Kalika grumbled, annoyed at the crystal in her hand. She tossed the crystal into the pile along with the other and Averted her gaze to outside the cart. With a silent contempt, she pushed the pile of grey crystals to Donovan.
"Done again?" Donovan took the first of the crystals and infused it with his magic. Within minutes he infused the pile of crystal, returning their luster. He then pushed the pile back to Kalika with mild amusement.
"At this point, I think I'm becoming an expert at filling these," he noted with a chuckle.
"Temper that pride, or do I need to remind you of our gap again?"
Veins bulged and Donovan sighed frustrated. "I get it. I get it. Can't I enjoy myself for a second?"
"No."
"You're such a killjoy."
"
Donovan glanced at Bjorn for a translation.
"She was praising your magic," Kalika explained. She then took a crystal in hand, this time watching as it slowly faded to grey.
"O-oh. Thanks Charla."
Seeing Donovan's smile, Charla mirrored him.
Noticing this, Kalika raised a brow then glanced back at Donovan.. "But she probably wants to butter you up, so I wouldn't listen to her."
"You're probably right. The last thing I need is for you to hound me about sex again. But I think she might be growing out of it, so that's a good sign if you ask me."
"Wrong. But what does it matter? It's all just a stupid dream anyway." Kalika picked a new crystal, repeating the process. "All of this is just so boring…"
Kalika turned to Zelak and Bretta, then Donovan and Charla, and finally Bjorn, who looked like a disciplined master. "At least some interesting things happen from time to time, though…"
Finished with the fourth crystal, Kalika then turned her gaze to the barrel of dinks, closely guarded by Bjorn. "Hmmm..."
"Hey, Kalika," Donovan called out.
"Hm? What is it?"
"I..I just wanted to know how you were holding up. If you were… fine and all."
Dumbfounded, Kalika became silent and thought over the question. "I think I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Kalika continued to work on her pile.
"W- W-well, you've seemed oddly distant and a lot more distracted as of late. I was wondering if you were getting enough sleep or if something was on your mind."
"If you're referring to my dreams outside of this
one, I suppose it has gotten a little stranger. The last one especially, I felt like I was back in my sister's arms again, preparing to be ripped apart."
Donovan glanced back at Kalika with more concern. "W-wait. And how long has this been going on?"
"Ever since we left that village. But it's been more annoying than anything." with a bored expression, Kalika sighed and slumped to the side, resting her face on her fist. "And I don't understand why I keep seeing him in my dreams."
"Him?" Bjorn questioned. "Do you wanna be a little more specific?"
Kalika glared at the demon, then just as quickly turned her head with a defiant pout. "My dreams are none of your business!"
A nervous chuckle escaped Donovan's lips. "Maybe we can talk about your dreams later?"
"No offense, but I prefer not to talk about it. It's so idiotic that it still pisses me off."
"A-... Alright…. So aside from your dreams and stuff… H-how are you doing with the crystals?"
Kalika took another crystal in hand, watching as it turned grey, much slower than the other. "I don't know. I think I'm making progress, but it's hard to tell."
Kalika pondered for a while. She then picked another crystal, this time focusing on the feeling. "I don't know yet. Maybe it's faint, but I have no idea…"
"Well, progress is still progress…"
"Hey, Bjorn. How do you think I'm doing with my training so far?" Donovan asked.
"Your progress is passable."
"Aw, come on, you gotta admit that my progress is going faster than you thought."
"For a human, maybe, but a child of our kin would know five different fundamental uses for their element faster than you. You still only know one."
"Oh, yeah!? But what about this!?" Donovan forced a magic crystal into Bjorn's view.
"Don't be foolish, discovering new uses for those doesn't relieve you from having to know and understand the bare basics of channeling magic."
"Jeez, Whatever."
"Doesn't that make two with him able to channel magic into weapons?" Zelak added.
"That's true," Bjorn said. "But I'll only give him half a point since he's still relying on those crystals."
Donovan rolled his eyes. "I can't win with you, can I?" Hearing the chewing of food, Donovan glanced at Kalika and found her snacking on their supply of jerky.
