Salvos

“I am so bored.”

I lay in bed as Willy flitted just above me. We were in the encampment just outside of fAlyras, and even though it had been a full day since we arrived here, we have done absolutely nothing. I kicked my feet in the air, whining to the [Will O’ Wisp].

“I want to see Edithe already!”

Edithe Dawnrise. My companion. The feisty red-haired woman. A [Mage], and a former [Summoner]. She was supposedly a part of the adventurer currently heading to Alyras. And while I could just wait for her arrival, I was getting impatient.

“Just go?”

Willy asked, perplexed. I shook my head.

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Saffron asked me to stay. She said she’s worried that Belzu could be tracking us down by himself. His army hasn’t been seen within Inoria’s borders in over a week. We don’t even know where he is, so it’s dangerous.”

I explained as I sprawled myself in bed. I glanced out of the tent— it was nighttime. Everyone was sleeping. But I didn’t need to sleep. The camp was still as everyone else snoozed like the stupid Humans they were. The only person here who didn’t need to sleep was the one keeping me company.

Willy. And he gave me an inquisitive look.

“Clone?”

He suggested. He spoke in his usual clipped sentence. Especially when the implication was clear enough. I knew what he meant— he wanted me to send one of my clones to find Edithe. I nodded.

“I already sent a clone out. Yesterday, actually. But…”

I trailed off. The [Will O’ Wisp] flickered.

“But?”

I sighed.

“My clone is…”

The dark world rushed around the clone. She moved swiftly over the landscape. As though the ground was gripped with languor, and the placid trees were content with where they stood. The clone looked up and saw the wheeling stars, then down at the rapidly changing map. Her task had been simple.

Go find Edithe, the original said. I can just teleport back and forth if you find her.

The logic made sense. But there was one problem. A minor setback. The clone’s flames dimmed as the realization settled in.

She was—

“—lost.”

I sighed.

“My clone is lost.”

Willy stared at me for a moment. Then he snorted.

“Heh.”

“Come on! It’s not my fault, alright? I bet if I was the one out there searching for Edithe, I wouldn’t be lost.”

“Sure.”

The [Will O’ Wisp] spoke sarcastically. I scowled, crossing my arms.

“And it’s harder when you literally don’t know where you’re going, ok? Saffron just told me the adventurer army was somewhere to the southwest. That’s not a lot of direction to work off of!”

“Get good.”

No matter my protestation, Willy just laughed. We argued as the night continued. I tried to swat at him, but like an annoying fly, he zipped out of the way. Fortunately, since he was here to keep me entertained, the morning finally arrived and I could go bother someone else.

I waited outside a luxurious tent as its flap slowly drew open. A drowsy figure rubber her eyes, taking a single step forward. And I leapt at her.

“Saffron!”

“S-Salvos?!”

Saffron Merryster stumbled back. I placed my hands on her shoulders.

“Are we done waiting yet? Can I go find Edithe myself?”

“What?”

It took Saffron a moment to parse what I was saying. She blinked a few times before shaking her head.

“Look, Salvos, we’ve already had this conversation yesterday. I told you, I can’t stop you from doing what you want to do. Find your friend—”

“Edithe’s not my friend. She’s my companion, just like you.”

“...yes, companion. Whatever. Go find her if you want to. But if the Primeval Demon attacks—”

“You’ll all die and I won’t be there to stop it. I know, I know.”

I rolled my eyes, a bit annoyed. I knew what she was saying was true. In fact, if I hadn’t even been there during the whole ordeal with the [Lesser Wyverns] and [Goliath Oliphants], it was entirely possible Saffron would be dead now.

“It’s just dumb. Why can’t Belzu die already?”

He was the source of a lot of my problems since he appeared. Saffron shrugged.

“That’s what we’re working on, Salvos.”

My shoulders went slack as I drew back. Saffron stared at my clearly worsening mood. She massaged her temples, glancing back into her tent.

“Listen, Salvos, I have to get ready for a meeting later today. But if you’re this bored, why not just explore the city or something?”

“I tried!”

I spoke exasperatedly, gesticulating towards Alyras.

“But it’s literally just like any other city I’ve ever been in. I got bored after taking a look at five streets!”

Seriously, it’d be more fun for me to stare at a rock for hours than just take a look at the same Human settlements over and over again. Saffron shook her head.

