The forest stood tall and quiet.
The crystals that glowed so brightly slowly dimmed, marking a shift to the encroaching evening. Deep within and hidden beyond the forest path, Kalika jumped from the cart with a bag full of dried meat, all hoarded for her as she satisfied her own amusement watching the scene between Donovan and Charla unfold.
Charla, patiently waiting, laid flat on her stomach atop her tunic with her back bare, facing Donovan. He grimaced, seeing the burns and scars left by Mae's attack. With some reluctance, he began to wipe her back with a damp white cloth. "Why do I have to be the one to rub her spit on her back?" he complained.
"You're her master, aren't you?" Kalika tossed another piece of jerky in her mouth, chewing and watching as Charla hummed in pleasure. "So she's your responsibility."
Elsewhere, Zelak, under the careful watch of Bretta, prepared the tent. And with their new sleeping space acquired, It didn't take long for Bretta to begin her work, digging a hole in the ground to her specifications.
"" Zelak sighed. Kneeling, Zelak patted Bretta on the head, distracting her. "
Beretta moved his hand to her cheek, embracing the small gesture of affection. Zelak slowly pulled away and began the preparation for the camp.
Charla, who watched from afar, pouted. A tinge of envy resurfaced.
Not long after, Donovan finished. The skin, once boiled, blistered, and burned, was once again as smooth as a baby's skin. "Looks like it's all healed…"
Suddenly, Charla feigned a cry of pain. "
"Is something wrong!?" Donovan blurted.
Kalika cat-eyed the shameless succubus, for the blatant deceit. "No, she just wants to be treated as a princess."
"O-oh."
"
Charla slowly sunk back to the ground and mumbled a complaint just under her breath.
With his job done, Donovan, sat away from Charla,
:"I'm surprised you handled that so well."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you'd be shaking around for sure."
"W-well. I think I'm just getting used to her, that's all. Just like I did with you. But still… I'm surprised she protected me from that demon girl's attack."
"As your slave, she's bound to protect you," Bjorn explained. He leaned on a set of large trees, facing Donovan and Kalika. "The same goes to Zelak's' mate. If he were to ever get in danger, she would do the same, whether she was willing or not."
"Is there a way to stop it?"
"Other than tying them down, no. Even ordering a slave not to protect you won't work since commands are only temporary."
"If that's the case, then how am I able to keep her from touching me then?"
"You fool, because you keep ordering her not to touch you! As your slave all you need to do is will the order for her to do it."
"Hahahahaha. Seems only natural for a man afraid of women!" Zelak fell to the ground, trying to collect himself.
Donovan darted a glare. "Damn it! You're lucky I don't feel like kicking your ass, Zelak!" He barked. Irritated, he growled as he watched Zelak roll in laughter by the unlit campfire. His face lit red, forcing him to avert his gaze. "Jeez!"
"Are you ordering her unconsciously?" Kalika asked, as she bit into her snack.
"I… I don't know! I-I-I guess."
"Honestly, I'm impressed." Bjorn sighed.
"W-well, if I can keep her from touching me, maybe I can do the same by trying to protect me."
"You're welcomed to try if you want, but do you hear yourself? Why would you want to stop her from defending you?"
Donovan grew silent with forced words; he spoke. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. I… I didn't ask to become the master of some demon; especially not a succubus. I don't want to be anyone's master. All I want to do now is… get out of here and… maybe start over."
"What about the Celestine Empire?"
I still love my country, but… I… I don't know if I should return. I'm probably better off migrating somewhere south. Like to Kynreth."
Kalika cocked her head. "Kynreth?"
"Yeah. The country that borders yours. I think it was further south of your country's holy city. I heard a while back that they're establishing some new trade deals with a tribe of strange-looking people to the west of their borders, the unconquered lands."
"What? Are these people supposed to be different colors like the demon here?"
"W-well, no. Apparently some of them have fur and other animalistic features, but that's probably just a bunch of rumors."
"I see…" An image of a domesticated cat wearing human clothes popped into Kalika's mind.
"In any case, settling down somewhere south is probably a good place to get away from the noise of war the demons have wrought."
"Hmph! Setting aside your future plans, you'll just have to bear with the master slave relationship for a little while longer." Bjorn said. "Oars is a few days away, and once we're finished there, you can relinquish your control to Zelak."
"I know. I just feel a little bad for Charla."
Hearing her name, Charla perked up. "
In a panic, Donovan raised his hands and averted his gaze, turning a deeper red. "CH-Charla!! Put your clothes back on!!"
FWOOM
The campfire ignited.
"Fire's ready," Zelak announced. Glancing back, Zelak was taken aback, "Hmm? What happened now?"
Zelak watched as the last of Charla's clothes burned to ash, leaving Charla confused, and Donovan now in deep shock.
"I…I… I didn't mean to…"
Bjorn could only shake his head. All the while, Kalika face-palmed. "You idiot…"
Zelak slowly turned from the scene, returning to work on other menial tasks.
Charla, surprised, picked up her burnt tunic, and watched as it dissolved away.
With a deepening guilt, Donavan pulled his vest off and pulled his tunic off, handing it to Charla. "I..I-I'm sorry. H-here. J-just take it, and put it on… Please..."
Charla obeyed, and despite the tunic being a size too small, she managed to fit it on, even with the tunic squeezing her breasts tightly.
