Energy erupted from the blade in my hands, repelling everyone but Solas. Brielle slammed against the wall, and Finn caught himself before he hit it. Dropping the sword like a hot potato, I took a few steps back, covering my mouth.
The sword only took a second to stop radiating that weird white energy as everything in the room had been tossed around, too. I quickly gazed at Finn, whose eyes were wide open, while Brielle shook her head after the blow.
Serena's words flowed through me as I took another step away from them.
The saint is meant to kill them, but I… I didn't…
"I-I… I d-didn't mean to do that!" my voice shuttered, clasping onto my shirt as my entire body ran cold.
My mind raced for the first time I got there, and I couldn't find a single thought out of this.
Please… I didn't… I…
My breath hitched as the grey wolf cursed, getting up from the floor. However, Finn's face was filled with something else instead of anger. I couldn't read it fast enough when he closed the gap between us to reach for me.
I flinched, thinking he would be enraged, but he stopped his approach, gazing at me weirdly. My expression must've told him everything he needed to know.
A soft frown formed on his lips. "You know, I'd never hurt you in my right mind, right?" he sighed, holding his hands in place.
I was so used to being beaten when I did something I shouldn't that it was all I expected. After all, I had made them go flying off. There was no one else who could've done that either. It even harmed Brielle, who hit the wall hard.
There was blood coming from her head.
"I-I…" I struggled to say, shaking where I was.
Every time my stepdad hit me, I wasn't as scared as I was with Finn. There came the point that I always felt indifferent after I learned my father didn't care for me, but with this king, it was different. It was probably because I didn't want to be apart from him.
This new array of emotions differed from those I felt when my stepfather approached me.
Ah… I've lost this game completely. Please… Don't… throw me away.
Unable to recover fast enough, I closed my eyes only for them to fly open when I felt his fingers trail down my cheeks.
"I know; you didn't mean to do that, sweetheart. It saddens me that you're used to people hitting you every time you do something they disapprove of. I refuse to be the same." He sighed.
"What?" Brielle mumbled, gazing at us.
Her reaction alerted me to the fact that even though Finn had witnessed it all, he had told no one about my past.
"But I'll never do that." He paused, wincing.
This demon knew that his anger was something he could barely control, yet he honestly didn't want to hurt me.
"Not to you, at least. Not while I'm in my right mind. I'll never hurt you." He assured, triggering me to glance at him.
"Finn… I…" I trailed off.
Is there anything I can say about that?
"Hush… you don't need to say anything." He leaned down to kiss my lips lightly.
Brielle shrugged, joining us soon after he tugged away from me. All the while, Solas sat behind me, gazing at the sword on the floor.
"Damn it, do you have to keep showing off like that? First bringing back our lord and now this." The she-wolf growled, reaching down to her sword.
However, as something stung her, she flinched when her skin touched the weapon.
"Fuck! She blessed it by simply touching it!" Brielle huffed, waving her hand as something burned her.
"What…?" I mumbled as Finn studied the blade on the floor.
"No, she didn't bless it per se. Her magic's infused into its core but should wear off quickly." The demon king announced, leaving me unable to follow.
"Huh?" I breathed as he tugged me towards him, wrapping one arm around my waist as the other cupped my cheek.
"Geez, you never stop seizing to surprise me, Sparky. You're amazing." He chuckled, tracing my cheek with his thumbs.
"I don't even know what I did," I huffed, comforted by his warmth.
A soft chuckle left him, "Well, that display showed you're a particular mage type. One that can channel magic through enchanted objects."
His words left me as I started.
I tilted my head, gazing at him. "What?"
A soft smile rose on his lips. "Love, you're a sorceress. This means that if you have an enchanted object, your magic will be easier to channel, like a focal point that allows you to cast more easily. It can be destructive if not controlled right, and extremely rare." He warned, gazing towards the sword on the floor.
"So, I'm a bomb that can't touch enchanted weapons. Got it." I sighed, shifting my eyes toward the source of all my current troubles.
It seems I'm just radioactive.
Shaking my head, I tugged away from the demon lord, yet he pulled my hand back to him before I could get far.
"Oi, that isn't what I meant. This is a way for you to control your mana. You just have to find an artifact strong enough to hold your magic, or that happens." Fin announced, gazing at me with those wonderous sky-blue eyes he had.
They still lacked warmth; however, the parts of his horns and feathers that had turned purple were still there. It quickly broke away from my eyes from him with the words said next.
"Shit! She shattered my fang! My fang!" Brielle howled, finally picking up the sword from the floor.
It had a slight crack in the center that I hadn't seen when it was still glowing and pulsating everywhere. Yet somehow, the demon king saw it while it repelled him. That slight shatter caused the magical surge we saw.
"Of course, she did—her magic rival's mine. Your fang had no chance withstanding Sylvia's mana. Of that, I do not doubt of." The demon king declared, making gaze towards him again.