"Oh. You're already done?" Kalika put the rest of the jerky back in the bag. "I thought you'd argue for a little longer."
Donovan could only look on in disbelief. "Seriously!?"
Unexpectedly, the cart stopped.
"Hey, why did we stop?" Curious, Donovan peeked to the front. Looking over the reins and past he saw what looked to be a blue demon girl with white hair and blue eyes that stared daggers at them.
"A…girl…?"
"Wait a minute, I feel like I met her somewhere before." A chill ran down Donovan's spine with an unsettling unease. Hold on, It's that girl from the prison! She pushed me into the pit!"
Curious, even Kalika peeked, vaguely recognizing the girl.
Mae's eyes shifted around Kalika's group, tracing from Zelak and Bretta to Bjorn, who met her gaze, and finally to Kalika and Donovan.
A deep confusion gripped her, words unable to form in her mind as she looked at the group, until finally, after an uneasy stare-down. Bjorn spoke in a harsh and audible whisper aimed at Donovan. "You fool! What are you doing in the open!?"
Donovan jolted in realization. He quickly ducked down. But by then it was already too late.
Mae finally spoke. "" her eyes trailed to Kalika specifically,
"Uncle?" Kalika raised a brow.
Mae's pupils tightened. "
"
""
"
Mae conjured her large hammer. "
Suddenly, a dome of earth trapped Mae, and in an instant, it shot to the sky.
"Go! Now!!"
"You damn bastard!" Zelak whipped the reins, sending the garu's into a frenzy, dashing through the path. "Warn me before you do that!"
"There's no time for that."
Kalika stumbled, but quickly found her footing. "What the hell!!?"
"Sorry, champion, but I don't want Bretta to get mixed up with that girl either. It's bad enough we ran into Magnus, but his niece, too, is a recipe for disaster."
"Wait! Those two are family!?" Donovan climbed back to a steady footing.
Reluctant, Bjorn finally explained. "Just like Brom and Gorm, that girl and Magnus are part of a clan of ogres. Not to get into specifics, but if you kill that girl, it'll only draw more unwanted attention from my kin."
Kalika sneered. "How would they know?"
"Unlike humans. We can sense the death of those with whom we hold strong bonds, family and allies alike. So they'd know. Just like they know with those other ones you've killed."
An explosion erupted, chunks of stone and debris scattered across and past the cart, with pebbles shooting through the cart floor.
Jerking their heads back, they witnessed an army of bubbles jetting at them.
"Tch! She's going all out!" Bjorn whipped his arm to the side, conjuring a massive stone wall behind them. Seconds later, the wall smashed into pieces with Mae smashing through. She dashed in a blinding speed surpassing the garu's
She pulled her hammer back, ready to strike and swung. In that moment, Kalika met the girl head-on, clashing her dagger with the head of the girls hammer.
A grunt escaped Kalika's mouth as she held firm. Using the opportunity, Charla attacked from behind Kalika, slashing at Mae who evaded the attack, forcing her to retreat.
The car jumped and wheeled out of control, forcing Bjorn to conjure pillars of earth of the steady their cart.
"What was that?' Kalika questioned. "I thought she was supposed to be a little girl. "Don't be foolish! She might be young, but ogre blood still runs through her veins! She's clearly angry and wants to avenge Magnus!"
Shocked, Donovan glanced at Bjorn. "But a girl like that!? How can a girl her age fight like that!?"
"You fool!" Seeing Mae's approach, Bjorn raised his hands, launching a barrage of spheres and domes at her.
Unrelenting, Mae smashed through each one of Bjorn's attacks with deeply fierce, yet calm precision. Debris scattered like a hailstorm and with a sneer, Bjorn, conjured a wall of earth, shielding them from the aftermath.. "Have you forgotten? We demons live much longer than your kin. Even the children can live the same life span as you humans and still not fully grow".
Suddenly, Mae appeared right above their cart, ready to slam her hammer down.
