Penelope stepped forward into the open of the same courtyard where once Ivan and his whole team had fought together to take on the first dungeon boss. She strode out unafraid, wings out, and head held high. Azalea trailed along behind her, following her lead, but staying in her shadow, and staying in her normally bent posture. If it wasn't for the roaring flame of her lantern mace she might even look meek.

“Are you ready, little lamb?” Penelope asked, a smile on her face as the others watched from the side lines.

Azalea nodded fiercely hidden behind her cloak and hood.

Ivan sat in a crouch, ready beside Myrn in a flanking position where he could dive into the battle or upon any patrols that happened their way. Andy and Marvin mirrored them on the opposing side of the courtyard entrance, eyes wide as they moved into position with reflexive need to address their tactical situation. Davian watched, somewhat stunned, as Penelope strode out.

Penelope gazed over her shoulder, a gentle smile on an otherwise predatory expression on her face as she spoke to Davian.

“Stay near to the hedge and inside the cover of the fog dear bard. We'll need you in the coming days to recount what has yet to come. The songs you'll sing of these days will be remembered for generations, and all will know your name. I can promise you that.” Penelope said.

Davian practically shook in place before he took cover near Myrn.

Myrn took Ivan's hand in a nervous grip, eyes on the demon, but never quite meeting Ivan's. Ivan himself was practically beside himself. He was furious, with Marvin, with Ana, and with how fate or whatever seemed to always be forcing him into things, but he held tight to Myrn's hand. He trusted Penelope's skill in battle, but couldn't help feeling scared and nervous for Azalea.

Through their bond she would reconstitute within the Shroud, he knew that, and Penelope had talked him through it. Demonology 1 agreed with her, though he struggled to find information to compare to the information Penelope had given him, knowing Azalea trusted him with her entire being. Penelope had explained that in a way each independent demon had a sanctum of sorts, like Quixla, where she stayed and kept herself well defended in Hell. While she could not be killed there permanently she could be consumed, shredded, and devoured in ways that amounted to much the same if she was too powerless to defend herself. Though she would never really die. Her domain would protect her, like a shell of armor, and as long as she stayed inside it she was relatively safe.

Yet the power another demon got from devouring Quixla or another demon could only be used in so many ways, and by taking that power by force the will behind that strength would always be begrudging. A match of wills would be needed any time the more powerful demon sought to use their power, and even losing that battle would give the devoured demon some strength. It was a nightmare scenario, like being eaten by some massive beast, and devouring one's own way out being the only way to freedom.

Ivan was glad to learn that in some ways Azalea had made her sanctum within the Shroud. Were she defeated in battle she would simply begin to reform in a weakened ghostly state within Ivan assuming he survived whatever battle claimed her. A few days of focused effort would bring her about anew. That was simple. Penelope even could be summoned once again with ease, but her summoning would take...precious materials... Ivan didn't want to think about that.

But he trusted Penelope, and he had seen hints of what she could do when just 'covering' his back. She had done so a few times at need, and at his requests only. At all other times she had waited for him to take the lead, or suggested a course of action he might take in doing so. She was as Ivan had asked, a guide and teacher.

“This is a special lesson Ivan. Do pay attention~.” Penelope purred, her aura drifting about the courtyard.

Azalea's flame fanned and flailed, but her eyes were locked above as the flying knight spotted them. It pulled out its horn, and Myrn twitched violently nearly lifting her bow to shoot.

“Shadow Rend!” Penelope snarled, and the magical item exploded in the creature's hands as she made a single ripping claw-like gesture.

Before it could react Penelope's hand closed, and the damned shadows of hedge beneath the thing leaped into the air. The knight tried to move out of the way of the dodging tentacles of darkness, but her other hand moved anticipating its reaction.

“Chaos Bolt!” Penelope snarled, and an angry scarlet and purple blob shot from her left hand to arc through the air and struck the creature.

It tried to dodge the other way, but was too late. The Chaos bolt slammed into its wing, making it burst into flames that screamed all on their own. Its flight faltered. The shadow tendrils grabbed onto its legs and arms. It beat at them, struggling for a moment as it continued to hover in the air.

“Shadow Bolt!” Penelope snarled, her right hand flicking up with the left in a cloud of miasmic darkness that came to life and ripped through the air. A ball of chewing blackness slammed into the creature's breastplate, and exploded over its face.

