Kalika Looked at the older-looking man in front of her with confusion. She couldn't believe a word he just spoke.
"What are you talking about?" She questioned.
The older looking man immediately took notice of her reaction. He stared at her coldly before realizing something himself.
"So the rumors are true then. You lost your memories from the past nine, ten years." The man then gave a long sigh. "I guess that means you don't remember me either."
The man stood tall like a soldier introducing himself. "Alright, the name is Tilus Kyrer and I was the one to help train you up in fighting. Or if we want to be exact, you used me as a training dummy for the past eight or so years."
"Hh-huh? I used you as… a training dummy?"
"It's a long story. The short version is we met in an arena match, and you spared my life." Tilus leaned himself at the cell door entrance. "Ever since then, you've been sparring with and had me teach you to fight a little by little. I even help you sharpen your technique with that blood blade."
"Still though, I'd never imagine you being able to go toe to toe with the Demon Queen much less the warden."
Kalika scoffed. "Me going toe to toe with her? That's not even possible. Do you expect me to believe that I went around killing other people while also fighting my sister? That's the most absurd thing I've heard!"
"Well as absurd as it sounds, that's what happened. But it just so happened that e veryone in this block got in the way of your fight, I'm just considering myself lucky I wasn't caught in the crossfire. And Honestly, I never would've imagined that a lady of your stature would be capable of such a thing myself, but here we are."
Kalika didn't know what to believe. She traced her finger along the grooves in the stone bricks. Tilus could tell that Kalika was conflicted as she kept silent, furrowing her brows.
A sense of frustration washed over Kalika as she now stood over the bed. She became much quieter. "You make it sound like I was as strong as my sister. But I can never match a demon like her."
"...Sister?" Tilus said curiously.
Kalika glanced at Tilus "Yeah, my sister"
"W-wait! What do you mean, the Demon Queen, your sister!?"
"I'm merely adopted, now relax." She snapped.
Kalika then noticed Rhonda also becoming dizzy from the sudden revelation. "Oh right, Lily wanted this kept a secret didn't she…"
Tilus immediately calmed himself. He cleared his throat. "R-right. Sure.
"I doubt that I'd ever be as strong as Lily." a memory of her dagger being stripped from her resurfaced, from when she had her memories wiped.
"Perhaps it has something to do with that dagger Lily gave me. That's the only reasonable explanation as to how I can even match her strength in the first place if that's true..."
Kalika gave a rare smirk as if a new hope reignited within her.
Tilus, leaned back on the cell door. "Anyways. Why don't you tell me why you're back here?"
Kalika was brought out of her thoughts. She glanced back at Tilus and sat herself on the bed. Crossing her arms, she contemplated to herself whether to actually tell him. For some reason she felt like she could trust this man just met and giving a sigh, she finally divulged.
"I made a contract with a demon named Rakon. To simply put it, I kill three particular people and he'll guarantee my freedom from this prison. But only until my sister, the Demon Queen returns."
Tilus stroked his chin upon hearing this. "The demon queen is… Gone?"
"Yeah. She left alongside the Demon King to finish the war."
"Is that so… Hmm…" Tilus was deep in thought for a few seconds. "And do you know who these people are and where to find them?"
"No. as far as I'm aware, the contract stated that Rakon would be picking them out and I'd have to be the one to kill them. The first match is supposed to start in three months according to that demon."
"You certainly know how to find trouble." Tilus sighed. "Well, if you need help preparing, I can assist you with this. I don't mind giving a helping hand a second time with some training."
"Training…?"
Kalika looked at Tilus, she turned away, biting her thumb, pondering what to do. "It probably wouldn't hurt to trust him…" The thought of the strange dream runs through her mind playing back on repeat. "I wonder…"
"So. What will it be?"
Kalika looked back up to Tilus.
"And what's in it for you if you do help me?"
"You raise an interesting question." Tilus started to ponder to himself. "How about this? If I help you with this training, then you have to promise to give me an honorable death."
"W-what? An… Honorable death?" She looked upon the man more confused.
"Yes. And seeing that I'm getting old, I'd like to die while I'm still able to hold a blade. So what do you say? deal?" Tilus held out his hand to Kalika.
She looked at him, then at Rhonda still standing by. With reluctance, she accepts/. "F…Fine. If those are the terms, then I'll happily accept the… But no funny business! Alright!"
