139: Today’s Enemies (Patreon)

“You’re not just saving these demons,” Princess Tiyana seethed. “You're allowing humans to die because that's exactly what  they'll do if you free them. I'm sorry, Apra. I'll not stand aside and  watch this tragedy unfold. I was powerless to prevent the deaths of my  parents. Never again.”

Vir looked shocked. Maiya could practically read his mind because she felt the same.

After hearing all that—after listening to his story—that’s what you say!?

What had happened to the princess was cruel, yes, and the demon radicals in Matali were practically  savages. One that Kin’jal had helped groom and foster to ensure  permanent infighting within Matali’s walls. All to hasten their  already-inevitable demise.

It was a despicable strategy, and when Maiya  had learned of it, she’d nearly retched. Then she’d learned the other  countries in the Known World were no better, and then she’d been  depressed for a good while. But not all demons were that way. Wasn't Vir living proof?

“Tia, please. Just stay out of my way. Didn’t you promise you would? Are you gonna go back on that now?”

“I'd like to blame you for keeping secrets,  but then I'd be a hypocrite,” Tia said, ignoring him. “Apra, my name is  Princess Tiyana Matali. Second to the throne of Matali, and though it  tears me, I shall not let you pass.”

Vir’s eyes widened in surprise.

Oh, great. So he didn’t know she was a princess, either. Just how dysfunctional is this party?

“Princess, huh? I'd figured you for a  high-ranking Sawai, but I admit, I didn't think a princess would ever  run around risking her life as a mercenary.”

Tiyana leveled her spear in response and rushed forth.

Vir cursed, narrowly deflecting her blow.

The princess didn’t stop, attacking him with thrusts faster than what she ought to be capable of.

She moves like that because of her Talent, Haste. But why is Vir being pressured so hard?

Tia’s attacks were incredibly fast, yes, but  Maiya felt even she could deflect them. If so, there was no way Vir  would be struggling.

Unless I’ve grown stronger than him? No way. That can’t be right… can it?

True, she’d learned the Kin’jal Balarian  arts, and with her magic, she might actually be stronger, though she’d  always doubted it. It was Vir who’d shown her the secrets of prana  manipulation. He was the one experimenting, pushing the boundaries with magic. She was merely a student, following her instructor’s advice.

For her to have grown stronger…

No! It’s not that at all! Maiya realized suddenly. His heart isn’t in this. He doesn’t want to fight her. Ach, Vir!

Vir hadn’t returned a single strike. Not because he was pressured, but because he didn’t want to harm Tia.

On the one hand, it was adorable. On the other, Maiya wished he’d poke a few holes in her, just to deflate that enormous ego.

It’s what I would do. Come on, Vir! You just delivered those seric lines! Don’t ruin it now!

“You’re really going to fight me,” Vir said, clearly in denial. “You’re willing to kill me?”

Tia didn't reply, instead backing several paces to retrieve a red orb.

“Tiyana, don’t you dare use Fire magic in here,” Maiya shouted. “Do you mean to destroy Kin’jal property?”

“I’ll compensate Kin’jal for damages incurred.”

A part of Maiya’s mind recognized this as  advantageous. Perhaps Princess Ira would’ve allowed it—having Tia in her  debt would be more valuable than any property damage incurred.

But Maiya wasn’t Ira, and this wasn’t acceptable.

“We will consider this an act of aggression against Kin’jal. Fight if you must, but you will do no damage to this garrison. Is that understood?”

Tia didn’t reply, and Maiya only relaxed when the princess pocketed her orb.

“Vason, Haymi. Back me up. Haymi, support magic. Now. Vason, pressure him.”

Maiya stole a glance at Vir, who stared back, looking like he’d been abandoned.

‘Why aren't you helping?’ his expression seemed to say.

Maiya bit her lip and averted her eyes, maintaining her Head Handmaiden chalface.

“Fine,” Vir spat. “If this is how it’ll be, then I’ll do what it takes. I’m not leaving without these demons.”

