FINALLY DONE :D

Wow that chapter didn't want to be written.

Yes I know I fell Waaaaayyyyy behind on my deadline but I think the length (13K) makes up for that. :)

Ok so this was the longest chapter written to date so I know that there will be a fair few spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A common one will be a missing "e" because the key is slightly broken on my laptop, and if I don't press it with enough force it just doesn't work :( So I would be really grateful if you could point out any mistakes you find.

Could someone please tell me how to link one chapter to the next. Cheers.

Last thing.Could someone tell me why my 5th chapter has more views than my 1st?!? It just doesn't make sense. Oh well that's all from me Hope you like it. :)

Edit: Due to complaints, here is a warning for the contents of this chapter. Especially towards the end there are some mature themes. I didn't think i needed to explain this due to the tragedy tag and the mature tag. But here it is.

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During my time in Tesuit I have made it my personal goal to avoid large crowds, lest I be discovered by a weary magician strong enough to see through me but anonymous enough to avoid my attention. I can’t say I achieved my goal however as currently I find myself surrounded to the point where I am seriously considering if I have claustrophobia. It was almost as if the entire population of Tesuit stood in the expanded town square. Watching as a single man climbed a lone ladder to hang next to a temporary and gigantic wooden sign that had been erected for the occasion. What is the occasion you may ask, well I will tell you that for humanity, it was not a good one.

Moments later a large poster was put on full display, and as the man backed down the ladder to reveal its full contents I heard the terrified gasps of those around me. For the poster contained no words, just a sickly yellow painted line that swept diagonally across the page, parted neatly by two red strokes that cut through perpendicular to the yellow one. Even without the implied meaning I would have found the simple message ominous. It implied however a declaration of unity under a single demon lord had been established.

To any who do not understand the consequences of such an agreement need only be told that without the large amount of infighting between the many factions present in the Demon empire, they could concentrate their forces into a common goal, and being situated right next to the demon empire, the humans would inevitable find themselves under siege in the near future. Shaking my head I squeezed my way out of the crowd.

**We don’t have much time now, we can’t stay here forever**. Came the echo in my mind. At first, Blue’s sudden outbursts would make me jump in surprise but after two years of his cohabitation I had become used to them. Yes, two years have passed, making me a proud twelve year old. Physically not much has changed, I still retain my small stature yet Shirley tells me my body has now become slightly defined. With small muscles built up from years of intense physical exercise. Though the biggest change I have gone through would be a mental one.

Incubus abilities alone I am now able to alter my appearance with relative ease. Not to the extent of my Mother or Lye who could basically become anyone they wished, as I couldn’t do anything like change my height or my gender. But my facial features and skin tone could be altered enough to mislead even the most cautious of humans.

Magically I have also progressed. In my past life my abilities had developed naturally, through trial and error I found what worked and what didn’t. However, here I have multiple teachers directing my learning. It took only a year for my unnatural ability to surpass the head mage in my possessed class, and under his tutelage I am now able to –with the help of blue- silently penetrate his mind without detection from either him or his dream demon, a task which he himself proclaimed as impossible earlier that year.

I also now know why the possessed were treated with such caution and disdain from the majority of Tesuit. Earlier in the year a boy named Kevin had lost control of his dream and the result was messy to say the least. The demon in question had taken control of his body, shattering the mind of the youngling and killing his parents with a blunt kitchen knife. The next morning the neighbours had found the child devouring the corpses of his deceased parents and the lead possessed mage was forced to kill the demon. What scared me the most was that this type of occurrence was considered relatively common. Naturally a closed in and excluded city like Tesuit has a shockingly fast rumour mill and before the end of the day I noticed that certain people began to distance themselves from me.

First was my mother who no longer gave me any physical contact and kept conversation to a minimum. The second was Oliver from my group of human friends. To be honest I couldn’t blame him, he had known Kevin personally and had taken the news beyond badly. I later heard from Jack that he barricaded himself in his room, with his only communication being a small whisper that would alert the family when he was hungry. He came out eventually and I understood why he refused to speak to me, what I was annoyed by, was his insistence to cut me from the group.

At first I had fought against my disassociation, and with Jacks help I held onto their friendship for a solid three months, though unfortunately Oliver’s goal was inevitable and due to the discord that was spreading I was asked formally to leave them alone. I tried to put on a tough front but I cried that night. It was times like these that made me hate my new found emotions. Jack still talked to me of course, but it meant my interaction with people my own age decreased significantly.

Fortunately for me, blue had no such evil intentions. Having discovered that I was a demon, he was unexpectedly loyal. Going so far as to voluntarily encase himself within a wall of my magic designed to protect myself from any outburst he may consider attempting.

My progression in my Warlock class had been less eventful. The premise of the class was to gain an outstanding affinity with mana to the extent where you could manipulate another’s pool in the midst of battle. As such there was always room for improvement and so no matter what your skill, the first three years would be made up entirely of studying the properties of mana and meditating to refine your own source and increase your control over it as a resource. What this meant was that I just continued my daily meditation in this class instead of at home. But still with a teachers advice my pool was becoming purer and my control was fasted and more receptive to my thoughts than ever before.

As for my mana pool itself, it was still growing. Almost dangerously so. I have heard stories of those who lost control of their power due to a lack of preparation regarding its potential. This made my Warlock training even more essential as I didn’t want to join the ranks of those who were too afraid to cast a spell in fear of their magic turning on them. Thankfully my schedule left me little time to worry.

Three more events bulked up my schedule. The first was the expected training required of all children in Tesuit. Luckily I was allowed to cut down slightly on the amount of time I spent there thanks to the CCC mage John’s influence. But still, that coupled with the Military academy made whatever time I had left rare and despairingly short. However, unlike training, the military academy was a time I enjoyed. My work ethic alone kept me weeks ahead of the class and I often found myself seeking private tuition with each teacher going over material that needed clarification. Naturally I was able to finish the majority of the work inside the walls of the academy itself, so my nights were freed from the chains of homework and I found myself surrounded by more productive and practical activities, and augmented by the fascinating lectures –that only I paid any attention too- I enjoyed the heck out of it.

I was also surprised when on my second day, a stunning girl sat down next to me, her name was Hannah and she was the silver haired girl I had met and fought with during the very first mock skirmish. Upon meeting her a second time, I appraised her once more. She had a pretty oval face with captivating green eyes shadowed by thin eyebrows that slanted slightly to give a sharper look. Her skin was largely unblemished bar a patch of small freckles that dotted the tip of her nose which wriggled slightly when she tried to talk. .

As adolescent as it sounds I enjoyed her company far more than I should have, she was wickedly intelligent and even without paying attention to the lectures she pumped out grades that rivalled my own. Unfortunately I didn’t often hear this “intelligence” as Hannah’s inherent shyness meant that she barely spoke. Though on one of the rare times she did, she confessed to me that she had achieved a shocking D in her magical aptitude test, shattering her former ambitions of becoming a magician. This went against her family’s expectations and she was brutally treated by them ever since. Even her one year younger brother gave her constant abuse that had turned physical when he himself had gone through his own magical aptitude test. Perhaps this was the reason for her withdrawn demeanour. Hannah, in an attempt to defend herself, directed her full attention on the physical side of the military. Passing through her expected training and joining the war dancing corps. Not to be confused with an aesthetic group, the war dancing corps is used primarily by Tesuit for its shock and awe, weaving their way through the battlefield as whirlwinds of death in complex patterns and manoeuvres

Talking of whirlwinds of death I notice a demon has escaped the last two year summary, and perhaps the biggest change that has occurred over them concerned the quite Shedim demon. Red, ever since we began our stay in the mansion has directed his entire being on beating a single man. The result is that now he completely surpasses my new father in military prowess, leading my father to recommend him for the annual combat tournament of Tesuit. A tournament so internationally known that only the absolute pinnacle of skill is allowed passed the preliminary rounds alone. Red at first was slightly hesitant, though after assurance from me that he wouldn’t be discovered he allowed himself to be bundled off early in the morning to the southern reaches of the city. There, in a giant colosseum he spent a total of six weeks facing opponent after opponent fighting for the top position. Unfortunately he was bested by a man who later triumphed as the victor of the entire competition. But even so a commemorative party was held that night in his honour were an array of important men came to ask him for his services, yet in his usual blunt way he turned them away, saying he preferred to stay with me.

