"Azar!"
A demon soldier entered into a war tent where a red demon woman, dressed in light armor, was overlooking a large map. She glanced back with her violet eyes, annoyed as her long black hair fell off her shoulders.
"What is it?" she questioned, putting her focus back on the map before her.
Behind the soldier, Gaz, a fair skinned man with horns and tail, dressed in a noble's attire approached. His pink eyes stared straight at Azar before giving a smirk. "As beautiful as ever I see."
"Spare me," Azar said, coldly. "Why are you here?"
"Rakon sent me. He wants to confirm the demise of the previous King and queen."
"Yeah, right. He would've come himself if he wanted to know that. Besides, he's already seen what took place. Those two are obviously dead, along with Jala."
"Rakon seems to think otherwise." Gaz approached Azar with calm seriousness. "Something happened at the castle where now the immortal human girl had gone missing. But he seems adamant that she should still be in the castle."
Azar raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"For one, Apparently the girl didn't follow through with a contract Rakon set for her. From what he told me, he placed the penalty on himself since this Kalika, already had one preventing her from escaping."
Gaz narrowed his eyes. "But the problem with that penalty the girl had, was that it was still active. And was tied into whether the queen and king were still alive. He recons if she couldn't escape then they were still alive."
"What folly…" Azar spoke. "If that girl couldn't escape, then how is she missing now!? And if she did escape now, wouldn't that mean the King and Queen are dead?"
"I can't say. It doesn't make much sense to me either, but Rakon is adamant that his brother and the queen are still out there."
"Oh. And by the way have you found that black horn yet?" Gaz glanced at Azar, seeing her frustrated.
"N…No…" She uttered.
"That angel thing might still be out there but I don't know. I've sent several groups to survey and look for the horn but nothing came up so far."
"I see… If that's all I suppose I'll get going." With that Gaz began to leave but stopped short of the tent exit. "Oh. And before I go. Your sisters, Daji, Valam and Florin…"
Azar instinctually glanced back.
"They're dead." He said.
Azar's eyes widened in shock. Gaz continued on his way out. Azar to raised her hand. "W-wait! What do you mean they're dead!?"
He continued out, forcing her to chase after him out of the tent and into the crisp autumn season. "Hold it!" she demanded.
Gaz glanced back, a little annoyed. "What is it?"
"How did they… How could they die!?" An anger rose in Azar's voice.
"Apparently a savage demon from the pit killed all three of them."
"Impossible! My sisters are not weak! A savage demon from the pit couldn't have kill them if they tried!"
"Well, that's what happened." Just as Gaz was about to leave, Azar had already grabbed his shoulder.
"No! I'm coming too!"
"Are you sure you want to do this Azar?"
Azar Looked over to one of her commanders, sitting by a campfire. She pointed vigorously at him. "Hey you! You're in charge here now!! Send Boj and Fenit to secure our border and keep searching for that damn horn!!"
Azar shortly after pushed her way past Gaz. "I'm coming with you. I want to speak to Rakon myself!"
"So, you don't believe me?"
She turned back with a glare. "How can I trust a snake tongued liar like you? You incubus and succubus think you can get one over on me. The moment I hear Rakon tell me otherwise, your a dead incubus."
She continued to march ahead of Gaz, leaving him to scoff. "Perhaps I should've told her when she arrived back... At least having her with me should help convince that the old King and queen are dead." Gaz thought.
"What's keeping you Gaz!?" Azar yelled.
Unfazed by Azar, Gaz slowly made his way to Azar's side where they departed straight back to the castle.
********
In a hot red sandy storm, three masked demons pushed through, bracing against the elements. Their bodies were tightly bound to protect against the scorching heat while carrying large packs of supplies with them.
In the far distance, lava was spewing from the wall of the pit as the magic crystals shined brightly just under the stream of lava, illuminating the entire country sized cavern in a reddish-orange hue.
Not even a week ago they were in the freezing cold. Now they were up against the blistering heat of the pit.
"I never knew a place like this existed in the pit." Lillian utter just from under her mask. glanced to Jala, then Lucius. As she saw Lucius's hand, she finally noticed that his hand had become a dirty greenish color. And Jala looked a little more orange.
"This land was where I lived before journeying with my brother, "Jala said. "It must be the growing season…"
"The- Gk… The growing season?" Lillian questioned.
Jala pointed to the large cavern wall in the far off distance, spewing lava from its very pores and cracks.
"There's another land far beyond the wall there, but every year the path to the other side gets smaller and smaller. We need to head there to enter further into the pit. That's where the kings territory lies."
