She had felt like this since they walked the canyon together, but only now she was able to voice it out. Reli had thought of Cho as a friend, a mentor and seeing how happy the Demons around them lived she thought that living under the Demon King might not be that bad.

With these thoughts and before she could do anything about it, Cho reached out and ruffled her hair again. Reli could see how a burden was lifted from his thoughts. The somber and hard expression her companion had etched on his face since they had entered the building before made way for a mellow and warm one.

“Thanks, Reli, I hope it will stay that way,” was all Cho could say.

Without uttering another word the two made their way to the castle. Like at the entrance to the town in front of the castle, there were guards keeping the entrance of the actual castle safe. This time, however, they did not let them enter immediately. They confirmed their identities with the plaques, becoming surprised as they read Relis. After a short back-and-forth of banter between the three, the Oni and Dragon were granted entry into the inner castle.

While in general the Castle and its town were different from the barren landscape, they were still practically the same. Just stones carved into shape and put together as houses, streets, things of need and in this case a castle.

There had been no carvings or art like in the canyon or Primavera, However in the castle itself it was different. Statues depicting different kinds of Demons slaying other Demons were all over the place. Even a pattern that resembled wood was carved into the walls to give the illusion of it being organic. Hides of Demons were hanging on the walls and even the skull of a Dragon was put on display. Reli did not know how to feel when she recognized that it was one from a Dragon, but decided to ignore it since she just evolved into one and had no connection to other Dragons.

Even with everything being only stone, it gave a similar vibe of grandeur that the grave gave even if falling short.

At the end of a hallway, in front of a particularly well-decorated gate, they spotted other Demons waiting. With Reli’s skill, she identified them as a Doppelganger, a Lamia, the Minotaur she had seen in the Canony before and a Griffin.

Doppelganger:

A Demon whose true form is only known to itself. Legend has it, that it's a gray cloud of smoke, however, no one knows for sure.

It is highly skilled in ‘Illusion’ and can copy the form and voice of whatever it has touched before.

Is unable to copy skills. Is highly Intelligent

Known for being mischievous.

Lamia:

A Demon with a snakelike lower body. Loves warm places.

Fights using her strong lower body and poison. Is able to inject it with its tongue.

Is known for being cruel and territorial.

Highly Intelligent.

Griffin:

A Demon with a winged lion's body and an eagle's head.

Fast, strong and capable of flight.

Draws strength from its emotions.

Highly loyal to their superior.

“Look what the Larvae dragged back, we waited for you, lazy weirdo. I really can’t see what the Demon King sees in you,” the Minotaur exclaimed as he saw Cho and Reli approach, “Huh? YOU out of all Demons brought someone along? Did you blackmail her?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Shut up Minomino! You look so uncute like that,” Cho answered.

“I AM CALLED THEROS AND YOU KNOW THAT!” the Minotaur screamed, unsheathing his greataxe, “One day I will make you pay for that!”

“You gonna pay for a date? Oh, Minomino, I did not know you swung that way,” the Oni bickered, “I can certainly understand with my charm and charisma.”

The other Demons started to laugh at the exchange that happened.

“Therosss, thisss is Chosss win. Don’t embarrass yourself anymore,” the Lamia said after she finished laughing, “Who’s that next to you, Cho? That’sss sssomething unusssual.”

“I would like to know that as well. She looks gorgeous,” said the Doppelganger as he moved closer to Reli, taking a closer look at her.

“I don’t care who he brought, Selixa, Dux, he is always so annoying. I want to wipe that smile out of his face!” Theros complained, “Look at him being all smug. It’s been years since he did his duty and brought Demons and now it is all well?”

“You know asss well assss we do, that Cho only bringssss exceptional Demonsss,” Selixa said as she slithered closer to Reli as well, “A ssshame, ssshe looks tasssty.”

“She is mine and not yours. You can ask her out in your free time if she swings that way. And how about you introduce yourself to her first if you are so interested?” Cho insisted.

“Oh, of course, where are our manners? My name is Dux, I am a Doppelganger and the Heavenly Guard in charge of the ‘Department for Information’ If you ever need to investigate something or someone, I got you covered. Friends of Cho are friends of mine,” Dux explained as he bowed in front of Reli,” It is an honor to meet the first Demon since Elvina that this cuteness-obsessed Oni brought. I expect greatness from you.”

“And I am Ssselixa, a Lamia asss you can sssee. I am the Heavenly Guard in charge of inner Sssecurity. If sssomething isss wrong, I and my guysss are there for you,” the Lamia introduced herself, “And if you like, we can buy sssome nice clothesss together afterwardsss. Thisss weirdo didn’t even give you clothesss fitting to meet our King.”

“If big brother does not mind,” Reli replied while bowing to them, “I am Reli, Poisiondragon. Nice to meet you all!”

“I don’t mind,” Cho said with a brimming smile, looking at the dumbfounded faces of the other Demons, “How long do you guys think we will have to wait?”

“Not that much more, they know we three are here, you two on the other hand will be a big surprise,” Dux chuckled after being the first to regain his composure, “It’s just the usual first pick. Nothing fancy. Shouldn’t take too long as well.”

“Yeah, and you better stay in your place! You are never there so you should be last as well, got it?” Theros interjected stubbornly, “Nobody needs you anyway. And I wouldn’t be surprised if she lied in some way about what she is and would end up as fo-”

The Demons stopped immediately as the gate swung open and drums began to play. The four Demons organized themselves in a line, while Theros grabbed the chimera and Cho Reli, to stand next to them as they advanced. With the beat of the drums, the Demons began to move inside the throne room. A huge hall with many pillars to each side, each covered in the colored hide of a different Demon. Her skill did not tell her what Demon they belonged to. Between each pillar hung a different skull of a Demon. Again her skill did not tell her anything. Instead, she felt a force pressing down on her, as if something prevented her from using it.

At the end of the hall, on top of a small plateau stood a throne, entirely made out of bones. Behind it, Reli could recognize a Manacrytal.

In front of the plateau were older Demons placed on chairs building an aisle the same way the pillars did. One more dignified than the other, they watched carefully as the 6 Demons advanced towards the Demon King.

As the Demons halted, they knelt down and looked up to the Demon King.

Everything she just witnessed was something she only saw and experienced subconsciously.

What really held her captive was the Demon sitting on the throne.

It was the spitting image of a Demon she already knew.

The Demon King Melchior La’fayette looked exactly like Haoc.