Namara walked ahead, her steps confident, hips swaying with a seductive grace that seemed almost practiced. The faint smirk on her lips didn't falter as they entered the clearing, where the demon lord awaited them.

He stood at the far end, his mouth stretched wide, filled with rows upon rows of needle-sharp teeth. Multiple eyes of varying sizes and colors blinked across his face, neck, and shoulders, tracking their every move with cold, calculating amusement. His form was a living shadow, a silhouette of pure darkness with no discernible limbs, shifting and pulsing as if the void itself had taken shape. The edges of his body seemed to dissolve into the air, indistinct and ever-changing, giving the impression that he was less a being and more an unraveling nightmare given form.

As they moved closer, the demon lord's many eyes flicked to Namara, his mouth curling into a gruesome grin. "So," he said, "the thief returns. Tell me, Lirathiel, who set you free?"

His attention shifted to Liliana. "Was it this one, the would-be thief? Emeria, was it? The little blood mage who thought she could steal from me? I thought we had an agreement. To what do I owe this… betrayal?"

Liliana's eyes widened, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.

Kale looked at Namara, eyebrow raised. "Lirathiel?"

Namara's eyes sparkled with mischief as she offered him a casual shrug. She turned back to the demon lord, pouting. "Innonuk, you wound me. I'd almost think you weren't happy to see me."

Innonuk slowly turned back to Namara. "Lirathiel, you know you are not welcome here. Give me one reason why I should not suck the brains out of your pretty little head right here and now."

Namara smiled. "Oh, Innonuk, so you are happy to see me!"

Innonuk was not amused. Happy?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I will be happy when I see your corpse eaten by rotworms. I would kill you right here, but we both know you would simply keep coming back, like a fly to shit."

Namara tilted her head, giving an exaggerated sigh. "Wow, buddy, who hurt you? And don't speak so negatively about yourself, I don't think you're shit at all."

The demon lord looked like he wanted to respond, but seemed almost afraid that if he said something else she would turn it against him again.

Innonuk's gaze then shifted back to Liliana. "And this one… Emeria," he sneered. "I see you've found your way back into my realm. Tell me, girl, do you remember the price of broken promises?"

"I'm not… I'm not Emeria," Liliana said. "Emeria was my sister."

Innonuk's eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise and then disdain passing through his many expressions. "So are you here to complete her contract? Tell me, does recklessness run in the family?"

Kale stepped forward, but Namara placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. She met Innonuk's gaze with a faint smile. "Innonuk, we're just here for a visit. No need for… unpleasantness."

"Unpleasantness? Perhaps I should give you a taste of what 'unpleasantness' really means, Lirathiel. Now tell me, why are you here?"

"We are here for your toys of course!" Namara said.

Innonuk's many eyes narrowed. "How predictable. You never could resist what wasn't yours."

Namara gave a shrug and smiled. "I've always had a taste for the finer things. And it seems you've been hoarding more than your fair share." She leaned in slightly, her tone dropping to a taunting whisper. "It's unbecoming."

"You think to take them from me? My artifacts are bound to me, you couldn't take them if you wanted to. Unlike you, I have learned from our last encounter."

"Haven't I? Perhaps. But you know I enjoy a challenge. We could always just kill you and take them."

Innonuk smiled. "If you believed that possible, you would have done it already."

Namara let out a light laugh. "Oh, Innonuk, so clever you are!"

"Still playing games? Very well. Perhaps we can work out a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"An arrangement?" Liliana asked.

"Yes. I am willing to part with an artifact for each of you. You may choose whichever suits you best."

Kale frowned. "And what's the price?"

"Simple. All you need to do is kill Malakar… and bring me his heart. He resides nearby in this realm."

Namara's eyes narrowed. "Demon lord Malakar? I thought you weren't allowed to kill the other lords, Innonuk. Won't Runom be terribly upset with you?"

"Oh, yes," he replied. "Which is precisely why I'm not killing him." His grin stretched wider. "You are."

"Sounds like some bullshit." Sadek said.

Kale nodded. "It definitely has a smell to it."

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"We can choose anything?" Namara asked.

"Yes, even that," Innonuk said.

Namara pointed at Innonuk. "You got yourself a mutually beneficial arrangement, oh dark one."

Innonuk's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "Excellent, I knew you'd see reason."

Liliana looked from Namara to Innonuk. "And how do we know you'll keep your end of the deal?"

Innonuk laughed. "I would tell you to ask your sister, but I guess she's... indisposed. Believe me or don't, you need me more than I need you."

Kale crossed his arms. "So let me get this straight—we risk our lives to kill your rival, you get what you want, and maybe we get a prize if you feel like keeping your word?"

"Exactly. But your succubus friend knows I always keep my word. Kill Malakar, and each of you may claim an artifact. Fail, and, well…" Innonuk made a movement that looked like a shrug.

Kale shot a look at Namara. "You're familiar with this Malakar, I guess?"

Namara smiled. "Oh, Malakar and I go way back. He loves me."

"Uhuh," Sadek said.

Innonuk's many eyes gleamed with delight. "Then it's settled. Go. Return to me with Malakar's heart, and you may find yourselves rewarded beyond measure. If you survive."

Namara clapped her hands together. "Alright, gang, let's get moving. Adventure awaits!"

***

Liliana turned to Namara. "And remind me—why are we following you, exactly? And why did that… thing know my sister?"

"We need to do something, Liliana," Kale said. "And unless you've got a better plan, this might be our only option." He hesitated, glancing back at the fortress. "Besides, we can ask Innonuk about Emeria when we get back."

