“What do you mean, there’s a lake?”

Taven and I are stuck at literally the negative first step of the plan.

“Like I said, an oasis from above drained, and now there’s a lake!” I’m unsure why he’s so confused.

The crowman’s beak hangs open, until finally snapping shut. “So, there’s an underground lake? In the dungeon?”

I sigh. “Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying!” I’m really getting annoyed now.

“...tell Bella…” he mumbles something under his breath.

“What?” I ask.

He coughs into his rough hand. “Nothing, so what do you need my help for?”

This is taking, forever… “I don’t know how to throw a party.”

He stares blankly into the room, his mental gears slowly turning. As soon as recognition fires behind his eyes, he starts cackling.

Through his laughter, he answers, “So, you need my help setting up your lakeside shindig?” His eyes glint with a strange light as his laughter finally settles. “I’ll help, under one condition.”

Oh, no… “What is it?” I ask nervously.

“I want in.”

────────────

I’m already regretting this. A group of muscular men carry a large keg past me. The thing hasn’t even started, and I already regret it. I feel my tail twitch anxiously behind me, a very new sensation.

With a strong gust of wind, Taven lands next to me. “So…” His eyes grin at me. “What do you think?”

I look around, taking in the beach around me. Chairs and fire pits have been constructed all over. Large nets are set up for people to use for games. At the end of the beach furthest from the water is a large pit, filled with embers and covered by a huge grill. Several of the pangolin creatures, which Taven told me are called Stequillians, are cooking huge slabs of meat. In the center of it all is a huge, crudely built shack. Kegs hold up the roof, and a large bar circles around the entire thing. Shockingly, Bella is the one manning the thing.

I smile weakly at Taven. “Well… it’s great, but I’ve remembered I’m…” My voice goes quiet. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit…

“Shy? No kidding!” The Ave cackles at my expense. “Don’t worry about it, most people here will be too trashed to notice after an hour or two.” His eyes twinkle warmly. “I think people needed this after that siege. We had a party afterwards, but that was…” He rubs his feathery chin. “More of ‘holy shit we lived’ kinda party.” He smiles down at me again, making me even more embarrassed.

I fight back the compulsive urge to remind him that I eat people, and let him look out over everything happily next to me. I watch the people setting up interacting, and quickly notice what he meant. Their postures, their tones, it’s all much more… relaxed, than the last while. I smile slightly. I guess that’s good.

Something heavy smacks into the back of me, nearly sending me sprawling forward. Using a quick hop to catch myself, I look behind me to see what hit me.

Clinging to my back is a dark blob in an orange poncho. Wem grins up at me cheekily. “Did I spook ya?”

I can’t help but grin. “Hmm… nah.” I look away, pretending to be uninterested.

Almost immediately, Wem starts whining. “Aww… but I snuck up and everything.” Her enthusiasm quickly recovers. “Oh! Oubi! Are you gonna play ball with me?” I can hear her trembling with excitement.

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I turn around to say no, but instead just look at her. Her eyes are so hopeful, and she’s smiling so excitedly… “Yeah, of course.” My mouth says without my input.

I thought she was trembling before, but now she’s practically shaking apart. “Yes! I’m on your team!” She does a twirl, exposing her legs briefly.

Suddenly a bright blue flame burst into life. The inferno is easily taller than me, and spinning in a perfect circle. After a few moments, Maddi steps through the flames. As soon as her body is fully through, the pillar extinguishes.

I smile at the demon. “Hey, Maddi.”

She returns the grin. “Oubi, I finished inviting people.”

“Huh?” I tilt my head. “Who did you even invite?” As far as I know, I was the one in charge of inviting people.

Maddi doesn’t get to respond before blue smoke starts to pour from my shadow. The mist quickly expands and thickens, becoming a familiar humanoid shape. Blue’s glowing eyes look down at me excitedly. He waves his hand at me excitedly, clearly pleased to be outside of the core room for once.

