Wind swept through my beard as demonic hooves beat a path for the border. The nightlife caught my attention under a bright, starry sky, over a purple backdrop. Deer ran through mist rising from the ground as a tower came into view. We were passing by a battlefield that had been abandoned as the war continued to expand into human territory. Like a sickness, the demons spread, infecting kingdoms in the world like organs in the body.
Undead with flames in their sockets roamed the road. Ghouls fed on the foul flesh of the dead. Werewolves hunted down the ghouls and ripped them apart.
"But what eats the werewolves?" I asked.
"That would be the forest trolls." They are the apex predators around these parts." Siegfried said.
"Not dragons. I thought for sure dragons would come into play at some point."
"They have their part but not in this food chain." He turned to look back at the wagon. "They prey on the high aristocracy."
"That seems a bit unnatural," I said.
"John, did you think dragons were natural?"
"There is magic in the world. I assumed it had something to do with it."
Siegfried laughed. "I don't think I've ever heard someone so smart say something so ignorant."
"Give me some time, and this will be common, trust me." I shook my head. Alright, if they aren't natural, how, and a better question, why were they made?
That's easy; dragons were made to eliminate governments that are too powerful for citizens to overthrow. A T5 bioengineer job with near-endless funds and teams of researchers accomplished the task thousands of years ago. The dragons themselves destroyed the notes on their creation, but someone discovered some half-burned records centuries ago.
I didn't know what to say to that. On the one hand, good job. On the other, how was anyone supposed to beat something built to wipe out governments? Siegfried's ancestor defeated one.
"Will we meet any at the summit?" I asked.
"It's possible the Dragon League has sent a representative to meetings of lesser importance."
We approached a crossroads. One path would lead us to the Ruby Road, toward the border, and the other would take us to the Pearl Road. If the map were correct, it would take us to an elf-controlled port called White Crest. It was named for its white sand beaches.
We took the Pearl Road south for the sea. Sailing into human territory made more sense than breaking through an army of demons with the numbers we had. As far as anyone in the party knew, the demon lord had little interest in naval combat. All he had to do was hold the territory for a year, and he won.
Siegfried saw my change in our path but chose not to comment on it.
"You seem to be impressed with dragons, but they couldn't defeat the demon lord. How do you plan to beat him when you don't even have a job?" Siegfried asked.
Even if I took every demon in his army, I couldn't defeat him. The difference between a greater demon and a demon lord is too great. Fortunately, I have a method." I said.
All I needed was enough demonic power to activate my pride ability. For that, I needed five rings of demonic power. That was a tall order. A wise demon lord wouldn't allow anything above a lesser demon in the world.
Worlds with game mechanics can help summoned heroes gain enough experience points (XP) to overtake even a demon lord. So, greater demons were used sparingly to prevent heroes from making the leap in power needed to become a threat.
Siegfried shivered beside me. "It's only going to get colder." I said.
"You know the demon invasion saved my life," Siegfried said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"No, really, the empire had already killed the princes of the Roose Kingdom. Fifty thousand knights and 250,000 levies fell to 20,000 Empire riders. The worst part was that it was only an expeditionary party. If not for the demons, the true arm of the empire's forces would have wiped us out."
"Did the elves help at all?"
Siegfried sneered. They call us 'stunted ears" and the 'short-lived." Why risk an elf that can live ten human lifetimes for an ignorant human peasant that will die in 20 short years?" It appeared Siegfried didn't share my fondness for elves. We're heading for White Crest, a port town that the elves still control. You'll understand soon."
…
Six months before the Summoning
The moon was gone. Isilmar had lived to see a demon invasion.
Seaspray blasted his face as the ship cut through wave after wave of the ocean's wrath. Thunder boomed as waterspouts rose from the sea and swallowed lesser vessels. The statues of the gods cracked as a bolt of lightning struck the storm weaver's face. Stone fell hundreds of feet into the half-submerged islands below. Isilmar watched the manse of house Kailthir sink under the waves. His grandfather refused to leave and chose to die in his seat of power. The cold winds from the north blew against his face as the current that was once gentle and reliable sucked survivors beneath the waves.
Isilmar waited for his aid, the half-breed son of his sister, to say anything. He waited for an excuse to discipline the boy. He wanted to beat him for having the audacity to live when his sister drowned in the transport vessels. Safety devices didn't last long before the predators beneath the waves had their choice of survivors.
He clutched the cracked medallion in his hand. It was all he had left of her. He glanced at his nephew. Jon Kailthir is a mix of round-eared human trash and the treasured blood of his house.
Isilmar had been glad when his joke of a good brother passed away, an old man who no longer recognized his beloved sister.
"It pleases me that you have not spoken out of turn. There are more important matters than your pitiful emotions. Our house is doomed for all intents and purposes. This city ship is all that remains of my house, and the best of us are gone."
There were five thousand half-breeds on board of various ages. He would have to divide them if he meant to keep control of his ship. The first thing to do was to grant privileges to only those who were most obedient among them. He would give them command over others and condemn the lowest of the low, the halfbreeds that took after their human parents. They were a minority, and he would place them on the bottom. With ranks placing some above others, it would be more difficult for the halfbreeds to find common ground and rise against him.
A destination was needed to keep idle hands from preparing to overthrow his position. The demon invasion caused this disaster. Even the filthy, thin bloods could be inspired by patriotism.
"We sail for Port White Crest, where we will ferry the heroes summoned by the alliance to friendly waters."