The creature reeled, its flight almost entirely hampered as it tried to pull off from the fight and retreat, but both of Penelope's hands raised now and gripped into claws. It seemed like the light of the moon went out as shadows of the maze before them rose and grabbed the thing.

But instead of being overwhelmed and dragged down the thing beat its wings in an explosive display of magic Ivan recognized. And in its freedom it did not retreat, but it dove at Penelope in a rage.

Ivan had only really been going by his instincts when he had dodged it, but if the Owl-Knight had used this same move to nearly take his head off he didn't ever want to try it again. Still Penelope met the attack with laughable ease.

In an amazing display of martial ability Penelope deflected the incredibly heavy halberd with a spinning kick, and then slashed the Knight across the chest and arms with five blades made of abyssal light eating darkness. The parry kick nearly took the weapon out of its hands and just about threw the thing off balance besides. The owl-knight shrieked, growling something in its terrible voice, as Penelope's graceful little movements had made clear the way for Azalea to begin her attack.

“Dungeon Beast, Thing of Forgotten Divinity! I Expunge you!” Azalea growled, lifting her lantern high and then striking the ground with it.

There was a sound that came with the incantation, and the slamming of her staff that made it seem like the most real and resounding note of sound Ivan had heard in hours.

Blue gray ghostly fire exploded from the spiked iron lantern in a sudden massive stream. The Owl-Knight barely had a moment to look surprised. It tried to cover itself with its wings, its arms, and still staggered as if being taken in a flood. Its halberd rose all the same and for a moment Ivan feared the worse as the torrent of ghostly fire was likely as blinding to Azalea as it was to the Owl-Knight within the burst of flame. It would try to strike down Azalea without delay, and she was well within the halberds reach.

“Chaos Bolt.” Penelope said, her voice filled with contempt, her purple eyes locked on the burning, flailing form of the Owl-Knight.

The scarlet and purple screaming ball of energy slammed into the creature within the flame, and sent it, and its weapon tumbling to the ground. Azalea stopped the torrent of flame for just a moment, lifting her lantern in both hands, her eyes burning brightly enough for Ivan to see them behind her much less from where they were covered by her hood within her ghostly form. She seemed to acquire her target again, whirled her staffed lantern, closed on him yet again.

Meanwhile Penelope paced alongside her, at the creature's flank, poised and ready to strike. She seemed to prowl somehow, like a hunting cat. Like a mother hunting cat really, teaching her cub how to feed itself.

“Shadow Bolt.” She said calmly, flicking out another hand at the creature as it tried to raise a defense again.

The magic slammed into the Owl Knight, nearly knocking it flat to the ground once more. Azalea approached like a tiny executioner as she came upon the thing. Ivan saw the fear in its eyes as it looked up at the ghostly demon, and saw the blue-gray flame of her office reflected in its black eyes.

“Dungeon Beast! Thing of Forgotten Divinity! I Expunge you!” Azalea cried yet again, and the blue gray flame burst forth from her staff as it struck the ground with a sound like a two ton hammer yet again.

The creature screamed...or tried. The fog about Azalea was pushed back by the devouring blue gray fire, but it burbled and groaned, and tried to get up. Its wings came apart first as it tried to stand in the flames, and then its limbs sloughed loose of their skin, and it fell. Azalea let her blast subside to give herself vision, then blasted it once more without repositioning or more than a breath of pause, and then strode forward before the thing truly died.

Using the whole of her body like she was splitting logs she whirled the heavy lantern staff around and slammed it into the dying creature's head. There was another explosion of flame that entirely engulfed Azalea, but she hadn't managed to kill the thing even then. She struck it again. And then again.

Penelope stood with her arms crossed and watched until Azalea was done. The ghostly pathfinder demon finally settled into death as with a final strike her fires seemed to fully take the creature. Blue-gray fire spread over it, consuming it entirely, burning over its skeleton and armor and gathering about Azalea's lantern held out above it.

“Abused and misshapen thing...” Azalea muttered darkly, sounding exhausted.

Penelope's expression softened as she approached the other demon, the combat apparently over. She put a hand carefully to her shoulder and patted her gently.

“Their service was once voluntary, but I don't think they would have imagined this for themselves. Once they would have remembered their purpose, and their faith, but no longer Little Lamb. You give them what peace you can, even if that means oblivion.” Penelope consoled her.

Azalea nodded and smiled far back across the courtyard at Ivan.

“It is done Master. We have slain the creature.” She said, and began using the staff to cross back to him.