"If," Sadek said.

Namara flashed him a smile. "Don't be so gloomy, Sadek. This will be over before you can say 'Malakar.'" She snapped her fingers, sending a spark of purple energy into the air.

"Malakar," Sadek said.

Namara sighed dramatically, and dragged her fingers down the corners of her mouth into an exaggerated frown. "Look at me, I'm Sadek."

"No," Sadek said. "You're Namara. And annoying."

Namara gasped. "Wow. That was uncalled for!"

Kale sighed. "Alright. So, what's this Malakar guy like?"

"Oh, just a big ball of friendship."

Sadek exhaled sharply. "And Innonuk lives in a house."

Namara shrugged. "A fortress is basically a big house."

Sadek shot her a sidelong glance. He said nothing.

***

They continued until they reached a wide chasm in the ground that stretched across their path. Namara opened her wings and glided effortlessly to the other side.

Liliana followed, floating over the gap with ease.

With a crackling surge of energy, Sadek used Thunder Step, dashing over the chasm in a flash of lightning. As he landed he turned back to see Kale still standing at the edge.

Namara folded her arms. "What are you waiting for?"

Kale raised his hands. "I can't get over there!"

"Why not?"

"Because I don't have any skills like you guys! I can't cross that gap, it's too far!"

"Oh honey, did they really not teach you anything? Or do you just lack imagination?"

Kale looked at her, bewildered. "I can't just fly over!"

"Of course you can."

"I'm a bladeweaver, not a birdweaver!"

Liliana chuckled. "Oh, how the mighty vegetable has fallen."

"Come on, Kale, just summon a big ol' blade, hop on, and fly across," Namara said.

Kale blinked. "I can do that?"

"Of course you can!" Namara said. "You're a bladeweaver. You can do anything you imagine with blades—why do you think they call you guys that?"

Taking a deep breath, Kale extended his hand, visualizing a massive, sturdy sword hovering just above the ground. A shimmering blade appeared, wide enough to stand on, floating at the edge of the chasm. Tentatively, he stepped onto it, and the blade responded to his movements, holding him up. He willed it forward, gently floating over the gap.

When he landed on the other side, he looked at everyone, his face alight with awe. "Wow… this is incredible!" A mix of disbelief and excitement surged within him. For so long, he had viewed his powers as a tool for battle, a means of survival. But now, it felt like something more, something limitless. The idea that his imagination, his thoughts, could define his abilities was something he could barely comprehend.

What else can I do? Have I been holding myself back?

Namara gave him a nod. "See, Kale? Imagination is a powerful thing. Embrace it, and there's no telling what you're capable of. "

He met her eyes, her knowing smile, and felt a flicker of gratitude. Namara had shown him a glimpse of what he could become, what he already was if he dared to believe it.

No telling what I'm capable of, huh? Guess it's about time I find out.

"Maybe Namara does have her uses after all," Liliana said.

Namara arched an eyebrow, amused. "Careful, Liliana. Keep sweet-talking me like that, and you'll make me blush."

Liliana scoffed.

"So… are you from around here?" Kale asked Namara.

She laughed. "Here? Nobody's 'from' Runom's Departure. People just end up here for one reason or another. Some pass on, and some… some never leave."

Kale hesitated. "Then where are you from?"

"The Hells," she replied. "Most of us are born there."

"What's that like?" Kale asked.

Namara gave him a wink. "It's hell."

"That's nice," Liliana said. "So, do you have any ideas on how to kill Malakar?"

"Oh, I have ideas. I have lots of ideas."

Namara shook her arm, the wide sleeve of her kimono fluttering. "Look at that—shook one right out of my sleeve."

She grinned. "Malakar's all fire and fury, but his temper is his biggest weakness. He's quick to react, and that leaves him… vulnerable, in certain ways."

Sadek stared at her. "…What."

"Vulnerable how?" Kale asked.

Namara leaned in slightly, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "He likes to show off. Get him angry enough, and he'll make a mistake. The trick is to survive his wrath long enough for him to get sloppy."

Kale looked skeptical. "So, we just… annoy him until he slips up? That's your plan?"

Liliana laughed. "If all we have to do is annoy him we can just send Kale at him. I give Malakar twenty seconds at most."

"Ha, ha," Kale replied. "Wait, you don't really think I'm annoying, do you?"

Liliana shrugged.

Sadek laughed and slapped Kale on the shoulder.

"If you don't want him, I'll take him off your hands," Namara said with a wink, then added, "But in all seriousness, Malakar's pride is his biggest flaw. He won't expect anyone to challenge him directly, and that's where we'll catch him off guard."

"So, we need to make him angry. And once he's distracted enough… we strike?" Liliana asked.

Namara nodded. "Exactly. But he's still a demon lord, so don't expect it to be easy. He'll throw everything he has at you if he feels threatened."

Kale sighed. "Sounds like we're in for another near-death experience."

Sadek shook his head. "Sounds like we're in for some bullshit."

Namara glanced back at them. "Just stick to the plan, and we might all get out of this with our skins intact. Well, most of us. You probably won't, Kale, but we will."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Kale muttered.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Namara laughed.

Liliana smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "Hey, you're just going to annoy Malakar, you'll be fine. Probably."

Sadek ruffled his hair. "If you get scared, you can always fly away on that big sword of yours."

Kale slapped their hands away. "Glad to see my potential death is so entertaining."

Namara chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, don't be so serious, Kale. We're just preparing you for the real challenge."

Liliana laughed softly. "Look, if anyone can get under Malakar's skin, it's you."

Kale exhaled. "Thanks… I think."

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