“Ed, I don’t think I understand,” said Tedet. “Isadal sent a demon to hunt her.”

“He didn’t,” I responded. “Someone related to him must have.”

“Right. And all this happened because the Law Firm was involved with the vampires that captured your nephew.”

I nodded.

Tedet growled, what must have been a radera version of a sigh of disapproval.

“Okay,” he continued, “but this is the part I don’t get. Galavant told you about it, which means he gains something from it. But why would Isadal tell you? What does he gain from this?”

“I honestly have no idea. But before you say anything –” I thrust my palms forward, stopping Tedet from speaking. “I tried. But there was no way we would get answers.”

“This is stupid,” said Tedet, as per usual.

“I agree,” said Yand-Una.

Tedet looked at her and after a heartbeat of both staring at each other. “You finally found a sensible companion.”

“I’m his warden.”

“I don’t think that matters much.”

Tedet found a kindred soul in Yand-Una while I was passed out. No matter what was happening, he seemed to be fine with her and was mostly fine with anything she said. A stark contrast with his reactions to Misa, who he is treating like a child. There is nothing condescending about it, but he simply thinks her attitude is annoying. I know because he says nothing whenever she is brought up, addressed, or when she talks.

“There’s one more thing that’s bugging me,” said Tedet. “Galavant sent you to Isadal.”

I thought for a second, but before I could say anything, Misa answered.

“He said that Mr. Ed doing something about it was enough payment for him.”

“I thought so,” said Tedet. “He sent you to deal with Isadal. So, there’s something he gains from all of this.”

‘There’s a way to stop him. You will know in time’ he had said. When we talked to Isadal he wanted our help, and Galavant must have known about Isadal and the demon but refrained from telling us. We didn’t ask for it and it was more information than we needed. Clearly, if he had told us, we would’ve planned for it beforehand, rather than offer ourselves to join the Rain and the Cabal.

“He wants us to unite forces between the Cabal and the Rain,” I explained.

“Yes, he said that,” concluded Yand-Una, like it was stupid.

“No, not Isadal. Galavant.”

The confusion was heard in unison. They did not understand why I reached such a conclusion, and, so, I tried my best to explain it.

After finishing, Tedet was looking at my eyes intently. The gaze did not trigger since we had already seen into each other’s eyes, and it was a complicated experience. Experiencing radera’s senses feels more like an assault on our own, there’s only a small overlap between us. In fact, it was surprising that the gaze works between the two since it doesn’t even work between us and animals of Earth, and neither does it work for them and their equivalent life.

“Right,” he finally said, breaking the liquid nitrogen-cold atmosphere. “More bad news, then. Does Isadal know about Galavant telling you?”

I had not thought about it yet, and it seemed like an extremely important question. An almost rhetorical question. The way Tedet asked, assured us he already knew what we would say but was hoping for a different answer.

“He probably knows, yes,” I said, regretfully.

“So, it’s fine to assume he already knows about what you told us. And he planned to join forces, regardless.”

Everyone kept quiet, a sign of affirmation.

“What does Isadal gain from all this?” he asked, concluding the conversation. That was his coup de grâce.

The same question suddenly felt more mysterious and dangerous. As if we were working with a landmine, trying to defuse it, only to realize we had already activated it. If we lifted our fingers from the trigger, we would set it off.

The Fay are far more abstract than we could think about. They aren’t mortals and they have existed for centuries, millennia, or even eons. Who knows how they think and what they think about? Who knows how far their network extends? Who knows how much they know and what they know?

“R-regardless,” I began, changing the subject. “What we have to do is still clear. A demon is out for Misa and we need to get rid of it.”

It was at this point it finally struck me: my objective had changed. It was Misa who I wanted to save, and my nephew was just collateral. We had already dealt with his problem. The Fay were already done with him, his importance was simply a connection. The real problem was Misa all along and I had never known until I talked to Galavant, but I kept deluding myself that Jaser was what mattered. Even after Isadal, I must have forced myself to think of my nephew, but by that time I must have subconsciously known that Misa was who really mattered.

“We still have to talk to the Cabal about the Rain,” said Yand-Una. “Unless you want to break the deal.”

