Part 2: Eschete (11 Years old – April) Chapter 1

The human and demon worlds both had their powers and gifts; humans having electricity, technology and science and vastly outnumbered demons, demons had magic and natural abilities such as incredible speed and strength.

Some feared the demons for their powers, believe they were only used for death and destruction and while it was true that every few years a demon would try to destroy all humans, every now and then a human would try to use science to destroy all demons. These battles would often unite humans and demons and they would work together to defeat those that threatened them.

Demons like Tarnanok were cornerstones in the society for demon magic, teachers for those who wanted to learn the art and protectors of towns and cities where they were based while they also sold and provided all sorts of services and things to help both species.

As far as demons went, while he was powerful, Tarn was only a middle level demon but it didn't stop him from being respected and sort after by his customers since his main talent was in finding things that had been lost; from a stolen wallet to a lost child, to helping an old man find his false teeth. He had other skills but no one in Dryshore could match him for looking for things.

Demon magic was split into three parts; potions, enchantments and spells and at the beginning of her training, Tarn set Rin up with enchantments, taking everyday items and giving them an new use by casting spells on them. One of the most popular products the shop sold were 'seeker sticks', a sort of matchstick that when burned, the flame would grow brighter when the holder was facing whatever they were looking for.

It was a good starting point for Rin and after only a few failed attempts and burnt fingers, she was creating seekers as good as Kusu could. That was when Tarn realised that the power within her was not as slight and simple as he had once thought and began to teach her other things like how to make potions and the basics of spells.

He watched her carefully as she learnt and practiced, letting her make mistakes and learn from them, encouraging her to read the texts that were in his study whenever she wanted and was never too busy or tired to deny answering any questions she had about magic. She sometimes struggled but with enough time and practice, she would learn the new skill he set to her.

One afternoon, Tarn was in his study, looking over and over the books in his collection, trying to find one in particular, huffing as he was unable to locate it and ended up going to find his house keeper. "Kusu, have you seen that copy of 'Algometric Runes and Phrases'? I can't find it anywhere."

The woman looked up from her work as she prepared lunch for the trio and blinked. "Oh, the library sent one of their messengers to collect it a few days ago. I must have forgotten to tell you."

Tarn chuckled. "More likely you did and I've forgotten."

Kusu gave him a small smirk. "You said it not me."

The master smiled back at her then sighed and shook his head. "Oh well, I guess I will need to go and loan it out again." He looked to a nearby clock. "The next train is in an hour… I could make it there and back in one day."

"Would you like me to pack your lunch for you?"

Tarn paused then smiled. "Make that two. I think it's time I took Rin to the library."

"Are you sure that is a good idea?"

"No one needs to know about her curse or her powers. I can just say that she is my new shop aid, since it has gotten too busy for you to handle it alone."

"I suppose that would work." Kusu agreed and nodded. "But you better take care of her in Central. There are lots of dangers in places like that."

"Don't worry, I will."

"And don't go spending all your money in the sweet shops again! I swear you are sneaking them behind my back again."

"Remind me who employs who?"

Kusu put a hand on her hip and glared at him. "You employ me to look after you and that includes your diet."

Tarn rolled his eyes then decided to change the subject. "Where is Rin?"

"Out back, in the garden."

With a nod, Tarn headed for the back door to the house and out into the small but neat little garden while an extension from the back cut off part of it but it made way for a room with a second toilet and shower for the household. The little girl was sat by a flat flower bed where some purplish plants were growing, tall and thin with thick leaves and small flowers that would one day turn to berries they could use. However, the girl was more interested in the leaves than the flowers, looking between a book on her lap and a leaf on the plant, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"How are the aalite looking Rin?" He asked as he came over and knelt beside her.

She looked between the book and the leaf once more then turned to look at him. "Master Tarn, do these brown spots look round or square to you?" She asked, showing him what she had been looking at.

After a second to examine the plant, Tarn shook his head. "I'm not sure. Why? What do you think it is?"

"Well, if they are round then it means this plant will have a bumper crop and produce really good fruit. But if they are square then it's an infection and it may spread to the other plants and we will lose the whole crop. I don't want to pull out a good plant."

"I see your issue." He hummed, looking once more to see if he could tell the difference but he finally sighed. "I don't know Rin, plants were never my strong point. Have you asked Kusu?"

"Yes and she's not sure either."

