TAMING A DEMON (2)

The demon passed Marshall, approaching Sun Hayden. The blond disciple sidestepped, skidding to a halt behind the demon. His Solar Sashes rolled with spiritual energy, untying from his arms.

Meanwhile, Gi Elysia had whipped up a ball of storm in her hands, aiming at the creature.

"Halt!" Marshall managed to shout a command before any harm was done.

Both the demon and his friends froze, staring at him in question. Gi Elysia stood with her arm raised in combative manner, wind tearing through her hair. Sun Hayden's ribbons fluttered along the breeze.

The four of them blinked at each other for a few seconds, calming down. Marshall approached the creature and firmly directed, "Don't attack unless I tell you to."

The demon straightened, heeding his words as it stepped behind Marshall. Sun Hayden slumped, letting out a long sigh in relief. "I thought I was about to get sliced in half!"

"What are you planning to do with this demon?" Gi Elysia questioned Marshall, flicking her hand as she calmed the winds. A few stray leaves were left whirling around her lightly.

"Hmm... First of all," he circled the demon, its dark eyes obediently following him. "Do you have a name?"

The creature's lips twitched, but it couldn't give one. "I do not."

"What should we call you?" Marshall thought out loud, observing the demon.

"Fluffy?" Sun Hayden joked, a grin breaking through his serious expression.

Marshall chuckled, finding the thought of naming such a fierce creature with a gentle name amusing. "Sure, why not. Fluffy it is."

The demon's demeanor remained neutral, but there was a slight nod of acceptance. The disciple turned to his friends, feeling a tad uneasy with the creature looming behind his back, but decided to trust Fluffy for now.

"Have you heard of Smaragdine Lily before?" he inquired.

Gi Elysia stepped forward. "I have. It's an ancient artifact with an extensive history behind it."

Sun Hayden, still recovering from his earlier tension, asked, "What would the Stygian Overlord need it for?"

"The Smaragdine Lily is not just a healing crystal. It has the power to purify corrupt energies and other properties," she remarked.

Marshall tapped his foot, musing, "If the Stygian Overlord wants it, perhaps it's to ensure no one else can use it against him."

He wondered what would have happened if someone purified the Stygian Overlord's energy. Would it kill him? If so, it made sense he sought it out to eliminate the threat. 

"We should get to the crystal before the Stygian Overlord does," Marshall declared. "Gi Elysia, do you mind telling us about the history of it?"

Without any further ado, she clasped her hands and got to explaining, "Alright, listen closely! Right after Sacral Grounds split into four sects, a rumor surfaced about a powerful crystal hidden under the Dasos Town. It was said to grant immortality, capable of healing any disease. People fought tooth and nail to get their hands on it."

"And then what?" Marshall probed.

Gi Elysia stated, "Once the crystal was removed from its underground cave, Dasos Town sunk."

Sun Hayden tilted his head in doubt, tying the Solar Sashes back around his arms. "Sunk? Wasn't it burnt down? We were taught that the demons razed that town to ground."

"You shouldn't believe everything you're taught. Plenty of things in history books are false," Gi Elysia remarked, wiggling her finger as him as if he were a child. "Plus, I've seen it with my own eyes—it's a swamp! Have you ever visited Dasos Town yourself?"

"I haven't and I don't want to!" Sun Hayden retorted, grumbling. "Who in their right mind would visit a deserted town on the border of Stygian Regions? I bet it's crawling with demons."

Gi Elysia squinted, opening her mouth in irritation, but Marshall quickly steered them back to the topic. "Never mind the town for now. Do you know where the Smaragdine Lily is?"

After hesitating for a moment, Gi Elysia shook her head, scratching her arm, "I have no idea."

"The do you know what it looks like?" he pressed.

"I heard it resembles an emerald," Gi Elysia revealed, rubbing her chin. "But I don't know anything more than that."

The disciple nodded contemplatively, wrapping up the interrogation. "Alright. For now, let's go back to the castle and write down everything we know about the Smaragdine Lily. Then we brainstorm."

"What about Fluffy?" Sun Hayden questioned.

Marshall paused, having momentarily forgotten about the demon patiently waiting behind his back. "I'll keep an eye on him. Consider him our new ally."

Gi Elysia nodded thoughtfully, her eyes still fixed on the lion-maned demon with curiosity. "Your control over him is impressive. But merging energies like that... it's dangerous."

"Eh," Marshall shrugged, ignoring the residual strain from the energy fusion. "As long as it works, there's no need to worry."

"Hold on," Sun Hayden waved in question, looking wary. "But what if he turns on us?"

Fluffy remained unperturbed, quietly watching the group discuss the healing crystal. Despite its earlier aggression, it seemed like this demon's new purpose was serving Marshall.

"He won't," Marshall assured, leading Fluffy inside the stronghold. "Not as long as I maintain control."

Sun Hayden trailed behind them, his hand curiously reaching to touch the demon.

"Careful," the disciple said, watching his friend ruffle the lion mane.

Fluffy didn't seem to mind, passively staring at Sun Hayden as he messed around with its fur. 

After getting his fill of playing with the demon, the blond disciple skipped next to Marshall. "Hey, what do you think will happen if the Stygian Overlord gets to the crystal before we do?"

Marshall hummed in thought. "If he plans to use the crystal's energy in combination with his demonic energy, might become undefeatable. But if the Smaragdine Lily purifies all bad, then he might die."

"Undefeatable..." Sun Hayden's selective hearing picked out what he liked most. "Then does it mean that whoever carries the crystal would be—"

Gi Elysia interrupted him, blurting out. "Undefeatable and immortal! A power beyond anything one can achieve through practice!" She noticed them raising eyebrows at her and toned it down a notch.

"Ahem. What I meant was—the Smaragdine Lily might be the most versatile spiritual object to ever come into existence," Gi Gaia remarked.

"In that case, I hope the crystal's hidden somewhere, not in someone's hands," Marshall concluded.