Kalika quietly munched on her jerky, glaring daggers at Donovan as he continued to train his earth magic. He shaped a sphere of earth into a cube, then a long rod to hold.
"Hah! Hey, Bjorn, I think I finally got it!"
Bjorn, driving the cart, yawned. "
"Hey! I'm not a kid!"
"Now… The next step would typically be to test its strength. But in your case, try to manifest it a few more times in the exact same shape."
"What should I do with this one then?"
"Chuck it. It'll dissipate in an hour or in your case, probably less."
Donovan looked at his earth rod, unsure. "Alright… I guess."
"Hey, Bjorn. What about that stupid book?" Kalika said. She bit another small piece of jerky off, chewing and gulping it down in seconds. "Didn't you say you wanted him to control his magic before he could get that book back?"
"That was a promise I made to you, not him. If I deem it necessary, I'll share whatever I've managed to read through that book but until then it stays with me."
Kalika pouted. "Oh. So you can read it and we can't?"
"Exactly."
A grey crystal struck the back of Bjorn's hair. Feeling the subtle blow he glanced back, finding Kalika with a turned face and puffed cheeks. All the while, Donovan quietly chuckled at the reaction.
"You demons are annoying."
"You're welcome." Bjorn said, focusing back on the road.
"For what!? For being annoying!?"
"What's the problem, Kalika?" Donovan asked. He tossed the earth rod outside the cart and worked to manifest another sphere of earth. "You said you were close to figuring out your blood magic, right? You might as well finish it if you want to read the book."
"Let me guess, you're in this blackmail too."
Donovan laughed. "Not really. But you clearly want to read that book, don't you?"
Kalika turned her face. "Hmph! I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on. There is no point in hiding it. You were trying to open that book earlier before we left."
"Fine! I take back what I said… You're both annoying."
"Jeez, angry much?" Donovan sighed, turning his freshly converted earth cube into another rod. He tossed it overboard, repeating the process. "By the way… Why do you care about reading it so much? Surely, you have more than enough jerky to last a lifetime."
Kalika grew somber and quiet. "Remember, when I talked about the heroes of Prophecy?"
"Hmm? Yeah.. Vaguely."
"That book belonged to their mage. I've only known them for a day and… I guess you can say I'm curious about what she wrote…"
"I see…"
"Regardless…" Bjorn spoke. "A book like that is unsafe to read or copy from. More so if you don't know how to control your own magic, and don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to force you to use your blood magic. You clearly don't plan on controlling it anyways, and that's fine by me. Because only one thing matters is the end of this journey."
"Yeah. I think we already know that, Bjorn." Donovan stated, manifesting a new rod in his hand.
"Then let's end this conversation here about that book. And your blood magic."
Kalika scoffed and turned to the nature of the strange fire-like plants they were passing. From the road, further back, she watched as a small, greyish green goblin stabbed through a hopping, horned rabbit. Its fellow brethren joined it as they ripped the small creature apart.
"Hey… Donovan."
Donovan quickly ceased and glanced back at Kalika. "Yeah? What is it?"
Kalika remained silent for a moment before finally saying. "Never mind…"
"Alright… If you… Ever want to talk… I'm right here."
Suddenly, the sound of stamping feet quietly erupted.
Bjorn clenched his teeth. He conjured a stone mask in his hand and covered his face. "Donovan. Your mask. Now! And hide your body too!"
"What's going-" Kalika ceased sensing a bloodlust from the road ahead.
"Get down. And look outside."
Reluctantly, Kalika listened, found cover behind their supplies and barrel of mead that Donovan covered her with a large cloth. Not long after, a large group of demons riding Garu rushed past them. All armed with swords and axes, and in robes.
"
Demons far ahead, turned and sights locked on their cart.
"
A few of the demons blocked the path ahead. With some hesitation, Bjorn listened, stopping the cart for the group. Slowly, demons circled and their cart, with some growing curiosity.
"
Bjorn grunted, "
"
"
The demons sneered and glanced at Donovan, scrutinizing him. "We're looking for a group of demons. Apparently, they also have a human riding along with them.
"Can't say I've seen any humans around her."
The demon chuckled, then turned to Donovan. "You there! Savage! Have you seen a group of demons and humans? There were six of them altogether.>"
Kalika and Bjorn tensed at once. Cautiously, Kalika felt for the handle of her knife just beneath the sheet, prepared to retaliate.
"
" Donovan played along and chuckled alongside them until they finally calmed.
The demon leader quickly cleared his throat and spoke out loud. "Let's move out! To Oar's!!"
The demons cheered in unison and galloped along to their destination.
Kalika peeked from the sheet and watched on as the large group of demons left their sights, with only the echoes of their cheers lingering. "Tch! That was too close."
Bjorn nodded. "For a second, I thought our cover would be blown."
"M-maybe I was just a little lucky."
"Well, it looks like that dumb luck of yours just put us in the clear…" Kalika said.
