Demoness 2 - Chapter 60 - Machine Guns and Confessions (Patreon)

Yolani’s hands moved with precision as she assembled the final components of her new Guards’ rifle. The sleek, black metal gleamed under the workshop’s lights. She slotted the mana shard into place, and the weapon responded with a temporary hum as it came to life and then went silent again.

Ready for testing.

Or using, she thought grimly.

“Machine gun,” she whispered, testing the foreign words on her tongue.

Elania had used the term to describe weapons capable of unleashing a storm of bullets. Yolani had to admit, it was an apt name.

The rifle was a marvel of artifice. Almost, but not quite, as polished as the one she had built for Elania.

Its lead projectiles, propelled by the mana shard’s energy, would fly at a lower velocity than the shock crystal ammo of older versions or of Elania’s custom weapon. That was a necessary sacrifice due to the conversion from shock crystal to mana shard.

There simply wasn’t the same amount of ‘pressure’ from the shard as there was a shock crystal.

Instead, she had wound multiple power shunts through the action to the projectile chamber and barrel.

But what it lacked in individual impact, it made up for in sheer volume of fire. The massive magazine it could utilize was heavier than the weapon and easily reloadable.

Guards could literally just dump buckets of inert ammo into a funnel to keep up the rate of fire. They didn’t even have to worry about the barrel heating, because she had worked a set of heat absorbing runes down the metal length that would recycle the energy back into the shard.

That was a work of art that she was amazed that she had even managed without further study.

Okay. It hadn’t actually been tested for more than a few seconds of firing, but she was almost positive it would work long term, too.

The modifications had required sturdier materials, driving up the cost.

Each one would represent a significant investment. A bit more than a full cannon. Not every soldier would be equipped with one.

She sighted down the barrel, picturing the weapon in action. The machine gunners would open up, stitching deadly lines across the battlefield, forcing the enemy to take cover. Then the regular infantry would flank them, or they could drop a bomb on them, or open fire with artillery…

It wouldn’t stop the enemy by itself, but used together with other tactics? A potent combination.

But would it be enough to turn the tide against the Lightbringers and the Conclave?

She placed the finished rifle on the workbench, next to a row of identical weapons awaiting fabrication and refurbishment. The prototype was complete. Now they just needed to finish the rest.

She was fairly certain she could show the apprentices how to carry out the manufacture of everything but the heat recycling runes. That would cut down on the work required by her and avoid spreading her time too thinly.

Yolani allowed herself a small smile.

Despite the dire circumstances, the thrill of innovation sang in her blood.

But… she needed a break from working.

She made her way to the gunpowder tenders, where a constant stream of smoke puffed from the ventilation hood. The apprentices worked diligently, mixing the volatile ingredients with careful precision.

She surveyed the scene, her brow furrowing. The piles of sulfur and charcoal powder dwarfed the saltpeter, the key component in the explosive mixture.

It had become abundantly clear that their initial estimates were off. The saltpeter, it seemed, made up the bulk of the recipe.

Yolani’s gaze drifted to the lone cart of saltpeter, a sinking feeling settling in her gut. With the supply lines from the Ralfot farms compromised, this single delivery might be all they could expect.

The once-promising project now felt like it was in jeopardy.

Yolani turned away, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She needed a moment to herself to process the setback and figure out their next move.

She stepped out of the workshop, the acrid scent of sulfur and charcoal clinging to her clothes. That wasn’t ideal.

Her feet carried her to the quarters she shared with Elania. She pushed open the door. The room was empty. Hopefully, Elania would be back soon.

Wrinkling her nose, what she needed was a bath. The suite didn’t have a shower, but did have running water. The master bath was separated from both rooms and had something of a mini-pool sized bathtub for washing.

Ridiculous luxury.

But there was no point in wasting it, so she took the time to soak and enjoy the heat.

When she was finally done, she took the time to dry off and put on a shift, but when she opened the door to their shared quarters, Elania was there, sitting on the bed.

“Elania!” Yolani said, a smile appearing on its own.

Her friend looked up morosely and nodded. “Hey.”

Something was wrong. Elania seemed like she was exhausted and distant. Had she made another transfer to the engine already?

“Hey,” Yolani said softly, crossing the room to sit beside Elania. “What happened?”

Elania lifted her head, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion. “I didn’t make it back to the City Watch. We’re cut off.”

Yolani’s breath caught in her throat. The implications of that statement, the isolation and vulnerability it implied, settled like a lead weight in her stomach.

“The seraph attacked again,” Elania continued, her voice flat. “I had to recharge the Celestial Engine.”

“The seraph?” Yolani’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t even hear it.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of Elania’s mouth. “The divine shield must be pretty effective then.”

Yolani reached out, placing a hand on Elania’s knee. “You should rest. Recharging the engine, it takes so much out of you.”

But Elania shook her head, a faraway look in her eyes. “There’s more. When I was connected to the engine, Eziel was there.”

“Eziel?” Yolani leaned forward. “What did he want?”

“He showed me a vision,” Elania said, her voice barely above a whisper. “A battle, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Angels and demons, tearing each other apart. And in the end, a Celestial Engine, wiping them all out.”

Yolani listened, her heart aching for the pain and confusion etched on Elania’s face.

“What does it mean?” Yolani asked, her voice gentle.

Elania shook her head, her shoulders sagging. “I don’t know. But it feels important, like a warning or a clue.”

Yolani squeezed Elania’s knee, a silent offer of support. “We’ll figure it out together. But first, you need to rest. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”

Elania looked up, meeting Yolani’s gaze. In that moment, Yolani saw the vulnerability, the fear and uncertainty that Elania so rarely allowed to surface.

She rubbed Elania’s back in soothing circles. “It’ll be okay. We just need to do our best.”

Elania nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor, but the contact seemed to make her relax. Yolani kept at it, wanting to help.

“I’m incredibly grateful you appeared in my life, Elania. Things would be so much worse without you.” Yolani’s voice was soft, filled with sincerity.

Elania tensed, a subtle shift in her posture.

“I feel closer to you than anyone else, after everything we’ve been through.” The words tumbled from Yolani’s lips, a confession she couldn’t hold back any longer. “I am—”

Elania turned abruptly, grabbing Yolani’s shoulder and silencing her with a kiss.

Yolani’s mind reeled, shock and confusion warring with the electric sensation of Elania’s lips against hers.

A voice in the back of her head screamed that this was wrong, so very wrong, but it was drowned out by the intoxicating scent of cinnamon filling her senses… by the tingles Elania’s hand left behind as it slid down her side.

Elania pushed her back into the pillows. She broke the kiss, pulling back just enough to look into Yolani’s eyes.

Yolani’s heart raced, her breath coming in quick gasps. “This is wrong,” she finally managed, the words barely audible.

Elania’s fingers brushed Yolani’s temple, stroking her still damp hair with a gentleness that belied the intensity of the moment. “It isn’t wrong, but that’s not what matters.”

She leaned closer, her breath ghosting over Yolani’s lips. “Do you want me to kiss you again?”

Confusion and conflict swirled in Yolani’s mind, but one thing cut through the haze with startling clarity.

“Yes,” she breathed, the word a plea and a surrender all at once.