I landed in front of the city that I saw, like a superhero who'd come to save them all.

"AHHHH!"

"GO GO GO!"

"INSIDE!"

"DEFEND THE CITY!"

"NoOOOOO!"

…Rude.

Funny.

I smirked.

People were often startled, but it had been a while since I got uninterrupted fear and hostility. The few people outside ran into the gates as the guards ushered them in. The ogre and… finx duo then rushed forward to attack me. A finx was a sapient race of cat-like people, typically the size of a lion, but with differing features and much darker brown fur. They were quite common in the League of Mercanto that Elfrafim had visited way way further north, beyond the vast oceans.

I did the rare thing of trying to spare the guards, even when they'd already committed to the attack. I parried the ogre's mace to his surprise, and then kicked the finx aside. I gave the ogre another kick to topple him to the ground, and then stared hard at the finx who was less injured than I intended because she had managed to jump and reduce the impact even at the cost of being sent flying further away. Of course, I hadn't even put any mana into that attack, else she would already be dead.

"A bit rude to just attack me out nowhere, don't you think?"

"What!?" The ogre guard spat, then froze. "You can talk…?"

"You're not a monster?" the finx added.

"No." I sighed, then laughed, the situation making total sense. "I am Demon Queen Haell Zharignan. You must have heard of me."

"No…" The ogre shook his head. "I've never seen anything like you."

"Wait," thankfully, the finx woman remembered something. "I think I remember seeing something the last time I went to the city."

"Oh? Is she one of those artsy people?"

"Not that. Well, maybe. I don't know what she does in her free time."

"Yeah," the ogre nodded as if in realization. "I like to paint. Not that I'm any good at it."

"I think it's neat…" the finx mumbled, and then bared her teeth. "Please wait a second. YOU UP THERE! DON'T SHOOT! CAN'T YOU SEE THE ARMOR! THAT'S NO MONSTER, AND WE'RE TALKING!" She might have likely just saved her fellow guards on the walls… from making the same mistake she did. "Right. You… demon, correct?"

"Haell. I do have a name." It was nostalgic, to not be immediately recognized for who and what I was.

"Ah. Yeah. Well, can you stay here for a bit? Actually, what's your business with Kobarinis Town again?"

"Kobarinis. So that's what it's called."

"You didn't know…?" the finx puzzled.

"No. I just flew here from Southern New Grandera."

"Oh. OH I REMEMBER NOW! You're that hero that appeared there, and is… the granddaughter of the Hero Golex of Edengar?"

"He's defected to our side now too. But yes. Essentially."

"Ah… It feels good to have finally remembered!"

"That's nice, Tinn," the ogre guard commented, wincing as he stood up.

"Hehe. Yes." She also stood with only a slight limp to her steps. "Anyway, miss Haell. We're sorry for the very… bad welcome. We were just startled when you suddenly landed in front of us like that! I'll go have someone tell Lady Kobarin about your visit, so can you stay here for a moment?"

"I'll try to be more careful next time." I felt a little bad now that someone actually got hurt. They attacked me…! I seethed, but I could definitely approach slower and more disarmingly if I wished. "I'd rather just enter the city by myself to get a good impression of it."

"Err. I'm afraid that other people might also react… badly. We really don't have any other demons here…"

Neither did the south. There were no other demons anywhere.

"Not even with this?" I asked, handing her some identification papers and an ID. I did still have some in hand, despite how my face was often identification enough.

"No… I'm not really sure where this is from…"

"Uh, it says right there that it's from New Grandera?"

"Well, yes. But there's no crest that I recognize…"

"Crest?"

"Yeah. You know. On which house's behalf you received it?"

"Eh? The townhall just gave it. I assume it's from the government?"

"I… then shouldn't it have the royal crest of Granola?"

My brows continued to furrow, before I relaxed. "Nah. I guess that goes to show how truly different and separate North and Southern New Grandera are. It's a tangled mess."

"Oh." The finx woman bobbed her head in realization as I put my documents away.

"So, I really can't enter?"

"No…"

Wrong answer. I can. There's not a damn thing you can do to stop me.

"Fine," I sighed. "Can you tell Kobarin that I want entry, then?"

"Kobarin…? She's our Lady! Please show a bit more respect!"

I furrowed my brows at first, but then I did kinda like hearing people say my full title too. "Lady Kobarin, then. And I am the Demon Queen Haell Zharignan. Essentially, the ruler of a city state who has come to visit. The Arisen City State, to be specific."

