บท 30: Chapter 30: Burdens
"Y-you set me up." Kalika clenched her fists.
"I did nothing of the sort. I'm simply giving you a new opportunity. So don't panic." Rakon turned his attention back to the crowd before him.
"Panic!? You're just using- Mmff!!"
Valam glanced at Kalika and with a smile, she motioned Kalika to stay quiet.
"I… I can't breathe!!"
After a second fell to her knees, gasping for air.
"Like with every game there are rules, and all of you will have to abide by." He held out a finger. "First, this little GAME will take place only from the morning to dusk. Secondly, Killing of guards will be met with swift execution. And lastly…any desire of interacting with Kalika, aside from killing her, will be punished severely."
Rakon gazed sinisterly at the crowd before him. "I will be watching everything so be sure not to even jest the idea."
Rakon smirked. "Other than those rules, anything goes."
Back with Tilus and Donovan watching, Donovan is unsure what to make of the last rule stated. "Wait. That last rule… doesn't that mean-??"
"Perhaps he's trying to cut Kalika ties to anyone who might want to help or be a little too friendly. " Tilus pondered.
Kalika gazed back up to Rakon still trying to catch her breath. "What the hell!!"
"Weapons will be delivered to all your cell's tomorrow morning, so get ready for the fun ahead. That is all."
With that last statement, Rakon was finally done with announcing the current change for the prison, allowing the crowd to disperse as they pleased. Some of the prisoners within the crowd seemed to be excited as evident by the distinctive chatter going on below.
Some even mentioned how 'Maverick' would be happy to hear this news.
"There's no doubt that they're plotting and scheming of ways to kill me now."
Daji, soon after, started to coddle up to Rakon.
"<Do you want them to use those strange weapons too ?>" She asked.
"<No, we'll keep them locked away for now. But do bring Kalika back to her cell. She'll need the rest for the morning ahead.>" He glanced back at Kalika with a gesture.
This only served to frustrate the women, but despite this she acted with etiquette, accepting this job.
It isn't long before Kalika is surrounded by the three women, making her uneasy.
"They'll be escorting you back to your cell." Rakon said. "I'd recommend resting up for the morning's event, to be at your best."
Kalika could only seethe in anger, practically forced to comply. "Fine. But what do you plan to accomplish with this!?" she demanded.
Rakon didn't answer, instead giving a simple smile.
"I'll be seeing you in one month's time. Until next time…" He waved her off before turning to a bloody mist, vanishing before her and leaving her to the care of the demonic ladies.
********
Kalika upon being returned, was kicked into her cell by Daji. The three women stood in front of her cell door contemplating something in their native language. From what Kalika could pick up, they seemed to be thinking about killing themselves.
Kalika narrowed her eyes. "These demons."
Finally after a moment of deliberation they backed off slamming the cell door behind them, leaving.
Despite the three women being gone, Kalika's rage continued to grow. She wanted so badly to punch and kick at the wall and bed before her, it was almost unbearable. The only thing she could do was to fall to her knees and scream her heart out.
"Rakon… Rakon! Rakon! Rakon!! Rakon!! RAKON!!!"
After a few seconds Kalika smiled, blurting out a giggle. She quickly snapped herself back. "Rhonda?"
Kalika Clamored to the Bars of her cell. "Rhonda!! Rhonda!! Where are you!?" Kalika continued to call out for her maid to no avail.
"She's usually still here! Where is she!?"
Kalika called out for Rhonda again, but unknown to her, Rhonda is sitting by the very end of the hall, staying out of sight.
Rhonda wiped a tear off her face while keeping Kel's Blood dagger in hand. She looked at it practically unsure what to do with it, until a huge red demon appeared before her.
"B… Bjorn…?" she whimpered.
Bjorn Looked down at Rhonda, sternly. "<What are you doing here? I believe your 'mistress' has called you.>"
Rhonda Whimpers out a sniffle. "<N…No… I can't… Not anymore…>"
Bjorn narrowed his eyes. "<So the contract has ended, Eh…? So what now? Will you leave or will you stay?>"
"<I don't know… I-If I stay to help Kalika, Rakon might…>" Rhonda starts to caress the eye patch over her right eye.
He turned his gaze, as if reminiscing. "<Between the Lupeus, Entions and succubus… The Succubus race is always the most determined and steadfast among the other demon races out there…>"
"<You cry now. But in truth you've already made up your mind. From the day you've chosen to serve that girl again, to days you decided to have relations with Kel…>"
Rhonda blushed a little hearing the last part of Bjorn's statement. She drew her eyes closer to the ground a little shamefully.
