Embers (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Mu]

The man's hand moved to his weapon as soon as he saw the fire demon, catching his attention. Phynex's snarl grew louder, but he wasn't going to attack him just yet. The man seemed to know Selene, prompting Phynex to not be as wary as he usually would be. But nevertheless, he knew demons weren't accepted in the human world, and judging from his reaction, that fact was true. He watched as the blonde haired man shifted his position so that he was angled in front of her, shielding her from Phynex. Did he not know who he was? He raised an eyebrow at the action, but his defensive stance did not change in the slightest. "I asked you first," he growled menacingly at the stranger, who didn't even bother to direct the question to him, Phynex found him very rude, and he didn't like that.

His body loosened up a little at Selene's words, normally he wouldn't even bother believing a human, but it must have been the contract - he was believing and trusting her words. It was like the fire demon had spent years with her, her friend, and knew if she was lying or not. Her words were straightforward yet had a tone of comfort. Relaxing his body, he padded backwards back to his discarded book and sat down on his haunches, shooting death glares at the blonde man. The newcomer did look intimidated by his appearance, most low tier demons did, Phynex looked...strange, like a creature made out of liquid fire. And the fact that he had no ideas spooked most, and even more so when they knew he could see them anyway - through his mind.

The fire demon heard a remark from the blonde man, and Selene coldly replied to him. Hearing the word 'breakfast', he sat up and walked towards the huntress, the man's words made the demon feel protective of her. His face was like a book, he was angry at Selene for making a contract with a demon. When he grabbed the woman's wrist, Phynex began snarling again, the fierce protectiveness coming out of him. Fortunately, Selene seemed to have strength of her own and pulled away. The fire demon watched the woman approach him before mimicking the man's previous actions, angling his body towards Selene and shielding her, a grin on his face.

 

[Hana]

The man's eyes narrowed slightly at the demon's retort, which had also surprised Selene. What was Phynex doing? She stared at him as he glared down the hunter, but he didn't seem as tense or as angry towards her as he did earlier. She would have thought that seeing how hunters could be hostile and trigger-happy towards demons, as Aidan had shown, he'd be warier of her. Aidan seemed unnerved by Phynex's eyeless glare, seeming to sense his 'stare' upon him even if it should be impossible. Phynex's snarl seemed to affect the man as well, and as soon as she had pulled her wrist away he snatched his hand back as if burned. Humiliation was clear on his features as he realized his actions implying he was frightened of her partner, and in front of her as well. Are contract demons supposedly like this? She didn't miss how Phynex had mimicked the other, blocking Aidan's view of her, and she could tell he had a mocking grin on his face.

This had to be cleared now. She stepped from behind Phynex, glancing at him in warning before nodding at Aidan. The blond hunter seemed to have gotten a tick in his jaw, his hands clenching tightly as he tried not to let his fear and nervousness show. This was unprofessional of the older hunter, and both of them knew it. He stared at her and Phynex for a few more moments, an unhappy look in his eyes that could mean trouble for later. Selene took note of that, and wondered what the hunter would even try. If he tried to do anything against Phynex he would be going, in extension, against her. Selene had no delusions about the feeling that she was connected to Phynex, the contract new and strong, holding them together. Even if they were strangers, they still felt a need to help each other, a compulsion to get to know each other and work as one unit.

As for Aidan... She never trusted him. While he was indulgent and kind towards her, Selene knew that he was only doing it because he felt like he had something to gain from befriending her and all that her family name could give him. Aidan seemed to want to say something to Phynex, his brown eyes darkening, before he looked at her and hesitation sprang anew in his eyes. He seemed to think better of it, and shooting one last unhappy frown at the two, strode off and out of the building, the door slamming shut behind him.

Selene turned to Phynex, and quietly asked, "What was that?" She watched him and his face closely. The girl was still slightly startled at the sudden familiarity and defensiveness in regards to her that he had shown earlier.

 

[Mu]

The blonde man seemed terrified of him, but Phynex could see he was trying his best not to show his fear to the fire demon. In a way, Phynex was also afraid of the stranger. Right now, the only human he knew was Selene, and they were just acquaintances at best. Phynex knew nothing about the woman even though they were now connected through a contract. To be honest, she was still pretty much a stranger. Having never grown up or been around humans, he felt like he was in an alien world. Was every human's reaction going to be like this man? Frightened? Full of terror and nervousness? Phynex wasn't sure if he liked that reaction, many other demons would be happy that their appearances were frightening, but it just made Phynex feel even more lonely.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but the fear didn't let him, Phynex shot the blonde man a glare in return, his body relaxing visibly when the man left, the slam of the door echoing throughout the entire long hall. Were all humans like this? Phynex shook his head at the thought and turned his attention back to the white haired woman.

