Chapter 33 A Girl from the Ally, Mira

As Demon Lord finished her directive, the air in the war room stirred—tension, opinions waiting to surface.

A voice rang out sharp and fiery from the left.

 “I say we strike now. Before he gets stronger.”

The speaker was General Silvia, a striking demoness with grey skin and gold eyes. Her armor was sleek and scarred from dozens of battles, her twin scimitars sheathed at her back.

 “This Hero, Rein… he’s not just some warrior. He’s a symbol. Kill the symbol, and you fracture the enemy’s will.”

 “That symbol was once my friend.”

 “And that’s exactly why you shouldn’t face him again. Next time, he won’t graze you. He’ll bury that sword deep. Let me deal with him.”

Before Demon Lord could respond, a calm voice from across the table interrupted, “Recklessness won’t win this war. You won't stand a chance against the Hero. You faced him once already and had to retreat.”

General Nyzari, tall and graceful, draped in a flowing robe lined with arcane glyphs, stood with her arms crossed. Her skin shimmered faintly like obsidian dust.

 “Demon Lord is right. There is more to this battle than blades. Humans are being misled, truth has a weight of its own. We can still use it.”

“I agree with Silvia,” said General Rhask, a hulking brute with violet skin and iron-plated fists, “Your human boy could have killed you. Next time he will not hesitate. He’s too far gone.”

“I have met that boy,” spoke another, voice like silk yet tinged with frost, “he seemed broken long before he reached our gates.”

Lady Thessaria, slender and composed, stood from her place near the rear. She wore little visible armor, just a thin dark cloak and a circlet etched with ice runes. Her magic was silent, precise, and brutal.

 “You hesitate because of your past with him, Demon Lord. But if he refuses see reason… we may need to end him.”

Demon Lord looked around at them all — battle-hardened, loyal, and brutally honest. She expected nothing less. But then a gentler voice spoke.

“I believe in your path,” said General Sareth, the youngest among them, her violet hair tied back tightly, her curved horns swept behind her head. She had risen quickly through the ranks, known for her tenacity and skill with spear and flame.

 “He might not believe you now… but maybe he can, in time. You were human once, we all were. You know humans are more than their King and his lies.”

Demon Lord offered Sareth the faintest smile. Then she turned to all of them.

“This war has taken too much from all of us. There is no point in fighting Arthur's knights. We hold the line. We do not provoke. And if Rein comes again—then I will face him. Alone. That is not up for debate.”

 “Then you'd better be ready to finish it, my Lady. Because if you fall… there's no one left to hold this line.”

 “I’ll be ready, Silvia.”

------------

Rein turned a corner on his way back to the castle and stopped. A trio of rough-looking men had backed someone into a grimy alley. One had a bottle in hand, while another leered, fingering the hem of the girl’s tattered cloak. She looked terrified—blonde hair matted with dust, pale skin, eyes scared. Her clothes were worn, frayed, like they hadn’t seen a wash in days.

“I said let go! P-please… I don’t want trouble.” she gently shouted, though her voice cracked.

One of them laughed.

 “You already found it! You bumped into me, street rat. Maybe say sorry with something shiny? Or maybe with your body! Hahahahah! C’mon, sweetheart. No need to be shy. Bet you’d be real friendly if you tried.”

The tallest of the men leaned closer, greasy fingers brushing her hood. 

“You shouldn’t wander around here dressed like that, sweetheart. Makes people… curious. Unless you’re lookin’ for attention.”

His friend let out a scummy laugh. 

“C’mon, just a few coins. Or you got something under that cloak worth more than gold?”

Before Rein could think, his body moved. He didn’t say a word. He was just suddenly there, one hand grabbing the lead thug by the collar and lifting him clean off the ground. The man yelped and flailed, feet dangling.

“You picked the wrong alley, buddy. Get lost,” Rein muttered, and tossed him like garbage into a pile of crates. Wood splintered. Bottles shattered.

He turned to the other two, face hidden in his cloak’s shadow.

 “Is this how you cowards spend your nights? Shaking down girls half your size?”

They turned, snorted at the lone figure—until one recognized the crest on Rein’s cloak.

“Get out of here, pal! This is not your...wait—he’s—!”

The air snapped. Rein didn’t draw his sword. He didn’t need to. With a single step forward, a burst of pressure knocked the thugs off their feet. One crashed into the wall. The others scrambled and ran.

The girl sank down to catch her breath.

 “You didn’t have to scare them that hard. But… thanks. I—I didn’t expect anyone to step in.”

Rein offered his hand, silent. She took it. There was something off. Her voice felt too steady for someone just attacked. Her eyes, a striking blue, lingered on his longer than needed.

“You alright? Miss...? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

 “Oh, right. No, I'm fine, just a little shaken.”

Rein gave her a brief glance over—dirt-streaked cheeks, threadbare clothes, boots nearly falling apart. She looked more like a refugee than a citizen.

“Don’t come down alleys like this, it's dangerous.” He started to turn away.

“Wait. What’s your name?”

 “…Rein. Just Rein.”

 “I see… I’ve heard that name before.”

He narrowed his gaze. 

“Who are you?”

She smiled gently.

 “Just someone passing through. You can call me… Mira. Just Mira.”

“What were you doing out here, Mira?” 

“I… I just arrived in the city. I have nowhere to stay. I was walking, trying to find a place to rest, and I… I must have taken a wrong turn. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Sorry.”

“This district isn’t safe, especially at night. You’re lucky I came through.”

“I know,” she whispered, lowering her eyes, “I’ll be more careful. Thank you.”

 “Do you have a place to sleep?”

 “No. I don’t… not yet.”

“So, a refugee, huh…” 

“Yes,” she said quietly, “I'm from outside the town. Used to live in a small village.”

He let out a sigh and stepped back.

 “Fine. Come on. There’s a place that might take you in for the night. Safer than this dump.”

 “You’d help me…?”

“Well, I’m not going to leave you here, that's for sure. Let’s go.”