"Shining Reach"
Steel waits in the dark for any kind of change. Every second that passes makes him nervous and a little bit scared.
There are no visible signs of River to be found. She is fully hidden. It is obvious to hide something so conspicuous. His existence is a special one as nobody can see that he is a demo but River's appearance itself would be enough to let humans know what is she.
Even though he is safe. He is still isn't comfortable about having someone manipulate his flesh to communicate with him. It is like giving your life in someone else's hands.
Five seconds passes without any incident. He is starting to wonder if his knowledge about her is wrong. But at the sixth second, something happened that is very familiar to him.
His body welcomes something foreign. It is much more smoother than the last time but he is sure that this is the same as before.
A eye shapes itself on the back of his right hand. The eye is golden in color and it is watching him. It is trying to recognize him.
He was the one who wanted her attention so it wouldn't be long before she would remember him. And it seem like it didn't take much time. She answers after two seconds.
"Steel, Right?"
The words didn't come from a mouth. It is like they're directly being transmitted into his ears.
He just nods and Shining Reach answers in a neutral tone.
"I am glad to know you are okay and I am also grateful for you to keep the information about that man a secret. I was gonna contact you but you presence seem to disappear so I couldn't. I know It must be confusing but I hope you understand and keep hiding his name."
Shining Reach finishes talking. Now she is waiting for his reply.
Steel is a coward. He would think of himself first before thinking about the another. And right now, he needs to think about himself more than other.
He is scared of Mother's curse and not doing as it says would trigger pain that is unimaginable. It even destroy his very self. He would do anything to protect himself. But right now, he is just gonna go towards a different hell if he takes these actions.
There is that another curse too. He is mad about carrying something that shouldn't even be his. This curse was suppose to affect River but as she is immune to all curses and blessings. He has to burden himself now. Everything just never goes his way but now he will force it to go his way.
Steel brace himself and speaks.
"I know about Demonoid blade and some important information that could be beneficial to you…"
The golden eye stares at him and then something changed.
The atmosphere shifts and everything becomes serious. He feels something oppressive and the eyes grows, No, they multiple.
The golden eyes starts appearing on his body. Few on his arms and even under his clothes. One appears under his right eye. The whole process didn't even take ten seconds and it wasn't painful. Instead he felt like being stripped naked.
He is being watched. His heartrate, his actions, his emotions and other aspects of his body are being watched with meticulous precision. Is she trying to determine if he is lying or not?
He is even starting to doubt if his ability would be able to hide his demonic presence. What if she realized that is a demon?
However, it didn't seem to happen. Instead, she interrogates him.
"How useful is this information of yours?"
Steel had thought that he would be questioned on how and why does he know it. But she seem to move straight to the point. He also notices how her tone has changed. But he seemed very nice or even caring but now she is cold and calculating.
"My information is very useful as it is one of the weakness of that blade."
All the eyes are watching him and his surroundings. They're trying to determine where he is or who is he?
She is interest in his words and knowledge. But she is cautious too. He can feel that she is trying to get information about him right now.
"What are your demands?"
He replies with confidence. Or pretends.
"I want to be a part of this cohort or team that will deal with that demonoid. I wouldn't mind being part of your team as well."
Shining Reach heard his words and just watches him for a minute. She is either trying to understand the real intent behind his words or trying to see the deception or threat that he might poses.
Steel right now feels like he is playing with fire. It isn't a great feeling to play with fire that might even burn his entire house.
She finally replies back.
"I repeat again. How useful is this information?"
Her repeating that question again really startles him. Is she doubting him? Does she think he is pranking her?
It should be quite a big deal for a normal government worker to know about the existence of a demonoid. He is sure that it isn't public. So it should be easy to believe his words.
He can't just tell this information either. That would be like throwing all his supplies in the mouth of a devil spawn. it would be all useless if she already knows the information. He needs to hide it and also make it so that she could trust him too.
Steel sighs.
"I will reveal the full knowledge about the details of the weakness of that blade when you will let me join you. For now all I can tell is that I know how it observe the world from so far away."
Shining Reach replies.
"I understand. I will consider…you joining. But I want to meet you face to face to determine if you are worth anything. We will meet in three days. I will let you know of the location."
The dealing seem to work, somehow. She still sounds suspicious but he can relax knowing that he actually made it through.
Steel feel proud of himself and even bold. So he request one last thing.
"That would be great. I also request for you to not spy on me. I need so privacy, you see. It would also be in both of our interest to keep each other… happy? I guess. I don't know, I am new to this whole business thing."
Shining reach stares at him for few more minutes and just replies with "okay". Then each and every eye ball disappears one after another.
In just few seconds, all the eyes are gone.
He is still not fully sure if she is gone or not. So he scratches himself a little on every place where that eye was present. But after not feeling anything, he finally let himself relax and lays down on the floor.
Who knew, talking to people could be this hard.