Vir’s words ripped like an arrow through Maiya’s heart. For, while he’d directed his gaze at Tia, Maiya knew.

Those words were meant for me, too. I gotta say something. I have to—that’s it!

Vir was embroiled in his fight against Tia, but Maiya spoke loud enough to make herself heard.

“The fighters of Saran stick together!”

Both Tia and Vir turned. Tia, looking like Maiya had just gone crazy, and Vir, who frowned in confusion.

He didn’t get it, did he?

Vir’s actions were no longer lethargic. He’d made his resolve, and now he put  pressure on Tia, Vason, and Haymi at the same time, though he kept  stealing expectant glances her way. A detail the princess didn’t fail to  miss.

“What’s wrong? Can’t keep your eyes off the redhead? Why don’t you keep your eyes on me, instead!”

Maiya couldn’t keep her lips from turning up.

He certainly has good taste.

Tia launched a flurry of attacks, hoping to capitalize on Vir’s distraction, but to no avail.

Vir was a black blur, moving from enemy to  enemy, striking and leaping away before they could engage. Vir had  instantly shifted the tide of the battle, but what now? Maiya didn’t  truly believe he’d kill Tia. Nor would she ever allow it.

Winning isn’t his goal, though. He’s only  trying to get those demons out. The moment they are, he’ll disengage. I  can help with that!

Based on how the battle was going, she  doubted it’d be resolved anytime soon—only Tia was actively trying to  harm Vir. Haymi hung back, powering Tia’s armor and weapon, but launched  no offensive magic of her own. Vason stepped in halfheartedly to block  strikes, but Maiya could tell the warrior wasn’t fighting anywhere near  his full potential.

When Maiya slipped out of the room, only Haymi noticed, giving her a slight nod.

Maiya ran the moment she was out, traversing  the hallway adjacent to the jail room. This particular room sat at the  corner of two hallways, which meant its walls, while thick, weren’t  impenetrable.

And Maiya had the perfect tool for cutting  things. She rounded the bend, only to come face-to-face with Order  raiders who stormed down the hall.

Maiya raised her hands. “I mean you no harm.  We have a bit of a problem. Demons are trapped in the chamber on the  other side of this wall and a battle rages there. Do not interfere—you’ll only make things worse.”

“What would you suggest?” a demon asked.

Thank the gods they’re reasonable. Maiya didn’t fail to note the irony of how she was able to negotiate with an enemy more easily than a princess on her own side.

“I’ll cut open this wall with my magic. Free the prisoners and bring them to safety. I’ll ensure no one interferes.”

“Acceptable, but please move quickly. We are short on time.”

Wow, he’s even polite…

Maiya produced three precharged C-Grade Wind Blade orbs and unleashed her magic upon the stone wall.

A half dozen Wind Blades would  ordinarily be sufficient to destroy most stone walls, but of course,  Kin’jal walls—even internal ones—were far from normal.

Maiya quickly recharged her orbs, taking only  a handful of seconds. The sounds of battle could be heard even out  here, the sounds of strained shouts accompanying the clang of seric and  steel.

Come on! Faster!

It took twenty attacks to break the wall open, nearly saturating Maiya’s blood.

“Go! Hurry!”

The order demons snuck through the  rectangular hole she’d gouged with professional efficiency, surprising  her with how effortlessly they maneuvered their bodies through the small  space.

Hard to even tell they live in a prana-starved land. Just goes to show that training can overcome even the worst impediments.

Maiya didn’t linger, rushing back to the fight to find it’d devolved into a shouting match between Vir and Tia.

“They slaughtered my parents! Why  don’t you understand? You can’t negotiate with demons! Look at the way  that one stares at me! He’d kill me now if he could.”

“You’re ash-damned right I would!” a four-armed demon said from behind Vir.

“You’re not helping!” Vir snapped.

Tia swept low, and Vir jumped to avoid it.  Using the opportunity, she thrust, catching Vir in the chest with a  magically enhanced attack.

