Donovan fell on his back, completely exhausted.
"So that's all you got?" Bjorn sighed, disappointed. He then turned to Kalika, who stood in the flickering light of the campfire. Her hand was held out as she was deep in concentration. Not seeing any results, she grumbled.
Relenting, Kalika lowered her hand. "I told you I couldn't. This stupid dream doesn't let me use it when I want to. It only lets me use it when it's convenient."
Donovan pulled himself up. "Don't give up just yet, Kalika! It's like what Bjorn said. You have to focus on the feeling you felt when that magic flowed through you."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Hey look." Donovan held out his palm, and slowly, a cube of earth was manifest in his hand. "See," With a prideful smile, he chuckled. "I'm getting the hang of it, and I knew nothing about magic."
The cube of Earth then turned to dust and evaporated.
Bjorn quickly spoke up. "That's because you have the help of those crystals. If we never discovered their true potential, it might've taken you months or even years to reach where you're at now."
"Jealous that I'm making so much progress?" Donovan teased.
"I think you're getting a little too full of yourself, human. You still only have a few weeks of experience. While me and that bastard, have decades." Zelak said from his hay bed.
Out of nowhere, a splash of water struck Zelak. He jolted, then quickly glanced in the direction it came, only to find Charla, who was acting nonchalant as she collected a bowl and filled it with a pot of boiling stew. Zelak rolled his eyes and laid back down.
With excitement, Charla presented a bowl of the fresh stew to Donovan. "
"N-no thanks. I-I'm not Hungry."
Bjorn relayed Donovan's response to her, prompting her to look at Donovan with teary eyes. Hoping he'd change his mind.
Donovan whiped his head at Bjorn, searching for answers. To his dismay, Bjorn's only response was a simple shrug and shake of the head. Relenting, he finally accepts the offer. "Fine. I'll take it."
Joy filled Charla's face. She watched in anticipation as Donovan sniffed and ate the prepared food. "It's not bad, I guess."
"
Charla gasped. "
Kalika cringed from Charla's boldness, all the while Zelak burst into laughter. Donovan stared on in confusion, noticing the different Reactions everyone was giving. "Uh? What happened?"
"Even Rhonda wasn't this perverted. Absolutely no dignity." Kalika sighed.
Bjorn waved Donovan over to him, whispering something. After a moment, Donovan's eyes. Widened in shock.
Donovan stuttered."G-great… N-now I know a new word in your language. Th-thanks, Bjorn." He then slumped his head in defeat."There's no winning with that Succubus, is there?"
"
"
All the while, Donovan formed an 'x' with his arms, getting a grasp at her potential question.
"Aww…" Charla became downcast. Despite this, she continued to serve everyone else, also allowing them to enjoy the brief break with the prepared meal.
Some time later, Bjorn finished with his share. He then turned back to Kalika as she proceeded to get her second serving. "For this dark magic you control…You said you felt like you were being crushed, right?" He stared straight at Kalika, trying to gauge her reaction.
Not getting a response, Bjorn spoke back up. "Is it a feeling you dislike when that magic surfaced?"
Kalika remained silent.
Just as Donovan was about to speak up about the matter, Kalika finally responded. "I suppose you can say that."
Kalika looked into the stew of meat and broth, almost unsure, herself. "Whenever that weird power came out, I always felt a strange crushing emptiness well up inside. It's an almost unbearable, sickening feeling… and to a point… I think I still feel it." Kalika cringed and pushed her stew to the side.
Donovan raised a brow. He then began to ponder a thought. "Wait… So you still feel it now?" Donovan mulled over his thoughts as if trying to find the correct words.
"Kalika, has this feeling been with you since- ugh… Since before we came to the pit?"
Kalika narrowed her eyes, thinking to herself.
"I don't know… I think… Ever since I lost my memories…?"
"Ugh." Donovan fell onto his back. "I don't think that helps us much."
"You're right," Bjorn said. "Trying to find the origins of how she gained this magic won't help her learn how to wield her power."
"W-well. I mean, we can also use it to figure out why she has it, too."
"But that's not important now, is it!?" Bjorn scoffed at Donovan.
Hearing a chuckle, Bjorn then whipped his sights on Zelak, who was smirking all so contentedly. "Do you have something to add?"
"Nothing the champion wants to hear," he remarked.
"If you know something, then spill it," Kalika said.
"Hm… If the champion wishes to know, who am I to argue…? If memory serves me correctly. I think it was about eight years ago that you began to show inklings of being able to use this dark magic. It was some years after Zorbian made you his champion. And I think it was also around that time when you couldn't use these magic crystals anymore."
Zelak held up a magic crystal above him, appreciating the white glow emanating from it.
"Hmm…" Bjorn rubbed his chin in deep thought.
"That barely helps," Kalika said.
Donovan silently agreed. "Yeah, I'm not sure what we're supposed to take from that either…"
"Curious…. Very curious…" Bjorn noted.
"What's so curious?" Donovan turned along with Kalika, who was just as curious.
"Kalika. You said that you used to be able to use these magic crystals before, right?"
Indignant and bitter, Kalika glared. "And?"
"Wouldn't it stand to reason that you're not capable of using magic because of this dark power?"
"If that's true, wouldn't that mean that her dark magic is- No… I…Hmmm…" Donovan began to mull over his thoughts. "Doesn't that mean the dark magic she has is absorbing the other magic."
