Traveling up a wide-open hill path in the dark, Res hummed a tune and joyfully bobbed her head side to side behind Kalika, who stared on, lost in thought.
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Kalika, pulled from her thoughts, raised her head and glanced back.
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Kalika stared at the laughing Res, unsure. "
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Zel could only chuckle at her sister's remark. "
Kalika straightened her head, ignoring the two as they continued planning their trip. Not long after that, they finally reached the top and entered the plateau, "
"W…What the heck?" Kalika uttered. "So, they couldn't wait until I came back?"
Both Res and Zel looked at a variety of food and drooled from the aroma of freshly cooked meat and fish that filled the air.
"Kalika?" Donovan turned jumped in shock at the sight of the two women. "Sh-shit!" Donovan panicked and ducked under the table.
The festive feast ceased at once, and everyone turned to the three women.
Bjorn glared at the two karnal women who each ran to the table. Even Kalika stood and glanced back at the women, concerned. "Damn it… Did they…?"
Res and Zel rushed to the table. "
Speechless, Kalika watched on as the children sprang with delight and surrounded the two women, who ignored them, awaiting their answer.
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Res puffed her cheek but quickly relented with a shoulder bump from Zel.
Zel bowed. "
Res and Zel respected their wishes and grabbed their share of food before brushing past Kalika. "See you around," Res waved.
Donovan, seeing the women gone, breathed a sigh of relief. And sat back at the table. "Jeez, I'm surprised they didn't notice me."
Bjorn nodded. "Yes, very lucky."
"Hey, Donovan. Why aren't you wearing your mask?" Kalika glanced at the family of demons, watching as they ate without a care in the world.
"They already figured me out. But apparently, they plan on keeping us a secret."
"Hmph! They better."
"By the way, what took you so long?" Donovan stood and grabbed an empty bowl.
"Those stupid women wanted to tell the kids some stories."
"I see…Well, hopefully the story was good…" Donovan poured a bowl of meat porridge and presented it to Kalika. "Porridge?"
Without another word, Kalika approached and took the bowl in hand along with the utensil. She glanced at the succubus children who stared at her and Donovan as if they were an enigma. Ignoring them, she sat with Donovan and began to quietly eat her meal under the chatter of the wives and Beltru.
With curiosity, Kalika peered up at the succubus woman, flirting, drinking, and conversing with the karnal demon. Not long after, the children returned to eating their food, with some still getting bits and pieces of fish on their plates.
Slowly, Kalika's gaze shifted squarely on her bowl. She stared with a distant memory resurfacing. she grimaced and set aside the bowl. Just then Bjorn slammed a large mug on the stone table and exhaled happily. "
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"Mead?" Kalika wondered. Her gaze wandered towards the cart. "Doesn't that mean… Oh…."
Kalika peered towards the group of Succubi, enjoying and sipping down the same beverage as Bjorn and Beltru. "So, he decided to use all that stupid mead..." she pried her eyes away and tried to focus back on her food.
"So, Kalika. Did that Res woman show you to those kids she was talking about?"
"Hmm? Oh. Uh… Sort of. She took me around the village and showed me some spots. And we ended up in a place in the forest where all those kids were playing."
Donovan blurted a chuckle, "So a little play spot, eh? That's a surprise."
"I guess. Btu those kids there were like wild savages, hitting each other with sticks, pouncing on each other, and pushing each other around. I think a couple even bit each other."
"Oh. Wow."
"You're telling me. For a second, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it... But... they were... A little entertaining. But ummm...." Kalika stared more pensively at her porridge, unable to take another bit.
"Are you alright, Kalika?" Donovan asked, concerned,
"Have you ever Killed someone you regretted, killing."
"Huh?"
"I'm asking you Donovan. Have you?"
her gaze glued firmly to the food, not once raising it. Although awkward, Donovan pondered the thought. "I... Don't know."
Kalika soured at once. she grumbled "Hey, Bjorn. The mead in that barrel…"
"Yes?" He sat his large mug down. "What about it?"
"I want some. pour me a drink"
Donovan straightened, shocked by her sudden demand "W-w-wait. You're joking, right? I-I don't think that's a good idea, Kalika."
"Says who?"
"The last time you drank something that strong, you almost killed a bunch of demons in Bona."
"And?" Annoyed, Kalika sneered. She turned to Bjorn. "Bjorn, give me some of that stupid mead already."
"Sorry, Kalika. Donovan's probably right in this regard. We don't need to start a scene if you get drunk." Bjorn said.
"You can't be serious." Kalika clenched her fist.