His seric armor protected him, but Vir was  thrown flat on his back. Tia brought her spear down to skewer him, but  he sunk into the shadows before he could.

“Tia, I get it. Demons did horrible things to  you,” Vir said from an unknown location, his voice coming through  distorted. It took a few seconds for Maiya to find his upper body  popping out from behind Haymi’s shadow.

“Where are you? Come and fight! Where’s your honor?”

Maiya kept shifting her attention between the battle and the escaping prisoners. Come on. Come on. Just a little longer!

“I don’t know what they’re like in Matali, but they sound pretty bad. Look at me, though. Am I that kind of person?”

“I don’t know what you are! Tell me  true, Apramor! Was everything we had a lie?” Tia seethed. “I was going  to tell you I was a princess, y’know? Someday. But you? You never even  planned on revealing your secret, did you? You’d have kept us in the  dark, laughing at my human stupidity all the while.”

“I was about to tell you after we met! But  then you had to go and say you hated demons. I’d have to be daft to tell  you after hearing that. Who in their right mind would?”

“Someone with backbone, at least. Coward!”

Tia finally found Vir’s hiding spot, but her attack found only cold stone; he’d disappeared again.

“No!” Tia shrieked, making Haymi flinch.

“Erm, Tia?”

“What?”

“You might not want to hear this, but those prisoners? They’re, um, gone.”

Tia whirled in horror. Where there had once been a prison filled with shackled demons, now there were none.

Tia’s face warped. “You did this!” she screamed, pointing at Maiya.

“Are you accusing a Kin’jal Royal Handmaiden  of treason?” Maiya said calmly. “I do hope you have ample evidence to  back such slanderous claims.”

Ha! Take that, you little brat.

Panic flashed across the princess’ face, but she immediately turned to Vir. “I’m gonna make you pay.”

Tia redoubled her attacks, coming at Vir with  everything she had. Vir matched her blow for blow, and the situation  devolved rapidly.

He’d improved more than she’d imagined. His blows were heavy and fast, and whenever Tia countered, he’d slip into the shadows.

Why isn’t he breaking off? The demons are gone!

They were lost in their own world, exchanging  blows, shouting insults at each other. Even their verbal battle had  broken down into something more fitting for children than fully grown  warriors.

“Why won’t you just stop!”

“I’m gonna kill you, filthy demon!”

“You couldn’t kill me if you tried, Tia.”

“Shut up, chal!”

Maiya cringed. This is so embarrassing.

Haymi and Vason apparently felt the same—the warrior wasn’t even interfering anymore.

Then it happened.

Tia deflected Vir’s katar and feigned a  retreat. Vir pursued, and Tia reversed course, driving her spear forth.  It found the small gap in Vir’s armor between his leg and torso, and  penetrated, plunging deep into his appendix.

Vir roared in pain, and the room froze.

Maiya expected Vir’s injury to force him to  retreat. But instead, his anger redoubled. He drew back his katar, and  Maiya could almost feel his bloodlust.

If Maiya was honest, she'd sleep alright at night even if Tia died here. She'd be happy to stand aside and let it happen.

But there were two reasons why she couldn't.  For one, she knew Vir would never live down the guilt of having acted in  rage. Whether justified or not, he'd feel like he'd done something  wrong.

The other, more pressing concern was that if  Maiya allowed Princess Tiyana to be injured here, it may very well spark  an international incident. It could very well undo Kin'jal's plans for  Matali, turning them from a pawn into an enemy. Moreover, it would  thwart Princess Ira's efforts.

Not happening.

Maiya rushed in, shielding the princess with her body and deflecting his katar with her dagger—at least, it should have deflected it. But this was no ordinary attack. Empowered by some invisible Talent, Vir’s katar sliced her dagger in two.

Where did he learn that!? He’s way too strong. I can’t stop it!

Time seemed to slow as Maiya watched the  blade touch her armor—and then effortlessly pass right through.  Handmaiden armor wasn’t designed to be especially thick, favoring  mobility over pure defensiveness.

It stood no chance. The katar punched through, and pain bloomed in her stomach.

