14:The City where the demon lurks

The day for their small little expedition come as soon as James expected. To be honest, he was not prepared at all. But with his strong faith with God, he entrusted everything to God's will and will see to it that the evil which corrupts the town they were going to be purge away for good.

They depart from the Holy Church at the break of dawn and after 3 days of walking, resting in between towns, they finally arrived at their destinations.

Throughout their journey, James had to bear with Jolly's occasional jokes which to him was funny as hell but to James it was the coldest joke he has ever heard in his life. Jolly always laughed out loud after telling a joke and will look at James to see if he has gotten the joke. Much of the time, James only fakes his laugh to give some credit to Jolly for his initiative to break the ice between them.

Upon arriving at the city's border, the guards recognized the robes they were wearing, exchanged looks and allow them in. After that, they were ushered by another group of guards to the city leader's office to meet with the city leader.

While walking to the center of the city where the city leader resides, James and Jolly noticed that the town's atmosphere was cheerful. Everyone wore a smile on their face and minding their own business. The population of the town could be estimated to be huge based solely on the number of people that occupied the streets. In other words, there were a lot of people wandering around the streets. There were vendor stalls being set up at the side of the road which sells fruits, vegetables, porcelain pots, and jewelry'. Basically all sorts of items you can find excluding weaponry.

The children looked at the two of them with curious eyes as they walked past. James could not sense anything amiss in the town. Well, he could not even detect it if there is even one because of the sheer amount of people occupying the town. To find that one demon will be like finding a needle in a haystack. His enhanced perception will not be of use in this situation. The only thing to rely on will be the medallion he received from Father Rick before departing.

Talking about the medallion, in simple words, it is a demon detector. When a demon is nearby, the medallion will vibrate and create an eerie sound. Otherwise, it remains a small star-shaped medal around the neck of its wearer.

So far, no eerie sound, just cheerful laughter, and noise. Lots of noise.

They arrived at the city leader's office. It does not look grandeur. Just a simple rectangular building. The guard knock on the door and they were ushered into the building.

"May I ask what brings the Holy Church of the Light to this town?" asked the city leader. Among the city's people and him, he looked more polish than them. He has a youthful appearance, a charming smile and a strong built. He offered them a handshake and his grip was strong.

"We are here to visit your city's church" Jolly returned the smile.

The city leader rubbed his fist and took a seat. "I see. You see, after a few more days, the town will host a huge banquet to celebrate the great harvest we have in the harvest season. Why not you come and join us after your visit? I mean we don't' mind to have the member of the Holy Church join us. We consider it a blessing and also a gift."

"A banquet? You are hosting a festival?" asked Jolly

"Yes, yes. We are."

"Oh, what's the occasion? Is it an annual event?" asked Jolly.

"It's not. I wanted to celebrate the workers for their hard work throughout the years and by the grace of God, the harvest for this year was amazing. Hence, a festival must be held to celebrate! The workers deserve it! And now we even have a member of the Holy Church to visit us at this timing.

What a coincidence!"

"Well, we will see if we can stay here until the festival. When will it be held?"

"Two days from now."

"Alright, we will try to stay if we can."

Jolly stood up, shook the city leader's hand and they left.

After leaving his office. Jolly took a deep breath outside.

"Well, this is going to be a bit difficult," commented Jolly.

"Smell anything fishy, James?" asked Jolly.

James gave his surrounding a quick scan and shook his head.

"Yea, me too. With so many people wandering the streets and with the town being so busy. Fishing out the demon will be difficult. Let's go to the church for a place to sleep in and we will start looking around the town at night when everything becomes quieter."

So they went to the church and seek permission for a refuge. The church upon recognizing their robe and identity granted their request immediately and even served them food to show their hospitality.

Upon the request of Jolly, the church staff volunteer to show them around the town. The purpose of the journey which was explained later on to James by Jolly was to get an idea of how the city was like and at the same time to see if there is anything unordinary happening as they were walking in the city.

Everyone wears a smile on their face whenever they walked past them.

Some even brought them food since the two of them were visitors from a faraway land.

"Mommy, who are those people wearing white robes," you can hear a child ask his mother.

"Those two people are from the Holy Church of the Light, they have come here to bless us! 10 years ago, the city leader asked for the church to help to chase away the demon that made our stomach growl. They are here to ensure the demon doesn't come to disturb us again."

Jolly and James exchanged looks. Inside their mind, they were thinking of the same thing. "The Holy Church helped them 10 years ago?"

James started to query Jolly's lie previously.