"Ah…… Okay." She limped towards the gates to have the messenger sent.

"Oh and I have blood magic," I offered. "I can heal you if you wish."

"Yes! Thank you!" the ogre immediately waved at me after having been absent for most of that conversation.

"Blood magic…?" The finx, Tinn apparently, swallowed. "Well, okay. I've never seen it before. But it can heal?"

"Yes. Of course." I chuckled, and then walked up to the ogre guard. Part of my palm was unarmored for this reason, but I removed the full gloves anyway and healed him with a long touch.

I did the same for the finx, who heaved a long sigh of relief. "Ah… I think I broke a rib there."

"That's life," I shrugged. "It's fixed now, right?"

"You're the one who broke it!" She hissed, then paled, then calmed when she only saw me smirk. "But emm, yes. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I sat down and talked to the two of them about Northern New Grandera while a messenger went to fetch the ruler of this place.

~~~

"The ball was fine. We just watched," Parl explained. I'd gotten the name of the ogre. "They were good at dancing, I think. I think I can pull off the slow ones, but I never got to try."

"You can, I'm sure of it!" Tinn encouraged. I'd been waiting here for a while now, and I got to know the two guards a little during that time. "We can… try it if you'd like."

Parl looked at her, pondering. "Hmmmm…"

"Only if you want to!"

"I do. But I'm not really sure how to do it with a finx like yourself. I think I saw a human dancing with a crustecar…"

"Ah. Well, there's that festival coming up in the nearby Mamasiya Village. We can figure it out."

"Okay. I'll be there."

A beat of silence passed, and that was when I finally interjected. "What were the nobles like? The people in that ball." Southern New Grandera did not like the practice, while Northern New Grandera only embraced it. I certainly preferred the former... so says The Demon Queen. But it's just a title! Arisen did not have any nobility aside from giving me unlimited authority.

"They were… nice?" Parl hedged. "No one really talked to me, so I'm not sure. I don't… understand them."

I chuckled. "Fair enough." Being ignored would be the best I could hope for if I ever was dragged into one of those stupid events. But thankfully, I'd been able to reject all invitations, until they finally stopped coming altogether!

"Ah." A voice suddenly spoke. She was an elegant sundertop woman with expertly braided feathers, her triple-horned head studying me carefully. "You must be Demon Queen Haell Zharignan."

I raised a brow. I should really take off my helmet, but who knew what might happen. "I am. And who are you?

"I am Lady Ania Kobarin. I am pleased to welcome you to my humble Town of Kobarinis, and if I am not mistaken, to the Northern part of New Grandera as a whole?"

It's really not the same place!!!

"This is my first visit, yes," I confirmed.

"Wonderful. I do hope my town can provide a good first impression. Please, would you like a tour?"

I would have preferred to see it for myself, unfiltered and raw. But… "Sure. That sounds nice." I had things to ask of her anyway.

~~~

The two of us entered through the gates, and the people gawked at me, but few approached or ran. Without a surprise entrance, that I should really stop doing, I didn't actually look too entirely out of place. Some may have even assumed that my horns were just part of my helm, and my red face could just be some Mutated form of skin, or I could even be a Belfegor. My tail wasn't something shared by any humanoid species that I knew of… unless if the centaurs counted, or the stubby ones of kobolods, but it wasn't all that alarming.

Overall, I received a well enough welcome as Ania Kobarin gave me a good tour of her town. From the buildings that favored wood more than normal, to the different designs tacked onto otherwise familiar homes. The art that I could see on the walls were a little different, with a stronger emphasis on their wise leaders, and a few scattered depictions of powerful sailors. There was the usual pyramid off to one wall that housed their harpy and dwarven denizens, and the crustecars had homes near the pond or river. If anything, the place looked a little poorer than I'd come to expect, but that all changed once we crossed said river. A pair of guards bowed to us as we entered the wealthier district, and I soon came to learn that every entry point to this part of town was pretty well-guarded.

"Tight security," I mentioned, suspecting what was happening from the small mansions all bearing a crest, some of them vaguely familiar. That meant I knew exactly what or who they represented thanks to my memory core. "Any reason for it?"

