The Emperor Class

Dreu rubbed his aching head. He vaguely recalled being taught two spells by the Eglallin look-alike before he blacked out from the pain. He was certain something else happened afterwards but his head went blank as to what. After a few attempts, the young man gave up trying to recall what happened. As he sat up on the bed, he was greeted by dull gray walls. When he looked around, he noticed a small window and a large sized doorway. No light shone through the small window so Dreu walked over to it, eager to find clues to his whereabouts. Outside the building, there were just other buildings with the same dull walls. Not a sound could be heard, prompting Dreu to check what time it was. When he looked up, there was only darkness above. Nothing like stars or clouds could be seen. Wherever he was, it was far different from the world he was accustomed to.

Returning his attention back to the room, Dreu realized the interior wasn’t pitch dark. He could see his palm clearly, indicating there was some sort of illumination. Searching for the light source that made everything visible, the young man eventually stopped before a small orb installed into the wall. The orb, sharing the same dull gray color as the walls, wasn’t easily discernible until he got close. He felt a cool surface when he touched it. The orb, upon making contact with his fingers, completely dimmed bringing the entire room into darkness. The young man had never seen such an orb and tapped it a few times to see it brighten and dim. He was used to torches and candles. Even with all the stories he had heard from adventurers, no one mentioned anything about orbs capable of illuminating rooms.

“I see you have found the light orb,” said an unfamiliar voice.

Dreu jumped and turned to the stranger. Standing at the doorway, the stranger’s features were shrouded in darkness and only the silhouette was visible due to the light from outside the room. The being, despite being hunched over slightly, still towered over him. The sight reminded the young man of the demon he encountered in the tunnels below Berkton. Unlike that encounter, his instincts didn’t scream for him to run. Trusting his instincts, Dreu felt no urge to reach for his weapon and chose a more diplomatic approach.

“I was just curious how the room was lit up.” Dreu’s face reddened and he hoped it wasn’t obvious. “I know it’s rude to be so carefree in a stranger’s home.”

“Nonsense! Curiosity is how the young learn and grow.”

The stranger raised his left hand and pointed a finger at the dimmed orb. Coming back to life, the orb lit up the whole room. The stranger was a demon with skin that looked weathered with age but his eyes shone brilliantly. The gray robe covered the demon from head to toe.

“Are you….related to Eglallin?”

“Is our resemblance that uncanny?” The demon burst out laughing. “I never thought a human could discern so much through sight alone.”

Dreu was unsure how to respond to the comment so he changed the topic.

“Thank you for taking me in! I had, or have, nowhere to go.”

“My daughter merely dumped you in my yard,” said the demon with a laugh. “I couldn’t just let you sleep there, regardless how comfortable it is there. My name is Tragthan and I am the last Demon Warlock.”

“Demon warlock?” asked Dreu as many questions went through his head. “And your daughter? Eglallin?”

“Yes, the demoness who sent you through the portal.” Tragthan gestured Dreu to the bed. “Please sit! We have a lot to talk about.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Dreu said as he sat on the bed. “She saved my life and I am grateful for that.”

“Nonsense! She died protecting what she believed in. It was only a matter of time before Xemir got the better of her. I had foreseen this day long ago.”

Dreu could see the demon’s expression matching the sadness in his words. Unable to offer anything, the young man merely sat on the bed waiting for Tragthan to continue the conversation. In the meantime, Dreu turned on his window prompt but, like back in the capital, there was no prompt. Whatever Azorius did permanently removed his Emperor Class.

“Are you trying to locate Bayard and the others?” asked the demon suddenly.

Tragthan’s question made Dreu jump. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. Dreu had learned to accept demons as beings not so different from humans.

“Before she died, Eglallin created this memory bubble.” The demon raised a hand to summon a bubble filled with countless characters. “This is a special way of communication between demons of the same kin. She sent me all of her thoughts and memories on the day of her death. I learned of Azorius performing a spell and I have no clue as to what that spell is. Lacking that knowledge, I cannot say for sure if you can meet Bayard again.”

“He was a mentor, friend and protector.” Dreu resisted the urge to show his emotions openly, especially before a stranger he had only just met. “He and the others felt like family. When they were taken away, I felt great loss a third time. I don’t know if my heart can handle more losses.”

"While I lack a concrete answer, I do believe that, as long as you keep living, there will always be a chance to bring them back. Their return will depend on whether or not you give up on them."

Before he could thank the demon for words of encouragement, Dreu looked down to see what was hitting his foot. Two demonic creatures, one resembling a wolf and the other resembling a fox, sat by his feet. The dog demon pawed Dreu until it got his attention. Then, the wolf gave a small bark.

“These two were Eglallin’s pets. Ilveroz is a Demonic Hound while the Aggich is a Cursed Fox. They are now ownerless so, if you want one or both of them, you are free to adopt them. They likely need you as much as you need them.”