Angelic Demon

Episode 3

"Hey, I have some food, would you like some..?"

The little girl looked up shocked to see Kanji above her.

"D-d-did the Mistress trap you down here t-too?"
"N-no! I-I watched her hurt you, s-so I came to help."

The girl's eyes weld up with tears as she looked him in the eyes.

"H-help me?"
"Y-yeah! So here, take the food. I'm not hungry."

The girl nibbled on the food, then handed some to Kanji.

"You need food too."

Kanji smiled softly, then took the food back.

"What's your name?"

The little girl stayed silent for a while, then replied,

"My n-name is Jia."
"That's a pretty name, Jia."

Jia blushed shyly, then asked,

"What's your name?"
"Kanji."
"Kanji is a c-cute n-name too."

Kanji stayed silent for a while.

"Do you have a stutter?"

Jia looked up startled.

"N-no! I'm just, a little n-nervous. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I was just curious thats all."

The two stared at each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity, then Jia reached out to feel Kanji's hair.

"It's really soft. It's a pretty black color too."

Kanji could feel his cheeks changing colors.

"Yeah..uhm..question...how long have you been trapped here?"

Jia stopped playing in his hair, and replied,

"I-I don't know. I think the mistress said something like 5 years?"
"5 years?!
"You've been stuck in complete boredom for 5 years?"
"Mhm."

Jia turned away sadly.

"Then you can have this."

Jia turned back around to see Kanji handing her a toy.

"Are you sure..?"
"Yeah! I have plenty."
"Thank you. I haven't had anybody be nice to me in such a long time."
"Yeah, and I haven't had a playmate in such a long ti-"

Kanji stopped short as he noticed the glowing crystal on Jia's neck.

"What's this?"
"Oh, uhm, I've been told it's an immortality crystal. It's supposed to keep me from dying.
"I wish it was able to keep me from getting bruised."

Jia pulled up her sleeves to expose some old bruises.

"You've been beaten that bad...?"
"...yeah."
"Well, next time I visit I'll bring loads of medicine for you."
"You have medicine?"
"Yeah, my mother makes a lot of potions to cure people. I'll just steal some and bring them here."
"Steal some? Why not ask?"
"Mother hates me."
"Oh..."

"KANJI? KANJI?! WHERE ARE YOU??!"

The two sat in deadly silence as the Mistress and Kanji's mother called his name.

"The dungeon door is open!"
"Oh...if that little bi-"

"Quick Kanji! HIDE!"

Jia stuffed Kanji in some hay nearby.

"YOU!"

She turned towards her fuming Mistress, and stared coldly.

I have to be strong.
No matter how scared I am,
Even if it's just once,
I have to show the Mistress...

I'm not afraid of her.

"Where's the guest's son."
"I do not know."
"I SAID WHERE?"
"I do not know."
"You little..."

The Mistress began to beat Jia terribly. Kanji looked on in horror.

"WHERE???"
"Sob...I told you..I...I don't...know..."

I...I can't...
...Back down...
I...
I have to...
Have to be...
S...
...trong...

Jia sadly succumbed to her injured and collapsed as the Mistress looked on in disgust.

JIA!!