"This is the noble district," Ania explained calmly. "If the common people bothered us for everything, then we would never get anything done."

~~~

"So," she said as we sat in a gazebo within her manor. It was a far smaller territory than Pandemonium. "What brings you here, Demon Queen Haell? How is the situation south, if I might ask?"

"Good. We're gaining ground. Taking territory." Arisen City was no longer on the front lines of the war, for the territories around it had been taken by New Grandera. Just as planned.

"It's also reduced the pressure on us, as Edengar troops have moved down there."

"I can imagine." I took a good sip of the tea. It was pretty good, and not something I'd sampled before. That was a rare occurrence these days. "Anyway, I can here to meet a friend. And also to explore the place while I'm at it."

The sundertop lady smiled, though I'd had a faint feeling since earlier that she wasn't all too fond of me. It didn't matter. "Ah, tourism? We very seldom get any from down south."

"I can't imagine why," I joked.

"I can have my servants point you in the right direction of wherever you want to go."

"Thank you. I imagine you can't give me your best map, but I'd like something close, and to at least get a good look at the best one for some details that might otherwise be missed."

"Of course. That will not be a problem."

I tilted my head. "That's it? We haven't talked price. I did carry a fair amount of gold with me for the trip."

"It is no trouble, Demon Queen. Consider it a gift for your arrival here. Might I inquire how long you intend to stay?"

"Maybe one night?" I looked at the starry sky. "I plan to set out tomorrow."

"I see. Can I interest you in visiting Kobarin City at some point in your time here?"

I tilted my head. "Territory controlled by your family?"

"Indeed. The largest one, and the heart of our dukedom. Held by our current matriarch, Duchess Kalyn Kobarin."

"Hmm. I can consider it, but I won't lie. I don't think I'll get along with nobles all too well, in general. It's better for everyone involved if I stay away." Not that I would let them drive me out of places, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to meet them.

"Why is that? You've met with me, and you haven't been… unpleasant so far."

"Really?" I smirked. My helmet had long been removed, showing my whole face. "I'm aware, you know. I do not know the etiquette of high society, not to mention that this is for all intents and purposes an entirely different country than the New Grandera down south. But it's by design that I don't learn how to walk, or curtsy, or supplicate like you do. I am completely uninterested. I consider it to be entirely counter to my being."

Her eyes frowned, but it didn't reach the rest of her face. She then spoke in an infuriatingly lecturing tone. "It isn't about your personal preferences. As rulers, we must hold ourselves to a different standard. These practices are there for a reason. It is observed by all civilized people, and you will not be able to properly associate nor negotiate with anyone if you keep to your stubborn beliefs."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I convinced the New Grandera down south to give me a whole city. Which happened, by the way, precisely because I am held to a different standard. Who else will stand alone against an army and take a bite out of them, but me?"

The frown in her eyes deepened. "Excuse my offense, but that is barbaric. I was considering offering you some tutors to learn the ways of socializing, but it appears you will not appreciate such an opportunity."

"Nope. Sounds boring. I know what I need."

"I don't believe you do. Not for the parts of society you now operate in, and your willful ignorance of the matter is highly suspect and irresponsible. I have not taken offense so far, out of deference to your own status that outranks my own, and the understanding that you are a foreigner ignorant of our ways, but you will cause a diplomatic incident at this rate if you continue to act in the way that you do."

"I could say the same to you. I will not bow and scrape to anyone, no matter their status. I will not show deference like you. And if you lot are too fragile to accept that, then I do not want anything to do with you either."

I had already, uncomfortably, acted so meek in the face of the Illusion Dragon. I would not do the same for people so much weaker than me.

Ania leaned forward elegantly, and took a sip of her tea from the large bowl-like cup. "I'd advise you not to go to the royal palace then. For everyone's sake."

I shrugged. "It's the building of your government. I suspect I'll have business there soon enough. And I think I'd like to see your capital at least once personally."

"That… will be a problem." She sighed, then spoke in a lower tone. "Especially depending on whether the reports about your achievements are… exaggerated."

"I haven't seen those reports."

She acknowledged my response, and then fell quiet, as if deep in thought. "...I would really appreciate it if you met with my grandmother first."

"And why is that? You've just told me and agreed that I should stay away from your leadership for now."

She shook her massive head. "We do have business with you. Likely all of Northern New Grandera has. Which is why it is best that you meet with someone of rank in private before anyone else. Someone who will understand, and inform the other courts of your… peculiarities."

"And it wouldn't hurt if your family is my 'handler?'"

She paused, eyes narrowing. "You claim to hate high society, but you can think like them, can't you?"

"I'm 40, and the Demon Queen of Arisen City. I've picked up a thing or two."

"As you say." She sagged a little. "This has been an enlightening conversation. I'll have your maps ready for you by tomorrow morning. Duchess Kalyn Kobarin will be looking forward to your visit."

I shrugged. "Maybe I'll come, maybe I won't."

For the first time, she openly scowled at me, and I grinned.

