Strange high castle in a mountain

A lone knight traversed through the ashen desert. His battered and blood-stained body slowly moved towards an unknown goal that he himself couldn’t say what it would be. Was there even anywhere for him to go? The rebellion has been brutally stifled. It's not like it had any chances to succeed anyway. And yet they all clung to that hope. Now only he was left, with nowhere to go.

Wounded, exhausted, and with no sliver of hope left, the silver knight thought that maybe he should have died like the rest. He was no good after all. He couldn’t even die. All of those arrows in his body—cuts, slashes, burn marks, and visible bones—weren't enough to put him down. No matter how much he wished they would. If anyone decided to attack him now, he wouldn’t be able to defend himself in the slightest.

His black blood stained the perfectly pure gray dust of the desert. Wandering around the place was all that was left for him. He should find a ditch somewhere. There was no longer a need for him. The High King no longer had a need for him, and the rebellion that he caused left him alone. What a knight he was.

In the distance, the silver knight saw black thorns rising from the ground like trees, creating a small grove. Perhaps there he could find a good place to rest. If his legs would be able to carry him there. His lower bottom, which was just like a horse, could barely march forward through the ashen dust. Was it physical exhaustion or mental exhaustion? He couldn’t tell.

Entering the grove, his legs finally gave up. Dust has risen into the air, obscuring the view. The thorns might not have been tall, as the tallest one just barely towered over him, but their thickness was admirable. Some of them rivaled with a broadsword. It was clear that it was not a natural grove. Which meant that it had to have an owner, which the knight hoped would not mind his short or long stay here. But where could they be? He would be easy to spot, his silver armor standing out against the black thorns. Were they absent or perhaps long gone, this grove being the only memory of them?

Just as if the world heard his questions, thorns in the deeper parts of the grove started to move, unraveling like snakes and retrieving themselves back into the ground. Surprisingly, he heard no footsteps approaching, only the moving thorns and something digging deep into the ground.

"Who goes into my domain?" The voice, so soft and feminine, came out of the grove and was not the voice that the knight had expected. A maiden living in such harsh circumstances? Would be the first he would see so. But a maiden she was, and a beautiful one. At first, when she appeared from the shadows of the thorns, he was awestruck. Her hair was like the petals of roses, covering her naked body. Thorns, vines, and branches covered her whole lower part, creating a sort of moving throne on which she sat. And the captivating, sweet smell of blooming roses that covered her body kept him still.

"My name is Berith, fair lady. Forgive me for the intrusion; alas, there is no place for me anywhere anymore; hence, I would like to ask for your permission to stay here momentarily and regain my strength. Should you refuse, I will understand."

"Sir Berith? What is a general doing alone in such a wilderness? Was it you who caused the uproar? The rebellion against the High King has failed, I reckon?"

"Aye, fair lady. Indeed, the rebellion was by my hands. Though it doesn’t matter now. It’s all over, and in shame, just as you said. And I request that you not call me a general any longer. It befits me in no way. May I ask if the words about my failure have spread far already?"

"That would be my guess. Word of mouth spread far after all. If even a hermit like myself heard about it, then the whole hell must already know."

"So that’s how it is. Then there truly is no place for me left." Berith looked the pale woman straight in the eyes. She could see guilt and shame hidden behind his helmet. "Fair lady, I have but one more request for you. Barbaric it may be, but I beg you to fulfill it. Take my head. Ridiculous, I know. Although this is the only way. The High King won’t take my act of resistance lightly and will get rid of me. I do not wish for any harm to fall upon you. Additionally, you might receive a bounty for my head."

"It is indeed barbaric, and I refuse. Staining my hands with innocent blood is far from my usual way of being. I won’t oppose your stay here; a company will do me well." In response, she heard a hearty laugh coming from the silver knight.

"Innocent. A soldier, let alone a general, cannot be innocent. I acknowledge your refusal, and I’m full of gratitude for giving me a place to stay, even if it will be short-lived."

"I will make sure that it won’t be as short-lived as you would prefer." Seeing the confusion in the yellow eyes, she continued. "You think of ending with yourself; am I wrong? Many I knew thought the same. Once your honor is gone, that is the only way. Soldiers and generals are all the same. But have you thought about those who perished following you? Do you not own them to better yourself and continue forward? They died, so you can be here; why waste it then?" The knight grew silent, contemplating her words. Indeed, that’s what he thought was proper of him. He failed, and failure meant death. That’s how it always was. But his soldiers did sacrifice their lives for a better world, for a better future, for those they held dear, and for him. To throw it all away in vain would be cowardice and foolishness.

