Lisbeth strolled through the Handulia streets, kicking the small squares of cobble ripped from the ground at the sides, though her gaze veered towards the middle.
The buildings separating the district were painted with a crimson hue. Blood spoke of everything that happened, atop the chaos. Ruined stalls stretched from one end to the other, goblin bodies slept on the ground, and debris of what had been completely looted.
Otherwise, it was almost unnervingly quiet. She clenched her fist, hearing the subtle shuffles around the buildings, almost as if waiting for the people there to run out and beg for her mercy. In other words, it was just the beginning of her plans, and that brought her to move forward, before spotting something in the corner of her eye.
She floated up again before coming to a halt near the canals. A smile appeared on her face, although none could see it.
"Why don't you come out already?" she asked. "You've been following me for quite a while, after all."
She glanced back, and as she predicted, there it rested. A shining eye peeked through the three open lines of the small metal plate, and dark, fur hands rested near the cobble.
Lisbeth chuckled. "Did he ask you to join us?"
The creature didn't respond, but Lisbeth simply nodded.
"Or... was it that you felt it was the right thing to do?" she crouched. "We come from similar places. I'd be a liar if I said all of this-" she looked up. "-was my idea. Did you get to see Rottwan? Or was it Shi Hon?"
Again, no response, and Lisbeth only inched closer.
"If it's neither, then why are you here? Am I right when I say that you took the goblin mutant's skin and attacked that tributal in Swania? The other was right near the king's lap this entire time. Feisty as ever, which you managed to replicate with sheer strength. Again," she chuckled, and the creature blinked.
She took a deep breath.
The demon tapped the top of the metal plate.
"Why am I here?" she asked, as if repeating its question. "I should've expected that a promise wouldn't satisfy their insatiable greed," she shook her head. "I'm searching for someone, to be precise. If they hadn't keeled over, they'd make a great asset. They're a demon, after all, and we still have the entirety of Magna to go through. It might just be a little easier."
Lisbeth straightened up, once again, scouting the area. Wooden elements crashed into pieces, stuffed between small streets connecting to longer ones, or the few alive scouring in the distance, with a scream that followed.
It was precisely those plans, amidst the bits of snow crashing from the buildings above. Things couldn't have changed as easily overnight, and above all else, Lisbeth wanted to focus. The other demon disappeared beneath the crates as she stepped forward and away from the potential prey, right as the sun dawned on her figure.
After all, on the first of Herbes, all could see it. It wasn't a custom or belief that caused this, but a sign of the great spring winds, marking the beginning of a new season.
They were these high-speed gusts of air, carrying seeds, smells or tastes all over Errarion, causing clouds to shift, revealing the scorching sun as it illuminated nature, which was soon to change. Snow started melting, leaves turned a different shade or sprang from their buds, and the whole of life changed, ever-so-slightly.
The sleet turned into a subtle purple colour, with the blades beneath subject to piercing through the thin white veil and showing their crowns. However, this Herbes was a bit different. Much like in the land of Morta, the light seemed bleak, covered by thick grey smoke of the smouldering debris, broken chimneys or fires that were still alive, albeit much smaller.
The attack was successful. The demons destroyed and ravaged almost anything in sight, leaving empty clothes on the streets, people imprisoned in buildings, and everything else, with what felt like a harrowing premonition.
Most of the goblins scoured, while the smaller and more insignificant demons looked for their next targets elsewhere. Lisbeth was, amongst many of the stronger ones, an exception to this rule.
"Leopold and Tabus are holding the fort," she added, strolling along the thumps of the canal. "Bunmo is waiting at the front lines in case anyone dares to try and solve the unsolvable... and I'm here, bowing my head, once again," she turned. "I assure you, though. The Zimorron dynasty has already won."
She put her hand up, and as the light from below vanished, so did she, piling in a small lump of blood.
A small imp flew from above, landing on one of the cracked red roofs in Handulia, watching over a weapon covered in blood, calmly lying on the road, next to a small ditch. It growled, before running on its short legs towards the prize. It bared its fangs and sharpened its claws before tripping directly onto the sharp blade, which, without anyone's doing, cut off two of its limbs and caused it to tumble.
Atomu lifted an eyelid. He slowly turned to the sides, hearing nothing but an uncertain silence, and then moved his hand towards the Knrhum's Blade's grip.
He clenched his fist and crawled from beneath the rubble and light streams. His clothes were ripped, his face was bruised, and his eyes were teary. After a shaky, stressful and uncertain second, he stood up, glancing around to find anything in sight.
He wanted to say something, but was too afraid to raise his voice. He dragged the Guardian Demon behind him and used his other hand to nervously brush through his hair.
His legs ached, and his arms seemed weaker than before, yet he continued to move on, trying to recall exactly what happened.