Bjorn sighed. "You're so close. It means that this power Kalika gained, if she did, is absorbing all magic."
"What do you mean?" Donovan, along with Kalika, gazed at Bjorn, even more confused.
"Call this a hunch, but I don't think this dark magic is the problem. Her blood magic is."
"Blood Magic? Wait-"
"What a ridiculous notion." Kalika retorted. "Humans can't use a demon's blood magic!"
A cold sweat ran down Donovans' face, unsure what to think.
"And yet… You were still able to use our blades and manifest our blood blades within a single fight. You've done the unnatural several times over. And as much as I hate to consider it, this blood magic may have been with you for some time. For all we know, beyond the given timeline Zelak spoke of."
"I initially thought this blood magic she had was a magic to nullify other magic. But that doesn't seem to be the case. If she's absorbing magic into her instead… is it possible she's perpetually absorbing her own dark magic somehow?" Bjorn narrowed his eyes with a more profound concern arising.
"But if what I believe is true, the magic prowess that woman holds likely exceeds even the previous and current kings. To think. This dark magic she could use, being held back and hindered by her own blood magic."
Kalika simply glared at Bjorn incredulously. Sensing a growing tension, Donovan spoke up. "A-alright. Let's say you're right, Bjorn. How is Kalika supposed to control her blood magic?"
Bjorn glanced from Kalika to Donovna, then back to Kalika. As he spoke."There are three different types of Blood magic. One that manifests itself in blood, such as in weapons, tools, or other objects. Another allows us to amplify or reduce our body's strength and senses beyond our limitations. The last silent lies in our bodies, softly manipulating the minds and bodies of others and sometimes ourselves, and if the need arises, use it as a weapon."
Bjorn raised his hands and pinched his finger. "Mine in particular is silent. It calms anything living around us. Myself included," he then darted his attention back to Kalika. "For it to become more effective, I can splash a little of my blood on the ground or onto someone, and the effect becomes stronger. It's handy for those who might be more resilient."
A single drop of blood struck the ground, sending a calming wave to everyone around.
"Why are you telling me this?" Kalika questioned.
"Because. Like the Queen and me, your blood magic is likely silent and uncontrolled. Luckily for you, I have an idea on how to help you gain control of your blood magic. Like yourself, I had to help the queen with gaining control over her blood magic also."
Kalika grew silent. Taken aback by the strange revelation. "You helped Lily?"
Donovan furrowed his brow. "Her sister?" He glanced at Bjorn, curious.
"Yes," Bjorn said. "I helped teach the queen in the early years under the king's orders. I taught her how to use it best. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe she used you as a test of her powers on many occasions. Of course, this was back when she still used you as her little toy to vent her anger and frustration on."
Kalika pursed her lips.
"Hey, Bjorn," Donovan called. "How much did you know about the demon queen and Kalika's relationship… If you don't mind me asking."
Bjorn glared. But quickly relented. "Kalika used to be a toy the queen would use from time to time, whenever she needed to vent. Aside from that, not much else. I never tried prying into her or the king's personal affairs."
"Okay, fine." Kalika interrupted. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do then to control my supposed blood magic."
"Donovan. How many magic crystals do we have left?" Bjorn asked.
"O-oh. Umm. Let me check." Donovan climbed to his feet and rushed to check their cart. He pulled a couple of bags filled with crystals that they had left.
"Why do you want those for?" Kalika asked.
"We're going to use this to help you control your blood magic. Your goal will be to maintain the luster of these crystals."
"But won't we run out?"
"If we do, Donovan and I can refill those crystals with magic. And this could also double as training for Donovan."
"I-if you say so." Donovan laid out a pile of magic crystals in front of Kalika. She then picked up one of the crystals and watched as it turned gray and lifeless.
Charla was in awe, surprised to witness such a phenomenon unfold.
"So, how is this going to help in the first place?"
"The Idea is that you feel for the power circulating in your body and suppress it."
Kalika looked back at the crystal in her hand, scrutinizing it.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try," Donovan said. "Right, Kalika?"
"Fine. I guess it doesn't hurt to try."
Kalika placed the gray crystal to the side, starting to go through each crystal one at a time, converting each one with unsettling ease until none was left. Finished, she stared back at Donovan expectantly, forcing a nervous chuckle from him.
"She went through those too fast!" Donovan then picked up the first crystal and returned it to its luster by filling it with his magic. "We're going to be at this for a while, aren't we?"
Bjorn watched over as Kalika and Donovan continued to train under this newly set regimen. To his surprise, Zelak came to his side, watching the two trains too. "You really think this will help?"
"I don't know. It took me decades to master control of my blood magic. Even the queen didn't master her blood magic, so I can't imagine she'll be able to control herself any time soon. But it's better than nothing."
Zelak blurted a chuckle. "Same here…. Well, we'll see what comes from it."
Bjorn solemnly nodded and agreed.
********
The dark forest shook as a giant demon stormed through, busting down tree after tree. Sensing something to the side, stopped and threw his enormous axe, cleaving through a large rock.
A goblin lay dead in two halves, behind the rock. The giant Demon, Magnus scoffed. He scanned the area, searching for any living thing.
"
Unknown to Magnus, Bretta, the woman in question, hid deep in the ground, curled up and quiet. She shook, holding tight to her round stomach in a quiet desperation.