Shrugging, there was a look of confusion on his face. "Not sure myself. Who was he?" he asked, a curious tone in his voice. His tense muscles were relaxed now, now that he was alone with someone he had ties to.

 

[Hana]

"He's just another hunter," Selene replied quietly, before seeing his curiosity. Deciding to tell him a little more, she continued, "He's an acquaintance." From what she knew of Aidan, he was a relatively good hunter, though a little on the side of mediocre. She wasn't being harsh, she was being honest about the subject. He was good, and he had a decent number of kills under his belt, but she grew up with Asher Averill and his partner Kasimir. She saw things differently, though a lot of females seemed to Aidan. He was nice and 'reliable', or so she had heard, and would be a good catch for 'something steady'. What that meant, she didn't know. He was also driven to get a higher rank even at his age, he hoped to appeal to the superiors in their society, and get himself a higher pay and more opportunities. His weapon was a sword, and he was decently fast and with good reflexes, but he didn't have that killer instinct that would have caught her eye. Maybe it was because of her own rather blunt views on others that lessened her chances of friends, along with the fact she was far advanced than most her age and those even older than her. The reason Aidan had noticed her was that she was already his rank, and her attached family name. It was a bit tiring at times.

She walked over to the side of the room and took a seat on the floor, setting down the bag that contained her breakfast. Taking a sip from her cup of steaming hot coffee, she looked over at Phynex. Somehow, that she would be eating while he was watching felt a little strange. It might also be a good way to get to know the demon more. "Have you eaten something?" She asked, motioning to the bag. "We can talk while we eat, that is if you want to eat." She drank from her cup again, feeling the hot drink warm her as she did.

"If you're wondering, most humans are that way towards demons," her voice was calm as she said this. "You might not believe us, but the way we - the humans - act is because of what the demons have done to our world."

 

[Mu]

Phynex wondered if all hunters would react like that. Assuming Selene was one of them, it was possible he would run into more of these hunters. Was everyone going to shy away from him? Did his appearance really scare them that much? He didn't want to strike fear into those that he might have to work with. The fire demon looked down at his own body, among demons, he did admit he looked scary. Especially the ribcage area, he looked like a zombie! Despite how grotesque it looked, it was actually quite warm and safe, it didn't smell like rotten flesh or anything of the sort. Phynex clearly took after his father, who looked more beast. There were times the fire demon wished he looked more humanoid because they were less frightening.

He followed Selene and sat down with her, watching her with curiosity. She had pulled out a cup, and there was something that smelt delicious inside. Instinctively, he leaned forward to catch the scent with his sensitive nose. What was it? It was something human for sure, nothing smelt like this in the underworld.At her question, he shook his head, feeling his mouth starting to water. It fascinated him, that something could make him feel so hungry. The demon drooped his head so low he was practically laying down on his belly, his nose sniffing at the air around the cup Selene was holding.

"I am not surprised," Phynex knew how demons liked to invade homes that were clearly not theirs. This place must be another victim of their...relocation. Surprisingly, now Phynex wasn't as angry at the blonde man as before, knowing this fact. He must have seen a lot of demons, alien creatures that were out of this world, it was no wonder he had scared the human.

 

[Hana]

Selene eyed his lowered head and felt a little disoriented that he was sniffing at the cup. It looked as if he had never smelled coffee before, looking at his reaction. He did seem somewhat interested about the drink, at least, but she couldn't exactly let him drink from her cup. She made a mental note to buy a second drink the next time, though the mental image of a large, dragon-like demon awkwardly fumbling to drink from a tiny cup was unexpectedly amusing. She shook her head at the thought and brought out a small bun of freshly bread filled with what seemed like meat and vegetables, letting the scent waft over to Phynex. Taking it out of its wrapper and setting it on top, she pushed it towards Phynex in a gesture of relative goodwill. The bakery or cafe that she had bought it from was a part of the passing and resident hunters' lives, having fresh, nutritious foods. The shop was known for enriching their foods just for the hunters, who usually needed the boost because of their work. The original owner seemed to be oddly fond of her when she was even younger, giving her wrapped sugar cookies and telling her to smile, and stop being such a sad child whenever she passed by. Sadly, that owner had now passed, the family business now to his oldest daughter. Selene still went to buy from her whenever she was in the area every now and then.

