It was a hard journey with a lot of detours, but fortunately, after meeting the Jackals, the journey was relatively smooth and uneventful until they reached Stadelitz. Part of the uneventful journey was Wepwawet’s direction to avoid confrontations along with Rhynsa and Arnulfe’s echo senses, which could determine where and when a confrontation was underway.

Rhynsa, who let Wepwawet sit beside him as a guide, wondered how long Wepwawet had been on the surface and whether he knew where Anubis was, so he asked both. Wepwawet, unlike his brother, had more experience with the surface world, so he could give reasonable answers to both questions Rhynsa gave him.

“(I have been on the surface for three years, some months before Tragoria’s fall),” said Wepwawet while Anubis also listened in. “(Like you, I was searching for my family. It led me to the surface despite of knowing that it might be a fruitless search and just adding to the scope of my search, which was already big enough due to the vastness of the Underworld).”

“(Did you find anyone else?)” asked Anubis.

Wepwawet shook his head. “(I’m afraid not. I didn’t even know that you were on the surface. I had an unexplained hunch, but I tended to ignore those hunches since, in four out of five, that hunch turned out to be false).”

“(You still got one chance that it is true, you know),” remarked Arnulfe.

“(That fifth hunch cost me a friend),” reasoned Wepwawet short. “(Even this time, we met while we were engaged with a demonic beast, so it’s not entirely a good thing, either. Nevertheless, it’s good to know that you’re still alive and well, Ani. I can’t imagine losing you after we lost father and Seth).”

“(Seth died?)” said Anubis, surprised by the news. “(I didn’t know).”

“(The curse came to past),” said Wepwawet with a sigh.

“(I heard about the Caropus curse from Mizarka),” said Rhynsa. “(So, I can assume that both your father and Seth are the firstborns of your family?)”

“(They were both the heir apparent to the throne),” said Wepwawet. “(And did you say Mizarka?)”

“(Yeah. Slender young Jackal, rather tall, thicker golden stripes).”

“(You know her? Wow. I never thought I’d hear that name again after thinking she died. Tell me. Is she doing fine?)”

Rhynsa let out a cheeky smile. “(Finer than you can think of, Wepwawet).”

Wepwawet, who instantly understood what he meant, could only said, “(Cheeky bastard).” Rhynsa kept smiling and showing his vampiric fangs, feeling very proud of what he just said.

They soon arrived at Stadelitz after driving for more than 7 hours, reaching the town after the sun already set. The town was like any other Dusdolfian town: city center paved with cobblestones, brick buildings with specific Dusdolfian architecture, and most of the population being Lycans. The main point of interest of the town was a big, dark tunnel that bore into the mountains. It seemed to be a tunnel reserved for motorists and streetcars operated and powered by the electric wire hanging overhead. The streetcar seemed to only be used exclusively for the tunnel and not the town, given the town’s size and the lack of rail beyond the turnstile that connected the terminus to the maintenance building and the terminal building, which also doubled as a shopping center.

However, no meaningful activity happened near the tunnel, with the tunnel itself being mostly sealed off by cars and barricades, leaving only an entrance/exit for presumably the guards that were stationed near the entrance of the tunnel. Ifrit noticed the sign near the tunnel entrance saying ‘To Morran’, meaning that the other side of the tunnel was Tragoria, just like what Sahia told them about the town’s importance. He just hoped that the barricade was effective enough against demons, even though he felt that the townspeople were fortunate none of the bigger demons or even a lower circle demon ever attacked the town.

Then, of course, Ifrit did not want to wonder about it out loud. He did not want to, as the surface dwellers said, jinxed it. It was an expression he learned from Albert back when they were still travelling together, at least one of many that he learned while learning how to speak Tragorian.

As Ifrit reminisced of his time with Albert, Lilac, Eshdar, and Sammael, Sahia did not delay. After they properly parked, she started asking around town about the Antelberg estate. Rhynsa and Arnulfe also noticed something interesting among the Morran refugees. To their surprise, most of them were not Lycans, but hellhounds. It was as if Morran was a town of hellhounds, not a town of Lycans.

While this made Rhynsa suspicious of their intention, his suspicions were tendered somewhat by a hellhound that noticed the group as they approached the tunnel. He waved his hand towards them.

“(Hey, you! You’re Schelkz, aren’t you?!)” he said as he approached Ifrit. “(Ifrit Schelkz?)”

