"Say Siph," Saki says, turning toward the Angel sitting on a tree branch, polishing her swords with a cloth. It has been a week since Kitty sent them back, they have beem doing the same thing since then. Making sure Nira doesn't get thrown around by the boars, beating Sarla's ass and fighting the army.
"What?" Siphiria briefly glances at Saki.
"Don't you think it's a weird trial? I mean, it can't just be it, can it?"
The Angel raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"One entire year to just live the same day over and over again, I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it's there is to it." Saki remarks, leaning against the tree's trunk.
"Or you could just be overthinking, wouldn't be a first." Siphiria says half-teasing.
"Fuck you, Siph." Saki rolls her eyes. "Let's just do things differently next time, alright?"
"Sure, we could do that."
———
Saki and Siphiria find themselves lying on top of the other, every morning start like this, it used to be a bother but they stopped thinking too much on that. "So what do you have in mind?" The Angel, pushing herself the Demoness.
"Well, I start by introducing you to Nyra and we go boar-hunting." Saki explains as she sits up.
"...How are you going to explain that we were in the same room?"
"Just trust me, okay?"
***
The sun has not yet risen when a short figure wearing a brown cloak is rushing through her hallway. She has a bag full of tools hanging at her hip, she reaches for the doorhandle when...
"BOOO!" Saki jumps out of a corner. The figure jumps in shock, a scream shakes the entire house—or would have, if Saki hadn't put her hand over the figure's mouth. "Calm down, I'm not gonna eat ya!" The Demoness laughes as she retracts her hand.
"You're mean!" Nyra squeals out, pouting at Saki.
"Sorry sorry but the opportunity was right there," Saki giggles a bit. "So, going to catch some boars, huh?
Nyra's eyes go wide for a moment, "Is it that obvious?"
"Nyra, we've been together for what, twenty or so years? I know you like the back of your hand." Saki shakes her head while smiling. "Besides where else would you go wearing your cloak? Not to the market and certainly not at this hour."
"Alright alright," Nyra's head droops in defeat." I was going to catch some boars deep in the forest."
"Really now? You really wanted to make this special, didn't you? Seeking the most dangerous and delicious ones."
"Well yes, we haven't seen father in almost 6 years now." Nyra says, fidgeting her fingers.
"Man, she's so cute!" Saki thinks to herself but she snaps out of it when she hears a question coming from the Elf.
"Why are you awake though? I know you have training but isn't it in a few more hours?"
It is time now for the Demoness to execute her plan. Up to now, she has always done things like they happened with a few extras of course but not this time. Even though she might be throwing away the entire day, she might as well try since she is getting bored of repeating the same things in and out. "Actually, I have something I wanted to show you but before that..." She turns on her heels, "You can come out now, Siph."
The Angel strolls out of Saki's room, wearing a long white and purple robe embroided with golden threads, the large sleeves hid her arms and she had a large hat with a crown of red gems embedded into it. She glances at the Demoness with a mix of exhaustion and aloofness before turning her red blood eyes to the short Elf. "Uh, hello." She greets in an awkward tone.
Saki's jaw almost dropped, she asked her Angelic counterpart to dress differently as well as modify her looks and attitude a bit. Her hair is now a lighter shade of blonde to the point it seems almost white, her skin is pale like there is no blood in veins and her eyes, while still red, now have golden star shaped irises. Clearing her throat, Saki speaks. "Nyra, this is Siphiria. A...friend of mind, of sorts. She's visiting for some time."
"A friend? I didn't know you knew people outside of the village." Nyra remarks. "How did you get to meet each other?"
***
The three of them are walking among the dense trees, "You bumped into each other? Huh, that's..." Nyra searches for the right words after hearing Saki's story.
"Weird?" The Demoness says, looking at the Elf. She hopes the far-fetched story she just told would stick.
"No, I was going to say unexpected. I never took you for the kind to make friends like that..." The remarks is not meant to be vexxing as it is true, Saki always has been a bit of a loner, never going toward others and avoiding unnecessary contact. Still, it hits harder than she would have liked, which makes the Angel in the back giggle. "Still, it is a nice thing."
"...I guess," Saki shrugs.
"Can I ask you a question, miss Siphiria?" The Elf turns her head to the Angel.
"Just call me Siphiria."
"Oh, sure. You can tell me if I'm being rude but may I ask what race you are from? I'm having a hard time telling honestly."
Neither the Demoness nor the Angel are surprised by the question, though they expected the question to arise way earlier. Despite looking like a human, one can easily tell Siphiria is not one and in all fairness, she was not trying to hide at all. "It is fine to ask, my kind does not often appear in these lands so I understand your inability to discern my heritage. To answer your question, I am an Angel."
Nyra's eyes widen, "An Angel!?" She repeats in astonishment. "Like the ones living alongside God!?" The Elf asks enthustiastically, to which the Angel nods. The reaction is normal, Angels, unlike Demons, are an absolutely rare sight. They don't descend onto the world without a reason, and when they do, it usually is something of the upmost importance and they disappear as soon as they finish their job. "W-wait..." Nyra stops, which makes the two stop as well. "Don't Angels and Demons hate each other?"
Siphiria throws a stare at Saki, and the Demoness shakes her head, "You explain, I've been talking nonstop."
"As embarassing as it is to admit," Siphiria begins, taking off her large hat. "I'm a similar to her, I've never been to Heaven. And I don't hate her specifically, though I don't like Demons either."
"Oh, I see. That is good news!" Nyra breathes in relief. She was worried that they would start fighting out of nowhere. "I have another question, if you don't mind."
"Go on."
"Why do Angels and Demons look so... human?"
"It is one of God's rules. Demons and Angels of a certain level have to look human to be able to roam in another realm. It is to prevent cataclysmic damage to the fabrics of reality like space and time." The Angel explains.
"But putting that at the second level is overkill I'd say." Saki chimes in.
"Second level?" Nyra asks, tilting her head.
"She refers to our evolutions. Angels and Demons are not static races like Humans, Elves or Dwarves. We evolve when certain requirements are met like age or when we acquire enough power." Siphiria adds. At the current moment, Siphiria is an Angel, the bottom of her Triad while Saki is a Horned Demon, the second lowest of hierarchy. After that explanation, they resume their walk until they reach their destination, a clearing surrounded trees.
"We've arrived at the bald spot of the forest." Saki declares. That is not the place's name but that's how she calls it. Nyra chuckles at the name while Siphiria rolls her eyes. "What the fuck?" As the trio approaches more, they can see a pile of dead boars, their bodies as thick as ancients trees stacked upon on another. On top is someone wearing a tattered and ripped cloak but what alerts the trio is not the cloak but the person's right arm. A massive black claw with pulsing red veins stretching into a human shoulder.