[Melas] Chapter 120: Family

The sewers of Jahar’taw led us out down the side of the volcano’s caldera. We were close to its base, a powerful gush of sewage water pouring out into a nearby river. Gennady and I crawled down from the inner city, fleeing into the sprawling fields and into the outer city as the sun rose.

So much had happened in such a short amount of time. The Dark Crusaders found out the truth about my identity— in a sense. I never once admitted it, but they already came to their own conclusions. And it was the right conclusion.

The brief skirmish with the Holy Knights was also very much unfortunate, since it would most definitely lead to Lilith coercing her escort to investigate me and my activities.

We didn’t head to the warehouse. It just wasn’t safe. I didn’t want to bring trouble to my friends. Instead, I returned to my bunker, built specifically for this reason. I made sure no one was following after us, setting up a quick barrier to further reinforce the bunker’s defenses.

If someone like Elara saw the barrier— they’d laugh. However, I wasn’t worried about her. Just as she said she would, she saved my life. That other Demon— with the gray-ish skin— was very much preoccupied fighting her. So, those were two problems I could put out of my mind.

However, Karna, the Holy Knights, the Dark Crusaders, and Lilith were pressing matters. I almost thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully, especially with all these looming threats encroaching on me. But when I collapsed on my bed, I was out in an instant.

I woke up and stumbled out of my room, rubbing at my head. I felt like I had a hangover— except, I didn’t drink. Sure, I used to go to parties back on Earth, those always had drinks, even in my High School. But I stayed away from drinks.

I just didn’t like how alcohol tasted.

Also, getting drunk wasn’t my thing. It was fun for a bit, then you woke up the next day with a massive migraine. Like I did right now.

“Ouch, my head is killing me.” I settled into a chair across from Gennady. The Dwarf had slept on the floor the entire night, but he was somehow in better shape than me.

Probably because he didn’t use magic. And his adult body was far more suited to physical activities compared to my kid body.

“Yeah,” he sighed, slumping his head over the table. “And you don’t even have any booze to help me recover.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Doesn’t booze make the headache worse?”

“Not for us Dwarfs.”

Scoffing, I stood up and pulled out a platter of dried food. “This is all I have, unfortunately.”

“You can have it, lass. I know how much you eat.” Gennady grinned, and I frowned.

“Are you calling me fat?”

“Maybe.”

I rolled my eyes, deciding to ignore his comment. “So,” I said, munching on a bit of meat, “what do we do now?”

“I don’t think we can return to the warehouse without drawing attention to it. We’ll be watched, lass. Everyone will be tracking everything we do.”

“Right.” I drew my lips into a thin line. “We’re stuck here then, aren’t we?”

Gennady snorted. “You’re stuck here. I’m gonna go back to the inner city, have a chat with Adilet. Then go back to the warehouse and tell ‘em what happened. Unlike you, I ain’t in any real trouble.”

I groaned as the Dwarf stood, heading out of the bunker. “You’re making it sound like I’m a child who just broke a vase or something expensive.”

“Kinda.” He smiled, glancing back at me one last time. “Just don’t get into any more trouble  before I return, aight?”

“Easier said than done,” I murmured, finding myself alone in my bunker.

I was used to being alone at this point. However, there was a difference between being left to my own devices without actively being hunted down by some of the biggest organizations in the world, and being left to my own devices with very little food in the pantry.

Seriously, I was hungry. Dried meat wasn’t going to cut it.

To put my mind off of the events of yesterday, I crawled back to my room, producing the various books I had on tinkering. I kept some things here in my bunker, including the Dimensional Storage Box given to me by Bertrand. I didn’t study it. Not today. I had enough magic in a single night to last an entire week.

I was working on a new mana tool. I was certain it would change the landscape of the world. It was… a toaster. Yes, a toaster. The kind you put bread in and it came out nice and crisp. Or depending on how much the toaster cost, black and burnt or white and untouched.

I had to figure out how much heat was exactly needed to toast a slice of bread. I knew that sliced bread— the greatest invention ever, apparently— had already been invented here, so I did have some prepared for experimenting on.

The toaster wasn’t the box I had in my world. It was more like a waffle maker. Due to the limitations of my own tinkering abilities, this was the best design I could create without making it a massive machine that couldn’t fit on a kitchen table.

You put the bread inside my mana toaster, before closing the lid on it. The runes within would heat up, toasting the bread for a minute, before it stopped. Then voila— a beautiful, crunchy toast.

“Now all I need is butter…”

“What are you doing?” a voice asked, and I whirled around with a Fireball.

Elara smiled and snapped a finger. My spell dissipated as I felt her Dispel Magic overwhelm my control over the ball of fire. “Hello Melas,” she said, cool as ever.

“When did you get here?” I glared at her.

“Just a moment ago.” She spoke softly, as if she wasn’t chased around the inner city of Jahar’taw for most of the night. “What’s that you have there?”

For whatever reason, I protectively hovered over my toaster. “It’s none of your business.” I couldn’t let her get my bread. “What happened in the city? Why did that Demon start attacking you? Is Karna still alive?” I couldn’t help but ask the last question— the Goblin was trying to kill me, but he was my friend once.

“Oh, Melas.” Elara let out a chuckle. She sauntered over to my bed, shaking her head. “Still thinking about others, even after all that’s happened. You’re too nice, you know?”

