Chapter 17

Early the next morning, I went to the forest behind the castle to check if there were horses who ran inside during the fight. I had mother pack me some bread and meat which I dumped into my bag together with drinking water. It was not a scary place for me as this forest was inside the castle grounds and I am pretty sure no demon beasts would be here. There was no specific path to be followed and there were lots of fallen and uprooted trees. The forest was not that thick as light can still penetrate from around me.

As I was walking, I saw animals ranging from little squirels, rabbits, foxes, tapirs, martens and deers. I also saw some snakes, porcupines, pecaries and Okapis. Various kinds of birds were singing up on the branches, some eating fruits and some just hopping on the ground. There was also a river on which I decided to rest by.

As I was sitting on the edge on the river with my feet soaked in the water, I heard crunching noises on the other side which made me alert. It was as if some wild animal was running inside the forest making the birds fly away. The crunching noise became sounds of footstep coming close to the clearing on the other side. I stared on the edge of the clearing, waiting for whatever it was that was approaching.

The first thing I saw were red eyes hiding in the shadows of the trees, looking at me, waiting for the move I will take.

"This forest is on private grounds." I said loudly looking at the unknown silhouette with red eyes. "You are trespassing on our land."

The silhouette started to move forward into the clearing and a handsome, sly-looking man came into view. He had long black hair and red eyes, he was wearing what looks to be a black robe. I was still assessing him when he suddenly leaped and landed a few steps beside me. What he did took me by surprise, but not wanting to show it on my face, I frowned.

"Who are you?" I asked him still not standing up from my spot as it was the most beneficial place for me.

"I am Sebastiene." He answered looking at me curiously. "Who are you?"

"I am House Castellan's eldest daughter, Melody." I answered him.

He looked around us and stared into the forest behind me before turning his head back to look at me again with a sly smirk.

"You are telling me that a lady of House Castellan went into the forest without knights or maids?" He chucked.

"Is there anything wrong with it?" I asked stoically.

"Of course!" He sneered. "You could get injured or killed inside the forest as there are many wild animals here. A Castellan would never take a risk like that."

His mediocre attempt at scaring me was almost funny.

"Do you think a mere animal would be able to harm a Castellan?" I retorted.

"With the gods and goddesses abandoning you, it could." He shrugged.

"Abandoned by the gods and goddesses?" I smirked. "Says who? Would you like to try fighting me if you think that I am not blessed anymore?"

"Oh?" He smiled and raised his eyebrow at me. "What would I get if I win against you?"

"Whatever you want." I replied. "What would I get?"

"Anything you want." he smiled and disappeared from my sight.

He suddenly appeared behind me with his claws out in an attack. I used the river water to stop his hand from reaching my neck by wrapping his entire arm in water and freezing it. He jumped back and broke the ice on his arm, opening and closing his hand. He was ready to attack again when he noticed he couldn't move his body. I turned my body to face him with my feet still in the water.

"W-what is happening?" He asked.

"Ability." I pointed to myself while smirking at him.

"Don't be happy yet little girl. Binding abilities only work when you are stronger than the person you are binding and if he doesn't see what you are binding him with." He said as he tried to fight against my ability.

I sat there with my elbows on my knees and my chin resting on my hand. I watch him start sweating as he concentrated on finding the 'bind' I was using. When it did not work, he started to use force to 'unbind' himself from my ability. He looked at me when it also didn't work. I smiled at him, wriggling my eyebrows in a taunting manner. The wind howled and the ground below him broke into pieces as he attempted to forcefully free himself to no avail. He only used up all his strength and was sweating profusely.

"Was that it?" I arrogantly asked just to piss him off. "You can't even break out from the ability of a child the gods and goddesses abandoned?"

"It was all a lie huh?" His jaws clenched. "All those rumors are not true."

"You got it!" I smiled sheepishly.

"Those damned humans!" He cursed. "Im going to Ki.."

Groooowl!

I looked at him when I heard his stomach growling.

"When was the last time you ate?" I asked him as I took the bread and meat from my bag.

"I'm not sure, a week maybe?" He smile awkwardly.

"Wait, do demons eat bread or..?" I froze before I passed him the food.

"Of course we do!" He acted as if he was insulted by my question.

"I thought you eat souls or something." I watch him gobble up the food.

"We thith, muth ne godths mrohibithed ith. (We did, but the gods prohibited it.)" He replied with his mouth full.

"Just continue eating and we'll talk after." I told him.

After eating my food, he laid down beside me with his left hand behind his head and his right hand on his stomach.

"You won." He stated and I nodded not looking at him. "What do you want?"

"I don't know. What can you do?" I asked leaning back a little and closed my eyes.

"I can do anything you would like." He smiled slyly. "We can play tea party if you want to."

I snickered at what he said. He must really see me as a child even after witnessing my power.

"Can you serve?" I asked him.

"Of course!" He replied thinking I was taking about tea parties. "I can even make tea and coffee."

"Can you read and write?" I asked again.

"Bah! I was a scholar before!" He proudly stated. "I can even understand business, arithmetic, and literature. I could even be your teacher!"

"Can you fight?" I asked him.

"I was an undefeated warrior for two thousand years!" He said smugly.

"I thought you were a scholar?" I retorted.

"Ehem. I was a warrior for five thousand years, and was only defeated once before retiring and becoming a scholar." He tried to explain.

"You must not be a human right?" I asked. "To be able to live that long."

"I am a pure blood demon of the Hebi clan." He replied rubbing his stomach.

"The Hebi clan that lives in the northwest territory?" I queried. "What is a demon like you doing here, trespassing into our castle grounds?"

"Travelling." He briefly answered, I couldn't see him but I could guess that he was smiling widely.

"Do you plan to leave this area soon?" I asked again.

"I will since you said I was trespassing." He shrugged.

"Then," I turned my head to face him smilingly. "I will let you stay here."

"Really?" He sat up wide-eyed.

"Yes." I replied smiling coyly. "I want something from you as my prize for winning."

"Anything!" He excitedly replied.

"Become my butler."