While Rhynsa understood that anyone with the name ‘Schelkz’ would inevitably have a lot of enemies, the Fuzandre had come to understand that Ifrit was cursed by the name’s notoriety, and he did not deserve that treatment, even though he felt it was justifiable. But before Rhynsa could stop the hellhound and tell him that it wasn’t the hellhound he was looking for, Ifrit took notice of the hellhound. He found the hellhound familiar.

Seeing the confused look on Ifrit’s face, the hellhound said, “(It’s Kasker. Snohand, Lynch victim. Remember?)”

“(Oh, it’s you!)” said Ifrit after the word ‘Snohand’ jolted his memory. “(You’re doing well these past years).”

“(Not too well, to be honest),” he said, scratching his head . “(I was helping to evacuate Morran during the worst of the Incursion. Before you ask, my family’s alright. I convinced them to go further north).”

“(To Avicelis)?”

“(No, to one of my contacts in Dusdolf. He’s alright with hellhounds and I trust him with my life).” Kasker soon turned his attention to Rhynsa and Arnulfe and said, “(You certainly have an interesting company. And, uh…that doesn’t look like any dog I have ever seen).”

“(He’s a Blood Beast),” said Ifrit, thinking quickly. “(It won’t bite).”

“(Blood Beast, huh? Haven’t seen one of them ever since going topside. What happened to your old company? Went your different ways?)”

“(Something like that),” said Ifrit. “(We’re due to reunite, but I guess it will have to wait).”

Kasker and Ifrit were getting along rather well as they walked through town. They soon reached the car park to find the group of Jackals, including Anubis and Wepwawet, that were told to wait by the rest of them. Kasker looked genuinely surprised by the group of Jackals. Ifrit, however, was more concerned with how they would be perceived by the rest of the townspeople (including Kasker), considering how different they looked. Even if they were called Death’s Jackal, their short, almost non-existent black fur, tall ears, and gold accents made them so different from a hellhound. Even if they looked friendly, the surface dwellers would certainly be more accustomed to the wolf and dog-like hellhounds. In fact, Ifrit started to wonder if the hellhounds ever knew what a Death’s Jackal was. So, he quickly said, “(They, uh…they’re not gonna be a problem. They don’t look like it, but they’re also hellhounds).”

“(I know. Death’s Jackals, right?)” said Kasker. “(Some of the folks from the Underworld have certain misgivings about them. I mean, who doesn’t? They were living close to the hell’s gate. Last I heard, their kingdom was decimated by the Uprising and the Incursion. Even I think they have a certain sense of mystery, and not in a good way).”

“(So--)”

“(So, it doesn’t matter. They’re free to come into the town. The surface dwellers might stare at them and wonder what they are, but no one here’s going to harm them. I hope).”

“(You hope?)”

“(We got disruptive elements in the past, Schelkz. It ain’t pretty, but everyone had their opinions. We got a majority opinion, so those guys are out).”

Ifrit silently hoped so. Nothing was worse than fighting among allies. The Incursion fractured many relationships and casting doubts on others. Ifrit himself had that doubt in his mind, too.

“(Anyway, Schelkz),” said Kasker. “(I know you want to stay out of trouble, but given that you are here, I suppose you know you can’t back out of this anymore. We need a monarch now more than ever).”

“(Well, I was a monarch, and not just any monarch),” said Ifrit. “(I’m a Schelkz. You know what that means, don’t you?)”

“(I know, and I don’t care).”

“(You don’t care. The Uprising may use my family name as a baseless reasoning, but there is no doubt that my family was cruel. Even if I did not know that cruelty, I…I know what it means. I am the last hellhound everyone needs right now).”

“(True. Good thing your name’s Ifrit Schelkz, not Hynorsi Schelkz),” said Kasker with a cheeky smile. “(And besides, you’re right. Is it alright if I call you Ifrit from now on?)”

“(You shouldn’t have asked),” said Ifrit, who smiled back. “(Also, thank you. For trusting me).”

They both walked back into the town, talking as they went past the Jackals. Both waved at them, with Wepwawet and the others (except Anubis) waving back.

Ifrit had accepted that that anonymity was no longer something he could do because of his traveling companions. He had more allies now, more than he ever wanted, but more than he thought he would have. Even after he knew he was a half-Infernal, even with all the taunts from his darker aspect, he did not falter. He learned to trust others after meeting with Lilac, Albert, and Eshdar. They made him who he was at the present, not his death. He did not care if anyone commented on his cloven hoof and weirdly shaped pupils. If they were alright with his presence, then he was alright.

