The next few days aboard the train passed slowly. The Fiends had gotten a private cabin to accommodate the four of them. It wasn’t anything too fancy with two benches and a table between them, with four beds that fold out when they wanted to sleep. Phon’s injuries had completely healed within a few hours, and when she was feeling more up to it, she pulled up a video on her phone
It showed their apartment being searched by a team of police officers. Phon had set up small cameras around it before they left so they could watch a feed on their mobile devices. Based on the timestamp of the recording, it seemed they had infiltrated within minutes of their initial escape, which matched Kada’s earlier assumption.
Phon had also left them a cake that she had baked with ‘congratulations, you found this place too late’ written on it in icing. She seemed visibly annoyed that this wasn’t actually the case, and they had confronted them just in the knick of time. The highlight of the video, though, was definitely when one of them took a taste, and another slammed their face into the cake for acting stupid. Though, it looked like Phon wanted to berate them for wasting food.
Eventually, Phon managed to use her phone to hack into some of the CCTV footage from around the city as well and watched the events that unfolded while she was incapacitated. After a few rewatches, she had to begrudgingly, very begrudgingly, give praise to Kada and Xard for their efforts. She wanted to praise Drim as well, but knew it’d most likely stir up emotions he’d rather soon forget.
With the remaining long duration, they spent various ways trying to pass the time; from playing cards to telling ghost stories, anything to make it go by faster. They would often take turns exploring the train, but Drim forced all of them to wear something to hide their hair in order to not cause a commotion when they were stuck with these people for a while. On the second night of the trip, the other three Fiends were all either watching or playing something on their phones.
However, Drim was mentally exhausted and didn’t really want to think anymore. So, he was instead just spacing out while looking out the window. Occasionally, he would focus in on the reflection of the window to see how the others were doing, and take a small comfort in their presence. He felt he would have gotten used to it by now, but having been alone for so long had left him more starved for company than he had previously realized.
One of the times when he glanced at the reflection, though, his own face wasn’t there. Instead, the reflection of someone else stared back. This startled him a bit just on reflex, but it wasn’t the first time it had happened, so he was used to it. When he glanced again, the reflection was back to normal, and he let it slip from his mind.
On the morning of the 20th, they had finally reached the end of their long journey by train, only to then be met with a several hour bus ride heading north a ways. Kada and Xard had been getting impatient and were now more persistently inquiring as to where they were going, to which Drim only replied ‘home’. This left them more confused than before, until they eventually passed a sign that said ‘Bisomote 20’ and they both seemed to have a grasp on the situation.
After that, the two of them sat in silence for the rest of the trip. Drim assumed it was because they didn’t want to cause a scene in front of the rest of the passengers. However, the moment they had gotten to their stop, and the bus had driven off, Kada yelled as loud as she possibly could, “What the hell are we doing here?!”
“I said we were going home, and this is our home…” Drim said diffidently.
“Yeah I get that, but your home was burned to the ground, remember?!” Kada disputed. “I’m pretty sure I read that it’s under constant guard now too. Plus, it’s in the middle of butt-mawhg nowhere!”
“Quit yapping and calm down,” Phon snapped at her. “The guards won’t be a problem, and I’ve heard the town has developed quite a bit since we’ve been gone.” The two girls butted heads for a while longer, before they got tired of it and the group moved out. They were now walking down the main street of the town, and it was true that it had developed quite a bit in the past twelve years.
There were several buildings that Drim didn’t recognize, and everything felt slightly more cramped than he remembered. Though, that could just be a result of him growing up and getting taller, changing his perspective on things. As the group walked on, more and more people began to stare, from onlookers on the streets to eventually everyone in the shops they passed.
Finally, someone yelled out, “Oh Cosmos, it’s them. The Drazah’s have returned!” There was a bit of screaming and everyone nearby dashed away. Shortly after, a siren blared, followed by an announcement over a loudspeaker. ‘Everyone, we're now in a state of emergency. This is a Calamity-1. I repeat, this is a Calamity-1. This is not a drill.’
Every remaining person out on the streets either ran into, or was dragged into a shop. Metal shutters then slid down in front of every door and every window on every building. The majority of them were rusty with a few struggling to close, likely having been installed after the war but not really used until now. A couple looked brand new and more secure, probably recently installed after the announcement of there still being two Drazahs alive. Very quickly, the town felt like it had been abandoned, with no one around and almost complete silence.