Then, it flashed before his eyes.
"Dullum would die after one hit. But you're not one of them, are you?"
Atomu bit his lip before sounds in the distance caught his attention. He slowly turned, facing the headless statue of Darius, as his eyes widened.
***
The paladian eventually stumbled into Swania, trying to find any signs of life. A fear grew deep inside his heart that somehow, everyone was either taken by the demons, or goblins or slaughtered, while he remained alive. Searching through the ruins only revealed either dried blood or unmoving corpses, hacked and mixed with all the other rubble.
It was quiet, and the sun reflected that null.
No one seemed to respond to his footsteps. A demon didn't show up, a goblin didn't try to take away his riches, and no fire was big enough to pose a threat. It was all too quiet for something that physically couldn't have been this devastating.
Paladians heavily disliked rain, as during Gorro, it almost always poured at night in Lignoria. Yet, Atomu dreamt of the first Herbes shower, soaking his body as a reminder that everything stretching before him was real, and not some strange dream he couldn't escape.
He even asked for snow, knowing how much he hated it during the past few days in Shimori. He wanted to crawl back into the same ditch and wait for everything to pass.
But he didn't.
He stepped over a bridge and wandered into Midcity, holding onto his Guardian Demon as if it were his only hope. Eventually, he found himself banging on the doors of a church, hoping that at least someone would answer. A glance through the window, however, revealed that it was plastered, save for a small gap in the papers. It revealed seats, pressed against the entrance and as he tried to find anything else, a metallic pole crashed from above, with a few bricks following suit.
He leapt back, putting his hands on his forehead, grinding his teeth. He slowly slid down the wooden gates and onto the small set of stairs below, burying his face in his arms. Instead of tears, a wound opened, with blood splattering on the ground. It formed a small river between the tiny, marble stones before hitting a small lump of snow, and the paladian closed his eyes.
It was early in the morning. The attack began at midnight, if he recalled. It was still too early to ring a bell on the fate of where humans stood, but there weren't even any in sight to confirm any suspicions.
Suddenly, though, something sounded in the distance.
Atomu turned, putting his hand on the wall, and peeking out. He spotted a massive goblin, snoring behind the nearby castle gates, chained to the ground with thick silver lines. He opened his mouth, moving back, making sure each step made no sound.
Nonetheless, his curiosity took advantage of his fearful heart, and he stayed there for a moment trying to make out the shape of something the creature guarded.
The goblin sniffed Morgana, Chyuuichi's Guardian Demon. Following suit was another creature of its kind, smashing its head and glancing at the weapon on the ground. It murmured before kicking it off to the side, trying to drag the creature by the ropes, yet quickly gave up, walking away elsewhere.
The massive goblin groaned before slowly strutting towards the open square where a few wooden buildings separated two different streets. It tumbled on a few cobbles and fell to its side again, snoring.
Atomu moved back, resting near the wall again.
"Ah!"
Out of the blue, a yell echoed. Alerted, he immediately straightened up, spotting a silhouette running through the street.
He clenched his jaw nervously.
"ATAM!" he quickly recognised the voice, seeing Chyuuichi speeding towards him with a wide beam.
His heart dropped.
"Atam!" Chyuuichi yelled one last time before leaping at the paladian.
"Shh, sh! Sh-" Atomu quickly shushed him, before covering his mouth. The mirillian raised a brow, turning to the finger that pointed towards the goblin.
Either way, he pushed Atomu, sticking his hand out in silence and shaking his head. He slowly trod towards the creature, carefully taking each step.
"Chyuuichi!" Atomu whispered. "Come back...!"
The mirillian picked up Morgana and then stepped in front of the goblin, who rolled to the side, revealing something on the ground. He squinted before putting his hands on his chest and furrowing his brows. "They even took my chainmail!"
"You're gonna wake him up!" Atomu stomped in frustration.
"Pff, like I'm scared of some goblin," Chyuuichi took one of his earrings off, and placed it right next to the chainmail, slowly ripping it out of his big, grubby hand and replacing it with the other, shining item.
The goblin snored, with a small smile on his face.
"What?" Atomu gasped.
"It's a bit shinier than some armour!" Chyuuichi smiled. "He won't notice a thing!"
Atomu closed his eyes, trying to maintain his composure. "Chyuuichi," he muttered, before walking up to him and putting his hand on his shoulder.
He couldn't be mad for too long.
"I'm so glad that you're alive," he breathed out, as if exhausted, putting his head down.
Chyuuichi's eyes gleamed. "Thank ya, Atam! I think it's kinda cool as well! Where are the others, though?"
Atomu breathed in through his nose before shaking his head.
