Mimi

Traveling alone had been going well, but it was mildly frustrating to slow my pace down. On the plus side, the pack of fiends next to the Raven's town had been dealt with and that meant food wasn't a problem for me right now. Red was tending to Richard's psyche, and he had trouble understanding that he took out most of the vampire army with his arrows. It wasn't worth pushing such into his mind, especially while he was meant to be recovering. I was learning quite a few things from Red's spars with Di'Rex, but for the most part, I just missed the company.

Organizing the Hive had gotten so easy that the task was delegated to the Giants I had on the wagon. If I lost this body, then Red would become the next Queen since she was just a copy of me. Even Red had no issues and delegated organization to the Giants in the storehouse. There was no need to sort thousands of different senses and memories. No need to remove redundancy, and make it all work. My magic had grown to the point that just imparting a part of my being into the giants allowed them to become ten times more efficient.

In simple terms, I was walking through the forest at night, with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. The hundreds of scents and sights I saw through my scouts was nothing compared to the tens of thousands I was used to dealing with every second. The only thing that changed, was that I had reached the peak of this level. My soul was overflowing from my vessels and empowering the Hive I was connected to. This meant that Rose and any other personality I connected to would receive a boost of some sort.

It was worth recording the before and after of what would happen during the hour I reconnected to everyone, an event that would occur in a few days now. Rose herself had reported a loss of this boost when she returned past the walls, but such a boost accelerated her abilities to grow. Which meant that an hour-long boost might be enough to accelerate the growth of the other personalities.

The disturbing thing was that this boost took effect even without a different personality being in contact with my soul. When I moved my soul over the bugs that Rose controlled, her power surged with her understanding. It was almost as if I elevated her bugs to one of Gray's vampires or Argus' homunculus. They were just able to understand more, and by my estimates and the rate at which my soul was overflowing. I'd encompass the entire Hive outside of Eclipse, just an hour before my meeting with the King.

Charles probably planned for this to happen, meaning I had a lot of information to look forward to while he explained such. There were so many tests to run, so many things taunting me, and I couldn't grasp them until the time had come. I let out a soft sigh, realizing I had delved too deep into my thoughts again. It was becoming more common as I entered a state of light dim. I could order Red around, and I had Richard order Red to order me to listen to her. Which meant I could be dim and largely effective without the issues we would have had before.

Deep down, it bothered me that Red was spending her time with Richard instead of me. I wanted him here, I wanted his company, but it was stifling his growth at this point. Red was another part of me, yet I still felt jealousy. I cracked a smile, realizing how silly it was, but musing about such trivial things was better than walking mindlessly towards the next village. I was extremely close now, my scouts were starting to pick up the scent of old blood, rot, and something more.

It appears that this was just another village that failed, the moon was creeping closer to midnight. More scouts were dispatched, each of them more perceptive since they benefitted from my soul overflowing. They followed the scent of death, coming upon butterflies resting among the branches of the trees. More scouts were dispatched to find the bodies of cultists that were mangled and strewn. I licked my lips, instantly placing the one monster that could be responsible for this.

I grew more impressed as my scouts made their way past the decimated walls of the village. Something stronger than a fiend, and roughly about my size. It might even be stronger than me from the looks of the damage and how it tore through the walls. I hummed, as I walked past the butterflies. They were called, 'Passion Drinkers.' Adorable little creatures, with ethereal wings of pale white fire. The flames themselves would change depending on what they witnessed.

There were hundreds nearby, their flames lighting up as they watched me. Only one was needed to summon the monster that caused this devastation. I only needed to find the children. The more my scouts explored, the more the scene developed. Houses crushed, people turned into stains on the wood and cobblestone. The whole grisly thing filled my head, while I licked my lips again. Tomorrow was going to be a wonderful little battle.

Where were the children though? These monsters didn't kill them, that was what made them so well received in the kingdom of Fire. They weren't controlled by anyone either, since the butterflies were creatures that summoned this particular monster. I paused as my scouts found the first tiny bodies. Little ones huddled together in one of the only houses that remained upright. Cultish insignias were drawn on the walls, as I moved to get a better picture with my own eyes. I left the wagon on the road, as I rushed through the door.

More butterflies were still in the room, lighting it up with an eerie touch. Tiny mummified bodies laid on the ground before me, the butterflies actively trying to repel my bugs. I plucked a few out of the air, eating them. My bugs devouring the passion drinkers, something was very wrong here. Why weren't these children saved? Why wasn't the monster being summoned after I had already eaten a few of these butterflies?

My scouts moved over the bodies, while I was about to leave. I paused, the second they smelt a very familiar field. After a quick inspection, I pursed my lips. These children were from Whe'Di. I let Red know, so she could interrogate Dixon. This night was just getting more curious by the minute.