“Wow, these guys must really be afraid of you,” Kada teased. “I do think it’s a bit funny that they think those shutters would actually do anything to stop us if we really wanted to get in there.”
“Well, our family did wipe out a good chunk of the town’s population in a single day, so I can’t really blame them for being wary,” Drim lamented. “Though, I do hope someday they’ll see us as something besides just our parents. Even though we aren’t really doing the best job showing that to the world right now.”
They continued along the main street, heading north to the gates of the Drazah compound. On their way, they suddenly heard a soft and elderly voice. “Drim… that is you, Drim, isn’t it?” They looked around to find an old woman manning a small sweets shop with an outdoor counter and approached it. “It is you, I knew my old eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.”
“How come you’re not hiding from us like the rest of them?” Xard questioned her.
“Oh, I can’t move as fast as those young folks here. When I heard the announcement, I just didn’t have the energy to move so suddenly,” the old woman explained. “That, and Drim was always such a sweet boy. He would come to my shop all the time and stare at the pastries with such delight in his eyes. The maid would usually give in and buy something for him, but I always wanted to give in myself and give him something for free just to see his happiness… Oh, and your sister is here too… That’s… Nice…”
“I think she’s implying you were a rotten kid,” Kada whispered to Phon, who then took a swing at her in retaliation.
“I’m really happy that you’re doing well ma’am, and it’s nice that someone here isn’t completely afraid of us,” Drim said to the woman. “I was beginning to have doubts about coming here, so thank you.” The old woman happily gave them a bag of treats and waved them on their way. The others fought over who got which one as they walked. Drim was satisfied with the random one he got, enjoying the taste of nostalgia as he ate it.
Eventually, they reached the gates of the compound, but were immediately stopped by the armed guard posted there. “Halt, don’t come any closer! No one is allowed in under any circumstances.”
“See, I told you we’d have to deal with guards,” Kada rambled. “So what are you planning…”
She was cut off by a strong voice coming from the guard tower that Drim didn’t recognize, and must have been built while they were gone. “Stand down soldier,” the man with a strong build and graying hair said as he walked out of the tower and down the stairs. “These are the rightful owners of this land, you have no authority to stop them.”
“But sir, do you know who these people are?!” the guard blurted out. “There is no way that the Central Peace would be alright with letting them in.”
“The Central Peace has already signed off on it,” the man said as he pulled out a sealed envelope and handed it to the guard. “You are now relieved of duty. Go tell the rest of the guards and head back to command for further orders.”
The guard opened the envelope and read the letter. He then gave the man a salute before running off to tell the others as ordered. “What the… Harth Boldur? What’s he doing here?” Kada asked the rest. “And how did you guys manage to get permission to be here?!”
“Well, I can answer that,” Harth interjected. “The Central Peace was initially against the idea. However, they were having such a hard time finding you that they were keen to the idea of knowing where you’d be living. As to why I’m here, I wanted to see my niece and nephew.”
“Wha, he’s your uncle?!” Kada gasped. “Wait, that means that one of the most well known higher ups of the CP is actually a sibling of one of the two demons?!”
“Yes, Eleen was actually my little sister,” Harth stated. “It’s a fact that the CP likes to keep quiet for obvious reasons. It is my greatest regret in life, that I was unable to stop her. I can’t deny that my selfishness got in the way. After Phon was born, I stopped trying to get Eleen to stop in fear that she wouldn’t let me see her children.”
Stolen story; please report.
“That’s why I joined the Reconstruction Division of the CP. I will devote the rest of my life to helping others. I know that it will never make up for it, and I don’t agree with everything that the CP does, but I do believe that is where I can do the most good. That leads me to another point. I know this won’t change anything by me saying it, but I have to anyways. Drim, Phon, it’s not too late. You could come work with me. I know it would be hard, but we could find some way to get your crimes erased, and you could start new lives helping others too.”
“I’m sorry uncle, but we have our own path,” Drim declared.
“I know, and I understand,” Harth sighed. “I don’t know what your plan is, and I can’t say that I approve of your methods. But what I do know is that the world will be better off for it, so I’m not going to try and stop you. That said, I’m still not going to leave without a hug from you both.”
“Sure thing, uncle,” Phon said as she went up to hug him. After she finished, it was Drim’s turn. However, that hug seemed to go on a bit too long, to the point where it was starting to get a bit awkward for the others watching.
