Flint was still processing what he had seen when he noticed Lady Emerald walking towards him.He forced a smile."That was a huge one back there." He caught her words at last when she stood before him. He nodded."Yes. Their bosses can be like that."He was seeing her fully for the first time. Her blue eyes, small face and sharp nose."Here." She handed him the bag she was carrying. "My father might add something but this is from me."He took it and nodded with a smile. "Thank you."Her gaze still lingered."We will be having a banquet soon. You are invited."He felt bad instantly. "I'm sorry, my lady. I won't be able to make it."She schooled the disappointment on her face. "Okay then. Goodbye."Flint watched as she got into a waiting carriage. He waved but she didn't return it. The carriage left.Drey started walking towards him."I see she settled you." He said, eyeing the bag. "Then this would be split six ways."Flint shifted the bag behind him. "She was just being appreciative.

The system notification left as quickly as it came."Possible threat?" Flint thought to himself. He looked around. The whole place was quiet and serene. "What could be a threat?"He took a walk around. Nothing seemed out of place. His communicator vibrated. He took it out from his pocket. There had been tons of missed calls from Dylan.He called back immediately.Dylan answered. "You haven't forgotten about the competition, right?"Flint remembered. "Oh yes. I'm still getting some things sorted. I'll be back in two weeks.""Then you haven't heard. It's in a week. You need to get back. Apparently the demons are now taking human forms. We have to stop them before it's too late."Flint locked onto something important. "Human form. A demon could look like a human.""Yes." Dylan answered. Flint didn't know he had said it out loud."Oh okay. Thank you. I'll be back in a week then."The communicator beeped, signalling the end of the call."Things were getting worse." He thought. Then it slip

Flint was barely able to steady his breath after his back hit the wardrobe for the third time. He had thought all that was needed was to never take his attention away from the demon, but now it felt like the demon had been waiting for the boy to leave.His hand reached his throat as he was being pulled up to his feet. The invisible fists held him up until his feet were no longer touching the floor and he was gasping for breath.*I can't. I can't.* He thought as he struggled against the forces, yet all his efforts were useless.A loud sound echoed and a sharp pain shot through Flint's leg. Then he tried one last time — the demon's back met the door first before it picked him up and slammed him against it.Then it kicked in. He had been untouchable because his mana was contaminated. Just as it wanted to stand up, he locked it down on the floor, still trying to catch his breath.By the time Flint was done, green smoke emanated from the demon. He couldn't even see clearly. Remembering what

Flint was finally able to pick himself up by the time the sun rose. He recalled everything that happened and a huge dread settled in his chest.The Demon was still alive. Still stronger than him.He got back to the guild and turned in the bounty. The woman was surprised the paper was still in order.Some men spoke to him but Flint ignored them. He found somewhere close to the wall and sat.The woman took her paper and walked to him. "Sir, did you forget to rip it? I mean…""Hand it over to someone else. It has not been done yet."She hid her shock and nodded. "Oh, okay."Lost in thought, a knock snapped him out of it.A man stood above him, looking like the one that had picked a fight with him the first time he came.Flint raised a brow.The man slid an envelope to him and left.Flint looked at the envelope. It had a seal, which meant it was from a noble. He tore it open.Flint was halfway through when he finally knew who it was from. "Emerald Wellington was her full name," he noted,

The whole place was quiet. The man hesitated as he reached for his communicator. "Bring in those for the third match," he whispered into it, not taking his eyes off Flint.It took a while before he got a response and he swallowed hard."Everyone backed out."Flint turned away from the crowd, especially those he had been hearing snide comments from, and all of them looked away.He left, heading for the haunted house. The fire hadn't burned it to the ground but it was very obvious that there had been a fire outbreak there.Flint stepped in past the debris. "Shall we finish this?" His voice echoed off the walls.The system blinked.[MANA LEVEL: 80%]Flint had thought it was referring to him, until his gaze caught the shadow standing not too far from him. It looked, as always, calm and deadly.In a blink, Flint was in its face and with his hands covered with rocks and debris pointed at all sides, he launched at the demon. The effect was so strong that it finally drew a growl from it.Flin