HUNTED (2)

An execution warrant? Marshall strode over to the speaker, and the disciples around him scattered like birds before a storm.

"What execution warrant?" 

The kid flinched at his furious voice, but so did Marshall. He blinked at himself, caught off guard at how harsh it sounded. 

Another teen questioned him in a shaky voice, "Are you Shei Marshall?"

Marshall turned to him. "I am."

"The Arbiter of Justice issued a warrant for your execution two weeks ago," a silver sword was pointed at him with a cautious movement. "We were instructed to eliminate you and return with your body."

Marshall's eyebrows almost fell off his face. He wanted to throw his hands up in the air and laugh. Or cry. Or both. Couldn't he catch a damn break?!

The teen took a step forward, his grip on the sword tightening. "Criminals are as good as demons."

"Hah..." Marshall let out a sigh. Little did they know he was now both a criminal and a demon now. Well, almost a demon. 

"Are you sure that all 'criminals' have done the crimes that they have been accused of—" Marshall's attempt at rationalizing was interrupted.

A fired-up Muyang jumped in front of him with his arms spread wide. "You better put that sword down! He just helped us! And if you kill him now, the tower will know that we trespassed!" the youthful voice echoed.

Marshall stood there, bewildered but impressed. 

The rest of the disciples grew uncertain, exchanging uneasy glances. Upon seeing that no one else had taken an aggressive stance against the deemed criminal, the teen with the sword hesitated. He reluctantly sheathed it and murmured, "Sorry."

"Get back to the safe zone," Marshall told the disciples, giving Muyang a thankful pat on the way. "And do not wander around if you're not ready to fight. Understood?"

A wave of tense nods followed, and the kids skittered back to the Chastity Tower like a group of ants. Muyang glanced back, reluctantly following others.

Marshall waved goodbye and set off into the opposite direction, resuming his way to Chara town.

➳ ➳ ➳

Once the forest floor faded to cobblestone, Marshall continued through the alleys, mulling over everything that happened.

An execution warrant... If he got caught by officials this time, he would be dead. The disciple shuddered, moving in a brisk pace.

It was best to lie low for a while until he figured out his next steps. He could stay in the burnt building of Nai Eatery since it had been outside the safe zone. That should've helped him hide from the patrolling soldiers.

Just as Marshall was nearing the town, a soft tap came from behind him. Then another. He furrowed his brows, slowing his breath to listen in.

Someone's eager feet were tapping merrily along the pavement, not a sense of stealth. His face relaxed when he realized who it was, but then contorted again. Why was Muyang following him? 

Marshall spun around with a swoosh, "What are you doing here?"

Muyang jumped at the sudden movement. "I wanted to come with you!" be blurted out instantly, as if someone had stepped on his toes.

Marshall pointed his finger back at the tower like a mother telling her child to go stand in the corner. "No. Go back."

"Alright..." Muyang turned around with a somber expression, moving away.

The disciple shook his head and continued walking, listening to see if the kid had truly headed back. As expected, light footsteps pattered behind him anew. He glanced behind to see the shy fennec fox trailing behind him with beady eyes. Marshall stopped, turning to face the boy.

"Muyang," he started in a low tone, "I'm not kidding. It's not safe." Then he paused, reconsidering. "Actually, follow me. I'll take you back."

Marshall gestured for the kid to come along, but the latter clung to his sleeve, stopping him. "Please take me with you! I don't want to stay in the tower! Wyn isn't back, and I don't want to be alone!"

His hand froze in the middle of peeling the kid off his arm. "Wyn isn't at the Chastity Tower? Where is he?"

Where else could the snow deity have gone? Did he get in some sort of trouble?

"I don't know, I haven't seen him..." Muyang's eyes narrowed—he must have seen Marshall's hesitation as a chance.

The disciple's sleeve was yanked with more force as the kid unleashed shameless pleading attempts. "Marshall, Marsh, Marshie! Please! I won't cause any trouble! I promise! Pleeeaseee...! "

A maniacal chortling nearby interrupted the kid's antics. The twisted creature darted out from a dark alley and Marshall instinctively circled the boy to block the demon's path.

Crimson claws flew at him in a blur, but he was faster. With a swift motion, Marshall extended his hand, his demonic energy surging forth. He grabbed hold of the demon, suspending it in the air with a strength much greater than expected.

The bloodshot eyes widened in shock, and so did Marshall's. He exchanged a surprised glance with the demon, the moment almost comical. Why did he have such good control over it all of a sudden?

"Close your eyes!" he instructed Muyang, despite the fact that his demonic energy had already been exposed to the kid.

Ironically, the demon in his grip shut its eyes as well. The disciple would have laughed if not for the hellishly endless day. He was exhausted and frustrated. Then it clicked—he gained better control over demonic energy through anger. It seemed so obvious, but he hadn't fully realized it until now. 

Although Gi Gaia had told him to numb all emotions, anger served him well, so he decided to keep using it to channel demonic energy.

Three more demons emerged from the alley, flashing morbid grins and regarding them with shrill giggles. The creatures galloped straight at him. Marshall eliminated the demon in his grip, then turned to the newcomers.

Within a blink, he took control of the other demons. An unconscious smirk crossed his lips as he had their lives between his fingers. Finally, he was at an advantage.

Each blast of Marshall's demonic energy threw the demons to the ground, leaving them writhing in agony. He launched his attacks with calculated efforts to maximize the force without expending too much energy. Only black ashes were left on the cobblestone.

The disciple wiped the hand that had touched the first demon, leaving a wet stain of black blood on his pants. Next, he grabbed Muyang by the wrist, hauling him back to the Chastity Tower without any further bargaining.

"No! Let go!" the boy exclaimed, wrenching his arm out of Marshall's grasp. "I won't go back there!"

"Stop that! Stand up," Marshall's voice had taken the unpleasant sternness again, but his patience had been spent below zero—at that point it was on its way down to hell.

"Don't you see it's dangerous?!" Marshall flipped the kid around, searching for a sword or a bow, anything. Yet, there was nothing. "Muyang, you don't even have a weapon to defend yourself with! Where did your sword go?"

The boy's fingers fidgeted with the fabric of his shirt, looking at the disciple with a bowed head. "It wasn't mine, so I returned it before following you... And you can defend me, so I won't need it."

Marshall let out an exasperated exhale, looking up at the sky. He could barely get around on his own, so how could he bring a kid along?

"You're the strongest person I know," Muyang reached for flattery. "I wouldn't even be scared to run into the Stygian Overlord if you were there!"

"No," Marshall shook his head in firm denial. "If we run into the wrong guys, there is no guarantee I will be able to do anything to keep you safe. Don't fight me and go back."