The Demonlord Chronicles

Chapter III – The Darkness of Light
23.
Srazih couldn’t tell which of these things was most disturbing:
The massacre, multiple thousand corpses and their remains scattered around, often ripped apart, torn to pieces or otherwise mauled...
The grotesk figures dancing across the corpses, ocassionally picking one up and starting to feast on the dead flesh...
Myra, the young Wolven, next to her, with a grim smile but no further reaction to all these things...
Or Ardan, approaching her, literally covered in blood.
“Ar... Ardan...” Srazih whispered. She had intended to pounce him into a hug, or even some more, when she would see him again... but now that determination was gone.
Ardan was slightly surprised to see her here, on the edge of battlefield. He threw a quick and slightly angered glance to Myra. To Srazih’s surprise, the Wolven bowed her head. “I’m sorry, master... But you know how Srazih thinks and acts... it wasn’t possible to keep her off here.”
“Srazih... I’m sorry you had to see this... Such things aren’t meant for mortal eyes.” He quickly walked past them, forcing her to turn around to continue facing him, averting her gaze from the blood-covered battlefield.
The Wolven mustered Ardan thuroughly. Outwardly, he hadn’t changed, except for his scales being covered in blood. But she could see the change in his eyes. “Was... This really necessary? You could simply have killed the angels and the humans would have fled in panic...”
Ardan stepped forth, intending to hug her, when the Wolven quickly backed off. It took him a second to realize she probably didn’t want to have her fur painted red. Staring at one of his red claws... Did I already get used to slaughtering humans, covering myself toe to head in blood, that fast? “I’m sorry... but it was necessary. The human race had forgotten about the demons and the darkness they drag behind them. That’s why they dared to meddle into the affairs of immortals, in first place... This battle was necessary to make them remember their place... It will save countless lives in future...”
And as well, his followers had been thirsting to rip through human throats, or at least most of them. It was the feast he had promised them, as payment for their duty in the war against angels. But this was something he wouldn’t tell his murr. “I really think I should get myself cleaned up, so you can welcome me back properly...”

Ardan, after taking a thorough bath in a nearby lake, was welcomed with loud yells, chors and cheers to the Wolven village, praised as the savior, stopping the human army in it’s tracks. Nontheless he managed to spot a few faces staring at him with shocked expressions and he realized those face belonged to Wolven who had visited the battlefield and had seen the massacre with their own eyes. Ardan prayed they would be smart enough not to involve more of their kind into this side of war.
Ardan jumped onto the lowest branch of a tree close to the middle of the camp and raised his arms, the yells slowly, across two minutes, dieing down, until he was capable of talking to the remains of the Wolven warriors.
“Wolven. Friends. Brothers. Please forgive me. Every single day it took me to get back here... took countless lives of those dear to you. I wish I could have come earlier, just one day or may two...

