The Heroes of Larasta

I stood very stiff out on the slightly damp grass the next morning. It had finally rained last night but hardly more than a misting. I felt like the weather was trying to spite me for my brash behavior the day before. Why else would the world provide me with such slippery footing on a day that I had to spar with one of the strongest knights in the Red Ravens?

Said bastard stood about fifteen feet away from me, looking much less tense on the wet grass than I ever could. In fact, he looked down right evil with that cocky grin on his annoyingly handsome face. He was in a fighting stance, no doubt with no openings, but I was not skilled enough to know for sure. Whatever he was, he was definitely looking forward to bashing a demon around.

The other Ravens sat perched on or around the gates of the stables. It wasn't a large building but it could house ten or twelve horses in stalls spread across the back wall of the base. Even now I could see a couple horses munching on hay. But the horses were not the ones currently taking bets on how fast I was going to be eating dirt. My hearing was good enough that I could tell that me being a demon didn't seem to up my odds very much in their eyes.

"Alright you too." Said Rift, his eyes laughing. "No magic, no weapons. Do try and not kill one another please. Leon is standing by in case of injury." The last part he added while waving a hand at the platinum elf I had seen yesterday. Apparently, he was a healer. Apparently he was also scared shitless, given the absolutely pale face and terrified eyes he had. I gave the captain a concerned look and he laughed. "Not to worry Sin. Our Leon may be a scared little kitten who sometimes feints at the sight of blood, but he is one of the most skilled healers in the entire kingdom." I'd have to take the man's word for it because the elf was not inspiring any confidence. He certainly didn't seem to think he was the best given the fact that he began to shake at his captains words.

I took a steadying breath, spread my feet and raised my fists, and waited for the go signal. I saw Vale's eyes glint with a kind of manic malice. Ugh.

"Start!"

Vale was on me in a flash. I didn't even see the dark booted kick coming for my head. Clearly, he was going for a single hit knock out. Bastard. I ducked down to my belly, used my hands to brace my weight, and tried to kick his feet out from under him while he was still mid kick. Not surprisingly, he did not fall for it, grabbing my ankle just before I made contact with his.

"Tch!" I said angerly, using my strength to yank my foot free of his grasp, rolling onto my back and attempting to punch his jaw.

Vale hopped back and I wasted no time getting to my feet, much muddier than I had been a second before. There was no point in staying on the defensive. He would either wear me out of take me out with a well aimed blow. All I could do was remain aggressive and hope I got lucky.

I charged the larger male, putting as much speed as I could behind it. I saw his eyes flash with surprise but he still dodged my fist as it came flying at his face once again. His own fist shot out, aiming for the ribs, but I managed to get my hands on his arm and to use it to lift my self up and over his back in a flip that would have been impossible in my old life without years of gymnastics training.

Fighting monsters had given me enough confidence to trust my power and flexibility to try new things and risk moves that I would have though impossible. But fighting a near intelligence lacking monster was different that a man with years of martial arts experience under his belt.

I was unable to dodge the elbow that came back at me when I landed lightly behind Vale. The hit caught me in the ribs and I stifled a shout, keeping it to a low groan. Instinct nearly had me slashing at him with my claws, a swipe that would have torn the hide off his dumb face, but I clenched my fist instead and aimed for the collar bone. My hesitation cost me, however, and he dodged, scoring another jab at my arm this time. I grunted and stepped away. That one hurt!

Everything in me wanted to claw him, strangle him with my tail. I wanted to scratch and bite and tear. With another annoyed click of my tongue I dove back at the man. I faked a jab to his face, ducked under the arm he flung out to block, slipped behind his back, and slammed a kick into his side as fast as I could manage. His grunt was satisfying for only a split second before he got my leg again, pulled hard and did god knows what that had me face down in the mud with three hundred pounds of man muscle on my back, nearly dislocating my arm for the fun of it.

"Damn it." I snapped. I was used to battle enough now to know that even though the exchange felt long it had lasted less than two minutes. "Get off me before I scratch your eyes out!"

Vale's weight lifted off me. As I got to my feet I could hear the peanut gallery laughing and cheering, collecting the damn winnings. Bastards. I winced and massaged my left shoulder.

"That wasn't too bad." Laughed Rift and the glare I shot at the man could curdle milk. It didn't seem to affect him however, as he just laughed more. "You need training for sure, but the base instincts and power are there. No normal novice would have been able to stand after Vale's first kick."

"what do they teach you in the Demon realm? Your moves were sloppy. I have seen week, contracted demons move better." Huffed Vale. I decided that I would take a little satisfaction that I made him a little muddy. Thake your wins where you could right?

"Well, I cant comment on other demons!" I snapped. "My training was fighting wolves in the forest for a month, thanks. Sorry it doesn't hold up to your years of skilled training, jerk." I grumped, now rubbing at my ribs. "I think you may have left a bruise." I wined. "I am all about women's rights and stuff but who goes and try's to crack a newbies ribs? Bastard."

Rift laughed. "I am sure you had plenty of fights back in your old world." He said to my confusion. "I hear the beasts there are even more fearsome than the little wolves around here."

