“Elysia.”

A voice drew the attention of the little girl. She looked up from under her blankets, turning to face the figure that stood at the entrance of the cave. Elara, the girl’s mother, stood there.

She wore a weary face. Yet, when she saw Elysia standing up from under the ragged covers, she replaced it with a relieved smile. “I’ve returned,” Elara breathed out.

“You’re back!” Elysia ran forward, hugging Mother’s arms. “Look, look!” She tugged Elara forward. “I made something for you—”

Elara didn’t budge. Elysia paused. She glanced up at Mother, whose face was once again overcome with a sense of regret.

“I’m sorry,” Elara said.

“W-what are you apologizing for?”

“I can’t stay long.” She shook her head, stumbling past Elysia.

Mother unearthed a clothed object before unraveling it. It was a box, night-black, and the girl sensed great power from it. She had never touched it once, although she was aware of it. She had been asked to keep it safe, buried, which she dutifully carried out.

“What is that?” Elysia asked with wide eyes.

“It’s a Dimensional Storage Box,” Elara explained. “And within it, it holds an object of great purpose. One that could change the fate of the world entirely. My Lord gifted it to me, to carry out his will.”

Elysia blinked, but Elara was already leaving.

“Wait!” the girl called out. “Don’t go—”

Mother looked back one last time, a rueful look on her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “But I promise I’ll be back soon. I will always be there for you. Just… not now.”

The girl raised a hand—

—--

And Estia woke up.

The Half Demon groaned as she drew herself from under her blanket. Well, it was not actually a blanket. It was her cloak, torn and tattered. And it did enough to keep the warmth on her. Not that it actually mattered with magic.

But Estia was tired. Very tired. It wasn’t just physical exhaustion. She had failed her mission. She was sent to kill the Saintess Lilith, yet here they were fleeing, having suffered great losses to the Holy Knights. Sure, the Holy Knights were mostly gone. But Lilith was still there.

And not just that— Estia failed her second mission. If it was just her inaptitude to kill her target, she wouldn’t have felt as humiliated as she did. But the target, Melas, a little girl barely twelve years of age, didn’t just survive all of Estia’s attempts to end her life. She also turned Estia’s own people against the Half Demon, and proceeded to save Estia from the Holy Knights.

It was utterly embarrassing. If this had happened to anyone else, Estia was sure she’d have laughed at their faces. Yet, it happened to her. So, she felt like the biggest fool at the moment.

“Come on,” a voice grunted, drawing her to her feet. Mahir crossed his arms as he stood over. “Today’s the day.”

“I know,” she growled. “You don’t need to remind me.”

Estia had escorted a large bulk of the Dark Crusaders out of Jahar’taw. The rest opted to stay, led by Karna. She somehow felt grateful for that. She just couldn’t stand to look at the Goblin’s face, even if he was being cooperative. He was the one responsible for helping Melas humiliate her. It angered Estia, especially with how he acted now, as if it didn’t happen.

The Half Demon started past Mahir, out and away from this encampment. They were now far enough away from any Dwarf city or chase party that they had time to breathe. And now, she was going to return to the Infernalis for their next instruction.

“You know where to go if any Dwarf search party comes here, don’t you?” Estia narrowed her eyes, preparing to fly off into the morning sky.

“We do.” Mahir nodded.

“Good.” With that, she took off.

Estia soared through the air, up above the clouds, not even a speck to the eyes on the ground. She flew higher and higher, seeing the landscape change long before she even came close to the Great Desert of Vitae.

It wasn’t difficult for her to find the spot which brought her down to the Infernalis. She had been here many times over— this had been their location for quite some time. They were almost due to change locations soon.

She sank deep below the ground, the light sky vanishing behind her. When she reached the tunnel below, someone was already waiting for her. She had informed them of her arrival.

Kores. Her mentor. And her friend.

The Demon smiled at her. “Estia, you are back, and you are safe.” A relieved smile washed over his face.

Estia nodded, not as excitable as she thought she’d be with seeing him. “Kores—”

“We have a lot to speak about, yes.” He shook his head. “However, come now. Let us save those discussions for later. For now, will you come with me?”

She blinked.

Kores led the Half Demon back to her room in the Infernalis, asking her to sit and wait for him to return. Estia was confused about what he was doing. Then she got nervous. And when he returned with a platter of foodstuff.

Traditional Goblins meals, mostly. But they were steaming hot. Estia furrowed her brows. “What is this?” she asked.

“You seemed tired,” he said, placing it before her. He had his own plate for himself, and he dug in. “Come, eat.”

She stared at him as he began scarfing down on a mixture of meat and yellow rice. Then he glanced up at her.

“Are you not hungry?”

“Why are you doing this?” She crossed her arms.

“Why am I doing what, eating?” He paused.

