The Wielder of Death Magic

Chapter 693: True Demonlord [24]

Expectation crashed onto the cold wooden corridor, steps made for the lift. The conversation ended with much to speak, ‘-it’s best we don’t pursue this conversation,’ the night wind blew, over yonder, Odgar in a swift movement, helped his lady into the chopper. Rotors spun to match the nightly gusts in jealousy – similarly, the gate’s below opened to welcome the prince and Kul. Hands to the back of his head, ‘-I’m tired,’ he exhaled, the pent-up tension from the day eases, ‘-I nearly used more than half of the mana reserves. I’ll let it regenerate, tomorrow’s the 21st; I ought to check the status of the continent.’

And so, the energetic prince stumbled inside, he held Starix and Kul between his arms, “-a little help here...”

éclair heard and turned the corner, “-drunk again?” he wondered uninterestedly.

“Come on, help a brother out.”

“No thanks. Leave them on the couch or something.”

“Very heartless,” returned under the breath.

“Not heartless,” came a wink, “-take care of them, I trust the prince to be up to the task?”

.....

“Don’t patronize me,” the slumped back rose in a fit, “-I’ll show you my power,” he hurled the two with much bravado, alas, the tensed red forehead strained shy of exploding.

‘They’ll be fine,’ and off he was.

21st rose for all, the continent came to life after a somewhat normal night. Night owls headed to sleep; the true place of terror lived a few minute’s drive. The northern barrier, the quarantined area, news outlets created specific broadcasts for said subject. The infected, Vigilante, and death count, were listed among most things.

“Rise and shine,” *-knock, knock.*

“No, five more minutes,” pleaded a comfy-looking lass.

“Five more minutes and the bath will be filled,” said an understanding voice. Curtains slid after much effort, the screech and overall look of the fabric wasn’t visually pleasing. ‘-Blood,’ thought he who soon spun and shook another, “-wake up, we may or may not have breakfast.”

“Fine,” the blanket slid to reveal Jonl in a spectacular mess of bed hair, “-Hey, wake up,” he elbowed to the side gently.

“No mhm...” said a moan.

“Aptha, you had company last night?”

“No...” her sleep shattered, memories returned piece by piece, “-ask him,” she stood up sharply, “-how can they have intercourse in such close quarters. I was more scared about the bed falling apart...”

“Did I wake you?” said a content expression, “-sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” woke the lady completely naked, “-good morning, Meza and Aptha,” she slid atop Jonl and stole a kiss, “-here’s my morning present. I’ll see you guys on the battlefield.”

“Wait,” interjected Meza, “-take this,” he flung his coat, “-return it once’s you’re done.”

“Aw, thanks a lot,” noise from the corridor snuck for a few moments and dulled from when the lock clicked, “-Jonl.”

“Meza,” he dropped to the floor, “-good to see you again,” they hugged, “-last night was one of celebration, I didn’t expect her to fall to my charms so easily.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, she’s already taken, by the whole dorm,” interjected Aptha, “-I know people from Hidros are well-hung, so, please put that thing away, I swear, you people have no tact,” she slammed the door.

“What I do now?”

“Look down, mate,” nodded Meza, “-you’re too careless, the personality sure has changed.”

“I know I changed,” said he, “-I was forced too, can’t be too serious. One must know when to ease and take what little pleasures the world has to offer.” Damning words and fatigued faces, the back and forth of the vigilantes would soon come to view. A refurbished building, ex-school of acting, became the base of operation for the fighters. Here, doctors made a secondary camp, the courtyard became a care center for the fallen. The lightly wounded were taken to the gymnasium. A long large corridor stretched from the dormitory and towards the cafeteria, the dirtied windows cast parallelograms reflections onto the floor, “-another died today,” whispered an adjacent team.

“Did you hear?”

“I don’t know the details,” answered Meza.

“Come on,” the windows gave onto the medic camp, “-what about those infected by the plague?”

