“What were you hiding from me?” Palan asked as the horse galloped down the straight dirt road, heading towards the third outpost. Raea sat in front of him with her hands on the reins. Her short hair bounced in time with the horse’s hooves. Her subordinates followed behind her in a wedge formation.
“It’s not really hiding information,” Raea said, keeping her eyes on the road. “It’s more like not telling you things because you probably wouldn’t have formed the contract with me if I told you.”“Alright,” Palan said while frowning, “so what were you hiding from me?”Raea sighed. “I come from the Caelum household,” Raea said and used her hand to touch a badge that sported a pair of white wings pinned on her chest. “It’s a well-established family in the capital, producing generation after generation of virtuous angels. My father is the head of the family. I’m the youngest child out of seven, but I’m the only one that got sent to the borderland.” Her lips twistedThe forty-odd horseback riders charged along the dirt road with their weapons at the ready. Palan had dismounted earlier and was running alongside Raea. His face contorted as his nose wrinkled and his eyes narrowed. “They’re almost right next to us.”“Stick to the right!” Raea shouted and held her right arm straight to the side. The wedge formation flattened as the soldiers moved closer to the edge of the forest while charging.“How do goblins fight?” Palan asked and glanced at Raea. Her lips were pressed together underneath her visor with her brow furrowed.“Like animals. They pose no threat against our armor,” Raea said, keeping her eyes peeled. “The problem is defending our horses; their armor is in the third outpost.”“Why is it there and not on them?”“It limits their mobility,” Owen said from behind Raea. “The road between the outposts are peaceful. Except for these supposed goblins of yours. Where are they anyways?”A scre
Raea sat in a room across from a man wearing grey armor. Owen stood next to her while Palan leaned on the wall next to the door. The man had a frown on his face. “So you encountered one of those,” the man said and nodded. “There have been many reports about the natives using magic stolen from us angels.”“This is not an isolated incident?” Raea asked.The man sighed and shook his head. “We suspect it has something to do with the lizardmen village that you were sent to subjugate,” he said. “There have been many attempts at subduing it, but they have all failed. I pray you are able to do what no one else has done before.”“I see,” Raea said as she stood up. “It was nice meeting you, Lieutenant Malak.”“It was nice meeting you too, Lieutenant Raea,” Malak said and smiled. “Perhaps I could teach you a thing or two about being a lieutenant tonight.”Owen’s eyes narrowed, but Malak ignored him and waited for Raea’s reply. She said, “Sorry, but I have prior engagements.”Malak leaned back in
Palan sat on a wooden chair in a room with one window that had a desk beneath it. Raea sat across from him on a bed with a simple white bedsheet, pillow, and blanket. The moon cast a faint yellow glow over Palan’s face as he stared at it. He turned his head towards Raea. “Well?”Raea sighed and pulled a yellow crystal out of the leather bag by the side of her bed. She crushed it into dust and a roll of paper materialized in the air in front of her. The crystal’s dust flew into the air and formed glowing letters on the piece of paper. Once all the dust was used up, she retrieved the paper and cleared her throat.“This is a receipt for the level six contract between the Pride Demon Palan and the Angel of Kindness Raea,” Raea said as she read the first line aloud. “The contract was made between the Pride Demon Palan and the Kindness Angel Raea on the seventh day of the third month when the second sun passed its zenith. The term for this contract is set until both parties agree to dissolv
Raea yawned and stretched as she rolled around in bed. She rubbed her eyes before opening them. Palan was staring directly at her, unblinking with his bright-red eyes. Raea’s body spasmed as she jerked backwards and shouted. Her heart rate increased as she took in deep breaths before she finally settled down. She frowned. “Are you sleeping?”Palan’s nictitating membranes flickered and his body twitched. He tilted his head. “Why are you staring at me?” he asked and yawned. The first rays of sunlight illuminated his face from the window beside him. He wiggled his teeth with his tongue, causing a tooth to drop out of his mouth.“You were staring at me…” Raea said and glanced at the tooth on the floor. She sighed and shook her head. “Forget it. Get out of here; I need to change.”Palan crossed his arms over his chest. “Not until you tell me your abilities.”Raea groaned as she crossed her legs while sitting up on the bed. She placed her hands in her l