I felt chills when she said that. It was a reaction of me giving the thought a possibility. I couldn’t do it. I need my power to do a lot of things in the near future. I can’t just give it away.

I shook my head as a response.

“Let’s hope you haven’t dragged me down with you. I don’t want to be sentenced to death.”

“We’ll pull through. The Cabal would’ve engaged in it, regardless. I bet they have given it some thought.”

I knew what I was saying was mostly wishful thinking, and I could see the same thought on the awkward smile Yand-Una made as she turned away.

We couldn’t be sure of anything. All that we’ve thought about have been pure speculations. Educated guesses at best. Nonetheless, we have yet to know the truth.

We’ve yet to even know why the Rain decided to target Misa with a demon. But I’m sure, for now, that doesn’t matter. Maybe it doesn’t matter anymore. If Isadal had decided not to tell us about it, maybe it no longer is important. Or maybe it means something else.

I sighed. Thinking was exhausting.

“What do we do first?” I asked. “The demon or the Cabal?”

“The Cabal,” answered Yand-Una. “I need to report every day. And this is something they would want to know.”

“What if they do something and we can’t help Misa after it?”

“They can’t just let her die. I will at least convince them to let us do this much before they arrive at a conclusion.”

Tedet stood up and walked himself to the door. The moment he opened it, a waft of delicious aroma hit me.

“You wizards like gambling too much,” he said. “By how much you like doing it, I’m surprised you have not tried opening up a casino.”

“Is the food ready?” interrupted Misa. “Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No. Actually,” Tedet answered. “That was perfect. I didn’t know how to segue into that topic. Come now, before the food gets cold.”

Grikhat was preparing food while we discussed. Normally, it’s Tedet that cooks for both of them, but it seems they also do it together quite often. This time, she would show Tedet and us what she could do in the kitchen.

“Human food prepared by a radera?” questioned Yand-Una. “I never thought the day would come.”

“You don’t frequent restaurants?” asked Misa.

“Yes, but – where I come from, the situation with radera is different.”

When she said that, the atmosphere became gloomy. Only Tedet didn’t look the least bit different. He only waited at the door, expecting us to move.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“N-no, offense, Mr. Galieta. I didn’t mean to say it like that…”

“And here I thought you had more guts,” responded Tedet. “You think that much is going to hurt my feelings? Thinking I’m like that is far more offensive than anything else you could’ve said.

“I don’t like your country. But I don’t have to dislike you to dislike the culture that brought you up. Say what’s on your mind and eat your food. That’s good enough for me.”

He waved at the creaking door, urging us to get out of the room. Had I not known Tedet, I would’ve thought he was just gesturing us to hurry up – in reality, he was doing it as a command. As a guy of little patience, he was very annoyed looking at our dumb faces while we were mourning over things we had no control over, rather than our unmoving feet. ‘Get a move on, already!’ he communicated with his emotionless face.

Breakfast was good. After spending my time, from evening until morning, sleeping without eating anything, I found the first spoonful of my breakfast glorious.

The food served was separated into two: radera and human food. And I saw food similar to what Tedet had prepared for us on our close-circle date. It looked far less impressive, but the taste made up for its looks. Grikhat had learned well from Tedet.

Yand-Una and Misa enjoyed the food just as much as I did. But for some reason, whenever they complimented her on the food, she answered them kindly, unlike with me, cycling between red and blue in silence.

----------------------------------------

Before heading to the Cabal, we made a short stop in the Workshop. Trisd and Salev questioned me about my absence and I had to lie a little. Something about a friend that needed help. I used Hayier’s name since I had talked about him before.

Tedet had told them that he needed to go along with me, so the place would be left in their hands. We’ve already done this before, so we trust there would be very few problems leaving them on their own.

I used a glove to hide my bandages and the missing finger. They questioned me about it, but the best answer for something like that is usually the simplest one. ‘It’s a gift from his daughter,’ I told them, and they were immediately convinced.

We took to the car, with as many supplies as possible. For once, Yand-Una didn’t complain about the transportation, only that Tedet had several loose screws for driving a car. She may not have been annoyed by it, but she sure was extremely scared about riding in a vehicle driven by a mortal. She held on to any part of the car that was extruding from its frame and felt firm; any piece of the car that moved when held made her flinch and cry a small sound of desperation.