"I'm sure I saw a guy or two! Hours ago!" he glanced around. "It is pretty empty, now."
"I walked from Handulia all the way here without any sign of life," Atomu gulped. "I'm happy that I at least found someone, though I have no clue where anyone else could be."
Chyuuichi put his hand on his chin. "I know goblins, Atam. I'm a mirillian, hard not to know them! Hmm."
Atomu seemed a bit confused.
"If I were a goblin, where would I take my shinies?" he hmm'd a bit louder than before.
"Ch-Chyuuichi?"
"Somewhere where I wouldn't forget! Atam! What's the place where that Haban works?"
"Haban?" Atomu looked at him.
"The woman! Told us to work yer ass off!" he snapped his fingers, grinding his teeth in maximum concentration. "Elka! The bar!" he beamed from ear to ear.
Atomu slowly sat down. "We'd hear something already," he squinted, shaking his head. "Oh my. W-What if they took them down into their caves?" he rubbed his hands into his hair.
"No need to stress ahead of time! Even I remember the people here already had to deal with attacks beforehand..." he scratched his nose. "Not of the goblin kind, so that's what I'm saying! I'd put them in the most obvious spot!"
"No smart being would do that!"
"Am I smart?" Chyuuichi uttered. "Yeah, exactly. Goblins aren't any smarter either!"
"You're not making this any better!"
"Goblins are way more stubborn than demons, and is there any better option than just sitting here and being all like... boohoo, all hope is lost... boohoo, I can't do anything!"
Atomu raised a brow.
"Ya call yourself a leader, Atam?!"
"I never called myself one, it's you who did!"
"Leaders command and don't give up when coming face to face with despair! They look death straight in the eyes and say, not today, ya Zakku!"
Zakku was an old witchtale about a man who turned into a shadow sent to taint others. It served as his punishment for accidentally killing a woman whom he presumed was a demon. Sometimes, people tell stories of hearing her songs in Malikan's Majed Woods, which is a telltale sign of the shadow following suit.
"DON'T LET THAT SHADOW CONSUME YOU, ATAM!" Chyuuichi yelled.
"Alright, alright!" Atomu covered the mirillian's mouth again. "W-We'll head to the Midcity Bar. If there's nothing there, then..." He gulped, closing one eye. "I don't want to think about it!"
"That's the spirit!" Chyuuichi raised his fist. "Run like cowards, and the problem will fix itself!"
"Oh my, Chyuuichi," he sighed.
"Pst!"
Something sounded nearby.
The two went silent, giving each other an unsure look.
"Pst!"
After a few more hesitant seconds, the two passed by an overhang nearing the Nuil's castle, marking splits near small canals. Chyuuichi slowly raised his weapon, and Atomu put the blade in both hands, breathing in.
"I'm not an enemy, you idiots!"
Atomu turned, spotting a silhouette standing in front of a small window next to the ground.
"Over here!" they whispered again.
"Huh?" Chyuuichi looked down curiously.
"Oh my." Atomu crouched, gazing at Rowan's angered face through the small gaps in the ajar window. "H-How'd you get in here?"
"They trapped me! Stripped me of all my jewellery and still thought I was worth something without my Tributal pride! Now get me out of here, already!"
"They trapped you...?" Atomu asked, with a sliver of hope.
"Calm down," Chyuuichi instructed, signalling with his hands.
"Do you not realise how stuffed this jail cell is? Break the window, my hands are tied! I can't live a second longer like this! Paladian! Stop daydreaming!"
Atomu stood up, blinking. "With m-my boot?"
"With your stupid boot!" Rowan yelled, and Atomu quickly kicked the window's glass out. Some of the shards flew right at the tributal, and the others bounced off the adjacent wall.
Rowan spat out one sharp piece, breathing in.
"KICK THE WINDOW OPEN, NOT BREAK THE GLASS!"
The paladian put his hand near his face.
"Do ya want help or not?!" Chyuuichi raised his voice. "Stupid tributal..."
Rowan sighed, gritting their teeth. "Fine." They looked to the side, and Atomu eventually dragged them out of the cell, cutting through the ropes with the edge of his blade. They coughed and sat up, fixing their glasses.
"O!" Chyuuichi laughed a bit, looking away, and Rowan eyed him. "Should've taken yer glasses too, ya look stupid!" he chuckled, and Atomu covered his mouth, for the third time.
"Don't worry, I won't let the words of a mirillian get to me," they smirked, and Chyuuichi looked a bit offended.
"Y-You brought this upon yourself," Atomu muttered, glancing at Chyuuichi. "I'm sorry for him," he bowed.
"It'd be a low point for my honour if this were a concern."
"W-We should probably take care of the wounds on your faces, though." Atomu pointed.
