Donovan pulled a distressed Charla by the hand, passing stalls of food and clothing. Despite the temptation they held, His focus was on a single objective. He looked around and felt a sense of familiarity with the road. Looking at the wooden signs hung on the stone building, Donovan could tell he was getting closer.
"We should be close now." Donovan pulled his map from his bag to pinpoint their location. "I'm glad what Cyrus said about those towers was right. Otherwise, we would've been on those roads for a lot longer. Hmm… Yeah. By the looks of it, we're not too far now."
Donovan stored the map back in his bag and checked on Charla. "She still looks a little out of it..."
"Hey, Charla," Donovan called.
Charla jolted up and saw Donovan gesturing to follow.
"We're not too far now, so stay close." He said.
"D... Donovan..." Charla reached out to him, but stopped, realizing the futility of the effort. She frowned as she felt the pull of the crest's invisible string that led and dissuaded her. With a heavy heart, she followed like the perfect servant the crest sought her to be.
As they finally reached the corner of the inn's street, Donovan came to a quick stop, suddenly seeing Zelak and Bretta turned onto their road.
Donovan raised a brow. "Z... Zelak?"
"
Donovan eyed Bretta, who looked tired.
Curious by the sudden stop, Bretta gazed up with an unreadable expression. She looked from Donovan to Zelak.
Zelak exhaled and spoke in a hushed tone. "Bjorn was where you two were. You should get to the inn before he wakes the champion from her nap."
Donovan nodded, and his tone. "Right. Sorry about that. Charla and I were... Stuck, so to speak."
"Heh. Finally gave in to her carnal desires."
"N-no!! We found Cyrus- Sorry, no, he found us. Long story short, we have what we came for. It's just going to take a couple of days for Bjorn to be fully healed, according to Cyrus."
"I see…" Zelak then turned to Charla, seeing her depressed state. "
Charla cringed, then glanced at Zelak silently before averting her gaze entirely.
"Zelak…" Beretta called.
'
"W-wait! There was a massacre just recently, so be careful."
Zelak waved off Donovan's concern and walked on.
Donovan sighed. "Alright, let's keep going."
They continued to the inn with Charla, eventually reaching its entrance. "We're finally back," Donovan said. He opened the door to a busy atmosphere of demons, startling him. "What the heck?"
"Donovan?" Bjorn said. "I was wondering where you were. What took you so long!"
Donovan eyed Bjorm in the back, past the Many demons, Succubi, and other demon women, who were drinking and joking with each other.
Donovan, growing nervous, shimmied past the men of the table, but upon nearing a woman, his stutters exploded. The woman, noticing this, giggled at him and made crude jokes in their native language.
Charla grumbled at the attention but continued past the patrons until they met with Bjorn, hiding in plain sight among the guests.
Donovan pulled a vial wrapped in a cloth. He unfurled a part of the cloth, unveiling its golden contents.
Bjorn grunted and darted his eyes to a separate chair on another table. "Grab that. And sit."
Donovan listened and sat in front of Bjorn.
"So, where did you find him?"
"He actually found us, believe it or not." Donovan unfurled the vial and handed it to Bjorn. "He helped us out of a tough spot. He's a little bit weird for a demon, but he doesn't seem to be a bad guy… I think. He let me and Charla stay at his place for the night."
Bjorn looked at Donovan curiously. "Is that so?" He uncorked the vial and drank its contents. "I don't feel any different."
"He said that the effects won't fully take place for a couple of days."
"Bah!" Bjorn tossed the glass vial to the side. "So where is he? I need to talk to him."
"I can't say for certain, but I think he's in the city's lower levels."
"Damn snake."
Curious Donovan leaned back in his chair. "So what is it that you needed to talk to him about?"
Bjorn closed his eyes, pondering. "That's between me and him." He sighed. "If you see him again, tell him I want to see him personally.
"U-uh… Sure…"
"I think I'd prefer to stay here if I'm being honest…" Donovan Thought.
"Bjorn…" Charla suddenly called.
Bjorn Eyed Charla, surprised to hear her.
"
"
"
Unexpectedly, Charla began to shake, her breathing shallowing, and tears welled in her eyes.
"Ch-Charla? Are you okay?" Donovan saw as Charla became pale.
Charla glanced at Donovan, and before he knew, she darted away, outside the inn. Patrons watched, some laughing, as others curiously pondered her departure.
"Ch-Charla!?" Donovan called. "What the heck was that about?"
"That's the first I think I've seen a succubus run off like that. What did you do?"
"I-I didn't do anything!!" Donovan raised his arms in defense. "B-but… She seems to have been like this since yesterday. I tried to cheer her up a little by letting her hold my hand. And that seemed to work. But when we left Cyrus's home, she…. Well… Sometimes I wish I knew what you demons were saying."
