Embers (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Mu]

Phynex wasn't sure if he would like wielding lighter ones, he'd grown up used to the heavy weight of his glaive and how to use it to his advantage, when to use it and how to hold it without making himself topple over. But when he tried to imagine him as human, around the same size as Selene, wielding something that heavy...he could see why she was willing to teach him swordplay. There was nothing wrong with knowing how to use multiple weapons, right?

For some reason, Selene's words were encouraging and gentle to his ears. It was like she could see what he could become, his potential and how he could take his abilities to the next step. Phynex could see it, beasts made of fire chasing down on runaway demons, their manes and claws and talons and wings made of flickers of orange tongues, defying logic and honing on demons...it seemed almost fictional to the fire demon, even if he knew this could be possible if he tried. Compared to his hand, the flame looked tiny. But it was a tiny ball of energy, of fire, of a live giving element. Fire gave light, fire was a symbol of rebirth and renewal. The element seemed to easy to learn by book and eyes, but it was controlling and wielding it as a weapon that was difficult. One shouldn't force fire to do one's bidding, but to guide it in a direction, that was what Phynex had learnt, overhearing one of the older fire demons during his travels. He had seen the travelling circus of the demons, and watched the fire demon of the circus do tricks so beautiful, he could hardly believe it was something harsh and dangerous like fire.

He could see Selene analyzing his every move, the way he shot fire out of his mouth, the way he positioned himself and the way he changed the flames. As usual, he felt a little embarrassed, but he was getting more and more comfortable with her presence. He wasn't as cautious and wary as before. Was he coming to trust the huntress? Didn't companions trust each other?

The fire demon blushed at her compliment, distinguishing the rest of the fire quickly. "I am sure there are other demons far more talented than me," he admitted bluntly. He was a child compared to those demons, who had millenniums to practice their art form. Serpent like dragons made of fire flying through the sky, huge eagles being created by these demons and allowed to roam free and fly beyond the border...it was truly a marvelous sight. If he did have this 'talent', no one had ever told him. When his parents were alive, he had been practicing the basics - control of pre-existing sources of fire. Only after their deaths did he learn how to create his own sources, and that in itself was difficult.

"If you are afraid of touching me or my fire, you needn't worry." He pointed at his head, where the lava was swirling, alive. "I can control the temperature of my body and my flames, once I get used to your touch, it won't be dangerous to you anymore." He didn't want to burn her hands off, the least he could do was allow the huntress to be able to touch his skin and feel a tingling warmth.

 

[Hana]

"Talent given is talent to be used," Selene replied just as bluntly to his reply, repeating what she had been told again and again. "There are always some people born with more ability than others, but you make do with what you are given. You succeed through your own ability and willingness to achieve." Some certain people would be angry at her words, considering the position she had been born in. She was born an Averill, a weapons prodigy, by far the most talented hunter to have been born in this generation. And in some rumors, even several generations. Her magical capacity was the highest in her age group, she was the most powerful teenager reputedly. The fact that she had managed to create several containment spells and runes to keep a rampaging fire demon from hurting her, on top of using powerful summoning magic, was proof of that. Some summonings required several hunters to even maintain any barriers and to summon.

But she wouldn't have achieved it all if she had been lazy, would she? If it weren't for her father and Kasimir, Selene wouldn't even know where to begin. She had heard stories of prodigies who weren't guided and even shunned for being different, forced to take different paths or to languish away. Her title which had been quickly gaining notoriety, the Huntress, wouldn't have happened if she hadn't worked so hard to track down the trails of the demons on her list and commit to taking them down, not taking rest or stopping until she did. She had been called by many other names already. The Averill Princess, which was by far her least favorite. It sounded pretentious and it didn't feel... Right. Had there been more Averills remaining, she bet she wouldn't even have that title. The Blade Dancer, which was... Ridiculous?

She eyed his odd blush again. To think that a fire demon with such an appearance was even capable of it... It was strangely fascinating. Maybe she should do whatever she did to make others blush more if it was only her partner. "Think of your own abilities and try not to compare yourself to others too much," she murmured in a quieter tone. "Between the two of us, you and your talent matter to me more than even the most talented fire demon from Phantisiamine or even a thousand other talented fire demons. You're here, for one thing, and you're my partner," she stated dryly, her expression deadpan afterwards, one eyebrow raised slightly and her soft lips in a straight line.

Selene blinked at his surprising offer, considering he flinched away the first time she drew her hand closer. But she did startle him that time. He may not have been prepared. After a moment of hesitation, she mumbled, "Alright. You won't burn my hands off." This was probably a big thing for him, to even let her touch him. It was probably something that would bridge the trust between them. Raising her hand again, she kept her expression calm and hopefully, not too threatening. Her poker face was intimidating, as Jasper had always said. After a moment, she touched her hand to his cheek.

