Merci stirred awake, her body heavy but no longer burning from exhaustion.
She lay still for a moment, breathing in the damp air of her makeshift cave, when a faint beeping broke the silence. Her eyes narrowed. That was no ordinary sound.
With a grimace, she forced herself upright and summoned her interface.
The familiar screen flickered into existence, and there it was—an unopened message marked with the crimson seal of her lord.
Silvanus.
Her claws trembled as she opened it. The demon king's voice filled her ears, cool and commanding, carrying with it the weight of chains she wore gladly.
[Finish what you started. The human settlement must fall. Only then will you be permitted to return. You have three days. Fail, and do not bother crawling back.]
The message ended abruptly, leaving behind only the faint echo of his disdain.
Merci lowered her head.
"As you command, my lord."
