I don't know much about Khamsin.
In fact, I thought that he was the typical "rich" offspring who lives off his father's wealth.
Travelling with him changed my perspective of him.
In fact, I enjoyed his company.
Not only me but the others enjoyed his company too.
He is easy to get along with even though he complains when it gets too hard but it is quite understandable as he's been living in his city during his entire life.
But somehow, there's an invisible line that divided him from the pack. Of course we all know why. As soon as we get the transformation stone, he has to go back to his city.
Yeah.. he has to go back.
Despite my impression of him having an easy life, the way I see him right now in his griffin form looking lethargic, made me curious on what kind of nightmare or hallucination he is experiencing.
Asmodeus had warned me earlier that he discovered that a curse was placed on the land, making the vulnerable experience all sorts of hallucinations or nightmares.
Why wasn't I affected?
He thought for awhile before admitting that he doesn't know either. Maybe because I have a strong will or I was used to my traumas already that it doesn't affect me anymore.
I don't think so. I kept having nightmares and headaches from time to time.
Oh, gosh... Don't get me started on the headaches..
I haven't told anyone yet that I'm suffering from headaches. Sometimes, it gets too intense that I had to pretend that I'm sleepy when in fact I can't sleep at all because of the pain.
The pack was used to me getting sleepy at random times so they usually let me sleep, wherever I'm comfortable. At first, Khamsin was alarmed seeing me like that but eventually got used to it when the pack told him that I'm usually like that, maybe because I'm not originally from this world and still unaccustomed on how time flows differently here despite staying here for a long time already.
Yes, they told him everything. That's how much the pack trusted him like he is one of them.
They trusted him so much that they no longer mind if he sat beside me when I'm asleep. But I'm just pretending to be asleep most of the time.
Sometimes I think that he notices that I'm just pretending but he didn't say anything. Instead, he just read all sorts of books from his library, reading them in a soothing voice.
Eventually, I would end up falling asleep for real.
...
As I got closer, Khamsin glanced up towards me then tucked his head under his wing. He gave a soft cry, as if he is dejected.
This is the first time that I saw him like this.
Slowly, I approached him as griffins don't usually like sudden movements, making them feel agitated and aggressive.
I don't know how much percentage of being a griffin in Khamsin's personality but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Then I sat down beside him and started to hum his favorite song.
Eventually, he began to relax and looked at me, nudging me as if he wanted me to caress him.
Of course! With pleasure, if it comforts him.
I positioned myself in front of him then sat down and told him that he can place his head on my lap. He looked tenderly at me before placing his head gently on my lap. I softly sang a random song as I kept caressing his head while he continued making all sorts of soft sounds as if he is trying to tell me that he is pleased with the affection he received.
He became too relaxed that eventually, he turned back to his regular form. Despite that, he did not move at all except to snuggle closer to me.
After a while, I began to softly caress his face while he closed his eyes, smiling sadly as if he is happy yet something prevented him from enjoying it completely.
Hesitantly, I asked him if he is alright and if there's anything I can do for him.
He gave a chuckle before exclaiming that he must be losing his mind as he can hear me as if I'm real.
What?
He thinks I'm a hallucination all along?
Hmmm.. should I tell him that it's not or just go along with it?
Before I could decide, he started to talk about all sorts of stuff.
Then he began telling me his fears and sorrows.
He also told me that he is torn between his love for adventure and staying in his beloved city.
His beloved city is his home all his life yet somehow he also wants to spread his wings.
Who is going to take care of the city if he's away?
He pondered a bit before telling me that he has an idea that will change the city but he's not sure if it will work.
Curious, I asked him what it is.
With a grin, he told me that he's going to hold a tournament in his city in which the strongest warrior who can manage to win will be his appointed heir.
Ha?!
But... Isn't he supposed to find a mate and have an offspring with....
Oh.
The feathers.
Choosing a mate without a guarantee that she will choose him back is simply incomprehensible to me. And for life too.
That's how deep a griffin's love is towards his chosen mate.
But to my sorrow, griffins are extremely possessive towards their mate and definitely don't like sharing at all. Which is why I now understood what he meant by what he said when I was bathing him.
Maybe that's one of the reasons why the pack no longer feel threatened towards him. Khamsin is quite decent and respects boundaries.
I'm sure the pack won't mind if he becomes one of them but he has responsibilities in his city and also, I don't think he can adjust to the lifestyle we have.
Heh.
I like that about him though I love what I have with the pack much more.
Maybe it's a different story if I had met him first. Back then, the concept of having several mates was strange to me that it took me a long time before deciding to lower my guard around them.
....
Khamsin continued on telling me about his plans on how he wants to join us on travelling sometime in the future.
As soon as he gets an heir.
I told him that he is welcome to join us anytime and that he can also visit us in the territory too.
And I will cook for him all sorts of food that he has never tasted before.
After that, I gave him a tender kiss on his forehead.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The conversation we just had made me realize that Khamsin is lonely. Of course he has comrades and deserters serving him but somehow it is different.
