Chapter 2: Life-Changing

Hey, can you read anything in this book? A question all demons have to ask to humans this time around. They get many different responses. Some try, at least. But others don't even look at them. While some looked human enough, Saphira was anything but.

Every thousand years, a hundred demons are sent to the human world to battle with the help of a human partner. Saphira would always think it had to deal with the human energy and their perseverance that makes the demon use their power to their full potential. She didn't know.

Saphira, after bumping into Felicia, stood in front of the café and held her book open. When you're her age and asking humans to read it to her on top her dragon horns and tail, no one would give her the time of day.

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Saphira let out a huge sigh, closing her book and packed it in the small messenger bag she had on. She began walking towards the port. "Today's a failure too." She held her head up high and kept a smile on her face "Though I can't use my powers, I don't have to fight to become king. I don't have to involve a human. It works out for me if I can't find my book owner." Saphira skipped down the road, seen by Felicia. At the time, Felicia was collecting her bags in the residents' floor of the café.

"That girl…"

The manager walked out to her "Lisa, do you know her?"

Felicia shook her head "She bumped into me back in the hill. I couldn't get a picture of the sunset today, either."

"She's been coming around for about a week now. Around the same time you came back, Lisa."

"Oh?"

"She's been getting people to read that book of hers. Of course, neither Javier nor I could read the thing. It's all hieroglyphics or some other language."

Felicia looked on for a moment, watching Saphira disappear from sight "She's heading for the port."

The manager looked at Felicia as went inside to go up to the residents' floor. "So you might bump into her then. Your boat's about to leave the port. Are you going to make it?"

"Geez, quit worrying, I'm never late." Felicia disappeared upstairs.

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Saphira repeated her process at the port, where a cruise ship was docked. She held the book by the spine and showed every human in sight her spellbook. And again, a majority of the crowd ignored her. Saphira sighed in relief. "None here too, huh?" Saphira walked to the edge of the port to sit on a wooded bench. She flipped through the pages of her spellbook. "I am rather curious what kind of spells are going to come out of here. I rarely used any of my powers back home. I sure hope is something speed related… or Ice. Ice, like my big sister. That'd be nice." She thought aloud. Saphira closed her book and looked into her bag for a gold moon necklace to match her own. Smiling at memories of her family, she kissed it and looked up, holding it to her chest. "I can't give up that easy. Even if I don't want to fight, I will find a partner."

Felicia arrived at the port as Saphira looked out to the sea. She didn't know why, but Felicia was very interested in her. Was she really a cosplayer? They looked real to Felicia. She checked her watch and thought she had a bit of time to board her boat. She left the line as she walked over to Saphira.

"Hey! Girl with the horns!" Felicia called, approaching her. Saphira looked back at Felicia. Not to either of their knowledge, the Ice Blue book emulated a slight glow of light as Felicia came closer. The light dimmed to where it wasn't even noticeable. "Do you mind if I take a picture of you?"

"Huh? A picture?" Saphira tilted her head in confusion. Her tail flicked to the side a bit, noted by Felicia.

"So it is real, huh?" Felicia pointed at her tail.

Saphira tucked her hair back, looking at her dragon tail. She then looked back at Felicia "Oh, yeah. I was born with it. Where I come from, a lot of people had them." Saphira nodded "I guess you can take as many photos as you want. Not like I mind or anything."

Felicia set her things down and prepared her camera "Oh thanks a lot. I love taking pictures."

"Oh, you were that girl over at the hilltop! I remember that camera."

Felicia laughed "Yeah. Luckily, you didn't break my camera. So no harm done."

"I'm sorry again."

Felicia only smiled as she rose her camera to her eyes. She took a few glamour shots of Saphira before checking her reel. She sat next to her "Well, what do you think?"

Saphira looked at the few photos taken of her. She thought the reflection of the sun through the water made her seem more divine. "I love them. You really are good at this… uh…" Saphira only now realized that she didn't know Felicia's name.

"Felicia. Felicia Blackthorn. People usually call me 'Lisa,' though. It's short and easy, they say." Felicia took back her camera.

"Saphira. Nice to meet you."

