As usual, Vizisco waited with the angel outside the city while Kou went into trade, but it was immediately obvious to the demon that the experience had destroyed what little strength the human had left. Kou barely made it back to the angel’s hut before he collapsed again, and Vizisco was left with the task of making it back to the clearing. 

Luckily the angel, named Hala, was more than willing to help Vizisco find the road, and the demon started down the path, depending on their hearing to make sure they wouldn’t get lost on the way to Nrome. They held the reins for the animal Kou had called a “pony” in one hand and carried Kou in the other, the human leaning against their chest as they walked. Kou was fast asleep, his head tucked into the crook of Vizisco’s neck, his breath shallow and warm against the demon’s skin.  The demon kept their pace slow, steady, feeling the vibrations of the road through their boots and the animal’s natural inclination to stay on the path.

Vizisco moved carefully, feeling the slope of the road and the soft resistance of mud beneath their feet. Each shift of Kou’s weight against them was a reminder of how fragile the human had become, how much the trip to the city had cost him. Vizisco wondered if they should not have allowed him to go through with his task, but the demon also knew that Kou would have insisted on it, regardless of any warnings.

The hours passed in silence, and Vizisco considered if they should stop and make a “camp” as they felt the sun’s faint influence fade away from their skin. After all, Kou had insisted they pause every night on their way to the farm, but Vizisco saw little reason to do so now. After all, they were already carrying Kou; it wasn’t as if the human had to physically make the journey and Vizisco was not tired. 

“Vizisco?” Nrome’s voice caught Vizisco’s attention and they glanced forward to see the angel’s numbers in front of them. 

{Ability: 50

Loveliness: 5

Corruption: 2}

“It is me, Nrome.”

“Is Kou–”

“Asleep. There was a monster at the farm,” Vizisco answered, hoping Nrome would understand. “Kou insisted on going to trade food. I killed it, and he collapsed after going into the city.”

“I see. Do you need help finding the way?”

“Yes.” Vizisco nodded, following the numbers as Nrome began to lead the way down the path. They walked with a slightly wider gait and the demon hummed low in the chest. “Are we close to your home?”

“Yes. Hala let me know you were coming.” Nrome answered and Vizisco frowned. 

“It took us three days to get to the farm.”

“The road is faster, but Kou prefers to avoid it. The building he almost died in is on this path.” Nrome explained and Vzisco hummed with understanding, adjusting the human in their arms. “He would rather climb the mountain.”

“I see.” The pair walked on in silence, Vizisco considering everything this short trip had revealed about the human they carried. It confirmed that Kou was extremely reckless, but it also was clearer now that Kou’s recklessness was not born from foolishness, but from a deep, gnawing desperation. They listened carefully to the subtle shifts in Nrome’s steps, the steady rhythm of the pony’s hooves, and the soft, unconscious sounds Kou made in his sleep—small, pained breaths that didn’t settle even with rest.

They moved through a break in the trees, and the air shifted. Vizisco slowed, feeling the ground beneath their boots change. The packed earth of the road gave way to something looser, softer, and the demon tilted their head slightly.

“Are we close?” Vizisco asked, their voice low to avoid disturbing the human.

“Yes. My home is just ahead.” Nrome paused, and Vizisco felt a hand lightly brush their forearm, guiding them to veer slightly right. “There’s a low step. Watch your footing.”

Vizisco murmured a quiet thanks and adjusted their stride, stepping carefully over what must have been a small rise. Kou stirred at the shift, his fingers tightening briefly in Vizisco’s shirt before relaxing again. The fabric was uncomfortable from how it had dried while Vizisco sat and the demon frowned. 

“Nrome.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have fresh clothing?” 

“I do.” Nrome agreed and Vizisco nodded, noticing the faint change in the air again as the clearing opened up before them. Vizisco felt the pony at their side slow, the beast’s cautious steps betraying its uncertainty at the unfamiliar space. Vizisco could sense the larger shapes of trees surrounding them, the slight echo of their own steps hinting at an open space ahead.

“Here,” Nrome said simply, and Vizisco halted. Kou shifted against them, a soft, broken sigh escaping his lips. Vizisco tightened their arms slightly, steadying the human as they turned toward the sound of Nrome’s voice. “I will place the clothing on the pony. It should be able to guide you to Kou’s home.”

