Queen's note: I know it's been a hot minute, Omie is very tired and in pain. It's been a looong few months. So have a big chapter! (I could not break this one up) Beware of DOOM scarry-ness of big demons, time to traumatize characters! There will be puppies later to make up for it.

Garnets

Chapter Eighty Six:

Behemoth

This…

This was a living, real life nightmare that she was facing. Again. How it echoed her last night 'trapped' on the platform was not lost on Lily as she dodged the lashing wintherin tail. Even though this demon was not as big as what Lily's mother had changed into. The monster was still just shy of twenty feet tall as it came out of the water. Or might as well be, the hulking form was just… just… demon.

Wrong.

There was a crawling, hot sensation that seemed to run along Lily's bones and made her want to crawl away from them. Away from this monster that laughed at the sight of her phantom father planting himself before it. Like it was the funniest thing that a lone soul with no body could try and face it or stand a chance. This was the monster that came out of not only the darkness of nightmares, out of hell itself, but the now not so childish fear that the monster was going to find and eat you was real. Something about just staring at this behemoth of muscle, mass and raw power that visibly came off it in waves like heat. It might as well be a titan that was real.

From the oddly polished obsidian like horns, the almost too bright, glowing rose-gold eyes. The wide grin filled with fans and clear carnivore teeth. How the bulging muscles seemed like they would burst through the boney looking silver-gray skin, but didn't as it walked.

It just kept coming out of the water, getting taller, and taller and just massively titanic.

Some detached part of Lily remembered those talks, lessons with Vega. About the monsters, demons that she had seen from a distance on the platform. Even other greater classes of demonic creatures that she had not seen, but John had before they met. Valen too told her how to avoid some things.

Baron of Hell.

That was what this monster was called. Both of the new demons… Barons?

This was not like a Wretched, that in theory, could be beaten with Wraith Grift and humans. This though? There was no tactic to fight, nothing mentioned other than Valen very seriously saying 'do not get seen by these.'

Even what Haco said about playing dead did not seem to fit, as the Baron was grinning at her.

She could not run to the Sentinels, to John for protection. The Baron was planted between them and her. Lily got clipped by Viola's tail and it helped jar her into thinking again.

Lily could not stay, could not fight for shite against a monster like this. Not even stand a chance outside of hell (...like right now). Running in a visual line of sight of most all demons triggered a predator chase response. That's something Vega and Valen both agreed on, but would not elaborate how they knew.

Lily blinked, looked behind her at the water.

Wow, she was stupid.

Viola was rearing up, after dropping her mouth full of eggs in a hollow and shoved sand over them. Making up her mind to abandon them in favor of her rider's hatchling. Standing up on her hind legs and bellowing a roar, tattered wings fanning out wider to make herself look even bigger. Lily stared, and backed up until her legs were in the water, using the Wintherin's bulk as a shield. Feeling the cool water going up her legs until it was at her thighs.

At the same time she was triggering her mask, practically overdosing on the medication until her chest stopped hurting. Was it good for her? Likely not. Yet Lily could get a deeper few breaths before sinking down and pushing back while the Demon, the Baron, was distracted by taking a swipe at Frederick and the pale form of Viola launched forward.

Lily sank under the surface and twisted in the water. Pushing off the ground at an angle. Old habits and muscles still proved true. Plus she had been trying to swim in that pool like space on the Fortress, not just sit in it. She had to be smart, Lily could not lock up even if part of her just wanted to curl up and hide at seeing this monster.

She had to get away, try to, stall for time for John. Valen. Haco. Anyone.

Lily broke the surface, able to see she was a third of the way to the next island. Struggling just a bit to stay on the surface of the lake, feeling over the mask to make sure the vents purged on it. Getting several deep breaths as she kept kicking, trying not to look back at the sound of mass hitting mass. The wintherin launching at the demon again in a clatter of sound of mass.

Not scales. Not giant coils. No humming but in her memory that Lily tried to desperately shoved aside. No half form demon words from doggy paddling demons.

She could do this.

Lily just had to get to this next island. She ducked under the surface to pick up speed, hopefully without triggering any predatory demons. Swimming just out of sight was not running, right? It should not trigger them.

Breaking the surface, the young woman looked around, another third closer. She could not help some irritation at herself as Lily used to be able to make almost the same distance in one go before the invasion. Now she was gasping for air and trying not to splash even more. Almost there, she was like only ten feet deep now. Lily could see another island after this one, shining in the filtered light with more smooth glass gravel. It was around another great support pillar, and even if it did not have a path, Lily could stay out of sight until Valen found her.