Palan sat behind Raea on her horse with forty or so cavalry riding behind them, riding along on a dirt road. In front of the group was a naked, scaled humanoid figure riding on a boar the size of a horse. The figure was green with clawed hands and toes. Its back had a vertical set of spikes running down its spine all the way to the tip of its tail.The lizardman turned his head to glance at the angels riding behind him before he extended his left arm out and pointed. The boar he was riding on squealed and turned towards a clearing in the forest with the horsemen following after it. After another ten minutes or so of riding, the group arrived at a glade. The lizardman pat his boar on the head and it slowed to a halt.“Why did we stop?” Raea asked as her horse trotted to a halt, its metal armor clinking. The second sun was at its zenith as it shone on the group below.“This is as far as I can take you,” the lizardman said, his voice rasping. His sharp teeth
“The lieutenant really trusts you, huh?” Gerome asked as he stepped over a tree’s root. Palan and Carmella walked ahead of him as he stepped through the forest.“What makes you say that?” Palan asked as he sniffed the air. He frowned and continued walking forward, crunching leaves beneath his feet as he walked forward.“Most contracted demons have to stay by their angels at all times,” Gerome said. “The lieutenant sending you to scout without her is proof enough.”“What do you mean?”Carmella cleared her throat as she picked a mushroom off the ground and put it in her bag. “Should we really be talking so much during a scouting mission?”“It’s fine,” Palan said and snorted. “There’s no one around except for a few of those squealers with tusks.”“Squealers with tusks?” Gerome asked and furrowed his brow. “You mean boars?”“I don’t know,” Palan said. “They’re the things that smell like what the guide was sitting on.”
“Interesting,” Palan said as he stood over a whimpering lizardman. The ground beneath him was soaked with red blood and fresh lacerations decorated the lizardman’s body. “I wonder if that’s true.”“I’m not lying,” the lizardman said as it drew its knees to its chest. Its ankles were bound together and its hands were tied behind its back. “I swear to Elbegon. Believe me.”“I don’t know who Elbegon is, but whether you lose another finger depends on your friends’ answers,” Palan said as he turned his back on the cowering lizardman and approached another one. He squat in front of the uninjured lizardman who glared at him. Palan smiled and twirled his dagger in his hand, causing a few blood drops to splatter on the lizardman’s face.“Your turn,” Palan said. “Who’s the strongest person in your camp? Your friend over there”—Palan said and pointed at the bleeding lizardman—”gave me an interesting answer. Let’s see if you can continue to remain uninjured.”
Palan sat on the ground outside of Raea’s tent with his legs crossed and hands resting on his ankles, interlacing his fingers. His back was straight, and his head faced forward with his eyes slightly downcast, staring into a fire. A light-blue aura that looked like miniature wings enveloped his upper back and cast a faint glow on the tent behind him. Emergency Victuals was sitting next to him with its head tilted, staring at the demon’s unresponsive face. A sliver of red light shone through a crack in the trees and illuminated Palan’s hands as the first sun began to rise. Behind him, inside the tent, a girl groaned as a blanket rustled.Moments later, the tent flap next to Palan swung open as Raea stepped outside, wearing a brown leather tunic and gray cloth pants. A pale-blue light shone out of the collar of her shirt, illuminating her face from below. Raea crouched down and placed her right hand on Palan’s
