Arcanum 177 Anna

"I know." The girl answered drawing out long curved blade. The sword looked surrounded in a faint magical darkness rendering the blackened metal blade almost invisible, the demon for the first time stepped back in shock.

The Demons eyes began to scan around quickly darting around looking in all directions his body physically quivering and turned to run. Before it could even make two steps all of its limbs were severed flying through the air, before it could scream out in pain the robed girl stabbed through the demon's heart causing the body to slowly deteriorate into ash making a series of runes illuminate red down the side of the blade.

"Sorry for taking so long.." The robe figure apologised to us again walking towards us. "I'm Anna nice to meet you all again." She smiled taking off her hood revealing a Caucasian girl wearing large round glasses with golden blonde hair.

"Thanks for the help.." I thanked her while the others were tending to each other's wounds.

"Are your friends okay?" She questioned looking worried.

"Umm I'm not sure best if we head to the infirmary." I answered.

"Again sorry for taking so long. I'll escort you all make sure you're all safe." She answered.

"Thanks for finishing it off." Helen said once she was finished bandaging Daisy's arms.

"Yeah thanks for the help." Jay thanked her.

"Are you okay?" I asked helping Grace up.

"Yeah just a little bruised. I think Daisy go the worst of it." Grace answered.

"Yeah... I think my arms are broken." She answered trying hold in the pain.

"Yeah I never imagined it to be so strong most of us couldn't even hurt it." I replied.

"It was a pretty strong Demon... you all did very well." Anna smiled.

"Umm.. Helen or Morgana can you change into something to help carry Yuna and Daisy?" Jay questioned.

"Sure!" Helen and Morgana answered changing into a giant majestic Elk and knelt down whereas Morgana changed into a giant Crocodile.

"Okay was expecting something a little more welcoming..." Jay replied seeing Morgana transform placing Yuna's still unconscious body over her back and sat behind her making sure she wouldn't fall off.

"Let's go Daisy." Grace said helping Daisy onto Helen and jumped on behind her.

"So you're Anna Paul's friend right?" I questioned as we made or way to the infirmary.

"Yup!" She smiled.

"So what is it you do exactly? We haven't met properly yet." I asked her trying to strike up a conversation.

"Umm nothing special.. I just help here and there." She answered.

"If you don't mind me asking how did you banish the Demon?" I questioned.

"Banishing Demons are very hard, there are several ways to kill a Demon. One way is to use a banishment spell that will banish them back to the hells, another way is to destroy their hearts, demons range from having two to seven hearts depending on how strong they are. The stronger the Demon the more hearts they have. Then lastly the rarest way to kill a Demon using a soul sealing weapon or item." She answered.

"So I guess yours was the 3rd option?" I questioned.

"Yes even when you defeat a Demon they will simply reincarnate back in the hells unless you speak their true name when you destroy their last heart. Whereas with my cursed sword Muramasa, anything that dies to Muramasa will have their soul sealed within the blade thus stopping the reincarnation process." She answered.

"Ohh so is that why it showed some fear when you drew it?" I questioned.

"I guess so.. It probably sensed the curse of the sword." Anna answered.

"So what does it mean by cursed?" I questioned.

"It's cursed because once you draw it a soul must be sealed one way or another." She answered.

"What happens if you don't seal a soul?" I questioned

"Then it will seal the soul of the wielder." She answered making me gasp in shock. "Yes it's why I don't use Muramasa often, I normally keep it hidden well so that's why it took me so long to arrive.. Sorry." She answered and apologised again.

"So what if the soul of the Demon you killed previously a human?" I asked curiously.

"What do you mean?" She questioned.

"It used to be a student of Atlantis student called Gregor." "I answered her.

"And he became a Demon?" She questioned.

"Yeah he drank some kind of potion." I answered her.

"I see... then yes his soul got sealed into my sword." She answered.

"What happens to their soul once they are sealed in your sword?" I questioned feeling sad for Gregor.

"I have no idea, all I know is his soul is now banished in my sword." Anna answered.

"Did Paul send you?" I questioned.

"Yes he did, there are very few people in the world who can deal with Demons and Devils." Anna answered.

"How did you meet Paul?" I questioned curiously.

"It's abit of a funny story actually. My crew actually stole from him one night when he arrived in Millcliff, He and Ashley got pretty drunk. The next day when they realised they got robbed, Scarlet remembered our scent and caught us. Paul was impressed when we tried to defend ourselves so he bought our freedom from the Thieves' Guild." She explained.

"Ohh there's others?" I questioned curiously.

"Yes.. Paul moved us to his orphanage in Perpetua." She answered.

"Ohh an orphanage?" I questioned further.

"Yes Paul is very kind hearted he tries and helps everyone he sees, especially orphans." She answered.

"Was you the only one in your group to get into Atlantis?" I questioned.

"Yes sadly.. But my brothers and sisters don't need spells or specialised training." She smiled.