I gave the man a confused and annoyed look. "What the hell are you going on about. I just told you that I just started fighting less than a month ago. When Zach was getting ganged up on by those bandits was the first time I fought a person." I did not mention the fights I got in back on earth for obvious reasons. Besides, getting into scraps as a teenager was not even close to what this was all about. Those pathetic fist fights were nothing. And anything else I endured was not so much as fights as they were beatings. I didn't exactly have a bad ass demon body back then after all.

"You- you only have a month of combat experience?" Sandra asked, looking worried. Either she was the only female in the Ravens, or the others did not show for this little farce.

"Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. Did I some how give you the impression other wise?" I snapped. Pain always made me testy.

"You did take out ten bandits single handily." Stated Dural. He was standing, leaning against a stall. He rubbed his face worriedly.

"I took out ten bandits with the help of Zach and Drogin." I said, rolling my eyes.

"I was hardly much help. And even Drogin didn't do too much." Said Zach from his perch next to Sandra. "I could tell that you didn't want him to burn down the crops."

"Well, I was also using my claws and tail then too."

"Then why are you not using them now?" Growled Vale, giving me an irritated, yet assessing look.

"No weapons, I believe, was the rule." I told him like he was a small, slow child.

"Those are body parts. If you classify them as weapons than would your fists not also be weapons?" he said impatiently.

"I would kill you." I said simply, and with all honesty.

Vale sighed. "From what I just saw I highly doubt it. It was impressive if you indeed have only been learning to fight for a month. But you are still lacking in any sort of discipline. Had I been fighting you seriously and not trying to asses your skills, I would have killed you. With ease."

"Well aren't you special?" I snapped. "Maybe I couldn't kill you before you killed me in a proper death match. I am not debating that. What I am saying is that, with you not trying to kill me, me using my tail and claws, I would have accidentally killed you."

"Accidentally?" He asked, clearly thinking I was thinking far too highly of myself. In actuality it was the opposite.

"I have no modulation, all right. I cant pull my punches, as you may say. Especially not with my tail. I cant seem to tell it 'do not saw that mans head off. Grip gently, gently.' Not in the heat of battle anyway. So unless you know how to train someone to not kill people with appendages that you don't even have..."

He glared at me. "Show me."

I shook my head. "I can't say I feel bad about killing bandits. Their deaths don't even cross my mind really. But I would feel bad if I killed you."

"Well aren't you sweet." He said, irritated.

"Its not about being sweet. Its my own set of morals."

"Enough." Said Rift, walking up to us. "Why not show us on an inanimate object? At least then Vale can get a look at whet he is dealing with, yes?"

I sighed, knowing I sounded a little too much like a petulant child but not caring too much at that exact moment. "And what would you like me to murder then?"

"Well, we have plenty of big strong trees back there." He said, tilting his head toward the woods a football field away. "Why not see about having a couple of whacks against those. There are some boulders near by too that you can try your hand on if you feel like you have the strength to break rocks." Rift laughed but I already knew the answer.

"Sure, what ever floats your boat." I saw the confused looks on their faces and understood that I dropped another turn of phrase from Earth again. I just shook my head and began walking toward the trees.

It was Vale who chose a massive oak. I could see by the bark warn off of it that I had not been the only one who would have used this tree as a target.

"Whenever you feel ready." Said Vale a little condescendingly with an impatient wave of his hand at the tree.

Annoyed, I approached the tree, raised my hand, black claws glinting in the sun light filtering between leaves. I put as much effort as I could into it, knowing on instinct that Vale would complain other wise and make me do it again. There was no resistance. My claws tore through the fiber of the tree like it was whipped cream. Splinters went flying and my hand came flying out, nearly taking off Dural's head before I stopped it.

"You probably shouldn't stand so close." I told the dwarf. I lifted my hand to check for splinters. The first time I tried that, not long after getting to Hearth, I got four big ones in my skin. This time I was fine. My skin was tough. The tree, on the other hand, looked like a tiny dragon had taken a swipe at it. There were four clear rents in the woody flesh, already weeping sap, and about four inches deep. Then, to prove a point, I placed one finger nail against the tree and pressed. With little to no effort the nail sunk to the finger tip into the tree.

"Um, wow." Said Leon, examining the small hole I poked into the tree.

"You have no clue how hard it was to not accidentally tear my ass cheek off when I get an itch." I said only slightly sarcastic. "Luckily my skin is pretty resilient."

"Those things are dangerous..."

"And the tail?" Asked Vale.

"Can everyone move away?" I asked. Everyone took several steps back. I rolled my eyes as I kind of meant much farther but hey, if the tree fell on one of them then it was on them.

I uncurled my tail and flicked it out, the black scales, shinning deadly in the light of day. I might as well give them the full effect. I took a slight fighting stance, shifted my weight and spun as if to do a kick. However, instead of my leg swinging out it was my tail. I felt the serrated scales lift like fine hairs and then the whip like appendage struck the tree, its length allowing me to saw half way through the wood. I did not stop there, however. I knew it was deadliest when wrapped around something and so that is what I did when I again spun. This time I wrapped the tail a little lower and spun again, pulling my tail like a rip cord and saw the saw dust fly. Had the tree been any thinner I would have sawn straight through. As it was it was barely standing, the oak teetering dangerously on a thin core at its center. I approached the tree and gave it a slight nudge, being sure it crashed down in the opposite direction of the people standing near me.