Unfortunately, the people from town don’t seem to understand his enthusiasm, and start to pull weapons.

A deep, feminine voice rumbles over the sand. “Aye, you lot, put away those arms, the big guy’s with me!” Bella leans out from behind the bar, yelling at the people around. After a few hesitant moments, the crowd listens and put away their weapons.

With the attention taken off him, Blue relaxes. He watches, fascinated, as people carry things from one place to another. After several minutes of studying their actions, he starts picking things up and moving them for the townsfolk. He’s a good egg.

I turn to talk to Wem, but find nothing but empty air. I look around for her before finding her standing in front of the bar. Hesitantly, Bella is giving the slime a mug of something.

I let out a sigh, heading over to her before she gets into too much trouble.

────────────

The large metal door on the side of the vehicle creaks open, pouring sand from its mechanisms. After the thing finally grinds fully open, a large man with pointed ears steps out into the desert. Brist looks around at the endless sands before facing back into the metal beast.

“Oi, I’m gonna go ahead, you guys come after me when the thing’s moving again,” he barks out to his underlings inside, who are grateful to be rid of the intimidating employer.

He steps away from the vehicle and flexes his shoulders. After doing a few warm ups, two massive and leathery wings burst from his back. Running the length of the suddenly appearing limbs are scales the color of soot.

With one strong beat of his wings, Brist shoots into the air, and heads towards the dungeon.

────────────

I drag Wem away from the third net she’s destroyed, which lies in a crater in the sand.

“Oubi, why are you taking me away from the games?” she whines loudly. I just sigh as I pull her further from the other nets. The thankful faces of the other players tell me this is the correct decision.

As I lead Wem towards some chairs, I realize that even though she’s whining, she’s clearly listening to me. I’m not stupid enough to think I could force her to do anything, not with her monstrous strength. My heart flutters a bit as I catch a look of her pouting at me.

“You had three chances, Wem, we gotta sit out now.” I smirk. “Is hanging out with me that bad?” I ask with mock distress.

Her eyes go wide as my question registers. “N-no! Hanging out with you ish fun,” she slurs. I’m honestly shocked that the demon can even get drunk.

We reach the rough pair of chairs I had been aiming for just as I finish teasing the slime. “Well, sit, then.” I motion to one of the wooden seats.

She drops into the seat, crushing it underneath her. She doesn’t seem to notice and just keeps looking at me for some reason. I sit next to her and just stare back.

Eventually she realizes I’m returning her stares, and her smaller eyes blush furiously.

“Is there something on my face?” I ask innocently. The slime’s mumbled nonanswer is honestly adorable.

Suddenly, she scowls at the sand. After a few minutes she speaks up. “Oubi, how’d you become a dungeon?”

I’m taken aback by the sudden question. Why does she want to know that? How do I even answer that?

“What do you mean?” I ask with a hint of caution.

She meets my gaze and explains. “I’m pretty old, and there’s never been a person dungeon.” …Is this really what she’s thinking about drunk?

“Yeah?” I squeak nervously. Am I going to have to explain about Earth? Or lie to her? My stomach immediately churns at the idea of lying to the cute girl. I’ll avoid that option if possible.

She slowly nods. “Yeah, never.” She itches her head as she thinks. “So you’re special, why?” Her eyes burrow into me, burning with an earnest curiosity.

My heart does a flip. Fuck it, I’ll just tell her. I look at my hands, my very feminine hands. Maybe… not all of it. Not yet, at least. I slowly let out a sigh, trying to release some anxiety along with the sound.

“So… I’m…” I struggle to get the words out. “I’m from another world. One called Earth.” I keep looking at my hands, nervous as to what her response is going to be. For about a minute with bated breath, until I hear an odd sound coming from next to me.

I sit up, and look at the demon girl. Sprawled out, in the carcass of her chair, she’s fallen asleep.

I let out another sigh, not able to stop myself from smiling.