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Ivan felt the Shroud settle about him openly once again as she came, and he stood still for a moment longer to take her in. Pride, and gratitude couldn't fill the demon more obviously than what flared about in her aura just then, but she was just about out of mana and stamina.

Azalea smiled at him through the fatigue, summoning some energy from deep within.

“With the successful banishment and purgation of a Dungeon Boss I must have advanced my Acolyte job, Pathfinder Neophyte, to Pathfinder Priestess. I seem to have gained some martial Job as well after spending so much time in melee. I look forward to advancing my martial skills with you Master.” She said, with a small laugh that reminded Ivan so much of Tanya's it hurt. “It’s dangerous, but such are the ways of advancing through Dungeon ventures. May I retire for a little rest and meditation?”

Ivan lifted an arm, causing the Shroud to billow out, and Azalea's shoulders slumped in relief. She bowed her head, and though she didn't and couldn't actually run out of breath she did let out a sigh. Myrn watched with some interest as Azalea slid into the shadows of the Shroud with ease. Ivan felt her settle against Tanya's shadowy grave and curled about her conjured weapon.

Penelope tilted her head at Ivan and then gestured at the ashen remains of the boss creature. Ivan raised his eyebrows before muttering to himself agreeably and hurrying over to loot it. He had the lid off the chest at the other end before the others recovered from their shock.

Ivan noted their approach, and their wary eyes on Penelope, but he just kept to his role, looting and storing things in the Shroud as to not bog the team down with heavy items. Without Azalea to organize them right away they just sort of made a pile on the center path of the shadow garden, but that was fine for now. They would stay there and nothing inside was affected by Ivan's own movement so it's not like they would bother Azalea's rest.

Marvin was staring at Ivan, and then at Penelope. Andy was meeting Penelope's gaze, and nodding before he sheepishly gestured with his halberd.

“I liked the parry, or kick or whatever that was.” Andy said to her.

Penelope inclined her head to him with a pleased smile.

Marvin rolled his eyes at Andy who wasn't looking the right way to notice it, but had to have felt Marvin's surge of annoyance. Myrn was the last to approach, and came close to Penelope's side. She seemed nervous, and Penelope regarded her with a casual and open expression. Davian was staring at a vacant spot on the floor where the boss had once laid.

There was an awkward silence broken only by Ivan reaching into the chest and retrieving more loot. Everyone's eyes turned about to the way they had come, but no patrol made its way in their direction, and there were no calls from above in spite of the magic. Instead there seemed to be a pervasive quiet settling over the maze as the fog reclaimed the courtyard where Azalea's magic had burned it away. Doubtless Penelope’s magic had made for the little sentinel owls too, but he could only imagine what might have happened to a patrol caught in the shadow Penelope had raised.

“So!” Penelope said brightly, smiling, and showing pearly white teeth to everyone.

“That's what I can do, some of it anyway. At this level. Specifically I'm a level ten Shadow Sorceress, Scholar, Farmer, Ram Satyr, and Priestess of Chaos.” She explained with a big smile that was probably meant to look falsely innocent. Most everyone, but Ivan just stared at her.

“You're a demon....farmer?” Davian asked, his mind failing to grasp at least that one thing, or maybe trying to figure out the joke in that.

Penelope grinned at him all the same.

“A girl's gotta have her hobbies! --And I like raising little demon crops and cattle when I'm not reading or delving dungeons on my own time. I'd ask what you all do, but besides from seeing most of it already on others more advanced I am actually a Scholar like I said and have inspected you all already. Just in case. Ivan trusted all of you and has kept from doing so himself–the polite dear– but I wanted to make sure.” She said, all while smiling a little too brightly.

Ivan let out something of a grumbling breath of agreement with her unspoken implication. The others stared at her. Partly because she was still in the nude, and very comfortable about it, and probably because she had just fought a deadly boss that way in a duo effort that had previously taken the whole team. Also she had done it in such a way as to seem she was still using the fight to help train Azalea. Now she was smiling and being openly pleasant with none of the 'come hither' magic that had made the men in the party literally drool and do everything she said.

“What's a Ram Satyr?” Andy asked, sounding curious.

“A monster job technically. You can get them with certain sparks as a human, usually with Beast, Chaos, Magic, Flesh, or Flux sparks.” Penelope answered in a teaching tone.

Andy nodded appreciatively, the idea clearly opening some doors in his mind.