There was a sly smile on his lips as there was something he saw I didn't.
"I rival you. Impossible," I shook my head.
There's no way I'm as powerful as you. Do I have magic to combat you? Yes, but am I more potent? No, you're deadlier than I in every way possible if I happened to be on the other side. I would've been only roadkill to you.
"Yes, Sparky, you do. I don't like how you sell yourself short. I don't doubt that I would've been in trouble if you were my enemy." He chuckled, reaching to touch my cheek again.
Every time he did, it lit a fire within me—one that left everywhere he touched, burning with a warmth that consumed me. After being held by him, the thought of being enemies didn't please me.
It's funny to think that when I first got here, I thought it would happen no matter what, but all I want now is to be in your heart. It doesn't matter how closed off it is to me.
A soft hum left me, leaning into his warmth. However, his following words would send me into a storm.
"Brie, I want you to train her. Rizak's lectures won't do a damn thing with her gift. She's more practical than academic." He suddenly announced, turning to the wolf.
My eyes widened until they couldn't open anymore.
Wait?! What?!
"Fuck no! Do you want to dump your load on me?! I don't even know how to teach!" the she-wolf squealed.
She couldn't stand me even though I tried to make amends. This woman didn't want to interact with me, which was fine.
"Who else has the talent to train my betrothed? I wouldn't trust my generals with that task. No, the only one I have is you, Brie." Finn sighed, triggering her to glance at me, as I didn't know what was happening.
I'm changing teachers!? Wait… no… I like Rizak.
"Cousin, I understand you fancy your future bride, but we're oil and water. Even though I'm more patient than you, I can snap, too." She warned, crossing her arms.
"Oi… Thanks for that." I huffed, triggering her to glare at me.
She wanted no part in training me, and I didn't want to be a burden to her or anyone.
Finn sighed softly, "Rizak's ways won't work, and I can't train her. I'm no good with enchanted items."
The wolf's eyes twitched as this was a direct request from her precious king and family. These two were connected in ways I never knew, which I couldn't forget.
"Arg! Fine, but I'm not explaining shit to her! She'll have to learn through bruises and mistakes just like I did!" the she-wolf huffed, turning away from us and crossing her arms.
Finn chuckled, shaking his head. "That's fine. Rizak and I will deal with that part. You teach her how to use it."
Brielle quickly turned back to me. "Look here, I'll only teach you practical. Though, I still say this will be a waste of time. There's no way you will keep up with my training."
"Well, I'm not a demon. I don't have your infinite stamina, and I need to sleep, eat, and rest!" I pouted, crossing my arms.
"We know, love. She means it differently than it sounds." Finn assured me.
"And how's that?" I shifted my gaze towards him with a frown on my lips.
"It will be based on the training I did as a human. Things can go fast for your tiny brain, but try to keep up. We aren't stupid beings like you." Brielle's lips curled down as her nose flared.
This wolf probably disliked me because I disrespected Finn when I first arrived. However, there was more to her distrust. Everyone there thought I would harm the king, yet I didn't understand why it fell on me to gain their trust.
After all, they didn't know me, and I wasn't part of the events long ago. The only thing that made me similar was that I was a woman and a saint. However, I understood that in their eyes, they knew how damaged Finn's heart was.
Even Gael still gazed at me with worry every time we were seen together, yet her calling me a moron wasn't helping the cause.
"What?!" I snapped.
We truly are like oil and water, never to mix. This isn't a good idea!
"Peace now. Don't make me angry, Brie." The demon king scowled, prompting her to go stiff.
"Ah, I…" she trailed off, glaring at me.
She appeared to be in trouble with her king whenever I was around.
"Fine," she sighed, shaking her head before glaring at me.
I couldn't help but meet her gaze with a frown as I rolled my eyes.
This is… impossible.
Brielle waved her hand before shifting her glance to Finn. "Well, she'll need a blade, staff, crystal orb, or whatever weapon she pleases before starting. I suggest a staff or an orb. Less to hurt yourself with."
"Oi! I'll be fine with anything!" I assured her, not wanting to back down.
"Ah, well, Rizak already tried orbs, which didn't react to Sylvia. So, the conduit was probably too weak for her." Finn tugged me closer to him.
Rizak had handed me random objects before our potion session but never mentioned why.
You didn't want me to feel more disappointed if it didn't work out.
"Oh, was that what he was doing?" I mumbled, gripping onto Finn's cloak.
"Odd since toddlers can use them just fine." Brielle poked again, prompting me to flare up again.
"Hey!" I growled, only for Finn to hold me in place.
"Sylvia isn't from this world, Brie. Our rules don't apply to her the same, but I've got an idea. If your fang worked on drawing it out, then…" Finn trailed off, shifting his gaze towards me as a gentle smile rose on his lips.
