Davarious First Born Light of the Autumn Wind:
We returned to my town in the early evening. After telling Marker what happened things returned to a more natural pace. One week passed. I let the Heroes recuperate from the constant travelling in the best possible place I knew. They still didn't miss a day of training and many of the townsfolk watched them. Unfortunately I didn't spend too much time with them. My excuse was helping Marker with the town's problems but really I had been teleporting between here and my castle. We needed to organise our next move. With that Monster waking up, I no longer had the option to slowly lead the heroes around. Even after seeing Sayuri's reaction I had to just bear with it. It was time the Heroes went to the Demon Side, they needed to meet the real me. Still, I was going to do it in an unnecessary and flamboyant method. There was no fun in just telling them.
I sat with the Heroes inside Marker's home where we had been staying.
"I have an important announcement," I began as the Heroes looked at me with smiling faces, "From here we'll be heading east towards the Demon Lord's castle."
"What!?" Carl stood up.
"Calm down, I'll explain. The Demon Lord is planning something. From the intelligence we gathered and what happened last week, at this rate a full blown war may really break out between the humans and demons."
"If that happens, will this town be safe?" Alicia asked worriedly. She had grown quite attached to the people here, especially the children.
"I can assure you this town won't be touched. We're very hidden from the world."
"But why now?" Sayuri asked.
"That I'm not sure…." Well I was making this up as I went so bear with me. "What I do know is that now is the best time. They'd never expect us to come now. You haven't even been here for long; The Demon Lord will still think you're not strong enough to face him."
"Yeah true, though it feels much longer than that," Alicia laughed but then turned serious, "But are we really ready?"
"You've come a very long way and it will take us some time to get there and we'll be training every night. But, you can trust me. When the time comes you'll be ready."
"If you say so," Sayuri smiled.
"Dave, I…," Carl trailed off. "I don't think I'll be able to fight him seriously anymore. Not after all you've shown us here. Demons and humans, we can get along."
"Carl you really are too kind," I shook my head. "You won't be fighting Demonkind but the Demon Lord. Show him that we can get along even if you have to use your fists, that's what this is about."
"You're right, I'll fight for peace!" he looked brighter again.
"Gary what about you?" I asked. "You've been strangely silent so far."
"Are you sure that he's planning something?" he replied.
"Everything we've learnt so far would suggest so, why?"
"It's just, I heard somethings about him and he didn't sound like a bad person." Tch, just who was Gary talking to? I told everyone in the town to pretend I was some big baddy.
"Garr he tried to kill Dave remember?" Alicia scowled.
"I know but…."
"Gary don't worry, we can only meet him again and judge for ourselves." I beat my fists together, "Besides I need to get revenge on him for that kick."
"Yeah, I guess we can't just judge someone from whatever people say," Gary smiled.
"Good then we're all in agreement, from here on out we're charging the Demon Lord!" We all put our hands forward and stacked them up and threw them up in a cheer. The Heroes culture was weird but I liked it.
The townsfolk and Marker bid their goodbyes to us as we prepared to leave. Even Lisanna and Gilda made their own appearance. The problem was Sayuri, Alicia and the children. They clung on and wouldn't let go with teary eyes. It took a lot longer than we expected to say goodbye but eventually we were boarded on top of my cloud and sailing above the tree line.
"Where are we heading to now?" Gary asked, "Harpies? Lamias? Beastkin? Lizardmen? I haven't seen any spider people yet!"
"Garr spider people don't exist," Alicia knocked him a little with a laugh.
"Actually…." I began,
"No way, really?"
"Yep, they're one of the rarest races among demons but they exist. Lower body like a spider. They also make the best tailors."
"… No offense but can we not see them," Alicia shivered.
"We would be lucky if we did," I laughed. Honestly my personal tailor at the castle was one of them so she'd definitely see one eventually. "Sorry to disappoint you Gary but the Demon Lord's castle is straight east from here. Which means we're only passing through the larger territories of the Orcs, Ogres and Beastkin. But you'll still see the other races around."