It goes to show that wealth or riches can never completely comfort you. Sure, you may have an easy life but somehow, they will not ease your pain, provide relief in your sorrow and reassure you whenever you feel afraid.
I feel his pain though my situation was different. The years I spent when I was forced to return to my previous world was painful, especially when I have no hope back then on being able to return to this world.
I can't imagine if I had pushed through my plans of ending my life at that time. If I did....
Life would be somehow different for the pack.
Lion would stay as a beast for the rest of his life...
As for Sly, he will end up wasting away from waiting for naught...
For Alpha... He might lose his mind on trying to find a way to bring me back but to no avail...
Orm will end up mad from all the torture he suffered from his tribe..
And Ghost.. might end up being a mindless killer until someone manages to kill him.
Yeah..
Totally different...
....
Like Orm, Khamsin was placed inside a bubble.
While we resumed our search for the rest of the pack, I asked Asmodeus on why he transformed into his real form.
He told me in a serious face that the demon king is getting impatient and there's little time left for having fun.
I have no idea how little it is.
Both us will be punished if we don't get it fast. I remembered his torture back at the palace, making me flinch involuntarily while Asmodeus somehow made a face as he must've recalled it too.
If it's not easy for him, definitely it will be hell for me.
After a long time of silence, I asked him why the demon king needs to conquer this world and destroy it.
Asmodeus stopped for a moment and looked at me with wonder while exclaiming that he did not expect me to know that much.
He asked me to tell him how I knew before he can tell me why.
Of course I told him about everything, especially how I noticed demons everywhere and how the pack managed to fight off some of them.
To my surprise, he looked towards me in horror before murmuring several expletives as he told me that some of the demons that I saw are not under their control.
Uh-oh. The netherworld is divided. That's an interesting piece of information.
He explained that the demon king don't usually send low ranking demons unless he has to. But in this case, he didn't send any at all as he hates having to communicate with them. His reason is that they are too dumb to follow a simple order from him.
So far, it's only Rahab and Asmodeus who I've met personally that are high ranked. I don't think Subus is high ranked though and like she said before, she works for Asmodeus.
Then who the heck released all those demons here and who has that sort of power besides the demon king himself?
Again, a lot of my previous thoughts are wrong. Or maybe Asmodeus is trying to confuse me.
I glared at Asmodeus, accused him of trying to confuse me as he kept on denying it, telling me that though demons are known for their manipulation and lies, this time it's not as the matter is serious for him.
True. I seemed to recall that the netherworld is chaotic if they don't have a strong demon king leading them.
And yes, it is entirely possible that some demons are trying to make their own kingdom as well.
I wished dad would communicate with me soon as there are so many things I have to report to him!
....
Once more, I reminded Asmodeus about my question.
He answered by saying that the demon king needs more souls to open a portal to another world.
That many?!
But why??!!!
Why does he need to conquer this world and worse, destroy it?!
Doesn't he have enough souls already? Isn't it enough for him to be able to open a portal?
No.
It's not.
Also, he needs to be able to open a portal to another world to conquer it too.
A world without demons yet, to be exact.
Greedy piece of excrement.
Asmodeus interrupted my thoughts as he told me that the demon king definitely needs a lot of arch demons to do most of his work in order to concentrate on harvesting several souls as he doesn't want to consume my blood or soul yet.
Should I feel glad about that?
Hearing that the demon king is planning to make more arch demons gave me goosebumps. I can't imagine the pack facing one, much more many of them at the same time. They had a hard time at first back then with Rahab and he was a general only.
But to be fair, the pack's skills and abilities improved a lot.
I don't know what plan the pack is going to make if they knew that they are facing different groups of demons trying to conquer and destroy this world. Not to mention that the demon king can get me anytime if he wants too.
Yeah... He can get me anytime as there's no point with the contract after all..
It is just entertainment for him.
I wished that either Lion or Alpha would break their contracts... Their souls won't get affected after all...
I still don't understand why they won't.
....
Asmodeus signaled for me to stop as he can hear something strange.
The way he looks alert must mean that it isn't any of the pack but something threatening to us.
I wonder what it is.
He casted a spell in which the bubbles containing Orm and Khamsin will follow me around while he readied himself on facing whatever it is.
I gripped my Buddhist staff tightly as I readied myself on defending my two companions.
To my horror, it is a monstrous sized worm with several eyes, sharp looking teeth and several legs.
It looks gross and frightening at the same time!
But why is Asmodeus seemed worried on facing it? He is an arch demon and supposed to be quite powerful too! Besides the demon king, of course.
After staring at it for a while, I finally understood why.
The saliva that dripped from the monstrous worm's mouth made a hole on the ground in which it continued to deepen as the saliva kept dripping on the same spot.
Ah. I remembered now.
Shamir.
It is one of the creatures that Asmodeus supposedly tried to avoid from all costs according to the fantasy books.
I guess it's the same here.