Kalika pulled the boy along with Donovan behind as they trailed behind the blue-skinned Succubus, leading them through the crowd of busy demons. The loud, indistinct chatter of the busy demons slowly quieted, along with the distinct fishy smell that lingered in the air.
Suspicious, Kalika leered at the succubus, then the small demon girl who glanced back with her green eyes. "
"
""
"
Kalika narrowed her eyes at the woman. However, before she could speak, the boy tied to her approached the little girl and stealthily poked her with his stone rod.
"Ow!" Fayelynn yelped
Mishti stopped, surprised by the boy.
Flustered, Donovan chased, confiscated the stick from the boy. "
Half amused, Mishti watched the boy, and curled a smirk "
Donovan sighed, watching as tears slowly formed in the boy's eyes. "Seriously? Fine, let me see if I can-"
Fayelynn chomped down on the boy's head. Confused, the boy gazed up at the source of pain, feeling the girl's sharp teeth, all the while, everyone looked on in stunned silence.
"GAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" Panic, the boy ran in circles and thrashed about. Unable to stop him. Donovan and Kalika got caught in the chaos and were tied together in a knot, collapsing on each other in a chaotic symphony of childish antics.
Onlookers watched and chuckled as the boy tripped at the rope's end. Fayelynn stumbled to the ground, then quickly retreated to Mishti's side.
The Boy, with blood running down his head, pointed and shouted. "
Indignant, Fayelynn stuck her tongue at the boy, stunning him.
Flustered by the situation, Donovan held his mask tight to his face, attempting to free himself in vain as Kalika, with a deepening frustration, glared at the boy. In an instant, she conjured her knife and split the rope open, then stood and picked the child by his collar, glaring even harsher. "
"
"< I'm Sorry… Fayelynn can be a little touchy at times>" Mishti explained. "< So please, don't punish the boy on her behalf.>"
Softening her glare, Kalika turned to the hiding girl, then Mishti. With a deep breath, she cooled herself, then set the boy back on the ground. "
The boy shyly nodded, leaving him downcast.
"Kalika," Donovan whispered, "Aren't you being a little tough?"
Kalika rolled her eyes and plodded away. "Who cares, he's a demon anyway."
Sensing her annoyance, Mishti turned on her heel and continued to lead the way, leaving Donovan to trudge along behind the depressed child.
"
""
Mishti chuckled lightly at the small revelation. An amused smirk formed on her face. "It's truly amusing to see how close that boy is to the truth, and barely knows it.>"
"
"
Kalika leered at a nearby dock, filled to the brim with incubi, lazing about and transporting huge crates by hand. She then glanced at the ship and noticed the watchful gazes of several other incubi and other colored demons.
Mishti glanced with her eyes, scanning them. "
"
"
"
Donovan, noticing Kalika's shift in tone and the emptying road, clutched his sword at his side.
"
With widened eyes, Kalika jerked her head to the ship and stopped. To her shock, an awfully familiar Succubus leaned on the back railing of the large ship, smiling widely. Composing herself, Kalika glared at the women as her entourage of slave crested succubi joined. "
"Lyra?" Donovan questioned. He peered at the group, recognizing a few faces himself. "Those women… I remember them. They're the ones that caught me outside that inn."
"
"
"
"
Cautious, Donovan quickly came between Kalika and Mishti, whilst holding the boy behind them.
Lyra, watching, chuckled at the sight. "You worry too much, human."
Shocked, Donovan glanced. "You know our language."
"Cyrus was a very good teacher. And since my girls still need time to learn, this makes it the perfect way to keep our conversation a little more… Private."
Kalika scowled. "If you want to talk, be out with it already!"
Staying composed, Lyra, stood and slowly strutted across the back of the ship, tracing her fingers on the rails as she spoke, "After you all defeated Zorbian's avatar in Oar's he was… far less than pleased. Gave me quite the headache too those few days. Since then He's calmed to an extent."
"And now what?"
Lyra stopped. "Now… He wants to warn you. His brother's strings still wrap around you and your companions. Continue on your current path, and your fate will be sealed. But of you, he and I know that we can't stop you. Fighting will only leave us with a premature death. And even if we offer to help, we know there are only two outcomes. The first is that your group will reject it. and the second is that someone's intentions will be rewritten by Cassell to fit the narrative he wants to force."
"Cassell?" Donovan pondered.
"Then what's the point of this conversation if nothing will come of it?" Kalika questioned.
Lyra smirked. "The point… My dear Champion, is to lay the seeds of chance. God, Zorbian knows where this story is going, and where it'll end if nothing is done. Hence, this warning to you and your companion."
Kalika scoffed, glaring at Lyra. "Ironic. And all this coming from a supposed god that tried to take my body as his own."
