Nono speaks

In response there is a roar, which sounds suspiciously like a lion and a loud cracking noise, as if large branches are being broken. Safrim curses again.

“We need to—”

A figure appears from the fog. It’s Karina and she is unharmed. Behind her, Gale walks slowly, dragging a large shadow with his teeth. He drops it in front of Poru’s feet like a trophy kill. Poru kneels and puts his hand on the core. A moment later, it is purified.

“We need to move. That scream will have been audible along the whole river valley. And Karina? Never run off like this again. Even if your cat disappears. As you can see, it can fend for itself pretty well.”

Karina nods. She looks carefree and strong-willed, which she is, but she can listen if required.

“Did you know Gale can do that?” Poru asks.

Nono looks at the cat as if she already knows the answer. I wonder how strong she really is, and if she perceives everything about us. Will she start sabotaging our endeavours if we go too far?

“I didn’t. I know he’s more intelligent than a normal cat and listens to what I say, but this?”

Gale licks his paw as if he doesn’t even realise what’s going on.

“Where did you get him from?” Safrim asks.

“Why, I helped treat his wounds after I found him, when I was small. That must have been… over ten years ago.”

“Showed up out of nowhere, huh? Well, if he’s useful like this, he’s welcome to stay, even without knowing where he’s actually from.”

I watch Gale feign disinterest while everyone is talking about him. All of a sudden he looks up and directly onto my eyes. He knows that I know. But we’re good, I hope.

“Let’s go on.”

Acknowledging murmurs all around. No one wants to stay out in the open like this.

——

We’re attacked three more times, but manage to eliminate the single demon creatures without much trouble. They are formed like long, lanky hounds. Safrim thinks they’re scouts. As long as they don’t report back, no one should know we’re here, but we don’t know if their absence will be noted.

“Is every demon made by a dark mage?” I ask as we walk a little closer to the water, the river slow and gentle with lily pads near its banks.

“They are, luckily,” Poru replies.

“Luckily?”

“That means there is a limit on how many and how powerful they can be. If they would be able to come to life without help, we would’ve all been lost long ago. That’s why there is sometimes a large gap in between attacks. I imagine creating a monster like the centipede we faced will take it out if you, even if you’re experienced.”

“Dark mages are stationed throughout the demon lands and create more demons on orders of their king. It’s their magic that holds together the unholy cores.”

“But there’s something good about this too,” Karina adds. “Kill a dark mage and you will destroy all of their creations with them. Since magic is created through imagination, killing the dreamer kills the dream.”

“That is both poetic and graphic.”

“I aim to please.”

I look over at Safrim. “So are you thinking there might be a dark mage in the garrison near Granlal?”

“There’s a big chance. And if they created the centipede, they might still be exhausted, which is a great chance for us.”

“If they created that centipede, what makes you think we have a chance against them?”

“I trust in the light’s hero.”

This time I punch Safrim in the arm, but he doesn’t seem to even feel it. Instead we all feel the ground vibrate at the same time. It feels like a small earthquake, but then there is noise above us. On the slope to our right, trees crash and earth slides, stones rub against each other.

“They found us! Run!” Safrim yells.

He speeds ahead and we’re on his tail. As I run, I look back to see the slope itself coming down like a mudslide. But it’s not only natural debris. Spherical objects, dark as shadow, roll with it. When they reach the bottom, they unravel to show their true form. They’re countless smaller centipedes, which—as opposed to the big one—are definitely out for blood.

“Stay together! Stay together! The outpost isn’t far. Here!”

Safrim only runs as far as we can see in the fog, always making sure we follow. He is our CEO, but I haven’t seen a leader so interested in the wellbeing of their employees in a long time.

“They can’t find their way into the hideout. It won’t be safe then,” Karina shouts.

“Right. Poru, scare them off.”

“What?”

Poru runs while holding his robe in both hands.

“Blind them so we can put some distance between us.”

“Shit. Okay.”

Poru holds out a hand behind him and shouts: “Daylight!”

—

We escape because the weakened centipedes are buried in another landslide, which is triggered by their shock at the sudden burst of light.

Not much later, we reach the waypoint, which is marked on the map. The lower levels were storage facilities and barracks. There is nothing much to repair, but I add a few points of durability to the beds that Safrim cleans with a gust of wind for good measure. It will be good to sleep off the ground. Everything here is cold and dark. I don’t want to stay down here for long, much less sleep, but this close to the enemy we can’t stay outdoors, and it feels good to have a wall in my back at least.

When everyone has gone to sleep, I take all the courage I can muster and approach Nono, who sits at the front of the barracks and keeps watch.

“It must be pretty frustrating to see me charge ahead into the demon lands and not give your offer any thought at all?”

Nono lowers her head and laughs.

“How long did you know?”

“Since the start.”

“And you still took me along? You’re either stupid or foolish.”

I walk around the stones and take a seat next to Nono.

“Most likely both, since I don’t plan to expose you to our party members.”

“You don’t?”

“Sure, you interrupted my beauty sleep and tied me up twice, but you didn’t actually harm me or any of our group. I’m only stumped by one thing…”

“Let me guess. My family?”

“Yes.”

Nono holds out her hand and the magic fire flares up once more. It’s a wondrous thing—light and warmth without needing fuel or emitting smoke. Ideal when you’re hiding out in a closed space like this.

“They are my actual family. I’ve been with them since my birth.”

“Then why…”

“It’s to do with my unique skill. I won’t tell you what it is. You can only believe that I am loyal to the one who is my master.”

“The demon king.”

Nono nods. She leans back and stares into the flames.

“But I am not here to harm you.”

“You’re here to keep an eye on me.”

Nono nods again.

“How did you find me out?”

“It’s to do with my unique skill. I won’t tell you what it is.”

Nono laughs as I echo her own sentiment back at her.

“That’s fair. That’s fair. We are enemies, after all.”

“Are we?”

She shrugs.

“You tell me. I pledged myself to your party, so I will help you.”

“Even against the demons?”

“No one has any attachment to these unnatural creations. They are a means to an end without feelings and desires. They carry out orders to the best of their abilities, which are often limited.”

“And the ones who created them?”

“Ah. Well. I know some of them. But that’s where it ends. I will support your decisions, but I will not actively rat them out.”

“I don’t understand you.”

Nono takes my hand and smiles.

“Most days I don’t understand myself. Just know that my task is to offer you a way out. If you continue on this path through the demon lands, you will want to get out sooner rather than later. I will be there to deliver you.”

“And the others?”

“They’re cute, but my offer is for you alone.”

“I see. So we’re allies for now.”

“That we are. And now that I know that you know, I can use some powers a bit more freely without having to explain myself to you every time. The others have no idea? Alright. Then I’ll limit myself to actions out of sight, but in the heat of battle, there’s always hidden spots.”

I take some of the dried fruit lying next to Nono. They taste sweet, like dried persimmons.

“Did you help with the centipede?”

“The big one? No. That was you lot all alone. I had to keep my sweet little sisters safe. The little ones? The ground may have been a little more treacherous for them than for us.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. How would it look if the person I am tasked to sweet-talk is killed at the first sign of actual danger?”

“Wasn’t the big one dangerous enough?”

“The big one is strong, but the small ones are venomous.”

“Oh.”