Wrote this chapter with the intention to expand on a sub-plot and give the princess some character, got sidetracked and the subplot reduced to a fourth of its intended size. Then I thought to myself that her story isn't really that interesting, so I removed most of her part in this. Poor princess.
If you do want to read the draft for Lily's POV you can read it here
TL;DR Jon is scary
Also weirdly enough, my plot for the next battle is detailed enough that I can't stop thinking its the actual chapter.
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Walking through the crowds, no one spared me a second glance as I smoothly made my way through the throngs of people. A few figures recognised me to be sure, but I quickly lost them in the crowds as I relished the look of sudden shock and fear on their faces. I pretended not to notice them, striding past with only a small flicker of my eyes glancing towards their nameplate.
But still, a murderer and object of fear casually blending in with the crowds, is this not worse than one who sticks out? I personally thought so, and the ones who saw and recognized me seemed to believe so as well.
As I smoothly walked through the crowds, I heard conversations regarding the battle and smiled inwardly as I heard Lily's name repeated often, followed by a frown when I heard the name 'Red Monster' afterwards. I didn't like my new nickname, it makes me sound like an energy drink.
I need to change this while I can, but nothing would be as retarded as walking up to them and asking them to call me Lily's Demon. Actually.. Why not?
Smoothly approaching an outdoors shop, I quickly purchased a long strip of rough cloth from an oblivious man before moving into a alley and wrapping it about my head. I hoped it wouldn't stand out so much this time, I still hadn't seen anyone dress like this.
As I walked out of the alley, I attracted the attention of people.. who turned away uninterested in my garb! Success! I didn't have to walk far before I found a group of people talking about the battle.
"He was laughing" a wizened old man insisted to the other three men, his stick pounding on the ground for emphasis. "His hands were dyed red as the men began to fall. He was laughing!"
Another man dressed in simple clothing (farmer) added onto the statement with his own dramatic flair "The arrow bounced right off him, but the monster he is.. He didn't notice a thing!"
The old man's eyes widened with emphasis, "Aye, a true monster" he declared. "The stench about it reeks of death".
Smoothly I spoke up "I'd call him more of a demon"
They looked at me in mild surprise, then the old man asked "You are?"
"Dan, I'm wearing this because I'm ugly"
They looked awkward for a second, before I snickered and broke the tension. "I cover my face due to my religion"
As I chuckled at my joke they laughed awkwardly until I stopped. Speaking, I added onto their story "But really, I'd say he's a demon. A monster doesn't cover it"
The third man spoke up "A demon huh, sounds better than just calling him a monster". I continued "Yes, Lily's Demon"
The old man tilted his head to the side as the space between the group fell silent, "Lily's Demon.." he mulled it over thoughtfully.
I continued to persuade them "You've heard of the demons yes? Creatures of blood and hellstone, evil permeating the very air around them. Their minds corrupted, bodies twisted into cruel parodies of humans"
"I've heard of them" the old man spoke. He slowly nodded in approval "Lily's Demon does sound much better".
"Well anyways" I confided to my trusted comrades, "I had an exceptionally good view to the battle and her demon cared nothing for anyone, slaughtered the army as if they were wheat chaff. It did not even care for the man who guarded its master."
"Princess Lily lay protected inside the armor, and when the demon walked up to her with the bodies of the slain strewn across the ground, I had a very good view to watch as he treated her very gently, lifting her into the air with utter care. The other man who had fainted in the battle, Lily's demon moved him with contempt and gave him very little attention"
I continued as they listened in rapt attention "And the demon's corruption. Have you ever felt something like it? It twisted and penetrated at the very air, crawling under my skin as it whispered into my ears, driving me mad with unnatural fear. Not human for sure, nor is it a beast. I'm telling you, its a demon"
They pressed me for details on the battle eagerly, but I would only expand a little more before I retreated and watched them while hiding out of sight. It didn't take long for their group to break up, each man finding another group to talk to with their new information. I only had to repeat this once on my trip, and again they eagerly listened to what I said before I was soon being called "Lily's Demon", not "Red Monster" the energy drink.
WIS +1
Really I wasn't giving them much information, but they didn't have a very good view up on the hill of the small details, and I was banking on the fact that they were either not effected by the aura, or suffered only a little. I was telling my story as if I had been on the sidelines, closer than anyone they had talked to.
Arriving at my destination, I walked inside the building.
You have entered Noble's Court
Looking around for Oliver I was dissatisfied to see I couldn't spy his name, I still remembered where his offices lay however so I began to walk towards there but didn't get very far as a few guards stepped in front of my path, demanding I talk and tell them my business.
With cold eyes and voice, I glared them down "I represent Princess Lily and have a meeting with Oliver", eyeing them both as I did so. Their expressions unfortunately remained unchanged as the left guard spoke "If you have a meeting, please wait in the lounge and he will send a messenger". My mood began to darken.
