Rewards and Punishments

Mia clawed at the snow as she called out for Ignitus trying to get to her summon. The others looked at her and to the collapsed path. Damian wanted to go back but they couldn't with the horde still there and the path blocked. If he melted the path maybe he thought they could get them out, but he knew it would only be death for them.

"Please we have to get him back!" Mia begged, as everyone knew Ignitus was the one she wanted. She never cared for Aiden as he found his presence annoying at best and his almost too friendly demeanor was unfamiliar to her. Mia found it, odd that someone who lived in the middle of nowhere had the ability to even hurt her companion. She wanted him to not make it but knew as a Slayer, she had to make sure new Slayers made it back to the academy safely.

"It's hopeless kid, I don't think anyone is coming back from this. You may be linked to your summon, but even that many demons was an impossible amount to kill." Olivia said, looking towards Damian with a scowl, "We should have just taken the longer route like I suggested as it would have been safer."

"Hey, it would have taken us more time and rations to make it back to the city if we didn't take this path. Believe me I knew the risks, I just don't understand what happened, they were supposed to be asleep for another hour and then we'd be gone." Damian yelled back as the two started to bicker. While Wilfred approached the blocked path and tapped his staff.

It had been some time as sound had stopped after awhile, Mia collapsing to the snow and holding her arms limp in her lap. She could feel Ignitus' connection had weakened and it was fading. But it was still there, her hope hadn't gone. Wilfred believed in Aiden and the bound demon as it was a distraction needed. For it they weren't there, the demon's would have already came over the path and attacked them.

Tapping his staff to the snow he sent out a pulse to see the other side with his magic. When it passed where the two were supposed to be, he saw something climbing the snow path. Dragging a body through the snow.

"Ready yourselves!" Wilfred said, although he didn't sound alarmed. Though Damian and Olivia got their weapons ready. Wilfred turned and placed a hand on Mia's shoulder, "Look up child, you'll be surprised at what you see." Mia wiped her eyes and looked up at the top of the mound.

A snow covered hand struggled to get a grip on the top as Aiden strained to look over. Mia saw the man who was left behind with Ignitus, but not her demon. She started to berate him for leaving Ignitus behind and leaving him to die. But Aiden couldn't really hear much at that moment and just saw he mouth open wide and tears down her cheeks. As he pushed some of the snow down he stood up and pulled on something over the ridge.

When he misstepped, he tumbled backwards and fell down the collapsed path with the body of Ignitus with him. Aiden had to roll out of the way of Ignitus falling down on him as to not take damage, but the snow cushioned the fall for both of them. They all froze except for Wilfred who had a smile on his face.

"The boy survived an impossible feat, I am impressed." Though when he walked over and inspected Aiden who rubbed the back of his head, saw he had no wounds on his body. Yet cuts in his clothing were there, "How are you perfectly fine? Did you manage to kill them all?"

Aiden looked up at Old Man Wilfred and just smiled, "Dumb luck..." he tried to make it convincing and then turned to Mia. "You might want to return him from once he came or he might not make it." He said it with as much care as he thought possible, but he never really engaged with anyone else before. Mia didn't think twice as she ran over and held her hand out and returned Ignitus back to the realm of fire.

Damian approached now and started asking questions, "How did you survive? How many did you kill? Are you feeling a craving for souls?" And so on and so on, Aiden just waved his hands responded the best way he could.

Which was, "Dumb luck, a lot, and no?" To which Damian rubbed his head. They all looked at Aiden while he brushed himself off and sighed. "Man, every new set of clothes I put on, they get ruined. Demon's are a pain for tailors." Wilfred chuckled and patted the young man's shoulder as he smiled.

"When we get to the nearby down just north of the pass you will have to tell me about it. I am itching to hear your side of the story." With that he continued on his way, walking down the path continuing their adventure. Although Damian scolded Aiden for staying behind, though Aiden didn't say anything about Ignitus talking to him. He didn't even know demons could speak in the first place. He would have to ask Wilfred about it later as he was told to start walking before he would catch a cold by Olivia.

