Entha

Chapter 17: The Stars Above

“I see, Did you like that armor that much perhaps”

Asked Elena, while using a microscope like thingy placed on top of a table near the door, observing a paper with a magic circle on it, she didn’t glance at us but the subtle clanging of armor could be heard all over the wide neat laboratory stacked with papers, along with a ceiling high shelves that is filled with books and closets bolted to the side of the room,

“Well yeah, don’t I look terrific? I’m looking for papers”

“The papers are on that closet”

Elena instantly replied pointing at a closet near the edge of the room, you could at least comment on how I suit the armor, but no never mind, she’d probably just tell me how less dumb looking I am,

“Aight much thanks”

I made my way to the closet along with Anna, but as soon as Elena took notice of Anna who had been hiding behind my back, she strangely walked behind us,

“Then, You’re the one called Anna, I suppose”

Anna meekly nodded at Elena’s questions and stared at Elena for a bit before moving closer to where I was, Elena took a book from one of the shelf and motioned Anna to come closer, but Anna held the helm of my armor and stood still,

“You’re a shy one, perhaps”

Said Elena squatting and gently opening a book featuring a picture-like drawing and description of Helliun's creatures,

“This one’s a Marbit, the most common type of beast in here, it is similar to what you call a chicken back on your home”

Elena said, but perhaps because she was reminded of home, Anna looked like she was about to cry, but for some reason she pushed the tears welling at her eyes back, which flustered and worried Elena.

“Ah, did I do something wrong perhaps, there there”

Said Elena, as she pats Anna’s head,

That reminds me, how do the demon world care for their children? In fact I haven’t seen one,

“By the way, I haven’t seen a single demon child around”

I said, but Elena froze for a moment, gazed at Anna, then walked over to the table with a microscope and resumed her work; it felt oddly similar to Heather's reaction, so I decided not to push the topic any further;

“Then we’ll be on our way now”

I moved towards the door of Elena's laboratory, holding a stack of papers in my hand, but before we could go, Elena called out to Anna again.

“Anna, if you want more of those books, I suppose you can come here anytime you want”

She said beaming a kind smile , to which Anna quietly nodded, so I smiled back and continued walking towards Anna's lodgings on the first floor of the mansion. Anna remained silent the entire time, even when we arrived at her room, that said she appeared to be holding back something.

“Let it all out, it’s not good bottling it like that”

I've experienced bottling up such feelings, and it sucks, it slowly creeps into your head, and the next thing you know, you're as helpless as f**k, well enough of those sentimental feelings, we have a child to take care of here, I held Anna at my arm's and stood up and cradled her slowly stepping back and forth, that went on for hours before Anna had fallen asleep, slowly I put her to bed and arrange the paint brushes along with the books and papers on the table before making my way out,

And yup what stood behind the door was a demon, with a grin and a sword on his waist,

“Don’t you wanna test that armor of yours brother?”

Well yeah I want to, but not with you musclehead, but sure, I thought of something good,

“Aight let us do so, brother”

I replied with a grin that I wasn’t able to hide,

-

-Clang

Beneath the star light I and Heather had started our bout,

“Wind right side strike of the green ranger”

I yelled, imitating those that I have watched on TV’s, this was my plan to distract this monster but to no avail he kept blocking my strike, yup we switched this time I’m on offensive, not because I gained an upper hand but because I had offered to do so,

“green ranger overhead strike”

As if hahaha, I quickly shifted Asporeas to strike below, but as expected Heather again swiftly blocked the strike, this monster

eh? Are you angry? This isn’t cheating, this is strategy, Heather? Wai- wait

Heather went directly for my heart this time and I expected the sword to pierce however the sword bounced back and went sideways,

“How does it feel brother”

“No pain at all”

It was great, I didn’t feel a single thing, the armor didn’t even budge or I didn’t even got pushed back,

“Well that’s good and all, let’s stop here for now”

“Huh? But we were just getting started?”

A bluff, I did want to stop it here but it felt strange I was always the first to surrender and stop the training but now this muscle head wants to stop?

“ I need to talk to you about something”

“This talk again, I’m not that bothered, it’s fine if you don’t tell me, I have decided to trust you after all”

I didn’t care at all, it was fine if I were kept in the dark if it was for my own good, I was satisfied with this, simply living my life out, doing the job of a contract holder and spending my time with you guys, Trust and loyalty is the only thing I can give back for pulling me up that endless loop, I have found my purpose and all is good, but it’ll be a different story if this life would be threatened as I’d give my all in protecting it.

“That’s more of a reason you need to know, do you like the demon world Calix?”

Heather asked, his gaze returning to the sky, eliciting a feeling of unease in me.

“Yeah to be honest I love it here”

Living like this is a bliss even on Earth, not to mention the beautiful sky of the demon world,

"I see... Calix, those billions of bright lights above us aren't what they seem, Helliun is a cage, a cage meant to protect us, those things above are the enemies trying to rip trough the barrier, they've been doing so for thousands of years, it's the Angels, the damned Angel's motivated to wipe us out, the barrier is already thinning, we've decided to keep you out of it, but still I think it's better that you know about it”

“How long till they break trough?”

“100 years at max”