High above the rocky yellow plains, Kalika rode on Rakon's back, her focus locked on the swirl of dark magic shifting through her hands. Again and again, she conjured and reabsorbed the dark magic, hoping desperately for something new to happen.
Nervous, she looked over the horizon, watching as Oars grew larger.
"We should reach the city in an hour," Rakon said.
Kalika narrowed her eyes and tightened her lips, frustration creeping over her. Once again, she looked at her hand. "Damn it. Why isn't it working?"
Memories flashed of the rampages and dark miasma cloaking her body. She closed her eyes, trying to recapture those very feelings and sensations lost to her.
She grimaced, still unable to replicate the flow of magic she once felt. She crossed her arms, diving deeper into thought.
"Are you alright?" Rakon asked.
Kalika flinched, startled out of her thoughts by the sound of Rakon's voice.
"I… It's nothing. I'm just trying to figure something out."
"This is about your blood magic, isn't it? Did those books help?"
Kalika hesitated. "Not really. The books never described how blood magic is supposed to feel. All they are are just theories, nothing about the sensations or how you know when you're doing it right."
"So you don't know how to control your blood magic."
She sighed. "I do, a little. But I still don't fully understand it. I want to gain that understanding as soon as I can."
Rakon chuckled. "Well, there's no need to rush. You'll have your time once you've gained that core's power."
"Right… Time…"
"You should relax. Take a nap if you want. I can wake you when we arrive."
"No, I'm fine." Kalika conjured a ball of darkness over her palm and stared into its depths, then glanced over at Rakon. "That only leaves me one other option…"
********
Kalika and Rakon marched across the long, sand-colored bridge, hoods drawn low to shadow their faces. Guards eyed them closely as they neared the city gates.
One guard stopped, recognizing both faces beneath the hoods.
The guard stared at Rakon. "
Rakon shot a glare."
The guard's expression stiffened, and without protest, he turned and nodded to the gatesman.
The gate lowered, and the guard stepped aside, letting the two enter. The guard took one last glance before the gate raised, leaving both Rakon and Kalika to join the bustling streets of the rebuilt city.
"Did you know him?" Kalika asked.
"No."
"Well, clearly there are some demons still loyal to you."
"Not for long."
"Then take advantage while you still can." Kalika's gaze darted from demon to demon, noting the guards stationed on the rooftops above.
"Perhaps another time, but our priority is the core."
Soon, they slipped into the bathhouse district, where the central statue stood tall and silent. Rakon took the lead, weaving through the tangled streets with the confidence of someone who had never been lost here.
They passed crowds, climbed a tower's stairs, and walked by other notable landmarks that even Kalika remembered.
They finally reached the castle's plaza, split in two by old wounds, where demons toiled to mend the shattered path leading to the towering split-pillar castle.
A sudden chill crept up Kalika's spine. She spun, heart pounding, eyes scanning the crowd of demons for a threat she couldn't yet name.
"Did something happen?" Rakon asked.
"N…No…" Kalika turned, rejoining him as they pressed on to the castle.
Guards lined the entrance, each more stern than the last.
"
"Do you recognize any of them?" Kalika whispered to Rakon.
"No."
"Then how do you suggest we enter?"
Suddenly, Rakon pulled his and Kalika's hoods down.
"If they don't let me in, you can kill them."
Kalika scoffed at the reckless plan, then glared at the guards as they stared at both of them in utter shock.
"
Kalika and Rakon cocked their heads. "City's Savior?" They said in unison.
Rakon turned to Kalika, then glanced back at the line of guards who equally stared with the same puzzlement at the excited guard.
"
The excited guard stepped from his post, pointing and gesturing to her. "
The guards stared at them, unsure what to make of the sudden tale.
Rakon cleared his throat. "
Utterly bewildered, Kalika glanced at Rakon as he continued to weave his story. "This is not going to work."
"
Kalika glared. "Don't drag me into this!!"
Seeing his serious demeanor, she resigned herself to his plan.
"
"
"
"
The captain pointed his spear at Rakon. "
"
"
"
The captain narrowed his eyes. Reluctant, he pulled his spear away. "
"
"
The captain glanced at Rakon's arm, scowling. "
They entered and were greeted with the sight of Demons reconstructing and servants cleaning messes.
Curious, Rakon glanced at the servants again. ""
"
Without hesitation, he took the front, leading the captain and Kalika into the familiar yet patched-up set of halls and stairs.
Her chest twisted, and her stomach churned with each step as they crossed the castle's balcony and its newly built stone bridge. Before she knew it, they had entered the corridor.
"What in the…" Rakon stopped, staring ahead and drawing the captain's attention.
Curious, Kalika peeked ahead but froze in surprise.