Another two deep breaths,Lily was diving as a wave rolled over her from behind. Aware of animalistic sounds and a roar.

Laughter?

That crawling sensation was back after a small bit of a reprieve. Something dark was overtaking Lily in the water and it did not match up with a dragon like shadow.

Well.

Fu-

Massive, silver clawed hands plunged into water around Lily. The young woman wanted to scream but desperately held it in, kicking off the gray skin of what was trying to grab her. Lily was trying to sink down and back track, between the legs and just managing to grasp what it looked like nonliving armor, metal not crystal. Holding onto the Baron's leg as he twisted around trying to find the much smaller human.

Her lungs were burning now, hurting enough that Lily was getting desperate for air. If she moved, would the demon feel and find her? It was starting to walk, the water pulling and Lily just let go. Breaking the surface and just trying to breath without sound. Not that she was doing a good job of that, but Lily saw the back of the Barron demon. Tried not to look up at its towering… Backside.

Shite, she saw cheeks.

Now very aware that some big demons had armor, but not boxers. Nor bits. They were bit-less. This giant monster was bitless, but had ass cheeks. Lily was twisting in the water and saw Viola rolling out of the water herself. The pale space dragon was now a beacon to get back to.

Where was her dad?

She did not see his phantom, but got a glimpse at an outline of a wintherin in the air before there was a purring growl behind.

"Slippery little Argenta welp!" The nightmare spoke, the Baron lunged to grab, the massive hand wrapping around kicking legs. Standing back up right and pulling the mortal with him, upside down Lily made a wheezing yell sound. The thunder deep voice laughing as the human was struggling to breathe, to kick. Only to find her legs were firmly caught as the demon laughed at the poor attempt to get free.

Another hand was coming up, the demon grinned as a little rock was thrown up at him. Pinging off his chest piece. The Barron prodded at the soft body with a silver claw, looking unimpressed at the yelp. "You better be tasty to be worth ignoring the Slayer. My brother is getting to fight him, why would the scouts be so interested in a morsel? You'll be just as easy to bring to Nekravol in a bit, rather than now."

"Let me go!" Lily yelled, even as she was being jerked in the air, then realized she had yelled not in Argenta but in French. She tried to hold her shirt with one hand, "Fuck off!"

The greater demon laughed at the small voice, hefting the mortal up to dangle in the air in front of him. Grinning wide and purring as he saw her go pale at seeing his exposed fangs. "Feisty little thing aren't you child? The Sentinels did not do much to protect you."

The gray skinned monster reached up with his other hand, catching the damp fabric and tugged. Ripping it off to look at the thin layer of under armor, snorting as it was barely something to hold up against an imp. The Baron tilted what he thought was an Argenta youth back and forth, not all that impressed. Even with how the Argenta were dwindling and dropping to a small pool, this was more than sad to find a young one so… so soft looking.

"Feisty or not, I'm not sure if even Kalibas would want you." The Baron snorted, reaching to grab a small arm and press a claw tip into the forearm, smiling at the yell turning to a scream of pain. Just starting to catch the scent of blood. "Maybe if you beg properly, little snack, I'll give you to a Tyrant. One of them could find you a nice home to a noble of Immora-"

"I said- Let. Me! GO! DAD!" Lily screamed, and then something felt like it almost cracked and was shaken loose as the smaller human just screamed. For the first time really trying to do whatever she had done on the lift. Panicking and in the moment could only remember the warped monsters then had flinched away from the lift.

There was a faint flash of gold in the normally hazel eyes as the only warning. It was far, far from the beautiful song of raw power the Baron had gotten used to with his brothers. Not a song at all, but a painiced thing, yet it was still a gorgon scream. Not something this tiny speck of a mortal soul had control of, no real distance just intensity in an up close range. Even as the Baron was reflexively letting go to grasp at his horns and the hidden ears, he could hear how mortal's vocal cords were giving out before falling in the water again.

The thick, plated crystal armor on the Baron was humming in turn, sending a wave of vibration through the demon's frame. If he were weaker in any way, he might have been blindingly overpowered. As it was, the Baron could feel the green crystals growing, giving him more armor as power bled over from the source, reacting to the call.

The Baron jerked, the scream starting to fade as the glowing eyes of the demon widened. Gaining a more orange color while recognizing belatedly that the sound really was gorgon like, just incomplete. The Baron lowered his hands, saw the smear of blood on his left hand. Then he was lunging for the smaller form below trying to right herself in the water. At the same time shoving the claw with the blood in his mouth.

