An older demon with no horns or tail walked through the dark underbellies of Oar's.
Several demons of varying sizes watched him mutter to himself with grins plastered on their faces. Just as an ogre demon moved to approach another, he grasped his arm. "
Without questioned his
Comrade the ogre stepped back and watched as the muttering elder demon continued to mutter to himself.
"I'm not safe. I'm not safe. I have no choice. I'll do it. I'll take it for myself and keep these monstrosities buried forever!!"
********
Donovan, walking right beside Charla, walked around awkwardly and passed demons of varying shapes and sizes. Some flew about, causing trouble, while others continued to try to live their daily lives without a care in the world.
Seconds later, winged demon guards flew in chasing the mischievous demons in a chaotic chase that left everyone watching.
Uninterested in the spectacle, Donovan and Charla continued on their way, eventually passing by an alley with ruffians peering out. Two of them exchanged remarks in their own language, watching Donovan and Charla pass, amused.
Suddenly, Donovan stopped. He looked around, unsure, before continuing to march on.
He pulled the map from his pocket and looked at it, attempting to pinpoint their location. He grumbled, looking up and down as he scanned the area, finding nothing but the stone buildings that blended.
He stopped once again and tried to regain his surroundings within the barren street.
"What… Where are we?" Donovan muttered.
Charla peeked at the map and, with a simple glance at their surroundings, she pointed out their location.
"Here?" Donovan glanced around, finally noticing the clues thanks to the location of the towers. "Ah. Thanks Charla."
Without reaction, Charla looked forward, ready to leave.
Donovan sighed, seeing this reaction. "First Kalika and now Charla. Maybe it's just that time of the month for them… Then again, they're both demons… It's a shame we don't know the same language…"
Donovan's mind immediately flashed back to when he and Charla had faced off against each other. Memories of her whispering incomprehensible words in his ears sent shivers down his spine. "On second thought, it's probably a good thing. I'd prefer it if she didn't try to get in pants…. a-and…"
"Argh!!" Donovan roughed up his hair and pulled his focus back to the city. "I need to focus on finding this alchemist guy first! Hopefully, there's someone at that castle who knows something about him…" Donovan looked towards the towering built-in pillar that overshadowed the entire cityscape.
"C'mon, Charla, let's g-." Donovan ceased seeing Charla, Melancholic expression growing even sadder. "On second thought…"
Donovan, nervous, took his shaking hand and forced himself to tap Charla's shoulder. "H-h-h-hey. Ch-Charla?"
Surprised, Charla glanced up at Donovan, finding him rubbing the back of his neck, awkwardly. Mustering all his courage, he offered his left arm. "Y-y-you can hold my arms for now O-okay? B-but don't do anything weird."
Confused, Charla reached out to Donovan's arm. To her shock, the invisible push she always felt had disappeared.
Her heart leapt as she touched and felt his arm, from his tunic to the mug that covered his true features. And although tempted to move scratch of the dry red mud, she ceased, and happily rubbed the side of her head on his arm.
"
"O-okay! No more arm privileges!" Donovan yanked his arm away, startling and confusing Charla.
Although shaken, Donovan grabbed Charla by the hand. "W-we'll use hands instead, C'mon." Donovan unquestioningly pulled Charal along with him, focusing on the stone path ahead of them.
Despite this change in attitude, Charla clung tight to Donovan and smiled subtly, enjoying the warmth of his gloved hands.
"Hopefully, we can reach that demon castle before nightfall arrives." Donovan thought.
Unknown to Donovan and Charla, however, a group of rough-looking demons continued to watch them from the alleys. They smirked knowingly and chuckled knowingly from the alley. A few slipped from the dark alley and followed behind Donovan and Charla as they entered a much busier road.
********
Kalika overlooked the city from one of Oar's many stone towers.
She peered from the tower's balcony, gazing upon the vast lake that spanned like the ocean, watching as vessels came in and out of the stone docks from the lowest levels.
Memories of visiting the port town of Nirenberg resurfaced. She reached her hand out, remembering the times she and Lillian sat at the cliff edge of the city, watching as ships departed from the long cove wide open into the endless sea.
********
"Hey, Kalika? Are you alright?" Lillian asked.
Startled, a young blonde-haired Kalika glanced back at her concerned sister, Lillian. Her Long brown hair gently flowed in the salty air as she cocked her head.
"No. I'm fine." Kalika said. Her mind felt like the drifting sea, pulsing back and forth from thought after thought.
"We should probably head back soon," Leo Said.
Lillian groaned in disappointment. "But we wanna stay here a little longer, Leo."
"No can do. Your father will have my head on a platter if I don't bring you back before the afternoon."
"No. You're just doing this to be captain, aren't you!?" Lillian pouted.
Leo chuckled at her remark. "Well, you caught me. Now get on the horse so I can take you down."
Kalika continued to stare off into space, as if their conversation was non-existent. She sighed heavily.
"C'mon Kalika. The sooner we get to the fort, the sooner you can get a special gift."
Leo, not seeing any response, approached and whispered in her ear. "Your father has a special party for you."
Kalika's eyes widened in surprise.
"To celebrate your thirteenth birthday."
An excitement welled within Kalika; she ran to the horse and, with Leo and Lillian, galloped into the town of working women and sailors, and up the path into the fort.
Upon reaching the fort, a nobleman, dressed in a splendid yellow and blue attire, greeted them.
"Sir Richmond?" Leo called.
"Vice Captain Leo. I see you've finally brought his lordship's daughters."
Without waiting, Kalika jumped from the horse, surprising Leo.
"Hey, Kalika! Wait!"
She sprang through the hall and stone corridors of the lantern-lit tunnels. Remembering the layout, she twisted and turned to the only place her father Julius would be.
She burst through the door.
