Stathis shot forward, angling to avoid the lance of energy as Galondwyn hurled it, ignoring the sound of stone cracking behind her. Galondwyn was more agile, wings more for show than required to fly, as she tried to shift herself out of the path of the attack. The attack hit the edge of her robes, glowing energy cutting the enchanted threads, material fading to ash.

‘Come to ruin my fun, have you? You should have fled when you had the chance! All that time under the same roof, and never once did you suspect. A shame I never found whatever is lurking beneath the house, but I can claim that after I’ve killed you.’ She tossed her head, hair flicking in the breeze, more of the crimson gems catching pale light. ‘It’s been centuries since I’ve had one of your kind to consume. I wonder how long your screams will last for - years, maybe even decades?’ She pivoted in the air, diving and striking at Stathis, claws scoring sparks from her armour.

Down below, the Lithmara was above the castle, flapping its wings, battering the defenders with waves of energy, summoning more of the petty demons as it moved. Stathis could see arrows and blasts of energy shooting back up, as Parth and Janaxia did what they could against the monsters being summoned.

Galondwyn’s tail struck from the side, tip scraping against armour, screeching sound making Stathis wince. Galondwyn struck at at her, claws ripping at armour, enchantments not up to the task as the metal was bent and warped from the impact. Stathis struck back, managing to land several blows, her sword cutting and scorching Galondwyn’s flesh and clothing, ash fluttering away into the night.

The damage healed itself, even her clothing reforming, material remaking itself from pure magic. Stathis struck again, this one cleanly separating an arm from Galondwyn’s body. For a moment, it fell through the air, before strands of energy extended outwards, drawing it back towards her and attaching it back to her body.

They separated, Stathis having to circle and dive, waiting for a chance to strike, as Galondwyn simply floated, dark magic suspending her in mid-air without out effort. This was clearly not going to work! She dodged, too slow as Galondwyn struck again, claws savaging at her arms, ripping at the armour, sending shards of metal falling to the ground. Then the tail stabbed, this time penetrating, a pain lancing into her leg, swiftly followed by a numbing coldness, a poison numbing feeling.

Stathis broke away, trying to get some space, glancing back to check that Galondwyn was following. She dropped low over the town, trying to find Janaxia’s house. She curved to the side, another lance of energy barely missing her, smashing into a building down below, the roof exploding into dust and rubble.

A heap of bodies marked where they had fought. As Stathis dropped, she could see Semari, slumped against a wall, surrounded by those she had defeated, barely conscious, battered and bruised, eyes unfocused. She reached into her pouch, pulling out a healing potion and uncorking it. As she touched down, she grabbed Semari’s shoulder, her eyelids fluttering, then threw it down Semari’s throat. Semari coughed, choked and spluttered before swallowing, her wounds starting to close.

‘Semari, I need you to get Janaxia’s book. OK?’ There was a groaning sound from behind them, as several of the heartless pulled themselves out of the heap of bodies, weapons at the ready. A nearby building exploded as Galondwyn hurled another lance of energy, shredding through stone and wood. ‘Crap. Semari, get the book, and get into the alleyway. Can you hear me?’

The low groan was hopefully a “yes”, as Stathis flapped her wings again to raise herself into the air, desperately trying to avoid the attack coming her way. This close to the ground, she couldn’t get enough speed up to evade, her armour getting shredded and ravaged, until she was bleeding from countless wounds and scratches. Every blow Stathis struck in return was simply healed, even when she sliced limbs off or struck Galondwyn through the heart. The poison was creeping through her, slowing and numbing her flesh, although at least it kept the wounds from hurting too much.

She landed on top of an indoor market, smashing through a tiled roof and into the narrow covered streets of a bazaar, retreating into at least temporary safety. She reached into her pouch, flinging the goat statue to the ground and activating it. A multi-coloured lantern swung crazily, sending mazed and fractured dots of light spinning around the chamber, frightened townsfolk starting to back away as the light from Stathis’ wings guttered and died, beyond her ability to sustain.

‘Get away from here!’ She couldn’t see how many people there were lurking in the darkness, but from the sense of movement, quite a few. The ceiling above her was torn apart, Galondwyn ripping through the roof with her claws and tail, simply smashing her way in.

