Arthur's Point of View

Unknown Location and Time

“We are together, are we not?” Thana replied.

“You stand together, but it is clear you stand for yourselves. Not each other.” Lorelei told her. “It makes me wonder who is actually in charge here.” Her gaze drifted toward Fluffy. “The General of Aridia was always faithful and followed his orders to the letter.”

The male Aridian chuckled at that. “What are you trying to say, my dear?” Fluffy questioned back.

Lorelei’s expression changed to one of pure hatred as she spoke in a low voice as shadows began to dance around her. “Where’s Galdur?”

And just like that, the battle began. Thana and Fluffy didn’t seem to appreciate her question as they both teleported beside the horned Demon. Spread met sword and Thana’s and Lorelei’s blade collided. Lorelei blocked the swipe from Thana as her sword blocked her side while her other sword was blocking Fluffy’s kick by her stomach. It was masterfully done as she was able mitigate both blows.

Pushing the two Aridians back, Lorelei was now flanked by the two, but she seemed unconcerned. A shadow extended from the Demon that crawled across the ground in frightening speed. Both Thana and Fluffy teleported away into the air as they watched tendrils appear from the ground. Dozens of feet of shadow shot in every direction in a perfect circle with Lorelei in the middle.

She slammed her swords together and runes lit up throughout the blade as it formed into a rather intimidating axe. Shadows started to crawl up her body as she morphed into a being of shadow just like Pestilence when he faced me. However, this felt different. It was more extreme as it seemed more like armor coating her compared to just a thin veil of shadows.

“Come, Aridians.” Lorelei called out into the air. “Come get what you came for.” She taunted as she hefted her axe up with one hand while the other readied some manner of spell.

Fluffy laughed like mad as he teleported down to the Demon. His magic ignited as his wings kept him just above the ground. Thana moved to help as she kept at a distant but fired spell after spell when there was an opening. However, none of her magic got through as a tendril of shadow would always appear and either cut through the spell or block it.

The only one who seemed to be enjoying himself was Fluffy. Thana became more and more anxious as the battle drew on, but Lorelei… This Demon, when faced with both Thana and someone her equal, remained calm. While Thana was nowhere near as strong as she was now, that doesn’t take away from the feat I was witnessing. I’d be hesitant to enter such a battle.

As the battle continued, Fluffy and Lorelei began to shine more and more. Small blows had connected, but nothing major to turn the tide. They were truly exceptional as each attacked and defended mercilessly. It continued on for what felt like hours, which concerned me given that I was only shown a brief glimpse last time.

Things soon changed as Thana stopped attacking, which seemed to surprise Fluffy as he teleported up to her. “What are you doing?” He demanded. “I’m here because of your request. Why are you stopping?”

Lorelei watched closely. “This is taking too long, and I expected more from you.” Thana told him.

He didn’t like that one bit. “Child, the only reason this battle is possible is because of me.”

“Did you really think I didn’t have a back up plan?” Thana asked back before she looked down at Lorelei. “Surrender, O’ Queen of Demons.”

“I think not.” Lorelei said as she threw her axe at them. The two dodged it easily enough before a tendril caught it and started to swipe at them again. “Give me a reason.” She teleported into the air as her shadows extended into the air with her.

Thana smirked as her magic activated. “I’ll give you two.” A familiar scene played out as two prisoners appeared. Pestilence and Credo were in horrible condition much like Elias and Elincia were when in Thana’s grasp. “What of them?” Thana asked and Lorelei looked livid. “What happens to them should this continue?”

“This is your plan?” Fluffy asked in disgust. “You royals always find ways to disappoint, don’t you?”

He backed away in a huff wanting no part of Thana’s underhanded maneuver. Before anything else could be shown, I felt myself slipping back into darkness. The scene before me went completely black before being flung toward the future.