But at least the sacrifices made by the Wolven tribes, and of course the Panthera, as well as our allies from the High North, were not in vain. After days of struggle, fight and bloodshed... We have won!”
Another wave of cheering started up, Ardan gesturing them to go silent again. “Or rather, you have won. You all fought against overwhelming odds and managed to hold your line till your allies arrived. And that’s why I’m glad I can say: The war is over for the Wolven, you have won, the humans are retreating and I doubt they will ever dare to even look at the jungle again!”
Another wave of howls and yells later, Ardan’s expression was becoming more serious though. “But whilst your war has ended... my war... the war of my immortal brothers, has just begun. And whilst I know all of you are proud and strong warriors... Please, do not follow me. The paths we will take, the fights we will fight, the things we will see and even more the things we will have to do... none of these are meant for mortals. Please don’t take offense in me saying this... but as strong, fast and brave as you are... fighting with me in the future battles would not make any difference but would further diminish the numbers of your dear race.”
This time, there was no cheering, but a few angry yells, a couple of worried pleas and countless bitter, but accepting nods. Ardan decided this was enough and hopped off the tree again. Realizing this had been the whole speech, the crows slowly started to dissipate. Ardan walked back over to Srazih.
“You have turned into quite a leadership person, didn’t you?” she asked with a sly grin.
“So have you. I’ve heard you were in command of the fights? You did well... I was worried to see a burning jungle and a destroyed village upon coming back. But it seems the Wolven survived, after all. I’m sure your race will blossom again, repopulating the jungles and now with even less worry about the humans...”
“Yes, probably...” Srazih stepped towards Ardan and hugged him, the hug quickly turning into a kiss.
They were interrupted, after a few seconds, when Myra started complaining. “Aw, I would sell my soul for Ardan to kiss me like that!”
Ardan raised his head from Srazih’s and mustered her with a slight frown, causing the Wolven to quickly add: “Uhm, just a pun, don’t worry, I would never sell my soul for... Ow, well... somehow I’m not getting the words right today.” Myra was scratching across the back of her head, with an excusing smile.
Unwrapping from Ardan, Srazih turned around to face her. “Actually... you have been behaving like that, different, for quite some time, Myra...”
The Wolven grinned grimly, gesturing over to Ardan, who started to say: “Well... I’m not sure whether you want to know about the reason for her change in behavior, Srazih. You only need to know she and and seven other Wolven spellcasters will accompany me on the future fights.”
With slight suspicion, Srazih asked. “Ardan... didn’t you just claim that there won’t be battlefields for mortals?” She turned her head slightly, barely seeing Ardan’s lip on the edge of her vision.
“... with a few exceptions. I would prefer if your race isn’t being told about this, otherwise they will start talking each other into following me. I’ve choosen those who can actually fight immortals. And these are Myra and her spellcasters and Hemlat’s Darag-Ur. They probably will barely able to stand up to one strong immortal each... but we will need any reliable support we can get.”
“What about Mêrr? His men are ridicolously fast and...”
“No... They’re still just mortals. They can’t harm angels and I don’t really like the idea of sacrificing his warriors merely to distract a few of our enemies.”
“Then why don’t you take more of our spellcasters? Or Shadow? Or try to persuade Grave again, I’m sure...”
“No.” Ardan stopped her. “Please, trust me. I’ve choosen those who will be actually useful. And...” The Wolven heard how Ardan was preparing to say something uncomfortable. “... this does not include you. Please, Sra...”
“Not in a thousand years!” the Wolven complained. “You will NOT leave me behind here, not another time! Even if I can’t exactly fight, I will come with you and...” She stopped when she felt his head brushing along her shoulder.
“I know... but please realize... if you come with me, you’re a weakness they can exploit... I cannot revive you a second time... if somebody would threaten to kill you... Up to now, the angels still don’t know about our love. If you stay here, they will never. And as I promised last time, I came back and I can do it again. I will come back this time, too!”
“I... this...” Srazih muttered, before growling lowly. “I hate myself for being this weak and useless... Can’t you... I don’t know, turn me into a demoness or something? Make me stronger, so I can fight with you, without you worrying about me?”
There was silence. A particular akward silence. Srazih noticed how Myra had turned around, staring into the sky. The realization hit her like a truck: The gift Ardan had given to her before departing... her behavior... the reason he insisted on taking her and a few other Wolven into the fight...
“You... you... Myra? But...”
“Please, don’t missunderstand it. It’s because I didn’t want to endanger you. It’s something never attempted before. Cyra strongly advised me against doing so, though she herself is a half-demon. She said it’s unbelievable for a half-immortal to be born... but turning someone else into a half-immortal... I couldn’t even say whether it would work... and...” She could feel a gentle kiss against her neck. “I really wouldn’t want you to go down the path I had to travel. Please... don’t ask me to do it to you... I want to love the Wolven whose soul is still pure and untained, though she fell in love to a demon...
Because without your heart guiding me... I would lose myself in deepest darkness...”