"Stand up, knight, and keep the mantle of your new duty. Continue on forward for those who were with you."

"I will, for all of them. But I beg you, spare me the standing part. The flesh won’t take it lightly," Berith joked, receiving a rather musical laugh from the woman. "Well, seeing how I’ll stay here for some time, mind sharing with me your name, fair lady?"

"Alraune, sir Berith."

"Lady Alraune, I will make sure to repay you tenfold for your kindness.

"Now focus on regaining your strength; then you can think about payment."

It took Berith a few days to fully regain his strength and close his wounds. It was all thanks to the healing herbs conjured by Alraune that he managed to make such a swift recovery. In the passing days, the pair got to know each other better. At first, they mostly kept to themselves, exchanging mostly small talk. Alraune, for the most part, preferred to stay inside the grove, still in Berith's sight, and just observe the silver knight as he was resting. He did not mind it. While he only once saw the violet of her eyes, it was more than enough for him to get lost in them. Alluringly, they kept gazing at him as their mistress rested on the branches.

In the next few days, Alraune approached Berith closer and closer each time. She was starting small talks, mostly asking about his past and what he was doing up to the point of his wandering in the desert. He, of course, filled her in on all of the details with joy and pride. Of how he enrolled in the royal army and his training, followed by his first missions. Then he moved on to rising in the ranks, besting his fellow companions. It was just a blink of an eye for him when he finally became a general and gained the status of duke, or so it seemed for him. His life was filled with luxury, up to a certain point.

It was a time when riots were booming left and right. He and his crew were sent to pacify them by any means necessary; the fewer rebels alive, the better. There was so much blood. All of the demons fell under his blade. Most of them didn’t even put up a fight. And it wasn't even a one-time thing. Each time, more and more rebels fell, and the grin on the High King’s face grew wider and wider. Everyone knew that no one could go against him and succeed. No rebellion could ever work; nothing would change. If so, then why did they keep trying? He couldn’t understand their reasoning. Then came his own reason.

His crew was no longer deemed a necessity. They were soldiers, after all; they were expendable. Everyone knew that. Many forces like his have met a similar fate in the past and will continue to do so in the future. That was when Berith had enough of the High King. A king with no regard for his subjects is not the king he wishes to serve. Taking up arms, he started his own rebellion. It failed, to no one’s surprise. Alraune listened to all of this with horror painted on her face. She knew how cruel the king could be, but she had not expected him to decimate the population in half. Unthinkable.

Alraune, too, decided to share her reason for becoming a hermit and making a home in such a harsh grove. She was a court maiden of the High King. She had been for a long time, even before Berith decided to join the army and was still fighting in the arena, trying to make a name for himself. She was one of many. All of them were nothing more than replacements for the only lady who truly managed to get close to him, deserter Lilith. And just as replacements, they were treated. It didn’t matter in what state one of them was; the desires of the king always came first. And if one died in the process? There were two or more to fill her place.

At this point, they weren’t even slaves; they were just simple tools for his majesty's enjoyment. And each tool has a breaking point. Alraune reached hers a long time ago but stayed in court for the sake of others. A common practice was to punish all for the mistakes of one. And she did not wish to put any more misery on her fellows than they already experienced. But one day, it went over her limit. Alraune had not mentioned what happened on the fateful day, but it was clear to Berith that it must have been something truly awful. Barely alive, with the help of others, she managed to escape. She promised to help them out and to search for help. Even before she could do anything, they were all gone. And there was no help coming to her or other new maidens who were unaware of the terrors they agreed to.

Wanting to cut herself away from all of it, she chose this empty desert. Creating a fortress out of thorns, she hoped to keep herself safe and maybe give anyone in need a shelter. Of all such demons, she wouldn’t have thought that a general would be the one to use her hospitality. It left Berith heartbroken. To think one could raise a hand and hurt such a delicate and beautiful lady. Only a coward would do it. A coward, he served not too long ago. But no more. None of them would have expected life to bring them here, all by the hands of the cruel king.