There was movement in one of the other buildings. A storeroom, where my scouts moved immediately. Inside were maybe five more bodies, with a very malnourished child about to die from dehydration and starvation. A tiny little boy that had the same scent on his clothes as the others. The butterflies were lingering outside the storeroom itself, almost as if they were afraid to enter. The elite vampires in the storeroom at Whe'Di were told to fill a teleporter with water sacks and food. I teleported into the storeroom that the kid was in.

A tiny boy jumped in the darkness as soon as he saw me. He was much too weak to make anything beyond a meek whimper. Still, his eyes screamed that he didn't want to die. I knelt in front of him, the teleporter appearing beside me. I reached into it, pressing a water skin to his lips. His eyes went wide as I coaxed him into drinking. He barely managed to grab my hand, tapping when he needed to breathe. "Are you hungry?" The only reason he wasn't screaming, was likely because he couldn't see me too well in the dimly lit storeroom.

The ten-year-old nodded, as I pressed some bread to his chest. He slowly started eating, while I coaxed him to drink more water. My scouts continued exploring, and soon the spot where the monster was summoned was found. Something wicked was happening here, and judging by the blood splatters the cultists were caught off-guard by the monster coming from the passion drinkers. That was when the rampage started, and my scouts followed the carnage.

Water damage and holes suggested a competent cyromancer tried to stop the rampaging monster, it was largely ineffective judging by the smears of blood. Others collected themselves, whatever cultists were around splitting into three groups. They tried holding the children hostage, with the majority already on the ritual circle. The monster didn't know and hesitated. It was attacked, so it moved to decimate the attackers before dealing with the hostages. The ritual was likely activated by the time it managed to deal with the children held at knifepoint.

The monster was largely unsuccessful in rescuing the hostages, save for the ones that made their way here to the storeroom. Whatever dark ritual had been started was largely completed by the time the monster made its way to the main building of this village. The children were drained of their lives and potentially their very souls, and whatever that led to was likely thrown at the monster in question. It wasn't enough to kill the monster, but cast it through the walls.

The walls it soon destroyed on their way back into this village to finish what it started. It was bleeding, and whatever the ritual was, it still had some power left. The cultists were struck down, and then it starts to get weird. The head position where the priest would stand was devoid of a bloodstain. This suggested the monster was pacified or controlled. Its black blood was still seeping from its wounds, but judging by the discarded bandages it remained for some time.

I looked at the kid, "Do you feel like talking?"

The kid looked at me with a squint, "Who are you?"

"Someone that just fed and gave you water. What happened here?" I glared at the child, my eyes glowing.

He sat a little straighter, "P-please don't hurt me." I told him I wouldn't, as he started explaining things from his point of view. Most of it was the irrelevant drivel a ten-year-old might tell someone when they were very upset. Most of it was highly emotional, with the key points being that the guards that got the children were bribed to let this village take them the rest of the way home. It probably didn't raise any brows, as returning lost children was a wonderful way to integrate two villages in trade. Especially out here in the forests.

The child prattled on while eating and drinking. A good portion of the water ended up on his shirt, while he talked to me as if I were an idiot for not knowing. I had to ask a few guiding questions to steer the conversation while he grated on my nerves. They were much easier to deal with in a safe environment, doubly so when they knew I provided them with everything. This was just a devastated child, who was very much torn up over his friends dying around him. He even started to sniffle, demanding that I take him home.

After confirming his home was in Whe'Di, I promised to take him there so long as he finished answering all my questions. The child, whose name was Di'Lee, reluctantly agreed and continued on. I understood that he was upset, but finding out that all the children here died had soured my mood. The benefits from returning Whe'Di's children were gone, and this village belonged to a cult. Which meant it wasn't prepared for farming or making anything useful. I might be lucky and find a few rare ingredients, but the important things were likely used on the ritual itself.

The child mainly confirmed my analysis of the scene, having a good view since he was one of the hostages. I suffered through him telling me how awful monsters were, and how I was a good elf for saving him. A few questions revealed he got this perspective from Fis'Ton, a harbor city that sounded so nice. Especially after the brat said they'd find me a good shed to sleep in, and some nice tools to work the fields. Cause I'm an elf, and we're so good with plants.

I asked the child if he knew what the ritual was for, and he said all cult rituals were for summoning demons. I smirked, seeing a new option for getting through this. I informed Mark to tell Richard of my plans with this child. I got up from my kneeling position to open the doors, "It truly has been wonderful talking with you, Di'Lee."

The kid struggled to get up, "H-hey! Miss elf, you're supposed to take me home."

The moonlight washed over me, revealing my form. "Oh?" I tilted my head as the child froze, "I made that promise to you as an elf, but I'm not an elf, am I?" I turned towards him, showing my teeth.

His jaw dropped, as he crawled away from me. His already soiled pants were not improved by my reveal. "M-monster!" He cried out, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.

