Subtly is Not My Strong Suit

Aiden kept running through his head the reward he got from the system. Over and over again it just didn't seem like something he should use. But the skill seemed useful, which may provide helpful in the future. Though now it could put his life in danger than it already is as he attracts demons.

He recalled how just being born was a curse and people would say he drew demons to him. Which never happened before but now, because of the Demon's Brand he now can tell when demon's were around by the system's warnings. Though he didn't just gain one skill but two, the second was more useable. Though he wondered about it as its description was interesting.

[Demonic Limiter: Rank F]

[Using this skill will cause a demon to be reduced in power, all stats will be reduced by a tenth of their power. Lasts for 10 Seconds, costs 50 SP]

He didn't know what it would look like or how much it cost but he found it interesting. However the first skill he didn't feel necessary to go over at the moment as he had to report his warning to Damian. Hurrying to the inn where they were stay for the day, Aiden looked around for Damian, Olivia, or Wilfred. But who does he find first, Mia, sitting by herself reading a book.

Aiden walked over and sat down across from her at the table she was at. He put his hands together and stared at Mia, unsure as to how to get her attention. But his mere presence seemed to get her to look up from her book.

"What do you want? I am not one for conversation." She said returning her gaze back down to the pages. Aiden looked around and then back to her.

"I just wanted to tell someone about something off about the town." He said quietly, "I get the feeling that something has gotten in and is slowly growing." He was lucky to know his system told him he was currently undetected by the presence. But Mia just rolled her eyes at him like he was crazy.

"Now why would you think that? People here look find to me." But Aiden wouldn't back down, he needed someone to believe him.

"I know something is wrong because..." he thought of a way to say why he can tell. "Because I have the ability to detect demon's nearby or the presence of evil in an area around me."

[Demonic Sense (Passive): Rank F]

[Able to discern if demons know your location or not. Able to sense evil within a short distance and know if it senses you.]

This was the skill he was talking about, it was one of the first skills he had as it was his system's warning to him. He wondered if it would rank up by just detecting demons or if it needed to level up by spending souls. But he never saw any way to upgrade them by this method so he guessed it was just use them over time.

Mia's face turned towards him again with a more serious look, "You must be joking, what kind of demon gave you that?"

"I am not joking and don't worry about what kind of demon just know that I sense evil near the center of town. It's not a very far distance I can sense it but it's just far enough that I can feel it in my guts." Aiden said keeping his voice down. "I don't know if people here are affected by the energy so please keep it down."

Mia closed her book then put it in her cloak, resting her hands on the table now facing Aiden directly. "So say you do have this ability, why do you think we should get involved?" Aiden raised an eyebrow at that question.

"Aren't we Slayers? Don't we deal with Demons on the daily to help people?" Mia just shook her head. Leaning back in her chair she closed her eyes.

"WE don't do anything, Damian and the others are the ones meant to deal with those kinds of jobs. I am just here for learning and experiencing the world outside the academy." She opened an eye to look at him, "We are also not getting paid for it." Aiden's mouth opened a little shocked at what he heard.

"You can't be serious?" He believed that the Slayers were doing all the hunting for the good of the races of the world! But now he hears that there were Slayers that did jobs for souls? He knows that there were such things, it mainly came down to people not wanting to help others. He always believed in the stories his father told him. He shook his head and stood up from the table.

"If you aren't wanting to help just know your demon kept me to stay behind cause it wanted to protect you." He said in his frustration, not thinking about what he was saying. "I stayed and helped, he I wasn't stopped he would have likely died and just so we are clear, my power let's me he hear demons... apparently." With that he turned and left out of the inn.

Mia sat there confused, as her brain was trying to process what she just heard. Then a man sat down at her table and gave her a smug look, "Did you have a break up with your man? I can be your man and keep you safe from all those..." Mia gave him a look that sent a shiver down his spine. As he could feel something was reaching around his neck as he began to sweat profusely. She stood and walked out as she heard the man gasp for air.

She couldn't believe she was listening to that guy, 'sure he helped keep Ignitus alive, but how can he understand the demons?' She thought it was outlandish and obscene. But his face didn't show any signs of lies, for he seemed genuine with his words. Though she felt like he was hiding something more to him being able to understand a Demon's speech. For no human or other race alive could understand a demon's tongue.

As she looked around the nearby area she remembered him saying something around being near a source of evil near the center of town. If he was going to look around for the source than it would make it look obvious so she needed to stop him from getting targeted. Quickly she ran out to see him pacing around back and forth around the plaza. People moving out of his way as he was still wearing his wearing tattered clothes.

'Geez, it's like he is telling everyone, "hey look at me I am not supposed to be here!"' Mia thought as she gave him a slight shove, "What are you doing? You are making yourself look suspicious, especially for someone who doesn't want to create a scene." She crossed her arms, her copper hair flowing a bit in the wind. "Let's go to our room and get changed into something less conspicuous and then we can search. Then you can tell me how you can understand Demons."

Aiden faced her still agitated but as she said that they would search around his face lightened up. Even though he guessed she was helping due to the fact he realized he said that he heard Ignitus speak. He also remembered the words the Ice Ghouls said as they kept coming for him and Ignitus.

