previously: luka offered to take mari to the demon king, kagami and luka kept bickering, and mari accidentally killed a rabbit and learned that she technically used necromancy.

in chapter one it's stated that saying the demon king's real name grants him power. i thought you'd all latch onto that after adrien the cat turned out to be luka! but no one guessed it... slkjgdfhfdjfj i am a failure... this is it... i'm doomed to never to write a plot twist ever again because i failed this one time.

excuse me while i go cry (╥_╥)

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir © Thomas Astruc

The weather got colder the further north they went.

Marinette got a better idea of the land.

She saw many crudely-drawn maps in the different towns and managed to buy her own to store in her pouch and bring out when she wanted to study the names. While she understood that all the habitable land were large islands that were sectioned out into different countries, she couldn't quite grasp how big they were with pictures alone.

And when she asked how long it would take to travel to each of them, the sense of time didn't make sense to her either. She couldn't compare it to car rides when horses were new to her.

Kagami and Luka continued to refuse to sleep at the same time.

Their relationship hadn't gotten much better, but they were able to bicker for a while before talking to her only.

"Can you teach me healing magic?" Marinette questioned, opening her pouch to count pitiful amount of the vials and pills she had left. "I doubt anyone's going to lend us a cauldron."

"I can buy more supplies," Luka offered.

"Not my question," she replied.

His smile was sheepish. "I am... not good at it."

"No?" she asked, curious. "But you know the basics, right? That's good enough."

"I do not."

"Well, shit," Marinette muttered.

It was Kagami that questioned, "Why not?"

Luka kept his gaze ahead of them as he said, "I am young."

Another one of her struggles was getting Kagami and Luka to use contractions in their speech. While the princess, the higher-ups, and even the instructors she'd had for potions had mixed a few into their speech, her two companions were stiff and formal.

She had never heard either of them swear.

"I'm young," she tried to correct him.

Luka simply replied, "You cannot age."

She sighed. "Does age make you stronger?"

"No," he denied.

And with that, he didn't elaborate. Instead, he took a knife off of his belt to cut down some of the plants they were walking through.

"Why not use magic?" Marinette questioned, peering to the side to see him slashing at the plants ahead. "Not that I'm not grateful for your hard work. I'm curious why you're not being lazy."

"The area is too dry," Luka replied. "I do not want to start a fire."

"...Use water to put it out?" she suggested.

He shot that down without hesitation. "No."

"Why?" she persisted.

"I do not want to attract attention," he said.

Marinette was going to pester him for more when Kagami chimed in with, "He does not want to alert the town beside us. It is not under his control."

"Oh," she murmured, understanding. "The king's?"

"Yes," Kagami confirmed. "That trading town is a valuable one."

"But all the others weren't," Marinette said, not needing to question it. "Because they don't offer anything?"

"Exactly," Luka quietly replied. "They are not the king's concern."

"This place is weird as hell," she remarked. "Like, I'm not saying my world makes sense all the time, but some people do try and live with their enemies. It doesn't always work."

"Do you miss it?" Luka asked.

"Yeah, sometimes." She took in a deep breath. "I get sad when I think about the past. I'd rather... not."

There was no response filled with sympathy from either of them—not that she was expecting one.

Kagami was the one that suggested that they leave the horses behind. They were on the outskirts of the country, near a large river that they'd need to cross by boat soon, and they had no more food left that was suitable for them.

She patted the horses before entrusting the ropes to Kagami for her to walk nearer to the town and tie them up. Marinette hid with Luka in the meantime, terrified of being spotted with her eye colour.

It was as they were crouched in the tall grass watching Kagami walk off that Luka asked, "Do you not want to go?"

"Where would I go?" she questioned. "I might be roughing it and sleeping outside, but this is—this is the most free I've been since coming here."

"She might get help," he replied.

"She won't," Marinette rejected.

He murmured, "You do not know that."

"Kagami would never endanger me," she said with confidence. "There's no telling whether I'm a demon, right? Normal civilians are going to assume the worst and try and hurt me. It has to be someone that's specifically looking for me that she'll trust."

"Someone that knows you have pink hair," he remarked.