Before I knew it, he pushed me towards the grey wolf, and a second later, he shifted into his dragon form, snapping one of his large fangs from his mouth. When I saw blood, I tried to rush to him, but I was stopped by Solas standing in my way.
"Isn't that a bit much?" Brielle sighed, gazing at her king like he lost his mind. "She's the one who is destined to end you. Did you forget that?"
To her, I wasn't worth the effort he placed on me, which reminded me of Gael. However, the incubus had more interactions with me than this wolf had. I had only seen her a few times when she fetched her king.
Shifting back into his humanoid form, the demon lord was already healed, leaving me with little to worry about as the dragon fang was on the floor.
"Why… did you…" I trailed off as he focused on Brielle rather than what I was saying.
"Well, If I can't hold her power in one place. Nothing can. We need her at her full power to cleanse this fog." He declared.
No… I… I don't know…
"Don't humans usually use mystical beasts for their enchantments? Shouldn't we hunt one instead of using yours? This can lead to worse magic, my king—one she can't hold." Brielle narrowed her eyes as I stared at the bloody fang on the floor.
I don't want anything more from you. Please… stop giving me more than I can handle!
The only thing I got from the entire thing was that I could control my magic like this.
"Well, I feel a unicorn horn wouldn't hold her power. She's a duality mage of light and darkness, which is unique. Heck, not even a normal dragon fang or horn would." Finn replied, licking his lips.
The taste of blood was probably present in them. However, his words caused my gaze to travel towards him.
"Wait, you guys have those here?" I asked, feeling like my childhood dreams were coming true.
All of a sudden, all those mythical beasts were potentially real.
I mean, I've seen a dragon, chimera, and even vampires, but something about a unicorn has its ring on me.
Perhaps because it was my last pleasant memory of my sister, one where she gave me her plushie the night I was crying. It was all before she saw the horror I could cause.
"Are those not in your world, sweets?" the demon lord chuckled, watching my face light up.
In an instant, there was a gentleness in his cold eyes.
"No… my world's boring compared to yours. Well, not true. It has its moments, too." I mumbled, remembering the sky I saw the night I entered this world.
That's probably the only pretty thing I remember seeing, but could I have seen more if my life had been different?
"Do you miss your realm?" Brielle asked, watching my reaction.
Her question caused Finn to turn his gaze away from me.
Ah... That's right, the previous saint…
"No," I shrugged.
The only thing left for me there was nothing pretty.
Jail or debt us all that's looking at me in the future back in my world. While here… I don't even know what life has for me yet… I want to be here with you.
My eyes focused on Finn as I felt my heart skip.
You're…
"So cold. Isn't it strange not to miss your homeland? What type of loyalties do you have?" the she-wolf huffed.
I couldn't help but scowl at her.
I'm probably better off using my own devices than relying on you to teach me.
"Brie… Enough, sometimes you don't know what you're talking about." Finn growled as his aura was erupting again.
"Fine, I'll take the fang to the blacksmith. Let me know what she decides to make with it." She gazed away before disappearing.
These demons could make their getaways so quickly that I hadn't seen her pick up her sword or the fang, but they were both gone.
"I don't think this is a good idea. She hates me." I sighed, shaking my head, turning to the last one left in the room.
Solas shrunk enough to fit in my bag, allowing me to pick him up and tuck him into it, only to be grabbed from behind by Finn.
"She doesn't hate you, love. She doesn't trust you. It doesn't come easy for her or any of us." He reassured me.
I know that… I just wish… I… could be different from Lillia.
I gazed towards the side, "Does it come easy for you?" I mumbled, staring at the demon king's eyes.
They were still so cold, yet within them, something else stirred.
"Of course, I trust you. Not that it comes easily, but I had little choice, and I'm glad I didn't. Otherwise, I probably would've missed getting to know you." He answered, holding me tightly to him.
Given everything that had happened today, it was a simple answer that didn't fully entirely me. Perhaps it was my impatience, yet I struggled to face him. My eyes quickly glued onto the blood that was left on the floor from when he ripped his fang out.
"Why did you do that? Didn't it hurt?" I asked.
Finn softly hummed, "Why did you run to me, knowing I could hurt you?"
"Because… I couldn't bear to see you like that." I answered, turning to face him.
"And I want you to reach your greatest potential, Sparky. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you do." He smiled.
I couldn't help but simper back at him.
Is this for your country or me?
There, I was met by his lips crashing into mine. I couldn't help but feel like all this was forced on his part. Even if I welcomed the affection, I…
Are you trying to make me feel better, or do you actually want to kiss me? Ah… I just need to stop thinking so much.
Either way, I couldn't keep myself from kissing him back. Unlike Vorex, who was easier to read, this demon wasn't. Even so, he ensnared me in his grip in such a way I couldn't tug away from him anymore.
It doesn't matter if I'm a precious jewel to you. All I need is to remain by your side at all costs.