As even more days passed, their everyday lives continued in peace. They kept playing home. A general with blood-stained hands and a maiden robbed of her innocence. It sounded like a joke a jester would tell. But they didn’t mind it. Such normality was more than welcome in their lives. They also kept growing closer and closer to each other. It was clear to Berith that he had fallen for Alraune. What was there not to love about her? The kindness that she gave him and her bright smile that always appeared on her face whenever she saw him. How she prompted him to continue forward despite his past mistakes. Yes, Berith loved Alraune, but could she ever love again? Alraune, of course, had the same doubts. Berith was a gentle man, and the way he spoke and carried himself showed it. For a soldier, he showed a lot of interest in the flowers conjured by her and was more than eager to learn about them. His favorites were roses, especially those that bloomed on her.

Before they knew it, they had already spent a good few months together. In the meantime, both of them had learned a lot about each other. Mostly living in peace, they have forgotten about the whole world. The only thing that mattered was the thorny grove that now acted as their cottage. They exclaimed their love for each other. It took a lot of courage on both sides, with Berith being the first to break the ice. The cottage was the only witness to their love, but that was all they needed. Their happiness, sadly, didn’t last long. One day, Alraune spotted three demons approaching their grove. From the very beginning, they seemed hostile, bearing banners of his highness on their shoulders. It was just like Berith feared. He was no longer needed and was dubbed a threat to the current order. And those with such a fate couldn’t be left alive.

Luckily for them, it was only a scouting patrol that they made quick work of. With his keen swordsmanship and Alraune magic, they stood no chance. While for a few days after the incident, the usual peace encompassed the desert, afterwards, even more patrols started rolling in. It got to the point where soldiers from the High King’s castle itself were tasked with getting their heads.

"We cannot live like that." Berith lamented as he treated Alraune’s wounds on her left arm. To think they would lay a hand on his fair lady. "Should we move further away, to the Second Circle? It would take them time to find us there."

"And what after that? Move to the first? Then what? We have nowhere to run; the patrols will find us wherever we go." Of course, Berith knew that. His plan would delay the inevitable. Becoming silent, he tended to her wound. Still, he was thinking about a place to live in peace. If not in Hell, then there had to be another place. And there was. A place that was just as unkind to demons but where they could hide forever.

"Alraune, let us flee to Earth! No one will find us there." The rose-haired woman stared at him as if he had just lost his mind. Maybe he did.

"Have you gone mad? Where will we live? What about the angels? Do you plan to have two armies want us dead?"

"Maybe I have, but this is our only option. The angels shouldn’t bother us if we would live in peace and away from the human eye. And I’m sure we will find a lovely place for the two of us to call home." It took Alraune a bunch of days to agree to the madness that was Berith’s plan. While still having many doubts about their uncertain future, glimpses of a few of the finest current soldiers alive were more than enough to convince her to leave Hell once and for all. They made their run at the very break of dawn after Alraune made up her mind. Having her seat at his bottom half with her vines and thorns wrapped around his main body, he galloped at the break of the neck towards one of the few portals that would guarantee their freedom. The closest one would be in the First Circle; now the question is, how many guards would be stationed waiting for them?

Arriving at the mountain range of red and orange hills and tops, the pair saw their salvation from a distance. A great circle made of twenty imposing sandy pillars, each with rich carvings, stood out on the mountains. They seemed to have luck on their side, as no guardsmen were seen. Perhaps an ambush, but they won’t know until they try to get to it. Approaching the portal, a miniscule, light-blueish comet struck the ground near them, filling the air with dust and coating the area it landed in with ice. In the distance, the pair saw a bunch of demons descending from the sulfur clouds above. So they did expect them. Even more ice comets were sent their way, some striking rather close to the portal. Its destruction would mean the end of their dream.

"Activate it; I’ll keep them at bay." Alraune said as Berith had to slow down on the frost-covered ground. Entering the portal, the pale woman immediately cast her spell. From the ground arose dark and thick thorns that enveloped themselves around the pillars, creating a dome that would keep them safe. The whole dome shook as comets struck it, and ice slowly seeped inside. They had to hurry.

Berith stopped right in the middle of the circle. A spectral blue flame started burning around his body, and the ground shook with the release of his aura. The spectral flame entered each of the pillars, their carvings glowing with power. Dark clouds started to form and twirl above their heads, and as the thorn dome was set ablaze by the attacking demons, they descended upon them, and when their attackers had breached through the defenses, they were gone.

