"I knew this wouldn't work", Doris said with a sad expression.
"Wait", Erwand cut in. "Lilynn had never used magic before, but she might have the powers to practice it. I've seen you do it before," he turned to Lilynn. His eyes were like anchors, clearing Lilynn's mind and reassuring that she is capable of anything. "Try reaching for your powers again, but try focusing them on the spell this time."
Lilynn nodded, and tried what Erwand just said with more hope. She really wanted to acquire magic to overthrow the corrupt people who threw her into despair.
She read out the spell again, but this time more slowly. She reached for her powers while doing so, as if she was preparing for an attack. The dark powers were close, and she was trying to merge them with the words she was saying...
Suddenly, a great pain struck her whole body. It was like a lightning suddenly hitting her, she felt an enormous wave of torture pulsing through all her bodyparts.
In the next second, Lilynn could feel that she was on the ground. Was life leaving her? She could only sense that her vision was blacking out. The pain was still striking like a hundred spears piercing through her chest.
"Lilynn!" Erwand's panicked voice came from somewhere. She could feel his body pressing against hers, and his muscular arms hugging her body.
Suddenly, Lilynn felt better. The pain went away as fast as it came.
She was gasping, while Erwand was still hugging her on the ground.
"Erwand... I'm fine" she whispred.
Erwand stood up slowly while still glaring at her if she was okay.
She took a deep breath and let Erwand get her on her feet while grabbing her arm.
"It was like... a wall. A wall of pain, telling me to stay away..." she explained. "It was very sudden, and now I don't even feel it anymore."
Erwand let out a happy sigh, and Doris was examining Lilynn with confusion.
"I've never seen anything like this. Demons are on a whole other level in terms of being hated by the gods," Doris said with folded arms in front of her chest.
"Didn't you say you knew she couldn't do magic, and not almost die because of a simple spell?" Erwand rumbled. He was still grabbing Lilynn's arm, with his big palm closing on it. It was like a protecting gesture, holding Lilynn close to himself, still trying to process what happened.
And he was furious.
For a moment, he thought he had lost Lilynn. And now, he was more worried than Lilynn had ever seen him before. Not that they weren't through a few sticky situations already. Erwand was worried about her. And Lilynn felt blood flooding her cheeks while realizing that.
"I am no demon expert, let me remind you. You are the one who suggested trying out spells, and how she should try them" Doris claimed, which was true. Her words did make Erwand calm down a little, or maybe he was just ready to blame himself instead. "You also had no idea. It was an accident, and let's just learn from it."
"That is true. It should be my responsibility to learn my limits. Well, now I know one of them," Lilynn added while forcing a smile on her face. Erwand was still not happy, but finally let go of Lilynn's arm gently.
"Apparently demons are completely incompatible with divine magic, so practising that will never happen to her," she pointed at Lilynn. "However... there might be another way."
"Another way?" Lilynn repeated in excitement.
"Indeed. We mages were never taught about it, but the opposite of divine magic might be something she can practice. It is a side of magic that uses the power of mighty demons, who are just as powerful as gods. You might also know it as... Dark Magic."
Lilynn had heard of that before. And the way Doris said "mighty demons" immediately reminded her of something.
"Just like the Demoness of Vengeance told me. She gifted me her powers..."
"And so she also must have given you the ability to use dark magic."
There was silence.
"Okay... and how do we get access to dark magic?" Erwand asked.
"That's the thing. I don't have any books that teach you how to use it. I don't think anyone in this town, nor in the kingdom does" Doris explained. "The Kingdom of Arlan prohibits anything connected to the demons."
"There must be way. Other demons might know how to do it" Lilynn said. Come to think of it, she had no idea how other ordinary demons lived their evil life in the kingdom. They were usually hiding in a human form, which made the thought of meeting with them impossible. They were also very rare, as only a few reports emerged in the span of years about them. They were more like legends than actual threats.
But what if she didn't communicate with other human-formed demons, and instead with mighty demons? Just like the immortal being that the Demoness of Vengeance was at the moment of her death. Would she listen to her again, giving her guidance?
Lilynn kneeled down on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Erwand said with a confused face.
"Shhh. Let me try something."
She was whispering words into nothing. It was a prayer. A prayer begging for the Demoness' help to fulfil her destiny.
Minutes passed. The Demoness was silent.
"I... I'm not sure if praying for gods is the right move," Doris commented.
"It's not for a god, but a demon. It worked the last time I tried."
"And how was that different?"
"I was... I was dying."
Doris laughed.
"I see. That was a very special moment at the end of your life, which must've caught the attention of the demoness. But now, you are just kneeling at my library. With a silly alchemist and a confused enchantress."
Lilynn stood up. She felt like an idiot.
"But I can see what you are doing," Doris continued. "If you want any demons to hear you, you might need a shrine. That's where people go to if they want gods to listen to them."
"Everyone with half a mind knows they don't work," Erwand said. "Gods are so full of themselves that they never listen to any mortal."
"You might be right. But it's worth a try."
"And where do we find a shrine dedicated to demons? None of those exists, as far as I know," Erwand argued. Doris let out a slight smile.
"We don't. We just go to the one that is dedicated to gods."
"Why would any demon listen to prayers towards gods?"
Lilynn knew the answer. She remembered what the Demoness told her. It wasn't just about her and her own revenge.
It was about justice and chaos to change the human world.
"Because they want me to overthrow them."