Hey there, I'm back with the next chapter. If it seems like I just publish without proofreading, that's because I barely proofread. Just send it!

Also, I wanted to clarify something on the aging of demons in this world. I'll use my main character and her friends as an example.

Reiji (25); Takeshiro (23); Shugo (28); Ushizumo (27); Ryouichi (28)

In human terms, they're all grown adults. But because they're not human, they age slower and live longer. The main group are essentially teenagers and baby adults. Reiji is the equivalent of 18 years old, and Shugo, the eldest of the group, is about 22. Takeshiro is the "baby" of the group, but obviously treated as a young adult. He's basically 16. So if the characters seem immature at times, it's because they're all grown kids and barely entering true adulthood.

I hope that helps!

- ML

P.S. My first story follow/favorite?! What a delightful surprise! :D

Chapter 5: Lucid Dreaming

Reiji had hardly the time to think about the situation she suddenly found herself in. All around her, bodies of feral dragons littered the desert ground. Their bodies had suffered a great deal of trauma. Whatever had swept through attacked with the intent of brutality. Their bodies were bludgeoned, beaten, crushed, or sliced up like meat on a butcher block. The truck miraculously sat on its wheels as it should, but she had no idea how it was picked back up, much less by whom. The cocoon of dark green hair which protected the noble family was still in the same spot, untouched. She at least remembered when her hair was cut; nothing more than a matted mess without her connection for control. The massive red sun was mere inches from the horizon in its sunset.

How much time has passed? Reiji though, fixing her glasses subconsciously. She then noticed the cracked, broken form they were in. She took them off, feeling the jagged frame of the useless spectacles, frowning. What had done this, and why couldn't she recall the last several hours?

Two hours ago

The feral dragon carried Reiji higher and higher into the sky, flapping its wings harder as her body mass felt heavier. The dark skinned demon flailed her arms helplessly, shouting in alarm.

"Put me down, you brute!" she snapped, punching at the feral creature with Hair Shower fists. But the feral did not flinch or falter, carrying her so high the truck below was merely a dot in the sky. By then, Reiji was so cold, she half expected her breath to come out in visible steam. Her glasses slipped from her head, plummeting to the ground. Then, the grip on her legs loosened.

"No, no, NO!" she screamed as she fell from the sky, the idea of Hair Shower wings completely escaping her thoughts. All she could think of was Mina's business, the emptiness of her life, and the relationships she never had. Her dreary childhood, closure with Otto, the friends who stuck together through everything.

Tears fell from her eyes, evaporating as she expected this to be her last cry. But then, she saw a single eye float into her vision, glowing red with its taunting thin slit of a pupil. Suddenly, it dilated, filling her vision with a crimson red light.

A soft laughter made her long ears twitch attentively. Time seemed to slow down around her. Her hair fell apart around her, fading to jet black, massive wings. The red haze intensified from the shocks coursing through her veins, threatening to burst under the pressure. Her back arched as her vocal cords vibrates in a fiery shriek.

Is that my voice? I can't feel my throat…

Reiji had a brief moment of deja vu, losing all control over her physical body as a stranger threw something at the feral dragon above. Of course she could not see the source that erupted in spikes puncturing the feral all over its body. It fell to its death.

Reiji—or whatever controlled the body—landed on her feet, nearly taking a knee. Reiji half expected to sprain or twist an ankle, but her legs stood strong among the many desert predators. Reiji thought time wouldn't get any faster, until mere seconds later when her own fist bludgeoned another feral, then another in an aggressive display of offense. Soon, her spotless, polished armor and clean gloves were drenched in the dark purple blood of her enemies.

But this thing was not done yet. More ferals still came in for the hunt. The creature in the green haired demon's body dug a small item out of the remains of its torso. She recognized her rosary, the silver chain broken. It glowed dark red, nearly black. An axe of sorts was forged before her eyes, two blades curved upwards, two curved down, and a third pair in between their curved counterparts. The centerpiece was that haunting red eye with eight black marks around the thin pupil. The staff was simple enough, nothing remotely details as the six blades.