Sweet and coppery, so much alike to the Argenta but not quite the same. This Baron knew what Argenta tasted like in blood, flesh and energy of souls. He had survived since the first years of the invasion of this world after all.

He had not tasted a human yet, but remembered one of his brothers had. Had been delighted one might say, how much alike but not really the same to Argenta they were. This choking mortal thing the Baron was picking back up was human and had a gorgon voice- even a weak one.

"You?!" the older demon pulled the human up, almost shaking her as he slogged up to the land before closing both hands around the little body. Sounding both shocked and offended as he turned the mortal to face him. "You're the mortal daughter of the Lady?! Here with the Sentinels? How did they get off this planet?!"

The demon laughed, not a sound of joy but as it was realizing something while Lily struggled to get her lungs to work at all. She could not breathe for a few horrifying moments, even with being lifted out of the air. Likely the only reason she had not drowned at this point even with the mask was her chest simply refusing to work. No sound came out as it felt like Lily's lungs, and throat, almost collapsed into themselves after that scream. No movement for that eternity in seconds, only the jarring of a massive hand wrapping around her chest and middle. Staring up at the now orange, red tinted eyes of the Baron as the demon scented against her while walking.

"Harmph," All Lily could do was shove at the head almost as big as her torso. Palms scraped on the demon's fangs before kicking at the jaw and was bitten for her effort. Lily got a breath and screamed as the demon's fangs 'nipped' at her right calf. "No! No! DAD!"

There was a roar of anger somewhere out of sight, the human resorting to desperation bit the demon right back on the closest digit. Trying to get free, Lily was aware that she was bleeding on some level, but was getting jarred as the Baron was laughing at her again. Trying to shove with all her strength at the claws pressing on her shoulders.

It was just a moment Lily remembered what her guardian said not even a full hour ago. John showed Lily how to hide something in the flexible metal. The signed words, the very intense stare as he showed the oddly little thing.

"How can something this valuable be given to the false Heir?" The Baron was saying, moving Lily as if inspecting, letting the bitten but not broken leg go. "You are worth giving to Immora directly… or I can give that heart to them, and your bones to your mother."

"Mom's dead and gone, you can't know her." Lily hissed scrambling at the under armor on her, yipping as she was hefted up to be sniffed again. Lily tried to kick as her bloody leg was licked again, no artery was broken but muscle was still damaged and there was a lot of blood. "Let me go monster! My dads' going to rip you apart!"

"None of your people are more than soft, little snacks. No human can stand up to even my lesser brothers. Not even this father." The Baron laughed again, lifting the human again for a last inspection. Licking the bleeding leg again, and saw the moment of added horror bloom. "Your bones should have crystallized by now. Mother of Pearl is blinded by want. She'll get your bones, but will have to bow to the Immoral for your heart! I will Rise with-"

The Baron snorted as he was kicked under the eye, he tilted his head. "Is that it?"

There was an awkward pause before Lily hit the hand holding her. There was a prick as a sliver of blue sea glass barely broke the thick skin. A splinter that broke in the skin really. The Demon laughed again and grabbed the human's legs in his fangs, adding pressure to get that wonderful surge of fear again. Purring at the yell and weak attempt to smack and kick.

It should not take more than a few breaking bites, he judged while starting to put pressure on the knees. Able to taste the panic in the blood. Even if the Baron would give up the crystal heart to Immora, he will still get such a dose of power from a pure gorgon-

Something Argenta weight hit the Barron on the back. Somehow completely avoiding the green sea glass spikes protecting his back. If anything, climbing up and avoiding the spikes as they moved to spear what was there. The Baron stood up more from his natural hunch, scraping soft flesh the moment before power flared. The blue, opalescent crucible flared to life beside the Baron's head. A bare moment of warning that was not enough for even an older demon to react to.

The figure was mid motion of grabbing a polished horn. The 'small' crucible being plunged into the side of the demon's head. The blue blade burned through the side of the Baron's jaw bone itself, as well as the connecting muscles. There was a jerk and twist of the crucible with each word snarled out. "Get. Your. Hands. And- filthy. Self. Away from my daughter!"

Frederick roared with the echo of a living voice mixed with his own. Rage, fear, determination and just pure anger that something was trying to dare take his babygirl- the body that was half hosting him was already moving. The Argenta, unblinded by the anger of the Crucible and taking partial control to finish severing the muscle, watched as the Baron half dropped Lily while roaring in pain.

