The next few days dragged by with obnoxious slowness. Kirwin deemed me too injured to move about and confined me to my room. Apparently exerting myself could slow the healing process. But a little pain and discomfort had never stopped me from doing things before! Out of courtesy for the humans I had been good and followed their rules, but my patience was just about gone. If I had to spend one more day stuck in here I think I might just go insane.
"Good morning!" Brietta said cheerfully as she entered the room with a tray of food. I gave her a scowl, annoyed by her cheerfulness.
"Now, now, don't put on such an unpleasant face, you'll give yourself premature wrinkles!"
"Sorry" I mumbled, not feeling particularly repentant. Despite my annoyance at her chipper attitude this morning, Brietta had been nice to have around the past few days. She wasn't much older than me, probably in her mid-twenties, and had a bright magnetic personality. Sometimes a little too bright for my tastes, but talking with her was still preferable to staring through my window at a brick wall.
"Here you are, your breakfast!" Brietta placed the tray on the desk with a flourish. Food. Glorious food. That might be the single best thing to look forward to while stuck in this dull room. The food in the Human Realm was beyond anything I could have dreamed of. So rich and flavorful.
I surveyed the tray, already familiar with the usual bread and scrambled eggs that were served for breakfast. But this time there was an additional item. It looked like bread, but rolled into a swirl with a glistening sheen on top.
"Oh, and Sir Salhoa wanted me to give you this cinnamon roll and wish you a speedy recovery."
Sir Salhoa? Oh, that was what Brietta had called Kivani. My mood soured further at the thought of that smug bastard. I bet he thought he could just win me over with food.
I took an angry bite of the cinnamon roll. It was good. Really good. Food made by that man had no right being this good. Of all the delicious food I'd eaten here, the food Kivani made was undoubtedly the best. Much to my annoyance.
"It's good isn't it," Brietta said. "Kivani is an amazing baker. To be honest I'd never heard of a man taking up baking before, but Kivani definitely has a talent for it. Plus he's so thoughtful to have sent you a pastry. Maybe he's taken a liking to you! If so, you're very lucky. He would make a great husband!"
I snorted. As if I would ever consider him, or any other man for that matter, worthy of being my husband. I wasn't so weak as to need that sort of relationship.
"Now what are you snorting about? You really should be seriously considering marriage at your age. You don't want to end up an old nun!"
"What do you mean?" I asked, a little surprised by how serious she seemed.
"If you aren't able to find a husband and can't support yourself you become a ward of the church and are made a nun. It's not the worst fate, but being married is definitely better."
"You're not a nun. Does that mean you're married?"
Brietta was silent for a moment. This wasn't like her. She was always so talkative, even carrying on conversation with me when all I contributed were a couple of grunts. I waited for her to go on, a little unnerved by the uncharacteristic silence.
"I was. I used to be married. His name was Clarke. He was wonderful. So loving, and a great father to Kaylin." She looked down. "But he died. His soul was devoured by a demon."
"Oh," was all I could say. I wasn't exactly qualified to comfort people so I had no idea what else to say.
"But it's alright," she said with forced cheer. "Kirwin was kind enough to take me on as a healer apprentice so I could provide for Kaylin and myself. It's difficult for women to find work so I'm extremely grateful he was willing to give me a job."
"Why would it be hard to find work?"
Brietta gave me a strange look.
"Ara, are you not from around here?"
Oh no, had I said something wrong? I panicked. Should I try to lie and say I am from here when I don't even know what I said wrong? Or should I say I have memory loss? No, I don't want Kirwin to think I was even more injured and get stuck here for longer.
"I'm from another country." I blurt out.
Brietta seemed surprised.
"Wow, I didn't realize! Where are you from?"
My brain was definitely freezing as I couldn't think of anything to say. I didn't want to name any real countries that people could fact check me on. But I also didn't want to say a fake country and them try to figure out where it is.
"Um. My country is very far away so you've probably never heard of it. Plus it goes by many names."
"That's fascinating! What is it most often called?"
Why'd she have to be so curious? Couldn't she just let it go!
"One name it goes by is…" My mind flailed about for something, anything, to say. If I didn't say something soon she would get suspicious.
"Abbadon." Whoops. I probably shouldn't have chosen that. Abbadon was one name used for the demon realm, though to my knowledge it was a term only ever used by demons. At least I hoped so.
"You're right, I've never heard of it! This is awesome, I've never met a foreigner before. I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner! So what brings you to Kaleirus?"