“Hey Drim, don’t you think that hug has lasted long enough?” Xard asked, but his last words trailed off. The atmosphere had suddenly changed. Even though it was bright daylight out, the world felt dark, and it seemed like the air was getting thinner and stale.
“Oh Zjik!” Phon yelled. “Kada, Xard, run away and cover you ears! I don’t know what she’ll do!” The two of them looked at her like she was a crazy person, but they would soon understand the reason. Drim had moved her own arm back, and then struck at Harth’s jaw with a powerful uppercut; knocking him back against the gate.
Both Kada and Xard walked towards Drim to try to restrain her, but she raised her hand towards them and shouted. What came out was not just Drim’s voice, but another interlaced with it as well; a woman’s. “Don’t come any closer!”
Kada and Xard froze in their tracks. “What the? I can still move my body, but it feels like if I go forward at all, I’ll be killed instantly,” Xard panicked.
“Same for me. How come you’re not doing anything, Phon?” Kada asked the girl who was now just sitting on the ground, cradling her knees.
“Be quiet, and try not to piss her off,” Phon ordered. “That stuff doesn’t work on me, but she knows I’d never do anything to hurt Drim.”
“I still don’t get who ‘she’ is!” Xard cried out.
Coughing could be heard over by the gate. Harth was still conscious, and had spit up a bit of blood. He wiped his mouth, then said firmly, “I would recognize that punch anywhere. Hello Eleen.” Eleen Drazah now had full control over Drim’s body, all his actions, and his ability to speak.
“Hello, big brother,” Eleen said as a twisted grin stretched across Drim’s face, accompanied by wide, unyielding eyes. “You’ve gotten old, but you look better than I expected. I definitely would have guessed you’d become more of a fatty. Now I hear you’re trying to make the world a happy and friendly place for everyone. What a load. You could have used my name to get anything you want, but instead you're a government dog. Disgusting.”
“And you, Phon,” Eleen hissed as she whirled around and pointed at her. “You left your brother alone for twelve years. He was just a child!. Do you know how many times he almost died while I could only watch on helplessly... You should have been there! You’re a disgrace that doesn’t deserve to be called my daughter.”
“Now you two, Drim’s new ‘friends’” Eleen spat like she hated the word even being in her mouth. “Look at the fear in your eyes. You’re supposed to be there for Drim, but right now you’re looking at him like he’s a monster. He’s done so much for the both of you, but you’ve only taken advantage of his kindness. You will do nothing but hold him back. I should kill the lot of you… Starting with my brother over there!”
Even though Eleen could control Drim’s body, she wasn’t strong enough to control his Curse. That made it impossible for her to use his plants or weapons, but she didn’t need them. She made a claw with Drim’s fingers, and that’s all she would need. She walked over to the still collapsed Harth and raised her claw in the air preparing to strike. She wasn’t sure if she was actually going to kill him or not. It would likely depend on her mood after a few swipes.
That first swipe never happened, though. Vines had crept out of Drim’s shirt, and wrapped around her neck, squeezing hard and cutting off all oxygen supply. Eleen grabbed at them, trying to rip them loose, but it was no use. She knew that Drim was trying to force her out, and he was even willing to threaten his life to do so. Heh, this stubborn son of mine. I can’t help but be a little pleased. With that last thought, Eleen’s consciousness faded and Drim’s full control returned as he fell to the ground coughing.
“Sorry about mother,” Drim said as he tried to get his breathing back to normal. “I think she just got too excited from seeing this place and uncle, so she just couldn’t contain herself.”
After confirming that everyone was okay, Harth gave Drim and Phon one last hug. Before he left for good, though, he pulled Xard and Kada aside. “Those two, are the last family I have left. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to them. So, if either of you ever do anything to hurt them… Well just remember, Eleen was my sister after all.” After that warning that left the two of them speechless, Harth headed over to his car he had parked nearby, and drove off.
◆◆◆
The gate to the compound had been rusted shut, making it clear that no one had actually been inside for a long time. A swift kick from Xard busted it open, and they headed inside. They made the long walk to the center where the Drazah mansion used to stand. “Wow, it really did burn down completely,” Drim said as he stared into the giant circle of ash that somehow hadn’t vanished after all this time. There were a few burnt beams, but otherwise, there was nothing left.
“So, uhh, since there’s nothing here, how exactly do you plan for us to live here?” Xard asked.
“We’re going to rebuild obviously,” Phon sneered. “And it won’t be just a house, there will be so much more!”
