Free Devil Ash Days (Devil Ash Saga) by Mitchell Olson

my vision is perfect again,” he said. Suddenly, Ash realized something: Goddard said Devil eyes were perfect, but if that were the case, then why did he wear glasses?
    “If devils have perfect eyesight, then why do you wear glasses? Are they just for looks?”
    Goddard actually stopped his writing for a moment and looked up, though not directly at Ash. “I read a lot of books.”
    “It must take a lot of reading to wear down devil eyes.”
    “Every day, for over two hundred years,” said Goddard. “Most of which is done by dim candle light.” Ash was in awe. First at the sheer age of Goddard, and then at how intelligent he must be. The amount of knowledge he must have gained was more than Ash could hope to achieve in his lifetime. “I believe I’m the only devil to have ever done that,” Goddard added, as if what he had just said was no big deal. “Ah, your guide is approaching.”
    “What? How can you tell?” Ash asked, stunned.
    “Do not say anything stupid,” Goddard said, ignoring Ash’s question. He paused for a second thinking about it, and changed his mind: “Just don't speak at all.”
    The door swung open without warning and a girl in crimson armor walked in. Her hair, tied back in a ponytail, was the brightest shade of red Ash had ever seen. She glanced around the room from Goddard, to Ash, then back to Goddard.
    “You must be kidding!” she said.
    Goddard stood to greet her, and Ash followed his lead.
    “Lady Shiva, welcome,” he said.
    Lady Shiva wore armor similar to the guards that Ash saw earlier, except hers was newer-looking. Polished, without a scratch. Maybe even unused. Her bright red hair made her dull, crimson armor look bland by comparison. Her boots and gloves were far more elegant-looking than the simple leather equipment of the guards though.
    “ That’s the boy I saw sleeping in the holding cell,” Shiva said, motioning to Ash with her eyes. “I checked him out already. He looks pathetic.”
    Ash stood there in his torn clothes, a dopey look on his face wondering what exactly Shiva meant by checked him out already .
    “I assure you, Lady Shiva, he is quite pathetic,” said Goddard.
    “Hey!” Ash said, feeling insulted.
    “You can’t be serious!” Shiva said, still not wanting to believe whatever it was that she had been told. “I have better things to do with my time! What if I refuse?” she asked, staring stone-faced at Goddard.
    “Your father would be very disappointed in you, wouldn’t he?” Goddard said with a hint of superiority in his voice. Ash could tell from the look on Shiva’s face that was something she didn’t want to happen.
    “Right. I will carry out my orders.” She quickly changed her tone as well. “So what exactly do you want from me?”
    “I would like for you to take the boy out and show him the city. Why don’t you take him by Gio’s and fetch him some new clothes as well?” Ash was surprised and pleased to hear this part. He could really go for some new clothes, since his were torn, not to mention full of dirt and blood.
    “I have an address for you, as well.” Goddard scribbled something down on another piece of paper, tore it off and then handed it to the girl. “Give that to Gio for the delivery,” he instructed her.
    “Anything else?” s he asked. “Do I need to hold his hand on the way so he doesn’t get lost or seperated?”
    “After you take him to Gio’s, your next assignment is to assess his basic combat skills. I saw him perform against some lesser demons, but I’d like to see what he can do against a competent opponent.”
    Shiva smiled. “Right then! Let’s get going!” Suddenly she was all smiles and raring to go. Ash didn’t like her sudden mood change at the mention of ‘testing his combat abilities’. He got the feeling that would only mean more pain for him. Though he wondered, how tough could this girl actually be?
    Little was said as Ash followed behind Shiva. The hall was a winding labyrinth of