Vir froze in horror, realizing what he’d just done.

“I... I didn't. No!“

“You’ve made your point, demon,” Maiya choked out through the pain. “The prisoners are gone. Retreat, or suffer the full consequences.”

She could have explained herself, but that  would reveal his connection to her, and for his own sake, she wouldn’t  let that happen.

Vir backed away, nearly stumbling. Tears  welled up in his eyes. “Why?” he asked, eyes flitting between Tia,  Vason, Haymi… and Maiya.

Please! Don’t look at me like that. If it was anyone else, she might’ve borne it. But not Vir.

Then he was gone, escaping through the hole in the wall.

I want to cry… Maiya didn’t cry, despite the pain. But she did fall to the ground. Blood flowed from her body, staining her gambeson skirt.

“Haymi!” Vason cried.

“On it!” Haymi replied, kneeling beside Maiya to administer her Life magic.

“Where do you think you’re going, my liege?” Vason said, barring Tiyana’s path. The princess looked about to storm off after Vir.

“Isn't it obvious? I'm going after him.“

Maiya was just about done with this overgrown child.

“Miss Handmaiden,“ Vason said, “would you  consider ordering your Balarian Guard to restrain our princess, should  she step outside this room?”

“I would.”

Tia halted in her tracks. “Vason? Don’t you dare.”

“And, in your report to the esteemed Princess  Ira, will you mention how Tia disobeyed orders, actively working to  foil Kin’jali plans?”

“What in the realms are you trying to pull?” Panic crept into Tia’s voice.

“Absolutely,” Maiya replied, understanding Vason’s intent.

“And,” Vason continued, locking eyes with Tia, “Will you mention how her reckless behavior led directly to Princess Ira’s Right Hand incurring a mortal wound?”

“But of course.”

“You’re serious. You’re both abandoning me?” Tia said in disbelief, turning to Haymi.

The mejai—her friend—looked away.

“Only doing what we should’ve done a long time ago, princess. Because you’re too blind to see for yourself.”

Tia dropped her spear, allowing it to clatter  to the ground, before sitting cross-legged. “Fine. Whatever. I see I  have no friends here. Have it your way. ”

You truly are blind. You can’t even see how much they care for you.

“I gotta go,” Maiya said, rising to her feet. “I gotta make things right.”

“You’re not fully healed, Handmaiden! Please, rest!”

If she wasn’t drowning in a million thoughts, Maiya might’ve realized her chalface voice had dropped, and that her face showed her emotions like an open book.

“Go where?” Vason asked. “Make things right with whom?”

The warrior never got an answer. Maiya was gone.

Vir stumbled through the mists as if in a waking dream, half-conscious, and with only the vaguest idea of where he was.

“Brother, you have returned,” the gray demon  said with open arms, but then he saw Vir’s limp. “You’re wounded!  Quickly, let me see to you!”

Vir lay on the grass and allowed the demon to  apply antiseptics and bandages, keeping the wound compressed. Luckily,  it’d been clean, and the damage looked worse than it was. He’d sucked  the blood away from the wound, leaving just enough to clot it, but that  did nothing for the agonizing pain. “The demons are safe?”

“All fifteen. They’ll need nourishment, but  we’ve already given them enough water for the journey home. I’ve patched  you up the best I can. We’ll want to replace your bandages and get you  to a healer when we land for our first break.”

“Then let’s go.”

Badal placed a hand on his shoulder. “What  you did must have been hard. Of that, I’ve no doubt. Take pride, at  least, in knowing that you personally saved the lives of those souls  this night.”

“I will,” Vir whispered, accepting the  demon’s help to climb onto the Acira, his mind a maelstrom of anger,  guilt, and sadness in equal parts.

This is a nightmare, Vir thought. His focus ebbed in and out due to the wound, and his mind ran rampant. Delirious.

He’d lost everything. Why couldn’t he just wake up? But there was no waking from this nightmare. No euphoric release. He was trapped, crushed under a mountain from which there was no escape.