Waking up, the first thing the pair noticed was the beautiful green of the scenery and the moonlit night sky. They did it! They were safe for now. The only thing left was figuring out a place to live. Here seemed like a good spot to start, but a little scouting around the area could be beneficial. They still had to see if there were any settlements nearby and, if so, avoid them like the plague. The forest they were in was on a mountain, which meant that there probably shouldn’t be too many people, if any.

Walking down the valley, they appreciated the tall mountains, which created a sense of peace within them. It was almost as if the whole area was just for them and no one else. Could its entirety be their new home? This feeling was short-lived, as a few minutes later they stopped and stared in awe. A castle. A castle situated in the mountains. It had to be grand. They were nowhere near it, and it was already an enormous fortress. This was it. Safe, far from prying eyes, a little too eye-catching, but it could do. A home of their own. If it was abandoned, of course. It had to be. Who would live so high in the mountains?

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As they made their way towards the castle, they became wary. Something or someone was there. The leftover aura still lingered in the air. It wasn’t abandoned then. Perhaps the owner would let them stay, even if for a short while. Approaching the gate, the pair waited for anyone to come out. After a few minutes, no one did, and thus Berith pushed the grand oak gates open. Inside the castle, it was even grander than outside. Even if it was hard to tell due to the lack of any lightning. Not even a single candle was lit. They went through the lengthy hall to what seemed to be the main room. It was circular, with one stone and a round table in the middle and thirty or so chairs encircling it. But beside that, it was empty. No decorations, not even a living soul.

"I thought that a general would have better manners." A voice came from somewhere, but no matter where they looked, they couldn’t find its owner. "To barge into our safe haven uninvited. Did the High King send you to kill us?" Us? Were there more than one person talking to them? Just then, the cold stone walls became green peacock feathers. What was once an empty room with a round table was now a square and equally grand dining room with many stools, tables, and, most important of all, demons. They were everywhere, and none of them looked pleased at the sudden intrusion. Looking up at the gilded wooden chandelier that just barely lit up the whole room, they saw a green peacock sitting on top of it.

"Forgive us for the intrusion, although could we speak with the master of this castle? We have a plea, and if they could hear us out." In response, he was met with mocking laughter from the peacock.

"Did you hear him, boys? A general wants help from us." The peacock continued to laugh until he jumped down from the chandelier and looked Berith straight in the eyes. "Do you think we are dumb? We know how you dogs operate. Is it time for another pest control? Too bad we don’t plan on dying anytime soon."

"I assume that you are the master." Berith asked again, trying to ignore the peacock’s words. This past of his was long forgotten. "I, along with Mistress Alraune, no longer serve the tyrant. Due to our circumstances, we had to flee and stumbled upon your castle. If we could stay here, even if for a few days, we would be ever grateful and in debt to you." He tried to sound as calm as possible. Now that he had taken a good look at the surrounding demons, he recognized most of them as deserters. No wonder they were wary of them. He would be too.

"Berith, dear, I reckon we should bid farewell. It’s clear we aren’t welcome here. We can try our luck elsewhere." Alraune wanted to reason with her knight. There was no reason to argue with them. And she did not want Berith to stain his hands with blood once more.

"Your lady is right; we don’t want any bootlickers in our home. But~" A mischievous, even rather sinister, grin appeared on the peacock’s face. None of them liked his expression, but they waited anxiously for what he would say. "I’ll reconsider your stay here if you will allow each of my friends to strike you with no holding back."

"What?!" Alraune was the first to answer. Who was this peacock thinking he was? "Such barbarism! I won’t allow you to lay a hand on him."

"I won’t become a pleasure for some deserters. I still have my honor."

"What an awful pair you are. You are in the same situation as us, and yet you dare to give us your conditions? And not to mention, most of us are here because of the likes of you. But so be it. I have something that won’t leave a stain on your honor. Best my dear Flauros, in combat, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you stay. I hope I don’t have to add that you cannot kill him. That, of course, isn’t true for him. Do we have a deal?" Alraune looked at him with worry in her eyes. He was a strong knight, but who could know just how strong Flauros could have been? Besides, there was no telling that this peacock or anyone else wouldn't interject. His illusions power seemed quite potent. Let alone the fact that failure meant death. They really should leave.

