The bitter cold of night gnawed at D as he drug himself through the forest, and exhaustion set in. Carrying an unconscious child didn’t make things any better.
She certainly works hard to earn her nickname though…
Bloodstained clothes, driving herself to extreme dehydration, and everyone around her having suffered terrible wounds. Is she actually an omen of misfortune? And if so, why would Almalexia have been so interested in saving her life?
D glanced back over his shoulder, observing the silent forest. After that last bout, he was damn sure that monster would have come to chase them down. He also wanted to find some water to give to Diane, but his canteen was empty, and he didn’t know the area well enough to even dare to find a stream. Getting back to the city alive was all that mattered.
Is she still toying with us?
The thought plagued him, as thankful as he was that he hadn’t seen a hint of that nightmare since she bombed the whole damn area.
D grimaced, trying to bury the all-but-certain knowledge that if she, or really any other demons chased after them, there would be nothing more he could do. They would die with barely another whimper.
*kra-koooooom*
A sound almost-like thunder reverberated again in the distance. D’s eyes darted around once more, on edge. Perhaps… are they fighting each other?
That nightmare tore apart the Bauther the moment she arrived… so it wouldn’t be that unimaginable.
“No… seriously?!” He muttered in honest surprise. It was actually obvious, when he really thought about it. He was supposed to help find the other Demon Lord around here, and to drive it out when the rest of the Empire’s knights arrived. And he owed his life to infighting between two Demon Lords.
A sudden cold shudder ran through D’s spine, causing his hair to stand on end all over again.
Whirling around to each direction, he couldn’t see a damn thing. He just felt… something was watching him. A cold, malevolent wind howled from the north, laden with the scent of death. It was a different something. It almost feels like that storm…!
If that monster got hold of them… death would be the least of their worries. At least the adrenaline boost helped pump him along faster, as he tore recklessly through thorny brush and vine.
Everyone knew the northern wilds were harsh and unforgiving. But this went far beyond anything most anyone had imagined.
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A loud commotion and heated shouting greeted D’s ears as he finally neared Njord’s gates.
His hope to finally catch a break was roundly dashed as he scraped himself out of the wood line, beaten and battered, and covered from head to toe in scrapes, bruises, thorns and forest clutter. His catatonic charge looked much the same, if not slightly worse for wear.
The guard squads for day and night shift were angrily staring each other down and jeering at each other, with their respective captains practically at each other’s throats. Captain Ross’s nostrils flared and his temple’s throbbed under his straw hair, while his hand never strayed from the hilt of his sheathed sword.
Captain Brunhilde’s veins appeared ready to leap from her neck, her eyes stretched wide with righteous indignation! She wasn’t even slightly inclined to be intimidated by Ross’s formidable height and stature, and was all too willing to match his hostility, keeping her hand tightly wrapped around the hilt of her sword.
Ever the professional, it looked almost like a platoon of disciplined soldiers were having a showdown with a band of brigands led by a Knight.
D’s timely arrival just so happened to bring the tension to a near boil.
“You there! You are in violation of the emergency city ordinance issued under the Authority of Baron Halfgaar and the city Council, and illegal exit during a quarantine! Surrender yourself for arrest at once!” Captain immediately turned to apprehend D, his mail armor clinking with each step.
Brunhilde jumped to intercept him. “This is another attempted abuse of Authority! We need information on what just happened out there! You think we can just overlook fighting of that magnitude so close to our city walls?!”
“And any issues shall be addressed by decision of the council! The order must be respected, and you will be held accountable for the risks you already let through!” Ross snarled back, drawing his sword.
He was joined by a chorus of blades, prompting Brunhilde and her retinue to respond in kind, whisking out their blades and the rear archers readied their bows.
“Calm down, calm down! This is no time to be fighting amongst ourselves!” D haggardly tried to reduce the palpable tension. His intervention earned him a spiteful glare from Captain Ross.
“We barely escaped from a squad of demons with our lives, and we would all be fools if we didn’t want to prepare against their threat! The city is in danger!” D continued, reluctant to use his last trump card.
“Demons? Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, knows that they are stuck in Ebenheim! What other pathetic excuse will you try? How do we know you weren’t actually infected out there, and are just trying to cover it up?” Ross shot back accusatorily.
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“Because… I am here under the authority of the King and the Church, and in good conduct with their mission to investigate the now confirmed presence of demons here!” D pulled out a letter from his coat, marked by the royal seal.
Ross’s spite twisted into open hate the moment D pulled out the seal. “Tell that to the jailors! You have just added falsifying royal documents to your crimes! You are under arrest!”
He tried to blow past Brunhilde to get to D and Diane, however she held firm as a boulder. Before another word could be shouted, though, they were all interrupted by a series of shrieks from within the ranks of their respective troops, followed immediately by sheer chaos.
“DEFEND YOURSELVES!”
“TRAITORS!”
“MURDERERS!”
“Hurry, get your report to the Chief!” Brunhilde shouted to D, blocking a series of blows from Ross, as he started spitting out curses towards her. She danced carefully around Captain Ross, keeping her back towards D as he nodded, then quickly skirted around the fighting, watching carefully for stray arrows or magic bolts.