"Well… I think I know somewhere that might be able to help you find the answer."

"Where?"

"The library in Central." He said with a nod. "I need to go to get a book out and I was wondering if you would like to join me?"

"Oh yes please sir!"

Tarn smiled and nodded. "Alright then. There is a train leaving in an hour. If you are quick we can make it. Go put your coat on and meet me at the front of the shop."

As requested, Rin was fast to go up to her room and grabbed her coat. Fashion was a funny thing to demons; while they embraced the trousers and t-shirts of the humans, many of them preferred the traditional attire of demons which were dresses or skirts for women and shirts and jackets for men. Both Kusu and Tarn preferred the demon fashion and Rin did lean more towards their side but she still preferred to wear trousers over skirts. It earned her a few looks but she was young enough to get away with it and being human made people less concerned.

Coat on, she headed down to meet Tarn and took a small backpack off Kusu which she said had their lunch in it and made them promise not to go to the sweet shops in Central. After they both swore they wouldn't, they headed off for the train, Tarn buying the tickets and they climbed aboard. The train was a purely human contraption, run by electric wires overhead and was filled with all sorts of modern features and comfortable seats. As Tarn and Rin found a spot to sit, the demon pulled out a book from his pocket and began to read while Rin looked eagerly out the window.

A few minutes later, they began to move and the small town of Dryshore soon faded into the distance and they were surrounded by fields then forests, small towns passing by as fast as a blink.

When the train's conductor came by to check their tickets, Tarn decided to look at his young student as she knelt on the chair beside him and watched the world fly by. "Have you ever been to Central before Rin?" He asked, putting his book away.

"I can't remember."

"Oh, yeah, of course." He sighed. "You still don't remember anything?"

"The first thing I remember is running through the street. Before that… nothing but these odd… strange sounds and bright lights."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you." He smiled a little at her. "But tell me, are you happy with me?"

Turning back to face him, Rin slumped into her seat. "Yes sir. Very."

"I'm glad to hear it." He sighed under his breath. "But you would tell me if you ever wanted to leave? You know I would find you a good home and someone to look after you. You don't have to stay with me."

Rin thought about it then shook her head. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere but with you and Kusu and the shop. You have been amazing to me and I could never leave you."

Smiling at her response, Tarn nodded. "I'm glad. You know, I didn't realise it until a few days ago but you have been with us for a whole year. I didn't realise until the other day when I got a bill for something I brought the day we met."

"A whole year?"

"In the human world, a whole year has passed but here, only a month has." He smirked. "Time is quite annoying between our worlds but it means you are now 11. Happy birthday Rin."

"Thank you sir."

His gaze drifted to the window. "We should be arriving soon. I think I can just about see Central in the distance. But before we arrive, Rin, we need to go over some things."

"Like what sir?"

"Well, don't wander off. Kusu would never forgive me if you got lost."

"Okay."

"Second, you don't tell anyone about your curse or about your… abilities." He said after a short pause and lowered his voice. "It's not a bad thing but if someone found out, I'm worried they would try to take you away from me, to experiment on you." His dark purple eyes hardened a little. "So if anyone asks, you are my new shop worker, understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good." His gaze softened and he smiled at her. "And, one last thing; Central has one of the largest passing points between the human and demon worlds. I want you to promise me you will tell me if you feel ill or sick or anything out of the ordinary. I don't know how your curse will react being close to the human world."

"I will Tarn, I promise."

"Good. Oh and don't worry." He winked. "We will be stopping at the sweet shops while there, never mind what Kusu said."

With a chuckle, Rin nodded then looked up as the train announced they would be arriving soon and she looked out the window to see their destination. Ahead of them was a city filled with glass and metal but also stone and wood, ancient and modern perfectly balanced in the city, sky scrapers reaching up while temples and schools spread wide.

The main building reaching up into the purple tinted sky was a pair of golden pillars that went so high it was impossible to see the tops for the clouds that floated around them. While there were hundreds of gaps between the human and demon worlds, most of them were too small to use and would often close for most of the year. There were only 15 across both worlds that were constantly open and worked as stations between the two. The Central Golden Gates was the largest of these 15, the golden supports enchanted to keep it open or to shut at a moment's notice if needed but in its 65 thousand years of existence, the gate had only been forced shut three times.

