The group entered into the forest, as it swallowed them quickly. The only sounds were the crunching of leaves under their feet, and frequent cries of a nearby owl.
Code's mind seemed to be divided - between the mission and Elara's face.
The whole group was focused, but he found it hard to focus on the battle ahead.
Code tried to act cool and start a conversation with her, but as he was about to talk, a sticking-out root threw him off balance. Since then, he kept quiet.
The group went in deeper and deeper, but there was no signs of demons or even demonic activity. Only trees and darkness could be seen.
Some murmurings sufficed from behind Code. The pot-bellied man seemed to be complaining.
"Jeez, I'm tired," the man wailed.
'Tch.' Code hissed in response. "Go jump off a cliff or something," he whispered.
However, as they trudged on, Code felt stranger and stranger. They were supposed to have encountered demons by now, but nothing was coming.
He looked forward, but Kael and Ran seemed to be calm, as they navigated.
'Maybe it's just me...' Code thought to himself, as they went on.
***
Many hours had passed, the sun was already setting, and the group were still walking - no signs of demons found.
"Hey..."
Someone whispered from behind Code.
"Is there actually a demon here?"
"Because we should have found one by now," the voice pestered.
"I'm getting tired," another voice replied.
Code looked forward again, and this time, Ran and Kael were clearly disturbed. It was really strange. Most demons lived close to forest edges.
'But wait...' another thought struck Code.
'Demons normally live close to forest edges, but that were just low-class or mid-class demons who needed food everyday, so that means if they haven't found the demon yet, then we are dealing with...'
Code quickly shook the thought away.
That'd be the worst thing ever, especially when it involved a talentless sorcerer like him.
***
Many minutes passed, and the group were already getting stressed out.
"You know what?!" Someone finally spoke, as the group stopped.
Ran and Kael turned back, as the ground turned to face Lyra.
"I think we're just wasting our time, there's obviously no demon here!" Lyra exclaimed.
"What if we go further, we might find it," Kael replied, but he was instantly shot off.
"Nonsense!!" The pot-bellied man cut in.
"It's already sunset, there's no demon here, god-damn it!" He exclaimed, saliva blowing out of his mouth.
Ran raised his hand. "Keep your voice down, we don't want to alert anyone nearby," he said, but it only lead to more uproar.
"I can't go further!!" The pot-bellied man exclaimed.
"Me too." Lyra and Alric Screedinger said in unison.
"This is obviously pointless! We should've at least found some demonic activity if there was truly a demon," Alric Screedinger argued.
"There's a demon here! The villagers here were sure of it," Ran lost it, shouting back.
"Are you sick in the head?" The pot-bellied man shouted from behind.
"You're the one who's sick!!" Ran retorted in anger.
"I'm sure there's a demon here," he added.
"You're just being foolish," Alric Screedinger said, pointing his finger at Ran.
"If you wanna die, then, die alone, goddammit!"
Code and Elara stood at the centre of the arguments, spectating.
"Good grief," Code sighed. "This is turning into something else," he whispered.
Ran was screaming that there was a demon, while Lyra, Dane, Alric and the pot-bellied man were saying there wasn't.
However, Code understood Ran's perspective - he didn't want to lose the payment attached to the mission, so he wasn't willing to turn back.
Code shifted his gaze to Elara. She just stood there, emotionlessly watching.
Shouts and roars filled the air, as the arguments turned heated.
When it seemed like things would turned physical, Kael finally stepped in.
Clap!!!
The sounds of his palm's collision rent the air, causing the birds to scatter in every direction, and everyone kept quiet.
"Woah," Code couldn't help but be wowed. Kael's clap literally silenced an argument that seemed like it would turn physical.
Kael stepped forward, grabbing Ran's shoulder.
He turned to face him, and they spoke for a few second, as Ran nodded.
"Okay!" Kael started, his tone far more authoritative and commanding than Ran's.
"We've come to a final decision to settle this matter," he said.
"Uh?" Everyone leaned in.
Kael's lips parted.
"If you want to leave, you are free to!" He said.
"However..." His blue eyes narrowed.
"Only those that continue from here on will be granted any payment whatsoever!"
"What?"
"Huh?"
"What nonsense?"
Lyra, Dane, Alric and the pot-bellied man exclaimed.
"Yes! The village only offered payment, not for casuality, but only for defeating the demon, so it is wrong to give any payment to anyone who doesn't participate in the mission," Kael explained, hands akimbo.
"Tch." Alric Screedinger gritted his teeth, veins bulging.
"Make your decision now!" Kael commanded.
In less than a minute, the group divided - those that were going on, and those that weren't.
Dane Mikas, Alric Screedinger, Lyra Evermere, and the pot-bellied man were on the group of those who were turning back, while Ran Cowell, Kael Jensen, Code Weber, Darian Soudra, Darian Tenò and Elara all stood on the going forward side.
"Tch, my life is worth more than some suicidal mission," Alric Screedinger hissed, as his group turned to leave.
"Just don't scream, 'cause no one's coming for you," the pot-bellied man mocked, as they disappeared into the darkness.
The forest fell silent back.
"Code..." Ran called from beside him.
"Uh" Code turned to him.
"I actually thought you'd be the first to leave," he said, tapping his shoulder.
"Oh, haha," Code chuckled nervously. He didn't know the right response to give, especially when his reason for staying was the "four percent".
"I guess I shouldn't have doubted you," Ran said, as he gave him a gentle tap.
However, what really bothered Code was Elara. Any normal human would turn back at this point.
But yet...she stayed.
"Ahem!" Kael's voice broke Code's thoughts.
The whole group shifted their focus to him.
"We are down to six members , meaning we'd need a tighter formation going on," Kael said.
"Sword users and battle specialists will sorround support and health, we don't want to lose our only healer," Kael said, nodding to Elara.
"I'll announce again! If you want to leave, leave now!" Kael said again.
A soft wind blew through, but no one flinched or moved.
'I can't go home on an empty wallet after coming this far,' Code thought to himself.
The four percent really mattered to him.
"Okay!" Kael continued. "Let's go!"
The group nodded in unison, turning to go.
But as they turned, Kael suddenly stopped.
"Uh?" Code and Ran exclaimed, surprise written all over their faces.
"Something's coming..." Kael's face turned dead serious.
He instantly turned back, and lo and behold, he was right.
But what came was not what he expected.
Thud!!!
Something instantly slammed into the tree beside them with a massive thud.
Code jumped, eyes widening.
"What the hell was that...?" He whispered.
Then, he turned his gaze to it...
...and froze.
"Ugh?" Code's eyes turned grim.
Ran jerked backwards, staggering.
"De-de-mon!"
Before them, right on the tree, was the pot-bellied man.
Crumpled beyond recognition, arms and legs bent at unnatural angles, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Blood gushed out of every part of his body, as he kept muttering the same words.
"De-De-mon!"
Code covered his mouth in horror and trepidation.
Then, came the sound:
Thud!!
"What the hell...?" Soudra staggered backwards.
Demonic footsteps - they were coming.
Thud! Thud!
"De-De-mon!"
***
To Be Continued...