Scholarly dressed demons clamored about, reaching their hands out of the stone bars as the cart jerked on the bumpy road. Their attention fixed on Donovan, who sat awkwardly, staring at the obsessive demons that shouted a torrent of questions.
Donovan sighed and chuckled. "Jeez. You would think they assume I wouldn't understand… they must really wanna study humans…" He quietly turned from the demons questioning him and glanced at the demon boy, clinging to him in terror as he dug his face into his trousers.
A cold sweat ran down Donovan's face as he felt the boy continue tense from the racket the scholars made.
The demon boy whimpered. ""
"
Eeps filled the carts as the scholars straightened. Clearing their throat reluctantly quieted down. Still burning with curiosity, the group deliberated amongst each other before having their leader distribute pieces of parchment from their bags. Not long after, they desperately scribbled with their spare charcoal, staring intently at Donovan.
Donovan rolled his eyes. "If only we could erase their memories." He leered at Kalika, who laid curled in the corner, facing the cart wall. "Honestly, I don't know what's worse. The fact that she tried to kill the kid for those jerkies, or the fact that he actually ate most of our crystals."
"I can hear you," Kalika grumbled.
"Leave it be, Donovan. At least the child brought himself some large crystals. Those should cover some of what we lost." Bjorn said.
"Still, but to get mad about…. 'Food'?"
"Don't forget. As a Lupeus, it can be difficult to control herself. Maybe it was easier for her to handle her emotions as a human, but with her recent transformation, I wouldn't be surprised if she had control similar to that of the boy. So if she gets mad, she will be mad. If she's happy, she becomes happy. And if she wants to do something irrational. She'll do that too-"
"I'm not a child!" Kalika argued.
Bjorn glanced back. "Your mind and body have matured as a human, yes. But now, as a demon, you're merely as impulsive as a child. Your latest spat just helped prove my speculation."
Kalika tensed. "You're a bastard. You know that, right?"
"Don't mistake my words as malicious. Once I've helped you two out of here, I'll provide a few tips to help you." Bjorn gazed on. Not long after, they emerged into the sight of a grand, clear, rocky valley with golden yellow grass swaying all around. From all sides, red-stained swords and axes littered the large valley, standing as a reminder of a long-past ancient battle.
"Wow…" Donovan, shocked, peered right of the cart, absorbing the surroundings. He stood and looked over the horizon, at the lake the size of a pebble. From the pebble, a stream of river far below the cliff road they drove on, flowed at high speed. And past the river itself lay the familiar ocean-sized lake connected to the distant lake with an abundance of ships sailing through.
From the lake, rocky cliffs, and nature below, he shifted his gaze to the crystals in the skies, noticing the dimming. "Damn… It looks like the days are almost over, too..."
"I'll keep an eye out for a clearing then."
"But wait. What are you going to do with those other demons?"
Bjorn sighed, exhausted. "I'll talk to them at the camp and figure something out. So they'll be staying with us tonight."
********
Kalika leaned over the cart wall. Watching as Bjorn commanded the cage of earth into the air before setting it down by a campfire Donovan was constructing. All the while, the child stuck next to Donovan like a bear to honey. Catching the boy's sight, she averted her gaze.
A sudden argument quickly broke between Bjorn and the scholars, drawing Kalika's attention. She watched in bewilderment as the leader affirmed their rights to study Donovan. However, his farcical arguments were quickly shut down, with a snap of Bjorn's finger, instantly turning their bars to walls.
The sight of the act forced an amused chuckle from Kalika.
Curious about the land, she looked around, noticing that the camp looked over the large valley of weapons.
"" The boy whined.
Kalika peeked back and watched as Donovan rubbed the back of his head, unsure. "Jeez," Donovan said. "Bjorn, what do we do?"
"Ignore the child, we'll find someone in Kasak who'll be willing to bring the child back to that village."
"If you're sure." Donovan placed the last of a large stone and placed the logs.
"Trust me, I've dealt with situations similar to this before. Besides, I know a few demons that could lend a helping hand."
"You sure know a lot of demons."
"Because I was a general. We warred in many parts of the pits before. I helped conquer lands and formed alliances for the better part of over two hundred or so years".