One thing that pleasantly surprised me about the military academy were the mock skirmishes. Having been disheartened from the first day I soon realised that each session slowly became more tactfully viable. Ever since the first day I was still condemned to the female side though now it was by no act of bullying. It was out of respect that anyone who found me would challenge me to a duel and to this day I haven’t lost in a physical challenge. An example of a particularly interesting occasion was a capture the flag match. The academy had erected two ginormous pyramidal type structures with winding paths that cut their way up the buildings. Although it wasn’t that simple. Most of the roads were dead ends and a child who walked up one would find himself surrounded by a myriad of traps that the mountains would offer. Whether that be a giant rolling log that sent the child back to campus on contact. Or a hidden path that allowed other enemy children in behind them. It was interesting because obviously invading the enemy position was a death-trap but a time limit was put in place and the winning condition was the team which went the furthest up the opponent’s structure. To increase the fun an observation platform was placed close to each pyramid where a designated person on each team could stand, yelling directions to the courageous children who braved the paths.

I blinked, finding myself back in the present. With Blue’s voice still resonating in my mind. The population of Tesuit still standing in their shocked huddle. As I made my way past the last few people I couldn’t help but notice my old group, led by Jack circling around the edge of the square. They seemed to be in a disagreement and Oliver kept close to Jack’s heel muttering something that I couldn’t hear over the buzz of the square. Though upon seeing me Jack made a beeline in my direction. Obviously the disagreement was concerning me as Oliver stayed back pouting slightly.

“Aare”, Jack called happily over the onslaught of noise around us. I nodded in reply which was all the boy needed to continue. “Hey mate, was just wondering if you’ve signed up to a guild team”? I frowned, the obvious conclusion that I made was that he wanted me to join his and I considered my day carefully. Later on I was meant to go to the possessed temple where we would run through the daily exercises, until then I was free. But did I want to spend the one day I had off to go running around with a group who didn’t particularly feel comfortable around me. Or, at least that’s what I was thinking until I realised there wasn’t much else to do. Mum was at home, so going home would basically be the same problem.

“No I haven’t” I replied hesitantly, “but what’s brought this up”.

“Well, we only have nine people and one mission we want to sign up for requires ten and one of us needs to be a Warlock. Soooooo think you could help us out”?

**Why not**? Blue echoed, allowing his thought to float in my mind. **We don’t have any other plans, and I’m feeling adventurous. Plus you know what happens when I’m cooped up in here for too long. I need to get out and see the world**. The voice trailed off wistfully. Although Blue did tent to spout out optimistic nonsense, he did have a point. There wasn’t really anything to lose.

“I need to be back by dark” I warned. Extending my hand to shake, which Jack grasped with obvious relief.

“Brilliant”, he said excitement layered into his voice. “Meet us at the guild in twenty minutes, ok”? He spoke quickly before turning on his heel and rushing back to his group. “Oh” he yelled over his shoulder. “Bring a weapon”, I didn’t wait any longer but ran home to sort out my equipment. As I rushed through the front door, I vaguely noticed Mum in the kitchen and I shouted a greeting before rushing upstairs. I didn’t wait for a reply, knowing that it would never come.

It was only a day mission so I didn’t need to pack anything heavy. Only the basics, like lunch, a canteen filled to the brim with water and a basic first aid pack which I grabbed from my dad’s supply. I placed everything into a brown leather bag, swinging it up over my shoulders and slipping a small black bladed dagger into my belt. If I was in a group of ten I didn’t expect to be placed near the frontline so a dagger should suffice and in an emergency I could summon a plethora of weaponry in a number of different ways so I didn’t see a great need to bring more. Instead I rushed down the stairs, shouted a goodbye that would never be answered and made for the door. Only to have it opened before me by two girls talking animatedly to each other. The first was Shirley whose face lit up when she saw my bag. “Where you going”. She asked curiously before turning to the girl next to her. I knew who it was as soon as I saw the silver hair which fluttered slightly in the breeze.

Hannah tilted her head slightly in surprise as she noticed the dagger by my side. Being in the same academy class, she was used to seeing me with a number of wooden weapons though this may have been the first time she had seen me with a real one. Her surprise didn’t last long though and she looked me strait in the eye before saying, “guild quest I assume”. I blinked, twice, before nodding in confirmation.

“Well” Shirley cut in, “Aare, you know its best not to go out with exposed weapons, you only make a target of yourself, wait here” she said before running off and skidding around the corner. Moments later she was back with a large parcel under her arm and without any commotion shoved into my chest, slightly winding me. When I gave her a puzzled look she just laughed. “What, I can’t spoil my brother every now and then? Come on Aare” she drawled happily. “Open it”! I complied tearing open the fragile paper, to reveal what could only be described as a midnight blue trench coat. “Put it on”, came the voice again which was giggling now. After an awkward few seconds of removing my bag and putting on the coat I could only gasp at its quality. It was tight fitting and dropped all the way down to my ankles, yet a clever design in the fabric –a number of cuts and folds- made it not constricting in the slightest. “Isn’t my brother cute Hannah”, my sister laughed slapping me on the back at the same time. Though when no response came our eyes turned as one to the girl who was now blushing and had apparently found something extremely interesting on the floor. Shirley met my gaze. Her face a mixture of a pout and laughter. “Oh, for fuck sake”. She giggled. “Hannah, you go with him, I can’t even watch this”, and with those words she did a quick spin and dashed up the stairs, a grin stuck on her face.

So the two of us just stood there for a minute. Never before had such a terrible silence elapsed between the two of us and I struggled to find any words to end it. Thankfully she did it for me, “shall we go then”. She blushed, pointing in a vague direction that I knew the guild to be in.

I tried to be thoughtful gesturing to the door and saying “After you”. But all I accomplished was an embarrassed Hannah and a hysterical Shirley who upstairs had erupted into another spout of laughter.

The guild was everything I despised. Firstly the small wooden building bluntly reminded me of my old house in the demon village. So I spent a solid several minutes in ominous silence, reminiscing of better times. Hannah noticed my state and perhaps wisely left me alone. Secondly it was crowded, and much like the town square this morning I suddenly found myself suffering from a similar case of claustrophobia. That coupled with the natural musky and damp atmosphere made this place a living nightmare.

So what is a guild I hear all of you ask? Well firstly I need to explain the inner politics of Tesuit. The first thing you need to know is that a city that prides itself on its garrison – like us – finds the majority of its soldiers with nothing to do in the peaceful times. So to allow the soldiers to make some extra money while simultaneously sorting out a variety of issues, the government of Tesuit will highlight a number of errands that could be sorted out by a small number of independent men. These errands are then passed to an establishment called a guild which will divvy out tasks to those who are capable of completing it. For example the quest that Jack’s group wished to complete had a rule saying that no group fewer than ten people could attempt it.