Tilus chuckled a little at her last remark. "Alright then."
"Here, follow me. I'll show you around the prison."
Kalika followed Tilus out of her cell. She found that Rhonda was staying behind. "Rhonda?"
Rhonda gave a cheerful smile as she gestured for Kalika to go off without her. She seemed to trust Tilus to look after Kalika. "Back to staying silent, huh?"
Kalika continued forth alongside Tilus. Standing next to him she finally realized how short she was compared to him. He was even much taller than Lillian by her estimates which made her feel much more like a child.
Tilus glanced back at Rhonda who started tidying and examining Kalika's cell. turning back, he silently called out to Kalika to continue their conversation, but much more quietly. Kalika glanced at Tilus, Curious.
"So that's your maid?"
"Rhonda? She is. Why do you ask?"
Tilus glances back for a moment. "Just a little curious…"
"By the way I'm not sure if this will mean a lot to you but… If I'm not mistaken, I think this is your second contract you've done with this demon, Rakon."
"Second?" Kalika was confused by the sudden statement.
"I remember you letting it slip during one of our times trying to escape. You never went into the specifics about it though. just that he was under your thumb. or was it the other way around?"
Tilus glanced over to Kalika. "In any case, It may not be my place to talk but I think you should tread lightly with him."
"I don't need your opinion to know that I shouldn't trust him. Besides, I already had a feeling that he's been up to something. But it's stranges.…"
"What is?"
"I would've assumed that he'd aim to be the next King of demons with all of his plotting. But it feels like his eyes are on me now. I just don't get it! I think he's up to something"
"Don't rack your head too much. Follow your gut. Sometimes it's the only thing you can do."
"That's easy for you to say. what are you anyways? some Ex-soldier or Captain from the military?"
Kalika and Tilus passed by many halls of the prison cell. It wasn't long before he stopped at a cross section. "Still have a very discerning eye… I guess you can say that, although it's been quite a long time since I've been on the battlefield… But I digress."
Tilus cleared his throat and pointed down a hall to their right. "Anyways, down there will be where we get our food and water. It's one serving for each prisoner."
"Wait. we have to get our own food?" Kalika cringed a little.
"Other prisoner's serve us, but you do have to get it from them."
Tilus then points straight ahead. "And ahead of us is where the Arena is. There everyone goes to pass time. Games, training, fights. They all happen there."
Kalika stared down the corridor leading to the underground Arena. "A-alright. So we're going straight down there?" Kalika looked back to Tilus to find that he was gone. She jerked her head around frantically until she found him heading down the other corridor to the mess hall.
"W-wait! Where are you going!?"
Tilus turned around looking at Kalika like she was stupid. "We can't go training on empty stomachs."
It's at that point Kalika realized that she was in fact hungry. "Yeah. I-I guess you're right…"
********
In the halls of the castle maids and butlers are made to line up as Rakon walks past them all one by one. A cold sweat ran down their faces awaiting some grim fate that might befall one of them.
Rakon walked ever so peacefully down the rows of servants. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a butler. Anxiety rose within the pink eyed incubus as if trying to hide a guilt.
""
Rakon pinched his right-hand index finger placing it on the butler's head.
"
The butlers jerked; eyes widened in shock. He starts convulsing uncontrollably until… Finally he stops. Rakon reeled his needle-like finger back, letting the demon fall to the ground.
"
The remainder of the servants scurried off as a couple others took the now dead body away. Rakon, satisfied, continued down the hall until he reached the desired room. He entered into a guest room housing the three Demon Ladies that had tortured Kalika not too long ago. They're feasting on freshly cooked meat.
Rakon wasted no time seating himself across from the ladies. Who were showing very ill manners as they continued eating sloppily.
"Daji, Valam, Florin…"
They all stopped at once. Rakon continued in their native language. "
They were all silent. The tension thickened between the four demons in that room.
""
The three ladies dropped their cooked meat bowing before their master. The gray-haired Demon, Daji, gave their response. "
"
"
Content with the response Rakon smiled. "
Rakon then snapped his finger for a servant to come out. "
"
"
"That won't be necessary" a deep voice could be heard from behind the servant.
A huge red demon with white hair emerges, startling the servant and making them scurry away. The demon squeezed himself through the door then kneeled and bowed in respect to Rakon's authority.
