Nia'le decided to head into the forest to hunt for food.
Tassa immediately tried to stop him.
"We already have enough food for a million years."
She placed her hands on her hips.
"That is, if you can make it that long."
Tassa laughed and gave him a mischievous look.
"A million years is way too long for you. You probably won't even last a year. Maybe not even a month."
Nia'le grabbed her arm and pulled part of his cloak over her face.
"Say that in front of those abominable animals out there."
Tassa rolled her eyes.
"We're in Wales, not Africa."
Nia'le pretended not to hear her.
He continued walking while guiding her through the forest.
The tall trees stretched high above them, blocking much of the sky. The forest was peaceful and quiet. Birds chirped in the distance while a clear river flowed nearby.
After successfully hunting a large deer, they stopped to rest beneath a tree near the riverbank.
Tassa sat quietly.
Ever since Nia'le ignored her earlier, she hadn't said much.
Nia'le noticed but considered the silence a blessing.
He walked over to the river, crouched down, and drank from the cool water.
After taking a long drink, he wiped his mouth and sighed.
"Refreshing."
Tassa suddenly raised her head.
"Ayamani just peed in that river."
Nia'le nearly choked.
He immediately stuck a finger down his throat, trying to throw up the water he had swallowed.
Tassa turned away.
"How fastidious."
Nia'le glared at her.
She bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing.
"Ayamani didn't pee in the river."
Nia'le paused.
"What?"
"He can't pee."
Tassa folded her arms.
"What do you think a ghost produces? Ghost pee?"
She shook her head.
"Honestly. You're so gullible."
Nia'le stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"What's your problem? Will you stop acting like a bitch? And not in the hot way."
Tassa immediately jumped to her feet.
"Why did you even bring me here?"
She threw her hands into the air.
"If you wanted me to help hunt birds or some giant moose, I can't do that!"
Her voice rose.
"You know why?"
"Because the moose has been extinct" Nia'le said without any emotion.
"Because I'm blind!"
The anger in her voice slowly faded.
She lowered her head.
"I'm useless, can't you see?"
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and marched away.
Nia'le simply watched her go.
A few seconds later—
"AHH!"
Tassa slipped and nearly fell into a deep pit hidden beneath the leaves.
Before she could fall, Ayamani grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
To Nia'le, however, it looked as if she had suddenly started floating in midair.
He immediately ran over.
"Tassa!"
After making sure she wasn't hurt, he folded his arms and looked down at her.
"You know what?"
Tassa frowned.
"You were right."
She blinked.
"You really are an insignificant girl, aren't you, Tassa?"
Tassa placed a hand over her chest.
For some reason, her heart suddenly started beating faster.
She quickly stood up.
"That's not true!"
Before she could continue, Nia'le pressed a finger against her lips.
"Stop."
Tassa immediately pulled his finger away.
"It was your fault!" she protested.
Nia'le laughed.
"My fault?"
"Yes!"
"I wasn't even near you when you practically volunteered to jump into that hole."
"Objection!"
Nia'le raised his hand.
"Overruled."
Tassa rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
For once, she had no comeback.
Nia'le smirked and stepped closer to her.
First his left foot.
Then his right.
He gently placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Close your eyes," he said softly. "Take a deep breath and relax."
Tassa obeyed.
She closed her eyes and took a slow breath.
"Good girl."
Nia'le smiled.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
It was the first time he had seen her face this closely.
The sunlight fell perfectly across her features, making her look almost unreal.
Nia'le couldn't take his eyes off her.
She looked beautiful.
Too beautiful.
For a brief moment, he felt as though he was standing before a goddess.
Without thinking, he slowly raised a hand to her cheek.
His fingers brushed her skin before moving toward her chin.
For some reason, he suddenly wanted to kiss her.
Then—
*Hic!*
Tassa hiccuped.
The romantic atmosphere shattered instantly.
"Can you hand me a bottle of water?" she asked.
Nia'le stared at her for a second.
Then he reached into his bag and handed her one.
"Thanks."
Tassa drank from the bottle.
Nia'le sighed.
"Tassa, you really are insignificant, aren't you?"
Tassa immediately spat the water all over him.
"Now what?!"
Nia'le wiped his face.
"Seriously?"
Tassa pointed a finger at him.