"I'm just a traveler who was curious to learn about the cultures of other countries." This cover story might actually work for me. It would give me a pass for not knowing about local customs as well as make people more willing to teach me about human culture. A win win.
"You'll have to tell me all about Abbadon! But back to what I was saying before. Women here aren't able to hold many jobs. Women were only recently permitted to work as healers. That's why securing a marriage is so important. Is that not what it's like where you're from?"
Was that why people were so shocked I killed a demon? Because I was a woman? I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. When it came to demons, the females tended to be just as strong and sometimes even stronger than the males, so there was no gender hierarchy.
"No, where I'm from jobs aren't restricted to certain genders."
"That's interesting." She seemed a little skeptical, but didn't push the point. "Well you might want to be careful here. You might offend people if you act too boldly, even if that's ok for women to do in your country."
"I'll make sure to be careful."
Brietta gave me a considering look before changing the topic.
"You'll be excited to hear that Dr. Kirwin has cleared you to attend the church service tomorrow morning."
"Church service?" Now I didn't have to be so careful about what I asked since she would just assume things were different in my country.
"It's our weekly service where we thank the council of angels for their blessings and petition them for help. It always happens on Oneday, so tomorrow."
"Oh, I see." I definitely did not see. Well, I understood what she meant but it seemed like a pretty useless ritual to me. Sure, the angels were real and all. But they weren't exactly the benevolent beings that humans seemed to believe they were. I always thought of them as arrogant self-righteous snobs who didn't wish to sully their hands with the affairs of humans or demons. It must be nice to have a realm to yourself where you can just ignore the problems of others. To be honest, I can't totally blame them for avoiding everyone. If I were them, I'd probably just stick with the cushy life too.
While I was happy to be able to leave my room, I wasn't sure that going to church would be that much more fun than sitting in bed. But my boredom was getting unbearable so I might as well give it a try.
***
Brietta woke me earlier than normal, rushing into my room with an armful of clothes.
"Wake up Ara! You need to get ready for church!"
I sat up in bed groggily.
"Quick, put this on!" Brietta shoved clothes at me. "I'll wait outside in the hall while you change. Let me know when you're decent and I can help you tighten your corset."
Before I had a chance to even respond she had already left the room. I inspected the clothes. There seemed to be an underdress and corset as well as a long cream gown. While I had seen women wearing this type of attire since coming to the Human Realm, I had never put anything like this on myself. I usually wore shorter dresses or pants to make movement easier. It wouldn't do to be tripping over a long dress while trying to fight.
All that to say, I had no idea how to put these garments on. After a few minutes I was able to successfully put on my undergarments, but when it came to the corset and all its strings, I was completely lost.
"Are you almost ready?" Brietta called from outside my door.
"Umm. Not exactly."
"Would you like some help?"
"Sure."
Brietta walked in to see me trying to unsuccessfully pull the corset over my head. She smiled and strode over to me.
"You need to loosen it first, silly! Have you ever even worn a corset before?"
"Not exactly."
"Well that explains things." She quickly loosened the corset, her deft fingers pulling at the strings with practiced ease. "Don't worry, you won't have to dress like this everyday. It's just for the church service. It's rude to attend without dressing more formally."
After lacing up the corset and helping me into my dress Brietta braided my hair back into a single loose braid. Then she led me out of the room and down the hall. I was definitely not a fan of this attire. The dress was floor length so I knew I was bound to trip over it if I attempted anything beyond walking. And don't even get me started on the corset. It felt suffocating and restrictive. It severely limited my upper body mobility and flexibility. And Brietta said that she left it looser than normal so it wouldn't rub my burn, which was still bandaged. I couldn't imagine what it would be like normally if this was considered loose.
We walked out into the garden I had found my first morning here and went through the wooden door on the other side of the courtyard. We walked down the hall, passing the kitchens and then arrived at a wooden door.
"When we go in, make sure to be quiet. I'll show you where to sit so just follow me. Oh and you don't have to worry about tithing this week. All of Healer Kirwin's longer term patients are exempted from the tithe until he clears them."
Brietta led me through the door where we entered into a large chapel with soaring ceilings and tall, colorful stained glass windows. We walked down the side aisle to a pew in the back where some other people were already sitting. Several of them had visible bandages so I assumed they were some of Kirwin's other patients. Brietta gestured for me to sit and then strode off to a pew a few rows ahead where Kaylin already sat.
I sat down beside a man with a bandaged arm. I felt uncomfortable surrounded by all of these strangers. Not because I was afraid that they could hurt me, but more because I was afraid that at any moment someone might realize I was a demon. I know it was a little irrational seeing that my disguise had worked perfectly up until now, but something about the atmosphere and being in a church made me feel on edge.
