Ashen Demon

4

He stayed true to his word.

Ever since that day, Douma had not contacted with the leader of the demons and stopped eating human flesh. Even though that was a concern of how he'll manage to resist it, but Byleth saw that he came up with an alternative when she came back home from her trip to buy supplies. She caught him napping, and this was during the day. When night came around though, he was up and bounding as though the night is day for him.

At least that's a step up.

During those two months, Byleth continued on doing how she had lived in this world. Though during the days at times, she would encounter Kyojuro who still searching for the rumored demon and both of them would talk. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but he would explain to her about the basics of Total Concentration Breathing which had Byleth curious about the methods and what it does. Seeing this, he offered to help her with that so that way her movements would improve and be much more resilient.

Then during the nights, she would be out warding off the demons that tried to come near her. This was also the time Douma began to assist her with the slaying, while avoiding encountering the Flame Hashira. Byleth found it ironic at the sudden twist; back then they were on opposite fields attempting to kill each other. But now, they are fighting together like comrades. It was hilarious seeing some of the reactions of the lesser demons when they see the sight of an Upper Moon aiding a human.

Since he now pledge to fight against demons, Douma would happily tell her about the current holders of the Upper Moons and what their Blood Demon Art is. For a demon who seemed to be carefree and at times acts like a dunce, he has great memory about his comrades that he now abandons in favor of her. Though she noticed that he has not mentioned about his leader's name.

"You keep referring him as that man." Byleth points out to him, while in the middle of talking about the Upper Moons. "Does he not give you or the others his name?"

"Oh no, we do know his name!" Douma shakes his head. "It's just that uttering his name would activate the curse that kills us right away. That's why we all address him as that man!"

Well isn't that troublesome.

_________________

The day for the Final Selection is around the corner.

"I'm heading out for the Final Selection." Byleth remarks, while arming herself ready for the exam and the travel to Mount. Fujikasane.

For the sake of blending in, she had changed into a set of clothes she bought with her earned money. Which is a mint-green kimono with a slit on her right side to fight freely, with a dark green obi sash, white tabi-socks and green zori with white straps. She is wearing a white haori that fades to mint. As always, she straps on the Sword of the Creator to her side with a red ribbon secured to the obi.

"Behave now while I'm gone." Byleth added, looking over to Douma who is sitting atop of the cushion.

"Mou, it's gonna be boring without you here!" Douma whines in dismay, already not wanting the mint-haired beauty to go and leave him alone in the house by himself. In fact, he has no idea what to do while he waits for her to come back as he recalled how the Final Selection works. Since Byleth told him so after she asked how it works from Kyojuro.

"Hey, I'll be back before you know it." Byleth remarks, as she approached him. She then raised her hand to ruffle his hair, which made the demon melt into the affectionate touch. "Now just remember; if any more thieves barges in to ransack, simply knock them out and dump their bodies in the river."