Satisfied, Charla turned back to Donovan, pleased by the gesture. "
"Ah crap!' Flustered and alarmed, Donovan jumped to feet..
Bjorn sighed. "I think we have more clothes in the cart if you wa-"
"I-I'll get them!" Donovan dashed without a second thought, leaving everyone behind.
Kalika watched on as Donovan clumsily searched through the bags. She then turned Charla, who bounced and hummed in delight, without a care in the world. As she did, the tunic ripped, practically unveiling her womanly charm.
"Hey, Bjorn. Didn't you say that flashing emotions keeps you from using magic?"
Bjorn glanced before turning his gaze to Donovan. "Abrupt change of emotions can disrupt your magic when casting. It doesn't prevent you from casting it accidentally.."
"Really?" Watching Charla rub her face on Donovan's tunic with joy. Losing her appetite at the sight, Kalika threw her bag to Bjorn. "Here, eat up. I'm going hunting."
"Hold up."
Kalika turned to Bjorn with growing impatience. "What is it?"
"About earlier… You're not planning on diverging from our original agreement, are you? You mentioned to Gaz that you're going after Rakon."
"Oh? Is that the Pink-Eyed Demon's name?"
"Answer the question."
"Tch. Don't be stupid, of course, we're still leaving this pit. I just want to find Rakon along the way. Is that so hard to comprehend?"
"What I find hard to comprehend is your sudden fixation on finding lord Rakon. I understand that his discovering our group was inevitable, but having those two deliver a message that you're chasing him?"
Completely irritated, Kalika turned a glare. "And so what? It's not like it matters! It's because of him I'm in this stupid dream. He killed my maid, stole my dignity." She clenched her fists. "I-I won't let it stand. I can't! Especially now, since he keeps popping up in this stupid dream. If I have to kill that demon to get him out of my mind, I'll do it!"
Zelak, drawn to Kalika's words, glanced at her direction. Even Bretta, with her dirt covered hair poked her head from the new hole in the tent, curious about the argument.
Bjorn, matching Kalika's demeanor, inhaled and exhaled. "So you want to kill Rakon?"
"If that'll get his stupid face out of my head, yes."
"I truly don't care what your aim is after we've left the pits. But you need to stay on course. Out of an abundance of caution, you should at least do it for your friend."
"Friend?"
Bjorrn traced his gaze to Donovan, still furiously searching the cart, finally finding the supply of clothes. "Your friend, Donovan... The contract I wrote down included a penalty of death. I never expected it to work on you, given your immortality, but on your friend... I don't know if he'll truly be affected. But given the wide language, I think it's possible he could die, depending on your actions."
Kalika began to chuckle. "Is this your way of blackmailing me?"
"Not at all. I'm just passing you a kind warning."
Donovan quickly rejoins Kalika and Charla. "Hey, Kalika, you won't mind if Charla uses this, won't you?"
Kalika darted her cold gaze to Donovan, and just as quickly averted it and departed. "Do what you want. I don't care!"
"Wh-what's gotten into her?"
"Nothing," Bjorn said. "But I'm not sure if your succubus slave will be so willing to depart with your tunic.
Charla, realizing his intention, posed with puppy dog eyes, trying to keep her newly acquired prized possession.
Donovan grumbled, unsure what to do. "Seriously!?"
Kalika, with a newly bubbling concerned glance back to her party of companions. Her jaw tightened, and she forced her eyes back to the forest.
"Damn it."
********
From within a dense jungle of black and purple, a demon girl, Fayelynn looked at a strange blooming purple flower, her eyes enchanted by its beauty. Without hesitation she tore the flower from the ground, and retreated back to the group of other children that followed Lillian.
She looked at Lillian with some admiration, watching as she calmly led the group with her undead mother on her back.
With some satisfaction, Fayelynn raised the flower above her head waving it around. The boy's watching exchanged nervous glances.
"
Fayelynn stopped and looked at Lillian who bore an unreadable expression. She slowly pointed in the direction she picked the flower, revealing a couple more of the same flower.
"
Although reluctant, the girl gave the flower to Lillian. Seconds later the flower was burned to a crisp, shocking the girl.
"
Fayelynn continued to follow behind, much more disappointed. Eventually after traveling for so long, they reached what looked to be a large chasm in the ground.
Lillian peeked at the sky above and quickly ordered everyone to huddle together. She then stretched her hands out and in an instant, they rose from the ground with pillars lifting them above the trees of the jungle.
"So we've almost reached the hills. Hopefully Lucius will be there."
The tower suddenly shook. "What the-!" The tower shook again, then again and again. It felt as though she were standing on a tree, waiting to be felled.
The children around panicked, crawling to the ground for safety.
Acting fast, Lillian gestured her hand and shrunk the tower, shooting like a comet from the sky.
As they came ever closer to the ground, Lillian managed to catch sight of their attackers. To her shock several of the tall green goblin-like monsters were attacking the base. Seeing her descent to the ground, they scurried away.
Lillian prepared several spears of earth, all aimed at the monsters that stood just outside her holy barrier,
"Those monsters again… Were they following us this entire time!?"
Lillian watched as a single brave soul touched the barrier. To her shock the monster pushed his hands through, burning away just its skin.
Not taking chances she shot the monster through the head. A cold sweat ran down her face as she tried to maintain her stoic demeanor.
Her eyes shifted from monster to monster, waiting for another to try their luck.
However, to her relief they all receded back into the darkening jungle.
"This…Th-this is bad!"