After a few more minutes of people shuffling quietly into the chapel the space seemed to still. A man wearing a white robe stepped up onto the raised platform at the front, lifting his arms up towards the sky.
"Let us thank the Council for their guidance and protection!"
"Thanks be to the Council!" The congregation chanted in unison.
The man, who I assumed was some sort of priest, continued on, praising the Council of Angels for all the blessings they had bestowed. The congregation responded in unison occasionally, but otherwise stayed silent. The man droned on about how the angels had given him messages through the stars. He assured the people that the stars last night had promised that their current problems regarding the demons who had come through the tear would soon be resolved.
I eventually zoned out, letting my eyes wander about the chapel. The stained glass windows really were of amazing craftsmanship. Glancing back towards the front where the man still spoke I noticed a large stone behind him on the dais. I looked at it more closely, realizing it was a large chunk of angelite. Why would they have angelite in here?
Before I had too long to contemplate it my question was answered.
"Now, come forward and offer your mana as a token of faith to our benevolent angels!"
Slowly, pew by pew, people stood and shuffled to the front of the room. They each rested their hands on the column of angelite and pushed mana into it. The priest stood by watching, occasionally admonishing people for not putting enough mana in and prodding them to put more. Eventually the slow procession of people ceased as everyone but my row took their turn tithing their mana. I could sense that the white Angelite stone now had much more stored mana in it. What were they planning to do with all that mana?
"May our gifts please the angels." The man proclaimed, his voice bouncing around the large chapel. "Go forth now and live with integrity."
The priest then exited the chapel through a passageway at the front. Everyone else shuffled out, still eerily quiet apart from the rustle of clothes and the patter of feet. A young child started saying something, but her mother quickly covered her mouth looking around with a stricken look on her face, as if terrified someone would punish her. Many people gave the woman and her daughter dirty looks, but nobody said anything.
I followed the flow of the crowd through large double doors at the back of the chapel. It wasn't the way I had entered the church with Brietta, but everyone was walking this way so I just went with it. I found myself outside in front of the chapel. There were stone stairs leading down to street level and I could see the healing building I had been staying in to the left.
The crowd was dispersing, people going away down the street in both directions. I was tempted to just blend in with the crowd and go explore the town, but I decided I wouldn't scare Brietta by just disappearing. As fun as that would be. Though if I was forced to stay in my room too much longer I would definitely be sneaking out, regardless of Brietta's feelings.
I felt a little body slam into my legs, arms wrapping around my waist. I looked down to see Kaylin hugging me.
"Ara! Ara! You have to come see my painting!"
"Now Kaylin, be polite. Don't just attack poor Ara!"
"I would love to see your painting sometime." At that Kaylin squealed in delight. I hadn't seen Kaylin since the night I had arrived. I had asked Brietta about her and she had said Kaylin was grounded for a week for sneaking out of town without telling Brietta first. It looked like Kaylin had finally finished serving her punishment.
"How are you feeling?" Brietta asked, inspecting me closely for any signs of pain or discomfort.
"As I've been telling you for the last couple of days, I'm fine."
"Are you sure, your wound still isn't healed yet."
"I'm completely, positively, wholly, absolutely sure." I say exasperatedly and with maybe a little too much sarcasm.
"Well, alright. In that case, how about we go out for lunch! I can show you around the town a little if you're up for it."
"Yes, please. I think I'll go mad if I have to stare through my window at a brick wall for even a moment more!" I said dramatically, putting my hand to my forehead for added effect. Kaylin giggled and Brietta rolled her eyes.
Brietta led the way through the town, holding Kaylin's hand to keep her close. The town was bustling with activity. People were setting up tents to sell wares or putting open signs in the windows of shops. The town seemed to just be coming alive, which made sense since it seemed that pretty much everyone had been at the church service that morning. The large chapel had been packed.
We passed by my first destination in the human realm: Devil's Delight. Brietta noticed my interest in the bakery and smiled.
"Devil's Delight is definitely one of the best bakeries around. It got a lot of flak when it first opened for having such a sensitive name, but people eventually got past it. It was actually Kirwin's late wife who opened it. She was a lovely lady, always laughing and smiling. She said if we learned to face what we feared we could live happier. I assume that's why she named her bakery Devil's Delight. Also she was a bit quirky so that might have been why too."
Sadly Brietta led us past the bakery to another shop farther up the street. It turned out to be a small, bustling eatery where we ate bread, cheese and sliced meat. The food was good of course. Pretty much all human food was great. But I was still pining after some cake.