I wagged my finger, "No, little child. A demon, summoned by the ritual no less."

"I don't want to die!" He cried out, looking at the teleporter made from two vampires fused together. He crawled back towards the bodies of his friends, trying to hide under them. The passion drinkers were coming towards his cries, but none of them were summoning the monster. I watched them, their magic looked tainted somehow. As if they couldn't perceive what was happening in front of them.

I crossed my arms with a huff, "How rude, demons don't kill people."

"Yeah-huh! The stories my gran told me, your kind always does. She said you were worse than monsters." The kid sniveled using one of the bodies as a shield. I might have laughed if the situation wasn't so dark.

The kid was watching my every move now, "Oh?" I tilted my head, "Does your grandmother know everything?" My lips curled into a smile, "The people of Whe'Di believe you children are alive and well. That you'll be coming home any day now. Di'Dixon's magic can be fooled by us, so I'm allowing them to keep thinking that. How sad they will be to never see all of you again." I let out a soft laugh.

The child wailed, "Liar! You're a liar! Gran said demons lie!" I tilted my head at that, knowing very well that wasn't my personal experience with one of their kind. They only told the truth, even if it was distorted. The Old One didn't say anything to me though... I crossed my arms trying to puzzle it out.

"What do I have to gain by lying? No, you're right. It will be so much better to return you in pieces." I grinned, letting him see my sharp teeth.

The brat whimpered, "Please don't kill me, miss demon." He cried out.

Come on, summon the monster! I watched as the butterflies floated around, but none of them even made the attempt. Their flames changed from white to blue, but they weren't swarming. Killing the child wasn't an option since Richard knew he'd be on damage control now. I'd drag one of these bastards with me if that's what it took. It was only a matter of time for them to summon the monster if we were in a city with so many people. It was why they were banned, but smuggling one in would be extremely easy. "I want to make a trade," I stated, casually.

Di'Lee swallowed hard, "I don't want to give you my soul..."

I scowled, "Greedy child, what use do you have for it? Fine, I won't take your soul. You said my kind lies? Then I'll have you tell everyone how great elves are. That monsters are the absolute best. Promise that you will, and I shall send you home tomorrow night."

The kid's eyes went wide, "R-Really?"

I nodded, "Really, but if you ever break our pact, I will eat your parents right in front of you. I'll make sure you never have a family because I will eat them all in front of you."

The brat turned pale but slowly nodded. "M-may I have some more bread?"

I huffed, "Very well, but for every piece, you must tell me something good about elves or monsters."

The brat nodded, as I reached into the teleporter and handed him a piece. "Elves are very good at tilling the fields." I cupped the smart ass. A healing sting and some grub later the annoying runt was crawling all over me. I got him some new clothes, while the passion drinkers continued to follow us. He asked why I couldn't send him home tonight, and I made up something about only being able to summon things from one place to another only once per night. The vampires fused together were just sacks in the demon realm, offerings I pilfered from the lesser demons. I was the greatest demon there would ever be, and he ate it up.

I got a large influx of information from Pandora screaming about Azera. It bothered me that I couldn't help her directly, but commands were sent as soon as I understood what she was trying to convey. Azera would be given blood from one of Scix's elves, then he would be brought to me. If the monster wasn't summoned tomorrow morning, I would see if I could fool the passion drinkers with Azera's blood.

What Pandora sent was both annoying, and extremely interesting. She and Berry had mainly mapped out a decent chunk of the castle. Not to mention the library that Berry was going through. He couldn't see the fairies, but it might be that he didn't meet the requirements. More fiend meat to dole out, so that Rose and Silver could take over more fields for the farmers. Raul was going to have a headache from all the lesser nobles he'd have to deal with. Though that was his job, and he was enjoying his purpose for now.

"Hey!" The kid threw a pebble at me, once again not realizing how easily he could die. He at least flinched when I turned towards him. "Can you summon the bodies with me? I think everyone would want to bury them."

I tilted my head, "The pact only said that I had to get you home. Nothing about these bodies. Just tell the others that the monster ate them, I have plans for them." I was just going to burn them, no parent should see their child had suffered a painful death.

Di'Lee slowly nodded his head, "What are you going to use them for?"

I put my hands on my hips, gesturing to the butterflies, "I'm going to see if these creatures can summon a monster for me to fight. My purpose for visiting this realm is to annihilate the strongest monsters, beasts, and people. Then I'll move on to the gods themselves."

He looked at me with stars in his eyes, "R-Really!? Wait, how will the bodies help?"

I cracked my neck, "You are a child, you can't comprehend all the things I can do. I have cults making offering to me all the time."

"Nuh-uh. I bet nobody makes offerings to you." The brat had the nerve to grin at me.

I raised a brow, "You dare doubt the words of a powerful demon?" I loomed over him.