The goat brayed a challenge, hooves digging at the floor, eyes gleaming with an inner light. Stathis grabbed an ear, hoping it was smart enough to understand her. ‘Neither of us is going to like this, but we’re going to try and hold her off, and then get away from here, and lure her behind us. This means I’m going to have to ride you, understand?’

It gave an angry snort, but held still long enough for her to jump onto it’s back, trying to grip with her knees as Galondwyn dropped to the floor.

‘A knight atop a goat? Is this what the Knights of the Sun have fallen to?’

The goat charged, Stathis barely hanging on, tightening her grip on the goat beneath her. It slashed at Galondwyn with razor-sharp horns, cutting deep into the demon, even as it slashed back, scoring heavy marks onto the goat’s flank. Stathis launched her own attacks, extra height lending her power, trying to dodge the attacks aimed her way. Even with an ally, she was still getting the worst of it, Galondwyn simply regenerating from any attacks. As the goat bucked beneath her, she ducked underneath the scything tail and wrenched the goat’s head around, kicking her heels in. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here!’

The goat bleated, rearing up and kicking out, before shooting forward, Stathis grimly hanging on as it battered through a wall, dust exploding into the air. There was a growl from behind them and Stathis spun, avoiding the tail at the cost of claws scratching her face, only the enchanted helm keeping her loosing an eye or worse. She really hoped that Semari had heard her, as she tried to guide the goat through the steep, narrow streets, bouncing up and down onto the creature’s bony spine. They charged around the corner, into the alleyway around the side of the building. Semari was waiting there, still bruised, but at least walking, and with Janaxia’s book in her hands.

Semari yelped in fear. ‘Demon-goat!’

Stathis dismounted, feeling as bruised from the ride as the fighting. ‘It’s me! We don’t have long, but you need to…’

She didn’t have time to explain before Galondwyn walked around the corner, calm and collected. ‘Hoping to lure me into close confines?’ Her own wings retracted, and she flexed her claws, showing no permanent injury from any of the attacks that had hit her.

Stathis stepped in front of Semari, sword held defensively, warm light casting a glow upon the dank alleyway.

‘Even with that accursed thing, you still can’t accomplish anything, can you? A valiant attempt, little soul of gold, but not enough. Soon enough, you’ll be another gem for my collection, howling your pretty little cries for years to come.’

She charged, arcane energy flickering around her claws as she bore down upon the goat, Stathis ducking around, lending what aid she could. Even in the half-light, it was clear that that goat was on the losing side, blood streaming from countless wounds. It backed away, and Stathis said the word to banish it, form shrinking back to figurine size.

Then she became the next target; Stathis did what she could to defend herself, unable to fully protect herself, barely able to stand from weight of the attacks. As they moved, Stathis managed to manoeuvre so that Galondwyn was between the two of them, although Semari was sluggish and slow, still injured.

The tail flicked out, stabbing at Semari, as Stathis tried to protect herself from Galondwyn’s claws. Already injured and taken by surprise, the tip of it stabbed into her. Semari was still standing, but was looking even worse, skin around the wound turning grey.

‘Sorry Semari!’ Stathis throw the storm-filled bottle, Galondwyn dodging as it flew past her, jeering at her.

‘You might want to learn to aim better!’

The bottle broke with a tinkle of broken glass, suddenly replaced by the cracking boom of a storm, thick, black stormclouds broiling out from nothingness, flashes of lightning shedding white radiance as Semari disappeared from view.

With only one opponent, Stathis had even less ability to protect herself, the claws and tail scraping off what remained of her armour. Galondwyn struck, claws slicing into Stathis’ chest, reaching for her heart. Stathis sagged, energy draining from her, heart chilling, cooling and solidifying in her chest, Galondwyn’s grin turning feral. Her sword clattered to the ground, the light from the blade dimming, alleyway darkening as her vision faded.

Galondwyn’s own chest exploded, demonic ichor splattering over Stathis as Semari punched through her, several more strikes splattering more of the stuff everywhere as Stathis was released. Stathis staggered against Galondwyn, gasping for breath, fighting to stay conscious.

‘Hit… Hit her, with the damn book!’ The words rasped from Stathis’ throat, her breath still short as Semari demolished Galondwyn’s body, regeneration already starting, body starting to reform, tail already flicking at Semari. She was glowing, hair all fluffed up, eyes solid white, as lighting cracked around her fists. She punched at Galondwyn again, managing to hold back the creature’s regeneration, at least for a moment, as Stathis saw that Janaxia’s book had been discarded, thrown against the wall.

