The refugee camp was cleaner than Raed expected. There was the scattered occasional litter on the ground and the disordered placement of temporary tents and shelters. But there were no vermin that he could see. Nor were there any cats that could be responsible for pest control. If this was a refugee camp, then it was well-maintained. But were they all demons? And what were they running from?
Raed hoped he would get answers to these new questions. Even if those details were irrelevant to his current quests, Raed was curious enough about what could be happening in the Netherworld. There were too many non-combatant demons this time, and some of them made it a long way south of their portals.
After he and Kenna put Rurie in the infirmary tent, Raed met with the leader of the camp, a tall and harsh-faced woman whose black and purple hair was tied into a neat and tight bun, and whose eyes burned with a cold calculating fire. She wore a diaphanous blue tunic adorned with a collar of iridescent feathers. Tight blue leggings made of the same thin material wrapped around her long legs. Two white boots covered her feet and legs up to the knees, with each ending in a ring of rainbow-colored feathers.
The leader's tent was no better than any of the other makeshift shelters in the vicinity. A simple metal desk held documents. Behind the desk sat the leader, who reclined in a folding metal chair, her legs crossed. Her right hand propped up her chin.
"Hello, Melazanya," Raed said as he entered the tent. He stood two meters from the desk and looked the leader in her blazing blue pupils.
Kenna bowed to the leader and then looked at Raed with surprise.
The leader uncrossed her legs and unpropped her chin. She leaned forward against the desk, causing her feather collar to dip and expose her collarbones. She spoke with a calm, measured tempo, with a quiet, but clear, mellow voice. "You are familiar with my origins I see."
"My name is Raed Kening, Melazanya. Would I be correct to believe you are Kaiti from House Tlassi?"
"I am the one," Kaiti said. She curled her lips into a foxy grin. "And you have aged since last I saw you." She folded her hands, interlocking her fingers and setting them on her chest.
"I blame the human genes, but I will claim victory in the expected lifespan department. Consider me surprised that you are here and living like this, though."
"I have my reasons, Thaumaturge." She opened her lips to reveal four sharp canine teeth. "You cannot imagine how long I have waited to kill you."
"I imagine it would be quite a lot," Raed responded.
"And now you have come to me, when I had to expend no effort at all to find you. I had almost even forgotten about you." Kaiti ran a tongue across her upper lip.
Kenna turned her head between her leader, Kaiti, who sad behind the metal desk that appeared to shrink with every passing second, and Raed, who continued to stand in a relaxed but straight posture. She tried not to speak or move, surmising that were she to do that, then either of the two would pounce on her for the interruption.
"To be honest, I'd have preferred it if you did forget," Raed said. "The unfortunate thing is that people who I didn't want anything to do with anymore remembered me. That's why I'm now back in the saddle, so to speak. That saddle being the thing where I kill your kind."
The apathetic way that Raed declared his intent, along with the lighthearted attitude he delivered the line, sent a strong shudder through Kenna's spine. She tried to back away with small steps.
"Kenna, you met Raed at the field lab this morning, didn't you?" Kaiti's sweet voice held the other demon in place.
"Yes, ma'am."
"He stabilized Rurenken and helped you to transport him here?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Kaiti then turned her attention to Raed, and asked him with an expression disguising her innate curiosity, "Why did you do that?"
"I can assure you I had ulterior motives. Such as getting to you," Raed answered. "Now how much do you reckon your bounty's worth right now?"
"You're a funny one, Raed," Kaiti said. Her lips covered her teeth again, and the sly grin returned to her face. "Now tell me the truth, please. I'm asking nicely before I end up charming you."
"Please, by all means, do make an attempt at charming me. That worked out well for your sister, I'm sure."
A pallid quiet befell the tent. If ever there was a time when Kenna felt her rational mind expunged and replaced with primal fear, it was at that moment, when she felt like a rabbit trapped between an eagle and a fox.
Kaiti's eyes turned into a radiant cyan color and her violet demon aura sparked with angry streaks of crackling energy. She stood from her chair and leaned forward as her palms pressed the sides of her desk. Stray wisps of aura whipped behind her back like tails. When she spoke, her voice was still soft and melodic, but more forceful in a way that caused echoes to ripple in the mind after she finished her speech. "Watch yourself, human. I will not tolerate insults to my family no matter their crimes."
