Newly Summoned Demoness - Epilogue – 15 Days Later (Patreon)

Elania’s consciousness stirred slowly, like a beast waking from a deep hibernation. Her body felt heavy and lethargic, the remnants of a profound exhaustion lingering in her bones.

She was lying on something soft that smelled faintly of lavender and clean linen—a bed, she realized. Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

A system message appeared, filling her vision with a new prompt.

[You have acquired a new body.]

It took her several seconds to comprehend that she was no longer in the Celestial Engine or facing down the Magisters.

Turning her head slightly, Elania spotted Yolani slumped in a chair beside the bed. The young woman looked worn down, with dark shadows underlining her eyes and scars marring her once-smooth face. Bandages were still wrapped around her forearms—a stark reminder of their recent battle.

Yolani was asleep, her chest rising and falling in sync with the steady rhythm of her breaths. Despite everything they had been through, there was an undeniable sense of peace that emanated from her.

A pang of guilt ran through her, for what, she didn’t exactly understand why. Neither of them were to blame for the events that had assailed them like a hurricane.

Elania watched Yolani sleep for a while longer before closing her eyes again. Questions swirled in her mind—about what had happened after she’d fallen into the Engine; about the confrontation with the Magisters—and what would happen now?

She pushed them away for now. Yolani was there—she wasn’t alone anymore. If it was safe enough to sleep…then she would do so. The all-encompassing weariness was pervasive.

Elania fell back asleep without worry or disaster looming over her.

***

When Elania woke again, it was to the sound of soft humming. Opening her eyes, she found Yolani by her bedside, a book held in her lap.

“Yolani…” Elania croaked out, her voice hoarse from disuse.

Yolani looked up at her with a start. “Elania! You’re awake!” she exclaimed, relief and joy washing over her face. She jumped up and attacked her with a hug. “Thank the stars.”

Elania hugged her back, her cheeks heating slightly. Bringing herself up to a sitting position, she winced slightly at the stiffness in her joints. “How long…?”

“15 days,” Yolani replied quickly. “You’ve been unconscious for 15 days.”

Elania’s eyes widened. She briefly remembered stirring before, but had been so exhausted she’d fallen back asleep. A frown crossed her face.

“Everything is fine now,” Yolani hurriedly added, as if sensing Elania’s worry. “The shop is being rebuilt. Henri was freed from prison and pardoned. All charges against me were dropped. There’s… there’s sweeping reforms washing through the city, at the orders of the Magistry.”

Elania felt a wave of relief wash over her at the news, but then furrowed her brows in confusion. “How…?”

“You don’t remember?” Yolani asked with a blink.

Elania shook her head slowly. “I only remember falling into the Engine with Eziel.”

“The sword is gone. Paladin Anton was very upset,” Yolani explained.

“Is he going to come after me?” Elania asked carefully.

Yolani shook her head. “The Magisters banished him. You…you really don’t remember with the Magisters?”

Elania shook her head. “I really don’t.”

“You… you came back from the Engine. You and Eziel judged them. They’re following your instructions or…bad things will happen to them,” Yolani said before looking away. “And one other thing…”

Bending over, she picked up a small mirror, holding it so Elania could see her reflection. Neither red nor blue stared back at her—two golden irises glinted in the dim lighting of the room, mirroring the divine golds and hues of the Celestial Engine.

She pulled up her [Status] to see the changes.

[Status: Elania Reyes]

[Level 108 Lesser Demon (Ascendant)]

[Karma: 12243]

[Power: 1426/1426]

[Perks: (Soul Siphon - Visible) (Summoned from Another World!) (Regeneration) (Demonic Transformation)]

[Class: Judgement]

[Skill Slots: 4]

[Slotted Skills: Improvised Combat (Rank S+), Stealth (Rank S+), Mana Manipulation (Rank S+), Martial Bladesmanship (Rank C)]

[Affinities: (Demonic), (Divinity), (Mana), (Darkwalker)]

[Magical: Demonic Aura (Rank A) (Deactivated), Artifice (Rank E), Enhanced Mana Sensing (Rank E), Elemental Affinity (Rank E), Presence Concealment (Rank E)]

[Physical: Body Conditioning (Rank D), Mobility (Rank C), Darkvision (Rank B) (Activated), Throwing (Rank S+), Tracking (Rank S+), Archery (Rank E)]

[Mundane: Identify (Rank B), Universal Speech (Rank S), Reading (Rank A), Writing (Rank B), Crisis Management (Rank S+), Navigation (Rank E), Negotiation (Rank B), Intimidation (Rank D), Bribery (Rank C), Basic Handcrafting (Rank E)]

A silence fell between them as Elania processed the enormity of what had transpired. But at least it seemed like they were safe—and together, for now.

“I’m just glad you’re awake,” Yolani said softly, reaching out to squeeze Elania’s hand.

And despite everything else that needed addressing—questions to be asked and answered—Elania squeezed back with a grateful nod: so was she.

A small smile appeared on her lips. “Thank you, Yolani.”

“For what?” asked Yolani, looking slightly confused but not pulling away from their shared grasp.

“For everything,” Elania replied simply.

Elania glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She’d been changed, but she was, in the end, still herself.

And looking back into Yolani’s eyes, she knew without saying it out loud that whatever came next, they would face it together.

***

Thanks for reading! This has been a wild ride, the whole rewrite took 35 days in total...wow!

I need a few days to rest the brain, and then we will carry on and finish ShipCore Book A4! Finally we can finish the battle of Meltisar!

I also have a few ideas for some Demoness Sidestories that would be some small short stories that take place between it and book 2. I'm not ready to start book 2 yet though. I haven't fully thought it out. It might be that I work on Sigma16 2 first.