Help with what?” Palan asked and snorted. “Although … Raea does need to learn how to take care of herself. Her halberd skills are mediocre at best.”“So that’s a yes?” Cleo asked. “I’ll have to charge double the payment for two people.” She nodded and was promptly thrown off of Palan’s back. Her cheeks puffed up. “I was joking,” she said and lowered her voice. “Just one-point-five times.”“Who do you think you’re extorting here?” Palan asked and picked Cleo up by her tail. “It’s fine if you steal from other people but not from me.” He retrieved the pouch that Cleo nabbed earlier. Palan carried the squirming Cleo all the way back to Raea’s room. Elrith was sitting outside, leaning his back on the wall next to the door.“She’s sleeping,” Elrith said, eyeing Palan and Cleo. Cleo quieted down and hung upside-down in the air with her body limp.Palan dropped Cleo and proceeded to the door. Elrith stuck his leg out, preventing the door from opening, and glared at the demon. “Didn’t you hear
Palan stood in front of a building with an open door and wrapped his tail around his torso. Sounds of chewing drifted through the doorway, and Palan smelled the scent of blood, causing his pulse to quicken. He stepped inside of the building, his back straight and chest out. The room was filled with circular tables that held chunks of raw animal flesh and armored demons who were occupying the seats. A few demons raised their heads to look at Palan, but most of them continued to eat with their heads lowered. There were no angels.Palan cleared his throat. The demons carried on eating in silence. Palan frowned and slammed the door shut with a booming noise that rattled the walls of the cafeteria. The demons stopped eating and turned towards Palan with their eyes narrowed, blood dripping from their teeth. “Alright, you miserable champions of Haalbeh,” Palan said and nodded. “That’s better. Who here is happy being a slave to the angels?” He looked around at the hostile glares. “None of you
Ishim stood on top of a building overlooking Elrith’s retreating army with his arms crossed over his chest. “You are going to let them go just like that?” Ishim asked and turned his head to the side. Solra sat on the edge of the building with his legs dangling off the side. The one-eyed angel raised his head to look at Ishim.“You’re underestimating their abilities,” Solra said in a raspy voice. “If I wasn’t here to cancel out their powers, they wouldn’t have lost a single person.” Ishim turned his gaze towards the retreating army. Arrows flew after them, most of the arrows bouncing harmlessly off their armor.“Then what is the plan for the future?” Ishim asked. “Do we have a chance if we can’t beat them here?” His eyes narrowed as he stared at Elrith’s unconscious body that was being carried by a bull-headed demon.“Didn’t you say you trusted me?” Solra asked. “Anidun and I have been waiting for decades.” He stood up and dusted off the back of his robe. “Have some patience. The goal
A lance struck Elrith’s shield, causing him to let out a hiss. He was supporting his towershield with his broken right arm while maneuvering it with his left. His opponent relentlessly struck at him, not giving him a second to breathe. Elrith charged forwards, ignoring the screams and clanging metal behind him, and swung his shield outward, knocking his opponent to the ground. He panted and said, “Damnit, Owen! Listen to me!”Owen climbed to his feet and used the back of his hand to wipe the blood leaking from his nose. His eyes were clear. “Forgive me, Sir Elrith,” Owen said as he charged at Elrith, brandishing his lance. “I have to do this for Lady Raea.”“Help me rescue her, you blockhead,” Elrith said as he deflected a stab with his shield. Sweat dripped from his forehead. Behind him, the crowd of demons were steadily pushing through the army of halflings.“If I lose to you here, Ishim will kill Lady Raea,” Owen said as he grunted and swung his lance again.“Where is she?” Elrith
“Why do you want to know how to make contract papers?” Raea asked and furrowed her brow.Palan ignored the glares Tuic was sending him. “To make contracts,” Palan said.Raea sighed. “Let me rephrase that,” she said and pursed her lips. “Why do you want to form contracts? You can’t form a binding contract with another angel since you have me, you know?” Tuic made a face and looked at Raea.“Just tell me,” Palan said and snorted. The army proceeded deeper into the forest, following Elrith’s tracks. They approached the river where Palan found Raea.“Alright,” Raea said as she leaned over and whispered. Her warm breath tickled his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.“That simple?” Palan asked. Raea readjusted her posture.“Mhm. You can’t tell anyone else though,” she said. Palan nodded and rubbed his chin before glancing around.Tuic frowned as he looked at Raea and placed his hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention. Raea stiffened. “Should you really have followed his demands and t
