But that wasn't the only thing that happend during that time. The women for example began to show clear signs of recovery.
A few began to take care of themselves again while two even started to wander between the dorms and support each other.
On a warm spring day, late into the evening, I had decided to check in on the women. Of course I had switched before entering the pocket dimension separating their rooms.
On this fine evening, the space had taken a peculiar form. One of a mountain ridge that went on for kilometres on kilometres. The ground did not fall of steep to the sides but more gradual than most would expect. There was a slight breeze flowing over the ridge from the west. The same direction in which at the foot of the mountain an ocean began. And right above it, just high enough to illuminate everything but not enough to peak over the ridge, was the sun. A distant ball of fire just close enough to bring with it a comfortable warmth. The mountain was covered in green with a few trees down at the foot and a forest in the valley east. The flora was moving in the breeze, hypnotic pattern almost like the sea. And there, right on top of the ridge, stood a woman.
Well, more of a teen, barely older than I was, actually. I did not know her name, nor did I ever care to ask it. She was there to be in my care, a care I was willing to give regardless of who or what it was that needed it. She was also one of the two that did go out to support the others. As a matter of fact, I was willing to bet that she was on her way to do so right now.
But the walk was long, and lonely so I joined her for it. We did not talk. No in fact we did not even make a noise. But it was still an enjoyable little walk. We soon arrived on a crossroads, well more of another ridge meeting the one we were currently on and continuing further. Such crossings were rare but numbered for each connected to a door. Which of course in turn connected to a dorm.
She departed there while I continued on. Ares and I had been working for months. Preparing to walk with the ambassador to the kingdom of Clemonce. We had prepared our magic training, learned many spells that even those sorcerers would not be able to replicate (even though we wouldn't be able to use the as they tend to collaps reality) and even learned smithing and other nifty little skills one could use. The only thing we needed now is for us to be officially recognised as Battle Mages, possibly acquire a dragon for each of us, something done through summoning, and forge an armour and blade. Though I think I would like to add a bow into the mix. Then of course there was a stupid ritual involved, not a real one though. It was just an event designed to break our minds in the hope of turning us into diamonds or some other stupid shit. Honestly, if Ares an I were to put our mind into it, we would probably be the scariest things to exist....So good luck with that, I say.
Anyway, after doing all that, we had decided to take a small break. As in "doing nothing until the ambassador comes". Which should be in about three days.
We did not do much in those three days. Mostly exploring the town and the forests around. Sometimes we used small barely noticeable spells to make things easier.
Three days until "Canon" would begin. And I had a feeling things would quickly go off the rail. How did I know that? Instinct I believe. There was something in the air. It felt like change, turbulent and uncaring.
"Ares, what do you think? Should we actually try that or just do our own thing?" I asked calmly. "I don't see why not. Worst possibility we grab our things, hide and still do what we were going to do anyway. And you being discovered isn't really and issue to our plan, now is it?" Ares had changed a lot since he arrived here. It was noticeable in the way he spoke and the little mannerisms he had. There was always a little mockish smile on his lips, too. It had infuriated many young girls in Caer Dour and I had to kick a few just so they would leave us alone.
Unfortunately this lead to a very curious impression we had left in the towns youth. With Ares being the prince in shining armour, one to be desired by all and me, the resident dark lord/dragon that had kidnapped the prince and kept him for himself, rather because he likes shiny things (extroverts) or simply because he didn't want anyone to take what was his....
Yeah, it seemed many people mistook us for a couple though that was the farthest from the truth for I was still in the role of his teacher....Which now that I think about it could easily be interpreted as they did seeing as I was more or less responsible for him and therefore prevented him from getting "distracted".
However, while I was still his teacher/mentor of some sort, although we resembled research partners more often than not, this was also the first time the two of us were attempting to fake our credentials and become official generals in a world that wasn't ours at that. Frankly we ought to be more careful and even play along with what could be considered "Canon" but by now we had realized that none of us were willing to just ignore everything that was happening around us.
So we had already established our plan A. One that would hopefully go as previously mentioned. If it did not we were willing to subject us to the training of the mages, which neither of us were happy about. That was plan B. Of my nature as a demonic entity were to be discovered at any point during our stay in Clemonce, then plan C would be performed. Ares would stay in the capital as a battle mage, if possible, and perform his duties while I would escape the city and do my best to recruit a separate army, one that did not belong to any kingdom, and besiege the demon armies and their territories. But the how was still undecided and unclear. "Let's just go with the vibe. We will figure the rest out as we go." was my only answer to it when Ares asked.