69 A Demons Pride (2/2)

”Why....” Riyku would mutter to which no one could hear him. However, Astraia and Astrid managed to catch that single word. Quickly Riyku would bring his long sword up to parry away one of the soldier's swings. He was tripping that soldier while passing by him only to brush aside the swing of another sword with his right hand-claw and slash at that soldier's throat. He was getting the thin blade entirely in between the creases between the helmet and the chest guard. He left the sword there since removing it would be a hassle at the moment. The next soldier who came at him decided to kick in the stomach while avoiding a slash. That soldier was sent towards the tavern door. Turning around, he would make his way over towards the other soldier and stomp upon his back, forcing him back into the ground before leaning over to remove the helmet.

”Why....” Riyku would mutter again as he picked up the soldier's blade, which he dropped and placed it against the soldier's neck while grasping his hair, slitting his throat and killing him off. He would release the corpse and turn around to hear a battle cry along with an overhead swing. It was the soldier he had kicked earlier. Man must have some good recovery to be on his feet and attacking again. However, it meant little when Riyku stopped the swing with his left hand by catching the soldier's wrist only to counter by slamming his right hand-claw through the soldier's torso and began draining him off his Essessence until the man was nothing more than a shivered up sack of flesh and bone.

”Why....?” Riyku finally called out while looking at the remaining two. Removing his right hand-claw from the armor and releasing what was left of the wrist came with the clanking of armor against the flooring. The more bulky man drew his broadsword with a determined face, but his expression shifted when he saw something... abnormal.

”Riy...” Astraia murmured gently as she saw it.

”Riyku...” Astrid did the same, holding her hands together.

”....” Instructor Rina was silent, but she saw it as well. As did everyone else. Riyku had tears streaming down his face. The entire time he was crying. ”Tell me, why can't you all just leave us alone? Why do you all seek to fight? Why do you all desire death? Why do you all desire power? Why do you all desire to hurt others? Why?” Riyku would repeat, over and over as if he were broken. The ladies could see it. Astrid and Astraia knew it more so than anyone else in the room. They knew just how much Riyku was hurting. How much he was suffering. They knew he did not like killing. They knew he hated taking lives. They knew it well.

”Silence! You want to know why!? Because you are a threat! You have harmed the Overlord of Crimson Ash! You have disrespected him! You will be sentenced to death! That's why! Curse your own life for even existing!” The man who was holding his limbless arm in pain shouted hysterically at Riyku. ”Kill him! Kill him now!” He gave an order to the soldier holding the broad sword in both hands. Riyku looked at the soldier, who looked at him and tightened his grasp on the hilt of his broadsword with both hands. Riyku would cast his gaze downward. Tears still falling from his cheeks. ”I just don't get it...” Riyku would mutter as the man charged him, bringing the sword overhead and downward. The blade stopped just before impact with Riyku's head, though. Several shadow tendrils had pierced through the solider, draining him dry and then retracting back into the shadow. Now there was one soldier and a room full of stunned personal.

”Of course you don't, kid. Over the past year, I have come to understand a bit about you. You were not meant to be here. Something happened, and someone forced you here. However... Look...” Skeith's voice peered inside of Riyku's mind. Riyku could tell which direction Skeith was asking him to look in, and there he saw the final soldier shakily drawing his blade. ”Demons are prideful creatures. Most will continue to fight on even in the face of death. Others may not but will surely come back with a vengeance. Even if you spare one, you will surely end up with a lot more trouble later than it is worth. That is just how things are in the Underworld. There is no law. No rule. Demons are only after one thing, what they desire. That desire may morph and change over time and even if it is fulfilled. Demons will find a new desire. It is a neverending cycle. The only freedom is death.” Skeith would finish, and Riyku would kick up the broad sword, catch it by the hilt, and cut down the soldier that charged at him.

Riyku held no pride in what he had done. There was no confidence, no glory in his eyes. There was only sadness. He truly disliked killing. Even when he was in the Hunting Party, he opposed it. He only killed when it was the only option left. If he could reason with wildlife or others, he would do so. But here, there seemed to be no reasoning. Riyku would drop the blade down on the ground and move towards the bar, only to take a seat at one of the barstools. No one said a word; no one made a move. They just waited. They did not know what to expect.

”Tell me... Why are you all here?” There was no threat in Riyku's voice. No malice. He wanted answers. That much could be understood from his tone of voice. Finally, one person spoke. ”To be able to relax and have a good meal.” The voice was shaky, but it was from one of the regulars. Hell, all of them were regulars, but this person, in particular, was a bit older and wiser than the rest. ”Boris...” Astrid would murmur as she looked at the old demon in traveling clothing.

”I see... Then forgive me.” Riyku would stand up and make his way towards the door. ”The longer I stay here, the more trouble I will cause. I overheard their conversation. They were looking for me. I do not wish to cause you all any further trouble. Thank you for everything you have all done for me...” Riyku would comment, and just as he was about to push out the doors, Astraia and Astrid both called his name in sync. He stopped but did not look back at them.

”Riyku!”

”So you are going to run away?” Astrid would inquire.

”You are just going to walk out?” Astraia added.

Riyku trembled. He could hear the emotion in their voices. They were upset but worried. They were scared but concerned. But most of all, they did not want to lose him. He could hear it so clearly, that it caused other tears to stream down his face.

”What are you scared of?” Astrid would ask.

”What has you so terrified?” Astraia would ask.

”We won't understand unless you open up to us, Riyku.” Both Astrid and Astraia spoke in sync.

Riyku did not make a move, nor did he speak a word. No one did. Only, Instructor Rina; ”Riyku. I have only been around you for a short amount of time, so what I am about to say may mean nothing to you but... Are you going to walk away? Sure, when I read over your file, you were a complete mystery, and I did not know what to expect, and yes, when I heard what you had, I was scared. But as I learned more about you, I realized that you are not what I once thought you were. Yes, learning about the most recent things connected to you was frightening, but I have had time to go over those thoughts. I had time to reassess what I learned and compare the information. Riyku, you are a great demon!”

Riyku's eyes widened, stunned in awe and shock at what he was just told. He did not understand why, but the emotion he felt was... relief.

”So, if I learned all of that over a few weeks, I am sure that everyone in this room which has spent longer with you has already made up their mind about you. That you are no trouble.” Instructor Rina would finish off with a cherry on top. Everyone in the room started to agree with her. Astrid and Astraia began to smile, and tears began to form as they saw just how resolved everyone was. ”Riyku.” Astrid and Astraia called out to him with open arms as if asking him to come towards them. Riyku stood, his face looking at the door with his hand still hovering against it. ”I...” He would mutter. ”I...” He would continue. ”I will--”