Alicen slowly rode through the forest on her horse, Tug. The Ranger had her cloak on, cowl thrown over her head and very well keeping her face hidden. The young woman sighed and patted her horse on the neck affectionately. "We should reach the castle soon boy then I think you need a few apples for making this journey with me." The horse tossed his head in agreement with his master and seemed to increase his pace slightly, making the neko giggle at her now eager horse. After riding for a while more, the castle soon came into view and Alicen smiled as she clapped through the gates and into the courtyard. She swung down from the saddle and handed Tug's reins to a stable-hand, instructing the boy to make sure her horse was rubbed down and given some apples and oats. The young Ranger then looked around and noticed a large number of people were heading towards a part of the castle. She gently grabbed the arm of a man in passing and asked what was going on. "That demon is going on trial!" He exclaimed as she let him go in surprise and he hurried off. Confused and curious she followed silently behind him and slipped into the room quietly.

She moved through them until she could see yet still remain in the shadows. Alicen gazed curiously at the male on trial. Why he looked her age! What in the world could he have done to merit this kind of treatment? Alicen then remembered that the man from early had addressed him as a demon and her curiosity doubled. A demon? She wondered what he could have done to be convicted like this. Alicen remained silent and un-moving in the shadows, her cloak helping her stay unseen by the people in the room. Of course, anyone with sharp eyesight would be able to spot her if they were looking but it would be difficult as the girl kept still and didn't move a muscle.

Jason watched the massive amount of humans enter the room. He waited calmly, arms bound and being tied to a chair while the judge entered and stared down upon the demon. After the court was seated and everybody was watching, the boy decided to make his move. A small burst of hellfire appeared around his wrists and body as the ropes were destroyed. Letting a loud gasp of fear escape from the audience. The boy stood and stared around at each and every one of them.

"You all gasp at my ability, yet all I did was give myself a more... how do you humans put it?" The boy said with a low laugh "Humane treatment." He glared at the humans here. He was a warrior, and one who would be helping these creatures. Yet they all stared at him like he was a monster.

The judge, a great hulking man towered over Jason, glaring down at him. He waited a moment, just simply letting his stare bore into the boy. "Today we stand on trail for the accused Son of the Demon King. His kind have caused nothing but trouble for our kingdom and therefore every last one of them should be executed. As the son of the one causing all of this, it should be just and right for him to pay for his fathers sins." He made to go on however a small figure cloaked stepped forward, giving him pause. He glared at the person, angered that he was interrupted. "Is it not right for the accused to get a chance to plead his case?" The sound of the voice caught him off guard. It was a sweet, bell sound and he immediately recognized the speaker as female. He opened his mouth to spit out a scathing comment but her strange cloak finally registered in his mind. "Ranger, I command you to wait outside for the duration of this filth's trial." Whispers broke out into the room as the people stood on their toes to try and get a look at a King's Ranger. They were a mysterious bunch that kept mostly to themselves until the king had use for them. Alicen squared her shoulders, bright blue eyes glittering in the darkness of her cowl.

"I answer to the king General, not to you." The man let out a growl and drew his sword. "Look here wench, leave or you loose your head." He snarled. Alicen's hand shot to her bow as he took a menacing step forward and reached out to roughly grab her arm.

*

Jason watched the scene unfold, and he knew that the girl was trying to get him a chance to speak. Good. He'd rather not be tired from killing the humans when he fought his father. Then the judge called her wench, and the boy remebered the abuse his mother endured for him, the Human Princess being a captive. For some reason this enraged the boy to the point that a ball of Hellfire engulfed him, making him disappear then reappear directly in front of the judge. With the momentum from his Teleportation the boy hit the judge hard. Sending him flying backwards and away from the girl. The boy began slowly walking towards the judge, his sword appearing in his right hand and his cloak made of pure darkness appearing around him. "I came here in peace. You abused me. That was acceptable. I will not allow you to call the innocent girl a wench. Those who abuse women will die by hand." The boy growled, his voice seemed to growl from multiple places in the room as Hellfire accented his approach towards the judge.

Alicen let out a small gasp of surprise when the boy suddenly appeared in front of her and practically threw the man across the room. The people in the room let out screams as fire sprang up and they drew as far back against the way as they could. The judge was had been sitting there in a daze from the throw but as the demon began coming closer to him he whimpered and began scooting backwards as fast as he could. The great General Issac of the kingdom was now reduced to a sniveling pile at the feet of a boy forty years younger than him. Alicen quickly hurried forward and laid a gentle hand on Jason's arm. "Blood need not be split. It will spark fear and panic in the kingdom and they will not be willing to listen to you. I don't know why you turned yourself in but it must be for a cause and if you kill one of King Duncan's General's it will not exactly put you in his favor." She said in a quiet voice, trying to reason with the man. "Besides, he's not worth the effort." She moved her hand to rest against his that was holding the sword. "Please."

Jason glared at the girl stopping him. "These... For lack of a better word, Xenophobic beings refuse to listen to me anyway. That man was going to abuse you, he deserves to die." Jason says, though his fire did die away. His attention fixed on the general whimpering at his feet. "Where is your high and mighty attitude now? You represent the worst your species has to offer. Now go." The boy says, adding a growl at the end to make the General run off like a little baby. Jason turned to those looking on. "If you wish for a peaceful trial then so be it. But give me a judge who has not decided my fate before I even utter a word."

