D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

— Kat —

*I now know more about running a town then I ever thought I would. I also feel like I know half the residents.* Kat commented mentally as they started to enter the town hall. It was a large tree in the centre of town. Not as large as the big ones surrounding the town, but easily the next largest. The main foyer was simply a big open area, though the space wasn’t as large as it seemed.

A large chunk of the space was taken up by the extra thick walls that supported the space. It was a good thing they’d stabled the horse outside, no way would the horse make it up the stairs.

[Yeah I have to agree that this is a bit much. I mean… I do love hearing about this sort of stuff but I can’t say I wanted to know that Mrs Grm moved in two years ago and likes to shovel her pet dogs shit into her neighbours yard just because it pissing him off. I mean, yes Stphn knows a lot about the town and is clearly passionate but…]

Kat grimaced slightly as Lily trailed off. It really was a bit much. Kamiko’s eyes had glazed over already and though Hunter looked the same as always Kat got the distinct impression she’d stopped caring about the conversation long ago.

“… so we’re heading up to my place, or well OUR place. My wife’s sleeping right now because she’s on night watch at the moment. Normally I wouldn’t wake her up because of all the attacks we had recently but she DID say she wanted to by there to meet you in person and honestly?

Not to make it seem like we’re kicking you out but we’d really like you to head out and deal with whatever it is,” continued Stphn.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to hear some tales about other world or maybe some other jobs you’ve done here. If you’re allowed to talk about it? Oh wait, that wasn’t what I was saying. The drake! This can’t be a normal drake.

I know what those are like. Watched the wife take a few down when we were more adventurous and had a few more old friends around. I should tell you about it sometime,” *PLEASE DON’T!* screamed Kat mentally at Stphn’s offer. “But yeah this CAN’T just be drake. I know that much.

“Not sure if I’m meant to know more. Probably to prevent a panic really but it would be nice if I DID know what it was. I could prepare some better defences you know? Did I tell you I built this whole town? Of course I did. Well, that would be a lie if I did, pretty sure I did, but my wife helped you know!

Did all of the pathways, and I guess a lot of the money we poured into this place at the start was money she earned from jobs.

“That’s how we did it you know,” Stphn was just outside of a door that said ‘Mayor’s House Door. Knock at your own Peril’ and the group was really hoping that Stphn would just… STOP soon. “I’d work here, clean up the land a lot.

Move around the trees,” Stphn pushed the door open, “while Mry went and did jobs, got the seeds needed for the biggest trees, as well as those fancy fountains your saw around. Ended up doing a lot of the planning as well actually,”

Stphn’s home was nice but it was hard to enjoy it at the moment. Most of the furniture looked to have been grown out of the floor or ceiling especially the lounge chairs and the kitchen cupboards and tables. Kat was a bit curious about the fireplace, which seemed to contain a dimly glowing plant with red leaves but notably no stone. “This is just our sleeping quarters really.

Got a bunch of workshops throughout the tree and an observation platform and all sorts of stuff. This is just where we sleep and sometimes eat,”

Stphn paused outside on of the three doors and seemed to think for a moment. He actually stopped talking. Just for a bit, but it was a refreshing thirty seconds. Kat was willing to call that a miracle. “Hmm… you mind just waiting out here? My wife likes to sleep naked and I just realised it’s probably not appropriate for me to invite you all in for that.

I mean, we get up to some fun stuff occasionally but with the monster attacks now really isn’t the time…”

Kat REALLY didn’t want to know. “That’s fine take you time, please,” said Kat through gritted teeth. She almost felt guilty when Stphn beamed at her while opening the door and slipping inside of what had to be the bedroom.

As soon he was gone Hunter just sort of vanished. Kat found herself almost agreeing with that course of action and just let it be. Lily snuggled deeper into Kat’s arms while Kamiko sheepishly made her way over. Eventually Kat just pulled the pink haired demon closer with her tail so they could share I the cuddle pile. “Yeah it was a bit much wasn’t it?” whispered Kat not wanting to be overheard.

Though if she was? Too bad.

After hugging for a while they moved over to one of the couches. Lily decided to remain as a cat. No sense scaring their hosts with an extra person showing up if they didn’t know what she was. Hunter also reappeared at some point. She laid herself out behind and around the couch.

Kat almost asked if she’d like a spot on the couch… but there was plenty of free seats and two free couches so it seemed like a silly question.

Eventually Stphn and Mry came out of the bedroom. Mry looked dead on her feet. Apparently even when you have scales instead of skin you can still get bags under your eyes, in fact its worse because the scales noticeable shift underneath your eyes. The two took a spot on the couch before Stphn smiled, and of course, went back to talking.

“So this is my wife, say high,” Mry waved, “She can’t talk I’m afraid. Learnt sign language just to speak with her when I was younger actually!

“Turns out it was a waste of time. She’s mute not deaf and didn’t actually know any sign language. Whoooo boi was that an awkward half of a conversation. I tried asking her out with sign language and she thought I was having a seizure. Which, ok fair I’m still not the best at sign language but I don’t regret it! She married me in the end so I’d still say I came out on top!”

Mry rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. Meanwhile Kat was panicking a bit. *Shit! His wife isn’t going to reign him in at all! I thought she might take control of the conversation and direct it properly but she probably just lets him talk enough for both of them! This is… not ideal.* Your journey continues at

[Eh, at least we don’t have to stick around too long if we don’t want to. Besides, he’s kind of like an overexcited puppy.]

*Yeah well I’ve been feeling like a cat person for quite a while at this point. That feeling is getting stronger.*

“I know I shouldn’t go on too long about how great my wife works so I suppose we can save that for when we sit down for a meal. I mean, it is getting late in the day so I’m assuming you’ll stay here for the night. And probably leave your horse here? That part wasn’t clear so we can sort that out as well.

Let’s start with the papers… the papers that are…” Stphn trailed off a bit as Mry got up and pulled open a drawer nearby revealing official looking documents. “Ah yes thank you Mry what would I do without you?”

“So those are your official papers. Not really sure if they’ll help you much or not. It’s got all the info the church has on the issue but I haven’t looked into it because, well remember this is private land so I’m only sort of technically the mayor and not really nobility so it could get me in a whole bunch of trouble…” Stphn trailed off when Mry tapped him on the shoulder.

“We got recognition from the kingdom last year remember?” signed Mry. Apparently Stphn had taught her sign language… and apparently Kat’s abilities let her ‘hear’ it. It was a very strange sensation, and hear was probably the wrong word but she did know what was being said.

“Oh, right right… we did get that didn’t we? Still doesn’t feel real so hopefully you can forgive me. Um… hmm… well that’s sort of disrupted my flow? I don’t know what I can really tell you that we didn’t report to the church. Well no I can tell you about what’s just recently been happening? Yes well you’ve probably noticed all the monsters…” Stphn was talking again.

It was going to be a long conversation.