The Broken Halo

”You three smell wrong.”

Darius spoke with a grin as his eyes moved between Simon, Sonya, and Akaza. His spear rested loosely in one hand, but the fingers of the other had curled with anticipation.

”You have Infernal Hearts,” he continued, sounding genuinely puzzled. ”You’re Supreme Archfiends. Not even Greater Demons.”

Sonya tilted her head toward his voice. Akaza’s eyes narrowed slightly, while Simon watched without answering.

Darius inhaled through his nose.

Blood, smoke, scorched stone, and cold air filled the ridge. He separated those ordinary scents almost immediately. What interested him lay beneath them- the peculiar impressions his nose received from demonic power.

The exhausted demons behind the wind were easy to judge.

The three in front were not.

The blind Kragh made his instincts tighten despite her small body. The tattooed Martial Demon was wounded, but there was something dangerous beneath the blood and fatigue.

Then there was the one-horned demon.

Darius’s grin widened.

”I expected something unusual after seeing what happened to Ironcrest,” he said enthusiastically. ”But this is much better.”

His gaze settled on Simon.

”Your scent is the strangest I have ever encountered in a demon.”

Simon remained still. The dark emerald currents between them continued moving, brushing ice fragments away from the wounded.

”The others are powerful, but you...” Darius leaned forward slightly. ”You are concealing more than any of them. And somehow, you’re still the most dangerous thing standing here.”

He sniffed again.

For a moment, the amusement in his expression gave way to concentration. Then his teeth showed in an even broader grin.

”You might actually be the strongest demon I have ever faced.”

Elara turned toward him.

”Darius?”

There was a warning in her voice, but also genuine surprise.

She knew his nose. It was not infallible, and it did not explain every ability an enemy possessed, but its judgement of a demon’s power and danger had proven accurate far more often than not.

Darius had survived encounters with demons other humans had dismissed because he trusted it.

He had also fought and killed a Minor Demon Lord.

’An Archfiend is as strong as a Demon Lord? No. Stronger?’

Her fingers tightened around her staff.

’Is brother serious or is he just messing with that demon and me?’

Darius’s master had warned them. Mara’s order had made the danger clear. Yet hearing that warning and standing before an Archfiend whom Darius considered more dangerous than his previous opponents were different things.

There was an entire Forged Heart rank between an Infernal Heart and an Abyssal Heart.

What sort of monster crossed that distance?

Elara studied Simon again, searching for some indication that his apparent rank was false.

Simon narrowed his eyes.

’His nose?’

He had expected the humans to assess his speed, his weapon, or the wind protecting the two assault cores. He had not expected an assessment like this before their weapons even met.

Darius had not explained what made his scent strange, and Simon could not help but have a slightly strange expression.

’He reminds me of someone. Could they be related?’

Around him, several demons wore peculiar expressions. Akaza glanced at Simon. Rathen’s good eye shifted between him and Darius, while Ammor looked as though he wanted to question what he had heard but feared either possible answer.

Sonya spoke first.

”Is this human secretly a dog?”

Darius’s grin faltered.

”What?”

She turned slightly toward Akaza, although her voice remained perfectly audible to the twins.

”He keeps sniffing us. Is that normal for humans?”

Rellis pressed his lips together and nearly released a chuckle.

Darius’ eyes flashed with a cold light.

”It is an ability,” he replied with restrained irritation. ”My nose can distinguish a demon’s strength.”

”Oh.” Sonya nodded slowly. ”A hunting dog then.”

”I am not a dog.”

”That explains why you have a master.”

Silence followed.

Sonya’s expression brightened as though she had solved something important.

”You kept mentioning him earlier. This Honourable thought he was an instructor.”

”He is my teacher,” Darius said, his tone sharpening.

”Does he call you a good boy when you win?”

Akaza released a short laugh, then pressed a hand against his injured side but he still could not stop himself from laughing.

Darius’s gaze snapped toward him before returning to Sonya. The orange light along his spear brightened, and a thin line of frost melted beside his boot.

”You are very confident for someone standing behind another demon’s defence.”

”This Honourable was confident before he put it up.”

”Then step outside.”

Sonya faced him with a cheerful smile.

”Why? Did your master tell you not to come indoors?”

Rellis turned away abruptly. His shoulders shook once and he started laughing despite trying to contain it.

Ammor stared at them in disbelief. They had just heard that either human could kill a Minor Demon Lord, and the little Kragh had decided this was the appropriate conversation.

’She’s mad. She’s definitely mad.’

Darius rolled his spear through his fingers.

”You think making jokes will keep you alive?” he asked coldly.

”No. But watching you answer every one is keeping me entertained. You’re a good dog. Your master would be proud.”

His jaw tightened and killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Sonya heard his breathing deepen. Beneath her bare feet, the ground carried the small adjustment as he shifted his weight toward her.

Her smile widened.

”I have killed a Demon Lord,” Darius said, his voice dropping. ”You should choose your next words carefully.”

”Did you bring it back to your master?”

Akaza’s laugh escaped before he could stop it.

Even Virella made a small, strangled sound. She immediately lowered her head, looking horrified at herself.

Darius stopped turning his spear.

Heat spread across the road. Water hissed between the stones, and the weapon’s silver point lowered toward Sonya.

Simon watched the change in Darius’s stance. His attention had shifted from the entire group to the short demoness, although Elara continued studying Simon over her brother’s shoulder.

Sonya lifted her chin.

”Do you want this Honourable to throw something? You can bring it back and show us how you earned that spear.”

”Keep talking.”

The words came through Darius’s teeth.

”I am. You’re very good at following instructions.”

Darius stepped forward.

Fire gathered beneath his boots, and his spear slid into a two-handed grip.

Elara caught his forearm before he could take the next step.

”Darius.”

Her voice was quiet and cold.

He did not look at her.

”Let go.”

”No.”

Frost spread beneath her staff as she planted it against the road. Her eyes remained on Sonya.

”She wants you angry.”

”I know what she is doing.”

”Then stop helping her.”

His nostrils flared.

Elara tightened her grip.

”You just said the one-horned demon might be the strongest you have ever faced. Now you are preparing to rush through his wind while looking at someone else.”

Darius finally glanced at Simon.

The demon had not spoken once. Nor had he stopped watching.

Several breaths passed before Darius drew his spear back. His grin returned, narrower now and without its earlier ease.

Sonya clicked her tongue in disappointment.

”So you’re the one holding the leash,” she told Elara.

Elara did not answer.

Simon looked briefly at Akaza’s injuries, then toward Sonya. Across the wind, the woman’s staff remained firmly planted, her attention no longer leaving him.

At last, he spoke.

”Sonya, Akaza. Can you two defeat her?”