 

[Mu]

Phynex nodded silently, that was a good philosophy. He shouldn't be feeling embarrassed if she complimented his abilities. He acknowledged that he could use some practise, but he had to make do with what he had and improve on them in order to survive in this world. He needed to be a good partner for Selene, her seeing potential in him was warming and touching, she was possibly the first one to ever say that. Phynex had always thought he was just an regular demon with regular powers, to hear such encouraging words from a human were strange but made him feel better than ever. Now that the fire demon had a contract with the huntress, he knew he had to try his best and give every task one hundred percent - if he wanted to improve more and more. Phynex wanted to control fire until there was nothing to learn - but that was it, fire was alive, a being in itself. There were always new things and techniques to learn and try and master. Instead of bending his fire into shapes, he could do so much more, create giant colossal walls of flaming tongues that could block anything, maybe build up a resistance to his mortal weakness; water.

He smiled at her, he would do just that. He wasn't in Phantisamine anymore, where fire demons roamed all over the place and had such varying levels of skill when it came to the control of fire, some made him feel better about himself and some made him feel worse when he compared what they could do to his own skills. There was no point, in this world, there were going to be demons he'd never seen or demons from other elemental natures. Phynex felt glad that his partner could make him feel this significant. His view on humans had been severely twisted. Some of them were beastly and demonic, some were kind and nice and accepting. The fire demon nodded his head in genuine thanks, very glad to hear such positive words.

Selene's hand went closer and closer towards his face; his cheek. This was a giant leap for the him, and hopefully for her as well. For a human to touch a demon without the human dying would have been an absurd story back in the underworld, it could make you the laughing stock of the demon species. This was Phynex's first time being touched by a human, and it was the first step on a bridge towards trusting each other. Slowly, he lowered the temperature of his skin, simmering the lava that made his body down into a gentle warmth for her to touch. His body was motionless, concentrating on the temperature and taking breaths to control himself.

 

[Hana]

The girl had held her breath for the one moment her hand had actually touched his cheek, and Selene blinked at the feeling. He was like living, breathing rock and magma, the way the rough, tough rock felt on her fingertips and the flowing warmth feeling strange, but not at all unwelcome. He felt steady and immovable, but also ready to spring to action if he had to. But most of all, "It's... Warm," she mumbled, voice coming out softer than her usual way of speaking. She didn't take her hand away from his cheek, merely listening to him take slow, even breaths and his obvious focus, and also listening to her own breathing. Staring at him and feeling the warmth that he had put effort into letting her touch was oddly touching, something that she hadn't really felt other than when she took care of her best friend, and maybe played in her childhood. The glow of the magma cast a slight glow on her own face, softening her features in the warm light. "You already have enough control to lower the heat," she murmured, still not raising her voice from the subdued tone it had taken.

She could get used to this, but should she even want to? Selene didn't mind the warmth or the comfort, and that was disturbing enough. There weren't nearly enough times that proved to her such things were more than frivolous hindrances - Jasper and her father an exception - or at worst, deadly mistakes. The huntress couldn't forget the stories about the hunters who had gotten too lax with their partners, and in the end, even with the rules of the contract and the magic binding them, the hunters ended up being subdued and more like slaves to their demon counterparts. Or the demon partners, who, because the contract hadn't been there for long to bind them too much, were still able to betray their partners - something that would be impossible once the contract held for long. There were horror stories of some who were left drained and dead in hotel rooms, the demons taking their belongings and even boasting to their friends of managing to kill and loot a hunter through deception with ease.

Feeling a little saddened, she drew back her hand to her side, already feeling the coldness as soon as she did. "Thank you," she glanced down. "That was an experience." She did want to thank him for 'trusting' her enough to let him touch her. It felt monumental, a breakthrough step for both of them, but it was still a frightening thought. Selene would reserve her judgement for a few more weeks as the contract took more and more hold for them, and she tried not to resist - too hard - to the urge to trust the fire demon before her. It was part of the contract. She shouldn't be frightened of it since she wasn't scared of anything else at all.

 

[Mu]

Phynex growled, but it wasn't an intimidating one. It was like a purr of a kitten, soft and gentle. It rolled off his throat, almost like he felt comfortable with what they were doing. His face glowed like a light, orange light slowly radiating off his face like slow waves. The feeling that was rumbling inside him was ethereal, he felt so calm, so soothed. It was just her hand, tiny compared to his body, but it felt so real on his cheek, he couldn't help but keep his focus on her palm. His breathing evened out, getting used to the lowered temperature. If he could get used to her touch, his body would automatically reset back to this warmth without the need to be commanded to do so. He blushed at the thought of asking her to touch him more so he could practise. It seemed too...awkward. Besides, it would be best if he got to know her a little more, trust her more. Eventually, if she became a prominent member of his life, getting used to her would come naturally. Slowly, he nodded his head. "This was the first thing I learnt when I was born, otherwise I would have hurt others," he murmured, in a soft tone.

He cocked his head, turning his head slowly to not startle her. Something had crossed over her a face, like a shadow, a recollection of memories. The huntress drew her hand back, making the demon confused. But with that short spark of sadness in her eyes, he didn't push on it. Maybe she had remembered something terrible after touching him. He felt her palm leave the spot on his cheek, and the glowing and the growling stopped. The warmth remained the same, but there was new emotions springing up inside him. "No, thank you. That meant a lot for me," he said softly. He lowered his body so he could peer up at her from underneath, tilting his head and looking like a curious puppy. "Is something the matter?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. This was new, when had he ever felt concerned for a human?