Eyeing him nastily, I continued in the same cold tone "Quin you will regret this if you continue to stand in my way" as he paled, I then turned my head to the other guard. "The same goes for you Beis. You will pass on the message, or stand to the side" I spoke menacingly, sorely tempted to turn on my aura as stupid as that would be.
The guard Quin hesitated a second, then turned towards an assistant standing around "Inquire with the War Adviser if he has a meeting with Lily's representative"
As the messenger scampered off, the guard spoke politely "Please wait until we have a response"
The assistant didn't take long, soon rushing back to us where he breathlessly spoke "Escort him to the office"
The guards escorted me as we marched towards Oliver's office, one guard in front and another behind me. Quin knocked smartly on the door and as Oliver called me in he opened the door allowing me to walk in. Moving inside, Oliver sat behind his desk watching me as the guards bowed and closed the door behind me.
Oliver looked wary as he watched me "You are fast". "Yes" I smiled at him. Clearly he was talking about how early I had arrived from the battle, barely an hour and a half. He obviously was also unsure of me, knowing of my deeds on the battlefield and I didn't intend to reassure him.
"When will I next fight?" I asked him politely as I sat in the offered chair where I casually reclined.
Oliver watched me for a second, his brow slightly furrowed before he nodded. "Right"
Shifting papers on his desk, he soon pulled a sheet out and placed it before him as he scanned down the contents. "Five days at the earliest, however I can't tell you which army you will be fighting".
"Hmm" I pursed my lips unhappily, "Is there any remaining business regarding the previous battle?" I inquired.
"Ah yes, we can do that now if you like" Oliver muttered, "Though I don't have the exact figures just yet" he looked up at me.
"That's ok" I smiled, "Just assume anyone not accounted for is dead" I casually spoke as he seemed to scowl at my flippant attitude.
"I can do that" he muttered unhappily as he began to shuffle papers until he set four down in front of him. Scanning down the list, he wrote on another piece of paper using charcoal until he finally finished with the paper set in front of him.
"You are owed 160 gold" he spoke with distaste. I was taken aback for a few seconds, then scowled at him "I left the commander alive, I'm owed money for him"
Oliver looked at me with hard eyes "You attacked him after he surrendered" he spoke accusatory. Embarrassed, I scratched my jaw as I wrly smiled "Forgot that"
I wondered why it was that I didn't seem to care much about their lives now, is it because they are not me, or because I must? Musing, I wondered if it was the meditation skill dampening my emotions as I sat there with Oliver watching me.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Rudely he showed me the door "I'll send my assistant with you to receive the money" as he hurried me out, seeming unwilling to wait in the room with me. He spoke a few words to the assistant who stood outside and watched me leave before moving back into his office.
The assistant didn't talk to me as we walked, and after delivering me to the treasurer with a few words the treasurer bade me wait while he sent yet another assistant to retrieve the money owed.
Twenty minutes later, an assistant arrived and finally gave me the money. It took longer than I wanted it to, but I had the money now. And in seconds, my balance rose by 1,600 coins.
Leaving the building behind I moved towards the gates, a few people still recognised me, but this wasn't an issue and I was extremely pleased to hear that the name Lily's Demon was catching on.
Approaching the gate, the guards and captain I had so much fun with earlier were still posted there and when they saw me they blanched in fear as I moved through the gate unaccosted. I gave them a friendly nod as I passed, none of the other people moving through the gate seemed to recognise me.
Moving towards an area almost devoid of people, I began picking up stones from the ground and filling up my inventory slots. This work took me five hours, and I had four slots filled with sizable stones and another slot half full. The remaining three hours I spent were tracking down the location of my spear.
First I returned to the battlefield, the place was empty and obviously my spear was gone. Then I moved to the guards at the gate where I asked them if they had seen my spear, they hadn't. The guards stationed there was a new shift, not the same people I had talked to earlier but they seemed to recognise me just the same.
One of the guards recommended I talk to the people who clean up the battlefield and gave me directions and after thanking him and leaving the city behind I moved towards a large clearing where tents were erected, men lying outside on blankets with bloody bandages wrapped around them.
There I accosted a boy walking around and asked him what happened to the equipment left on the battlefield. He gave me directions, and I moved to another part of the clearing where a large tent was setup. The size of the tent was massive, and I thought it was large enough to contain a music concert.
There was a small queue standing outside the tent, but the wait wasn't very long until I stood in front of a man who sat behind a desk.
Daniel lv. 2 Lost & Found
"Hi, I'm looking for my spear?" I spoke.
"Description of spear and last seen where?" he asked, "Uh, it has metal through the center of it and its made of wood. I know it has a iron tip and I last saw it in someone's chest. Its the spear owned by Princess's Lily's army"
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, he seemed to recognise it by description. "That spear already been claimed"
Freaking.