Mia looked at Aiden closely, she couldn't find a single scratch on him from behind. Yet he seemed to be walking fine as if nothing was injured or damaged. Instead she just saw him in perfect health. As she thought this whole thing was crazy and she was going thank Aiden for saving Ignitus, she caught the glimpse of something under his right glove. Which seemed to have gash on the top of it revealing some kind of marking on his hand.

Aiden had no idea she was looking when he was distracted with responding to Damian for not doing something stupid like that again. His attention then drifted to his notification page as it showed what he earned from completing the special survival quest.

[Success on your survival!]

[Kills by You: 128 // Kills by Ignitus: 94]

[You have succeeded in overtaking Ignitus' kills, you earned a bonus reward!]

[10,000 Souls, Ice Ghoul soul x 3, and Frostwind Greatsword: Rank C!]

[Frostwind is a greatsword melded by the countless souls of Ice Ghouls who died in the attack in the pass. This sword harbors the frozen hatred towards anything that wakes them. The blade looks to be made of ice, but is hardened like steel by the countless bodies and essences of the Ghouls you killed with Ignitus.]

[Bonus reward: Frost Armor Spell]

[Cover your body in a shell of ice as it will protect you from Frost and weaken fire damage against you. Reduced Slashing damage taken but brakes if hit with blunt weapons or piercing weapons. 20 SP]

Aiden was quite happy with the results thought the sword and spell were amazing. As he was excited to use it but right now he didn't want to take out of his inventory, which did add 8 more units to it unfortunately. But he was happy he lived and decided to put in some of his level ups.

[Vitality: 9]

[Intelligence: 12]

[Strength: 10]

[HP: 180/180]

[SP: 120/120]

Every time he leveled up his body felt warmer and stronger. His health increased by a little but his strength felt far better than before. With just adding two points, he felt like he could lift much more weight. Though he may not have felt any more intelligent as he did before, he did feel his well of energy increase which was a nice bonus.

Mia was watching him and saw him moving his fingers around and acting like he was poking the air. "What are you doing? Do you have a nervous tick or something?" Aiden turned and looked back at the air in front of him then back at her. His face seemed surprised and then he smiled.

"Oh I am sorry, I uh, yeah sometimes I do that without realizing it. Does it bother you? I'll stop if it does," he said as she just shook her head. Quickening her pace she walked ahead of Aiden then turned to face him as she walked backwards.

"Listen, I know I haven't exactly been kind to you. Nor do I care if you live or die, but you kept Ignitus alive even though he is a demon." Mia put her hands behind her back and looked away, "So uh..." she muttered something under her breath that he couldn't catch. She noticed he didn't hear her so she said it a little louder this time but still quiet. "T-thanks... for keeping my summon alive..."

It was still hard for Aiden to hear it but he was able to hear Mia the second time. He just smiled, "I get the feeling you would kill me if I didn't." Even as his mind started to scream about how it wasn't exactly his choice as Ignitus made that choice for him. Mia had nervously laughed at the comment made by Aiden then turned around and walked with the group. He followed and remained silent for the rest of the trip. While he continued to hear Damian ramble about he would have to do several push-ups and laps around the village. This was all punishment to teach him a lesson or whatever. As Aiden didn't really care for it wasn't something hard to do.

They arrived to the village and Aiden got told where they were stay as Damian was serious about the laps and push-ups. He was very strict when it came to punishments when he wanted to know was more demons to kill. But he knew asking right now was a bad idea. Although from his jog, he learned a few things about the village.

They had a priest from the Church of Radiant Dawn. Rumors of demons in a mining tunnel that can't be accessed while they are there. Then something along the lines of how they don't trust Slayers. He guessed it was because of the man in the church as he passed him preaching about the words of God will protect the people.

Right before he was about to finish his lap around the village he got a message from his system. He stopped and sat down to review what it was. When he saw it he was happy and concerned at the same time.

[Reward from surviving Ignitus' assault processed!]

[Warning! There seems to be an aura of evil in the air.]