A White Wall

I strangely didn’t feel fear at the sight of Tiaria pointing her sword at me, but I knew that it was bad news.

“What’s going on?” I asked with humility.

“If you don’t know the city of Mars’lvant, and you came from the opposite direction of it, then that can only mean one thing.” Tiaria looked like she was ready to pounce on me at any moment.

“That I lost my memories and don’t know what is going on?” I offered with a quiet laugh. I scratched my head, I really couldn’t think of a good way to diffuse this situation, as I was completely out of the loop on what the issue was.

“That possibility is the only reason I haven’t run you through.” I noticed Tiaria slightly change the grip on her sword. “What that means though, is that you could be a demon.” Tiaria said the last word with obvious venom.

I took a deep breath and gave Tiaria a smile.

“Yeah, I guess I could be. Honestly, I don’t remember anything other than my name though.” Once again I felt that being honest would bring about the best resolution in this situation.

Tiaria stared at me for a few moments. I could see her brain spinning, thinking of the best course of action. This was as dangerous a situation for her as it was for me. After all, if I was a demon like she thought I could be, then letting her defense down for a moment could be the end of her. Or, at least I assumed it could be based on her reaction to that possibility.

“Fine, then prove it to me.” Tiaria said coldly, still pointing her sword at me.

“Sure, but how?” I responded innocently.

“Let’s do it.” Tiaria said without a moment of hesitation.

“...” I gave her a blank stare and blinked a few times. “How would that prove-”

Tiaria slightly blushed, suddenly realizing how her comment sounded, and gave me such a menacing look that I was worried it might kill me.

“I can’t tell if you are an idiot or…” Tiaria trailed off. “Obviously what I meant was, let me cast a holy spell directly at where your core would be if you were a demon.”

“That sounds dangerous.” I said blankly.

“Only if you are a demon, a holy spell cannot harm a human, the gods, or god I suppose, wouldn’t allow it.” Tiaria answered matter-of-factly.

“But I don’t know if I am a human.” I answered truthfully.

“That’s fine.” Tiaria answered. “If you are a demon and you die then that is for the best.” Tiaria nodded honestly.

“Okay, rude.” I answered with humor, but I was certainly sweating on the inside. I really didn’t know anything about myself. For all I knew I could be a demon.

“Unbutton your coat.” Tiaria commanded without a hint of emotion.

“Okay, now I’m really not sure what you are wanting to do.” I answered back.

“I guess if you really don’t have memories then you wouldn’t know.” Tiaria ignored my innuendo. “Holy magic takes enormous talent from the user and blessings from a god to be able to use. My holy magic isn’t strong enough to use from a distance and through magical armor.”

“Magical armor?” I looked down at what I was wearing. I had a long black coat with crimson trim. The coat seemed to reflect light back in a rainbow, like an oil slick.

“Yes, despite your physical weakness and idiotic attitude you do have some rather impressive magical armor on. Based on what I can see it would take a pretty powerful spell to directly penetrate it. Although, like you experienced with the wolves, if you move the armor out of the way you are just flesh and blood.” Tiaria seemed to find that last part amusing. I didn’t.

I looked down at my wounded left arm. This situation I found myself in was rather interesting, and I more and more wanted to become friends with Tiaria. I moved my hands towards the clasps on my robe and began undoing the buttons.

“Fine.” I said with excited resignation, “Let’s get this over with so we can go on to be friends.” I gave a sly smile. I looked at Tiaria as I undid the last button. She gave a bright red blush and began shaking slightly. Was my proposal to become friends that embarrassing for her? I felt truly touched knowing she felt the same way about me. Tiaria let go of her sword with one hand and pointed her shaking finger at me.

“P-p-pervert! Molester! Weirdo!” Tiaria yelled at me.

I stared blankly back at her. Why was she calling me names?

“Why aren’t you wearing anything under your robe!?” Tiaria yelled at me, tears almost in her eyes.

I looked down at my, now open, robe and noticed that I wasn’t wearing anything underneath it. I quickly looked back up at her.

“You’re the pervert! Stop looking at my naked parts!” I yelled out at her. “Turn around already!”

Tiaria quickly turned around, still bright red and shaking.

I gave a quick smirk. “See, if you really thought I was an enemy would you turn your back on me?” I was quite confident in the reasoning I had just bridged with Tiaria.

“Button your robe up.” Tiaria ordered.

I obliged and buttoned my buttons.

“Done?” She asked bluntly.

“Yes.” I answered back.

Tiaria turned around to face me.

“So what did you think?” I gave another smirk.

Tiaria just stared at me and moved towards me, sword still in her hand.

Tiaria walked into arm’s reach of me before quickly slapping her palm onto my face.

“Wha-” I tried to get out.

“To the holy one I let out this prayer.” Tiaria’s hand started to lightly glow white. “Let the evil in front of me be purged by your light, Demon’s Bane!”

The sound of a loud pop echoed out from Tiaria’s hand into the forest.

There was a brief pause between both myself and Tiaria.

“Since I am still alive I guess I’m not a demon.” I tried to say, my voice muffled by the hand over my face.

“Hmm.” Tiaria looked surprised as she removed her hand from my face. “I thought for sure that you were an incubus.”

“Why would you think that?” I asked with surprise.

Tiaria looked at me a moment before responding. “No reason.”

“Still.” She started to speak as she turned around. “You should really not flash a young lady, that was quite surprising for me.” I could tell Tiaria was holding back a laugh.

“It was surprising for me too.” I added.

Tiaria motioned for me to follow her as she sheathed her sword.

“Well, let’s head to Mars’lvant so we can properly get your arm looked at.”

Some time later, as we were walking, I noticed more and more light reaching Tiaria and myself as the forest opened up. Tiaria turned towards me and motioned for me to catch up with her. As I exited to the edge of the forest next to her I looked over the slight incline and saw an incredible, fortified, city sprawling out before me. The city was massive with spotless white walls covered in shiny blue roof tiles that surrounded the perimeter of the city. There were massive white pillars behind the walls which arose many times higher than the wall and seemed to be adorned with blue crystals. Inside the city I could see pastel pink and blue buildings neatly organized. I looked over the city thinking of all the wonderful things contained within. I could feel a vast excitement welling inside of my chest.