"Hurry up, Gil! You're too slow!"
"No, you're moving too fast, Maria," he grumbled. Maria was happy to be back in the demon realm. Gil couldn't blame her. She grew up here. On the other hand, Gil was miserable. He'd been having dreams of his mother and father for the past two days, which almost broke him. Sometimes, all Gil wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cry. But he forced himself to put his emotions and the past aside. His situation was precarious as it is. A whiny baby would only make things more difficult for Maria. Gil knew she was overdoing it, sacrificing her well-being for his sake. She lost sleep just to make sure Gil would not die in his. It only added to the guilt he already had for being a burden and made him more determined to repay her someday. Gil thought the least he could do now was make things easier for her.
The pair had only walked for a few hours before they were intercepted by a band of what appeared to be elves. Gil counted about twenty of them. They were about Maria's height, and to Gil, that meant these people were short. Maria and Gil were both five foot four, but the difference was that they were kids. The elves were men and women and were unlikely to hit a growth spurt anytime soon, something fated for Gil and Maria.
The elves all bowed down. "Our lords, please help us!" Gil looked quizically at Maria. "Did you gain some followers these past two days?" Maria shook her head. "I'm just as confused. I haven't interacted with anyone besides you." She looked at the elves. "Is something the matter? If you're worried about us attacking or anything, don't be. I assure you all will be safe, at least from us."
An old male elf walked up to her, stocked in red attire just like the other elves. "I thank you for your assurance of safety, but we elves actually wanted to ask a favor. Would you mind coming back to our village for a bit?"
Gil was impressed by the little village the elves ran. All in all, there were a total of one thousand elves living in harmony here. The buildings consisted of loghouses and longhouses. Longhouses were the ginormous single-story buildings where the elves lived and ate. There were four of them, so Gil reasoned each fit about two hundred fifty people. They were built the same way, with beds stacked up on the walls, multiple bathrooms, tables lined up in rows, lights decorating the ceiling, and a furnace at either end of the building. Gil found it amazing that all the houses and the bathrooms were absurdly clean, considering how many people were crammed into one of them.
The loghouses were a lot smaller, only big enough to fit at most a dozen people. They were where people worked, bartered, cooked, and smithed metals into weapons and armor.
The old elf hurriedly reserved a loghouse for Gil and Maria. He again bowed before them, with a young elf at his side. "I'm sorry for the delay. Please forgive us for not having much in the way of hospitality. The famine last winter has hit us hard."
Gil told them to relax. "We already told you that we have no interest in attacking you guys. So calm down a bit. Who are you two, and why'd you refer to Maria and I as 'your lords'?"
The old elf and the young elf bowed yet again. " I am Hagas, the chief of this village, and this here is my son, Conall." Maria nodded. "It's nice to meet the two of you. Tell us about what you want."
"Yes!" Hagas bowed. "You don't have to bow every time we ask you to talk," Gil rolled his eyes. "Just treat us like we're your friends or something like that."
"Yes, my lord!" Hagas still bowed, as did his son, Conall. Gil turned to Maria. "Why are they still doing that?"
"Some people are like that. More importantly, Hagas, what did you want to ask from us? We don't have much food to offer if you guys are still starving."
"No! We would never even think about taking your belongings! We simply ask for your power."
"Our power? Are you suggesting we fight alongside you in some conflict?"
"Yes," Connal said. " Ever since last year, we have been attacked by a pack of kitsune who live in the forest. We have tried to fight back, but we are utterly powerless against them. My brother, who was given the name Dee by a jinn, died after taking down ten or so kitsune. He has reduced the size of the pack by half on his own, making the kitsune wary of us until recently, when they found out my brother was dead."
Hagas knelt, placing his forehead on the ground. "And that is why we ask you two for assistance. With your power, defeating the kitsune should be easy." Gil doubted that. Kitsune were large foxes with multiple tails. Some of them were said to be as powerful as a demon emperor. Even without strength, kitsune were also known to be cunning and sly. Killing a pack of them would certainly not be easy.
"What do you think we should do, Maria?"
"Why are you asking me, Gil?"
"You're a lot smarter than I am, so it would make sense for you to decide."
"Well, what do you think we should do?"
Gil scratched his head. "I'm not sure. Aren't kitsune supposed to be super powerful? It would be better if we don't get involved, and a lot easier. If we do decide to get involved, we had better come up with a plan. I don't think taking down a whole pack is as easy as Hagas claims."
Maria nodded. "That's a reasonable course of action. So you think we should just let the elves die?"
"No, of course not. Even though leaving right now is our best option, that doesn't mean it's the right one. If we really could help the elves, I think it's worth a shot." Maria smiled. This is how Gil was. He was too kind, unable to abandon someone in need, even if it was a demon. When they first met, Gil didn't hesitate at all to take her back to his home, even though she was a vampire. He said that it was wrong to leave someone dying and broken on the floor callously just because they were a hated enemy. His kindness saved her, and she wanted to extend that kindness to everyone suffering in the war.
