Story: 366th Overlord (all chapters)

Chapter One

               Was this real? Arilyn looked up. Clouds of steel blurred her vision as she tried to study the distorted blob in the sky. The other souls passed by her, not noticing the apparition in the sky. When the clouds finally parted she shook her head, deeming the apparition contrived by her imagination.

               She turned around and continued onward. Her golden locks swayed just below her shoulder blades as she moved with the stream of souls. It had been a long journey and one she continued with no end in sight.

               She winced a little as she remembered hazily of how she got here; obviously, she had to have died to get here but for some reason, if she tried to remember, her mind would snap back as if she was touching a red, hot iron. The blistering-like aftereffect in her mind would then have her scrambling to conjure up a pair of azure eyes. Those gentle, stoical eyes always calmed her; to whom those eyes belonged, she could not recall.

               Nearby a wavy image of a boy convulsing and wheezing appeared. She passed him indifferently, like so many she had done before, for she knew it was soon for him to make his long journey in the afterlife.

               Another one comes to this gilded wasteland, she thought.

               Arilyn lowered her golden eyes. The afterlife was not what she had expected. At least not like this where she followed a line of souls for how long she knew not of. The land of the dead itself was bleak and life sucking; slates of grey dunes and monochromatic horizons, a far cry from the descriptions she heard or perhaps it was because she hadn’t reach Yaaru, the utopia of the dead?  

               She had never doubted the words of the Isiana Order. The priests and priestesses, wrapped in their distinct blue robes, preached all over Landoa of the teachings of the great goddess, Isiana, the giver and protector of life. They said all who followed the Code of Isiana would be granted entrance to her throne, Yaaru. But where is it? Why is she still walking? She had followed the Code. That she was certain.

               Then the apparition appeared again, further in the horizon, but this time she saw a face. A strange looking face that bore a resemblance to her race yet there was something not quite right. She had stopped to ponder on this, when she realized that she was not standing on solid ground.

               She looked down and to her horror, found herself sinking into a black puddle. She tried to run but it only made it worse and she sunk faster than if she stood still. She wailed wildly to grab onto the other souls but her hands went through them.

               How can this be? I am dead as them yet I pass through them as if I was living?

               Now shadowy hands rose from the dark puddle and grabbed her arms like leeches. She screamed for help but the other souls did not hear her. She tried again to free herself but a giant hand wooshed upward and pulled her through the dark puddle….

% % %

               Arilyn awoke and shielded her eyes from the blazing light from above.

               “Wow, it worked,” said an astonished voice.

               She turned her head to see who it was that was speaking.

               It’s that woman I saw in the sky!

               Looking down on her with ruby eyes was a tan skinned woman wearing a sheen long coat. The woman bent forward letting strands of her red-streaked black hair fall off her shoulders. She poked Arilyn’s arm with her black nailed finger.

               “You are real! I did it!” shouted the woman and she smiled wide, showing a small pair of fangs. “I can’t wait for those monsters to hear what I just did!”

               “Who are you?” whispered Arilyn.

               “Ah, I’m sorry Miss for informalities. My names is Jayashri but you can just call me Jaya.” The woman bowed while tucking her hair behind her pointy hairy ears.

               Hairy ears? Arilyn propped herself up with her elbows and stared at Jaya. Then she looked around the room. It was white stoned with a floating light hanging from above of which she wasn’t sure was flame driven. In front of her was an oaked door with an iron skull as a doorknob.

               For the platform she was lying on, it was made from the same material as the walls. There was a small desk with an opened book propped on it on the other side of the room. Her eyes then trailed back to Jaya. “Oh, um, my name is Arilyn. Where am I? Is this Yaaru?” She asked. She was confused. The room and Jaya did not have that sense of death.

               “Well, firstly, I brought you back from the dead,“ said Jaya so causally.

               “What?”

               “You’re alive. I resurrected you.” Jaya thumped her chest proudly.

               Arilyn could not believe what she was hearing. Alive? Was this a trick? Before she could ask how, rapid thumps on the door shook the room. Jaya cursed in a strange language that she never heard of and she had studied all the languages in Landoa. A shouting and rambling of foreign sounds came from the other side of the door.

               Jaya pulled off her coat and offered it to Arilyn. “Here, put this on.”

               Arilyn looked at the coat confused at first but quickly realized that she was naked! She hurriedly sat up and putted on the coat. Another blaze of shouting and Jaya moved quickly to open the door.

               A slender woman with pale skin, jet black eyes, and silver hair stood angrily in the door way. Jaya was tensed despite towering the silver-haired woman by a foot. Some words were exchanged and Jaya smiled broadly, nudging her chin at Arilyn. The silver-haired woman looked at Arilyn and then at the book on the desk.

               Without warning, the other woman jumped up and wacked Jaya on the head with a mighty fist. Then more words, Arilyn assumed were curses, spouted out of the shorter woman. Jaya shielded herself as the silver-haired woman wacked her three more times. Then the silver-haired woman turned to Arilyn.

               “You are from Landoa?” asked the silver-haired woman with an accent.

               Arilyn nodded slowly. She noticed that the silver-haired woman had hairy ears like Jaya but were not pointy.

               The silver-haired woman bowed. “My name is Harduke Lamart. I deeply apologized for my student’s recklessness. It seems that she practiced forbidden magic and has plucked you out of your journey in the underworld and brought you here,” she said.

               “Here?” asked Arilyn.

               Harduke sighed. “You are of Elven blood aren’t you?”

               “Yes,” said Arilyn and was about to add that she was a princess when Harduke said something that brought chills down her back.

               “We are what you call demons in Landoa,” said Harduke quietly. “This is the land of the demons, Arangkor. Beyond the Chasm that separates this land from Landoa by Isiana. ”

               Arilyn mouth went dry.

               “Please come with mer12;“

               “Her name is Arilyn,” interrupted Jaya.

               Harduke turned and gave a threatening glance at Jaya who casted her eyes to the ground.

               Harduke continued. “Please come with me Miss Arilyn. I have to take you to our Overlord as this is beyond my remedy.”

               Arilyn hesitated. They were demons? Harduke and Jaya did not look like the sickly creatures that hounded Landoa but when she squinted her eyes, she felt her blood went cold. Harduke’s and Jaya’s auras were red, a sign that meant they had no protection from any gods; this also meant that Jaya and Harduke were undeniably demons.

               Harduke sensed Arilyn’s apprehension. “Miss Arilyn, I assure you we will not hurt you. We are not the same as those demons that your people have encountered. We are civilized demons,” said she and let out a hand.

               Arilyn looked at the hand. The words ‘civilized demons’ echoed awkwardly in her mind, but what choice does she has now? They certainly seem nice. If they were going to do anything evil to me they would have done it already, she thought. Then again…reluctantly, she took Harduke’s hand and was surprised how gentle they were as she scooted off the stone table.

                Harduke led the elven princess out of the door as Jaya followed silently while rubbing her head.

               They walked down an open corridor and Arilyn took in the scenery like some strange dream. Giant creatures in black robes gaped at them as they passed by. Some of them certainly looked like the sickly demons in Landoa and some not. She caught the sight of a humanoid creature with one huge eye amiably talking to another humanoid with butterfly like wings. Others she saw had long necks that moved snake like.

               After many turns and false doors, they finally arrived at a grand stone door. Jaya, who had been silent, spoke something in their language to Harduke.

               “No, you are coming into the throne room,” replied Harduke in Landoanian.

               Jaya sighed.

               “Speak your mother’s tongue so our guest can understand everything as this concern her,” added Harduke and opened the door.

               Arilyn now believed that they were certainly civilized. The throne room was golden and exotic plants decorated the sides. A breezy lofty smell weaved into the room through huge arched open windows. Statues of beautiful austere decorated the pathway to the throne.

               At first glance, Arilyn was uncertain if the demon on the throne was a man or a woman. Though she had found this demon to be very beautiful with lush crimson hair, ruby eyes with long lashes and snow colored skin that sparkled. The demon looked up from reading a scroll as they entered.

               “My Overlord Krshin, I have some unfortunate news,” bowed Harduke.

               “Why are you speaking to me in my wife’s native tongue?” asked Overlord Krshin with a thick accent.

               Male. Definitely male, thought Arilyn after hearing Lord Krshin’s voice. The Overlord’s voice was deep and melodic.

               “Our guest is Landoanian. Elven, specifically. I’m speaking out of respect so that she can understand us,” said Harduke.

               Overlord Krshin looked at Arilyn keenly.“How did she get past the Chasm and the barrier?” he asked in an incredulous tone.

               “Miss Arilyn here did not go through the Chasm. Your daughter revived our guest from the River of the Dead,” said Harduke.

               “What?” bellowed Lord Krshin and almost dropped his scroll. He stood up and Arilyn figured he was at least seven and a half feet tall.

               “I-I’m sorry, pa,” stuttered Jaya and hid behind Arilyn. “It won’t happen again.”

               Overlord Krshin walked down from his throne with such fury that Arilyn almost wanted to run out of the room immediately. Harduke lifted her palm up to stop the Overlord in his track.

               “Please, do not be so angry with Jaya. It is as much of my fault. I should’ve watched her more closely,” said Harduke and she kneeled onto one knee. “We can think of my punishment later but we must think of a way out of this gravity.”

               Krshin anger subsided. “Harduke, I will not punish you,” he said softly but shot a look at Jaya who knelt down at once.

               “What were you trying to do, Jaya?” asked Krshin.

               “I, I, wanted to do something grand,” mumbled Jaya.

               “What?” shouted Krshin.        

               “Your temper, Overlord. We have a Landoanian. We don’t want the lovely guest from fainting from your fury,” warned Harduke and winked at Arilyn.

               She is smooth. Assuaging her lord and flirting with me at the same time, thought Arilyn.

               Krshin sighed heavily. “What did you say, Jaya?” he asked more calmly.

               “I wanted to do something never done before. I, y’know,” said Jaya quietly. “I just wanted people to be impressed.”

                Krshin rubbed his temples. “You’ve certainly accomplished that. No one of Arangkor or even Landoa had brought someone from the dead back. Couldn’t you resurrected her in Landoa or brought someone back who is Arangkorian? We have a citizen of Landoa here. Isiana will be furious.”

               “Perhaps, m’lord, do you know any spell to return our guest back onto her journey in the River of the Dead?” asked Harduke who now stood up.

               “Maybe we should ask the numskull who did the deed,” said Krshin curtly.

               “Er, it’s a one way spell…there’s no reverse spell,” answered Jaya meekly who was still kneeling.

               “Well, we can kill her. That’ll do the trick,” suggested Krshin.

               “Kill?” asked Arilyn shockingly.

               “Oh, it’ll be painless. Take your pick: poison, hanging, head chop…etc. Any way you want to die. We can’t be having you here. Isiana would be furious that we broke our promise again and I do not want that vile goddess making war with us right now. I have other problems to deal with,” explained Krshin. “Besides, you want to continue with your journey, right?”

               Arilyn was at a lost to answer. Death was a calm surreal but living was not devoid of touch, smell and taste. In death she could not experience these senses and she missed them dearly. Only the senses of sight and hearing were the same for both living and the dead.

               “Well, what will it be?” asked Krshin.

               Before Arilyn could answer, Jaya stood up and looked up at her father. “No. She will not die! She stays here,” she declared.

               “Young pup, you are already in much trouble. Don’t make me make your punishment more severe,” said Krshin.

               “Hey, you have Ma. Isn’t that already breaking it?” protested Jaya.

               Harduke let out a long whistle. “She got you there. Like father like daughter.”

               “Can’t we just take her over the Chasm to Landoa?” asked Jaya.

               Krshin shook his head. “Impossible. Goddess Isiana has banned all citizens of Arangkor from even approaching the Chasm with a barrier after I brought your Ma over here. Besides, we can’t be interfering with life and death.” He turned to Arilyn. “The choice is up to you, Miss. What will it be? I’ll respect your decision whatever you decide.”

               I should say yes but then again… A memory of a hand slapping her flashed through her mind. “I dunno,” she answered.

               “Well, if you’re not going to decide now then might as well live here until you decide to return to the dead or not,” Krshin turned to Jaya. “Jayashri S’mraoha III, as punishment you have to take care of the guest.”

               Jaya smiled at the prospect of not having a real punishment.

               “However,” continued Krshin, “you will meet every needs she has until she decides. Till then you are her slave.”

               “What?” shouted Jaya. “I am not going to submit to someone who isn’t even a demon!”

               Krshin ignored Jaya and turned to Arilyn. “What is your name, guest?”

               “Arilyn,” she answered.

               “Well, Arilyn, give me your left hand,” said Krshin.

               Arilyn obeyed and lifted her left hand upward for the Overlord to take into his hand.

               “I apologize in advance. This may hurt,” said Krshin as he bent down and whispered some words over her left hand.

               Arilyn grimaced as a burning sensation shot through her hand. A rune in the shape of a wolf’s head appeared on her backhand and then disappeared into her skin. The pain ceased when Krshin let her hand go.

               “Snap your finger with your left hand,” ordered Krshin.

               She did so and immediately Jaya was on the ground writhing in pain. Arilyn was taken aback.

               “Snap twice with the same hand in quick session to make it stop,” said Krshin.

               Arilyn quickly did so. She did not want to inflict pain.

               “Just in case my daughter doesn’t comply I have given you complete authority over her. If she misbehaves you have a way to punish her,” said Krshin.

               What kind of sadistic spell is this? thought Arilyn.

               Jaya got up and dusted herself off.

               “Well now my young pup, go show Miss Arilyn around. She’s probably hungry from returning from the dead,” said Krshin.

               “Yes, pa,” replied Jaya gloomily. “Come this way,” she said to Arilyn and led the elven princess out of the throne room.

