The tenth author's journal: book 2A

Chapter 6: A new start

"Very well, we should start at the break of dawn, and you should be well prepared for the journey." While looking outside, Blood Claw notices that the raging snowstorm has subsided. While the angel soldiers stop looking for both of us, their roaming over the mountain continues. Another night increases our chances of being discovered, but his health is more important right now. Demons heal differently than angels, and while using blood and dark spells may speed up regeneration, the environment's mana is also an important factor in their healing.

"Did you notice anything, Blood Claw?" I point outside at the sliver of sunlight peeking through the crack between the mountain columns. He may want us to leave as soon as possible, but he is still giving me time to prepare. Even though I haven't brought anything with me, I am grateful for this suspension. A brief respite before the onset of a storm.

"Say whatever comes to mind, Mikhail." He still ignores the outside world, settling himself near the bonfire. The argument must have made his tired face shine on the ashes bonfire. If we decide to stay any longer, the fire could go out at any time, and he'll have to go look for firewood. I feel terrible for pointing out the approaching dawn. Maybe he planned it when he was changing in the cave; I don't mind exhaustion if it saves him some trouble.

"Dawn has already come." I point to the dusty sky, where the sun has finally reached the cave entrance. Blood Claw scratches his tired eyes and looks out the window, the scales falling off as he does so. The breathtaking scenery has an unsettling effect on the half-asleep demon.

"I can perform "Abaddon's ritual," but I'm worried about how it will affect you, so I'll contact his majesty to postpone my return if your condition worsens, Mikhail." While pulling a crystal ball from his sub-space, Blood Claw makes a suggestion. His mana was also depleted slightly when he used the recovered magic; the remainder of the mana used in the ritual came from the environment around us. Demons who use magic arts and dark magics differ from most in that the mana is drawn directly from the environment rather than the caster due to the way demons' vessels form entirely from their soul and magic rather than flesh and mana heart.

"I'm all right, this much exhaustion is nothing compared to..." Thinking about those lessons makes me want to rip my heart out. "my past," I continue, while also casting "cure," because while my physical body has recovered from exhaustion, the mental strain is still weighing on my mind. Nausea still lingers when I recall those lessons, and the image vividly visualizes itself.

"Are you certain, Mikhail?" You begin to appear more uneasy than before." Blood Claw expresses his concern directly. This may come across as unflattering for his prince's first impression. I need to calm down about this and not think about it.

"No, I just have a disturbing memory that I want to get rid of," I reassure him. The previous gush gradually subsides.

"Then let us go, would you like me to hold you like before?" Blood Claw extends his hand. True, his body temperature is warm and comfortable to hold onto, but wouldn't it be strange and inconvenient to just carry me to the palace? Not to mention that this location should be far from his home. According to how Kuishel would be the first to capture Blood Claw, his domain on the other side of the world. Making it would be far from ideal.

"I can fly, no problem." Simply lead the way." I spread my wing to the side. The white feathers dance around the air like pure snow falling down the mountainside, and Blood Claw focuses his attention on my wing, as if he has been drawn to it, and begins to caress it.

"To see an archangel's wing, how rare and pure it is." When he says that, he puts his face on my wing. Some of my feathers are sharp enough to pierce his skin and rip a few Blood Claw pieces.