So here I find myself, in a disgusting hole that practically stunk of capitalism. I shuddered before catching sight of Jack leading eight boys and girls who all looked remarkably at home in this hell hole. Catching my eye he waved before easing his way through the crowd up to the front desk. I met him there and gave a quick greeting to the children of the group. They each replied in their own way before glancing behind me where Hannah stood waiting. “Is there room for one more” I asked politely. I knew it was bad form to invite someone along to another’s gathering without prior warning. But I needn’t have worried as Jack gave a quick smile and nodded affirmation.

An old man with a naturally curled lower lip sneered at us from behind the counter as Jack squeezed up to it. Apparently Jack was a smooth talker as soon he had the man laughing along with him before he ceased conversation and pulled out a tied scroll. The man took it and after a quick glimpse of its contents nodded several times before stamping the top. I couldn’t hear what was being said but soon jack was pointing to me and the man gestured for me to approach.

As I got closer I realised that the man resembled the state of the guild far more than I had originally thought from afar. His face was slightly disfigured by a scar that ran from the corner of his eye up to his ear. His teeth were stained yellow and when he opened his mouth to speak a terrifying stench filled my nostrils urging me to recoil, but alas, to avoid confrontation I held my ground. To my complete surprise he completely overturned my evaluation. He held out his hand warmly and after I took it he said. “I hope you already know, but the mission you are about to embark on may require you to confront things that will require your knowledge as a warlock to pass.”

I arched my eyebrow at Jack inquisitively and he had the sense to look slightly sheepish before quickly explaining. “A group of slave traders have been found outside the walls. That’s our target, we can bring them back dead or alive and they have only been classified as only slightly dangerous. The only problems is they are known to transport magical creatures, most are harmless though some may be ethereal so having a person who can manipulate mana is a must”. I shrugged before turning my attention back to the man who now looked uncertain.

“Just to be sure” The man started, “I’ll need to see that you are capable of manipulating another’s mana. I don’t need to see much”. He let go of my hand and upturned his own. He closed his eyes to concentrate and soon a dull ball of blue light floated above his palm. Once again meeting my gaze he continued, “I just need to see you block the mana I’m using to suspend this ball”.

I smiled in response. What he was asking was a simple enough test. Basically one of the simplest principles of mana manipulation was that each person had their own areas on their body which were able to secrete mana, the warlocks called them mana points. What this test asked of me was that I was able to see mana itself and then locate where it was being secreted. Both were ideas that were explored early in the curriculum of a warlock. Quickly I filtered my eyes with a veil of mana, and suddenly the ball of mana in the man’s hands told a completely different story. While the blue ball still hovered it no longer looked alone.

Smoky blue tendrils held the ball in place and as I traced the tendrils back to the hand I noticed they all converged nicely into two points. Now that I had located the spaces the next part was slightly more difficult. Mana points were notoriously easy to find, but blocking them required manipulating another’s mana. Because while you could force you own mana into the points it would soon be purged as it would be recognised as a foreign substance and fought off by a native mana supply.

What I did next would be easier explained as I go, so listen closely. I closed my eyes before reaching out mentally. Even with my eyes closed I could still feel the mana as it gave off a sensation - much like static electricity - every few seconds. Similar to manipulating my own mana I felt my consciousness grasp onto the blue smoke that even now held the ball of light aloft. It took a while but by switching between sudden tugs and smooth coxing I felt the man’s mana retract inside his body, building up just inside his mana points. I grinned, the rest was easy. Quickly I rose my hand and fired off a series of mana pulsations, which to an untrained eye would have seemed completely random. To me each pulse was placed at a fixed distance from the mana points and as my mana oscillated it set off a chain reaction with both my other pulses and the man’s mana. Each oscillation shook his mana, both removing his control and causing it to fold in on itself, changing it from a smoky gas like substance to a dense liquid which would clog up the limited mana points. Perhaps four seconds had elapsed overall when I opened my eyes and the man in front of me shook his hand around, testing the blocks. After a few second the man ceased his flailing and smiled up at me.

“How long will this last”?

**How long**? I asked blue, I had noticed a small tug, indicating his vague interest when I blocked the man’s points and his guess would be miles better than mine.

**Five or six days**. Came the instant reply. **You went a bit overboard though so it could be longer** He amended.

“A few days”, I grimaced, out loud this time. We both knew that there was no way to unblock a mana point except to wait it out. Usually it only stopped emitting for a couple of hours, but then again, I wasn’t “usual”.

“Impressive”. The man whistled. “Well, anyway. That’s all I needed to see. You lot be careful now”. Our group chorused assent before filing through the door and gathering out the front.

We didn’t waste time as Jack led the group in single file through the narrow streets. Eventually we reached the walls and I watched amazed as Jack simply held up the scroll before the guards stepped aside and called for the great gates to open. Now that we found ourselves outside the gate Jack gestured for me to walk besides him. “I just want to say sorry mate.” I knew he was talking about my disassociation and I cut him off before he could continue.

“No, it’s ok, it’s not your fault.” I began, I held up my arm when he tried to continue, “and I know it’s not Oliver’s fault either. He had every reason to act as he did”. The rest of the walk was uneventful as most of the group was too excited to talk and Jack just looked at the ground deep in thought. The land surrounding Tesuit was as boring as my company, green fields filled with farmers. Though after walking for at least three hours we past the fringes of the kingdom and made our way to the foot of the first tree leading to the forest Red and I had run through to escape the demon army. It was smaller than I remembered. The trees not as imposing. Although to the group of kids who stood around me the trees were a prospect of fear. Many had never left Tesuit before and it was well know that creatures of great power inhabited these trees.

“So what’s the plan” Hannah asked from behind me. I hadn’t seen her at all and her voice made me jump. I shrugged, I didn’t want to take a leaders position here. Something told me that I still wasn’t welcome and to try anything would be considered arrogant.

“The Plan” Oliver spoke up from the front, “is to locate the traders”.

We all looked at the forest looming before us, we were all thinking the same thing. “How the hell will we find them”, a large boy replied. Although Oliver just sneered.

“You won’t find them, I will”. He raised his hand high before chanting some words under his breath. What he did next was a relative simple searching spell. A giant blue ring, rocketed out with Oliver at the centre, shooting over the grass and into the forest. Seconds later it returned and when it did Oliver’s smile turned viscous. “That way”. He said pointing into the woods.

Slightly sceptical the group began the walk with trepidation. No longer was the group in a state of excitement and now the almost harmless emotion was replaced entirely with fear. For many of them this would be the first time they participated in real combat, and death as a prospect that very few become impassive towards. The fear was unjustified of course. Each of them had been trained since birth by a city renowned for pumping out the strongest of the human race, and while the may not be comparable to a demon. Each of them could stand alone against an elf or a dwarf. The enemy however was reported to be a bunch of human traders, more adept in the art of deceit that anything combat related and so the trepidation we showed was most like an over precaution.

By following Oliver it didn’t take us long before we encountered the traders. They had set up camp in a large clearing with a small creek running through the middle. Nothing permanent but a number of high topped tents separated into three groups were left sprawled across the clearing. After lying down on a small ridge just inside the tree line I whispered to Oliver, who even now was trying to sum up the enemy. “How many”?