               Harduke chuckled lightly.

               “What’s so funny?” asked Krshin as he returned to his throne.

               “That wasn’t a punishment,” said Harduke.

               Krshin arched an eyebrow.

               “Hmm, I thought that was a marvelous punishment,” responded Krshin.

               “Oh no, old friend,” said Harduke and she wiggled her right index finger.

               “If it wasn’t punishment, then what did I do?” asked Krshin in bewilderment.

               “You just sealed their fates forever,” smiled Harduke impishly.

               “Hmm, is that so? Well now, we’ll see how it’ll play out then?” said Krshin and leaned into the back of his chair.

Chapter Two

               Arilyn and Jaya were back in the corridor but the elven princess noticed that it was now empty. “Where have all the…,” Arilyn hesitated. Should she say demons?  She could not separate the word from its connotations in her mind. All her life she had only known demons as evil and savages. She had seen the devastations the demons brought on villages at home and stood by her sister, Queen of her people, to watch the funeral processions of those killed by them…an image of cold stone walls flashed in her mind and she felt her heart accelerated in fear.

               Jaya looked down at the elven with a concern look. “Class is in session,” she said slowly. “Is that making you uncomfortable?”

               Arilyn closed her eyes and shook her head. “No,” she said quickly as she pushed the image away from her mind. “What was it you said again? Class in sessions?”

               “Yeah, it’s teaching time.”

               “Teaching?” Arilyn was confused. She had assumed that this was the Overlord’s home not a school.

               “Yes, is that strange to you that we like to learn?” asked Jaya with a slight annoyed tone.

               “I didn’t think that your father, an Overlord, would live in a school. This is a school, right?”

               “Yes and no,” answered Jaya. She motioned the elf to follow her down the corridor and she continued. “Pa wanted to keep an eye on me as I hone my craft so he made the school move into his palace.”  They rounded a corner. “So it’s a school until I become a master mage.”

               Arilyn raised an eyebrow. “I can see why he needed to keep an eye on you.”

               Jaya blushed despite her complexion as they stopped in front of a white arched door. “Bwahaha, enough about me! Let’s get something for you to eat. I can hear your stomach growling,” she said quickly.

               Growling? Arilyn looked down at her stomach and felt, as if for the first time, her stomach rumbling. She had been preoccupied with questions that she did not realize her own hunger.

               Jaya parted the door. “Sit anywhere you like. I’ll go get food for you.”

               The elven princess stood in wonder. Before her was a room that had marbled floors decked with crystal tables and matching chairs. She took a step in to realize the bathing light was from above, filtering through a huge glass-ceiling dome.

               Jaya went into the room and traveled to the back to disappear behind another door. “I really mean it. Sit anywhere you like or do you prefer to stand and eat?”

               Arilyn, still awed, picked a table that was position under the center of the glass dome. Lofty clouds passed over her and she smiled. So they have a sky here too. It had occurred to her how much she missed seeing the blue skies after traveling under the grey skies of the underworld for so long. She continued to admire the sky until Jaya appeared juggling a plate, towel and bowl.

               “Sorry, this is all I could find that was left after breakfast,” said Jaya. She went over to the elf and placed the items on the table.

               Arilyn found the smell from the plate intoxicating and her mouth automatically salivated even though she had no idea what it was in front of her. She stared at the plate of food and searched for utensils.

               “Oh, I forgot drinks. I’ll go bring you some wine,” said Jaya who had misinterpreted Arilyn’s expression. She got up and went back into the backdoor. After a short moment, she returned with a cup and a shiny pitcher. “Is the food not good?” she asked as she poured the elf a cup of wine.

               “It smells very delicious but I need utensils,” answered Arilyn.

               “Utensils? Why need them when your hands are good enough?”

               “Hands?”

               “Oh,” Jaya thumped herself on the head with the base of her right palm, “you Landoanians eat another way. Here, let me show you. First you wash your hands in the bowl over there and dry them with the towel.” She pointed to the items. “Then you use your thumb, index and middle food to grab food and put it in your mouth like this,” she instructed and slowly pantomime the action.       

               The elven princess mused. Jaya looked ridiculous but she wasn’t going to tell that to the demon yet.

               “What’s so funny? I know using hands is different but I think it’s the best utensil in the world because they’re with you all the time, er, unless you got your hands chopped off. Then you might end up using your feet instead, ”said Jaya and then she scratched her head. “Hmm, but if your feet gets cut off too then I guess using utensil would a good idea but then you can’t ‘cuz you got no hands! Or feet? I think I just confused myself…I can steal my Ma’s utensils if you want. She hasn’t quite gotten away from that.”

               “It’s alright.” Arilyn proceeded to put her hand into the bowl and dry her hands with the towel. “I assume that your mother is elven, from my world…so that makes you half elven?”

               Another image flashed in the elf’s mind, one of someone important to her she had left behind, turning to the side and exposing semi-angular ears. She pressed her right forefingers against her golden brow and shook the image away for it stirred something painful.

               “Yes, I happened to be half elven but I am a demon. Demon. Hey, are you really fine? Do you hurt anywhere? Because you shouldn’t,” said Jaya and, with her forefinger, traced a symbol that glowed red momentarily before dissipating over Arilyn. “Just as I figured. You’re fine.”

               “No, I’m not fine. Nothing is fine. It hurts! Oh goddess, it hurts!” A voice screamed inside of Arilyn’s head. Sounds, faces, and voices all burst in her mind. Traitor…betray…I betrayed her. It’s all my fault! Pain swept over her and, before she knew it, she was weeping uncontrollably.

               “Crap, crap! I’m so sorry! Don’t cry,” panicked Jaya. “It was just a simple scanning spell! I promise I’ll ask before I do it again, if ever.” The demon had assumed it was her fault.

               “Kuku, a pretty flower should never shed tears of sadness but only happiness. Did Jaya make you cry?” asked Harduke who stood at the entrance.

               Jaya raised her hands. “I didn’t do anything! I just scanned her to see if she was alright and she started crying! I swear I’m innocent.” She did not want another punishment.

               Harduke walked over to them and laid a hand on Arilyn’s shoulder gently. “It must have been painful your other life,” she said softly.

               Arilyn slowly looked up and managed to take control of herself. She stared at the silver-haired demon as if she was asking for help but she could not remember what? What was she crying? All she could remember was hearing Jaya apologizing.

               “Good?” smiled Harduke and took out a handkerchief and handed it to the elf.

               Arilyn took it and wiped her eyes. “Yeah, I think I’m good,” she said.

               “So I didn’t make you cry?” asked Jaya but Harduke eyed her. “Scratch what I said.”

               “Miss Arilyn, I had prepared a room for you. Would you like to go there and rest? I don’t think you’re hungry right now,” said Harduke.

               Arilyn nodded numbly, still trying to figure out what had pained her so much.

               “Good, that’s settled. Jaya, take our guest to her room I’ve prepared. It is the one with the lily carved door not far from here. Afterward, the Lady wishes to have a word with you about your transgression,” said Harduke.

               “Aww, c’mon! Ma, too? It’s already bad enough Pa made me a slave to the very being I resurrected! How embarrassing is that?” complained Jaya. “Everyone is going to make fun of me.”

               “Young pup, every action has a consequence. The laws of life have been disrupted. You have little to worry than just a mere punishment from the Overlord. Now do as you’re told lest you wish to feel my wrath.” Harduke turned to elven princess and quickly pecked a kiss on Arilyn’s cheek.

               “Hey!” shouted Jaya.

               Arilyn could feel herself burning red. This one is bold and shameless! she thought.

               “A gift from me. It is a spell to help you understand our language just in case you decide to wonder about,” grinned Harduke.

               “You could’ve just kissed her hand!” blurted Jaya.

               “Kiss on hand, kiss on cheek, same thing,” said Harduke nonchalantly. “Miss Arilyn, I’ll leave you to Jaya’s care.” she bowed and exited the room.

               Jaya blew hot air out of her nostrils. “Perv.” She nudged her chin at Arilyn as she noticed the elf was looking at her. “What?”

               “Are you two…lovers?” the elven princess asked and tried to sound causal.

               Jaya almost gagged. “Lovers? No way! She helped raised me up when I was a pup.”

               “Oh, sorry, I had assumed because you seem upset about,” Arilyn yawned and her eyes felt heavy.

               “Your body needs rest.” Jaya stood up and helped Arilyn to her feet. “I’ll take you to your room.”

               Arilyn nodded and let Jaya lead her out of the room. The corridor was once again empty but now as they passed by the doors, thanks to Harduke’s spell, she could understand the lecturing voices. It seemed they were preparing for an upcoming celebration and were preparing for it, which reminded her of home when the elves, humans and even the reclusive dwarves came together to celebrate the day of Isiana.

               “I never would dream demons could be people,” she commented, still getting use to the idea of civilized demons.

               “You thought we were savages that did evil things all the time,” smirked Jaya as they went into an open hallway decorated with green stones and deep purple tapestries. “Ma thought the same with Pa when she first came here as I heard from Harduke.”

               The elven princess’ ears perked up with interest.  “How did that come about? Your mother?” She was curious that anybody would cross, let alone be able to, over. The Chasm, the mark of evil on Landoa according to her Elders, was a forbidden and impassable place. “Considering the Chasm is where you people come out and kill us.” She cringed a little for she meant it to not sound harsh.

               Jaya still kept her smirk, unperturbed by Arilyn’s comment, as they stopped in front of a door. “First thing first. We are not like those monsters, albeit we have the same bodies but we posses a heart and mind and, by Isiana’s tits, a soul too.”

               “I didn’t mean to sound harsh but demons on Landoa kill people.”

               “Monsters,” corrected Jaya. “Those are monsters. They kill us over here too, y’know, before Isiana erected her barrier.”

               Arilyn became quiet. She was a bit embarrassed by her ignorance and decided not to ask more questions for now. She was terribly tired.

               “Here’s your room.” Jaya opened the door.

               The room was a big with silky brocade tapestries that hung at the crown moldings. At the center was a round bed with overhangs of see through organza. At the foot of the bed was a blue chest and between the bed and a window was a small stand with a round-lighted object on top.

               Arilyn approached the bed and she could see white undergarments and a silky silver dress laid out for her next to some fluffy pillows.

               “The bathing room is across from you just in cased you need to wash yourself. On the right of the bathing room is the privy room when you need to release yourself. Yell out my name if you need me,” said Jaya and gave a low bow. “I’ll see you later.” She left the room and closed the door.

                Arilyn wandered about her room and touched the tapestries; they had a wonderful soft touch and she wondered what the demons used to make them for they were not silk as much as she observed.

               By the goddess, I must stop thinking they’re terrible. Terrible….Arilyn shook her head again. She didn’t want to remember what the word terrible invoked.

               To keep her mind from thinking, she went to the window and moved a curtain away. Outside was a marvelous garden with giant flowers, trees that had been snipped into shapes and vines that gnarled about. There was a water fountain made from marble that shimmered under the light sky.

               Arilyn heaved deeply and took in the fresh air.

               It’s good to be living. she thought as she averted her mind to more happier thoughts.

               She turned around and took off the coat that Jaya gave her earlier. She folded it neatly and putted away in the chest. Then she took up the silver dress and undergarments and wore them. “Perfect. That Harduke has good eyes,” she commented. The dress and undergarments fitted her like a glove. She yawned again. “Hmm, that’s something I haven’t done for a long time.”

               She plopped onto her bed and slept away.

%%%

               She dreamt of a tall amour-clad woman with bright blue eyes that pierced the darkness around her. She knew who this woman was.

               “Goddess Isiana,” whispered Arilyn.

               The goddess did not respond but instead casted her eyes down in sadness.

               “What’s wrong?” asked Arilyn alarmingly.

               The goddess did not speak and shook her head. “All things shall now come to pass,” said the goddess in a silky voice. Then she silently turned around and faded into the black background.

               From a distance Arilyn heard a celestial voice, one that did not belong to the goddess, and it spoke with nostalgic tones:

Under the unparalleled sky

Riding the waves of the Unknown

Climbing over white-capped Mountains

Passing by--high and wide--,

We walk side by side

Our hands touching

As we gaze both Sun and Moon.

               “That is beautiful,” said Arilyn and she found herself captivated by the voice and swaying at each undulating vowels and consonants. It soothed her soul with a strange warmth. For all that has happened to her up until now, faded out for just that moment of peace.

                She felt a small wind creeping over her face and light breaking into the darkness with fast clarity. Right before the brightness over took her entire vision, in the corner in of her eyes, she saw a woman with red eyes and silver hair looking out as if she was reminiscing some past….

               Arilyn was so startled that she brought her right knee right into Jaya’s gut. Jaya flung off of her and came crashing onto the stone floor. She sat up quickly while Jaya cradled her stomach. “Jaya, what were you doing?” she demanded.

               “Goddamn it, that was one hell of a kick,” said Jaya as she finally collected herself and sat on the floor cross legged. “Bah! Pa’s spell makes me writhe in pain if I’m more than a half a mile away. I couldn’t even go back to my room so I had to sleep in your room. Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you up so I slept on the floorr12;“

               “No, I meant what were you doing on top of me!” asked Arilyn angrily.

               “Hey, I couldn’t sleep! Some blasted noise kept me up and I was looking for the source for hours until I realized it was from you!” Jaya’s voice was rising with matching anger. “So I was on top of you looking how the hell you can make a noise while you’re sleeping! Then you woke up and kicked me in the gut. Gah! You Landoanians are weird!”

               “What noise?” quizzed Arilyn.

               “This noise,” said Jaya and she sucked in air through her nose. “So horrible sounding. I thought my ears were going to burst!”

               Arilyn let out a wild laugh. Jaya was not amused.