"Yes," Marinette agreed, smiling. "She won't act without being sure it's right."

Luka said with a curious lilt to his voice, "You trust her."

"Why wouldn't I?" she questioned. "She's my friend."

He quietly asked, "Are you hers?"

"Maybe," Marinette responded, watching as Kagami disappeared in the distance. "But that doesn't really matter, does it? It's her job to keep me safe."

"She will not like... my boss," Luka said slowly, picking his words carefully.

"I'm investigating," she replied. "If the offer's good enough, I'll tell the others back at the castle. It's still open to them, right?"

"It is," he confirmed.

Marinette made a peace sign with her hand. "I'm scouting for information, then."

Luka smiled.

-x-

"I hate boats," she complained.

Kagami nudged the bucket closer.

Travelling by horses was much more preferable. It hurt her thighs and it was uncomfortable when she had to sit there in front of Kagami the entire time, but it beat feeling nauseated and clutching onto anything in an attempt not to fall over when the boat rocked.

When she'd been told they had to cross a river, she hadn't expected to feel so unsteady, nor that they'd have to travel down instead of across to the other land in sight.

Luka had to vouch for Kagami, saying that she was their companion.

Kagami looked like she wanted to punch him.

Once on land, it was back to travelling on foot until they found a city that would sell them horses.

When she was told the country they were in was called Yves-Ie, Marinette had laughed until her stomach hurt.

It wasn't as warm as Lyss-Ria.

Marinette had learned to condense more items into marbles with Luka's guidance—her clothing, food that they'd picked up along the way, and even a dagger that Kagami had swiped and gifted her a week ago—but then came the realisation that although they were slightly different colours, they were the same shape and hard to tell apart.

One time, she'd assumed she'd reached for a vegetables, only for a spare pair of boots to expand and fall into the cooking pot.

Luka had laughed loudly at that.

The most startling thing was that Luka couldn't replicate it. For once, it was a magic that her and her friends had created on a whim, and as hard as he tried to copy, he never succeeded.

She was getting better at magic in general.

Her magic was more practical; she could start a fire reliably without singeing the area around her, could levitate an arrow and cause it to fly through the air and pierce through something with enough force to kill it if she needed to, along with casting the barrier on specific parts of her and concentrating it to be stronger instead of covering her entire body.

It was different having someone that actually knew what he was doing with her.

Kagami continued to to spar with her, though she didn't injure her. Their medical supplies were to be savoured until they could replenish them somewhere.

"How old do you have to be to learn it?" Marinette questioned.

Luka replied, "It is not a matter of age. I am part of the weakest generation, so those who came before me are more capable of it."

She almost felt like a toddler as she asked, "Why?"

"There is not—" Luka started before whirling his head around to look at her, fast enough for his hair to move. He was staring at her with wide eyes, mouth opening before closing without uttering a single word.

"What?" Marinette questioned, touching her face.

"I was told not to," he murmured. "But that—that was before you joined me. Before I had your trust."

She tilted her head. "Care to share? You're not making sense."

"My name," Luka started, sounding uncertain as he reached up and scratched his cheek. "There is a power to it when it comes from you."

Curious, she asked, "Luka?"

"I was told that is only for your king," Kagami said, frowning.

He shook his head.

"Oh." Marinette realised where it was going, recalling that titbit of information from her first day. "Saying your name gives you more power?"

With a nod, he confirmed, "Only from mages."

"The books say it is for everyone," Kagami said.

Luka looked uncomfortable as he admitted, "They are wrong."

"So... if I said your king's name?" Marinette questioned. "That would, like, power him up as well?"

"Any demon's name from your tongue would make them stronger," Luka elaborated, running a hand through his hair. "It is... a slow process. It has to be uttered hundreds of times before there is a minute change."

She laughed. "Has Adrien noticed it yet?"

Luka looked alarmed.

"You used another name on your collar for that reason?" Kagami questioned, puzzled.

He swallowed. "I could not object."

"Is it safe?" Kagami demanded, pointing to Kagami. "For her?"

"You do not lose anything," Luka said, addressing Marinette directly. "It only benefits. It is one of the reasons the past kings decided to rebel and cut ties with my kind."

