The Hunt for Blood Ores (1)

She and Kairos…

They were once an inseparable pair of lovers that were without any doubt, madly in love with each other despite the vast difference of their race and status.

In this chaotic ruined world, humans and demons were akin to fire and ice.

They were archenemies since birth, opposites that can never be together and yet, at her darkest times, it was exactly a human boy who had offered her his hand, single-handedly pulling her out of her misery.

That human boy was called Kairos, who later turned to be one of the heir candidates to the Zephire Household, a noble existence.

Demons, also referred to as descendants of Dark Ancient Gods, were extremely conceited creatures who value their dignity and honor more than anything else.

But, for the human boy, she was willing to follow him back to the Human Realm and serve him by his side, taking the name given by him and becoming both his sharpest blade and most loyal dog.

Kairos was the person who gave her hope, it was only in him that she saw her future. However, it was also him who had crushed the trust between them with his very own hands.

Her hope, her everything – all vanished into thin air with just one snap of his fingers.

That man betrayed her. She had pinned her trust on the wrong person. Thus, it was only right for her to bear the consequences.

Demons and humans were like fire and ice. Fortunately, she hadn't learnt to accept it all for too late.

===

The knowledgeable tenant's information was accurate. The Zephirres were indeed in dire need of some precious ores, but not just any ordinary ores one can find openly in the market.

Upon the end of the Working Hours, Riize left the town and headed straight towards a small stall located near the massive gates separating the two realms where the group had decided to gather.

The Zephirre's hunter squad was easily noticeable from afar, accounting their uniformed attires that stood out from the mass, and the bronze emblem pin of a ferocious leopard secured on the right of their chest.

From what she had perceived, the squad supposedly would consist of 13 people, including the leader Gerald and her, who will be acting as the sole guide to the team.

In normal times, due to their expected capabilities and importance to each expedition, a guide would be placed in the center – the most secure spot – of every hunting team, becoming the priority of everyone's attention and protection; however, Riize doubted that it'll work the same for her case.

The Zephirre's hunters' gaze didn't look the least welcoming when they first landed their eyes on her incoming cloaked figure, which she credited the cause to her identity as a demon. Nevertheless, it wasn't as if she did plan on trusting her wellbeing to their care.

"Hello, I am the new hired guide, Riize. Please take care of me."

Ignoring the tension, Riize greeted them all with an amicable tone and offered out her hand for formality's sake, to which none but one accepted.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you as well. I'm Ethan and I'm the only newcomer in this squad. This is great! Now that you're here, wouldn't that make the two of us?"

The bright young man with green eyes and short golden-brown curls took her hand, shaking it with great enthusiasm before he continued, "Why don't I… bring you to the leader?"

Riize nodded, letting the young man lead her to Gerald. It was a small open stall with tables and chairs scattered around in a casual manner, the seats mostly filled with merchants and hunters who frequently traveled in between the two realms.

"Sir, I've brought the demon guide here."

Ethan told the silently smoking Gerald upon bringing her to his front, prompting Riize to eye him with raised eyebrows. She had initially thought that the young man had been perhaps, left out in the dark about her identity, due to his status as a 'newcomer', therefore the hospitality.

Now that she knew she had misunderstood, Riize couldn't help but grow suspicious of the young man's amicable attitude.

What might the young man be up to? Riize could only put aside her suspicion when Gerald ushered Ethan to leave them alone, planting a sad pout on the young man's expressive face.

"What are you stoning there for? Sit."

Riize nodded, taking the seat opposite him when Gerald pushed her a pack of cigarettes, asking her out of the blue, "Want one?"

"Thank you, but I'll pass. I don't smoke, Sir." Riize refused him with a polite smile. There seemed to be something amiss here, she just couldn't exactly put a finger on what it was.

Fortunately, Gerald didn't force her. Instead, his other hand moved to push her a yellow-coloured drink, one that made her nearly puke from the memory of its strong nauseating smell. Aside from that,

'Such strong alcohol just before the commence of the trip?'

Riize's eyebrows tightened with doubt.

"Sir, alcohol deludes the mind and stirs up recklessness. I'll be advising you to stop for the sake of the expedition's success."

"Oh? I didn't know that you cared for our success this much."

!!!

Riize froze, her heart dropping to the floor.

What was the man implying? Was he drunk? Or…

She slowly bent her back, her fingers inching close to the sharp knives hidden under her clothes when Gerald's laughter broke the heavy air, cutting the rushing train of her dangerous thoughts.

"I'm glad, I'm glad." He said whilst sporting a foolish smile, bobbing his head up and down incessantly.

Riize was stunned, the ends of her mouth twitching as her face turned flat. This wasn't a mistake. He's…

"Sir, are you drunk?"

She asked just to make sure and immediately got her answer when the man stayed silent, gazing back at her with crystalized droopy eyes.

Subsequently, her head spun around to look for the rest of the squad standing behind them, noticing their eyes occasionally glancing at her direction before nonchalantly turning away once caught.

It was only the overly-bright and energetic Ethan who had waved his hands at her when their gazes met, his acts reminding her of a certain someone.

Riize sighed. At this proximity, they should've noticed the drunk man without any failure and yet, they did nothing? Riize couldn't understand the logic behind their indifference.

This expedition to the Demon realm… Will they still be doing it or not?