A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back! Big thanks to Aevari, Taee, and Kalafinn544 with the edits and such. Where have I been, you ask? Well... here. Just not working on this when I know I should have. I have a lot of things on my plate keeping me from writing this (mainly two things, one rhyming with "murk" and the other rhyming with "carriage") but now that i have a little time i finally posted this! Finally! Bad news though, The Witch of Elysion. I've realized trying to write both big projects and juggle RL things AND do mini side projects results in OID not being updated in... one... two... seven months. So i am putting Witch on hold. at least until i get more of THIS done because this story is my main focus. Anyways that's it with the update. Enjoy!
"I hate this 's all itchy," Gerard's son whined. The five-year-old scratched his back as he rolled about trying to find the most comfortable position.
"They don't have any other kind, Edwin," his pregnant mother said. The Coluso tribeswoman set their travel bag down and began unpacking a fresh change of clothes for her son.
"It's the same as our servants' beds," Edwin continued, trying to jump on the mattress and causing the wooden frame to creak.
Nerin raised her arms to calm the boy down but he continued to throw a fit. "You're going to break it, dear."
"I want my bed!"
"We can't sleep in our beds, yet. Maybe tomorrow."
"I want my bed!" Edwin screamed loud enough for his voice to echo against the hardened mud walls. Noticing the echo, the five-year-old quickly forgot his current predicament and screamed again, laughing at the volume of the reverberated sound waves.
"Edwin! Hush!" Gerard growled, rubbing his temples as he sat at the edge of another straw bed, only to get a mischievous giggle from his son followed by a series of loud creaking again as Edwin tried jumping on the straw mattress once more.
There was a hard knock on the door, causing the three to quickly fall silent.
"Mr. Lewry? It's Chung," the voice outside the door said in a fervent whisper that was almost drowned out by the laughter of patrons below.
The archmage sighed and moved to answer the door, pulling it open to find two Hamelians and his niece standing at the entrance.
"In all my years living among the wealthy, I'd never thought I'd see the day when a king would politely knock at my door," Gerard joked, "Come in. I know there isn't much room, but given what funds I had available without unfolding my estate, I can only afford one room."
"We can't stay here," the young king said.
"What? Why ever not? I understand if the accommodations may be a bit… unaccommodating, but it's only for the night and-" it was then that Gerard noted the wary look in the young man's eyes.
Chung entered the room, making his way to the second-story window that overlooked the tavern's back alleyway.
"And I assume you're going to explain why that is?" Gerard cocked a brow at Chung who, at this point, was sticking his head out of the window searching for something outside.
Under the shroud of night and shadow, he couldn't make out if the two were still there. But regardless of whether or not they were where he had left them, he knew this place wasn't safe with demons skulking about.
Chung eyed Nerin and the young boy watching the scene unfold with waning curiosity.
Gerard quickly picked up on this and offered to take this conversation out in the hall. Before leaving, he turned to his wife, "Nerin? Make sure Edwin and Anduran are tucked in. I'll be just a moment."
"Zudrich, watch the window," Chung ordered, following the archmage out.
"Yes, my k-" the guardian paused, and corrected himself, "Chung."
Chung shut the door and followed Gerard down the short hallway until they were at the top of the stairs overlooking the busy tavern below. The majority of the tavern's patrons were male; El miners that worked in the nearby temple ruins digging up wind shards left behind by the El Stone of Wind. At a glance, it was clear to see that the work these men were put under wasn't easy. They were brawny and dressed in ruined uniforms discolored by sun and sweat. The smell of booze and body odor was nearly enough to make Chung retch.
"Not the most pleasant place to hold a conversation," Gerard commented, "But I don't want to stray too far from my family. So, what's the issue?"
"We can't stay here," Chung said, his voice firm in his decision to leave.
"As you've already established. I'm curious as to why that is."
"We found two suspicious individuals in the alleyway behind the tavern. Anduran confirmed that they were, in fact, demons."
"I'm aware. Is that all?" Gerard stated, his lack of concern obvious in the way he simply shrugged his shoulders.
Chung wasn't sure whether to be more appalled by the fact that Gerard knew monsters were nearby or by his blatant lack of apprehension on the matter.
"Mr. Lewry… there are monsters just outside the tavern. Doesn't that worry you in the slightest?"
"King Seiker," Gerard turned to the young man fully, leaning on the railing as he scratched the back of his head, "I understand your nation's history with the denizens of the underworld, and I am aware that their presence can be a bit concerning for you. But, if you had the power to sense demons like me, you'd understand that the presence of just two otherworldly beings is far from any real threat."
"Are you saying we should ignore them?"
"Yes. They're not hurting anyone."
"But they can!"
"They're dying, King Seiker. They're about as much of an issue as a petty thief with broken legs. Given their current state, they wouldn't last the night. Furthermore, demon spies are common - a lot more common than you think. I'm fairly certain you've run into your fair share of doppelgangers or sleeper cells without even realizing it."
Doppelgangers? Did those things even exist? Chung took a moment to reflect on his journeys thus far and couldn't think of one event where he-
Pet.
He remembered the encounter. He was in Velder, traveling to Hamel. A demon disguised as Pet had isolated him in an alleyway and would've killed him had Roger and Mud not shown up to save him.
"And you let these things roam around free without reporting them to anyone?"
Gerard sighed and shook his head. "I get where you're coming from, your highness, I really do. When I was your age, I thought it my responsibility to cleanse Sander with my power to sense magical creatures. I was even part of the inquisition for the city's mage university."
"What's an inquisition?" the young king asked. He had heard the word mentioned a few times from Aisha during their talks of her home but he never bothered to ask any further.
"A security branch of sorts. Apart from keeping would-be mages from practicing forbidden arts, the inquisition was the type that took it upon themselves to remove any form of demonic presence that plagued Sander. I was part of it. Was, at least."
"Why'd you stop?"
Gerard looked at Hamel's king and saw he was listening intently. "If I were to tell you which of these people in this tavern were tainted by demonic corruption, what would you do?"
"I'd get rid of them," Chung answered simply.
"I see," Gerard looked over the patrons, quietly counting over them before turning back to Chung, "All of them."
"A-all of them?" Chung glanced at the bar and saw there were at least twenty enjoying their well-earned break from working at the mines all day. "A...are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Every single one. Go on. Get rid of them."
"Gerard, you have to be joking."
It was then that a smile crossed the old man's lips, "I am. And I have to say, for a king, you are terrible at keeping your word."