"Who claimed it and where do they live?" I inquired politely, "Unfortunately the spear has been claimed already, I can't help you further" he droned, looking to the next man in the line and calling out "Next!". I looked at him and the six guards protecting him. "I'm not leaving" I dangerously spoke to him. "I want my spear".
"Please leave", he gave no intention of budging, he gave a motion towards the guards and they began to close in.
Reaching out my hand, I dropped a single stone on his desk.
His eyes watched the pebble fall through the air, his face impassive as he mouth began to open before it hit the wooden desk. A deep crack sounded through the air, the desk splintered as the stone pounded down and bore a hole through the papers lying on top which flew into the air. The ground seemed to tremble slightly as the stone continued its journey into the dirt where it made a small crater.
Silence seemed to reign before the guards reacted with yells and backed away, unknowing how to comprehend what just happened as Daniel toppled backwards on his chair and fell to the ground where he scrabbled backwards to put distance between us with his eyes wild and filled with fear.
"My spear" I coldly spoke.
"It's been claimed by Commander Darek" he stammered, "I don't have control over it!" he desperately backpedaled, realizing I wasn't playing nice.
"Where does he live" I smiled towards him, the smile not reaching my eyes. That spear cost me money, I had fought with it, bleed with it and generally fought with it. But its my spear, and they.. took it?
"I don't know!" he flinched when I moved my arm towards him "You need to ask headquarters!". Thanking him for his time, I stepped out of the tent. Then promptly walked back in. He looked unhappy to see me again.
"Where's headquarters?"
I soon stood inside a building in the city where I stood out. Guards moved through the place, all with high ranks and everyone seemed to notice me as I stood in the doorway out of place with my clothes. I wasn't awed and didn't find it awkward however as I scanned through the crowds looking for Commander Derek, not finding him, I found the next best thing. The guard captain who had been guarding the city gate.
As I approached him, I ignored the large group he had gathered as he discussed his near-death experience with storytelling fervour. With a grin, I stepped inside the group and raised my hand in greeting "Hey, nice to see you again. Know where Commander Darek is?"
His eyes snapped to mine, his face paled and he stumbled backwards mid-sentence. Everyone could see his face falling in dismay, and the group as a collective looked towards me curiously, a few of the smarter ones realized who I was.
It took him a second to recover, but his first words were "How did you get in here"
I threw a wink towards him "I knew the guards at the door". In actuality I had called them by name and pretended to know them, just as they were about to deny me entry another captain approached who I convinced I knew him as well. They finally admitted me entrance, albeit reluctantly.
The captain quickly found out where Darek lived and soon I stood outside another building with the sun setting and the day disappearing. I could hear voices inside, and I hoped one of them was Darek. He had lead me for far too long a chase.
Politely knocking on his door, gently asking the little daughter to fetch her father and giving the father a great big grin as I see him. "Darek! It took me time to find you!" I don't recognise his face.
He looked at me and squinted, thinking for a second "Do I know you?"
I was suddenly sick of the game, pretending I was having a great time. My eyes cold and hard, I stared at him "You have my spear"
His mouth formed a small o as his face seemed to slacken, evidently he recognised me. To his credit, he quickly recomposed himself "Ah, I'll retrieve it then"
Not a minute later he handed the spear to me, it seemed to have been cleaned thoroughly and was wrapped in a fine cloth. Just what did he plan to do with this? Would he even tell me if I asked?
So it was with an undramatic close that my day ended, I returned uneventfully to the inn where I checked in with both Kane and Lily who still lay in their beds sleeping like the dead.
The next five days were spent throwing stones outside the city, grinding my throwing skill for usage in future battles. In the previous battle, my aim had been terrible. A few men escaped. I resolved to fix that problem.
During the days leading up to the battle, Lily tended to avoid me, talking to me only when she must and occasionally forcing herself to do small talk. But it was noticeable that she felt tense in my presence, her words forced and stilted. Kane didn't seem to have that problem, although he stopped treating me as a friend he could talk normally when I was around. Lily began to loosen up as time went on, but its unlikely she'll ever feel comfortable around me.
During those days we received a fair load of letters. After asking Kane or Lily to read the first few letters out to me, I lost interest in the contents. All of them seemed to be about invitations to parties, offering assistance, private meetings with another commander and polite inquiring as to my background. It didn't help that I can't read and don't want to spend the time learning how to read.
I was aware that Kane and Lily would often meet with other commanders, attending parties and small meetings where she would converse and spread information. She would tell them that to attack either of them was to court sure death. Even if Lily dies and the battle is won, I am sure to continue fighting to the bitter end, my only desire being their life.
But of course, she said it much more subtly than I ever could.
I had little doubt she was better at politics, I tend to go for the blunt approach.