For the first time during his journey, he knew his presence finally inspired hope when the hellhounds Kasker wanted him to meet were introduced to him. They looked at him like their savior and the one who could get them out of the whole madness, even though Ifrit did not feel like it after knowing the notoriety of his family name and the fact that he was the demon they supposed to fear. But, considering the things that happened, he knew ‘not feeling like it’ was just avoiding his responsibility. Whether he liked it or not, he must act as their prince.

This also gave Ifrit the opportunity to test if they really meant what they said about tolerance and whether they were worthy of his help. After greeting some hellhounds and giving them some reassurance, he turned to the carriage and called, “(Ani, Wep! Come!)”

Anubis and Wepwawet slowly walked towards the hellhounds, with Ifrit looking at their reaction. Some of the hellhounds seemed to be hesitant while others seemed intrigued that the Jackals were real, given how mysterious they were. Ifrit could tell the mixed reaction from the hellhounds and the surface dwellers when they saw the Jackals.

Ifrit knew he was right to call the twins because it would inspire sympathy. The two were disabled, so even if they were mysterious looking, the fact that one was blind and one was clubfooted inspired sympathy for the others. If they wanted to fight, then so would the others.

But Ifrit was thinking realistically. Not everyone would be willing despite the sight. So, he approached one of the hesitant-looking hellhounds and said, “(They’ve been a great help to me and everyone. The least you can do is trust them).”

“(Ah, but…).”

“(You are willing to trust a Schelkz like me),” said Ifrit with a smile. “(Will you be willing to trust the twin princes of the Caropus family despite their present condition?)”

When the hellhounds were convinced of Ifrit’s words, he wondered if it was because they realized that trusting a Schelkz was a desperate move, or they genuinely wanted to accept help from invalids. In any case, the hellhounds agreed with Ifrit and approached the royal Jackal twins and smiled to Anubis, not knowing he was blind. This made things look rather amusing on Ifrit’s end, so much so it also attracted Kasker’s attention.

“(You claim you want to be left alone),” said Kasker. “(But I guess you learn the art of persuasion during your travels).”

“(I learn from the best),” said Ifrit, referencing Albert. “(Anyway, the town you came from…it’s Morran, isn’t it? From what I remember, it’s the town on the same road with Snohand).”

“(You’re right).”

“(So, despite of the risk, you happen to move to a town close to the place you almost got hanged, especially after we rode away from the mountains).”

“(Except there was nowhere else I could go ever since the Incursion started. Stadelitz is my home since then. I feel safer with the Demon Hunters around, but three years into the Incursion, their forces were stretched thin. You heard about the Hunters being more preoccupied to protecting Dusdolf, but that’s not the whole truth. Many of them, either realizing the real problem or just wanting to prove themselves, fought the frontline and never returned. I’m afraid even the Hunters defending the Morran end will not make it).”

Ifrit soon found the problem was the tunnel connecting the two towns.

“(Did you cover the tunnel?)” asked Ifrit.

“(Using dynamites as directed by the hunters. However, I feel it’s not enough. They have heavyweight demons, Ifrit. Monsters that can move rocks and eat horses. Those kinds of things. I saw them during the height of the Incursion. If they happen to get through the tunnel, this town’s as good as over).”

“(How about sealing this side of the tunnel?)”

“(Not enough explosives left. And besides, the town council won’t let us. For them, the refugees from Morran only complicates matter by doing the one thing they aren’t supposed to do).”

“(Saving themselves?)”

“(Bringing the fight to Dusdolf, even though it isn’t their fault),” said Kasker with a sigh. “(Whatever the case, the best way to settle this is evacuate the civilians and let the soldiers deal with them. Without a real danger, they won’t act. Sometimes, I wonder how these surface dwellers ever survive until now).”

“(They haven’t faced dangers like the demons. Didn’t they have a war among themselves)?”

“(Yes. 80 years ago).”

“(Then time also makes them dull. War is like a painful past they want to forget. We brought our conflicts to them, so…it’s partially our fault they look so apathetic).”

“(Hmm. Good reason).”

“(So, what now?)”

“(There is nothing we can do unless we have a figure of authority, one that convince them to evacuate to safer towns).”

“(Figure of authority, huh?)”

Ifrit started to think about that, wondering if he knew someone with that kind of authority. Just then, as if circumstances giving him the answer, Sahia walked towards the two with Rhynsa and said, “Ifrit, Antelberg estate is safe. Apparently, the demons and the hellhounds sieging it gave up after a couple of days.”

“That’s great. We can go over there and get your family out.”

“Yet, it’s too convenient. They just gave up. Somehow, I don’t believe that’s the case.”

“Wait…the estate is close to this town, right?” Ifrit turned to Kasker. “(Kasker, what happened these past couple of days? Sahia told us that the town is besieged by demons and hellhounds).”