While this weapon was forged, the creature took advantage of Reiji's Hair Shower magic. The dark skinned demon stared in shock as a flared up red wolf swooped around the clearing, grabbing ferals in its jaws to crunch and chew them like snacks. The most Reiji was capable of creating with Hair Shower shields and limbs. She had never imagined Hair Shower magic conjuring any other type of spell, especially those meant to attack.

Once the battle axe was complete, the creature swung at the feral dragons. At one point, Reiji's creature switched the spinning axe between its powerful fists to cut down opponents on either side.

Reiji lost track of time as she slowly developed a dreadful ache in her muscles. It was apparent to her that this thing did not know of Reiji's limited physical training routine. The axe was suddenly heavy. Her under clothes cling to her sweaty, burning skin. Her vision was still weak without glasses. Her back was on fire from over exerting her own chest weights.

Before she knew it, the battle was over. Reiji felt herself being walked to a certain spot on the ground and picking up what she instantly knew was her glasses. The previous witnessed events were blocked out like a fuzzy dream. The freezing cold battling the desert heat soon replaced her rollercoaster of emotions.

Reiji had regained consciousness, alarm setting in as the scene took on a clear shape around her. At least her one good lens illustrated the massacre. The noble family of son Shaumikizashi, his mother Miyan, and father Phina crept out of the truck. The driver shakily exited the truck in a daze. She held her head, pain in her eyes.

"My masters, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just itchy," Miyan replied with a wince. She was a lot short than Reiji imagine, and quite pudgy. Phina was also rather short, but built more like a bulldog demon, with a heavy upper body and short legs. Shaumikizashi was as skinny as a humanoid teenager could get, opposite of his parents completely. He climbed into the truck with his mask still on, muttering something about "crazy women" and such. Reiji immediately bowed lowly to them to show respect.

"My sincerest apologies, Mistress Miyan and Master Phina," she said, guilty for the mess of her chopped hair. It was troubling enough they were attacked. Reiji felt responsible for the mess, of course. She rebranded her dark green locks tightly behind her back. Not a single bang fell over her face.

"Stand up," Phina ordered. Reiji obeyed, standing straight with her hands at her sides. Phina and Miyan had smiles on their faces, to her surprise. She relaxed her shoulders a little, suddenly aware of the weight of her armor again.

"You saved our lives," Miyan began, trailing off to pull loose green strings from her clothing. "What's your name? Rio, was it?"

"Reiji Sagara, madam," Reiji corrected her. This female didn't even learn her name...

Miyan nodded in response. "Yes, Miss Reiji Sagara. You protected us against that pack of Ferals with such bravery. You should be proud."

"I don't know what that was, but you took down the whole flock!" Phina exclaimed. "I was smart to find that little village, eh?" he nudged his wife's arm, who simply rolled her eyes.

"Dear, we got lucky with your cheap investment." Reiji wilted at her use of cheap to describe their jobs.

She dug into her dusty coat. She handed Reiji and thick cash envelope. It was labeled L 83,000 in fine blue marker. Reiji's eyes widened in shock, mouth slightly open as she took the envelope.

"You'll get the rest when the job is done. Thank you for your service, all of you," Miyan smiled graciously. Reiji was touched by their generosity.

On the other hand, Ryouichi was dragged from his hiding place, being dealt a scolding from the truck driver as she examined his swelling ankle. Shugo was coming back to, definitely in a daze. They had done their job protecting the family. But after Reiji grew so angry at the feral dragons attacking the group, everything else was essentially a blank slate. She noticed the purple blood of the ferals on her gloved hands, her armor, and even parts of her hair. Her dark green locks looked splotched with blood.

"Oh, I am such a mess!" Reiji blushed with embarrassment. The unnamed driver tossed a towel to her. The green haired demon noticed it was damp upon catching it in her hands. She sighed, removing her now damp gloves before wiping her armor down.

Reiji met Ryouichi's gaze. He looked somewhat uncomfortable, avoiding looking in her direction. Reiji wasn't entirely sure if it was fear, as Ryo himself boasted he was never afraid. He began a chat with the driver. Reiji looked down, puzzled by his behavior.