"Food... souls... Branded One! Kill!" It was not something he wanted to relieve but he had to get used to it as no one could stop it. His mind returned to the present and realized Mia said "their" room. He tried to ask what she meant by that but she never responded. Only spoke to the innkeeper about her companion staying with her. But the woman behind the bar smiled then gave a wink to Aiden who just tilted his head. His mind didn't process what her wink was for as he followed Mia to their room.

Aiden closed the door turning to see two beds and Mia's stuff already inside on the floor next to the one furthest from the door. Then Mia told him to lock it or put a chair under the knob, which he did. "What is this about?" Aiden asked, as Mia then closed the drapes to cover the window before she turned to face him.

"We don't just go looking for trouble where we don't want to expose ourselves," she said pointing a finger at him. "You look like someone lost their servant boy and you should put on a new set of clothes." She looked him up and down as he had a well toned body, physically strong and dense for someone his age. Not wanting to get distracted by trivial thoughts, she then peeked out the window, "There are some things you must do under the cover of dark as to not draw attention to yourself."

Aiden rubbed the back of his head, "Oh, sorry subtly is not my strong suit as I haven't had a reason to use it in my village." She rolled her eyes and told him that the importance of using some stealth or how to keep one's identity a secret.

"You can't just walk into a room with glistening armor and say you aren't rich or part of an order if you don't have a cover." She held the robes in hands, "We use robes to cover our armor, our weapons, basically everything we use to defeat demons. But we don't advertise we are Slayers as some people don't like us." This made him ask who would not like the Slayers, causing Mia to grab her left arm and rub it a bit. "People who think very highly of themselves and their gods. The Church is not as friendly to us Slayers as they once helped our kind fight the demons. But now," she trailed off as her voice got quiet.

Aiden was getting some kind of idea of what she was talking about, but even he knew the church was an important figure in the world of man. But when it came down to the end of the war, they started to distance themselves for some reason. Leaving some villages to become unprotected from their paladins. Aiden didn't know this part of the story Mia was telling him, so he sat down to listen to her talk. After some time she stopped explaining the situation and now he understood some of the picture.

Mia sat down and then sighed, "Now, if I help you get to wherever your Sensing ability is telling you where to go, will you tell what is on your right hand?" Aiden instinctually clutched his hand as the glove had been torn some exposing the mark. He sighed, knowing he was going to need her help.

"If I tell you, you must keep this a secret, please." She nodded, curious as to why Aiden felt the need to keep it secret and covered. Taking off the torn glove he set it on the bed next to him, then revealed the brand that was on his hand. The black crescent moon and dragon head visible to Mia who tilted her head at it.

"Is this what you meant to keep hidden? A branding?" Aiden explained that it wasn't just a branding it appeared on his hand after he killed his first demon. Then he talked about the Woman in Black which grabbed her attention more. "So this woman was the one who gave it to you and now you absorb souls like as if you had an Agate of Reclamation." He nodded, "And this brand is basically your Agate, which you wanted to keep hidden?" She shrugged, "Alright, I can do that, but I don't know why you want me to do that for you as an Agate takes many different forms. However, I will say it is strange how you said the Woman in Black gave you the brand. Never heard of before as an Agate takes a rough solid shape from the first demon you kill."

Aiden nodded, he didn't think it would be wise to tell her about the fact he had black bars and golden text floating about as he would get messages or other notifications. Or the fact he could get stronger from the Demon's Brand. That is when there was a knock on the door that startled them both. Aiden drew the Kossori Blade and Mia was preparing a spell to cast. Aiden went close to the door and asked who it was.

"I am terribly sorry to bother you Sir but someone is asking for someone of your description to meet outside." Aiden turned to look at Mia who then peeked out the window and saw who it was. It was that man who sat in front of her when Aiden stormed off like a child. But now he had others with him which she didn't like the looks of. The woman outside the door spoke up again, "It seemed rather urgent and I don't think you should ignore him."

Mia wrapped her arm around Aiden as she unlocked and unblocked the door. She opened it and showed that Mia was hooked on Aiden's arm like a loving girlfriend, "Please ma'am, we were just about to lay down to rest for the evening, who is it that is asking for my boyfriend?" Aiden's face went red almost immediately as she said that. His body felt ridged and frozen in ice as he was hearing her say those words.

"The son of the mayor of our town, he wishes to have a word with the young man outside. Please I do not wish to see my establishment be taxed for anything the young man did." Mia scowled at the woman who was too afraid to stick her neck out. The woman looked like she was sweating from fear and anxiety as she spoke. Having no other choice she smiled at the woman and told her that they would be right out. When she closed the door, Mia let go of Aiden and walked back to the window.

"Well this just got complicated, seems like the son of the mayor is wanting to have a word with us." She sounded disgusted and angry at the person, but turned to Aiden and smiled with a hint of anger. "Well dear should we go see what the young man wants from us?" Aiden just stood there kind of dumbfounded and confused about what was happening. He soon nodded and just followed Mia who led him by the arm as she walked them both outside to see the young man.