Nathan- POV

  Dinner was subdued that night, the kind of quiet that settles over people who know danger is close but not yet upon them. Word of the count’s intentions had spread through the camp like smoke, and even though everyone had seen the bodies of the ambushers on the road, unease clung stubbornly to the air. Our men ate with their spears and swords within arm’s reach. Even the women and older children kept blades at their sides, glancing toward the darkness as if expecting the count’s soldiers to burst from the treeline at any moment. Anda had ordered constant patrols, and no one questioned her judgment.

  When the meal ended, I retreated to my usual sleeping place atop one of the wagons. A sword and knife lay beside me; cold, familiar companions. If the count sent his men from the city, I would not hold back. I would show them exactly what I was capable of.

  But the silence from my minions gnawed at me. I didn’t dare reach out to them; any contact might disrupt their operation. Radio silence. Necessary, but unnerving. Even Shive curled up beside me couldn’t fully quiet the tension coiled in my chest. It reminded me too much of the nights my team spent isolated in the Caucasus back on Earth; cut off, surrounded by mountains and uncertainty, listening for threats we couldn’t see.

  So, I fell back on my training from my old world. I closed my eyes and listened.

  Crickets buzzing. Night birds calling to one another. The occasional distant howl of wolves.

  No footsteps. No hushed voices. No danger creeping toward us.

  “Do not worry, Master,” Shive whispered, her voice soft as velvet. “I will watch over us. I can sense anyone... or anything... approaching.”

  “Thank you, Shive. We’ll be in your care,” I murmured.

  Her reassurance eased something inside me. Before long, she gently guided my head to rest against her chest. Her warmth, her scent; and strangely calming; washed over my nerves. Sleep claimed me faster than I expected.

  I woke to the gentle sensation of fingers stroking my hair.

  “Wake up, Master. A new day has come, and breakfast will be served soon,” Shive cooed.

  I blinked, realizing my head was still nestled against her chest. Far too intimate for a child... though she was no child. She was a succubus. And I won’t pretend I didn’t enjoy the comfort. Not in a sexual way. Not yet at least thank God.

  We joined my family in the pavilion for breakfast, and the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The tension of the previous night had lifted. My siblings were already bickering over something trivial. Catherine piled sausages and eggs onto my plate. Outside, laughter drifted through the camp; men, women, and the bright giggles of children.

  My father’s voice drew my attention. “Any word from your minions, Nathan?”

  “None yet, Father. But don’t worry. They always operate like this. They’ll contact me once everything is finished and they’re on their way back.”

  He nodded, satisfied for now, and stepped out of the pavilion; likely to speak with Anda.

  An hour later, the campsite was dismantled with the efficiency of people who had done this far too many times. Tents folded, fires doused, wagons loaded; our caravan was once again rolling westward. This time, I didn’t bother riding my horse. My body still felt the tension of the previous night, and I wanted a moment of relative comfort, so I joined my mother and the girls inside the wagon.

  The interior had been made more spacious and cozy, with cushions and pillows scattered across the wooden floorboards. It helped, but only to a point. Every bump in the road sent a jolt through the wheels and into my spine. After the fifth particularly nasty bounce, I clenched my jaw and made a mental note to instruct our blacksmith to experiment with springs. If I had to endure this for weeks, I might lose my sanity before we even reached the ports of Grastiria.

  Still no word from my minions. The silence lingered like a weight in the back of my mind, but I wasn’t worried. They were capable... more than capable. If anything, the lack of communication meant they were deep in their work. Shive, Serena, and Catherine sat near the back of the wagon, practicing their magic. Under Shive’s guidance, the two girls had progressed remarkably fast. Succubus or not, Shive was a highly skilled magic user, not merely a physical fighter. Her patience with them was surprising, even endearing.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Hey, Nathan! Come join us!” Serena called out, waving her hand dramatically.

  “Yes, Lord Nathan. Shive is teaching us something amazing,” Catherine added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “I’ll join you later. I still have maps to study,” I replied.