The white-haired girl took a bite into her own food, eating in silence until he spoke up. She looked at Phynex again in surprise at his reply. Not the fact that he wasn't surprised, but the way he seemed to be accepting of the fact and not scornful or sneering about the humans at all. "Most demons would react differently," she murmured, but she was talking about the surface demons. Selene couldn't really speak for the demons who remained in the underworld, but the ones who were now on earth certainly liked going about as if they owned all of it.

"We'll be gauging your abilities for this week, and I'll see how I can work with them. And you." She stated, already thinking of what to test him on. "Though they might assign a list of targets for me to complete before a set date, once I have an idea of you we can go together. Otherwise I will be training and teaching you and going off alone separately."

 

[Mu]

Phynex watched curiously at her movements, she had pulled out something else from the bag, filled with an even more delicious scent. The fire demon didn't even notice he was drooling, his eyeless face following the thing she was holding like a predator keeping tabs on its prey. It smelt even better than the liquid in the cup, this smelt fresh and like - if he may say - the heavens. From what he could see, there was something bright green inside, similar to the 'trees' he had a glimpse of out the window. Then, the most delicious smelling of it all, was the meat. The flesh of some animal that didn't smell horrid like demons! He sniffed it eagerly, he knew he was being rude and possibly intruding on her personal space, but he couldn't contain himself. He watched as she removed the plastic around it and moved it towards him. Intrigued, the fire demon peered at it. It looked so tiny compared to the huge clawed hand resting beside it. Wanting to savour and remember the smell of the strange food, he quickly gobbled it down, disappearing into his gullet within seconds. Phynex's face literally glowed - the heat on his face intensifying as the strange lava like substance that solidified his body glowed like a light out of satisfaction. He licked his crude teeth with a long tongue, "That was delicious," he admitted, the light on his face still yet to die down. "What meat was that?" Phynex cocked his head at the huntress, genuinely curious. Back in Phantisamine, the meats were rough and hard to swallow. Compared to what he had just eaten - even though it was small compared to the meats at home - it was a million times better.

He shuffled around, making himself more comfortable. "Most demons do not view humans as higher or equal beings," he murmured. Humans back in the underworld were considered scum, like peasants compared to the demon species, but there were many supporters or neutral demons who didn't want to be part of the war. Some fought for equality and others for peace and an end to the ongoing war. A few humans had found their way to hell before, who knows how, illegal portals or rituals gone wrong, the rumors Phynex had heard regarding their fate were not pretty.

"My...abilities?" he stared at her. "I am not sure if it will compliment anyone's skillset. Fire has a life of its own, it is very hard to control, even for me." It was true. Even though Phynex was born in the fire category - and earth, but he never got a basic grasp of the element - fire was easy to master but extremely difficult to control. One's emotions played a big part, you needed to be calm and fuel the fire with these neutral emotions. Fire used by angered users is far more dangerous and unpredictable.

 

[Hana]

Selene watched him scarf down the small morsel, compared to his size, with a slightly raised eyebrow. From all his reactions, the girl was getting more and more of an idea of what hell was like. Not that anyone would expect Earth and Hell to have exactly the same things, but from how Phynex reacted it was as if he never ate anything like that before. Even the meat. "Beef," she replied shortly, before noticing his curiosity. "From an animal that grazes on grass - like the green that grows on the ground that you see," she explained further. The girl eyed his glowing face oddly, her eyes unintentionally slipping a little childlike fascination and amusement. The lava in his body seemed to be like a visual indicator of his mood, and she was getting the distinct feeling of 'satisfaction' emanating from him. "There are many different meat in this world, and that is only one of them," she shrugged. Selene was feeling a little bewildered that she would be talking much, much more than usual and of food of all things. "Though I much prefer the fruits and the vegetables - the greens in what you had." As a child, she had been a somewhat picky eater, only liking fruits and sweet things, though she would obediently eat whatever her father had on the table. All hunters had to have a balanced, and even more enriched, diet than humans did as they were grew up. Now that she had chosen to live by herself, she still tried, though Jasper's nagging was enough of a reminder.