"I'll take care of that myself." Rowan stood up. "Pass me some herbs if you have any."
Atomu turned. "Damn royalty," he whispered, putting his hand on his forehead.
"My ears can hear!" Rowan uttered.
Atomu sighed before handing his bag to Chyuuichi. "There are a few bandages inside. Best I could do."
The mirillian quickly nodded, while the tributal turned to their Guardian Demon. They reached towards the long pocket of their pants.
"Only one arrow here," they informed. "Damn it."
"H-How come they didn't take your weapon?" Atomu asked.
"Told ya, it's about shinies!" Chyuuichi continued, sticking his head inside Atomu's bag.
"Glad the old tributal made it wooden," Rowan mumbled, standing up.
Meanwhile, the mirillian took a flute out of the bag, eyeing it carefully, turning to the paladian for a moment before stuffing it into one of his bigger pockets.
"Do you know if there are any survivors out there?" Atomu asked as Chyuuichi threw him the bandage, and passed it to the tributal.
"Someone woke me up. A few louder footsteps, before I spotted what looked like a pool of blood shuffling through the streets."
Atomu gulped.
"They disappeared around the main square, from what I can recall, as if they were searching for something."
"Told ya!" Chyuuichi patted Atomu's back and put the bag back into his hands.
"What is with you telling things today?" Atomu closed his eyes.
The tributal wrapped the bandages around their face, as the bleeding almost immediately stopped. Atomu furrowed his brows as a pink hue seeped through the beige of the material, and he turned, shaking his head.
"I swear to One, though," Rowan muttered. "If they put their hands on my Chicho, I'll be willing to kill all their leaders with my bare hands."
"Chicho?" Chyuuichi asked. "One? What's with all that weird titalapituta?"
"Tributal word for sibling," Atomu whispered, and Rowan immediately eyed him. "N-No clue what the other stuff's about."
"Very well then." Rowan put their hands behind their back, and a small wind picked up their ponytail. They strutted forward, proudly holding the bow in one hand and the last arrow in the other.
Atomu and Chyuuichi glanced at each other, shaking their heads in mutual agreement over whatever could be boiling in their minds.
Rowan's eyes twitched as they turned on their heel and clenched their fists. The tributal stopped in front of the two, looking up at their faces, as without their horse, they were pretty short.
"A paladian and a mirillian, huh?" they snickered. "An unlikely alliance, one would say. I heard that mirillians always complain about how close Lignoria and those paladian caves are expanding towards their tunnels. At the same time, paladians are the reason your people are in the underground."
Chyuuichi squinted.
"Look at you. So proud of your little camaraderie. At least pretend as if you care for one's home. Save what you let them destroy." They raised their hand against a small gasp that reminded Atomu and Chyuuichi that life still went on. The sun even peeked out from beneath the thick clouds of smoke.
Chyuuichi sighed. "Damned royalty," he whispered. "Ya don't hate me for the tunnels, do ya?"
"I'm not one of hate." Atomu looked down. "N-Not anymore."
"Stupid glasses think they know it all, then!" he crossed his arms.
"I-I think I'm starting to understand why you got beaten up in the casino." Atomu scratched the back of his head and started moving, albeit keeping a safe distance from Rowan.
"I got beaten up?" Chyuuichi raised an eyebrow.
"The black eye's still there." Atomu smiled a bit.
Chyuuichi stuck his tongue out.
"Please be a bit more careful with your words. I don't think the other royalty would be as tolerant."
"Royalty or not, those glasses look stupid," Chyuuichi uttered.
"Flee, then," Rowan stated, standing still.
"Huh?" Chyuuichi tilted his head.
"If all you want to do is complain, feel free to do it. You're not taking any of this seriously." Rowan continued. "They should've never let two idiots like you into the Demonear Leagues."
"Hey, hey." Atomu panicked a bit. "I'm not stupid, okay?" he smiled awkwardly. "He's the one troubling you!"
"The fact that you pushed all these other statements to the side and focused on the least important one indefinitely proves my point," Rowan spoke. "I don't need your help."
Atomu stepped back, grinding his teeth. "P-Please, Rowan! We want to help!"
"Are you willing to prove it? Are you going to step over all of the people you willingly ignored when it all came crashing down, paladian?" Rowan asked. "Are you brave enough to fix what you destroyed?"
Atomu's eyes shrank.
"Are you a Demonear, or just a wannabe warrior?"
The paladian raised his hand before hesitating.
"Like I thought. Go home, if you even know the way."
The mirillian glanced at the paladian, who stepped back, with his eyes now stuck to the ground, with a small frown following suit.
Chyuuichi furrowed his brows and then turned to the tributal, catching up.
"Yo!" Chyuuichi yelled, putting his hands on Rowan's shoulders, then wrapping his arms around and standing on the other side.