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Saphira enjoyed this moment of peace. Demons, without a bookowner, don't usually have moments like these. Saphira knew better though. She was always ready to make a run for it if she needed to. To her, Saphira would sacrifice all the time in the world just for moments like these.

Before they knew it, an hour passed. The ship blew its horn, signaling for all passengers to board in five minutes.

"Oh, that's my que. I gotta head out now. You stay safe around Paris. Wouldn't want a kid in danger." Felicia rubbed her head.

"Wait, you aren't going to ask about where I came from? Or anything?" Saphira thought aloud, thinking how strange it was for a human not to be curious of her horns and tail. To their kind, it wasn't normal.

"Why do I need to ask? I can see you're pretty scared of something. A lens tells all, you know." Felicia said. She smiled "With such an expression, I'd rather talk about things happening now, not what's in the past."

Saphira got Felicia. The two maybe around the same age with the same mindset of a teenager but to Saphira, Felicia was wise. Much more mature. Saphira's book glowed a little brighter, but still not noticeable. "Felicia…" The horn sounded again. Probably signifying that the boat would leave in two minutes.

"Shoot, I have to go. See you around, if you're still in Paris." Felicia ran off to the ferryman. Saphira watched Felicia walk up the walkway onto the boat. When Felicia boarded, the walkway was removed and the boat began its journey towards the continent of Africa.

Just then, Saphira took her book and packed it in her messenger bag. She ran out the port and followed the boat eastward till she didn't have any more land. Felicia watched her, whom was paying no mind to the boat.

What is she-, Felicia wondered.

This is the human world. I might not be able to do it… but I've got to try! Saphira thought jumping off the side, closest to the boat.

On the port, many people gasped at the sight. Felicia was one of them "Saphira!" Felicia's tone matched her worried facial expression as she ran further up the boat to try and catch her, if she could reach that far.

It's no good. She's too far out! Felicia reached out for her.

As Saphira stayed airborne, she had her eyes closed. Come on… Come on… She was concentrating.

Saphira looked at Felicia, reaching out to her. Tears were forming in Felicia's eyes, mouthing something.

She doesn't have to be my partner. She doesn't have to participate in my battles. But I want to see where she goes. Where she'll end up. Felicia Blackthorn, even if you aren't my partner, I'll protect you from demons. I just want to see this world with you.

"Saphira!" Felicia screamed.

Saphira's eyes dilated as the book in her messenger bag glowed bright. She twirled into the air as large dragon wings grew out of her back. She spread her wings out, hovering over the cruise ship. Felicia and the other people on the cruise looked at her in awe. It wasn't known if it was out of fear or shock… or both.

"Saphira?"

"I did it! I grew my wings! Felicia! I got my wings!" Saphira flew at Felicia, where the crowd cleared the way for Saphira to land. As soon as she did, her wings disappeared. "Of course, I need to learn to use them…"

"Saphira! Why did you do that?!" Felicia was angry. She didn't care about Saphira's wings. She didn't even question it. She was angry for Saphira taking such a risk. "That was too dangerous! What if you fell into the water?! You could have died!"

Saphira's tail drooped and she looked down, not wanting to see Felicia's mad face. "Sorry… I just wanted…"

Felicia sighed and smiled "Fine. I'll forgive you this once, but don't you dare do something like that again. Half-near killed me with that stunt." Saphira's mood became happier as she cheered. "By the way, what's up with your bag? It's been like that since you started flying."

"What?" Saphira looked at her bag. Her book's glowing a strong Ice Blue color. She can't be…, Saphira took out her spellbook as she looked at Felicia. She opened the book and showed it to Felicia. Saphira had a serious face, instead of her usual carefree expression "Felicia, I'm going to show you this book and only tell me if you can read anything. Don't tell me what it says if you can. Just, tell me if you can read anything."

Felicia nodded and took the book. She flipped through the pages. Saphira's heart pounded with anxiety. Suddenly, Felicia closed the book and gave Saphira back the book "I can read a small passage on the 58th page." Saphira flinched. "Is it important?"

"Felicia… I'm so sorry…" Saphira took her book back and ran away from the deck, through the crowd.

Saphira..., Felicia followed after her.

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Eventually, Saphira managed to get away from Felicia. I shouldn't have followed! Now, I endangered her life…