Kagami was the one to ask, "Why not tell others that? If you are telling the truth, that information is lost."

"I gain nothing from lying," he replied, actually looking at Kagami as he spoke. "I am not saying this to deceive you. I am well aware that you will tell everything to your king when you return."

"Question," Marinette said, raising her hand as though she was in class. "If that's only one of the reasons, why did it all happen? The whole... demons being evil thing, I mean. I haven't been told anything."

"Greed," was his simple reply.

Kagami clarified, "On both sides."

Puzzled, Luka asked her, "You admit your kind are at fault?"

Kagami didn't hesitate to respond, "Not everyone is good."

With a frown, he questioned, "And you are?"

"No," Kagami denied, reaching up and pushing her short hair out of her face. "I am aware that if I disobey, I will be struck down. There is no sympathy for traitors."

"You are allowed to make mistakes," Marinette pointed out. "Everyone makes mistakes, you know? There's a whole law system in place in my world to try and find out whether the circumstances of the crime means you get pardoned or not. It's pretty crooked and fucked up most of the time, but sometimes it can help."

Kagami bluntly replied, "Your kind doesn't have swords."

"Contraction!" Marinette yelled, pumping a fist in victory. "You said it! Doesn't!"

Luka sounded amused as he asked, "Does it make you that happy?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed gleefully. "I want you two to be comfortable enough to talk to me informally. It's like talking to two old men all of the time."

"We are older than you," Kagami replied.

She grumbled, "I can't age, that doesn't count."

"You are strange," Luka remarked, looking at her with a small smile. "You willingly came along with me."

"I told you, this is a spy mission," she replied. Then, she tried to emphasise that with a wink, only to wind up making him laugh from her awful attempt. "I did tell that dick Damocles that I'd accept any other offers for help. It's not like I was lying back then."

Kagami muttered, "Damocles is a fool."

"Yes!" Marinette cheered. "That's the spirit! Insult more people to me. I want to know all of the gossip."

"I do not gossip."

"You just did," she responded, feeling almost giddy. "You were informal and a gossip. This is my best day yet."

"Better than when you had cake?" Luka questioned.

"I've still got some here," she said, patting her pouch. "Are you sure it'll stay fresh?"

"Until you return it to its natural state, I believe so," he replied. "You will have to test to see whether we're right."

"Yes!" Marinette cheered again, going as far as to lift a fist in victory at his grammar. "That's more like it! A gold star for each of you."

"Gold star?" Kagami questioned.

"You've missed out of your childhood if you were never rewarded with one," she replied.

"Not an actual star, right?" Luka asked.

She sighed. "I wish."

-x-

The good news of travelling through another country was that they wouldn't have to go on another boat until they reached the border. Luka estimated that it would take more than a few weeks for them to make it that far, while Kagami kept insisting they stop for Marinette to recover her mana and energy naturally.

Marinette had entrusted some of her marbles to her for safekeeping.

The majority of Yves-Ie was under control of the king. It was Kagami that went into the towns for supplies. And instead of staying in inns, they slept outside with Kagami and Luka taking shifts to keep watch. Marinette had suggested that she was capable of doing the same, but they both shot her down.

She'd acquired two babysitters instead of one.

The plus side was that the two of them had loosened up for their speech after so long together.

Kagami and Luka had begrudgingly put up with each other for her sake, though they were starting to talk normally before tensing up and addressing her instead.

They sent Kagami into town for food and see whether any horses were available. While Kagami was fine with stealing clothes and food when merchants had their eyes turned, living animals were a different matter.

"Why won't you shift and let me pet you?" Marinette complained.

Luka laughed. "I am stronger in this form."

"You don't have to be strong all of the time," she whined. "You could be cute and adorable. I loved hearing you purr."

"Maybe when we get to our destination," he replied.

"I'm holding you to that," Marinette said, smiling. "How'd you think it's going? She's taking a while."

He shrugged. "It's Kagami."

"At least she's stopped trying to fight you," she mused. "And she only glares at you for, like half the day now. It's an improvement."