"It would've been a necessary sacrifice. If you'd put more faith in him, perhaps we would've had a newer, better world right now."
"Are you kidding me?! 'A necessary sacrifice." Kalika mocked. "That bastard lied to me, had me kill-"
"On your own accord." Lyra interrupted.
A rage flashed in Kalika's eyes, with her hands clenching tight to her knife. "Shut up!"
Lyra stared at Kalika, and slowly averted her gaze, and with a sigh, asked. "Is Zorbian's dream, truly, that horrible, Champion?"
"Stop calling me 'Champion'! My name is Kalika Archelion! I'm not anyone's champion!"
"Fine. 'Kalika'… But I truly want to know. Do you really believe that Zorbians' dream is that horrible? To rebuild the world to how it should've been… Because from what Zorbian told me. You always hated this world. So, it surprises me that you'd be so against it now."
"Y…. We're done here." Without another world, Kalika turned and stormed away, forcing Donovan to follow.
Mishti, watching Kalika leave, could only listen on as Lyra's Subordinates questioned her about Kalika.
"Mishti?" Fayelynn called. "
With a sly chuckle, Mishti led Fayelynn on, following Kalika from behind as Lyra called out to her. They pushed past the growing number of demons, eventually catching up with Kalika.
Sensing their presence, Kalika turned a glare. "
"
"We don't need you kinds help! Hmph!"
A pink flash briefly blinded everyone. Recovering quickly, Mishti spoke out. "
Kalika quickly stopped and took a keen note of their sudden empty surroundings. Even Donovan stopped, confused. "What the… Where's everyone else?"
"
"
"
Mishti, ignoring Kalika, quickly eyed Donovan and grabbed him by the collar.
"
"Hey! What are you…." Donovan quickly silenced as Mishti's eyes flashed.
Frustrated, Kalika slapped Mishti's hand off of Donovan. "
"
Kaliak clenched her fist in fury, but before she could react, Mishti vanished. Befuddled, Kalika glanced back at Donovan and watched as he ran in terror. "What the hell."
Seconds later, the boy thrashed about, floating and vanishing into a growing darkness along with the little girl.
The darkness encroached, and unwilling to give, Kalika conjured her dagger and slashed the air left and right, attempting to sense out the demon. Goosebumps filled the back of her neck as she felt fingers creep up her neck.
"Kalika~... I found you."
Kalika shuddered. "R… Rakon?" Her chest tightened, and the knife in her hand slowly melted away and slinked back into her palm. "S-so you actually came."
Her vision hazed and her strength slowly drained, as if being siphoned away. Unable to resist any longer it all feel to black.
********
Like a madman, Donovan through the crowds of demons more energized than he'd thought possible. "This isn't real! This isn't real! This isn't real!!"
Terrified,He glanced back up and watched as a castle sized Charla lumbered towards him, crushing everything beneath her feet. "Donovan~~"
"Damn it! S-s-stay away!!"
The Giant Charla, with a flushed excitement, reached down at Donovan, with a sinking heart and dread, Donovan braced himself. Suddenly, an explosion of heat overwhelmed him. He fell on the ground hard and looked up, discovering Charla's sudden absence. "Huh?"
Without warning, a demon leaped over him, charging and with a battle cry that just as quickly silenced."
"On your feet!"
"Bjorn!?" Donovan glanced back and watched as a fireball shot across him.
Screams erupted and demons scattered as fireballs flew across that port. A cool wall of stone erected before Donovan, and in seconds, Bjorn picked him from the ground and forced him to his feet.
"You have a sword, right!? Use it!" Bojrn ordered.
Donovan glanced at Bjorn, and seeing his grave expression, steeled himself. "Shit! And Kalika's back there!" invigorated, Donovan drew his sword and darted from the safety of cover. Balls of fire and earth slung their way in a hailstorm, forcing him to dodge and weave through. In a single calculated strike, a slit the gut of the first demon, as a fireball struck the second.
Seeing an incubus with a sword, Donovan blacked and clashed with the demon, keeping his eyes off him.
"
"You first!" Donovan reposited, thrusting his sword into the incubus's throat and turned in time to block the second. Slowly, the second Incubus's strength waned, allowing Donovan to deflect and kick the incubus to the ground.
Furious, the Incubus glared up, but just before he could move, he was stomped to the ground by Bjorn.
"Where's Kalika!?"
"They got her!"
"Got her!? What do you mean they got her!!?"
"They Kidnapped her! What else do you think I'm saying! Quick, I think I know where their ship is!"
"Damn it, Donovan!" Bjorn grabbed Donovan and slammed him on his shoulder. "Hold on tight!"