               “That’s snoring,” said Arilyn while flickering a tear from her eyes.

               “Snoring?” said Jaya and she made a silly face.

               “Some people do it while they’re sleeping. It’s natural so I can’t help it. Don’t demons snore?” asked Arilyn.

               “Of course not! We don’t make such ghastly sounds,” answered Jaya and she rubbed her ears.

               Arilyn looked around and noticed that it was early morning. “Did I sleep the day way?”

               Jaya nodded. “And the night away,” she added.

               Suddenly, Arilyn’s stomach growled ferociously and Jaya’s ears perked up.

               “Want breakfast?” asked Jaya. “You didn’t eat yesterday so you’re probably famish.”

               “Yes, I would like to,” said Arilyn.

               Jaya stood up and brushed herself off. “It’s a little early for the cooks to be out so we have to cook our own food.”

               “Cook our own food?” asked Arilyn distastefully. As princess of her elven kingdom, such jobs were suited for others. Besides, she hated doing anything that resembled chores or anything that required much physical exertion for the matter.

               “Yeah. Not really a big deal. I’m pretty good at it. Heck,” Jaya smiled and wiggled her furry ears, “I was voted best chef for two years in a row!”

               Arilyn made a wicked smile and leaned back on her puffy pillows with hands behind her head as it occurred to that Jaya was her slave. “Well, now that you are my slave. You first have to address me as ‘Master Arilyn.’”

               Jaya lips thinned. “Hell no.”

               Arilyn lifted her left hand.

               “Okay! Master Arilyn it is,” grumbled Jaya.

               “Good, my slave. Now go cook me something delicious and bring it back here,” ordered Arilyn.

               “I can’t. The kitchen is more than a half of mile away so you have to come with me,” said Jaya dryly.

               “It’s that far away?” asked Arilyn as she recalled it didn’t really take that long to get from where they ate to where her room is.

               “Of course! It’s across the courtyard. We were at the eating hall when we ate yesterday. The cooks make the food and deliver them to the back room of the eating hall at certain intervals,” explained Jaya. “Besides, if we go to the kitchen we’ll get to see Harduke mediating in the courtyard and I want to ask her something.”

               Arilyn smiled. She wanted to meet the silver-haired demon again and was curious to know more about her.

               “So, we go?” asked Jaya irritatingly.

               “Carry me,” said Arilyn.

               “What?” shouted Jaya. She was not use to be treated that way.

               “Don’t make me repeat myself, slave,” said Arilyn.

               Jaya growled and picked up Arilyn.

               “Gentle,” commanded Arilyn.

               Jaya glared and shifted Arilyn until her master was satisfied.

               “Good?” grunted Jaya.

               Arilyn smiled and nodded her head. “Onward, my slave!”

               Jaya carried Arilyn out of the room.

               A breeze blew the window curtains away. A creature with yellow eyes and scaled skin stood outside of the window. It looked at the door, its tongue flickered in out of its mouth before slipping away.

Chapter Three

               Jaya hated it. Maybe hate was a too strong of a word. She strongly disliked being subservient unless it was Ma, Pa or Harduke. She was the daughter of an Overlord after all and much expected to take after him since…well she rather not think about that person. It brought bad feelings and memories.

               “You know, you make a funny face when you’re angry,” mused Arilyn who was relaxed in her Jaya’s arms. The elf felt more cheerful than yesterday.

               Jaya ignored Arilyn. She is so lucky Pa stuck that stupid spell on me! she thought and then glanced at the elf in her arms. Her eyes soften. Even if her Pa didn’t cast the spell, she’d still do whatever Arilyn wanted. She turned sharply around a small open court and passed the Snowy Mountain faade.

               “Stop walking too fast. I want to take this all in,” said the elf woman who was fascinated by the palace’s decor.

               Jaya ignored the elf again. She changed her mind. Maybe she only do most of whatever Arilyn wanted.

               “Hey, cut that out!” snapped Jaya as she felt a tugging on her right ear. “Don’t touch my ears! I hate it.” She was beginning to regret resurrecting Arilyn. She hadn’t expected the elf to be so aggravating.

               “I can’t help it. It’s so unique,” commented Arilyn and something caught her eye. “Stop here. What is this?” she said and she looked around at the sparkling walls. Above was a circular hole and she wondered what it was for.

               Jaya had to stop and she flared her nostrils. “We are in the Star Trigram area. This is where the star mages conduct their studies and lectures. They also observed the night skies and try to find hidden answers to questions.” Though she thought it was a ridiculous endeavor and she had tried to get her Pa to throw them out. Perhaps, she admitted, she wanted them out was because she was a little upset that they called her theories ridiculous.

               Impossible they said! Bwhaha! I did it! Jaya internally laughed manically. She couldn’t wait to see the faces of those who doubted her. In her arms was proof that it could be done, albeit only one time and probably only by her.

               “Interesting,” nodded Arilyn and then looked down at her stomach. Her stomach moaned. “I really need to eat something. Can you walk faster?”

               “I would be if you not keep telling me to stop at every area,” said Jaya with an attitude but quickly dropped it as she saw Arilyn’s eyes flashed like golden daggers. “To the kitchen we go!“

               Jaya loped off with Arilyn clinging to her at the sudden movement. With in moments they were out of the corridors and into a giant courtyard. The courtyard was the opposite to the fantastic interiors of the palace; it was plain with open ground with statues and shrubs spotted far in between.

               Instantly, Jaya picked up Harduke’s scent and slowed down. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask Harduke a quick question,” she said.

               “Harduke is here?” asked Arilyn.

               Jaya rolled her eyes and walked to a figure statue in the middle of the courtyard. Behind the statue they found Harduke sitting with eyes closed and cross-legged on the dirt.

               Harduke’s silver hair was tied back and her untamed bangs swooshed to the left. She wore her typical grey robes that draped from one shoulder to reveal well-toned shoulders. Beside the demon was a simple iron staff.

               “Harduke,” called out Arilyn as Jaya let her down.

               Harduke opened her eyes and grinned. “Oh, I see Miss Arilyn is taking good advantage of young pup.”

               “Yeah, whatever,” said Jaya agitatedly. “Tell me, how do I break Pa’s spell? I’ve been trying and I can’t seem to be able to.”

               “The spell is what it is, pup. Miss Arilyn only needs to decide if she will go back to the underworld or stay here alive and you’ll be free,” said Harduke.

               “That’s the problem. What if she never makes a decision?” whined Jaya.

               “Then it sucks to be you, pup.” Harduke stood up and beckoned the staff to her hand. She gave Arilyn an up and down look. “Jaya, why haven’t you feed your master yet?”

               “Uh-huh,” chimed in Arilyn and reached up to nip at Jaya’s ear again.

               Jaya yanked her ears from Arilyn’s fingers. “We were just heading to the kitchens. Go back to your meditation, Harduke.” She grabbed Arilyn’s hands. “Hey, I said stop it!”

               “I’m sorry, your ears feels so soft and weird. I can’t help but touch them. Plus I find it amusing when you are angry. Did someone tell you that you make a really funny face when you’re angry?” teased Arilyn.

               “No,” snapped Jaya but it was a lie. Her Pa always told her that she inherited her great-great-grand Ma’s stupid expressions, especially when she got angry. “I’m the Overlord’s daughter! All those who oppose me I crush!” She growled and made a ‘crushing’ gesture by flexing her arms. “Who would dare to tell me so?”

               “Me,” came Arilyn’s quick response.

               Jaya stooped her shoulders and let out a sigh. She could never hurt Arilyn.

               Harduke laughed and leaned on her staff. “Oh how the magnificent fallen, kuku!”

               “Aw, shuddup!” Jaya picked up Arilyn. “I’ll see you later, Harduke.”

               The silver-haired demon watched Jaya and Arilyn disappeared behind a column of trees, paying particular attention to Arilyn. “Hmm, isn’t that interesting, Isiana?” she said to herself and sat back down to continue mediating.

% % %

               With all the banging and angry grunts, Arilyn didn’t think Jaya would make such an elaborate meal. They sat at a nook just outside of the kitchens. She looked over the dishes on the table with satisfaction. Some of the dishes she thought were very similar to the cuisines in the northern part of her kingdom.

               “Oh, I swiped Ma’s utensils when she lectured me yesterday,” drawled Jaya and took out a tiny box from her belt. “I thought you’d need it. Don’t worry, Ma always lose them so she has another set stashed somewhere.”

               “That’s really small for utensils,” said Arilyn and wondered if Jaya had lost her mind. That tiny box could barely hold a coin.

               “That’s because I shrunk it for convenience sake.” Jaya placed the tiny box on the table and murmured something, causing the box to swell and expand until it was the right size.

               “Oh, that’s a very neat trick.” Arilyn had seen magic done by the priests and priestesses of Isiana but those magic were only for healing or destroying demons. Even the mages of other gods were the same. Jaya here seem to do magic for every little thing.

               “Eat,” said Jaya as she took the top of the box off and handed a silver fork and spoon to Arilyn. “I don’t want you to drop dead from starvation.”

               “Thank you,” said Arilyn and then added, “slave.”

               Jaya’s grin turned into a growl.

               Arilyn ignored her and dove into her food. She could feel eyes glaring at her as she went through dish after dish. Either Jaya was a skillful cook or the fact she had been unable to taste since souls can’t physically feel was the reason the food tasted so good. Before she knew it she was stuffed.

               Jaya gaped at her. “I knew you hadn’t eaten for awhile…,” The demon looked at the empty dishes. “Wow, I guess resurrected souls get very hungry.”

               Arilyn leaned back into her chair and patted her stomach. “That was delicious, slave.”

               Jaya sighed, giving up on the idea of having Arilyn stop calling her slave. “Dessert should almost be done.” She flicked her hands and all the empty plates and utensils floated up and back into the kitchen.

               Arilyn had watched the dishes fly away and it disturbed her a little. “You demons here use a lot of magic. How are you, I mean, how do your people do that?” she asked. Despite being elven, she was not good with magic but she knew the basic at least and it involved invoking the power of the gods. Yet how can these demons able to do magic since no gods are aligned with them? There was something sinister about that.

               “We just do,” shrugged Jaya. “It has always been that way in Arangkor and always will be. Isn’t it the same in Landoa?”

               “No,” replied Arilyn quickly. “We channel magic through our gods or more precisely, our magic come from the gods themselves.”

               “So what happens if there are no gods?” asked Jaya. It was a very good question for the demon could not wrap around the idea of begging someone in order to do magic.

               Arilyn thought about Jaya’s question and was stumped. “I have no idea.”

               “Interesting. Mind if I asked you something?”

               “Go ahead.”

               Jaya scratched her chin. “I’ve been meaning to ask when I resurrected you, before Harduke found us. I wanted to know why were you were so sad before?”

               “Sad before?”

               “I watched you--er,” Jaya took a breath, “I wasn’t stalking or anything, but I had been observing you for awhile walking in the underworld and it bugged me that you always looked sad. Why were you?”

               Arilyn hesitated. “That’s because….” She felt her chest tighten and her throat constricting. Why? Why did it hurt when I think about…what happened to me? Azure eyes flashed in her mind and she was no longer sitting in front of Jaya. She wasn’t in Arangkor nor was she walking along to Yaaru in the underworld. She was in her room, alive and well, in the cold city capital of her neighboring kingdom, Bastile.

               There was a loud knocking at her door and she opened it, wondering who would be waking her up from her nap. Gruff hands grabbed her and yanked her out of her room. Bastilian soldiers locked her arms in their grip.

               She looked up to see a tall man with hooded sapphire eyes and dark hair. On his chest hung the regal chain of a lion’s head, a mark of Bastilian royalty.

               “Xavier, what’s the meaning of this?” she shouted.

               Xavier smiled evilly. “For treason.”

               “Under what?” she spat.

               Xavier slapped her. “Conspiracy to overthrow Bastile and assimilate it into Paramecia with the help of our traitorous captain, Allegra,” he announced, bouncing on his heels at every word as if he savored them in his slimy mouth.

               “That’s absurd!” she spat. “Allegra and I are innocent!”

               Xavier slapped her a couple of times and then held her chin up, admiring the way he was destroying that beautiful face. “How do I sum it up? Ah, my father is dead and in his chest is your lover’s sword. Do you think we humans are stupid not to figure it out?” He let go of her chin and smirked.

               “You’re mad,” she said. “Allegra would never kill his majesty! He was a father to her.”

               Xavier’s smirked wiped away and his face grew dark. “Father? That bastard!” He roared and grabbed her by the hair. He marched her down to the dungeons despite her cursing and struggling.

               When she hit the cold stones she was trebling and shrank away from the cell walls. She looked up at the looming shadow beside her, ready to tell him every single thing her sister would do and what shit he was in.

               “Do you think I care about that?” sneered Xavier and kicked her hard in the stomach.

               She cried out in pain and cradled her midsection.

               “Now, we could do this the hard way or the easy way,” he said as he knelt beside her. He took to out a blank fine parchment and a self-inked quill. “Write your confession and make it clear that Allegra had planned this all out.”

               “You’re out of your mind,” she whispered through her cut lips.

               “The hard way it is.”

% % %

               Jaya didn’t wait for the first tear to slide down. She pushed the table away and was at Arilyn’s side, cradling the elven woman in her arms. “Ssh, I’m right here,” she said gently.

               Arilyn buried her face into Jaya’s chest. “I signed it. I was the guilty one,” she cried out.

               Jaya rocked the elf in her arms. “Whatever it is, I know it was not your fault,” she whispered.

               “I did, I did,” Arilyn repeated. She sank further into Jaya’s arm. “I wasn’t strong enough for her.”