~~~

I entered the inn, and it gradually grew quieter as people stared at me on my way to the counter. The place looked even more foreign than the other buildings in town, hence why I chose it over the similar establishment in the nobles' district. From the outside, it looked simple, with few adornments. The interior kept that spirit, preferring darker and earthy colors, and with decorations that harkened back to nature, but specifically that of bogs and swamps. The ceiling looked like a canopy of giant leaves, folding over each other to shade a small world underneath.

My evil eyes widened a little when I saw the man behind the counter, the likely innkeep of this place. Most of the people in this town kept to the species I knew of, but he was another one I'd never seen in person before. A korak, warriors famed for their agility, and some of the most feared. He was bipedal like me, but with frog-like eyes, no hair anywhere on his body, various long protrusions on his face, and smooth glossy skin the color of pink but with a core of white. I almost asked him for a spar, but he was a meager Level 10. Not everyone would live up to their species' reputation, or even want to.

"Dinner and a room." I tapped a gold coin on the counter.

"Right away," he chuckled, "Demon Queen Haell."

I smiled, before turning to the crowd. "And a drink for everyone!"

"No shit…?"

"Yeah!"

"YEAH!"

"She's not so bad."

"I never thought that!"

"Uh, you so did! You said it first!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yes-uh!"

I chuckled as the people cheered and almost got aggressive on occasion. I took a seat in the middle of the room, despite how crowds like these still made my muscles tense. I had my reasons for going through this trouble, so I finally asked, "I'm new here. What can you tell me about this place? Not just your town, but Northern New Grandera as a whole."

"Well, don't ask this gal! She's never gone anywhere else!"

"Uh, yes I have! And don't get cocky just because you went to the big city, asshole!"

"Isn't she from here? I've heard about Haell many times!"

"Dumbass! She's from the south! Very vary far from us!"

"We're basically the same though…"

"No we're not."

"I'm pretty sure we are."

"How do you know? You've never been!"

"I read about it! You ever heard of those! BOOKS!?"

"Why you–!"

They talked over each other at first as I nursed my own drink, but soon I began to piece together what the common people thought.

"…I like it here…"

"It's great!"

"Just those angel-fucking scum ruining everything!"

"Ha! If those fucks actually got a fuck then they might chill out a little!"

"I VOLUNTEER FOR TRIBUTE!"

"Uhhh…"

"Eww."

"Yikes."

"Same."

"What?"

"What?"

"...I don't know what to say. How do I even explain this place? It's just normal."

"Yeah…"

"You're right."

"It's where we live."

"Better than the alternative."

"That. Yeah. For sure."

They have a point. How the fuck do they describe the only place they've ever known? But I was in luck, for their many complaints were about to bubble through upon someone uttering the same slogan that was in use back home.

"It's the Republic of New Grandera, where everyone is free, regardless of species!"

You're even less of a republic than the south! Why are you saying that too! Why do you call yourselves that!!! WORDS HAVE NO MEANING!!!!!

"Wooo!"

"Yeah!"

"Go us!"

"Is that true, though?"

"...Huh?"

"Well, I mean, you know. I don't think I'm quite equal with the nobles. Do you?"

"...No."

"No!"

"I can't even see half of the town I grew up in!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Not fair!"

"Boo!"

"Guys, come on. That's not…"

"Our money is building those big beautiful houses!"

"It should house our big beautiful asses!"

"Oh shit! A poet! Why are you not up there!?"

"Right!?"

"Would you rather live in Edengar, then?"

"Of course not!"

"You wouldn't survive a day in there, you ungrateful children!"

"What did you say!?"

"I said I'm sick of them owning us!"

"They don't own you! You can always just leave! See if you can make it with all the monsters out there!"

"Our childhood farm, owned by them! I go to the city, everything's still owned by the nobles! I retire back here, and guess where I live? Another place owned by them!"

"YOU FUCKING LAZY PIECES OF SHIT!" A crustecar woman suddenly shouted, slamming multiple mugs of… milk on the table with all three hands and her big claw. "That's why I can't wait to be out of this dump! Always complaining, all this jealousy, but never doing anything about it! If you got the time to be hanging around here, then you could be working harder!"

"Crosand…"

"We are working hard! Who the fuck do you think built this town? They're the one's who are all up in their mansions over there, sitting on their asses all day!"

