It's the dead of night where the dimming of the glowing crystals above are at their dimmest. the demon children sleep soundly with some remaining hidden and out of view.
But gathered around the only source of light, the only nine adults sat around the campfire with some of the demons becoming impatient.
Lillian looked over the small group of adult demons along with Lucius and Jala. She knew that the group was small, but she didn't expect there to only be six adult demons left in the town, compared to the forty or so children.
"
"Lucius stepped up finally ready to converse. "
The demon scoffed, and surprised glanced were given. They her shocked by the bluntness and absurdity of the statement.
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The one hunter glare back leaving the other four men to become more reluctant to actually speak up.
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No one answered. "
Fren spoke up. "
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""
""He's Kajd"" Another of the men spoke. "
Grelon then pointed over to his companion then the guard of the gates. "
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Kajd scoffed. "
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Jala blurted out a chuckle.
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The men around, were a-gasped, shocked that Jala was still alive. They all became serious at once, with the gate keeper averting his eyes. He seemed disliked by the men there.
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Fren turtled in, seeing the animosity that the men seemed to have shared. They brought their glares and ire daggered straight at Jala.
After a moment of their silence, awaiting Jala's response, he sighed and finally spoke. "
Terk came face to face with Jala with his snarling mug. "
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Kajd clutched his hands tightly. "
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Jala brought his head down, accepting this request. he back away from the other demons allowing Lucius to take charge.
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As Lucius took his leave back to the stone inn with Lillian and Jala following behind. Fren suddenly spoke up. "
The men were taken aback by Fren's boldness.
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Jala was taken aback by the question, but quickly affirmed her suspicions.
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"If you want to abandon this town then fine!" Kajd said.
The other men however looked amongst each other, now left unsure what to do. One by one, with a bitter resolution the men started agreeing to join. it was like domino effect leaving Kajd as the only one who hadn't agree.
Kajd scoffed. ".
"" Gail said. "
Kajd, looked upon Gail and his other companions more bitterly. With great hesitation and reluctance, he fought with himself. "F- Fine!" Kajd, clenched his fist and glared straight at Jala. "But don't think for a moment that we'll forgive you for what you've done Jala!"
"
She watch on as Jala continued without Lillian or Lucius.
With just as much curiosity as Fren, Lillian watched as Jala continued out of sight. "Hmm..."
"So how do you all expect we even transport the kids? It'll take more than a week to prepare to journey from these deserts."
Lucius perked a smirk. "
Lucius brought his palm up and pricked his finger. Blood from his finger's slowly dripped to the ground, sending waved of strange energy flowing through out the entire town.
Hands begun to erupt from the sandy ground all around everyone. And the body of the women that littered the streets of the town slowly raised from the dead.
""
Before they knew it, an army of demon zombies were made. Some that still retained their flesh while others were literal bones. But as it turned out most of the zombies created were that of the women who once lived in the town.
The other men glanced around horrified by the power Lucius held. It was almost god-like.
Lucius reiterated himself. "
Kajd, sharpened his gave at Lucius. and despite his resentful gaze, he agreed along with the others.
********
The following morning everyone gathered together, The demon children were led by the newly robed zombie women. Some of the children found the sight of these women, alluring with a group of two even clinging to a single women.
It was a scene that even Lucius didn't expect to see.
The demon children were dressed and prepped for the sudden journey ahead. Some seemed to understand that they would all soon be leaving this place they've known as home
Lucius waited by the gateway of the city watching as some of his other zombies brought along new demon children. Some looked too weak as others seemed to have festering injuries that had persisted. They were each brought to Lillian, where she healed them in secret.
Finally after some time the remaining men and Fren had arrived seeing that everything was already prepared.
And as it turned out, Lucius also sent more of his zombies to hunt bringing in more food and supplies for their travel.
This left most men speechless seeing another such prize. Fren however glossed over them, instead she eyed the zombies from that brought more of the animal, tossing them in the pile on the magically produced sled.
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Just as he finished, another of his zombies arrived with another child being held in the zombie's arm, this time a girl that was just starting to grow her horns. Again, he ordered the zombie to bring the kid into the shack with Lillian.
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Meanwhile, Fren continued to look around, seeing the zombies moving, accomplishing tasks after tasks and gathering the needed supplies needed for their travels. Everything was moving soo fast, it was almost overwhelming.
She continued forth through the crowd, scanning the area for someone.