               “Kuku, this will not do.” Harduke stood, leaning on her iron staff, under the open archway entrance. On the urged of her hungry, she had come to the kitchens to see if you could get Jaya to cook something for her too but instead witnessed Arilyn’s breakdown. She pushed aside a loose tendril of silver hair behind an ear and knitted her dark eyebrows together. “This pain you carry is unbefitting for someone like you, Arilyn. Let me take part of the pain. It will make living easier.”

               Jaya looked at Harduke with wide eyes. “You can do that?”

               “Of course, pup,” scoffed Harduke. She rested her iron staff on a pillar before squatting in front of Jaya and Arilyn.

               Arilyn lifted her head from Jaya’s arms, trying to stifle the tears.

               “Whaddya say, Miss Arilyn?   Would you let me take upon your pain and suffering?” Harduke repeated her offer.

               “I,” Arilyn’s throat was raw and thick, “it’s not possible.” She looked away and struggled to keep herself whole as another wave of pain passed over her. “That night I wanted to die. I wanted to die so bad!”

               Harduke reached over and gently pulled Arilyn’s chin up. She looked into those golden eyes. “I know how hard to carry such pains alone. If you share them with me, it will be easier to heal,” she said wisely.

               “I want to take then on too,” chimed in Jaya.

               Harduke arched an eyebrow. “You sure about that, pup? You may not be able to handle it.”

               “Even so, I can not stand Arilyn’s sadness. I want to help her,” answered Jaya and looked down guilty. “And it’s my fault that I brought her back….”

               “Spoken as a true S’mraoha!” Harduke nodded approvingly.

               Arilyn shook her head. “Even if what you offer is possible, I can’t ask--“ Harduke hushed her.

               “Say no more.” Harduke nodded to Jaya. “Are you ready, pup?”

               “Yes, Harduke,” replied Jaya firmly.

               Jaya and Harduke placed their hands on Arilyn’s shoulders.

               “Close your eyes, Miss Arilyn,” said Harduke.

                Arilyn did so hesitantly. All of her memories of that horrific night rushed into her mind. Those memories of her torture and her betrayal to the woman she loved ran through her like a hot blade. Allegra, her beloved, a half-elven warrior with azure eyes. How can she ever face Allegra again? Will the warrior forgive her for what she had done? She felt shameful and wanted to shrink away and disappear from the world forever.

               Be strong, came Harduke’s voice.

               Arilyn suddenly felt the presences of two beings in her heart and mind. Harduke and Jaya each took a portion of her pain into themselves and immediately she felt better, even refreshed.

               “It is done,” said Harduke softly.

               Arilyn opened her eyes and saw Jaya’s tear streaked face. “I have to go back. I have to return to Landoa,” she said breathlessly. She couldn’t let Xavier get away what he did, what he made her do and there was Allegra. Was her beloved still alive? She didn’t see the warrior in the underworld and that gave her hope. Allegra, must still be alive! I must get back to her, she thought, and if I’m not too late, stop Xavier!

               Jaya took her hand up and held it firmly. “Then you will go! I swear on my soul, on my family, and my ancestors’ grave I will get you back to Landoa!” swore Jaya. “How dare such deploring creatures…bah! I will find this Xavier and cut his chests up and eat his heart!”

               “Not if I get to him first,” said Harduke. She stood up and plopped down in a nearby chair. She sniffed the air and smelled something burning. “Jaya, were you cooking something?”

               “Holy shit! The dessert!” cursed Jaya. She jumped and rushed back into the kitchens.

               Harduke chuckled lightly and turned to Arilyn. “You should be feeling much better now.”

               “Thank you,” said Arilyn. She felt like a rock had been lifted off of her and she felt no pain. She was awed for no such magic existed in her land but, of course, these were demons after all.

               “Aww, it was nothing. I must apologize in advance. I need to have a word with Jaya in privacy, however I have an obligation to meet Jaya’s mother soon. I know it’s awkward but can you go meet Jaya’s mother at the Miracle Garden in my place? I was suppose to help her plant some flowers,” said Harduke and stroked her cheek with her left pointy finger.

               Arilyn nodded without hesitation. She was in their debt.

               “Good.” Harduke traced a symbol in the air and a ball of light formed in front of her. “Follow this light and it shall lead you to the gardens. After we’re done, we’ll come fetch you and discuss about crossing over to Landoa. Have fun,” she winked.

               “I thought Isiana putted up an impassable barrier?” asked Arilyn.

               “Yeah but, uh, we’ll see. Now off you go before the palace floods with students.”

               “Thank you again,” said Arilyn.

               The light shot past Arilyn, making twinkling sounds for her to follow. The elf turned and walked in the direction where the light had gone.

               After several moments, Jaya appeared, her face blackened from soot and carrying a tray of burnt goo. “I know it looks bad but it still good…hey, where’s Arilyn?” The halfing looked around.

               “I sent her away. We need to talk,” said Harduke sharply.

               Jaya cringed for she knew was in trouble, again. She set down the tray on the table.

               “Do you think I didn’t notice? You can not handle all of Arilyn’s pain,” said Harduke.

               “I’m fine,” snapped Jaya. She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “I can handle it. Look, I’m not even bothered.”

               “That’s what you say for now.”

               “It’s okay! Just don’t tell her I took all of her pain.”

               Harduke squinted her eyes and smiled wickedly. “Ohhhh, I see what’s going on. You like Miss Arilyn!”

               “H-hey, don’t jump to conclusions,” shouted Jaya. “I felt bad and that’s why I did it…don’t tell her.” However, she knew Arilyn would never even like her back. She had seen, as much as it boiled her blood, the elf’s last memories and, to her displeasure, discovered that the elf had someone.

               “About the like part?” teased Harduke.

               “No! About taking all her pain. She’ll feel bad about it. Now, are we done talking?”

               Harduke face became serious. “Actually, what I wanted to talk to you about is the barrier. Foolish of you to make such a promise. Your father has tried in the past to break it so that your mother could return however, even he, could not make a dent. What if we can’t do it? Arilyn will have to stay here.”

               “Bwhahaha, I thought you could talk to Isiana since you negotiated with her last time--“

               “No!” Harduke face was flushed with rage. “I will never speak to that insufferable goddess ever again!”

               Before Jaya could ask Harduke why she is so adamant to not speaking to the goddess, the ground trembled and in the distant echoed a sound of explosion.

               “That was from the throne!” said Harduke.

               “Pa!” Jaya sprinted off followed by Harduke.

Chapter Four, part one

               Arilyn had reached her destination. Harduke’s ball of light had led her to two obsidian monoliths and burst into nothing. I guess that means I’m at the garden, she thought. She walked in between the monoliths and stopped immediately, looking out at the lush greenery before her.

               Tall plants with leaves like that of a hawk’s tail dominated the garden. They grew four to six petals of bright orange, royal purple and deep blue flowers that gave off a pleasant smell. To her right, as far as her eyes could see, was a bunched up trees that grew melon size fruits along their branches. At ground level, she noticed small flowers of pink and white arranged in a zigzagged pattern she recognized as ones used by the clans of elves that lived in the northern forests of her kingdom.

               Arilyn decided to follow the patterned flowers, stopping then and there to look at the exotic plants, until she came upon an elf woman with black plaited hair crouching over a flower.

               “So, you’ve come,” said the elven woman without turning her head to see who it was. “I heard that my naughty Jaya brought you back from the dead.”

               The woman pushed soil around the little flower until she was satisfied. She got up and wiped the sweat off her brow, her back still facing Arilyn.

               “Yes, I am the one,” said Arilyn, taking a step closer. “Harduke asked me to take her place. My name is Arilyn.”

               “I see,” said the woman as she took out a canter hanging from her waist and took a sip. She turned around and faced Arilyn.

               The elven woman standing before Arilyn was dark skinned, small framed and had the most amazing emerald eyes.

               “My name is Kiran,“ the dark elf began. Her eyes flickered in remembrance. “What is your last name?”

               “Evergreen,” said Arilyn with a half wry smile.

               Kiran eyes widen and she dropped to the ground to prostrate herself before Arilyn. “Oh my goddess! Forgive me, Princess Arilyn!”

               “It is fine.” Arilyn quickly swooped down and gently lifted Kiran up. “Please stand.”

               “By Isiana, I didn’t think I’d ever seen another elven let alone the princess,” said Kiran. “But that means your highness has passed away.”

               “Well, I,” Arilyn struggled to give an explanation. What should she say? She had already visited the memories of her demise once and, despite relieved of the pains associated with them, she was uncomfortable to speak about them.

               Kiran took notice of Arilyn’s hesitation and immediately took the elven princess’ hands into hers. “Oh, Princess, it matters not but look, you’re alive!” Kiran began leading Arilyn to stone carved benches that surrounded a small pond. “Come and tell me of all that has come to past in Landoa while I lived here in Arangkor.”

               Arilyn, appreciating Kiran’s keenness, began telling her about Landoa generally and the current politics before she died. Her sister had begun a radical campaign to end their kingdom’s isolation and branch out to other races. Some of the Elders were against it, however, the majority of the people were for it since many already traded with non-elven races, particularly with humans.

               Kiran sighed. “I see. It seems the Landoa moved on without me, Princess--“

               “Call me Arilyn, please. We are no longer in Landoa. There is no need for formalities. In fact, if you could keep others from knowing my royalty, it would be much appreciated.” And she wouldn’t want it otherwise. She had often found that her royal pedigree put unnecessary pressure on people to act a certain way, much to her displeasure.

               Kiran chuckled. “Rightly so.” Her voice dropped to an even tone that drew the princess closer to her. “I would think it would be better that your royalty be concealed. Even if the demons here are civilized, there are some who will find an elven princess blood too sweet of a temptation if you know what I mean.”

               Arilyn nodded and shuddered inwardly. “Thank you for the warning.”

               Kiran looked forward out to the far reaches of the garden. “I missed home, Landoa, and I’m sure you wish to return as I did but I don’t think that’s possible.”

               Arilyn’s heart sunk. “I can’t stay here. I have to go back!” She stood off of the stone bench and ran her hands into her hair frantically. She has to go back. Allegra must know she’s alive and that she’s sorry.

               The dark elf bit her lips. “I’m sorry, Arilyn, but after my refusal, Isiana had made it impossible to cross the Chasm.”

               “Refusal?” Arilyn whirled around to face Kiran. “What do you mean ‘refusal’?” she demanded. She had understood that when Isiana erected the barrier Jaya’s mother could not return to Landoa. She was not aware that the dark elven woman sitting before her had a choice.

               Kiran looked down and fumbled with her fingers. “I had run away from my family one night,” her eyes began to tear up. “ I somehow got lost near the Chasm and soon found myself chased by demons. One managed to give me a fatal wound.” She absently touched a small scar on her neck.

               Arilyn immediately regretted her reaction and sat back down again.

               “I was sure I was going to die,” continued Kiran, “but right before I thought I was slipping away, this beautiful crimson-haired creature rescued me and killed those demons!” She smiled widely. “That was when I first met Krshin. What a twist of fate! He and Harduke managed to cross over out of pure curiosity and had chance upon me. Krshin took me over here so that I could be saved.”

               “I see. That explains how you ended up here,” said Arilyn. “But you said you refused?”

               “Ah, yes, that. Isiana had found out that they had crossed over and she was furious. You see the demons here had made a contract with the Goddess Isiana a long time ago to never cross over the Chasm in exchanged for not being wiped out. After the violation, Isiana was ready to do so but Harduke had convinced her otherwise. The Goddess had asked me if I wished to return but I refused to because I had fallen for Krshin when he was taking care of my wounds. Please don't tell him the truth that the Goddess had given me a choice. At that time, I was afraid that he’d have me returned to appease the Goddess. “

               “So you stayed here out of love?” asked Arilyn and felt her heart ache with longing. She would do the same for Allegra.

               Kiran nodded. “It worked for Krshin loved me in return. Though I am afraid, because of me, Isiana has made a barrier so no one from either side may cross ever again.”

               “But Jaya said she’ll find a way,” argued Arilyn. She figured if Jaya can bring her back from the dead, surely the halfling would be able to find a way through the barrier for her.

               “My daughter is a bona fide idiot in some ways. This being one. To go through the barrier is to go against Isiana. Who has ever challenged a god?”

               Kiran’s words rang true and Arilyn felt like her heart had sucked away into a bottomless pit knowing that she could never return to Landoa, let alone back into her lover’s arms. What will she do now?

               Boom! The trees swayed and the ground rumbled. From the distance, clashing sounds of metal and incoherent shouts rang out.

               Kiran jolted off the bench immediately, followed by Arilyn.

               “What’s going on?” Arilyn eyes froze on a group of scaled creatures with yellow glowing eyes appearing where she had come from. “What are they?”

               “Dracon, snake demons,” whispered Kiran. “What are they doing here?”

               A Dracon, presumably the leader, lifted one of his claws at them. “There they are, the elves! Kill them,” he hissed.

               Arilyn grabbed Kiran to run but the dark elf brushed her hands away. “I will not run from these weaklings.”

               “What? Do you intend to fight them?” Arilyn watched the Dracons moving to them, their tongues slipping in and out of their mouths.

               “Yes, but Jaya can handle this.” Kiran winked at Arilyn.

               Arilyn couldn’t feel her tongue as she stared at the shorter elf. This woman is crazy! she thought. She was ready to run but she could not leave Kiran alone. She was Jaya’s mother after all. The elven princess was about to grab Kiran when she heard a long piercing howl.

               The Dracons stopped and turned their head at the direction of the howl. A large black wolf with red v-shaped stripes on the forehead sprinted out of the two monoliths.

               “It’s the Lycea mutt! Get her,” ordered the Dracon leader.

               The black wolf shot past the Dracons and skid around to face them. It lowered its head and flashed its fangs.