"Why did you lie to the city leader just now?" asked him.

"It was not to cause unnecessary panic. We have to subdue the demon without drawing attention from the crowd."

James never expected a church member to lie so blatantly. Oh well, at least the lie is done out of goodwill.

They continue walking around the town and stopped by at a restaurant to have a drink.

There were too many people and the seats were occupied. Hence, they joined a table with an old man who was sitting alone by himself reading the newspaper.

"You two are from the Holy Church?" asked the old man.

"Yes, we are."

"So are you here for the festival?" asked the old man.

"We are not," asked Jolly.

"Ah, that would be waste. The city is throwing a huge celebration to commemorate this year's abundant harvest. After surviving a huge famine. You see that we all are so healthy and plump but it wasn't like this 10 years ago. 10 years ago, the city is so famished that you would see people dying one after another on the street and on the fields. Then the city leader came into the picture and then everything started turning well from us. A demon was behind all of our misery. Cursed the demon!"

"What happened 10 years ago?" asked Jolly.

"Oh, you guys didn't know? Well, 10 years ago, all of us didn't live here. We live somewhere else where the land was infertile and there is nothing we can do to plant anything on it. No matter how hard we try, there are just no results. Hence, people started to die one after another. From diseases to hunger. Heck, we even try to kill each other just to fight for food. We are convinced that we are doomed. Then, the city leader came in and told us that the land was cursed by a demon. So in order to save us from this dire situation, he pleaded the church to help exorcise away the demon that sleeps on the land. It was a success and we could plant rice again. After that, we move to this place and build a city out of it. This festival is also to celebrate the founding of this city!"

"Ah, I see."

The conversation ended there and lunch was served.

After having lunch, they continue their tour around the town. As they were walking, they suddenly hear a man shout.

"Who do you think you are!"

A group of big looking dudes came and gathered around the streets. They shove James away to the side as they walked past him, creating a huge gap between him and Jolly. That gap was filled with those big looking dudes walking past them.

"Hey!" shouted James. But the big looking dudes ignored him and walked past him. A brawl seemed to be happening and a crowd begins to gather.

"We are you going to teach you a lesson today little punk. This will teach you not to steal from us."

"Thief!" shouted the crowd.

"Go to hell!"

Amidst the roar and chants of the crowd, James could not find Jolly. He was nowhere to be seen.

As James was frantically searching for Jolly, he saw a woman pushing a cart full of apples all by herself and was struggling.

James went over to help to push. The woman looked up, surprised but allow James to help her.

After helping her to push her cart to the place she wants which was homemade out of clay and wood. James looked around and realized that he was lost. He could not find Jolly in the sea of crowd.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" asked the lady.

"Hehe, actually, I do not where my partner is and I think I am lost."

"Oh no, is it my fault that you get lost. You should not have helped me."

"Don't say that. It's my pleasure to help. But do you know the way to go to the church?"

"Yes, I do. I can show you there. But I can't leave now. I have to peel these apples before sunset or else I am screwed."

"I don't have anything to do now anyway. Why not let me help you?"

The lady looked around frantically.

"Are you sure? I mean do you mind helping me?"

"Why not. I don't see a reason I should not help you."

The lady smiled. "Great!"

Thus, the two of them peeled the carts of apple.

"Will you be staying until the festival, Mr?"

"James, just call me James."

"So Mr. James, will you be staying until the festival?'

"Yes, I hope so."

The apple skin fell to a bowl underneath them like a ribbon.

"You should come to the festival, we have all sorts of delicious food and I think you should try it."

"Really?"

James is not good at small talks.

"Yes, yes. Then, the girls will be dancing around the fires and people will sing songs. You will like it!"

"I see."

James finished peeling the apple in his hand and took another one from the cart.

"You are good at using a knife!"

"I used to do this when I was a caretaker in an orphanage."

"You are? Then what happened?"

James was still peeling the apples mechanically. He didn't stop and he answered the lady's questions.

"Well, I got kicked out…" said James.

"Why did you get kicked out? Did you do something wrong?" asked the lady.

"No, I didn't. It's just that…you know… how do I say it?" James realized his lie couldn't be pulled through.

"Let's just say I am bad at taking care of people." James decided to go with the flow.

"Are you? But you are so kind and nice. You even helped me push the cart and is peeling apples for me while the other boys wouldn't even volunteer to help me. All they care is about is their stupid pride. The kids in the orphanage do not know what they are missing out."

"Yea…" said James

They continue to peel the apples in silence.