What happened here? Ryo is not like that.

Ryouichi cleaned his wound himself using bottled water, disinfecting ointment, then wrapping his foot securely. Reiji watched as Shugo shouted in alarm and scurried away from the driver. She shrugged. Shugo started dusting himself off, disappointed at the damage done to his borrowed suit.

"Miratona is gonna be pissed," he muttered, shrugging his jacket off to wring out. The dirt smears remained, of course. Reiji took her glasses off, wiping the one good lens as clean as she could make it, then put the spectacles back on. She searched for her rosary, finding it around her neck. It was quite warm to the touch. Or maybe the heat finally caught up to the female demon.

After climbing back in the truck, she sat beside Ryouichi. He rested his arms on the seats, staring out the window. Reiji decided not to bother him.

"Is the little mutt upset he got no action with the ferals?" Shugo teased.

"At least I was conscious," the Beast Soul growled from a bear's snout growing from his face. Shugo took the opportunity to light green flames in his hands, grinning. "Do it, I dare you!"

The Beast Soul blew a raspberry at the ginger male, slumping back into his seat. The Jade Dragon slayer scoffed, extinguishing his hands. Reiji chuckled.

"Let's just finish the mission in one piece,"she said. "Ryo?"

"Yeah, yeah, bickering with your mates ain't worth it," he grunted. "If I hadn't messed up my ankle, I could've helped!"

"At least you were conscious. I was knocked out in the warm up round!" Shugo complained.

"You have slow reactions, you old lizard."

"Who are you calling old? I'm practically a teenager in dragon years!"

"Yeah, a wittle baby wizard," Ryouichi cooed. Shugo grabbed the Beast Soul, grinding his knuckle into his dark blue hair. He managed to suppress any curses he might've let out, as they were being listened to by the driver. Shugo let him go, triumphant in his small victory. Reiji was too tired to intervene in that moment. Besides, she knew they'd eventually have to grow out of childish rivalries if they wish to be taken more seriously.

It shouldn't be my job to manage them, she thought, shutting her eyes to rest for a moment.

The mission continued on without any incidents. They rode on the desert vehicle for another three quiet hours before Reiji saw the outlines of buildings on the horizon. She hasn't noticed their crossing the western False Line border. The green haired demon was dozing off, occasionally poked awake by Ryouichi. The bright red sunrise was above the top of the skyscrapers, rending the city black. Shugo had since regained his clarity with an ice pack to his face. He was first to purk up from his zoning out.

"The first Twilight Bridge!" he announced as the gravel and sand slowly turned into a surface much like a mountain trail.

To say the bridge was large was an understatement. It was four lanes wide, passing over a dark cliff drop. Reiji had to avert her gaze from the window, gripping the seat in fear of the deep darkness below. The ground was dotted with black lines, and four bold yellow lines down the center. She wondered when they meant.

"Those yellow lines separate the traffic leaving the city, and the dotted lines divide the lanes," she heard the driver explain from the front. Right, she'd forgotten about the sound travel within driver compartment and rear of the truck.

The bridge merged onto a highway above many smaller buildings in what appeared to be a sector of the massive city. One might even call the Twilight Zone islands a web country, for all the bridges keeping them together across the sea. However, the trip wasn't over, as the mission detailed a long travel on boat as well.

"Are we going to a specific island?" she asked Shugo.

"Miratona doesn't say," he whispered back. Ryouichi blinked.

"She didn't write it? Useless secretary!"

"Shh!" Shugo hissed. "Twilight Zone is huge and Miratona's not authorized to know every single island."

"We already received most of our payment. Does this mean our work nearly is done early?" the dark skinned female asked.

"Our job ends when they're safely settled, could still be the full 36 hours," Ryouichi answered. Reiji had never gone to Twilight Zone like they have. Of course they probably knew more than she.

"Remember that mission on the smaller island Shukvika?" Shugo asked the Beast Soul.

"Oh, yeah! We're taken to checkpoints on like four different islands and then the mission location."

"Wait, what? How long has this been in place?" Reiji chimed in.

