Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Odin made his way through a crowed street which was crowded with half-demons. He cursed under his breath as he tried not to push through them and take care not to offend one. The last thing he wanted was a gang of half-demon, Reikai, to jump him. That certainly wouldn't end well for them. Odin chuckled to himself as he found himself in front of the herb woman's shop. His breath caught up in his throat when he realized all these demons were waiting for her to come out of her shop. Odin cursed once again as he quickened his pace to a brisk walk.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door to the shop and found a woman in her mid forties standing behind a counter talking to a young boy. She had black hair with a hint of grey. Besides her graying hair you would never guess her age. When the door shut behind him the woman jumped and put her hand to her chest. "Odin, my dear. You scared the wits out of me."
Odin looked back over his shoulder out the shop window. "Those demons are all here for you," Odin said. The woman sighed and nodded her head. "They seem to be running out of witches to devour." He took a few steps towards her. "Annie," Odin spoke. "You've hidden your secret from this town for years. If Ashanra knew of what you were you'd be burned alive."
Ann bit her lip and nodded. "Yes I know. Nobody has reason to suspect me. I'm just a simple herb woman." She let out a sigh as she crossed her arms under her chest. "Those spells on the wall are working to keep the demons out. They can't come in, but I can't stay in here forever."
"They'll leave," Odin said. "But they will keep an eye on you and strike when they least expect it." Annie shuddered as she thought about what they would do to her.
"Can't you go out there with your sword and kill them?" she asked.
Odin stared at her. "I'll end up in a jail cell rotting away for the rest of my life. Ashanra doesn't know about these half-demon Reikai. She thinks they are just humans. After all they look nothing like demons."
Annie sighed. "Well you can use your sorcerer powers and kill them all in a blink?"
Odin glared. "Then I'll end up tied to a post and burned alive. I don't think so."
"Well it never hurts to ask."
"She'll kill any person possessing an ounce of magic, but she lets those scum walk all over her city."
"Well they do after all take care of her witch problem..." Annie stated. She instantly blanched.
"Sadly that is true. The need to be stopped somehow." Odin thought for a moment and then waved his hand around. "That's not why I came here," he said. He adjusted the sword at his hip and walked to the counter. "You have a remedy for my headaches I hope?"
Annie gave him a smile. "Of course, Odin. You're my favorite customer. So handsome and kind. You're a good friend. This batch is free." She turned to the boy next to her and asked him to retrieve the medicine for Odin. The boy disappeared down the hall and a minute he returned with the vial. He handed it over to Odin who thanked with a pat on his head.
"Thank you, Annie," Odin said with a smile. "If they cause you any trouble don't hesitated to call for me." Odin turned and waved over his shoulder. "You two take care." He opened the door and found the group Reikai had left. Odin sighed in relief. They wouldn't bother Annie as long as she kept up those warding spells.
Odin had came to get what he needed. The walk home would take the rest of the day. He lived far outside the town because of Ashanra. She ruled this place like a mad woman. She didn't allow any one possessing and ounce of magic to live. She feared them more than she feared demons. She labeled them all as witches and by her law witches were to be killed. Most of their killings were publicized. If Ashanra feared the 'witch' would flee or was to dangerous she would order for the witch to be killed on the spot.
Odin shuddered at that thought. It wasn't pleasant to think about any of his friends being burned alive or worse. He sucked in a breath of air as he walked passed a group of Reikai. Odin froze in his tracks as he heard them speak a name he was all too familiar with. Alexial.