"R…Right… Uhh…. By the way, do you know if there's any way to get him off me? He's uh… Clingy."
"I don't feel like having a crying child, so just leave it be."
Donovan sighed. "Gee. Bjorn, Thanks for the help."
A collective number of knocks suddenly erupted from the shelter holding the scholars. "
"
"
Annoyed, Bjorn quickly opened thin holes in the cage. "
The leaders' eyes widened, then quickly turned, scribbling a note on a parchment along with several others. "
"Seriously??" Irked, Donovan turned from the scholars in annoyance and began to light the campfire with magic. Finished, he eyed the cart where Kalika watched. "I suppose I'll put together some panned steaks…"
With a deep breath, he turned to the child and nervously pried the boy's hand down and off him, saying. "S... Stay." He awkwardly gestured to the teary-eyed boy to stay and slowly back away.
With some reluctance, the boy sat, forced to watch as Donovan brushed past Bjorn and entered the cart.
Inside, Donovan locked eyes briefly with Kalika, then swiftly moved to the damaged boxes and pouches and silently searched through some of the debris, gathering a pot and a shield-sized, three-legged iron pan, along with the utensils and food.
He threw several sacks of meat into the pot, then stopped. "I'm going to cook some of the meat on this… if you want some."
Her heart grew heavy. Conflicted, Kalika turned face, staying silent.
"Well, if you change your mind, feel free to get some. I'll be cooking a lot of that leftover Krefon meat." Without another word, Donovan stood and took the supplies out the cart, returning to the campfire, as Kalika watched on.
She slowly turned her sights away, with her gaze aimed directly at the debris and scattered equipment beside her. At the corner of her eye, she caught sight of something wrapped in a white cloth. "Oh, yeah..." She reached and opened it, unveiling the new symbols etched on the red-stained ornate blade. "I almost forgot about this..." She leaned her head onto the cart wall, staring at the boxed knife.
A few seconds after staring at the knife, the cart shook, and Bjorn's arms reached over Kalika. He grabbed pieces of the damage boxes and wooden crates, throwing them from the cart and taking a few of the scholar's supplies. Finished, he glanced at Kalika, briefly locking eyes before turning to the open box. "You still haven't reformed your contract?"
"Shut up." Kalika scoffed and turned her head. "Damned demon."
"How long are you going to keep this charade up, Kalika? Because you're not fooling me. You can't keep running away."
"I'm not running from anything! So, leave me alone." She quietly said.
Bjorn turned, leaving Kalika. "Suit yourself."
Kalika listened on, frowning and unwilling to look back out of the cart.
"What's the point? As soon as we get out of here, I'll… I'll…" Kalika paused as an uncertainty gripped her. She tensed with a profound clarity hanging over her like a hanging light over her head, burning through the lies she prayed to cloud her mind. Her hopes of delusion were long faded, filling her mind with the despair of truth.
With hazed eyes, she reached for the knife, taking it in her hand and feeling her soul with a tingling sensation. She held the knife up, with the feeling like they were one and the same. "It's not like that's going to help either. I wish I could-" The memory of Donovan's words of feigned reassurance and of companionship. She sighed and laid her arm down. "That idiot…"Her eyes softened as she stared blankly.
With a deep breath, she rose and leaped out from the back of the cart. She slowly approached the fire, watching as Donovan struggled to cut a slice of meat off a conjured stone cutting table.
The boy, watching Donovan, quickly caught sight of her approach and fled behind logs and rock. "Donovan," Kalika suddenly spoke.
Donovan jolted and stumbled back in shock. "Kalika? Um, the food's not ready just yet-"
"Can I help you?" Kalika turned away, shy. "As a way to apologize for... Earlier..."
All eyes were on her. "S... Sure," Donovan said. "U-umm, I just need these sliced into large flat slabs. C-can you do that?"
Kalika eyed the chunk of meat and, with precision, sliced a thin slice off. "Like this?"
"E-exactly! But a little thinker, and while you do that, I'll get the pan ready to cook." Donovan turned and lifted the pan to the fire, letting it heat from below as Kalika continued
"You know, the morning when I hunted this thing, I was actually on the lookout for a few goblins to kill, because I was… Mad and… Sad… A couple of times, I even thought to leave and… go off on my own. And that's when the annoying thing ambushed it. It cut my neck right here." Kalika traced her finger across her neck and, with an even greater disappointment in her voice, spoke. "He never saw me coming after that. And I killed him quicker than I wanted to."