Taking that as more of a compliment than a critique, Chung sighed in relief and Gerard seemed more than happy to see that bit of hesitation in the young man's actions. "I wish others were as like-minded as you, your highness… but if I were to speak honestly…"
Gerard scanned the patrons once more and his face grew sullen. "Most of them, to varying degrees, have been touched by corruption."
"Is… that bad?" Chung asked.
"No. It would be as noteworthy as pointing out dirt on one's boots. You, on the other hand…" Gerard turned his gaze towards Chung but he wasn't looking at the young man, rather, he was looking through him, "It's as if you've rolled around in metaphorical mud for weeks, forgone washing, and proceeded to cultivate the lifeforms birthed from your lack of personal hygiene."
The king strangely felt as if the archmage was speaking less metaphorically and more on the fact that Chung actually didn't have access to purified water as readily even compared to the people living in the desert.
He looked over himself, as if expecting to find himself covered in filth. The Archmage chuckled, "It's one thing to be covered in filth, it's another to embody it. The corruption hanging over you is most likely due to a combination of your past run-ins with evil as well as personal hang ups. Coming from my field of work, I know when there's a threat and there isn't one. In our current case: you're not a threat nor are the two you saw in the alleyway."
"I still won't rest easy knowing they're there," Chung stated.
"And I don't expect you to turn a new leaf over the course of a few minutes. I just wanted you to understand my way of thinking."
"I see…"
"Growing up, I've learned that there are far worse individuals than the monsters hiding in the shadows. Demons aren't the only ones that prey on people's emotions… and when you have something as powerful as fear driving the masses, they need only a source to direct it. I was that source at one point… and I've carried out my task as the city's crier with utmost efficiency. As ruthless of an inquisitor I was, I never used the power for my own personal gain… unlike many others I've worked with."
"Is… that why you left Sander?"
"No," Gerard said, "I left for different reasons. However, I eventually quit the inquisition and continued my study of magical arts for many years after that. By then, I've seen how something as powerful as the ability to sense demons can be perverted into something far more sinister. And those who took my place… took advantage of it."
"Who were they?"
"They were politically-driven individuals. Ones who sought to gain from the Sander's wealth rather than serving the city. To them, it didn't matter so much if you were corrupted by demons or as innocent as the day you were born. All that mattered was whether or not you stood in their way. And those that did would disappear… and you'll be meeting with one of them."
Chung blinked, "I will?"
"You're going to Sander, are you not? To see 'His Greatness' in all his splendor? I remember when that overweight sack of sand seal dung first became head of the inquisition."
"'His Greatness', huh? Sounds benevolent…"
Gerard chuckled, "As long as you know how to use his greed against him, you should be able to convince him to assist you."
"I'll keep that in mind," the young man nodded.
"Excellent," Gerard said, stretching and yawning after a moment, "Anyways. If you excuse me, your highness, going back to the matter at hand: the demons lurking in the alleyway… I'm tired. My family is tired. We have no means of traveling until our sandcrawler recharges its El reserves. Sometimes it's just best to let sleeping dogs lie. Or in this case: dying dogs. Even now, I can sense their unnatural life force waning. And even if they weren't on their last legs, I doubt they would be able to do much with you and your companion around."
"Fine."
"My family and I will leave at daybreak if that better suits you. The transport ships to Sander should be open by that time as well," Gerard offered, briefly reminding Chung that this village was to be their final resting point before Gerard and his family parted ways with Chung and Zudrich.
"You're sure that your family will be fine without us?" Chung asked, recalling the attack on Garpai village earlier that day, "Ara's intentions were clear when she saw Anduran. What if she finds you again?"
There was a long, uncomfortable pause in Gerard's response. "That's a problem we'll have to figure out on our own, I suppose." His answer wasn't good enough and Gerard could see it in Chung's eyes, which the mage tried to wipe away with a reassuring grin. "We can take care of ourselves. You've seen what my wife is capable of. We'll be fine. Besides, you have business in Sander and we don't. I wouldn't want to keep Hamel's king from performing his duties."
That's right. His people were waiting for help from their neighbors and here he was getting caught up in adventurer's work. In the span of twenty-four hours, so much had happened that Chung had almost forgotten why he was here in the first place. He was here to ask for assistance, not the other way around.
But who could blame him? He stood trial and was nearly executed by Garpai Village's justice system, fended off invading Harpies, was nearly killed by Ara, fled the village in the middle of a sand storm, and discovered there were demons lurking around the tavern they were staying in for the night. And all of this happened in a single day. By nightfall, he was so physically and mentally drained that his obligations had fallen to the sidelines. He was practically dead set on escorting Gerard and his family to safety.
"We'll be fine," Gerard reassured Chung once more. Gerard yawned, turning to head back to the room they rented. "For now, let's retire for the night. I feel a good night's rest is in order for all of us."
"For you, at least," Chung said, "I still don't like the fact that there are monsters just beyond our window. I'll be doing a nightwatch with Zudrich. You rest easy, Gerard. We'll keep a lookout."
"Zudrich?" Chung whispered, his voice somewhat drowned by Gerard's snoring. He shook his companion who stirred from sleep.
"Zudrich, it's your shift," the king said, standing up to let the guardian rise to a sitting position. He had been sleeping on the floor. With the small room's two beds occupied by Gerard's family, the Hamelians were given the lovely opportunity to sleep on the cold stone floor. It's not like it was any more of an inconvenience, however. During Chung's nightwatch, he noticed how Gerard's family tossed and turned on the itchy straw beds. If anyone slept peacefully that night, it was Zudrich.
"Anything to report…?" Zudrich grumbled, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Chung shook his head, "Nope, thankfully. The demons are still sitting there in the alleyway if you look hard enough. Doesn't appear either of them have moved much. The tall one stops the late-night passersby every now and then but other than that, they've done nothing… Maybe Gerard was right, afterall. Maybe they really aren't a threat."
"Probably not," Zudrich shrugged, looking as if he was convinced enough to drop the night shift altogether and sleep the rest of the night away.
"Get up," Chung chuckled, "I did my time. You do yours."
"Yep… yep," Zudrich said before quickly jumping to his feet and stretching. The towering guardian began changing into his gear while Chung dressed down for the night. Though the king didn't admit it openly, he was glad that it was finally Zudrich's shift. For the four hours he had been awake, he had been struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Edwin's been talking in his sleep," Chung said, packing his bag of clothing into something resembling a pillow to rest on.
"The little brat?"
"Little brat, huh?" Chung mused
"What?" Zudrich looked to Nerin and Gerard to see if they were awake. Satisfied, he brought his voice to a lower whisper. "I think the kid's a little on the spoiled side. I can't find it in myself to feel much for someone that makes fun of others because they're not as well off as he is."