The tributal froze after a thick tremble, screaming out.
"Get your hands off of me!" They started thrashing, but couldn't shake the mirillian off.
"Doesn't it feel nice...?" Chyuuichi's eyes were half-closed. "To feel the touch of another real thing, not just the tip of yer bloody nose?"
"Hoo, hoo," Rowan's eyes slowly drifted towards Chyuuichi's face, blinded by the sheer shock. They moved both hands at the safe time, in a windmill-like motion.
Atomu watched from a distance, confused, but amused.
"Calm down, Extremely Maximal Glasse!"
"IT'S ROWAN! JUST CALL ME ROWAN!" Rowan screamed. "DAMN IT!"
"You're going to wake up the goblins!" Atomu added.
"Guess we're on a name-to-name basis now. I'm Chyuuichi. Come on, ya can shake my hand."
"I will not." Rowan gleamed red from anger.
"I insist, Rowan." Chyuuichi's voice was a bit louder. "One Demonear doesn't reject the other even if they're both dumb from Haranara to Shinoro!"
"Harabara... Shimori..." Rowan whispered. Atomu raised a finger but backed out. He didn't want to bring anything up, other than the fact that Chyuuichi didn't seem to struggle with Rowan's name, out of all the other ones.
"If you're so smart, then what's your people's word for a team?" Chyuuichi winked, and Rowan breathed out loudly.
"Kla..." Rowan hesitated. "Klakunhoi." They fixed their glasses and pursed their lips.
"Klakunhoi, it is! That's what we are, klakunhoi!" Chyuuichi backed out, doing a little dance. "Klakunhoi! Klakunhoi! Do you know any songs about teams, Rowan?"
Rowan went silent.
"I'll sing my favourite one!" Chyuuichi announced. "A simple performance thirst for wishes! Water flows along the river-" He stepped away in the heat of his performance.
"Rowan." Atomu stepped in, pushing one hand into his hair and the other, clenched around the blade's grip. "We'll try our best to help you, even if you're way stronger."
"I just have things to fight for." Rowan looked down. "Differences, however, sometimes are for the best. Paladian, mirillian and tributal. That's much more of an unlikely alliance." Rowan let go of their fists, glancing at Chyuuichi and then Atomu.
The paladian gulped. "Then...?"
For one last time, they turned.
"Forth, Klakunhoi!" They announced.
Atomu's eyes shone. He quickly grabbed Chyuuichi's hand and followed the lead.
***
"Ahh!" Eryk raised his voice as Leopold dragged him up the stairs into the Midcity bar. "As the Nuil of Magna commands you, filthy demon! Leave me be!"
Leopold didn't react to his words; instead, he pulled a bit harder, trying to counter the force of his weight.
"Lamon! Do something!" Eryk yelled out, but Lamon was too busy being tied with tighter ropes. He sighed, looking to the side.
Without an answer, the nuil thrashed, trying to escape, making strange, high-pitched noises when Leopold made a swift movement, throwing him out from below and onto the wooden floors. One of the chains snapped, setting him free.
Eryk tried crawling away, staring forward towards the exit; however, something else came plummeting from above.
Another demon stomped on his stomach, with a long pike piercing through the floor near Eryk's face. With one push, they rolled him around before Leopold threw another chain in their direction, which they quickly put to use.
"Glad ya had those, Leo!" The demon, named Tabus, announced. "Otherwise, tubby over here would've rolled out," he chuckled, with one of two long horns trembling with his movement.
"Tubby?! Lamon, tell him not to disrespect the Nuil!" Eryk turned. "Respect my authority, vile demon!"
"Don't disrespect the Nuil," Lamon finally said, without much emotion in his voice.
"You're hilarious!" he looked down, putting his purple hands on his face. "Always thought that the king was the strongest in the bunch," he explained. "Guess a human or two wouldn't agree with this idiocy!"
"Nuil!" Eryk yelled out. "Don't call me a king!"
"Nuil?" Tabus backed out. "Wouldn't even call you a king!"
Leopold peered at the two before heading towards the exit, carefully stepping around the tied-up bodies beneath the tables, sitting in chairs or lying down on the floor. He stared at Ella for a while, as she eyed him, trying to move. Elton remained quiet, focusing on the knocked-out Kashmir, with Tabus quickly moving on to tighten the restraints around his arms.
Leopold put his hand on the window curtain and glanced out, letting some light inside. He stared, standing still.
