Survival’s Path

Chapter 7

“Do not draw that blade.” Kaelan raised a brow at Ash.

The atmosphere tense. Ash felt his hand shake. “What?” His instinct told him, if he drew the blade at best he’ll survive with heavy wounds.

“What is a fiend?” Kaelan asked.

“A demon human or a demon kin. They used to dwell in the demon realm but a few of them live among us,” Neritha’s voice sounded. Kaelan turned and found her and Lira before the hallway. White snow colored hair, and ocean blue eyes. She had pointed ears, though not as long as Lira’s. “He isn’t a fiend Ash, I would have sensed it,” she said.

Kaelan frowned at her. ‘What is this?’ he thought. Something pulsed heavily. He held the crystal and felt it. The crystal was calm. He turned to Lira, her blond hair was perfect and her green eyes enticing, however, he didn’t feel anything. His eyes moved and fell on Neritha…

“If you say so my lady,” Ash said and released his sword.

Neritha turned to Kaelan. “I find it strange though. You seem not to know a lot.”

“Because I don’t,” Kaela replied.

“He doesn’t remember most things,” Lira spoke as she sat on the table.

“Then how does he know how to fight?” Neritha asked, frowning at her words.

“A warrior’s body doesn’t forget how to fight easily.” Ash stare at Kaelan after he said that. ‘I wonder how strong he was with his memories,’ he thought.

“I see,” Neritha muttered while she thought.

“So someone mind telling me what a 5th Star master is?” Kaelan said, pulling her back to reality.

“Different races have different methods of ranking people’s strengths. The most popular is the star ranking methods,” Ash explained. “There are 7 stars, well there are more. However, the ranking becomes meaningless once you become a 7th star master.”

“To make it clear, 1 to 4 are low ranking star masters. 5 to 6 are mid ranking star masters and 7 and above are high ranking masters,” Neritha said.

“I see. So you believe I’m a 5th star master?” Kaelan asked.

“Nah, you are a 6th. Your mind realm is stronger than mine,” Ash said.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we got a matter at hand, don’t we?” Lira raised an arm and said. “How do we leave the city?”

Silence descended. Neritha looked at Ash, while Ash looked at Kaelan. Kaelan in turn, stared out the window. “Why don’t we just barge out through the gates? That or we take on a job to hunt monsters,” he said.

“Will that work?” Neritha asked.

“Only way to find out is to try. If the job doesn’t work then we’ll force our way out,” Kaelan replied.

“A suggestion,” Lira said. “Instead of the mask, why don’t we take you to… what do humans call… why don’t we take you to a makeup artist and give you a different look?”

“Makeup?” Kaelan frowned.

“Nymphs do not indulge in that nonsen…”

“Let’s do it,” Neritha interrupted Ash.

“My lady!”

“My life is more important,” she said.

“It’s settled. We’ll get her a makeover tomorrow,” Lira clapped and said.

“Why are you happy?” Ash glared at her. “This is wrong!”

“If it increases her chance of survival, then I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Lira retorted. “You kill to protect her anyways. Killing is wrong isn’t it?”

“That is self defense. If we don’t kill they’ll kill us!”

“It doesn’t change the fact that killing is wrong does it?”

“Kaelan what is the issue?” Neritha asked when she saw him lost in thoughts. While Ash and Lira argued, he quietly thought hard about something.

“It’s nothing.”

“I don’t think it is. You looked serious,” she said. Kaelan took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I was wondering, what is makeup?”

His questions caused Ash and Lira to pause and turn over. The trio stared at him for a while and soon burst out laughing. “What?” Kaelan raised a brow. Lira raised her hand and waved? Neritha tried her hardest to stiffen her laugh. Ash on the other hand let it all out.

“You’ll find out tomorrow,” Lira said and continued to laugh.

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing,” the trio chorused.