Wrapped in a web of thorn vines, the hornless alchemist, Cyrus, hung, sleeping soundly under the blossoms of Zorbian's black flowers.
"
More vines crept from the cracks and the crevices of the stone, slithering and whipping towards Rakon.
Kalika clicked her tongue and sliced through the horde of vines with her dagger. "Stay away from him! I want him to see."
The severed ends of the vines twitched and lingered for a moment before slowly retreating.
"What was that about?"
"I'll explain later. Let's just finish this."
He stared hard at Kalika's back, suspicions rising. "I'd prefer that explanation now."
Kalika paused at the wide-open, broken passage entrance. "Alright. Then tell me, Rakon… Do you believe in God?"
"An idea like that is ludicrous."
Kalika smiled. "I thought the same about angels and demons once… It's strange… This world always seems to have something else to say." She continued inside. "You'll see what I mean."
Rakon grumbled, eyeing the captain, then Cyrus again. He turned back to Kalika and quietly followed her through the secret entrance.
They arrived at its end. A grand, large chamber where a broken blade-shaped pillar hung over a miasma-filled blue barrier encasing the core. The Chamber itself looked patched up with new stonework and newly erected support pillars to maintain the structure.
Kalika approached the barrier. With a grim expression, she glanced back. "This… is Zorbian—the dead god some of your kin worshipped."
"A god. I find it hard to believe that this 'thing' could be a god."
"Well, it is…" Kalika entered with little issue. "Or at least his soul."
She stood in front of Zorbian's core, her brows knitting with uncertainty. With a deep breath, she grabbed the core in her hands. The sphere felt softer than expected, somewhat cool, and wet.
She attempted to turn, only for her body to freeze. "D…Damn it." Her heart pounded, unable to turn from the core in her hand.
Frustration washed over her. She tightened her grip around the core and raised it to her mouth.
Suddenly, it lurched into her mouth.
She bit hard, catching its other half before it could escape into her throat.
Her heart raced as she fought against its pull.
"R…Rakon!"
Eyes wide, she managed to turn, leaving Rakon stunned as she forced herself toward him.
She clenched down harder, feeling the pull from the core become even stronger. She stepped from the barrier, and nearing Rakon, the vines stemmed from the ground. They grasped her ankles and kept her in place as they wrapped all around her.
"N-NO!!!"
The flowering vines coiled around her face, prying at her jaw and pushing the core. "I... I won't let you. I swear! I'll tear your core in two!"
Kalika flinched, looking up at Rakon and seeing black flowers bloom around him. Her heart sank, seeing him reach for her.
Rakon seized her and pulled her from the grasp of the vines, wincing from pain. He hurried her away, surprising her.
She watched as the flowers fell off her, finally noticing the lack of flowers on Rakon.
A crack interrupted her thoughts. She felt a tear. Without warning, the core shot into her throat.
She gagged.
Rakon turned.
But before he could speak, Kalika forced her mouth against his.
He tried to pull back as Kalika clung. Before he knew it, something was forced into his mouth and shot into his throat.
Rakon fell onto his back, and Kalika tore herself away, coughing and wiping her mouth.
Rakon writhed on the ground, completely confused. "W-What did you do to me?"
"I'm sorry, but this was the only thing I could come up with-"
Kalika reeled, clutching her chest as a burning sensation filled it. The pain came fast—it was as if the core was trying to burn a hole through her chest.
She coughed. Wretching and belching hot air as her vein began to boil. A vertigo took hold as she felt a familiar presence clawing into her mind.
An orange hue flashed in her yellow eyes. More monstrous and untamed than her natural demon eyes.
"No!" she yelped. "I won't let you!"
She pounded her hands hard into Rakon's shoulder, and she forced herself to watch him writhe in the same pain, clawing at his throat in desperation.
"I don't care how horrible this world is." Kalika took deeper, shallower breathes, wincing and cringing. "I refuse to let you use me!"
Slowly, her shaking ceased.
A natural calm washed over her as she stood on her knees over Rakon, staring straight ahead with her orange eyes and a smile.
Slowly, her eyes returned to a yellow. And air returned to her lungs. She looked at her hand and flexed her fingers. "I'm still me…"
A numb feeling filled her body. And the wall in front exploded with a straight horizontal line. "What?"
Her head fell off and rolled away from Rakon. She watched as her own body slumped away and the figure stormed towards them.
Before Kalika knew it, the void consumed her vision.
"This presence… Its… Familiar…"
Kalika opened her eyes, watching from behind as a long white-haired woman raised Rakon by the neck as she continued to struggle.
"Tell me!" The woman said, "Where's Kalika!?"
Kalika took to her feet. Eyes low and voice flat. "Lily?"
Lillian turned. She froze. Eyes wide in shock, finally gazing upon Kalika's new face.