“Uhuh… that’s a great ambition and all, but can I ask with what money?” Xard questioned with a slight hint of skepticism. “You guys were so poor that you stayed in a crappy apartment and were frugal in every aspect of your lives. Are you planning for us to rob a bunch of banks or something?”
“Huh? We’re not poor. I’m not sure what gave you that idea.” Phon diverged. “We actually have quite a bit of money. We were the world's greatest bounty hunter and monster slayer after all. Both are quite lucrative when you’re at the top. All that time in Constead we were just being budget minded so we wouldn’t cut into our savings.”
“Wait… Just how much money are we talking?” Kada asked with just a slight hint of drool coming out of her mouth.
Phon pulled out her phone, pressed it a few times, then held out the screen for the rest to see. The next thing Drim knew, both of his hands had been grabbed. Kada and Xard were both down on one knee, each holding one of his hands, and in unison proclaimed, “Marry me!”
Phon delivered a swift blow to the back of both their heads with her gavel. She put it away while the two of them rubbed their heads and said, “Alright, we’ll come back to the living situation later. For now, let’s talk about your training. Drim and I will take turns training you personally over the coming weeks, but there is one task you both must overcome without our help.”
She pointed over to the mountain ridge to the west. It was much smaller compared to some of the other mountains around, but still substantial in its own right. “You see that mountain directly next to the west wall? Because of its placement, it always would get dark here way too early. So, it’s going to be your job to move it to the open space to the north.”
“Hmm, alright well that shouldn’t take too long,” Kada chimed.
“Oh, and you can’t use your Curses,” Drim added. “It has to be done entirely by hand.”
“Wait, are you serious?!” Kada whined. “That will take forever!”
“Yup, dead serious,” Phon replied. “There is a valid reason for it, though. As I mentioned before, the enhancement that comes from being a Fiend stacks with your base strength. So, the stronger you are naturally, the more it will be improved. From what I can tell, you’re both still pretty weak. Now I know you’ll want to complain about that statement, but I’ll go ahead and give a comparison for example. Xard, take off your shirt.”
It looked like Xard wanted to argue, but he likely figured it was for the best to just go along with it. His skin was a little pale, but other than that he had an exceedingly average body. He was lean but not too skinny, and had a little muscle. He stood with a grimace on his face as the rest stared at him, before he finally got too self conscious and put his shirt back on.
“Yup, Xard is basically the most average person I’ve ever seen,” Phon snickered. “Okay, now for the comparison. Drim take off your shirt, and you two, try not to gawk too much.” Drim did as he was instructed but he was a little self conscious about it as well. This was the first time anyone in a long time would see him without a shirt. He mostly hid it because otherwise his Curse Mark would be in full view. This should be the first time anyone was seeing that as well.
Drim’s body eclipsed Xard’s in basically every possible way. He wasn’t pale at all, but also wasn’t bulging with muscles as one would expect. Instead he would be the definition of ‘toned’. His muscles were extremely defined, and he had abs so firm that someone could sharpen a blade on them. Which Drim may have done once or twice in an emergency.
His Curse Mark was now fully on display, right above where his actual heart would be; a heart wrapped in three black thorned vines. Two of the vines were diagonal, and one was horizontal, all of them crossing in the middle. He had made the clasp on his cloak have the same icon, minus the color, so they had all seen it before, but it still felt embarrassing having them look at the real thing.
Once again, Drim found himself with both of his hands grabbed, with Kada and Xard proposing at the ends of them. After they were done recovering from their now second smack of the day, Kada stared at her own exposed stomach and commented, “I really like how Drim looks, but I’m not sure I would like it if I ended up with a body that defined.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Phon reassured her. “I may not be great at cardio, but I’m almost as strong as Drim is. However, my body is still slender and smooth. I’d show you, but I don’t want to be stared at by your lewd eyes... I think it has something to do with being a Fiend, and that makes our physical bodies not stray too far from what we’d consider normal.”
They spent the next hour or so discussing plans they had, and were finally about ready to act on them. Just as they were starting to walk away, Xard stopped moving. “I have something that I have to ask,” he insisted. “You have more money than anyone could ever spend in a lifetime. So I have to ask, why? Why are you doing any of this? Why come out to the world and make everyone hate you? Why not go buy some private island and live out your lives in peace? Why form the Fiends For Hire?!”
Drim turned back to him with a gentle smile on his face and said with confidence, “It’s quite simple really. We’re going to change the world!”