Alicen sensed the people behind her cowering back at the force of his glare even though it wasn't directed at them but Alicen stayed firm and stared back at him from under her cowl, tipping her head back in order to look up at him. "They refuse to listen because they are scared. Give them a reason not to be. If you want to achieve your goal it would be through threatening and terrorizing people." She answered in a calm voice. "And I am no stranger to abuse. It comes with my job as a Ranger." Alicen watched as the General booked it from the room and she sighed. The king would hear about this but she had hopes he would see that Jason himself was being abuse by not being given a right to speak. The sound of foot steps approached them and Alicen turned, seeing the king standing there. Alicen straightened and saluted, her left hand going behind her back, her right forming a fist that was curled sideways at the wrist and pressed against her heart.

Jason watched the King enter and knelt, giving the king the common courtesy that royalty deserved inside their own country. The man looked over the two and pat Alicen on the head, Scratching behind her ears. "So this is the Demon that sent my most fearsome general running like a little boy. Spare me the story, I don't care. I want you to convince me that I can trust you within my city." The man said.

Alicen smiled up at the king as he petted her ears. After Halt passed Duncan had taken Alicen in and gave her a job as a Ranger. Alicen considered telling him her findings of her scouting mission but decided it could wait until later; there were more pressing matters to be dealt with. She pulled down the rest of her cowl, revealing long dark blue hair and furry triangles atop her head. She left her cloak on however, hiding her wings seeing as people grew uneasy in the presence of a hybrid.

Jason looked at the girl then back to the king. "We both know words will never truly convince you. Somebody will have to vouch for my behavior. And by the way, It would appear that you have fallen Ill to my father's weapon"

Alicen looked up at the king. "Your Majesty, it would be my honor to vouch for him. I do see darkness in him but there is also good as well that counteracts it." She said with a glance at Jason. His neck words froze her in place and she looked at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean? The darkness has taken him?" She asked in a quiet voice.

The king leaned over to the girl and whispered "That was going to be your next mission. Find a cure for me. The darkness is only in its early stages so I can still manage. I guess the demon will have to go with you." The king nodded at the girl before briskly leaving the room, obviously not wanting to answer questions about the boy's statement. Jason looked around as people filed out of the room. "So I guess you're my babysitter now." Jason said.

Alicen watched the king walk out with worry in her eyes before turning to look at Jason. "It more for appearances than anything. Yes, I am to keep an eye on you but just as well people won't question you too much if they see you with a Ranger than they would if you were by yourself." She tilted her head to the side as she gazed at him curiously. "So, care you tell me why you went to such great lengths to turn yourself in?"

Jason shrugged. "I came across one of their patrols and they started yelling at me to surrender. I need to conserve my strength for when I fight my father, so I decided not to kill them and let them take me prisoner." The boy says to the girl, even now Jason could feel the cold stares of the people leaving the room staring fall upon him, hating him for the fact he was born to a demon.

Alicen looked at the people hovering by the door, possibly trying to hear what they were saying. When they saw she was looking at them the rest of the people left the room. Alicen motioned for Jason to follow her as she exited the building. She gave a few orders to some servants to prepare provisions for their journal as she headed for the stables. "So you plan to fight your father and stop the darkness? That will not be an easy feat to be sure." She said as she approached her horse. She smiled slightly, giving Tug a pat on the head. "You won't be going on this adventure this time my friend." She murmured to him. He saw there was someone standing behind his mistress and bobbed his head in greeting while letting out a soft nicker. Alicen continued to pet Tug as she gave him an apple. "Seeing as the tress will be too compact to maneuver through on horses we will be going on foot. It's best to stay off the main roads for now to draw the least amount of attention."

"When you travel with one who is hunted by the best that the demons can throw at us, you will learn that the main roads may very well be the safest. Demons have moved 5 heir empire into the overworld. And they own the forests." Jason says calmly to Alicen. Although he was keeping his distance from the girl still

"I have just been from the main roads. What's not completely taken over by bandits has become set up with road blocks. With a Ranger or not they will not allow a demon through alive. Yes, I know you can take them but it won't exactly help your quest if people are too terrified to come near you and shoot first and ask questions later. It is best to remain unseen. Fear has spread throughout the land and a demon traipsing down the main road will not exactly bring joy." She answered as she exited the stables. A servant hurried over and stated that everything was ready to depart.

Jason looked at the neko. "I can Teleportation past the roadblocks. Trust me, in the forest we will pretty much be constantly fighting the forces that hunt me." He said softly, then looked into her eyes. "Besides most should know to get out of a demon prince's way"

Alicen gave a delicate shrug of her shoulders. "It's your quest, I'm just here to make sure you behave and are unimpeded on your journey." She said. "So, since you're dead set on the main roads would you want to go on foot or by horse? Either way is fine with me." They were each handed a pack with rations, a bed roll, flint, a canteen and other things they might need on their way. "Well, are you ready?" She asked.