"It's a shame what happened… Even if it was by Rakon's contract, it doesn't seem like she changed much, after all. She's still just as blind as she'll ever be." Rhonda could hear a faint hint of toxicity laced in Bjorn's voice.
"If you need help, Don't look for it from me. What happens to Kalika next is none of our business. Remember that."
Bjorn soon after starts to take his leave. He stopped. "Oh, and before I forget. Maybe be more careful with your partner. You should consider yourself lucky that Azar never found out."
Rhonda watched as Bjorn disappeared from the corner of the hall to whatever duty he had to perform next. Left to her own devices, Rhonda continued to linger, sitting on the dungeon prison floor, pondering the words left behind.
Back with Kalika she finally gave in with Rhonda coming to her.
"He did something to her too… Didn't he…? And I don't even know who or when I face this next person…" she pondered for a moment, understanding what has to be done. "I'll just have to press him for information then, but for now I just have to survive this foolish game of his."
********
It's the dead of night and Lillian was looking over a map along with Jala and two other commanders. they're inside a warm cozy tent lit by candles around them. They are coming up with a new plan of action for the next upcoming battle ahead.
"So that's what you're after?" Jala asked.
"Yes." Lillian affirmed.
"This is risky if we do this… and if that intuition of yours is wrong again, the King won't be too happy about this. This could push the war back another couple years."
"I'm sure of it, Jala. Their General, Thomas Kyrier is certain to show up for this battle." Lillian places a yellow wooden figure between a plethora of blue and red figures. "This General I heard will sometimes come out after a consecutive number of victories over their enemies."
"Is that the reason you've been sending our men to their deaths?" Jala looked very unconvinced. "I thought you weren't in a rush to kill this general…"
Lillian clammed up a little. She crossed her arms, nervously looking away. "T-that was before I knew that killing him would've expedited this dumb war!" she defended.
Jala could only sigh hearing Lillian's retort. "Your Highness, I assure you there were other alternatives to achieving this outcome."
"Perhaps, but one of the fastest ways to lure out your enemy is to build up their own morale. And if they're none the wiser, you can strike them down at their most boastful. It's a fine lesson I've learned from a certain someone."
Jala could only look on in disappointment. The two commanding officers became more conflicted upon seeing Jala's reaction.
"You two leave. Me and Jala need to speak alone,"
The two commanders followed the given instructions, leaving the tent.
"There's something you're not telling us. I could only imagine that it has something to do with that girl."
Lillian once again clams up. "N-now what makes you think that."
Jala unfolded a parchment from one of his jacket pockets. Sliding it on the table slowly. "I received this just recently."
Lillian took the parchment, reading it.
"It talks of the shipment of strange weapons and a soldier from the Celestine Empire." Jala explained.
She gripped the parchment fiercely, reading faster all before tearing it to shreds. Despite her eyes turning black from rage, she attempts to keep a calm motif.
"I can see how you would be concerned now."
"So you are concerned about this Celestine soldier. I hope you understand that the king was likely jesting about that 'husband' thing."
Suddenly the entire tent flew up in the sky along with all the other miscellaneous things that were inside. All the soldiers were now all looking in Jala and Lillia's direction.
Lillian's gaze became much more menacing as she tried to keep up with a calm demeanor, despite all the bloodlust she was emanating.
"Y-yes… I can tell. Lucius has always been horrible with his jokes."
Jala could tell that a rage was building in her voice.
"Perhaps a more secluded place is an order?" Jala stated.
Lillian starts to breathe much more heavily, trying to keep herself in check. "I-it looks like it."
They soon both vacated into a nearby dark forest to converse more in secret.
Lillian paced herself back and forth, crushing the rocks and dirt beneath her feet. She was slowing her breathing as much as she could, all in order to control the growing anger.
Jala simply leaned on a tree, waiting, awkwardly.
"Calm yet?" he asked.
"Y-yes I think I'm much more c-calm." Lillian's Eyes were still black and this time veins seemed to be bulging from her head and neck. Seeing this Jala remained silent.
Lillian growled under her breath, retching her fingers out of sight of Jala. "Husband? Husband!?"
Lillian scoffed at the idea. "When I find that soldier, I'll be sure to grant him my blessing!" Lillian punched a tree right through, tearing half of its base off. She started to breathe more heavily, trying to contain herself.
