Months passed before the intermittent lightning strikes died down to a monthly occurrence. What became known as the Void Storm phenomenon was obviously linked to the demon king’s return. While many adventurers were aware of his re-emergence, the widespread reach of the storms informed the masses. Less attacks were always a blessing but made more experienced warriors suspicious. Some assumed it meant the locations were strategic while others assumed they were meant for testing purposes. However, all were in agreement that they were only a precursor to a more devastating event.
With fewer attacks, the Hero’s party was able to push forward in Ionzel. But, pushing towards the demon king’s castle while sacrificing innocents went against their beliefs. They spent most of the past months checking on every nearby settlement to make sure they didn’t need help. Progress picked up significantly as more adventurer’s made their presence known. While bolstering their numbers continued to be a topic of discussion, Aisha refused to invite the individuals they crossed.
“They’re able to handle some lowly demons but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to fight whatevers ahead,” she explained. “Every one of them comes out looking exhausted after fighting a few imps.”
“Their abilities will be useful against demonic forces but not on the frontlines. Not against the demon king and his subordinates,” Sariel said.
“Exactly.”
“Aisha, adventurers go on quests knowing the danger they will face. We must provide the opportunity for them to prove themselves,” Vofric insisted.
Kargon hummed. “I think you both have a point. But you’re not considering other pieces of info. Vofric, they need to prove themselves with these fights. They shouldn’t be holding back like we used to. I think that’s where Aisha’s coming from. We need allies who can stand with who we are now.”
“What he said,” Aisha chimed in.
Her beloved turned to her and sighed. “Aisha, you’re also forgetting that they might be weak or tired from helping folks just like we have.”
Kargon stopped abruptly and looked around to make sure no one was listening in. The roads had been relatively empty lately. Carriages still traveled to deliver goods but they had more guards than usual. Bandits were less frequent as well. It was hard to tell if they grew a moral compass or had to deal with demons themselves. Regardless, it allowed for private matters to be spoken about.
“Not to mention, we don’t know if anyone we’ve met is part of Barbatos,” he continued. “From everything I’ve learned about them, I think we could rely on them just a bit. The five of us might be enough for our quest but the demon king’s goals definitely encompass more than we can handle.”
“You’re right,” Aisha conceded.
Their change in relationship had caused more annoyance when Kargon was right. Nevertheless, she couldn’t deny when facts were presented so clearly.
“Sariel, how close are we to the next village? Maybe we can start gathering forces for the trek to the castle.”
The draconic elf carried a folded map in her traveling pack but it was mainly a courtesy. By now she’d memorized much of what was marked. Obviously some things were incorrect based on settlements they’d visited or ones that didn’t get saved. But based on the parchment a village would be up ahead. Sariel sprouted her wings and took to the sky. By now she could fly for a few minutes but only seconds were needed when surveying the land. Upon landing she spoke up.
“The sounds of battle are clear. However there is no panic nor collateral damage. We should arrive momentarily.”
Aisha always took the lead with her lightning fast speed. Sariel followed closely behind with Avant on her tail. Mounted atop the beast was Vofric and running alongside him, Kargon. By the time they reached the town of Maccfeld it was obvious why no civilian was scared. Metal clashed against bone as a swordsman deftly blocked a demon on the verge of attacking a bystander. With a smooth tilt of the blade, he parried the creature and cut through it. Defeated monsters littered the floor around the sole warrior. He flourished his blade and sheathed it on his back to the sound of cheers and applause.
The party watched in silence as he was offered food and a place to rest. Graciously accepting a meal but smoothly mentioning his need to depart showed this was a common interaction for him. Villagers gave him reverence for a few minutes before departing to deal with the corpses. Some returned to their busy lives but gave him praise as they passed. It was peculiar watching the event from the outside. Especially after having experienced it dozens of times themselves.
“A good candidate?” Vofric asked. The wariness in his voice didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t from fear of displeasing Aisha. Rather something was nagging at him and he didn’t bother hiding it from his friends.
“I want to talk to him alone. But I need you to stay close without it looking weird,” Aisha replied.
