Reed whistled between his teeth as he looked up at the black, skeletal tree. The damned thing looked like a person, stretched and twisted, moaning from an infinite number of mouths pitted in the bark. It writhed in displeasure, multiple eyes focused on him, and the din of its torment increased. From branches that resembled roots, large, rotten-looking fruit hung. On the ground beneath were the casings that looked like the fruit had fallen and split open.

"That one was mine." Kar'un pointed.

He couldn't tell which one she'd indicated, but nodded, understanding dawning.

This... was the original Demon Lord. Not dead, but kind of defeated.

Looking at this sin against life, Reed knew he was not ready to face it. He knew that if he wanted to save this world, this thing needed to die. Cutting it down wasn't going to work. It likely needed to be annihilated to the atomic level. That was generally how magic shit like that worked.

Kar'un looked uncomfortable, rubbing her arms.

"You alright?" Reed asked her.

"I... just..." She stared at the ground, nails biting into her arms hard enough to draw blood.

Brushing her hair back from her face, Reed tucked it behind her long, pointed ear. He felt his Affinity Mark tingle as he did so, but decided not to stop it. "We don't gotta stay here. I seen what I needed to."

Her crimson eyes lifted, tears in them as expressions of anger and desire warred on her face. Deciding to help settle that a bit, Reed leaned in and kissed her forehead. "It's alright," he said gently. "Let's go back inside." He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the door. Alu'rak had left him alone with Kar'un, claiming he was going to get something ready.

Kar'un had decided to show him her mother, which had turned out to be the monstrosity he'd just witnessed.

Clinging to herself, but pressing against his side, Kar'un let him herd her back into the castle, leaving the moaning tree behind. It thrashed in anger at being ignored. Kar'un's mood improved slightly the farther away they got, and the longer Reed's Affinity Mark tingled. She let go of herself and gripped his hand on her shoulder, lacing her fingers with his.

"She was mad at me for not killing you," Kar'un said softly.

"I figured. But you deserve the choice.” He looked down at her, “I’m sorry for putting that spell on you. I’ll take it off soon as I figure out how.”

"But I like how you make me feel." She looked up at him, eyes wide.

"It's a bit much, though," Reed said. "Liking someone and wanting to keep them as a pet are two different things."

She pouted, looking down. "But... that's what Daddy does with his lovers. They're in the basement."

Reed paused, then clicked his teeth closed. "Okay. Right. Well, I'm not down for that family tradition. I ain't a thing to be kept."

"I understand," she said, disappointed. “But I am being honest. You make me feel the way I feel about Daddy. I don’t want you to be hurt. Mother makes me hurt everyone around me, but thinking about you drowns her out.” She tugged slightly. "This way." They turned right, heading down a hallway Reed hadn't been in yet. This hall was lined with paintings. "These are my siblings," she said.

They were all women with bat wings on their backs and smaller ones on their heads like Kar'un, but each looked different, not like siblings at all. Reaching the end of the hall, they entered what looked like a museum with items on display.

"Ah. You weren't out as long as I expected," Alu'rak said as he came from a side room. "This is the trophy room." He gestured vaguely.

The items on display were broken weapons, shattered armors, pieces of bodies set in glass... Reed nodded slowly with an appreciative nod. He didn't know the history behind who these pieces were taken from, but it certainly fit a demon castle to have this as their trophy room.

"I'd noticed that you are significantly underpowered compared to your predecessors, Reed," Alu'rak said. His gaze slid to Kar'un, frowning slightly as he noticed the blood on her arms.

"Yeah," Reed admitted. "The princesses didn't offer much in the way of Sacrifices."

"As I suspected..." The king of demons took a deep breath and sighed. "As it is in our best interests that you be prepared, I have something for you. This way."

Kar'un had a very tight hold on his hand still, so Reed chose to keep his arm around her shoulders and walk with her back to the side room Alu'rak had come from. This room had only one thing in it. A set of armor lay on a table, recently polished, judging by the smell.