 

[Hana]

Selene's cheeks reddened slightly at his sudden gratitude, which surprised her. But maybe it shouldn't have. He must have been hungering for some sort of touch or contact with anybody, and grateful for her trusting him enough to touch him. There was also the surprise that the demon was capable of such a... Soft sound, with his fearsome appearance. It was like purring, but deeper and rumbling, seeming to cause some sort of flutter in her own chest. She looked down at him as he settled down in front of her, for all the world looking a little like a puppy. At his concern, her eyes widened slightly in surprise. When or how had he picked up on something from her? She had always been the best at keeping her thoughts or feelings concealed when she didn't want anyone to see them.

"Hmm, nothing," she mumbled, an uncharacteristic shyness and uncertainty coming over her. Why was he so concerned? She shook her head of the thoughts and looked to him expectantly. "We have a few more hours until Aidan," her brow furrowed slightly upon remembering the blond hunter, "Will come get me. Do you want to practice with your fire while I give you pointers? We can also get started on discussing how we can work attacks together." And swallowing back her doubts, she continued, "If you want, we can practice... By touching you at least once a day. It seems to help you focus." She had to get both of them up to scratch, and if she had to ignore her own discomfort and doubts about herself, so be it.

 

[Mu]

"Nothing? Are you sure?" he asked gently and sweetly, his positioned unchanged, the tone in his voice still as concerned. Auras could show someone's emotion just as well as her face. However, Selene didn't seem like an open book he could read easily. Her face was usually emotionless, passive, even before when she was angry there was little to show that feeling apart from her raised voice and her choice of words. But auras weren't a clean slate, it was always moving, always reflecting the heart of who it belonged to. Even the slightest changes could reflect a big change in someone's feelings. And right now, Selene had a bit more of the dark blue than usual, her normal colours looking like a swirl of whites, a little bit of greens, blues, purples and all the shades in between. It was beautiful, a contrast to his own aura - reds and browns and blacks.

He chuckled at the change of topic, if she didn't want to talk about what was on her mind, Phynex shouldn't force her. The fire demon groaned at the mention of the blonde haired man. He had almost forgotten about him and how he was intending on coming back. Wanting to savour these precious moments of bonding time, he nodded. "What shall I practice" he asked, watching flames dance around near his feet at his excitement. Phynex smiled at her suggestion, that would be a decent way to get used to her touch.

 

[Hana]

"You don't like Aidan, do you," Selene said in mild amusement, hearing him groan at the mention of the hunter. Aidan was an alright person, but somehow he managed to grate on her nerves sometimes too. Maybe it was the way he kept on needling her to talk to him more without backing off unless she found a way to evade him, or how he seemed to notice her so much. She didn't like his attention... It was like he was waiting for something, expecting something from her. There was also that strange flash of hunger that sometimes appeared in his brown eyes. It wasn't like the greed like the bowman had shown her, but something else. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it made her uncomfortable.

"We should get you started on shaping your flames quicker and smoother," she replied, switching back into an almost instructional tone. She soon got started on directing him on how to shape his flames and where to target them, feeling at ease at this role of teaching him. It wasn't unlike helping Jasper get some basic self-defense training in. She knew Phynex would have a large reserve of energy, but was mindful of forcing him. Refining your control could be just as tiring as physical training. Afterwards, she got to showing him a little of her own technique, which was usually based on speed, agility, flexibility and stealth. Selene was quick and graceful, her feet oddly never making a sound on the ground despite anything that happened, and getting into moving was always rather soothing. It cleared her mind, and was like a dance, a gleaming blade smoothly appearing in each hand and moving through the air in graceful and deadly arcs. It almost looked unfit to use for fighting, since she made it look so light, but one could hear the air being cut forcefully with every move. She was strong despite her appearance.

 

[Mu]

"No, I don't." Phynex found him very fishy and suspicious, he always seemed to be lurking around. When the man had fled from the room where he had been summoned in anger, the fire demon had expected him to be gone for good, not bothering them a few minutes later and acting like a soldier, dragging offenders away. It was almost like he had been waiting out there for them. And there was the way he looked at her. As he was chaining the wrists of the bowman together, he had ignored Phynex completely and gave her this unsettling look. There were murky feelings he could see in his eyes, he wanted something. The fire demon had no idea what exactly he wanted, but it made Phynex wary and cautious. He had a feeling he could be like the bowman, who wanted to harm Selene because of her family status.