Kargon nodded his head towards the outdoor seating of the tavern where the swordsman was relaxing. “Let’s get lunch.”
The group split up with Aisha still standing near the village entrance. Something about how she was approaching the encounter bothered Kargon. Not because she wanted to talk to the man alone. Rather it was as if she was preparing for a fight. The natural combative stance she had became more active. Inches above her sword hilt rested her left hand. Even as the party sat down and ordered, Kargon kept an eye on his partner.
Unlike the others, Aisha didn’t have a nagging feeling. She knew exactly what made her hesitate. In order to detect magic she perpetually pushed mana through her prosthetic eye. The purple glow was dim when using the conduit in such a way. It was difficult to see from outside. But it saw everything Aisha needed. Such as a dark outpouring of mana endlessly cascading off the mysterious swordsman. She’s only seen it once before. But she found herself less hesitant to engage this time. She strode forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down confidently. There was no nonchalance and the man looked at her curiously.
“What brings you here?” Aisha asked directly.
“I have no idea what you mean. I’m simply traveling through Ionzel and happened upon a town which needed assistance,” the man replied. “Thankfully, my abilities were enough to protect the people here.”
“That’s a lot of words to say you don’t understand the point of my question. You should try shortening up those answers if you want a lie to be believable.”
The man narrowed his eyes and took a slow bite of the sandwich in his hands. Chewing food never looked as threatening as he made it. He craned his head back and swallowed before looking back down. A wide grin appeared on his face as he stared into Aisha’s eyes.
“Magic detection, I see. Commendable. I see why you are Kharim’s successor,” the man said.
“My name is Aisha Ilphelkiir,” the Hero said intently.
“I am Aer.”
Aisha raised an eyebrow. “Aer… I see. There’s nothing stopping your name from being said. So you shortened it to avoid detection.”
Aer chuckled and before taking another bite of his meal. It was clear Aisha hit the nail on the head the moment he uttered his name. Normally something stopped people from uttering even part of it. Some magical force stopped their mouth from creating the necessary movements. Now she could mutter the demon king’s name with ease. The longer the Hero stared, the more obvious his true form became. Within the hazy aura were long jagged horns and a slender tail. Even the sword on his back had the familiar energy produced by Great Sunderer.
He sighed while wiping his fingers on a rough leaf. “You have grown more confident since our last encounter. Unexpected but that is of no concern.”
“Why. Are. You. Here?” Aisha asked deliberately.
“Much more confident.” Aer studied the woman in front of him and spoke plainly. “Those who inhabit the world must be unified. Do you agree?”
Aisha replied trepidatiously, “Yes.”
“Do you know what is needed to unify wild, manic, and unreliable groups? Power. Something you, me, and my subordinates have. Weaklings of your realm no longer seek to grow in strength. Rather they wait for a powerful being to do everything for them and provide a pittance as a reward.”
He lifted the last remaining piece of bread and tossed it in his mouth. Thinly veiled disgust was apparent to Aisha. But she remained steadfast in her interrogation.
“They give what they have,” she replied.
“Resources taken from those who deserve them. Cowards are an unnecessary plague on your redeemable land. I am here to erase them.” He lightly laid a fist on the table and pointed his index finger at his tablemate. “Your kind — adventurers — have caused a slight hindrance in my plans. Thankfully, Kharim’s actions taught me many things about Vethyea. Sufficient measures will be taken to impart… knowledge on the people of this realm.”
A chill ran down Aisha’s spine as she continued to make eye contact with her adversary. There was no rage nor hatred. Not a single emotion was visible from the king who stood above all others. It didn’t matter if this wasn’t his land. It was clear that to him, it was only a matter of time before it would be.
“Strength should be used to protect those who can’t protect themselves,” the Hero said. The amount of effort put into continuing the conversation was weighing on her but she refused to let it show. “Even people who aren’t powerful in combat have skills in other areas. They provide for the world in their own way.”
Aer replied immediately. “I agree. We will keep them as pets.”
“Doesn’t that go against your purpose of erasing them?”
The demon king hesitated and glared at his opponent. He hated that a smile was tugging at her lips. Even more annoying was that she refused to let it overpower the fierce stare on her face.