Barely standing, Stathis stumbled over to where the book was, picking it up, the leather and metal cold in her hands. ‘Semari! Hit her over here!’

Semari was listening enough to take a solid stance, both fists striking Galondwyn in the torso, knocking her backwards. Stathis opened the book, slamming it shut around Galondwyn’s head. The demon screamed, showing real emotion for the first time, regeneration slowing, form starting to lose shape, the book reforming as it feasted, the gaps in the cover filling.

The tail flicked around, knocking Stathis back, Galondwyn struggling free, as Semari pushed the attack, smashing through Galondwyn’s defences, keeping her off balance as Stathis clobbered her with the book again.

‘I’ll choose my own fate, rather than be bought down by a pair of petty, bastard half-breed humans!’ The tail flicked around, knocking Stathis to her feet, giving Galondwyn enough to draw the blade, plunging it through her own chest, slumping to her knees, as her body faded away. All that was left behind was a green sphere, bound with thorned iron, hovering for a moment before falling to the ground with a clinking sound, shedding a malign green light.

Stathis tried to get up, legs feeling cold and dead, vision hazy, unable to stand. Opposite her, Semari fell backwards against the wall, body scorched and smoking. Blue light, shed from around the corner, filled Stathis’ vision as her body cooled and went numb, venom finally spreading. A dress, absurdly white amongst the smoke and grime, came into view as Carissia’s voice penetrating through the murk spreading into Stathis’ head.

‘You have been busy, haven’t you?’ Carissia spoke, a mystic incantation, as a warm, soft hand gently touched Stathis on the brow, revitalising energy keeping her alive, even as Stathis tried to gesture at Semari, to make sure she was tended to first. ‘You really could have made this easier, I swear.’ Then the darkness overcame Stathis, strains and injuries too much, and she fell unconscious.

When she came to, she was in her room, sunlight streaming through the window. Her wounds felt healed, although fatigue dragged at her as she stood, dressing herself. There was a small pile of metallic remnants by the bedside, the remnants of her armour, only parts recognisable a single vambraced gauntlet and the boots, everything else mangled and shattered.

In the main hall, Semari was eating, Misutira keeping an eye on her, as Parth thumbed through a book. And she now had a shortsword sheathed at her waist, clashing somewhat with the otherwise demure maid’s uniform. She gave something that was the barest shadow of a curtsey, before jerking a thumb at a large bowl of broth. ‘Food if you want it.’ There was a long pause. ‘Thanks for saving the town.’

‘Sure. Um, sorry about not noticing the demon duplicate of you.’

Misutira rolled her eyes, as she gave Semari another portion of food. There was an awkward silence, mercifully broken as Janaxia descended the stairs. Misutira apparently felt enough loyalty to her to give an actual curtsey.

‘Good afternoon, Lad…’

She trailed off in shock as Janaxia fully entered the room. Despite the efforts of the last day, Janaxia had still taken the time to attire herself in an elegant dressing gown, pale red silk whispering as she moved.

‘Good afternoon, everyone. I am glad to see that everyone seems recovered. Misutira, some tea, if you would be so kind?’

It took Misutira a moment to collect herself. ‘Ah, yes, of course.’ She exited, sword shifting awkwardly, something she obviously wasn’t used to yet.

Semari looked up from her food, spluttering her food. ‘Whoah! That’s new.’

‘Janaxia, have you looked in a mirror?’ Janaxia’s makeup was, of course, precise and exquisite, but that might be either magic, or something she could do on instinct. With a frown, Janaxia turned towards a mirror, hand running through her hair, stopping as she found the horns on either side of her head, spiralling out from beneath her hair. She peered into the mirror, gingerly running hands over the bony protrusions. Stathis tensed, looking around for a weapon, Semari hopping up from her seat, ready to fight.

‘Oh.’ This is unexpected ‘Oh, these are just darling. I really think I can make these work, you know.’ She immediately started trying to rearrange her hair around them. Stathis relaxed, as Semari sat back down. No demon would be that vain! ‘Some gold chains, maybe. Or do you think silver would be more complimentary? Maybe even some emeralds, although only in moderation, of course. One wouldn’t want to be gauche, after all.’