"L-look, Kalika. Once we get out of the pit, then maybe we can celebrate with some drinks. But Right now is not the best of times. Especially with our heads being hunted-"
"Shut up. I don't care about some stupid demons hunting me! You know what. Both of you can go to hell." She pushed her meal away, storming off.
"Kalika. Kalika, wait!" Donovan followed and stopped short of following down the path. "Where're you going!?" He stood and watched as Kalika continued towards the village below. "Shit."
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Donovan could only look on, even more concern, forced to watch as Kalia's figure dove within the paths of the shallow forest below. He prepared to sprint, but a earth wall sprung from the ground, blocking him. "Damn it Bjorn, what are you doing!!?"
"Let her be. You know how she gets when she's angry." Bjorn took a big gulp of his drink. and with a big, wide smile He examined his mug. "She'll be back, just like she always does."
Donovan could only scoff inwardly at the sight of Bjorn's drunken stupor. "Kalika…"
********
A plate of golden charred fish slid on the rough surface of the tavern table "
A succubus took the meal and mugs and proceeded to weave through the lively banter and the games of demon patrons. The air was filled with the aroma of meat, ale, and freshly cooked fish, with a pungent smell of sweat in the air so thick that it could be tasted.
Reaching one of the many circular black wooden tables, the succubus laid the plate down and presented the three mugs.
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Zel followed along, taking a quick sip before tanking the succubus waitress before seeing her depart to serve the other demons around.
Finished, Res exhaled happily, raising her mug. "
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A sudden creak and rattling, followed by a squeak, erupted. Alarmed, Res and Zel turned, finding Kalika lying cheek-first on the table.
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Zel blurted into a spree of giggles, hearing Kalika. "
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Kalika sneered. "
"O-oh…"
Kalika raised her head slightly. ""
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An awkward silence filled the air between the three.
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Kalika glared with a pout. "
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"Huh!?" Res glanced at Zel, confused.
Kalika pondered the thought for a moment, then peeked out again. "
Zel happily clasped her hands. "
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Kalika groaned, drawing Res's attention to her. "
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Kalika groaned again, annoyed. "
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Kalika calmed and turned from Res. "<...I don't hate them. It's just… Donovan… He's a nice guy, and I know he tries to help, but he can be so overbearing sometimes. It feels like he's hovering over me. And Bjorn. He couldn't give a rat's ass what happens, I bet he can't wait to abandon us as soon as all of this is over>"
Just then, Zel returned and took her drink. "
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Res sipped down another gulp of her drink, then cleaned her mouth. "
Kalika sighed. "
Zel cocked her head, surprised. "
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"Aaawww."
Without warning, the same succubus waitress laid a plate of red and orange vegetables and a bread stuffed with a stringy stew of brown meat. With a mug of ale on the side.
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Kalika with her wooden spoon, poked and prodded the small chunks of red and orange "
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Kalika pouted and immediately cleaned the vegetable off the plate, shocking the two sisters. "" she declared. without hesitation, even shifted through the stew in the bread, for any bits and pieces of any unsightly veggies.
With her witch hunt finished She pushed the pile of veggies to the furthest end of the round table, then dipped her spoon and took her first bite. She savored its taste and juicy flavors that permeated the dish with an almost spicy flavor. Watching Kalika, the two sisters awkwardly followed her lead, sharing their meal to their hearts' content.
A somber silence filled the between the three women as they neared the end of their meal. Res and Zel exhaled, satisfied with their meal and took their last glug of their drinks with flushed faces. Content, Zel eyed then grabbed their third mug, pouring half of it into her mug, and passed it to Res, who happily took it.
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Zel smiled and hiccupped. "
Kalika stared back at her mug again. Despite the rising hesitation, she mustered up her will and took her first sip.
A slight fizz filled her mouth with a sudden bitterness. She reeled over, close to spitting it out. But suddenly the flavors shifted from a bitterness to an almost flowery taste that became sweeter, fruity-like flavor the longer it lingered in her mouth. More confident, she gulped down the remaining ale in her mouth.
A warmth filled her cheeks and head, and the tension she once felt slowly melted away. "I-it... Is good."
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Although confused, Kalika quickly agreed, and bumped mugs with the two women and immediately gulped down their mugs.
Kalika followed, sipping the mug down, much slower.
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"O-oh." Kalika, in a panic, hurriedly gulped her ale down, little by little. All the while, Zel and Res cheered her on with giggles and laughter.
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Res laughed out loud. "
" Res laughed even harder. " "Drunk? I'm not drunk!"
Zel Giggled. " "Huh!?" Kalika's mouth twitched. " " Kalika slammed her fist on the table and narrowed her eyes at the sisters. " " ""