Marcus whirled around and unsheathed his longsword. He took an attacking stance and was a bit surprised with himself. How did he know this? Maybe Memory had been right. Of course he was right. He was his memory after all.
Beside Marcus Tasha held a spear in her hand. She had also turned around fast, taking out her weapon and pointing it towards the person who had spoken.
Well, it was not a person. It was a demon. And it was a demon that Marcus identified.
“Harados the houndmaster”, whispered Marcus to Tasha.
Harados was standing in front of them, two of his hellhounds standing besides him. He had his hood up and Marcus could not see his face. The hellhounds were sniffing and snarling at Marcus and Tasha but with a signal from Harados both calmed down.
“Well. Well. Well”, said Harados, “What do we have here? A half elf and a… Wait a minute. It is you. What was your name? Yes. Marcus Blank. Weren’t you on Una? What the gork are you doing here?”
Marcus did not reply but eyed Tasha hoping she would take the lead. However, before Tasha could say anything, Harados simply sat down. In the dirty sewage waste.
“This is interesting. First we have five adventurers from Una who accidently fell through the portal, and are kept as prisoners. Then we have another adventurer, quite a strong one accompanied by a half elf I do not know. Is this a rescue mission?”
Neither Marcus nor Tasha answered. Nor did they lower their weapons. Marcus noticed that the sewage waste was somehow flowing around Harados and he was sitting in a clean spot. In the sewer. That was a miracle according to Marcus.
“Hmmm”, nodded Harados thoughtfully and lowered his hood, “You two don’t seem to be keen on replying.”
Marcus saw Harados’ face for the first time. When he had met with him earlier while summoning him for the first time and also while fighting with him, Harados always had a mask on his face. His blood red armor was still on his body but there was no mask this time.
Harados’ face looked as if you had flattened a dog’s face to resemble a human’s face. His eyes were red and were glowing. The nose looked purposefully flattened and Marcus could see sharp canines as Harados gave them a smile.
Harados said, “You know I am not going to report you if you give me some answers. However, if you do not cooperate, I might just turn you over to the guards.”
“Or we could just kill you”, said Tasha.
Harados started to laugh at that. He said, “This is not Una half elf. You do not have the same gorking power as you have on that planet. This is Twarftha. And here, I am way stronger than you.”
When Tasha did not reply, Harados stood up and took out his twin swords. There was a moment of tension in the air as if they were all waiting for each other to make the first move.
Then both Tasha and Harados exploded into motion. Marcus stepped back and went into a flanking position but was charged by the two hellhounds. He wanted to help Tasha but he had to dodge the incoming bites of the hellhounds. He dodged, sidestepped and attacked to kill one of the hellhounds. The second one snarled and advanced slowly.
This time Marcus charged and swiped his longsword in a motion that he did not know how he did it. Help from Memory and muscle memory he presumed. His attack hit the hellhound, wounding it. Before it could attack Marcus again, he pushed the attack and killed it.
Marcus then turned towards Harados and Tasha to find them in a stalemate. They were both standing in front of each other, both waiting for the other to make a move. Marcus waited too. He did not want to rush in. He had to find an advantage, make his move accordingly.
While fighting with the hellhounds Marcus had not paid attention to Tasha and Harados’ fight. It seemed though that none of them had used any spells or powers and were simply fighting with weapons. However, that soon changed.
Marcus felt a shift in the air. Harados shot forwards, his weapons glowing with fire. Well, that was new. Marcus had not faced that when he had fought with Harados. Tasha retaliated by twirling her spear at impossible speed. It was akin to Marcus’ [Whirling Weapon] but very very fast.
Harados’ attack hit the whirling spear and the fire dissipated. The next moment he was thrown back by a holy light which shot from the whirling spear. Harados crashed into the sewer wall and then into the muck. Marcus expected him to get back up and continue the fight. What he did not expect was laughter.
Both Marcus and Tasha were surprised by that. Harados continued to laugh on the ground. When he was finished, he got up and sheathed his swords.
Harados said, “Seems that I underestimated you. Welcome to Galmanosh. The lovely demon city. Come on then. Follow. I will lead you to safety for now.”
Tasha and Marcus looked at each other. Marcus raised an inquiring eyebrow to which Tasha simply shrugged. Does this mean that they trust Harados?
Harados had already started to walk towards one of the passageways of the sewer. He stopped and turned towards them when they did not follow.
“Why are you not coming?”
“We do not trust you”, said Tasha, “You did attack us.”
“And you killed my hellhounds”, Harados pointed at Marcus, “And you gave me a nice workout. It means you are strong enough to survive the city.”