"Alright. If we win, we'll gain an ally in the forest. Maybe we'll even be able to get the kitsune on our side. So let's do it."
"Thank you!" Hagas and Connal yelled in unison. "We are yours to command, my lords!"
"Yeesh, I told you guys to treat us like we're your friends," Gil said. "I'm Gil, and this is Maria. Call us by our names from now on, ok?"
"Yes, Lord Gil and Lady Maria!"
Gil sighed. They would never stop calling him "lord," much to his chagrin. It made him uncomfortable, but there was nothing to do about it. "So, Maria, about-"
"I already have something in mind. Hagas, Conall, call your technicians here. We're barricading the village."
"Barricading?" Hagas questioned. "Our technology isn't very advanced. There's not much we can do to fortify the place, I'm afraid."
"Can you build a wired fence around the perimeter and make traps? We won't need more than that."
"Yes," Hagas replied. "We'll introduce you to our builders, and you can tell them what your scheme is." As the two elves led them into another loghouse, Maria tugged on Gil's arm. "You have no objections to this? Everyone here will eventually find out you're a sentinel. Some may even try to assassinate you. If you want to reconsider, now is the time."
Gil shook his head. "But that's why I have to do this. If demons and sentinels continually live in fear and hate, then the war will never end. I have to show everyone in Tenebris and Stella that we can coexist. The longer the war rages on, the more blood will be spilled, and the more people will suffer. I don't want anyone else to lose the people precious to them."
"I understand. Alright, then let's change the world together. We'll start right here in this village. How does that sound, partner?" Gil did a mock bow. "Absolutely splendid, Lady Maria."
Until dusk, the elves worked hard fortifying the village's defenses as Maria instructed them to. A wall their height had been erected, skirting the village perimeter. It was coated with barbed wire, which had been dipped in poison. The village also had access to tripwires and pressure plates, which were scattered all over the place.
Maria did take issue with equipment at the armory. Most of the swords and axes were made out of wood. The armor was barely better, consisting of iron. But nighttime was quickly approaching, and the kitsune would soon arrive. She told the elves to gear up anyway. Better to have some protection than none.
The elves lie in wait. Security was set up around the fence, so the village could be readily alarmed when the kitsune came. As the moon rose in the sky, howls were heard in the distance, and the kitsune made themselves visible to the elves.
Maria was immediately notified of their arrival and barked out orders. Gil, Hagas, and Connall followed her tail as they went to meet the kitsune. Maria was impressed by one of their auras and presumed that it was the leader of the pack. He was larger than the other kitsune and had four wavy tails, while the rest only had two. Maria knew that the leader was no match for her or Gil. His aura was too weak compared to theirs. What was worrying were their numbers. There were about as many kitsunes as elves, and they were much more powerful.
The leader roared. "Pfft, you think that silly fence can stop us, you puny elves? Charge!" Maria clapped her hands, and elven archers popped up from the fence, pouring arrows down on the kitsune. Two kitsune stepped on a pressure plate and were impaled by spikes underneath them. The kitsune found it impossible to get over the barbed wire, and many died from poisoning. Many still died from the traps and the constant shower of arrows. The leader of the pack howled, and the kitsune retreated. "It seems the elves have gained some intellect. We'll have to burn that fence and get rid of those archers if we want to have a tasty dinner. Burn them down!" The kitsune charged again. This time, they spit out fireballs, which severely burned the archers and made progress on melting the fence.
"Lady Maria," Hagas cried. "The kitsune are barging their way in here! We must act!"
"Before we become delectable fried elves," Connal gulped. Maria turned to Gil. "Very well. Then my partner will handle the rest. Are you ready? If you've had a change of heart, I could-"
"No." Gil's voice was firm. "I'll handle the rest. I can't depend on you like this and let you do all the work. Besides, you've done so much for me already." Maria squeezed his hand. "Then you better win. I won't allow failure, especially not from you."
"I'll be back in a jiffy," Gil grinned. "See ya."
"Good luck, Gil." Maria watched Gil pounced on the kitsune, punching them and sending some flying into the air. A couple of minutes later and all the kitsune save the leader had been knocked unconscious.
The leader growled. "Tch, so you've taken out my pack, eh? Why are you helping the elves? I don't remember attacking you." Gil braced his fists. "You're correct about that; you and I have never even met. But I can't stand by and let you hurt innocents either. You had no reason to attack the elves."
"Hah! Innocents? Who cares about who's innocent? The law of the jungle is what governs Tenebris. It's either devour or be devoured."
"I see. Then I'll change that law."
"Pfft! You, change the demon realm? You're just a boy, and soon to be a dead one at that!" A beam of fire shot out of the leader's mouth, incinerating droves of elves in an instant. It had no such effect on Gil, who absorbed the attack through his hand. As a sentinel, he could absorb quanta from his surroundings or enemy attacks, something demons could not do. However, Gil was not strong enough to suck up infinite amounts of quanta. His body would blow up from an overload. Thankfully, the quanta he received from the beam attack was negligible compared to the maximum amount he could absorb.