He needed someone. Someone to talk to.  Someone to listen while he poured out the chaos in his heart. Even Neel  would’ve sufficed. In the past, Maiya played that role. Perhaps Tia.  Now, Vir was alone. Lost in his mind for hours as the wind deafened his  ears and chilled his cheeks.

A fitting mirror for how he felt inside.

Vir’s thoughts shifted nonsensically from one  to another, spurred by the pain of his wound. Replaying events over and  over again, despite his best efforts to avoid exactly that. He tried  coming up with scenarios where things could have played out differently.  Tia was one thing. Her words had burned him, though at least he knew  where she came from. He’d gone through something analogous, hadn’t he?  How could he blame her for her hatred of demons when Vir harbored the  very same hatred toward knights?

But Maiya…

Why was she there? How? She was with  Kin'jal, so she'd have known what the Order was doing that night. Why  hadn't she helped? Was it because she didn't know the true nature of the  Order? Did she disapprove of his actions? But that didn't make sense  either. She knew he wouldn't help demon haters.

No, she must've had some larger agenda. Something I don't know about.

When she appeared, Vir had been so euphoric,  he nearly jumped with joy. Which was, of course, what made him blurt out  Tia's name when Maiya had shaken her head. The embarrassment of that  moment was still fresh in his chest.

When Maiya pretended not to know him... Even  knowing she must've had a good reason for it did nothing to alleviate  the pain in his chest. It was stupid to feel that way, Vir knew, and yet  the emotions refused to abate.

Vir shoved those thoughts aside, but his other thoughts were hardly more pleasant.

Really thought I could show Tia…

Vir was living proof that not all demons were  evil, wasn’t he? They’d shared mead, fought together, and even saved  each others’ lives. Wasn't there a bond there? Something that couldn’t  be broken by revealing he was a demon. What difference did it make? He  was the same person underneath.

How wrong he’d been. Vir was now sure—nothing  he said or did would have changed Tia’s mind. It was like arguing with a  brick wall.

Perhaps if I’d approached it differently…

Maybe in some pub after a few drinks. Or  after he’d saved Haymi’s life? Maybe then? Tia might have been more  reasonable. But after all they’d said to each other—she’d stabbed  him—could there ever be peace between them again? Did she even deserve it, after what she'd done?

As bad as that was, he’d stabbed Maiya.

No, that wasn’t right. Maiya had forced her way into his attack. What was he supposed to do?

How could she have taken Tia’s side? Where was she when Tia speared me? She defended the princess, why didn’t she defend me?

He was her best friend. He’d grown up with her. He left bread crumbs for her to follow.

This isn't like me, Vir felt, feeling his consciousness dip in and out.

He felt ridiculous for harboring such  thoughts. Maiya was undercover and clearly had good reasons for it.  There was a simple reason for his anguish. He'd hurt his best friend, and no rational logic cut through that guilt.

I don't deserve her.

He'd hurt the girl who’d remembered his  birthdays, who’d defended him when everyone else had abandoned him.  She’d been with him through thick and thin. And he hadn’t even ensured  she’d be okay after. Yes, Haymi would’ve healed her wound, but Vir  couldn’t say for certain. What if Tia turned on Maiya? What if she was  bleeding out on the floor at this very moment?

Gods, I need to go back for her!

It was impossible, of course. Badal would  never turn their Acira around, and Vir wouldn’t be able to fight in the  condition he was in. He’d simply have to live with the consequences of  his actions, even if he could never accept what it meant.

Like the consequences of attacking Tiyana Matali.

And then it all made sense. Maiya's actions. Her intervening on Tia's behalf.

Vir knew exactly what happened when  one harmed a princess. He already had one country out for his blood. The  last thing he needed was another. Impoverished as they were, Vir  somehow doubted the Crown Prince of Matali would allow his transgression  to go unpunished. Not to mention Haymi and Vason. If they didn’t hate  him before, they certainly would after he’d harmed their charge.