"Listen, and listen carefully."
Nia'le folded his arms.
"I try to be nice to you. I even try not to argue whenever you say something idiotic."
She took a deep breath.
"Because I think it's normal to speak English if you're American."
She raised another finger.
"It's normal to speak Japanese if you're from Japan."
Another finger.
"And it's normal to speak Tagalog if you're from the Philippines."
Then she pointed directly at him.
"So I figured it's only natural for a moron to say moronic things."
Nia'le blinked.
"But you're crossing the line, mister!"
Nia'le looked at her for a moment.
Then he casually said,
"I'm behind you."
Tassa immediately turned around.
Nia'le pointed.
"Now I'm walking on my left."
He smirked.
"Which is your right."
Tassa clenched her fists.
She turned back around and folded her arms.
"Who asked you?"
Nia'le shrugged.
"Listen, Tassa. Sometimes people say important things worth hearing."
He leaned closer.
"And sometimes insignificant words come from an insignificant girl."
Tassa stepped right in front of him.
"You're an idiot."
Nia'le raised an eyebrow.
"A jerk."
Another eyebrow.
"A bonehead."
His expression remained unchanged.
"And an asshole!"
Nia'le stared at her.
Then he smiled.
"In all my years, nobody has ever talked to me like that and survived."
Tassa walked past him.
"I'm the living testimony, in the flesh."
She continued walking away without looking back.
Nia'le watched her leave.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
He ran a hand through his hair.
"What an insignificant thing to say."
Yet somehow, he couldn't stop smiling.
Meanwhile, Ixartxist summoned the Grim Reaper he had sent to claim Nia'le's soul.
The Grim Reaper knelt before him.
"My Lord, I failed."
Ixartxist's eyes narrowed.
"Failed?"
The Grim Reaper lowered his head.
"Tassa interfered. She took Nia'le's soul back before I could leave with it."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Ixartxist clenched his fists.
A dark aura spread around him.
"No..."
His voice trembled with anger.
"Don't tell me she's developing feelings for him."
He picked up one of Tassa's old garments and held it close.
"My beloved Tassa..."
His expression softened for a brief moment.
"Why do you always involve innocent people in our lives?"
Then his face twisted with rage.
"How many important people must I kill for you?"
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"I've killed everyone who tried to hurt you."
His claws dug into the fabric.
"And I will kill anyone if it means making you mine."
His eyes glowed crimson.
"My eternal companion."
"My beloved Quart."
Suddenly, his body began to change.
Dark horns emerged from his head.
Shadows poured from beneath his feet.
His human form slowly transformed into something far more terrifying.
A demon.
The ground trembled.
Countless shadow creatures crawled out from the darkness surrounding him.
They bowed their heads in worship.
Ixartxist raised both arms.
"All shadow demons, answer my call."
His voice thundered.
"All shadow demons, answer my call."
Again.
And again.
And again.
The creatures gathered around him.
Thousands of glowing eyes stared into the darkness.
A grin spread across Ixartxist's face.
"When my chant is complete, I become your god."
The creatures immediately lowered themselves before him.
They worshipped him.
Praised him.
Feared him.
Ixartxist laughed.
A wild, uncontrollable laugh.
"Soon, my beloved..."
He gazed at Tassa's image.
"You will belong to me."
His smile widened.
"You will become their queen."
He paused.
"No."
"My queen."
"And mine alone."
---
Meanwhile, police officers continued investigating the mysterious death of the judge.
No one could explain what had happened.
The murder had taken place inside a heavily secured courthouse.
There had been no witnesses.
No suspects.
No signs of intrusion.
Some investigators believed it had been a tragic accident.
Others disagreed.
The security room had exploded at the exact same moment as the judge's death.
Every CCTV camera in the building had suddenly failed.
The two guards monitoring the cameras had been killed instantly when the monitors exploded in front of them.
The officers examining the judge's body were horrified.
They could barely recognize her.
Her skin had become shriveled and dry.
Almost mummified.
She looked decades older than she had been only hours before.
The scene left even experienced investigators speechless.
No one could explain it.
---
Far away from the investigation, Ixartxist continued changing.
With every passing day he remained on Earth, his humanity faded.
His anger grew stronger.
His obsession deepened.
And little by little—
Ixartxist was becoming a true demon.