Newly Summoned Demoness 2 - Chapter 6 – Into the Depths (Patreon)

The murmurs of the injured and the gentle incantations of healing spells formed a muted backdrop as Elania and Yolani followed the two cultists through the makeshift shantytown that had sprung up int the sewers.

Everywhere they looked, there were signs of the Black Candle’s presence, from block-robed figures tending to the wounded, to candles and evidence of recent inhabitation nestled discreetly against the walls and metal huts.

Yolani cleared her throat, drawing the cultists’ attention. “How did you know people would need help?” she asked, her voice carrying a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

Ralei didn’t miss a beat as she continued to guide them and fink onward through the sewer muck. “We’ve been watching the demonstrations grow more heated by the day,” she explained. At the intersection, she paused, the warm glow from a nearby torch casting dancing shadows on her face. “The unrest was palpable, and we feared the worst.”

Elania grunted. That sounded nice, but the explanation didn’t really cut it for her. “It’s convenient that you were here, ready and waiting. Almost as if you had something to do with rousing the unrest in the first place.”

Fink’s reaction was immediate, his face contorting in anger. “We are here to help the people of Neftasu, nor hurt them,” he snapped back, his hands clenching into fists before Ralei placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

The conversation was cut short as they arrived at their destination, a ramshackle building that clung to the sewer wall like a barnacle, its door hanging open. Inside, several men huddled around a table strewn with maps and scrolls, their conversation halting abruptly as the newcomers were noticed. All eyes turned towards them, a tension filling the air.

Ralei stepped forward. “Darius, these women have questions,” she said, gesturing toward Elania and Yolani.

The man in the center of the group opposite of the table stood up, his piercing gaze locking onto Elania. Of the group, he was the only one not wearing a black robe, instead he was clad in a leather doublet with a sword belt that held a thin metal sword at his hip.

“You brought her here,” he said, his voice smooth and deep, tinged with an accusation as his gaze flickered to Ralei.

“Of course, they seem to be agitated by the circumstances,” Ralei replied easily.

Elania looked between them. Was the woman daft? He was clearly not happy.

“We don’t need more interactions with demons. She’s the one our beloved Bishop summoned,” Darius said.

The entire group of cultists fixated on her, half of them recoiling in horror, some with awe, but mostly… fear. She stiffened as her senses went on high alert.

Fink looked like he was about to attack or run away. “D…demon? Her eyes aren’t blue or red!”

Darius shook his head with a look of disgust on his face. “I know you’re an idiot, Fink,” he said before glancing at Ralei, “but I expected more of you, Relai. You have [Identify] at least.”

The woman looked at her, a frown crossing her lips. “It does say [Lesser Demon]… but she doesn’t seem like…?”

“She fell in the Celestial Engine, that’s why her eyes are divine golds,” Darius said.

A frown appeared on Elania’s face. “You know a lot about something that the Magisters kept hidden from the public. We aren’t here for pleasantries, either. We want to know what you people are doing in the sewers and why you’ve taken it upon yourselves to ‘assist’ the citizens.”

“The city above is fractured,” Darius finally spoke, his tone measured. “Those with power vie for control, leaving the weak to suffer. We provide aid where the Magisters and their guards fail to. People remember who helped them when they were at their lowest.”

Elania frowned; she hadn’t expected him to admit to anything so… pragmatic. She exchanged a fleeting look with Yolani before looking back to Darius.

“Treating gratitude as currency doesn’t inspire trust in you. Your leader wasn’t a very good man,” Elania accused.

She watched the tension appear on Darius’ face at the mention of the false Magister. “Relain’s methods didn’t represent the Black Candle, although his intentions were in the right place.”

“Intentions? I distinctly recall my arrival. War with the Overworld? Seriously, what is your angle?” Elania demanded.

Darius raised his chin. “I intend to save this city. From the elements tearing it apart from within, and from those who seek its ruin from above.”

“That sounds great, but how about some specifics? Otherwise, that’s just a load of bullshit,” Elania said harshly. The entire gathering tensed up at her tone, and even Yolani shot her a worried glance. It didn’t change anything, though.

“The Lightbringer order has been infiltrating Neftasu’s high-society and nobility for years. In the last few months, those efforts have sprawled into blatantly sowing discontent and preparing the groundwork for an invasion. The Archdiocese of Tiara is only too happy to assist them. They’ve always had a need for an external threat, and Neftasu makes a perfect antagonist for them.”

Elania blinked. She’d heard of the Lightbringer Order. Paladin Anton had made sure of that. But Archdiocese of Tiara? Her limited knowledge of geography was biting her in the ass. Just learning about the various districts of the city had been a pain. Weren’t they buried a million miles underground?

She looked to Yolani for guidance, but the other girl shrugged, looking just a blank. Apparently, Overworld geography was a niche bit of knowledge.