Raed put a hand on his dagger. He didn't need to close his eyes to trigger synthesis for the familiar weapon. Kaiti must have seen that because her flashing aura dissipated into a thin veneer of lavender.
"That was the weapon you used to kill my sister?" She asked.
Raed took his hand away from his dagger's hilt. He rested the hand back against his hip. "No, it was what I used to carve out her core. Blame Primeval Infernal or the cult leaders if you can't accept her choices, not me."
Kaiti's eyes returned to their cool smoldering blue color. She sat down in her chair and crossed her arms and legs. "I won't keep up this facade any longer, Raed. It's tiresome and boring to me so listen up. I am not angry at you. I don't feel any desire for vengeance. I don't think I even feel sad that my sister died."
"Well it has been ten years." Raed said.
Kaiti closed her eyes. "Yes, it has been that long. I don't suppose you've ever lost someone you loved? Or better yet, have you even loved anyone?" Kaiti asked.
"Since you're asking, would you like to be the one?" Was the cheeky response she received.
"You still haven't told me why you're here," she said.
"You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth. I think we're all friends enough after all. By the way, your bounty's worth ten thousand auruns. Twice that if you're alive."
"Tell me a good reason and I'll turn myself in with you, as long as you agree to help me escape after you collect the reward."
Raed grinned. Kaiti grinned. Kenna tried her best to look nonexistent.
"I'm here for a quest," Raed said.
"You were serious." Kaiti's voice sounded unsurprised.
"I told you, some people in the kingdom have the wrong idea about me and forced me into this. I figure if I solve the root problem, that is, the demons' existence, I'd be free to enjoy my retirement."
"You intend to massacre every demon in this world?"
"That would be difficult for me to accomplish alone. The more feasible scenario would be if most of the demons went back through their portals to the Netherworld. Wait, let me be correct. You call it Kandris don't you?"
"What if there was good reason for us to come here?"
"That's something for demon leaders to discuss with human leaders. I'm not involved in that. All I want is to get back to being a hermit. Whether that happens through force or diplomacy makes no difference to me, as long as it happens while I'm still healthy enough to enjoy retirement."
Kenna squeaked up at last. "Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Yes, Kenna?"
"Can I leave now?"
"No," Kaiti said. "Stay here and listen to this man you brought here. Accept your responsibility for your role in the calamity he will bring to us."
Kenna withdrew into her fresh lab coat like a turtle in its shell.
"I take it that you're not going to cooperate with my guild quest?" Raed asked.
"I can see no way that would be good for me or my people." The blue-clad vixen uncrossed her arms and held out a hand, palm facing the ceiling, inviting Raed to speak. "But I'd like to know what quests your guild has concocted for you."
It couldn't hurt to show her the quest, Raed thought. He was curious about certain inconsistencies himself. He took out his adventurer license and flipped to the quest details on [River Horror] and placed the card on the metal desk.
It only took a single glance for Kaiti to slide the card back to Raed.
"Human propaganda," Kaiti remarked with dismissal. "I went in disguise to the village and investigated what happened. Our escapee did no more than dive into the river and float on his back, screaming obscenities along the way. While I'll admit that could be seen as strange and unsettling, he did not harm anyone. And furthermore, the allegations of fish poisoning are outright lies."
"I wanted to ask about the poisoning and water, too. Kenna told me that there was a Benian monk who left you some water purification tablets." Kenna kept her head inside the lab coat shell.
"Yes, the monk's tablets," Kaiti replied. "That was what started this mess in the first place. It was my fault for trusting a Benian monk. Human liars are everywhere."
"Unless the Benian Order has diversified into drug manufacturing, I don't think that was a real Benian monk," Raed said.
"Is that so?"
"I analyzed the compound Rurenken isolated from the pill. He was experimenting with the tablets, right?"
Kaiti confirmed it.
Raed continued. "I don't know about the original tablet itself, but what Rurenken extracted has many effects on humans. It would appear that it has similar effects on demons."
