeleine's face. She turned to the spirit beast in surprise and fear—surprise that her mother summoned Marga and fear that she'll be forcefully whisked away.

Marga had an owl for her head, a long neck and body, four talons, and her tail ended pointy with feathers span out to control her direction. The owl's large eyes stared at Adeleine, looping her neck as she stretched, not breaking eye contact.

"You see that image in your pendant." Desha held her shoulders and looked at her straight in the eyes. "Find that person. They'll take care of you." She gave her a gentle squeeze—a silent message of good luck and as a plea. Adeleine was her last precious jewel. She wanted her to survive. She would do anything for her daughter.

Adeleine took a step back and held her mother's arm tighter. She shook her. "Mother, you can't do this!"

But her words fell deaf in Desha's ears. "Marga, take her and escape. Don't let her near."

Marga's body slithered like a snake and Adeleine found herself encaged in her talons. With one great flap, they took off.

"Mother, no!" she screamed, thrashed. But Desha only stood there. Adeleine saw a glimpse of her mother's lips curving up to an assured smile, but she could see in her eyes apprehension.

Desha was not confident. This was no ordinary monster. To think it's here; they want her dead.

She took a deep breath. It won't be an easy task. She never fought this alone and it had been decades since she allowed herself to experience once again these dangerous activities.

The ground had another tremor.

There's no time to think. She gripped the hilt, before positioning it comfortably with her breathing.

She'll finish this.

~~

"Let go of me!" Adeleine thrashed around, prying Marga's claws off.

'Child, stop. Art thou hath no intelligence?' Moon interjected. 'I can feel we're high up. If you get dropped, you'll splatter like paint.'

"But Mother!" She looked back; the figure of her mother slowly faded into the distance while their house was nothing but a mere miniature.

Not far from their home, she saw a dark beast higher than the forest canopy. Their fur dyed obsidian black; their face covered with a horse's bone skull with two protruding horns right at the eye sockets. It opened its jaw wide to let out an earth-shaken scream.

The creature held its snout up in the air, familiarizing its surroundings with scent. It turned towards them. Adeleine's stomach recoiled as terror took hold of her body when it charged at them at full speed.

"It's coming for us! It's coming!" she frantically kicked the air, wriggling her way out. A shriek tore her throat as she closed her eyes shut.

She heard a heavy vibration and peeked to see the creature thrown to the side. Its heavy body skidded, uprooting large trees, clearing a small part of the forest. Desha employed a strong gust of wind to knock it down. But, as predicted, it had little effect on the beast other than to throw it off balance.

She glanced up. "At least, they are safe."