Chapter 1: The Hero and Villain of This Story
"You're sick," he murmurs. The inflection of his voice shows no concern for her though. He almost sounds pleased by the thought; maybe he's humored.
"I'm not sick," Sunako replies without missing a beat. Her head is down, and her favorite mithril helmet blocks most all of her face. It's shaped like a skull and black like space. She loves how staring at it is like staring at nothing. "I'm twisted. Sick makes it sound like there's a cure."
He snorts from his end of the room. He sounds more amused than concerned. He always sounds amused by her comments. It's either that, or he's angry and yelling. She's not sure which is better. She actually despises both pretty equally.
She grits her teeth. "Why are you still here? Your companions have already run away. Surely you're not stupid enough to think that you will beat me."
He might be smirking at her, but Sunako cannot be sure. She doesn't dare look directly at him. He's just a rogue, nothing more than a glorified thief, but he's also bright. The man is radiant, so much so she at first wondered if he was a paladin in disguise. He's stronger than the average rogue, and fights like a monk.
The moment he started talking, however, she realized why he could never be a servant of God.
In any case, despite the weird fact he's a radiant rogue, he's still far too bright a creature. He's the embodiment of light, she's sure. She can't even look at him without feeling like she might melt away.
Hence her favorite helmet that covers two-thirds her face. And why she is not facing him. And why she purposefully staying on the other side of the library.
This is not running away, Sunako convinces herself. This is her best option. He's not afraid of her like the rest had been. She scares him, but not enough to make him leave her alone. Additionally, he is too stubborn to die like she wants him to. Until she figures out the best way to get rid of him, Sunako has to be smart in her tactics. She can bear his presence so long as she doesn't look at him. He won't beat her. She chants this to herself over and over again.
The Creature of Light speaks up again. "I told you, I'm not leaving until you agree to come back and be the stupid hero." His voice sounds annoyed. She hopes his face reflects such an ugly sound. He could stand to be uglier.
"And I told you, I refuse."
"Not an option," he gripes back, irritation clear in his voice. "You're coming back with me. I don't get paid for this crappy mission until you come back; do you even know how much gold the council is paying?"
They've argued about this too many times. His tone is only successful in pissing her off. Sunako turns to face him, rage overriding her concern of his radiance. She screeches back at him and throws a dagger. It doesn't work, which isn't really a surprise at this point. He catches the dagger with ease in one hand. But, in those few seconds he needs to catch the dagger, Sunako crosses the room to meet him. Her fist is out and hits him square in the jaw. She makes contact, but it isn't as hard of a hit as she would have liked. Sunako has found the rogue has a surprisingly strong bone structure.
The rogue moves with the punch, countering with a kick of his own. It's strong, but she's not intimidated. Her armor is built to offer her speed and agility over heavy defense, so Sunako has learned to take hits without complaint. Besides, this isn't the first time they've fought each other.
The two trade punches and kicks for a long while. Neither draws any weapon or calls on any magic to use during the fight however. They fight with just their fist. They always fight this way.
"What's wrong with you?" The rogue hisses as the two go back and forth. "Why can't you just come back; the money is huge you know. I could retire off of just my share!"
"Not my problem," Sunako screeches back. Her demonic aura only intensifies around her. "As if I care what money you earn for my capture." She does some rapid kicks, aiming for his chest. Only a few of the attacks land.
He throws his own kick towards her supporting leg, but the motion is off. It forces both of them to fall to the ground. Their attacks do not stop, though. "Then, at least take off that stupid helmet," the rogue demands.
"No, never," Sunako rejects. It's not the first time he's ordered this of her. "This helmet is my ultimate defense." She doesn't elaborate beyond the claim, however.
The rogue growls and reaches for the head piece, and if she wasn't so annoyed Sunako might have been impressed by the noise. Instead she hisses back and claws at his own face. He pushes her hands back each time, avoiding her attempts to take out his eyes. As he does, he still tries to grab her helmet.
"What's going on?" A new voice cries. It's enough draw both Sunako and rogue's attentions back to the entrance of the library. Standing there are three other bright beings, though not nearly as radiant as the rogue. She hisses at the young males before leaping far away to crouch by a bookshelf.
Like the rogue, these three are Radiant Creatures. Unlike the rogue, she can scare each one off with a mere growl. They are very much afraid of her. The problem, however, is that they keep coming back because of the rogue's courage. She has tried destroying the weaker three in the past battles, but the rogue has managed to stop her each time.
The smaller one, a cleric with short ash-blond hair, rushes to the rogue's side. "Kyohei," he cries with tears in the corners of his eyes. "Are you okay?"
The rogue snorts. "I'm fine." He sits up from where she had been pinning him to the floor. The young man then shoots Sunako a dirty look.
Sunako hisses back at him. She wishes that wasn't the truth. Next time she'll go for his throat, for sure.
The taller one, with dark hair, frowns at the rogue. "Honestly, we told you not to push it. We need an actual plan for this to work." He is a sorcerer, but even his power has proven no match for Sunako in combat.
"Maybe he just wanted more private time with his Dark Princess," the third man comments. He's dressed like a bard, though there is a long blade by his hip. "They did seem rather cozy before we barged in."
"Shu'dup," yells the rogue. "Do me a favor and get your freaking eyes checked, Ranmaru. That monster was attacking me."
"Kyohei," the sorcerer reprimands with a stern frown.
"She's not a monster," the cleric insists, though his voice wavers. "She's the hero. The only one who has the power to kill the Demon King."
"Never," Sunako hisses. The comment makes the cleric sniffle loudly and hide behind the other Radiant Creatures.
The rogue grins evilly. "Never say never, bitch."
Sunako growls at him, her body crouching to pounce. Behind her, dark energy begins to gather in waves. "I will kill you." She moves to lunge at him again, but the sorcerer places a shield between them. It's surprises Sunako enough to make her pause in attack.
"We'll be going now," the sorcerer assures her, his hand out to hold the barrier. The truth is that Sunako can break such a small shield with a few good hits, but she doesn't. Instead, she allows the trio of Radiant Creatures to take the Creature of Light away. She'd rather have them escape than deal with their brightness in her sacred darkness. Before they get too far down the attached hallway, however, the rogue turns back to face her.
"I'll be back, you freak," he promises with a yell. "Just be ready to leave with us when I do. And that stupid helmet better be gone."
"If you dare show your face again," Sunako shouts back. "I won't hold back. I'll kill you, this I swear Creature of Light."
He makes a face at the title she's given him, as per usual. However, his companions have him out of her sight before he can complain.
Sunako turns, returning to the bookshelves. She was just preparing to read before that horrid Creature of Light interrupted her. She really is getting tired of him just barging in as he pleases.
She hopes those four actually leave the castle this time. There's a limit to how much they can make themselves at home in a demonic kingdom. She doesn't care who they are.
And she doesn't care how important their quest is.