Chapter 5

"Ma~ark!" Liz yelled/sung. I could hear her feet pounding down on the floor. Arisa chuckled up on the bed next to me as I continued to pretend to sleep. At that moment, sadly, she let go at my hand. I also felt slightly annoyed. Not at her, but at myself. What was I doing feeling sad about her letting go of my hand? I am practically a grown man feeling sad about something like that. Nonetheless, I couldn't help feeling sad about the 'something like that'.

I heard the door burst open and Liz's feet trying to tip-toe. I heard her jump, so I reached up and caught her. Pinning her to the floor I tickled her, and she squealed with laughter. Arisa's giggle only urged me on. Poor Liz didn't know what hit her. Arisa soon joined me. Eventually though, Liz's stomach growled, and we decided she's had enough torture for the day.

"Hey Mark," Arisa started as we walked to the kitchen, "are we going to stay here again for another night since what happened yesterday or..."

"Actually, that reminds me, where is the sword?"

"Same place you left it." She looked at me oddly as if I should have already known. "Obviously neither I nor Liz can pick it up."

"Huh? Why?"

She sighed, "Sometimes I forget you don't know too much about the demon world since you grew up with humans." She paused a bit before continuing, "Demon swords are as powerful as the ones who created it. Only others with demonic power as powerful or more so can lift it and use it, but only the creator can use it to their full potential."

It took me a while before I could even reply. My genius comment was, "huh?" She looked at me with a bit of pity in her eyes. Hell, I pitied myself! God, this is the second time I have felt so lost. The first time was the first five minutes after my mother died. After taking a deep breath I composed myself. This time, I swear I will take the same time.

1 minute.

"So, Liz can't lift it? Even if she has some of my blood in her?"

"Correct, the demonic power within her is not strong enough."

2 minutes.

"You've hacked their computer data base right? How many demons are powerful enough?"

"Well, with the old information, not that many. Maybe 5? The most. Although, you have successfully managed to enter into a different phase in-between your old 2nd and 3rd phase. Now you have done the impossible and created 4 phases in your demon form. Now I would say none...."

4 minutes.

"Lastly, does this... Change make either of you feel differently about me?" Both shook their heads.

5 minutes.

Done. Whatever I learn now will no longer shake me. Of that I am determined. With some new resolve in me I held my head higher.

"Hey Mark, you should make sure your human form wasn't damaged."

"Huh? Why would it be?"

"Well, they are linked aren't they? Your human and your demon form? So, since we don't know much, I think we should check. I mean your demon form changed, maybe your human one did too."

"Oh, alright." I shifted. The ground seemed a bit farther than I remember it did in this form. Normally I shrink down when I change back but this time I stayed about the same height. I could see the tips of my hair with my eyes. Huh, I guess my hair is longer too. I heard Arisa gasp. Huh? What's wrong? She looks a bit pale.

"Arisa?"

"Mark... You-... Your-... Your hair... And your eyes... You're taller... And... D-different...." She blushed. Huh?

"She means you look hotter." Liz said with a wide smirk on her face. Arisa blushed even more.

I started walking through the house in search of a mirror. In finding one, I couldn't hold back a gasp of my own. I looked entirely different. My once light brown hair was now a sleek black. And my dark green eyes were now an incredibly clear blue. My hair was longer, and it looked better like that. My skin was tanner than it was before, and I seemed more built.

Look, I didn't look bad. In fact, not to be gloating or a jerk or whatever but I looked pretty good before. My light brown hair looked good with my green eyes. And it is not like I was short or anything, and I wasn't a skinny stick either. I was kind of built, but I was leaner than anything else.

Now my eyes seemed to glow compared with the darkness of my black hair. My new built figure seemed to stand out more now that my skin was tanner. The fact that I was taller helped as well. I wonder why I changed so much....

"I have a theory..." Arisa said from behind me.

"Huh?"

"My theory on why your human side changed so much. I think the original had some of the demon side in it because you weren't at your full potential yet, so now that side is entirely human because your demon side is at its full potential now."

