-Callen-

  Nixie pulled the new truck out of the workshop as I finished letting Mom know why I had to leave town again. Rylin certainly wasn’t happy about it, though he probably didn’t fully understand what it was. I pulled myself up into the truck as Nixie carefully brought us down into town. Our next stop was Town Hall, where Crescent was handling the day-to-day work. Honestly, if the mayor hadn’t insisted on passing the responsibility off to me, it would’ve made more sense to give her the role. Though, with how specialized she was as a healer before her changeling traits let her switch to the new role, it makes sense that he didn’t push her from her chosen path.

  I hopped out of the truck and moved past the small mob of people who were at the awkward edge of wanting to protest but not knowing why. Some merchants had even started taking advantage of the weird gatherings to set up food stalls. I slipped through uninhibitedly, making my way inside. Crescent was sitting at the table passively reading some report.

  “Hey Cres,” Her face lit up with a smile that mimicked my own. She dropped the report and came over for a hug.

  “I thought I heard something odd outside. Did you finish the project for Nixie?” I gently backed away, giving her a confirming nod.

  “All sorted, but I realized something important that needs to be addressed.” She stepped back attentively listening. “None of the people we sent back were properly informed on the mechanics behind the pseudo immortality of the elves.” I let the words and their implication hang in the air for a bit. I could see the disappointment in the slump of her shoulders. “Conveniently, that means I’ll be going to the region where Callia dumped the mad scientist who is our best chance at treating your condition.” I gently rubbed her cheek, breaking her out of whatever thoughts were taking her focus.

  She gave out a soft sigh and a resigned smile. “Be careful, ok?” I nodded firmly as we shared another hug. After separating, I moved out to the truck with a heavy but determined heart. I easily vaulted back into the track and locked eyes with Nixie, signaling that I was ready. Carefully she nudged the car through the idle protestors and back onto the open road. She brought us through the city before bringing us to a stop at the guard station.

  “If you’re going to be gone, Reesia and Torulf need to know.” I didn’t argue, instead choosing to hop out of the truck again. I approached the soldier guarding the door.

  "Who is in the station currently?” Torulf and Reesia had been splitting the guard shifts between the two of them. One would rest in the station while the other would actively lead the patrols. Anything less than a knight wouldn’t be qualified to keep an eye out for any follow-up elven raids. We could’ve depended on Nightshade for that, but the town had long run on a policy of don’t ask the plant for anything. She was still exhausted from the previous fight anyway.

  The man saluted and pointed me to Reesia’s quarters. I moved over and knocked on the door. Her permission to enter was nearly immediate. I opened it up and saw her setting aside her meal and grabbing her sword.

  “Hey Reesia, I don’t need anything from you this time, but I’m here to give an update.” I sat down at the table opposite of her food, and she set the sword back against her wardrobe, slumping back into the seat. I could see the dark circles under her eyes showing just how tiring the past days had been. I'm sure I had something similar. With the town as shorthanded for knights as it was, we were pressed trying to stay alert.

  “Reesia, I need to go and pass on key information that didn’t make its way to the queen.” I felt guilty seeing the exhaustion and pressure hit her. “Sir Torulf and you need to slow down.” My comment seems to spark some life back into her as she starts to angrily retort. “Let Nightshade handle the watch. If the elves come for us again, then I’ll be back in an instant, but as you are, you won’t be able to fight at your best.” I can see her deflate tiredly but in acceptance. She gives an affirmative nod, and I get up with my visit complete. At the door I stop and grab Callia’s box of chocolates from the void. She’ll probably be upset with me about this, but Reesia needs something after the countless hours of giving her all.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  I don’t say a thing as I set the box next to the meal that Reesia had gone back to stiffly shoveling down. She saw the box and looked at me questioningly, but I was already sliding out the door. I easily slipped out of the facility, leaving behind the treats and jumping back into the truck. Nixie, seeing my hasty escape, instinctively acted in prank getaway mode. The truck lurched backward as the suspension adjusted for the sudden burst of speed. In no time at all we made our way to the gate and then down the open road.

