2 years later after the delivery.

"Think fast."
Rewind bonked me with a long wooden stick.

"OUCH-"
I fell backwards as I rubbed my back.

"Your timing needs work."
Rewind's clock handle ticked a bit faster.

I stood up on my feet quickly ready for another go.

Rewind quickly started trying to hit my back with the stick, I managed to dodge all of the moves before I tripped and got cornered to a wall. Rewind pointed the stick near my neck.

"And dead."
Rewind's clock hand ticked slowly.

He helped me up.

"Better."
Rewind patted my back.

"Again."
I blurted out.

"My,my.. are you sure? you've been bruised enough."
Rewind crossed his arms.

I nodded.

Rewind seemed amused as he started the sparring game again.

I fell on the ground once more, scraping my elbow a bit.

"Again."
I said again.

Rewind looked at me, by his hand fidgeting he seemed worried but nodded.

"OOF-"
I fell again.

"Dead."
Rewind said once more.

"AUGH-"
I fell again...

"Oof-!"
And again...

"Ouch-!"
And again...

I breathed heavily and tiredly.

"Ready for a break yet?"
Rewind's clock hand ticked quickly as he breathed heavily.

I shook my head.

"Alright."
Rewind tried to smack my head with the stick but I swiftly dodged it.

Rewind seemed surprised. But kept trying to hit me, he swung his stick to my feet, I jumped quickly dodging it again. Then he'd strike my body as I shuffled around dodging his moves once more. I managed to block some with my hands too parrying the move. Eventually Rewind managed to give a good whack on the nose as I fell down.

"Ow-"
I rubbed my cheeks which were now covered slightly with sweat.

"Are you alright? I didn't mean to hit you that hard."
Rewind hurried over to me.

"Yeah I'm fine."
I stood up rubbing my now bloody nose.

"Are you ready to take a break now?"
Rewind asked.

I nodded hesitantly.

"Good, I'll bring you some food."
Rewind left the room.

I followed Rewind into the living room, Rewind then separated ways to a different room, I sat down at the dining room's table and waited for my food.

Rewind came back with the fleshy red meat.

"Here, your favorite."
Rewind places the bowl down and hands me a fork.

I grabbed the fork and started to munch down on the meat.

"Tomorrow I need you to do a mission."
Rewind spoke as he cleaned the glass cups.

"Okay sure."
I shrugged, chugging down my water.

"I need you to clean the corpses that might appear tonight."
Rewind sighed.

I bit on the fork roughly.

"What?"
I looked at Rewind.

"You see...some murderous..demons will be coming. They have a knack for killing a bunch of people..."
Rewind fiddled with his sleeves.

"Don't worry I got it."
I reassured Rewind.

Hey, it's not the first time I've seen corpses. Then I realized Expurge has been awfully quiet ever since he came back to my mind.

Expurge you there?

No response.

I sighed heavily.

11:34 PM. Rewind's trading hub.

I watched the crowd of people in fancy dresses and suits come by, I waited for something to happen. Rewind kept reassuring me that I'll see corpses.

Yeah right.

"Pay up pal."
A raspy voice laughed.

I glanced at Rewind. Rewind nodded, giving me the signal that I can check it out. I walked slowly and calmly to the sound.

"I told you that's all I have."
A small colorful demon sighed.

"That's not how it works though."
A gray and red demon slammed their claws on the glass table.

"Yes it is."
The colorful demon stayed surprisingly calm unlike me, that demon is big and intimidating.

"Is that a challenge?"
The gray and red demon growled.

"Maybe it is Chivel."
The colorful demon stayed seated as a small drop of sweat dripped down from their face.

Chivel hissed at the colorful demon before whacking their face with their tail.the colorful demon fell down on the ground hard as the glass table also shattered.

I stared at them silently waiting for my move.

"Ouch..."
The colorful demon grumbled before Chivel grabbed the colorful demon's neck and held them up in the air.

"You better pay up you little brat."
Chivel growled, tightening their grip.

The colorful demon struggled a bit.

I stood there curling up my hand into a fist as it shook rapidly.

"C...Chivel..le..let go..!"
The colorful demon gasped for air.

"Then pay up Crepitate."
Chivel narrowed their eyes.

"STOP IT!"
I screamed tackling Chivel.

"oOf-!"
Chivel let go of Crepitate, as Crepitate fell to the ground sliding across the room.

I smashed into another glass table along with Chivel.

I rolled further into the crowd. I looked around to check the damage. I'm fine.. just a few scratches. I stood up as I saw Chivel glaring at me.

"I'LL GET YOU FOR THAT YOU RAT!"
Chivel spat.

"Eep-"
I stood up quickly running into the crowd as Chivel chased after me.

Chivel shoved tons of people, chairs, tables, and whatever was in their way.

I quickly ran towards a storage room and locked the doors behind me, I then sighed in relief. I leaned on the metal door tiredly.

Game. Hide.
Expurge whispered.

"Oh now you say something!?"
I exclaimed in my head.

Sorry.
Expurge sighed.

Then there was a pounding on the metal door, I quickly stood up and ran to hide.
I ran to a dark corner and jumped on the shelves blending into all the things on the shelf.

The door unlocked. Chivel entered the room with fury yet quietly.

My heart raced in fear.

Chivel looked through the room while sniffing the air.

"I know you're in here, pest. But you don't know what you're dealing with!
Crepitate is unpredictable."
Chivel growled as their tail scraped the ground with their key shaped like-tail.

Is that how they got in!?

Remember if the situation gets sticky you've got the defend card.
Expurge reminded me.

Okay.
I breathed heavily covering my mouth to stay quiet.

Chivel growled and whacked all the shelves down along with me.

I took out my defend card quickly and gripped it tightly as everything fell on me.

"There you are."
Chivel growled as they tried to grab me, I used the defend card quickly and slapped their claws away from me with my claws.

"What the-"
Chivel staggered back a bit.

"I'll give you a head start."
I cracked my neck.

Chivel paused for a moment and bolted out the door.

I chased Chivel but before I could do anything Rewind grabbed my claw.

"OW-"
I looked up at Rewind.

Rewind's clock hands were ticking fast.

"We are going to have a talk after you clean those corpses up."
Rewind pointed at 2 dead demons on the floor.

"Oh..."
I shrunk a bit as Expurge faded away.