He created another source of fire in his hands, and attempted to follow her instructions. The fire was like a fabric, bending to his will easily after so much practice but it fell apart easily at these new shapes. Phynex listened to took to heart all her words, she had a decent amount of knowledge of the arts of fire, even though she wasn't a demon herself. He was glad she had done her research if she knew this much. Taking a rest and making sure he didn't exhaust his magic levels, he watched Selene showing him her techniques with the blade. Her movements were fluid and screamed of her experience, they came naturally to her. It was like a memorizing dance to a silent song, the blade swishing and slicing through the air elegantly. He knew she was trying to teach him how he could use a lighter blade like that, but in this state, with his huge body, he couldn't imagine himself wielding something so small.

 

[Hana]

"We'll have to learn how we can use our abilities together," Selene said after the small demonstration she gave him, finally putting away the weapons. She approached him and stopped in front of him, then realized the time. It was already noon... Time did fly fast when one was occupied. Maybe Aidan would come in the afternoon? It was both a relief and an annoyance, like he was giving her special privileges because she either was an Averill, or because it was her birthday. Selene knew the consequences of her actions, there was no need to put it off. "Let's take a break. Are you hungry?" She asked him, knowing he wanted to try out more of the foods in the human world. Maybe sandwiches for him and she'll add in some fruit...

"I can get you some more food that has meat," from his build, he was more likely a meat-eater, to build up his body, and he seemed to really like the beef from earlier. Now that she looked back upon it he looked like he was having some sort of epiphany on how good human food was. "Well, sandwiches."

 

[Mu]

Phynex was curious as to how their abilities could work together. Her movements were like water, fluid, elegant and precise. Phynex's fire was quite the opposite, it was unpredictable and wild, but he knew he could tame it under her guidance and by working hard. He cast another look at the sky, it had gotten even more bluer, it was very beautiful - even if it was just a slate of blue. Phynex grinned and patted his stomach, "There is always room for food," he said in a playful voice. What kind of food would Selene find for him? He wanted to try more of that 'beef' she had given him earlier, but he was also eager to try new things. Choices, choices. Why did humans get to digest such delicious things? It was unfair!

The fire demon licked his sharp teeth in anticipation and excitement of trying new meats of the human world. At this new word, Phynex tilted his head in confusion. "What are sandwiches?" he asked, trying to repeat the word. Suddenly, his face lit up like a lightbulb, as if he suddenly realized something. "Today is your birthday, yes? Do I need to give you a present?"

 

[Hana]

Selene blinked at Phynex's playful voice, it was getting harder and harder to not be at least a little affected by his positive and playful approach to her. Sandwiches it is then. He could certainly try something new. Surely the demon world had their own recipes and versions of food, right? "A sandwich is usually meat and a few other ingredients put in between two slices of bread." If he said he didn't even know what bread is, she wouldn't know what to say about that. At his next question, she was quiet for a long moment, staring. She had put the knowledge that today was her birthday in the back of her mind when they had started practicing. "No, you don't have to," she replied, a little awkwardly. Her birthdays had always been quiet and without much affair, with only gifts from her father, Jasper, and Kasimir. Her father's gifts were always something practical and useful, like teaching her something new or an improved weapon. Kasimir's gifts were always strange, but sometimes did have their uses. He had given her some sort of strange tea for her last birthday that he had continued supplying her with, saying it was some sort of medicine that would prevent anything untoward. Jasper's gifts were the most normal. A book, he knew she liked reading in her spare time. Or a scarf, sometimes a necklace that his parents had advised him to give.

Her favorite was the time when she, her father, and Kasimir had all eaten dinner together. It was a somewhat happy memory, her father's cooking, Kasimir being quiet and almost pleasantly normal around her for once. She had turned seven, and her father had given her her favorite weapon years until he gave her a similar one, adapted for her growth, when she turned thirteen. It was a beautiful short blade, more like a dagger or a shortsword, with a completely black handle and hilt. Silver runes were swirled upon the handle, beautiful and elegant, and Kasimir had told her, "Fitting of a little lady, isn't it?"

They had all sat out on the porch in the evening, and her father had even let her sit close to him huddled under a blanket. He had given her her favorite drink as a kid, something that she had drunk rarer and rarer as she got older. Hot chocolate with a hint of something fruity to it, while Asher Averill drank some hot cider. Kasimir had been leaning against a pillar, playing around with a knife in his hand. That was relatively normal at their household and none of them really felt threatened, besides, Kasimir had done... Scarier things.

"I'll go get our food, then. Do you want to come with me?" On second thought, she amended, "Come with me." She didn't trust to leave him alone after what that bowman had tried. The people would know better than to try and deny her if they saw a demon following her around, she was going to pay and she could report them if they tried to discriminate. People tended to be fickle. They usually tried to entice her into buying their things to endorse the fact an Averill was buying from them, and even tried to give things for free. She always turned those offers down as politely as she could, as her father had taught her to.