Kalika prepared her dagger. Unexpectedly, a massive pillar of earth shot straight at Mae, forcing the girl to crack her hammer into the rising pillar.
The pillar splintered and cracked, trailing down to the very origins of its base. However, to Mae's shock, the pillar held strong, overpowering her completely. The pillar struck Mae, launching her back into the sky.
"
Donovan gasped in amazement, witnessing the pillar suddenly transforming into a prison for the demon girl.
"Holy smokes…" Donovan glanced back at Bjorn, surprised.
"Don't get too comfortable. That girl's blood magic can still melt through my prison. We need to escape from her before she frees herself."
"
And exploding red splatter past Donovan. With immediate concern, Donovan glanced in the direction of the blood, finding Charla standing over him with a pained expression.
"What t-"
He quickly noticed smoke rising from his body, followed by the view of red orbs shooting at them.
Kalika intercepted the second orb, cutting it in half. To her shock, the small orbs exploded into a gush of bloody acid that showered across her face.
Kalika screamed, reeled back in pain, feeling an intense burning that blinded her.
Mae landed at the edge of the cart, shocking both Bjorn and Donovan. Pieces of earth and debris slid from her hair and shoulder.
"H-how did she escape Bjorn's magic trap!!?" Bjorn's eyes watched as blood slowly flowed from her hand , leaving behind a trail of smoke from her. "She cloaked herself with her blood!?"
The cart shook, and Charla stumbled atop Donovan.
Ignoring Charla and Donovan, Mae poised her hammer and swung, smacking Kalika so hard that it ripped the top of the cart's walls.
Mae then raised her hands at Bjorn, with a glare ready to kill. "
Zelak glanced back, concerned and unsure what to do.
"
"
Using her hammer, Mae climbed to her feet.
"
Acting fast, she dodged. She distanced herself from her attacker, and upon looking at them, her eyes widened."
In a flash, Kalika left her sight. "Huh!?" Taken aback, Mae whipped her head around until she finally felt a presence behind her. She turned in time, blocking Kalika's dagger.
The clash rippled waves of blood lust, and with a smile so demented, Kalika couldn't help but press Mae further. "
"Kalika! Stop!!" Bjorn yelled.
Kalika ignored him, intensifying the gleam in her eyes and her maddening smile. The fury, once present in Mae, turned to a towering fear with her determination diminishing.
"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to avenge your stupid demon."
To Kalika's shock, her dagger dug into the ground.
She glanced back up. Finding another familiar face.
"
Zelak tightened his grip with frustration setting in, even concerning Beretta. "First that girl, now him!?"
Before them stood Gaz, with Mae in his arms, and he glared at the group. He eyed everyone from Kalika's group, slowly naming everyone he recognized.
"
"
Donovan Finally managed to pull himself from under Charla. Seeing the state Charla was left in, shook him. He tightened his grip and turned to the scene in front of the cart. He glared Gaz, directly, recognizing him. "That guy…"
Noticing the glares of everyone on him, Gaz exhaled. "
"
"
"
"
Kalika's gaze intensified."
Gaz cautiously gazed at Kalika, expecting the worst. To his surprise, Kalika sheathed her dagger and, with a more playful smirk, turned away from Gaz.
"Hey guys, let's set up camp for the night." She announced.
"K-kalika. You can't be serious!" Donovan blurted.
Zelak erupted into laughter, all the while, everyone else could only look at her in deep confusion. "What? Didn't you say that the girl had to live?" Kalika questioned.
"But wouldn't that Rakon demon know you're here?" Donovan questioned.
"I want him to know I'm here. Besides, he'd find out one way or another… He always does."
Gaz, unsure how to react, looked upon Kalika with a deep interest. "
"
A cold sweat ran down Gaz's face. "
"
In an instant, Gaz jumped out of sight and escaped on foot with Mae in his hands.
Kalika stood in place, subtly surprised. "Oh? He was fast…"
Donovan, concerned, looked in the direction the demons escaped. "Was letting them go really the right move?"
"Only time will tell," Bjorn answered. He then turned to Charla whose breathing became more labored. "But right now we have bigger issues."