"That would easily saw through a man's neck." Breathed Sandra, her pointed hat askew.

"It does do that..." Confirmed Zach looking a little green. He had seen what my claws and tail could do to flesh firsthand.

"You can not control this?" asked Vale, now looking more interested than hostile.

I shook my head. "The claws are easier, and both are doable when not in a fight. But in the heat of battle the scales lift on their own... If I am not very careful I could easily tear off a arm or a leg. The bone like tip is also deadly. Its sharp and serrated like my scales but larger and harder, less flexible. I tried piercing a rock once, to see if I could. The answer was that I could chip or even scratch it. And it hurt to do, but I did damage the stone."

"You are right then. These would not be safe to spare with if you cant control them..." Agreed the man I usually associated with rudeness. Apparently when he had something to think about his bad attitude diminished. "Alright, I will continue to train you in hand to had combat. For someone who is a complete novice you show quite a bit of potential. As for the claws and tail I am afraid that there isn't much in the way of solid training practices I can teach you. I can teach you to use your reflexes and hands better but as for the tail... again, I maybe able to suggest forms to better utilize it as a weapon but I really have no clue how to not raise your scales. Sounds like something your parents should have taught you..." He gave me a sideways look.

Glaring I said. "I cannot say my parents ever taught me much. Much less how to not kill people with a tail." Again, all true. After all my parents were a pair of shit human beings. Definitely not demons. At least not technically.

"You are willing to train her though?" Asked Rift.

"Yes." Sighed Vale. "As much as it pains me we are short on personnel and you are correct in your assessment that she has a lot of untapped potential, at least in the martial arts. If you want any sort of magical training than Sandra may be your best bet..."

"No." I said simply. "I went and got assessed at the church the other day and was told that other than simple magics, the only thing that will really work for me would be demon magic. So unless you know demon magic Sandra, I can't imagine you will be able to help me much..."

"I do not." She admitted sadly. "And I can't say I know any who do. Not on a personal level at least. I know there is a demon in the ranks of the Golden Dragons who protect the queen. But I have never had an opportunity to speak with him, nor do I know anything about him."

"I have seen him several times." Stated Rift. "Mostly when Honey and I have had need to go to the capital. But I did see him fight once. He didn't use any flashy spells that I saw but I believe he may have been using self augmentation magic."

I did not know who Honey was but I did know what Augmentation magic was. Essentially, it was supporting magic. Spells used to raise a person's stats or prevent status debuffs and ailments. You could make yourself stronger for a time or immune to poison. I knew a few for aiding tames that I had learned from my grimoire. It had actually been a few days since I picked up the book and took a look at it. Maybe it would show me some spells that could make Drogin more effective in a fight. He was a good and loyal companion but in all honesty he was too small to be wholly reliable as a partner in a fight. Especially a fight against multiple opponents,

"Well, I don't like Vale, and I can tell the feeling is mutual. I am not about to turn down lessons at any rate." I spoke. "Even if those lessons mean him kicking the shit out of me for a good laugh."

An amused smile crossed the mans face.

"Just keep in mind that it is by sheer will that this tails doesn't turn you into two pieces." I added, irritated.

And that was my life for the next three days. Vale would spend the entire morning beating me to a pulp, with me barely getting in a few good hits, then Leon would heal me, looking like he would rather be doing anything else. Then I would bathe, eat, drink fiervir, and study all that I could. I would raid the library of the base as often as I could, pulling down books on flora and fauna alike. I read about every monster I could get my hands on. Not only that but about the geography of Larasta too. I learned about the nine kingdom, all of whom swore allegiance to the kingdom of Larasta several thousand years ago after a war coincided with the rising of the Demon King nearly ruined the entire country.

I also tried to learn basic magics too. Both Sandra and Zach tried to help me with limited success. I managed to pull off the truly simple spells, like the cleaning spell, or a spell to levitate small objects over very short distances, but it was mostly a hopeless cause. I had near unlimited stores of magic but not talent to use it.

So, when it came to magic I tried to focus on my taming magics. When not reading I would head off into the mountains and forests around the base and find what ever little monster I could to practice with Drogin. We had limited success owing to the weakness of the monsters near the base as well as Drogin's small stature.

It was on the night of the second day that I investigated my Grimoire again. I wasn't really surprised to see that it still mostly listed several augmentation spells on its pages. I nearly closed the book when I realized that there were two more pages I hadn't seen before. On each page were new spell circles. The first one was labelled: Gigantium. The circle was intricate and the description warned that it posed a massive initial cost as well as a pretty hefty amount of mana being left in limbo while it was activated. However, it was a spell to make a persons tame grow to potentially massive proportions.

I could picture it in my head now: Drogin, the size of an actual dragon. I would be amazing! Unfortunately, the cost was massive. Nearly as much as it would take to tame a high ranking monster! I made sure to dedicate time to memorizing the spell but knew I could only use it in the direst of circumstances or else I would leave my self open to further assault, without any mana in reserve. Also, even though Drogin would be the size of a dragon did not mean that he was one. He still couldn't fly and he still could not breath fire. He could still cast his fire magic though. But without testing I had no clue weather that spell would still be the size it was when he was small or if it would increase in size with his body.

