Inside the unsteady traveling cart, a cubed chunk of earth hovered within Donovan's grasp. He beamed at his work, with pride, twisting and turning it like a prize. "Hey, Bjorn, I finally got it!"
"You did? that was fast." Bjorn, from the driver's seat, glanced at the maneuver down a rocky road.
"What do I do now?"
"Try to form it into a short rod or stick." Seeing a forked path, Bjorn turned the garu's inland, and off the bumpy, rocky road.
Kalika peered out of the cart, bored, forcing her gaze to the back of the cart, watching as that slowly drifted from the lake view, she became accustomed to. "Where are we going now? Aren't we supposed to follow the coast to that Kasak town you were talking about?"
"The contract smith I mentioned is up in the valley's hill. Don't worry, it's only a small stop to their workshop, and we'll be on our way down to Kasak."
"And how long is this supposed to take?"
"It's another day away than another two days riding to Kasak."
"Good. The sooner we get out, the better." Kalika turned back to looking out the cart. She watched as they passed through the increasingly rocky plains with strange new black trees that sprouted with a hunch while others sprawled out their branches like tentacles from between the rocks. From behind the tall grass and hexagonal rocks, she saw an increasing number of new, strange flora shaped like red butterflies and another plant that sprouted strange blue pods.
Driving below one of the trees, Kalika took a quick note of the more strange pods growing from the trees, with some looking black and prickly, as others sprouted out like red and purple flowers with string-like petals that stuck out.
Despite her growing curiosity, she kept silent, admiring the strange nature they were driving through.
"Hey, Kalika," Donovan called.
"Hmm?"
"Aren't you going to practice controlling your blood magic?"
"It's not your problem, so don't worry about it. Besides, I think I almost have it figured out."
Bjorn turned a glance. "If you almost 'have it', why don't you work on it then?"
"Because I'm trying to keep a lookout. You said demons might chase us, right?"
"Yes, but you can do both."
Donovan quickly cleared his throat. "Hey, Bjorn. Just let it go. It doesn't hurt to let her relax from time to time."
"Time we also don't have." Bjorn narrowed his eyes at Kalika, who ignored him. With a grunt, he turned back to the road. "So be it."
"Peh, Demons." Kalika continued to stare out of the cart, watching calmly as they passed several stranger plants. However, to her annoyance, Donovan sheepishly called out to her. She glanced with a glare. "What is it now?"
"Sorry. But I'm just curious. You said you ate a magic crystal, but uhh… You never really said why you ate it. I-I mean, I understand wanting to get magic, I guess… But … eating the crystal. Who in their right mind would eat a rock?"
"Drop it."
"C'mon, just tell us already. It's killing me not knowing why you ate those crystals."
"I said drop it. All you need to know is that I ate it. End of story. I shouldn't have to divulge my stupid life story to satiate your stupid curiosity!"
"Okay! Okay. I get it. Sorry, I asked." He defended. "So much for trying to have a conversation..."
"Tch! Honestly." Frustrated, Kalika forced her gaze out of the cart again. Leaving Donovan to sigh and awkwardly return to practicing his magic.
********
In a demon-filled tavern filled with rowdy demons. Succubi, karnal and lupeus all drank their meads and ales and swung their mugs around merrily as the lingering stench of meat and piss permeated the air. Swigs of the beverages were glugged down, and huge legs of glazed, tender meat were served on tables for parties of the patrons who were bold enough to buy it.
"
"
"
Abbot turned the parchment around and read aloud. "
Finished, Abbot pushed the paper for all to see. The two other red karnal demons glanced from the parchment then to each other. One of the long black haired karnal pushed the decree back. "
"
The scarred blue karnal scoffed. "Don't blame me, she was really good with word. I thought she really cared and start a new family together.>"
Abbot side-eyed the demon. "
Zirg shrugged "
"
Abbot smirked, smug. "
"
"Yeah, Yeah. The horns and tail, right. All we gotta do is convince 'em to cut 'em off."
"
"Eh?" Abbot, confused, looked at Kef, bewildered as his other companions groaned.
"
"
"
Kef took a sip of his drink. "
"
The white-haired karnal, watching with his brother took another glance at the decree as everyone, aside from Abbot, continued to drink on to their leisure. "
Abbot, with a sigh, sat at the table. ""
"
"
The white-haired Karnal turned to his black-haired brother. "
Kef and Zirg moved their drinks, letting Gen slam the map on the table.
