Shin and Bael chatted as they got closer to the base of the mountain. Bael felt a strange presence and looked forward.
Shin noticed and asked, "Is it the person that was following us?"
Bael remained laser-focused.
"No, that one could fly. This presence is different," Bael said.
They continued to walk forward cautiously until they were at the base of the mountain. Before them stood a frail demon girl with a large axe.
Bael immediately sensed the dangerous aura emanating from her and took charge of the situation.
He stood in front of Shin, shielding him. They remained at a safe distance. The girl looked up.
"What's your name, kid?" Bael asked as politely as he could.
"Ezra," the girl answered softly.
Bael nodded as he assessed her.
Okay, she doesn't look that strong, so I won't try to fight her.
"We're travelers heading to the demon God's shrine. May we pass?" Bael asked, calmly stepping forward.
Ezra stood up and lowered her head. She murmured to herself for a while.
"Shin'en. The stain of the hero party, a wielder of two magical attributes and exceptional sword skill even praised by the hero of light, Bjorn," Ezra blurted out in a daze.
Shin's eyes shot wide open. He pushed past Bael and tried to walk toward her but was stopped by Bael.
Shin wore a shocked expression.
"What did you just say?" Shin asked, confused.
Ezra looked up at Shin, her face blank and expressionless. She slowly tilted her head in confusion.
Shin looked down at her, almost towering over her.
Ezra tried speaking but hesitated. She held the center of her chest as she clutched her cloak.
Shin stared deep into her eyes, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of fear before it was replaced by coldness.
Ezra pushed back her pink hair. She removed the cloth that covered one of her eyes. When she revealed her sealed eye, a chill ran down the spine of both Shin and Bael.
Bael immediately went on alert and drew a small dagger from behind him. Ezra stared at them both with lifeless eyes.
The eye that had been covered looked out of place on her face. It resembled an artificial beast eye. Its bright green color and cross-like sigil pupil stood out sharply against Ezra's otherwise pitiful, gentle-looking face.
Shin and Bael cautiously took a step back and dropped their luggage. Shin pulled out his sword and stared at Ezra.
"You have such a small mana pool," Ezra said as she stared at the swirling tornado of flame, wind, and darkness around Shin.
She turned to look at Bael but stopped as she did. What she saw—or rather, what she didn't see—was everything else.
All she could see was nothing. Pitch-black nothing, devoid of life. It wrapped around everything like a blanket. She could not see any outline.
Ezra felt a sense of fear wash over her.
Why is it that big?
"You're dangerous," Ezra said, looking directly at Bael.
Before Bael could process this, everything went black. He was encased in a wooden coffin.
Then—slam!—Bael felt two large objects hitting him from each side.
Outside, Shin was puzzled as to how Bael had been encased by a large boulder adorned with prayer cloths and talismans.
"Seal complete," Ezra said in an eerily sweet and calm voice.
She looked at Shin.
"I'll finally be free. All I need to do is kill you," Ezra said, her calm voice sending chills down Shin's spine.
She dragged her axe and headed for him.