Jala glared back at a chained man from the other side of the dungeon cell. "Lord of Celestine? Pathetic…"
"
Jala sighed. "
Lucius glanced over and waved a pair of succubus maids away. "
"
"
"
Lucius glared back. "" His gaze shifted to the stump of Jala's left arm. "
"
"
Jala cast a glance at the new servants rushing through the castle halls. "
"
"
Lucius nodded. "
"
Lucius glanced and noticed a group of eavesdropping maids. He furrowed his brow, ignoring them and switching tongues. "Apparently, at some point, she turned into a Lupeus while in Rakon's custody."
Jala straightened. "
Lucius nodded Jala towards the curious maids. Jala glanced, prompting a scoff from the general.
"I don't know how or why, but it seems true. I saw for myself—her face is the same, and Lillian demonstrated her immortality firsthand."
"A human transforming into… one of us…?" Jala's jaw clenched. "What does this mean?"
"I don't know. But when I see Rakon again, I'll have to question him about it." Lucius proceeded up the stairs.
"What happened to him?" Jala asked. "Rumors are going around that he was on the battlefield too."
"He was. But only his clone… As soon as I arrived, his body turned to a bloody mist, and that woman was already unconscious in Lillian's arms."
Lucius gasped. He froze, looking up at the top of the stairs.
In front of them stood Donovan's body, staring with blank white eyes.
Jala stared back, unnerved by his presence. "
Donovan stepped aside, letting the two through.
"
Reluctant, the two continued into the halls, eventually entering the round hall. Jala grimaced, keeping his gaze on Lucius' back as they strode past a maid to a single door to their right.
Lucius gestured for silence and eased the door open with a creak. Inside, he saw Lillian sitting by the bed, staring at her clasped hands.
Jala glanced inside too, his gaze directed towards the bed with the sleeping blue demon woman. "
Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder.
He glanced back, discovering Donovan again, who walked past and entered the room to stand at the other side of the bed.
Lucius ignored Donovan and closed the door, leaving him with the two women. "
Jala glanced back at Lucius in surprise.
"
"
"
"
"
The servant bowed and then took his leave.
"
"
"
********
Kalika opened her eyes with a gasp, waking to a familiar room with painted stars on the circular ceiling.
"...What…"
She raised her hand—the same blue skin she was used to seeing.
Kalika lowered her hand and sat up, surprised to find herself in her childhood room, still decorated with pink and purple floral designs, and with her toy chest still across from her bed. "Why am I… here?"
Her hair stood on end as she sensed two strange yet familiar presences. She glanced right and saw Donovan standing there. His face was expressionless as he stared straight ahead with lifeless eyes.
Kalika's lips trembled. Unable to maintain her composure, she lowered her eyes to the bed, silently holding back her sobs as she clung hard to her blanket.
"He seems to care about you," Lillian suddenly said.
Kalika kept silent, unsure what to say.
"What was his name?"
"... His name is Donovan," Kalika answered.
"Was he your friend?"
"...He is."
"Is that why you fought Terrocht?"
Kalika frowned. "Why do you think? If it weren't for him, I'd still be in that stupid angel!"
Lillian listened as Kalika's breathing shuddered. She looked at her, even more perplexed. "So, she actually wanted to… save him?" She thought.
"You truly have changed," Lillian muttered.
Lillian glanced back at Donovan, who stood like a statue. "Well… I think you've chosen an incredible friend."
"Why am I here?" Kalika questioned. "I thought it was more convenient for you to throw me in a prison and leave me there to rot. So why are we here now?"
"Because I care about you. I only locked you away because you left them no choice—"
"And before that!?"
Lillian looked away. She fiddled with her fingers. "Look, Kalika… You don't have to forgive me…" She tensed up. "You can hate me for the rest of my life. I did some bad things, just like you… But I want us to be a family again."
Kalika glanced up, ready to retort. She stopped herself, her eyes catching the sight of something impossible.
Lillian followed her gaze and smiled sheepishly. "Funny, isn't it?" she mused.
Kalika slowly rose in her purple gown and approached the window.
She opened the window and stepped onto the sill before leaning halfway out. Her hand gripped the top of the frame as she scanned the new world before her.
Outside, a sea of floating islands filled her view. She saw islands of plains, rock, and forest drifting aimlessly through the air.
Above all of them, in the distance was the lake village that miraculously remained intact, with the lake, the village, and the waterfall off its mountain. All on one single expansive island. From the rivers, water flowed over the edges into a sparkling mist, almost creating a serene beauty above the cluster of aimless islands.
Kalika peered down into a deep ravine where a landscape of black and purple mixed with yellow could be seen.
The Pit.
"No matter how hard I try, it feels like everything around us is always changing…" Lillian said. "I wish it could stop. I really do. B-but I guess there's… nothing we can do to stop it."
Kalika leaned further out. She looked into the far distance until she noticed Celestine's twin mountain peaks were gone, replaced by more distant floating islands with what seemed to be the mountain's remains.
"At least the castle and the capital are still grounded," Lillian added, her voice breaking.
Kalika slid her hands along the frame of the window. She heard quiet sobs, followed by an apology from Lillian.
"When you first saw me..." Kalika began. "Were you disgusted?"
Kalika stood, awaiting the answer.
Hearing nothing, Kalika scoffed. "When I realized the truth, I was," she said. "I was completely disgusted… and… I still am."
"I don't care what you are, Kalika. You're still my sister."
"I'm a demon."
Lillian stood. "So am I! But that doesn't matter!"