On the other page was the spell: Miniminazi. As it sounded, this spell was used to shrink a tame. It was way lest costly than Gigantium was by far, but it also kept the mana used in limbo until the spell was released. I could see this spell coming in far more handy in the future, as much as I wanted the other spell to be the more useful one. But in all fairness, I was pretty much planning on taming rather large monsters- actual dragons if I could manage it- and so, I probably wouldn't need to make them big. Making them small, however, meant making them travel size. Witch would potentially be less costly than storing them in the pages of my grimoire and summoning them that way. It would definitely be easier than summoning them from a long distance away.

Beneath each spell was the incantation used to release them: Gigantium Rei and Miniminazi Rei, respectfully. I committed both spells to memory and decided that as soon as I could, I should try the Gigantium spell on Drogin. I didn't need to be using it on the fly in a dire situation without practicing it first if I could help it.

I was contemplating taking my little dragon out back of the base to try the spell when my musings were interrupted. I was annoyed, but only because it was Vale who had been the one to approach me. I already suffered through his morning torture routine, bathed, and was just curling up on the couch I had claimed as mine when he walked up to me.

I glared. "What do you want now?" He had gotten a few really embarrassing hits on my ass with the flat of his sword this morning. He claimed that we were ready to start incorporating my claws and swords into our bouts but I was of the mind he just wanted more ways to drive me insane.

"Captain says that we are to go into Bellana today." He responded with a raised eyebrow. Like I couldn't see the cocky, amused tilt to his lips at all. Please.

"And why should I care about what your captain has to say?" I sniffed, putting my nose back into my grimoire.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Vale sighed, like he was forced to explain a verry simple task to a toddler. "Today is the day Honey returns with the a couple of the Heroes. Captain Rift and I are going to greet them at their presentation in Bellana. Why he wants you there, I can't say. A few too many blows to the head perhaps."

"Speaking of, how is your head?" I asked, snidely. He may have gotten me plenty in practice, but I had managed to get a boot to his temple today that I am sure rang his gourd quite nicely. "Who knew you had such a thick skull. I was impressed."

"I'm fine. Barely felt a thing."

I snorted. Sure, keep telling yourself that buddy.

"I can't say I care to have you come with us, but I do have my orders. I have relayed the message and am leaving now." He said, spinning on his heel and stomping back toward the exit. "Captain says we are leaving in five minutes."

I glared at his back as the door shut behind him. I was sort of hoping he would combust.

"You aren't going?" Asked Leon. The elf had taken to joining me during my mostly silent reading sessions. I didn't mind so long as he kept the irritating commentary to a minimum. That hadn't been a problem apparently, as he almost never spoke at all. I got the feeling that he just wanted to read in silence as well but felt lonely all on his own.

I groaned, stretched out my lithe form, tail twitching on the floor, before getting to my feet. I slipped the grimoire into my bag and huffed irritably. "I'm going. If I don't go back to Bellana soon they may think they scared me off. Like I would give that Vincent tool the satisfaction."

"Tool?" Asked the elf, thin eyebrows pinched.

"Just a figure of speech. Basically, he is an idiot."

"You do not seem to suffer those very well." He said, returning his gaze back to his own book. The thing was written in elvish, but given my linguistics skill I could read it fine. It was called Stellarosa. I assumed it was a book of elvish poems as he had been reading it for two days now and I caught him reciting some verses to the others.

"You are so right Leon. Glad at least one person gets me here."

He looked up at me and smiled, looking pleased.

"Well, 'getting you' as I do, I would suggest you try not to finish any trouble, and just avoid it all together."

I laughed as I headed out the large front doors.

I saw Rift and Vale a little ways down the road, no doubt waiting for me. I looked to the small boulder to the right of the door and smiled. The boulder hadn't been there before and many of the bases' inhabitants had commented on its strangeness till they found that Drogin had begun using it to sun himself. Zach had surmised that the base had pushed it up out of the earth for this purpose and the others just rolled with it. I had to admit that these people took strangeness in stride.

"Come on buddy." I said to the dragon newt, who stood and shook himself like a wet dog before leaping to his usual perch on my shoulder. "We are off to see some heroes."

To say that Bellana was busy was putting it mildly. The streets were packed, and no one even spared me a second glance. Probably because it was so dense here that I had my tail back around my waist for fear of it getting stepped on. Apparently the market square had been emptied of venders for the occasion but the merchants were not going to let a day like today go to waste, so instead they lined their stalls along the main streets instead. It was like a festival in town.

"I am not a fan of crowds." I grumped to Rift as I was bumped by yet another random person. I made sure that my hand was firmly on my bag. I may not like crowds but it wouldn't have been uncommon for me to take advantage of them to swipe some wallets. I wasn't about to let some one snag my coin purse.

Rift laughed. "I am sure you will be fine. Vale hates them with a passion and you don't hear him complaining."