He turned to me with a frown, “about twenty guards”, he replied in a hushed voice. “There are about fifty more in that tent over there” He continued, pointing to an especially large tent on our right. “But I reckon most of them would be the merchandise, and over there”, he pointed to the left “Is something else, but this one is more like an animal, can’t really tell what it is though. There’s a lot of magical interference”. We looked at each other briefly. I knew we were both thinking the same thing. It was certainly a magical creature and the excess magic inside it was blocking Oliver’s observation spells, and with no way of knowing what it was, we could be walking into something far more dangerous than anything we signed up for.

“We should be fine”. Said jack from besides us, “the scroll says that the threat is minimal. In fact, the guy who gave it to me said that the most dangerous thing about this place would be the forest itself”.

I thought the statement was reasonably innocent, but something Jack said made Hannah spin to attention. “Wait”, she hissed. “Who did you get it from”!

Jack was slightly taken aback by the sudden verbal attack but after quickly gathering his thoughts he answered the question. “From a man in the guild, what’s the problem”?

Hannah was livid now, and was spitting her next sentence before Jack could say another word. “Did you, or did you not, get that document from the wall, SPECIFICALLY designed to provide LICENCED quests”.

The group started to get where she was going now, and they waited silently for Jack to reply. “No I didn’t, but that shouldn’t matter. The guy at the desk stamped it. So it should be fine”. Though there was no conviction to his voice which was now uncharacteristically quiet.

“There is no way one man could remember each quest on that wall. Of course he’s going to bloody stamp it. All that damn stamp means is that a group has taken the quest”! Hannah took three breaths to calm herself before she continued. “So let me get this straight. We are on a quest. Which we have no idea is real, following a group of smugglers of unknown number and fighting capacity accompanied by an unknown magical beast, with just eleven children, because a man happened to give you a piece of paper in a guild”. Jack looked scared now. Glancing down at the paper and holding it carefully away from him as if it were on fire.

“What should we do” a girl asked from the group, her question directed at the oldest member.

“I don’t know about you lot”, Hannah answered shaking her head. “But I have no intention of walking into this death trap. I suggest any of you with common sense follow me home. Especially you”. She said glaring at me. I didn’t know why, it wasn’t my fault. Though any defence I would have made was destroyed when the unmistakable sound of a boot crushing a twig came from our right. I spun quickly to find a young adult, burdened with a long sword strapped to his back, standing on a dirt mound only a few metres away. He was staring right at us, his mouth open in surprise. Everyone stood stock still for several seconds before I saw the man’s eyes dart down to a whistle attached to the collar.

“Don’t” I commanded, though I didn’t dare layer my voice with magic. I could only hope the man saw enough sense not to do it. I shouldn’t have bothered with the warning as the man’s arm lunged for the whistle while at the same time inhaled a great breath. I panicked, for while I wasn’t certain this quest was a fake the lack of information about a camp of this size suggested that it could be and in two seconds top we would have the entire encampment on our tail.

**Blue**! I thought desperately pulling down the mental blockade that kept Blue encaged, and within a second I saw the wispy dream fly out from the side of my head and cross the gap between us and the man in an instant. As soon as Blue entered the mind of the patrolling man a link appeared that with the slightest thought brought my consciousness inside his mind along with Blue.

**What do you need** Blue shouted already redirecting the man’s neural nerves.

I thought quickly, If I wanted to avoid conflict then the best way would be…. **an illusion, one just strong enough to remove us from his memories and thoughts. I don’t want him to notice us again, think you can do it**?

A moments silence before, **already done, anything else**?

**No were done here**. I replied before I snapped back to my body in time to see my party preparing for battle. “Wait” I hissed. “Let him pass”.

The group looked at me as if I was crazy, but somehow they all managed to follow my command and the group could only watch in awe as the young adult simply walked past us. As if we were never there. Only after he walked out of sight did I release the breath I was holding. **Well done Blue**. I praised honestly. I was actually amazed by how quickly Blue had accomplished the feat, and the self-control he had shown when asking for directions.

**You’re welcome, but next time give me a little warning that doesn’t come in the form of a mental scream**. I laughed a little at that, only pausing when I realised that it had been out load and now the group was looking at me as if I was insane, yet respect now lingered in their eyes.

Jack walked up to me and patted my shoulder, “I’m not sure how you did that”, he began. “But great idea”. Not sure what would have happened if you weren’t here”. I nodded before turning to Hannah.

She caught my eye, and said. “Let’s get out of here before anything else happens”. I agreed and with a murmured assent the rest of the group did too. Except for one.

“Wait”, came a distressed whisper. I turned almost ready to explode when I saw Oliver still lying down and staring into the camp. I followed his gaze to see an extremely large man emerge from the tent of “merchandise”. In his hand he held the hair of a flailing women who even as we watched screamed for him to stop, tears of fear and pain rolling down her cheek. Although like some sick sadist, the man just continued dragging the women up to the tree line. Laughing at her misfortune all the way. Perhaps in a sick twist of fate, the man was coming directly towards us yet Oliver with his warped sense of justice could only watch in terror as the two came closer.

Hannah was looking on in horror and whispered harshly. “Oliver, Lets go”! But even as she said it I saw the group turning against her. The majority of us were only twelve years old, and before us we saw the picture of injustice we were told to stand up against. This was confirmed when Jack whirled upon her.

“How can we ignore something like this”! He demanded. “Who’s with me”? Again a general assent was called while Hanna and I could only watch on in silence. Jack noticed my lack of enthusiasm instantly. “Aare, please what you just did before was amazing, surely you can help us here”.

I looked up at Hannah who could only sigh and shrug in resignation. “Fuck”. She said, louder than she meant to, “What have I gotten myself into”.

“We’re in” I confirmed to Jack who smiled in response.

“Thanks buddy, I’ll remember this, I promise”. I would have rolled my eyes but already I was focussed on the two coming towards us. The man having reached the tree line, now stood only a few metres away from us, though lying behind the ridge we lay just out of sight.

“PLEASE NO”! I heard the women sob as she was thrown to the ground before the man forcefully laid down on top of her. Thankfully he didn’t get any further as it was at this moment when Oliver chose to step in. With a swish of his hand, several lights in the shape of barbed arrows floated above him before raining down on the trader. A muffled yell was the only sound the man ever made again as the arrows rammed into his back deliberately piercing through multiple vitals such as a lung, the heart and his throat. A splash of red cascaded over the women beneath him who in response opened her mouth to scream. This time Blue didn’t wait for my signal, shooting across the clearing and merging himself with her mind. The scream never left her body and seconds later the women’s eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out where she lay. Oliver nodded his thanks and began to creep forward.

Seeing my anxious look Oliver explained, “I don’t care if this is a false mission, there are at least fifty people who are just like that girl, tied up inside that tent, and I am not leaving until we get them out of here”.

Hannah tried to compensate. “Look Oliver, I know terrible things are happening here, but I don’t think we are ready for this, how about a few of us go and get help? Then people who are more qualified can sort this mess out”. Her calm tone stopped Oliver for a few seconds, though that was all as he turned back towards the camp and continued on, without the grace of answering the question.

I shrugged before following, noticing the shaking children in my peripheral vision. Oh god we were woefully unprepared.

