Priscilla, Sharazz, and the rest trudged along the sand with slowed steps. Making their way back toward the Parthian kingdom. The less injured warriors tended to the wounded along the way, giving them the help they needed to make their way through the chilling nighttime desert.

  The stench of blood proliferated through the air. It clung to flesh and clothes, unwilling to release its vicious grasp. No matter how much distance they made between the battle, the stench remained engraved onto them.

  Too many people lost their lives, and too many needed treatment, but the sand was not a place where they could merrily wait for the starlight to rise and bring a new day. Priscilla wanted to see if Jensen and the others were safe, but it had to wait until they returned.

  "How many do you think lost their lives?" Priscilla asked softly, turning her gaze toward Sharazz next to her.

  "Many, too many... but they're small numbers compared to the casualties the continent will have if these scum succeed in their plans." Sharazz sighed. "I don't understand how they've spread without alerting anyone, but now that we know, we can't let them continue."

  "Yes," Priscilla replied, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "I don't wish to fight, I didn't ask to be a part of this, but it's proving difficult to wield a power that's so effective against them and turn my gaze away from their injustices."

  "People had always turned a blind eye to me and the injustices delivered upon me. If I did the same to the innocent struggling to survive, would I be any better than all those people?"

  Sharazz turned toward the girl with a knowing smile, "I can see why the source of our people embraced you. Countless people would turn their backs on others when placed in a position of power. Whether it's their ego or pride talking, they'd consider it a waste of time and energy to even think of others. You, little witch, are far more sincere."

  "You're so stubborn- ah, whatever." Priscilla shook her head. "Little witch it is, then."

  "Perhaps you're right. If we have the power to make a change, then we must do so. Where some might give up and look the other way, we must do better for the sake of all those we care for."

  "That's the spirit!" Sharazz giggled. "We'll need to discuss our plans for the future once we return. There will be difficult times ahead for all of us."

  Some time passed in silence, and finally, they made their way to Parthus.

  The streets became filled with weary warriors and their sleepless family members who exited their homes with worried expressions. Sharazz moved quickly, organizing the groups into casualties, injured, and healthy. Everyone responded promptly to the Matriarch's commands, and soon, the streets were barren as everyone redirected where they had to be.

  Priscilla sat in a room with three cotton cots where Jensen, Vera, and Vorn lay. Although their wounds were mild, they would bear deep scars. The two women had gashes that crisscrossed all over their shoulders and sides. Whereas Jensen had two gruesome cuts that dragged across his arms. Still, it was a miracle, but his arms were still functioning, and the demons didn’t cause permanent damage.

  “This damned binding couldn’t be any tighter?” Jensen grumbled, with his arms fixed to the sides with rigid cloth wrappings. “That bastard got one- well, two lucky shots in, and now I’m being suffocated here.”

  Priscilla crossed her arms and huffed, “You’re lucky your arms weren’t left buried in the sand somewhere. Stop grumbling.”

  “Yeah, yeah! I know! Let a guy moan a bit!” Jensen shook his head. “I probably would’ve lost them if you hadn’t caused that firestorm that panicked the creatures.”

  “I’m just glad all of you are safe and alive.” Priscilla said softly.

  “Is our lady worrying about her loyal subjects?” Jensen laughed.

  Priscilla smacked his leg and sat down on Vera’s cot, who was pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, while Vorn stared with a smug grin.

  “Seriously, all three of you...” Priscilla sighed, massaging her temples. “I need you three to focus much more in the future. The battles are only going to get harder from here on out.”

  “Once things calm down here, and Sharazz is free, we’ll head back to the empire. We need to see the imperial city, and how deeply the demons have infested it.” Priscilla added seriously. “Hopefully Jared has built up the forces in Blackthorn somewhat, so we can have more cards at our disposal. If not, I might go by myself, and have you help them.”

  “We know, My Lady. It’s hard for us not to take things seriously when we’ve seen what the demons are like in this battle.” Vorn shrugged. “We’ll do our best to stop them.”

  “Good,” Priscilla said. “Get some rest for now. We’ll meet up in the morning to discuss our plans.”

  The chilling, lonely embrace of nighttime passed by Parthus swiftly. And as the starlit sky rose overhead, so too did the people wake from their much needed rest.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Within a spacious room, the two factions gathered. Priscilla sat to the side of Sharazz. Jensen and the twins sat to the left of Priscilla. While, to the right of Sharazz, an elder woman and several powerful men gathered.

  “Little witch, this is Elder Orana, my mentor and the previous matriarch.” Sharazz introduced the elder to her right. “Azhir, you’ve also met before. He played a big part in protecting you during the demon’s frenzied attacks.”

  “Basir also is a loyal general. These are all people we can trust, so let’s get into it. There are many things to discuss.”

  “The little witch here is a princess of the empire. Sacrificed by her own people, she gained the powers of the old era, just like the Parthian’s source that awoke within me.” Sharazz said as she introduced Priscilla’s history to her people. “Around the same time, the demons have become active once more. They wreak havoc upon the villages and towns of the empire, and now they set their sights on us as well.”