"She does not trust me," Luka murmured. "That will not change any time soon."

"Eh, smile at her," she lamely suggested. "That might help."

Luka's smile was entirely forced and showed his pointed canines.

She gave him a thumbs up. "Perfect."

He frowned. "I don't think so."

"Do you see that?" she asked, squinting and placing a hand over her eyebrows to attempt to give her some shade. "Is that—horses?"

"Yes," Luka confirmed. And it wasn't until what they were looking at was closer that he informed her, "Humans. At least a dozen of them."

"Oh," she said. It didn't hit at first what he meant until she stiffened and demanded, "You mean, the king's men? They're here?"

"That's the flag of Lyss-Ria," Luka responded, pointing in their direction.

Marinette tried to squint more. "Do I need glasses? I can't see for shit."

"My eyes are better than yours." It didn't sound like bragging coming from him. "At the rate they are going, Kagami will see them. They may recognise her for her sword."

"She's not handing me over unless they specifically know me," she pointed out. "And this is a different fucking country. They can just—what? March over here?"

"The king of Lyss-Ria holds power over almost all the countries," Luka replied. "Their leaders bend their knees to him. The capital is where old magic is preserved, so it is not wise to go against him."

"Well, that doesn't sound practical at all," she muttered.

"It is not," he agreed.

They waited for what felt like hours for Kagami to return. Marinette amused herself by singing songs she could vaguely remember from her home and replacing all the words with Luka's name, while Luka either clapped or tried to follow along.

The horses had long since entered the town.

When Kagami appeared, walking briskly and not looking over her shoulder as the king's men followed her, she'd barely came into sight before she was attacked.

Marinette had no time to react before Luka had grabbed her arm and started to drag her in the opposite direction.

She flailed, trying to break free from his grip to understand what was happening. And looking over her shoulder showed that Kagami wasn't running to them; rather, her sword was out as she attacked the men that had arrived with the flag. Marinette watched in horror as Kagami slashed one that tried to ride past on a horse, causing him to slump over and fall grotesquely on the floor.

It was the fact that Kagami was horribly outnumbered that had her terrified.

"Mari!" Luka called, urgently tugging her away.

There was one thing she knew. "We're not leaving her!"

"You—"

Marinette shoved him, taking him by surprise enough to break away and start to run towards Kagami. There was nothing fair about the fight she was witnessing; Kagami could block some blows with her sword, but others slashed her skin and wounded her enough to make her falter.

It was clear they weren't trying to kill Kagami. That would've been accomplished immediately if that was the case.

They noticed Marinette running at them. There were swords pointed her way and a shout that had the word mage in it—

Marinette threw a shield up over Kagami, prioritising her, repeating the action and watching as the slashes failed to connect as she ran.

She fell over before she made it.

Dirt went into her mouth as she scrambled to try and get up. And when she couldn't move, it was betrayal she felt when she realised that Luka was levitating her shoes and preventing her from moving.

Kagami collapsed, clutching her side that was bleeding heavily.

Before Marinette was hit, Luka made the man's chest explode. He grabbed a fallen sword from the floor and promptly threw it to slice through another's neck, impaling it through the skin and causing him to gurgle and slump over.

Luka didn't have to run towards them.

To get rid of multiple at once, he used a horse to crush them. Marinette watched in a mixture of horror and awe as another's legs were bent to unnatural angles in a moment without anything but magic touching them, before the next was strangled by their own cloak.

It looked effortless for him to kill them all.

Marinette had panicked and resorted to trying to shield Kagami from their blows, while Luka had been level-headed and dealt with them in seconds.

She hadn't realised what magic could really do until then.

Luka helped Kagami up, putting her arm over his shoulder as she struggled to stand up, holding Kagami's dropped sword with his non-dominant hand.

Marinette was on the floor as she watched the surroundings trees burst into flames that spread into the town from gusts of wind guiding them.

It was when he was in front of her that he let her move again.

"Luka—" Marinette choked out, lost for words.

Kagami was unconscious, wounds gushing blood and looking even worse from a close distance.

"You can heal her soon," he said. "We need to get to cover first."

She threw up before they made it there.