Cosaria, Vexi, and Ioul walked the bad part of town with rat droppings in dark corners, Graffiti lining the abandoned streets. They stopped at a derelict fountain spring.
Vexi said to Cosaria, "If ye'd turn this spring into holy water, that'd be enough that we'd last years."
Cosaria said, "Are you sure this is a secure enough place? I wouldn't want you getting in trouble if anyone found this place."
Vexi said, "None come roamin round here."
Ioul sat on the side of the fountain, saying, "There's a rumor demons roam the area."
"That's awful."
Vexi said, "The demons be Ioul and me."
"Oh."
Ioul said, "Can ye turn the water or not?"
"Of course," Cosaria said as she stood by the fountain and began chanting. In moments, the water turned pure and sparkling. It assumed the heavenly glow of holy water.
The boys' eyes widen.
Ioul said, "She's so powerful!"
Vexi nodded.
Moments later, Vexi and Ioul threw bones into the pool.
Vexi said, "That'll be the last of it."
Holding hands, Vexi and Ioul said, ""αλλαγή'"
Ioul and Vexi fell to the ground as black mistiness oozed from the bones until a glittering blackness besmirched the water.
Cosaria asked, "Are you alright?"
Both the boys were breathing heavily.
Ioul said, "Fine, just need a second to recover." It was a simple spell, but the amount of energy needed to cast it on that large of a scale was more than the boys had anticipated.
Cosaria dipped a cloth into the water and dabbed it at Ioul's head, as she tried not to turn the black water pure by mere touch.
Watching, Vexi asked, "Why? Why are ye helpin us?"
Cosaria said, "What do you mean?"
Vexi said, "We're demons. We're yer enemy. We lied and tried to curse ye. Why help us?"
"You needed help."
Vexi shook his head. He said, "That doesn't add up. Ye should be mad at us. Should hate us and try to destroy us. That's what everyone else does."
Cosaria pursed her lips then said, "I was hurt when you boys tried to curse me, but I knew that no amount of hurt I felt could amount to the hurt that you boys must experience daily. When I look at you boys, it's like I can see into your souls."
The boys sat up uncomfortably. This woman was such a mystery. So magical. Maybe she could see into their souls. It creeped them out.
"You're good little boys, just trying to do your best in a world that hates you. Demon or no demon, we each have souls, and a soul is a soul, no matter how… uh… no matter how demonic."
Ioul said, "Yer an odd one, ain't ye?"
"I just want to do what I believe is right."
Vexi said, "Thanks."
Cosaria patted Vexi on the head saying, "Of course. You boys are so sweet. I hope that my future children will be just like you two."
The two boys exchanged worried glances. This crazy lady didn't know what she was asking. They knew how much trouble they could be. Apparently, she did not. They both thought, She has no idea what's she's hoping for.
Vexi said, "Don't ye have to get going?"
Ioul said, "Yeah, isn't there anyone worried fer ye?"
"Oh! Lady Marley! I completely forgot. She's probably worried sick!" Cosaria stood and began walking away when she suddenly stopped and turned, saying, "Are you sure you boys will be alright?"
The boys nodded with fake smiles. Cosaria bought the ruse and turned away. The boys smirked at each other. With this much demon water, they were better than 'alright'.
Without warning, Cosaria turned back, ran to the boys and unexpectedly brought them into big hugs. Holding the boys tightly, she said, "Take good care of yourselves."
Vexi, who was choking up, said, "Aye."
Ioul said, "We will."
Neither boy had been hugged like that for over a hundred years.
Finally, Cosaria waved goodbye.
When she was out of sight, Vexi sighed and said, "She's a good person."
Ioul said, "I'd almost be tempted to trust her."
Vexi raised an eyebrow at his brother. Ioul never trusted anyone.
Ioul said, "…almost."
That was more like him.
The boys turned to their pool of demonic water with awe. Ioul said, "What're we gonna do with all this demon water!?!"