“And why do you care?”
Harados looked towards Marcus and said, “Did you forget what sort of demon I am?”
“You make deals”, Marcus said, remembering the time he had summoned Harados.
“All demons make deals”, said Harados, “I make deals when I find someone interesting. And I find both of you interesting. I can make a deal with both of you to help you if you want. But for that, you need to trust me a bit and follow me. Will you be willing to do that?”
Marcus walked up to Tasha and whispered to her, “Your call.”
“I know”, Tasha whispered back.
Tasha took some time before making a decision. Everyone was waiting patiently for her. Finally, she sheathed her spear and it disappeared. Marcus wondered how she did that. They should not have any spatial inventory like Una.
“Fine”, said Tasha, “We will come with you for now. However, do anything suspicious and I will run you through.”
“Come on then”, Harados beckoned them and started to walk.
Marcus sheathed his longsword and they both started to follow Harados. Marcus was still now sure whether they should trust Harados or any other demon for that matter. But for now he decided to trust Tasha and followed Harados. Harados led them through the sewers and to a ladder which opened up in an alleyway.
Marcus had the first view of Galmanosh then. It looked like a decrepit town with short maximum three storeyed buildings with cobblestone pathways and small alleyways which seemed to be cluttered with demon waste.
Marcus could see the road from the alley and demons seemed to be walking. They were not walking fast and from their demeanor, Marcus could tell that they seemed to have given up on life. They walked with no life in their eyes.
Harados opened a door on one side of the building and led Marcus and Tasha inside. They climbed up the stairs to the second floor and Harados led them to a house. It was a large open house filled with gym equipment, pet equipment, a bed and what seemed to be a working kitchen. It seemed more like a normal house to Marcus, except that it was large, covering the entire second floor. There were no hellhounds present currently.
“Welcome to my humble abode”, said Harados walking towards a coat rack and depositing his coat on it, “Please take a seat. Make yourselves at home.”
Tasha and Marcus decided to remain standing. Marcus was still tense and he could see that Tasha was also not letting her guard down.
Marcus said, “Where are your hellhounds? I know you have quite a few.”
Harados gave a bark-like laugh and said, “It is true, as you say, I have quite a few hellhounds. But they do not fit in my humble abode. They reside in a kennel. Well to call that huge complex a kennel would be an insult, but they reside in a highly customized and a large kennel just a few minutes walk from here. Are you happy?”
“That doesn’t mean you cannot summon them here. I have seen you summon them before.”
“But I won’t do it. I told you, I would rather make a deal with you than fight with you again.”
“And if we are not able to come to a deal?” asked Tasha.
Harados shrugged, “Then you leave and I will pretend I have never met you before.”
“Why?” asked Marcus.
“Why should I fight you? What do I gain? You are not my jailors. You are merely trespassers who will soon go away. By making a deal you might just amuse me. A breath of fresh air in my boring life here in Galmanosh. So, what do you say?”
Marcus wanted to ask regarding what he meant but he held his tongue. He would ask Tasha later. Marcus had thought that Twarftha was an entire prison. But judging from what Harados had said, it seemed that the city was a prison inside the prison planet. It was getting a bit complex for Marcus.
Tasha said, “What deal are you planning to make with us?”
Harados clapped his hands and said, “I believe you are here to release the adventurers from Una who are currently in a prison in the palace. The Game Masters of Una came and tried to negotiate their release. I am quite sure they failed. Lucifer is in a bad mood these days considering that the Game Masters of Una is using his demons as well, sport. So, he would do everything in his power to leverage what he has.”
“I am pretty sure that the adventurers have almost zero chance of leaving Twarftha unless they are broken out of their jail but it is not an easy task. You know. Breaking into Lucifer’s palace and getting them out. Not without inside help.”
“Now there are demons who are not happy with Lucifer’s rule and would help you, for a price of course, to break out these prisoners. I am one of them. I would gather a group of like minded demons. Help you. However, I would like one tiny thing in return.”
“And what would that be?” asked Tasha.
“Your true identity half elf”, grinned Harados at Tasha, “You have not had the courtesy to even tell me your name. And your companion here has not spoken it once. I want to know who you are. Your powers”, Harados shuddered in pleasure, “You are quite powerful. How is that? I simply wish to know more about you. What do you say?”
“No”, said Tasha. She did not even hesitate.
“Aw! That’s depressing. Will you not even consider?”
“No.”
“Then I have no business with you two. Leave. Now. Shoo.”
