"Welcome, welcome," the seamstress said, wobbling toward the back of the shop. She returned moments later with a bundle of clothing balanced in each arm.
She laid the garments out across both sides of the table.
Sirus picked up a pair of black jeans—stitched with odd curves, tailored perfectly for his hind-jointed legs.
"Now, for your shoes," the seamstress continued, handing him a scroll. "Here's the blueprint. Take this to the shoemaker."
'I'll need to grab some essentials,' Sirus thought, eyeing the growing pile. 'No way I can carry all this when we set off.'
"Ahhh!" Selvynee chirped, her voice bright. "This is perfect! Thank you, miss." She gave the seamstress a small bow. The older woman responded with a gentle chuckle.
Without a word, Sirus stepped into the changing room. When he emerged in the tailored outfit, Selvynee let out a loud gasp. Her tail curled instinctively, drifting up to hide her flustered face.
"You good?" he muttered, raising a single brow.
"S-So... so handsome, Ashfang!" she stammered, circling him like a moth around flame—poking at seams, gasping at the fit.
Sirus blinked, thrown by her sudden weirdness.
With a sigh, he placed a clawed hand gently atop her head. "You done?"
She nodded, cheeks flushed. He released her with a quiet snort.
"My, you two are certainly close," the seamstress said, her frail voice laced with amusement.
Selvynee bolted into the changing room. A moment later, she returned with a dramatic twirl, her pants hugging her form, her tail slipping neatly through the tailored slot.
"Ashfang! Isn't this great?" she beamed, twirling her tail proudly.
"We'll be on our way. Won't be staying much longer," Sirus said, ignoring the girl still fussing over her tail.
"Best wishes on your travels."
The door shut behind them with a soft thud.
Inside, the seamstress let out a quiet chuckle. "A demon and a snow-leopard demihuman... what an odd pair."
...
"Are we leaving soon, brother? I overheard what you muttered to the seamstress."
'I didn't tell her what my main goal is...' His gaze dropped briefly. 'I wonder how she would react.'
"My current goal is revenge." His voice trailed off for a moment, "One that would likely mean the downfall of a entire kingdom."
Selvynee stumbled briefly, her heart thumping like drums.
Pausing mid-step he narrowed his crimson eyes at her, a glint of fire lurking within his gaze.
With a cold-laced voice, he continued, "I may have told you this before. But an organisation going by Holy Church ravaged my village. They spared no one, not the children or the elderly."
His gaze rose to the clouds above, as if seeing them soaked in red. Crimson rainfall. Broken bodies scattered dolls.
A harsh wind slammed into Selvynee. She froze, eyes locked on the demon. Her thoughts scattered, fists trembling against her chest.
A cold silence passed by.
"Selvynee." His voice was low, distant, still watching the clouds. "I won't force you onto this path of bloodshed and revenge. If you no longer want to stay by my side, I won't hate you for that."
He turned and continued down the street, heading toward the general store, not waiting for her reply.
"Brother…" she whispered.
She watched his back as the distance between them grew. What did she want? If she followed him—if she chose to stay—could she truly stand at his side while he brought ruin to an entire kingdom?
Sirus exhaled a shaky breath, his thoughts muddled. "I'm prepared to walk this path alone. So why I'm I so shaken up all of a sudden..."
He clenched his fists until blood spilled between his fist "I'm pathetic..." He mumbled to himself, his voice strained.
Just as his hand reached for the door handle, furred fingers grasped his back. A tail curled around his waist with quiet desperation.
An awkward breath passed between them.
"What's your decision?" he asked flatly.
"Don't leave me like that. Stupid." She detached herself from his back, stepping away.
Sirus blinked. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came. He exhaled softly and pushed open the door. A quiet bell chime rang above them.
Selvynee stood by the door, to the side. Her head down, not speaking another word.
A old man stood behind the counter, eyeing the newcomers with unknown thoughts.