With a sigh and a crack of the neck, he continued, “You are correct. I shall opt to simply end their lives. Thank you for convincing me, Hero.”
Now was Aisha’s turn to hesitate. The reactive response backfired as quickly as she expected. It was foolish to succumb to her emotions against such a foe. A deep breath assisted in regaining composure. She rested her right hand on the table and left on the Valefor’s hilt. Though her intent was clear to both people at the table, she did not move to attack.
“What if you were stopped here? Before you can hurt anyone else?” Aisha asked.
Aer cracked a smile. “Do you believe yourself strong enough to defeat me?”
With a tilt of the head, Aisha pointed to her friends. Plates stacked with delicacies sat in front of them. Yet none moved to take a bite. All four stared intensely at the man sitting across from their leader. His identity was only clear thanks to Sariel’s sharp ears and whispered repetition of his words. Each looked ready to pounce at the drop of a hat. Aer moved his head to look past Aisha. Slowly shifting eyes met the gaze of each member of the Hero’s party.
“Your party consists of a wild beast, a weakened dragon, a failed paladin, and your lover.” Aer said and turned towards Aisha, “I ask again; do you believe yourself strong enough to defeat me?”
“Yes,” Aisha answered readily. She was as equally shocked by the words as the demon king. Unfortunately, Aisha’s mask slipped ever so slightly. Enough for Aer to capitalize on it.
He stood up slowly with his arms raised. “Consider this, Aisha. What will happen to this town and the surrounding area if we battle? Are you willing to sacrifice this peaceful hovel in order to challenge me?” When Aisha didn’t answer, he continued. “I assumed so. Allow me to take my leave and we will continue this conversation another day. Give it time and I believe we can come to an agreement.”
With his final words, the demon king turned and walked away. Aisha’s hand still hovered over her blade but it was clear that she wouldn’t grip it. Slow steps carried Aer to the edge of town and around the gate. Once he was out of sight the group rushed towards the exit. None were surprised by their findings or rather lack thereof.
Months passed before the intermittent lightning strikes died down to a monthly occurrence. What became known as the Void Storm phenomenon was obviously linked to the demon king’s return. While many adventurers were aware of his re-emergence, the widespread reach of the storms informed the masses. Less attacks were always a blessing but made more experienced warriors suspicious. Some assumed it meant the locations were strategic while others assumed they were meant for testing purposes. However, all were in agreement that they were only a precursor to a more devastating event.
With fewer attacks, the Hero’s party was able to push forward in Ionzel. But, pushing towards the demon king’s castle while sacrificing innocents went against their beliefs. They spent most of the past months checking on every nearby settlement to make sure they didn’t need help. Progress picked up significantly as more adventurer’s made their presence known. While bolstering their numbers continued to be a topic of discussion, Aisha refused to invite the individuals they crossed.
“They’re able to handle some lowly demons but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to fight whatevers ahead,” she explained. “Every one of them comes out looking exhausted after fighting a few imps.”
“Their abilities will be useful against demonic forces but not on the frontlines. Not against the demon king and his subordinates,” Sariel said.
“Exactly.”
“Aisha, adventurers go on quests knowing the danger they will face. We must provide the opportunity for them to prove themselves,” Vofric insisted.
Kargon hummed. “I think you both have a point. But you’re not considering other pieces of info. Vofric, they need to prove themselves with these fights. They shouldn’t be holding back like we used to. I think that’s where Aisha’s coming from. We need allies who can stand with who we are now.”
“What he said,” Aisha chimed in.
Her beloved turned to her and sighed. “Aisha, you’re also forgetting that they might be weak or tired from helping folks just like we have.”
Kargon stopped abruptly and looked around to make sure no one was listening in. The roads had been relatively empty lately. Carriages still traveled to deliver goods but they had more guards than usual. Bandits were less frequent as well. It was hard to tell if they grew a moral compass or had to deal with demons themselves. Regardless, it allowed for private matters to be spoken about.