"Ever since this raid on Uranus Island, we have to have legal entry through security," the Jade Dragon slayer explained. Reiji furrowed her brows.

"So, this mission is essentially part of a passport," she mused.

"I almost forgot," Ryouichi shrugged. "Miratona takes care of all that. Hence why we village bumpkins are lucky to get work in the other cities and foreign countries."

"At least we can work anywhere in Magnoramus," Shugo added, Ryouichi nodding in agreement. "That's like a ton of jobs alone!"

Reiji looks back outside, tuning out Shugo and Ryouichi in place of the buzzing life of the highway. The complex webs of stone and concrete impressed her. Unfortunately, Reiji failed to do any homework on Twilight Zone to modernize her memory. The "web" of the island roads was created do to the use of automobile inventions brought by Humans from their homelands. The green haired demon spotted lanes for carriages pulled by animals of all kinds, bicycles, motorbikes, walking, running, and even schools of demons in the skies who preferred to fly. Reiji could fly, but it wouldn't be practical with broken glasses and no concept of direction in this maze.

The vehicle began to descend from the highway onto a street on the ground. Reiji recognized the massive landscape as a port for ships and boats. Sure, there were probably airports and garages for vehicles, but Reiji loved the boats. The diversity of designs was a small yet great wonder of the world to her.

Shugo was first to descend down from the rear of the truck, followed by Ryouichi carefully climbing down using his arm strength and one good foot. Reiji grabbed the bars of the cabin doorway with two thick locks from her braid, hovering herself to the ground. The driver instructed them to look away as Shaumikizashi, Miyan, and Phina emerged last.

Reiji of course made a few glances towards their Medusa demon son. They did not turn to stone, nobody ever did. That puzzled her, but she chose not to question it and kept her eyes forward. The driver did not notice either, to her relief.

The next checkpoint for travelers was similar to the small post at Foreititou border, but twice its size with many more staff. Reiji counted 17 heads, including a pair of conjoined twin creatures. Their uniforms were as red as the Scarlet Desert sand-dirt, decorated with medals and pins in red, orange, green, purple, and blue. Reiji hadn't a clue what the medals and pins implied, but judging by the little differences in the designs and types among the many red jackets and vests, the highest ranking officer approached them. She—or rather, they—was one of the two headed serpents, their slithering form swaying to and fro in a calm manner. The female officer held their white gloved hands behind her back, heads high.

"I am Seventh Commander Lola," the left serpent said.

"And I and Ssseventh Commander Lili," the right serpent added.

"We manage the ssseventh checkpoint of Twilight Zssone," they said in unison. Shugo looked back and forth between the two commanders. Ryouichi subtly kicked his shin.

"Show some respect, you idiot," he hissed at the Dragon slayer. The ginger demon shot him a look.

"We underssstand you are being essscorted to the island of Foji for a meeting with Foreititou Mayor Azssutssuki (Azutsuki)," Seventh Commander Lili said to the elite parents.

"That is classified information," Phina intercepted before his wife could reply. Lili smirked. "Of courssse, sssir."

"Right thisss way, everyone," Seventh Commander Lola announced as she slithered away. The driver walked behind the group toward the checkpoint building. The room the Seventh Commander pair took them to was mostly empty, save for a table and two of the previously mentioned guards with staffs in their hands.

"Place all personal items, accessories, and shoes, if applicable, on the table before the wedding run the detectors over your clothes for any additional weapons, magic, or curse devices," one of the guards, a Human passing creature instructed.

Because the trio carried no luggage, Shugo, Reiji, and Ryouichi only had to remove their shoes, pocket items, and accessories. Reiji removed her rosary, placing it on a vibrating table. Ryouichi was first to put legs and arms out for the detectors right after. He grumbled with annoyance as he lifted his pants over his good ankle to reveal a small can of spray, most likely mace, and watched as it was discarded through a shoot in the wall. Shugo of course laughed at his foolish friend forgetting about a small metal can in his sock.

Reiji stood with her arms and legs spread, looking away from the guard as he held the detector over her body. On the other hand, there was a buzz from the table as soon as her rosary was placed down. A guard picked up the artifact, eying the female demon.

