Silfa raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden hospitality of the demon. Since he didn't quite have the mind and option to question all that right now, he let out a short breath and took the hand.
The demon seemed delighted by it and pulled him up to his feet, taking half a step back before crossing his arms.
He seemed to be waiting for Silfa to start speaking. As if he had such an encounter on a daily basis.
Silfa stood up straight, patting the dust off his clothes and straightening them so they looked somewhat presentable again before speaking calmly with his eyes still fixated on his clothes.
"So I suppose we need to set some rules and so on, right? You probably have some stuff to explain too." He finished tidying up his clothes and looked up at the demon again, waiting for a response.
Silfa knew very well that the understanding the humans and warriors had of demons was very limited and mostly false claims. Most of it was made up from conclusions and old records some elder wrote centuries ago. The only way to confirm the authenticity of any of those would be to ask a demon directly. Although meeting a demon is a death sentence, hence no confirmed information was is the hands of any clans.
"First of all, I need a better explanation for your motive because it could become important later." The demon finished his sentence with a strange unfitting seriousness and watched Silfa like he had all the time he wanted.
There would be nothing to lose when I tell him, right? I mean, we have a contract now—he can't hurt me. …Surely not, right? On second thought as if a demon would care for their contractor.
Silfa decided that there was nothing to lose, and so he started speaking: "You see, I come from a family of Soul Flame warriors, so of course we had some enemies, but about five years ago, my father went way too far."
Shin noticed the anger and frustration in Silfa's eyes as he had seen it in many human eyes before, but he gave a faint smile anyways as always.
It seems humans have made greater use of Soul Flames since the last few centuries. They actually realized they only form in good warriors? I wonder if they trade them?
Just another tragic human matter again. "Oh? How interesting, keep going."
Silfa expected no big reaction out of the demon anyways, so he just ignored the smile and continued: "So, long story short, he tried to take on the Azure Thorn clan—" Shin interrupted, making Silfa narrow his eyes at him in slight annoyance.
"Is he dumb? Everyone knows they have something fishy going on with demonic artifacts; even the demons think they are annoying."
Silfa was quiet because he knew he couldn't deny that his father was indeed very bold, but seeing the demons confusion and slight mockery, he decided to not start any form of an argument and continued.
"So anyways, he took on the Azure Thorn Clan and underestimated them greatly, making him their main target for some reason." His gaze sharpened as he looked Shin in the eyes again with a dead look.
Silfa never got any information about why exactly his father was targeted for a bit of provocation. The Azure clan normally avoids any unnecessary conflicts.
"Then when my father didn't return, everyone already had pretty much guessed what happened to him, but no one would have thought the Azures would be so angered that they would target every last one of our clan." Silfa stood his ground steadily right after he said that, being careful not to show too much emotion to the demon.
He heard that old demons, as this one probably is, have a great ability to use such slips of emotions to their advantage. From slight anger to deaths, everything could happen.
Thinking back to his clan, a familiar pressure formed in his head. He knew that he despised them for not doing anything about the shocking news back then. Even though most of them were capable Soul Flame warriors. Although Silfa thought that this information probably wouldn't be all too interesting for Shin, so he let it out.
After Silfa had finished talking, it seemed like the demon was debating something. Or well, it ‚seemed' like it until he actually opened his mouth.
"So I'll make the great assumption and guess that they're all dead and you want to avenge their deaths by summoning me for power?"
Silfa pondered a bit over the said words before nodding with confidence.
"Yes, that's it."
The demon now seemed to study him, searching for- and looking at his expression and reactions, as though he had realized something Silfa hadn't yet.
What in the world is that demon doing? Can he read my mind? Is that included in the death demons ability? Silfa thought.
The demon snapped back from whatever thoughts he was in, so suddenly, Silfa almost flinched. Almost. "Alright, I will accept your reason for the summon, so let me explain some rules to you." The blue-haired warrior prepared his mind to mentally note anything and everything that demon was about to say.