The man got a glimpse of the human just barely curling up to try and roll safely. He dropped back, feeling the encrusting crystal scraping his armor. The coating from the Last Gift held up though, to not let the other gorgon crystal from piercing him. Even if it obscured his armor and outline, making it hard to identify who it was. Other then that they seemed a bit taller then the Slayer.

The Baron was moving, starting to back up while trying to grab both the Argenta at the same time as grasping the broken lower jaw. Several fangs fell to the ground as he tried to get the broken mandible back in place. Trying to heal it with a pulse of raw hell energy. There was a curse from below, Lily barely dodged a stomping, cloven foot that might as well be as big as her. The Argenta roared himself and the demon kerned backwards away from the human.

The Baron was trying to correct his balance and at the same time blindly groping for the moving man that was twisting the Crucible through the back of a shoulder blade.

"Get off me, you pest!"

"You can die first demon-"

Lily twisted, she felt cold and was just trying to crawl away. Not even trying to get up as she could only think to get away, to get space between her and the fight. Her and those heavy, cloven hoof like feet that stomped too close. Trying not to think about what just happened, what had been about to happen. Her legs burned as much as her chest, Lily was not even sure if she was hearing sound correctly as her attention was just getting away.

A shadow passed over her and Lily flinched, about to try and turn. A heavily armored person landed in front of the human as she started to recognize the shadow was a wintherin head, not a demon. Large hands were grabbing her, not warm but almost hurt from the cold of an active Wraith Gift. The Sentinel was grabbing her left shoulder and pressing his other hand into the small of Lily's back. She could feel the cold spreading and numbing out the pain. Almost getting rid of it as the human was just rolled up into the Sentinel's arms.

Or maybe just blocking the pain? Lily was pretty sure getting picked up that fast would have been a lot more painful than it had been, normally.

At least she could not feel her legs!

Maybe that wasn't a good thing.

As the Sentinel, Pa'x, was already back to the male wintherin. For a moment, Lily could look back over Pa'x shoulder. Seeing that Viola was making it to the beach, snapping at the Baron's leg and used her full body weight to pull. Biting the only safe spot to not get the crystals stuck in her jaw. The Baron of Hell fell heavily as he lost balance, there was a cracking and almost glass breaking sound from some of the encrusting armor. Viola hopped away in the water before rearing back and letting out a blast of wintherin fire.

All but tossing her up to the riding spot, Pa'x vaulted from the ground, up onto the Winthern's back. Wrapping an arm around Lily like a metal bar, he held onto the saddle with his other one and got the winthern to get back up into the air. Lily twisted to try and see who was using the blue crucible, it was not John, the armor, even coated was someone else's-

She saw just a glimpse of the helmet looking up, just a moment to recognize the Atlan like optic pattern. Valen checked that she was being taken away, before turning his attention as the Baron kicked off Viola and rolled to his feet, there was a shimmer of that subspace like storage from the demon itself to take a glaive like weapon out to knock off the Argenta man and launch back to his feet. Roaring as the monster realized his meal, hostage, bribery, was taken from him. Hellfire energy came to life on his frame as the crystal spread to protect vulnerable joints.

The living nightmare, this monster that wanted to eat her, was starting after the winthern, but stumbled as Valen launched back up and at the nearest leg. Two phantom wolves spawned to life and rather shamelessly attacked the most visible spots of gray flesh.

Lily flinched, in a detached way she was not sure it was good for even phantom wolves to bite a demon in the ass. Effective judging by the different, more insulted howl of the Baron. Then she was shaken as the Winthern twisted in the air to let out an eruption of 'fire' at what looked like a round… purple meatball? Lily was starting to realize she might not be in a good condition as she was pretty sure she just saw a meatball with an eyeball and teeth popping in the air while screaming and twirling as it was on fire.

That can not be right.

"Lady Lily!" Pa'x yelled, snapping the human into the current present. The Sentinel healer was doing an impressive job of holding onto the witherin in motion with his legs and letting go with his right hand to grasp one of the young woman's lower legs. "Focus on me, does it hurt anywhere else?"

It took a second for Lily to not focus on the glow of the wraith gift being used on her. She shook her head, trying to wake up, to get out of the shock in some form. Lily could only look up at the wolf-like helmet and shake her head slower, "I don't… feel anything. Is that a bad thing?"

Wait.