"Yo, Leo." Tabus turned, swinging his pike around. "Where did Isak and Lisbeth storm off to? Thought they were the guts here," he signalled with one hand. "Bunmo said that no one has seen Isak since last night, and the demoness has been absent for a while now." he scratched his head. "How many of these people do we take into Aria? Didn't she say she wanted to revive Rottwan's plans, now with the goblins at our sides? It was a lot of statements thrown, but not much was done. You don't take the whole of Magna in just a day," he breathed out. "If we stay this unorganised, hell knows what could happen. I guess putting on an act and destroying that statue was the best thing she could do. Does fear equal power...?"
Eryk rolled his eyes at the sheer number of questions, while Leopold didn't answer, which caught the demon by surprise.
"Leo?" Tabus asked, confused, before taking a few steps towards the window and glancing out with furrowed brows.
Outside, lay five corpses of different demons, with fire burning out from their stomachs. Some had their hands frozen, and others slid into the empty pits of dirt below.
"Demonears," he muttered. "Didn't we take in all?!"
"Five down!" Atomu announced, with his muffled voice disappearing into the outside, empty cobble squares.
"How many did ya get?" Chyuuichi raised his voice.
"This isn't some Dearfest game!"
"How many?!"
"One."
"Me too! Darn it!"
"Three for me." Rowan sped up, seeing another demon, right as they turned the corner.
The tributal ground their teeth, drawing the bow. The arrow hit the ground before scattering into five different streaks of pure flame, bouncing off the walls and slashing through the demon's wings, then its body.
They breathed out, running up to the arrow and taking it out of the ground. Atomu and Chyuuichi caught up, catching their breath, while Rowan immediately grabbed the circular handle in the middle of the door to the Midcity bar.
"It's locked," they peeked at the ruined debris of the nearby tower above.
"We can slash through the wood!" Chyuuichi informed.
"There's another entrance," Rowan recalled, snapping their finger. "It's connected to the basement in the back. Quick!"
"I still think my idea's better!" Chyuuichi added as the others followed suit.
The three squeezed through a long gap between the bar and the nearby stone structure.
Rowan's finger immediately instructed Atomu and Chyuuichi to keep quiet. They wagged it twice before sticking their head out.
"Hey, Atomu," Chyuuichi whispered, tapping his shoulder.
"Huh?" Atomu raised an eyebrow.
"If we find the other Demonears, they should join us in the demon's demise!"
"I'd say yes if it concerned clearing up our mistakes."
"It's about that too, then!"
"Quiet, fools," Rowan spoke through their teeth, squinting their eyes.
Chyuuichi waved his hand. "Jeffi, Jyuso, Zumu, Ambroa!"
Rowan rubbed their eyes. The two glanced at them for a moment before continuing.
"...and, um! Morin!" Chyuuichi raised a finger. "But man, I don't know if he's here," he scratched somewhere around his hair.
"W-What do you mean?" Atomu asked, shaking his head.
"I saw him running to the port last night after the demons tried carrying me away!" Chyuuichi answered. "Probably went to get help, though."
Atomu looked down, pinching himself, and then putting that hand on his nose's bridge.
"Ya reckon it was something else?"
Rowan let out a sigh before leaving the two standing in the alley. A cloth that hung off a thin line fell from above and landed in a small puddle of melted snow.
"I don't think so, C-Chyuuichi." Atomu continued. "I meant to tell the others, but then everything came crashing down."
"What happened?" Chyuuichi stared into Atomu's eyes. "Atam?"
Atomu played with his hair.
"Morio left." Atomu gulped. "To... change."
"I thought he was perfectly cool the way he is!"
"I said so as well, but there's nothing that we can do. We're not to control his life, are we?" Atomu continued, with an unsure smile.
"Hmm..."
"I hope he's not all by himself there. Wherever he went." Atomu added.
"If Morin becomes some serious goody-two-shoes, then I'm not gonna be his friend!" Chyuuichi pouted.
"Sorry?"
"That's right," Chyuuichi said. "I befriended Morin, not just a normal morian!" he smirked. "If he were like all those people near the lake, he wouldn't be any special to me!"
"We're not that special, are we?" Atomu asked, rolling his eyes.
"Are ya kidding me?! Why do ya think we're Demonears in the first place?!" Chyuuichi yelled out. "It's exactly what makes us special!"
"Just the fact that we survived-"
"Nuh-uh!" Chyuuichi shook his head. "We didn't just survive, we won against all odds!"
"You're t-talking a lot for someone who slept through the entire thing!"
"A demon would surely hack at a sleeping target! That special power saved me back then! Hell, I have no clue how to use my Guardian Demon, and I still managed to win a brawl or two!"
Atomu pursed his lips.
"Don't deny it. We're amazing because we're here!" The mirillian tried to fist-bump him, but the paladian didn't quite catch his train of thought. "...and by extension, yer special too, eh, Rowan?" he closed his eyes, feeling a bit cool. "Where is Rowan?"