"Yeah, I get where you're coming from but... you have to understand, he's just a kid."
"A kid with a luxury estate that his dad's keeping in his pocket. He doesn't know how good he has it, honestly."
"You won't have to deal with him much longer. We're going to Sander at first light."
"Which reminds me," Zudrich said, "You sure it's okay to do this?"
"Do what?"
"Leaving them to fend for themselves."
"Gerard said he and his wife could handle it and we have more important things to do-"
"Not them," Zudrich shook his head and motioned with his head out the window, "Them."
Chung cocked a brow at his guardian.
"Who?"
"Lu and Ciel."
"Who?" Chung knew who he was talking about but the fact that he was asking about those two, even going as far as remembering their names, was concerning.
"My king… we can't leave them like this."
Chung stared at his companion, shock and disbelief was all that was visible on his face.
"They're demons, Zudrich."
"Yes, my king," the guardian replied, dropping his head in immediate regret.
"Do not forget what those things have done to our people."
"Yes, my king."
"...Our home." Chung wasn't angry. He understood Zudrich's pull towards those in need. It was, after all, one of the many fundamental rules of becoming a Hamel Paladin: to help those in need. But after what happened to Chung. After learning of Velder's betrayal-after watching demons wreak havoc on Elrios time and again-after watching it turn his closest friends against one another, he had to draw the line here.
"I haven't, my king," Zudrich bowed his head in apology. There was a moment's pause, however, before he raised his head to speak, again. "I've just had a lot going through my mind after yesterday."
Chung saw the hesitation in his companion and the king's expression softened, "Speak freely, Zuzu. I'll listen."
"I…" the guardian sat on the floor, staring at his hands for a long while, "I'm not sure I did the right thing back in Garpai… All those people were under some sort of spell that drove them to a frenzy. In the heat of the moment I could only think of protecting my king but, since the battle ended, I couldn't help but feel as if it was wrong to take their lives. It stands against everything that a Paladin stands for. To think I'd be breaking their code so soon after my promotion to guardian."
"Zudrich…"
"And when I saw Ciel and Lu suffering in the alleyway, I just couldn't bring myself to abandon them after what I did. I thought it was the El Lady giving me a chance to redeem myself after the horrors I've committed."
Chung reached out and placed a comforting hand on Zudrich's shoulder. He understood where he was coming from. The Paladin's code was a set of rules that the young king had tried to follow growing up as well. Even under the darkest of times, Chung had tried to stand under its ideals under the impression that good and evil were as clear as night and day. But time had shown him otherwise. Time had revealed that the Paladin's code was written by a hopeful, naive, fool. After discovering Velder's ulterior motives and watching as his closest friends continue to side with the kingdom, Chung understood that not everything could be divided between good and evil. Not even the people he once called family.
"You did the right thing, Zudrich," Chung reassured him, "Back in Garpai and in the alleyway, you did what you felt was right. Those innocent people may have been under some sort of spell when they attacked but had you not stepped in, they would have surely killed me as well as Gerard and his family. Our goal was to get out of that village and we did so all while saving who we could. With that behind us, we have a chance to refocus on our current job. You remember what we've traveled all the way here for Sander for, right?"
Zudrich's mouth fell agape for just a moment before he dropped his head after being reminded. Chung smiled, he couldn't blame him. After all that happened yesterday, even the king had forgotten what he was sent here to do.
"It's to find help in restoring our kingdom after what those demons did to us. That is our priority now and it's certainly not to help those that caused our suffering in the first place. Whatever happens to those two out on the street is none of our concern. Are we clear?"
"Crystal."
Chung patted Zudrich once more as he finished getting ready for bed, "Chin up, Zuzu. After tomorrow, we'll settle our business with the people in Sander and be on our way home. I'll see you in the morning."
"Rest well, my king."
"Chung's fine, Zudrich."
"...As you wish, Chung."
Chung felt that Zudrich had more to say as the king turned in for the night. But at this point exhaustion had already won the battle. Still, the feeling of being watched lingered.
Nothing but the earthly colors of nature surrounded him. He wasn't in the desert anymore. Rather, he was in a dense thicket of trees. The sound of rustling leaves could be heard from high above as he wandered a foreign, but oddly nostalgic trail. It felt like he had been here before but there was nothing recognizable about his surroundings… except the smell of sweet potatoes.
He followed the scent along the beaten trail until muffled voices were just barely audible through the brush. He recognized them, the gruff and direct voice of a mercenary and the coddling reassurance of an elf. He heard the shrill scolding of a mage and the clash of steel rang through the trees.
Moving aside the wall of leaves, Chung stepped into a large clearing where his friends had set up camp for the day. Rena was sitting on her sleeping bag mending the soles of one of her worn-out boots while Aisha and Eve oversaw the late lunch.
Or at least Aisha was. Having never cooked before, Eve was learning on the go and it was apparent by the way Aisha scolded her that her knife skills were a bit lacking, if not dangerous to be around when wielding one.
"No, not like that Chung. You're being too passive," Raven said, setting himself between Elsword and Chung to break the two up. The merc's Nasod arm was wrapped tightly in layers of white cloth to keep it still. It was a way for the man to keep the machine in check should it ever lash out unexpectedly.
"But… this is how I was taught to fight," the Hamelian argued, setting his cannon down on with a heavy thump.
"It's too defensive," Elsword agreed, "I'm pretty much controlling the pace once the match starts. You have to go on the offensive at some point."
"Whoever taught you how to fight needs a lesson of their own," Raven agreed. To that, the young boy simply dropped his head.
"When it comes down to a life or death scenario, the first person to land a decisive blow is often the winner. If all you do is defend and react to what your opponent does, you will never be in a position to attack."
The young king remembered everything that was happening. This was his first day in Ruben forest. By their leader's orders, the El Search Party had taken him under their wing to help him one day reclaim his homeland.
His younger self began to cry and Rena, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, rushed to his side, putting herself between Raven and Elsword and scolding them for making little Chung cry.
He remembered how optimistic he was back then. He remembered thinking that as long as he was with these powerful allies, they'd liberate Hamel.
Looking back at Elsword and Raven, Chung saw that they had changed. Raven's Nasod arm was no longer wrapped but lay largely docile and under his control. A long flowing coat hung at his shoulders as he stood next to Elsword who had grown significantly taller compared to his younger years.
No longer the squire Chung had known him to be, the Lord Knight of Velder stood with Raven, staring in opposition to Chung's reflection who remained a child behind the safety of the Rena's Nightwatcher's cloak.