I glared at the aforementioned man. He wasn't complaining because he wasn't the one getting crushed. Between his massive build, scowl on his face, and the two deadly swords he had strapped to his sides, every one was giving him a wide berth. I seriously debated clawing at a few people to put the fear of demons in them for a split second before I thought better of it.

"We just need to make our way to the cathedral. It is where Honey is with the heroes and their escorts." Explained Rift as we continued our steady progress into town.

I still hadn't met this 'Honey' person. Apparently, she was the vice captain of the Red Ravens. According to Zach, she was usually very kind and accommodating. A sort of big sister to the squad. But if you got her mad she would go off on you like a bat out of hell. I was told she had once worked as an assassin for one of the neighboring kingdoms.

We got to the church in a shockingly short amount of time considering the crowds. I attributed this to the sheer size of the men I was traveling with. They parted the masses like a knife through butter, all I had to do was stick close. At least it greatly decreased the amount of jostling I was subjected to.

North street was surprisingly less crowded than the market square and East Street had been. It was still busier than the two other times I walked this way, however. But the crowds here were distinctly more well off than the other crowds. It wasn't that I was surprised to see the nobles out and about on a day the heroes were to be presented to the city of Bellana, it was that the other citizens hadn't crowded the church as well.

"The nobles don't like the lowly peasantry dirtying their streets." Growled Vale, glaring at anyone who thought it was a good idea to look at him for any length of time.

At that Rift laughed, making more people look our way. "You do know that you are one of those nobles, right?"

Vale only grunted and continued to look surly.

"No kidding." I said drolly. "Seems more like a low land gorilla to me..."

"A what?" Asked Rift, looking both confused and amused.

I sighed. "Its an animal. It has huge muscled arms and a big fat head, covered in fur and just goes around grunting and punching things." That was about as accurate a description of a gorilla as I could muster now. I had never been to a zoo, so I hadn't ever actually seen one in person. Still, it seemed like a good medium between fact and Vale. And who were these people to correct me? Not like they could go check. Judging by the look on Rifts face they did not have gorillas here, or at least he had never heard of one.

"Demons have some truly strange creatures in their realm." Chuckled the captain. I shrugged and made my own grunting noise.

"Captain!" Rang out a sweet, female voice, drawing all eyes to the cathedral doors. "About time you arrived. Were the crowds that bad?"

The woman bouncing down the stairs was really a sight to behold. She had what I am sure most would see as the perfect figure: slim, with wide hips and massive breasts. Her hair was a mass of bouncy blonde curls, her eyes a crystal blue over a button nose and wide full lips. She was about my height and well toned in the arms and legs, both bare to the eye as she was wearing a short leather top and a skirt that barely reached her thighs, a pair of even shorter cotton shorts under that. She was also a beastmen. A long grey, furred tail swished frum under the skirt, almost reaching the ground and two grey dog ears stuck out on top of her head from her blonde hair. Clearly this was Honey.

"I was starting to worry." She said with a dazzling smile when she reached us at the bottom of the steps. She leaned to the side to see around her two door shaped team mates to get a look at me. "And who is this pretty lady?"

I blinked at the compliment, unaccustomed to hearing them, much less upon first meeting a person.

"Honey, this is Sin. She is a new hopeful for the Ravens. Sin, this is our vice captain, Honey." Rift said, making the introductions.

"A hopeful!?" She said with a big smile. "You almost never see one in the Ravens."

"That bodes well." I mumbled. "He is hopeful," I said, thumb pointing to Rift. "I really don't care."

"Mind your manners." Huffed Vale and I glared at him.

"What am I? Five? Don't tell me what to do."

"Then act like a normal person!" Snapped the male. "Honey is our vice captain, and you should be more respectful."

"Tch! And I should act more respectfully to her than I do to him?" I huffed, pointing again at Rift.

Vale looked like he was about too snarl at me again when Honey burst into laughter. "Wow, she can really rile you up Vale. Usually you are so stoic." Man, even her teeth were perfect...

"I was not riled up." He growled.

Drogin made a grunting noise that I took for laughter and projected an image of Vale, red faced and angry after one of our sparing matches.

I laughed. "Right?" I said to the little dragon, stroking his red scaled head.

"How adorable!" Sighed Honey. "You have a dragon newt? I didn't realize that people still carried them around. Though he does look a little different than most."

"Sin is a tamer." Explained Rift. "So far Drogin here is her sole tame, though she claims that she intends to tame any and every monster that catches her eye. From what I have seen she has already made quite an extensive list."

Honey chuckled. "Another thing you do not see often are tamers. I actually had a partner back when I joined the Ravens who was a tamer. I hate to tell you, but from what I learned, its nearly impossible to have any great number of tames, especially if you are looking to get higher ranked monsters."

"I am sure I will be fine." I sighed.

"I believe, because she is a demon, Sin has a significantly larger mana pool than the average tamer." Reported Rift. Why he sounded like he was showing off a talented child I did not know nor did I appreciate. "I am sure she will surprise us all."

"Oh!" Said Honey, her face falling a little. "That's right, you are a demon... you won't be able to get into the cathedral."

"Its fine. I've been in there a couple times now." I said, suppressing a yawn. I wasn't sure if demons went into hibernation periods or if Vale's workouts were wearing me out more than I would like to admit, but I was finding it harder and harder to keep up a high energy as of late. "Can we get this over with? I want to have a nap. I don't even understand why I am here."