Harados dismissed them and Marcus and Tasha left his house. They were now back into the alley. What now?
Marcus looked at Tasha who pulled a cloak with a hood out of her backpack and put it on. She put her hood up and no feature of hers could be seen. Marcus followed her example and put on his cloak with hood up. Then Tasha changed her body language, looking more hunched than she normally was and started to shuffle slowly towards the street. Marcus followed her the same way.
As they walked through the streets, various demons passed them but no one paid them attention. Marcus wanted to know what Tasha’s plan was but she seemed to be focusing on travelling in a particular direction.
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Marcus looked in the direction they were travelling and saw a huge castle looming over them. He could only partially see the castle as a huge wall was erected in front of it hiding it from the view. Harados had called it a palace. Marcus wondered why. It was clearly a castle considering its really large walls.
They walked for quite some time till they reached the inner wall entrance. It was a large gate with demonic guards surrounding it. They seemed to be alert and livelier than the demons that had been wandering in the city. There was a door to the right side of the gate allowing for a single individual to enter. Marcs presumed that this was for guards going in and out at a time. It did not make sense to open a thirty feet gate each time a single guard needed to go in or out.
The gate leading to the castle was closed and they did not see any other point of entry. They could try jumping but the wall was at least fifty feet high with guards posted at regular intervals over the wall.
Marcus looked at Tasha who beckoned him inside one of the buildings beside where they were standing. They were at least a hundred metres from the wall.
Marcus followed Tasha into what seemed to be a three storeyed abandoned building. The building consisted of stairs and a passageway. There were many doors on either side of the passageway hinting to Marcus that they might be rooms.
Tasha climbed to the third floor of the building and entered a room which seemed to provide them with a view of the gate leading to the castle. The room was empty, not even a hint of furniture. Dust seemed to have settled across every corner of the room and it rose a bit when they entered making Marcus cough as he inhaled it.
Tasha went up to a window and looked out. Then she stepped back and hugged a wall to ensure that no one could see her from the street. Only then did she put her hood down.
“I think this is a safe place”, said Tasha, “For now.”
“If you say so”, said Marcus.
“I cannot detect the presence of any demon or any living being in this building. I don’t know why it has been abandoned but it has been this way for quite some time considering its state.”
“Okay.”
“We shall have to find a way inside that castle, over that wall. I will go on a reconnaissance tonight, see if there is a way in. You stay here. Stay safe.”
Marcus nodded and said, “I am alright with whatever you decide. However, are you positive that we can do this without help?”
“And did you think that what Harados was providing was help?”
“We can ask other demons.”
“How many demons do you know? Or trust?”
“Fair point. I will simply wait. Do we make ourselves at home?”
Tasha gave a short laugh at that and they examined the room. Well calling it a room was not correct. It was more of a studio apartment with an attached bathroom which was neither working nor furnished. There was a nook on the left side of the apartment which could have been designed as a kitchen.
Marcus walked towards one wall of the apartment, opposite the windows and sat down.
He said, “What do you mean tonight? Do you mean during the blue sun?”
“Yes”, nodded Tasha, “I can use the blue sun to hide me.”
“How?”
He got no reply. Marcus was getting irritated with Tasha’s behaviour but there was nothing much he could do about it. He was confident that on Twarftha, Tasha was indeed stronger than him and he would have to rely on her if he wanted to get off the planet alive.
“You know it would help if we communicate”, said Marcus, “It feels you are hanging me out to dry. All this is overwhelming for me and you being all secretive is not helping.”
Tasha said, “I understand your frustration but trust me when I say there are so many things I can not tell you about. I understand I am asking you to put blind faith in me but if we are to survive this, that is what you need to do. Moreover, have some faith in yourself. I have a feeling you are not so bad yourself. Even when you are not powered by the magic of Una. The magic of my parents. You do remember how you dispatched those two hellhounds, do you not?”
“Very well. But I do have some questions when you come back. I hope you will answer them.”
Tasha nodded as she left. She said, “You can explore the building if you want to. But do not leave it. And do not make any noise. I do not want you to get caught. It would cause complications.”
“I think I will simply stay in this room only.”
Tasha gave him a sharp look and said, “No. Find another room. Away from the street. Not at the back either. A middle room. It would be good.”
Marcus understood what she was saying. Tasha left as the blue sun Caeruleum rose in the sky. Marcus had shifted to a similar studio apartment type room which was in the middle of the passageway as Tasha had suggested. Now all he had to do was wait.