"You believe that the hallucinations and erratic behavior four of my people suffered were a direct result of the pills the monk gave us? Then why only four? Everyone used the same tablets in their drinking water that day."
"There are many reasons that could be the case. The amount in a tablet, how much time had passed between its creation and use, how the individual's body reacts to it. It's also possible that the monk was authentic and someone else slipped in a few tainted pieces."
Kaiti frowned. "A saboteur? There are few who know of our presence here, and even fewer who know our true natures. My aura should have maintained the veil, unless you imply someone among us did this."
"I hate conspiracies, I really do," Raed said. He considered how prudent it would be to reveal more to Kaiti. She was quite straightforward for someone of her origin, and Raed quite enjoyed that part. It could be worth the risk to get her on board with his quests. And in return he might gain the help of a very powerful demon.
"There's something else that I've been told happened nearby recently. In this matter, the guild is also involved," Raed said. "Do you know about any demons working with bandits around the area or in Poran Forest?"
Kaiti thought about it for a moment. "There could be cultists who try to induct human worshipers. It could also be militant factions, though I doubt they could make it two steps past the Desolate Rim before they start attacking human settlements."
"Would it help if I told you at least one of them cast Canterous Fiend Snare?" Raed asked.
A dark shadow appeared over Kaiti's still-smiling face. "That's a horrible joke, Raed."
"This time I'm afraid I'm not joking. Tell me if you've heard this one before: Purple mist that traps demons."
"Are you trying to say something?" Kaiti asked, hostility returning to her voice.
"I want to know, Melazanya Tlassi," Raed said. "Are you still part of the Three Infernal Wheels cult?"
Kaiti gave a long sigh. "Not this again. I escaped, Raed. I escaped even before your vaunted hero Valentine shattered the Incarnate of Primeval Infernal's core."
"Good enough for me. Was there anyone you knew who also slipped through the DR?"
Kaiti shook her head. "I wish I could help you more on this one. Exterminating the last of that ruinous cult would bring me much happiness. But no, I can't think of anyone who came through."
"Thanks for trying. If I find out more about this, I know where to find you." Raed said.
"I'm not in the habit of allowing human visitors. You saved the life of one of my people, and I will extend you my hospitality."
"That's not a 'No' then?" Raed said.
"Let me think about it. If you believe the cult is involved close enough to threaten us, then I'll consider your actions against them a favor to my community."
An idea crossed his mind. She should be aware of our devices, he thought.
"How about this," he pulled out the smooth thin rectangular device with rounded corners that he used to message Leif earlier that day. "I'll message you on yours if I find anything related to cult activity in the area. Would you care to keep in touch?"
"Oho? This is amusing," Kaiti laughed.
"Is it?"
"Why yes, we went from wishing painful death upon the other to exchanging numbers."
"I would have wanted you to die quickly. I'm not sadistic."
Kaiti chuckled. "Give that to me," she said, taking the phone from his hands. She pressed a switch on the side and moved her fingers across the screen with practiced familiarity. After tapping at the screen with rapid speed and precision, she filled out her name followed by a thirteen-digit number.
When Raed took back his phone, he saw that Kaiti had put her last name as 'Kaiti Tlassi', and her first name as 'Melazanya'. What an odd practice, Raed thought. He wondered if all demons always included their titles with their names. He tapped on Kaiti's number and sent a single text to her.
{a}
A chime sounded from behind one stack of folders on the desk. Kaiti picked up the blue phone and read the message. "You sent an 'a'? That's all? You could have sent an actual message at least."
Raed shrugged. "Magic isn't free," he reminded her.
Without reply, Kaiti saved the number as 'Alchemist, Stupid'. "If there's nothing else, then?" She said after switching off her screen.
"I'll be on my way then," Raed said. He pushed through the tent flap that was the door and strode through.
Kenna took the opportunity to slink through the door and scurry away in the opposite direction to where Raed went.
Once Raed was out of earshot, he reviewed the objectives on all of his three soon-expiring quests.
[Objectives: Slay/capture the demons: (0/1)]
[Objectives: Slay the demons: (0/3)]
[Objectives: Slay/capture the demons: (0/1)]
"Man, when will I kill a demon already?" Raed inquired of the empty sky.