Tales of The Demi Human

Chapter 4 : They who gazed at the night sky

With a random, ordinary three-feet long branch he found at his previous hiding spot, Kyran gripped it tightly as if he was holding a spear, quickly smashed the back of the unaware goblin. The goblin was caught unprepared and immediately flew through the bushes five meters away. An ordinary branch, in the hand of an expert like Kyran who had indulged in spearmanship training since childhood, could turn into a lethal weapon. The goblin spat out fresh blood and temporary immobilized.

Before Kyran could prepare the next attack, the second goblin had closed the distant and encircled him from behind, swiftly slashed his sword down. Kyran dodged it by leaping forward. He managed to escape death by a hair's breadth, but he still got a cut wound on his back. The goblin followed up with a horizontal slash, giving him no chance to rest. Kyran ducked down and with the branch in his hand, turned around and thrust it to the goblin's chest. The goblin was startled. Kyran intended not to waste the opportunity, quickly smashed the goblin at the stomach. He knew it would be impossible to defeat the goblins with ordinary thrusting technique. There was a qualitative different between a branch and true weapon anyway.

The branch could not bear the impact and broke right away. The goblin growled in pain as he held his stomach. The other goblin had recovered and approaching the battlefield. Kyran dashed toward the carriage where the little girl was and protecting her. He was sweating profusely. He knew he was in deep trouble.

To Kyran's amazement, the goblins were just glaring at him and then retreated. Kyran was relieved. He turned back and look at the little girl. There were still traces of glittering tears in the corner of her eyes as she stared at Kyran. Kyran did not know what he should do. He was afraid that the little girl would be scared of him like the others. Maybe a little act of care like asking "Are you okay?" won't hurt, right?

The girl suddenly jumped into him, hugged him and sobbed again, her body shivering.

Kyran was startled.

His hand twitched. After a long pause, he got on one knee and hugged her in return.

He could feel the warmth of her body and the damped sensation of his cloth wet by her tears. His back was still throbbing, but at that instant all the pain seemed to vanish. Kyran widened his pupil as he realized something. Tiny golden sparkles were dancing like fireflies celebrating the warm summer night, permeated from his back where her palm was placed on, gently washed away his wound. He smiled, finally, after a long time.

A contrasting scene of the two people, one was smiling and the other sobbing, connected by fate in that morning as they embraced.

.................

One week ago, somewhere in an unlit place deep in demon territory.

Two people walked almost side by side with the other one positioned himself slightly behind. He was a young, handsome man with a face full of smile. His eyes seemed slit as the result. They looked very human-like, but the overwhelming, terrifying pitch black aura emanating from them revealed their traits.

After they reached a higher platform, the one leading in front stopped, followed closely by the other one.

"What's the matter Astaroth? You seem to have something on your mind."

"My lord, why did you give him the seed of destruction? I mean, if you just want him to become a demon, aren't there many other methods?" the one named Astaroth asked with a face still plastered with smile.

"Chosen one had become fallen one instead. Isn't that funny?" the other party smirked. He gazed at the sky as if he was mocking the unseen being resides far up in heaven. "Playing by his rules then overthrow him in his own game, isn't that more interesting?"