"Ah, Bjorn. What wonderful timing. A sign of a true loyal companion."
Rakon narrowed his eyes on Bjorn. "I trust you know what it is I need you to do."
"Yes. and it will be done."
Rakon smiled satisfied. "
********
Back with Kalika and Tilus They began to leave the mess hall, many prisoners simply staring and watching from a distance. They all whispered amongst each other instinctively.
Kalika could only glance back, curiously as she was expecting there to be much more trouble. but the entire time, the room was completely devoid of any chatter.
Turning back, she continued to walk alongside Tilus to the arena eventually entering the large spacious room. It was a strange feeling for Kalika to find the arena crowded with other prisoners hanging out with each other and fooling around. It was almost shocking since it felt like an entire army was housed in this dungeon prison.
"Is this how prisons are typically run, I-I'm a little confused. "Kalika continued looking around as they pushed through the crowd.
"Not in the least. At least from where I came. I just think it's their own way of saying that we're trapped even if we don't have a prison cell. and it doesn't help since some of the halls outside this prison is bobby trapped."
"Hmm…"
Kalika continued to look around and noticed that demon guards were being stationed around the entirety of the arena. They were being watched and observed. Her gaze then turned to the prisoners who were now starting to stare at her.
By the time they reached the corner of the arena they found that all the inmates were looking at Kalika, whispering amongst each other. Seeing all the other prisoners stare made her feel tense.
"Pay them no mind, most of them are too scared to actually approach us."
"I-I guess a man as tall as yourself can scare away many people." Kalika chuckled nervously soon after. a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.
"Sure"
Kalika found that even some of the nearby guards were starting to try to distance themselves from them. It was truly a strange sight to see.
Tilus positioned and posed himself ready for a fight. "Alright let's see where you stand when it comes to fighting."
"Uhh. Can we start with something more simple? I-I can't even attack." Kalika started to get concerned.
"Because of the demon blade. I know that already. Just try to dodge or block my punches."
"W-wait this is too fast-"
Tilus threw the first punch only for Kalika to dodge it to her own surprise. Again, this time for the face. The attack nearly struck her, but like before she avoided the hit.
Tilus stopped himself immediately afterwards. "Huh. Your reflexes seem to be intact."
Kalika pushed his hands away from her face. "YOU ASSHOLE!!"
She really wanted to slap Tilus in retaliation but found her body stiffening. This only served to fuel her rage.
"I'm surprised you were able to dodge my attacks. With your memories gone I thought we would've had to start at square one. But this just makes things easier."
Tilus started to ponder to himself for a moment as Kalika continued to seethe in her anger. Tilus started to give a smirk. "An interesting thought just passed my mind." Tilus suddenly patted the angry Kalika on the head putting her in a stupor.
"I think I know exactly how to prepare you for your first opponent."
Kalika immediately became confused. She glared at Tilus who turned away and leaned on the nearby caged wall of the arena.
"But first things first. I'll need you to go on an exercise regimen."
Pushing her own frustrations aside she reluctantly agrees. "A-alright, fine. "
"First exercise… Push-ups!"
All strength immediately left Kalika's body as she became pale upon hearing his statement.
"W-wait! D-do I really-"
"Yes!" Tilus sighed as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I guess it is back to square one with you to an extent."
"Maybe we can run around the arena first?" Kalika asked.
Shortly after the prisoners watched in amazement, some watching from a distance as were the demon guards.
"Wait, isn't that woman the 'immortal Maiden'!" a prisoner exclaimed.
"Y-yeah... what are they doing?" another prisoner responded.
Kalika and Tilus found themselves running around the edge of the arena. They were finding more attention from this than they expected.
"And after this we'll be doing some push-ups." Tilus stated.
"F…Fine…" Kalika was starting to run out of breath. She then started to cringe at the idea of doing push-ups. "Why does it have to be push-ups?"
"This is only day one Kalika. If you're serious about following through with that deal you made, this is going to be part of the regimen going forward until that match of yours comes."
"How is he not out of breath!!"
Unknown to Kalika and Tilus, they are being watched by a blue demon with black hair and a huge vertical scar across his body. The demon watching was Kel, the brother of Ek, and the demon that fought the Heroes of Prophecy. He watches them, very suspicious of their actions.
"What is that girl up to now?" he snarled.