“What skill did you use to deflect that halberd?” Andy asked next.

“A roundhouse kick.” Penelope said with a shrug.

Andy blinked, and then comprehension settled in that Penelope had deflected the Owl-Knight's skill-powered dive with mundane martial skills. Marvin shook his head and a strange grin settled over his face as he shared in the revelation. Andy gave Penelope an appreciative look, one that ignored her nudeness entirely, and clearly marked his respect for her abilities in combat.

“You had her hidden away all this time? What were we then? Just an excuse to get you into the dungeon?” Marvin asked, ignoring Penelope.

The demon frowned at him, and so did Myrn.

“If Azalea hadn't tired herself slaying the Owl-Knight I feel she would remind you of what she had brought up before Marvin. The pathfinder is an assertive girl, and a young demon at that. She is passionate about her master, and will defend him. I will at least say as much in her stead as she rests.” Penelope chided him.

Marvin tried to glare at Penelope, but his eyes faltered looking over her body. His uncertainty made Penelope giggle. She didn't needle him with it however and Marvin controlled his gaze quickly.

“If you had given my master time to explain you would have likely found that he was quite ready and eager to explain that he had found and used a dark tome to summon a guide. I am that guide. Ivan was rather lucky in reaching out to a close friend of mine, a fallen angel and devil by the name of Samiel. Through him we have come into contact and I have been hard at work teaching him what I can to master and gain his own power.” Penelope explained, her smile didn't come with any sort of magical charm, but her appearance and voice had a mundane magic and charm all their own.

“Just like that huh?” Marvin asked.

“Quite.” Penelope answered. “While I am certainly of a species to be suspicious of, look to young Azalea for Ivan's intentions. She is a young demon, born of both the Holy and Unholy magics of the underworld, and a worker of fundamental roles of the universe. She would only agree to serve a master that matched her own intents, and I assure you she is not to be doubted. She is a guardian creature of death, all spirits, living and dead, and will show you her worth time and time again if you have the patience to stay by Ivan’s side.”

“Holy and Unholy?” Myrn asked curiously.

“Of course. She is a Pathfinder, a guardian of souls seeking passage to Eternity.”

Myrn's eyes opened wide at that, but she shook her head in disbelief. Still though she seemed to take it on Penelope’s word.

“You're not what I expect from a Satyr. They're fae creatures.” Myrn said, her voice polite.

Penelope made a sour face, but shrugged.

“Even demons can't help who their father's are, I suppose. My race is Succubus. I simply have the Ram Satyr Beast Job as a way of channeling my Beast Spark. If you're impressed now you should see what I can do when Ivan can support my proper Embers as his summoned familiar.” Penelope answered, with some of her last remarks directed at Andy and Marvin with a toothy grin.

They didn't miss that she had used the plural for Embers either.

“What other magic sparks do you have exactly?” Davian asked sheepishly, seeming taken in by the Succubus's openness to answer questions.

“Shadow, Chaos, Beast, and Divine.” Penelope answered without pause and with a plainly innocent and casual smile as she stood with her legs crossed and wings open about her.

“Divine?” Davian asked, as if stunned.

Penelope beamed at him.

“If you're a demon how can you have a divine spark?” Davian asked, curious and afraid.

Penelope's smile warmed as she stretched out her arms, seeming to enjoy the way Davian's eyes fought to stay off the curves of her body. Ivan was about ready to throw something at Davian, but his aura was already doing the work of telling him to back off.

Davian gave Ivan a sheepish look, and a nod at the warning contained within Ivan's aura.

“I'm fallen Divinity obviously. A spirit of Divine being that has refused to find its proper place and seek Eternity.” Penelope answered.

Davian didn't exactly seem ready for the answer, but Myrn and everyone else was listening and gave each other looks when they did.

“You're a fallen god?” Marvin asked, disbelieving in his tone.

Penelope shook her head immediately, no emotion other than some subtle sorrow in her expression or aura.

“I was fathered by a Rogue God called Pan. So I’m a child of gods more than one of them, I was never given the chance to become anything more than an infant. My father might have said something about that, but he was away. He's a Satyr, and rather fittingly fae enough for Myrn's senses I would bet.” She answered, smiling at everyone before her gaze landed on Davian like an eagle looking at a fish. “He's got something in common with you Davian. About that thing no one can talk about when you're around before ominous things start happening.”

