Phoenix

Scout

"How long are you gonna be gone?"

"About a week. It's not too bad."

Lector and Sting waved their goodbyes as Emi boarded the train. She took in the sight of the passing trees as she waited for her six hour ride to end. She arrived in Bosco and wandered over to the palace to meet the requester, Prince Alois Xylander.

"Thank you so much for coming. I would've asked someone from Bosco, but I've heard all about you and knew that you would be the best person to do this."

Emi nodded and bowed before saying, "It is my pleasure to serve the prince. I'll do what I can."

They discussed the job before Emi set off to try to find the creature. She seemed deep in thought as she unconsciously started mumbling her thoughts.

"The prince said that it was a vampire...but I can't really say that I believe that. What other creature would bite and drain blood though? It's not Vampire magic because that's only paralysis. Maybe some type of blood magic? Or is that all for show?"

Emi took her post outside the palace and waited for nightfall. The guards had tried to make conversation with her as they waited, but Emi was too concentrated to pay attention to anything other than her task.

Emi suddenly spoke, "I sense something coming this way."

The guards frantically looked around, fear evident in their eyes. Emi quickly equipped her Chrysaor and scanned the area. Something in the shadows and lunged at one of the guards. Emi jumped in front of the guard and slashed at the figure. Blood leaked from what Emi assumed to be his arm.

"You're definitely not a vampire," Emi stated confidently. "Vampires don't bleed."

The figure started laughing as he spoke, "Oh? Then what am I?"

"I found it strange that you would be draining blood from guards. I found it more strange that you didn't go after the prince himself. Vampires would be able to slip into the castle undetected, but you elected to stay outside the castle and attack the guards."

Emi was cut off by the figure swiping at her with what seemed to be a claw. The white haired woman smirked as she dodged it and tried to kick him in the stomach. Her leg phased right through his body, confirming her suspicions.

"I see. So you aren't human either. Very well. This means I don't have to hold back. Now, who are you?"

"I am the shadow that haunts your darkest nightmares."

Emi raised an eyebrow at the figure before sending a bright light over to him. His body seemed to break apart once the light traveled through his body.

"Weakness for light? You don't seem like a very frightening shadow."

The figure laughed before stepping fully into the light. He was revealed to be a man with black hair and red eyes. He had a tattoo over his eye and strange markings on his stomach. Emi crossed her arms.

"I would've liked to go a while without being pestered by things like you, but it seems that I'm not that fortunate. Tell me something. How would you know that I would take this job?"

"Well that's simple. My master saw that it was only sent this request to your guild. He labeled it as S-class, meaning that the only an S-class wizard would take it."

Emi huffed before grabbing the man by his neck. He squirmed a bit before his eyes started glowing. Emi took her sword and sliced his eyes, stopping whatever spell he planned to use.