"It'll have to do," Gary cheered excited. "I can't wait to go sightseeing!"
"Umm Dave about that," Sayuri pointed at the four of them, "Is it okay that we look like this?"
"…." Daaaamn it, I almost forgot entirely. Thankfully my father had given me something earlier. I took out a box from my pocket. "You're right. Unfortunately we can't play you off as High Demons. Along with our looks we have a certain aura about us that demons can pick up. So choose from these." I opened the box, inside were a few unique looking accessories.
"What are these?" Carl asked as they rummaged through them.
"Disguises. Put them on and you'll see. There's a few types, but be warned, putting them on is easy. Taking them off takes more effort, so choose wisely."
"Just like this?" Sayuri took a headband with cat ears on it and put it on her head. Her face scrunched into a grimace. "Ugh…." She moaned uncomfortable as the changed began to take place. The headband dissolved away and the ears fused with her scalp. Her actual ears receded and out from her back a tail shot out. She looked pretty cute….
"Nice choice Sayuri, cat girl," Gary nodded.
"Hey don't stare," Alicia hit him over the head. "But it does suit you Sayuri.
"Uh, thank you but I didn't realise it would change me so suddenly," she laughed awkwardly. "It feels strange, I can actually hear through the ears and control the tail." The black tail moved around smoothly.
"What's this?" Carl asked me, holding up a horn.
"That's for the horned tribe," I answered. "They look human but you'll grow that horn on your head, also scales will grow around your wrists and ankles. The disguises won't change you completely but enough that it'll make sense."
"I guess I'll go with it." Carl put the horn against his head and grimaced as it moved into place and fused. He looked at his wrists as scales grew out from the skin. "You're right Sayuri, this does feel weird. Is it just me or can I actually feel something from the horn?"
"You should be able to feel slight shifts in mana, it's not as strong as the actual race but you could get used to it."
Alicia held up a pair of wings, "Oh these look like a smaller version of Helen's wings."
"Maybe not that one!" I tried to stop her but it was too late as she put them on. The wings expanded, a tail and two small horns grew. Her blue eyes turned a vivid red.
"Oh a succubus?" Gary said surprised.
Alicia flapped the wings lightly, "That wasn't as bad as I thought, Carl what do you-," as soon as her eyes met Carl's her expression changed and she pounced at him. And this is what I didn't want.
Carl was forced down, "Alicia what are you do-." She planted her mouth on his. Sayuri covered her eyes in a blush. Gary turned away like he was about to vomit.
It didn't even last a few seconds. Alicia snapped straight up, "Oh my god, I am so sorry Carl, I didn't meant to… I just saw you and then-,"
"Umm it's fine," Carl coughed struggling to remain nonchalant, "Dave care to explain."
"It's like Gary said, succubus. Her internal lust was released a little. Thankfully she managed to suppress it. Don't worry it shouldn't happen again. It was just the initial burst due to the transformation." Just what was my dad thinking putting that in there? No he probably got it from Tiana our castle doctor, I could see her try to pull something with that.
"It won't happen again I promise," Alicia bowed to Carl.
"It's okay, I didn't mind it," Carl replied, however his eyes purposefully avoided hers.
"Really now?" Alicia leaned closer.
Gary pushed them apart, "No. At least not while I'm here."
"Sorry…." Alicia moved next to Sayuri who comforted her.
Only Gary was left and looked at the remaining choices. Finally he pulled out a pair of ears,
"These will make a Fay right?"
"Yep," I answered.
"Any side effects?"
"None."
"Good." He put them on.
"I lied."
"What?" But it was too late. The ears fused on to him and his hair receded, replaced instead by feather like hair. The changes didn't end as his forearms puffed up as well in a colourful plume and his nails became elongated growing sharp points. Finally a fluffy tail popped out of his pants. "What the heck am I?"
"A rare breed of harpy," I laughed.
"Damn it Dave!" he tried to jump at me but instead his face slammed into a barrier.