Turning to the kitchen area, Chung saw that Aisha had all but vanished, leaving Eve to care for the meal for the rest of the group. She silently chopped away at the carrots just the way Aisha had taught her. Curious, Chung approached Eve. He tilted his head to get a better look as she tossed the chopped vegetables into the stew. Even though there was little emotion visible in the Nasod's eyes, Chung saw something else within those golden pools…
But he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Chung!" Zudrich spoke in a frantic whisper as he shook the young man awake, "Chung! Wake up!"
"Wha- What? What is it?" Chung bolted to a sitting position but was still in the middle of asking Eve a question.
"She's here."
"Wha… who's here?" Chung asked groggily. Looking about, he saw that Anduran was wide awake. Gerard had just rolled out of bed and was in the process of waking the rest of his family.
"Ara," Zudrich said, causing Chung to immediately snap out of his drowsy state.
Glancing out of the window, Chung saw the telltale signs of daylight overcoming the night's sky.
"How'd you know?"
"I saw her. Long black hair and carried a spear, right? She was hopping from rooftop to rooftop a few buildings away. She's definitely looking for us."
"How did she find us?"
"We're not sure," Zudrich reported, "But she's definitely here. From the way she moved from rooftop to rooftop, I doubt she knows where we are exactly. But she is searching for us."
"Chung," Gerard called in a whisper, "You know her more than any of us. What's our move?"
The mining village, although built within the large ruins of the former wind temple, wasn't large enough to effectively hide in for long. It would only be a matter of time before she found them if she searched thoroughly enough.
"The sooner we leave the better," Chung said, "How far can your vehicle take you from here?"
"The dunerunner should be mostly charged and ready for a day's worth of travel by now," Gerard said, rubbing his chin, "The first airship for Sander should be departing in an hour so my family and I will make ourselves scarce while you two remain hidden in this room."
By this time, Nerin had coaxed a sleepy Edwin out of bed while Anduran had finished packing up all their belongings. Looking at the family, Chung agreed they were more than capable enough at fending for themselves. Despite Edwin's frequent tantrums, he read the situation well and didn't throw a fit when asked to quickly get changed and stay close to his mother. Anduran clung close to her aunt as well as Nerin looked to the three men for their next move. Nerin was a phenomenal fighter. From the brief moment between her and Ara, he knew Ara saw her as a threat, as well. However, the belly of a mother in her third trimester was more than enough reason for Chung to personally see them out.
"I can't do that, Gerard," Chung shook his head, "It's clear she's after Anduran. I'm not letting you go outside without an escort. We move together. Keep your heads low and make your way out of town quickly and quietly."
The archmage sighed, "That's all well and good but I feel moving unnoticed would be the wiser choice and you don't necessarily blend well into a dark alleyway with your large weapons and white armor."
"And you don't know Ara when she's fighting at her peak. Nerin may have caught Ara by surprise the first time but I highly doubt she'd let your wife get the better of her a second time around."
There was a distinct pause as the archmage considered his options. He went from looking out of the window, to the Hamelians, and to his family. Nerin tugged at his sleeve as the woman gave him a questioning look. A full-fledged dialogue was visible between the married couple locked in that moment of staring into each other's eyes. After a brief moment of hesitation on Gerard's part, it looked as if Nerin had won.
"Give me a moment…" the archmage said. He straightened his stance, putting his feet together and exhaling slowly as he set his hands in front of himself and began weaving a spell into the air.
Chung glanced out the window, eyes alert for any movement as he saw the sun beginning to rise in the horizon. Daylight was coming. They'd be easier to spot the longer they waited.
"Gerard, we don't have a moment. The sooner we leave-"
"Shush," Nerin whispered, moving to the king's side. "He's searching."
"Searching? For Ara?"
The Caluso shook her head, "No. He is searching for the correct string."
"I saw him do this before," Zudrich nodded, "It's what brought us to you during your run in with Ara, Chung."
"I don't understand. What do you mean by 'string'?" Chung asked, confused.
Regardless, no one said a word as a spell circle appeared at Gerard's feet. Its glowing yellow and white runes came to life, spinning faster and faster as a gentle current of El whipped around the archmage. His lips mouthed the incantation silently and, to Chung, it seemed as if Gerard was no longer there. The archmage's body was physically standing before them but the way his body stood rigidly and unmoving, save for the lips, made him look more like a puppet dangling at the strings than anything else.
At that moment, Gerard's body snapped out of its trance, jolting as if he had been thrown back into the physical plane. His eyes were wide as he took each breath with labored exhaustion. Beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead as he took in his surroundings as if he were trying to regain his bearings.
"That's… incredibly risky. But..." Gerard said, opening his eyes with a weakened, nervous grin, "I'll explain the gist of it later but we must make for the dunerunner this instant."
The group made their way out of the tavern's room and into the walkway overlooking the sleepy tavern. The muffled clink of dishes being cleaned and prepared through the tiny kitchen window was the only sign of life in the building.
They made their way out onto the street and rounded the corner into the alleyway where their dunerunner was stowed. Still in the twilight hours of the morning, the alleyway remained largely shrouded in darkness. Zudrich led the way, one hand gripping the handle of his cannon, while Chung brought up the rear, scanning for even the slightest movement in the rooftops above.
The silence of their surroundings was unnerving. The muffled crunch of loose rocks against concrete and sand that came with every step the group took made Chung all the more paranoid of an approaching threat.
As they reached the T-intersection, the Hamelians moved to the front, securing both approaches and allowing the family to take cover into the stable before backing into it themselves. Chung's eyes instinctively fell on where he had last spotted the two demons.
Gerard said they wouldn't last the night and Chung had half expected to see two corpses lying on the ground. What he saw, or rather, what he didn't see, was far more unsettling.
They were gone.
Whether they had died elsewhere or simply vanished in thin air Chung wasn't sure. Though now that he thought about it: demons, when struck at their weak point, would disintegrate into a cloud of smoke. He wasn't sure if the same applied to one whose El had run out.
"It looks like everything is still here and accounted for," Gerard said, calling Chung to attention as he and Zudrich began setting up the wagon for his family, "With the fuel we have we can travel for most of the day."
"Where're you planning to go from here?" Chung asked.
"We can rough it out in the desert for another couple of nights. We'll just need to quickly stop by a village to restock our supplies and we should be fine.
"A couple of nights? Where are you going exactly?"
Both Gerard and Nerin looked at each other, hesitation evident in both of their eyes.
The archmage shrugged, reassuring Nerin silently about something before motioning her and the two children to get into the back of the wagon while he took the driver's seat. "My wife and I have a backup plan in the unlikely chance that things unfolded the way they have been."
