Chapter 26: My Demon Lord
The week passed all too quickly. There was a lot we needed to know and not many ways to get it. From the people I or the others talked to, the most we heard was just how powerful the Demon Lord was. An old horned tribe man who witnessed him take down an entire tribe who broke his accord, those who praised him for fending off an army of beasts, the bystanders that saw him raise an entire mountain. A week ago I would have said they were just rumours but seeing the denizens of night move to his will… quite honestly I was fearing just what man we were fighting. Lara's powers were incredible and aside from me everyone's combat talents were immense. The problem was I felt that in the end, my death would be a certain requirement multiple times.
On the plus side I had enjoyed the city to a good extent and explored its streets with interest. It didn't take me long to grow attached and begin to love the twisting alleys that fanned between the building blocks. It was the day before our final push that I found myself in a memorial graveyard close by the Demon Lord's mansion. I had visited multiple times now. A well-kept green lawn adorned with flowers and stone monuments with names I didn't know. From what I read of them, some were the past heroes of the demons, some their leaders and some even the dead companions of the Demon Lord. One statue in the centre stood taller than all the others. It looked human in appearance, a beautiful women with long flowing hair and a realism that no ordinary sculptor could capture. Engraved at its base were the words, For my mother, and beside it the remains of a bouquet of flowers and punnet of now dried strawberries. Seeing the statue and the love that was put into it, a hollow feeling spread through my chest.
"It's how I remember her," a calm voice spoke behind me causing me to jump in fright. I turned around quickly. A Male, bit taller than I was, light blue hair and cold silver eye. A smooth golden stone embedded in his chest showed through his clothing. In his hands fresh flowers and strawberries. It was the first demon of his kind I had ever seen. He let out a stiff smile, "My apologies I did not mean to frighten you."
"I just thought I was alone that's all," I replied simply. With Taylor around I had been thinking I was beginning to get good at sensing people, but he really did appear out of nowhere.
"This is a nice place to be alone," he touched the stone statue with a loving care. "I've seen you come by occasionally, why is that?" His eyes matched mine and a strange tingle shot through my brain.
"The atmosphere here is different from the rest of the city, as much as this place causes me melancholy, I find it peaceful." I replied with the truth.
The blue haired demon laughed, "Peaceful… perhaps that is true. This after all is a memorial for death, and in death we find our final peace."
"I don't think that's quite right."
His gaze narrowed, "Explain."
I spoke oddly naturally despite his intent stare, "Death doesn't bring about peace, it can cause pain to those left behind and that sometimes is worse than anything."
"I see…, yes you are right." He smiled, "A normal person would see death like you do I suppose. Pity those who cannot die when they want to, those who a duty that they must follow."
I couldn't help but agree but for a different reason. The times I truly wanted to die to go back I could not and only the Goddess would know how my life would finally meets its end.
The blue haired demon eyed me curiously, "Is this your first time in Sanctuary?"
"Yes…, my companions and I arrived one week ago."
"And what do you think?"
"I think it's amazing. The way the people have chosen to work together, how the city expands, how despite all the differences we have a city like this could be made," again I spoke the truth.
"To reach this point much blood had to be spilled both in life and death. This memorial is to those we lost to reach here. For no matter how hard we try they are the ones gone. They are the ones who we must seek resolution for." The strength of his words shook me and finally he straightened his back and faced me with his full body. "Do you know who I am?"
A bead of sweat dipped down my forehead and a chill crippled my spine, "I could take a guess."
"Then guess," he didn't smile.
"You're our Lord."
As my words fell he seemed to grow taller and his eyes look down on my own. His lips turned into a foreboding smile, "Correct."
"It is an honour," I struggled to keep my composure. While I had seen portraits of him, they didn't quite fit, being both an exaggeration and an injustice. After all the walking and ambling we'd all done this past week, to think he would just appear here now. I was cursing my luck as a desire to end things here built beneath my hammering heart.
"Now you know who I am, what would you like to do?" it was a question less simple than it sounded.
I bowed, "I will take my leave. You spoke before about this being a nice place to be alone. I won't bother you any longer."
"You're words were intriguing, perhaps we'll meet again," he waved and turned to look at the statue once more.
Without saying anything else I stepped back and retreated out of the memorial.
*
"I found the last part," Taylor placed the map on the table as I entered the room. "With this our map of the Lord's palace is complete. You can thank me now." She flaunted.
"How did you get it?" Ronalt asked surprised and thankful.
"The mark I mentioned before played out. Thieves with a different intent then ours, it just happened I was their better," she smirked proudly.