“You’re treating me like a child.” Estia scowled. She faced him with an annoyed look, getting up to her feet. “I don’t need a ‘hot meal’ or whatever this is to cheer me up. I failed, Kores, I am aware of that.”

He sighed. “If you have failed, Estia, it is me who failed as your mentor.”

She took a step back. “Wait, that’s not what I…” she trailed off.

Kores shook his head, placing his spoon back into the bowl. “I do not believe I have failed you, nor do I believe you have failed me.” He sat back, and she hesitated.

“Then what went wrong, Kores? I was sent to kill Lilith. To mentor Disciple Karna. And after, to kill Melas. But I failed. I failed in so many ways—”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, cutting her off. “You are tired, Estia. You are still young, and you have been placed with a great burden on your shoulders.”

“I am almost a half a century old,” she said flatly.

“A burgeoning age for a Demon such as yourself.”

“I am a Half Demon.”

“And yet, you have only ever found yourself with any agency until two decades ago.” Kores was insistent. “If you have lived most of your life accustomed to living a certain way, adapting to such drastic changes will be harder. And even here, as a Dark Crusader, you have been under my wing for far too long. I shouldn’t have forced this responsibility onto you all at once.”

Estia couldn’t help but feel that she was being treated like some sort of child. Although he was right— she was technically barely a young adult as a Demon. Even still, it upset her. She opened her mouth, but Kores continued.

“Estia,” he said, meeting her gaze, “I was around when the Demon Lord was still alive. Before the Final Holy War came to a close. I have experienced many things, seen the fall of empires and kingdoms, spoken to those who’d become great and those who’d perish an uncouth death. I believe that I have a keen eye on the potential of individuals, and you are hardly a failure, Estia.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I failed.” She bit her lower lip out of frustration.

“And that is why I want you to rest.” He smiled. “There are times where we fail. There are times where we fall down, our burdens too much for us to handle. And during those times, we have to get back up. But not without a moment of rest.”

Estia stared at Kores as he gestured at the meal he laid out. But she thought of those under her, left behind hundreds of miles back in the Taw Kingdom. “But I have… a duty. I am supposed to—”

“Ah, do not worry about them.” Kores waved a hand off. “I have already spoken to the higher ups. Jasmin the Voodoo herself will see to their safety.”

The Half Demon’s eyes widened. “Jasmin herself?”

“Yes.” He grabbed a bowl, offering it to Estia. “This matter goes beyond just our hands, Estia. It has drawn the attention of the Dark Sages. Especially regarding that girl.”

“Melas.”

“If it is as you said, and that she has ties to the Cult, this is a matter of utmost importance.” Kores wore a serious look on his face.

Estia paused. “...I’m not sure if that’s the case anymore.”

He raised a brow, and she explained.

“I have fought her, spoken to her, and she has vehemently denied any allegiance with that woman. She claims that she is unwillingly protected. That she only cares about surviving. But I am not sure how much of what she says is true. Yet, she returned to save me. To help us.”

“Indeed.” Kores rubbed a hand on his chin. “That is why there needs to be an investigation. And Jasmin has always been curious about her, especially her relation to the Fiend.” Shaking his head, he raised the bowl once more. “These are complex matters that can be discussed at a later date. That is why I suggest now to eat.”

“I…” Estia still was uncertain.

But he feigned a frown. “Will you not eat it because it was I who cooked it?”

She blinked. “Wait, that’s not—”

“I understand that my skills as a chef may not be equal to my abilities as a spellcaster, but I had hoped that it’d be edible enough for you to enjoy it.”

“No, no, no—” Estia hurriedly accepted the bowl. She dug into it. “I love your cooking. It’s…” she trailed off. “Wait, you didn’t actually cook this yourself, did you?”

“I did.” He smiled.

“Oh.” She hesitated. “It’s kind of bad, honestly.”

“Ah.” There was a pause. Then he laughed. “Seems like I have failed in cooking, did I not? But that doesn’t mean I shall stop making meals for you.”

Estia couldn’t help but snicker too. “Please don’t.”

It was a failure, no matter how Estia looked at it. The Dark Crusaders were at war with the Church, yet they had been defeated in Jahar’taw. She was the commander of the battle, and she had been sent fleeing out of the city and country.

But this was a single setback. War was not determined by individual battles. And Estia knew that she’d come back stronger from this. She believed that the Dark Crusaders would be victorious against the Holy Xan Empire in the end.

She had to study. She had to grow stronger. Learn from her mistakes.

And maybe, when the next time she was tasked in charge of a battle, she’d come out victorious. Kores had faith in her. Because of that, she had faith in herself.

He was the first person she had ever considered a friend. But more than that, he was her mentor. He truly cared for her. Sure, this battle was lost. But they both believed in their cause.

In the cause of the Dark Crusaders. So, no matter what happened— no matter what setbacks they faced— they both knew that there would only be one conclusion.

It was war. And Estia believed that they would win, no matter what.

But for now, she’d rest.