“We were unable to locate Pyre,” a soldier said to Michael as Raea and Palan were returning with their new armor. “General Elrith’s attendant has also gone missing.” Michael frowned and glanced at the Raea who wore a blindfold.“Do you know where Pyre went?” he asked.“I think I saw him when I ran out the gate,” Raea said and furrowed her brow. “I wasn’t really paying attention.”Michael frowned. “Pyre is just as important to me as Elrith is,” he said. “I refuse to leave without him.”“But we can’t delay any longer,” Raea said. “Elly’s out there all alone with a broken arm. What happened to marching immediately?”“General Elrith is an archangel; he can take care of himself,” Michael said. “Pyre is barely a greater angel with no combat skills. If something happens to him….” He shook his head and looked at the gathered army. “Find Pyre and Elrith’s attendant. They must still be in the camp.” Michael turned around and gestured towards the soldiers at the gate.“W-wait,” Raea said towards
Palan turned his head towards Cleo while Raea looked away, her face flushed. The orange lizardman froze and took a slow step backwards. “W-what?” she asked and eyed the Danger Noodle approaching her. “Don’t let me ruin the mood. Just continue wha—, eep!” She dove to the side, but she was too slow and Danger Noodle swallowed her tail.Raea stared at the bonfire that was starting to die down. “What should we do?” she asked, still not looking at Palan. “Find Elly? Go back? I’m not sure if I’m ready to do either.”Palan shrugged as he dueled Cleo with Danger Noodle. “Do whatever you want,” he said. “When did you become so dependent on me?” He turned his head to stare at Raea. Her forehead was creased.“Aren’t you a wisdom demon too?” Raea asked and pouted. “It wouldn’t be very smart of me to waste a resource like that.”Palan snorted. “Let’s go back,” he said. “I need pants.” Cleo let out a yelp as she was swallowed whole by his tail. Palan and Raea stood up. Raea gathered her dry robes t
“Stop trying to eat me, you stupid noodle,” Cleo said and smacked Palan’s tail as she tried to crawl away. “It’s a good name!”Raea sat on the ground by the fire, her clothes still wet, and watched Cleo’s futile efforts. A smile was on her lips, but her eyes still seemed sad, threatening to wet themselves at a moment’s notice. Palan frowned as he stared at Raea and lifted Cleo fifteen feet into the air with his tail, causing her to scream bloody murder, scaring away all the birds in the nearby vicinity. The clasp on her bag came undone, and objects began to pour out: Raea’s discarded cocoon, Palan’s rotting severed hand, a necklace with over thirty teeth, multiple orbs borrowed from Pyre, a smaller pouch containing hundreds of essence crystals, a clump of musky wolf fur.Raea gaped as more miscellaneous objects continued to pour out of Cleo’s bag. “How do you even fit all of this inside that tiny bag?” she asked. A cloth object fell onto Raea’s face, blocking her vision. She removed i
Cleo squealed as she leapt over the wreckage of a collapsed building from the previous trebuchet bombardment. “You can’t have it!” she said and scrambled to the side of the road. Her eyes lit up when she saw a rapidly approaching figure dressed in white. “Raea! Save me!”“I can give you extra limbs! Four more arms and two more heads! Maybe even a beam of light that shoots out of your eyes!” a raspy voice said from behind the orange lizardman. Pyre climbed over the wreckage, gasping as he placed his hands against his knees while hunched over. “Just give me half of that cocoon.”Cleo waved her hand over the road. “Rae”—a tear dropped on Cleo’s face as Raea ran past her—“a….” Cleo whipped her head around and stared blankly as the running angel’s figure disappeared behind a corner. More thudding sounds came from the direction Raea just came from. Cleo’s eyes lit up again as she ducked and avoided Pyre’s lunge. “Palan! Save me!”Palan raised an eyebrow when he saw Cleo scratching Pyre’s ar