I never would’ve imagined seeing my Warden being terrified like a little kid. Her face showed the clear signs of an animal losing itself to fear. She bared her teeth completely, her tensed-up posture with its shoulders covering up her neck, and her legs held close to her stomach. If she had a tail, I bet it be sticking right in between her legs.

I couldn’t help but laugh a little from the seat before her. My chuckles were answered with a kick to the seat, the back was thrust forwards and Tedet answered by scolding her. That did not matter to Yand-Una, she couldn’t care less what he told her when she was holding to dear life.

Leaving behind Grikhat in the car, we finally arrived at the place and made the ritual to open up the gate into the Cabal. This was the first time Tedet had traveled through one and his response to it was similar to Misa. There was one small exception. Once he came to the other side, he lost all balance and dropped flat on the ground.

“Ted?” I asked concerned.

I was answered with a couple of croaks and groans. However, for the first second or two, he did nothing but lay there unmoving.

“Here, let me help you,” I offered.

“No,” he answered.

Then another two seconds passed before he moved and stood up.

“You okay there, bud?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Because there’s another one we have to go through, and then to come back we need to do the same.”

Tedet looked at me sternly. Nothing was said, but I understood his stare. He didn’t want it.

“Let’s just do it quickly,” he proposed and walked through the pathway.

I took his word for it and led him to the next spot where he, again, came out the other side dropping instantly. This time, fortunately, he recuperated faster.

The Cabal seemed quiet, unlike last time, with a few people going by here and there. Everyone that saw us looked at Tedet with surprise, some with shock, and very few looked offended by his presence. This was a place for humans and wizards, not radera. I decided to give them angry and challenging stares. No one looks at my best friend like that on my watch.

I apologized to Tedet for the situation, then left him and Misa behind as the two of us, Yand-Una and I, moved on to report to her master, who was still overlooking her.

To make a long story short, we were received and escorted to a member of the Council. The matter of Isadal was of the highest importance.

“The Rain wants to form an alliance?” S.A.W. Ravan Plattan asked. “This is concerning.”

“What’s concerning us is that it seems Galavant, from the Storm, wants this to happen,” explained Yand-Una.

“The Strom? Why are they involved?”

“One thing led to another. I had to ask for clues and Galavant was my first choice.”

“Wizard Avarez, you are already on thin ice, and you think you can simply try your luck with more problems?”

“This was before the meeting,” I tried to sound sure, but I only ended up sounding like a scolded child.

“We don’t know how we can tolerate anything more from you. But for now, I will act like you never told me this. Nevertheless, the Rain and the Storm will involve themselves in this. Summer and Winter are already moving, and we have yet to organize ourselves. We might not be prepared for this.”

“The Knights seem to be acting as well,” said Yand-Una. “We found one talking to Isadal, as well.”

“More trouble,” answered the Arch Wizard.

A million thoughts could be seen crossing through her mind if you watched those eyes darting from left to right. She was calculating and analyzing all the information we had given her. Most of what she was thinking we must have already thought about, but she could be linking secret information with what we’ve got.

“We’re going to need to organize with the Knights as soon as possible. We cannot push this for later. Wizards, can you tell us who the Knight was?”

“Raykhetay’a Shkadaur,” Yand-Una answered. And I was genuinely amazed by her memory.

After some small thinking, she answered with a grunt. “I don’t know that name. Would it be possible for you to find out more about this Knight?”

“We could,” I interrupted the question that was mostly directed at my warden. “But we have something to deal with first.”

“The matter with the mortal,” she concluded.

I nodded. “We have to take care of the demon before anything worse happens to her. The more we push this issue, the greater the chance for something bad to happen.”

“Have you got any idea where to find this demon?”

“Last time, it ambushed us in the spiritual realm. We are expecting it to do the same.”

“That won’t do. It knows you’re coming for it. You will need to summon it.”

The Arch Wizard took herself to a seat nearby. She looked down at the ground and placed her palm over her face.

“I could help you out,” she began, sounding regretful. “But that’s not going to help you. You’re hanging by a thread. And though this demon is dangerous, I know you can vanquish it. You need to prove to the rest of the Council you are putting your life at risk for a mortal. If I step in, all your efforts until now will be for nothing.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized genuinely.

