After a few minutes of dragging the demon girl through narrow alleys and twisting corners, we finally stopped in an isolated back alley. Both of us were panting heavily, out of breath from running.
"I promised Rudolph I'd stay out of trouble," I muttered, catching my breath, "but trouble seems to have a thing for me."
I crouched in front of the girl and took a better look at her.
Demons here were nothing like how they were portrayed back on Earth—no wings, no claws, no monstrous faces. They looked almost human, save for the small horns protruding from their heads. In fact, this was the first time I had seen one in person. This girl looked about ten years old and reminded me a lot of Crissy. The resemblance tugged at something in my chest.
She wore a once-white dress now stained with dirt, blood, and what looked like shoe prints—someone had clearly stomped on her. Her arms and legs were littered with bruises, still fresh and angry red. Yet, beneath the filth and wounds, she looked like someone who'd been cared for, at least until recently.
"I'm Troy," I said gently. "What's your name?"
She lowered her head, clasping her hands together nervously. "Rafaela… Hemsworth."
"Nice to meet you, Rafaela." I stood up and dusted off my pants. "We need to get out of this kingdom—fast. It's not safe for you here anymore."
As I turned to lead the way, she suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Big brother Kieran… He's waiting for me," she said softly.
"Your big brother? Is he a demon too?"
She shook her head. "No… He's my master. The kindest human I've ever met. And his parents—they're kind too. All of them are…"
Now that she mentioned it, I finally noticed the metal collar hanging loosely around her neck. A slave collar.
So, she was someone's property… or at least the world treated her that way. But from the way she talked about them, it didn't sound like abuse. If anything, she was treated with care—rare for someone labeled as a "demon."
"I see," I said. "We'll talk more about that once we're somewhere safe. Right now, I need you to help me find the nearest exit out of the city. Do you know where it is?"
She nodded silently.
"Great. But first, we need to get you something to hide those horns—"
I paused, staring at the bruises all over her body. I wanted to heal her. I should heal her. But how?
I had acquired a healing skill earlier, but I hadn't used it yet. Should I just say heal out loud? Touch her? I remembered Baldy Cain healing someone with glowing yellow light from his hands. Could I copy that? But how did he do it?
Unlike Fire Magic, which instinctively activated when I was in danger, this wasn't reactive—it needed intention and control.
[Note: All magic uses mana. Offensive spells like Fire Magic can trigger automatically as a defense response. However, support skills such as healing require deliberate mana channeling and intense concentration.]
Oh. That's helpful. Wait—who said that?
[I am your Unique Skill—Cherubim.]
Are you like… my inner system? Like in anime?
[No. Think of me as your strategist, assistant, and imitator. Any skill or magic you witness, I can replicate and make yours.]
Whoa. So I'm not hearing voices because I'm crazy—you're actually in my head.
[Correct.]
Awesome. So… about healing. How do I use it?
[Let your mana flow through your fingertips. Once you feel a vibration, channel that energy into the wounds of your target. Keep in mind: the more severe the injury, the more mana required. Restoring something broken—like a limb or a horn—will cost a lot more than healing a cut.]
Got it. I'll give it a shot.
I gently patted Rafaela's head and focused. Slowly, I visualized my mana flowing down to my fingers. A faint vibration tickled my skin—then a glow. I pressed my hand over one of her bruises.
To my surprise, the wounds faded before my eyes. The bruises disappeared, the swelling receded, and even the cracked horn on her head shimmered and slowly reformed.
Holy crap. I actually did it.
But just as I stood up, a wave of exhaustion slammed into me, and I staggered.
What the hell? I feel like my soul got vacuumed out.
[As I mentioned, healing draws a lot of mana. Minor wounds cost little, but restoring a broken horn used up most of your reserves. You'll feel drained until your mana replenishes.]
Noted. Mental sticky note: Don't go around fixing limbs like a free clinic.
Rafaela opened her eyes wide and touched her horn, which had fully returned.
"T-Thank you… Mister, uh, Troy."
"You're welcome," I replied, slumping against the wall. "Let me catch my breath, then we'll move."
After I recovered a little, we headed off to the market. The first thing I did was buy her a robe with a deep hood to conceal her horns and face.
Eventually, we reached the main gate—where things got tricky.
Rafaela had explained that to escort a slave out of the kingdom, one needed to present the slave's collar key. But going back to her master to ask for it, especially while on the run, would be suicidal. There was also no way to climb over the wall unnoticed—guards were posted at every point.
Violence? Not an option. I had no idea how strong the knights were, or what kind of mess I'd be starting. I wasn't ready to fight a small army over a slave collar.
As we neared the crowded gate, one of the knights noticed us and began walking over. My heart jumped into my throat.
But just then—perfect chaos.
Behind us, the wheel of a passing produce cart broke with a loud crack. A chorus of shouts followed as fruit and vegetables scattered across the street. One of the horses broke free and bolted straight toward the gate.
The knight who was about to question us turned immediately to help.
"Thank you, kind sir!" said the cart owner.
"I don't mind," replied the knight, now distracted.
I placed my hand on Rafaela's trembling shoulder.
"Now's our chance," I whispered.
We darted through the gate, slipping past the confused crowd and the distracted guards.
Once outside the city, I guided us into the forest and searched for a secluded spot among the trees. My legs were still shaking from adrenaline.
That was… way too close.
I found a decent hiding place behind a thick tree, then crouched beside her.
"Alright," I said, gently patting her head. "Now, we need to deal with that collar around your neck."
She looked at me with wide, confused eyes.
I smiled. "We're not done yet."