Abbot strolled into the tavern and collapsed into an empty chair, exhausted and freezing. "
He slouched over the table, his mind still swirling from what he'd witnessed before returning. "
The two ales ordered were placed comfortably in front of Abbot. He raised his head and brought his drink to his mouth, gulping down the contents.
To his dismay, several of those same succubi slipped into the half-empty tavern, and their presence immediately drew everyone's attention.
"
Moments later, the doors creaked open again, and two children darted inside, Mishti pushing them forward. "
Abbot choked on his ale, sputtering. "
Mishti tapped the table, calling the children back to her side. In an instant, the succubi fawned over the pair, the boy looking even more bewildered than Fayelynn.
"
"
"
"
Lyra interrupted, raising a finger. "
Abbot's ears practically twitched, straining to catch every word.
"
"
"
Lyra nodded. "
Unexpectedly, the boy wandered over and plopped himself beside Abbot. "Grk!" Abbot floundered, startled. ""
The boy snatched Abbot's second mug and darted away, proudly offering it to Lyra.
The tavern quickly erupted in laughter and giggles as the boy insisted Lyra accept the drink.
Lyra struggled to contain her laughter, but accepted the mug with grace, bringing a wide smile to the boy's face.
Fayelynn, not to be ignored, shot a glare at the oblivious boy. "
Unfazed, the boy looked on as Lyra tossed a hefty crystal to a flustered Abbot. She sipped her drink with effortless elegance.
Abbot turned away, staring wide-eyed at the enormous crystal in his hand. Enormous. "Th-that succubus has to be a goddess!! or at least disgustingly rich. Maybe I could offer her my services…>" He gulped hard. But then the memory of his companions' kidnapping flashed behind his eyes. "
He pocketed the crystal, doing his best to appear nonchalant.
By then, the tavern had dissolved into chaos, with Fayelynn chomping down on the boy's head and sending him into a panic.
"
"
********
"Brr! It's getting cold." Night deepened as the group's cart pulled further along the winding road, its wheels crunching hardening dirt beneath in the dark. The air chilled, a hush falling over the landscape broken only by the steady clip of hooves. Donovan peered up at the distant ceiling crystals that glimmered, almost like the stars he used to watch as a Celestine soldier.
For a moment, he let himself imagine he was riding along with his old companions on the trail of the snowy mountain peaks. The same one that ended their lives so abruptly. He choked, then quickly pushed his feelings down as he peeked back at Kalika, who finally closed the book, almost unsatisfied.
"How was it?" he gently asked.
"It was fine," she said, setting the book aside. "I picked up a few things. Oddly enough, I think I finally understand why I couldn't use magic before. Maybe I'll get more out of it once I actually have control over it in the future."
She sighed. "I just wish it had more information on the magic of time and space."
Donovan furrowed his brow, "Time and space magic? Something like that exists?"
"Yeah, the author used it herself. I've even seen her utilize it when I met the heroes. Still… Would've been nice to have that in my situation." Kalika, nonchalant, pulled a rough comb from her bosom and started working through her hair.
Donovan quickly averted his gaze, embarrassed. "Wow, I'm surprised that thing's still in one piece."
"Perks of a… Blessing, I suppose." Kalika grunted, continuing to untangle her hair.
"Blessing?" Bjorn's ears perked as he pulled the cart on, steadily up the road.
Kalika hesitated, lowering her hands, now deep in thought. "Yeah…"
A strange silence filled the air. Thick and tense, Donovan inched close to Kalika, sensing something weighing on her.
"Kalika… Is there something you want to tell us?"
"N-n… No," she turned her face, combing her hair again.
Donovan sighed inwardly. "There she goes again. Keeping to herself."
With a deep breath, Donovan spoke. "Kalika. Whatever is on your mind, I promise you, you can trust us. But if you don't want to share, that's fine too."
Kalika stopped. Her eyes lowered, still reluctant.
She gazed off toward the distant town of Kisik as the cart climbed the steep mountain pass. Far beyond the town, she saw the lake shimmer, ghostly and still, as quiet flames flickered from the houses and ships along its shore.
Before she knew it, her mouth moved. "What if I told you… That I know why I can't die?" She glanced at Donovan, his face, mute and patient. With a deep breath, she continued. "As it turns out, I was a mistake, created by one of those so-called celestials."
Surprised, Bjorn glanced. His face was written in skepticism.
"Back in Oar's. When Zorbian killed me… I met with the celestial who put me back together."
"A celestial?" Donovan's chest thumped. Interested, he scooched close to Kalika. "W-which one was it"
"You believe me?"
"Of course I do!" Donovan straightened his back. "Like I said before, we're friends. So trust me."
She pursed her lips. After a moment, her hesitation broke. "I met Gerna," she finally admitted.
"G-Gerna!? The celestial time, Gerna?"
"That's the one," Kalika said flatly. "She explained what she did and who made me immortal. Long story short: I was a mistake, that was patched up by another celestial."
"That's a whole lot to unpack. But if you were created by the celestial… Erm… How exactly does that work? Doesn't that make you a sister to Cassell or something?"
Kalika cringed. "Who cares? Like I'd ever claim Cassell or Zorbian as family."
"S…Sorry," Donovan said. "S-so after you talked to Gerna, she gave you a gift."