He nodded, "Yep." The nerve of this child, who was just crawling to get away from me not even an hour ago! I squinted at him, before looking up at the moon.

"By the darkness! From the depths of all the hells!" The brat was giggling as I made up some phrases. "It's time for a sacrifice! Cults of this vast world, if one should know my name. I demand tribute!" I shook my fist in the air. Di'Lee was kicking his legs laughing, but then stopped when the single-person teleporter suddenly appeared out of thin air. His jaw dropped.

"What's that!?" He was about to start panicking again.

I crossed my arms, "A sacrifice."

"Why do they all look like people stitched together?" He was properly scared again.

I moved towards the teleporter and pulled the beaten-up Cheshire out of it. "Vampires to be precise, all vampires go to the hells below. We have so many vampires we just stitch them together to make bags." I made the teleporter groan painfully. "See? Still alive, no less."

Di'Lee stared at me with wide eyes, "W-who's that?"

I carried Azera to one of the nicer homes that were still standing. The kid followed me every step of the way. "Who is this?"

"I know you heard me!" The brat tried to jump on me so he could see, "That's all knife ears are good for."

I flicked him on the forehead, making him fall on his ass as he sniffled. "Only nice things about elves and monsters, remember?" He slowly nodded his head, rubbing the spot I flicked. "Let's see," I pretended to sniff the man. "Ah, a gang leader from the Underground of Eclipse. A thief that can teleport, and an incredibly dumb idiot."

Di'Lee stared at me with wide eyes, "You can tell all that from smelling a person!?"

I nodded, "Get the door, I'm going to save him."

The child rushed to the door, opening it for me. I ignored the butterflies lazily flying around us. "Why are you going to save him? I thought gang leaders were bad people. Especially those from Eclipse!"

I rolled my eyes, "I'm a demon, and I hate the gods." I stated matter of factly, "Stopping someone from dying means the goddess of death can't claim them. I'm telling her that she's weak because she can't take what is mine."

The kid blinked, "What? But, saving people is a good thing!"

I shrugged, "I don't care what mortals think, I'm a demon. He can always die later, but he was sacrificed to me. He's just lucky I was here, otherwise, he'd die." Azera rolled his eyes with a groan, coming in and out of consciousness. I wasn't sure how much he heard, but all that mattered was that he knew he was somewhere safe.

There was a table, and I dropped Azera on it. I looked at Di'Lee who froze. "A-are you going to make him a demon?"

"No, I'm waiting on you to close the door. Unless you want him to die. You don't have to watch, it's going to be pretty gross." Di'Lee nodded, closing the door.

The brat walked over to me, "C-Can I watch?"

I cocked my head towards him, "Why would you want to do that?"

He looked up at me, "I'm learning a lot from you, miss demon. I want to see how your kind saves people." This brat!

I cracked a smile and ruffled his hair, "Very well, just know that what you are about to see cannot be unseen. You will forever be tainted with this knowledge! The gods themselves will scorn you! You will be cast into the hells themselves! Are you truly prepared for such a thing?"

Di'Lee nodded, "I-if it means I can stop others from dying, then I think it's worth it. I want to be a powerful preacher and keep my friends safe."

I huffed, "Very well, my cult is moving upon your village as we speak. When you return, you will find statues erected in my honor. They will think I am a monster, but you will know the terrible truth! Oh!? It seems they have found more vampires, you are a very lucky child. We never discussed the price for you gaining this forbidden knowledge. I suppose converting your entire village will have to suffice. A small payment for saving them from vampires."

Di'Lee huffed, "You're lying."

Azera looked at me, very confused about the situation he found himself in. "Get on with it." He muttered, not sounding sure if he was going to die or what.

I looked at the kid, "When have I said any lies?"

Di'Lee rolled his eyes, "All the time, you're making me say elves are people! That monsters can be useful!" I cupped him, getting a smirk from Azera. The kind of smug look that asked if I was having trouble dealing with something he could handle easily. That smug look vanished the moment I tore the scar tissue out of his abdomen without letting him fall asleep. He thrashed around while I gave him a healing stinger.

It was a shame that he passed out from the pain, but humans were always so fragile. Di'Lee crossed his arms, "How does that teach me anything!?"

I shrugged, "I never said it was something I could teach you, just that the knowledge could never be unseen. Be thankful that I did not choose to chant the forbidden words that would make your eyes melt, and your brain come out of your ears."

"I want a refund!" I cupped the brat, knocking him out this time. There were butterflies on the window, and I glared at them. They knew I was asking if they wanted some as well because they flew away without even summoning the monster. I moved the wagon outside the village, to the forest where it wasn't at risk if I started fighting anytime soon. Then I grabbed the teleporter full of water skins and rations so the two idiots could have something to eat when they woke up. It was going to be a long morning.