  “Plenty of ways to get to the capital. Which one do you think we should take?” I let her drive while thinking through the circumstances. There were two roads leading from the capital to the northern dukedom. One led through the duke's city and the other through Gilbert City. Considering the more direct personality, it seemed likely the most direct route from the capital to the front lines would be the path chosen. Which meant our best bet was the southernmost route to Gilbert City. Even if it was the wrong path, we could follow the main road further east, losing only a couple days taking the slightly more roundabout path.

  “The southern road out of Eldraine seems like the better path. Further from the forest and the elves, so hopefully it's safer, and the queen seems more likely to go to Gilbert City from the capital.” Nixie hummed in agreement, not taking her eyes from the road. She reached into her bag, handing me a small journal.

  “It’s my idea book. Since we’ve got several days of travel, I figured I might as well put you to work adding extra toys to the truck.” I flipped it open to a random page midway through and saw a giant pair of circular saws attached to the sides of the truck; it was designed to fold onto the sides of the truck or drop and eviscerate anyone within lawn mowing range. I looked back up at Nixie, causing her to glance back.

  “We don’t really have the materials for the saws while travelling, but it seemed like a useful attachment.” She casually commented. I just shook my head. If this world was a post-apocalypse of my previous life, it's not hard to imagine Nixie as the psycho engineer modding everyone's war machines. I flipped to another page looking for any ideas that might be possible.

  Technical Difficulties

  High Priest Norold was shuffling through the report given by Paladin Jonas; it was by all measures an unmitigated disaster. It was known that many more savage or mentally unfit humans developed the same attraction to a chosen’s allure, but such individuals rarely encounter other humans, much less chosen. Demons born of monsters and those of humans were two entirely different challenges. Monsterborn grew incredibly powerful and aggressive. If they are a pack-type creature, they will assert control over their kin and rampage, killing all that cross them. Typically the difference in level of threat between a demon and the original host jumps between 50 and 100. They also gained considerable intelligence or cunning, but nothing comparable to a humanoid.

  Then there were the humanoid demons, rare and insidious. The difference in power between humanoid demons and the original host wasn’t nearly as well documented. However, criminals and the morally bankrupt often instinctively sought demons, forming fanatical cabals and criminal organizations that could sometimes overpower an unpopular lord. Even without overthrowing the lord, they taint society, acting as a poison encouraging the violent and dangerous to be even more so.

  Norold’s thoughts were interrupted as a young lady arrived. She had been the girl he removed from the service of the bishop just a few weeks ago. She had been more skittish at first, but the other sisters of the faith helped get her back on her feet. It was heartwarming to see the girl confidently standing before him.

  “High Priest, a new chosen has arrived and is waiting for the confirmation ceremony.” Norold got up slowly, cursing his aching joints. Back in the day he stood alongside the paladins in hunting demons, and now even getting out of a chair when he was stiff was difficult.

  “Thank you, Joana.” He made sure to give the girl a warm and sincere smile as he made his way to the stairs. Together they made their way down to the ceremony hall, where a dangerous young woman sat patiently. He gave a faint nod in greeting as he made his way up to the orb at the pedestal.

  “Greetings, I am High Priest Norold. Come on up so we can start the ceremony.” The woman moved with speed that further confirmed Norold’s intuition. She came up next to him, and he gestured for her to place a hand upon the orb.

  “My presence, strictly speaking, is a formality, but the orb will shine if you exhibit the key traits of a chosen. Once you do, Joana over there will guide you to your accommodations while I prepare the residential forms.” Norold barely finished speaking as the girl poked the orb. He was about to speak up that the palm was preferable, but the orb lit up brilliantly, unlike anything he had seen before. Then a sharp crack echoed out before the brilliant light faded. A moment of silence passed before Callia spoke up.

  “Maybe it had technical difficulties?”