 

[Mu]

"Sandwiches..." he repeated, trying to imagine this dish. "The breads in Phantisamine are like rocks, is it like that here as well?" Baked so hard they were burnt black and tasteless. It was almost impossible to rip off a chunk of the bread in the first place to be eaten. Only the desperate and the hungry could devour it without complaints. The younger demons had made games with these stone like loafs, throwing them at civilians to see who fell down first, and they did hurt a lot. Phynex recalled the thing Selene had given to him earlier that day. Was that a sandwich? He was most fond of the meat and the greens, but he could also remember the ingredient that was holding it off together. It had no taste, but it was soft and broke apart easily. His face lit up, was that bread? The bread of the humans? They had it so easy when it came to food, with soft fluffy bread and the tastiest meats...Phynex was drooling. He would have it strange that he was this excited over food if he hadn't lived in such a harsh area of Hell.

Phynex truly wanted to get her a birthday present, but what could he give her? The fire demon didn't really know her interests, and he had no money. Maybe he could shape some fire into a flower and give it to her? Would that even count as a present? Females liked flowers, right? It was the day she made a contract as well, this had to be a special occasion. The fire demon turned around to hide the fire he created in his hands, and put the skills he had practiced earlier to good use. He twisted the lively flames this way and that way, his eyes focusing on both the fire and the wildflowers that grew all over the place. It wasn't a perfect copy, but it was a replica he was very happy with. It looked very similar, and one could at least distinguish it as a flower. Turning back around, Phynex held it out and placed it in her hands, lowering the heat of the fire as he did so. The fire was harmless to her, but she would be able to feel a wash of warmth from his gift. "Happy birthday?" he said. "This counts as the first birthday of my contract partner, it't my duty to give you something," he smiled, pointing at the flower with a talon.

The demon happily complied and was right on her tail, his tail wagging in the same manner as a canine, happy that he thought of a way to give her a present in the end. The flower would disappear over time, but it was the thought that counts. He let the huntress guide him, all the while taking in the surroundings and soaking in every detail.

 

[Hana]

A startled look, the most that Phynex probably had seen for her, openly played out on Selene's face. She stared at the fire flower he had gently placed into her hands then back at him. After a moment, her fingers closed around more on the flower, gingerly and almost afraid it would break apart as soon as she put even the slightest pressure on it. It was a silly notion, since Phynex was willing the flower to existence, but she wanted to feel the warmth. It was much like the warmth she had felt touching his cheek, only this time the flickering feeling of the fire tickled a little on her skin. She looked over the flower carefully, noting that while it wasn't too finely made to be an exact replica, it was still pretty fine for his level of control. It had the shape of one of the wildflowers around the area, but what made it beautiful was its golden, orange, and red hues, even the stem. It was weird to feel fire take solid and harmless form in her hands, and a small hint of a smile made its way onto her lips. It wasn't the mocking or even apathetic, serene smiles that she had given earlier.

The smile felt a little unsteady, as small as it was, and almost tremulous. Unsure and looking like it could easily be blown away with the slightest wind, but still there and gentle. She flicked her eyes, which had been a little dull until now, up at him and murmured quietly, "Thanks." She couldn't not thank him, he still made an effort even after she told him he didn't have to. It was a humble gift, but Selene was the one who felt humbled. A demon was willing to give her something he made with his own power, a demon wanted to give her something because she had been born on this day. Someone was genuinely glad she had been born, aside from her father and Jasper.

As quick as the smile had come it quickly faded, and she turned away, a hint of red appearing on her cheeks again. She nodded, not looking at him, and started to make her way out of the clearing. "Let's go."

 

[Mu]

He had watched her expressions carefully, all keen eyes focusing on her and waiting for the reaction of his gift. At first, it was surprise. It did look strange, a fragile and gentle looking fire made out of fire, with hues of orange and red a flecks of yellow. Nor was it normal for fire to feel so solid, like glass. It was warm enough to just tingle her skin but not harm her, which was what he wanted. Then, there was another emotion. Her aura turned softer, the violets growing a light and lighter into a pale pink, which intrigued him, what was causing this? That was when he first saw that smile. It wasn't like the smiles she'd shown to the others today, all a mask for hiding her true emotions, but this seemed real and genuine and filled with its true feelings - happiness. It lit up her whole face, illuminating it. Phynex was memorized, Selene looked even more beautiful with her lips curved up like that. It was small and brief, but it felt like it lasted much longer. Even for a fire demon, he felt a different kind of warmth inside him, not from the fire, but from...something else - an emotion.

Seeing this, he smiled shyly back. With his crude teeth, most of his smiles seemed intimidating, as if he was going to jump on them any second. He was often misunderstood, someone as big and fearsome as this wouldn't smile with pure joy. Phynex's teeth were so sharp that they made his smile unattractive and unappealing. Would he as a human be able to smile more without being thought of as a beast?

The smile had gone as she turned away from him, but not quick enough for the demon to get a quick millisecond glimpse of the glowing red cheeks. Chuckling under his breath to himself, he followed after the huntress.

 

[Hana]

She didn't look at Phynex as they headed back into the streets of the hunter district, the hunters still eyeing them warily. But now everyone seemed to be trying to act normally, going around and buying things. A weapons shop there, a clothing store specialized for hunters here, the hunter district almost seemed like a normal bustling modern district. If you didn't count that the buildings were of an older design, all grey and iron bars, gates, and even lamps outside the doors, that is. It was like taking a walk backwards in time, the magic of the hunters having pooled together throughout the different generations, and creating an ambient atmosphere. The entrance to here was often passed over by the demons' eyes, by an old spell that kept them from noticing and deflected their attention in a subtle way.