"It's a bit of an overreaction, Don't you think?"
Lillian gave a crooked smile "Overreactions? No, I think I'm more than justified. It's not like you'd ever understand, you never had a brother or sister to look after."
"Your Highness, have you forgotten…?"
Lillian glanced, curiously at Jala.
"Us demons are always born as twins. "
Lillian stopped immediately becoming silent. "R…Right, I almost forgot about that… did you have a brother, or a sister""
Jala took his time as if pondering. "I had a younger brother that I always looked after. We worked together, had each other's backs for many years."
"I see…" Lillian became much more calm. "And where is your brother?"
"Dead."
"My condolences then," Lillian said.
"Please, your Highness… Spare me the Pity. He died trying to kill me….and met his death at the end of my blade." Jala narrowed his eyes, reflecting on his own past. "To this day I still don't understand why he turned on me… not that it matters anymore. Because he only proved himself weaker than me."
Jala turned to Lillian. "I'm assuming the same happened to you early at birth… I wouldn't be surprised. It's the way of our world…"
Jala forced himself off the tree he was leaning on, approaching Lillian. Hey conjured up his blood blade into his hand.
"I can't say I fully understand why this human girl is so important… perhaps you wan to fill some imaginary void…But regardless…" he swung his sword down hard, cutting the remainder of the tree base next to Lillian.
"Sheltering someone weak like that human girl will serve to be your downfall if you're not careful."
Jala stabbed the trunk of the tree, dragging it along the ground to their campsite. "Not that I think She'll betray you at any point, she's much too weak for that. But just as a general advice; try to keep your emotions in check, otherwise it will be exploited, used against you… And you'll lose more than what you ever would've gained."
Lillian turned her attention to the newly made tree stump. One half was smooth to the touch as the other half was chaotic and prickly. She quickly turned back to Jala who was still departing.
"Jala." Lillian said sternly.
Jala stopped turning to look back at Lillian. "Yes?"
As much as she didn't want to admit it, He was right. Her mind has been clouded since entering the field of battle. She was strong, but not invincible.
Approaching Jala, she grabbed the other side of the tree. "Since when did you become a sage of wisdom?" Lillian lifted half the tree onto her shoulder.
After a few seconds Jala mirrored Lillian's action, putting the tree onto his shoulder to carry the log back to camp. "I'm no sage. But seeing that you've calmed down, do you still intend on having our forces charge in for another ambush?"
"I was… But perhaps I'll go with the idea you had in mind. Thinking about it now, I think it'll make our victory all the more satisfying."
"Are you sure, it would entail you being the bait."
"It's fine. It's been a little while since I've had a little fun anyways."
********
Back with Kalika she was slumbering in the quiet cell , Embracing the short lasting peace before the chaos that would unfold. Outside her cell Rakon watched her with sheer curiosity before taking a glance to the corner of the hall where Rhonda was also sleeping. He smiled, contently.
********
"MAVERICK!" A prisoner yells.
"Don't tell me you're actually going through with this!"
In the shadows a tall man with long brown hair and mostly shaved face sits on the corner of her bed. His cellmate with short brown and gray hair looked at Maverick in disbelief.
"Why not? The prisoner who kills that bitch the most, gets a wish as a reward. Knowing that demon, he'll actually follow through with this promise… Besides, I'm tired of twiddling my thumbs just because that outdated man was with her."
Maverick opened his eyes, revealing a deep blue. "This is a golden opportunity and everyone else knows it. and to say it isn't, only makes you a coward."
The cellmate was taken aback by his statement. "Tch! Did you forget! she can literally conjure up a blade like those demons-"
Maverick grabbed the man by his mouth slamming him to the bars of their cell. "AND!?" he yelled.
The cellmate looked on, in terror, as if anticipating the worse.
"It's us against her, our metal versus hers. this isn't an arena match of one versus one." Maverick Smiled. "This is retribution. damned if she forgot everything she's done, but I won't. and neither should you."
Maverick released the man from his grasp, leaving him in a stupor.
"Y... you're right." The prisoner clenched his fist and jaws.
"That's right, she killed your brother. didn't she."
"He didn't even want to fight, and she cut him down where he stood."
"You feel that anger? remember it well when you find and kill her. We will make her pay."
In the cell next to the two men, Donovan stared at the ceiling, just listening in on their conversation.
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