Kalika stared at the bed of flowers, then back at Lyra, who gestured towards them.
She stepped forward and laid in its center, staring at the wooden ceiling above.
Her vision slowly faded to white. Before she realized it, she was standing in a white void, at the center of which sat a large, patient pool of darkness.
"Zorbian..." She whispered.
"We meet again," Zorbian said. "This time, soul to soul."
"What do you want this time? I'm doing what you asked, aren't I? I'm going back to Oars, just like you and 'Rakon' wanted—or at least the Rakon you manipulated."
A soft, eerie chuckle filled the void. "You think he's hypnotized? I only amplified his existing emotions. Personally speaking, I despise this method, but you really left me no choice."
"So you did manipulate him," Kalika accused.
"Again, I only used what was already there. But he's not important right now. What's important is you."
Kalika grimaced, feeling an anger boil around her.
"This time I want a guarantee." He said. "A guarantee that you won't betray me-"
"Betray you!? YOU TRICKED ME!"
"And I did what I needed to do to escape my brother's prison. You were, and are, the only and best escape I've ever had that can adapt to my power. You should know better than anyone else what it's like to be trapped… But I suppose that makes it more ironic, considering that you ran back to him. Especially after that tiny nudge."
Kalika glared. "What? So Rakon throwing me out was…" Her jaw clenched along with her fists. "I truly hate you gods…" she whispered.
"He predictably did what he wanted of his own accord. But since you're so unpredictable, I don't want a repeat of what happened last time in Oars, so we're forming a contract to keep you in check."
Kalika froze and looked back at the darkness, confused. "What? And how do you expect us to do that?"
Suddenly, words inscribed in the demon language appeared as fiery symbols.
"Who do you think enforces those contracts?" Zorbian said.
With narrowed eyes, Kalika read the symbols carefully.
'By accepting this contract, I shall reach Oar's and then consume the core of Zorbian. Until this is done, I shall not willingly abandon my course toward Oar's. Also, should I refuse to follow my obligations, my body shall cease to function until I resume that course.'
"So no matter what, I have eaten your core. And straying from Oars will shut my body down?
"This is non-negotiable. You will remain in this world until you've signed it."
"So that's why you wanted me here." She took a deep breath and quickly read through the contract again, her eyes narrowing further with each symbol, all carrying the same unyielding meaning.
Kalika frowned. "Hmph!"
"If you want time to think, I'll give it. But you better think quickly… That angel is squirming past the bedrock. It's only a matter of time before he returns."
The darkness began to shrink. But suddenly—
"Fine!"
The shrinking ceased, and the darkness regrew to its original size. "Pardon?"
"I'll sign your stupid contract."
"Oh?".
"I only ask that you don't invade my mind. I want to have some peace, at the very least."
Symbols slowly faded into the contract. "I can do that. Place your hands, and if you truly accept it, our contract will be complete."
"Before I do that, how do I know you won't void our contract or undermine it… seeing that you're supposedly responsible for enforcing all the contracts?"
"I can handle following my side of this deal just fine"
"That doesn't answer my question," Kalika pressed.
"Then just take my word for it," Zorbian replied.
Kalika cringed. "You're a crude god. You know that, right?" With reluctance, she placed her hands on the contract. Moments later, the symbol combusted into fire and burned away to nothing. "If I'm reading this contract right… then there's still one thing I can do…"
"It's done," she said.
Kalika could sense the god's giddiness.
"Very good…" he said.
"If you're done with me, I'd like to go now," Kalika said impatiently.
Without warning, Kalika was yanked backward,
She gasped, colors returned, and she regained her senses.
She sat up, watching as the black flowers wilted away. "Damned gods," she muttered.
"So how was it?" Lyra asked. "Not many people are given the honor of speaking to God Zorbian face to face."
"Exhausting," Kalika said. "At this point, I feel like I have met enough gods for a lifetime."
Lyra smirked, amused.
"I envy your position—to be the vessel to recreate this world as it should be, and to be the envoy of its destruction."
Kalika winced as Lyra stood from the bed and prepared to leave.
"You're such a fool," Kalika muttered.
Lyra stopped and raised a brow at Kalika. "A fool?"
"I don't understand why you would follow that god when he sees you all as disposable pawns."
"Because I choose to."
Kalika let out a short chuckle. "Because you choose to…"
Lyra's eyes grew sharp. "Yes, just like how you chose to fixate on Rakon."
Kalika flinched.
Lyra turned and stared down at Kalika, her gaze becoming increasingly cold. "It's cute," she said flatly. "Really. Imagine my surprise when Zorbian told me everything you did last night. But working in a brothel for as long as I had, I've seen my fair share of desperation. So I can't blame a girl like you who doesn't understand the first thing about normal."
Kalika sprang up. "And what would you know!?" She clenched her hands. "I didn't have anywhere else to go!"
Calm, Lyra turned, stepping out. "Take it from a former mother. You can't control everything. But you can still choose what to do." She closed the door, leaving Kalika standing in her room alone.
Slowly, the stems of the flowers dissipated, leaving only the cold, black floor.
Kalika shook, a rage burning, barely contained as she clenched her teeth. "What would a zealot like her know!?"