The people had increased from the smaller number it had been in the early morning, more and more coming out to do their business and even discuss what they were doing. Some openly displayed their weapons, like a great halberd being held in the hand of one man, the blade bone white - Selene noted it was made from actual bone. The bone of some demon, most likely. It had been a trend in the older days to make weapons out of the kills of hunters, a trophy almost, and it helped that some kinds of demon bone was strong enough to be used like steel.

Almost everyone wore some sort of coat, the colors mostly dark and subdued, and of a simple, but formal style. Blacks and whites were the favored colors, though there was a splash or red or dark blue here and there, and grey. Selene looked more like she belonged with her black trench coat, black button up and pants - if it weren't for the stark, inhuman white of her hair and her eyes - which were supposedly an impossible shade, even for the hunters who had magic. It had only increased whispers of half-demon back then, and the ones who knew better attributed it to Soleil's otherwordly aura. But despite the semi-formal outfits, some of the younger ones in the hunter population still acted much like their age - laughing, pushing each other, some even loudly boasting about their kills and accomplishments.

"I drove my spear through its eye, I swear!" One boy with tied up black hair was loudly telling his friends, boys who gave him a disbelieving look and shared a few laughs. Selene didn't miss the way they had referred to the spoken off demon as an 'it' - not a person, but some beast or creature. It was the way some hunters talked about demons sometimes, much like the bowman had.

The same group of young men had noticed her passing by and stared, quieting from their sniggers and shoving the ponytailed boy in the shoulder. But they didn't say anything, and remained quiet, but after a moment, their eyes widened at Phynex's appearance. "Now that is some fucker," she overheard one whisper to his friend, and sighed quietly. "That's the princess girl who almost curbstomped that bow guy earlier!" One exclaimed, "If it weren't for the demon, he would have been-" he made a slicing motion across his throat, his friends who had missed the action listening in rapt attention. "You should have seen the look she had. Scary," they all shuddered, and in a lower whisper, "I would have tried that girl if she wasn't some sort of high princess or a know-it-all. And now she gets all crazy... Not the type you'd want." Then someone laughed. "She's a kid, man!"

She shook her head and continued on, pretending not to notice their continued talk. It wasn't any of her concern, and she was more focused on getting something for Phynex. He had given her a gift, after all, and the slight glow that she still felt upon holding the fire flower in her hand hadn't gone. She stopped in front of one place that had set up outside. This way she wouldn't have to leave Phynex alone, unlike if she had to go in to some indoor place.

The man who was out, grilling what looked like strips of beef over a fire and adding sauces, looked up at her from his job. His eyes widened, and when he looked behind her he paled slightly. "Miss Averill," he almost stammered, and she put down her order. "Those grilled beef sandwiches. Give me three of them." Phynex seemed like he ate a lot, and the sandwiches were pretty big, all crisp, tasty bread with soft inside. The man quickly nodded, after a hesitant look at Phynex and got to work. She sat down on one of the closer tables and watched.

 

[Mu]

The two of them silently walked towards a clutter of looming buildings, surrounded by a large wall whom's only entrance was a large gap in between the sturdy perimeter. Trailing after Selene, he had eyes for everything. He felt a rush of chilled air brush past him as he crossed the wall and into the city, as if there was a spell there. Phynex assumed it was to keep unwanted demons out, for the safety of these people. He was aware that there were not many people but still quite busy. Most cities looked the same, but in the human world there were much, much more colours and people. He saw all sorts of stores and wares, with hunters heading in and out of them carrying packages wrapped tightly in brown paper whenever they purchased something. There was a large glass window displaying gear for the demon hunters, and all sorts of the latest skin tight suits or armour for hunters to take down various demons. Most of them looked modern, but some were made of bricks and looked ancient. A few stores displayed cabinets of food, the smell emanating from them making his mouth water.

Many of the hunters were built with muscle, dressed in their gear under coats of monochromatic colour - greys, blacks and whites - with the occasional coats of colour like reds and blues. He saw many of them hold their weapons, from small but deadly looking daggers in their sheath slung on their waist, or a long sword over the shoulder. He saw a woman with two guns in her hands, and people carrying larger weapons like lances and axes. They came in many different sizes and colours, Phynex could swear a few of them were the same size of his glaive, how a human could even learn how to wield it was mind-blowing. His eyes spotted a rather large man carrying a white halberd, looking into the many windows of the shops that lined the street. He could tell they were extracted and made from the bones of a once living, large demon. He could smell it, sense the dying aura of his weapon.