From glancing at the wall neither Lillian nor Lucius saw a path past the overwhelming wall of lava and black rock.
"How long will it take until we reach it." Lucius asked.
"About another five days or so. But that's if this storm passes and if we don't run into any giant scorpions."
"Scorpions? What are those?" Lillian asked.
"They're like huge bugs that are poisonous with their tails. You'll be able to recognize it by its huge stingers.
"Stinger's…?" Lillian was having a hard time imagining what this monster would look like. She quickly put the thought aside, focusing back on fighting against the stormy sands being pelted at them.
"Are there any towns or settlement nearby, where we could rest?"
"Just my hometown, where I was born. But we shouldn't waste time with that place. It's probably dead already."
Lucius pondered for a moment, wondering if they should keep going.
"I can keep going. We don't have to stop." Lillian spoke.
Filled with overwhelming curiosity, he stopped. Forcing both Lillian and Jala, who was leading to follow suit.. "No. We should get some rest and resupply. besides, this'll be a good opportunity for you to reconnect to your fellow kin."
after a moment of silence, Jala simply nodded and led them straight to home.
To their surprise, Jala, led Lucius and Lillian to what looked like a huge sandstone pillar the touched the ceiling of the pit. And although it was hard to tell, there were also very large holes at the very tops that seemed to act like vents
Soon as they pushed through the last bit of the sand storm, they were met with a guard, wearing a hijab that masked their hair and face. This didn't stop their horns from poking out however, along with their tails that were clearly wrapped around their waist. behind the demon, stood a very large door, the size of a kingdoms town wall.
Seeing Lillian, Jala and Lucius, they spoke in their native demon tongue.
"
Jala quickly spoke up. "
"
Complying Jala, took his mask by his hand, bringing it half way to the side partially revealing his face.
The guards was left in shock, quickly recognizing Jala. He turned to order for the door to open.
Lillian couldn't help but to become curious. Jala placed his mask back on and continued to lead the way through the gate. He stopped briefly by the guard.
"
"
""
"" Jala looked back into the town and continued to venture in with Lilliana d Lucius behind.
Entering into the settlement, the orange hue fade, returning them to their normal colors. but to Lillian's and Lucius's surprise, the entire town was practically empty and devoid of life. However, it seemed that Jala expected this. he ignored the state of his home and led the way.
"This town seems so... Dead…" Lillian said.
Lucius simply nodded as he looked around.
They could small rotting corpses of demons children. Looking in between the rough stone buildings of the town she could see the mostly eaten corpse left stranded. Most likely another demon woman.
She could feel that they were being clearly watched from afar by the beady yellow, red and green eyes all throughout the town.
As they made their way down the main road, a little demon boy ran across them. He stopped as he noticed the three. he turned and stared at them curiously as he chewed on something raw. After a while of chewing, he swallowed this unknown meal, keeping his eyes glued to the newcomers.
It was a dreadful sight. but it was a sight that she was all too familiar with. "Are there no more men here too?" Lillian asked.
The demon boy that watched, quickly rejoined a group of other demon children that watched from afar.
"You already know the answer to that." Lucius said.
They continued down the only crumbling sandstone path, seeing broken down stone house after broken down house. The town felt more like a ghost town that was abandoned years ago.
After walking along the path with the watchful eyes of the curios children, they finally came across a larger looking building that looked more well kept. with was a simple two story tall inn made of sandstone. there wasn't much décor and the windows were simple hollowed holes carved into the walls.
With no where else to turn to, they entered inside. It didn't take too long to find and another demon, this time they found a red demon woman working on some leather and other sorts of clothing.
Hearing the approach of the three, she turned around, revealing her bright yellow eyes and horns fixed to the front of her head that poked out.
"
"
"
Without questioning any further, Jala fished through their treasury and spilled out the money they had. They were all foreign coins roughly pressed into a coin like-shape.
"
"The women examined a piece for a moment. "
"It's a good thing we bartered some gold from that old man back in that shack… But that only leaves up with seven-hundred pieces of gold…" Lillian thought.
Lillian pressed Jala with w whisper. "Are you sure this is fine?"
"We'll be able to make more gold if we need to." Jala quietly assured.
After some time, and confirming the amount, the women led the way to their rooms. Noticing the peaking demon children, the women shooed them away. She then allowed Lillian, Lucius and Jala choose their own rooms if they wished.
After showing them to their rooms, the women gaze more curiously upon Jala with some familiarity. He ignored her glance, instead entering his room quietly, as did Lillian with Lucius.