               “You said Jaya can but I don’t see her,” said Arilyn, slightly crouching behind the dark elf. All she saw was the black wolf of which she was not sure was on their side.

               “Jaya is here. She’s the wolf.” Kiran crossed her arms proudly.

               “What? You’re saying that scary wolf is Jaya?” Arilyn could not believe it. The image of Jaya with her funny faces next to the image of this savage wolf was not making sense to her.

               “Yes, of course! She is half-wolf demon after all,” answered Kiran matter-of-factly. She waved at the black wolf. “Kick their asses!”

               Jaya lifted her head in acknowledgement and barked. A Dracon lunged at Jaya and she sidestepped, catching his arm in her mouth. With a fierce jerk with her head, she ripped off his arm and sent him screaming onto his knees.

               “Stand back! I’ll handle this whelp,” ordered the Dracon leader. His men backed away including the one whose arm was ripped off. “Child, you are no match for me!” He lifted his hands and chanted, his body glowing iridescently.

               Jaya jumped back as a ray of light zipped out of the Dracon leader’s hands. Snap! The ground lurched up from underneath her and clamped around her midsection, piercing into her fur and skin. She yelped in pain.

               “What? Jaya, you got too cocky!” shouted Kiran.

               Arilyn shook her head. If it had been her child, she would be scared out of her mind! “Have staying in Arangkor scrambled your mind? Jaya is hurt! Look….”

               The earth around Jaya crumbled away. She glowered, her red eyes crackling like fire and a dangerous aura oozed out of her. Even Arilyn felt the trembles in the air and latched onto Kiran’s shoulder for support.

               Jaya’s fur rippled; black and red fur flatten to become skin and cloth; bones crunched and reshaped; and her muscles realigned until she stood in front of the Dracon leader on two legs.

               “Yeah, that’s my baby,” cheered Kiran.

               The Dracon leader narrowed his eyes. “Cleaver little mutt,” he grumbled. He moved to the left to try to catch his opponent blind side but found his legs suddenly stiff. “What the?” He looked down to see his feet sucked in the earth.

               “Right back at cha,” grinned Jaya and dashed forward, planting a satisfying fist into the Dracon leader’s face. She could feel the leader’s teeth buckling under her knuckles and crushed into the gums as she followed through with all her might.

               The Dracon leader flew back, spiraling onto the floor where the other Dracons hurriedly picked him up. “We will remember this and we will have our revenge you Lycea mutt,” hissed one of the Dracons. They scrambled out of the gardens, dragging their leader with them.

               “Ma, Arilyn! Are you two alright?” Jaya approached them but stopped at her mother’s displeased look. She scratched her head. “Uh, did I do something wrong, Ma?”

               “No, we’re fine,” answered Arilyn and eyed the growing red blotches on the Jaya’s sides. “Are you okay? You’re bleeding!”

               “Pfft, she wouldn’t be if she weren’t so careless,” said Kiran offhandedly.

               “Do you not care for Jaya?” Arilyn was outraged. “She had to fight off those, t-those monsters! And you act like it was a trifling thing! Jaya got hurt saving us. We should be thanking her and she’s your daughter. Shame on you!”

               Instead of defending herself from Arilyn’s accusation, Kiran smiled and walked over to a small plant with purple leaves. “Of course, I care for Jaya. If she was in serious trouble I’d help her in a heart beat but she was not.” She bent down and plucked a leaf. “My baby is strong and such opponents I’ve seen her defeat with one eye closed and hands tied behind her back a hundred times! Which is a wonder to me how she easily got caught in such a lowly spell?”

               “Bwhwahaha, Ma, you think too much,” said Jaya quickly. She wanted to avoid being forced to telling both her mother and Arilyn that she was very tired from taking all of the latter’s pain. Neither would be happy to hear.

               “Aha! I knew it! What spell were you doing?” demanded Kiran. “You know that you are most vulnerable after performing a high spell.” She waggled her finger at Jaya. “Were you doing another forbidden spell?”

               “Nothing! I have been good. I’m just still tired from resurrecting Arilyn,” lied Jaya.

               “Wait, I’m not letting you off that easily,” Arilyn could not accept Kiran’s apparent lack of concern for Jaya, “even if what you say, what you believe, of Jaya, she’s your daughter. She could’ve been killed.”

               “Ma is perfectly right to chide me,” defended Jaya.

               Arilyn was at a loss. Mother and daughter was both crazy she concluded.

               Kiran rubbed the purple leaf between her fingers as she walked up to Jaya. “Jaya is a daughter of an Overlord. Any show of weakness will have hordes of demons coming after her.” She pulled Jaya’s shirt up. “Now, I am concern about that.”

               Arilyn winced at the gaping gashes along Jaya’s sides. “It’s really a marvel that you’re still standing here.”

               Kiran pasted the leaf onto the wounds.

               “Owwie, Ma! It hurts,” whined Jaya.

               “Oh, quit it! Your wounds will be healed in an hour or two,” huffed Kiran. She pulled Jaya’s shirt down. “What’s the situation? Why are King Eirabas’ soldiers here?”

               Jaya shrugged. “Harduke and I heard an explosion toward the throne room and we headed there but before we knew it, a bunch of Eirabas’ goons stormed the palace out of nowhere. The palace guards are fighting them right now. Harduke told me to go protect you two while she heads for Pa. As for why they are here, I have no idea.”         

               “This is not good,” said Kiran gravely. “They were targeting us.”

               Jaya gnashed her teeth. “I’ll kill them!”          

               “What do we do?” Arilyn could feel her uneasiness building inside of her. She had just returned to life and now she found herself in danger of going back to the underworld.

               “We have to go to Pa. I wanna make sure he’s alright,” said Jaya.

               “I doubt he’d have trouble, but, Jaya, you must protect Arilyn at all cost. Got it?” Kiran, despite immersing herself in Arangkor, was still loyal to the elven throne. She felt it was her duty, as all elves in Landoa, to protect the elven royal family.

               “Yeah, you don’t have to tell me.” Jaya went and picked up Arilyn.

               “Whoa, hey, what are you doing?” Arilyn was caught off guard.

               “You’ll slow us down so I’m carrying you. Tch, you are a lot heavier than you look,” Jaya remarked.

               Arilyn didn’t miss the implication and noted to punish the halfing later.

               “Stay close to me, Ma,” said Jaya and led them out of the garden.

               They hurried along the corridors where globs of demons fought each other; Arilyn couldn’t even tell which was on their sides or not. Fortunately, the demons did not notice them as they began making their way across a courtyard.

               “Young master! Lady Kiran!” A three headed, lanky demon with purple skin waved at them with a club.

               “Thantos!” cried out Jaya, glad to see her long time childhood friend.

               Thantos clubbed a demon that had come into his path as he made his way to Jaya. “Praise the Dead Goddess, I was looking for you and the Lady everywhere!” He made a quick bow to Kiran.

               “Did you see Harduke?” asked Kiran.

               “The sage had passed me a while ago. Probably reached the Overlord by now. Though I’ll warn you, the fighting is the thickest in front of the throne room and, on top of that, King Eirabas’ best warriors are there so I’d avoid going there.” Thantos turned and knocked away a charging demon.

               “I’ll just kick their ass if they’re in my way.” Jaya murmured a quick spell and flung a demon away into a wall.

               “They’re Shriva, Eimos and Drayruga. Y’know, the ones who kicked your ass a month ago,” said Thantos.

               “Seesh! You weren’t suppose to tell anyone and especially not to my Ma!” cried out Jaya.

               “Hmm, Jaya, we shall have another talk after this ordeal,” said Kiran grimly.

               “Anywaysr12;what is that in your arms?” Thantos pointed at Arilyn with his club. He had been busy trying to fend off attacks that he hadn’t notice the blonde elf until now.

               “Hi.” Arilyn smiled meekly and waved at Thantos.

               “She’s an elf. I resurrected her,” answered Jaya.

               Thantos mouth dropped open. “So the rumors were true? You really did it, Jaya?”

               A streak of green light burned a trio of demons headed their way. Arilyn looked over to the source and was surprised that it came from Kiran’s outstretched hand. Who would’ve known she’s powerful! No wonder she thought those Dracons were weak, thought Arilyn. Then it occurred to her that Kiran was using demon magic and that left a bad taste in her mouth for that meant the dark elf had forsaken the gods.

               “I don’t think we should be standing here talking!” Kiran eyed her daughter and Thantos.

               “Of course! Al-Azim has secured a base near the quarters to protect the students who cannot fight. This way.” Thantos led them out of the courtyard and into another array of corridors.

               Jaya, her mother and Thantos fought their way until the fighting thinned out. They saw a barricade made from nearby furniture in front of a wide arched way. A row of uniformed demons, all with the head of a bullr12;which Arilyn found out later were bull demons and are called Minatos, stood side by side, guarding the archway.

               “Al-Azim,” called out Thantos and waved his club.

               “Thantos! Good job that you found them,” greeted Al-Azim. Then he saw Arilyn in Jaya’s arms and his nostrils flared. “What is the meaning of that elf in your arms young master?”

               “You sound outraged, Al-Azim,” said Kiran.

               “Forgive me, Lady, but the reason we are being attacked by King Eirabas is because he had confirmed that the Overlord has broken the contract again by crossing over and retrieving another elf. He had come to eliminate the elf before the Goddess Isiana finds out.” Al-Azim shook his head. “I can’t believe that this is true.”

               “What? He’s stupid! Pa didn’t break the contract. I resurrected this elf. There’s a difference,” said Jaya and let Arilyn down.

               “That’s worse!” cried out Al-Azim. The other Minatos whispered among themselves at the revelation.

               “Well, Jaya, technically didn’t break it,” said Thantos.

               Al-Azim rubbed his forehead. “Then we must clear this misunderstanding immediately before King Eirabas gets himself killed.”

               “Can’t. The front of the throne is flooded with King Eirabas’ top warriors. We’d get creamed before we even reached it,” said Thantos.       

               “Well, it’s not that imperative. Pa never liked Eirabas and if he gets killed, good riddance,” said Jaya.

               “No,” Kiran shook her head. “Eirabas must live for he is the only one who can keep a seal over Kalee’s prison.”

               There was a moment of silence and Arilyn could see the Minatos and Thantos shifting uneasily.

               “Why didn’t you guys tell me about this before?” said Jaya.

               “Oh, my darling, you know how upset you get when someone mentions her name,” said Kiran.

               Arilyn looked to and fro between mother and daughter. She felt like she shouldn’t even be there since this seemed to be a very personal matter but, at the same time, she was curious of this Kalee.

               “Ugh, whatever. Let’s just try to get to the throne and stop Pa from killing Eirabas,” said Jaya.

               “But didn’t you hear what I said?” said Thantos.

               “I can be of assistance. There’s an emergency back way glyph in the throne room that we guards sometime use,” said Al-Azim. “I can get you guys there.”

               “Good. Al-Azim, can you maintain this archway alone with your people? Thantos can lend a hand if it’s not enough,” said Jaya.

               “Well, you guys pretty much cleared the last wave but we don’t know when they’ll send a second wave,” said Al-Azim.

               “Okay, then Thantos you stay with them,” said Jaya.

               Thantos saluted with his club. “I’ll smash them good for you.”                                      

               “Young master, Lady, Miss, please stand here.“ Al-Azim pointed to a spot in front of him.

               Jaya, Kiran and Arilyn went to the spot.

               “I hope you guys make it in time,” said Al-Azim. He lifted his hands, tracing a symbol, and chanted. A flash of light and the trio disappeared.

Chapter Four, Part Two

* * *

               All she saw was a sheet of blinding light and then they were there. Arilyn found herself standing in dirt and surrounded by chunks of rocks floating in the smoky air. The ceiling was gone as well as the walls. She coughed and waved a hand in front of her face to clear some of the smoke. Was this the throne room? Could a battle between two demons have caused all this? Speaking of which, where was Overlord Krshin and the other demon?

              A crimson wolfr12;a hundred times larger than that of Jaya’s wolf formr12;appeared heading to them. A jolting feeling screamed in her to run but a firm hand held her shoulders and pulled her toward the crimson wolf sharply. “What are you doing?” she cried out.

               “Down!” Kiran’s voice ranged clear as Jaya shielded them from a crackling black light.

               Where did that come from? thought Arilyn. She watched the black sparks ran down Jaya’s clothes and dissipated upon hitting the ground. That was when she saw a demon, standing off to the side where a wall had been. The demon had glowering amber eyes and scaled silver skin. The demon flickered a purple tongue before zipping out of sight.

               “What you all doing here!” The crimson wolf was over them in a protective stance.

               “Pa! We’ve come to stop you,” said Jaya.

               “In the middle of a battle? Are you insane?” roared Krshin and then looked warily from side to side for his enemy.

               “Listen, Pa!” yelled Jaya.

               “No, you listen to me! I don’t have much time. Protect your Ma and Miss Arilyn!” said Krshin. He jumped back and howled deeply. A red wave of wind sprung out of the ground and enveloped him in a tight cocoon.

               “Ah,” a voice echoed, “back up, Krshin?”

               “Shut up and show your ugly face right now!” raged Jaya.

               “Shouldn’t we listen to your father?” said Arilyn and eyed the red cocoon. What was Jaya’s father up to?

               “Miss Arilyn is right. Krshin knows best and besides, I do not see Harduke. She would’ve been here by now. I’m afraid….” Kiran hesitated.

               “That old coot is hard to die,” said Jaya. She turned around and chanted rapidly as a wall of white light formed around Kiran and Arilyn. “You two stay with in the barrier”

               “What about you?” said Arilyn, touching the barrier and feeling it deflect her fingers. “You are not going to fight that demon?”