"You mean the attack on Garpai? You anticipated something like that happening? Why?"
"I mean being forced out of our home and certainly not at the scale you saw. Nerin and I had expected that, due to our… rather peculiar situation, we would eventually have to move. And as much as it pains me to rely on them for shelter… That Ara woman has left us with no choice."
"We're going to my home," Nerin said, sticking her head out of the back of the wagon, "The Caluso Tribe's capital."
"And you'll be safe there?"
"You've seen what I'm capable of, yes?" Nerin asked, cocking a brow at Chung, "There is a reason why the Sander Empire was unable to remove us despite their superior numbers and technology-"
Movement at the stable's entrance caught Chung's attention and the two Hamelians quickly moved into the defensive, pointing their cannons at the stranger as he stepped into view. He was tall with much of his face shrouded by the ragged cloak that fell down to his knees. From what little he could see, Chung noted the long, lanky legs and the thin frame of his torso. Although it was hard to tell given how dark it was during their first encounter, this man was likely the very same one he had spoken to last night. It was one of the demons.
"Gerard," Chung called as he held his weapon steady, "I thought you said he didn't have enough El to last the night." Whatever was going on, this monster was the cause of it, he just knew it.
"He shouldn't have," Gerard replied, though the lack of surprise was clear in his voice. By then, Nerin could be heard ushering the kids onto the wagon.
Whether or not he should have didn't matter now. He was there and he was standing in their way. "What do you want, demon?" Chung growled.
"Ciel," the demon said, reminding the king of his name, "I've come to warn you: do not take the eastern exit out of the village."
"Oh?" Chung was already ready to dismiss such an odd warning, "That's the closest gate. Why would we risk cutting through most of the village just to go around the east end?"
The one named Ciel turned, looking over his shoulder towards the sound of combat, "Because she is waiting for you."
She? He must be referring to Ara.
Not taking his eyes off the demon at the doorway, Chung spoke to Gerard. "What do you think? I don't like where this is going. Do we trust this guy?"
There was a pause in Gerard's response. "That's up to you to decide." Although Chung had noted it the last time Gerard spoke, it was unavoidably clear this time: there was something strange in the way he said it. It was as if he were reading his lines to a play; as if he already knew what Chung was going to decide.
Ciel turned his gaze upward as something out of view caught his eye. In a flash, the demon drew out two weapons from under his cloak.
They were gunblades: essentially long-barreled revolvers forged into swords. Chung had only heard stories of these versatile, but difficult to use, weapons. To see the dark tempered steel and the glint of a sharpened edge was enough to immediately force Chung to take the initiative. Chung's finger tightened around the trigger of his cannon and he would have fired had Zudrich not suddenly extended an arm to stop him.
"You pull the trigger, you announce our position to Ara."
"But he's-" Chung protested but fell silent when he saw the demon had completely lost interest in the group and was already moving to pursue whatever had caught his attention.
"It appears you have an unwanted guest hunting you. They'll soon be upon you. Leave while I distract them," Ciel said.
An unwanted guest? Ara was outside?
The demon moved to give chase, but Chung called out to him before he disappeared. "Why are you helping us?"
Ciel paused just as he was about to leave and turned to the king, his piercing blue eyes showed he wasn't looking at Chung but past him… towards the family behind him. "I'm simply returning the favor."
"Favor?" Chung thought as the demon leapt out of view, the glint of drawn blades peeking out from under the cloak catching his eye just as the stranger left the stable. Was this some kind of trap? The king ran out after him but found the alleyway empty once more, the shadow.
"So… which way are we going?" Zudrich asked, moving for the wagon itself as Gerard drove the dunerunner to the entrance. "East exit or west exit?"
"He said not to go out the east but that means we'll be traveling through most of the village making for the west exit. That's awfully convenient for a demon to direct us that way. With all the ruins this village was built in, that's perfect for him to set up some kind of ambush."
"If he wanted to attack us he would have done so already," Zudrich reasoned, hopping onto the back of the wagon and offering Chung a hand.
"But we outnumbered him. In a small space with our weapons he'd have little chance in reaching Anduran. He's clearly setting up an ambush."
"He isn't," his companion reassured him.
"Are you saying we should trust him?"
"Would you rather go east and run into Ara?"
"He's after Ara right now. You heard him say it himself. If Ara is here, we can still make a break for the east exit." Chung took Zudrich's arm and he was pulled onto the wagon. Moving to the front of the wagon, Chung saw Gerard's face was as white as a ghost. The archmage spoke, his voice trembling with unusual apprehension.
"So are we going to the east gate or the west gate?"
"Are… you okay, Gerard? The threat's gone so-"
Gerard shook his head, "It's not gone. I've seen the perils of this string but this is the best outcome for all of us."
"What do you mean by string?" Chung asked.
"I'll explain later," Gerard said, gulping heavily, "Our window of opportunity is closing. I'll need your decision now. East gate or west gate?"
Chung looked at the others behind him. It was either do as the demon had suggested or take the shortest route he warned against.
"We're still going out the east exit! To hells with what the demon says!"
The archmage nodded and shut his eyes, whispering a small prayer before revving his engine. The dunerunner took off, accelerating down the alleyway at a speed that threatened to throw his passengers off the wagon.
"Once you've cleared the exit, Zudrich and I will leave you to your trip. If that demon is engaged with Ara right now, we'll have to make sure to eliminate both of them," Chung said over the rumble of the engine, "If we're to go to Sander, we need to remove the threat quickly and reduce the collateral damage to the village the fight is sure to cause. Hopefully, within the hour, Gerard and his family are a safe distance out of town and the the village is secure enough that the villagers would be kind enough to send us to Sander for free."
"Free? In Sander? That's wishful thinking," Gerard said.
"A king's gotta save money somehow," Chung said.
"Uh… both of them?" Zudrich asked.
Chung shrugged, "Or whoever is still alive by the time we arrive to clean up their mess. I just hope that the demon can hold his own against Ara."
Far unlike Garpai village, whose roads were built in small condensed blocks, The road leading towards the Wind Temple village's east exit traveled along a massive dune that circled the southern half of the partially submerged temple ruins. Two-story homes of villagers lined this particular road with the half-buried temple acting as a natural shade for the citizens. The roar of the dunerunner broke the silence as the vehicle sped down the empty street with little to no obstacles in the way.
"There's the exit!" Gerard pointed at a distant gatehouse flanked on either side by security barracks. At this time, even the guards have yet to be fully roused for the day's shift as only one soldier seemed to be standing watch at the very end.
"Please don't be a checkpoint," Chung whispered under his breath as the speeding dunerunner drew closer.
