Chapter 5
Castle of Georgies
In their world, five continents stretched across the land and sea: Winshen, Indino, Penon, Gashu, and its twin, Seishu, which clung to Gashu's edge.
Waters like the vast Uru and the Telora Sea kept Winshen and Penon separated from the others, while the ocean of Georgies divided Gashu and Indino's faraway island, Norkif.
But now, none of that mattered to Eliron as he looked over the once-thriving continent of Gashu, a place now reduced to ashes and memories.
The great forests that had sheltered his family were nearly gone—replaced by scorched earth stretching into bleak, open patches. But despite the silence, Eliron could feel them: other creatures still lurked in the shadows.
He stared across the ruins with a heavy heart until Nameless's voice broke through his reverie.
"The Demon King conquered this land," she said, her voice steady. She reached out and rested a hand on Eliron's back, sensing his unease. "Those beings you see? They're guards, most of them in a trance. In the castle by the shore, there's a group guarding the [Artificial Happiness]. Don't worry—they'll only alert the watchdog if they notice us."
Eliron turned, puzzled. "How do you know all this?"
Royce, perched beside Nameless, answered with a sigh. "Perks of being the Demon King's daughter."
Ignoring Royce's comment, she inquired about the others. "How're the children?"
Royce's eyes drifted to the children riding on Eliron's back. He seemed tense. "They're scared of you, Nameless. I mean… who wouldn't be? You showed up with bloodied hands, and you brought a kid none of us have seen before."
His gaze lowered, eyeing the new face.
There was a child sleeping peacefully on Nameless' lap, embracing her waist.
"Her name is Ayu. She is…" Nameless smiled, her now-clean hands caressed the other girl's purple hair. "She is the only miracle I know."
Royce frowned. "You say that but isn't she half-demon too? I can smell it. The two of you has the same innate scent."
Nameless nods to confirm his suspicion.
"Ayu was born to an elven woman with Gashu. When she came into the world, her mother was gentle with her. She asked me to give her child a name. She… she died just after calling out to Ayu." Nameless's expression softened, as if recalling a treasured memory. "Every wife here wishes for Gashu itself to bless their child with a name. But that woman… she asked me instead."
"Could she have known you were favoured by the demon king?"
"It's impossible. She was a prisoner and forced to bear his child and yet she didn't bear any hatred at all."
The boy watched the sleeping kid, "I don't remember the Demon King having an elven wife…"
Nameless chuckled at Royce's words and patted his head, "Because you weren't born yet. Ayu is a few months older than you. It's weird how you are both different. You are strong despite being human, but Ayu is weak despite being half-demon and half-elven."
Eliron felt weird hearing Nameless' voice.
Though she was born way earlier than him, she had significant wisdom than him, embarrassingly so.
Her voice held serenity that he have heard from old folks before.
She was an enigma. In a different sense than who Pearce was.
Pink eyes watched the ruined lands stretched far and wide with a steady gaze, "Anyway can we hurry a bit, mister dragon? I wasn't born yet when Gashu ransacked things here so I'm not familiar with the areas, but I know the castle and the owner very well. And that guy doesn't like surprise visits in the morning especially from an envoy of the Demon King."
"Envoy?"
"Don't worry. It's all part of my plan. I'm the Saintess, envoy of the Goddess, so you trust me right Royce?"
Royce sighed, "If you say it like that I don't trust you at all."
Nameless laughed but remained resolute. "It's okay. I have things I want to protect even if I don't care about the others."
"Please don't say it like that. I feel like you'll sacrifice the other children." Another child, Loyd, stepped closer.
He is just like Royce who awoken from their trance due to outside intervention. Loyd actually woke up earlier than Royce but Nameless made it a secret to both children just in case.
"I won't. I made a promise in the name of the Goddess after all." Nameless smiled.
When the leaders of the children had a back and forth regarding Nameless' plan, Eliron sped up his flying.
It didn't take long for them to land close to the forest but also near the shore. The view of a castle by the ocean can be seen not so far from where they were.
"Good morning children. Don't be nervous, it's part of the Saintess' plan." Loyd announced with not much of an explanation as Royce handed out chains for them to wear.
Of course even though they were nervous, the children couldn't complain since there was a scary dragon watching them behind Nameless.
"Mister dragon, about the plan, you're okay with it right?"
Eliron nodded.
The plan was simple. He had to act like a haughty dragon serving the Demon King and Nameless will use him as a mount.
Nameless will also act like an envoy of the Demon King.
It seemed that she was known as the favoured child of Gashu and can get away with going in and out of the capital on her own.
"You could've left, but you didn't…"
Eliron unconsciously stated, he was trying to get a read on what was on Nameless' mind and heart.
The girl shrugs, "I already told you that I had things I wanted to protect."
Yellow eyes gazed at the still sleeping girl. He remembered that her name was Ayu.