  “Maps? Studying? You’re such a bookworm. Or a mapworm,” Serena teased.

  “At least Nathan studies, unlike a tomboy like you,” Jack said as he climbed into the wagon.

  “Tomboy?! You little twerp!” Serena snapped, immediately lunging toward him.

  And just like that, the bickering began again. Catherine and Shive giggled behind their hands, amused by the familiar chaos. I couldn’t help but smile. Their constant arguing reminded me of my sisters back on Earth; loud, dramatic, and somehow comforting. A long sigh escaped me, half nostalgic, half exasperated.

  To distract myself before the melancholy deepened, I reached into a wooden chest and pulled out the map of Hovdenia. I spread it across my lap, tracing the inked lines with my finger.

  The eastern continent was enormous, and we were still far from the Kingdom of Grastiria where the ports were located. In fact, we hadn’t even made it halfway through the Holy State of Shabiln. The sheer distance made my shoulders sag.

  Mother sat across from me, quietly stitching something with her usual grace.

  “Mother, are we heading to the next city?” I asked.

  “Yes, Nathan. We’ll need to pass through several cities, towns, and villages before we reach the eastern ports of Grastiria. Our destination is still quite far. I believe the next city on our route is Bunzad,” she replied.

  I checked the map again and found Bunzad. She was right. We still had a long, long journey ahead.

  Before I could sink too deeply into that thought, a glowing notification flashed across my vision.

  Your summoned demon has slain a level 51 Knight Paladin! You are awarded experience points!

  Your summoned demon has slain a level 53 Knight Paladin! You are awarded experience points!

  I blinked. Two Knight Paladins? Those had to be the count’s elite men; the ones involved in the slave trade. These were the strongest enemies my minions had taken down so far. Even the knights from the ambush hadn’t included evolved combatants like Knight Paladins.

  Still, my level hasn’t increased. The experience needed to the next level must be immense.

  However, the flash of notifications meant that my minions were still in Gazar, sowing chaos. The count was still alive. It would take them a bit more time to finish the mission. I hoped they are being thorough.

  Another thought struck me. I was already level 51—so why hadn’t I been offered a class evolution yet? My best guess was that the threshold was level 60, just like in the video game I used to play. If that was true, then I simply had to wait. Patience wasn’t my strongest virtue, but I had no choice.

  I spotted my father riding alongside the wagon and called out to him. When he approached, I informed him that the Hellblazers had begun executing their mission in Gazar and that it might take a while before they returned.

  “Understood, Nathan.” He turned to Anda. “Let’s quicken our pace. I want as much distance between us and Gazar as possible.”

  “Understood, my lord. At this rate, we should be leaving the count’s territory soon,” Anda replied.

  Later that day, we didn’t stop for lunch. Even so, our servants and the women moved between the wagons distributing packed meals. It seemed Mother had anticipated this and ordered the food prepared during breakfast. Efficient as always.

  Krizek – POV

  Stalking the targets had been a tedious affair since we infiltrated the castle last night. Locating them was easy. Assassinating them silently was the real challenge. But finally, an opportunity presented itself when two of the Knight Paladins separated from their group and wandered into a secluded corridor.

  Taking them down while they were unaware was simple enough. Had they been alerted, their absurd defenses would have made the task far more troublesome; and likely would have alerted the entire castle.

  Two down. Eighteen more to go. The count would be saved for last.

  Still, all this waiting grated on my nerves. Observing these humans and their insignificant routines was draining. Their behavior was… strange. The duality in their nature was astounding. I had observed the master’s family and people; they did not behave like these men. Cruelty and domination seemed to be the primary currency here. The way they treated each other rivaled rabid animals.

  Even demons did not inflict such cruelty upon our own kind. Ruthless to enemies, yes. But toward our own? Unthinkable.

  I would have to ask Master about these differences among human groups.

  This was getting boring again. I would leave the stalking to Leshner and Xander. I would head toward the vaults and treasures. At least when the last man fell, we could leave immediately and return to Master.

  I was certain he would be pleased with the wealth we were about to acquire.