Coming to stand next to the head of the table, Alu'rak placed his hand on the helmet. "My armor." He looked at Reed with a sad smile. "I offer it as a Sacrifice."

Kar'un gasped. "Daddy..."

Reed met Alu'rak's gaze. "They're not your gods, though?"

"They're all the same to me," Alu'rak said. "What I want is for this world to be saved." He looked apologetically at Kar'un before saying, "I've never seen one of them act this calm. Especially not with an Astralitar touching them. Yes, I can feel that your Mark is active, but again, you're sorely underpowered compared to the others I've faced. Why a simple charm of... Peace would work this well on her." He shook his head and tapped his nail on the helmet under his hand. "I offer my armor in hopes that I won't need it anyway."

Reed carefully took his hand from Kar'un's grip and stepped closer. "Just a warning, I get a bit of feedback from eating these things."

"Do what you must," Alu'rak said and stepped back.

Lifting his hand, but hesitating briefly to prepare himself, Reed placed his palm on the chest plate.

Warring emotions: Grief, Anger, Battle Adrenaline. The chaos of war slammed through Reed. Not just one battle, but multiple, all at once. It melted into his own memories of tight streets and gunfights with kids who were given weapons and told to fight because they thought it was the right thing to do. Fighting a war that was meant to be lost. Watching a little girl he knew everything about get slaughtered because that was how it was meant to happen. All of this was colored by the hopelessness of knowing that he would see it again and again until his own long life was ended by some accident. And even with his death, the cycle would continue. Someone else would be raising these girls to destroy the world.

"Reed!" Kar'un gripped his shoulders, trying to support him.

His knees gave out. He hit the floor hard, jolting him back into reality.

"That must have been difficult..." Alu'rak said.

"Just..." Reed rubbed his eyes, realizing there were tears. "Been there. Done some of that." He used his sleeve to dry his face.

"What do you mean?" Kar’un asked.

Rubbing his knees, Reed stared at the floor and shook his head. "Just... been in a few battles myself. Not the best memories I got, y'know? All blended together for a bit there." Assured that he had legs still, Reed grabbed the edge of the table to help himself up. Kar'un supported him from the other side.

Alu'rak nodded in understanding. "Not clean," he said, recalling what Reed had said before.

On his feet again, and grateful for Kar'un steadying him, Reed said, "I am gonna need a stiff drink after that, if you don't mind." He glanced at the empty table, already knowing that this Sacrifice actually had benefits attached to it, unlike Baltaz's stupid medallion.

"If you don't mind sharing some of your experiences?" Alu'rak asked. "I'll admit to curiosity about your world. I never got to speak with the other Astralitars."

"Sure. I can tell a story or two," Reed agreed.

**

While Bella had never been an emphasized part of the Astralitar tradition, people did still recognize her on sight. After all, she was the only intelligent core in the world and her preferred form was that of a pixie. Upon going to the town’s tiny Astrallium, she’d found the head priest and told him about Dylan needing help and discretion. Immediately, a priest on a horse had been sent out to retrieve him, and Bella had followed to make sure that nothing had happened to him in the short time she’d been away.

Dylan was usually a cheerful boy. His sullen silence now was upsetting.

Worrying, actually…

Ever since Freyr’s message, Bella had been convinced that Loki was involved somehow, and Dylan’s resurrection from the dead was not something Freya and Freyr would have done. What the game was though, wasn’t immediately apparent. It did have to do with Reed achieving his new mission, but Bella would have to figure out how to tell him his mission without actually telling him a thing.

Impossible tasks were something of Bella’s specialty, but this was a doozy.

Dylan had closed the door to the bath, taking the clothes he’d been given. They were much plainer than anything he’d worn before on Oria. The priests apologized for the humbleness of their Astrallium, but Dylan had smiled kindly, thanked them, and retreated.

He was only seventeen, but he could be counted on to be polite. His two years of court etiquette hadn’t left him in death, after all.