“(Hellhounds, yes. But demons, I doubt it),” said Kasker. “(Like before, they are trying to find royalists. But I learned my lesson, so I didn’t bring your family crest with me).”

“(Then, where are they?)”

“(I don’t know. They went to the estate and just never return to harass us).”

“(Then we gotta risk it. Kasker, you said you need a figure of authority, right? How does a noble from the Antelberg family work for you?)”

“Wait, you know the duke of Antelberg?”

“He’s my husband,” said Sahia short.

“And she was also a descendant of a royal hellhound,” said Ifrit. “Brindor, wasn’t it?”

Kasker looked very surprised and in disbelief. He looked at Sahia, who nodded, then her tail, which due to recent attacks, she pulled it out for better combat capabilities. Kasker’s penchant in looking at someone’s tail started when he noticed the three ring piercings on Ifrit’s tail that indicated his status as a former hellhound prince, which he also found on Sahia, except it was only two rings with a noticeably different design than Ifrit’s, also considering the fact that Sahia’s tail was whip-like and thinner than Ifrit’s. He just laughed at the whole situation, especially since he met not one, not two, but four royals that it felt like all his problems vanished.

“(Seriously),” said Kasker with a laugh. “(Just three years ago, I tried to believe that one royal helping us is like a miracle. Now, I got four of you helping us. It’s a bit too much, really, not to mention one of you happen to be married to a surface royal. It has never happened as long as I have been alive).”

“(Guess we are drawn to each other, whether we like it or not), said Ifrit.

“(That you are. Ifrit, I mean what I said about there’s no demons, just hellhounds. They can’t just up and gone like that. They must be waiting to ambush anyone trying to help the Antelbergs).”

Ifrit nodded while acknowledging Kasker’s concern. But, even with all that concern, Ifrit knew that if everyone went to the mansion, it would not work. They would just make themselves more conspicuous. Ifrit never liked bursting in, guns blazing. He preferred to get in without causing alarm until they had no other alternatives. However, given the situation with demons, he knew they needed a backup with similar strength.

Just as he contemplated taking Sammael, however, Rhynsa stopped him and said, “(Wait, Ifrit. I heard what Kasker said. Something about the hellhound bit doesn’t seem right).”

“(Are you telling me that he’s trying to mislead me?)”

“(I’m saying that you need to be careful. You may know him from your past, but remember. Three years have passed since then. Also, be wary of Sahia).”

“(Why? Are telling me she’s colluding with them?)”

“(I’m just telling you to be careful. Never trust anyone until you can finally be convinced by it yourself. Anyway, I know you’re planning to take the Barghest with you. I suggest you leave him here).”

“(Why?)”

“(Look there).” Rhynsa then pointed at the tunnel. “(That tunnel is like an invitation. It’s big enough for a demon that can eat horses and wreck shit up. We need all the help we can get, and a demon’s help is as good as any. You just keep an eye on Sahia and make your own judgement).”

“(You sure he’s not going to be a problem? They might be okay with Jackals, but a Barghest is pushing it).”

“(Does he look like a demon at first glance to you?)”

Ifrit looked at Sammael, who was talking to Anubis. Sammael, a Barghest, looked like a furless dog wearing a canine skull mask that hid most of his non-surface features. It still did not make him look like a surface feral dog, but it was much better than the monstrosities they faced on the way to Stadelitz. Thus, he agreed with Rhynsa, and decided to go with Sahia.

Ifrit wondered what waited for them on the Antelberg estate, and also what he should expect from his own ally. Sahia may have been yet another persecuted former royal, but she was born on the surface and was not on the run like the other former royal hellhounds Ifrit acquainted with. Even if she was hunted by the anti-royalists (who now, ironically, became demon worshippers), she was still a surfaceborn who happened to become involved. While it did not seem fair, that’s one thing that Ifrit wasn’t great with. He could not trust anyone that was a hellhound until they could prove to him, either directly or indirectly, that they were with him and not against him. He could trust Albert and Lilac because they were surface dwellers, but not Eshdar, at least at first, although his easygoing personality and friendliness finally won Ifrit over. He quickly trusted Anubis due to the circumstances he was in and his brutal way of exacting revenge, showing that he was angry, and rightfully so. Ifrit did not have time to trust Wepwawet, but if Anubis could trust him, then Ifrit hoped he could.

Sahia’s status as an ally still hang in a precarious balance as Ifrit contemplated on it. Whatever happened next, Ifrit would be ready. He just hoped it wasn’t the worst possible case.

It would be a crying shame.