Seeing the approaching travelers, the guard quickly waved them down to stop, even going as far as standing directly in their path to stop them.
"Ugh… great," Chung sighed. He quickly scanned the rows of houses for any sign of movement as Gerard hit the brakes, bringing the speeding vehicle to a crawl until it came to a halt before the guard. "It looks clear. Zudrich and I will keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Just do as the guy says and you'll be out of here." The king nodded at his guardian and they both disembarked with Zudrich watching the rear of their ride.
"Going somewhere in a hurry?" the soldier yawned, inspecting the driver and his passengers.
Gerard took a deep breath, giving himself a second to recompose himself. He straightened his posture, putting on the face of a proper nobleman and addressed the guard with an air of authority. "Important business in a neighboring city. Step aside. I must be on my way," Gerard replied. The nervousness in his disposition was almost gone. Almost. Beneath his calm demeanor, could just barely make out the trembling in the man's voice. What was he so nervous about? It was just a minor road bump.
"Can't do that, sir," the soldier smiled, shaking his head, "Mind if I inspect your cargo? Standard protocol for a mining village. Can't let people run off with our goods."
"Damn… of course he'd ask for an inspection," Chung grumbled. He just wanted to get this check up over with. The sooner they leave, the better.
Gerard, however, seemed to think otherwise. "With all due respect, kind sir, I'm in a hurry."
"Aren't we all?" the soldier replied before motioning for him to comply, "I'll only be a moment. So if you please-"
"I'd rather not."
The soldier's eyes narrowed at the archmage and Chung noted the way the soldier's hand tightened around his spear. What was going on? Why was Gerard making a scene? Yes, they were in a hurry, but at this rate, they were only delaying their escape from the village.
"It's protocol, sir," the guard said, "Or would you rather we do this the hard way."
Chung looked from soldier to mage locked in an intense staredown. They were taking too long. The longer they waited the more likely they'd risk being found. "Gerard? What are you doing? He said it's just going to be quick. Just let him have a look and we'll be done with."
"There's a presence here, Chung," Gerard whispered back, "A powerful one."
Chung's eyes widened as he searched his surroundings once more. Nothing. No one but the guard.
"Is it Ara? Where is she?"
"No. Someone far more powerful."
"Who? Where?"
"I can't say. It would divert the string we've been following," the archmage turned to Chung, a nervous smile appearing on the man's face, "This is the most I can do. Don't mess this up."
"What?"
A lever was pulled, causing a clamour of metal gears to unwind. The east gate shut behind the soldier with a heavy clang and the man returned his attention to the travelers.
"Shut the engine off, sir. I won't say it twice," the lone soldier said.
Gerard straightened his posture, as he spoke in a threatening growl, "Make me."
An unexpected sneer appeared on the guard's face as he gladly complied to the archmage's order. He didn't call for help, nor did he attempt to shut the gate to prevent him from leaving. Instead, the soldier leapt at the mage. Despite lacking the obvious build and strength to do so, the soldier sailed clear over Chung's head with surprising agility. The spear was thrust forward, aimed square against the mage's chest.
Ever quick to react, the king grabbed the soldier by his leg, pulling him back down to the ground and cutting the strike short just millimeters away from hitting home. Chung pushed the soldier back with his free hand and by the time the man had regained his balance, he already found himself standing before a wall of Hamelian muscle and steel.
Zudrich was at his king's side, cannon held at a defensive guard stance as Chung stood, unarmed and open-palmed in an attempt to defuse the situation.
"That's… a little rash, don't you think?" Chung asked looking at the soldier then at Gerard who, at this point, had nearly fallen out of the driver seat, "I mean, outright attacking him for denying an inspection? We can resolve this without resorting to violence. Right, Gerard?"
"Give me… the girl," the soldier growled, raising his lance.
Chung blinked, "H-huh?" He took a step back from the soldier as the man appeared ready to pounce once more.
It took only a moment for Chung to process what he was asking. And by then, the man was already coming at him in a headlong charge.
Before Chung could even think to defend himself, Zudrich had already taken the initiative. With cannon raised as a shield, the guardian expertly blocked the lance and directed the pointed weapon away from his king. He shoved the guard back, causing the man to stumble and which Zudrich capitalized on, shouldering the man hard enough to cause him to completely lose his balance and fall flat on his back. Giving him no chance to recover, Zudrich stood on his arm and pressed the barrel of his cannon on the guard's chest, effectively pinning the man where he lay.
"Are you alright, Chung?" Zudrich said, looking over his shoulder at his king as the soldier struggled to break free under the weight of his weapon.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good," Chung replied, lowering his guard, "Good thinking, subduing him like that."
"Well I wasn't going to kill him, if that's what you were expecting," Zudrich said with a shrug, "We have a nation to request help from. Killing their security force isn't exactly the best way to get on their good side, I think."
"But didn't you hear what he said before he attacked?"
"Not entirely," Zudrich said.
"He wanted us to 'give him the girl'."
"You mean… Anduran?"
Both of them looked back at the wagon and saw the priestess peeking over the back of the dunerunner at the two.
"I don't like this, Chung," Zudrich whispered.
"I don't either. We have to get Gerard and his family out of here and fast," The young king said and made for the gate controls.
The soldier continued to struggle underneath the weight of Zudrich's weapon. The guardian was beginning to have a hard time keeping the man properly pinned despite all of the weight. No normal human would have been able to lift the cannon, but Zudrich grew increasingly aware of how strong this one was.
"Chung. You might want to hurry. This guy's going to break free," Zudrich grunted, kneeling down to hold the man down. The soldier was practically screaming at the top of his lungs. At this point, even with Zudrich's superhuman strength, he was struggling to keep him down. "What the hells is wrong with you?!"
"Hang on!" Chung said, winding the crank that slowly opened the gate, "Gerard! Something's not right with the guy! Be ready to leave! I'm going to get the gate open for you as quickly as possible!"
Chung picked up the pace, turning the crank as fast as his arms would allow him. But with each rotation he could hear Zudrich beginning to lose the fight and only when the gate was beginning to rise did he hear his companion let out a pained yelp.
Chung spun around just in time to see a dagger being driven into his guardian's shoulder. Zudrich pulled away, yanking the blade out with his good arm right when the soldier picked up his lance and attacked. With his cannon out of reach, Zudrich was defenseless.
The young king dropped the crank, causing the entire thing to roll closed once more, and moved to save Zudrich.
He wasn't close enough.
At his distance, it was impossible for him to reach Zudrich in time. With Gerard and his family standing at the opposite end of the scene, firing a cannonball would certainly lead to them getting hit.
