Chapter 7

"Phew, those are the last luggage. Now then... Xia, take those dirty clothes off, we need to clean you up."

Onyxia just stares blankly at Arsha.

'She lacks ability of speech; she has no manners.'

"Put up your arms." Onyxia follows Arsha's gesture obediently, eases undressing.

'She has no sense of shame either; just like a newborn.'

"Hold still now, just need to give ya a wipe down."

Arsha carefully cleans Onyxia with the wet towel, she was especially careful around her neck and chest.

'All the wounds are closed without a trace.'

"Now we put these on... and done."

*Sniff sniff*

"Don't sniff my clothes. Here, you can eat these." Onyxia does not seem to understand small brick Arsha holding is edible.

"Look" Arsha took bite of the ration in front Onyxia. Her face contorts in disgust as the ration slowly dissolves in her saliva, the overpowering taste of dried flour, fat, salt and spices spreads across the her taste buds.

*Gulp*

"You can have my portion as well." Arsha toss her half eaten ration to Onyxia.

"There are more in the luggage, go help yourself."

'Now the last test.'

Arsha lock all the exits and go down stairs to get herself some cooked food.

*****

An hour has passed when Arsha return.

"Xia, did you stay put?... fast asleep huh." Arsha return to their room to find Onyxia sleeping soundly on her bed.

'Its not like she can get away anyways.'

Arsha sits down on the next bed and flips through Sarah's diary with the help of candle light on top of the dressing table. The diary is chock full of sketches of demons and their characteristics.

"The tail tip is covered with small needles, all easily detach on contact, needles are readily replace anew." Beside the text was a sketch of a beastia type demon, its tail proportionately longer than its body ends with a bushy tip.

Smell of burnt beans wafted within the confines of the room, Arsha took a sip from her mug and continues.

"Plague Lizard huh, this really brings back memories..." the view of the burning village still vivid in Arsha's memories. Plague lizards are small demons laced with weak poison, even a child is able to handle it, but whenever there is an outbreak, the only way is to burn down the whole village.

The next page was a map of Death Forest drawn on grid, the outer perimeter of the forest was marked with Xs.

"Death Forest investigation day 1: no demon found."

"Death Forest investigation day 2: no demon found."

"Death Forest investigation day 3: no demon found."

The repetitive line stopped at day 36, "humanoid demon spotted."

"Demon is covered in various injuries, some wounds are stitch together. Demon seems to possess certain level of intelligence, it knows how to use tools."

The daily investigation entries stop there. Arsha flips to the next page, its blank, blank, blank, blank... nothing else was written.

"Another dead end." Arsha grunts and flung diary accross the room, it landed in the pile of luggage with loud thud.

"Mmm..."

The room felt like it was frozen in time, the faint noise of rowdy customer below, Onyxia buries her head deeper into the blanket and resume her rhythmic breathing.

"Hah... what am I getting so worked up for." Arsha signs and continues to flip through the book.

Arsha's night is filled with disappointment, the final words within Sarah's diary "Death Forest" and "humanoid demon" weighs on her thought. Sarah went on an expedition within Death Forest, she was spotted by the humanoid demon, then the diary entry stopped.

'One Onyxia is a piece of cake, but fighting against an army of immortal monsters...'

"She doesn't seem to be hostile towards me for now, should I just bring her along on the horse?" Arsha taking a side glance on Onyxia.

*****

The next morning, Arsha is restocking their rations at morning stalls for the last stretch of their journey.

"I can't believe she actually ate ration for 10 adults in one sitting." Arsha grumbled while giving Onyxia another side glance, she is eyeing the jar of cookies on the counter.

Its decided Arsha and Onyxia will be travelling on horse, else her purse will not survive the journey.

"I ain't buying that for you, are we clear? Mister, give me 6 of those dried bread."

"Haha, ain't easy taking care of a child am I right miss knight? That would be 2 copper coins." the owner remarked while packing Arsha's order.

"Talking from experience?"

"All you need is some cookies and a stick; I had four kids, taking care for all of them was a real pain in the ass." said the owner while staring at Onyxia with pained smile.

"Cherish your time with them, alas, regret when they are no more. Here, you can have this; be a good girl, okay?" The owner gave Onyxia the cookie jar.

Onyxia immediately attempts to open the jar, which prompt Arsha to snatch it away from her.

"Oh no you don't. I'll let you have some if you behave on the journey."

"Hey owner, has that demon been hunted down?"

"Its fine, I'm already over it. Besides, no one less than the paladins themselves can handle it."

They waved goodbye to the owner and depart for the Vatican.