They walked past many hunters who looked weathered, their eyes sparkling with wisdom and experience, and the youngsters who hopped about with enthusiasm and showing off to their friends. A particular group of these young men were very loud when they were approaching their direction, shoving and laughing and telling each other stories, acting like their age. One of them seemed to be talking about a recent kill, a boy with tied up black hair, while his friends listened to him with disbelieving faces. But as soon as one of them noticed the strange duo, their voices lowered to a whisper. Phynex's sharp ears picked up on most of their conversation. They whispered about the earlier fight, the bowman and the fight that ensued. It seemed only the black haired boy had seen the fight, and was telling his friends. The fire demon caught the last sentence and narrowed his eyes at them, turning his head to look at them before letting out a single, fierce growl. Was this how the men of the human world spoke about their female counterpart?

Facing the forward again, he ignored the sniggers of the boys who gradually faded away as they went deeper into the city. The smell of food here was intoxicating, and he could hear his stomach rumble, begging for some sort of food. He stopped when Selene did, at a stall set up outside near the curb of the street. There was something set up, he could see the fire underneath what looked like thin prison bars, which for some odd reason, had thin slices of red flesh sizzling on top. Phynex titled his head at this strange behaviour? What on earth was he doing? Whatever it was, it made his stomach rumble even more. His eyes could see the juices of the flesh that dripped off it as it continued to cook delightfully, the colour turning from a pink to a light brown with charred lines. He unconsciously licked his lips at the thought of eating it. What was it? All he heard from Selene was the word 'beef', which made him whimper softly. No wonder it smelt so familiar...but it looked different! Were there different looks for beef? Phynex impatiently sat on his hind legs beside Selene and eyed the smoke curling from the strange machine.

 

[Hana]

Selene was sitting down and watching the man grill the food carefully. It had been a habit for her to usually watch how they prepare the food, especially if she didn't know the establishment that much - and now she had Phynex to consider. If the man added anything like poison or did his job halfheartedly, the girl would make sure he would know his mistake. She leaned her chin on her interlaced fingers, watching the man with an almost unblinking stare. The man sweated quite obviously, but he didn't stop in his cooking as he checked the bread, then turning to a pan he had thrown in some vegetables with oil and started to simmer it, adding some spices every now and then.

She then heard a rumbling sound and turned to Phynex, eyeing him with not quite detachment as before, but with a little amusement. Deciding to teach him more about what the man was cooking, she murmured, motioning for him to come closer, "What he's doing to the meat is called grilling, and he's adding sauces to sweeten - or add spice - to it. He's also sauteing the greens he's now minding as well, letting it simmer in spices and oil. Do it long enough and it will have its own sauces." She didn't cook, but reading books of any kind, she did know a few things. The way he seemed to sniff the air wafting over from the food and then whimpered softly reminded her a little of the small animals she sometimes encountered on the streets. Small pets that had been abandoned by their owners, or had grown up as strays. Growing up with Jasper had somehow given her the habit of at least giving them something when she had something on her, or lead them to someone who would take care of them - that was where reading people had always been useful, and not for her usual job at all. Looking back, Selene may have been partial to small animals... Maybe.

Violet eyes softened slightly, and she found herself saying, "Once we get around to working we'll see a lot of different places. You'll see many more foods that you may like." There was something she had noticed. Phynex seemed to act like the food might not be for him or that he wouldn't have nearly enough time or chances to try them, he was that eager. His life in Phantisamine was obviously harsh, he was surprised at the things most humans would have considered an everyday thing that they enjoyed. It was a little saddening, but the human and demon worlds would obviously be different. She had never given much thought to food either, she had actually been teased by Jasper as being a 'picky eater', but she had never wasted any of it. Her father had taught her better than that, and she had her own experiences with not eating for some periods of time. It may have started when she was very young, obviously not at a position to cook or go out to buy something.

Her father had always been a man in... Grieving, even from a very young age she had known that. It had been worse when she was smaller, and he would sometimes disappear for days into his study, almost like he forgot he had a small child to take care of. It was only when he saw that she was foraging around in the area around their estate that a dawning look of almost horror - Kasimir had said - and regret had come over his face. That was around when she had been around three to five years of age.

She thought she heard a small chuckle come from the man who was cooking, and looked up to see him smiling, though a little warily, at Phynex. "Well, I'm glad someone at least openly likes what I'm making," the man ventured, and Selene raised an eyebrow, looking over at him critically. "You, miss, would never have given my shop the time of the day if you didn't have your big partner," he explained, waving around the utensil he had in his hand. "My older brother - by eight years, I tell you -" the man looked about to be in his early thirties - "Also had a contract hunter. Demons come in all sizes and shapes, don't they?" He said with a wistful smile, though he was now focused on his work he was still talking. "His partner looked like a rather small girl. He was always protective of her, but I guess she reminded him of our youngest sister. Turns out this little girl's demon form was actually a fox, and she was always so playful and mischievous."

The man seemed to have finished one of the sandwiches she had ordered, and with a smile, set it down on the table before her. "Eat up, Mister Dragon," he said, still wary, but somehow making an effort. "This world has a whole lot nicer foods than what I can make, but you'll still like it." He went back to preparing the remaining orders placed, and then heading over to another table - farthest from where she and Phynex were - to take the orders of another customer.