That was why she stopped my attack. She was trying to protect me. The realization only served to make his guilt cut deeper. Why did it take me so long to notice?

Even with Maiya's intervention, Vir half  expected a new bounty out for him. Unlike Princess Mina, Tia knew Vir’s  Mercenary name—she could make life quite difficult for him if she chose  to. Maybe she’d even pursue them back?

The lingering worry had Vir glancing over his shoulder, in case any Acira pursued.

What a fine mess this is.

Vir would never have guessed Tia was royalty.  She’d never once acted like it, after all. He’d always assumed she was  the tomboy daughter of a high ranking Sawai family, who’d run away from  home in search of adventure. What princess would be insane enough to  fight a Brood Matron?

It took some time for Vir to come to terms  with the night’s events, but the night was long and the demons stopped  often to regroup and allow their Acira to rest.

At their first break spot, Vir allowed an  Order healer to treat him. To his surprise, the healer was actually a  Life mejai who’d brought along a dozen orbs. Far from the Voidlands as  they were, the healer’s C Grade Mend Flesh made short work of the damage. Without it, Vir would have been looking at weeks of recovery.

The relief from the pain helped clear his mind, restoring his mental state to something resembling normalcy.

The group took to the skies again, and Vir  returned to his thoughts. Once the shock wore off, there was only one  emotion that remained in his heart. Loneliness. Like a gaping hole in his chest.

He’d been so desperate to make friends, he’d  ignored the warning signs Tia had given off. The red flags, the obvious  danger of signing on with demon haters. But at least he’d always had  Maiya. She was his anchor in the ocean. His safe harbor from the storm.

After the night's events, he couldn't say  when they'd meet again, and that fact was not one he could simply  accept. It’d linger like an anvil, weighing down his every action. Like  losing Neel, only worse.

And while he’d found the Pagan Order, they  couldn’t truly take her place. Nobody could. There was something  different about his relationship with them. He hadn’t ever been to a pub  with Badal. Hadn’t shared in the revelry like he’d done with Spear’s Edge. He hadn’t chatted for hours under starlight like he’d done so many times with Maiya. It felt stiffer. More transactional.

He’d just have to give it time. He knew that. He knew, and yet he yearned. For Maiya.

But Fate was never so kind, was it?

By the time the Acira set down in Balindam,  Vir was barely conscious. The night’s toil, his injury, and the long  flights had all taken their toll, and all he wanted now was to sleep.

Then his boots touched grass, and when he  beheld the crimson-haired girl that waited for him, the raging emotions  that had just quieted came rushing back.

“Hey, you.”

Maiya!

“You took it too far, Tia,” Vason chided,  casting a worried glance over the princess. Hours had passed after their  battle, and Tiyana hadn’t budged from the jail. Balarian Guards had  blocked the hole in the wall, and Vason stood guard at the entrance. She  was trapped.

“You did,” Haymi piled on. “I can’t believe you said all that.”

Tia ground her teeth. “I just… I guess I got a little angry.”

“A little!?” Vason exclaimed. “You stabbed Apramor, Tia! That was low, even for you.”

“He’s a demon. You can’t... You can't trust their kind. And you two shouldn't have kept secrets from me. If there's blame to be had, you share it equally.”

“He wasn’t just some demon,” Vason snapped. “This is the guy who saved Haymi’s life! Who, need I remind you, also saved our butts fighting the grakking Brood Matron? You know, the monster you recklessly pitted us against?”

“How could you treat him that way? He’s done so much for us. What of his feelings? What of my feelings?” Haymi shrieked in anguish. “Now he hates me too. I'll never get to—”

“I get it, Haymi. I know you had a thing for him. I'm sorry.”

“It’s not me you ought to be apologizing to, Tia,” Haymi said with a sigh.

“You think we’ll ever see him again?” Vason asked softly.

Haymi looked crushed. “Would you want to see us again? After something like that?”

“No. No, I don’t suppose I would,” Vason said, casting his eyes over the princess.

Tia bit her lip, face scrunched up in anguish. She couldn't meet his gaze.