Samurai and the magician finally dragged Phantom into Lilith's new house. The stone cold building was as unpleasant inside as it was inside. A nearly empty space that was only occupied by a bed and a table with a pair of chairs. Then in the second but smaller part of the house was what the warrior could guess to be a kitchen of some sort, filled to the brim with pots and buckets.

It had none of the charm that the wooden cottage had. Samukai placed the demon on the ground, staining the stone with his black blood. Shortly after then Lilith came with the young girl and closed the doors.

- Now, mind telling me what exactly happened?- Lilith questioned, getting closer to the wounded demon.

- Well as we were getting to the town, he felt that angel and went to fight him. And here you see how it ended- the warrior pointed at his leader. The female demon shook her head. At least she had a good look on how badly he was beaten. Missing wing, eye, part of tail, skin melted by something and a bunch of other wounds. If she hadn't known better she would say that he was on a deathbed. But she saw worse, much worse.

- Healing you will take me some time, but the better question is if I even should do that- she didn't expect the confused look on the demon's face but it was priceless to see. It was less priceless when it turned from confusion to what seemed to be him being scared? No, not scared but somewhat shaken by her answer. Dammit, now she was going to probably regret that.

- Miss Lilith, we know that your relationship with our master isn't on the best terms, but we would truly appreciate it if you could help us. Of course we will owe you a great debt- Noktum pleaded as he bowed slightly.

- Just like he said- Samukai followed after the magician.

- Worry not, I don't want anything in return from you. Besides I can't let him out like this for, first of I would set a bad example for Lilim, second of he would probably attract that angel here. Now samurai can you be a dear and bring me a bucket from the kitchen? And maybe some cloth if there will be any- warrior quickly brought the bucket full of water and a piece of white cloth. He handed them to Lilith who was already examining the demon. The grimace on her face made it obvious that it was worse than she imagined.

- Could you cast a barricade if you can? Oh and can you take care of Lilim for a while?- the little girl sheepishly followed after the samurai and then shadow casted a barricade. He wasn't sure what it was for. Privacy? Or maybe to make sure that any screams that might come from his master will be muffed?

After it was done, Lilith started her work. At first she carefully tried to take out the pieces of silver that were stuck in Phantom's body. She could only take out four out of a few before her fingers were burned. It would take a while.

- I know I said I don't want anything from your team, but you are a different story- she said as she put the cloth into the water and then was wiping off the blood from the wounds.

- So what do you want? Laugh at me? Call me a complete idiot? Go on ahead, it's not like I would able to do anything even if you did so

- An interesting offer, but no. I just want you to apologize to me. For calling me a bitch, burning down my house and pretty much everything you have done to me

- Fine, I am sorry. Are you satisfied?- Lilith already knew that it probably was the apology she could from the demon. While she thought it to be weird as for why he would propose a humiliation but would half ass an apology, but she guessed it to be an ego- You better tell me why are you helping me? I thought you want nothing to do with me

- Because I don't. And I am not helping you. I only wanted to help them- she pointed at the Chaos- If you were there alone, then you could just die. But they shouldn't be dragged into your fights

- Oi! I didn't want them to come. They followed me there

- And you thought why would they do so?

- Not really. I gave them an order to stay where they were. So if you have any pretensions talk to them

- And you know why they have followed you?- Lilith pulled out another small piece of sliver that got stuck in the demon's head. He yelped, not expecting that. She then placed the wet cloth to the wound it was in, wiping the blood. It stopped oozing blood, but it still would take some time to close.

- Not really, I still wonder that myself- Lilith sighed both on that and the fact that the perfectly white cloth was now stained all black. She probably should have asked the samurai to bring more- Hey stop! Those are delicate!- demon shouted as the succubus was cleaning his wing and whatever was left out of the other, which wasn't much.

As the older woman was helping the demon, the magician and warrior stayed silent in the kitchen. Lilim, who finally got used to the strangers that mama brought home, was now staring at the swords of the taller one. They didn't seem bad, but she didn't like the fact that they were with the purple snake. She heard how the purple snake used to make mama cry. She hasn't liked him, not at all.

- You want to swing it a bit?- Samukai asked as he drew one of his back blades. Small girl didn't answer, but the sparkles in her eyes were more than enough to convince the warrior to handle her his sword.

- Samukai, are you sure that handling her your katana is a good idea?- Noktum asked, making himself comfortable on the floor.

- Relax, me and my friends also used swords when we were her age. And we had all of our fingers. Well most of us anyway- samurai watched how Lilith swung his blade horizontally- See? She will be fine. But I must say, she made it look light as a feather- Noktum wanted to say something, but the muffled scream for their leader made him forget what he had to say. Probably another large piece of silver was pulled out.

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- Mister knight, can I also become a knight?- Lilim asked as she returned the blade to its owner- I even have my own sword- she rushed to one of many clusters of pots. After a short while she pulled out a wooden sword, slightly broken at the tip- See? So can you teach me?

- If your mom would be fine with that, then maybe. But why do you want to become one?

- So I can protect mama from monsters- he could have expected that. But seeing how Lilith could turn into a great black gryphon, he really doubted that she would need any protection.

