Chapter 4: Trials: Part One
Not long after fighting Ryu and becoming one of master Cain's disciples, we entered a small settlement not far from where we met.
Before even entering the place, there was a strong scent of decay and death in the air. It was similar to the regular stench of hell, but it was much stronger—its intensity was unreal.
"What's up with this stench!"
The smell was strong enough to make me show visible disgust.
It feels like my pride as a wanderer has been shattered. To think I'd lose to a terrible smell—I'm ashamed.
" Don't worry, you'll get used to it. This smell is a defense mechanism against low-level demons and monsters.
Since they can't stand odors as strong as this, nor do they care to venture further since it looks like everything past this point is dead."
He pointed in front of us as small mountains of dead bodies surrounded every small hut, and inside each hut were the bones of what looked to be animals.
"What exactly happened here master."
The people and animals had been killed systematically from the looks of it, and though I had a guess I wasn't entirely sure whether it was humans or demons.
"You can tell, can't you? This was the work of humans. No matter which world, or circumstance humans will always find a way to betray one another."
Cain's face harden as he spoke of the way of humanity.
"Do you know why?"
No matter how evil, there must've been a reason to kill so many people and animals.
"I do, but I won't tell you why it happened or why I won't tell you. Just know that the reasoning is so shameful it would probably make you laugh in disbelief.
The disappointment and anger he had in was visible. As veins started forming at the corner of his mouth, and his surprisingly smooth forehead. Now that I think about it he hasn't a single wrinkle on his body, none that I could see at least.
He lifted his left arm, then made a cutting motion with his hand. The space split apart as he did this, giving of a purple aura with multi-colored energy particles scattered randomly throughout the aura.
Cain put his arm through it like he was reaching for something.
After a minute, he pulled out his arm with a small whistle with a shiny black and gold design, with a dragon head at each end. One black and one gold.
Cain put the whistle to his lips and blew it, but it made no sound.
"What exactly did you do?"
I asked, confused.
"He's just summoning our ride!"
Ryu exclaimed, excited for some unknown reason.
Then the wind suddenly picked up.
It went from the normal rough breeze to a storm of razor winds that could cut through diamonds.
Before we obtained any injuries, our master put up a shield to protect us from the sharp winds and oncoming debris.
It turned dark, and the sky and the sun could no longer be seen.
No matter where you looked, it was darkness.
Then the darkness started to descend, revealing giant black scales, each as big as a three-story house.
I soon figured out what was descending.
A dragon, specifically the head.
When it opened his golden eyes, the world shook, and heat comparable to a thousand suns filled hell. A burning sensation spread throughout my body. It caused me to have a migraine and slight bleeding from the nose.
I looked at Ryu, who was in a worse state than I was. As he arched his back and started hurling.
Then I looked at Cain, who stood there smiling.
"Hmph! He sure does like to show off!"
Cain was grinning at the dragon with soft eyes, as if he were an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.
" Stop showing off and get down here already, you bird brain!"
He yelled at the dragon, even making fun of him with a broad smile on his face.
The body shrank so quickly that a shockwave was generated, ending the storm and crushing the remaining debris.
He looked to be about the size of a small car after shrinking.
He was a black dragon with golden eyes and thirteen horns protruding from his head .
"Bird brain." Are you serious?! You know how I feel about that.
Especially when a flightless rat like you says it."
He seemed like an idiot, no wonder Master said such things.
"You really are a bird-brain, rats can't fly, and how dare you compare me to a rat!"
They bickered for a little while before finally stopping.
They appeared to be worn out after their argument as they sighed heavily.
"Haaa.Alright, let's get down to business. You guys are trying to go back to the sanctuary, right?"
"Yes! Is it possible?"
Cain had a slightly worried look on his face.
"It's possible, though I gotta warn you, more demon hordes have popped up near the area."
The dragon spoke in a low voice, telling master Cain to be careful.
"Hah! You underestimate me, a few demon hordes are something even my disciple Ryu could take out with ease, not to mention me!"
Cain seemed to be irritated at the dragon, as if demon hordes were nothing to him and could easily be crushed."
"Perhaps if it were under normal circumstances, this would be the case, but they're under the command of a demon noble.
Not sure what rank, but it's at least a baron."
"Of course it would at least be a baron!… Haaa. Whatever I understand now take us to the sanctuary, Tenma."
Frustrated with him, he sighed, stopping himself from saying anything else. Then he asked Tenma to take us to the sanctuary as quickly as possible.
"Alright, but first I have business with that girl, she smells familiar."
He rushed to me, sniffing me like a dog.
'This is one weird dragon.' I thought.
I, of course, kept this thought to myself as I stood there quietly.
"What kind of business do you have with me?"
I asked cautiously.
"Oh! I remember now you have the same scent as one of my friends.
She told me that if someone with her scent and holy energy came by, to give her this.
He ripped a white ball out from his chest, and healed it like it was never there.
"Here, take it. I don't know what it's for, but please take it."
He pleaded with me.
He pushed it towards me, insisting I take it.
Though curious about this friend of his, I didn't ask, and I didn't want to upset a being who could hurt me with a glance.
So I grabbed it, and as I did so, everything around me turned gray.
Everyone seemed frozen in time, no movement, no breathing, totally frozen. I felt a pull on my hand, and before I could react, I got sucked into the ball, distorting the previous space as I was getting sucked in.
Unlike the ball, it was a black space with a damp smell.
Then someone who looked like me appeared in front of my face.
Except instead of wearing rags, that even slaves wouldn't wear, like I was.
She had beautiful golden flower patterns on her black houmongi.
"So this is me in the future, naive, weak, and all too pure; it makes me sick."
She looked at me in disgust, claiming that she was the me from the past.
"In my eyes, all I see is a child, but I suppose that makes."
However, I'm going to change that mindset permanently."
She snapped her fingers, and I teleported to a random place in hell.
At least it appeared to be hell.
This is the first of ten trials, and don't worry, it's a simple simulation, so you won't die. This is the only way to bring you up to speed and forcefully bring back at least one set of our memories, before hell awakens and Lucifer comes back. So have fun, and do your best not to break.