"Fath-..."
However, upon being escorted to the room for celebration, there stood only a table with displayed food in a dimly lit room.
"-er…?"
Lillian caught up to Kalika, who just stood in silence. She looked into the room, seeing a meal ready for both her and Kalika—their favorites.
"W…Where's father?" Kalika questioned.
The nobleman walked ahead, lighting a few more lanterns and candles in the room. "His lordship had to take to the sea, ot travel to the 'Pangia island'. So he'll be gone for a few weeks."
Downcast turned to the ground below. "But… He promised… He was at Lillian's birthday. Why doesn't he come to mine?"
"He's a very busy man. Things come up. Sometimes emergencies.. Those can't be helped at times." The noblemen explained. He then pulled a chair for Kalika's specially prepared food.
"You're lying," Kalika said.
"Hey, Kalika. Let's eat. Then we can look for more seashells by the beach."
"I don't want to find more seashells."
Lillian grabbed Kalika by the hand and pulled her to her seat. She then turned and circled the table to her seat across from Kalika.
Unexpectedly, the noblemen whispered in Kalika's ears. "You're right. I was lying. Your father was looking for an excuse not to be with you. He doesn't care about you. In fact, you're just a prop to them—a decoration to hold as a trophy. But you're much more than that. They just don't see it."
Leo entered the room and expressed his relief at finally finding everyone.
"But don't worry, Milady. You have allies in high places who are more than willing to help." The noble pulled away.
Leo caught the subtle action at the corner of his eyes, but kept quiet. Instead, he took station watching as several maids and a butler flowed in, handling any additional necessities for the celebratory meal.
All the while, Kalika sat in a daze as her world slowly broke around her.
********
The memory, although brief, passed.
Kalika bit her lip, knowing the bitter truths of the past, of the sweet lies she wanted to believe. With a growing irritation, she tore herself from those memories. She conjured her dagger, feeling a deep sense of confusion.
No matter how she pondered. The past and her current present didn't make sense.
"Zorbian… Back then, you said, all I had to do was call you… It probably still works in this stupid dream…"
With a deepening bitterness, Kalika called out to the world. "Zorbian…"
"[Aahh~~. You've finally arrived in this City, my creations call 'Oar's. I hope you enjoy you're present. My servants worked hard so that your… Memories, could return from Cassell's puppet.]"
"See, everything flooding my mind was your doing." Kalika stabbed her dagger into the side of the tower. "Bastard!"
"What was the point of drinking Lily's blood to rid myself of these memories!!" Kalika glared harshly at her dagger. "But then again, that's if all that actually happened. And I still can't believe. Everything in my head is so horrific and so fantastical that it feels like some poorly written story."
Kalika began to tremble. "My sister makes no sense! That demon Rakon… He makes no sense! And now I'm in some cave world called the pit? Hah! You might as well tell me I died in my sleep, assassinated by some noble out for my blood!"
"[So you still think of this as a dream?]"
"What else could it be? And these so-called memories. I'd sooner believe that I'm sleeping in my room, suffering from some endless nightmare. And that's exactly what this is!"
"[So you no longer believe your own memories?]
"I can't believe I'd wring my own neck, to kill myself for my own entertainment!"
"[Even the strongest have their breaking points.]"
"Tch! To hell with breaking points and to hell with this nonsense, gods and demons bid in my head! All I want to do is wake up from this stupid dream. And if leaving this pit will help, I'll do it. And if I have to kill, I don't care! None of this matters anyway!"
A sly chuckle echoed through Kalika's mind.
"What's so funny!?" Kalika questioned.
"[If you're looking for release from this, I can still help. All you have to do is find me. Only then will you be freed.]"
"The so-called god in my dream that wants to destroy the world? And why should I help you? You're just another bastard who wants to use me like those damned nobles."
"[I thought you didn't believe your memories. Or care about what happened.]"
"I don't!" Kalika sneered.
"Perhaps this. Can sweeten the deal by helping you unlock it better… Potential in this so-called dream. I can tell you how to free yourself of the magic that binds you. All you have to do is get to me."
Kalika distanced herself from her dagger and leaned on the stone balcony railing, pondering. "So if I help… I could use magic again?"
"[Yes. that is my pledge. It's ironic, really. The magic I gifted you. Being overpowered by a power you've gained yourself.]"
"Hah. I wonder what that says about a so-called God like yourself... Fine… I'm tired of being unable to control or use magic, unlike everyone else. And if you bring me even closer out of this stupid dream. Then that's all the better."
"[Then it's agreed to.]"
Kalika felt a subtle presence cling to her. She stood and glanced around the room to find no one else there. "Alright… So how am I supposed to find you anyway?"
"[I can tell you exactly where I am. But there's only one problem that hinders us.]"
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"[The key to reach me is held by the Elder Council of this city. Bring them together. And the door to me will unlock.]"
Kalika cringed. She took her dagger and pulled it from the wall. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
"[Kehehehehe… First things first. You'll need a map for the places we'll need to visit.]".
********
In the middle of an empty stone road, a black flower budded from its cracks, making its presences known to a tail and hornless demon, who stood in shock.
"A-a-black flower!?" The hornless demon immediately shot to pick up,
Another suddenly sprouted in front of him.
Not wanting to lose a chance at another he picked the flower up to. And like before another sprang, then another and another, leading The hornless demon through the empty roads and alley's of the city.
"Absolutely amazing! Fascinating! So many of the devil buds are blooming in these streets! I can't possibly turn down the opportunity to gather these mythical flowers!"
The demon continued picking the flower, eventually turning to an alley. But upon hearing a scuffle, He ceased and glanced up .
"
The demon's eyes widened seeing a succubus being pinned by some demon's thugs as their leader held a gingered man by the neck.
"