The train stopped at a station just ahead of the gate but the track itself went onwards, into the gate and through to the human world beyond but Tarn and Rin climbed off with a lot of other visitors, heading down to the streets and finding somewhere to stop and get their bearings while Rin was admiring the stores around her, human and demon side by side and filling the place.

Even if this was the demon world, there were far more humans to demons around, chatting, shopping or heading to and from work. She took in a deep breath and could smell all sorts of street foods and goodies.

"Rin, come on." Tarn called as he headed on down the pavement beside a smooth tarmacked road, a human invention that hadn't reached Dryshore yet where roads were still stone and dirt. Something else she hadn't seen in Dryshore were cars, most of them moving slowly as the demons walked in the road and not on the pavement, earning them angry honks from drivers.

The girl kept good pace with her master as he headed down the pavement, trying not to get too distracted by shops and people and unusual sights.

They walked a bit more, the shops slowly becoming more demon but there were still human influences to be spotted like TV aerials. Eventually they turned a corner and came to a split in the road; on the other side was a small garden with a tiny stone building in the middle with a wooden roof. Carefully crossing the road, the pair headed over but when they got to the door, Tarn let out a groan. "Ah great. Closed." He mumbled, looking at the sign. "They must have some big shot visitor who doesn't want to be disturbed. That's annoying."

"What do we do now?"

Tarn smiled as he walked over to a nearby tree and knelt down, picking up two pebbles from the dirt. "Have you learnt about Markers yet Rin?"

"I think so… they are those… umm… you cast a spell on an item and if it is ever moved, you get like a… umm…" She thought hard then bit her lip. "Like a buzzing?"

"Close enough but yes, you get an alert to the double." He placed one of the two stones he had picked up by the library door, where there was a small pile already there. "Now, while we wait, why don't we go and do some shopping?"

The girl nodded and they headed off once more, towards the city's main shopping district where they found an open aired market place, hundreds of stands and vendors of various things both for humans and demons. Tarn wandered aimlessly for a bit, sometimes stopping at a stand to look at what they had on offer.

Rin would look as well but most of the time she didn't know what she was looking at and didn't want to ask.

As they wandered, Tarn suddenly changed his path and began to walk towards one shop in particular, Rin a step behind him with a curious smile. The shop he stopped at appeared to be a jewellery stand with several displays of necklaces hanging from the sides while trays showed rings and bracelets.

The demon behind the counter bowed his head softly at them. "Good day sir. How can I help you?"

Tarn looked over the rings and other items then at Rin. "I think it's time we got you a Hinsu ring Rin."

"A Hinsu ring?" She asked. "What's that?"

"Well, humans have devices called mobile phones but for some reason, they don't work unless you are next to a gap but demons have had Hinsu rings much longer. They work the same way." He held up his hand and showed her the blue stone on a twisted gold metal ring he always wore. "They can be paired up with others, like this one is to Kusu. So I can send her a message if I ever need to." He turned to the shop keeper then picked up two rings. "May I?"

"Please." The demon said with a smile.

Passing one to Rin, Tarn slid the shop ring onto his finger then pressed the stone at the top. "You press it, then when it changes colour…" The stone in his hand went from a pale blue to a bright yellow. "You speak into it with your message, just like this. Then you touch it again and it sends your message to the other ring or rings it is linked to." Tarn explained, tapping the ring again. "But those receiving it have to have their ring on to get the message."

Rin looked at the ring in her hand then placed it on her finger and suddenly the stone began to pulse yellow. Carefully she tapped it and held it to her ear. "'You speak into it with your message, just like this. Then you touch it again and it sends your message to the other ring or rings it is linked to'." Came Tarn's voice from inside the ring. "That's amazing!" She chuckled, passing it back.

"Yes, and I think you should have one of your own. They will work for humans as well as demons so it's perfectly alright. Feel free to pick out a ring you like the look of."

Eyes wide at the idea, Rin stepped over and looked over the impressive collection, picking up and looking over a few as she did before finally picking out one with a reddish tint to the simple metal and a flower shaped pink stone in the middle. "Can I have this one please?"

"Of course Rin." Tarn chuckled as he passed the ring to the shop owner and also removed the ring from his own finger. "Please link it to this and all connected to it."

"Yes sir. It will take a few minutes."

"We have time." He nodded, turning to look at something else before spotting Rin reaching out for a necklace that hung on the shop side. "What have you got there Rin?"