"So be it. There's no demon here that I can’t best."

"Splendid! Let us go lower; we wouldn’t want to thrash the dining room, would we?" Following the lead of the peacock, Berith, Alraune, and the remaining demons descended to the lower floor. This one, through the maze of halls, led to an even more spacious room, stylized to look like a coliseum. Complete with sand on the floor. And in the middle of it, patiently, waited a beast. It measured up to 10 meters in height, and its muscular and dark fur-covered body made an impression on the newcomers. It turned its head, which was like the stone-made skull of a bull, and its furiously red eyes glanced at the silver knight. A flame escaped from its nostrils as its gaze shifted towards the peacock.

"Adramelech. Who? This?" So the beast was capable of speech. Berith smirked. He would feel bad fighting a wild animal. But this right here seemed to be a proper warrior. He could feel his blade irk against it.

"Your new toy is Flauros. Make sure to not break it too fast; I’m not getting you another one." The peacock and his crew made their way towards the stands while Alraune tried to get the idea out of his head, but seeing that it was in vain, she simply wished him good luck and made her way out of the battle field.

"Me Flauros. You?"

"Berith the Silver Blade."

"You look strong. Me like a strong knight. Good fight."

"If that is so, allow me to show you the strength of the finest knight."

"Flauros! Flauros! Flauros!” The crowd started chanting as both fighters took a battle stance. For them, it was a commodity. Whenever someone who could be a threat to them appeared, Adramelech was quick to send in Flauros, or in some cases, send them to him, to quickly get rid of whatever fool stood against them. This general really didn’t know what he had signed himself into. Berith drew his sword, while Flauros clenched his hands into fists and held them in front of his face.

The fight was over sooner than anyone would have expected, and the crowd was left in no less awe than they would usually be. In fact, the silence that grew and their shocked expressions were rather new. Flauros, in all of his glory, laid pinned down, both hands and legs by enormous punctured by spectral swords and was additionally chained by silver chains that Berith summoned to keep him immobilized while leaving burning marks on his body. The knight's hoof was proudly placed on top of the stone skull of the beast.

"A general may I be no more, but my blade will never go dull." He turned to face the shocked peacock, who also had a mischievous gleam in his eyes. Just what wicked plan was born behind those eyes? "Will you let us stay now? Unless you plan to face me too."

"No, no, no. Well, mister general, sir, I hope you will forgive me for the rudeness from earlier. It’s just that I cannot let anyone inside my castle just like that. I think you understand this. I love my boys and simply don’t want anything bad to happen to them.”

"While I do understand, I don’t see the point you are trying to make."

"Let me cut it short; I’m in dire need of another guard. Most of the demons here aren't skilled fighters, and Flauros can’t do anything by himself. So you will become my guardsman, and I’ll let you and the lady stay here for as long as you want. Hell, you can teach my boys how to properly wield a weapon. You are a general, right? It would be a shame to let that knowledge and experience go to waste."

In the first few days of their stay, everyone kept to themselves for most of the time. Berith and Alraune stayed in their chamber, and Adramelech and his crew seemed to be avoiding them. Even if the peacock invited them to the dining room for feasts and a bunch of small talks. From what the demon had told them, they really were in a similar situation. Everyone here was either a deserter from the army or a demon that escaped from Hell in search of a better life. Adramelech and Flauros were the founders of the castle, and by that, they meant that they got rid of the previous owner and took it for themselves. It wouldn’t be until a month into their stay that a bunch of Adramelech’s crew would warm up to the pair. They asked Berith to teach them swordsmanship, and soon enough, it spiraled from there. The silver knight became a full-fledged teacher and quickly got the interested demons in shape.

A year has passed since the pair first stepped into the castle in the mountains, and a lot has changed in that time. A word quickly broke out that a general himself became one of its residents, and more and more demons flocked to the fortress in search of shelter but also to study under the keen eye of the knight. Overwhelmed by the sudden increase in inmates, Adramelech was quick to give the lead into the hands of Berith. Dubbing the pair a count and countess of the castle, he moved more into the shadows, where he could in peace enjoy his free of worries life. That didn’t mean that those two had full autonomy over the fortress, as both he and Flauros were second in command, aiding the pair whenever it was necessary.

