Kalika slowly opened her eyes, finding a familiar stone ceiling. She scanned the room around, discovering the newly dilapidated state it was in, with stone rubble crumbling from the windows, and part of the ceiling cracked with a small holes above. Slowly picked herself up, tired and confused. "When did I…"
Her eyes quickly caught sight of the poorly stitched fur clothes that Donovan had once made, covered in some stone rubble. She stepped away from the bed and cleared the rubble, and took the black furred cape in hand.
She sighed, disappointed at the sight of a clear rip in it. Memories of the night's events quickly resurfaced in her mind. Of the death, the betrayal, and the connection she lost, even of the revelations she wished to forget. She scrunched the cape in her hand and grimaced at it with a newfound clarity.
Suddenly, a loud bang erupted from outside the door, followed by a loud scolding. Curious, she placed aside the cape and approached her door, opening it.
A loud slam echoed from across the destroyed Inn, and the sound of placing and moving stone. "What the…"
Peering right, Kalika saw several demons moving rubble and reconstructing the wall with the use of earth magic. "What the heck happened to this place?" Scanning the room, rubble-filled inn, she found Bjorn and Zelak drinking at the bar and Charla, sleeping by another door.
The short red demon, Falaz, pushed out of his kitchen and presented slices of glazed meat charred with fire. The aroma filled that air tempting even the demons reconstructing the the inn wall.
"
"
"
His men nodded and rushed to pay Falaz as Bjorn and Zelak quietly ate.
"Give me some, too," Kalika said.
Falaz and everyone turned to Kalika at once, all eyes glued to her.
Falaz narrowed his eyes, gazing at Kalika."
"
Falaz rolled his eyes and turned back into the kitchen with his pouch of crystal.
Ignoring Falaz, Kalika joined Bjorn and Zelak. "So… Where's Donovan?"
"Him? He's sleeping." Bjorn pointed behind them, revealing an open door where Charla slept. Inside, Donovan slept soundly. "When you have the time, you should thank him. If it wasn't for him, things could've turned out much differently."
"Is that so…" Kalika turned his gaze to the table she leaned on. Curious by Zelak's' quiet, Kalika glanced his way, seeing him lost in thought. "Hey Zelak…How… How are those babies of yours?"
Zelak tensed. "They're… fine. Right now they're sleeping on their mother. They have to stay with her for a few days before we can separate them. But after that… They should be fine."
"Do they have names?"
Zelak glanced back, surprised by the question.
"We don't name our newborn," Bjorn explained. "They only receive a name once they prove themselves."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. There is no point in naming a child when you don't know if they'll truly survive. Especially here in the pit." Bjorn took his mug and gulped down a huge portion of his drink.
"Doesn't that mean Zelak will never know their names?"
"Yes. champion… That's exactly what that means… But as long as I know that they live, that's all that matters to me."
"You demons are weird. You know that, right."
"Your one to talk" Bjorn retorted
Suddenly, a ruckus erupted outside. Workers complained as a number of city guards pushed through, fighting with other guards.
"
"What's all that about?"
"They all want to see the human," Zelak said.
"What?" Kalika watched as guards argued with other guards and the workers, wanting to be let through.
"And what makes Donovan so famous?"
Bjorn huffed and took a bite from his meal. "Aside from the fact that he's a human. They've learned about his pipe weapon from the world above."
"You mean that stick thing."
Bjorn nodded. "Mm. And it seems word is getting around first with the city guards."
From within the chaos, a heavily armored guard pushed in and stood at attention before Bjorn.
"
"
"And who's he?" Kalika questioned.
"He was in the battle against that Giant. He's also an old, loyal subordinate of mine." Bjorn glanced back at the captain. "
"
"
From the street, the demon workers entered, leaving the guards to fight amongst each other. Bjorn raised his hands and, with a gesture, conjured a wall around the inn. "
Seeing the workers continue, Bjorn sighed. "Once Donovan wakes, we'll begin our departure. Staying in the city any longer won't be feasible."
"But why?"
"Because. Thousands are dead, the elder council was murdered, and the city's center is in ruin."