Vexi said, "Tell big boss. And my guess, we're gonna use it fer cursin the Arquix water supplies."
The boys looked at each other, smiled, and clasped triumphant hands.
༻✧༺
From the grandstands, Tilda watched the tourni with a pale face, blank expression, and eyes glazed over. Her arms were folded around her. From her vantage, she spotted Felux;
✧
A large soldier launched an attack on Felux from behind.
✧
Tilda dug her fingers into her skin.
✧
Felux dodged the attack and countered without even turning to face the guy.
✧
Tilda released a breath she didn't know she was holding in.
✧
Felux turned to face a warrior charging on horseback. Felux dodged, and grabbed the guy as he passed. The horse kept going but the guy was dragged off by Felux, who then threw him at three attacking soldiers. They all fell down.
✧
Ofelia laughed hard. Tilda allowed herself a small smile.
✧
Gareth and crew tied up the soldiers as Felux mounted his horse and took off.
✧
Tilda marveled, "He's incredible."
Ofelia said, "Aye, it won't be long now. They've just to tidy up the rest and award the ransoms. Felux's caught a hefty load this round."
✧
Felux wore the biggest smile while wielding his sword and commanding his troupes.
✧
Tilda leaned in closer and thought, He looks like he's having fun. It scares me, but he looks so alive. He really loves this.
༻✧༺
Marley sat on a bench as her thought spiraled out of control. She thought, Oh man, oh man, oh man. She's dead, or murdered. She's been kidnapped and Tilda is going to be so mad. She deserves to be mad at me. I'm mad at me. And Lord Delrik? Oh man, I'm dead for sure. Oh man, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do?
"Lady Marley, are you alright?"
Marley looked up to see the angelic visage of Lady Cosaria standing in front of her. In Marley's eyes, it was like she was glowing with heavenly rays and a chorus of hallelujah angels.
Marley jumped up and hugged Cosaria. She cried, "Oh man, I was so worried!!!"
Cosaria said, "I'm sorry. But don't worry. I'm all safe."
"Lady Cosaria, where were you? What happened?"
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I swear it's true. I met some children, and they were the sweetest little dears. But here's the part you won't believe, they were demons."
Marley's jaw dropped.
Nodding, Cosaria said, "I promise it's true."
Sweating, Marley stuttered, "Uh, th-that's crazy, y-yeah. You know. S-so… uh, d-did they ask you to, uh, do anything?"
"They asked me to make them some holy water, which they turned into demon water. Have you ever heard of that?"
"Uh, y-yeah. I've, yup. Demons need demon water to survive."
Cosaria said, "That's what they told me."
"S-so uh… did you make it? Did you give them holy water?"
"Of course."
"…But they're demons?"
Cosaria said, "Well, at first, I wasn't sure, but then I realized that they're just like you and me. A soul is a soul, right? Did I do a good thing?"
Marley scratched her arm and said, "Um… I don't know. I think maybe you did but that's because… Oh man, Lady Cosaria, can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course!"
Marley looked serious. She said, "But you have to promise you won't tell anyone. Oh man, you can't talk about the demons, not to no one."
"Even Delrik?"
"No one."
"Okay, I promise."
Marley took a deep breath, then said, "Well, I guess, it's that. My Great-Grandmother was a demon."
Cosaria gasped.
Marley said, "Because of that, I know a lot about demons, oh man. I can even use demonic powers sometimes."
"Do you need demon water too?"
"No, since I'm mostly human. You only need demon water if you're a demon, you know. But being part demon, everyone hates you for it, and there's people that try to hunt you down and stuff."
"That's awful."
"You think so?" Marley asked. She hadn't considered that a normal person might think hunting demons could be bad. (Not that Cosaria could be considered normal.)
"Of course," Cosaria said.
"Yeah, I guess. Most people are scared of demons."
Cosaria put her arm on Marley and said, "I'm not scared."