“Not to mention, we don’t know if anyone we’ve met is part of Barbatos,” he continued. “From everything I’ve learned about them, I think we could rely on them just a bit. The five of us might be enough for our quest but the demon king’s goals definitely encompass more than we can handle.”
“You’re right,” Aisha conceded.
Their change in relationship had caused more annoyance when Kargon was right. Nevertheless, she couldn’t deny when facts were presented so clearly.
“Sariel, how close are we to the next village? Maybe we can start gathering forces for the trek to the castle.”
The draconic elf carried a folded map in her traveling pack but it was mainly a courtesy. By now she’d memorized much of what was marked. Obviously some things were incorrect based on settlements they’d visited or ones that didn’t get saved. But based on the parchment a village would be up ahead. Sariel sprouted her wings and took to the sky. By now she could fly for a few minutes but only seconds were needed when surveying the land. Upon landing she spoke up.
“The sounds of battle are clear. However there is no panic nor collateral damage. We should arrive momentarily.”
Aisha always took the lead with her lightning fast speed. Sariel followed closely behind with Avant on her tail. Mounted atop the beast was Vofric and running alongside him, Kargon. By the time they reached the town of Maccfeld it was obvious why no civilian was scared. Metal clashed against bone as a swordsman deftly blocked a demon on the verge of attacking a bystander. With a smooth tilt of the blade, he parried the creature and cut through it. Defeated monsters littered the floor around the sole warrior. He flourished his blade and sheathed it on his back to the sound of cheers and applause.
The party watched in silence as he was offered food and a place to rest. Graciously accepting a meal but smoothly mentioning his need to depart showed this was a common interaction for him. Villagers gave him reverence for a few minutes before departing to deal with the corpses. Some returned to their busy lives but gave him praise as they passed. It was peculiar watching the event from the outside. Especially after having experienced it dozens of times themselves.
“A good candidate?” Vofric asked. The wariness in his voice didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t from fear of displeasing Aisha. Rather something was nagging at him and he didn’t bother hiding it from his friends.
“I want to talk to him alone. But I need you to stay close without it looking weird,” Aisha replied.
Kargon nodded his head towards the outdoor seating of the tavern where the swordsman was relaxing. “Let’s get lunch.”
The group split up with Aisha still standing near the village entrance. Something about how she was approaching the encounter bothered Kargon. Not because she wanted to talk to the man alone. Rather it was as if she was preparing for a fight. The natural combative stance she had became more active. Inches above her sword hilt rested her left hand. Even as the party sat down and ordered, Kargon kept an eye on his partner.
Unlike the others, Aisha didn’t have a nagging feeling. She knew exactly what made her hesitate. In order to detect magic she perpetually pushed mana through her prosthetic eye. The purple glow was dim when using the conduit in such a way. It was difficult to see from outside. But it saw everything Aisha needed. Such as a dark outpouring of mana endlessly cascading off the mysterious swordsman. She’s only seen it once before. But she found herself less hesitant to engage this time. She strode forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down confidently. There was no nonchalance and the man looked at her curiously.
“What brings you here?” Aisha asked directly.
“I have no idea what you mean. I’m simply traveling through Ionzel and happened upon a town which needed assistance,” the man replied. “Thankfully, my abilities were enough to protect the people here.”
“That’s a lot of words to say you don’t understand the point of my question. You should try shortening up those answers if you want a lie to be believable.”
The man narrowed his eyes and took a slow bite of the sandwich in his hands. Chewing food never looked as threatening as he made it. He craned his head back and swallowed before looking back down. A wide grin appeared on his face as he stared into Aisha’s eyes.
“Magic detection, I see. Commendable. I see why you are Kharim’s successor,” the man said.
“My name is Aisha Ilphelkiir,” the Hero said intently.
“I am Aer.”
Aisha raised an eyebrow. “Aer… I see. There’s nothing stopping your name from being said. So you shortened it to avoid detection.”
Aer chuckled and before taking another bite of his meal. It was clear Aisha hit the nail on the head the moment he uttered his name. Normally something stopped people from uttering even part of it. Some magical force stopped their mouth from creating the necessary movements. Now she could mutter the demon king’s name with ease. The longer the Hero stared, the more obvious his true form became. Within the hazy aura were long jagged horns and a slender tail. Even the sword on his back had the familiar energy produced by Great Sunderer.