"Yes. But the champion also saved it from ruin, too." Zelak defended.
"Grr. We're not going to go over this again, Zelak!"
"Go over what?" Donovan murmured.
Despite the quiet in his voice, Every turned at once to his presence. He stumbled to the doorway and saw Charla sleeping. Donovan chuckled. "Hey. It looks like everyone's celebrating without me."
Just then, Falaz came from the kitchen and served a few plates to the table. He gave one to Kalika and two others in an empty chair. "
Donovan slowly joined the table, sitting right by Kalika. They both stared at their food. An awkward silence hung in the air between the two as they poked and prodded at their food.
"So uhh… how did you sleep?" Donovan asked. Last night you seemed to have been a little… Uhhh… Upset?"
"You idiot." Kalika silently said. "Why are you acting like nothing happened? You know, sometimes you can be so stupid!"
Donovan shook from the sudden outburst.
"You don't have to pretend anymore." Kalika somberly felt the horns on her head. "I….I know what I am. I… Know what I did. And I remember everything. Every single bit of it." Slowly, her hands fell to her lap as she became distant in thought.
Bjorn studied Kalika closely. "Solhe remembers everything? I suppose that makes sense. It's possible that the Queen's power to take memory returned when she died. Perhaps those memories drove her over the edge back then."
"Kalika did-"
"DONOVAN!!!" Charla leapt at Donovan, only to be met with an invisible force that kept her distant.
"Charla?" Donovan glanced and saw Charla's worried expression on her face.
"
"She thought you were going to die. So she's relieved to see you alive." Bjorn explained. "If you exerted more of your energy into that last magic attack you did, you probably would've been dead, so count yourself lucky."
Donovan chuckled nervously. "I-I guess luck just follows me when I need it."
"Apparently," Zelak remarked.
"Thanks for worrying about me, Charla. But uhh.. Kalika…?" Donovan glanced back at Kalika and saw her begin to silently eat. "If you ever want to talk or get something off your chest. You can always talk to me. I mean… That's what friends are for, right?"
Kalika stopped, poking the sliced meat with a knife and fork. "Friends?"
"Yeah! Y'know, friends."
For moment, Kalika kept silent, with her lip slowly curling to a subtle smile. "I… I think I'd like that…"
"I'm glad to hear."
********
"Alright! Is everyone ready!?" Bjorn yelled.
Charla, carrying a handful of Donovan's bag, walked out of the newly repaired inn with a smile, with Donovan behind. Zelak, followed by Falaz, who carried two of his children, turned and kneeled to check his child. "
"
"Hey Bjorn," Donovan called. He and Charla threw his bags into the cart. Smaller than their last one used. "The guards took my demon sword. So do you know if-"
"Don't worry about it. I've already got that arranged. We'll pick it up at the gate."
"Oh. Okay."
"Isn't this cart smaller than our other one?" Kalika asked, stepping out.
Donovan and Bjorn glanced her way, discovering her wearing her old fur clothes, but with a ripped-off cape that barely reached her hips.
"What happened to your cape?" Donovan asked.
"Some rocks fell on it and ripped it."
"Y-y'know. I could've just sewn it back together."
Ignoring Donovan, Kalika climbed into the cart with her bags. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."
Donovan exhaled at the statement, then followed Kalika. "If you say so-" To his surprise, he entered to find Kalika nonchalantly snacking on jerky next to their barrel of mead. "W-where the heck did you get those?"
"Zelak bought them from me. These are really good."
"Didn't we just eat an hour ago?"
Kalika stared back, indifferent. "Yeah. But I got hungry."
"Seriously?" Donovan, with Charla's assistance, pulled his bags, setting them into the cart.
"Hey, Human. Aren't you forgetting something?" Zelak said.
Donovan peeked, confused. "Hmm?"
Zelak carefully peered at Charla, who offered another bag to Donovan. Feeling his gaze, even Charla glanced at Zelak, confused.
"Your contract." Zelak clarified.
"Oh. That's right. She is staying with you."
"You really forgot?" Kalika questioned.
"Well, I thought we were all going to the gate together."