"You're telling me…" Donovan pulled his mask off, relieved.
" Everyone jolted up at once as another smaller demon rode his Garu haphazardly. He bounced up and down, holding tight to the reins like his life depended on it. The demon rode past them in an instant, continuing to call to his group as Kalika and Donovan looked on in stunned silence.
"Erm… We should probably get moving… just in case." Donovan noted.
Bjorn whipped the reins, continuing to drive the cart. "I'm way ahead of you on that. While the coast is clear You should prepare yourself and put on that disguise," Bjorn said. "If that group came by looking for us, chances are, the security for the village ahead will be tighter too."
"Right. I'll change up now just in case."
********
"This is Berg?" Lillian peeked her head from behind, surprising the crooked-nosed, karnal driver, Cive. Both Jala and Lucius carefully peeked as well from inside the roofed cart, with both equally scrutinizing the state of the small fortified town.
"< Looks like there was a battle here.>" Cive noted.
Lillian glanced. " " "The savages likely attacked. Likely grew bold after news of our king's death." Jala said.
Lucius peered away, disappointed. "Yes… It's a shame. But something doesn't make sense to me…"
"Really?" Lillian pulled away from the front and sat with a piqued curiosity. "And what would that be?"
"If the savages had attacked, the town would've been more fortified. Meaning that either the savage village, north west of here, was relocated, or destroyed." Lucius sighed, exhaustedly. "I certainly hope Zelak hadn't gotten himself killed."
"Zelak…? Oh! Your previous generals, right?"
Lucius nodded. "Blood magic like his are rare and good for gathering information. its unfortunate that it also cuts his lifespan. it's part of the reason I sent him back in the first place, so he may live and possibly pass it on to his next of kin."
Jala, turned away. "Considering how rash he could be, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one who led the attack on Berg. He's always been one to do, not think."
" " "You don't need to remind me." Lillian pulled her hood and conjured her stone mask, placing it on her face. Jala and Lucius followed suit as the gates opened for them.
Their cart pulled in, parked by the many other carts stationed and listed for sale.
Ahead on the streets, stalls littered around selling an assortment of clothes, textiles, weapons, and food.
The shopping demons scurried about, some lugging differently shaped rocks and bricks, as others carried baskets and pouches of food.
Both Lillian and Lucius jumped from the cart. Lucius glanced back. "Jala, watch over the cart. We shouldn't be too long."
Jala simply nodded and watched as Cive joined the two.
Lillian followed behind Cive and glanced at each stall, each one holding demons with different characters and dispositions, trying to barter and bargain with one another. "It's strange how lively it still is," she whispered.
"Because time stops for no one. To survive, sometimes you need to trade for something you need."
" "Ruka's?"
"It's a spice that tastes a little like your honey in your world, but it has a slight spiciness to it that's hard to describe."
"Oh? You never told me your people made these. That's because it's incredibly hard to come by." Lucius narrowed his eyes on Cive. " Suddenly, Cive stopped in his tracks and completely shook from head to toe with his eyes glued in a single direction. " " Cive dashed away and slammed his hands on a stall of clothes and fur." The shopkeeper chuckled smugly. " Lillian and Lucius reluctantly joined Cive as he gestured for the golden rabbit's fur. The merchant obliged, allowing Cive to examine and feel the soft fur with vigor.
" " The merchant gestured to the clothes hung in his stall. " " " With Cive distracted, Lillian looked around, seeing one familiar piece of clothing after another. Attire, both commoners and nobles would wear above in their world. At the very edge of the stall, a yellow fluttering parchment, encrusted with the royal seal, hung. Curious, she picked it out and read.
Her brows twitched, reading the parchment. She turned, but just before she could speak, Cive slammed the pelt down.
" Both Lucius and Lillian eyed Cive at once, shocked by the proposed price.
" " " ""
Suddenly, Lucius slammed a huge pouch of crystals. " The merchant smiled gleefully. " " " "Hey, Lucius," Lilian whispered. She held out the parchment. "You should read this."
Lucius took the paper, reading it himself, scrutinizing every symbol read. "Strange… Very strange…"
" Cive took the big bag and lugged it over his shoulder and departed with Lillian and Lucius behind.
"So Zelak and Bjorn are somehow working together… But what does this mean?" Lillian questioned.
"I don't know. But clearly something's going on. But what's even stranger is that a human is among their group. Whatever is going on…" His eyes leered from stall to stall, seeing demons flaunting their armor and joking with each other with sharpened swords. "It's clear that my brothers see them as a threat…"
"What should we do?"
"We keep on our current course and end my brother's scheme. We'll worry about Bjorn and Zelak later."
"Right." Lillian turned back to Cive, watching as he approached a stand of large meat and mushrooms. "Just a few more days now, Kalika…" She clenched her fist. "Hold on a little bit longer, then I'll fix you again so you don't have to remember."