"The priest requested you to join us." Said Captain Rift. He didn't look happy about that, but I was confused. The priest? The one I met the other day? Was he upset he let a demon into his church or something? Also, what pull did he have to make requests of a Squad Captain?

Honey looked a little confused and a little curious but lead us up the stone steps and into the open cathedral doors all the same. I nearly laughed when everyone watched me enter, like the expected me to spontaneously combust or something. Maybe that's what demons and monsters normally did when they entered churches.

"So, it is true." Said a soft, male voice as we walked further into the massive room. "A demon who can enter a place of the gods..."

Eyes, still adjusting to the dim light filtering through the massive stained glass I could just barely make out the small group of people about thirty feet away. It was toward these people that we walked.

"As I told you, Sir." Said another male voice, this time one I recognized as the priest hat had lead me to the Magistone room that I met Kradiff in not long ago.

"Indeed, you did Faustus." Said the softer voice.

"High Priest!" Said Rift, sounding both surprised and confused as the group came better into view. "What brings you out of the capital?"

A man dressed in long white robes and a blue and silver sash bowed respectful to the Red Ravens' captain. He didn't look like anything special to me. Mind you his robe hid all but his face and head but still... he had a round face, small dark eyes, a short, black beard to match his short black, curly hair and thin lips. He basically looked like an average man. Though he was apparently a high Priest. Not that I knew the significance of that at all.

From what I had seen of the Larastian people so far, they were not particularly religious in the same way many people back on earth were. They didn't go to church at least once a week, they did not have dale prayers or anything... they believed in the Gods, and there were many. I had heard that some of the gods even overlapped and were actually the same god but in different forms. I hadn't investigated it too much.

"I am accompanying Lady Kassidy as a tutor of healing magics." Explained the priest, waving a hand to indicate the rather small woman standing to his right.

I could not explain exactly what made me think it but I felt immediately that this woman was one of the heroes. She was a few inches shorter than my self which was horrifying for her. I was already too short for comfort and she must be barely over five feet. She was pale skinned, with neck length, silky black hair, forest green eyes, and thin lips. She was dressed well in high quality leather armor and an expensive looking dark cloak with spotted white fur around the hood.

But honestly, now that I could see better in the gloom, it was the man next to the tiny woman that garnered the most attention. How I missed him the instant I entered I did not know, especially next to a woman so small. He was easily seven foot tall, towering over the females in the room and even making Rift look smaller than he was. The mans dark skin seemed to soak in the colored lights of the windows and his nearly four foot broad shoulders, casting shadows over the priest and the woman. He wore shiny armor over his chest and silk metal bracers over massive forearms. On his back was an insanely huge double-bladed axe. He looked like a warrior straight out of a damn video game. A literal mountain of a man.

So intimidating was this man that it took me a moment to realize that there were several other men some distance farther into the cathedral. These men were also finely dressed in expensive armor and came in just about every race. They each bore a small shield with a crest painted on it of a bird inflight clutching a short sword in its talons and holding some kind of blue flower in its beak. Knights perhaps?

"It is an honor to have you here no matter the reason, High Priest Roran." Said yet another familiar voice. Another man stepped forward and I realized that he had been half hidden by the massive axe wielder. He was an averaged height man with brown hair and a brown beard on a square jaw. His eyes were a murky grey color and he was a little round around the middle. He bowed low to the priest, his expensive long grey jacket brushing the stones. Without a doubt this man was a noble man. "The city or Bellana is delighted to have, not only you and the guard of Larasta present, but also our new and most esteemed Heroes as well. This is truly a most auspicious day!"

Ugh, could this guy simp any harder? He was literally, rubbing his immaculate hands together... talk about sucking up.

"Thank you, Lord Stellos, were are glad to be here as well." Said the priest but his eyes were still on me. I did not like it one bit. The way he stared, like I was a bug he was deciding weather not he should squish. "I find it fascinating to see a demon standing within these walls, I must admit."

"I take it you were the one who wanted me here then?" I asked, my tone clearly projecting that I was not impressed. "I may be a demon, High Priest, but I am no ones dog to be summoned." The guy was literally giving me bad vibes, even though he looked perfectly fine. Just a curious dude used to getting what he wanted.

"I was under the impression that most demons were summoned, as a matter of fact." Chuckled the man, maybe to break the tension that I had created. Not that I cared. I apparently got extra prickly when I got sleepy because I was not as good at holding back the attitude the last few days as well.

I narrowed my eyes at the man. "Well, I was not one of those demons." I could almost here the growl in my own voice.

"High Priest Roran is actually the man responsible for summoning the heroes to Hearth." Stated the lesser priest, looking nervous. "He is, in a way, a hero himself for this great act. A truly gifted summoner all on his own. I assume it is this, that has him so interested in you, miss Sin."

"A demon named Sin?" said mountain man. His dark lips parted, and an insanely bright white smile sprang forth. "Bit on the nose." He chuckled.

I shrugged at the man, reluctantly removing my eyes off the priest. "A new name for a new life."