"Does it?"
"It doesn't! Not to me."
"Liar." Kalika glared ahead, clenching her fist. "Stop pretending like everything's alright. It isn't."
"But we can still make it work."
"Just stop it! How do you expect this to work!? That I stay in my room, or wander this castle trapped again like some bird!?"
"I didn't say that–"
"Then how!?" Kalika shouted. "How do you expect me to live? I shouldn't be here, Lily. I never belonged here in the first place… The only reason I'm still here is because you want me here!"
Lillian stared at Kalika. "That's… not true… I—" She stopped. Her face fell. "Y-you're still as cold as ever…"
"Please. Excuse me." With trembling lips, Lillian took her leave.
Hearing the door close, Kalika sighed bitterly. She kept her gaze on the floating islands and their strange rocky formations below. She noticed how pieces crumbled off into the deep ravine.
From behind, she heard Donovan's approach. She turned back with a somber bitterness and met his blank stare.
She reached for his face, feeling his cold, slightly wet skin. "I… I'm so sorry…"
With some hesitation, she dug her fingers into his head. Black veins pulsed as her yellow eyes shifted orange again. She felt a quiet inside him, yet something faint and familiar still lingered, trapped within.
"You can still see me… Can't you…" Slowly, Kalika pulled her fingers away and looked at the faint outline of his pupils, still covered in a sea of white.
He knelt like an obedient servant, bowing his head.
Her breathing shook.
Sensing her distress, Donovan raised his head and smiled carelessly.
"Y-you idiot. D-don't smile at me like that. Th-this never should've happened to you…" With a deepening sadness, Kalika peered back outside. "Donovan… I know this is selfish but… tonight… Can you help me get out of here?"
Still smiling, Donovan slowly nodded.
"Thank you."
Outside her room door, Lillian lingered and listened. She clasped her hands as her frown deepened. She inhaled, then departed quietly into the hall.
********
In the darkening afternoon, Enocht sat on a pristine white balcony, swirling a few elements around her hand like a toy. She smiled, watching as the floating islands bumped each other. They wobbled about in the air before settling back into balance.
"Enocht," the Emperor called as he approached.
Slowly, the Emperor's decrepit old body reverted to a more youthful appearance.
"Ah, Enex. Why so serious?"
Enex's dull green eyes glared directly at Enocht. "You know why."
"Ah… Yes… Of course…"
"It's a miracle that master Cassell hasn't reset you for that flawed personality of yours. If you weren't so keen on fighting those demons, the Evil One would be gone from this world."
Enocht frowned, looking at her magic.
Enex reached the balcony rail, then leered down at the decimated city of Oar's. His gaze washed over the rest of the demon landscape under them before turning back to Enocht.
"You're very fortunate, Enocht."
"I'd be more fortunate if I could simply observe Cassell's creation and play with the magic of this world." Enocht looked on. "Isn't this view fascinating? Mountains of Felim's powers, infused into the earth of Teru's creation."
"And Zorbian's body…" Enex added, cringing. "It's truly a blight."
"Yes… Well, at least it keeps things interesting. Always winning is such a bore sometimes. Sometimes it's more fun to play."
Enex glared back. "Remember your mission, Enocht. Cassell won't forgive another failure."
"I know." Her magic fizzled away, leaving an empty white palm. "I'll make sure to gather our other brethren from the western continent just as Cassell wanted. It should be a fun trip," she mused, almost forcing a smile as she looked towards a distant white castle, past the ocean of floating islands.
"I truly envy you… Evil One…"
********
Kalika, fully dressed to travel, looked out her window again. She peered past the ocean of floating islands and saw what resembled a sword hovering in the far distance.
She stared, sensing a call.
Donovan re-entered the room carrying a bag of supplies.
Kalika turned to Donovan. "Thank you."
He handed her the bag.
Suddenly, the door creaked back open. Kalika stiffened, glaring straight at Lillian as she entered.
Lillian kept quiet and approached with a white cloth. "Take them," she said.
Confused, Kalika approached as Lillian opened the cloth, unveiling her dagger and knife.
Lillian kept her eyes down. "If you don't want to stay, you don't have to…"
Kalika stared in surprise. She quickly tore herself from the shock and took her weapons, absorbing her knife, then packing her dagger in the bag.
"Just promise me that you'll stay safe… A-and if you ever want to come back, you're always welcome." Lillian forced a pained smile.
Kalika averted her gaze. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I love you."
Kalika stood in silence, uncertain what to say. She furrowed her brow, then turned back to Lillian. "Lily. Can you do me a favor?"
"Y…Yes?"
Kalika turned to Donovan. "Could you watch over him for me? He's… not very bright sometimes, and he needs somewhere to stay. I don't want to drag him into more trouble, so… can you do that for me?"
Donovan cocked his head at Kalika, then at Lillian.
Lillian's face softened as she nodded. "Of course."
More perplexed, Donovan approached Kalika, worried. She hardened her expression and spoke more harshly. "You should stay," she said. "D-don't get the wrong idea. I'm not abandoning you… but I think you should stay… just to keep my foolish sister from following me… I promise, Donovan… one day… I will fix you."
Donovan smiled. With his hesitation cleared, he backed away, taking Lillian's side.
Kalika turned from the two and stepped onto the windowsill. "Goodbye, Lily. Goodbye, Donovan."
A black sphere enveloped Kalika, leaving a vacant window.
Lillian stared on, masking her mix of emotions as she uttered, "Goodbye… Kalika…"