He couldn't save him.
Suddenly something darted into view. It traveled faster than Chung had a chance to see as the object flew directly into the soldier's path. It had struck the soldier along his face with enough force to alter his flight path and send him crashing onto the hard gravel road.
The object rolled to a stop as Chung slowly came to realize the object was actually a person. A child, even. Cloaked in a ragged blue cloak, the child remained kneeling on the ground, a wicked blue and black gauntlet that appeared too large and heavy for a child to carry, peeked out from under the cloak.
"I thought I told that useless servant of mine to send you towards the west gate," the child said, her breath labored as she steadied herself on her feet. She hefted the gauntlet at her side and pulled off her hood with her other ungloved hand, revealing thick white locks of hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the rising sun. What stood out most, however, were the small, blue and black horns protruding underneath her messy mat of hair.
"Well... whatever," the demoness said, wearily wiping a bead of sweat trickling down along her jawline. She began motioning at the guard who cupped at the bleeding claw mark at the side of his face. "It made finding you easier!"
"Find us?" Chung asked, bewildered. He recognized her stature as the same from the alleyway from the previous night. It was Lu. Without a second thought he turned the weapon towards the demoness. "So you were setting up an ambush!"
"What...? No, not you, you doofus!" Lu gasped, "I meant her!"
She pointed at the soldier and Chung was confused as to who she was referring to.
"Or… at least her puppet. Well? Go on then," Lu urged, strength quickly fading in her voice, "Finish her puppet off while you can. I can't… do all the work… my-"
The little demoness lost her balance, flopping unceremoniously forward as her legs gave.
"Lu!" Zudrich made a move for the demoness but was interrupted by the soldier who came at him once more with renewed, bloody, vigor.
This time, however, Chung was there to stop him. The king closed the distance, bringing the sharpened end of his cannon down on the lance and snapping the weapon in half in the middle of the soldier's charge. The soldier, still caught mid-charge, ran headlong into the grounded cannon, knocking him into a daze that Chung followed up by kicking the man to the ground.
"I don't know what she meant by him being a puppet," Chung said, pinning the man to the floor as he swung his weapon up and over his head, "But, puppet or not, I'm not going to standby and let this person threaten the lives of my friends."
The king brought the blunt edge of the cannon down on the soldier's head. All forms of struggling ceased as the man's body went limp. Chung looked up at the wagon where Gerard and his family witnessed the whole exchange. He signaled to Nerin twirling his finger and motioning at the kids to which the Caluso woman nodded and urged the kids to turn away.
Chung pulled the cannon up, checking on the lifeless soldier. The glimpse of flattened flesh was enough of an answer for the king as he turned his gaze away towards Gerard who was settling back onto his seat.
"You alright? He almost got you there."
"Unscathed, thankfully. And what of Zudrich?"
They both looked at the guardian who's shoulder wound trickled blood over the upper left half of his chest plates.
"I'm fine. Managed to get me right at the armor joints," He winced, trying to roll his shoulder but the sharp pain quickly prevented him from doing that. He turned his attention towards the body on the ground. "Still can't believe you just killed him."
"He was going to hurt you guys," Chung shrugged.
"But he was under some kind of spell. He was a puppet like Lu said. He was an innocent man."
"Innocent or not, he was trying to hurt people. We don't always have the time or luxury to save others from what's afflicting them. Sometimes this is the best option."
"That goes against the paladin's code," Zudrich grumbled.
Chung changed the subject, turning the conversation towards his guardian as he looked at Zudrich's wound. "That looks really deep," The dagger laying on the ground was covered up to its hilt in blood. Judging by the way his wound was still gushing, Zudrich was in a lot more pain that he let on, "Nerin? There should be some bandages stored in one of our bags. We'll have to put some pressure on it before-"
"Don't worry about it," Zudrich waved, "Get that gate open first. We have to get them safely out of this village while we have a moment to breathe."
"Right. On it," Chung said and quickly moved to open the gate.
The steady rhythm of gears turning started up once more as the heavy iron gates began to roll upward. What normally would have taken two men to operate, the king easily managed by himself. As he continued turning the crank, Chung caught Zudrich picking up the downed demoness and quickly carrying it to the back of the wagon. Unsure why Zudrich was doing this, Chung hurried to get the job done to ask what his guardian was doing.
"Ah, so that's what happened to my little minion," an unfamiliar feminine voice said just as the gate was locked open, "Ugh, I knew I should've put more on duty instead of just one… But I suppose that's the price I pay for being lazy."
Chung stepped back, searching his surroundings only to notice a silhouette of a winged figure cast on the ground by the rising eastern sun. He turned his gaze upwards, following the shadows where he spotted a rather peculiar looking demon perched on top of the gatehouse.
The first thing the king noticed were the large bat wings tucked behind the female as well as the pointed demon tail that swished lazily as it dangled over the edge. She had crimson red hair tied into two pigtails and wore a get up that hugged much of her body and left little to the viewer's imagination. Her long black stockings and leather gloves only complimented her rather revealing attire, giving her an overwhelmingly seductive aura that, had she not been easily identified as a demon, Chung would have had a hard time keeping his eyes off her.
"You're a succubus!" Chung growled, alerting the others to her presence. Although Chung had never seen one before, the stories and accounts he had heard from others made it obvious enough.
The succubus smiled at him as her eyes traveled up and down his body, "And you're awfully far from home, Hamelian. Name's Karis. A pleasure to meet you. What's a handsome young man like you doing in my part of town?"
"If you're here for Anduran, you'll have to get through us first!" Chung said, aiming his cannon at the demon. He couldn't pull the trigger just yet. Doing so might risk destroying the gate.
Karis clapped her hands together at the mention of the priestess's name. "So the cute little priestess IS here! My spies were correct after all!"
She snapped her fingers and suddenly the doors to the gatehouse flew open. A handful of soldiers filed out barring passage through the gate. Clearly under the succubus's control, the men immediately pointed their lances at the king and closed in on him, forcing Chung to step back.
"Chung! We're surrounded!" Zudrich yelped as Chung turned to see even more soldiers had come out of the barracks and blocked the road back into the village. "They're all under some kind of mind control! What do we do, Chung?!"
The king took another step back, he scanned for any kind of opening for escape but found the narrow street made it impossible for the dunerunner to go anywhere but forward or back.
"Bring me the priestess. Alive," the succubus ordered, "Do what you must with the rest."
Without another word, the soldiers rapidly closed in on the group, blades trained at their nearest targets.