The leader kept firing to no avail. He was only making Gil stronger, and he didn't even know it. The leader then used all the quanta in his body to form a massive fireball. "Take this, runt!" The effort proved meaningless, for Gil absorbed it as well. Feeling desperate, the leader sprinted towards Gil, baring its razor-sharp fangs. A sword spewing out flames appeared in Gil's hands. Sentinels are not only able to manipulate light but plasma as well, provided they're strong enough to create significant amounts of it.
Gil pointed the tip of the blade at the kitsune's head. "Surrender now, and I'll spare your life." The leader eyed Gil. "I'm surprised a sentinel would even help demons, much less spare their lives. The war only gets worse with each passing day. What are you up to?"
"I'm going to end the war and help sentinels and demons exist side-by-side. To do that, I'm going to gain as many alliances with as many demons as I possibly can and prove we could work and live together."
"Seriously? You're very intriguing. Not that I disagree with your idea, but look behind you." The elves stared shockingly at Gil's sword. Their eyes were filled with fear, and their faces were contorted by it. Children hung tightly to their mothers, and some elves even threw rocks at Gil. He didn't blame them. When Gil lost his parents, his rage controlled him entirely. He entered a daze in which his only thought was to destroy every single demon. Anger and hate are powerful motivators, and both are rampant in war. They lead to a never-ending cycle of anger, suspicion, despair, and hopelessness. When Gil killed the winged sky dragons that killed his parents, he felt closure, but his heart was not soothed. It felt empty. Everyone loses something dear to them and then seeks to take something away from another out of rage, but can constant revenge and bitterness heal a soul?
Maria anticipated the elves' reaction and knew how she would be able to quell their doubts. The bond they made would serve as a testament that Gil's wishes are sincere. "Elves, please listen to me! Gil is not your enemy!" Some elves jeered at Maria. Some cursed and made derogatory remarks. Others kept silent, not sure of what to make out of the situation. Maria opened the palm of her hand. A circle was inscribed into it, and on it was Gil's name. It glowed as Gil's own body glowed. "I, Maria Asphodel, have formed a bond with my partner, Gil Asphodel! I will not tolerate any insults hurled at him!" The elves stopped talking, stunned by what they heard. A demon forming a bond with a sentinel? It was unheard of, but the elves knew she wasn't deceiving them. The marking on her hand and Gil's shining body said it all, and they knew what that meant. Gil had been sincere about his desire to create a peaceful world after all.
The elves knelt on their knees, addressing Maria and Gil as their lords and asking for forgiveness. The kitsune did the same, with the pack leader swearing his loyalty to Gil, who was ecstatic. He had ended the battle peacefully and had gotten both elves and kitsune on his side, as he had hoped.
It was decided that the kitsune would live in the elf village from now on. Hagas and Connal quickly arranged a loghouse built for Gil and Maria, now their new home. It was relatively simple, with the only thing standing out was the large four-poster bed in the bedroom. Since the construction was rushed, there was only one bed and one bedroom, meaning Gil and Maria would be sleeping in the same bed. The idea made Gil's cheeks turn rosy. Maria was a little embarrassed by it, but she was also excited. Couples usually slept together. She wondered if this was an opportunity to take her relationship with Gil one step further, but she would think about it later. She was too sleepy to do so now.
Gil and Maria lay down in bed, with each having plenty of space to themselves, which comforted Gil a little. The rest of the village was asleep, and there was a quiet calm. Gil's mind focused on today's skirmish, where both the elves and the kitsune had sworn to be loyal to him. His idea of a peaceful world had won their hearts, and he realized that if he could prove to more demons that he had good intentions for the future, they might be willing to ally with him. Then, it was as if someone had turned on a lightbulb in his head.
"Hey, Maria, you awake?" Maria had closed her eyes, but she nodded. "What is it? You should go to sleep. Aren't you tired?"
"Yeah, but hear me out. I have an idea on how to to make the world we want a reality."
"Let's hear it."
"What if we helped develop this village into a kingdom and expand it?"
"What would that do?"
"In this kingdom of ours, sentinels and demons will be treated equally, with no discrimination. We'll get backing from other nations and grow. As we do, everyone will see that people from all races can live in harmony. That will only be more true the more we grow, and perhaps both demons and sentinels will seriously consider ending the war."
It sounded like an excellent plan to Maria. Gil's idea might really just work. She heard the passion in his voice and knew he was resolute. He would make that kingdom real and not waver, no matter how hard someone might try to undo his progress. There was only one answer she could give.
"That's a marvelous idea, Gil."
"Really? You think so?"
"I know you're committed to making that kingdom a reality. As your partner, I'll always support you." Gil beamed. "Thank you, Maria." Maria held out her pinky. "Promise me you'll never turn your back on that idea, no matter what." Gil nodded. "I swear I'll make the kingdom real, for everyone's sake, and I'll always be loyal to you, Maria."
"I appreciate it, Gil. We have our work cut out for us tomorrow, and we won't be able to make an entire nation if we're sleep-deprived. Get some rest."