A/N: I'm not sure who will notice but it seems that my writing style for the story is changing. I'm getting more detail oriented. Personally I think it breaths a new reality into the world of Erin that players don't normally see in it.
I would really appreciate hearing what others think of the added details as well as the story itself.
Chapter 3 – Flight from Tir Chonail
The night was cut short by the creak of footsteps. Reaction over Reason, the Demon Slayer raised his weapon and lashed at the intruder. The first attack was a warning; the second would not miss.
"Whoa! Hey! Hold on! It's me!" Josh loudly whispered into the darkness. He had not expected his new friend to be alert at this ungodly hour.
The Demon Slayer was not quick to trust. He held his fearsome mace pointed at Josh's face. "Explain yourself. Why have you entered my room at this time of night?"
Josh stood up and brushed himself off. "Something's happening in the town square and we need to leave. How soon can you be ready?" he asked. Walking over to the window he opened the blinds a crack and looked outside. It was dark except for a street lamp across from the inn. He turned back to the room. It was hard to see but a small glint of light told him that the Slayer was still pointing that weapon at him.
Josh could not see in the dim light but the Demon Slayer had no such problem; a demon's eyesight is much more adept in the dark than a human's. Looking at the boy, The Demon Slayer could see a degree of concern in his eyes; whether it was for the situation at hand or for his own safety at this moment, the Demon Slayer did not know. Slowly the he lowered his weapon. "I have no possessions beyond this mace. We may leave immediately." He pulled his wings in close to avoid knocking into anything and swiftly followed the human out the door.
While Josh tried to explain their sudden departure to a partially awake Nora, the Demon Slayer stood at the door listening; sounds of voices seemed to be getting closer.
"I promise I'll be back, I just can't say when." Josh spoke trying to sound sure of himself, "Send out an owl if you hear anything from Kathy." Nora nodded. Josh grabbed his bag from the floor next to him and turned to the door. The Demon Slayer stepped back to let him exit first. The sounds of their footsteps became swallowed up in the sounds of the night.
Josh led them across a bridge to the outskirts of town. The river trickled gently as it turned the wheel of the town mill. They skirted around the blacksmith's shop, the smith lay stretched out in front of his anvil snoring loudly. The snores blended with the sounds of a nearby flock of sheep. Three guard dogs looked up at the strangers as they passed; one by one they realized the two-leggers were no there to bother their flock and they laid their heads down to go back to sleep.
A crash of shattering glass echoed over the fields. The pair looked back toward the inn.
"Nora can handle herself. Besides no one would mess with her father." Josh said this more to convince himself than anything. "Just a bit further. We'll take the Moon Gate and they won't be able to follow us."
They came up over the crest of a hill and Josh swore under his breath. Up ahead was a stone construction. Two large carved pillars rose up on the sides of a smooth granite platform. A knot of chains wrapped around the tops of the columns, their other ends tied securely to a large grey stone that rested on the platform. The large stone appeared to be made of a different mineral than that of the alter-like structure; between the grey there were shimmers from a deep blue stone. Even from this distance, the Demon Slayer could sense the energy contained within the stone.
"Fuck… I forgot there wasn't a moon tonight." Josh swore as he searched the sky for the red moon Eweca; neither it nor its larger blue counterpart Ladeca could be seen in the stary expanse.
The Demon Slayer reached down to place his hand on the blue-grey stone, as he did so he felt a jolt of energy pass through his body. In shock he pulled his hand away. Slowly he reached his hand out to touch the strange stone, he was ready for the rush of energy but was still amazed by the strengthening of his Demon Fury. It felt similar to his Boundless Rage but this seemed as if it would not end. With power like this the Black Mage would not stand a chance.
"We'll have to head through the forests of Dugald Aisle." Josh slung his bag over his shoulder and took a few steps forward. "We should hurry," he urged. Reluctantly the Demon Slayer removed his hand from the stone. The energy drained away, leaving him feeling weaker by comparison. He tightened his grip on his mace and followed after the human, thinking of ways he could bring the materials of this place back to Maple World to aid in his fight.
They hurried around the edges of an open field, sticking close to the tree line to avoid notice. A pack of wolves darted into the trees as they passed. Light from a campfire glowed from a camp that sat along a path into the woods. Three Adventurers sat with the Fomor Traders, happy with drink; they never noticed the strangers pass by.
They were well into the cover of the wood when they shared the unspoken agreement to slow to a brisk walk. The two men knew they would need their strength for later. They continued down the path for nearly an hour. There was no sign of them being followed; the only movement among the trees came from the occasional raccoon ducking out of its hiding place.
"We should be safe now. It's unlikely we'll run into anyone around here." Josh stared straight forward as he spoke. "As for what happened back there…"
"The town people thought I was that Incubus thing. Correct?"
Josh looked at the Demon Slayer surprised, and then nodded. "Those kids talked to their parents… An Incubus is a type of Fomor. They take a form similar to a human male. They normally stay within the dungeon areas of nearby castles however occasionally they will come out into the castle housing areas. They seduce women then attack and eat them, and they are vicious to any man they see. Only the strongest adventurers can even make it down through the dungeons to where they reside." Josh sighed. "The way they are recognized is from the black wings on their backs and horns on their heads. Many have pale skin and red eyes… very similar to your own."
The Demon Slayer nodded as Josh finished. "So basically I resemble one of these creatures? If that is the case, how do you suggest we go about entering this other town you mentioned? Will they not react in a similar fashion?"
Josh shook his head, his jagged bangs falling in his face, "Dunbarton is the center of trade in Uladh. The fashion styles of the people around there are very…" his face contorted as he struggled to find a nice way to say it, "flamboyant..? It's not uncommon to see formal clothing similar to yours, and false wings are the newest trend. Avoiding notice there isn't the part I'm worried about." He shifted his bag to the other shoulder.
"And the part you are worried about would be?" the Demon Slayer inquired.
"Finding information. The town is very busy and people are always coming and going. Those that live in Dunbarton hardly pay attention to Militeans anymore. There is one guy we can talk to, his name's Stewart. He's a magic teacher; a bit of a bookworm. Heart stops by to get her wands repaired nearly every time she's in town."
Confused, the Demon Slayer asked, "Heart? I thought you were looking for someone named Kathy?"
Josh stopped walking as he realized what he said, "Oh… Sorry. Heart and Kathy are the same person. Her name is Katherine but she is known to most as The Heart of Nature. Heart is a nickname she's picked up over her travels. Sort of like how you probably had a personal name at some point but now you're known as Demon Slayer." The Demon Slayer nodded and they continued walking.
It was another hour before they passed the Dugal Aisle's logging camp, and another two hours before the forest around them started to thin. Both the thinning of the tree cover and the rising of the sun brought new light into the forest. The animal inhabitants of the forest began waking from their calm nights rest bringing with them the noise of the day.