That surprisingly made some sense. A little. "So, in other words, now that the demon part of me is a big boy now, my human side is now how I was actually supposed to be if I had been fully human?"

"Precisely."

"Damn.... That's some theory...."

"I wonder if I am the same internally too..."

"Huh?" She seemed confused.

"Well before I was stronger and faster than most humans and stuff, so I wonder if that has changed too...." I walked up to her and lifted her up. Since I carried her before I think I could tell the difference. She seemed lighter than before. Maybe... I am stronger? After placing her down I ran a bit around the house. I feel faster too.... Wow.... This isn't normal, then again I am not really normal either.

"Mark I just have to say, you're amazing." Arisa mumbled.

"Th-thanks!... Umm... Anyway, let’s leave today still. Let's get ready." With that I left hiding my blushing face from her sight.

After repacking we set out for the next city. I am not sure if it was the changes to my body or just that my coat all of a sudden felt warmer, but the cold air around me didn't seem to bother me anymore. Before I had felt as though I was going to become a Marksicle, but now I even felt warm enough to think about taking off the coat. It was freaking snowing knee deep and I wanted to take off my coat! Sure, we were in the city, but it was still unsettling.

Anyway, Liz was back on my shoulders. Arisa kept close behind engaging Liz into conversation every once in a while. The people passing us either on the sidewalks or the streets looked at us oddly. It was not every day you see a bunch of kids walking on their own with backpacks. Especially in this weather. We continued on as if we didn't notice them giving us weird looks or avoiding us altogether.

Arisa stepped up closer to us. "Hey," she said in a low voice, barely above a whisper, "do they always give you guys weird looks?"

I leaned closer, "it is because of the packs. Normally the people here stay here in the local area. Not many people travel, it is even more so in this weather."

"Oh..."

"Also, they don't recognize Mark now. Normally people would be waving at Mark or stopping him to talk or ask him something, but they don't recognize him now.” Liz stated happily.

"Why would they stop Mark and ask him questions?"

"Because Mark is considered and upstanding citizen no matter where we go."

"And I would like for it to stay that way." I said while stepping up to Ms. Harper. I have often helped her out to fix her house in any weather. I understand why they don't recognize me, but I am still a little upset. I have helped them with their problems no matter what the weather or if I was pressed for time and now they treat me as though I am someone to be wary of.

"Hi Ms. Harper, it is me Mark." I said loud enough for others around me to hear.

"Mark?!? Oh, my I didn't recognize you at all, you've changed so much. I recognize your voice though.... Hey Mark, how did you change your eyes? You've obviously been working out and to a beach recently. And it seems you've dyed your hair but... Your eyes... How?"

As you can see, Ms. Harper is a talker. Well at least she gave me excuses for the others. "Contacts Ms. Harper. I got contacts."

"Oh, that makes sense!" Other people started coming up and talking to me and asking how I've been. People seemed less wary of us and happier that we were in town. My mood seemed to lift as well. Unlike most I don't get annoyed when people stop me to talk. To me it feels as though they see me as one of them and not just some monster. I doubt Liz or Arisa know I think that way, but I can't help it. Sometimes I just wish I were born as a normal human with no worries.

By the time less people were coming up to me I was in an amazing mood. News seemed to travel fast, more and more people saw me and called out to me.

"Liz, I know you said he was an upstanding citizen, but this is a bit crazy." Arisa commented shocked.

I turned to her smirking a bit, "I try." She smirked at me, showing me a look of playful annoyance. We finally made it out of the city.

"So where are we going?" Arisa asked.

The question reminded me of when we first met. I smirked. At that point I couldn't believe she jumped off the train with us, much less that she actually would still follow us after that. I didn't think we would ever trust her. Now that I think about it, it was only a few days ago. Four days. I was even starting to trust her little by little on the first day. I don't know why, but if I am honest with myself, I've trusted her from the beginning when she jumped off the train.

"Umm... To a city called Areligon."

"What's there?"

"Areligon?!?!" Liz practically shouted. Well, I saw this reaction coming. Trying to avoid the conversation, even though I knew it was pointless, I simply nodded.