I think Brietta noticed my longing gaze towards the Devil's Delight once we were back out on the street.
"Would you like to stop in for some dessert?" She asked. "We don't want to get back to the church right now because they're probably in the middle of the afternoon service."
"Yes!" Kaylin and I both exclaim in unison.
"Well, alright then," Brietta said, laughing. "Ara, you might have to step up your game. Kaylin has a really big sweet tooth so she might just give you a run for your money when it comes to enthusiasm for food."
"Not a chance," I said, playfully ruffling Kaylin's hair. For a moment I had the surreal feeling that this was my life. That I was a human and this was where I belonged. I quickly shook the thoughts away. Being here was making me soft. Cifer would be appalled to see me laughing and playing around with humans with no intention of eventually killing them. A part of me was a little shocked at myself too. At how comfortable acting this way was.
I tried to push those pesky ponderings away as we made our way into the bakery, but my former carefree attitude was now replaced with prickling unease. Why was I so worried about what Cifer would think? It's not like he ever had to know what I'd been doing.
"What would you like?" Brietta asked me as Kaylin looked excitedly through the glass display case at the beautiful desserts.
"Chocolate cake."
Brietta ordered my cake as well as a slice of pie for herself and some pudding for Kaylin. We all sat down at one of the round wooden tables in the bakery. It wasn't lost on me that Kaylin happened to choose the same table I'd sat at the last time I came here. I guess things were finally coming full circle. I would finally get to have my cake and eat it too.
I took a bite of the rich cake, the chocolate melting deliciously in my mouth. I swallowed, already anticipating my next bite when a loud tolling sound came echoing into the bakery. I had half a mind to just ignore it and continue eating my cake, but the bakery quickly devolved into chaos. People scrambled out of the bakery, knocking over chairs and tables in their haste.
"Quick, we need to get to the town square!" Brietta grabbed Kaylin's hand, dragging her out of her chair. I stood up reluctantly, beyond annoyed that my cake eating experience was being interrupted yet again. Kaylin and Brietta were already pushing their way toward the door, but I stalled at our table deciding I might as well take my cake to go. I reached down to grab my plate just as a man ran by, bumping into our table and sending the cake flying. As if that wasn't enough, my beautiful cake fell on the floor and was immediately trampled.
Ok. I was annoyed before. But now. Now I was furious. Whatever caused all this mayhem had better be good or I might just go berserk. Who am I kidding, I'd probably go berserk no matter the reason.
I stomped out of the now empty shop into the chaotic streets. Everyone seemed to be rushing in the same direction. I had no idea where Brietta and Kaylin were at that point, but I decided I might as well head in the opposite direction of the crowd. Maybe there would be someone to take out my anger on in that direction.
The closer I got to the edge of the town, the more deserted it became. It seemed pretty much everyone had fled to the center of the town. When I finally reached the fringe of the town I noticed something. Or rather I notice the lack of something. The mana barrier.
Earlier, when we were walking through town I had noticed the mana barrier bordering the town. It wasn't exactly a visible barrier, but I could feel the distortion of the mana. But now it was gone.
Something else prickled at my awareness and I turned back toward the town. A new mana barrier was being raised towards the center of town. I could feel the shift in mana currents as it was constructed. I guess that explained everyone was rushing in that direction. They must have some sort of emergency barrier they could put up in the event that the outer wall was breached.
I closed my eyes and threw my mana out into the nearby countryside, scanning the area to try to pinpoint what was going on. I smirked. It looked like I might get to vent some of my anger after all.
I started running towards the south side of the town, annoyed at how slow this body was. I considered transforming back into my true form, but decided that would still be too risky, even with everyone congregated in the center of town.
It was especially annoying still being stuck in this corset. It would have to go. I teleported it away with half a thought, not caring enough to focus too much on where I sent it. It felt nice to have it gone, even if it had chipped away at my mana reserves to get rid of it. After ripping my long skirts to a more maneuverable length I felt ready for anything.
I weaved through buildings, trying to find the most direct route. Then I heard them. The moaning and growling, the crashing and crumbling. I turned a corner to find a group of ten or so mongrel demons tearing up buildings, searching for people to devour. Souls to satiate their hunger.
Now I could let loose a little. Get some much needed exercise. One of the demons noticed me and decided I might make a tasty meal. I smiled as the creature lumbered toward me, growling.
Just before the demon could reach me I saw a figure emerge from behind some of the wrecked buildings. He jumped in front of me brandishing a sword.