“The Empire’s apathy has waxed and waned for decades, but their fascination with artifice and the demonic has evaporated with the new emperor. All their attention is to the east—on Contia, where they have gained access to the new markets of Lentestia. One does not need artifice when one can make do with the purchase of the fey for the same purposes.”

“You’re saying there’s danger of an invasion? The Magisters don’t seem to be aware of any such thing, and they’ve been doing their best to reform things,” Elania countered.

Darius bit back a flash of anger before relaxing and then laughing. “Ah, yes. The Magisters. They are the ones who have caused all of this in the first place. With hundreds of years of rule, they have decided—or been forced—to attempt to clean up the rot at the last hour.”

He paused and shook his head. “Well, it’s too late. Before there was an uneasy peace because it was too difficult to reach Neftasu. Whatever events caused the shakeup, the Lightbringer’s spies have descended in force, and the preparation for invasion has already begun.”

Yolani finally spoke up. “Forgive me for being skeptical, but why wouldn’t the Magisters know about such a thing if it is already going on?”

Darius’s eyes held a spark of frustration. “The Magisters are ensnared in webs of their own making, blinded by their own bubbles and internal politics to see the storm gathering beyond their borders.”

Elania grunted. That… didn’t seem impossible, actually. Especially considering the earlier meeting with Bannon. There was still one major thing she wanted to address, though.

“Why did you send me a box of mana shards yesterday?” Her question was pointed.

The frown on Darius’s face deepened. “We did not send any such thing,” he stated bluntly. “We lost all the mana shards gathered for the bishop when the Lightbringer destroyed our base.”

Yolani interjected, pulling out the box of shards from her bag. “A cultist claiming to be from the Black Candle delivered them to our shop. We have the box to prove it.”

It clicked open and the sparkling treasures inside filled the shanty building with a brighter light, casting the occupants in stark relief against the shadows.

There was a moment of silence, and then raised voices raised a commotion in the distance. Shouts echoed behind them, and a cultist burst into the meeting area, the man breathless and wide-eyed. “The Guard! They’re coming down into the sewers after the people who escape!”

Darius’s reaction was immediate, his voice cutting through the panicked murmurs around the table. “Time to pack up. Gather everything and get ready to move.”

Elania exchanged another glance with Yolani. It was a pain in the ass that they couldn’t talk freely. Should they wait for the guard? Hold the cultists here? All of that seemed ridiculous.

“We don’t want anything to do you with your revolution, or whatever it is,” Elania stated firmly and loud enough to draw back Darius’ attention. Yolani nodded slightly, siding with her decision.

Darius shot her a look that was both dismissive and relieved. “Just because the previous leader thought you were some savior, doesn’t mean you’re anything special,” he retorted. He turned to Ralei and Fink and waved them over. “Get them out of here,” he instructed.

He turned away and began to focus on directing the evacuation, paying the two of them no more mind.

Elania’s eye twitched. She wanted to hiss at him. Yolani’s hand on her shoulder was enough to calm her down, and the four of them headed out.

Ralei looked at her. “It’s our purpose to help the people.”

“Relain and his cultists caused the mana shard crisis, and for Elania being summoned. Forgive us if we are skeptical of your purpose,” Yolani replied.

“Let’s just hurry. There’s only so many ways out that won’t lead to somewhere watched,” Fink answered.

Elania bit her lip as the two cultists led them through the maze of tunnels, an unwelcome reminder of her early days in Neftasu. She couldn’t shake the memory of disdain that had laced Darius’s words, and it felt like they had been left with more questions than answers.

She didn’t think the Guard would hurt her or Yolani, but the prospect of having to return to the Headquarters and answer just what they had been doing talking to the cultists felt like enough of a reason to get out before they were found.

The prepared torches ran out, and Elania sparked her light ball again for the others. The murk seemed to close in as the tunnels became more narrow away from the primary avenues. That was mostly a good sign she thought—that meant they were getting further away from the central square.

Ralei slowed down to a halt as they rounded a corner. “There should be guide torches here.”

Fink grunted. “Maybe they went out? Rivet was watching this section and taking those who needed to get to the Artisan district…”

The hairs on the back of Elania’s neck suddenly stood up. Her [Darkwalker] instincts began to scream at her all at once, and she looped an arm around Yolani and jumped away from where they had been standing.

The other girl’s yelp came in reply a second before a metal shriek and then a wet gurgle and thud erupted. Elania caught herself on the balls of her feet, while Yolani scampered to regain her footing as a splash in the watery muck sent filth flinging everywhere.

Two red eyes filled the darkness, standing over the two headless bodies of Ralei and Fink.

“I ate all of them. Teeheehee.”

[Filth Eater – Lesser Demon – Level 558]