He sighed while wiping his fingers on a rough leaf. “You have grown more confident since our last encounter. Unexpected but that is of no concern.”
“Why. Are. You. Here?” Aisha asked deliberately.
“Much more confident.” Aer studied the woman in front of him and spoke plainly. “Those who inhabit the world must be unified. Do you agree?”
Aisha replied trepidatiously, “Yes.”
“Do you know what is needed to unify wild, manic, and unreliable groups? Power. Something you, me, and my subordinates have. Weaklings of your realm no longer seek to grow in strength. Rather they wait for a powerful being to do everything for them and provide a pittance as a reward.”
He lifted the last remaining piece of bread and tossed it in his mouth. Thinly veiled disgust was apparent to Aisha. But she remained steadfast in her interrogation.
“They give what they have,” she replied.
“Resources taken from those who deserve them. Cowards are an unnecessary plague on your redeemable land. I am here to erase them.” He lightly laid a fist on the table and pointed his index finger at his tablemate. “Your kind — adventurers — have caused a slight hindrance in my plans. Thankfully, Kharim’s actions taught me many things about Vethyea. Sufficient measures will be taken to impart… knowledge on the people of this realm.”
A chill ran down Aisha’s spine as she continued to make eye contact with her adversary. There was no rage nor hatred. Not a single emotion was visible from the king who stood above all others. It didn’t matter if this wasn’t his land. It was clear that to him, it was only a matter of time before it would be.
“Strength should be used to protect those who can’t protect themselves,” the Hero said. The amount of effort put into continuing the conversation was weighing on her but she refused to let it show. “Even people who aren’t powerful in combat have skills in other areas. They provide for the world in their own way.”
Aer replied immediately. “I agree. We will keep them as pets.”
“Doesn’t that go against your purpose of erasing them?”
The demon king hesitated and glared at his opponent. He hated that a smile was tugging at her lips. Even more annoying was that she refused to let it overpower the fierce stare on her face.
With a sigh and a crack of the neck, he continued, “You are correct. I shall opt to simply end their lives. Thank you for convincing me, Hero.”
Now was Aisha’s turn to hesitate. The reactive response backfired as quickly as she expected. It was foolish to succumb to her emotions against such a foe. A deep breath assisted in regaining composure. She rested her right hand on the table and left on the Valefor’s hilt. Though her intent was clear to both people at the table, she did not move to attack.
“What if you were stopped here? Before you can hurt anyone else?” Aisha asked.
Aer cracked a smile. “Do you believe yourself strong enough to defeat me?”
With a tilt of the head, Aisha pointed to her friends. Plates stacked with delicacies sat in front of them. Yet none moved to take a bite. All four stared intensely at the man sitting across from their leader. His identity was only clear thanks to Sariel’s sharp ears and whispered repetition of his words. Each looked ready to pounce at the drop of a hat. Aer moved his head to look past Aisha. Slowly shifting eyes met the gaze of each member of the Hero’s party.
“Your party consists of a wild beast, a weakened dragon, a failed paladin, and your lover.” Aer said and turned towards Aisha, “I ask again; do you believe yourself strong enough to defeat me?”
“Yes,” Aisha answered readily. She was as equally shocked by the words as the demon king. Unfortunately, Aisha’s mask slipped ever so slightly. Enough for Aer to capitalize on it.
He stood up slowly with his arms raised. “Consider this, Aisha. What will happen to this town and the surrounding area if we battle? Are you willing to sacrifice this peaceful hovel in order to challenge me?” When Aisha didn’t answer, he continued. “I assumed so. Allow me to take my leave and we will continue this conversation another day. Give it time and I believe we can come to an agreement.”
With his final words, the demon king turned and walked away. Aisha’s hand still hovered over her blade but it was clear that she wouldn’t grip it. Slow steps carried Aer to the edge of town and around the gate. Once he was out of sight the group rushed towards the exit. None were surprised by their findings or rather lack thereof.