A scream sounded in the distance, resembling the one that echoed when his hand landed on the tributal's shoulder.
Atomu ran out of the street, and the other followed.
Rowan motioned in anger. Their body swung back and forth, with one leg trapped in the grasp of a massive demon's hand.
"Oh my!" He yelled out, and his grasp tightened, while Chyuuichi stared up, shocked.
"Leave me be!" Rowan started punching the demon's fingers, but didn't accomplish anything, much to no one's surprise. The creature slowly turned its head before spotting Atomu and Chyuuichi, quickly heading towards them with what could've been a grin if it wasn't headless.
Atomu screamed out, and Chyuuichi ran right after, trying to analyse what to do.
"DON'T RUN! HELP ME!" The tributal yelled before spotting their burning arrow stuck deep inside the demon's other arm.
They furrowed their brows, trying to reach out, before finally making contact, as the fire on its end lit anew, flying back to their hand.
Atomu and Chyuuichi jumped left and right as the demon stopped in front of a closed storefront, tripping and falling forth, with the paladian immediately turning to the tributal.
Rowan drew their bow again, and the arrow flew, soon piercing its eye, leaving a line of fire, which spread into its head. They jumped and stuck their hand out, and the bolt fluttered back into their grasp.
The demon collapsed in a growl, smashing through the structure.
"I-Is it dead?" Atomu asked, running up to Rowan, who, with their hand, signalled him to stay back.
"Demons don't have weak spots," Rowan explained.
"Then..." Chyuuichi wanted to say something.
"It was a dark deformity, but I don't think its host was an animal. I don't know what creature would resemble a fat, massive and grey lump of flesh. I barely saw its face in the first place."
"I wanted to say that it was a very big goblin." Chyuuichi put his hand down.
"I don't think goblins have weak spots either," Atomu muttered.
"They do! Take away their shinies, and they'll cry! Or get very angry! Probably the latter!"
Atomu put his hand on his forehead, stressed.
"It must've been summoned," they muttered. "There's a demon here who can create an entire army."
The concept of such creatures was still a widely debated phenomenon in Errarion when it came to treating them much like any other part of nature or something that was always wrong, much like demons. Though what was known was that their way of corruption came about in the form of a demon's magic.
Not many of the race could access such, and much like with many cases of these stories appearing in humans (Tributal magic, pneumas, curses), no matter what it is, it leaves traces on nature. That's why some places in Errarion look unsalvageable, without much involvement, and the same goes for whatever creatures might be formed.
Though, as Rowan stated, summoning weaker brethren was another technique they weren't necessarily familiar with. The tributal inched closer, trying to make out something off the ripped flesh, which was now pulsing. Rowan's eyes shrank as they jumped, spinning midair and landing on both feet.
"Something's moving on the inside!" Rowan announced, as the arrow's tip grew shaky. The body soon imploded, and then, sharp, red claws ripped through.
Nine tall demons stared straight into the eyes of the Demonears. Atomu gulped, and Chyuuichi looked concerned.
A low-pitched chuckle could be heard as a rather big silhouette moved past the wooden extensions and into the few stairs leading down into the bar. However, the three skimmed over the fact, instead focusing on the enemies in the front.
"Paladian, mirillian," Rowan spoke through their teeth, sticking their hand out. "Do something useful this time." They let go of the arrow, and as it travelled with a trail of flame, it pierced through one's head, with ember spreading to the hollow blanket, burning it to a crisp.
The other demons headed for the Demonears. Atomu's eyes gleamed as he clenched the grip tighter than ever before. He breathed in, trying to remain calm and steady. Chyuuichi took his weapon out from beneath a sheath-like opening in his upper garments and ground his teeth.
"Fight!" Rowan yelled out, and the three ran forward, into the heat of the battle.
One creature screamed, sending Rowan flying elsewhere and then landing on the red roofs. Two headed in their direction, climbing up. The tributal shot out an arrow; however, missing, they jumped into the air, and it flew back into the bow's string. Its flames scattered and connected to one demon, smouldering its body.
Another climbed up, while Rowan's hand landed on the building's gutter. The demon glanced down, reaching its hand out, and with one more growl, the support bent in half, as Rowan almost fell into the waters. They bit their lip, but managed to swing and catch a loose brick, propelling onto the roof.
They stood headfirst against the demon and gripped the arrow's shaft, creating a burning sensation in their fingers.
"Come on, bastard. Don't make me use it," they muttered, and the demon growled once more, causing Rowan's feet to sink into the bricks, trapping them.
It hopped, opening its disgusting mouth and revealing its sharp fangs. Rowan put the arrow up, and it essentially keeled when landing. They fell, rolling out through the broken window, before heading towards the other entrance to the Midcity Bar.