"Yes, as we all know," she stated wryly, though the topic contained little humor. Demons did treat humans like the scum of the earth, even if they were the ones intruding in the first place. And in return, the humans loathed, hated, and feared the demons for how they would so thoughtlessly slaughter and pillage human lives. It was a cycle of hatred, Kasimir had oh so helpfully explained, that fed on each other's negativity. Unless someone made a point to stand up to both sides of the prejudices, nothing would happen to the human world. That didn't matter to the hunters. Their work was to exterminate and purge - or, as much as they could now, minimize the demon's influence and oppression.

She finished her own food, and realizing that there were still some buns left over, pushed them over to Phynex. Sipping on her coffee, which had started to cool, she noted distastefully, she raised an eyebrow. "I am well aware. But you, you can and have potential to control your power. I would not have summoned you if I didn't think that you can. Your earth affinity also adds some stability and a sense of grounding to your volatile fire nature." That was why Phynex had more potential than a pure fire demon, in her opinion. The earth in him would add something more stable and steady to him, though he would always be rather volatile by the dominance of his fire over him. "And I can see that you are capable of calming down, as you have shown earlier."

 

[Mu]

"Beef?" His repetition of the word sounded like a child learning how to speak. He tried to imagine this creature, a herbivore. All he could imagine were creatures similar to demons. Were these creatures large or small? What kind of habitat did they live in? How much grass could they eat? How could a herbivore animal taste so damn good? When the huntress mentioned that this 'beef' was only one in many types of meats, Phynex became excited. Were they all as delicious as beef? He wanted to try every single one. He had so many questions, his curiosity taking over him. Phynex wanted to feel the human's version of grass underneath his feet, see these creatures that he couldn't ever hope to imagine and see the human world for himself. He wanted to get to know this alien world, this strange world that had swallowed him up and refused to spit him back to the underworld. Since he was going to be staying here, why shouldn't he look around and explore? "Fruits..." Phynex echoed, thinking about the shriveled things they called fruits that grew in Phantisamine. The bore little fruit and their flavours were very ranged. His mind went back to the taste of the meat, were the fruits of the human world just like that as well? He shuffled his arms and legs, almost irritated at the fact that there could be so many variants of fruits and meats in this world and he didn't know what any of them tasted like except beef.

He bowed his head at the silence. He found it so strange that he could just sit next to this human female so easily and not feel the need to tear her apart on sight. The contract was powerful magic indeed, if it could suppress these repulsive feelings. Demons were so hateful of the humans they wouldn't hesitate to rip them apart and take advantage of them. Demons destroyed the human population and the humans hated them for it.

Licking his lips at the sight of more of the...things, he quickly gobbled them down, savoring the flavour of the beef that was so juicy and tender and perfect, unlike anything he had ever tasted. Phynex left one of them alone, pushing it back towards the huntress with a careful talon. He cocked his head at the white haired huntress, "Surely, drinking liquids is not a filling breakfast," he murmured softly. He had always been surprised someone his size could produce a sound like that. It was too gentle, it made him look like a soft giant. The fire demon snorted, puffing out clouds of smoke as he did so, "You seem to know my capabilities very well. Where did you get such information?" he asked, suspiciousness leaking into his voice.

 

[Hana]

"I'll get fruits later," Selene tilted her head, watching Phynex shift, her eyes following his movements. He seemed so much like a child who was impatient to get out and try new things. While she was still feeling amused, nothing had prompted a smile from her yet, other than slightly raised brows and a quirk of her lips. It had always been rather difficult for people to see much expressions from her, hence the kind elderly man from the cafe, with his round, pink face and that fatherly smile found it a challenge. Whenever she smiled, it always seemed to be directed towards Jasper and his innocence. Her friend had always been so innocent and so... normal, that his jumpiness and his unending kindness towards her would make her smile.

... She had counted. Whenever she was with Jasper she would smile at least thrice for every hour she was with him. Though nowadays, he seemed to be acting oddly about her smiling. And just as well, both of them had been having a trying few months. Jasper was coming to realize how much would lie ahead for him, to be so young and expected to rise a company from its humble beginnings that his family and the humans had started. He was a precious life, and many demons would want to kill him before he even had a chance to make a change. Now that was why Selene wanted higher-profile missions.

To protect Jasper's smile, and prolong his innocence, she would have to gain more access to the missions that mattered. Information that she could use to seek out any growing threats to him and to the humans. He would grow and he would learn, but as long as she was capable she would protect him.