"And that's what I'm talking about! You understand nothing! Of course they do work! You think you randomly plowing fields or stacking logs would actually work without any kind of leadership!?"

"Ah, here we go again."

"Fuck."

"IT'S TRUE! You're all fucking dumb! That's why you're poor!"

"You're in the same boat, dumbass!"

"Not for long! I've joined the adventuring guild! I've done quests! I'm looking for an escort quest right now, and there will be merchants there, and then I'll network with them! Then I'll finally be free of this stupid wretched place!"

"Good riddance then, fucker!"

"You'll come back. They always do."

"See how you do against all the noble brats with all the money to throw at everything. That's why we'll never amount to anything. They are already born with everything."

"And what? You think you'd do a better job? You're a fucking waitress! You don't even know that you can do the same! Many of them were once like you. Some even lived in that shithole of Edengar! But they built this country, and that's why they're the nobles! Do something useful with your life, and maybe you can be like them too! That's what I'm doing!!"

"Oh?" my voice was lost in their chatter, so I spoke a little more loudly. "OH? What do you mean?

"Ah, D-Demon Queen," she bowed. Hell, she did it in the way that a noble crustecar might, if a lot clumsier. "What is um, what do you want to know? I will help however I can."

"You said that you can become a noble? If I interpreted you correctly? How? By marrying into one of their families?"

"Well… that's one way of doing it. But this isn't like the nobility of Edengar!" she began to pick up steam. "Anyone here can do it! Human, centaur, crustecar, everyone! Not just the damned shepherds! And that's my fu–treasured goal!"

"You're missing the point," someone interjected. "That's not impossible, but their little brats are already well ahead of you. They already have the titles you so desperately want. They've even hogged all the best jobs that you pine for. It's one big family, and you're the beggar outside."

"If you think life's that hopeless, then why don't you just die?" she growled. "Fuck you, old man. You've already given up. I haven't. I won't! Even if it's unfair. I get why. People want to give their children the best future. I'm sure you'd do the same. It's what my parents did, when they carried me all the way here when I was just an egg." She turned back to me, self-concious about her manners again. "Umm…" She coughed, then gathered herself to speak in a clearer tone. "It might be presumptuous of me to ask, but I've heard rumors about what you've accomplished. I'm still inexperienced, but I'm a hard worker and a quick learner. If you can find a place for me in your retinue, then whether it's on the battlefield, or logistics, or anything you might need of me; I can do it! Please give me a chance to prove myself!"

I smiled thinly. Peacefully, even. Somehow, I didn't think we would get along. She downright worshipped the nobles. People I hated. People… like me. Our boots crush you from above, so why do you choose to lick it, you pathetic worm!!

"Here," I stood up and handed her a peculiar glossy dark red card. "Crosand, was it? I have no presence here, yet I suspect that might change soon. If you ever make it to an Angelslayer brand store, no matter which one, a fish market, beauty, exotic Materials, you name it; give this to them and tell them I sent you. They'll… take you seriously. That much I can promise."

