"Get over here! Refusing to cooperate with the Holy Church will result in your death!"
"Argh! Leave my family alone!"
The knights seized Jacob by the arms and forced him to his knees. A sharp blow to his abdomen made him grunt, his vision blacking out for a fleeting moment.
An officer pointed toward the mages, who were gathered near one of the homes, their hands glowing faintly as they traced lingering demonic mana. As they channeled their own energy to analyze it, several staggered—some vomiting, others collapsing.
"What is taking so long? I was promised the finest mages, and yet you're fainting like children!" the officer snapped, massaging the bridge of his nose before regaining composure. He turned to the knights holding Jacob.
"I want every scrap of information pulled from these traitors. If they refuse, deal with them accordingly."
"I'm telling you the truth!" Jacob cried, his voice cracking with desperation. "What more do you want? Just—leave my wife and daughter alone! Do whatever you want with me!"
He cast a frantic glance toward his family, bound and shivering in the mud.
"Argh!"
"Jacob! Y-you... leave him alone! Is this how the Holy Church treats its people?!"
"Fine! Fine! I'll tell you everything I know! Just release them—I'm begging you!"
"Finally. Some sense."
The officer gave a slight nod.
"Move it! Stop resisting!"
"Jacob! Don't tell them anything! Jacob!"
"Daddy! Mommy!"
"Where are you taking them?! I said I'd talk! Hey—are you listening?!" Jacob shouted, voice hoarse with panic.
The officer smirked, squatting before Jacob as knights yanked his head upward.
"You see, I don't like when people hide sins beneath their roofs. But I'm merciful. Answer my questions, and you and your daughter may live."
He turned to Jacob's wife.
"As for her... she will be executed. Harboring a demon is high treason. And we do have evidence—it stayed in your home. Cooperation buys survival. Nothing more."
Jacob's eyes widened. His jaw trembled.
"No..."
But before he could speak, his wife was dragged away. Her scream tore through the air.
"JACOB! HELP ME!" Emma thrashed against the knights, but they were unrelenting.
"Mommy! Nooo!" Bella sobbed, thrashing in the mud. Her small body struggled against the ropes, until she finally stilled. Her wide eyes locked on her father—frozen. Defeated.
"I'm sorry," Jacob whispered, over and over, staring at the Ozbark. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
The officer grasped his chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
"Jacob, is it? Good. Tell me everything. Be thorough, and you walk free with your daughter. Understood?"
Jacob gave a weak nod. The officer let go, whispering in his ear, "Well done."
Then he stood—and raised his hand.
One knight kicked Emma behind the knees, forcing her to the dirt. Another pulled her upright. A third drew his blade—and with a swift motion, severed her head. It landed with a thud, rolling through the mud, blood pooling around it in crimson swirls.
Bella screamed, broke free, and stumbled to her mother's lifeless body, sobbing.
"Mommy!"
"Now that the traitor's dead," the officer said coldly, "you can begin. Describe the demon. Its appearance. Behavior. Feeding habits. Weapons. Age. Leave nothing out. And tell me—why did it spare you?"
Jacob swallowed hard, then began.
"It looked human... but not. Its hair was long, snow-white, down to its lower back. Skin like frost. It had... hind legs, claws, fangs... nothing I've ever seen before."
The officer scribbled notes while Jacob spoke, unaware that Sirus was watching—hidden in the brush nearby.
"That bastard didn't even fight back... for his wife... What was the point of her death?"
"Why do I feel so... angry? What's happening to me? I can't just charge in. Magic's real here—and dangerous."
"If it were just knights, maybe... but the mages—damn it. They're not hurting the rest. Best if I retreat."
Sirus narrowed his eyes, trying to suppress the chill crawling up his spine—when he heard it:
Snap.
A twig.
In a blink, he leapt into a nearby tree, holding his breath.
"Mana's thick here," one mage muttered. "Foolish demon, letting it leak like this."
"I've never felt mana so heavy... It's unsettling."
"Quiet, fools. We don't want it to know we're here. The sooner we finish, the sooner I get some sleep."
"We've been tracking this demon for months..."
"You sure it's a demon? Could be a monster or something."
Suddenly—
"Wait—where's Roland?"
The knights drew together, backs pressed tight, blades raised.
"Mmph!" Roland struggled, eyes wide in terror. A hand covered his mouth, and in front of him—those burning red eyes.
Sirus's hand formed a spear of fingers—
And drove clean through the mage's chest.
[Drip...]
[Drip...]
"Huh?" A knight felt a warm drop on his nose. He looked up... and froze.
Roland's body hung from the tree. Behind it, a shadow. Red eyes. Watching.
He dropped his sword.
"Chris, what the hell are you—?"
Chris pointed, trembling.
"There... up... there..."
"Boo."
"ARRHHHHHH!!"
The officer rose slowly, eyes narrowing. He turned toward the forest.
"It seems... we've found our demon."