“No clue,” he replied softly, “-the heroes are guarding the q-zone, no one is in and no one is out. The AHA has made their intent clear, we are to stand as a shield between the monsters and us. ”

“What do they think we are?”

“Don’t get riled up, we’re stuck here, there’s no hope of escape even if we wanted to. The special enforcement units guarding the area.”

“If they won’t help, why not lend us those gun-mounted tanks, there is better use here than the outside.” The mundane brown color of the prior hall faded to white and bright; the cafeteria, a large hall, stretched before them. The number of people was halved in the weeks of battle, enough to have seats for everyone present. The display swapped from money to kill count, the more one kills, the more they are rewarded, and of course, not tangible monetary gain.

“Come on, little lady,” said a bigger-looking fellow, “-you’re not going to eat all that, are you?”

“Excuse me, I don’t have time for this...”

“Don’t ignore me,” he pinched her collar, “-little lady, pay for our meals and we promise to protect you on the battlefield.”

“Go to hell,” she pulled, “-if you want to eat, go kill monsters,” the seated crowd didn’t care to watch, focus was on the barely sufficient meal – soup and bread.

“Should we help her?” whispered a nearby table.

“No, hush, don’t look or get involved. The big guy’s the leader of the ruffians...”

“Egh,” he scowled at her disrespect, “-you little pest, we don’t take kindly to disrespect,” they gathered around, “-there are a lot more of payment methods.”

“Get off me,” she dodged their lecherous gaze, ‘-why’s no one trying to help. Look at me, does this not affect you...’

“Come on guys,” said a lady in skimpy clothing, “-are the pent-up frustration so tense you’ll blow it on a child, have some self-respect and try a real woman for size.”

“Cardie,” the gang chuckled, “-alright, “-if you spend the next hour with us, I promise to leave this girl alone forever.”

“Deal,” she winked and led the way through another door. At the same time, Jonl and Meza arrived at the climax, ‘-what happened?’

“Hey, why are you on the floor?” inquired Jonl, “-come on, get up.”

“I was saved,” said she, “-by the girl of this morning...’

“You mean Cardie?” he pulled her up, “-let’s take a seat and talk.” Opposed to an hour, the gang returned after thirty minutes, the empty tray was taken to the trash, “-let’s go,” said Meza, “-I know how you feel, Jonl, it’s disgusting, I know... we can’t fight with odds stacked against us,” the trio made for the outside.

“-you should really think about her,” commented Jonl, “-the little devil’s off again.”

“Ay, big fuck, what did you do with Cardie, where’s she?” stood Aptha with arms crossed.

“Huh?” glared an associate, “-yo, Sins, look, the brat from earlier wants some.”

“You again,” he pulled his nose in disgust, “-listen, kid, your girlfriend was a very tasty meal, her reputation as the dormitory whore stands well. She made me promise not to harm you in any way, and I obliged after a very rough time, I tell ya, her blood is as red as ours.”

“For an elf, the girl had big ol’ hooters,” laughed the other.

“You fuc-”

“Enough,” yelled Meza, “-don’t give to emotions,” he held her hands. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ Novᴇ(l)Fɪre.net

“Looks like mister hotshot’s here,” frowned the man, “-scurry off will you, I don’t want my meal to be ruined.”

“Let’s go,” said Jonl, “-I appreciate the sentiment, Aptha, there are things we must accept.” Thus, the filled cafeteria cleared, each dorm room accommodated four, and the four were assigned tasks in relation to the current war effort, the invasion was a matter of national security. The current estimate of the fighting force was 200 split into teams of four. In other words, 50 squads were on standby for a potential invasion. Squad 05, displayed by a scratch into the door, was on suspension for not following orders. A hero wanted them to take two squads and storm the front, the apparition of the mist figure charged the leader with an unknown sense of courage. Fame and fortune were very enticing. Opposed to backing the leader, Meza used his authority and surrendered what reputation was acquired to rescue the ten others. In case of deaths, unless new recruits are hired, the missing members are never filled.