               Jaya cracked her knuckles. “I’ll be fine. Just need to beat Eirabas before Pa breaks out.” She hooked a thumb at the red cocoon. “He’ll be dead if Pa does.”

               Arilyn nodded. She had seen Jaya defeat the demons coming here and Kiran’s confidence in her daughter abilities was a bit, even though she thought it was ludicrous, of an assurance that Jaya would be fine. At least she hoped Jaya would be so she wished the halfling well. “Alright. Be careful.”

               “Make Eirabas eat the dirt,” said Kiran.

               “Okay, Ma,” said Jaya.

               Arilyn watched Jaya turned around, her back facing them, and took a step forward. She did not see Eirabas anywhere and Krshin, whatever he was doing, made her get the feeling that Jaya’s barrier was more than just protecting them from Eirabas.

               “What don’t you show yourself and fight me? Hiding is very cowardly,” shouted Jaya with her arms spread out haughtily.

               “I will not be so foolish as to fall for that.” Eirabas ranged out clear but it did not betray where he was. “As long as Krshin does not know where I am, he can do nothing.”

               “Pa will not come out until you show yourself and YOU won’t show yourself unless Pa comes out. You see a problem? It’s a stalemate and we all might as well die standing here,” said Jaya.

               “She makes a good point,” said Arilyn under her breath.

               “That demon never thinks his plans thoroughly,” whispered Kiran to Arilyn.

               Arilyn couldn’t help but smirk a little despite the seriousness of the situation.

               “Do not mock me elves!” shouted Eirabas.

               “Oh, I did not know reptiles had ears and, my, rude for eavesdropping between conversations between two ladies,” said Kiran with a slight tilt in her voice.

               “Muahaha, nice one Ma,” said Jaya.

               “I should just come over there andr12;oh! No, you little elf! You almost tricked me!” shrieked Eirabas.

               “So are we just going to stand around?” asked Jaya while scratching her head. She did not know what to do. Her father can stay in that cocoon for weeks but her Ma and Arilyn they were not like demons. Their ancestors did not evolve in climates where food and water was scarce. And her? She wasn’t sure but she figured she would outlast a little longer before succumbing to hunger and thirst.

               Does he intend to do this? Kill us through starvation and thirst? Then it dawned upon her. She looked. And didn’t Thantos said the throne was surrounded? The sounds of battle that should be surrounding them, were non-existent. Have they somehow been isolated under a spell?

               She quickly turned to where they had appeared and did not see the glyph that carried them here. Her eyes widen. Al-Azim had tricked them. He was in lieu with Eirabas all this time!

               “What’s wrong darling?” asked Kiran.

               “We’ve been tricked,” gritted Jaya.

               “Oh! You’ve figured it out so quickly!” said Eirabas happily. “Isn’t this the perfect entrapment?”

               A slit in the sky opened and thee demons fell down, landing on their feet with grace. Jaya could smell strong magic over them and knew the trio had recently been in a great battle. Her lips curled as the demon in the middle took a step forward. “Shriva,” she growled.

               Shriva bowed. “Greetings, young master.” She straightened herself and saluted to the sky. “King Eirabas, sorry for the delay. The sage was more difficult to dispose of.”

               “Muahaha! Good, good!” said Eirabas in giddiness.

               “Harduke killed? That’s like the sky falling,” said Jaya.

               “Sage Harduke was a worthy opponent. She even manage to kill Eimos and Drayruga before expiring by my hands,” said Shriva.

               “Bah! I don’t believe it,” said Jaya.

               Shriva shrugged. “I care not if you don’t believe me.” She addressed again to the sky. “Your orders, m’lord--”

               Jaya sprung forward, her fist smashing into Shriva’s abdomen. “What the?”

               Shriva stood with a wide grin.

               Jaya pushed harder, giving all her body weight into her fist until she could feel the skin of her knuckles breaking apart. Shriva did not budge nor wince with pain.

               “What an impudent little mutt,” said Shriva and flung Jaya backward with a simple flick of her wrist.

               “Oof!” Jaya landed on her back and almost had the wind knocked out of her. She kicked herself up into a squat. “Damnit!”

               “Kill the mutt and the elves,” said Eirabas.

               “What of Overlord Krshin?” asked Shriva and looked warily at the red cocoon. “He can come out at anytime and will not just let me kill his family.”

               “I will deal with him. You just do as I say,” said Eirabas.

               A ball of magenta color appeared next to the red cocoon and deep purple and crimson electricity exchanged between the two fiercely.

               Jaya clenched her teeth. The outlook was not looking good for them. In the corner of her eyes, she took a quick glance at her ma and Arilyn. They stood there, watching her and Shriva with worried looks. No, I will not lose today. I will not let Ma and Arilyn die! Especially the latter to whom she made a promise and she always keeps her promise. But what can she do?

               Shriva crossed her arms in a relaxing manner. “I’ll be nice and let you make the first move.”

               “And what of those two?” asked Jaya as she looked at the two other demons standing on either side of Shriva.

               Shriva waved a hand. “Stand down,” she said to them.

               “But his lord,” protested one of the demons.

               Shriva’s hand struck out and snapped the demon’s neck. She threw away the limping body and turned to the remaining demon.

               “Of course, Miss Shriva,” said the demon quickly and bowed away.

               “Shall we?” said Shriva to Jaya.

               Jaya nodded. First move, eh? she thought. She began circling around Shriva, thinking of a way she could defeat her enemy in one swoop. She needed to for the longer the fight extend, the stronger Shriva becomes. She thought back a month ago where she challenged Shriva and her cronies.

               It was devastating as it was a life lesson. The pain from that awful defeat nagged in her mind. In a moment of overconfidence, she had expended too much energy and Shriva struck her on the back, ending that fight.

               “Thinking about last time?” said Shriva mockingly.

               Jaya stopped in front of Shriva and crossed her arms over her chest. “I think you should make the first move,” she smiled and she plopped down into a sitting position on the ground.

               “What are you up to?” said Shriva as she took a step forward.

               Jaya’s smile became wider. “Gotcha.”

               The ground where Jaya had circled glowed within it turned pitch black.

               “What is this crap?” exclaimed Shriva as her feet sunk into the blackness like quicksand.

               “A little spell I picked up shortly after you kicked my ass,” said Jaya. She continued to smile but she began to perspire above her brow. She was already tired and this spell was making it worse. She bowed over a little and took a gulp, trying to placate a strange feeling, not her feelings by any means, creeping up from her stomach. Brick. Stone cold. Pain. Betray.

               Sticky black hands shot out of the blackness and clung onto Shriva.

               “Grah!” screamed Shriva. She ripped the hands but more would sprout up in their place. “What hell is this?”

               “A thousand hands, shadows of the dead,” chanted Jaya. No! Pain. I. Please, stop! Jaya closed her eyes tightly and continued to chant, trying her best to ignore the voice. Voice? This was not her inner voice. Who’s voice is it then? There was something awfully familiar.

               “Don’t stand there, Gheshna! Help me,” screamed Shriva before a hand covered her mouth. More hands sprung up and latched onto her like leeches.

               “Yes, Miss Shriva,” said Gheshna who withdrew his blade and charged forward at Jaya.

               “Watch out, Jaya!” shouted Arilyn.

               The voice is outside? Jaya’s eyes fluttered open. The blackness around Shriva rippled away like a drop in still water and the barrier around her ma and Arilyn disappeared. Gone. I signed it away. Traitor. Guilty. She covered her ears. “Goddamit! You’re not my voice!” she shouted and sprung onto her feet.

               Jaya felt the sword slide into her abdomen and out her back.

               The pain came afterward.

               “Kkr, f-fucking shithead,” said Jaya. Blood dribbled out the corners of her mouth as she extended her black nails and slashed her right hand forward.

               Gheshna’s body slid apart onto the ground without a sound.

               Jaya gripped the handle of the sword and pulled it out as she staggered back.

               “Jaya!” Her ma and Arilyn caught her.

               “Hold still, Jaya!” said Arilyn. She took a sleeve of her dress and ripped it off.

               Ah, it was her voice, realized Jaya as she looked up to see the golden haired elf pressing a torn piece of cloth over her abdomen.

               “Keep your eyes open, Jaya!” urged her ma.

               “Lucky me. I thought that mutt finally had the upper hand,” sneered Shriva. She had recovered from Jaya’s spell and she was ready to kill them all. She flexed her muscles and began marching over to them.

               All hell. Damn Shriva. Jaya held her ma’s and Arilyn’s hand. Was this the end? Had she failed?

               “Kuku, I hope I’m not late!” Harduke’s voice crackled over the entire area before a white light flashed over.

               Now the sky was filled with the smoke of battles and the cries of fighting boomed in the air. Harduke stood between Shriva and the trio.

               “I killed you,” said Shriva in shock.

               Harduke lifted her iron staff and jutted the tip at Shriva. “Ah, you thought you killed me. I just did a little smoke and mirrors so that I could escape and go fetch my staff,” she said. “Kuku, I didn’t expect you to be gone when I returned.”

               “Ha! I knew she was bullshitting when she said killed you,” said Jaya.

               “You idiot! Did I not say to take the Lady and Miss Arilyn to safety?” berated Harduke.

               “Er, I thought you meant that I protect them?” smiled Jaya weakly. “I failed that.”

               “Never mind,” said Harduke. “Lady Kiran,” she threw a small pouch she retrieved from under her robes to the dark elf,” medicine for Jaya’s wounds. Miss Arilyn, will you come to me please.”

               “Uh,” hesitated Arilyn. What was Harduke up to?

               “Do you trust me?” asked Harduke.

               Arilyn nodded.

               “Then come here and pick up that sword by the way,” said Harduke.

               The elven princess obeyed but wondered why she had to pick up the sword stained with Jaya’s blood. She grasped the handle awkwardly as she picked up the sword and walked over to Harduke.

               Harduke jutted her staff at Shriva again. “You are going to fight her.”

               “What?” said both Shriva and Arilyn.

               “Jaya is hurt and her ma is taking care of her. That leaves only you to fight Shriva for I can not touch her,” said Harduke.

               “Were you playing me as a fool all this time?” asked Shriva.

               “Of course. Didn’t you see how fast I took down your friends? I would’ve took you down just like them if it were not a promise I made to your grandmother that I would not touch anyone from her family. She said nothing about something else touching. Hence, I had to get my iron staff,” explained Harduke.

               “Then why don’t you fight her since you DO have your staff,” said Arilyn. She knew nothing of fighting and had always relied on others to come to her aide from her sister to Allegra.

               “Because I don’t feel like it,” said Harduke simply. “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

               “You’re crazy! I don’t know anything about fighting,” said Arilyn.

               “Oh, but I get to touch YOU!” said Harduke. “Here, let me show you.” She grabbed Arilyn by the arm. “Whatever happens, don’t drop the sword!”

               “W-wait, hey,” said Arilyn as Harduke spun them around toward Shriva.

               “One and two and three and four!” Harduke struck out with her hand, staff and feet, directing Arilyn’s body like a puppet.

               In less than eight quick steps, Shriva went down with a blow from the pommel of Arilyn’s swordr12;guided, of course, by Harduker12;to her chest.

               Shriva staggered back and shook her head in disbelief. “Not even a flick of magic,” she murmured. She was defeated with no magic! This was something of a rarity in Arangkor.

               “Magic is not everything. Only partial to the complete picture,” said Harduke while waggling a finger at Shriva.

               Feeling ashamed, Shriva bowed her head. “You are truly fit for the title as Sage. I would normally concede defeat, however, I must obey my king.”

               “Your pa,” pointed out Harduke.

               Shriva went red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Continued….

               Harduke rubbed her nose. “My apologies. I recalled King Eirabas having two children. I may be mistaken.” She turned to Arilyn who stood staring at her sword. “Wasn’t that fun, Miss Arilyn?”

               Arilyn looked up. “It was weird,” she said. Never in her life had she lifted a sword let alone strike a being with one even though Harduke controlled her movements. What surprised her even more was that she liked it. It gave her a sense of power and a rush.

               Harduke cocked her sight at the two demons still battling it out, not aware of what had passed. “It is time,” she said. She raised her staff with one hand and placed the other hand in prayer position above her chin. “Om.”

               The one syllable word spread out, casting a silver light over all except the red cocoon and the magenta sphere. It made a barrier as it protected the outside world from the raging thunders and lightings that now shot out between Krshin and Eirabas.

               In a blink of an eye, Overlord Krshin stood clutching his chest. Across from him was Eirabas in a similar position. They were deadlock.

               “King Eirabas!” cried out Shriva. She ran over to Eirabas and supported the King.

               “I thought I had enough,” said Eirabas between breaths.

               “I should’ve killed you that time,” said Krshin, equally out of breath.

               “Too bad,” said Eirabas and took out a round object from under his collar. He threw the object on the ground. It sparked and instantly released smoke that quickly engulfed the entire area. “Next time I will defeat you and become the next Overlord!”

               “Dream on, asshole,” said Krshin.

               The smoke cleared and smelled the blood of his daughter. “Jaya?” He rushed over to where his wife cradled his daughter. “How did this happen?” he demanded.

               Jaya opened her mouth to explain but the medicine that her mother put over her wounds had a very powerful sleeping effect. She slowly closed her eyes and let her body relax. Harduke and Arilyn approached them.

               “Do not worry, m’lord. Jaya is only sleeping. However, we must move her to a more comfortable place. My room should not have been touched,” said Harduke.

               Krshin, troubled, nodded. “Then take her there now.” He looked around and saw the smoke. The sounds of battle were still going on. “I’ll be there as soon as I put down this rebellion.” He transformed into his giant wolf form and jumped up and out of the throne room.