Lily lifted a hand over the arm holding her safe and anchored to the Sentinel. She touched her bare face, where had her mask gone? Did… did the demon take it?

Rude.

Many curse words at the monster, Lily could not quite think of what those curses should be so left it open for the universe to take over. Or John. Wait, Lily hoped John stabbed that Baron in its non-existent bits. Or Valen.

"-might have been too strong of a dose," Pa'x was saying to someone as he grabbed the right leg.

"I'm bleeding." Lily finally noticed, not sure when the winthern landed, or where the other sentinels had come from.

"Yes you are, and you're a lot smaller," Pa'x said as he was passing Lily down to another set of massive hands. "I don't think any of the blood reserves will work for you, hold her up. I can at least close the wounds the rest of the way."

Lily looked down, tilting her head so it rested on the broad silver chest plate that was semi like John and Valen's armor. Who had it like that? Haco was fighting… Lily stared at the open, twitching gashes on her lower legs. Where the demon's… fangs had cut through.

It looked like it should hurt, it looked like it should really hurt, and be bleeding more than what was oozing out. Who was holding her hand a grip on her right knee from the underside, holding the damaged leg out for Pa'x. The experienced healer was twisting his wraith gift over the limb, and again it was in more of a detached way that Lily could watch. Like it was not her leg, though clearly it was as it seemed like the same basics of what he was teaching her with healing Viola's bigger cuts.

Yet somehow more complex as he was working through, her leg was trying to jerk on its own. Though Lily could not stop it the grip on her leg shifted and someone else reached over Pa'x shoulder to grasp her foot.

What happened to her shoes? Slippers.

"…rude."

"What?" A deep, familiar voice rumbled beside Lily. It had her rolling her head to look up at, surprisingly not at another emotionless helmet blocking a face, but green eyes, lighter than Haco's dark green.

"The Monster ate my shoes." Lily said, staring, then sagged back into the supporting arms as she finally recognized Asin. He was someone safe for sure, the young woman tried not to cry, and of course tears started to promptly form and burn down her cheeks as reality was belatedly sinking in. "It… the monster was going… to eat me…"

"It did not." Asin said, ducking his head as he kept the human steady in his arms, letting the healer do his job. Pressing his forehead against Lily's own head, his voice rumbling with reassurance, "You might have some scars now, but it did not my little lady. Your fathers would not, and did not let that happen. I don't think I, or anyone, are going to let you back outside the throne room building till its safe."

"And you will be walking again by tomorrow." Pa'x added with a relieved sigh, moving to the other leg. "It might be Bastet's blessings still active in you, but the nerves are reconnecting, as well as the muscles. Lots of water and meat for you, and more bed rest."

"...can I have a bath?" Lily asked, seeing the shine of… demon saliva on her legs. Paused and then she squinted at her own legs, seeing the off pink color of the flexible, skin layer of under armor she had been fitted into. Seeing scrapping marks of claws or fangs on it and then the cuts on her legs. "Did… Asin? Did it… it really took- take my clothes?"

"I had to cut your leggings off," Pa'x said, and paused as he realized that he did not see her shirt. Lily did not seem to realize that so he was going to let her squeak out the 'rude' and not add too anything.

"Will…will miss wraith be mad I lost the tool she gave me?" Lily worried as she was shifted, being moved and held against Asin as he was moving to something dark. It took passing into the stairs to realize that Pa'x had brought her back to where they came down from in the start. Some, fifteen hours ago, or… maybe an hour. It felt longer.

"Mother Bastet will not be angry at you in the slightest." Asin assured, more confident now with his interactions with the human. "Can you feel anything?"

"No?" Lily half asked back, thinking about it as she could not fully tell where they were going. "Am I high? Or is this blood less. Loss. bloodloose. godsdamnit."

"Blood loss," Asin said, taking the stairs two or three at a time.

Pa'x had to resort to climbing up on all fours like the scouts just to keep up with the bigger man. "And a numbing dose to your spine, no walking until tomorrow."

"...can I pass out and skip things?" Lily asked, not feeling like it was the Argenta drugs on the Fortress.

"Not yet my little lady," Asin said firmly, and had to use a lot of self control to not grin at the sad sound that came from his arms.

"Okay." Lily pouted, resting her head against the silver armor, for a moment rather impressed that despite the speed seeming to happen Asin was not jarring her about. That was rather impressive.

There was a darker patch and Lily curled up to press into her current guardian. Shivering as it just brought up the image of the gaping demon maw- and really this was just going to be a new night terror wasn't it?

