Within a desolate, destroyed garden, Lillian overlooked the cliffside of the castle's once lush garden. She took in the air, looking over the landscape of her country. The very country that would soon become embroiled in the chaos of war.
She gazed down upon her blue hand, a flurry of uncontrollable feelings overwhelming her senses. Wanting to relieve the feelings in her, she whipped her tail around and petted it. Unsatisfied, she scrutinized her own tail and gave out a short, bellowed sigh, exhausted with the day's events.
"Here you are."
Lillian glanced back briefly, seeing the Demon King. "We already signed the contract. What do you want now?" Lillian questioned.
"Heh... For the so-called Saintess, you're still awfully calm about all this..." The Demon King took to Lillian's side and overlooked the same afternoon landscape.
Lillian glared. "Isn't that supposed to be a secret?"
"I'll mention it only this once..." The Demon King corrected. "Since we have to keep your origins under wraps, that also means cutting ties with that supposed sister of yours..."
"Kalika and I aren't blood related... Besides, after what she did to me... I want to see her pay!" The demon King noticed Lillian's balled fist. "You have no idea how happy I am that she can't die. Nothing else matters to me."
"Not even your once beloved country"
Lillian paused for a moment. "This country of mine... Turned its back on me...The monastery, my people, even my own family... as much as I hate change, I don't mind seeing it destroyed. "
The Demon King chuckled to himself, glancing back at Lillian. "Oho. You've truly embraced your new role."
Lillian rolled her eyes. "Everything can be rebuilt with time, and as long as I have Kalika, that's the only thing I care about. But for some of these terms... Are you sure you want me to be the ruling queen?"
"It's more convenient that way. For both of us... You keep your sister to yourself, and I get a troublesome tradition out of the way. Many women of my kin would jump at the chance to seize power. Just like what your dear sister tried to do."
Lillian stood, silent and apprehensive. Not wanting to linger any longer, she began to depart.
"By the way, do you have any preferred flowers?" The Demon King suddenly asked.
"Anything pink." Lillian waved the Demon King off, not once glancing back or stopping.
Now alone, the Demon King looked over the destroyed garden, gathering some of the ashes left behind.
"
The Demon King, Lucius, looked toward the garden exit, recognizing the voice. From the side of the doorway, where the demon hid, Lucius caught a faint glimpse of a familiar horn that was unmistakable. "
"
"
"
Lucius sighed. "
"
"
Lucius chuckled to himself. "
Suddenly, a winged demon entered through one of the hall windows with an urgent message. "
"Hmm?"
Rakon laughed. "
"
"
"
Everyone around became shocked and confused by his statement. "
********
Outside the capital's towering stone wall, several brigades of armed soldiers attempted to ram the gates open with little success. Even the ladders proved ineffective with the winged demons on the prowl for any fool who dared climb.
"DON'T LET UP MEN!! WE WILL SLAUGHTER THESE DEMONS AND AVENGE OUR LORD!!!" The human general yelled.
The soldiers cheered, and with their national pride on the line, the soldier continued to push up the ladder and ram the gates.
A red demon Woman overlooked the large army of humans with disgust. "
A red demon with long white hair sighed. "
Suddenly, a new, dangerous sensation overtook them. Their eyes were drawn to the source, which was Lillian, who was flying above them, overseeing the large army of determined humans. She wore a newly fitted regal dress made for a queen. However, Lillian seemed more annoyed at wearing it than concerned with the army she was facing.
"
The demon Jala narrowed his eyes, looking at Lillian. "
The Demon King interrupted them. "
The General, cheering on his men, finally noticed Lillian's presence. "A-a demon! W-wait, there's something familiar about her..."
Lillian, looking down at them, sighed to herself. "How many times do I have to prove myself...?" She lifted her hand. "So just use earth magic, huh?"
A shadow slowly built up above the army, and all the soldiers noticed and looked above themselves. To their utter shock, a vast mass of land was manifested above them.
The General shuddered and could only watch in horror as several more large masses of earth were manifested over his entire army. "Im... Impossible. A monster this strong. Must be a true enemy of God Cassell."