Kalika shot him a quick glare. "So to speak. Yes. She made it so my clothes would recover with my body. And she helped return me to a more sane state. But honestly, it feels more like a curse than anything."
"Curse?"
Kalika slumped into her fist. "Well, say a spider crawls on me, right?"
"Yeah." Donovan nodded.
"I can't pretend it's not there, or imagine it's something else. The truth just slams into my head like a bright light I can't ignore."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"Yes! I can't even fool myself. I can tell a lie out loud, but I can't believe it. Not deep down anyway."
"Umm… I think I understand. I'm just not fully sure."
"Then forget about it." Kalika crossed her arms and pushed her back against the wall. "All you need to know is that it's annoying. That's all."
"R-right…"
A strange, unresolved silence hung between them. Mustering up the courage, Donovan's voice broke the silence, speaking more shyly.
"U-um… By the way, did Gerna ever tell you if you'd ever be able to die?"
Kalika's eyes drooped low. "According to her. I'm unable to die because of Felim."
"The Celestial of Space?" Donovan muttered, questionably.
"
Donovan glared at Bjorn, but then noticed Kalika's expression. A quiet anger simmered beneath the surface. He half expected her to stand up to Bjorn's insult, but instead, her shoulders sagged and she let out a long breath.
"I'm tired…" She said, " I'm tired of all of it. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't even care if demons take over the world. I just want to live my own life." Her words lingered in the cool air, honest and fragile. Her arms tightened into a hug around herself. "I don't understand why everything has to be so complicated."
A silence settled in, the creaking of the cart filling the space. Donovan looked on, somber at her plight. He cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "W-well, since we're sharing secrets… Back at Oar's, when I was trying to reach you, I almost died." His voice stiffened, growing more direct. "I exhausted myself with magic and blacked out. But then the weirdest thing happened… I met one of the Celestials." He turned to Kalika. "Just like you did."
Bjorn glanced. "Hmm?"
"What?" Kalika raised her eyes and cocked her head.
"O-or at least I think I did!" he defended. "I think it was Falaz. I'm pretty sure she saved me."
"So now you're saying you met a celestial too?" Bjorn asked, dubious.
"I did. No question." Donovan nodded. "She's why I can understand demon language… and why I can see the colors in the crystals, like Kalika."
"And you didn't bother telling us?" Kalika questioned.
"Well… I didn't know how to explain it. It sounded insane, even to me. So I kept it to myself."
"I'm not sure if I entirely believe you," Bjorn said. "But knowing our language would explain some of your curious acts back at Fall's village."
Kalika let out a breath. "You idiot. You should've said something sooner. But… Thanks. For telling me."
Donovan smiled, subtly. "Of course…."
"By the way, why were you struggling to speak earlier? Especially with that dumb child.
"O-oh. U-umm… W-well. I can understand it. But trying to speak it draws a blank to me."
Kalika stared in complete disbelief.
"I-I'm not lying! Every time I try to think of the words, it doesn't come!"
"It's not like it makes sense for you to know demon language, either, Kalika," Bjorn pointed out. "Last I checked, you never tried to learn it."
Donovan raised a brow. "Really?" He glanced at Kalika. "Well, how did you learn to use the demon language?"
Kalika sat pensively, almost unsure of herself. "I don't know…"
Her mind flickered back to Rhonda. Her maid's last moments, still raw in her mind. "I don't know for sure. But I think it happened after Rhonda died…"
"Rhonda? She was your maid, right?"
"Yeah. Rakon lost his temper and crushed her under a boulder. And after that she was…" She frowned, unable to force the words out of the painful memories.
"Y-you don't have to go on," Donovan said. "I'm sure she was close to you. And it seemed that she cared about you, especially if she went through the trouble of trying to help you escape."
"Foolish is what I call it," Bjorn stated.
Donovan aimed a quick glare at Bjorn. "Really, Bjorn!?"
Kalika's words came out softer this time, the edge dulled by grief. "It was foolish. She could've had a peaceful life."
Bjorn finished the thought for her, his voice lower than usual. "But that day, she chose to die."
"Yeah. But at least I'm even now with that incubus servant of his."
"I still can't believe that demon almost caught up to us." Donovan sighed, almost tired. "Do you think we actually got him?"
"Who cares? We're almost at the end of this journey anyway. Even if he survives, what's he going to do? wait at the exit for us?"
"You're probably right," Donovan chuckled, but the sound faded into the night. His smile slipped away, brows furrowing while old, distant, yet heavy memories resurfaced. "Yeah... We are almost there. but that means..." The cart jostled over a rut, and for a second, all he could hear was his own breath and the distant strange cry of a night bird.
He glanced at his hand, a strange unease rising as his mind flashed to his old companions' faces, then their tattered corpses, along with the general he once looked up to. "Will I really die?" He clenched his fist and peered out of the cart again, watching as the water and any semblance of Kisik left their view. "I pray to Cassell that won't happen… At least… Not yet."
********
"
The room was made of stone and filled with medical bandages, sticks, crochets, and a variety of basic supplies and furnishings. It felt warm, but the monotone girl brought a chill in with her. All the while, a couple of incubi stood nervously behind her.
"
"
The girl, Mae, nodded. "
"
Mae tensed. Her eyes focused, yet shocked. "