And Marcus waited. He had nothing to do the entire time the blue sun was in the sky. So, he simply sat in the apartment that he had selected. He paced around. He made conversations with himself of scenarios where Tasha apologized to him and answered all his questions. Tired and bored, he fell asleep.
Even though there was light out, his body was exhausted and he needed to sleep. He did not know for how long he slept. When he woke up the red sun was quite high in the sky. He could tell from the window in the apartment. There was another figure sleeping beside him. The figure woke up with Marcus.
Marcus immediately went on alert mode and took a couple of steps away from the figure before realizing who it was. Tasha blinked at him with sleepy eyes.
“Why were you sleeping beside me?” Marcus asked. He was now fully awake. However, the adrenaline rush from the thought that some stranger had been sleeping beside him was fading. It was only Tasha. Nothing dangerous. He hoped.
“It looked to be a comfortable spot”, said Tasha with a yawn, “And I was tired. I did not think much. I simply slept. You did not seem to mind considering how deeply you were sleeping. Anyone could have crept up on you and killed you if they wanted, you know.”
“Thank you for the morbid reassurance.”
“You are welcome.”
Marcus sat back down. He had calmed down now. He looked at Tasha. She was trying to go back to sleep.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“What did you find when you went traipsing around the city?”
“I did not go traipsing around the city. I went to find a way for us into the castle.”
“Yes, and?”
“And nothing”, Tasha got up from her sleeping position and glared at Marcus, “There is no way to get inside the castle without help. There is not even a single crack which can be exploited.”
“And your powerful magic cannot even help us?”
“No, it cannot. It seems that this entire city was designed by Game Masters. It has one purpose. Not to let anyone in and not to let anyone out.”
“We got in.”
“Yes, we did. We got lucky; I think. However, our luck has run out. I do not think we will be able to rescue the adventurers on our own.”
Marcus was quiet for some time. He was thinking about their situation.
Finally, Marcus said, “So, what do you propose we do?”
“For now, I need some sleep. Let me rest. I need my head clear for what comes next.”
“And what comes next?”
Tasha had already laid down again. She mumbled, “Tell you when I wake up.”
And after a few beats Marcus could see Tasha was sleeping soundly. Marcus was wide awake now. He got up, stretched and went out of the apartment. He was using another apartment for his toilet needs. This apartment surprisingly had running water. It made Marcus wonder about many things.
As Marcus was coming out of the apartment after finishing his business, he suddenly stiffened. He had heard something. A soft patter of footsteps on the floor. He looked towards the staircase and saw a hellhound climbing it. He started moving back into the apartment, trying to close the door, but he heard a growl from his right.
Marcus looked to see a hellhound standing there. He was too late and he had left his longsword in the apartment where Tasha was sleeping.
“This is fucking fantastic”, muttered Marcus to himself.
The hellhound did not move though. It simply looked at Marcus and continued to growl. The hellhound climbed up the stairs and joined the other hellhound in growling on the left side of Marcus.
A demon walked up the stairs now. Marcus recognized the demon. It was Harados again. Harados looked at Marcus and surprise flitted across his face.
“Fancy meeting you here Marcus”, said Harados with a falsetto cheery voice, “What are you doing here?”
“Resting”, said Marcus. He kept his eyes on the hellhounds and one hand on the doorknob. He was going to run if things got aggressive.
“Well, you have chosen a nice place for resting, you know”, drawled Harados, “The buildings surrounding the castle up to 200 metres from the castle were once occupied. Then Lucifer decided to have them emptied. He did not want anyone occupying them. For security reasons you see. They are mostly abandoned. There are squatters, like you, but there are random checks to ensure that these buildings remain empty.”
“So, is this one of the checks? By you? And who is Lucifer?”
Harados laughed and said, “No, this is not a random check. I was looking for you two. I felt bad that we did not come to an understanding earlier. So, I came to convince you again to let me help you.”
“As for Lucifer. Lucifer Morningstar is the Lord of all the Demons. The title is not to be confused with the title of a Demon Lord. You see, Demon Lords rule over a finite number of demons. While a Lord of all Demons rules overall. You get it?”
Marcus nodded but he still did not move. Harados for reasons unknown seemed desperate to help them. Marcus wanted to know why. However, he did not know what to do in this situation. Should he lead Harados to Tasha? Well, Harados just needed to search the apartments and he would find her but should Marcus make it easy for the Demon Lord? He still did not trust Harados. He had a gut feeling that there was something completely wrong with this mission.
Harados said, “So, what do you say? Where is your half elf friend? Is she in there? Can I talk to her?”
