The Demon’s Bride

Standing beside Ian, Elise watch him performing how to use the gun. Ian had used one hand to shoot, pulling the trigger for a very loud sound to rang, alarming some nearby small animals that ran upon the sound.

Her blue eyes stopped at the tree that was now hollow when the bullet hits the bark of the tree, causing a large cavity. Elise pulled down her hands that covered her ears as Ian had told her to. She didn't dare to imagine how impactful the pistol would if Ian hadn't aimed it toward the tree but instead a person. 

"There, it looks easy, doesn't it?" Ian smiled upon watching the fascination and surprise that danced on Elise's eyes, taking her first experience to his mind.

"But it wouldn't be easy to use," Elise answered for Ian to give her a nod with his smile raising

"Compared to other pistols, this is the latest model with the least deafening sound, but it's still loud as expected," hummed Ian, taking the pistol nearer, his red eyes begin to scrutinize the gun's handle that was made out of wood where a pattern of Rose was carved as he had instructed. "But it's quite light. How do you find the pistol so far?"

Elise took the pistol to her hands, affirming Ian's words about how light the pistol was that had her wonder how could such a small and light pistol to have a such a massive fire force. "It's very powerful and a good aid if I were to meet a formidable enemy. But they have time consumption as it could only be fire if I have bullets. Also it is very loud and could gather unwanted attention."

"Correct," Ian answered with a proud smile to Elise's thorough study, "It's good that you keep the two disadvantages on your mind. Some times disadvantages could even turn to advantage," Ian gave her a little lesson that she could tell to come from his experience. "Use the pistol every time you think you need it and don overexert your ability."

Elise nodded, feeling his hand surrounding her waist in a comfortable silence. "Now let's find some animals to hunt," and Elise nodded to his suggestion. They left the place and the stallion gallop through the forest.

Soft breeze brushes Elise's face. She was happy that she got to leave the castle once in a while. While the only place she felt home and at peace was in the castle, beside Ian; taking break outside was a breath of fresh air, releasing from tensions and stress that occupied the corner of her mind while she was unaware of it.

Elise decided to release everything in her mind, letting herself to enjoy the calm air and the way the wind comb through her hair. The constant touch of Ian's arm around her waist had her lips curl in a giddy smile. Elise had never guessed she would ever experience a day like this and now that fate had given her the opportunity, she decided to enjoy every second she shared with Ian.

The horse's hooves clip-clop and suddenly lowered its pace. Ian's voice whisper next to her ears, "There it is, a deer."

Elise's eyes moved all over the tree, finding the deer that were eating grass in the empty spot where trees circled around the place. "Tell me how do you always hunt with your father?" Ian asked, interested to know the side of Elise he hadn't seen. 

"I used a bow and arrow. My father was a great archer, he hunted a boar alone in the past," Elise said with a nostalgic expression as memories washed over her for a brief moment. 

"We can visit them after this," Ian tendered a sudden suggestion, surprising Elise and she looked at him with her eyes glittering, "Of course I won't hold you back from visiting your parents and coincidentally we are in Runalia. It has been long since you meet them," and Elise agreed with his words, it indeed had been long. She had been broken with their deaths and due to Ian, the pain in her ease in a count of months. She was thankful for his presence that always like a gentle rain, washing her over with the soft raindrops and grant her a rainbow when it let up.

"But let's make this a little exciting," Ian propose. His hand took ahold of hers and began to fold her finger to hold the trigger, "If you manage to shot one animal, I can grant you an additional prize other than visiting your family's graves."

Elise wondered what the prize was, but she could tell it would be something very pleasant for her efforts. Excited by the prize, Elise nodded her head and carefully aim the barrel over the deer who was eating the grass. But open looking closer, Elise noticed that the deer was still young. In the past when she hunted, she had only hunt animals like board and never deer. Seeing the young deer, a hesitation come over Elise's fingers.

