Home Sweet Home

James was imprisoned. He couldn't see. His surroundings were pitch black. He couldn't move his legs nor his hands. He couldn't speak. He felt something was covering his mouth.

Then, a bright rectangular light appeared in front of him and he felt his body was slowly moving towards the light.

The light grew brighter and brighter. James had to squint his eyes.

Then, the surrounding darkness fades away and he found himself in the middle of a court. The ceiling shaped like a dome.

And on the very top, there were a few figures with veil covering their face.

James eye dart around to look at his surroundings.

He saw Father Rick standing beside him.

"Advisor of the Church, I believe you have heard enough to cast judgment upon this man," said he.

One of the advisors waved his hand and the shackles came undone.

James fell to the floor.

He felt his legs and arms were numb from being immobile for too long.

"Rouge one, we have heard enough to know that you mean no harm but your power is terrifying," said the advisor.

James looked at his robe. It was still black.

"We have no idea what are you. Are you a demon, or are you a human?"

"Then why did you release me?"

"Because…we very much believe that you are still one of us. But,"

James looked up. The light shining from above was pretty annoying that he had to squint his eyes.

"But you have to prove to us of your allegiance to humankind. 3 months is the time period we will give you. Within the next 3 months, you have to kill all of the existing demon lords. If you failed, then you will be executed. And that's all. Go and prove your innocence to us."

As they walked away from the place, Father Rick spoke to James.

"Thanks to Jolly's testimonial that you are saved."

"What do you mean?"

"Jolly mentioned about the incident that happen in the forest. He told that you managed to detect a demon hiding in plain sight despite having the aid of the medallion. But, we have no further evidence to prove that you were still sane when you decapitate the head of the children's mother as you claim the mother is a demon while the apparent looking demon you left untouched."

"Nevertheless," Father Rick looked at James' darkened robe.

"I couldn't feel any more of the blessings that were being enchanted into your robe. One can be certain that you have become a demon just by following that logic. However, to counter that argument, you were able to nullify a Holy Spell which was the absolute detrimental spell you could ever cast on a demon. So, we have no idea what you are, James Charter."

"And it was under the advice of the Emily Night that we set you free and hunt down the demon lords for us."

"Emily Night? You know her?" asked James.

"Of course, she was the only person who could cast the Holy Spells. It was said that she was a messenger of God. But, she was bedridden due to an unknown mean and has to stay within the Church facilities."

"Father Rick, I want to tell you something about the medallion."

"What is it?"

"I didn't work on all demons. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it wouldn't."

"Your concern is the same as ours. We have asked the same question but in the meantime, we couldn't find a suitable answer to explain this weird problem."

They were now out of the court and walking along the corridor of the church.

"Which is why, James Charter, that you who could sense a demon without the confusion that the medallion could cause are sent to subjugate the demon lords. We believe that maybe this medallion was one of the reasons we couldn't hunt down the demon lords for so long. You could really be our last hope. So don't disappoint us. There are people here who believe that you are innocent and haven't gone Rogue. So don't disappoint those people who put faith in you."

"I will not."

"Good to hear. You have been locked in that prison for around 3 weeks. I believe you have gotten plenty of rest. Will you be fine if you depart your journey by tomorrow morning?"

"I have no problem with that."

"Good." Father Rick sensed a presence approach and turned around to see who it is.

"Emily." He bowed his head.

"Emily?" asked James.

Emily was sitting in a wheelchair and behind her stood a nurse.

"Can I have a word with him, Father Rick?"

"Sure, as you wish." Father left and the nurse left as well.

"You looked good in that robe," remarked Emily.

James looked down at his darkened robe.

"Anyway, I came here to see you for one last time. Who knows when will be the next time I see you."

James was quiet.

"And here, I came here to give you this as well."

Emily took a bottle filled with folded paper cranes.

"A thousand paper crane for a wish. So here you go. Make a wish."

"I don't want it, you keep it."

Emily pouted.

James was serious.

"Fine, I will keep it. Jeez, after I went through all the effort to fold a thousand of it."

"You should be the one making the wish. Not me. I think you get the concept wrong."

"Alright then, then I would make a wish."

Emily closed her eyes.

James was quiet.

"Done. I have made my wish. Do you want to know what it is?"

"No, I have no interest in it."

Emily pouted.

"Jeez, anyway, I wished for your safe return so you better not die out there when you still have so many unresolved things to settle here. Don't think dying will be the easy way out of your impediment. There are people waiting for you to return home, you know."

"Thank you. I appreciated that. Do you really make that wish? Why not just wish for your legs to recover or for the person you want to see to come and find you?"

"Let's be realistic here, James. I wouldn't wish for something that there is no possibility of happening. I rather made my wish on something that could happen, which is you."

"Since you are the one who managed to counter my spell. I have high hopes that you could defeat the demon lords once and for all and bring peace to all of us."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Good, now if you may, would you please push me back to my room." Emily smiled.

James sighed.

"Sure, I will. It's not like I have any other choice anyway."