Demoness 2 - Chapter 73 - Guttering Flames (Patreon)

Elania touched down on one of the emplacements built into the side of the Magistry tower, her wings folding around her like a starry cloak.

She stumbled slightly, catching herself on a nearby wall. The exhaustion hit her like a physical blow, the events of the past hours - or was it days? - catching up to her all at once.

The guards manning the cannon emplacement paused in their work, nodding at her in acknowledgment. Elania nodded back, too tired to do more than that.

Then she did a double take.

The cannon they were manning wasn’t a cannon at all. It looked like something she’d seen in a history book. A Gatling gun, like the ones used in the American Civil War.

“Where did you get that?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

One of the guards grinned. “The artificer made it. She’s been working non-stop.”

Elania blinked. “Yolani made that? In just a few hours?”

The guard shrugged. “Guess so. We’ve tested it several times already. Works like a charm for laying down suppression fire at a distance.”

Elania shook her head in amazement. She knew Yolani was talented, but this was beyond anything she’d expected. Actually, the elemental bombs had proven to be far more potent than she had expected as well.

She waved at the guards and headed inside.

The corridors and hallways seemed endless, especially since the elevator was in use and she took to the stairwells. There were enough people everywhere that any time she wasn’t sure on which path to take, there was guidance.

When she finally reached the floor with the workshop and her and Yolani’s quarters, she felt relief. Everything felt like it was pressing down on her, and she needed rest.

Just a little further…

“Elania!”

The sharp voice stopped her in her tracks. Magister Keswick stood in the corridor, her face a mask of barely contained anger.

“Magister Keswick,” Elania acknowledged. “I just returned. I—”

“What were you thinking?” Keswick demanded, cutting her off. “Why did you destroy the City Watch?”

Elania blinked. “I took out the causeways, as planned. They can’t make it across now.”

Keswick waved a hand dismissively. “Yes, I saw that. Good work. But that doesn’t explain why you leveled the City Watch Fortress!”

Elania bristled. Who did this woman think she was to be shouting at her like this?

“I had no choice!” Elania’s voice rose, booming in the hall. “Elder Holt and Arch-Paladin Anton were there.”

“And Magister Bannon?” Keswick pressed, her eyes narrowing. “Where is he?”

Elania’s heart sank, wings flickering. She looked away. “He wouldn’t come with me. I tried to get him to retreat, but he insisted on staying to cover the guards’ escape and fight Elder Holt.”

“You should have brought him back alive,” Keswick said coldly. “That was more important than a few thousand more soldiers.”

Elania’s hands squeezed into fists. “I asked him. I practically begged him, but he wouldn’t listen!”

She spun on her heel, storming away down the corridor. Her wings flickered and sputtered, the turmoil disrupting her seraph transformation. She didn’t care. She just needed to get away, to find Yolani, to…

Keswick didn’t follow her. As soon as she had turned through a few intersections, Elania paused and placed a fist on the wall, barely holding back tears. It wasn’t just Bannon that she’d failed to save, but so many more people… so many more.

Worse, she’d unleashed another attack that had likely slaughtered even more.

Wiping her face with her forearm, she blinked the tears away. She couldn’t break down, not here, not now.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself off the wall and continued; her steps heavy. The tower was enough of a maze that she could pick another path to her quarters.

She just hoped Yolani was there.

Elania stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She found herself lying with her head cradled in Yolani’s lap, the other girl’s gentle arms enveloping her. A sense of calm and peace washed over Elania as she pressed her cheek against Yolani’s leg, savoring the familiar comfort.

Yolani’s fingers wove through Elania’s hair, the soothing motion easing the tension from her body. “Are you feeling better?” Yolani asked softly.

Elania drew a shaky breath. “If I didn’t have Crisis Management and the [Divinity] numbing my emotions, I think I’d break.” The words spilled from her lips in a whisper, the weight of the recent events pressing down on her.

“The battle, the bombings, the killings... thousands of killings. And Bannon...” Her voice cracked, the pain still raw.

Yolani listened intently, her fingers never ceasing their gentle strokes through Elania’s hair. She didn’t interrupt, allowing Elania to pour out her heart, to unburden herself.

When Elania fell silent, her voice hoarse and her eyes glistening with unshed tears, Yolani spoke. “Do you want to hear what I think?” she asked gently, her tone devoid of judgment or expectation.

Elania shook her head, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “No, it’s enough that you listened. Thank you, Yolani.”

The gentle strokes continued, the rhythmic motion a silent reassurance of her presence, her support.

In that moment, Elania allowed herself to simply be, to exist in the quiet comfort of Yolani’s embrace, the world and its troubles momentarily forgotten.

Elania’s eyes opened, her consciousness snapping back with clarity. She stretched, her hand instinctively reaching out for Yolani, but found only empty space beside her. The sheets were cool to the touch, indicating that Yolani had been up for some time.

With a sigh, Elania pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on her mind, but she forced them aside. It felt slightly further away, but still raw. She needed to focus on the present, on what she could control.

She made her way to the bathroom, turned on the hot water for the tub, and stripped off her underwear. Then she sat down and let the water slowly fill up around her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the simple heat.

When she emerged, she felt refreshed, her mind clearer.

She selected a fresh outfit from the closet, the fabric soft against her skin. As she dressed, she couldn’t help but notice Yolani’s scent lingering on everything - the sheets, the towels, even the air itself. It was a comforting presence.

Her cheeks heated. Was it normal to think of someone’s… scent like that? Maybe it was the darkwalker pushing through again.

A thought struck her then, an idea that had been nagging at the back of her mind. If she transformed into a darkwalker, would she have different perk choices? The seraph ones hadn’t been appealing other than the healing one, and the prospect of exploring new options was tempting.

But she hadn’t been able to utilize the [System] while transformed into a big black panther thing…

Plus, with her massive [Divinity] essence overload, she doubted she could transform into something else at all. She focused inward, accessing her [Soul Management] interface. The numbers glowed: [Divinity] essence at 88%, the rest equally divided between human and darkwalker.

Elania grimaced. She knew she needed to transfer some of that [Divinity] to the Celestial Engine to keep it running smoothly.

But the thought of facing Keswick again made her feel sour.

No, she decided. She would deal with that later. For now, she’d find her partner.

She made her way to the adjoining workshop, the sound of tinkering and the hum of machinery filling the air as soon as the door cracked open. As soon as she was inside, she caught sight of Yolani hunched over a workbench, the other girl’s brow furrowed in concentration.

Elania paused in the doorway, taking a moment to watch, a smile sliding onto her lips on its own.

Not everything was a nightmare.