A thoughtful silence passed over her, before she shook herself from it and watched Phynex eat. The silence between them wasn't yet truly comfortable, both of them still not knowing the other enough, but it wasn't truly tense either. It was like both of them were expecting new things from the other, and wondering how to cope to it. A talon pushed a piece of the bread into the line of her sight, and she peered up at him mildly. The soft tone coming from a demon with his appearance surprised her, made her pause and reconsider what kind of person he was. While she knew he was capable of calming down and listening to her reason out, it was as if he actually cared. She didn't know what to think about that. "This liquid raises one's energy for an amount of time," she replied, but took the offered bread. It was an oddly touching gesture, to give her the last piece, when demons were usually just as ravenous about food as they were about treasures and sex.

She nibbled on the edges of the food and watched him as he snorted, suspicion lacing his voice. A little disappointed that he was so quick to change gears to suspicion after that oddly caring tone earlier, she frowned slightly. She knew she couldn't blame him, she was strangely well informed of him after all thanks to Kasimir, but she replied, "I had gotten a list of abilities and potentials from someone." Her tone implied that she wouldn't be revealing more to him for now.

 

[Mu]

Phynex's eyes glowed immediately at the mention of fruits, happy she was going to introduce the fire demon to these strange but good tasted foods. There were so many things he wanted to see and try out for himself. What use would it be, to learn about this strange new world through stories of travelling demons and rumors? Why read about it from a book in the old libraries when now he had the chance to see it all for himself for the first time? He wondered if his parents would be proud, if they hadn't been murdered by their own kind. Wherever they were now, Phynex sometimes believed in the afterlife, he hoped they were happy. Maybe the fire demon didn't turn out like they wanted to, but now he was ready to set things right. No more travelling and no more wandering a path leading to nowhere. Perhaps in this human city, Phynex could find his own path.

He did something that was reminiscent of a human raising their eyebrows, the lava changing direction and becoming lighter than the rest of his face. "A drink that can boosts energy levels for a certain amount of time?" He was speechless. Was there such a thing in the human world? Now he was even more curious, it already smelt so good, knowing that it had such...powers, it fascinated him. Phynex couldn't even imagine the taste, all he had ever drunk himself were the strange lava he indigested to build up his body and the murky waters of the underworld. The fire demon heard about the crystal clear waters of youth inside the Archdemon's palace, but they were closed off to the public for obvious reasons.

"A list..." he pondered, he was about to push on the topic for more information. But judging by the woman's tone, she didn't seem willing to give him anything else. Unsatisfied, he sighed. "Why pick me? Because I had potential?" he asked her, puffing out another cloud of smoke that slowly drifted upwards towards the roof.

 

[Hana]

Selene stared at Phynex calmly, her eyes now unreadable, before asking, "Would I have summoned you if I didn't think you had potential?" Her tone was rational, and maybe unintentionally stand-offish. She was used to saying what she thought when she wanted to, though she knew how to evade questions and use half-truths when she had to. She shrugged one shoulder in an effortless, oddly elegant gesture for a young girl of fifteen. She watched the smoke float up towards the roof, before she finished her coffee and cleaned up the wrappers, putting them back in the take out bag. Standing up, she nodded to Phynex. "I will be taking you outside, stay close to me," she stated, voice commanding. A dragonlike demon walking the streets of the city would frighten the humans, but it wasn't like they hadn't seen demons before. It was the hunters she had to be concerned about, and if the demon obviously followed after another hunter, they would think twice of trying anything.

She would be taking him to a clearing that was free of mostly flammable trees and grass, and had a source of water nearby. That would be enough for any accidents. In the afternoon she might have to see to talking to Jasper - it was her birthday, after all - but for now she was content and determined to get a gauge on Phynex. He should be ready for what I am going to try. It was a bold decision, but she would have to test his reflexes. His reaction time and how he could avoid her. She would be using her guns... But she wouldn't aim for the vital places, she was a master at shooting already and knew how to angle her shots so that they would only startle and graze him. Then if he showed at least minimal skill in dodging fast-moving projectiles like bullets and knives, she would go up against him.

After that would be the real testing. She really wanted to see how well he could control his fire and what other things he would have up his sleeve. Did he use some kind of weapon? Once she knew enough, she would start a training regimen for him to try with her so they would be comfortable with fighting side by side. Coordinating their attacks. Selene already had a training regimen for herself in place that pushed her to her limits, even if she had already mostly mastered her own weapons, but she could lessen that to just conditioning her while she learned to work with Phynex. It would only strengthen her in the long run.