               Arilyn placed a hand on Kiran’s shoulder. “I’ll help carry Jaya,” she offered.

               “Thank you,” said Kiran softly.

               “And I’ll help too!” Harduke. volunteered.

               The three of them lifted Jaya up and headed for Harduke’s room.

* * *

               Jaya opened her eyes suddenly. Her face felt sticky and hot. Her heart was beating unusually fast. Was she having a nightmare? Dark images faded away but she did not know when they would return.

               “There’s a jug of water and cup next to you,” said Harduke.

               Jaya sat up but a stabbing pain in her abdomen sent her back onto her pillow. “Goddamnit,” she cursed.

               “So you have not healed yet?” Harduke came into the halfling’s view with hands clasped behind her back.

               “I just got skewered,” complained Jaya. “Be nice and help me drink the water.”

               Harduke picked up the jug and poured it into the cup. “The dreams get more stronger over time but,” she placed the jug down and picked up the cup, “they eventually reach their peak and start to fade.” She then lowered the cup to Jaya’s lips.

               Jaya tilted her head up and drank to her satisfaction before letting her head fall back onto her pillow. She wiped the remnants of water on her lips with her right backhand. “I assume since I’m still here that Pa beat Eirabas.”

               “Not quite. Both were equal and so King Eirabas escaped, though I suspect your Pa may have let him go on purpose.”

               “So in other words, he was going to let Eirabas go anyways even if I wasn’t there to stop him from killing that idiot king,” said Jaya.

               “Glad to know your wits are as sharp as ever. That’s a good sign.” Harduke pulled a nearby chair and sat on it. She crossed her legs and stroked her temple with her index finger. “You should be healed in a week. Your Ma was watching over you as well as Miss Arilyn. Thantos came by to tell us that Krshin has gotten everything under control and had Al-Azim and his goons apprehended.”

               “Good! That traitor tricked me,” growled Jaya and then she grimaced for it hurt her abdomen.

               “Yes, Krshin figured it out. I had Thantos take your Ma to Krshin so that she could also verify that it was Al-Azim who sent you guys through the fake glyph,” said Harduke.

               “Where’s Arilyn?” asked Jaya. She didn’t see Arilyn anywhere in the room.

               “Just outside of my room waiting. I lied to her saying I needed to do some super secret healing arts on you.”

               Jaya was silent for a moment. “Does she know? About…her voice in my head and stuff.”

               “Not a clue.”

               “Good.” There was another silent moment. Jaya looked past Harduke and out the open window where she saw the six moons beginning to emerge. “Was it like this for you with my pain?”

               Harduke crossed her arms. “So you figured it out.”

               “I always thought it was kinda odd that my memory of Kalee’s attack was hazy. Then it all clicked when you offered Arilyn to take on her pain.”

               “I only took a small portion so it would be easier for you to deal with,” sighed Harduke. “Unlike you with Miss Arilyn. I can still take some of it from you.”

               “No, I’ll deal with it,” said Jaya firmly. Then, to prevent further argument, she turned her head and closed her eyes. “I'm going to sleep so you can go off.”

               Harduke bowed. “As you wish, young pup.” She stood up from the chair.

               “By the way, thanks for helping me…with Kalee. I’m much better dealing with my feelings about her than I was then,” said Jaya.

               “No problem,” smiled Harduke and walked out of the room.

               Upon hearing the door closed, Jaya opened her eyes and let out a long breath. Was she insane to do this and keep the memories and pain of a woman she had only been watching for a month through the window of the underworld? She turned her head to look up to the cold grey ceiling and slapped a hand on her forehead. The elf wasn’t even single! Perhaps she should take Harduke’s offer.

               “Maybe this will pass over. I still have a promise to keep,” she said to herself and closed her eyes. How she was going to do that, she had not a clue but for now she needed to rest some more.

* * *

               Arilyn leaned over the balcony in awe. Rows and columns of silver flat roofs stretched out in radial directions to what seem forever. Between the roofs were intricate streets filled with numerous bulbs of light that reminded her of fireflies. Kiran had informed her earlier that this was Aythoda, a grand city to which the palace resided in as the epicenter. She looked up ahead and observed the six moons and the many stars around them. A strip of purple and pink streaked across the horizon.

               “You would’ve liked this, Allegra,” she said. When she was not busy with courtly manners, Allegra would take her to the countryside at night where they would lay on the grass, holding hands, and watch the night sky. Sometimes they made love. She smiled as she remembered the touches, the kisses and all their silly little promises to be with each other forever. They were silly considering that she would outlive her lover, that was, if nothing killed them. Still, those promises were made with passionate embraces and she had resolved that they would stay together in life as well as in death for all eternity.

               Yes, forever. She clasped her hands over her chest. How was she going to do that now? Kiran had told her that not even her husband could do it and he was their leader! And an even more nagging question was that if, by some miracle, she did return, was Allegra still alive? If her beloved had perished, there was no reason for her to be alive then.

               “I’m baaack,” said Harduke. The sage closed the door behind her.

               Her thoughts broken, Arilyn turned around. “How did it go with Jaya?”

               “Oh, good! Will recover in one week,” said Harduke.

               “That’s good to hear,” said Arilyn with relief. She had been worried.

               “I see that you were admiring the moons,” said Harudke.

               “Yes, we don’t have such a scene. I mean, we only see one moon over Landoa at night.”

               “Do you know why that is?” asked Harduke as she walked over to Arliyn and leaned on the balcony.

               “No,” answered Arilyn.

               “You know the Chasm and how it was created?”

               “Yes, we called it the great Catastrophe. A war of which the likes our ancestors has ever seen and the Chasm, along with demons, was the result of it,” said Arilyn.

               “The War of the Sun and Moon,” said Harduke slowly.

               “Sun and Moon?”

               “Isiana, as you know, is the ruler of the Sun. The ruler of the moons,” Harduke pointed to the six moons, “ was a goddess named Ekud Ra. They were each other’s equals and kept the world in balance until one day, Ekud Ra gave forbidden knowledge to mortals. She gave them how to make demons, beings that could oppose a god’s power and possibly destroy a god.”

               “Why would she do that? That doesn’t make sense.” Arilyn was taken aback. If she were a god, she wouldn’t give someone knowledge to oppose her.

               “To not make sense is her very nature and it did not help that she also did not care. The goddess was heartless and evil to begin with. You could imagine this angered Isiana and the other gods. A war erupted both in celestial skies and on the land. Eventually, Isiana stole one of the moons, weakening Ekud Ra’s powers and she slew the evil goddess, creating the Chasm in the process. For you see, Ekud Ra ruled over seven moons.”

               Arilyn nodded. “I see, so the moon we see is the stolen moon of Ekud Ra?”

               “Indeed.”

               “I would’ve never known that until now. I just assumed that was how the gods made the world with a sun and a moon among the stars.” Then it occurred to her to ask about them. How did these demons come about if mortals created them? As Jaya had said before, these demons have a mind and a heart, far different than the demons that came out of the Chasm. “I’ve been told that demons here are not the same as the ones that come out of the Chasm. I don’t quite understand. From what you are saying, demons were created by mortals who would be my ancestors.”

               “Not quite.” Harduke made a sweeping gesture toward the city down below. “Isiana, before she killed Ekud Ra, took those who were still faithful to the gods to the lands in the south that were untouched by war. She left those who had been corrupted by Ekud Ra to starve and die after the Chasm appeared.” There was a tinge of anger in the sage’s voice as she continued. “In order to survive the harsh land brought about by the war, the mortals here had to use the very forbidden knowledge and transformed themselves into demons.”

               Arilyn reflected the Harduke’s explanations. “So our ancestors were one and the same.”

               Harduke winked. “Does it matter how we came about? We’re here on this side of the Chasm and your people on the other side. The only thing that matters is how we deal with this in the future.”

               “About that…Kiran said that there is no way through the barrier,” said Arilyn quietly, remembering her conversation with the dark elf.

               “Yeah, that. There is a way. Sort of,” said Harduke hesitantly.

               “Then tell me, please!” There was a flare of hope risen in the elven princess’ heart.

               “I don’t know if it’ll work but I could,” Harduke pulled a tendril of her hair, “talk to her.”

               “You don’t sound too happy,” said Arilyn.

               “Wouldn’t you be if you had to talk to someone who tried to kill you?” Then Harduke added, “Several times at that too! My goodness, I just used one of her offering bowls at her stupid temple to drink water one time. One time, mind you! And she wants me skinned alive! The nerve of her.” Harduke crossed her arms and pouted. Then she made a wry smile while rubbing her nose. “Kuku, maybe it was because I hit on one of her worshipers. I dunno why she’d be mad since she doesn’t recognize us anyways.”

               Arilyn was at a lost for words. Was she hearing it right? There were demons worshipping gods and, in this case, Isiana?

               Harduke caught on to Arilyn’s thoughts and said, “Unfortunately, there are some demons that feel that we should ask the gods for forgiveness for our ancestors’ sins. Such a waste of time considering they won’t recognize them no matter how much they prayed. Bah! Enough, I was not here to talk about the dillies and dallies of demons and gods.” She looked Arilyn up and down. “Miss Arilyn, do you know you have a latent talent? Specifically in swordplay.”

               “What?” laughed Arilyn. “That cannot be right. I can’t even hold up a sword!”

               “But you did with the fight against Shriva.”

               “No, no, that was your doing, Harduke. I was merely a puppet. You guided me.”

               “Guided you, yes. Actions, no. I merely reflected of what you desired,” said Haruduke. “It was really all on you.”

               “Uhh, I don’t understand but I can assure you that I suck at it.”

               “Or never tried. Understand this, Miss Arilyn, you are an elf surrounded by demons. Many of which, beyond this palace, will wish to do harm to you. I, or even Jayar12;no matter how she insistsr12;cannot watch you all the time. You must know how to protect yourself. Even Kiran had to.”

               Kiran knew demon magic. Kiran had forsaken the gods and that unsettling feeling in Arilyn returned. “I don’t want to learn demon magic,” she said suddenly.

               “And you will not. Swordplay.” Harduke playfully poked Arilyn’s shoulder as if she was poking with a sword. “Yeah? Let me teach you or we could sneak off to a secluded place. Kuku, what do you say?” She licked her lips lecherously.

               “Okay, I get it. I do what you say,” grinned Arilyn.

               The sage demon moved closer. “ Really? You mean sleep with me?” she asked in surprise.

               “Hello no,” growled someone nearby.

               Harduke and Arilyn turned to see Jaya with an arm cradling her midsection and her other arm bracing against the door.

               “I knew you were up to no good, you horney sage. Arilyn is NOT going to sleep with you,” said Jaya and then she fainted.

               “Jaya!” said both Harduke and Arilyn as they both rush forward and caught Jaya.

Chapter Five Part One

               A tall woman with long black hair stood naked, looking out over a cliff. Light crept into the sky and the stars slowly faded away one by one until only the moon hovered faintly against a navy blue horizon. The sun had barely peeked its way up from the mountains and would soon overtake the moon as king of the skies.

               A wind blew back the side of her face and showed off her half-elven heritage.

               “Allegra?” Arilyn murmured.

               The woman turned around and smiled with piercing cerulean eyes.

               Arilyn teared up and she rushed forward. They embraced tightly. “I missed you,” she muffled into Allegra’s neck. “I thought Xavier might have killed you.”

               “No, I’m still alive,” said Allegra and kissed the elven princess on the lips.

               Arilyn pulled back and wiped her eyes dry. “B-but how? How did you get here?” The last thing she recalled, before going to sleep near Jaya’s room, was that she was in Arangkor.

               “Here? Don’t you remember?” Allegra pointed up to the skies. “We made a promise under the night skies.”

               The elven princess looked around and recognized the tall grasses that bended at the mere flick of the wind; the boulder with its face covered in yellow and green mosses; and that tree, old and wizen but still blossoming its white petal flowers.

               Allegra held her hand and bent down on one knee. “Is this better? Do you remember it now?”

               Arilyn nodded. “How could I not? This is where you asked me to be your wife.”

               “And you answered?”

               The elven princess pulled her warrior lover up. “I said yes.” She kissed Allegra passionately, their arms entangling as they yearned for more.

               “Hmm,” Arilyn moaned.

               “Oh, I hope that is me you are dreaming.” Harduke’s voice boomed in the skies.

               Arilyn woke up to see Harduke with white garments draped over an arm, standing by her bed. Her cheeks went hot red when she realized she had talked in her sleep and sat upright, adjusting the sleeping robes that were given to her last night after taking Jaya back to bed. “Umm, Yes? Is there’s something the matter?” she stuttered.

               Harduke gave a sidelong glance before her face crackled into a grin. “The Overlord wishes to speak with you right now. He apologizes for waking you up.” She handed the garments over to Arilyn.

               “It’s nothing. I’ll get ready quickly,” said Arilyn and got off her bed.

               “Then I’ll be waking up Jaya. She should be able to walk considering she stood up last night,” chuckled Harduke.

               The sage demon left Arilyn and walked a door over. Considering the spell that Krshin had casted over his daughter, Arilyn had to stay near the young pup. She opened the door, not bothering to knock. “You look awful.”

               Jaya sat on the edge of her bed, hunched over her knees. Her hair was disheveled and puffiness under her eyes started to form. She ran her hand through her hair to try to straighten it. “Hey, I’m not sleeping well,” she said quietly.

               “Her nightmares,” pointed out Harduke as she walked over to Jaya. “Offers still there.”

               “It’s fine and don’t ever ask me again,” said Jaya as she managed to get up off her bed while cradling her midsection. “Heard Pa summoned Arilyn. I’m ready.” She grimaced but the pain has lessened greatly since last night.

               Harduke sighed. “Must be love,” she murmured.

