The wooden wheels of the cart clacked against the rocky terrain, and the cooling breeze was no different from the autumn winds. The Chill Kalika felt was brief but wasted as she stared at the journal apprehensively.
She glanced up at Donovan, who never looked more distant until now. A single curious thought passed through her mind, but before she could speak, the rattle of the bigger bum tossed and turned everyone.
"Is everyone alright?" Bjorn called, peeking back.
"We're fine," Donovan assured. He felt his head, then leaned back on the cart wall.
"Good. Since you're not busy, you should probably practice your control of magic."
"I-… Sure. Just give me a second." Donovan sighed, looking back up into the sky, before glancing back at Kalika. "So, how long are you going to stare at that book?" He asked.
"Bjorn told us to control our magic better. And for me to control my supposed blood magic before we could read this." She quietly stated.
"Does it really matter now? I thought you'd be a little happy getting to read it and all."
Kalika felt the ridges of the book. "Happy? I don't know." She sighed. Kalika then turned to gaze at the trees and plants among the golden grass the scatter across and around the rocky terrain.
"I guess you still don't feel like talking much after… what happened."
"What's there to say?"
"Well, I don't know. Maybe about how you feel or if something is bugging you. Honestly, I'd like to know. I feel like if there's one thing you're good at, it's not talking."
Kalika glanced.
"And trust me, it's not like I'm trying to pry," Donovan defended. "But… You really seem to get angry and... Emotional, and you barely say anything afterward."
"Donovan," Bjorn called. "Your magic."
"H-hold on, I'll get to it!"
Kalika grew silent, shifting her eyes from the nature to the book in her hand. Smiles of the courageous determination of the heroes flashed in her mind. Of Jarred tinkering with his sword. Magnus, laughing by the fire. And of Sylph's confidence beneath her hood, as the campsite magically formed in seconds.
It felt like a memory so distant it was almost alien to her. "It hasn't been a year..." With pursed lips, Kalika began, "You know… I…" She paused, turning, then glancing back, to see if Donovan was listening. "Donovan?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think I'm still human?"
Donovan looked on in stunned silence. Even Bjorn peered back, surprised by the sudden question.
She continued. "With everything that's happened up to this point. With my… Blood magic… and the….Uhhh… You know. Do you think that I'm human… Please… Be honest. Or am I just a monster?"
"Kalika… I uhh…" Donovan rubbed the back of his neck, unsure. "You-... w-well-"
"Donovan. Your Disguise!" Bjorn silently interrupted. Acting fast, He quickly conjured a stone mask to his face.
"Huh?" Donovan glanced.
"There's a group over here. So you're disguised now."
"O-okay. Donovan quickly rummaged in his supplies, applied some quick mud, and threw his stone mask on. "Sorry, Kalika. I'll answer later. Promise!" He hurriedly whispered.
Slowly, the cart came to a halt, parking by a group of demons with scholarly robes. Annoyed, peeked, and quickly noticed the destroyed cart with several dead Garu's
"
A blue demon, with grey short hair, approached. "
"
"
A few of the scholarly-looking demons peered at Kalika and Donovan, almost pleadingly.
"
Kalika scoffed and turned from the group, returning to her side of the cart. "
"
"
A collective sigh of relief erupted among the scholarly demons. One after another, they engaged in indistinct chatter, gathered their belongings, and passed them into the cart. Eventually, the six demons entered with their grey-haired leader closing the back door. "
Bjorn whipped his rein, and the Garu's continued on the trail. Awkward, Donovan glanced at the tired demons, who slumped against the cart, exhausted, as they continued their chatter. They each praised their luck and talked on about some strange theories with some mysterious green monsters. Wanting to distract himself, He glanced at Kalika, then reluctantly began practicing his magic.
Some of the scholars' attention landed squarely on him. A hint of concern painted their faces before Bjorn could explain. "
Their collective understanding resounded in the cart as some continued watching as he shifted the shapes of the earth in his hands.
"
"
Kalika leaned away from the scholar, annoyed by their chatter. "Bjorn should've just kept his mouth shut… Oh, well…" She slowly turned back to the journal in her hand, and with a silent sigh, she picked it up, opening the first page and reading to herself. Past the first page was a message left for Sylph's brother, a man named Arcana Mana. With raised brow, Kalika read the message, then shifted to the next with a newfound understanding of the journal's intended reader.
She scrutinized the following pages, deciphering through the bad handwriting the sylph's explanation on how to manifest the elements, with a few briefly mentioning her own opinions. Reading the last paragraph, however Both intrigued and disappointed Kalika. The mention of time and space magic raised some hope, with interest flashing in her eyes. An interest that was quickly snuffed at the mention that it would no longer be mentioned within the journal. She clutched tight to the edges of the book, sighing frustratedly. "Oh, course."