*Beep, beep, beep,* contacted squads left the grounds for the battlefield, the vehicles dashed out the massive entrance. The trio sat beneath a humble tree atop a small hill of what used to be grass, the edge was burned and stained by remnants.

“My balance is just about empty,” sighed Aptha, “-they show no sign of lifting our ban...”

“Look at them sneer at us,” said Jonl, “-I wish we could do something about the situation.”

“Not going to happen,” firmed Meza, “-we’re staying put, I disobeyed orders, the punishment should have been mine alone to bear, I’m sorry I dragged you into this...”

“Guys, guys, look.”

“What?”

“It’s Cardie,” she stood, “-come on, let’s go,”

“Hold it!” exclaimed Jonl.

“What?” she returned an impatient expression.

“Look better,” said Meza, “-she’s been called to duty.”

“No... she can’t fight...”

“Why do you say so?”

“Her body... it’s been beaten, I can’t let this happen,” she sprinted to the front.

“Wait... huff, puff, wait, wait...”

“Who’s this brat?” inquired the leader.

“Aptha,” said she, “-if it’s about this morning, don’t worry...”

“No, not that,” her eyes fired to the leader, “-can’t you see she’s injured?”

“I know she is,” returned he, “-however, we need healers to support the effort. Don’t get in my way,” he brushed her aside.

“WAIT!” she screamed, the voice echoed throughout the yard, everyone in proximity turned and stared.

“What’s your deal?” wondered he embarrassed from the attention.

“At least let me heal her for a bit...”

“Whatever, we’re leaving in thirty minutes. Same place, Cardie, and I expect great things,” he smirked and left.

“Are you insane?” wondered the fatigued lady.

.....

“Says you,” they moved under the tree, “-move aside,” the healing spell began instantly, Jonl and Meza held their tongue and bafflement. Leaves swayed, the branches scraped off one another, “-I’m sorry for earlier.”

“Why are you apologizing?” wondered Cardie.

“You saved me and got hurt. Kindness must be repaid ten-fold, I’m not much use, but still, I can heal people. Enough for me, I’m glad I can do this for you.”

“Jonl,” said Cardie, “-you have a lovely healer, she’s awesome.”

“Trust me, I know,” he chuckled, “-thanks for what you did this morning, we should have been there to protect a teammate.”

“Don’t worry,” said she, “-I’ll be fine, take care of yourselves. The world doesn’t move without sacrifice, compared to you, Aptha, my healing abilities are childlike. I’m more suited for the position of the rear guard, I was taught to hang back, provide support and heal, Alphia truly is a shitshow of a place, I want to go back.”

“Say that again,” facepalmed Jonl, “-back home, adventurers are united and share a common goal. Fame comes to the lucky, survival is granted to all, nothing like this prison.”

“Us people of Arda are strong,” she smiled, “-I feel better, my regeneration should soon kick in. Take care Jonl, Aptha, and Meza, I’ll see you guys later,” her smile on said sunny day would soon be foiled.

“I’ll see you guys later, she said,” gritted Jonl, “-they made her take the front line to protect a foolish hero...”

“Keep the emotions in check,” said Meza stood in the shadow under an overpass. The elf’s infected body, of which passed the barely visible passage above, was taken to the Q-zone, once beyond those doors, there’s no chance of return.

“Why her, she’s helped me, she helped us, always had a smile and was strong,” tears unknowingly flowed, “-and yet, they treated her like an outsider, you know as well as I do!”

“Don’t,” fired Meza, “-I know, I know, don’t say it aloud, we’re in public...”

“I can’t,” she shook her head and ran.

“Should we?” suggested Jonl.

“I don’t have the right to decide,” he hammered the wall with a closed fist, “-even now, I think about us instead of Cardie, I don’t have the right to stop Aptha.”

“Fine, I’ll go after her.”