Panic began to spread among the soldiers, and one after another fled as the massive pieces of earth expanded.
Unable to fight or escape, the general slumped his arms down in defeat as his army, which was once large and proud, fled.
"One attack should be fine." Silently content with her work, Lillian sent the ginormous pieces of earth, hurtling into the attacking army.
The earth and ground outside the walls cracked and broke under the pressure of the attack. The bones and lives of the men driven by their faith were crushed beneath the weight of Lillian's attack.
As the dust settled and the earth magic dissipated, a newly created wasteland of earth and rock was revealed—a stark contrast to the lush forest and farmland that had once dominated the mountainous landscape.
Lillian turned to Lucius, unamused. "< Will that do?>"
"
Lillian quickly flew off, leaving behind a stunned demon army that witnessed her strength.
Lucius placed his hands on the shoulders of his two generals, who still stood in shock at the display of power. "
Elsewhere at the capital's east wall are two blue demons with their red-stained daggers ready, one with white hair, the other with black. They both looked into the sky at Lillian as she flew away. "
"
A Giant red demon with long white wild hair joined them, watching as Lillian finally entered the castle. "
********
Back within the castle halls, the Demon, Rakon, had watched as Lillian ventured back into the castle. She wasted little time as she entered the dungeon. Rakon gave a curious glance, seeing this, before taking up a smirk.
He turned away to venture off elsewhere. "< She's absurdly powerful, I wonder where my brother actually found her... They're certainly a match made in hell... I doubt that much will change in the upcoming years. But I'm patient...>"
********
Within the Dungeon, Lillian calmly strolled through the tunnel, passing by cell after cell until she finally reached her destination. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Lillian smiled at a newly dishelved Kalika. "Now what shall we do today?"
Kalika clenched the bricks as she looked at Lillian with pure terror. "No! Please!" Kalika tried to retreat further into the corner of the cell—a desperate act of escape she had done many times over.
"P-please. D-don't!" she squeaked. "I don't want it-"
Lillian grabbed Kalika by the mouth, silencing her. An unsettling smile sent chills down Kalika's spine as she tried desperately to break free.
"I didn't want this either. But here we are." Lillian said. She then traced her fingers along Kalika's chest. "Let's see... If I can rip your heart out."
"N-no. No!" Tears filled Kalika's eyes as she wiggled and attempted to break free in vain. Left with no choice, she braced herself as pain shot through. Cries of pain that would've otherwise filled the dungeon were muffled. A sinister deed that even a god would see, hidden from all.
As Lillian finished with Kalika, she watched as the lifeless eyes of her sister brightened again as she was once again brought back together. Lillian approached Kalika once more, and to Kalika's shock, her demonic sister sat right beside her.
Lillian then grasped Kalika's head, bringing it down to her lap, and as if she were her pet, gently petted her. Confused, Kalika glanced at Lillian, her heart beat hastened, and she shook in terror, anticipating the next painful retribution.
"Hey, Kalika. Do you remember, Hweitzer? He came today with an army and tried to break through the city walls."
Kalika was too shaken to answer, remaining silent.
"He's dead now. It's a little funny. I thought I'd feel something for him, but... I can't seem to care at all for him or anyone else I killed there. Lillian forced Kalika's gaze on her as her voice grew cold. "I won't ever let anyone take you from me. Not ever. Don't forget that."
Finished, Lillan pushed Kalika off her and departed the cell. "I'll see you tomorrow, dear sister."
Kalika's gaze fell straight to the ground. "W-w-why?" She grasped the rusted iron bars of the iron door, pressing her head against it. She silently cried, speaking softly. "Please. Someone. Anyone. Please help me. I don't want to be here."
********
Kalika leaned against the stone brick wall, staring straight into the ceiling. She moved around the pieces of hay beneath her as boredom took hold. "I wonder how long I've been here now... maybe ten years. No, maybe it's only been two years..."
Feeling her rough, untamed hair, Kalika peeked at her skinny fingers and fragile arm. She tried lifting her arms, but with how heavy they felt, it didn't take long for her to give up on the idea. She sighed, disappointed, and continued to stare into space, looking for ways to pass the time.