She was trying her best. She was trying so hard. That, I could not hate.

~~~

I awoke early the next morning, in full armor and with Devilcalibur hugged tight to my chest. I shook off the remaining sleep, had a wonderful breakfast at the Nook Bog Inn, and then got my maps from the Kobarinis manor.

I did not linger any longer and took off. The short and refreshing flight took only half an hour, until I found myself hovering above Jaleson City, where I might find my long-lost friends.

I descended, slowly this time, taking care not to freak out the guards. The people below stared at me, and a few especially stupid ones began to reach for their weapons, but none had drawn them just yet.

I grinned at them, and it showed, for I did not have my mask on today.

The voice that came out of my mouth boomed, so that all may be reassured.

"Do not fear. I come in peace. I am Demon Queen Haell Zharignan, an ally, a friend."

They froze. Regular business did not resume, and the people seeking entry did not run to the safety of the walls. Someone jumped off from the ramparts and then flew towards me.

We hovered there for a moment, taking each other's measure.

"Haell Zharignan," the harpy guard spoke my name, desperately trying to hide the quiver in his voice. "The demon of the south, I presume?"

I chuckled. "I do love the nicknames people come up with." I gave him a nod, for a handshake was not something the winged harpies did. "Yes. That's me. I've got the papers and ID and all, up to date with what the north requires."

I took the documents from my packs, and then showed it to him for he could not hold things while in flight.

"I see. Everything seems to be in order."

"That they are. May I come inside?"

"I'll…" he shook his head. "I will have to ask the guard captain." He looked down, and spotted an armored man walk out of the gates. "There he is now. Please, meet with him… citizen."

I did as he said, and we flew our separate ways. I landed in front of the guards, who had slowly resumed their regular duties of admitting people inside.

"So, you're Haell?" the apparent guard captain asked, a human man almost built like an ogre.

"Yep. That's me." I handed him the same documents Ania Kobarin had made for me yesterday.

He nodded. "You are free to enter then. I hope you enjoy what our city, and our nation as a whole, has to offer."

I smiled. "I will. Oh! But I'm looking for someone specific right now. Do you know of a Luine and Salaire? And Baston and Fiya! I heard they're here too."

He raised a brow. "I believe I do know of them. You mean the two women who run the orphanage, and the botanists, correct? They are also occasional adventurers, and have been a great help to us many times."

I smiled, and it was completely genuine. "Yes. That sounds exactly like them. Can you please tell me where they are?"

"...Of course. You will want to go the eastern common district, north of the shops, and just in front of the Salaire Park."

I handed him a silver coin, my grin never once having left my face. "Thanks!"

I entered the city, and then quickly navigated my way to my friends' place while sampling all the stalls along the way. Eventually, I found it, after only a few minutes' worth of confusion. Children played in a large playground, and they were of all different species. I remembered for a moment how I had used to come here….. or a place exactly like it, back when I was just their age. Just like then, the same people came out of their main building.

"Haell…?" Luine froze. She looked… older than when I last saw her.

"Haell!" Salaire cheered and ran over to give me a hug. Her wife soon joined, and the children grew curious and crowded around us.

"I missed you guys. There's so much we need to catch up on."

"That's our line!" Luine countered. I noticed that she had a hook prosthetic on her left arm, instead of the katar she used to favor. "We keep hearing about you……" her gaze was briefly drawn to the children around us, "getting into various conflicts. With the bad guys."

"Bad guys!"

"Oh bad guys!"

"Big sister, you want to play!?"

"No! I'll be the templar!"

"Aaaahhhh!! Run!"

I chuckled and then grinned at Luine. "That's precisely why you have much to catch me up on. Sounds like you already know what I've been up to!"

~~~

We made our way out of the orphanage to go meet with Fiya and Baston. They lived nearby, but in the noble's district. Thankfully, the guards practically bent over backwards to welcome the three of us in.

Once there, I took a moment to marvel at the storefront full of flowers. The ground was saturated with it, and the walls were the same, if with more subdued colors and visible vines. There were also a few trees, and their rainbow leaves were like cherry blossoms that only occasionally fell. I walked through the elegant marble walkway, and then read the big sign drawn by–you guessed it–flowers! Like everything else!

Baston's Beautiful Garden.

I smirked. What a thing to name your shop. I liked it. I entered with Luine and Salaire, to the wonderful chime of a bell. A few people who were considering the arrangements on sale looked over at us, and it wasn't hard to recognize them as people of high society. The floor was properly tiled with long, elaborately carved planks of wood, though there were selective gaps for plants to be planted inside. The walls were painted in various pastel shades, and I recognized the roof's structure as something that could be opened up. In fact, it was wide open right now, welcoming the sun's rays inside. Well… it was still early in the morning, so there wasn't much, but the place did feel wonderful. I loved the ambience.

Fiya looked up from her book at the reception table, and first saw Luine and Salaire. "Hey–!" Then her eyes met mine. "Haell…? Haell, is that you?"

"You know of any other demon?" I smirked. "Yes, it's me."

"Oh my dragons!" She leapt over the counter, further startling the already-startled nobles. Without hesitation, the fountan woman gave me a big hug once I was in reach. "Baston! HEY BASTON! Leave your plants! HAELL is here!!!"

"WHAT!? WHAT WHAT WHAT!?" Someone came running out of the back room. His gait was unsteady, and his cane tapped an unsteady rhythm on his way to me. But the short and stout ishkawtan man did not let any of that stop him from giving me just as big a hug as his wife. "I'm glad you're okay. We were worried about you. I wanted to come with Rallem and the rest, but my leg… And Luine's own convoy could use the help…"

"Don't worry," I said clearly, the tears coming now. "I'm fine. I'm perfectly and completely fine. You did not make a single wrong decision."

He nodded firmly in my arms. As did the others around us.

The nobles were promptly kicked out.

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