"Sin, isn't your name?" Asked a surprised Rift.

I gave the captain a withering look. "What mother in their right mind would willingly name their daughter 'Sin'?" I asked acidly. "My parents were trash and even they were not that stupid." I sighed, attempting to get my emotions in check. "Sorry, I am being rude. I am Sin, a tamer. This is my partner, Drogin. I promise I am not nearly this prickly when I am not tired. Or told to come all the way to town for no apparent reason other than some guy wanted a look at me." I added grumpily.

The large man laughed and held out a diner plate sized hand. "I am Markus, warrior. A pleasure to meet you Sin."

I allowed myself a small smile and took the man's hand, shaking it briefly before letting go. "Nice to meet you, Markus." I turned to the woman and held a hand out to her. "And you?"

She looked a little confused but gave my hand a brief shake all the same. "I'm Kassidy. As the priest said, I am a healer. I also use defensive spells." She glanced down at her palm with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't realize that demons shook hands as a greeting. You are only the second one I have met, true... but the first man gave us a confused look when Markus tried to do the same."

I did the best to try and hide my surprise. I never really thought about it but it was true that no one had offered me a hand when introducing themselves, since I arrived here. It was just habit that had me taking Markus' hand when he held it out.

"Yes, I do it out of habit." Laughed the man. "It's the first time someone didn't look at my hand in confusion."

"Er," I said, awkward and a little panicked. I was never a good liar, which was why I tried to avoid it. The closest I usually got was lying by omission. "Every place has its own customs." I said lamely, hopping it was left at that.

It was then that I understood that if I wanted to keep the fact that I was a person from Earth a secret, I couldn't spend too much time with the heroes. I would, no doubt, let things slip without realizing it. Normally I could brush it off, but these people would know immediately that I was referring to things from earth or using turns of phrases from their world.

"Anyway," I said, nervously. "I'm leaving. It was nice to meat you both, and sorry this guy kidnapped you." I said off handily over my shoulder as I beat a hasty retreat out side.

"Sin! Wait, where are you going?" Called Rift, as the priest made an offended noise behind me.

"I'm just going to the market." I sighed. "I need food."

"She is a funny girl." Laughed Markus.

"Other than the queen, she is the first person who actually apologised for us being here..." I heard Kassidy say softly as I entered the fresh air of the noble section of Bellana.

I just ran away, and I was perfectly okay with that. There were no big reasons I was keeping my place of origin a secret. Its not like they would arrest me for it or something. It was basically for the same reason I had kept my demon status a secret: I didn't want to have to deal with the attention and questions. I didn't want to run the risk of 'hero' being tacked on me either. Was it so wrong to just want to live a quiet, decent, life? I just wanted a roof over my head, food in my belly, and a bunch of adorable deadly monsters to keep me company. It didn't seem like a big ask to me.

Maybe I should just run off to live in the mountains some place? It irked me to feel like I was run off or to leave and give the impression that I was to people like Vincent... but maybe I should all the same.

I made my way back to the market. I was hungry so went and found myself a loaf of bread to buy from a young lady who was wandering around the crowd, selling them out of a basket she carried on arm. It was good but it also made me miss Sally. I hoped she was doing well. Maybe I would secretly go check on her in a few days when all this racket settled down.

Now a little melancholy, and a little less hungry, I sat myself at the feet of the statue of the hero Lect. He was tall and imposing, yet he was also bereft of too many citizens. I had seen the stage where the heroes would be presented, and figured the massive statue blocked the view. Maybe I would finish my bread and then just go back to base on my own. This whole thing had been a waste of time.

It was interesting to see the two heroes that were here. They just looked so normal. Well, Markus was massive, but its not like he was the first giant dark skinned man I had ever seen in my life. It was kind of funny to see the contrast between the two heroes though. It made me chuckle to myself. I hoped no one took Kassidy for granted. She was small and a self-proclaimed healer but she had a look in her eyes that I knew well enough. That girl was a survivor.

"Sin?"

I had been so lost in thought that I nearly jumped at the voice. I looked up and saw Wells towering above me in the sunlight. He wore his guard's uniform and a nervous smile.

"Oh," I said, surprised. "Hey, Wells. You must be busy today."

"Ah, yes... Not everyday that were get such esteemed peoples here in Bellana." He commented with a weak chuckle. "Um, how have you been?"

"Well, enough. What about you? The commander still running you ragged?" Why the hell were we swapping small talk? I hated small talk. Then again I wasn't a huge fan of any kind of talking I suppose. Though I had been getting better at it since coming to Hearth.

"Yes..." He sighed and glanced around, looking embarrassed. "Look, I just wanted to say that I am sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner, but Sally said you had cleaned out your room and left. Didn't even ask for a return of your copper..."

"She needs it more than me. Anyway," I added, confused. "Why in the world are you apologizing to me?"

Now it was his turn to look confused. "Because of how I acted. That day, with Vincent and when, well you know."

I laughed. It probably wasn't very nice of me, given how awkward and put out he looked but I couldn't help it. "Why are you apologizing for that? Vincent was the ass, and I am very sure that I will be getting no apologies from him."

"But I- I was acting so badly, insisting that you were not a demon!"