As we hit the clearing I wondered why I had tried being stealth full at all when Oliver abandoned the natural cover of the trees and charged in. His hands were waving and already ten arrows shimmered into existence. I watched as he made them fly towards a guard who was sitting down next to the creek, washing his hands. I expected the guard to become a pincushion but to my surprise the arrows all veered off course before embedding themselves into the ground. Then came the laughter. A terrible throaty laughter that echoed across the clearing. The man who was washing his hands stood up and turned around. He had a rat like face with those thin cheekbones that practically yelled untrustworthy.

“That’s the guy” Jack whispered from behind me. “The guy from the guild”. I swallowed, twice.

“I’ve been waiting” The man said softly. Warning bells rang in my mind as I heard his voice. It was crystal clear, magic overflowing with each word. “I was running low on my supply you see”. He said gesturing at the large tent. “I hope you don’t mind topping it up”.

I gulped as no one in my group could find a voice to answer him. “W-what are you”! I yelled, deliberately making my voice sound slightly childish and afraid, there was nothing wrong with making the enemy underestimate you.

The man’s eyebrows rose when I said that and his eye’s focussed on me before replying. “Hmmm and what makes you think I’m not human”. The voice made me shiver, it sounded so unnatural. Perhaps this was how the Jinn had felt upon hearing mine.

“Your voice”. My own was slightly stronger this time, like a child finding solid ground in an argument.

The laugh came again. “Well little one, if you know what it means then why are you not running”. It was starting to annoy me how confident and calm the being before me sounded. Then again, why shouldn’t it be? Had I been in the same position I can’t say I would have acted any differently. When I didn’t respond the man laughed again as he started to change. His skin stretched and turned to a terrifying black, yet translucent enough to see the pulsing red veins underneath. His face warped and filled out to create a masculine jaw and well defined features. Giant bat-like wings sprouted from his shoulder blades and his fingers extended into talons that were sharpened to a lethal edge. A large reptilian tail sprouted from beneath his clothes tearing them as he grew until he stood as naked as the day he was born. “To answer your previous question I must first enlighten you on WHO I am. My name is No’med. One of the four great Pillars of the illustrious demon empire, known in our race as a Pillar demon. Perhaps, little one, you have heard of us”?

Shit. I certainly did know of them. Basically it was because of the Pillars that the demon empire existed at all. For while the demon lord would lead the nation, he/she needed a number of individuals to keep the more ambitious demons in line or in some cases the demons of the empire needed the individuals to keep the lord in line. In my past life I had kept them close, using them as rallying points during my invasions and as advisors in the throne room. Claw –The second Pillar - had become particularly close to me and had served me loyally till the day I died. Unfortunately I didn’t recognise No’med. He must have replaced one of my Pillars after my death. After what could have been minutes I found my voice. “So why, is one as glorious as you, in such a humble area”. Perhaps I was sucking up to the Demon a bit too much, but by the look on No’med’s face I had made the right move.

“You know how to flatter little one, but today you are unlucky. The new Demon Lord has given me time to prepare myself to serve him. As such I am restocking my supply of slaves. But to be honest little one, you intrigue me. If you surrender now I will make sure your new post is comfortable”.

“And if I don’t surrender”?

The demon laughed. “Go ahead if you think it will help. But know the result is inevitable. No matter what you choose to do, by the end of this week I will have broken you, and you will be on your hands and knees begging to work for me. In fact, that sounds fun. So entertain me little one. Let’s see what you can do”.

I took a few seconds to look around me. The other guards in the camp had surrounded us while we were talking. Perhaps I should have berated myself for my carelessness. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to do it. As far as I could tell the guards were merely human and any attention I placed on them would be a waste of what I could be putting on No’med. My own group had huddled together in a small circle with me facing No’med and the others facing outwards. I watched them shake as I struggled to remind myself that they were only twelve years old. They needed me to say something. “Listen carefully if you want to survive”. I said calmly. Something in my voice must have been convincing as the entire group gave me their attention. “There is only one way we will get out of this. Make sure you stay in close to each other, do not, and I repeat do not break off from the group no matter how tempted you may be. Do not run and certainly do not chase. I will try to fight off No’med but I will have absolutely no time to fight off the others so could you please protect my back. ”. I didn’t wait around for any signs that they would do as I asked. I didn’t have the time for that.

Instead I clicked my fingers and felt the comforting feeling of heavy metal in my hand as a sword twice the size of my forearm materialised amidst a swirl of fire. I allowed the sword to swing in an impressive flurry before settling into an offensive stance courtesy of in turned feet and an unnaturally low centre of gravity. As a quick interjection the flurry was in no way an attempt to show off, but a practiced move that allows me to feel the general weighting and quality of the weapon. It wasn’t perfect but I had materialised it on the spot, so cut me some slack.

Across from me No’med followed my lead and from a ball of flame pulled a ludicrously sized sword almost as long as he was tall. “Compensating for something”? I asked, I couldn’t resist the opportunity and all I got where a few murmured laughs from behind me. Perhaps not the best stage from comedy. But my actual goal was achieved and when No’med relaxed his guard to answer I lunged forwards.

My best chance would be my first blow so I centred my entire being into the forward rush and augmented my legs with mana. The result was that I crossed the distance to No’med almost instantly. I saw the demons eyes follow me though no guard came up as I sliced through his left elbow feeling the bone shatter upon contact. I watched stunned as the lower arm fell away leaving a sickening stump spraying blood. “Why had he let my attack hit”? Though in answer tom my question No’med just sighed as right before my eyes the arm grew back. In the Demon Empire, regeneration was a common art but this was almost instant and nearly unheard of. I jumped back before allowing my sword to dissipate. It would be no use to me here.

“Are you giving up”? Came the bored voice, “shame, I thought you would have more in you. But then again you are mealy a human after all”. I didn’t answer. Instead I gathered my mana between my hands. “So you haven’t given up. Very commendable”. The air around us grew cold before frost started to spread out in a wide circle beneath my feet.

Perhaps a second elapsed before I shot my hand forward and splayed my fingers. Willing the mana to encase the area before me. “Absolute zero” I whispered feeling the tips of my fingers freeze over. Before a perfect cone for a solid kilometre in front of me became buried in ice. Stalagmites of ice erupted from the ground and I watched as the icy blue frozen water slowly turned red as the torn apart demon marked its placement. For the first time my mind registered a battle erupting behind me but I dared not turn around as I still felt the unerring pressure coming from within the frozen tomb. “How is he not dead” I asked myself. I continued pouring mana into the ice, making it denser with each passing moment. Though it was all for naught as a black hand forced its way out the top. Shards of ice scattering above as it was fractured by the overwhelming strength. I could only stare amazed as the demon pulled its way out as a broken and blood soaked mess yet already repairing itself. I did notice however that the regeneration was visually slower than last time.

Many people would have waited for No’med to right himself as a sign of good will and respect for the opponent. I had no such feelings and already I was running up to the demon and as he struggled to remove himself from the last remnants of the ice that held onto its leg I pressed my hand firmly up against his chest which still towered above me. Time seemed to slow as my mana surged, running up my arm and exploding out the palm of my hand. Expelling mana like this was brutally effective as the sheer force that it gave off would rip flesh and bone apart. However it couldn’t travel long distances as without a solid form it would veer off course and would lose a large amount of its destructive power. Fortunately I was firing at point blank range and the demons eyes widened as his insides liquefied and then evaporated from the resulting heat as the force went straight through him before obliterating the spine and tearing through the skin of his back in a mixture of blood and pus.