“Thank you, Nrome.” Vizisco waited as they heard the angel step inside, digging through their belongings as the pony stomped at the ground. They nodded as the angel soon stepped back outside, and the animal whined as more weight was added to the baskets it carried. “Farwell.”

Vizisco allowed Nrome to turn them, walking back toward where they heard the trees swaying in the wind. As the angel predicted, the pony quickly picked up the familiar path, tugging lightly against the lead in Vizisco’s hand. Trusting the animal’s instincts, Vizisco let themselves be guided, adjusting their pace to match the pony’s careful, sure-footed walk.

Kou stirred again, a faint whimper escaping him as he shifted closer, his forehead pressing against Vizisco’s collarbone. The demon steadied him with a soft hum, feeling the exhausted human respond with a slight relaxing of his limbs. It was strange, carrying someone so vulnerable, but Vizisco found they did not mind it. After all, if Vizisco had left after killing the first three monsters, Kou would have died when he went to that farm. It was clear that if Kou was to survive this need for answers, he needed someone to prevent his death.

Vizisco was as good as any demon.

It didn’t take long to reach the clearing in the forest and Vizisco continued forward, pushing the door open to step inside the small space. Carefully counting their steps, they played Kou in the bed, ensuring the human would not fall out before stepping back out. The pony sounded as if it had laid down in the ruined garden, and Vizisco approached it carefully, looking for the straps that would allow them to relieve the pony’s burden. 

After much fumbling, the demon managed to free the animal, and felt through the baskets to find the provided clothing. While searching, Vizisco found a thin, soft cloth folded neatly between the layers of fabric. Curious, Vizisco ran their fingers along the weave, tracing the shape. It felt like a band of some kind, but Vizisco couldn’t imagine what it could be for. Placing it back, they eventually found the clothing Nrome had given and standing back up, the demon made their way to the workbench, removing their belt first and placing the sword on the surface. 

They stripped quickly, relieved to be out of the damp clothing that still smelled like death and blood. Focusing on the material, Vizisco quickly lit it on fire with magic, feeling and smelling as the clothing was destroyed. There was no sense in trying to save it and they quickly redressed, concerned about the shirt. There was no slit that would allow Vizisco to quickly use their eyes and the demon ran their hand along the front, once again using magic to create a laced slit. 

“There’s a jacket,” Kou’s voice made Vizisco turn sharply, surprised to see numbers behind him. 

“Did I wake you?”

“I think the smell of burning cloth would wake most people.”

“I apolo–”

“Don’t, I’m… I’m gonna go back to sleep. Missed the good part anyway.” Kou sighed, clearly not in the mood to argue Vizisco heard him shuffle in the doorway. “Just wanted you to know there’s more clothing.” 

“Hmm.” Vizisco reached back to the bench, and sure enough, there was another piece of clothing, what Kou was calling a jacket. The demon quickly put it on, appreciating how it further protected their arms. “Go rest, Kou. I will not leave.”

“Yeah… yeah, I know,” Kou muttered, and Vizisco watched as the numbers disappeared, and the sound of the door closing indicated that Kou had returned to bed. Vizisco adjusted the jacket, folding the cuffs above their elbows before turning their attention to listening. 

It seemed the rain they had encountered at the farm had also passed over Kou’s home, but it clearly had been almost drained of its power. The work bench was barely damp and from the pony who laid on the grass, it couldn’t have been very wet. Yet the evening was alive with the sound of insects who only came out after it rained, and Vizisco could even hear the bats that were eager to enjoy the feast.

Vizisco stood still for a long moment, letting the soft chorus of life around them settle into their chest. The humid, rain-touched air carried the scents of damp bark, crushed leaves, and the faint lingering sweetness of wet grass, a stark contrast to the copper tang of blood that had haunted the past day. Vizisco moved quietly to sit against the wall of Kou’s home, back resting against the rough wood, sword within easy reach at their side.

The hum of insects rose higher for a heartbeat and then fell again, and Vizisco listened carefully, sorting the familiar from the unfamiliar.