A bunch of years had gone by, and influenced by an ever-increasing number of flocking demons, the four had come up with an idea. The castle was becoming too cramped to give shelter to everyone in need, and it was clear that soon enough they would have to make harsh choices in regards to its future residents. But if they had a whole kingdom, they could have a safe haven for everyone. It went against the idea of staying low and not dragging Heaven's attention towards them, but it was worth a try. Under the name Tetra, they began claiming the whole mountain range and its valley as their rightful land.

Their ‘conquest’ at first went smoothly, and the whole idea worked like a charm. The empty valley brimmed with life and various shelters that they all helped to build. It went on for decades, and the whole area, from the mountains up to the sea, was under their control. The first problem arose when humans started to settle in as well. At first, those were just a few buildings far away from them, but in another few decades, they took whatever area by the sea was still left. That caused the need to move a bunch of their territory back, creating a sort of no man’s land that would keep them from people’s eyes. The mountains, valleys, and forests were a perfect deterrent to going deeper into their land, and any stories about monsters living in the peaks helped their case.

The peace couldn’t last forever. More demons came for aid, and the human population also kept rising. There simply wouldn’t be enough land to support both of them. As much as Tetra wanted to keep the thought away, an escalation would soon follow. And if the worst comes to the worst, they’ll have to take up arms. Not only that, the humans slowly stopped fearing the apparent monsters that could live so near their settlement and grew braver with each passing year. The tension was rising, even if most wanted to remain oblivious to it.

The following year is where it all fell apart. A bunch of rogue demons struck the settlement. While having no correlation with Tetra or anyone they gave shelter to, the humans put the blame on four fiends living in the castle. For them, it was the only logical choice. They were demons, and it was clear that they wanted them dead. Even if, for most of the time, they stayed high in the mountains and deep in the valleys. They weren’t fools either; by themselves, taking retribution against those monsters would mean certain death. But the angels. If they would hear out their pleas, they would no longer need to live in fear of their lives. The local priests gathered up the very next day and pleaded for Heaven to send their soldiers and finish the pests that had gathered in their forest and mountains once and for all.

The same day, the heavy clouds that covered the sky parted as thunderbolts split them in half. The heavenly warriors came down, each of them looking more monstrous than the last one. Leading them was an angel unlike any other. Its body was like a living white tower. Four thin and sharp arms held a mighty bow, while the three blue orbs chained to a silver halo that hovered over its head scanned the area. The white mask that acted as a face had not moved or spoken, but the following angels knew what they had to do.

This night, the arrows and thunderbolts rained heavily on the mountains and valleys. Any sort of resistance was futile against the ongoing onslaught. The safest place was the castle, but it couldn’t give everyone its protection. While Tetra and their crew tried to save as many demons as they could, the angels continued to murder their comrades. Of course, most of the demons did not go without a fight and gave their best to take down as many angels as possible. Even at the price of their own lives. When it was clear that not many, if anyone, would make it out of tonight alive, the remaining demons focused on the towering archer that kept decimating their ranks.

With their combined effort, Tetra managed to bring the archer down. With a cracked mask, it fell unconscious into the sea before light brought it back into heaven. This endeavor left them nearly dead and at the mercy of the remaining foes, but their companions paid with their lives to bring them back to the safety of the mountain castle. In a last-ditch effort to keep everyone safe, they used whatever magic they had left and hid the castle deep inside the mountains. They swore that one day they would rise again and retrieve the land that was rightfully theirs, along with wiping out the settlement that brought them pain.

And now both the count and countess of the hidden castle stood bewildered at the scene that was happening in the meeting room. If that could even be called such after all of the ‘redecorations’ that happened. What once was a simple room where they discussed their future plans was now looking like something out of Arabian Nights. With colorful cushions everywhere the eye could see, the round table moved to the side, its place taken by dining tables filled to the brim with exotic dishes and golden chalices. And in the middle of it all, sitting like some sort of sheikh, was a black dragon that seemed to be surrounded by a cloud of smoke that circled around him. He was drinking and laughing with all of the remaining demons, and Adramelech only sent Berith a pitiful glance.

"What is the meaning of this?" The silver knight’s voice got the attention of the curious guest, who, upon noticing him, stood up and bowed. Strangely enough, the cloud was imitating his behavior.