 

[Mu]

His face glowed darker, a contrast to the light showing his satisfaction, Phynex was embarrassed. He awkwardly shuffled about, "I suppose not..." he muttered to himself. She seemed very serious about her job, he could tell from her tone and attitude, and he'd seen this sort of behavior during his travels in the underworld. To be honest, the fire demon didn't exactly like these sort of people. They made him feel uncomfortable and most of the time he would it was his fault for asking such a weird or stupid question that to them; had an obvious answer. But mentioning the word 'outside', his mood brightened up, though he could feel his stomach twist about nervously. "Will that be okay? Me...walking outside?" Phynex was pretty big, far bigger than the white haired woman standing in front of him. She could sit in his palms, if she wanted to. Wouldn't the sight of him terrify the citizens? Wouldn't they be like the blonde man from earlier?

Yet at the same time he felt elated at the fact he was finally able to see the outside world. These marble floors and tall windows were the only thing he'd been confined in ever since he arrived. What did the human world look like? Was it barren like Phantisamine, or as crowded and busy as the cities of the archdemons? Humans walking about heading off to work or to do errands, shopping for whatever humans needed their lives...Phynex couldn't wait. He shyly followed Selene, making sure to stick close to her. In an alien world, there was no doubt something was going to scare him - even for someone his size - Selene was the only person in the whole wide world he knew on the human plain, and knowing she'll be by him comforted and soothed the nerves.

 

[Hana]

The place that they were in now was still in the hunter area, but it had much fewer people and the building was rarely used. She eyed the darker glow on his face oddly, wondering what was up with him now. Walking over to the door, the takeout bag still in hand so she would dispose of it, Selene nodded. "You'll be fine with me." He needn't fear, at least she would be there to withhold of any questioning, though she couldn't do much for the possible glares or frightened stares. Walking back, she hesitated for a moment before bringing her pale hand close to his face. The surface might be hot and burn her hand... She drew back, but the gesture was meant to be comforting, if a little awkward. Selene wasn't really used to this comforting business unless it was her best friend.

She said, in a gentler tone, "Just remember that I'm with you and they would think better of trying anything." Was that better? She didn't know, but she was trying. Besides, she found that her usual expression and the way she moved set people on edge and made them keep their distance. It was a little lonely... But it was useful. The girl looked towards the door again, then back at Phynex. "I do hope we'll be able to help you achieve your human form soon, you'll have a much easier time." Selene didn't know what she was doing trying to go for a gentler tone, almost similar to the soft voice she spoke with in private with Jasper, but she didn't realize she sounded more like a young girl than she usually did. Usually, she sounded far older than her years, even with her youthful voice.

 

[Mu]

Phynex flinched at her hand, she had the delicate skin of a human. Humans were flammable, even he knew that. Without having enough time to change the temperature of his skin, and thinking she was going to lay her hand upon his face, Phynex yelped as his head shot backwards to avoid the potential fate of Selene losing her hand. He could tell she wasn't the comforting type...at least not to most people. Feeling awkward, he quickly pulled down the body temperature of his body. He was a controller and manipulator of fire, since his own body was made out of fire itself, it meant Phynex could freely control how hot his body could be. At times it could feel just like fresh magma from an erupting volcano, enough to burn anyone alive - but also dangerous to himself - and at times it could feel as if you were touching warm water from a bathtub. Phynex could not actually contort the matter that made his body and shape it, like he could with other sources of fire, as it was life endangering.

A little embarrassed about the way he reacted to her movement earlier, he realised how he was behaving. Back in Phantisamine, he wasn't like a shy, awkward, young teenage demon. He was five hundred, a young adult at least. When was the last time he felt so awkward and nervous around a female? He couldn't even remember. For goodness sake, Phynex felt like a child all over again. He cocked his head at her, "Human form? Can I achieve that? That sort of shapeshifting is a very hard magic to master for demons," he murmured, remembering the books he had read during his journey. Demons had to learn how to transform - or disguise - as a human, and even so, it would leave a mark behind. They called it a demon's mark. For example, a wolf like demon in a human disguise could elongated fangs, or a long muzzle or a tail, they were small signs but they were big giveaways.

