At the entrance of the abandoned silver mine, there was a blond lady with disheveled hair, wet and exhausted from events she had just suffered.
In her arms she was carrying a young boy, likely less than ten, looking slightly malnourished–not starved, just smaller than usual–and pale.
Despite his ability to shapeshift into a human being much better than the average imp of his stage, he still lacked the control to keep off the natural snow colors of his original skin.
And the woman, Syme, who carried the demon child looked on despairingly.
Was it a mistake?
She thought, though she had quickly erased that thought from her head as a delicate breeze brushed against her soul making her shiver.
Devouring her, especially such a pure soul–one so attuned to the holy forces of this world–would immensely contribute to his growth, but alas he required a way to infiltrate human society.
He knew he could not stay in that cave or hide in the sea surrounding Gull forever. And especially since souls were only a sprout of beings with full sentient conscience, he could only slay so many unintelligent beasts before he himself reached a threshold.
They were on a less walked road back to the Barony.
He could walk himself now that the paralyzing poison had dispersed, but there was something intriguing about making her do his bidding.
Her eyes had not left him throughout the whole journey. But they were not staring at him, instead she was staring through him like he wasn't even there at all, letting her peripheral vision guide her.
Syme's expression wore grave now–reasonably so–and always in deep contemplation, towing the line between rebellion–hate–and the fear of a soul-crushing pain beyond any physical harm she could handle.
Deep down, a part of her reminisced on if it would have been better for her to just accept her death at that time. Yet, against her conscience she was glad she was alive despite losing all her autonomy at just a thought of her captor–and the one who had slaughtered her childhood friends.
"You know, you don't always have to look so sad. Cheer up a little" said the imp.
"..."
"What do you think of me?" Questioned the imp, "and tell me the truth. It's a command."
She replied with a monotonous scorn "I want to kill you."
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she readied herself for the soul-rending pain that would be her punishment but nothing came.
"Are you not angry?" she whimpered in hesitation.
"It's good."
"Hm?"
"It's good that you want to kill me" responded the imp, "after all, it would only be natural after everything that's happened."
"Don't be so cautious now. Hate me. It won't do anything anyways. You'll get over it one day, but remember," he climbed up out of her arms and pressed his lips against her ear, whispering "I own your soul; and I own you for all your life and death."
She shivered as his cold breath brushed against her cheek.
'Should I have just accepted death?'
But it was too late now.
"Hate me all you want, but cheer up now. You know if you frown so often, you'll grow wrinkles." the imp said, shifting his tone dramatically to one of jolly.
'How does he even…' she thought, surprised.
But before she could process further, the shapeshifted imp on her back pinched her cheeks with both hands and pulled them up into a smile.
"See? Much better."
She tried to resist but was defenseless against her master's playfulness and tacit commands.
'Maybe it's not so bad', the thought creeped into her mind briefly before being forced down.
'What am I thinking?!'
Truly, she was confused and unable to believe how someone's face could change so fast.
"I'll have to force you if you don't brighten your mood; at least don't frown, or it will be a command" the imp said dotingly, arms now wrapped around her neckline.
She forced a slight grin onto her face, hoping that it would be enough to satisfy her master's wishes.
"Better. It'll do for now" He said as he pointed ahead, "we're almost at the border town."
It had started to rain.
They could see civilization looming just up ahead. However, this was not Gull, only a small town outside of its boundaries primarily occupied by farmers and producer roles–while the actual Barony was largely filled with residents, merchants and tradesmiths.
"Ah, right. Since I've only been in this world for a few days, you should give me a name" said the imp suddenly.
"A name?"
"Yes, a name, one that will spread all across the world one day," he bragged while daydreaming.
"Me?"
"Yes, you should give me one."
"But… I, I'm supposed to be your servant" she stuttered.
"And?"
"Ah… then… h, how about…" She thought, and then it came to her as the raindrops washed away some of the brinyness on her clothes and rewet her light blond hair.
"How about Rain?"
"Hm? Rain?"
"D… Do you not like it?" She feared.
"Hmm…" he pondered for a bit looking back at her with the widest grin "it's perfect."
Rain, that was his name now.
Subconsciously, she smiled back and giggled a little–which she also tried to hide subconsciously.
But before she could catch herself, "cute" the lesser imp commented.
'What!' Her cheeks blushed a little under the cold deluge.
He had got her this time, and he would bask in his triumph for the rest of the walk as his now fully purple eyes peaked over her shoulder; and she could feel it. He made her feel it.
She hung her head in embarrassment and rage alike, struggling to reconcile her emotions.
This… this thing, this demon that now mastered over her had killed her comrades; killed her dream and her lover; yet she could not understand the turmoil within her heart as this creature in human form, looking no older than eight years of age in stature towed the line between doting and threat.
She could not understand it.
'Is this just a game to him? Or does he really mean it?' she didn't know.
Snapping her back to reality she saw him waving his tiny hand over her pink face: "remember, you're going to act as my guardian until I'm big enough to disguise as an adult."
"Like.. a mother?"
"Yes, just like that."
"Don't sweat it. I just need to grow a bit bigger before I can be convincingly an adult."
Devil's, though great shapeshifters, lacked the ability to form completely new mass. They could condense or expand, creating different forms of all shapes and sizes, but only with great control of mana and their own physique–something Rain lacked at this stage.
In his human disguise, he was still 100 centimeters tall. But instead of his heterochromic eyes, the soft lilac purple now painted both his irises. Additionally, the horn, tail claws, and any outstanding protrusions were shoved away beneath some magic.
And here they were: the front gate. It was less so a gate but more so just a post.
A guard that was stationed there walked up to them and announced, "welcome to Caprice, 50 coppers to enter."
These border towns served relatively low importance and located in places rarely crowded with monsters thus the lackluster security. This was also a primary reason they had come here. Rain lacked an identifier, and there it would be difficult to enter the main Barony without one despite being a child.
Even though she had lost much of her wealth, Syme still had the capital to afford an entrance fee. It was only a border town.
And without another look, the guard took the pouch of coppers and let them on their jolly way.