How many of you are there in total?" I questioned.

"There was six of us in total." She answered.

"So how old are you?" I questioned curiously.

"Fifteen." She answered with a smile.

"Ohh wow so young.." I replied in shock. "Do you mind if I ask what happened to your parents?" I questioned feeling curious.

"My sister destroyed everything I held dear, killed my father, my mother and enslaved my uncle." She cursed balling her fist a clutching her blood red sword handle in hatred.

"Ohhh no.. Why did your sister do that?" I asked in total shock finding it almost unfathomable.

"She felt jealous.. And hatred towards our father." She answered.

"What does Paul think about your... goal?" I wondered.

"He said he will help me, but he keeps reminding me that revenge isn't the only option and that killing her won't bring everyone back." She answered still gritting her teeth making me regret that I even asked.

"So how comes I don't see you around Paul, Scarlet and Ashley as much?" I questioned.

"I must train for my battle against my sister. I showed mercy once before and as a result everything was taken from me, next time I will not fail!" She answered with seething hatred and regrets of sorrow as if she was crying on the inside.

"Ohhh..." I replied feeing even worse, does everyone have who live here have a troubled past...

"Are your friends gonna be okay?" She questioned.

"I think they will be alight, luckily for us we didn't suffer any life threatening injuries." I smiled.

"I am really sorry I arrived so late.. I really did try and get to you as soon as I could.. I just needed to retrieve my weapon." She apologised looking extremely guilty.

"Don't be sorry you arrived at the right time." I smiled.

"Say how did you get that cursed blade?" I questioned curiously.

"Ohh very deadly members of the Thieves Guilds each have their own cursed weapon.. It's a big risk, if the weapon doesn't accept you as a wieldier you'd die and your soul will get sealed." She casually answered me like risking her life to use such a sword is normal.

"Why would the Thieves Guild accept to lose a cursed weapon and an important member?" I questioned curiously.

"The Thieves Guild only care about three things Influence, Power and Money at the right price they'd sell anything or do anything." She answered.

"So what do you think about Paul?" I questioned hoping to see him in a different point of view.

"He has a good heart but he's too soft, he believes everyone can be saved and blames himself if he can't save everyone. He needs to understand that he can't save everyone and some people are evil no matter what." She answered her grim past clearly shaping who she is today.

"So how many years have you been in Atlantis?" I questioned.

"I'm a second year." She answered.

"Wow so you came at 13?" I questioned in shock.

"Yes.. Paul helped me get in." She smiled.

"Does Paul get to decide who gets into Atlantis?" I inquired.

"Of course." she answered.

"How?" I questioned further feeling extremely curious.

"Hmmmm he told me that each institute takes turns picking the student they want.. And In Atlantis the S-Ranked students takes turns picking, so first Paul would get the first pick for Atlantis then Daisy and lastly Travis." She explained to me.

"Ohh so that's why I was so shocking that I was picked to come here." I thought to myself.

"But they say this year he got a lot of flak... because normally the first three picks are very lucrative and pre-decided by the faculty members and Headmaster." She answered.

"No way.. Did he pick me first?" I questioned in shock making me feel slightly happy inside.

"I dunno." she shrugged, I don't normally get involved in that stuff she answered me honestly.

"So what does the rest of your friend you left behind do now?" I asked making conversation.

"Umm the young ones still go to school learning about the world and things, the older ones have joined the police force using our shady past to be information gathers and catching the shadier and stealthier criminals." She answered.

"Have you enjoyed Atlantis thus far?" I questioned.

"Atlantis is a little boring to be honest.. Life is kind of mundane here, but it's a necessary step to take to my final goal." She answered.

"Have you considered another way instead of murdering your sister?" I questioned clearly overstepping my bounds.

"No.. She must be punished for her sins.." She answered with pure contempt and determination.

"Im sorry you have such a horrible past." I replied in the hopes to comfort her.

"Thank you." She smiled at me, "Your group did very well holding that Demon in place, it was particularly very strong." She complimented us.

"You killed it in an instant though." I said to her remembering the scene vividly.

"Don't compare yourself to me.. I was trained at a very young age to fight with a sword.. And I was a high ranked member in the Thieves Guild." She answered casually like she's had a normal upbringing.

"Is this the first Demon you've ever slayed?" I questioned.

"Not at all.. I've sealed many demons and immortal beings, when Paul takes up a bounty or mission that requires my sword he normally requests me assistance." She smiled making me look at her in shock as how such a young girl is okay with such a life.

"Have you ever considered living a normal life?" I questioned.

"Maybe after I've avenged my family and nation." She answered with a smile staring into the sky imagining.

As we reached the infirmary Anna bid us all farewell and a speedy recovery. I starred at the young girl as she walked away finding life so unbelievable, how such a young girl has gone through so much grief and pain with one goal in life.

Chapter end