 

[Mu]

Phynex watched the man with rapt attention, the way he flipped the meat and how it made the strange sizzling sound when he did so, the pinkish colour turning into a delicious looking brown. The liquid he drizzled on it bubbled up on the meat, changing the smell into something more fragrant that tickled his nose. The way he cooked it was something he'd never seen before, the charred black lines stood out against the cooked beef and made it look even more strange. The man shuffled about, turning the large round circles of bread, the white fluffy bits turning brown. He threw some greens into another weird round shaped metal with another fragrant liquid in, soaking the leaves and creating a new smell in the air.

The sounds he makes must have caught Selene's attention, who turned to look at him with an amused look. The fire demon moved a little closer to her at her beckoning, leaning in to listen to her words. She explained to him what the man was doing, that is was called 'grilling' and that he was added 'sauces' to change its flavour. Blinking at the grill, he wondered if he could use the same technique over his own fiery body, seeing that to grill the meet it required fire. If Selene let him, it wouldn't hurt to try. The white haired huntress told him what he was doing to the greens, adding sauces and spices to give the otherwise bland leaves some sort of flavour. To tell the truth, Phynex hadn't seen any of these techniques before. Perhaps it was because he didn't live in a palace like the high tier demons but lived a frugal lifestyle with his parents before their death. As a child he ate whatever his parents served on the table, from cooked flesh of demons to fruit salads made from the shrivelled up native trees. To see such colours and smell the scent of human cooking was an experience in itself.

He lifted his head to peer at the man, who noticed his agitation and impatience from waiting for the sandwiches and his fascination of the grilling meat. Phynex smiled at him, trying his best not to show much teeth in case he scared him, the fire demon could see the wariness and cautiousness in both his stature and eyes. Phynex nodded as he listened to the man's story, his eyes still fixated on the meat, which looked almost done, the brown of the meat darkening with sauces. "Fox demons are very mischievous," he agreed with him, "But they are fun loving creatures and are often misunderstood." In his travels, Phynex met many types of demons, having fought some as well, he knew the details and weak spots of the demons he had encountered, from demons in Phantisamine to the demons living in the murky swamps to the tall and dark forests where the fae and giant insects lived. Phynex saw common and rare ones, and everything in between.

"Thank you," he said, it felt strange being so polite to a human while most demons were so rude towards them. He sniffed at the sandwich, the large buns holding the grilled meats and the greens together. Phynex turned to look at Selene, "Are you hungry as well?" he asked, "You can have the first one."

 

[Hana]

"You can have it," Selene replied, shaking her head. She wasn't quite smiling, but there was a pensive look on her face as she looked at Phynex. "I think I'd rather get something to drink first." As if he was summoned, the man had again looked towards them. "I can have iced drinks made," he offered, and the huntress nodded. "I'll have fruit shake, then," she murmured. It wasn't really that bad to treat herself a little on her birthday, was it? The man seemed to look around for someone in the place, before calling out, "Ellie!" A girl, who looked to be his daughter around the age of ten, burst out from behind the closed door in front of the place. "Yes, dad?" She asked, wringing her hands slightly, nervous and curious as she saw Phynex. "Make a choco banana shake for the lady here, please?" The man asked, waving his hand towards Selene.

The little girl perked up when she saw the huntress. "Your hair is pretty," she, in the way that some children confusingly did, had walked up to their table. She looked a little nervous around Phynex, but there was that childish curiosity in her eyes as she looked at the odd pair. "Lily said you were the snow fairy," she continued, rushing on, unaware of the bemused look that had had briefly passed over Selene's face, "But of course that's ridiculous! Though looking at your dragon, you seem more like a princess than a fairy. Does he breathe fire and keep you protected? Were you locked up in a tower?" Then she seemed to blush and then added, "I'm sorry, I'll be making your shake! Please stay put!" The children always seemed to have so much energy, Selene stared after the girl as she seemed to rush back past the door and close it in a hurry.

"I told that girl to stop gushing about fairy tales all the time," the father muttered fondly, shaking his head. "And you don't have to wait for long for the second one, you two. It's coming up in a bit," he went back to his work. The huntress did have to agree that he seemed to be good at what he did, since the scents coming over from the grill and the pan were quite enticing, the spices and the sauces well done. He seemed to keep up a humble place, seeing as the tables and chairs were simple, and he cooked outdoors. He and his daughter - and his family - probably lived in the building in front.

Selene looked at Phynex and asked, "You've met a fox demon, then?" He had, from the way he spoke of them. Despite herself, she was starting to feel curious about her new partner, and finding herself wanting to learn more about him. He was proving more and more interesting as the day passed on, and she wasn't even sure if it was only the contract binding that made her feel the urge to trust him. He was a demon, but he acted more like a young man, or even someone in his late teens. He seemed to have experience about the world and people and at the same time finding everything new. And he gave her a gift, seemed genuinely concerned about what she thought and felt. He smiled and though it looked startling at first due to his appearance, she could sense no deceit in his smiles. Selene was good at reading people, and it felt like Phynex had no deceit in him at all for these few hours she had known him.