"Ma'am, what is in your necklace?"

"Oh, that was an heirloom from a close friend," she answered honestly.

"We will have to hold this until you return from your trip. It will be kept in the checkpoint lockers," the guard said as they dropped it into a small pouch.

"Ha! Even your dusty little necklace was confiscated," Shugo taunted Reiji.

"Hmph!" she stuck her tongue at him.

Once the trio left the room, the family were next. Hardly a few minutes passed before they emerged. One guard pushed his stone clad partner on a cart, frozen by the Medusa demon son. Shugo burst with laughter at the poor guard's misfortune.

"I told him not to touch the mask," Phina muttered, shaking his head.

"Oh, I get it! The mask suppresses his curse," Ryouichi observed. "I've been looking at that thing all day."

"Of course you were, you're as bright as a glow bug," his ginger friend snickered. The Beast Soul elbowed Shugo in the side. "Ow, you bastard!" The Jade Dragon slayer kicked Ryouichi's bad ankle. The Beast Soul shouted in pain. Reiji facepalmed from embarrassment.

After the checkpoint process was complete, the group boarded a private boat with the elite family, the driver in the rear like usual. Reiji began to wonder why the driver always remained in the back. As a chauffeur, surely she belonged with the truck, right?

Shugo was rendered immobilized as the boat set off for the next dock 50 miles away. Dragon slayers and the like were prone to motion sickness after a certain age, a horrible weakness to fall under on the job. The ginger dragged himself to the bathroom to puke, leaving just Reiji and Ryouichi as of now, they were on break for the next hour.

"Ryo, I need to—"

"We need to talk," he said right as she spoke up. They backtracked, waiting for the other to go first.

"N-no, go on," Reiji insisted.

"Okay, fine... what happened back there, when those Ferals had you?" he inquired.

"I, uh, I do not remember," she murmured.

"You sure?"

"I am certain I don't remember a thing," she said. "I think I panicked..."

"Well, what I saw was the complete opposite of panic," Ryouichi replied. He narrowed his eyes. "There's something... off about you, Rei. I can smell it on you, you know."

"I am afraid I don't understand."

"I know what I saw. Don't lie to me."

"I am not lying, I promise!" the green haired demon insisted. "What happened, Ryouichi? Please, I have no clue."

"I'll tell you what I saw, but you might not like it," warned, before going into the recollection of the demon in place of his best friend. Reiji was rendered speechless as he detailed the forging of a weapon out of thin air, her skin turning a darker shade of brown, and her hair turning jet black. Ryouichi described the red eyes and the skilled moves of a killer. Once he finished his tale, he waited for Reiji to respond.

However, her words were caught in her throat. Her heart pounded and her hands trembled. When she was finally able to speak, her voice was weak.

"Th-that was... wasn't me," she whispered. Her stomach turned from the horror of her supposed actions. Ryouichi just told her she was essentially possessed. Her body was taken over by something. It just wasn't possible.

"I saw it all, Rei," he said at last. "I don't think anyone else noticed, so just play along and act like you played hero. Whatever you had going on, I don't think anyone needs to you. Do you want them to know?"

Reiji shook her head quickly in disagreement. They watched the sea currents passing by in silence. Reiji breathed deeply, attempting to calm herself.

Demon eye rosary... consume the wearer's soul... The memory of Michele's words echoed in the back of her mind. Reiji pulled out the rosary, snapping from her neck. She threw it out into the ocean. If the rumor of the "cursed" artifact were true, Reiji wanted nothing to do with it anymore.

When the break was over, Reiji, Shugo, and Ryouichi were instructed by the driver to wait at the boat's exit deck for the family. Reiji felt better after discarding the necklace, hoping dearly that Michele would not have to find out.

They all followed the same steps at the next checkpoint dock, meeting the Fifth Commander, the typical routine. As Reiji prepared for the detecter, the beeping of the device went off near her neck.

The female demon's blood ran cold. She slowly reached into her shirt, pulling out a dry, warm silver rosary, the gleaming red eye looking back at her.