"Thank you!" Marley said, hugging Cosaria. Then she pulled away and stared at Cosaria in the eyes. "But please don't tell this to anyone. They might try to hurt me and my family if you do."
"I won't, don't worry."
Marley looked down, saying, "Yeah. Okay."
Cosaria was a good person, so Marley knew that she could put her faith in her.
༻✧༺
From the grandstands, and announcer said, "The Tourni Champion is… The legendary Felux Lothar of the Brotherhood of Knights!"
Felux waved. Tilda was proud.
The tourni had ended.
༻✧༺
Later that evening, the Lothar's celebrated at the dinner hall with tons of friends continually coming up and congratulating Felux, Lurois, and even Beniter.
Lurois raised his cup and said, "To Felux!"
Everyone raised their cups and cheered, "To Felux!"
The scene was a happy one. Chatter buzzed around the crowd. Cosaria was spitting food out of her mouth as she tried to talk. Tilda and Ofelia were laughing like old friends. Finklehead and Marley exchanged friendship trinkets.
From across the table, Felux caught Tilda's eye and they shared a contented smile.
༻✧༺
When evening came, Felux took Tilda out on a nighttime stroll together down oil lit streets.
Felux said, "I was offered a position as a justice marshal today."
Tilda said, "What's a justice marshal?"
"The top enforcer of the law in the Providence. They work closely with the providence's governor."
"So, it's like being captain of the guard?"
"Aye, it's similar but with a bit more influence. Ye train more soldiers. Ye fight crime and catch criminals. It's… it's my dream position."
"That's great. Did you accept it?"
Felux sighed. "I turned it down."
"Why?"
"I'm a servant to Lord Delrik. That's where I belong."
"But you can't just live your life for Lord Delrik. You deserve to go after your own dreams too."
"Delrik's more than just a Lord, he's a friend. Right now, he's in need of my services and I'll do what I can. Wouldn't you say it's the same fer yourself and Lady Cosaria?"
Tilda's words caught in her throat. She said, "I-! Yeah. It is." But somehow, she wished it wasn't.
Felux looked up at the stars as Tilda looked at her feet.
Tilda finally asked a question she had been wondering for a long while, "How did you and Lord Delrik ever become friends in the first place?"
Felux smiled and said, "He's a brat when I first met him. Not much improved now, but certainly more so then.
"He was only 12 or so at the time. Father died at sea. His mother'd been a harsh woman, but she loved her son. They needed a new bodyguard. Political tensions as they were, there'd already been over twenty assassination attempts on the young duke's life. Most of the bodyguards'd been killed.
"By that time, I'd newly joined the brotherhood as their youngest member. They sent me out on assignment as temporary bodyguard to the young master.
"First thing he did was challenge me to a duel. I won. He challenged me again, and again. I won each time. It became a routine; everyday we'd spare in the knight's field. Then we started training together. He kept trying to get rid of me as his bodyguard. I'd asked him why. Truth was, he didn't want to see me die like the rest of them.
"I told him, 'How's this, you protect me, and I'll protect you, and that way, we'll both live.' He agreed.
"Then, there was the tutor. We both respected the man, Delrik especially more so. Like a second father. But the man turned out to be a traitor. He led a raid where Lady Arquix was murdered and Lord Delrik was taken to the basement to be turned into a demon beast.
"I led a team of knights and stopped the cursing from going too far. Just as the tutor was about to kill me, Delrik stepped in and killed him. The ordeal left him traumatized. Couldn't trust another soul.
"My assignment was supposed to be temporary, but I requested to make it my permanent duty. The brotherhood agreed, and I've been his right-hand man since.
"We've traveled often, about once every coupla years to the Providences where he met my family and participated in tournis. We loved it here, but his duty was to the Arquix estate and my duty was to him. We'd never been able to stay long. And that's the story."
Tilda put her arm on Felux's and said, "Thank you for sharing that with me."
"It'd be my pleasure. But you know what's more pleasurable?"
Under the light of the Providence street, Felux kissed Tilda.