Tales of Erud

Chapter 6: The Flower and the Beast

A/N: Take a peek at how Leo looks. He is holding Gilliam's Sword and I think that the face suits the character just well. What can you say about the over? Drop your comments down!

Don't forget to tap that star ok?

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"I wonder if they are doing fine?" Maaya said while helping Leo walk through the corridor, they seem to outran the giant that crashed into the mansion and attacked them.

"Thinking who he is with, I think they got out pretty well," Leo said while trying to walk himself through the pain of the wound that he received when he got a blow from the giant. Leo looked around sharply when he thought he smell a familiar burning smell from the corridors. "Hey Maaya, do you detect traces of magic around?" Leo asked Maaya on which made the girl a little confused.

"I can't sense anything. It's all normal around here." Maaya said plainly and simply.

"Then maybe I was just wrong." Leo was not sure if what he smelled before was the same person. It was like burning hair or some sort and when he smells something, be sure to remember it since it was one of his animal ability.

"Hey, what do you saw on Gilliam?" Leo asked Maaya in which she smiled at him for a response.

"Well, his mother was the one who was guarding me against whoever bad person that will try to form a contract with me," Maaya said to Leo on which it seems that Leo was still waiting for another story while they are walking. "Well, since he was the first one I saw when I woke up and seeing him cry because of his mother's death, I felt pity for him. That is why I wanted to help him whenever I can." He told Leo.

"While I was just tagging along, I didn't know that he experienced something bad." He said to himself. Maaya just shook her head.

"I know you have a share of bad experiences." She said while smiling and Leo smiled too. "All living things experience something bad and good equally." She looked forward to the corridor to check everything if it is safe. "Trees, birds and even the fish in the water have their fair share of good and bad in life."

It has been almost an hour since they kept wandering around the mansion. They can't just return to where they have been knocked off by the giant. For them to be safe, they have to stay indoors.

"Are your ribs ok now?" Maaya had just the remaining magic to at least ease up the pain that Leo is feeling right now.

Leo just nodded. "Where are we now by the way?" He kept looking around from door to door to at least find something or even a way down. They have been walking around in circles and they can't even find a single staircase to lead them on the basement where they have been before.

In a sudden breeze, Leo smelt the same burnt wood before, but now, this one has a strong scent in it. He was sure that it was something he already knew. He readied himself which alerted Maaya to take a closer feel around in her field.

"The witch from the woods is here." Maaya already knew that they are in a big trouble. Without Gilliam, they would definitely die in here. They walked slowly towards where the smell is coming from.

They closed a certain door that was a little small than the rest. It was colored like the wall so it doesn't really stand that much. And it could only fit a child on it. "Are you sure that the smell is coming from this door?"

"Yes, I know it well." Leo took his hands towards the small black shadow on the wall and as soon his hands touched the secret door, the wood where it was settled fell down. The smell grew strong to the point where Maaya can already smell it too.

Out of the open, a fireball flew to them leaving them a little time to respond with a defense. Leo got burned a little but Maaya quickly healed him with her green aura.

A small devil like imp emerged from the small door and at the moment where they all look eye to eye, both of them felt fear. "Oi oi oi, I didn't sign up for this. Can we take this on?" Leo smirked with fear in his eyes. He doesn't know how to react in the sight of a real daemon.

"We can, he's only one, and there are two of us." Maaya began casting a spell, a green aura filled her space and grass kept growing on her ground. "So, by now, make sure that monster won't get his eyes on me."

"You're asking for the impossible!" Complaining but Leo is already attacking the imp with his claws around using different maneuvers to make sure that his attacks hit. He tried to make an ordinary attack with a straight slash, but the devil was quick and it ran towards the side of Leo, on which in return used a tackle attack. Leo already knew what it was going to do so using his left leg, he kicked it on its head and made a direct hit and the devil was smashed towards the room.

"Alright, I think I can do this," Leo said, but as soon as he stood straight, a flash of flame emerged from the room where the imp was thrown. Leo waited for a while just to see the little devil has grown a little and its feet are already on fire. Menacing eyes looking back at him. "I think I spoke too soon."

As soon as those words left Leo, the devil fired a series of fireballs. Leo was able to at least deflect some but the other was able to hit his feet and body. "That hurt dammit!" And Leo hurled himself towards the devil with claws and fangs ready to rip the daemon apart.

Leo was able to do some damage to the daemon and blood was dripping from the claw and mouth of Leo. He spits all of it, "That was horrible!" on which the daemon just snarled angrily at Leo.

It was the devil's turn now, but as soon as its fist dropped to smash Leo, Leo was able to produce a green aura on his hands that served as a shield. "Feel the power of my friends!" Leo then made the green aura into a spider silk and it enveloped the devil into submission. But the wrapping of the silk was incomplete and it left the arm of the daemon and it used it's free arm to grab Leo's feet and throw him towards Maaya.

"How still long! I am nearing my limit!" Leo shouted after regaining his balance.

"Just a little more." Maaya was almost complete with her enchant. Leo rushed again making sure to take the opportunity that the daemon was still slowed down by the silks he used earlier. But then, the silk was easily burned up when the daemon used her firepower to free himself. The heat that was used was unbearable to Leo thus making him fall back.

"I think I made it angry." Leo just looks at the walking fire daemon in front of him. Though it was just barely as tall as a kid, and Leo is an incredibly tall guy, but the power difference is great. Leo just smirked in the situation, hoping that Maaya is already finished casting her spell.

Leo and the daemon both rushed in, trying to punch each other out. Amidst of the force that was released, Leo was blown out again past Maaya, on which Leo smiled the moment he knew that Maaya was finished casting her spell.

"Woods of memories, I call you, serve the master you are bound to and make sure to fulfill your duty!" As soon as Maaya released her spell, the wood furnishing and everything made of wood in the room, grew shard thorns that pierced the daemon with holes both big and small.

"Did we get it?" Leo walked towards Maaya on which she was still looking towards the daemon who isn't moving anymore.

Maaya walked towards the impaled body and checked if it is still alive. She was sure that death already took in. "It's already dead."

Leo sighed in relief and seated himself again on the floor. "Man, what's up with this mansion, different mansion is popping up here and there. And what's the weird scientist back from before?"

"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this. we must find Gilliam and Sophia quick."

"Agreed."