Marcus stepped out of the apartment and closed the door behind her. He said, “She is not here. She went out to scout. I am the only one here for now. Tell me what exactly you want. Why are you so keen on helping us? Something doesn't feel right here.”
Harados started to laugh. When he was finished he stared at Marcus and Marcus froze. Harados was looking at Marcus as if he was prey and Harados was the hunter. Marcus did not like that look.
“I have no need for a deal with you Marcus Blank”, hissed Harados in a menacing tone, “My business is with the half elf. You are weak and inconsequential.”
“And yet I defeated you.”
“On Una. You are no Twarftha boy. Here you have no power?”
“Care to test it?”
Marcus wondered where his bravado was coming from. But the way Harados was treating him, triggered something in him. Something akin to a primal rage.
Is this you, Memory, Marcus asked Memory.
I helped you unlock your longsword mastery when you came to Twarftha, replied Memory, but it seems that I was wrong simply to help you with that. I am going to unlock a memory Blank. It would be temporary.Use it. I will revoke your use of this memory when you are back on Una. Hold on. This is going to get fucking unpleasant.
Don’t I get a-
The next moment Marcus’ head exploded with pain. It passed away quickly but Marcus found himself sprayed on the ground.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed as he got up, “What was that?”
“I should be asking you?” said Harados.
Oh yes, thought Marcus, he is still here.
Marcus stood up and faced Harados. Something had changed. Something in him. He felt it in his soul. Memory had unlocked something potent and Marcus gasped as he realised what it was.
“[Summon Longsword]”, muttered Marcus.
A purple longsword made of magic materialized in his hand. He took a stance, ready to attack Harados.
Harados looked surprised to see the sword in Marcus’ hands. The next moment he grinned and took out his swords. The hellhounds growled and got ready to charge.
However, before anyone could make a move, there was a flash of energy and the hellhounds disintegrated. A magical claw shot straight towards Harados, grabbing him and pinning him to the wall behind him.
Marcus looked in the direction from where the spell had come from and saw Tasha walking towards Harados, her left arm outstretched forming a claw.
“I gorking do not like it when people disturb my sleep”, said Tasha angrily, “And I really do not like it when they threaten my teammates.”
“Well”, said Harados struggling against the magical claw, “I did come in peace. But I am still a demon. And I do enjoy tormenting in general.”
“I thought you would enjoy spending more time with your hellhounds”, said Marcus.
Harados and Tasha both glared at him and Marcus mimed zipping his mouth.
“You came to talk. Talk then”, said Tasha to Harados.
“Could you put me down? Please?”
Tasha dismissed the claw. Suddenly they heard noises.
“Guards”, hissed Harados.
Marcus looked at Tasha who was looking at the sword in his hand. Marcus dismissed it and Tasha said, “Get our stuff fast. We need to get out of here.”
They rushed into the room they were staying and hurriedly donned their cloaks and grabbed their backpacks. Marcus also took his longsword and tied it across the back.
Harados had followed them and he said, “Follow me.”
He opened a window and jumped out. Marcus and Tasha ran to the window to see that Harados had jumped to the roof of a nearby building.
Tasha looked at Marcus and said, “I will toss you. I will follow you.”
“No, you go first. I can manage the jump”, replied Marcus.
“Marcus there is at least ten feet between the apartments and we are jumping up. I thin-”
She was interrupted when the door behind them burst open and demons poured in. Marcus pushed Tasha out of the window and closed it. He took out his sword and clashed it against the charging demon. He hoped Tasha would escape and do nothing foolish like trying to rescue him.
Marcus cut down the charging demon with ease and cast the spell [Burning Hands]. Fire erupted from his open palm engulfing the demons in the doorway. Marcus then charged the other demons but was pushed back.
Marcus was pretty sure that a Demon Lord had entered the fray. Marcus recognized him. It was Mára.
“You”, said Marcus. Mára was not at his full height but had shrunk himself to fit into the apartment. Each of his hands carried a club.
Mára said, “Hmm. Another adventurer from Una. And it seems that you can hold your own. Come with us peacefully if you want to live.”
Marcus hesitated. Should he fight or just give up. He was sure he could take quite a large number of demons with him if he was to die. But was the risk worth it?
Finally, Marcus made a decision. He dropped his longsword and raised his hands.
“Alright”, said Marcus while panting, “I surrender.”
Mára asked the demons under him to tie Marcus up. They did so. They even blindfolded him and picked up. They started leading Marcus away.
As he was being carried away Marcus hoped that Tasha had escaped and would find a way with Harados to help him along with the other adventurers.
As he was being led away, Marcus muttered, “I am now truly fucked.”