"Uncle the Loramaris Emperor decreed we would not assist the alliance in their mad scheme."
Isilmar backhanded the boy.
It felt good, but he had only begun to express his displeasure of the living embarrassment before him. Oh, how he wanted to do so much more, but house Kalthir relied upon the work of the half breeds to maintain what little power it had left.
"I apologize, Nephew; give my orders to the captain, and we will set sail for Port White Crest. There is bound to be someone waiting for us there."
The filthy half-bred actually looked somewhat proud that Isilmar gave him a title of familiarity. His human blood too thinned his elven blood to recognize a tool of control.
He decided to up the standard and give the halfbreeds a surprise inspection. Isilmar soaked his favored leather whip in brine to keep infections from setting in and make his lashing sting more.
Days of issuing orders, increasing them, and punishing anyone who disobeyed his commands had turned the crew into a machine. He uplifted thin bloods to ensigns, chattel to petty officers, and his nephew to commodore. The best part was that they were overly pleased. He made them salute when higher officers roamed around, widening the divide between them even further. It appeared that the more ranks there were between himself and the lowest thin bloods, the more orderly his ship became. The captain and commodore held positions that separated them from the ensigns, who were far above the petty officers. It was glorious, and they didn't understand his cruelty. They had no idea he was dividing them to make them easier to control.
Thin-bloods who had problems with their lot focused their anger on the officers just above their station. Most never dreamed that he was the cause of their misery. He had them drill in the mornings and forced the learned thin bloods to share information with their subordinates. The very things that had made them feel special were stripped away from them, leaving only the ranks he had bestowed upon them to matter. He felt his control grow with every passing day, and they felt indebted to them for it.
…
It was raining. She watched lightning flash above and felt the thunder shake her to the bone. Weather in the green lands was always a treat. Nyxira had thought water falling from the sky was a myth until she was exiled from her home.
She could still see the tremendous golden spheres of the capital city of Xerathys, the jewel of the Ivory Steps. Life had been hard. She was an orphan kicked out onto the streets when her stepmother poisoned her father and took the family's riches. All she managed to take with her was a book on water magic.
Nyxira placed her hands on the hero's body and slowly revitalized him with the waters of life.
In those early days, she survived by extracting water from rats when she became thirsty. The water of life healed her wounds when she was nearly kicked to death for stealing a loaf of bread. She learned how to heal and became good at it because she had to. Her first kill had been at the age of five, and she hadn't stopped since.
Over time, she advanced in rank within various criminal organizations until her body count became too high. She was exiled because even the ancient wizards didn't dare challenge her. So they gave her an honor instead. Nyxira would lead the hero to save the world or die trying.
Nyxira felt the scar between her breasts. A little higher and to the left, and it may have killed her. The scar would last only a few more days before it, too, would be only a memory.
Hades, the boy she and many others had summoned to save the world, was as ruthless as they came. He cut them down when he thought they were no longer needed. It was an admirable trait. But he jumped the dune too early. The little sandfish wasn't yet ready to roar like a dragon.
The other human was also impressive. He took the enemy's resources and made them his own. He was also strong; using the enemy's power against them was another admirable trait. Unfortunately, he would never be strong enough.
If mere power were enough to defeat the demon lord, the Khan would have been able to beat him. If demons could defeat their lord, then the demon lord's army would destroy him.
She heard a groan and glanced down at the boy, who was resting in an old straw bed she had found in their abandoned home.
"I thought I killed you."
"I yet live."
"Maybe you had more use to my rise than I thought. How did that guy beat me? I don't understand. What job did he have?" Hades asked.
"He does not have a job," Nyxira said.
She waited with intense interest for his reaction.
"I see; he must be a demon, then."
Hades rose and searched for his sword. She pulled it free from the mud in a bubble of clear water. He reached for it, but the current within the bubble prevented it from leaving her grip.
You will not have it until we reach an agreement. I won't sponsor a fool."
…
The further down the Pearl Road we traveled, the better the road appeared. I was surprised at how lovely the scenery became. Unicorns galloped to keep pace with our demonic horses, which bumped into the wagon and tried to rouse the demon beasts. Storm clouds gathered overhead, and the air grew hotter as we traveled south. Occasionally, we rested the horses as we prepared for the final leg of our journey with them. Siegfried returned to camp with two deer slung over his shoulders while the butcher got to work preparing it.
We are nearing White Crest. You need to know some basic etiquette to make a good impression on the people there. If we do a good job, they may consider sponsoring you." Lirael said.
"Boss has us. Why does he need the support of some dumb elves?"
"You close your filthy elf-hating mouth, Garnet, or I'll shove something in there you don't like," I said.
"Jokes on you. My venom would melt it," Garnet said.
Lirael clapped. "Very good when around an elf; you should always appear overly eager to appease them." Use your demons as a cover to make yourself look better by lording your control over them. Power is an attractive trait to have, and the Salt Lords will approve of you exercising it on their behalf."
"Oh, also, wear a hat that covers your ears and never take it off. That could give the false impression of elven ancestry. The stunted pointy ears of a half-breed are considered an eyesore, but they are still looked on with more favor than a human."
So, elves were supremely racist against humans. I expected some problems, but this was a little beyond the pale. Lirael continued to show me how to bow, when to apologize, which was all the time, and how to be inoffensive.
I decided then, for this indignity; I would fuck every elf I could. There would be no elf off-limits.
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