Yet still the demon stood, the gaping hole in his chest made him stumble slightly. But overall when he began throwing large balls of fire at me I could have sworn he was unharmed. I ducked and weaved, working myself away from the group to avoid any accidental casualties. Although apparently that was only to create distance because as soon as I was too far away to strike him physically he ceased and instead focussed on attacking my mind. I felt a barrage of spells each striking at the mental defence I had long ago set up. Blue helped, sealing area’s when No’med broke through and soon with Blue’s help we secured my mind. Though as No’med tried to slink away Blue tethered himself to No’meds probe. Following the retreating consciousness into his own mind. I didn’t follow instead there was more I could do on the outside.

I blinked back to reality to see No’med swaying under Blues assault. I watched as the demon caught my eye and sneered, before reaching up to the sky muttering under his breath. Until now the demon had used minimal movements when attacking, but now he put his entire essence into the spell. I veiled my eyes with mana and saw a huge amount of magic building up around the demon. Whatever he was casting was huge. I didn’t waste a moment, firing off oscillating pulses to seal the demon’s mana points. There were eighteen on the right hand alone and I had only managed to seal off about half of them as the demon finished. Laughing as if the single spell alone would finish the fight. Perhaps it might have, but by blocking half his mana points the destruction caused by the spell would be severely limited. I prepared to defend myself for what was coming, I was sure it was something big, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I watched as the flouting clouds in the sky seemed to swirl before rushing away, creating a giant hole of blue. Heralding the coming of something amazing. The battle behind me ceased and my peripheral vision noticed them all look up, their opponents forgotten. In the middle the cloudless sky a bright light could be seen, and as I watched it slowly became bigger and bigger. In the corner of my eye I watched the pillar demon fly a few hundred metres away from the clearing. I will admit I thought about running too but my group was still here along with the slaves to be. No, standing my ground would be the best option. The meteoroid was close now, I could see the oval rocky surface and with a quick estimate I guessed it would be about ten metres in radius. It wasn’t the size that was the issue but the speed of which it was coming. I thought about my options and honestly I didn’t have many. Except maybe……

My eyes fell on the creek flowing innocently through the clearing. Mentally I reached out and I watched as the water rose from the creek bed shimmering in the light as it formed a giant sphere. I didn’t have much time so by running almost my entire mana pool through the water I felt the temperature raise due to the massive amount of burning energy until what I held was a ball of superheated and condensed steam. I let the ball rise, still keeping it held within a shell of my mana. The rest would need perfect timing, so I focussed all my attention of the descending rock. When it passed about three hundred metres above my head I slammed the ball of steam into its side. The impact itself had no effect but in an instant the surface of the meteoroid rose to an insanely high temperature. Small pockets of water inside the meteor were instantly turned to vapour and in an attempt to escape the falling rock they acted as pressurised jets forcing the rock off course where it plummeted into the forest crushing trees with sickening crunches. Conveniently right on top of the pillar demon who had never seen it coming. I didn’t celebrate however as Blue rushed back to my mind panting heavily.

**I couldn’t get into his mind, his defences are ridiculous**. The dream said quickly. **Also, beware. That thing is still alive**. I groaned. What would it take to kill this guy? I also noted grimly that my mana pool was almost dry. After training as a Warlock I could siphon some mana from the surroundings. But the rate of income would be too small to fight at my full potential. I gritted my teeth as I started doing just that and I feel a slight tug of remorse as the grass and flowers closest to me withered and died as I siphoned their energy to add to my own. It wasn’t much but it should do. The fact that the demon still has emerged from the forest is evidence enough that his regeneration is reaching its limit. Whichever way this battle goes, it would end soon.

The battle around me had ended and I looked at the result. Seven children still stood while three lay on the ground eyes closed, and I felt a great sadness when I saw the scarlet hair of Alice face down on the soft grass. A small puddle of blood was spreading beneath her stomach and I had to look away when Oliver was screaming her name. Jack was breathless on the ground consoling a panicking Charlotte who sported a great tear down the inside of her forearm. Hannah stood beside him completely unharmed, one would have thought she hadn’t been in a fight but the blood that soaked her twin swords said otherwise. She was giving me an odd look that was somewhere between fear and worry. I broke her gaze and returned to extracting mana. Although it wasn’t long before the black demon strode out from the forest. Another testimony that his regeneration was failing came to me when I saw a huge chunk of his shoulder missing and numerous small wounds littered around his body. I hit the ground in frustration when he smiled at me.

“Little one, you have gone well beyond my expectations for any human, what is your name”? I was shocked. For a demon to ask for the name of a foe is a symbol of the utmost respect and I almost bowed in recognition. But I stopped myself at the last minute, wary of any surprise attack the demon might pull.

“Aare”. I replied slowly, my eyes never leaving the great sword still held by the demon and to this point still unused.

“Well Aare, you have earned my respect. Something very few have done before, but unfortunately I am becoming tired of this game so I will leave you in the capable arms of others”. And with that he strode up to the large tent, the one with the magical interference and with a single sweep of his sword, cut a gaping hole in the side before turning back to us. “Perhaps I will see you later Aare”. The demon stated before looking at the others, “although you lot”, he sighed “I highly doubt it”, and with a final smile he took off into the sky with great wing beats and within seconds he had disappeared over the tree line.

I almost cried as the growls came from within the hole of the tent. “Run”! I shouted to the others who didn’t need a second warning as they raced off into the forest. Except for one, a silver haired girl who sat down by my side. “You moron” I whispered, though my smile gave away the happiness I felt by someone staying behind. She shrugged in response before looking stoically at the tent. The growls had stopped and a single reptilian tongue flittered out, tasting the air.

“Shit”. Hannah and I said together. The type of creature was obvious as we had both sat through a lecture entirely dedicated to the dangers it represented. Our breaths were held as a blue wyvern emerged in all its glory.

For those of you who don’t know what a wyvern looks like, it is remarkably similar to a dragon, except the snout is thinner, it only has two (forward) legs, its body is generally longer and more aerodynamic and its eyes gleam with intelligence. An interesting fact: Dragons are remarkably stupid but explorers in ancient times often confused the two leading to the myth that dragons are wise and powerful creatures. Well no more. That title belongs to the wyverns who genuinely deserve it. The smartest individuals can even be taught to speak fluently however for some reason that seemed unlikely for the one before us.

As the Blue monstrosity gracefully slithered forward like a snake I realised just how badly it had been treated. Great chains wound around its neck and attached itself to its legs, preventing any sudden movements as it would likely choke itself. There are also a number of wounds that look similar to whip marks that seemed to have burnt RIGHT THROUGH the protective scales on the wyverns back. I shuddered when I wondered what caused them. The best armour in the world was often made from wyvern scales as while incredibly light it was also immensely durable. To top off the suffering a giant rope had been pierced through both wings and wrapped together to prevent flight.

Hannah and I froze when the wyverns eyes met our own. Its gaze was steady, analysing us. Nothing like the blank stares given to you by most animals. I have only seen a wyvern once before. In my previous life a few of my retainers had captured one and I demanded to see it. I had always been ushered away from the wild ones, as their scales were wrapped in a magical barrier making them the perfect wizard killers.

“So, what do we do”? Came the whisper on my right. To her credit Hannah’s voice sounded relaxed.

“Well, magic won’t work, so I guess we either run or attempt a melee with a creature known to destroy entire towns single handed. That being said, this one has been heavily injured, and its legs are immobilised. So if we ever had a chance it would be now”.

“You know I never signed up for this”.

“Me neither” I sighed. “Next time you choose the quest”.

