The light entering the prison below Fort Delusion was dim.
The ceiling was high, of gray stone like the floor, and through the bars passed the luminosity and the ashes, for Reefback still burned.
The entire prison was located in levels below the hold.
PRISONERS
After the first few days, Priestesses came and accelerated the healings, the same had been done among the Mermaids and Tritons, who had priority in treatment.
Godwyna was fully healed, but Cwenburg no longer got up, depressed by having no sign of Edas.
Æthelflæd had found Ǣg-berend still in the dungeon, she was among those who, so wounded, received no treatment.
Bodies were removed hourly.
But the Alchemist did not give up, she consolidated much of what she still had with her, and gave up the painkillers.
After the first doses, the Centaura felt practically no pain. On the second, she saw a field and thought she was dead, but no, they were extreme effects of what Æthelflæd had with her, the result being hallucinations that lasted for days and nights.
Ǣg-berend sweated and spoke in strange tongues.
She saw old companions and new ones, and the distortions of the walls turned into great animals that danced.
It was a strangely pleasurable moment, and peaceful.
And all the blood and broken bones, as well as the bandages and lacerations had disappeared when she rose, with the Human clinging to her equine body.
Æthelflæd finally fell asleep, and now it was Ǣg-berend who cared for her, admiring her as one of her own kind.
Leofwynn tried to cheer Cwenburg up, but it was impossible to get the attention of the Unicorn-Girl, who only cried and lamented, the same that was sound among the many losing relatives due to precarious treatment, abandonment, and hatred.
All foreigners were arrested.
Even foreigners who lived in Seaside Deep ended up being taken to Guard Posts and Fortresses.
The Watchers of Reefback, some with Arcane powers, read that the magic "Teleport" had been used to bring the Monster, and, concluding that it was beyond the possibilities to defeat Grōnilubō, they could only think that it was an act of terrorism by some enemy race.
Dividing Setting Island, the Kingdom of the Great Pearl and the Kingdom of the Rock had already warred before.
Pequeninos and Mermaids were forbidden in their respective territories, however, other races, which numbered in the dozens in both kingdoms, could pass through the borders.
Spies were sought, and suspects interrogated, but no results were reached.
There were those in the Congress of Great Pearl who considered the situation absurd. And retaliation from the Continent Kingdom was expected, and was becoming inevitable.
In the meantime, something was more dangerous. Teleport Magic was no longer taught, with very few Mages capable of using it. It was a known treaty from books and scrolls, therefore, the Aura of someone capable of using it would not be possible to disguise.
At this time Hatizblāw arrived in Seaside Deep, and removed the Lolis and Ǣg-berend from prison, and the Tritons themselves began to threaten a revolt for those who remained imprisoned, with the Mermaid Queen ordering the release of all.
THE SEARCH
Most chose to leave Great Pearl, but Cwenburg insisted on staying, she would not abandon any possibility of reunion with her beloved, and began to wander through the tents, and to search among the dead in the morgues.
Leofwynn wanted to leave there, the number of soldiers in the streets only increased, and the hatred towards Goblins reached a point where they could no longer leave their homes safely.
It was the same in the Kingdom of the Rock, with Mermaids suffering and being arrested, with some being exchanged for Pequenino prisoners. One side accused the other, and there was no dialogue in the meetings that followed with the two kingdoms, only unfounded accusations, and threats.
— I found him. — Æthelflæd called out to Cwenburg, who was sleeping in a makeshift stable next to Leofwynn.
It was dawn, and except for the port, the city remained in total silence.
Cwenburg noticed that Æthelflæd was completely drunk, and then looked at the reins and the brown fur of an equine pulled by the Human.
— Æthelflæd! That's a horse! A common Horse, Edas is a Unicorn! Where did you get this animal? — and the answer came faster than expected, with the Commoner Artois running in tears with a Guard, for they had stolen his workhorse at the fair.
In the meantime, Æthelflæd was taken back to prison, but she didn't stay even a day imprisoned, Hatizblāw paid her bail, and threatened her, saying it was the last time.
In truth, the Admiral would always help her if necessary, but he needed to make her stop being a nuisance.
Mounted on his white steed, Hatizblāw took Æthelflæd back to the other Lolis. Cwenburg laughed for the first time in a long time at this return, the Human was absurd.
The season passed and with the snow arriving, the trio of Lolis persisted, with the help of Ǣg-berend, and Godwyna flying and finding new treatment posts for the wounded. It was the Marquis, or his corpse, that they sought.
And bandaged, with only the diamond horn showing outside the blood-red bandages, he was found.
— It won't be so easy to get rid of me. — Edas was embraced by Cwenburg in tears.
And Æthelflæd was called by Ǣg-berend, who allowed the Human to mount her. An honor granted to few.
Æthelflæd's Alchemies took the Marquis Edas to worlds he never imagined existed, and which would leave him longing for the rest of his life. All amidst delirium and heavy fever.
And even disbelieved by all, Edas returned, but not without cost, his muscles were weak, and they would not regenerate, even with Magic, he was now like someone of Level 1, which deeply saddened him.
However, Cwenburg embraced him during this rehabilitation, and when Edas stood up for the first time, in the middle of the ice season, the Unicorn-Girl kissed him, with everyone around, wounded, Priests, Alchemists, feeling the deepest disgust and complaining.
Only then did Edas shed tears of gratitude, and understood that he received much and not little.
Upon departure, the group left Seaside Deep towards the Demon King's Continent, abandoning Setting Island, and on the Caravel, in the cabin with Cwenburg, Edas proposed something unexpected.
— And why would you want that? — Cwenburg embraced the black fur of her Husband. Edas had been left with many scars, on his face and body, and used his long mane to hide them.
— You are in good hands, and I will be a burden as I am now. I need to become strong again. It won't be for long.
— But, the Demon King is terrible! — argued Cwenburg.
Meanwhile, having his horns groomed by Cynethryth, the Demon King was annoyed by the couple's conversation.
— It's the only way. I won't hold you back, Cwenburg. I can barely trot currently. Wait for me, we will meet again before you can say the Demon King is dead.
— And what do you have to offer me, Edas? — the Demon King spoke through Cwenburg's Mark.
— You were watching us this whole time! — Cwenburg blushed in the cabin. She moved away from the bed and grabbed more clothes.
— Edas, you heard me. — the Demon King ignored the Unicorn-Girl. And the Marquis answered pompously:
— I am the best Woodworker among the Unicorns, weren't you in need of new custom-made furniture.
— Hired! — there wasn't even time and soon Edas was floating in the cabin, being teleported to the Black Castle.
Edas's hooves danced in the air.
Cwenburg embraced him once more, and kissed him, hearing:
— I don't want ordinary payment. I need to return to my good days, you know a lot, Demon King, is there any possibility?
— Certainly, but, are you willing to sacrifice for this?
— Whatever it takes.
— Then come. — one more kiss, and the couple's farewell.
Æthelflæd, who was spying on Cwenburg and Edas through the cracks in the door, did not let sadness invade Cwenburg, invading her cabin instead.
— What are you doing? — Cwenburg was dragged, and they went up the stairs. Up on deck, Leofwynn and Ǣg-berend were waiting for her, and then Godwyna appeared and they jumped on him.
The journey was once again through the air, and among the clouds.
The adventures would still continue, the world still needed Lolis!