"Relax you shoulders," came Ian's voice beside her ears, and he wrapped his arms over her body, getting even closer that had Elise to gulp, "More," Ian instructed, pressing his hands on her tense shoulders and chuckled amused when he noticed how Elise's cheeks turning pink at his words. 

"What are you doing?" Ian continue to whisper on the shell of her ears. Seeing how hard Elise tried not to be distracted by his voice only beckon him to do more and urge her, "Concentrate on my hand," Ian said, his words dramatically suggestive. Elise's toes inside her boots curl by his words, hearing his breathings, she could also imagine his heartbeat even though she couldn't feel it actually beating, only realizing the pit-a-pat sound was of her own heartbeat. 

"Elise?" Ian called her a bit louder, and felt how her eyes dewy eyes widening. "If you cannot focus, here you will make it harder for me...to teach you."

"I-I was thinking of something else," Elise blurted out an excuse, not knowing that her excuse only turn to a confession. Setting aside Ian's devilish temptation, she focused on her pistol which was more important now. 

"Steadier," Ian said when he noticed Elise's arm shakes a little. Elise followed his instruction, relaxing her shoulders, and place more pressure on her wrist and forearm. Ian wrapped his arm over her to give her a good example, seeing how Elise had got it, his smile widened, "That's the way. You are a good student. What's left for you is to pull the trigger and brace for the impact here," and Ian settled his chin on her shoulders, humming in recognition when Elise was able to fully grasp what he told her to.

Ian then let go of her hands, only supporting her from behind to let Elise take over, "You can pull the trigger any time soon, similar to when you aim using a bow."

She nodded over his instruction, her blue eyes narrowed as she stared at the young deer who was her target, but before she pulled the trigger, Elise moved her aim, letting the bullet to shoot the large predator that had been hiding in the bushes, wanting to attack the deer without knowing of another hunter's presence.

The loud bang echoed again on the forest floor, Elise's eyes snapped open when she felt the pressure pushed her shoulders behind. She quickly move to look at the result of her aim, seeing the young deer sprint from the loud sound and a large tiger fell on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood.

In time, she also heard Ian's silver voice chiming, "Great job, you did it. A tiger on your first hunt, you are a genius."

"I was lucky," Elise answered, but couldn't help to smile from his high praise. Ian only praise people when he meant his words, unlike others, he stay true with what he comments, not caring whether it would be offensive and that only weighed more how difficult it is to get his praise.

"Do you want to hunt any longer?" Ian asked her, he knew she must have a pretty hard time to make her mind and kill the defenseless animals.

"I think I will try the pistol in the castle," Elise answered, and she saw Ian pulling a knot on his forehead. Wondering if she had said something wrong, she then heard him ask.

"Do you mean you want to try killing the servants as your exercise? I might need a larger castle to cover up the body," Ian hummed with a thoughtful look as if he was truly giving a thought on doing so.

"No!" Elise stopped him who seem to have made a list of which servants to use for a dangerous practice routine. What did she say that make him think so? "I mean, I will try shooting something else to hone my aim, like how I train to use bow and arrow with apples."

"Ah, a shame," Ian then shrugged his shoulders. Elise wasn't sure what was a shame by not killing a person and shook her head. Though she might have understand the difference in morals she shared with Ian, she still could not wrap her mind around his dark taste in humor. "Then let's get back," He then announced, pulling the rein of the horse and with one kick they began to gallop back to the open ground.

On their way back, Elise noticed how there was no horse near them, wondering why when a loud whooshing and clacking sound came from her left side. Due to how her hearings had got much sharper, Elise could hear the distinct sound even though she was far from the place. At time, Ian had also stopped the horse.

"Someone is fighting," Elise said and Ian nodded. Without a moment of pause, he pulled the rein and had the horse to change its path, going to where they had heard the sound came from.

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A/N: Today update will only be a single chapter because I am terribly ill. I am sorry everyone, I will try to regain my health soon. Don't forget to support the author by power stones^^