It's not every day that someone has access to knowledge of a demon.
"So the most important stuff first. As a summoned demon, I have to follow three strict main rules regarding our contract," he started.
Shin sorted his thoughts as though to speak in a way Silfa would understand the easiest. "As you probably know, there are three ranks of demons: imps, lesser Yokai, and demon lords…"
Do I look like a kid to you?! That's something included in basic schooling no matter the village, city etc. Silfa blinked a few times, thinking that it's ridiculous to recite such basic knowledge, but before he could complain about it, the demon noticed his intention and interrupted him before he could say anything.
"But since I and the other three demon lords can have mood swings too, there is one last rank. And those are the high elders—they are very annoying but have the power to give pretty bad punishments...blablabla. "
Shin seemed to keep complaining about the high elders, but Silfa blurred the noise out and was in his own world rethinking his thoughts from earlier.
So no demon lord and below attacks anyone just like that. They are being controlled, it seems. Or maybe ruled? Who knows, not like i ever visited the demon realm.
The demon seemed to finally get to the point, and so Silfa let his voice blend in again. "…and so they decided on three main rules that must be upheld at any cost. And those three rules are, first of all—" He coughed before seemingly imitating the court: "Demons may only kill mortals who harm them or are a direct threat to Yokaiya. Second rule: Mass slaughtering mortals or hurting a mortal on behalf of the contractor for any reason can bring a harsh punishment."
The demon huffed out a faint laugh, looking upwards into the red sky, yet he somehow always seemed to have Silfa in his field of vision.
"They say the worst punishment is something no demon would ever think of—me neither, because I'll never break such rules. No demon would do anything in favor of the contractor. Never. Anyways, on to the last one."
Shin corrected his posture to a casual one again with his arms still crossed standing more relaxed in the middle of the altar.
It seems plausible till now, but if he can't hurt mortals, then how is he supposed to help me take revenge? Maybe he can give me powers or something like that?
Before Silfa's thoughts went any further than that, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his forehead and flinched very noticeably. Shin had noticed the warrior's absent mind and flicked his cold fingers against Silfa's forehead to get his attention back.
And he succeeded, having Silfa scratch his forehead where he flicked him plus an angered gaze not yet reaching the others red eyes but close. The demon snickered seeing the gaze but soon continued. "As I was saying, the last rule is: demons summoned by any creature must obey their contractor's commands at best unless it violates the rules above." The demon let his arms hang by his sides, looking at Silfa who still had a hand on his forehead but answered nonetheless. "Alright, I understand; I guess it won't be that difficult to uphold them." He lowered his hand from his forehead, looking at his palm and searching for any traces of blood, letting his arm down when he saw none.
"So then how are you going to help me take revenge?" Silfa raised an eyebrow, looking at the demon with a questioning look, who returned it with a smile. "Well, there are my ways of course." He stopped for a moment, taking a look around the dead lands.
The shrieks in the distance, the dark sand around the altar and finally the crimson moon right besides the smaller silver one.
Then turned his gaze to Silfa again, a dishonest smile on his face. "How about we get out of here first? I'll tell you on the way." He walked a few steps to get down from the altar. His boots strangely quiet on the dark sand as the soot ruffled through his black clothes, he seemed used to it.
It's a part of the demon realm that somehow went over to the mortal realm after all. Seeing his knowing familiar look it seems at least this information was right. He thought for a bit and followed Shin swiftly, landing on the ground with a loud crunch.
"We'll be going to a friend of mine first, he might have something to help you get power even without me giving you some of mine for the time being."
A friend? Demons can have friends? Why can't he just give me some of his power like he should? No Silfa, although he said he can't hurt his contractor, there is no guarantee he wont do so after the revenge. So no questions that could annoy the guy for now.
Silfa just nodded and started to walk in the direction he originally came from in the mortal lands. He looked behind him, seeing the demon following him.
It seems that this is the right way for now.
Back to Harukaze! Empire of warriors and best. Money!