In the middle of her thoughts, the sound of heavy footsteps was suddenly heard. A demon guard approached her cell with a tray of food and water.
The tray had a loaf of bread, a piece of undercooked meat, and a cup of water. The guard simply placed it by the front of the cell door, taking his leave.
Indignant, Kalika glared at the Demon Guard as it left. "Is that guard new or something? Doesn't it know who I am?"
Kalika got on her knees and hands, practically crawling over to the tray of food. The floor was cold to the touch and grainy. She pulled the tray to herself and retreated back to her makeshift bed of dirty hay.
Kalika took a bite of the bread, finally biting into it. And as much as she didn't want to eat the meat, she bore with it. She placed the piece of meat between two of the ripped-off pieces of her bread. An attempt to make the meal a little more palatable.
Suddenly, as she reached for her drink, her tray of food and cup of water shifted to the very corner of the room. "Huh?' Kalika then noticed a little bit of blood on her arm.
Despite the strange circumstance, she easily shook it off and reached back to her meal to finish. As she brought the meal back to her, she could help but stare at the tray, with an unsettling feeling bubbling up."Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something..."
"It's probably not important." She wiped the blood from her arm and reached back for the water despite its diluted state..
She gulped half of it down and pushed the remaining water to the side. It was a habit Kalika made when living in the dungeon since she could only afford one meal and a simple drink during a given day.
Kalika looked at the water with a growing disdain. "I hate these demons," she growled with thoughts of Lillian and the demon king, as well as all the guards that patrolled the dungeon.
Kalika gazed back up at the prison ceiling, feeling more tired than before. She then peered into the dungeon corridor, filled with endless darkness, a longing for freedom rising once more.
"As I am now. I can barely even crawl..." Kalika sighed. "And even if I do somehow make it out of this stupid cell, Lily and those guards will stop me before I can do anything..."
Kalika retreated into her favorite cozy corner of the cell, soon becoming lost in thoughts of what she would do if freed from her confines. Slowly, she leaned herself further into the corner of the cell, listening to the deafening silence for any abnormalities, like the sound of a rat or drops of water.
Out of nowhere, a tense familiar presence made itself known to Kalika. She shot straight up with a fear rising in her heart. "Huh!? Why is she here?" Kalika looked over to the cell bars.
The pattering of feet starts to become audible. It's coming closer and closer. Kalika could tell there was another person, too. As expected, Lillian finally showed up.
Lillian was dressed down in a black, long-sleeve shirt, along with a dark gray, full-body corset that tightly held her bosom, paired with an open skirt. She also wore leg stockings that were complemented by some short heels. This is the first time that Kalika has seen Lillian like this. It looked casual and new.
"What's with the dress?" Kalika was a little curious.
"Oh, you like it. It was made personally." Lillian twirled a little, showing a little of her demon tail through what seems to be a custom-made hole.
With Lillian's bubbly attitude, it was easy for Kalika to tell that she was in a good mood.
Kalika turned her attention to what seemed to be a little human girl hiding behind Lillian's back. The girl had black hair and pink eyes, and she looked no older than 12, dressed in a maid's outfit.
It was strange for Kalika to see a human girl, especially one with pink eyes. Kalika gave a glance at Lillian before looking away. "So... What do you want?" Kalika didn't seem to be in the mood for conversing.
"I'm here to give you a present.... Since you've been such a good girl lately."
Kalika started to hug her legs. "Is that so... well... I don't want it. So, you can take it back..." Kalika didn't seem interested as she kept looking away from Lillian.
"Are you sure? I picked her out just for you," Lillian said.
Kalika looked back, a little surprised.
"Her name is Rhonda. She'll be your personal maid."
The little maid, Rhonda, looked very shy, but just gave a simple smile, trying to save face. It was evident that the girl was very nervous.
With a growing apprehension, Rhonda tugged at Lillian's skirt. Lillian bent down and brought her ear up front, where Rhonda immediately whispered in her ear. Lillian gave a simple nod to her, prompting the girl to become shy again.
Kalika looked on, dumbfounded by Lillian's sudden gesture of kindness. "Why is she giving me a maid...?"