“Paranoia is a survival trait when you run in my circles. It gives you something to do in your spare time, coming up with solutions to ridiculous problems that aren't ever going to happen. Except when one of them does, at which point you feel way too vindicated.

- Harry Dresden, Changes, Jim Butcher”

― Jim Butcher, Changes

Nidus Kane Dupree, once of the Church Lands walked through the archway leading into the School of Merlin. Like the rest of the apprentices, Nidus wore robes of brown and left his hood down. Revealing a face of Slavic descent if he had lived on earth, a sharp nose sat on his features leading up to light hazel eyes and copper brown hair. At 20, he was a handsome youth. Newly graduated from the school. Nidus had his first mission, and boy what a mission. He was part of a contingent of wizards supporting soldiers and the Knights of Camelot, as well as King Adrian Pendragon and the Chief Wizard himself Dogan.

They were to fight with The Fist of Romanto, the military wing of the Holy Church of Romanto. As Nidus passed classes still going on for the day, he remembered the battle with the greater she-devil. It was like fighting a force of nature. The she-devil was quick, powerful, and highly intelligent. But what Nidus remembered most of all was the beauty of the greater she-devil. After the battle, when he finally was able to get some rest, he dreamt about her. Tabitha was her name, and he remembered her long hair that went all the way down to her waist and was the color of the blackest midnight. Even though she was 15-feet tall, her body was lithe and fit like a fighter and she was a fighter. Her nose was slender and perfect, her lips were as blood red as her skin, and her legs were so long and smooth. But what Nidus remembered most about Tabitha was her eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes. Her right eye was gold, and her left eye was silver. It was like looking at the sun and moon at the same time.

Nidus finally reached his destination, the headmaster’s office. He stopped in front of the secretary, a dwarf mage with a heavy-set brown beard covering his face. The dwarf looked up from some parchment he was reading and smiled when he saw Nidus.

“Good day to you Master Dupree, it is wonderful to see you well after the battle with that she-devil.”

Nidus gave the dwarf a smile of his own.

“Good day to you too Mr. Tibbets, I did suffer a few bruises but there were no casualties from the encounter.”

The dwarf chuckled.

“It still amazes me that no one died that day.”

It was no mystery to Nidus, if the she-devil’s goal was the annihilation of Camelot and all her people. She would have done it days before the confrontation.

“Is the headmaster busy?”

He asked.

“The headmaster has been expecting you. Go on right in.”

“Thank you, Mr. Tibbets.”

Nidus bowed to the dwarf and walked towards the headmaster’s door. Knocking on the door, he heard.

“Come in.”

Nidus opened the door and entered the headmaster’s office. Headmaster Slav, stood up from his chair, walked around his desk and shook hands with Nidus.

“Good to see you Master Dupree.”

“Thank you, Headmaster Slav.,”

“Please, have a seat.”

Nidus took the chair in front of the headmaster’s desk, Slav sat back in his own chair. Slav was a bald man with a long white beard, and he wore robes of midnight blue and crimson. When both men were fully settled, Slav began.

“Well, have you considered my offer Master Dupree? The battle wizard units could use a man of your talent in their ranks.”

“I have thought about it and decided no; my path lays elsewhere.”

Headmaster Slav sighed and shook his head.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Will you be returning to the Church Lands?”

“Never, I will never return to the Church Lands. Not if I can help it.”

Nidus said calmly, but the headmaster could see that the young man was deadly serious. Although, Nidus was born in the Church Lands of the Holy Church of Romanto. His childhood was not a pleasant one. His father is an Archbishop, high in the structure of the church. But Nidus is a bastard. His father raped his 15-year-old mother against the protest of his grandfather. When she was discovered pregnant with him, his father demanded that she abort the baby. His mother refused, and his family left the area. His mother’s people were nomads, and so it was easy for them to pack their things up and leave.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

For the next 5 years of his life, Nidus, his mother, and the nomads spent the time trying to stay ahead of his father. They were trying to get out of the Church Lands and into Arthuria. It all ended on that horrible day, the nomads thought they had discovered a secret passageway through the mountains bordering the Church Lands and Arthuria. But it was a trap, they were ambushed by soldiers, a few knights, a Paladin, and a Champion. One of the warrior angels of Romanto came to oversee the ambush, his bastard of a father was there too. They did not stand a chance. Nidus’s mother and his people were slaughtered. Nidus at 5-years-old would have died that day, if not for the Arthurian wizard who was traveling near the border.

The wizard was conjurer, one capable of controlling demons. He conjured two demons, a major demon and a greater demon. The major demon handled the soldiers, knights, and Paladin. While the greater demon took on the Champion, it was a fierce battle, but the wizard and his demons prevailed. Unfortunately, Nidus’s father escaped retribution. Nidus, being the only survivor, was taken in and trained by the wizard. When he was of age, Nidus attended the School of Merlin in Camelot. Now, Nidus has graduated as a fully-fledged wizard. His magical prowess is one of the top 10 % in his graduation class. That is why he is so sought after by the warrior wizards, but after seeing the greater she-devil, Nidus has other plans.