Kalika chuckled carelessly, "The worst part is that I couldn't find a single goblin that entire morning."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Kalika turned, somewhat embarrassed. "Wasn't it you who said I barely talked?"
A profound realization struck Donovan at once. He straightened and replied. "Y-yeah… I guess I was. So that day you weren't scared by that big monster?"
"No. I was more surprised, and I reacted. By the time I was fully aware, it was already dead. And since it was dead, I figured that I might as well take it. After that, a couple of deer came my way too, so I killed them too." Kalika pushed the slabs to Donovan.
Donovan chuckled. "O-oh yeah. I almost forgot you brought those, too. And talk about a lucky break for you." He fixed the large iron pan over the fire campfire. "Hey, uhh… Do you remember that demon woman Zelak had…Uhh… What was her name?"
"Bretta, I believe," Bjorn spoke.
"Yeah! Yeah! Oh." He stared at Bjorn, watching as he placed another large chunk of meat in front of Kalika.
"What about her?" Bjorn asked.
"Yeah. What about her?" Kalika also pressed.
"W-well, remember when we were cutting it up and storing it away?"
"That part is a little more vague to me," Kalika admitted.
"Well, when we were cutting up the Krefon, I'm pretty sure she wanted to take the Krefon for herself because she was wrestling in the tent, Zelak."
Kalika cocked her head." Really?"
"Heh. I think I remember seeing that too." Bjorn chimed. "I kept quiet to spare Zelak the embarrassment."
"So I wasn't the only one!" Donovan laughed. "She was practically drooling and staring at the Krefon, and Zelak had to pull and hold her back."
Bjorn placed another large chunk of meat as wide as the pan itself. "If you need any spices, just let me know."
"No. No. It'll be fine." Donovan placed the first few slabs on, cooking them over the fire with a loud sizzle. "Gosh. It feels kind of weird not having them here with us. Zelak, Charla. It sure kept things interesting."
"Yeah..." Kalika silently nodded, with a subtle smile forming. She cut the last of the first meat and pushed the pieces to Donovan, and watched as he flipped the first set of steaks. Soon, the whiff of cooking meat invaded her nose. The very smell tempted her to steal a piece. She reached out, but quickly stopped, noticing the boy's lingering gaze as he watched her. Embarrassed, she wrenched her hands back, cleared her throat, and returned to cutting.
The evening continued on as Kalika and Donovan reminisced over the past month's events as they cooked. Kalika felt a weight she once ignored, slowly lifted from her chest and shoulders. She smiled and chuckled, wanting to cling to those fleet feelings. Soon, however, the sizzling of meat stopped, the meals ended, and the stories grew limited. Eventually, night came to pass, and the tents stood erect, prepared for use.
She listened to the buzzing nature around her, alone. Her chest tightened under the light of the fire. Curious, she glanced to the side where Donovan slept soundly. Meanwhile, the boy, under his covers, watched Kalika like a hawk. Seeing the child, she chuckled, bemused by him. "He really is too nice for his own good..."
Suddenly, her ears twitched, and the sound of the subtle crunching of dirt and rock filled the air. Her face grew solemn, and she rose to her feet and walked to the road with her knife in hand. From a distance, she watched as two shadowy figures attempted to stealthily approach from the bushes. The malice and greed she felt were too obvious to ignore, paired with what seemed to be a rope in one of their hands.
Unimpressed, she raised her knife. "I suppose there's no better time than now to test it out."
She threw the knife in the air, and in an instant, it shot to the figures, with shocking precision, piercing through the first's neck and slicing the second. The two demons quickly clutched their chests and fell to the ground, gasping for air. Not long after, the knife boomeranged back to her hand, impressing her. "Not bad…"
Slowly, the blade melted into a blackish-red liquid that slithered into the veins of the hands. "That feels… Weird." With a few stretches of her hands and arms, Kalika wiggled her shoulder, attempting to dispel the strange feeling. "Hopefully, no more of those bastards come. I'd like to actually sleep," she complained.