Bjorn scoffed. "Did you forget that the contract has been outlawed? Trying to exchange it near the gate would be impractical. No. This is where we have to part ways."
"Right." Donovan hopped down from the cart.
"
Falaz sighed. "
Charla, growing anxious, watched as Donovan left with Zelak in the inn's kitchen.
Bjorn watched over Charla and saw her clutch the skirt of her clothes. "< Not that I care, but you do understand. This is the last time you can give your answer to him, right?>" He said.
Charla became even more flustered, forcing her gaze down, unsure.
"What the heck are you on about with this whole 'last time' thing?" Kalika asked.
"The Succubus wants Donovan's affection. Since the incident with you and her, he placed down an offer."
"You can't be serious."
"Yeah. The condition he put was that she had to learn the human language and convert into following your human traditions, religion, and everything."
Kalika cringed, then leered at Charla. "A demon worshipping Cassell?… What a joke," the thought of Lillian flashed through Kalika's mind. She frowned at the thought of her and hid back in the cart.
Charla suddenly jolted. She gasped, shocked. Slowly, she became more downcast.
Seconds later, Donovan and Zelak returned. "It's done," Zelak said.
Donovan silently walked past Charla, taking the last of his bags and setting them in the cart. Finished, he sat in thought, then turned to her. "Thanks, Charla. For all the help you gave."
Panicked, Charla turned to Donovan, calling him.
Puzzled, he glanced back at Charla.
"
Donovan, still unsure, cocked his head. "Offer? O-oh!"
"She's Talking about your-"
"Sure!" Donovan said with a nod, interrupting Zelak.
Charla brightened at once and leapt towards Donovan, hugging him tightly.
"W-w-whoa!" Donovan, shaken, slowly peeled Charla away from him and forced a laugh. He then turned to Zelak. "Tell her I'll be looking forward to an actual conversation with her, but to uhh… to contain her excitement if we meet again."
Zelak chuckled at the remark. "Sure, human."
"Alright. We should get going." Bjorn announced.
"Should I put my disguise on?" Donovan asked.
"Don't bother. Most of the people are inside, and the rest are rebuilding or selling to the workers."
"If you say so." Donovan climbed to the driver's seat, whipping the reins of the Garu's and trailing off, leaving Charla and Zelak to wave goodbye.
Suddenly, straightened up, remembering something. She leaned over the cart with both hands and shouted. "Hey Zelak! I left something for you back in my room. It's wrapped in my fur cape, so keep it!"
Curious Zelak glanced inside. He moved inside and entered Kalika's room. On the table of rubble, he saw a bundled fur cape and opened it up, discovering a jar of black blood. Seeing this, he erupted into laughter.
Charla entered, bewildered by the sudden burst of laughter. "Zelak?"
Zelak continued on and on, as he hid his face within his arms. He sighed. " Zelak straightened himself and firmed his back. "I'm truly in her debt."
********
Donovan, focusing away from the destruction on the road, being cleaned, continued their cart down the road, eventually arriving at the gateway in question. He quickly showed the stone tablet to the guard, who glanced at it and nodded.
Another rushed at them with a bundled sword, giving it to Donovan. " The gate, cranked open, lowered into the ground until it reached the very bottom. With the gate opened, the guards moved out of the way, allowing the cart to drive on.
They drove under the Gate and over the bridge until they managed to reach solid land again. Curious, Donovan stopped the cart and watched as the gate finished closing from a distance.
"Why'd you stop?" Kalika asked.
"Hmm… No reason. No reason at all." Donovan whipped the rein again and kept to the right path, traveling next to the rapid river. "So Kalika. What did you leave for Zelak?"
"Just our promised arrangement. Nothing more. Well. I guess part of my cape, too, but he'll probably have more use of it for those demon children of his."
"I never knew you could be so benevolent." Bjorn teased.
"Shut up." Kalika turned, eating another piece of jerky.
"Don't waste those now."
Kalika rolled her eyes. "Shut up." She peered out the cart, watching the passing nature around of the swaying yellow grass and the black and purple leaved trees, relieved. "We're almost there... Just a little longer."
********
" Rakon stared at the maid from behind his desk, and stood. "