“But the world moves on, even when you don't want it to, even when change feels like the end of everything. It never stops.”

― Ann Aguirre

The explosion was massive, spreading out throughout the cave, but the explosion was contained only inside the cave. There were wards carved into the very cave wall, carved into the earth itself for one purpose. The one who placed the realm gate wanted it to be used once, and once only. As the soldiers of the Holy Church of Romanto waited for the priests to dispel the hellfire blocking the entrance. The explosion released a powerful shockwave that blew anyone near the entrance away. Priests and Paladins were sent flying through the air and into their fellows.

“Curse that she-devil to damnation!”

Xander fumed understanding immediately what the she-devil had done. Preventing her from using the realm gate to return to the Nether Realm by her own means was paramount. But they had failed, and the she-devil was in control all the time. She was never phased, never frustrated, and never lost her focus on her goal. Xander cursed underneath his breath, the she-devil was too powerful. They had sorely underestimated her, now she was back in the Nether Realm. Xander did not believe the she-devil would not work mischief in that hellish place, her machinations would somehow affect the mortal realms in time.

“Bishop General.”

The voice was angry and borderline on the disrespectful, and it demanded Xander’s attention. The Bishop General turned to see Cato and a few other Arcadians behind him, and the man did not look too pleased with the outcome.

“Our War Leader has been taken, captured by a greater she-devil and spirited away to the Nether Realm. The chief of the Vales Tribe must be informed of what has happened here today. I have no doubt he will want the other tribes to know of this day. As second in command I am taking the Arcadians back to the Shattered Lands.”

Nothing good could come from that, Xander thought to himself. He did not want the chiefs of the various Arcadian tribes to discuss this day, he did not want them to come to any troublesome conclusions.

“You and your Arcadians cannot leave, we have to—”

“The mission was a success!”

Cato cut Xander off abruptly and with force.

“Our mission was to prevent the greater she-devil and her minions from destroying Camelot and obtaining the city’s magical particles. She has fled back to the Nether Realm but has taken our War Leader. As far as we are concerned, we are done here.”

Then Cato moved closer, invading the Bishop General’s personal space. His eyes were locked with Xander’s, and Xander did not like what he saw in them. This was confirmed when Cato spoke again.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Unless…you want to tell us what all of this was really about?”

When Xander remained silent, Cato snorted in contempt and said.

“I thought so.”

Xander wanted to order the execution of this Arcadian right then and there. But Cato still had under three hundred warriors at his command. Even though the Romantians outnumbered them three to one, the Arcadians were and are still formidable warriors. Cato turned his back on the Romantian Bishop General and signaled for his Arcadians to move out.

………………………………..

King Adrian and Dogan finally freed from there earth prison watched the interactions between the War Leader’s second in command and the Bishop General. With Dogan’s spell of enhanced hearing, both men had listened to the conversation between Cato and Xander.

“It seems that our esteem guest the Bishop General has not been completely honest with us.”

The King whispered to his Chief Wizard. Dogan nodded in agreement.

“Yes, my King. Tabitha spoke truth the entire time you conversed with her. My truth spell was active, of course, having seen how powerful she was. It would not be impossible for her to have used her own magic to thwart my truth spell and lied to us. Her actions however lent credence to her words. She has used the realm gate to return to a different part of the Nether Realm.”

Adrian sighed.

“It is a sad day when a devil from the hells tells the truth, and a holy man who serves a god of justice lies to your face for his own agenda.”

Adrian paused in thought.

“They did want to stop the she-devil from entering the Nether Realm on her own terms instead of her enemy.”

“Are you thinking about the demon lord allied with the Holy Church of Romanto?”

Adrian nodded at Dogan’s question.

“We will have to keep on our guard. It always bothered me when I thought about how much power the church seems to hold. They have been conquering nation after nation. To discover that they use not only divine magic, but also the demonic magic of the Nether Lords explains much.”

“Yes, my King.”

Dogan went silent for a time, watching as troops nursed their injuries and the area was secured. Then he asked.

“My King, what were your impressions of Tabitha? You spoke with her, and she seemed more human than devil.”

Adrian thought for a moment before answering.

“To my observation, Tabitha as the greater she-devil was powerful and in control. But the Tabitha I spoke to seems to have a core of honor; she did not seek the destruction of Camelot nor the slaughter of my people. But she had the resolve to accomplish her goal, and would let none stand in her way. At the same time, she did not cause casualties. She would not bring suffering on others. I believe she has a soft spot for mortals. Humans in particular, but that does not mean she will not do what is necessary.”

“Your impressions of Tabitha are similar to my own my King. Forgive me for saying this, but with what we have seen here today. I believe we may have discovered the unlikeliest of allies against the growing threat of the Romantians.”

King Adrian gave Dogan a smirk and a look.

“Do you believe my old friend that a devil from the Nether Realm can make a trustworthy ally?”

“Mmmm, perhaps, perhaps not. But Tabitha is the enemy of the Holy Church of Romanto.”

“Ah, you are thinking the enemy of my enemy might be my friend?”

“My King, anything in this multiverse of ours is possible.”

………………………………..

That very night, the saber cats returned, and the Arcadians left for the Shattered Lands. Several days later, the Romantians left on their airships. The people of Camelot were glad to see them go, and the King and Queen along with their advisors discussed the events in more detail.

No one knew that the arrival of the greater she-devil in the Nether Realm marked the birth of a new era. An empire that had fallen would be reborn, and Tabitha would usher in this rebirth. Gods, devils, angels, demons, and mortals would bear witness to this new change. Everything would not be the same again.