"Linda! Are you back there!" came a shout that echoed throughout the kitchen.

"I'm here, Ma!" the lady shouted back. Now, James knows the lady he has been peeling apples with is called Linda.

"Linda! Are you peeling…Oh my," the old lady enter the room and was speaking halfway when her tongue got tied as she saw a boy or rather a man, in her vision, wearing a white robe which seemed to be sparkling under the fading sunlight sitting beside her daughter and was peeling apples with her.

"Who is this man, Linda and how dare you bring a man inside this household without informing me!" there was a hint of excitement within her voice as she said that.

"Ma, his name is James and he helped to carry the apples here. And he is lost as well after helping me but I would bring him to the church after we are done."

"Why go to the church, he can stay here!" announced the old lady.

James looked up, his focus was broken up and that announcement caused his knife to slip and he cut off a quarter of the apple instead of the skin.

"What?" asked James.

"Ma! He is from the Holy Church of the Light!"

The old lady's face immediately darkened and disappointment covered her face.

"Ahh, he is a priest eh. Nevermind. But he is a handsome priest I would say. And young too."

"Ma!"

What is this conversation, thought James. James did not know what to say so he continues to peel his apples.

"Remember to collect the ingredients tomorrow, Linda," said the old lady "I will be outside collecting the clothes."

"Yes, ma."

The old lady left, leaving the two of them alone again.

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay. You have a lovely mother," said James.

The lady giggled.

"She is but she can a bit annoying sometimes whenever she sees a man with me."

"Were you often being seen together with a man?"

"Not really," she giggled. "I am not as charming as most ladies."

"No, you are not. I think you have your own charm as well."

The lady stopped and looked at James. "You think so."

"Yes. God made every human being unique and thus we all possess our own charm," said James.

"Haha…yea. You are right about that."

They continue to peel the apples in silence.

"Okay, that's the last of the apples. Let me take these bowls away and I will bring you to the church."

"Sure, thanks."

After Linda takes the bowl of shed apples into another room, she led the way for James to return to the town's church where he believed will reunite him with Jolly.

"Okay, here is the Church. See you at the festival if you are staying for it. Bye Bye!" Linda bid farewell and left him all alone.

A gentle breeze blow across the land. It felt like a gentle whisper of nature. James walked into the Church and called out Jolly.

"Jolly?"

The church was empty.

He walked outside to the church vicinity to search for Jolly. He went to the street. The crowd had reduced in number since it was already night.

His head was scanning around the sea of faces and to see if there is anyone wearing a striking white robe in the midst of it.

A firm hand grip on his sleeve which caught James by surprise. The grip came so suddenly that it tugged James backward.

James turned his head and the first thing that caught his eyes was a pair of violet eyes.

It was a lady wearing a sundress who was gripping his sleeves. The lady stared into his eyes and so did James.

They both stared at each other for a few long seconds before James grabbed her hands and said to her.

"Lady, your hand is burning."

With that statement, the lady was snapped out of her daze. She looked at her hand, swollen red and skin could be seen being torn by the burn, and quickly retreated her hand behind her back. Her face was slowly drenched in cold sweat as her eyes were still locked into James's.

"Is there a problem, lady?" asked James. "You seemed unwell."

James walked forward towards the lady but the lady immediately stepped back. James squinted his eyes.

"Hmm…"

James did not know what to do with that situation so he turned and walk away from the lady. As he walked away, he looked at his sleeve that was being gripped by the lady. Curious at what his sleeve had done to the lady.

As James was seen walking away and disappearing among the crowds, the lady who was left behind quickly retreated to a dark alley. Only when she is in the dark alley, far away from James and isolated from the crowd, that she started to catch her breath.

"Why didn't it work on him?" asked the lady in between her quick breathes. She looked at her burnt hand and she gritted her teeth at the pain she felt.

"What didn't work on me?" asked James.

The lady looked up filled with shock but before she could say a word, James stuffed his blade into her mouth.

"Confess demon and make it quick."

"I-"

James slit opened her mouth.

"You were saying?"

"Curzxced yoo!"

Blood poured out from her mouth.

James grabbed her hand and pinned her hand into the wall with his blade.

The lady screamed in agony.

"So what did not work on me?"

James once again looked at those enchanting eyes of hers. Something told him those eyes must be the answer.

Since the lady was not answering him but instead was desperately trying to take out the blade that he has nailed her hand with it, James sat down, scratched his chin and started to think.

"Hmm…."

Nothing logical came up to his mind.