I laughed again. "Because you didn't think I was. Or is this because it implied that if I was a demon then it would mean I was a bad person?"

He looked down sadly, but I couldn't help but smile. This was probably one of those times that my viewpoints didn't line up with what most people believed.

"I am a demon. But I let you believe I wasn't. If anyone should be a little upset than it would be you and the others who felt, they were deceived. I still believe I did nothing wrong hiding it, but I can see why some may feel like I lied to them or deceived them." I looked at wells with a one-sided smile. "Its just a tail Wells." I chuckled, wiggling the appendage on the ground. "I never altered my personality nor did I ever openly lie about myself or how I felt about anyone or anything. The only thing to have changed from that Sin and the one you see before you now are the fact that this thing isn't wrapped around my waist. That's it."

"I don't understand." Said Wells, a little sadly.

"Before you knew I was a demon, you liked me well enough right?"

"Yes."

"Well, the only thing to change between now and then is that you know I am a demon. Maybe to you that is a big thing. Maybe to others it is too big of a thing. But to me it is a little thing. Like finding out a person has blue eyes or enjoys pottery. Being a demon is a part of me but it is not a part that changes weather or not you know about it. I am still exactly as I was before you or anyone else knew. So, to me, everyone who tolerated, or even maybe liked me, still does. They are just a little stupid and need to realize that a tail hardly makes a difference."

"I-I think I understand." He said, looking a little chipper.

"Besides, even if everyone here decided they hated me it hardly means I have to hate them back." I said with a laugh. "Even if you walked up to me right now and called me a despicable filthy demon I am sure I would have looked at you like you were a small child and smiled. I like this town. I like sally and the regulars at the Birch Tree. I like Commander Rice and the merchants. I like the guild and the adventurers there."

"So, you are alright then?" He asked, finally settling down enough to sit next to me.

I sighed and gazed around the square for a moment collecting my thoughts. "I admit I was sad. Or maybe upset? I didn't feel good anyway when it first happened. I cried..." I glared at the guard. "And you best not tell anyone I told you that either."

Wells laughed and held up his hands in a placating gesture.

"But I don't think it was the people's reaction that upset me. I was always sure that I would get that reaction once people knew what I was. I rather thought there would be riots in the streets and people calling for my head. No, it wasn't how others felt that made me up set."

"What was it then?"

"It was what I felt..." I looked down on the grey-white stones and sighed. "I wasn't prepared for the knowledge that I cared. I don't ever remember liking anyone before. Not enough to wonder if their day was going alright or weather they were in good health. I have only ever had passing acquaintances at best. It was a bit of a shock to my system to find out that I felt more than that for the people here. It isn't a bad thing, and maybe I am weird for thinking it a sad thing. I don't know. But I am not mad or hurt really. Not even at Vincent, even though he is a little shit."

"He got arrested." Said Wells with a laugh. "His family bailed him out pretty quick and I am sure the whole thing will be swept off the records. He isn't part of the guard anymore either. But none of us are upset about that."

"Look!" Came a call, and the people began to stir. "It's the heroes!"

Wells and I got to our feet as the public surged forward, eager to get a better look at their new heroes. We watched as Rift, Honey, the priest Roran, and the two heroes stepped up on stage. It took me a moment to find Vale standing a the front of the stage with the royal guards, protecting the stage from the crowds.

My brain pretty much clicked off as Lord Godric Stellos got up on stage and began a long winded speech about the heroes and gods knew what else. Each hero introduced themselves with a short hello and then the priest warbled on with a speech of his own. I really just wanted to leave, but figured I would be annoyed if something important happened and I missed it. Besides, it was actually nice standing next to Wells once more, the tension between us gone. I really had missed my friend.

It was another hour before Rift and the others came to find me. The people of Bellana were still in full party mode but the heroes had been whisked off to Lord Stellos' place where they were staying for whatever amount of time they planned on being in the second largest city of Larasta.

"Ready to go back home?" Captain Rift asked as he and the others approached.

"Gods, yes. If you drag me out again for such an inane reason such as some shitty priest wanting a look at a novelty demon, I might have to kick you out of your own house."

Rift laughed and only smiled. Vale still looked like grouchy Vale.

"Wait, you have been with the Red Ravens this whole time?" Asked a stunned Wells after bowing to the squad members.

"I figured it was Zach's fault I was homeless, so I stole theirs. I'm letting them stay for now."

"Um, I don't think that was... well..."

"No need to worry young Wells." Chuckled the captain. "We don't mind much at all. She adds to the lively atmosphere. Besides, you maybe looking at the newest Red Raven member come the summer selection."

Wells gaped at me, shocked and what I figured was impressed. "I am going against my own better judgment." I replied.

"But it is a huge honor!" Exclaimed Wells. "I had no idea that you were even that powerful. To be recommended during the summer selection is almost a guarantee that you will be offered at least a position at the Squad that recommended you..." He looked genuinely in awe. Were the squads really that great? Or did I just look that weak?

Then again, my own viewpoint was rather skewed, wasn't it? I supposed that, when no Heroes were summoned, then the Squads were the greatest warriors across the land.

"Honor or not I just want to head back. I am tired and want a nap."