Girn looked over the map intensely, looking over the map's routes and the landscape of their homeland.
"
"
"
"
"
Abbot's eyes widened, a little surprised. "
"
Kef took a closer look at the spot in question, then eyed Girn. "
"
"
"
"
"
" " Gen pricked his finger and dipped a large feather from his clothes into it. He quickly corrected the small mistake, adding in a square symbol. A second later, the contract glowed anew, prepared for use. "There. But pay attention next time. You're lucky it was only use."
" Without hesitation, Girn was the first to implant his blood, with Gen being second. Abbot followed next, along with Zirg and Kef. With the contract signed, it blazed into a fire and smoldered out of existence.
" Suddenly, a large stone mug struck Abbot. " " " Kef, seeing the writing on the wall, l gulped the remaining contents of his drink and stood to leave. " The other karnal's stood, leaving with Kef. "So who's going where?>" Zirg asked.
The group entered into a loud street filled with brawls, where brawls broke out, and Succubi and incubi alike played their games of deception at stalls of meat and other merchandise.
" " " "So, then I'll take the rocky paths northwest of here."
Zirg groaned. " From the middle of the street, Girn and Gen sprouted their wings from their body. " " " " In an instant, the two took to the air, leaving their group behind.
"" Abbot watched on as the two disappeared into the distance. " " ********
Donovan, tired, looked at the red crystal in his hand, pondering as the sky slowly dimmed. He glanced from Kalika, still distracted by the flowers and the tree, to Bjorn, who focused on the road ahead.
With both distracted and a growing curiosity, he sniffed the crystal in his hand and then licked it.
He immediately raised a brow, surprised to taste a salty sweetness from the crystal. "Gee...These things really are weird…"
He wiped the crystal clean and glanced back at Kalika.
"We'll stop around here for today," Bjorn suddenly announced. He turned the cart into a nearby clearing where an abandoned campsite laid in wait for use. Surrounding the area were rocks that outlined a wall separating the flowers and grass from the dirt-covered clearing.
With the cart stopped, Kalika stood. "Finally." She turned to a nearby forest and hopped down from the cart. "I'll go hunting."
"Fine," Bjorn said. "But don't lose that knife. And be careful of spiders. There's a lot of insect and plant monsters in this part, like trents and flesh-eating dil's."
"Sure, sure."
"Hey, Kalika, you want some rope for some traps too?" Donovan held a freshly obtained bundle of rope from a bag.
"Sure."
Donovan tossed the rope and watched as Kalika caught and departed with it in hand. Soon after, she disappeared into the forest, leaving Bjorn and Donovan alone. "So Bjorn… Be honest."
"About what?"
"About Kalika. She seems to be becoming more... Reclusive again."
"I've only seen her like this a few times. I find it best not to pry. She was never one to share her business with others. If she doesn't want to learn how to control her blood magic, that is her choice."
"Yeah… I guess you're right."
Bjorn jumped from the driver's seat, and took the reins of the Garu's, leading them to a nearby tree.
"Oh, And Bjorn."
"What is it now?"
"Do you really think it's possible that Kalika could've gain her blood magic from eating those crystals?"
"I'm not sure. This is just speculation but it's possible that these magic crystals hold magic that can be absorbed if eaten."
"Then if that's possible that means humans can gain blood magic too, wouldn't it?" Donovan watched as Bjorn tied the garu's to the tree.
"I don't know. It is possible. Especially since we're now discovering that these crystals can do more than be food and currency for my kin."
"Food?"
Bjorn approached the cart grabbing a bag of meat. "As I said before, our children eat them from time to time. We even use them as a substitute for the salt, and It works just as well too."
"Gee Bjorn. That's a little bit of a revelation there don't you think?"
"It's not a common thing we use. It was used mainly by the well off or from the desperate willing to turn their crystals into a substitute salt. And don't get me wrong, the irony hasn't escaped me either. For now, we should save the rest of this conversation for later, we should prepare the camp."
"Alright. I'll start setting the tents up now then I'll make a stew with a side meat sticks."
"Sounds good, I'll prepare some defense just in case we get any unwanted visitors." Bjorn threw the meats to the Garu's and watched as they devoured it happily. "Just remember to continue your training right after."
"Of course! If I'm gonna protect Kalika and survive, I have to get stronger."