"There's no point in agonizing about it now. By the looks of it, it seems she was panicking if I had to guess. Not being able to bed you getting to her. Especially since we'll be leaving Zelak and Charla behind once our business here is done."
"You think so?"
"You can feel sorry all you want for her, but don't forget, a Succubus only wants one thing. And they will do whatever it takes to get what they want."
"Y-yeah, you're probably right. She probably knows that once Zelak has her contract, she'll be unable to follow."
"Exactly. There's no reason to get involved in the whims of a succubus. But with that being said, she'll have to come to terms with not having you."
"Yeah." Donovan looked back, still unsure. "By the way, do you know where all my stuff is by chance?"
"Zelak put them in the room you'll be staying in." Bjorn pointed to a line of doors. "The door on the furthest right is where you're staying."
"Got it, thanks!" Donovan stood, leaving Bjorn.
"Hold it. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to stay in my room and tinker with my stuff."
"Tinkering?"
"Yeah. Since we're going to be here for a while, I might as well use the spare time to fix my pipe. No better time than the present. , y'know." Without another word, Donovan entered his room, leaving Bjorn to himself.
Bjorn Sighed.
Falaz, now freed, brought Bjorn a huge mug of his ale. "
Bjorn took the mug and gulped down some of its contents. "
"
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Falaz pushed Bjorn's arm. "
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"
'
"
"
********
Zelak, with Bretta in his arms, traversed the widening road, scooting past active carts traveling up and down the road. From the road, they slowly shifted to its left side as they approached a wide open stone bridge.
"
Bretta slowly lifted her head, finding that they were now on the bridge. As they reached the center, they stopped and turned to a wide open lake that was as vast as the ocean.
"
"Yes. It's just as you said…" Zelak pointed with his fingers to the distant town at the crack of the lake. "Over there. That's your home. And this is the bridge that stood at the base of the king's castle."
Beretta led herself away from Zelak, drawing closer to the bridge railing. And with a deepening awe, she locked her gaze on the horizon before them.
"
"Zelak." A woman called.
Zelak glanced back, discovering a Succubus with long black hair and sharp eyes. He drew a slave symbol on her chest, and as she quietly approached and looked over the pit's natural beauty. "
"
"
The succubus pulled a black flower from her chest, handing it to him. Beretta glanced at Zelak and the succubus. "Zelak?"
Zelak gazed sternly at the flower, surprised. He forced a smile and handed it to Bretta. "
Beretta took the flower, admiring its subtle beauty.
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""
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Beretta shook her head.
"
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"
Zelak quickly glanced back, but by then, the succubus had already left. "Hmmm…." He turned back to the lake, now understanding his new mission.
********
"
Stone walls meant to stand for centuries bore the scars of war and long-forgotten symbols of their ancestors. Beyond those ruined walls, Rakon and his guards could glimpse the shattered remains of the desolate city. One that had fallen victim to the endless wars wrought in the lands.
Standing tall above it all was an ancient castle carved into the walls of the pit like an old masterpiece. A masterpiece that had lost its value from the cracks and broken pieces that rendered it unlivable. Despite this, the guards marveled at the city and castle.
"
Rakon glanced at the guard. "
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Rakon rolled his eyes. "
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"
As they approached the main gate of the destroyed city, Rakon caught sight of a short red demon maid in the distance, waiting at the entrance.
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The red-skinned woman had long black hair and short horns that poked out from beneath her bangs, which nearly reached her eyes. She smiled and bowed warmly in her maid's uniform as they reached the entrance. "
Without batting an eye, Rakon walked past the women. "
Although surprised, the maid, Teyv, and Rakon's men kept by his side. "
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Teyv bowed her head. "
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Rakon ceased. Everyone quickly followed suit, feeling a tension in the air.
"
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" " The maids and other servants scurried to their posts.
********
Rakon slammed the rock wall with his fists. Pebbles crumbled from the wall, and she pulled his clenched fist. "Even now, she tests my patients," He blurted, chuckling. "But I suppose that's what makes her so entertaining."
A surge of pain, followed by the black veins, erupted all over Rakon's body. He winced and reeled, coping with the pain. Slowly, his veins receded, and the pain dissipated. Leaving Rakon to catch his breath from the painful ordeal." Th-the sooner she becomes my slave, the quicker I can erase that day from her and finally obtain the power of that cor"'
More determined, Rakon pulled his office door open, unveiling the plethora of materials at his disposal. From Leather to ink, down to the very quills he could use."
"Hide all you want, Kalika. But in the end, I'll find you like I always do."