“I’m all for that”. Hannah chuckled dryly. “So, are you ready”.

“One second”, I materialised my sword in a whirlwind of fire. This time however it was a bit longer, I didn’t want to get needlessly close to the beast. “Ok, on your mark”.

“Ok, you go for the eyes and I’ll go for the neck. Three. Two. One. Mark”! For two years I had fought alongside Hannah and the academy, and even though the enemy was different, our movements where not. We lunged forward together, only to spring apart when the wyvern opened its mouth to allow a fatally cold wind to pass between us. I spared a second to look at the damage which was remarkably similar to my spell earlier. Every surface the wind touched was coated with a thick layer of rough ice. Killing anything that lived as it was flash frozen.

The wyvern opened its mouth again but before the breath could erupt I gestured at the ground. A second later a wall of rocky earth sprung up and we hid behind it as the other side was battered with frost. We waited out the chill before using the wall to spring up over a tail that lashed out, causing the wall to break apart in a spectacular display of dirt and mineral. I didn’t disillusion myself, if I was hit by that I could die on the spot. We caught a break when the wyvern raised its arm to smite us from the air but managed to choke itself in the process forcing its arm back into a neutral position.

Hannah dropped to the ground before running under the tail which had lashed out a second time. I was still in the air and didn’t have enough time to go under it. Instead my mana poured out beneath me creating a semi solid substance mid-air that I used to jump a second time over the tail and onto the snout of the wyvern. I landed lightly before clasping onto a scale as the wyvern shook its head wildly. Hannah was having better luck. While the monster was distracted by me she slipped beneath the flailing neck and slipped a sword into a crack between two scales, letting it puncture the soft flesh that made up the wyverns neck. Blood poured down but the wyvern didn’t seem to notice. It started bucking violently in an attempt to throw me off and ever so slowly I felt my grip slipping. Hannah avoided the stomping feet by dancing athletically out of the way, circling in confusing patterns to escape the danger. So that was the secret to her emerging unscathed from the earlier fight.

Although Hannah was the least of my worries as my final finger lost its hold on the rampaging beast. Although I didn’t let up for nothing. As just before I lost my grip I kicked out causing me to spin rapidly directly over the wyverns eyes, As I twirled I let my sword outstretch naturally and with the force of my entire body behind it I felt it dig deep into the beast’s eye blinding it as blood made a film over the eye’s lens. I fell to the ground, moving the earth beneath me to shove me out of the way of a falling foot. The wyvern started firing off its frost breath randomly, carving great arcs through the clearing as Hannah and I hid behind a hastily made earth wall. We sat there for a moment to catch our breath and allow the wyvern to calm down from its frenzy.

Truthfully the encounter wasn’t as bad as I expected. We were lucky the wings were tethered together. If the wyvern had had flight this battle would have been a great deal more difficult. I sighed remorsefully. I didn’t want to kill such a majestic creature at its lowest. It felt cowardly and wrong. Yet, a released wyvern, flightless of not could be a great danger to the surrounding countryside, and as it was situated so close to the farmland surrounding Tesuit I didn’t think leaving it was an option.

So I gathered my feelings of pity and with Hannah in tow leapt out from behind the wall, before ducking under a stream of icy wind that thundered overhead. The wyvern was weakening now. The blade still stuck in its neck now taking its toll. As the blood would be flowing into the oesophagus slowly pooling until the great monster would be left unable to breath. Literally choking on its own blood. We rushed in, and with the lack of oxygen flowing into the brain I doubt the wyvern even registered our approach before we both slammed out swords into two more gaps. The wyvern tried to move its arms to remove the blades but the action only tightened the chain around its neck, and slightly ironically ceased its breathing altogether. The next few minutes were spent watching the terrible final moments of the majestic creature whose life had been reduced to wallowing pitifully on the ground. I wished to end its life cleanly but with the armoured scales anything we tried would just cause more pain rather than finish it off sooner.

Finally mercy came to the poor creature and its arms stopped twitching and at long last lay perfectly still. Hannah’s tears flowed slowly down her cheek. I didn’t recall the moment when she started but it must have been during the final moments of the wyvern. It took a moment for either of us to move but we still had plenty to do. My emotions were already in tatters when I entered the tent of the late wyvern. Inside was a plain space with a bundle of hay in the corner. I don’t know why the wyvern had stayed in the tent as it could have burst out at any time. But that question was soon answered when I unearthed a small egg made up of a swirling blue shell. About the size of a chicken egg but as I applied a small amount of pressure I found it was much more durable. In summary a wyverns egg. I pocketed the egg quickly before leaving the tent to find Hannah waiting outside. Still staring at the corps of the wyvern.

I grabbed her arm before pulling her towards the remnants of the previous battle. The three children still lay with their eyes closed and after quickly checking their pulse I confirmed their death. “This was a disaster”. I muttered under my breath. I saw Hannah nod before I turned and began my walk to the “merchandise” of the traders.

I paused briefly outside of the tent that Oliver had said would be filled with perhaps fifty people whom we had assumed to be slaves to be. I took a deep breath before shifting aside the flaps and walking into an enclosure without light. The terrible smell of faeces and blood stained the air as I conjured a small light to hover above me.

Ranks upon ranks of simple and undersized cages were placed for easy viewing from the front of the tent. Inside most were cloaked figures with hoods that covered their facial features. Yet still I felt all yes on me as I took a step back, repulsed by the sight. In the cage nearest to me a figure reached out towards me, and I could only recoil as a hand emerged from the cloak. Each finger was bruised and bent terribly indicating multiple untreated broken bones. I grimaced unhappily before raising my voice. “Please listen and don’t be afraid. I realise that you have all been treated with the upmost cruelty. But today that stops. In a minute I will set you all free but I need to be sure that you will act sensible before I release you. Be assured that help is on its way so I will ask you to wait patiently outside the tent for it to arrive. Do I make myself clear”?

I know it sounds cruel to ask so much of those who are in pain but I didn’t need the added trouble of chasing after those who ran away. Of course I held their best interests at heart, but it is hard to trust someone when you have been treated like the hooded figures for god knows how long and speaking with a clear and strong tone can help calm the nerves of those who have been mistreated.

When each cages inhabitants nodded their assent I began to unlock the cages. The hooded figure who had reached out to me earlier grasped my hand and seemed to try and pull me towards him/her. I gently shook off the grasp which I could only assume to be a thank you. “You’re welcome” I said lightly. “But there are other cages I need to unlock, can you please wait outside”? The figure shook her head but I was already moving onto the next cage and snapping open the lock.

Twenty minutes past before I had unlocked everyone and gathered them outside in the clearing. But still the first figure refused to let me leave the tent and kept trying to grab onto my arm as I came close. I assumed it was one of those cases where the victim will cling terrified to its rescuer.

So finally I gave a sign of resignation and sat down in front of the figure waiting calmly as it gestured for me to sit still. I obliged watching whoever it was rummage through the robes as if looking for something. I minute passed before finally taking out a dark stone and pressing it into my hands. “Thank you very much”, I started, unsure of what to say. “But I really can’t take this from you”. I tried to pass it back to the figure but with a surprising amount of strength it was forced back into my arms. I heard a sob then, a muffled sob almost too soft to hear. But just before I asked the figure about it, some mana ran down its arm, slowing building up in the hands and finally passing into the stone. Which in turn began to shine, a brilliant red before it initiated small pulses of nostalgic warmth. It was only at this moment did I realise that the stone had been crafted into a perfect gem shape. A shape I had learned to replicate all those years ago.