"Is the child you wanted to protect and the one hidden in the tunnels the same person?"
Nameless tilted her head at his question, her pink eyes also trailing back to Ayu. "Honestly, at first I thought it was… But while I still want to protect Ayu, the reason that I received the Goddess' blessing was something else."
"I see."
As if satisfied with the dull reaction, Nameless smiled.
Everyone huddled into four groups of children. Group A follows Royce, Group B follows Loyd, Group C follows a child named Ynez, and Group D follows a child named Keith.
Originally most of these children didn't have names but when they reunited with their parents after the brainwashing wore off, they gave them names. As Nameless was known as the Saintess just having her witness the moment was a blessing.
Looking at the state of the sky it was an hour past midnight.
Once their eyes adjusted to the dark it wasn't a problem to traverse out of the forest and into the shores of Georgies.
"Your grace, there is group of children seen exiting the forest. They are heading this way."
A report came in from one of the castle's guards.
"So? They are just children. Kill them."
Georgies, a human male, spoke casually as he continued playing a game of chess. "They can't be as important as playing with the young master, no?"
Despite his flattery, the being sat in front of him, did not react at all. He was only conscious of Georgies' moves on the board.
The guard nodded and was ready to leave when another appeared.
A newcomer's voice was frantic. "Your grace! T-the favoured one has come!"
"What?! Why is the news late?! Where is she now?" Georgies stood fast, stumbling his chair back and turned his back against his opponent. In his eyes there was a bigger fish to catch. "Ugh! It doesn't matter! Shoot the guards, useless imbeciles! One who couldn't recognize royalty and another who delivers cut off news! Imbeciles!"
At his command, the two guards who notified him was dragged away with a sack on their heads.
Though they pledged to do better, Georgies didn't have the time to listen nor care.
He called the maids in a hurry and dressed up to meet the favoured child of Gashu, the Demon King. He didn't care why she was here– he only wanted to establish a strong connection.
Even if it was to manipulate and tie the child up and force such a thing…
The important thing for him was to build a connection. He was lucky because they had a bit of the same blood but the child almost never visits this castle.
Georgies gnashed his teeth, he glanced at the sandy shores beyond the castle walls.
A mere watchtower, it felt– a crumbling fortress against threats that never came.
Just as his maids finished dressing him, the door swung open. Nameless strode in, her presence filling the room.
"Is there a reason why my uncle is late in greeting his niece?" Her voice was sweet but a chill ran down his spine.
Georgies flinched.
While he had seen his niece once, he was never scared of her. Even when she was known to be favoured by the king, he wasn't intimidated.
"I-I was just preparing to greet you, Nameless." Georgies forced a smile, though it felt like a mask.
She was only twelve, if he remembered correctly, yet she carried an aura that echoed her father's.
Georgies lamented the difference in status.
Nameless was Irazai's child, his cousin, with the demon king. Though Irazai was the human princess, she never had an oppressive nature unlike her brother, Pearce.
The only difference was the nature of her bloodline and yet she developed into a monster even without guidance.
His back shrunk on instinct. He was like a prey in front of a predator that devours all.
Nameless nods in acknowledgement for his excuse, "Gashu gave an order. He has heard you've been wasting lives for petty reasons so he'll give you puppets."
When Nameless walked away, Georgies followed immediately and saw the perfectly lined children.
"I see. B-but maintaining these puppets cannot be cheap…" he stammered, instinctively hunching his shoulders to look small.
"No matter how you hide your greed, it definitely outshines all your jewels. Here," Nameless tossed a medallion towards him. "You should know about the dragon Gashu was trying to put on a trance right? As long as you show that medallion, they will obey you."
"A medallion?"
Georgies made a troubled look at the trash he received. To be frank, he did not care about the medallion.
"You truly are greedy, Georgies. I don't know which of us is the demon." Her words dripped with barred disdain, and he felt the weight of her judgement.
With a clap, four children with knapsacks stepped forward, and Georgies licked his lips in delight mingling with apprehension.
"I truly admire the Demon King's omniscience."
When Georgies' lowered himself, acting like a loyal dog, Nameless couldn't help but frown visibly.
The plan was going well so far.
They only need to stay until morning so they can traverse the ocean safely. Eliron needs to rest because it'll be a long journey and the children had to eat.
All while remaining undetected. After resting they must get rid of possible pursuers.
It was a must to destroy and incapacitate everyone guarding this watch castle. Killing was the best option, one that Nameless will have to do on her own later.
No one must know they went in this direction.
All of their tracks were non-existent due to riding on a dragon's back. Now they just have to get rid of this checkpoint and those who have seen them.
However her silent prayers was unheard.
"Is Gashu omniscient? I don't think so."
Nameless turned her head towards the inner corridor.
There was a variable she never considered.
Standing on the corridor, hidden in darkness and wearing a blue coat, was a man who had similar hair color as Nameless.