Meeting his gaze, Sirus quietly shopped around, dropping the bundle of clothing down to a bench.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid." Selvynee mumbled under her breath, too quiet for any human to hear, but not to a certain demon. "Stupid Ashfang. Stupid brother..." She hugged her tail tightly, seeking any sort of comfort.
With a heavy thud, Sirus laid out a pile of items on the counter. "How much." He asked flatly, briefly turning his head to look at the girl, consoling herself.
"You must have said something terrible to the demihuman there if she acting like this. Hmph." The man muttered curtly, sorting out the items on the counter.
Sirus not replying, the shopkeep looked up. "38 silvers."
With a nod, he handed the money over. 'A backpack, frying pan and flint fire-starters... Do I need anything else?' As he thought in silence, his ears twitched, looking back, Selvynee bolted outside, slamming the door behind her.
"What am I going to do with her..." Shaking his head, he grabbed a few more essentials before heading towards the shoemaker.
Closing the door behind him, a bell chimed above the door. 'That's getting annoying...' He glared at the bell briefly. Walking up to the counter, he placed the scroll-blueprint on the counter. Over the counter, a young man dozing off in a chair.
"Hey." He barked, irritation laced his voice.
With a yawn, the man rubbed his eyes, his gaze meeting a pair of bright crimson eyes. "You must be the demon, old Sarah told me about." He muttered-with a yawn.
Pushing the chair aside, he grabbed the scroll, after a few moments. He spoke. "What type of shoe are you looking for?"
"Black heels, not too high, enough to run in."
The man blinked a few times, and looked the demon up and down a few times. With a nonchalant shrug, he got to work.
"Come back in a few hours." With that, he waved him out of the door.
Outside, Sirus mumbled to himself. "Strange kid... Right." His eyes landed on a large tavern with thick double doors. "Adventurer tavern. I'm short on coin."
As he approached, adventurers crowded the area. Whispers surged through the air like static.
When he pushed the doors open, the room went still. Dozens of eyes locked on the monster.
Sirus's face remained unreadable as he walked calmly to the counter.
A young woman behind it gasped. "Y-Yes? Ahh, let me—" She cut herself off and bolted to the back.
He muttered to himself, "Maybe expecting a demon to sign up as an adventurer was unwise…"
She returned moments later, trailed by a large man radiating authority.
Strong, Sirus noted, narrowing his eyes.
"So, you're the S-Class monster I've heard about," the man said coldly, arms folded.
Sirus raised a brow. "S-Class monster? I don't even know what that is."
The man studied him for a few seconds. "Your mana's at that level… but you're not." He scoffed. "So, what do you want?"
Sirus glanced briefly at the towering bulletin board. "I want to register as an adventurer."
Silence fell.
The man blinked, then let out a laugh. "You? A monster? Don't spit crap."
Sirus slammed a clawed hand on the counter. "Call me a monster again... and you will see one."
Weapons unsheathed. Staffs rose. Adventures closed in around him.
"Enough of that you lots!" The man roared cold, looking back at the monster he spoke. "Do you think you have any sort of hope of being an adventurer without stirring trouble wherever you go? I don't know what sort of delusion you got up there."
Lifting his clawed hand off the table, he folded his arms. "I didn't ask your opinion. Can you register me or not?"
As the two continued staring holes into each other, the man replied.
"You're certainly interesting. You would need to travel to the nearest capital. We don't do registration here..." His voice trailed off for a moment, "That is, if you don't get killed on sight." He muttered with a smirk.
Heading towards the exit without another word. The adventurers cleared a path reluctantly for him.
Inside, a young woman spoke up. "Guild leader. You alright?" She noticed his back slightly soaked in his sweat.
"Despite me being the Guild Leader, something about it radiated dread. I'm not sure if I could have won." He muttered quieter towards the end.
Outside, "Let's see if the mayor can help me with something." Staring towards the manor in the distance. A sinister grin marked his face.