A Lower Demon (2)

The demon was overconfident and cocky—that much was obvious. However, Seung knew it wouldn't do any good to provoke it. He could have made mocking and jesting statements to goad the demon into attacking first, allowing him to gain the upper hand and land a perfect strike. But it wasn't worth the risk.

'I need to find a way to keep it from ascending into the village,' Seung thought. Behind the demon was a huge rock, its tendrils spreading high on both sides, blanketing the ground. To the left lay the academy, while to the right was the path leading to the village.

If he wanted to protect everyone, he had to drive the demon down the slope in the opposite direction. It was a grassland stretching down the academy's long fence, with high mountains bathed in the unsetting, harsh sun, creating a vast backdrop.