Bella hovered in the air outside of Dylan’s bath, lost in thought. As a core, she didn’t need to eat or sleep. She had internal power but was tied to the Astralitar the same way any other core was tied to their user.

If Reed called for her, she would immediately be forced to join him, but she’d never told any of the Astralitars that aspect of herself because she preferred her autonomy.

However, she’d left herself open to Reed. She knew she couldn’t leave Dylan alone, but Reed was still in danger.

Over the night, she’d felt him acquire a new Sacrifice that wasn’t just powerful but full of panic, grief, fear, anger, and hopelessness. She couldn’t understand what could have ever possessed him to accept a Sacrifice like that. She’d watched how carefully he’d chosen from the altar at the city Astrallium. He’d not accepted anything concerning ill wishes toward others. Afterward, she’d been overwhelmed with sensations she was fairly sure meant he’d gotten blind drunk. She’d had to cut the connection at that point.

Now, he was enjoying a meal.

This guy is being held captive by the Demon Lord and just enjoying himself?!

Bella shook her head.

The door behind her opened. “Bella?”

She jolted back to herself and turned to face Dylan.

“Were you standing guard for me?”

“Yes,” she lied easily.

“I’ve been thinking about it… How do you know the other Astralitar is alive?” Dylan asked. There was a glint of anger in his eyes.

That’s new… Bella considered. “I’m connected to him.” She flew closer and ruffled his wet bangs. “We need to go rescue him.”

Dylan’s jaw set. “You don’t seem very concerned about him, though. So is he really in danger? Or would rescuing him put me in danger?”

Drawing back, Bella drifted down to look at his face.

Meeting her gaze, Dylan said, “Last night, Freya told me I need to put things back the way they’re supposed to be. I’m going back to the palace. I’m going to put things back the way they belong.”

“Dylan,” Bella grabbed the edge of his ear, trying to stop him gently as he pushed past her to walk away. Please listen! You’re… You’re not the Astralitar anymore. You can’t choose the Di’alletta.”

He stopped and she flew in front of him again. “You died. They summoned Reed. I’m bound to him now, making him the Astralitar.”

“So he stole everything from me.”

Pressing her hands to her face, Bella groaned. “No! If anyone is to blame, it’s the princesses for dragging the process out for so long, refusing to let you get trained in using your power, getting you killed, then summoning someone new to replace you.”

“They’re not bad people!” he shouted, fists clenched.

“I never said they were,” Bella said. “But they messed up.”

Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “Then you messed up. Because you let them do all that.”

Bella hung her head. “I messed up,” she agreed.

She was shocked when his hand wrapped around her, too shocked to stop herself as he threw her at the wall. She hit the wood with enough force to dent it and blinked stars away as Dylan jogged down the hall.

Pushing out of the small hole she’d made with her back, Bella sighed gustily, “Dylan Gregory McCallister, you get back here!” she shouted as she flew after him.

**

“He’s still alive, Mom,” Meg’ante said as she attached her sword sheath to her belt. “And I’m going to get him.”

Her mother sighed, shifting to lean her weight on one hip. “I never told you not to. You’re just not going there alone.”

Turning from putting on her gear, Meg’ante lifted both her brows. “Who are you going to send with me?” she demanded.

“I’m going,” Snow said, slipping into Meg’ante’s room.

Looking down at the tiny young woman, Meg’ante stifled her laughter into a sudden sputter of air.

“I know where Dylan is,” she added. “Bella wants to take him to Reed.”

This statement stopped Meg’ante’s laughter. With Bella, it would be much easier to find Reed. And having Dylan under their control would prevent Saffron from doing anything with him. Whatever the Elvin princess’s plans were, Meg’ante knew they wouldn’t be good for anyone except her. That woman didn’t even care about her own kingdom. “Alright,” Meg’ante agreed. “Are you ready? I’m leaving now.”

Snow smiled calmly, as if the answer was obvious.