"With this tomorrow will become much easier."
I ambled towards them and sat down. We were in the inn's private room. The cost of hiring it was no small amount but our privacy was assured.
"Rain are you okay?" Ardent asked.
"You're pale," Lara quickly stepped to my side.
Taylor closed in soon after, "Hey what happened."
"I think I can one up your map," I breathed out heavily. "Guess who I met today?"
Their eyes widened as they all knew the answer. Ronalt spoke, "Where?"
"The memorial not too far from his mansion. Popped up out of nowhere. He said who he was himself and trust me when I say there was no need to question him."
"You know what he looks like?" Lara asked.
"That I do," I tried to shake off the lingering sensations crossing through my body but they held in place. "Earnest I'm going to need some exercise after this."
He looked at me more than happy to comply, "I did need to loosen myself a bit for tomorrow."
Ronalt nodded, "If Rain can remember our target's face, all the better. We have our map, but our way into the castle itself is unclear. Lara, Marley, how did your plan go?"
"Good, in a way at least," Lara replied. "There's a recruitment of sorts for traders tomorrow at noon. Marley managed to get on a merchant's good side by healing his son and he'll vouch for us to come inside. How we split from the crowd is another thing. Also… I know this is important but that merchant we helped is trusting us. He could get in trouble."
"That's just something he'll have to deal with," Taylor crossed her arms. "Once we're inside I'll take care of us slipping away."
Though Lara nodded, her eyes faded and her hands tightened. The others noticed as well but for what we were risking, a single demon's potential trouble was a necessary sacrifice.
"Umm about that," I however couldn't let it slide. "There might be a secret passage."
"What do you mean?" Ronalt looked at me curiously.
I pointed to Taylor's map. Not only were the rooms clearly marked but also the hidden pathways the crossed between them. "Over here, there's a pathway that kind of fades away."
Taylor bit her lip, "Yeah I noticed that as well but even with the info I managed to nab today, there's no telling where it goes."
"Just hear me out," I turned their attention to the map of the city we also had. "From what I could tell the Demon Lord visits the memorial quite often. The fact that no one I talked to outside sees him, he must have a way to get there easily. The memorial is also not far from his castle. It's a long shot but we have time before noon. If we can get in and out at daybreak that's when the city is it's quietest."
"I see," Ronalt nodded, "We'll trust your gut Rain. Who knows we could get lucky. If we can get inside and Taylor's map is true, we'll have a clear shot."
"How do we leave?" Earnest asked. "I'm all for a good fight but I have my limits and I'd rather keep my head where it is."
I looked towards Ardent and Ronalt in agreement with Earnest, they told me they had a plan but as of yet hadn't discussed it with us. "So?"
Ardent pointed to the north east of the Capital, "I haven't been idle this week either. Within the forest is an array I've created that will teleport us back to the Kingdom. Once we escape it will take but a few minutes to activate."
Marley frowned, "If you could do that, why did we have to ride all the way here?"
"Because young Marley, teleportation requires knowledge and stability both of which I did not have before coming here."
I nodded. I thought they had something like this planned, otherwise we'd be facing a demon wide man hunt. "Exactly how much time will you need?"
"Ten minutes," Ardent said sombrely.
Earnest laughed spitefully, "A lot can happen in ten minutes. It takes but a moment to take a life."
"I could do it in less but then you risk the chance of appearing missing a limb, or worse." Ardent puffed out his chest, "Magic is much more complex than simply swinging your blade all day."
"Is that so?" Earnest placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I've never fought with you, 'Master Wizard'. Perhaps now we could."
"Enough!" Ronalt cut them both down. "You're anxious for tomorrow, I know, but losing your concentration here will only lead to failure."
"Sorry," Ardent shook his head. Earnest tightened his lips and removed his hand.
"We leave tomorrow at dawn. First to the forest where we'll complete our final preparations and then to the memorial."
"There's no more time is there?" Lara asked softly.
"Unfortunately no," Ronalt's expression became tender as he looked towards her. "The Demon Lord is scheduled to leave here soon, or so from what we have learnt. When that happens he will take the denizens with him and there is only one place I believe he will go."
"So it really has come to this," Lara's fingers tightened on the table.
I sent her an encouraging smile, "We'll all be here with you."
"That's right!" Marley latched on to her side. "We've been through worse. As long as I'm here I'll make sure to heal you not matter how bad it is." There was a little excitement in her voice.
"Thank you, all of you," Lara smiled. It was anxious, but there was a courage and hope in her eyes that held so much more.
Ronalt stood, "Rest now. We will convene in the morning."