“I am not,” I said simply. “Now answer the questions.”

“Jahar’taw is fine. The city has survived worse disasters than a few spellcasters running around, throwing a few spells here and there, trying to get each other killed. No— it needs to be a calamitous event that’s far worse than what happened in Bys to bring down the home of the Dwarves.”

“So, are people safe?”

“As safe as they could be.” Which was to say, not really safe at all. I didn’t bite, but Elara didn’t dwell on it. “As for your friend, he’s alive… I think.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean ‘I think’? I need to know for certain.”

“Would you rather him dead?” A thin smile spread across her face, one that sent a shiver down my spine. She was a Demon. Even if she protected me. Even if she claimed to be my guardian angel.

“No. Do not lay a hand on him, Elara. I am being serious.”

Shrugging, Elara plopped herself on my mattress. “Whatever you say, I guess. So, have you reconsidered my offer yet?”

“Why would I need to reconsider?”

“Everyone wants you dead, do they not? Only my Lord wishes to keep you alive. Shouldn’t it be natural for you to swallow your pride and accept his grace?”

I crossed my arms, giving her a defiant stare. “The same Lord who’s the reason I became a slave?”

“The same Lord who’s the reason you weren’t eaten by that Horned Ursa two years ago, yes.” Her eyes flickered. The slit-like pupils bore into me, a gaze that was almost warning.

She didn’t appreciate it when I insulted whoever her ‘Lord’ was, huh? Typical.

“I will not work with you, Elara. No matter what you offer me, I have no reason to accept your offer.”

“Even after you used me last night?” The Demon cocked her head. “I’m not asking you to do anything, Melas. I’m just offering to teach you. Help you defend yourself better.”

“It’s different,” I said, gesturing behind me. “I’m not going to let you manipulate me into doing things for your own gain. It has happened before. I will not let it happen again. Now, using what I have to survive, on the other hand…” I paused. “Also, you still haven’t told me what your relationship with that other Demon is. She was bent on killing you. You can’t just brush that off as something unimportant. What did you do?”

Elara sighed. She looked like she really didn’t want to answer the question. And she didn’t, for a little bit. “Firstly, she’s not a Demon, Melas. She’s a Half Demon.” Getting to her feet, Elara faced me with a wry smile. “And the reason she hates me is simple but complicated: she’s my daughter.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

I didn’t prod Elara further. She wanted to leave, probably due to being uncomfortable with the subject. I never thought a Demon would have such relatable domestic issues— although, considering that Estia was trying to kill her, it probably wasn’t a typical family matter. Regardless, I saw no reason to ask any more questions.

In fact, I felt pretty bad. I almost felt compelled to sit Elara down, give her an ear, and maybe offer some advice. Not that I could say much. My family back on Earth never had that much of an issue. I was an only child. Dad treated me like his little princess, while mom and I would often go shopping and do other girl-only activities together.

I was privileged, in that sense.

Even when I died and was reincarnated, my mom (it felt odd referring to two different people as my mom, but it was fitting since I saw them both as my mom) treated me kindly. She was always so patient with me, even when I refused to accept anything of this new world. She broke me out of my shell. Gave me a reason to live.

Now, without any parental figure around, I was free to live my life how I wanted. Which was to say, I wanted nothing to do with any of these things which kept popping up. I just wanted to live my life, maybe help some people along the way, and maybe not have to worry about being murdered in my sleep every single day.

It was not much. But that was it, for now. I could discover more wants or needs in the future, however that was for later.

Gennady returned some time after Elara left. He wasn’t alone. He came with Lisa, Jack, and Sevin. They all seemed to be concerned about my well-being. With both the young man and woman being more forthcoming than the disgruntled older man.

I greeted them with the best smile I could put on. “Glad to see you guys are safe.”

“Are you stupid?” Lisa ran over and hugged me. “We’re the ones who should be saying that.”

“Nothing has happened in the warehouse then?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Not that I know of,” Sevin said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “A lot happened to you last night, huh?”

“It’s all over now.” I smiled. “For now, at least.”

I glanced over at Jack. He simply grunted, and I returned the sound. That was all that needed to be exchanged between us. I looked past all of my friends, focusing on Gennady.

The Dwarf had his arms crossed, a scowl on his face.

“Did something happen?”

“It’s nothin’, lassie.” He took a deep breath, stepping forward. “Actually, there’s good and bad news. Had a long meeting with Adilet. He insisted that you’d be safe, as you’re protected under Jahar’taw’s asylum laws. Which is the good news.”

“And the bad news?” I braced myself for something obscenely bad.

“However, he can’t exactly let you roam around as freely as you have before. Especially with the Church here within our borders. The Saintess is a bit nuts, y’know? She could act on her own volition if she sees you.” Gennady sighed deeply. “Which is why you’ll be staying somewhere safe. More secure. Protected in the MTC’s headquarters. Bertrand himself made the offer.”

I raised my head back. “That really isn’t bad at all.”

“I just don’t like that man!” Gennady scowled.

Author's Notes:

Minor Retcon, the MTRDT has been shorted to the MTC since it's less of a mouthful.

I didn't know what to title this chapter. Then I saw a Fast and Furious Dom meme. I guess the title is family now.  Sorry for the late chapter. Was watching UFC last night.