 

[Hana]

Now there was definitely an awkward air around them, Selene thought as she saw him yelp and flinch from her hand. That actually stung a little, though she knew he might have done it because he was wary of hurting her as well. A little embarrassment flickered briefly across her face in response to his own bashfulness. Focusing back at the matter on hand, she pursed her lips and stared at him. It would be a lonely existence for Phynex if he couldn't get himself to control his flames enough that he can't touch others at all. Though, if he could feel lonely was debatable... She didn't know him that well to tell. At his question, she nodded. "The demon partners usually take a human form for their hunters," she murmured. "There is... A certain technique that would speed the process you can gain a human form," there, she hesitated. The process was very painful, since it sped up a process that should be taken slower, or at least that was what the demons told their partners, knowledge that had been passed around. Some hunters actually forced it on their partners in the past, or at least they tried. You can never force a demon to do things, even if you were their contract. It never ended well.

She wasn't someone who would force something on others, despite what people said about her and her ruthlessness at a young age. And he was going to be her partner. She understood that much that for a partnership to work, both sides had to be on good terms with each other. That wasn't even including the deeper understanding than most that she had of magic relating to demons, considering what her family was, and who taught her growing up. Transformation and shapeshifting magics were taken seriously in the demon world, despite the human idealization that transformation was a mere parlour trick for demons. Transformation changed the way the demon's body was into something else, into a version that they would have had had they been born human. And demons' bodies and their souls were closely tied, if something went wrong it could be grievous.

"Never mind that." She moved past the topic quickly, and nodded to the door. "Let's go," she said shortly, looking away. They had much to do. She went to the door and opened it, heading out. Standing by the entrance, she kept an eye out on the humans and the hunters, few as they were, in the area, as she waited for him to come out.

 

[Mu]

The fire demon stared back meekly, an awkward smile spreading on his face, revealing sharp teeth used for tearing out flesh and mauling enemies. Phynex had a strong jaw and a fearsome bite, even without the poisons that many others had. The organ at the end of his tail was just the same, but with thinner and longer teeth that really hut. "Does it come naturally? A human form, that is," Phynex wondered if this was another magic of the contract. Demons were powerful with magic, but there were some even prodigies needed to practise for years and years before they could master it. Transformation was one of them. The easiest level was to transform into another demon from the same element...but humans was an entire different story. It also took a heavy toll on the body, and rumor has it that if a demon transformed into too many different species of demons it could affect one's lifespan. Nobody was brave enough to mess with that sort of magic after hearing such a rumor. Prior to the contract, Phynex didn't give much interest or thought into transformation. In Phantisamine, everyone was around his size, unlike the human world where he towered above them. He was happy with his body, it was like a miniature version of his fathers. But seeing how people were terrified of him, and how big he was, he contemplated about getting a disguise. He studied Selene, thinking about the hunters she had mentioned earlier. If they slew and got rid of the demons that infested this place, wouldn't it mean they were trained to see demon's marks? What was the point, then? As this humongous draconic being he was going to be attacked by a scared hunter, and as a human with a demon's mark he would suffer the same fate.

Following close behind Selene, he cast the room one last look, the marble floor and the tall windows, before turning his head to peer at the outside world. He flinched from the sunlight that poured in. It was warm, it was bright and it was unlike anything he had ever seen before. For all of his lifetime, Phynex had lived in hell where the sun was no such thing, there was no such thing as sunshine and nothing as bright as this. The light was dim and tinged with red, and the only bright things he'd ever seen were the insects of the forests or the light from fire. He could feel a gust of air - also rare in the underworld - cooling his body and making him gape his mouth in wonder. The air here was so fresh, so clear. It cleansed his mind. No smoke or smog or toxic pollens of the forests, but energising wind. Phynex could feel energy building and welling up inside his body. He'd never felt so free! He was jumping with excitement, eager to see what was beyond the blinding sunlight.

 

[Hana]

Selene blinked a few times to confirm if she was actually seeing right, eyeing the sight before her blankly. Her expression wasn't exactly shocked, but seeing a large, draconic demon of lava and rock bouncing around so excitedly should be enough for anyone to feel even a little disconcerted. And considering his large size... Yes, we are such a sight, I'm sure. Selene thought wryly, picturing it in her mind. A white-haired girl with a blank expression on her face standing next to an excited, fearsome looking demon who showed much more emotion than the human. Even with her dark clothing and the aloof yet observant look on her face, with her sharp eyes watching, what still drew the eye was Phynex. As it was, she could already tell that the humans in the area had breathed in sharply, and a quick scan showed that all eyes in the immediate area were now on her and Phynex. She could sympathize with them. Looking at Phynex oddly reminded her of a child who was excited to go out and see everything. She wondered if he would even ask her to let him try different foods.

