The Curtain Begins To Unveil----IX

An arrow.

Fletching from the needle-like white hair of the <Susurri Mens>, and a pitch black arrow head from its flesh rendering claws.

Whistling, its sleek wooden body ripped through the air, heading toward the demon standing foolishly within a clearing.

Stone of body, the <Gargoyle> Knew no danger from such flimsy human weapons. A child of Typhon, these demons are birthed from the malicious mountains of Develdion. Watching the arrow nonchalantly the <Gargoyle> knew that these human weapons bore no effect on its strong body.

It would simply break!

Thus, with haughtiness, it allowed the arrow to approach closer and closer. With peeled eyes and open ears, it searched for the elusive human imp that shot it amidst the darkness of the night and the hooting of owls.

Three hoots to be exact.

"SWITHCH"/ [SWITCH]

Suddenly, when the arrow was just close enough, a change happened. Right in front of the <Gargoyles> unnaturally bulbous eyes, the arrow twisted in space and in its place appeared a young boy garbed in leather armor, wielding a staff wide enough to be called a tree branch.

This demon, unlike the C ranked <Susurri Mens> was only D ranked. And while the classes of demons hold more strength than normal beasts, it was still a weak foe for Elias. Any other demon of the same rank would have fallen to Elias's staff for such a blunder, yet the <Gargoyle> has a specialty; its senses.

In panic, the demon's face contorted as a feral scream escaped its mouth. It spread out its Stoney thin wings and swung both arms at the boy, hoping for its sharp nails to claw him apart.

"BURN THE BOATS!"

Gambling on his own abilities, Elias yelled and thrust out his staff powerfully, rattling the silver-beaded bracelets on his arms.

Meanwhile, the demon was overjoyed! The imp was walking right into his death! He did not worry about the attack heading his way, for he was a <GARGOYLE>! Stone of body and malicious of heart, son of the great Typhon!

…yet why did his body feel powerless? Why did his arms suddenly fall limp, inches away from their target? Why was his body crumbling?

Oh how arrogant you are, son of Typhon.

Trailing his eyes from the boy's extended arms and down the thrust staff, the demon witnessed his crimson core perforated. Better yet, his whole torso was gouged out, the staff paving a tunnel where it connected.

Small rocks and debris chipped of the Gargoyle, its maliciously infested body returning to the embrace of the earth. Looking at the starry night sky, the demon muttered weakly before its whole body collapsed into a heap of stone.

"mAsTeR…"

###

Stood over the demon's body, scavenging whatever he can, an owl landed on Elias's right shoulder. Not sparing her a look, the young boy hungrily searched the pile of rocks for anything useful to no avail.

'Dammit! Nothing again, I just HAD to go ahead and obliterate its core. I hate <Gargoyles>'

[Elias, I heard it again. Just like the others, this one called for its master as well.] She spoke concernedly into his mind.

"I know, they all did."

Both Eset and Elias had a bad feeling about this situation, but it was out of their hand. What could they do? Tell the villagers? A group of farmers, shepherds and fisherman?

'But if you were here, it would all have been easier…'

Sighing, Elias and Eset made their way home, enjoying the serene environment, free of the seven demons they hunted tonight.

The pair felt at ease within the bushes and shrubbery. The trees, the smell of the fresh grass and moss, the unsullied primal society; nature.

They fit just right in there. The fertile soil welcomes them, the wild air fills their nostrils, and the savagery engorges their veins with adrenaline. Yet above all, there was serenity in such an environment. A strange one, yet serenity all the same.

Exiting the boundaries of the forest, and crossing the meadows and the pass bridging over the river, Elias made his way into the town.

He was patrolling. Just like every night, he would clear the woods and patrol the village, an offset of the thin attachment he built with the villagers

Everything was ordinary tonight, just like every other night…. Or so it seemed.

###

It suddenly stopped.

I don't know when it happened, not even how it happened, but suddenly I was walking and I everything was quiet. Too quiet.

Quiet to the point that I could not even hear the minutest of sounds. Not the crickets of the night, not the breeze of wind.

This was even more frightening than the vilest of screeches and the loudest of roars. I was so scared I dared no to turn to Eset, My eyes were wide as saucers as I vigorously analyzed every detail of my surroundings. I turned and twisted, Goosebumps travelling all over my body. Each time my back faced the unknown a shiver would run down my spine and I would twist my body to face the danger. But there was nothing there.

Breaking this streak of petrifying silence was footsteps…

A light pattering of bare flesh on the cold cobblestone.

Impulsively, like a driver pressing on the gas pedal in panic when he is about to crash, I catapulted my body toward the sound of footsteps. Like a beacon to a moth, I followed that sound hungrily, looking for an answer, a salvation from this terrifying silence.

Eset could feel my fear, and I hers. We could feel each other's emotions, our urgency.

As I ran forward, I felt a squeezing sensation and then I found myself significantly closer.

'She teleported me!'

Again and again, I would run and teleport chasing my target eagerly.

I teleported one last time before I found myself in front the sound I was chasing, or should I say its owner.

"What are you doing here little shepherd?~ "bshe surprised mw with her voice

'I can hear her!'

"D-Drea? What? w-what's.…"

Flustered, I muttered whatever I could utter. And barely I did. The silence, her footsteps, why? Did she not hear, I mean...not, not hear? And why is she outside at night? And, and…

"Oh look at the time, I must go to bed. Goodnight young shepherd~" With her sweet and unalarming voice, she ridded me goodnight and went into her house, eluding my qyestioning.

Just like usual, her soft motherly voice wriggled its way through my guards and set my mind into chaos. I could only fluster in her presence. It's like she takes advantage of my weakness…

'She takes advantage of my weakness…'

I turned to Eset and called out to her multiple times, but she would not answer. I thought she was just as flustered as I, so I just went home.

After my 'conversation with Drea' I walked back home as the silence returned. With caution in my steps and twitching at any small movement.

###

As Elias journeyed home, two pairs of eyes set their sights on his departing figure and a malicious laugh echoed in the once silent village.