Marked by Daemons

daemons are confusing

8:15 pm September 22nd 2019
Teachers' Quarters, The Institute

"I promise we'll look into it first thing tomorrow," Kim sighs into her phone exasperated. "I know Daemonic energies increase when night falls, I'm not six." There's a tinny voice at the other end of the connection and Ashe nudges Sai with a grin. They watch Kim pace the room, gesturing wildly as if the person at the other end could see. "Ceane, just calm down okay? We'll be fine... No, there's no need for you to-- Argh he hung up!" She frowns at the display and purses her lips. "Honestly this man--!" She pauses and places her hands on her hips. "What are you kids laughing at?"

Ashe laughs so hard she tears, patting the bed hard while doing so. Sai just watches with a large grin, her face warm. "Kiiiiiim, that was Ceane, huh?" Ashe chortles.

"Shut UP," Kim throws a cushion at her. The teachers' quarters are much larger than the students' dorms, already furnished with the usual bedroom fittings as well as a small sofa and coffee table. It is from this sofa that Kim gets her ammunition in the pillow fight against Ashe.

The fight turns a lot more significant when Kim sneaks onto the bed and grabs a pillow, pummeling both Ashe and Sai with it.

"What did I do?" Sai complains halfheartedly while grabbing her own pillow and hitting Kim with it. The two best friends seem to be on the same team until Ashe hits Sai with the pillow. "ASHE YOU'RE ON MY SIDE!" She yells betrayed, the room filled with the sounds of their laughter.

A knock on the door and the laughter stops abruptly. "Kim, could you please keep it down a bit?" A muffled voice reaches them from the small gap under the door.

"Sorry!" Kim calls out, shooting the two girls a look. "Okay, bedtime, off you go," she makes chasing movements with her hands. "Shoo- shoo. Ashe give Sai some of your clothes until the Hunters from the Association come." She leads them to the door and closes it. They hear the soft click of the lock as Kim shouts out a muted "Good night!"

6:40 am September 23nd 2019
Dormitory, The Institute

There's a knock at the door, impatient, a series of rapid thumps. Sai rubs her eyes, shaken awake by the successive thuds. Sleepily, she glances at Ashe, the girl still deeply asleep, her soft snores filling the silence when the knocking at the door stops.

"Ashe, Sai!" The voice calls out. It's Kim. Sai hurriedly slips out of bed relishing the cool floor on her soles and unlocks the door. "What took you so long to answer?" Kim sighs, running her hand through her uncombed blonde hair. She is in uniform and peeks into the room frowning. "Ashe!" She calls out. "Wake up! The both of you must get ready soon, we're leaving at seven-thirty." She directs the latter part to the girl at the door, handing her a duffel bag. "The nurse at the Association packed your clothes and essentials," she pats Sai's head and leaves.

Sai shakes Ashe awake, the latter reaching for her phone confused. "It's not even seven yet," she grumbles turning over and pulling the bedsheet over her head.

"Alright, but if Kim comes in and wakes you I'm not helping."

Ashe shoots up, all drowsiness forgotten. She runs to the bathroom, shouting thanks to Sai as she shuts the door. Sai shakes her head, smiling, as she rummages through her duffel bag. She pulls out her uniform and her combat boots tied in a separate bag and waits until Ashe comes out.

7:23 am September 23nd 2019
East Quadrant, Veneco City

"Do you feel anything?" Sai whispers to Ashe, gooseflesh pricking her skin. Standing at the entrance to an alley, the pastel-coloured paint on the wall faded to grey, they look around cautiously, the air chillier here than it was before. They were at the far east of Veneco City, the area abandoned after the High Daemon influx- the attack Ashe spoke about, from thirty years ago. Whatever Daemonic presence sensed usually came from here.