"Asin?" Lily asked softly as they passed into the light again, one of the green glowing torches lit by the wolf phantoms. Why did it seem like they were covering more space going up then down? Lily wondered how out of it she was, and what Pa'x had done to stop the pain.

"Yes, little lady?" The towering Sentinel slowed as he approached the top of the stairs, breathing deep and making himself control himself.

"What is… nek-rav-ol?" Lily asked, almost missing how Asin nearly stumbled over the last step into the lower forge room. Seeing the massive form of Magnus spinning around in the vault-like room, his fur cloak fanning a bit to show his altered form for a moment.

He looked… like a statue Lily had glimpsed somewhere. Not like the monsters though. She saw the silver and white saplings, with some orange, peach and teal colors flushed through them. The O'ri plants Lily had left in the lower forge were no longer in one broken canteen but in modified, glass containers with straps.

"Where did you hear that lady?" Asin asked softly beside Lily as she was still trying to curl up.

"The monster said it…baron? I think?" Lily admitted, "it's hard to understand them speaking…demon. Only a few words, he was talking about… that and giving my heart to something. Some place?"

There was a sense of moving mass, it had Lily flinching but looked up to see Commander Malum kneeling down beside them. As big and massive as he was, he was not as big as the baron, he had not come on the raft thing, but had seemed to have just escorted them to the water level. But unlike the demon, there was still that wolf-like impression to his features thanks to his armor, and the thick fur cloak that helped set him apart from the Baron.

"Do you remember the name?" Commander Malum's low rumble asked, his voice oddly…soft. Gentle.

Lily blinked slowly up at the dark, fuzzy outline. No horns, no hell energy but smooth, cool wraith energy. "...imor-ra? Same thing that Wretched said. I think… can… can I hide now?"

Asin tilted his head, and this time did smile as he realized Lily was just staring at the fur. It took a second for Malum to realize that as well, before the current commander leaned over and shrugged the fur cloak further over his shoulders. Holding his hands out to take the human, and after holding the girl- young woman… gods she felt like a child in weight. Pulling the fur cloak around her braced on his left arm.

"What happened?" Malum asked, sitting down to let Pa'x climb in his lap to check the human over.

"Ambush," The healer growled, "There were two Barons of hell keeping their hordes controlled until we were distracted with healing the winthern. The older, and bigger one was fighting with the Slayer King. Lord Valen was dealing with the other with…"

"Dad." Lily helpfully chirped now that she was safely held tight and under cover. Feeling better, even if it was not John holding her. Malum felt almost as strong as her guardian.

She could not see the surprised look from those around, even Asin seemed surprised enough to ask, "Your father… the phantom of the Last Gift? Lord Valen is wielding the Crucible?"

"Sort of? I heard him, but… I think Valen was just holding dad's weapon…form… I feel sick." The human started to say as she pulled the cloak firmer over her. Squeaking as Pa'x shoved a hand up to her side and flared his wraith gift enough that even Malum grunted in surprise.

"Healer, are you trying to make her not feel anything?" Malum demanded, recognizing the feeling from the overflow.

"Yes." Pa'x said firmly, pulling back and glaring at his commander, daring him to say anything against this choice. "There's enough damage done to her muscles and nerves, that she needs to be given back to Mother Bastet. I don't want all that lingering pain hitting her all at once, and we can't let her go to sleep for the blood loss. Lord Valen said the lady reacts differently to the physical medicine."

Knowing much better than to argue with an angry, or worried, healer, Malum bit back what he was going to say. Paused to take in everything and then spoke, "We are taking her to the Mother Wraith then?"

"...you sure she won't be mad at me for losing that… that… thingy. Tool?" came a worried voice from under Malum's cloak. Lily squeaked as the massive arm shifted, adjusting how she was held. Lily shivered but pressed against the living warmth for some comfort. Different from the heater that was John, but also thankfully much different from being grabbed and shaken about by the demon.

"Send word, any troops we have left in Taras Nabad, fall back here," Malum was saying as Pa'x was giving Lily a pat on her head, having done as much work as he could. "Anyone we can spare goes to support the Lord Slayer, the rest will be holding guard here at the throne room. We need to protect the city engine."

Taras Nabad was about to be a full bloody war again if Malum had to guess.

The current Sentinel commander grinned.

"...um," A confused voice spoke up, drawing the Commander's attention down. "Who… do I need to apologize to for losing the nice jacket?"

Malum sighed, his smile turning a bit softer at the question, "Child…"

"...sorry?"