She quickly retracted her hand and put it behind her back. "Nothing." She said instantly.

Tarn smiled then picked up the crystal she had been reaching for. "When it comes to crystals, it is often a good idea to follow your instincts. They will often call to you for some reason." His gaze turned to the stone, a blue stone only an inch long and cut in a tear drop. "Interesting. This is a healing crystal, it helps people get better from sicknesses. I wonder why it called out to you."

"Could it be something to do with…" she blinked and looked away, remembering what he had said.

Tarn hummed as he realised what she had. "It is possible I suppose. We don't know what it does to you. But if this stone called out to you then there must be a reason." His gaze turned back to the shop keeper. "We will have this as well."

"If you wish sir." He said with a nod, taking the blue teardrop. "Will there be anything else?"

"No, that will be all."

"Alright sir. The Hinsu ring is ready now. With the necklace and the enchantment that's…. 320 frabsi."

"I forget how expensive cut healing crystals are." He sighed to himself, pulling out his wallet and sorting out the paper currency, handing it over to the shop keeper and then taking back a small bag with two jewellery boxes in it.

"Thank you for your business sir."

With a polite nod, the master turned to his guest. "Come along Rin." He said and they walked off, turning a corner before Tarn pulled the boxes out and opened them, putting the metal chain of the healing stone around her neck. "There, and you know what, healing or not, that stone looks beautiful on you."

Rin held the stone and watched the light shine off it before nodding. "It's very pretty, thank you for buying it for me."

"Ah, call it a birthday present." Tarn chuckled then turned to the other box. "Now traditionally you wear a Hinsu ring on your left middle finger but you can wear it wherever you want."

Taking it from the box, Rin put the ring onto her middle finger but then moved it to her ring finger. "Is this okay?"

"That's perfectly alright Rin." He sighed. "Now, I'm not sure about you, but I'm hungry. Why don't we go and sit down and eat the lunch Kusu packed for us?"

With a smile, they headed off to find somewhere to sit and eat, finding a spot nearby and pulled out the two boxes from Rin's bag. As she did, she was surprised to find how light they were and when they opened, she couldn't help but laugh loudly, Tarn joining her. Inside the two boxes were a few paper frabsi notes and a handwritten bit of paper; 'Don't spend all of it on sweets. Enjoy your day out. Kusu'

Chuckling, Tarn folded the note and put the frabsi in his pocket. "Typical Kusu. Guess we are going out for lunch then."

Rin smiled and held out the money she had been given to him but Tarn pushed it back. "Kusu gave it to you. It's yours. I've been meaning to set up an account for you."

"Why?"

"Well you work in the shop, you make products, you do a really good job of them too Rin. You deserve to get paid for your work. So that money, and any left after our lunch, is yours to keep and I will make sure you are paid from now one for your work." Tarn informed her. "And you can spend it on whatever you wish."

She blinked and looked at the small handful of frabsi in her hand, no more than 40 but far too much for just a meal. Kusu clearly had the idea that she would want to shop.

The master still chuckled as he stood up. "Well then Rin, come on, let's go buy some lunch." He glanced back and frowned at her, still holding the money. "You better put that in your bag Rin. It's not wise to walk around holding your money out like that."

"Oh. Yes sir." She said, putting it and the two empty boxes back before they headed off to find some lunch. The collection of foods available was intense but they ended up with human fish and chips. Half way into their meal, Tarn's marker went off so they headed back to the library.

Several other demons were also entering the building and heading down a great long staircase going under the ground itself. Some nodded to the master who returned the gesture but most ignored them. "You see Rin, to save space on the land above, the library was built underground." Tarn explained as they walked down. "If it was above ground, it would take over a quarter of the city, the demon library is so large. So you better stay close to me."

"Yes sir."

They spent several hours in the library, Tarn not just finding the book he wanted but also showing her around and introducing her to a few important people like the library staff and a few demons that happened to be in the library that day. Since it was so large, they couldn't see it all but he did show her where to find the important parts and to find the books on her problem plant.

Checking them out at the large front desk, they returned to the surface and, after a detour via a sweet shop where Rin spent most of her frabsi on a collection of treats, finally they returned to the train for Dryshore.

At the shop, Kusu was cleaning up when she heard the door open and turned to see who it was and found herself grinning as the Master of the house came in with a little girl asleep in his arms. "I think she had a good day."