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Kajd scowled. "
Eventually after looking around she finally found Jala. He was clearly looking at someone her size. As she got closer, she otherwise, unreal sight.
Before Jala and now her, stood a zombie that she as her sister, Tellan.
A subtle gasp escaped her mouth and her knees, weak.
Jala turned, sensing Fren's presence. He stepped away letting her get a better look at her sister who now wore the same necklace that was given back to Jala.
Fren approached her zombie sister grasping the rough skinned blue hands of her sister. It felt like cold leather and the gaze of Tellan was not oriented. And her face was blank, as if awaiting a new order.
"" Jala said.
Fren moved to touch the white hair of Tellan, it was dry and rough.
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Fren flinched, hearing his last words.
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Just as Jala was about to leave, he was grabbed in the hand.
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Just then, Lucius arrived, finding Jala and Fren. She quickly pulled her hand back.
"Everything is prepared. Are you ready Jala?"
"Yes." Jala turned to Friend who turned turtle back. "
"
Slowly, the main gates of the town opened revealing the hot sandy dunes ahead, and as if by order, the zombies began their march with the children and supplies in hand.
Lillian watched on as they're departure began into the sandy dunes.
The kids, although reluctant at first, were pulled along by the undead woman, with some unable to resist the allure to follow these zombies.
Within the group only a few kids stood on in confusion. Unsure what was happening. Lillian gathered them up quickly, explaining that they're going to a new home. Lillian offered them a hand, and led them out to the gate where Lucius and Jala waited.
"There you are Lillian. Let's not waste any more time."
"Right. And remember, Don't over exert yourself. I don't think you fully recovered from the last time you used this power."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be able to handle this for the month. By the way, I hope you don't mind this."
"No... No. It's fine. it's just another few days wait, to reach the castle. I'm sure Kalika could hold out a little longer for us. But did you do this for the people here? or for Jala?"
Lucius remained silent for a moment as he watched Jala lead the way with Fren following right behind him.
"From what I remember, Jala wanted our kin to have a better life too. But After he killed his brother he became more secluded and pessimistic. When everything here is done. He will be executed for what he's done... That's something I cannot overlook."
Lucius watched as the zombie Tellan convened behind Jala, alongside Fren. "But for now I want to make sure he rest easy knowing that his home and people will be safe." Lucius said.
********
"Rrgghhh!!!" Donovan stopped huffing and puffing from all the pulling. "Hey, Kalika, I think this is a good time to rest." he wheezed.
Kalika stopped pulling her side. "I guess your right..."
Shortly after setting up their camp and light the fire, both Donovan and Kalika sat around the firepit. Meanwhile, Bjorn was left to lean on a nearby black tree.
As the food they were cooking finished, Donovan picked up the biggest portion, handing it to Bjorn. "Hey, Bjorn. How far are we from this Berg place?"
Bjorn took a bit from his freshly cooked wolf meat. "At the pace we're going, I think another week, maybe less."
Donovan sighed exhaustedly. He took his cooked rabbit meat. He then glanced back at Kalika and found that she already finished her portion. She seems to enjoy the rabbit meat the best.
"I'm going to sleep." She said.
Kalika quickly left the fire in favor of a darker and quieter spot near the forest. Not long after they could both hear an audible crunching coming from her direction.
Donovan could only chuckle nervously hearing this.
"What is she eating?" Bjorn whispered.
With a same hushed tone Donovan answered as he looked into a pouch of magic crystals. "I think she took one of the crystals again… yeah it looks like she did…"
He closed the pouch. "Just yesterday I caught her eating one of the crystals."
Bjorn raised a brow.
"Yeah, tell me about it." Donovan said. "I might have to hide these if this keeps up."
Not long after he pulled another pouch of white crystals taking one out for his own pleasure. He bit into his rabbit meat and grabbed his broken pipe.
He placed the crystals on the staff of the pipe and channeled magic through it. Nothing happened.
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm just playing around with the pipe and crystal. I could've sworn the other day I was able to get something to come out, but I don't know."
"So, you're trying to channel magic through the broken stick?" Bjorn questioned.
"W-well I'm not sure about magic. From what I was told this weapon converts your spiritual energy into magic. At least, that's what they told me."
Bjorn blurted out a chuckle hearing this explanation. "How foolish. There's no such thing as spiritual energy unless you're referring to the magic that runs in your blood."
Donovan could only look upon Bjorn curiously. "What do you mean?"