“Alyras is very different from the cities you’ve been in before, Salvos. The culture here is entirely different. For one thing, you’d be hard-pressed to find any temple other than the Den of Souls here in the Helbir Plains. Even the architecture draws on a more minimalistic style compared to the ornate or dark designs of—”

“I don’t care. It’s a city. A Human city. Just like any other Human city.”

I spoke over her before, harrumphing. She raised a brow, clearly puzzled.

“Uh… ok?”

I tried to make my displeasure even more clear, but she just moved on. She didn’t pick up on the hints. And while I would’ve loved to vocalize how annoyed I was at remaining in my Human form right now, someone would’ve probably overheard us.

“If you’re bored… how about this.”

Saffron tapped a finger on her chin.

“There’s something for you to look forward to tonight.”

“Something for me to look forward to?”

I cocked my head. She nodded.

“Yes. There’ll be a feast held in the palace. Most of the important nobles have been invited to it, myself included, and I am allowed to bring guests.”

I narrowed my eyes. A feast? That was just another Human thing! And there was going to be lots of gross food too. I made a face of disgust.

“Why would I want to go to a feast? That sounds dumb!”

It was frustrating. I didn’t like being treated like a Human. I wasn’t a Human, and I certainly wasn’t on the ‘Human side’ of this war between Humans and Demons. I was just on my companions’ side… right?

Well, I also disliked Belzu. So I was against Belzu’s side too. But I definitely wasn’t a part of this so-called great united Humankind these Humans loved to boast about.

Saffron furrowed her brows, eyeing me curiously. I could tell that she was starting to realize that I was genuinely upset about something. Then she snapped her fingers.

“Actually, I heard that there’s going to be a princess at the feast.”

I immediately piped up as my annoyances seemed to vanish.

“I want to go to the feast!”

“Finally.”

Belzu watched the sun rise over the mountains. It was day time, and he saw his destination in sight. The gray mounds of rock slowly morphed into greener trees and pastures. The scenery changed. He’d finally escaped Inoria’s borders.

“Levithus won’t dare to give chase to us here.”

His bulbous eyes darted back, warily eyeing the undulating hills behind him. A trail of monsters followed after the Primeval Demon. There were tens of thousands of them— with thousands of them over Level 70, such as the Mindreapers zipping about above the horde. Yet, their numbers were not as plentiful as they’d once been.

The constant battling and attrition with Regnorex’s foolish followers in Inoria had weakened him. His once hundred-thousand-strong army was weaker than ever. Belzu highly doubted he’d even be able to take another Capital city with what he had now, let alone face another coalition army of Humans.

No— he needed to move swiftly. He’d been delayed enough. The next Treasure of Alexander awaited him here. In the Shedos Republic.

Truth be told, he couldn’t care too much about the names of the Human countries. He’d learned them simply to further his goal. But now, he needed to know more. He had to learn more. Because of his recent additions to his army— his attempt at regaining some of his lost numbers.

He craned his insect-like head back, facing a tanned figure waiting behind him. It wasn’t a monster. It wasn’t even under the control of the Mindreapers. It stood there, boots quaking just from his gaze.

“Tell me, Human.”

Belzu spoke simply as he slowly walked his way to the Human woman. She’d been a slave, and he’d liberated her. Given her freedom. And she now served under him. Her name— her history— none of it mattered to him.

All that mattered was that she gave him what he wanted.

“Does this country have more of your… kind?”

At first, the Human woman looked confused. She hesitated, trying to work her jaw as she didn’t know what to say. Then another Human spoke up from behind her.

“A-Alix, I believe that… L-Lord Belzu is asking if Shedos has slaves, just as Inoria did.”

“O-oh. T-thank you, Quin.”

The Human woman hurriedly nodded and bowed towards the Primeval Demon.

“No, L-Lord Belzu. The Shedos Republic voted to ban the trading of slaves a hundred years ago, when their republic was in its infancy.”

Belzu’s eyes didn’t narrow. But his pupils grew smaller. The Human woman gulped, backing away warily. But he turned away from her.

“I see.”

That was unfortunate. He could not replenish more of his army. He considered razing down a few more smaller cities, increasing his numbers with the undead that would come about. But would both slow him down when he was already hard-pressed for time, and run the risk of drawing the ire of another Human coalition army down on him.

No. He’d been too slow. He needed to move swiftly. Belzu raised his insect hand, pointing towards the horizon. His mouth didn’t move, but he sent a pulse of mind magic through the Mindreapers. Voiceless words that echoed in the head of all the monsters and even Humans present in his army.

His command. His will.

Onward. To the Greaves of Alexander.