And as I looked to them, an image of the immortal flame appeared with the hymn heralding their arrival.

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They spoke in unison, their voices resounding loud in our minds:

Were it in our power to desist this struggle we would have taken flight to our lower home. But it has not come to pass that we shall be overpowered and torn asunder. The time has come that we wrest control over the Foremother. Think not that the Yavahmar shall be held back for long at the borders of our domain, for our strength abounds as like the poisoned wounds that fester with rot. We come for our inheritance of this land, given to us by the Creator. They know surely that this was our home before your kind came to inhabit, and tempted us by the beauty of your flesh.

We see among this kindred the scion of the Immortal King. Come forth, child. Face us in the battle of death! Should you overpower us, we shall give leave to pass to your destination. But should you fall, all aboard these ships will fall in the maelstrom of our might. We call the Dehamar of Death to preside over this engagement.

From above, there descended the Agent of Justice, alighting in both light and fire. His body shone with the luster of the sun. His form lined with ardent flames. Its presence only masked by the dark armor he bore. From each side were three arms, and from his back six great wings as like the celestials. His crown was set with a halo similar to my father's but it shown with greater fervor and seemed almost like the fire of the sun. In each hand, he held either a scepter, a conch, a mace, or reins.

His descent caused our ears to ring with the charging of bulls. Were the sky to not have been clear, one would think the clashes of thunder heralded his arrival.

He stood between us and with his voice radiating in our minds, he said:

As was promised to me long past, I come for thy soul. To spirit to my halls below where thou shalt rest beside me. With mine order and hold of justice, let your soul be forfeit in contest with my kin. O Prince to Death, shouldst thou fall to their might, thou wilt enter my hold, never more to enter the mortal realm.

All about, including the demons, were struck with awe and wonder and prostrated. But I alone stood, and facing the Agent of Death, I said, “Who promised my soul to you, O Arbiter of Justice? Is my agency not my own? And why is it you side with the Demons? Is it not your place to side with the righteous.”

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I was brought to kneel by his force. He said:

I demand respect from thee! Thou mayst question mine intent, but I hold my tongue to thee who was promised. Ask thy father shouldst thou seek answers! Now, I stand as supervisor. Hold not to thy cowardice. Step before thy forsaken kin.

He vanished from our presence. Druzhat, the soldiers, and the demons rose. I looked to Druzhat, seeking answers, but he held his gaze steady to the adversaries before us.

The male demon stepped forth and said:

O prince, my name is Shigla, for I come with Good Fortune, and she is Ulai, One whose Sight Pierces. We stand before you as the premier warriors of our land, Tumushtansha, servants to the lord Ku-igil, the golden-eyed. Come before us; accept our challenge!

They rendered their names in their own tongue: Amegishar.

I looked to Druzhat again, and he nodded his head. I went before them, and said, “I am Prince Yurva, He who represents Death, heir to the Immortal King and the seat of my forbears in the land of Koshapa. I accept your challenge!”

Then let us begin!

The battle was once again renewed. The demons rushed in battle against the soldiers. Chaos resumed across all the ships. Yet I could see that through all of this, the orbs of light didn’t halt in their charge. Whether it would be of use here was to be determined after its fire, but we placed our hopes upon it. As the demons rushed about, it seemed they were stayed from me and the human-like demons by a seemingly thin barrier.

Shigla, Ulai, and I paced about each other. I looked to these creatures that masqueraded with light, whose forms were resplendent but held the greatest of malice among the gathered horde.

They bore their blades. Stained as black as the void, no reflection or light could be had on its form. They drew closer. While they were indeed taller than me, their forms were much greater, looming over me like pillars.

Before I realized, the blades swung my way. I evaded, but was cut about my arms. The tear was clean, and the blood trickled beneath my clothes. The drops stained my fhorlia with trails of red.

I saw wisps of black dissolve into the air. I had learned the elemental affinity of demons was aether, but now I could see it in action. Their swords amassed the aura of the void, encasing themselves in the haze of darkness.

They clashed their swords together and brought it above. Suddenly, they rushed toward me. Before I realized they were in reach, they held their swords above and sought to cleave me in two.

I issued the aether, uncontrolled, to my blade and held it above. I braced the impact and lo! the strikes of their blades issued with such force that the darkness compounded in size and covered the whole of the earth in a sea of black.

Our sights were rendered null, and our senses dulled. No more could we perceive the space around us. But the demons had their advantage. With what little perception I held, I felt the ranks be felled en masse by the onslaught of the demons. Their blood poured to my feet. My movements slowed, and I felt as if at any moment my life would be cut short. Death was near.

This was surely an illusion. For not even the blackest of voids could be replicated here. At least, not without the surety of demise for all who were near.

The presence of Shigla and Ulai hadn’t left. But they kept distance. I took my chance.