The succubus in question had already pulled out all of the silver pieces. Now the only thing left was to stop the bleeding. And maybe properly clean up the wounds which still were slightly bleeding, staining the ground, together with her hands and dress. But for that she would need some bandages and a few more pieces of a clean cloth. She quickly destroyed the barrier and headed for the kitchen. Samurai already handed her another piece and Noktum helped her with searching for the bandage.

As she was going back to the demon she noticed that he looked at her like she was about to hurt him in some way. Phantom's gaze was purely focused on the white bandages that she held.

- I don't need those. I will be perfectly fine without them- demon kept on squirming, acting as if the bandage was a silver that was about to leave a burn mark. If it wasn't for the fact that the demon was spreading his blood all over the wall and the floor, Lilith would have found that hilarious.

- Stop acting like a kid. You know I have to stop the bleeding- Lilith had to forcefully keep him in place. At first Phantom tried to free himself but after a while he gave up and let the succubus do her thing. First thing bandaged was his neck and then his left eye. Last piece was wrapped around his nearly non existing wing. Phantom might have not shown that, but he still was displeased at that. Who did she think he was? He wasn't some pathetic fool that needed help with closing his wounds. No, he was a proud warrior that was able to regenerate himself as much as he pleased. He didn't need all of those human medicines and tools, he was perfectly fine without them. While he hadn't had anything to see his reflection in, he was more than sure that he looked like some fool.

- Now that should be it- Lilith covered the broken piece of tail with clothing- I guess you could stay there for a short while if needed

- A short rest would have been appreciated- Noktum said, observing how Samukai was teaching Lilim a proper stance to take when fighting with a sword.

- Don't the two of you forget that this is the second time you have disregarded the order to stay back

- And have you thought that this is because for some reason there are people that care for you?- demon looked at the succubus as if she suddenly was speaking a completely alien language. He knew that Chaos was with him because they were teaching him and he was them, but probably all that was to that. And what other people could she have in mind?- So if I am guessing that never crossed your mind? And that it was probably the second time it had happened?- while Phantom said nothing, Samukai silently nodded.

- You truly haven't changed. You still keep on putting yourself in danger

- And even if I do then what? They didn't had to follow me, and it's not like they got hurt all that bad

- That's not the point. What if one day you will die because of that? Have you thought about how others would feel about that? You need to stop putting yourself and everyone else in danger. I'm pretty sure that Abyzou would have told you the same

- Enough of that! You are telling me I haven't changed, but neither did any of you. You all still keep on talking about what she would say, do, think or want. Do you think you knew her better than I did? Stop talking as if you knew my lover better than I did!

- You are right, I don't know what she would want. But I can say for sure that she surely wouldn't have wanted to see you die like a complete fool that you are- demon turned away from the succubus. He coiled his tail around himself, trying to take as little space as he could. He kept his face down and tried to cover himself with the wings, but only barely managed to shield himself. Lilith took the bucked, now full of black water, and put it back in the kitchen. Then with a sight she sat on the bed.

- Mister knight, what were they talking about?- Lilim asked, taking a short break during her practice.

- I'm not sure but it is some adult stuff, so I think you shouldn't worry about that for now

- 'kay- she swung her sword one last time and went to sit with Lilith. Noktum in the meantime went to their leader in order to see if he was feeling well enough to get out of the town. Demon casually told him to give him a few more minutes. Phantom knew that he couldn't rest there for too long anyway considering that Lilith's spell, black mist, wouldn't stay for long.

- Master, how about me and Samukai quickly check out the surroundings before we go out for good?- magician proposed. Samurai at first wasn't sure why he would say that, but after a short while he understood why he wanted to do so. Or so the samurai thought. They quickly went out of the building, only seeing the black mist that still covered everything.

- Lilith- Phantom started, confusing the succubus- Do you think if I was a better leader Abyzou wouldn't be dead? Forget that I asked that- he quickly added before Lilith could even think about the answer to that.

- I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I don't think her death was anyone's fault. None of us could foresee the ambush

- Perhaps you are right. Or maybe you aren't. Sometimes I wish I was omniscient. But can I ask you something?- she nodded- If something was to happen to me, could you take them in?

- If I will be able to. But it is weird seeing you care about someone

- Don't mention that. And don't tell anyone I ever said that- after saying that demon stood up and slowly slithered out of the building. Chaos was already waiting there for him, Samukai told him that for now there was no threat, but they should probably hit the legs. Noktum was sitting on the wolf, pretending to read a map. Warrior helped the demon to get on the hellhound.

Fenfir ran as fast as he could. Noktum casted a barricade right before the wall, on which the hound jumped only to leap over the stone wall. The landing was rough, more than any of them was prepared for and the wolf slowed down. Phantom took the scroll from the bag. Samukai was wondering what he would need it for. Then he remembered that Lilith's name was also on it. Just what he planned to do?

Phantom ripped off the bottom part of the scroll and burned it with a simple fire spell.

- I guess that's the best payment I could give her

- And what if you will get into troubles 'cause of that?

- I can always say that Eligor gave it to me like that- warrior shook his head. Phantom just asked, no, pleaded to fate for something bad to happen to him. But then again so did they, because they still stayed with him. And Samukai could say that he is slowly getting used to that. Three more near death experiences and he will probably be fine with that. At least he could say that his life was anything but boring.