I was never expecting anyone else to help us. I always thought this mission was for us alone to finish. Yand-Una, on the other hand, did not seem to see it that way.

“I’m sorry, Wizard Yand-Una,” said the Arch Wizard. “I know you are upset.”

That is when I realized she was apologizing to her all this time. Not me.

I thought I could take the hit, but I still felt wronged.

“That is fine,” Yand-Una answered. “This is our duty.”

I don’t know what went over me when I turned to my warden and apologized. ‘I’m sorry you’re stuck with me,’ I whispered to her. But I felt genuinely guilty. I wasn’t responsible for her position, but I had dragged her in with me, regardless.

Yand-Una only gave me a wry smile.

The way back to the car was silent. Yand-Una said very little, until we were near the artificial river canal. She had only said a few things with little substance until she had asked that one question.

“Do you know how to summon a demon?” she asked.

I looked at her. I had imagined she was the one that knew since she never asked me that question.

“I thought you knew,” I answered.

“Who would’ve thought,” she turned away from me. “The man on trial doesn’t know demon summoning. But his warden does.”

Summoning demons were a type of magic that many avoided since it can taint you. Even when the magic is ritualistic, its effect on the user affects them deeply. I never learned it because I thought them abhorrent.

I hadn’t given it much thought until now, but it was odd she knew how. It makes sense that higher-ranking wizards know about them, given that with age and experience, they also want to increase their knowledge. As the power of a wizard increases, the taint from demon summoning would have a lesser effect. It isn’t so strange for an Arch Wizard to have summoned several demons. But for normal Wizards, even Seniors, that’s a feat that affects you for life.

“How do you know?” I asked.

She held her arm close to her chest and reached under her sleeve to pull it up. She held her upper arm below the bicep and squeezed. It looked like she was about to cut her arm off – and she basically did. The arm came off.

Tendrils of a deep vermilion fire snapped when she pulled it off and, suddenly, its appearance changed into an artificial arm. A normal prosthetic arm, except for the markings on it.

“A demon…” I described. “There’s a demon in your arm.”

“I made a pact with a lesser demon,” she explained. “When I lost my sister to a disease. I tried to find a way out. I was sick as well. Turns out all I had to do was train my magical abilities, but instead I made a pact with a demon. ‘Protect me from death and I’ll give you myself.’ ”

To give oneself is to throw away their soul. A demon cannot take a soul from a living being, but it can take it once the person dies. The demon, however, was tasked to protect the person. It can only do so much, however. If the humans make a choice that puts them in danger or that is caused by another human’s decision, it cannot save you. However, if you ask for assistance, it will lend you power.

The trick, unfortunately, is that the more you use it, the more it snacks on your spirit. It corrupts you and your magic. Yand-Una must know about this, which is why she doesn’t use the demon at all.

“It covers my arms and legs. People don’t know I have prosthetics.”

“And the Cabal?” I asked. “Do they know?”

“They do. But I already did my probation.” She smiled stupidly. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

I shook my head.

“I’ll summon the demon,” I said. “You can sit this one out. Just tell me how to do it.”

She only thanked me, while putting back her arm just before we arrived at the canal. The prosthetic latched into a titanium prosthesis that was drilled into the bone. The arm snapped in and the moment it clicked the fires popped. The dancing flames became like tentacles, latching into her real arm. Just as they grabbed into the skin, they simply became the skin. The scene felt more like an optical illusion rather than some gross biological fusion of tissues.

When we stood before the edge of the canal, overlooking the rubbish that had floated about in it, I took on the scenery for a few seconds. The sky was clear, the sun was bright, and the breeze felt fresh. Autumn was near and the sensation of the seasons changing was felt in the magic surrounding us.

I breathed in. Staff held in hand, I slammed the butt of the staff into the ground and exhaled like I was pleased. With a held-up posture and proud-looking stance, I addressed everyone:

“Today is a good day to fight demons.”

Tedet, next to me, loaded his gun with a newly charged battery. A whirling sound of the railgun, as it charged its capacitors, signaled Tedet’s combat readiness. To his right, his girlfriend did the same.

“Aye,” they both said, their faces turning red.

They knew how to accentuate and elevate a good speech with a laconic response. They were made for each other.