               “Hello, I can hear you,” said Jaya as she pointed to her ears. “How did I jump from like to love?” She shook her head.

               “So you admit it. You’ve been charmed by Miss Arilyn. She’s not bad and has a nice set of bonockers,” said Harduke and made a crude gesture over her breast.

               “Pervert, come here and help me walk,” said Jaya.

               Harduke supported Jaya by having Jaya’s arm around her neck as they walked out of the room. Just then, Arilyn came out of her room wearing a white robe that looked exactly like Harduke’s.

               “Why is she wearing that?” pointed Jaya.

               “Oh, I made her my student yesterday,” said Harduke and waved at Arilyn before Jaya could reply. “We’re ready to go Miss Arilyn!”

               Arilyn moved next to Jaya.

               “Uh, you don’t have to do that. Harduke is good enough,” said Jaya shyly.

               “You didn’t hesitate to help me.” Arilyn easily slid under Jaya’s other arm. “Besides, friends help each other out.”

               “Kuku, look at that, Jaya, you’ve graduated to friendship. Soon your12;ack! I can’t breathe!” whispered Harduke. Jaya’s arm tightened around her neck.

               “Huh? Did you say something, Harduke?” said Arilyn.

               “She just said we’d be happy to be your friends. Let’s get going. Pa doesn’t like to wait,” said Jaya quickly and released her arm when Harduke tapped her forearm.

               They walked toward the throne room. The signs of battles were clear with scorched earth and crumbling buildings. They passed by five bodies hanging precariously under an arch. Demons were a frightful sight to behold at times but these dead demons, with their face twisted to resemble terror frozen in time, made Arilyn’s skin crawled.

               Harduke noticed the bodies too.“ The Overlord does not tolerate traitors though these poor fellas are considered lucky for having such a swift end.”

               “I see,” said Arilyn quietly. If that was ‘swift’ death then she didn’t want to know what was a ‘prolonged’ death. “Are those demons going to be there for awhile?” Because if they were, she was going to make a note to avoid this area.

               “Ah, don’t worry. The bodies will be burned soon,” said Harduke. “Can’t be leaving any dead demons around. That’ll invite whatever coo-coo who wants to use their remnants for whatever nefarious plans.”

               Arilyn nodded. She remembered one time when she and Allerga were walking in the forest; they were attacked by a demon. Allegra killed it and was adamant about burning the body before they left to tell the authorities about the demon. Her lover had said that bad things happen when a demon’s body is left.

               “What happen to the students?” grunted Jaya as they went down a step. She had noticed that only soldiers and servants came and go.

               “Sent home. There’s going to be a war meeting soon,” said Harduke. “Though I doubt it would escalate into a full blown war with King Eirabas. Come, come, you two walk like old ladies.”

               Harduke lead the way. Jaya grunted a few times when going up and going down steps but, as for any other physical pain, she was all right except her mind. Even as they turned around corners, she could feel Arilyn’s memories burrowing into her head. When will she have another melt down just like she did with her battle with Shriva?

               “Looks like we’re here,” said Harduke as they approached two very tall demons standing side by side in front of the throne room’s door. “My goodness, what is this all about?”

               “Sorry, Sage, but since yesterday’s incident, his Overlord had us guard the throne room,” the demons said and parted the two-sided heavy door. “The Overlord awaits, please enter.”

               Arilyn walked in slowly, a little uncertain. The throne room was the same as it was the first time she laid eyes on it. How they managed to rebuild the throne is such a short time, even magic aided, was a great wonder. They walked up to the throne where Overlord Krshin and Kiran sat. For a moment, their outfits dazzled her.

               Krshin and Kiran wore matching red and gold robes, patterned on the trim with symbols. The Overlord’s robe, though, opened up down from his neck to his waist, exposing a heavy chained necklace. At the center of the Overlord’s forehead was a red dot, flanked by golden wings ornaments extending from his ears. Not to be out done, Kiran’s hair was up, twisted and interlaced with golden leaflets in a gravity defying way. She, too, had a red dot on her foreheadr12;a symbol that Arilyn would discover later meant, in Arangkorian culture, married life.

               Harduke summoned a nearby chair to come to them with a flick of her wrist.

               “How are you feeling now, Jaya?” asked Kiran.

               Jaya slid into her chair. “I’m fine, Ma,” she said. “Don’t worry about me.”

               “As imprudent as ever, pup,” said Krshin. “I suppose it couldn’t be helped that you are here too.”

               Jaya made a scowl at her Pa for it was a reminder of the spell he putted her under.

               “Hmph, you’ve seemed well with that face your making at me,” chuckled Krshin and then leaned over to Kiran despite their huge height difference. “It’s almost foolish that you and I were even worried about her.”

               “Nevertheless, my love, you are happy,” smirked Kiran.

               Harduke cleared her throat. “Miss Arilyn is here as you’ve summoned, my lord,” she said with a slight bow.

               “Ah, yes, thank you for reminding me,” nodded Krshin. “Miss Arilyn, have you decided what you are going to do?”

               “Well, Ir12;“

               “Hold onto your answer,” interrupted Krshin. “My pup has still yet to learn her lesson.”

               “That’s not fair, Pa! You said the spell is broken once Arilyn decides,” said Jaya. She grimaced at accidently pulling on her wounds.

               “I don’t think you understand the severity of the situation, pup. King Eirabas has a way to weaken me. More people will follow him and the next time he shows his slimy face, I fear it will be a legit challenge. The Dharmas may even join him,” said Krshin.

               Harduke leaned over to Arilyn and whispered, “The Dharmas are the law keepers of our land. They have almost as much power than the Overlord.”

               Arilyn nodded and appreciated the explanation. Sometimes Arangkorian terms do not translate into her mind, despite the spell Harduke casted on her earlier.

               “Well he thought you crossed over again. If we could just go to the Dharmas and make it clear that I resurrected Arilyn, then everything should be okay,” said Jaya.

               “He knew that she was resurrected, pup. He is not the only one with spies,” said Krshin. “It matter not to him how our guest got here so long as he can use it for his nefarious plan.”

               Jaya looked down. The revelation had brought guilt for if she did not revive Arilyn, then her Pa would not be in the position that he was in. “So it’s all my fault?”

               Krshin sighed. “Even if you had not, Eirabas would find another reason to usurp my power. Look up, Jaya.”

               Jaya did so but her eyes began to water up.

               “I heard you made a promise to Miss Arilyn,” grinned Krshin. “You’re going to attempt something I could not do.” He waggled a finger at his daughter.

               “You’ve always seem to try to one up your Pa,” chuckled Kiran.

               “Well, I did do a forbidden spell,” said Jaya cockily. She was proud at that feat despite the trouble it brought.

               Krshin rolled his eyes. “Then, my daughter, you won’t mind accompanying Harduke and our guest to the Southern lands, to the kingdom of Lakna. You are to deliver a message to the Dharma there.”

               “Just to deliver a message?” Jaya was insulted. “You can send one of the servants.”

               “We’re not just going there to deliver a message. We’re going to get Arilyn back home too,” said Harduke.

               “The barrier is at its strongest there,” drawled Jaya. Then she scratched her head, thinking why the Sage would go there. “You’re not going to try to talk to Isiana, are you? I thought you said you were never going to talk to her and stuff.”

               Harduke shrugged. “Got a better plan?”

               Krshin raised an eyebrow. “That goddess has a nasty temper. I wish you the best of luck, old friend.”

               “You don’t expect to send our daughter right away, my love?” asked a concern Kiran.

               “Of course not, dear,” said Krshin and patted his wife’s arm. He turned his attention to the trio. “You three will leave when Jaya is fully recovered. Till then, prepare for the journey. Arangkor is a very unforgiving land between kingdoms.”

               “As you wish, m’lord,” said Harduke as she bowed. She and Arilyn then helped Jaya get out of the chair.

               “You are seriously going to talk to Isiana? Won’t she, I dunno, try to kill you?” said Jaya as Arilyn and Harduke also helped her walk out of the throne.

               “Y’know, for a person who got stabbed in the stomach, you sure talk a lotr12;“ Harduke’s voice cut off when the door closed behind them.

               Overlord Krshin rubbed the bridge of his nose.

               “You’re not sending them off just to deliver a message are you, my love?” said Kiran.

               “No,” answered Krshin. “I’m sending them away to safety. Dharma Vishna and General Hanuman will keep them safe. And my sister is there too if anything should happen.”

               “Safety from what?” Kiran was getting a chilling feeling in her chest. “I’ve noticed something has been bothering you these past weeks. Tell me love, what has been eating at your core?”

               Krshin hesitated for a moment but the look from his wife’s eyes he could not keep this secret from her any longer. “I don’t know if it’s true but I have received reports that Kalee was spotted out of Gemmington,” he said.

               “Eirabas was her sealer….”

               “He wouldn’t release her. He hates her as much as he hates me,” said Krshin. “No matter. I’ve called the Council and ask them to check on her. They should be here in a few moments.”

               The door opened again and demons started filing in.

#

               “Hey, this is not the way to my room,” complained Jaya. “Where are you two taking me?”

               They were walking in an open area that was ancient, with crumbling walls and twisted vines wrapped around them.

               “I dunno. I’m just following Harduke’s lead,” said Arilyn, slightly annoyed. Jaya hadn’t stopped yapping since they left the throne room. Demons had suddenly appeared and swarmed past them, ignoring them, into the throne. Jaya went on and on about how these were the Council of Aythoda and how useless they were, etc. The elven princess wondered if Jaya realized she was droning.

               “Don’t you get thirsty from moving your mouth so much,” joked Harduke. “I swear, by the amount of talking you’ve been doing, I think you’ve fully recovered.”

               “Just because I got stabbed in the stomach doesn’t mean my mouth won’t work,” said Jaya.

               Arilyn sighed deeply.

               “Oh, are you bored, my student?” said Harduke. “Perhaps Jaya’s mouth has gotten to you?”

               “Y’know, my mouth isn’t the only thing working. My foot can,” Jaya kicked a foot up and instantly cringed. “Gah! Stop! I think I pulled something.”

               They stopped with Arilyn and Harduke both releasing their hold on Jaya.

               Jaya crumpled to the ground onto her ass. “Augh,” she grimaced and managed to stretch out onto her back. She closed her eyes. “You two could’ve let me down gently.”

               “Just rest, young pup,” said Hardue and then pointed to Arilyn. “You, my dear, are going to start training right now.”

               “Training?” asked Arilyn.

               “Yes, remember you agreed? Today is your very first lesson!” said Harduke excitedly as she clasped her hands together.

               “What are you training for?” Jaya still had her eyes closed. So far, by talking non-stop, she managed to keep Arilyn’s memories at bay. She hoped Arilyn hadn’t notice. Her mind was already at its limit, those dark images slowly creeping on her.

               “Why, Miss Arilyn is going to be a master swordswoman!” said Harduke.

               “Muahahr12;oww!” Jaya turned over and cradled her midsection.

               “And that, my new fine student, is karma,” said Harduke while jutting her chin at Jaya.

               “Do you think Jaya is fine? Maybe we should take her back to your room or something,” suggested Arilyn.

               “Hmm, watch me closely then,” said Harduke. She walked over to Jaya.

               Jaya opened her eyes. “What are you doing?”

               “Weakness,” Harduke, completely ignoring Jaya’s question, “is sometimes apparent and sometimes not.” She bent down onto one knee beside Jaya. She placed a finger on Jaya’s forehead.

               “Er, I dunno if I feel comfortable you doing that,” said Jaya slowly.

               “But everything has one,” said Harduke, still ignoring Jaya.

               It was like a shot of lightning through her body, Jaya jerked violently before going still, her eyes rolled back into her head.

               “Don’t worry! She’s fine,” said Harduke before Arilyn could respond. She stood up. “She’s, believe it or not, sleeping. I couldn’t stand her opening her mouth for another moment.”

               “You sure?” Arilyn looked over to Jaya and was relieved to see the halfling breathing.

               “Of course! You must place your faith in me,” said Harduke as she leaped into the air and was now standing in front of Arilyn. She took the elf woman’s hands. “Sit and let me tell you the first mantra!”

               Arilyn let herself be guided to the ground where she sat cross-legged in front of Harduke who was doing the same. “Mantra, is that, uh, what is it?” That was another term that didn’t translated into her mind.

               “A mantra is something you say over and over. It is not like a spell so you do not have to worry about learning demon magic, kuku. Now, the first mantra is: ‘Believe in the impossible,’” said Harduke.

               The elven princess arched an eyebrow. “Believe in the impossible?” That was something commonly said by optimistic people.

               Harduke nodded. “That’s one. Now say it over and over until you hit one thousand.”

               “What?” balked Arilyn. “What does this have to do with swordplay?”

               “Everything. Come now, you have nine hundred and ninety-nine to go. I’ll even start you off. Repeat: ‘Believe in the impossible.’”

               “Uh, believe in the impossible….”

               “Again. Believe in the impossible!” Harduke urged. “More passion! Make me believe that you believe in the impossible!”

               It was absurd but she did agree to let Harduke train her so she tried. She took a deep breath. “Believe in the impossible. Believe in the impossible….” At the tenth repeat she had lost track and her mind became numb from hearing her own voice.

               “Okay, we’re done for the day,” said Harduke. She offered a cup of warm tea.

               Arilyn blinked several times. The sunlight was gone and replaced by moonlight from the six moons. She turned around and didn’t see Jaya anywhere. “Where’s Jaya?”

               “You were taking a while so I got up and took Jaya to a nearby room to rest there,” said Harduke. “

               “But that can’t be right….” Arilyn could’ve sworn that they maybe spent a few minutes but hours had gone by. “What happen?”

               Harduke smiled. “You believed in the impossible.”