Chapter 8

"Weak, pathetic, worthless."

"You're wrong."

"Mistake, dead weight, cry baby."

"You're wrong."

"You should just die."

"I'll kill you all!"

Vain woke up slowly, then looked at his surrounding, he was still beside the bed, sitting, and the girls were still asleep. So he got up slowly, put on his glove, and coat. Later picking his sword up and attaching it to the left side of his waist. Once it was firmly in place, he left the room quietly, and came down the stairs into the dining room. He sat at the counter, in front of the owner, and place a silver coin down.

The owner placed a mug in front of him and poured in some beer, before taking the coin. He was a tall man, with a brown mustache and beard, and wore neat white shirt and black pants. Vain drank out of the mug, before placing it back down, and stared into it. The owner was worry about him so he asked him a question.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't worry about me."

"Are you sure? I know many men who walked in here with that same look. Getting a drink and sitting down quietly while staring into it every now and then."

"Yeah I'm perfectly fine. Just waiting for my wife and a friend to wake."

"I see, if you have any problems I'm more then happy to listen."

Then a little girl about three feet tall, with blonde hair in a torn green dress covered in leaves, came into the inn. She was panting hard, looking around frantically, and when she spot Vain she ran over to him. She then stood next to Vain as he drank out of his mug trying not to get involve.

"U-Um... please I need your help."

"Why?"

Before she could speak, five small imp demons burst through the door. They flew towards the little girl, but were then push back and pinned to the walls, by their necks, by a big black mass. Which was Vain's shadow hand, the fingers grew in size, and turned into two-pronged spears . Their heads were held in between the gaps and if Vain wanted he could snap it close, making it an instant guillotine. Vain was still sitting down and finish his drink before looking to the owner, and giving him another silver coin.

"Mind taking her up to the room? It's about to get messy."

With a nod, he held the girl's hand gently, and led her upstairs. Once they were out of sight, Vain turn his attention to his guests.

"Now... talk or would you prefer I end it here?"

"Why would we tell a human anything? If we did, you would not understand us."

"That so?"

His pinky brought the spear tips together, chopping the head off of its body, blood dye the walls and floor, and his pinky finger retracted back into his coat.

"Having a magic translator comes in handy. Since you won't tell me anything, I'll figure it out myself."

He then snaps the lasts of his shadow finger spears, cutting all their heads off, and making quite a bloody mess. To the point that even he was covered in the blood. He looked at himself and let out a sigh.

"Can't go to the room like this. Unless I want her to cry, I'd better clean up."

The shadow begin stretching and envelope the mess as well as Vain. When they return to their original position everything was clean. There was no bodies, blood, and stains. When the owner came back down, he was surprise at how spotless, and empty the place was. It was like it never happen and that everything was merely an illusion. Vain then walked pass him and up the stairs into the room. He saw both Luvia and Freena embracing her, as tears stream down her cheeks nonstop.

It seem her family were travelling here from where they lived. As the kingdom was doing well and prospering, they figure they could make a good living here. But were soon ambush by demons and bandits along the road. She was the only one to escape, running frantically through bushes, and trees. Tearing her dress and even injuring herself slightly as she made her way to town.

Once she made it to the gate, her pursuers disappear, and the guards station there heard her story. Since she had no one to rely on and no relatives the guards suggest she go stay at the church, which acted as an orphanage. They wanted to escort her there, but since they were still on duty, they only gave her directions. 

She was on her way there when she felt someone was staring at her. She saw the demons hiding in the shadows and immediately started sprinting. After a while of running she wasn't sure where she was going so, seeing a brightly lit entrance to a building, she ran towards it and enter. Everything else that happen Vain explained it.

After the chat was done, the girl went to sleep, and Luvia tucked her in the bed. They didn't want to leave her alone since she might get attacked again. So Vain decided to take Freena out to do some jobs while Luvia watched over her.

As they left, Freena look at the inn behind them before catching up with Vain.

"Will they be fine?"

"They'll be fine. Luvia is more then capable of protecting herself and others."

"I see, wait what happen to the beasts she tame?"

"Zec released them for her, not to long ago."

"Why?"

"Who knows? That's just the way she is."

"I see... then why am I going with you?"

"If Luvia was around, she stop me from killing and some of these commissions require you to kill. So I usually do them alone when we're in places like these. And since you don't want me paying for your room. It's better if I get you to earn some money with me."

Freena gave a worry look at Vain and said, "Ah... so what are we going to do?"

"Whatever we can find at the mercenary guild."

Within a few minutes of walking they arrive at a big building, upon entering Vain walk to the board, and looked around for something good. Freena hid in front of Vain, wondering why, he looked around, and notice a lot of the men were staring at her. Vain took off his coat and placed it on Freena's head. She looked up at him curiously, but he didn't look at her, and continue searching for something. Even more eyes stare at them as Vain's missing left arm drew more attention.

Some women and men in the place grew curious about him. While all the men that were staring at Freena gain some courage and walked up to them.

"Wouldn't a beauty like you be safer with me?"

"No she's clearly safer with someone like me."

They bicker with one another and Vain was getting annoyed of it. So he took a piece of paper off the board and handed it to the receptionist. He looked at it before looking back at Vain and noticing his missing arm grew concern.

"Wouldn't this request be a bit too hard for you sir? Subjugating a horde of demons and bandits along with one dragon won't be easy."

Before Vain could answer, a woman barge into the place, and answer for him.

"He'll be fine. Just give it to him."

When he turn around, he saw Lumia and Yuni standing by the entrance. The receptionist nodded at Lumia's response and filled out the paperwork. Once done he handed Vain a map with the location marked. Vain took it, before he and Lumia walk by each other.

"I thought you were suppose to be a bodyguard."

"I am, but it doesn't stop me from showing off to her."

A wide grin grew on her face as she said that and Vain left the building. While Lumia went to the board to find something to do. Vain and Freena made their way to the town gate, when something crash into him, and slammed him through several buildings. When he finally stop, he had smash through ten buildings, and Freena apologize to the tenants as she walk through. When she finally caught up to Vain, Luvia was in his place with the little girl in her arms.

"Um... where is Vain?"

"Vain? Ah, s-sorry darling!"

She stood up immediately and they stare at where she was before. Though there was only rubble, it then moved slightly, and a few seconds later Vain emerged out of it. He stood up slowly, so as not to throw debris around, and looked at the three girls staring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to be so calm."

"Really? It was just my wife. I wouldn't get mad at her."

Vain answer Freena's remark calmly as he dust the dirt off his clothes. Then a giant demon with black wings, a human body, big horns like a bull, and long nails stood in front of them.

"So... do you understand how powerful I am now? I actually didn't expect you to survive that attack. Guess I'll have to feast on the child after I've eaten you."

That last word was all they heard before the demon instantly disappear from sight and the sound of smashing buildings could be heard. Vain landed on the ground in front of them and he had an angry expression. He then summon his devouring left arm and drew his sword. Before he spoke, Luvia cover the girl's ear so she couldn't hear the words Vain was about to say.

"You son of a b***h, we'll see who eats who! Now f*****g come at me, I'm not through with you!"

The demon then stood up and gave Vain a fierce snarl.

"You foolish human, I'll turn your entire body into dusts! Someone as filthy as you doesn't deserve to be eaten!"

"Right back at ya, s**t breath! I'll turn you into one fine son of a carpet right here!"

Luvia laugh and smile worriedly while saying, "C-carpet? Um... weren't you going to eat him before? Why change to a carpet?"