“Well, I am glad that you are not returning to the Church Lands. But still, we could use your talents. I’m sure you are fully aware of the political climate Master Dupree.”

“I am fully aware. I know that war is brewing between the Church Lands and Arthuria. The Romantians covet our lands, they have conquered nation after nation and we’re next on the chopping block.”

“Then why not fight with the warrior wizard units, this is your home. Even if you were born in the Church Lands, you are the son of Arthuria just as beloved as any native born.”

Nidus was glad of Headmaster Slav’s words, and he wished he could grant the headmaster’s request. But everything changed when he fought the greater she-devil, something inside him clicked and everything became clear. He knew what had to be done, and he knew what he had to do.

“I thank you for your kind words, Headmaster, but I believe I can fight for Arthuria in my own way. I am sorry, but I must follow my own path.”

Headmaster Slav nodded in understanding, he was not upset, maybe disappointed that his most capable former student will not fight in the warrior wizard units. But Slav raised his head and spoke.

“I am proud of you Master Dupree, I have always taught my pupils to follow their own paths. The worst thing any magic user could do was not have the will to make his or her own decisions.”

Headmaster Slav stood to his feet, and Nidus did the same. The headmaster held out his hand and Nidus took it with his own. As both men shook hands, Slav said.

“I wish you all the best my boy.”

Nidus heard the affection in the man’s tone and responded with a smile and spoke.

“Thank you, Headmaster.”

Sometime later, Nidus was back home and inside his summoning room. Nidus had changed from his brown robes into black tunic and trousers with a black leather coat. He wore black leather boots with iron studs and was just finishing lighting the last candle with magic. At the center of the wooden floor was a six-pointed star in a pentagram circle, with runic symbols. Nidus stood two feet outside the pentagram and began his conjuring. Nidus chanted words of conjuring in a language of the Ancients, the chanting was not long it only took half a minute.

“Balocustos I summon you.”

Flames of green erupted from the pentagram, and a demon emerged standing at the center. The flames vanished and the demon bowed.

“Greetings master.”

“Hello Balocustos.”

Nidus looked at the third-class demon. Balocustos was a major demon standing at 5-foot and 10 inches. Tall for a third order demon from the Nether Realm, but Balocustos has proven himself very formidable. The demon was handsome with angular elven features and cool black eyes with short curly black hair, and red skin like most demons. The first time Nidus had summoned the demon, he thought Balocustos might have been an incubus. The demon assured the wizard that he was not an incubus, also, the demon wore a strange set of clothing.

Balocustos told him that he wears Armani suits, and only Armani suits. This time he was wearing all black Armani suit with black shoes.

“How may I serve you master?”

Balocustos asked.

“Have you heard news about a greater she-devil in the Nether Realm?”

Nidus described the she-devil to the demon, Balocustos thought for a moment before saying.

“There have been news and rumors of a greater she-devil being captured by the Demon Lord of Lust. Your description of the she-devil is similar to the ones I’ve heard before in the Nether Realm. If she was here on Avalon, then the rumors of her escaping the Demon Lord of Lust were accurate. What do you wish of me my master?”

“I want you to be my agent, make contact with the greater she-devil. Tell her that I have a proposition that would benefit her in a long-term capacity.”

For a while, Balocustos did not say a word. Finally, he spoke.

“Master, of all the humans I have served over the centuries. You are by far the best master I have had the pleasure of knowing.”

“Thank you Balocustos, I appreciate your words.”

“I hope you appreciate my advice then master. You are a marvelous wizard, with that said. If you are going to deal with a devil, any devil. Be forewarned, devils are on a whole different level from us demons. To us demons, devils are the gods of the Nether Realm. You cannot bind them to you as you can with demons. All you can do is make deals with a devil and making deals with any devil is perilous.”

Nidus thought about his demon’s words, yes, devils were on a different level than demons. They are more powerful, and no one can control them. Mortals have made deals with devils, and in some of those stories. When mortals made deals with devils, the devils always found a way to take advantage of the bargain. But Nidus has the feeling that Tabitha was different from most devils. It did not make any sense, and he had no proof. Yet, Nidus would follow his instincts.

“I take your words to heart Balocustos, but I am resolute on my chosen path.”

The demon nodded and spoke.

“If you are determined, then I will do as you wish. I shall be your agent in the Nether Realm. If I can, I will make contact with this greater she-devil Tabitha. And if I am able, I shall convey your offer to her.”

Balocustos bowed one last time and then vanished back to the Nether Realm in green flames. Nidus sighed; the dye has been cast. Now, all he could do was wait to hear back from Balocustos. Whether it be success or failure he would not know for some time.