With newly dulled eyes, she turned to the next page and read into some Sylph's set of so-called theories and small tests she did with some supposed disciple she trained. All of it revolved around something she called a 'mana sphere'. She leaned her face on her fist, half disappointed. She pondered the pages and what she could only discern as a person with a half circle around him. Thoughts of Lillian rose in her mind, and how she could always conjure magic from anywhere she seemingly wanted. "Hmm... curious..."
Before she could manage to continue, another of the demons hovered over her, examining the book. "
"
Annoyed by his oblivious credulousness, Kalika forced the book closed and hissed, "
"Kafen." The leader tapped the red demons on his shoulder. "
Kalika cringed. "
" " " " " " A sudden uproar of other scholars voicing their opinions erupted. The demons shouted and debated among themselves in a chaotic cacophony of banters and retorts. Another round of indistinct chatter and debates erupted among the scholarly demons.
Irked, Kalika set her book on the side. She watched as the demons slowly rose to their feet, tugging at each other's collars as if ready for a bout of fisticuffs. With interest growing, Kalika reached for a close pouch of her private stash and reached inside.
She straightened, feeling something smooth, then rough. She peeked inside with widened eyes and shook, discovering a blue-skinned demon boy sleeping inside with several large crystals and a piece of jerky screwed across his face. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Kalika with admiration. " "M… My jerky…" Kalika peeked at her other two bags, which she had stashed, finding them flat and empty. "It's gone… it's all gone…"
From above her, a blot of blood struck the two scholarly demons, close to breaking into a fight. They calmed at once and slinked down to the ground.
Donovan sighed in relief as the demons around laughed and made up with one another like old chums in the bar. Kalika However, Contorted. She clung tight to the pouch with her Shook uncontrollably.
Unaware, a child peeked out and presented a crystal to Kalika. " Kalika eyes, darkened instantly as she punctured through the bag with her claws and glared at the boy in unmovable rage. "You little bastard…! Do you know how long it took to find those!?"
The boy shrank, now realizing growing rage within her. In an instant the Boy jumped out fleeing around the cart on all fours. as Kalika gave chase. Kalika leaped and lunged at the child forcing the cart to stop her and boy scratched robes and destroyed boxes.
Breaking between the two, Donovan held Kalika at bay, trying to defuse the situation. "Kalika! Stop!"
Unwilling to listen Kalika threw Donovan out the cart, continuing her pursuit. Tired of the chaos, Bjorn grabbed the two and threw them from the cart and caged them with his earth magic. Undeterred, instantly shattered the bar and lunged at the trapped child only to be grabbed from behind by Donovan. He was followed by Bjorn,who helped to barely kept her at bay.
"Kalika!" Donovan yelled. "Calm down! You have to control yourself!!"
"Shut up! That damned demon ate all my food! Me and Zelak searched an entire morning for all of it!"
"Ah, crap. I think she's really mad."
With all her power, Kalika elbowed Donovan in the face and wrestled her arms free, pointing her hands at the child. "You-"
Kalika crashed into the ground and was pinned down by Bjorn. "Listen to me, Kalika. Stop looking at the child. Look at me. I said, 'Look at me!!"
Kalika, unwilling to listen, continued to glare at the child as she wrestled. To her surprise, Donovan blocked her view. "Kalika Listen to him."
Reluctant, she glared at Bjorn, her fury burning much brighter with her sharp teeth visible.
"Listen closely," Bjorn said. "Take a deep breath. Do it." He pressed harder on Kalika, feeling tense. "Do it!"
"Come on, Kalika. We're trying to help you. Deep breaths. Come on, follow me." Donovan took one deep breath after another. Counting from one and continuing. "Two… Three… Four… Five… Six…"
Slowly, Kalika followed in Donovan's lead, shaking and breathing as he continued to count up. The tension in her relaxed, and with a shaky breath, she finally laid her head on the dirt pathway.
Bjorn quietly relaxed. "You need to control yourself better, Kalika. I shouldn't have to tell you not to kill a child!"
Shaken, Kalika gazed back up with a newfound clarity. She saw Bjorn scowl, and the mask on Donovan's face slowly crack apart. Looking back at the boy, she watched a puddle slowly drift to her as tears welled in the child's eyes.
Reaching his breaking point, the child cried. Tears drenched his face, her eyes reddened, and his shrieks echoed all around them. And like the child, Donovan's mask quickly fell apart, crumbling away with the lion's white hair falling off his back as his true face was revealed to the watching scholar.
Donovan exhaled sharply, resting his face on his palm. "Damn it, Kalika. Way to blow our cover."