  Silent breaths filled the room as the people’s gazed shifted from Sharazz to Priscilla, and vice versa.

  “The Church of Zenith seems to be heavily responsible for these changes.” Priscilla said. “When I first came to the town of Blackthorn, they had infiltrated into the ranks, and demonic seeds had infiltrated into the count and one of the mayors under his rule.”

  “The problem is… We don’t know how deep they’ve gone into the empire’s nobility. Have they encroached upon the dukes? Or the emperor himself? This is something we have to figure out, and we have to protect the innocent who are likely to get caught up in whatever schemes these creatures are planning.”

  “The little witch is indeed correct. Even if they hadn’t turned on us, as humans, we cannot overlook their transgressions.” Sharazz said. “For years, we’ve separated ourselves from the empire’s dealings. They’ve overtaken the continent and made it their own breeding ground, and we let them. But the time has come where we show the world our might.”

  “If I may interject.” Elder Orana said. “Our warriors have already suffered casualties, and we need to protect our homeland. Are we to just abandon the young and weak, to go hunting down an unknown location where the demons might be?”

  “Or do you expect us to move everyone into the empire, to accompany the young witch?” Elder Orana’s expression was a kind one, but despite it her words were strict, for her people’s sake. “Little Shara, I know your intentions, but think well and hard about what’s best for our kind.”

  “I know,” Sharazz said bluntly. “It’s not an issue, grandmother. Our people will not, can not, and shall not survive, by blindly hiding away in the desert.”

  “If we do not fight against these wretched creatures when the opportunity is before us, we’ll get buried alongside our predecessors.” Sharazz slammed her hand against the table. “How long must we cower? Our history is dissipating not unlike the very sand we rely on. If we keep waiting as we are, nothing will remain before long!”

  “What the matriarch says is an honest assessment.” Priscilla spoke up. “Perhaps it isn’t my place to speak on behalf of your people, but with what you’ve seen of the demons ruthlessness, can you genuinely say it’s better to barricade yourselves in the desert and wait for them to overrun this place with their hunger?”

  “The elder is not wrong that moving everyone can be a challenge, and taking away all the warriors and leaving the kingdom defenseless is not an option either, but if we take our time and prepare a plan to move everyone, we can manage this before the millennium is upon us.”

  “The old era, and the new. There’s clearly some string that ties the two together and makes the demons restless.” Priscilla added. “It’s our mission to do everything we can before then, and then head toward the empire, readied for battle.”

  “What is the plan, then?” Elder Orana asked. “You must have more than mere dreams and hopes of what’s to come. There needs to be something concrete that our people can work with.”

  “Well,” Priscilla crossed her arms and leaned back, gazing seriously at the elder. “Currently out plan is to head back to Blackthorn. There we have informants and mercenaries training. We’ll bring only a handful of warriors with us to help us against any sudden obstacles. This way, Sharazz will have enough time to make preparations for a large migration.”

  “We don’t want to leave your people defenseless and scared, not knowing when the demons will launch another offensive. There’s also the matter of Banshee’s escape, and the consequences of her report.” Priscilla added. “This strategy seems currently the most balanced option we have. The only one that lets us make our moves ahead of them, and protect everyone while we’re at it.”

  Everyone around the table silenced and lost themselves in thought. The repercussions of either choice swirling through their minds. On one hand was the fate of their entire race, while on the other was the potential calamity to all of humanity. They were not the most selfless of humanity’s countless souls, nor were they most willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. But despite it, when pitted against the worst creatures ever seen, faced with their vile and evil tendencies, a choice had to be made.

  “Very well.” Elder Orana sighed. “We are not cowards, and we’re not ungrateful. You have helped us greatly, so we should reciprocate the grace.”

  “Prepare everything well, little Shara. This battle against demonkind, we will join it.”

  “Well, there you go, Princess Valentine.” Sharazz laughed. “You were worrying over nothing. I told you our people wouldn’t turn their backs on you for nothing. And that’s without them knowing that our source accepted you.”

  “What!?” Elder Orana gasped. “What did you just say, you damned little girl!?”

  Sharazz laughed even harder. “Relax, grandmother. I was just saving it for the end.”

  ”You-” The elder huffed at the matriarch’s joking display. “Fine, do as you see fit.”

  “Great. We’re going to get things in motion. It won’t be easy migrating everyone, but little Valentine will get her territory ready to take us in. From there, we’ll have free reign over the empire’s vast lands.” Sharazz said with a smile.

  “Thank you all. For trusting us, and for joining in the battle.” Priscilla said to everyone at the table. “There may be great unknowns ahead of us, but together, I believe we can defeat the odds. Separate, we may be weaker than the demons, but when we pool our strengths together, they should fear us.”

  “Whether it’s for the empire, Parth, or the continent, let’s win against these foul beasts, and return prosperity to these lands we call home!” Priscilla added seriously.

  The eyes of everyone present shone with vigor and pride. They were the ones who were a part of something great. Greater than them as individuals, or as a race. Together they’d go up against the cruel evils that lurk in the shadows, but excitement quivered through the air. For the world was their home, and they were far from willing to let these hellish beasts unleash their ravenous hunger upon their lands.