Davian's eyes went wide, and his mostly tan face went pale. He looked about him and around in a bit of a panic, but nothing seemed ready to fall on him or reach out and smite him. He shivered, obviously feeling something, and Penelope's grin exploded into something almost unhinged.

“Sooooo. Soooo hoooo oooooo.” She sing-song-ed.

“The dungeon barrier does protect you here, at least a little bit. That's good. I've been meaning to do something about that young bard. We'll have to address your little secret too, but not now. Not until we're deeper. The inner levels will have even more shielding and the effect be even lesser, or non-existent.” Penelope cooed, and her smile turned into something almost motherly. Like a mother with a knife held up in her hand, but motherly nonetheless.

That more than anything else seemed to dispel some tension. Marvin sheathed his sword, he had been wielding it lightly, probably knowing after that recent display more than ever that he could do little against Penelope at all. He tried to stay stern for a little while longer, but the tension left him. He let his head sag.

“Ivan, I feel I owe you an apology, but I'm still not sure I should give it considering.” Marvin said then, lifting his head, and looking at Myrn who was still looking uneasy even if she was standing nearer to Penelope than any of the others.

Penelope stepped closer to her, and touched her arm, making her jump a little at the unexpected contact. Myrn shivered a little, but then met Penelope's gaze.

“Thank you.” Penelope said, her voice very sincere for once.

Myrn seemed startled, and Marvin watched with a half curious and still suspicious interest he was trying hard to hide after suddenly being sidelined.

“W-what?” Myrn asked.

“You helped Ivan in a way I could not. You have my thanks for that, and I owe you some little debt Myrn as you have aided in my duties as guide. I know little of your magics, but will endeavor to find a suitably civil florophage or guide Ivan to convenient Floromancy tomes when he can properly access the Infinite Library as I can in my full strength.” Penelope told her.

“Florophage?” Myrn asked, her expression twisted between humor and fright.

“Plant...Demon...” Penelope grumbled with a sigh.

Myrn's face twisted at Penelope's dejected expression, and then finally broke into a small fit of giggles. Penelope eyed her wryly for a moment, and then smiled before taking Myrn in a gentle possessive hug. Myrn was a little conscious of her at first, but Penelope's aura settled against hers in a sisterly fashion mirroring the action of the hug. Myrn seemed to recognize whatever Penelope was doing and gave her a look.

“Aura interchange recovery?” Myrn asked.

Penelope nodded happily, her arms about Myrn’s middle from behind now, and her chin resting on Myrn’s shoulder.

“I get the same in his Shroud, but he hasn't gotten a specific aura skill yet.”

“What are you on about?” Marvin asked, eyeing the naked succubus clinging to Myrn's back.

Myrn smirked at him, noting his gaze, and the way Penelope seemed to grin and hide herself behind Myrn as she could. The two of them had pretty much the same body type and shape being a thought that was shot at Ivan in a single glance. But Myrn turned her gaze back to Marvin and smiled calmly.

“It's a spell caster thing. It helps recover our mana to blend auras with another.” Myrn answered, cheeks going a bit red as Penelope squeezed her gently.

“And uh—you should be doing that with a demon?” Marvin asked.

“Jealous?” Penelope purred. “I could teach you the proper aura control techniques given a little time and then--” She cut off, and eyed Ivan.

Ivan had finished looting the same chest they had taken from the other day, and after some Shroud directed introspection he was disappointed to see that there was much less than what they had claimed when they had come the days before. Still though he hadn't made a sound as the others continued to talk, but he had barely controlled his own thoughts before Penelope cut her line of speaking.

The Demoness watched Ivan carefully, and slowly smiled.

The others were almost clueless to what had happened since Ivan had hidden his reaction to all but Penelope's apparent senses. But the rage he had felt at the idea of someone else claiming Penelope in any way had almost blinded him to thought. Luckily the Shroud was still about him and it wasn't very obvious that Quixla's Dagger had appeared in his left hand.

Ivan ran damage control of his own thoughts then. Sorting images of killing Marvin for the very suggestion that he might want to try anything of the sort with Penelope. Aura training was fine, but anything intimate....the vision of Ivan's mind's eye just about blurred red again, and he had to force control over himself yet again. Other thoughts ran in his head, blurred and scattered before he settled himself.

Still the idea of something about Penelope remained. Something important. She had been playing about it with her story about her divine spark. There was something more however. Something secret.

He stared at her sternly, meeting her gaze even as it was set as a mirror of his own at the moment.