She really had to let him learn to transform into a humanlike form. Her senses had pricked at a few feelings of hostility and shock sharply directed at Phynex, though there was curiosity and wariness directed towards the white-haired girl who stood so close to him. They probably wondered why she wasn't afraid of the claws and talons, or something like that. Still...

The look of wonder on Phynex's face starkly stood out in Selene's mind. Had she ever worn a similar look on her face, of unabashed enjoyment, pleasant surprise, and joy towards the world? An odd feeling, almost like an ache, was in her chest that she brushed off, though she would always remember his look upon his first sighting of the human world. It only highlighted how different his own world was to hers, but not... In a bad way, surprisingly.

But Selene was wary. She had a reason to be. It felt like there were hostile presences quickly heading towards them, and she subtly moved in front of Phynex, her violet eyes darting around watchfully.

 

[Mu]

Phynex could see the emerald green trees and the looming buildings from afar, their bright lights flickering and people through the glass panes that protected the humans and prevented them from falling off. There were strange things in the sky with motionless wings yet they could fly and glide just as he could. He could see smaller versions of the strange things with a long tail and long ears that spun and spun and made a funny noise that reminded him of galloping horses. He noticed the surrounding people turn their heads towards them, their eyes staring at the two of them, a strange sight - a huge demon and a human girl together who didn't look scared of him whatsoever. He could see little people walking around in dark clothes, he could see colourful winged creatures singing songs so beautiful they could soothe all of his pain, there were tiny white flowers and other kinds growing everywhere. They were so small and delicate compared to the ones in the forests of the underworld, where they produced nasty pollen and liked to eat flesh.

Yet at the same time, amongst the feelings of shock and surprise and pure excitement at the sight of this new world, he could feel the eyes of humans on him. Some were fearful, some were with hostility and others with utter shock. While Phynex was jumping about snapping at nearby flowers or at the winged creatures flying by, most of the humans nearby were following his every movement.

It took a while for the fire demon to calm down, he calmed himself and glanced at the passersby, his tail still wagging from over excitement. Phynex could sense the human's displeasure at his presence, and noticed how Selene had moved in front of him. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a young man, brown hair blue eyes, nock an arrow into the beautifully crafted bow he had grasped in his other hand.

 

[Hana]

She spotted the nocked arrow in the hunter's hand and narrowed her eyes, a silent glare directed to him. Hadn't he noticed how Phynex who he was aiming at wasn't even harming her, who was the closest in proximity? The man was to the left of them, not to the front, and her eyes spoke to the other hunter in silent warning. Most of the people her knew her and her rumored talent, but no one really trusted her. She supposed it was the way she moved. Kasimir had told her she was a natural-born assassin and killer, making her wonder if that was really a good thing if the gifted instincts and gliding movements she had just put people, who were supposed to be just like her, on edge. The way she made moving seem so liquid and effortless, and her exceptional instincts when it came to fighting. There had been no one like her that they had ever faced, the instructors had said in hushed voices. Even as a small girl she gave the largest and strongest trainee hunters a challenge, and eventually she was able to give as good as she got and surpass them. Her hits were focused and precise, nothing wasted and every movement flowing 'beautifully' into the next.

It had put more than a few unpleasant attentions on her from others. Selene supposed, in a way, she had been disappointed and disillusioned with the other hunters. When she had first come with the other young ones, she had expected she would at least have friends. Every child wanted a friend. Since they all had the same purpose learning to hunt demons and fight, maybe they could relate to each other? Have something to talk about? But in the end, she had been disillusioned by the ones who had targeted her and singled her out. Some, she had learned, had only ever joined as a hunter because they wanted the glory and money that came with the work. When those students entered, they were in for a world of hurt. Money that was substantial was only paid to the upper-ranked hunters, the ones who had low ranks not even managing to get paid enough as the civilian clerks and waiters, or other menial jobs. Their work was on the filthy and frankly more pathetic demons in the alleys who terrorized humans, taking advantage of the reputation their stronger kin had gained. It was, frankly, a janitor job. They cleaned up the filth of the land.

"You noticed," Selene murmured lowly enough for only Phynex to hear. Her voice had become flat, the only hint to her displeasure. She eyed the hunter with the bow critically, not even hiding the critical look in her eyes as she looked at his bow. It almost looked like something more for show with how carved and decorated it was. There were beautiful weapons that were for show and there were beautiful weapons that could actually hurt. She knew, she could appreciate the glinting of a beautifully forged and crafted blade and make it sing in her hands. With a subtle quirking of her brow, she silently challenged the older hunter.