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.
Stone-faced and deep in thought, Kalika wiped her eye and glanced around the room. She turned and sat on her bed, her face shifting through a myriad of expressions—each one more pensive than the last.
Her eyes drooped as she looked at her blue hand. Darkness swirled over her palm, then quickly entered the finger that touched it.
"I wonder…"
********
Rakon rose from his bed, yawning. He cracked his neck and threw on his travel vest. With an exhausted sigh, he opened the door but stopped at the sight of Kalika, who was sleeping against the wall of his room.
He stared at her in disbelief, arms crossed, as she nodded off against the wall, book in her hand.
"What am I going to do with you…?" he muttered.
********
In the inn's mess hall, a plate of fruit and sliced golden-brown meat was set before Kalika. Across from her, Rakon received a lighter supper with fewer slices and more vegetables.
"
She nodded and left the two to their own devices.
"Hmm… Perhaps there was something I missed in that book." Kalika, in her chair, poked and prodded her food as Rakon silently ate his portion.
She glanced at him, studying his face.
To his surprise, she pulled out the same book of blood magic, flipping to the last page she had read.
"That's not very polite," Rakon pointed out.
She kept her gaze down. "I need to know something first. I'll eat it later."
"Save it for our flight. The sooner we leave, the better," he said.
Kalika stopped. "Y…you're right…" She closed the book.
Curious, he slid the book toward himself and looked at the title.
"Theory of Blood Magic"
"This is Cyrus's book…" Rakon thought.
"You've requested three of these kinds of books, haven't you?"
Kalika remained silent, biting into the first of her slices of meat.
He sighed and pushed the book back to her. "If you need to know anything about this series, feel free to ask. I've done my fair share of studying these books." He scrutinized the title further. "Still looking for a way to gain power?" he mused.
Kalika paused, unable to look at Rakon.
"Power?"
Suddenly, a flood of demon children entered—cheerful and rowdy.
Everyone's attention was drawn. Some of the patrons chuckled, watching as the children were herded to the empty tables by two tall, hardened demons wearing scars and scarves.
"
The last of the children drew Kalika's attention—the little girl, Fayelynn, and the nameless boy from Falls Village hurried to the last table.
Strangely enough, the boy joined Fayelynn on top of the table itself.
The same red demon growled, picking the boy by his collar. "
The demon sat the boy next to Fayelynn.
Not long after, Mishti entered with Lyra and a familiar maid, who silently fixed her hair while the two succubi conversed.
Lyra flashed a glance at Kalika before turning to the bartender. She placed a large chunk on the table. "
Kalika tensed and quickly turned back to her food, this time scarfing it down.
"Slow down," he said.
"Do you want me to speed up or slow down? Which is it?"
"Don't rush," Rakon said, exhausted.
"
Everyone's attention perked, and they watched as the boy raced to Kalika, leaving Rakon even more befuddled. The boy dug into his pants and presented a half-eaten crystal.
Reluctantly, Kalika accepted the offer, only for Fayelynn to suddenly chomp on the boy's skull.
The entire hall of patrons erupted with laughter as the few serious demons moved to separate the children they accompanied.
"
"
His companion stepped forward. "
""
"
The red demon, Terk, glanced reluctantly, then turned, taking Fayelynn with him.
Gail followed, taking the unnamed boy with them.
Kalika watched from the side as Fayelynn and the boy took their share, then ran back to the table. More food was already on its way for the others.
"Water god?" Rakon repeated, clearly amused. "I never knew you liked children. And here I thought you hated all demons."
"S-shut up." Slowly, Kalika glanced at the boy. "He was just a stowaway who just started… calling me that."
She turned back, taking another bite of her meal. "Hmm… I wonder how that stupid wolf is doing?"
Lyra's earlier words stung. Her eyes drifted back down to the half-eaten crystal.
Her eyes lit up, then she glanced back at Rakon.
"Hey, Rakon," she suddenly called.
Rakon chewed down on the last piece on his plate. "What?"
"Just out of curiosity, how did you plan on gaining power from the core?"
"What do you mean?"
"Back when you wanted to use me to get that core for you, how did you expect to gain all of its power?"
"Oh, that." Rakon slouched to the side, leaning his face against his fist in thought. "One idea I had was to eat a little at a time if it seemed too much. But it's just a thought I had. In your case, I don't think it'll be too much of a problem for you since you can never die."
Finished with her meal, Kalika stood and pushed the half-eaten crystal to Rakon. "Keep it," she said.
Rakon raised a brow at the crystal, then back at Kalika, who stood with her bag and book, waiting for him.
Resigned, Rakon took the crystal, moved to Kalika's side, and followed her out. "
She smiled back. "
Kalika once again exchanged glances with both Lyra and Mishti.
Both hid their feelings well beneath their fake smiles.
"Take care… our little champion," Mishti teased.
Kalika pressed on, feeling the weight of Zorbian's watchful gaze.
"So, two days, right?" she asked, walking out.
"Yes." Rakon unfurled his wings and dropped to his knees.
Kalika climbed on and took her position. "Good. The sooner, the better."