Running behind the shield-wall of Brunhilde’s guards made for a much safer route around the chaos, although the clear lines between the groups were rapidly falling apart. He leapt over a fallen soldier, a large arrow piercing his shoulder, before sprinting once more into the town.
He passed a quick glance back in concern to check on Brunhilde, and to his trained eye something felt… odd? Guards were getting hurt all over, yet… where was the body he just leapt over?
“Hey, don’t just stand there! Keep moving, dumbass!” He’d leapt back a step, taken completely by surprise. Just what the hell was he doing here?
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D followed Thistleman into the dark alley, and then cut down into another even darker corner.
Thistle put his finger over his lips, and pressed closely into the wall, practically melding within the darkness. D took control over his heavy breathing as well, pressing as closely as he could to the wall while still holding Diane in his one good arm. He used his dark cloak to cover her up.
What the hell is going on? Wh-
Almost in an answer to his question, the clink of metal on metal came rattling by.
A squad of noble soldiers? D stared after them after they rushed past, and then caught the glare of a bright red flare launched into the sky from the direction of the front gates. The gates those soldiers were heading toward.
How am I supposed to get anywhere like this?
“Hey kid, you wouldn’t happen to have some potions on you?” D asked, glancing around the corner to make sure no more soldiers were approaching. He was answered by a small *pop* right in front of him, startling him yet again.
How the hell is he doing that?!
Thistleman had slipped right next to him, again. While his guard was up.
He didn’t pour a potion, though. He had a large water skin, which he promptly dumped into Diane’s mouth. The sudden influx of water awakened her like a sudden shot of adrenaline yanking someone out of a coma, as she grasped onto the water skin like a possessed demon inhaling the life-giving fluid!
D let her slip out of his grasp, as he took the opportunity to collapse against the wall behind him. The moment’s reprieve allowed his exhaustion to finally catch up with him. He sunk his head into his hand, the shredded one still dripping blood. He ignored the girl’s excited chatter, and the sounds of magic bursting in the distance.
Moments later, she collapsed against the wall as well. The sudden burst of life served only to satisfy her dire need for water, and as soon as her body’s need was satisfied, it gave out on her. The nasty hues on her exposed skin didn’t go away, but she was starting to look a little better.
The hell can I even do in this shape? How can I get her to safety and report to the Chief? Is there even a safe place her anymore?!
D was snapped out of his thoughts when Thistle practically shoved a potion in his face.
“Looks like those Demons fucked you up pretty bad, huh. I am rather surprised you managed to make it back, AND you brought Diane with you.” The damned kid had one nasty grin on his face.
“What? Oh, yes. Seems they did.” D took the potion, eyeing Thistleman carefully. He poured it slowly over his shredded hand, grimacing as his flesh writhed and began to reattach itself.
FUCKIN’ HELLS! This shit hurts!
“You know, it is really nice to see that not everyone on this godforsaken rock is insufferably pathetic.”
The hell did he say?!
D almost missed the near-silent whisper, groaning as bones snapped back together and regrew. He definitely didn’t miss the familiar, nightmarish smile before it got stashed away behind clearly feigned innocence.
That…
“Don’t worry about Diane, I can take much better care of her now that you brought her back. Actually, as extra thanks, I think I have something else you could use!” Thistleman nonchalantly pulled out a larger potion bottle filled with a blue, swirling liquid as he prattled on.
Then he tossed it straight towards D’s face, prompting him to catch it with his good hand.
“Oooh, nice catch! You may want to be careful with that stuff. Mixing a little bit with a spark or some fire can have some… intense results. I would love to see what a whole bottle would do!”
The bastard is far too excited over something like this…
“You’re a nasty little shit, anyone ever tell you that? Thanks.” D cracked a half-smile, as Thistleman hefted up Diane and tossed her over his shoulder like a continental soldier.
“That’s the spirit! Don’t waste too much time catching your breath, now.” Sticking his free hand into his pocket, the brat turned the corner and disappeared into the dark alleys.
He knows more than any kid should, acts just like that bloody nightmare, and is far more skilled than most adults many times his age. It’s almost like he wanted to be found… and it’s not like I could do anything to keep her out of his hands. But why the hell is he playing at being human?
D sighed. He was exhausted. His head ached, he was battered and bruised and everything hurt, everywhere. With another loud groan, he stood up again, as the lights of fires and the ringing of the alarm towers thundered across the night sky. All he had to show for his efforts was this damn blue firebomb, if the bastard wasn’t lying about it.
D’s eyes opened in shock.
No…
*You did well, but now there is more you need to do… remember?*
He heard her voice in his head again, along with a soft glow refreshing him just a bit more, before it faded away into silence.
SHE WANTED ME TO BRING THE GIRL TO THAT MONSTER?!? WHY, JUST…
A couple pieces clicked in his head. Maybe she wasn’t important because of her potential… but because she’s the reason the whole damn city hadn't been burned to the ground yet? Just that nightmare demoness alone could level half the city...
Another loud boom echoed, as more fire and smoke lit the night sky.
He would figure out how to test his theory later, first he still had a promise to keep. And it was wise for the faithful to not disappoint their god’s when they received special attention.
Taking stock of some boxes and a good windowsill, D decided it would be much more proactive to take to the rooftops for part of the way. Piecing together how all of this was related with the civil collapse happening all around him was a problem he would have to figure out on the way.