Some time later Lillian and Lucius reconvened with Jala, who waited just outside the stone building. He was looking back at the children, some of whom still had yet to grow their horns.
To them, he was like a rare beast on display to be in awe and fearful of. Not only were they cautious, but there was a mutual understanding not to interfere with this demon, Jala.
Both Lillian and Lucius became a little surprised to see that Jala was still wearing his mask.
"You still have your mask on?" Lillian asked.
"This was my birth place. It's better this way."
Lillian cocked her head, a little more curious. "Did you do something bad."
"Nothing of the sort. none else needs to know that I'm here."
"That's if they're alive, Lucius added. "That inn keeper said it herself. There's only three hunters left, and considering that there's so many children... I have a good feeling that most of the women are dead. For all we know the inns keeper is the last adult women in this town."
Lillian was left a little surprised by this news. "If that's true, then this who town might dying like those other ones."
"
The three watched as some of the two of the hunters carried in some large lizards. The demon children swarmed around them like a horde of hungry animals, reaching and begging for food.
They tried to push away the kids, with one hurling insults after being bitten by one of them. Unrelenting, more of the children tried to fight back, forcing one of the hunters to push a red demon child to the ground and kick them.
The hunter spat on the ground in a fury. All the children ceased at once.
"
It was a disheartening sight for Lillian. despite this, she maintain a calm demeanor over looking as the kids acted in different manners, with some relenting while other departed.
"There's nothing we can do now… This town is destined to die off in these sands" Jala stated, with finality.
"And you accept that?" Lillian asked.
Jala kept silent for a moment, before answering. "I do…"
Lucius, glanced around, scrutinizing the horrible state of the town. It was at that moment, that he caught a glimpse of two small demon children clinging on the corpse of a half eaten demon women.
"There's no one to clean the streets or to care for these children... This town won't be long for this world..." Lucius thought.
"I'm going hunting." Lucius suddenly said.
Both Lillian and Jala were surprised to hear this. "But-"
"Both of you stay here, I'll be back when I'm done." Without another word, Lucius left, heading back to the main gate.
Jala could only watch on, dumbfounded by Lucius's decision. He sneered to himself. "What's the point? He's only delaying the inevitable... He's lost his way..."
Lillian took note of Jala's last statement, hearing a hint of animosity.
"Back then he' wouldn't have bat an eye on a town like this. It's less than deserving of help if you ask me." Jala finished.
"Well... If you ask, me... I think we've all lost our way... for better or for worse..."
Jala, closed his eyes and brought his head down, as if reflecting. he exhaled. "Well if he's hunting by himself there's no point in roaming this place."
Lillian could only watch on as Jala slowly departed back to the stone inn.
As Jala entered, he saw the the inn keeper was eavesdropping. Since she didn't understand human language, he ignored her, continuing to his room.
Lillian wondered off and sat on some nearby rubble close to the inn. She sighed looking at the ruined buildings around her.
As Lillian was distracted, a little demon child peeked, tried to sneak up from behind her. It was a blue demon girl with short black hair and green eyes. She had her tail curled around her leg and didn't even have horns. She inched closer, readying to pounce. Suddenly Lillian spoke up. "
The girl flinched. She stepped back slightly with her resolve wavering. But mustering what little desperation she had, she leapt forth at Lillian.
Suddenly the girl was lifted into the air by wind magic, and brought in front of Lillian. she tried reaching out to grab Lillian with a drool, amusing Lillian. "
Lillian control the wind magic to have the girl land on her feet. but as she did, she almost stumbled to the ground.
Lillian gave the little girl a pat on the head and tried to push her along. Unexpectedly, the quickly circled around and hid behind rubble behind Lillian.
With just a glance, she could tell that the girl's heart was pounding with her fearful expression. It reminded her a little of Kalika. She then noticed that the girl was actually peeking somewhere else.
tracing the origin of this fear, she saw a plethora of other children eying her like she was prey.
"Of course..."
Lillian tried reached out to the girl, but this only scared her p2utting her in trembling paralyzed state.
"
The girl didn't answer, she glanced from her to the other children that were still lingered far from them.
"
Looking back at Lillian, the girl saw her pull the edge of her mouth so that her lips became a crescent.
"
The girl cocked her head, "
Slowly, the fear built up within the little demon girl, dissipated. Replace by curiosity instead. The girl started playing with her mouth too, trying to replicate what Lillian just showed.
The other children continued to watch on, curious of what was happening. All the while, Jala also watched on from the small window of his room. from behind him, the inn keeper enter and called out to him.
"