Atomu swung his blade, yet dealt no damage. Three creatures came from the side, but soon enough, they avoided each heavy swing that cost him more and more stamina. He ducked, with his first thought being of climbing out, but much to his surprise, he stuck his sword into the ground and pushed before letting go.
One demon leapt but was flung into the air by a wave of dirt which flew from beneath. Atomu was shocked. He tried to reach out for the sword, but when his finger sensed the grip, two other demons growled, causing the weapon to pierce through the ground in a straight line.
Atomu shook his head, trying to get rid of the hair covering his eyes.
"I'll help!"
"Chyuuichi!" Atomu stuck his hand out. The wave appeared once more, sending the mirillian flying into the air, as he ran along the line.
"Whoa!" Chyuuichi pushed his body into his scythe's grip and spun midair, creating a light-blue circle of snow and ice, slowing his descent.
Atomu backed out. Three different creatures climbed onto the higher rooftops and jumped at Chyuuichi, slowed by his elemental attacks, and then completely frozen, crushing into small, frozen pieces.
"Chyu-" Atomu muttered, before running towards Chyuuichi, dropping his weapon and springing forward, catching his body.
Chyuuichi landed in Atomu's arms, raising his arms in excitement. "That was something else!"
"S-Surely," He muttered, before turning to gurgling sounds.
Soon enough, he spotted two more, who dashed towards Knrhum's Blade. With angered brows, the paladian stood up, racing for the same prize.
At the penultimate moment, he snatched it away, slicing through and turning towards the other demon, before a noise sounded.
Suddenly, the stone wall of the nearby structure exploded, sending many bricks flying towards the other buildings.
Atomu waved his hand, trying to make something out of the dust, and then stood up, coughing. His eyes widened as the chained, massive goblin from earlier stood on both feet, dragging his fists through the cobble.
He immediately ran back to Chyuuichi, and although it was slower at first, it moved in leaps, quickly catching up.
"Run!" he bellowed. Rowan stared from above, breathing in.
The mirillian opened his mouth before realising something.
"Chyuuichi!" Atomu screamed, but the other stood still, sticking his tongue out and searching for something in his pocket.
The paladian jumped, landing on the ground hands-first, and the flute he borrowed earlier was now in his mouth.
The goblin stopped at the sounds, looking down at the Demonear, hearing the mellow melody. Atomu breathed heavily, then turned around, panicked.
The mirillian raised one unsure leg, trying to focus on the melody, accented by his furrowed brows. The goblin waited, making a few strange noises before a smile made out of its sharp fangs appeared.
Eventually, it tumbled, asleep.
"Phew!" Chyuuichi rubbed the sweat off his forehead.
"You...!" Atomu pointed. "You knew that goblins are immobilised by the sounds of a flute, one which you just stole from me, and didn't bother to tell us?!"
"I thought that playing the flute would be the best thing to do before my life ends in a flash!" He chuckled.
"Chyuuichi!" Atomu banged his fist on the ground.
"Come on, you two!" Rowan ran back, forcing them to stand up.
***
"Help!" Eryk screamed out. "Somebody help!"
"Quiet, Nuil!" Tabus appeared in front of him. "How come did Lisbeth stay quiet about that pile of flesh? Did Bunmo cast his spells on those summons already?!" he turned to Leopold, who kept circling the area.
"I don't want to die! I'm not done with the books I wanted Lamon to read me!" his eyes were much like a small lamb's. "You... dare to put your hands on someone that might or might not be in the Errarion Entrophy!"
Tabus ground his teeth, and Eryk breathed out, frowning.
"Someone help! I don't wanna die!"
Tabus tightened the grip even further, almost choking Eryk.
"Everyone else sits quietly, except for you," Tabus uttered. "Damned nuil."
Eryk sobbed.
"Everyone else, huh?" Elton said, and Leopold turned towards the source of the noise.
The paladian stared at the door, bordering the counter, hidden beneath a few knocked-over barrels.
"Now that you're breaking the rules, everyone other than you!" Tabus pointed his pike.
Elton smiled. "Your demon friend can't fit through doorways, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Tabus seemed confused.
Elton shook his head, chuckling, as Tabus raised a brow.
"Is Lisbeth back?" He turned to Leopold, who shrugged. The demon in question moved forward, before the said door flung open, with a silhouette and a light shining from behind, standing in the doorframe.
Atomu took a step further, moving the Knrhum's Blade into his hands. He furrowed his eyebrows, and the two demons moved back, shocked.
Tabus grinned, tightening his grip around the pike. The paladian's eyes didn't seem to focus on them. Something else appeared out of a misty shadow ahead, before transforming into a figure he knew so well.
"I figured I'd find you running," Lisbeth muttered. "Round two, paladian?"