Chung gritted his teeth and turned to his guardian, "We have no choice! Kill them!" He fired his cannon and heard Zudrich open fire as well. The first cannonball hit his center target, the explosion completely obliterating everything above the waist and forcing the adjacent soldiers to be pushed by the blast.
His second shot narrowly missed, not taking into account the push of his first explosion, the cannonball struck the side of the gatehouse, causing most of the pillar supporting the structure to crumble.
"Allow me to assist," Gerard said, placing his hands on the ground and creating a gold and white spell circle that rapidly expanded outwards into a protective ring around the dunerunner. The ring projected a transparent barrier that brought the attack to a near standstill. As the soldiers passed through the magical field, their movement slowed to a crawl. Even the ones leaping in mid air moved at a snail's pace bringing their weapons down on Chung.
Not wanting to see how long the spell would last, Zudrich and Chung capitalized on this opportunity, switching to melee and pummelling each suspended soldier before the time-altering spell ended. The spell wore off as the last of the soldiers was struck and, upon ending, the momentum of each blow caught up with them and their bodies were sent flying in several different directions, leaving only the succubus standing in their way.
"Oh my," the succubus said, biting her lower lip as she eyed the king standing defiantly before her, "Who knew sitting back and watching you work would get me so… worked up. It makes me want to join in on the fun now."
"Step aside," Chung warned, "Or don't. I'd be more than happy to kill you as well."
The succubus giggled, clearly unfazed by his threat.
She leapt from her high-perch, her wings slowing her descent at the final moment just before she hit the ground. Yet as soon as her heels touched sand, she faded away. Bewildered, Chung remained on guard, swiveling his head around to search for her.
"Ah… that scent upon you," Karis's voice seemed to echo all around him. Her footsteps appeared on the sand directly from where she vanished and they appeared to be walking straight for him. "It's a nostalgic scent. Not my ideal emotion but delicious nonetheless. I know what ails you… Chung, was it? I know the burden you carry. The guilt. The longing."
Chung watched the timing of each step. He pulled back his weapon and swung right where Karis was supposed to be but hit nothing but air.
"Sorry, handsome, as much as I'd love to play with you," her form reappeared hovering just above his cannon swing. Cold steel could be felt caressing the back of his neck and he stared wide-eyed at the large scythe curled around behind him, pulling him ever closer to the succubus's face. "I have more important things to worry about… so you'll just have to settle with this."
She leaned forward, planting an unnaturally cold kiss on the king's lips.
In that instant, the king's body locked up. His body refused to respond as he stood there, completely frozen in that position. He tried to call for help but even his lungs wouldn't let him breathe.
Karis floated away, her form vanishing once more just as Zudrich arrived to protect the wagon. Chung couldn't see what was going on but the sudden silence of weighted armor moving behind him was enough of a tell of Zudrich's fate.
The sound of a heavy strike caught Chung's attention. Gerard was thrown to the side, landing on the ground at the edge of Chung's peripherals as Edwin could be heard crying out from within the wagon.
"Come now, priestess," Karis cooed, "How about you and I go someplace… quiet?"
Suddenly the succubus howled loudly in pain. In that instant, Chung's body loosened as he nearly fell to the ground by the sudden shift in his weight. Turning to the wagon, he saw the smaller demon, Lu, standing at the wagon's entrance, gauntlet burning with a blue and black flame. Karis was in the air, clutching her face as blood rolled freely down the succubus's neck.
"Sorry, Karis!" Lu grinned, "You had something on your face and I just had to rake it off!"
"Luciela?! You're alive?!"
With Karis temporarily blinded, another figure sprang into the scene. His gunblade severed the demon's wing and he spun mid-air, landing a spinning kick that sent the succubus crashing into the ruined barracks.
"You're late, Ciel!" Lu scolded as the taller demon landed atop the dune runner's driver seat.
"My apologies, Lu," he said, remaining on guard with his gunblades pointed at the barracks, "The fox woman was far more formidable than I had anticipated."
"Well that explains why I was so weak during my grand entrance! I looked like a damned fool because of you!"
"Again, my apologies."
"Well?" Lu turned to the two Hamelians, "Up and at 'em! We're getting out of here!"
"Stay… away from Anduran!" Chung said, finally regaining the rest of his strength.
"After watching you two completely fail at protecting her? As if! Get the old geezer up. We're leaving!" Lu ordered.
"Old… geezer, huh?" the archmage said, clutching at a broken arm as he shuffled his way to the dunerunner. There was no sign of distress on Gerard's end as he approached the demons as even Ciel moved aside to let the archmage take his seat.
Even Zudrich hurried to board the wagon, leaving Chung stunned and confused as to why everyone seemed so open about letting those demons hitch a ride with them.
"What are- what's going on?!" Chung asked, completely at a loss for words at this point.
"Sorry, Chung," Gerard said as he started the engine, "This was the best outcome I could find. Now, are you coming along or not?"
"I… what?! With them? But what about our ship to Sander?"
"Chung," Zudrich hung out of the back, offering the king a hand, "The trip to Sander has to wait. We can't stay here."
"But," Chung pointed at the two demons, "With them?!"
"It's… a bit complicated. I'll explain later. We can't stay here much longer." Zudrich said.
"It's okay, I won't bite~" the demoness said, coaxing him with her gauntlet to join them.
The piles of brick and wood began to churn under the barracks, catching the immediate attention of everyone.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to kill Karis," Lu said, "If you want to sit around and fight her, be my guest. But we're leaving. C'mon old man! Let's go!"
"I'm not that old," Gerard muttered, shifting the dunerunner into gear.
"C'mon," Zudrich urged, holding his hand out to his king, "It'll be fine."
The pile of rubble lurched once more and a hand broke free.
"Time's ticking," Gerard warned.
Gritting his teeth, Chung took Zudrich's hand and Gerard hit the throttle, rocketting the dunerunner out of the village.
As Zudrich pulled him into the wagon, the king looked over the others to see how they were doing. Anduran, Nerin, and Edwin all looked relatively unscathed. Gerard's arm was broken, it appeared, judging by the way it was cradled on his lap as he drove. Of the group, Edwin seemed the most shaken by the experience, clutching at his mother while Lu and Ciel took their seats far and away from the rest of the group.
As the Hamelians passed the two newest passengers, the demoness gave them both a smug smile before turning to sit near the front.
"Thanks for the help last night," the demoness whispered towards Zudrich.
"Just doing what I thought was right," the guardian replied, taking a seat across from his king. He didn't say anything to Chung even though he very much wanted an explanation. But seeing the way Zudrich refused to look him in the eye regarding that issue, he figured it was best to ask later.
For now, he needed to figure out just how the hells he would get to Sander now.