"Ah, you must be the castle owners. My utmost thanks for allowing me and my companion to stay here." A companion? Was it the cloud about who he was talking about? "I’m forever in debt to you, and I hope you will allow me to repay it." That certainly wasn’t what they expected to hear from him. Why would they have anything against it?

"Who are you exactly?" This time, Alraune asked. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about the black dragon seemed familiar to her. She could swear that she had seen him before.

"Call me a dragon, lion, djinn, or anything else you seem fit. But more important than my name is my reason for coming here. You see, my dear little Abbadon has troubles keeping his form; if you were to help him, we would be grateful."

"While we would like to help your friend, the times are tough, and we cannot spend our resources on outsiders. I hope you understand that."

"Of course, of course. After all, nothing in life is free. Although I have heard that you have a shortage of manpower, let's say that I would become one of your soldiers; would you then help my Abbadon?''

"Should you prove to be of use, then we could strike a deal. I have to admit that helping your fellows is a noble goal, but why us? How did you find our castle in the first place?" Alraune asked once again. Something seemed fishy about that demon. He didn’t look weak, so he could make a fine soldier. What worried her was how docile everyone was around him. Even the usually snappy Adramelech stayed silent, as if terrified of the dragon.

"I admit with shame that I had followed Adramelech. But anyone in my situation would do so. Having heard of four powerful demons being in this land, I knew you would be the right ones to turn to with my request. And we do share a similar goal."

"And what could it be?"

"You want your kingdom back, don’t you? I too wish to have a place where demons can live in peace. Shouldn’t it be natural for like-minded demons to work together?” Both Berith and Alraune froze. How did he know that? Did Adramelech tell him this? This fool could never keep his mouth shut when he needed to. The peacock in question simply looked at them and shook his head, already knowing what they were thinking.

"While that is true, yes, it is a delicate plan that requires every step to be followed to a T. You do seem like a reasonable fellow, although we cannot be sure that you could be trusted with carrying everything out properly."

"I understand your concerns, but please let me prove myself as a fine soldier. I would feel bad leaving you with empty hands after using your home as a shelter. "The grin that appeared on the dragon’s face made them wary. While there wasn’t any malice behind it, the unsettling feeling that accompanied it wasn’t a pleasant experience, even if it lasted a mere few seconds. "Of course, should you be unsure of my capabilities, I can show them to some extent." The black dragon was about to raise his arm, but the panicked peacock stopped him.

"No, no, no, no. We don’t need a showcase. I can verify that you could be a fine soldier, yes." To say that the pair was shocked would be an understatement. It was the first time that they had seen Adramelech so concerned about anything. Whatever happened in the few days that they were gone must have made quite an impression on the peacock. "Now, let me speak with them for a minute." Adramelech dragged both of them right outside the room and back into the lengthy hall, where he hoped that the dragon wouldn’t be able to hear them.

"So what do you two think about him?"

"Hard to say for sure. He seems to keep all of you in place, which I must say is commendable considering how troublesome you can be. And the fact that we share a goal." Alraune replied in a half-mocking tone.

"But then again, he is practically a complete stranger. How can we know that he is not working for the High King?"

"I wouldn’t worry about that one; from what I’ve heard, he hates him just the same as us, if not more."

"That could be a lie, although we do have a shortage of manpower."

"We wouldn’t be in this situation, dear, if someone listened to what the rest had to say." Berith said nothing. He could never win an argument with Alraune. Most of the time, it was because she was right.

"Then what do we do with him?"

"I say we will test him out. Should he not meet our expectations, we will bid him farewell. Is it fine with everyone?" Both Alraune and Adramelech nodded. Having made up their minds, the trio returned to the now dining room, where the dragon was already having small talks with a bunch of other demons.

"We hereby welcome you into our ranks. Becoming a soldier of Tetra is no small ordeal, and we hope that you will be able to surpass our expectations of you. Of course, we will help your companion; however we will be able." For an answer, the knight received laughter that flashed all of the dragon’s sharp teeth.

"General, I knew you would make the right decision. Worry not; with my aid, the kingdom will rise once more." The dragon grinned. One part of the plan was fulfilled. Now to get his hands on the succubus. Ah, Abbadon will be whole again. And the mantle of the king will rest on him. Those poor fools don’t know what they signed themselves into.