The world went silent. Dead silent, as a terrible feeling of absolute dread washed over me. I could feel each heartbeat as my hand rose to grab the hood of the figure. A single bead of sweat ran down the side of my face, the first bead of sweat that had been shed that day. Finally after so many years. “I found you” I whispered. Before trying to remove the hood. Although the hooded figure pushed my hand away roughly and began shaking its head in terror. My eyes widened in surprise before I felt the anger boil up inside me. “What have they done to you”? I said. At this the figure went stock still and let go of the hood allowing it to fall behind its head.

I gave a small shout of surprise as a women’s face long beyond the need of medical treatment emerged. Her head was bald, and layered with scabs and pussy sores. Remnants of the hair that had been torn out by hand. Her eyes were a milky white, heralding the coming of blindness that was the result of a lack of exposure to light. Red, untreated scars fell down each cheek showed the paths of knives that had slashed her skin and a terrible metal contraption covered her nose, mouth and neck with only the smallest hole to breathe and eat. It took a few minutes but after removing the crude iron nails that had been drilled into her jaw to keep the contraption in place. I let it fall to the floor to reveal a whole new set of problems.

The women’s lips were horribly chaffed with some sections missing entirely, showing off a mouth of missing teeth. However most disgustingly of all was the nose, or more accurately, the lack of one. It had been cut off at the base leaving two small holes in the centre of her head surrounded by flaps of rotting skin that reeked of death. I took in her appearance and I couldn’t stop the tear that fell from the corner of my eye as even with all the changes, I could still recognise her. “Mum”, I sobbed.

“Oh Aa-e, than- go- you’re s-ill a-i-e”. (Oh Aare, thank god you’re still alive). Even though it must have been agony to say, my mother smiled a beaming smile that made my heart waver and a new set of tears began to fall. I could only nod in response as Tear opened her deformed mouth to speak. “Wha- ha—ene- -o your fa—er”? (What happened to your Father)? I could only shake my head as the memory of my Dad’s final moments came back to me. My Mother obviously caught my look and her face dropped. Even though she was missing some of the crucial facial feature for expressions, her milky eyes told her misery in a million words. The saying “the eyes are the gateways to the soul” had never been more accurate.

I grabbed her arms and tried to raise her to her feet. “Come Mother” I said calmly. “We need to get you to a doctor”. But she didn’t rise, instead she just kept looking down, as if lost. I knew this would happen. To lose a loved one can be emotionally disastrous for anyone. But to a Succubus who has both a heightened sense of love and affection as well as the idea of living for hundreds of years with a single soul mate, to finally find he has passed away was like ripping out the very centre of her being. She didn’t cry, or say anything. She just sat there, in dead silence. Before slowly turning towards me. “I’- ti-e- Aa-e”. (I’m tired Aare).

I looked at her in horror. “Please no”. I begged, but I could tell by the look in her eye that she wasn’t listening to me.

“Aa-e, I can’- li-e an—o-e. No- li-e -his”. (Aa’re, I can’t live anymore. Not like this). Her voice was cracking and despondent, any energy she had held onto in this hell hole was well and truly gone.

I tried to think of something to say but nothing came to mind. Instead I just leant against her. Tears flowing freely down my face. My stomach lurched when Tear didn’t even notice them, let alone wipe them away like she once did. “I don’t understand”. I said pitifully. I knew I was acting like a child. But right now, any adult essence inside of me was well and truly non-existent.

Tear looked me in the eye one final time before saying, “I ho-e –ou –on’-“. (I hope you don’t). She straightened me up before bending forward, exposing the back of her neck. “-lea-e –a-e i- -uick”. (Please make it quick.)

I bit my lip, feeling the metallic taste fill my mouth. Before replying resolutely “I won’t do it”. Though half way through my voice wavered, and my Mum was quick to pick up on it.

“Aa-e, --ease. –e- -e –ass o- wit- -ig-i-y” (Aare, please. Let me pass on with dignity).

My head dropped. Whether it was in pain, shame or hopelessness I wasn’t sure. “what happened to Lye”?

“I –ough- -he –as wit- you”. I jumped at the sentence, though what scared me the most about it was that Mum still showed absolutely no emotion, whether it be worry or dread. What has she gone through? I thought to myself.

“Im so sorry”, I whispered before lining up my hand with the back of her neck. I began building up the mana when I was interrupted. By a pair of milky eyes, twisting around to look at me.

“-ai-! -e- -e –ee –ou. –it-ou- -he i—u-ions”. (Wait! Let me see you. Without the illusions.) I complied easily, letting my horns and tail shimmer into view. “-han- -ou”. (Thankyou.). Came the whisper before my mother once again exposed the back of her neck.

The next few hours came in a bit of a daze. I screamed in sorrow over the corpse of my mother for the majority of it. Though eventually Hannah came in to hug me, ignoring the tail protruding out the back of my Coat. We stayed that way for a long time. Wrapped up in a veil of misery so intense that Hannah cried with me and soon our sobs echoed around the tent, much like a dreadful symphony of pain.

Although that all changed when another pair of eyes peered carefully into the tent. I glanced up to meet the gaze of Oliver. Who in turn looked at the two of us, crying and holding each other. He looked at the corpse, lying peacefully on the floor. But most of all, his eyes locked onto the pair of horns that parted my hair. “Y-y-you” He screamed, pointing at me accusatively. “You’re a demon”!

I shut my eyes and waited a few seconds before replying. Though I didn’t alter my voice. Instead I allowed my magic to naturally purify it to the crystal clear sound that I had spent so long hiding.

“Yes Oliver”, I replied, gazing straight into his eyes. “Yes I am, and I'm sure as hell done hiding it”!

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====Rant===== -4 reputation!!!!

Woah hold up! didn't know that him NOT killing the pillar demon would cause such a negative reaction. (4 negative reputation! 0.0 ) (waited so long to get them too :'( )

I haven't needed to explain his actions so far so I hope this is a one off.

Firstly: Yes he is much stronger than when he was a demon lord. But his power does not correspond directly to his mana pool. That is just his potential and his stamina of sorts.

Secondly: The demon lord is not necessarily the strongest demon. Just one who found his way to that position. Of course he will be strong. But I did say that one of the reasons for the pillar demon's existence was to keep the demon lord in line: meaning they could be just as strong.

Thirdly: You say that the fight should have ended in Aare's victory. IT DID. Aare during the entire fight didn't get hit by a single spell. While at the same time, obliterated his opponent twice, blew a hole in his chest simultaneously evaporating his innards and also cut off his arm. TBH that sounds pretty one sided.

Fourthly: The only reason that Aare's mana pool ran low is because he had to instantly evaporate a ball of water large enough to superheat an entire side of a meteorite purely by running his mana through it. Please consult science for the amount of energy(mana in my case) that would take. The amount is ludicrous! And even after he almost ran out he simply took mana from his surroundings effectively making his pool near-infinite. Quick note: Had it been a one on one. He could have just dodged the Meteorite all together. Had he been alone he could have just flown to the side and saved his mana pool (which was almost full at the time) Instead he chose to stand his ground to save both his own party and the "slaves"

I'm not sure what i did to deserve such a drop in reputation but i can only hope it was a single reader.

If you believe there are any other problems with my story line please talk to me before criticising. If i believe there is merit to your argument I will re write the part of the chapter you highlight. But if i believe i am right (like this time) i will try to convince you.

Once again thanks for reading.

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