Capítulo 22: Fine Ride
The inn was a small, dimly lit place, but the aroma of roasting venison filled the air, making my stomach clench with hunger. Eric picked a corner table, the kind that offered a view of the entrance and both exits—ever the cautious Demon Slayer.
As we settled in, a server promptly brought over two tankards of ale. Eric raised his to me with a sly grin. "To surviving Anholt. And to your new life as a Demon Slayer." I clinked mine against his, the wooden cups emitting a dull thud, and we both took a deep swig.
We ordered venison. I asked with a neutral expression, "What will be my first mission?"
Eric glanced at me and leaned back, folding his arms. "There's a village southwest from here. We've been getting reports of toddlers going missing each night." He paused. "And there's an infamous demon known for having a taste for the young."
food arrived, and Eric picked up his knife and fork, slicing into the meat as if they were discussing the weather.
I looked at Eric, "Who is this demon?"
Eric continued to cut into his venison without missing a beat. "She's called Irina. Not many have seen her, but everyone knows her reputation." He glanced up, meeting my gaze. "She's strong, vicious. They say she can manipulate shadows and has a voice that lures children away from their homes."
I nodded slightly, showing no visible reaction. They finished their food in silence, then we stood up and made our way out of the dining hall, ready to set off.
Eric and I stepped out of the inn into the crisp evening air, the faint scent of smoke and horse manure drifting from somewhere nearby. He fell into step beside me, his presence casual, hands loosely hanging at his sides. We moved silently, the soft clink of his armor the only sound accompanying our footsteps along the dirt path.
"You got yourself a horse yet?" Eric asked, his voice calm but carrying that curious edge he seemed to have whenever he talked to me.
"Not yet," I replied flatly, glancing around at the dwindling light. The idea hadn't occurred to me until now. After all, the Demon Slayer Corp made no mention of logistics, assuming, I suppose, that anyone still alive would have it figured out.
"You'll need one. Unless you plan on walking to every job. You'll be crossing long distances, sometimes for days. No way around it."
I gave a short nod. The last thing I needed was to delay missions because I was stuck on foot. Eric led the way through winding alleys until we reached a sprawling stable. The place smelled strongly of hay and musk, rows of horse stalls lining the walls, each occupied by horses of varying size and color. A stable boy, no older than fourteen, glanced up and froze when he saw Eric's emblem—a signal to fetch the man in charge.
An old horsekeeper ambled up to us, eyes narrowed in curiosity. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Need a horse," Eric said, his tone unassuming. "Something reliable. Budget range."
I raised a hand, cutting him off. "No, show me the finest you've got." My voice came out smooth, unwavering.
Eric turned his head slightly, the hint of a smirk touching his lips. "One hell of a rich brat, aren't you?" he murmured, eyes glinting with an amused light.
I met his gaze without flinching, my expression unreadable. "Getting used to the life," I replied evenly.
The horsekeeper blinked at us both, then nodded as if coming to a decision. He motioned us to follow, leading us to the back of the stables where the best were kept. Each horse here was magnificent—well-groomed coats that glistened under the lantern light, strong, defined muscles, and eyes that gleamed with keen intelligence. It was a marked difference from the standard mounts at the front, and I took my time assessing each one.
He stopped at a stall housing a striking black stallion, its mane thick and sleek, tail swishing with energy. "This here's Blackstorm," the horsekeeper said proudly. "Purebred from the finest stock, fast and powerful. Not the easiest to handle, though." He eyed me carefully, as if measuring my worth against the beast's temperament.
I stepped closer, extending a hand. The stallion snorted, its large, dark eyes watching me intently. I held my gaze steady, keeping my movements calm and deliberate as I brushed my fingers down its mane.
"I'll take him," I said simply, dropping a small pouch of coins into the horsekeeper's hand without hesitation.
"Are you sure?" Eric raised an eyebrow. "A horse like this could break an inexperienced rider's neck."
I glanced back at him, a flicker of a grin crossing my lips. "Guess I'll have to learn fast, then."
Eric and I emerged from the stable, our horses' hooves crunching against the gravel path as we made our way out onto the open road. I swung myself effortlessly onto Blackstorm's back, feeling the powerful beast shift beneath me, muscles taut and ready to burst into a gallop. Eric mounted his own brown mare beside me, a steady, dependable-looking horse—solid but unremarkable in comparison to the imposing figure beneath me.
We started off at a slow trot, the clinking of reins and soft exhales of the horses accompanying the fading light of the sun. As we eased into a steady pace, Eric kept glancing over, eyes lingering on the ease with which I rode.
"Didn't think you'd be such a good rider," he remarked finally, his voice casual, though I caught the hint of genuine surprise.
"Bounty hunters are no strangers to sword or horse," I replied coolly, my gaze fixed ahead on the winding road. It wasn't a lie. There were few places you couldn't go with a sword at your side and a reliable horse under you, especially when chasing bounties that often crossed borders or hid deep in the wilderness.
Eric nodded thoughtfully, as if that small piece of information filled in more gaps than I'd intended. We rode on in silence for a while, our horses' rhythmic gait a soothing lull as we passed by scattered homesteads and the occasional cluster of trees.
The air turned cooler as we ventured further southwest, a soft breeze stirring the darkening sky. Soon, the road narrowed, giving way to dense underbrush and tall, looming pines that closed in around us. The forest was thick and old, the type where shadows stretched long and eerie, distorting the path ahead. The scent of pine needles and damp earth filled the air, every rustle of branches or distant animal cry seeming amplified in the stillness.
Blackstorm moved steadily beneath me, each step sure-footed despite the uneven terrain. The stallion's ears flicked back and forth, alert to the sounds of the forest, but he responded to my guidance without hesitation. Eric's mare kept pace, and I could see him occasionally glancing over, perhaps assessing whether I'd falter now that we were far from the stable.
But I didn't falter. Instead, I leaned forward slightly, urging Blackstorm to pick up the pace as the path twisted deeper into the woods, the trees thickening into a dense canopy overhead that blocked out much of the remaining light. Eric matched my stride, his eyes sharp and observant.
Soon, the noises of the forest faded into an almost unnatural quiet, the only sounds coming from the rhythmic beat of our horses' hooves and the whispering wind rustling through the treetops. The dark, twisting branches seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers, casting warped shadows across the ground as we rode further into the heart of the forest.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder