Chapter 140
Veronica took a deep breath as wind and morning sunlight blew through her blonde, shoulder-length hair. It flowed over her heart-shaped face, letting her taste free air for what felt like the first time in ages. She was leaning against stone railing, overlooking the City's endless landscape of roads, bridges, and towers, all so numerous that the dirt below was unseen from her spot on the airship deck. Another unseen entity was the source of the faint spirit connection on her head. Chattox, her beloved familiar, was somewhere above, content to remain out of her vision as he perused the City's skies.
Days, or possibly weeks, spent training in what felt like caves had only allowed her blue eyes a few chances to see blue sky or an early morning sun, both of which she now enjoyed. The slim blue leather armor, helmet, and spear slung across her back blocked some of the sensation, but enough got through that she didn't mind.
"Ready to go so soon?" Eska asked behind her.
The blonde turned to see the smaller woman with shoulder-length black hair walking up to her. She had glasses that rested in front of her amused brown eyes and above a sharp nose. The armor on her was green, to show her wind element. A spear was also holstered on her backside, though the careful way she moved up to Varonica made it clear the weapon was new to her walking routine.
"It's the first time we've been allowed out of the caves since we started proper training." The blonde refuted, trying to put on a pouty air beneath her station.
"Last night was the first time I knew I was going to get a full sleep in ages, so the best part is over for me."
Veronica couldn't stop herself from reliving the long nights. As part of their training, their rooms would be stormed in the middle of the night, often through previously undisclosed hatches hidden in their floors. Trying to defend herself from black forms in faint mana lamp light meant to mimic the stars made it hard to decide where nightmare began and training ended. It was all to keep them alive, yet gratitude wasn't the first thing felt most mornings. The bruises got that privilege.
"At least we know how to stick our spear butts in the ground now."
A huff and sideways glance was Eska's answer.
Eventually, Mia came from the elevator door in the tower the stone floor was wrapped around. Being a fire mage, the leather armor was red, matching her shoulder-length hair even if that was never considered by the armorers. The tan, now slightly muscular woman had brown eyes and caramel skin. On her back rested a holstered spear, though her jaunt over was more graceful than Eska's, save the shafts one rub against smooth cheekbones.
When the trio was back together, they allowed themselves some time to mingle by the stone railing like in their playful, innocent youth of a year ago. As early morning became late morning, the rest of their fellows sauntered out of the elevator to wait on the stone floor with them. Mage women of every racial, height, and temperament combination were to be found among the sixty odd members of the troop, though most were reduced to the colors of their leather armor, which announced their element to any commander in battle.
All that and the two others who had familiars of their own. One had a mole on her shoulder with what looked like a water element; the other had a hawk with red feathers that matched the fire element. In addition to the scions of other troops scattered about the City, this venture involved more of her kind than Veronica had ever seen before.
More than twice the mages they had started with, the women now had the requisite attendants to start the 'real' training as it had been described. Despite the losses. The training was still safe, at least, as safe as anything involving real blades could be. However, aside from the trio, Palta, and Lola, the women here had been conscripted using pleasant words that tried to obscure that fact. After the first great display of food and relaxation, a handful decided to make their dissatisfaction known by hanging themselves from whatever would hold their weight the very night their first big meal ended. Being within the apparent expectation of the task masters, the rest were getting sent off for a taste of real combat with a demon.
While the rest didn't kill themselves, when the first long, black log of wood dropped out of the sky and settled into the cradle held by the round landing pad designated for their departure, grumblings and dissatisfied huffs still abounded. The trio, being volunteers, had the needed spirit to be first up the wooden stairs and through the waiting door. Unlike the royal couple's airship, this one was clearly made for short trips, lacking any carpet or rugs on the wooden floor and no hooks along the sides to hang clothing. Ahead was a door and another on the left, but the maid ahead was directing them to the right hallway.
Walking down said hallway, they came onto a wide-open room lacking elegance and decoration. It was a long shaft of wooden walls and flooring, illuminated by a mana lamp in the ceiling. The furnishings weren't meager; nothing meant to transport mages ever was, but the sturdy chairs fused into the floor with wood magic left just enough space between them to stretch the occupants' arms. Veronica was just grateful that at least the chairs had red cushioning for the backsides and bottoms.
Hearing the rest of their fellows plodding up behind them, the trio took the three most leftward seats on the first row, strapping their weapons in designated holsters near the front of the ship as they did so. When the last butt hit the last seat, snacks and waters flavored with various fruits were brought in. Veronica felt a bit dubious about having a drink just as the ship was taking off, something Eska shared and Mia ignored as she gulped down lemon water and an offered cookie. Fears that proved unfounded as there was nothing save a slight jolt when the airship took off.
No windows were on the sides, a measure Veronica guessed was to prevent an arrow or small spell from easily getting on board through the glass. Taking in her fellows, Princess Palta was nowhere to be seen. Stuck between wanting to relax and find out where she had escaped to, Veronica put the question away to be asked later. Given there was nothing else to see or do, the blonde scion decided to enjoy the lack of demands currently being placed on her. A pastry filled with strawberry jelly was eaten in three bites, each a mouthful of fresh bread and sugary goodness, prompting her to ask for a second to be prepared for her familiar.
Time moved forward without exact counting of its offered minutes. Veronica could only discern that, just as relaxation was becoming boredom, the ship gave another shudder. That, combined with the maids coming in to collect the dishes, meant they had arrived.
Again, the trio was the first to move, even with Veronica stuffing her extra rag-wrapped pastry in a pants pocket, and stepped out onto the wooden staircase leading out of the ship's door. Veronica saw the same blue sky above, the same wooden cradle directly below keeping the ship in place, and its steps leading down to a round, stone platform. A look to the right revealed more endless stone artifice. One swing of her head to the left and the world presented its first change in what felt like a lifetime.
Demanding all attention was a bare stone tower. Unlike the ones she had seen elsewhere, this one was rectangular with sheer walls of grey stone that suddenly stopped at the uppermost floor, with no roof to be seen from this angle. Along its bottom lay a long wall stretching along the beach from the left and right, and a view to the ground that had hidden itself so well. While behind the wall was more stone floor, in front of it lay a long stretch of sand and the accompanying waves of an ocean reflecting midday sun.
Going down the stairs to wait for whoever was going to direct them, Veronica took in the wide tower and its wall. Size and scale failed her until she saw the windows on its sides. If those minute glass squares were the typical size and placement she was used to, then the tower had to have more than a hundred floors. More than the scale, the thing had a feeling of indifference about it. All thought of artistry or beauty had been left behind in its pursuit of brutal, cold mass.
Then a thud on her right shoulder sent her heart up her throat. When the corner of her eye spotted white, a sigh of relief a sigh of relief at being close to her beloved familiar again and an urge to throw the spare pastry over the stone railing welled up inside. Chattox regarded her with his cruel red eyes below the crown of sharp feathers, blue lines along his back and wings giving off blue mana, all distinguishing him from the regular seagull his form would suggest.
'You're lucky you're so cute,' Veronica grumbled as she retrieved the pastry wrapped in a thin white cloth.
Chattox, acting as if he hadn't heard the rebuke, quickly leaned down and snatched up his prize. Ripping the bread goody out of its cloth cage, the bird familiar swallowed it with an unseemly gulp. Shaking her head, Veronica looked around, trying to find the stairs. None were to be found, though the opening ahead, where a white half-circle marked where the railing and stone flooring were absent, did catch her interest. Seeing as they were too high up to risk stepping somewhere they shouldn't, she stood near the ship with her two friends, content to wait for whatever came next.
When the last woman got off the ship, a faint hum said the big log was preparing to take off.
"They'll be by soon." One of the attendants shouted before closing the door. The slam of wood prompted the ship to rise from its cradle and fly off into the sky.
It took a minute before grinding was heard from the open section of the railing ahead. Veronica first thought stone spikes were rising before she saw that a wide section of stone floor was coming up to match the missing section in the platform. In the back of the wide stone circle was a lever and a man in a black shirt and matching pants.
"All aboard." He shouted, "I assure you, getting down is a lot faster."
Seeing the stone railing of his section swing open, the women reluctantly shuffled forward. That sprightliness the trio had earlier diminished somewhat, but they moved at the head of the pack all the same. Stepping onto the stone circle produced no dips or shifts indicating any give in the construction. If not for what they had just seen and the railing gradually sloping down to an open hole, Veronica would have thought it a seamless section of the wider platform weirdly sectioned off.
Eventually, the last member of their sixty-odd troop stood in the middle. This prompted the man to press an unseen button by the lever, swinging the railing close. Immediately after hearing a small click, he pulled the lever back. A jolt ran through Veronica's frame as they started gliding on the rail. Whatever magic or mechanism was behind its function, the blonde felt they allowed the stone circle a little too much speed in its sideways fall. Wind blew through her hair as the side of the tower rushed up to meet them. A round hole was punctured by the rail and, with a loud whoosh, they passed into the stone behemoth's guts.
The platform slowed, then stopped in its lane beside another set of railing beyond which lay the promise of solid land. Surrounding them was a long, rectangular room of grey stone, bereft of any carpet or paintings. Veronica's eyes immediately went to the small, wooden bridge being lowered from the ceiling via a rope and pulley system worked by a man at a panel just beyond the railing. A loud thunk, and they were cleared to leave.
This time, the trio was not the first in line to move forward as enthusiasm for solid land saw everyone disembark far more quickly than they had gotten on. Veronica looked out the open entrance to see other landing pads for airships below theirs. Looking around, the only obvious place to go was the wide-open hallway directly ahead, which the man working the panel pointed to.
Walking up to it with the trio now properly in front, the hallway of grey stone had mana lamps along the ceiling and eight metal doors along each of the sides without their knobs. Combined with the panels beside each, it was obvious these were elevators. A few glances were spared for the four open stairwells at the elevator sections' corners, though most immediately focused on the first leftward elevator giving off a loud ding.
The doors slid open, and through them walked the redhead Fletcher, her sharp chin holding up a smile her green eyes matched in fake mirth. She wore the same black suit with gold trim she had at the dinner, and of course, the human skull still rested on her right shoulder. Before her left foot even went over the threshold of the elevator, those green eyes rather conspicuously went to the trio before acknowledging the rest of the crowd.
"Ah! Our newest recruits. I meant to meet you at the landing pad, but the Vanguard tower works on a schedule beyond our ability to control." Fletcher mused, taking in the blank faces with a sweep of her gaze before coughing. "Being fully grown women, it is assumed that you can maintain a minimal amount of self-control. For your visit, I am to be your designated guide and minder."
With the last word, she came out into the hallway.
"Part of that," She continued, "Is directing you to the needed floor. I will be selecting the floors for your elevators. Once you arrive, stay around the elevators so I can direct you elsewhere."
It took several minutes of loading people into the glass and steel boxes before Veronica and her friends had their turn. That they were the last to go, and with Fletcher accompanying, made it plainly obvious to all that some private conversation was going to be conducted. Coming into the back of the elevator, the glass walls and steel floor were worth little note even when fully exposed under the mana lamp above. A small, glass box with a clear lid below the elevator panel being worked by Fletcher drew the trio's gaze. On its front were painted the words:
'In case of outbreak only. Theft of the mana crystal is a slight against the life and blood given by the Vanguard and will be remedied in equal parts flesh.'
Veronica just finished reading it when Fletcher gave a cough for their attention.
"It's been quite lively since our adventure of a dinner. It's a shame you two missed it." The redhead gave a long look at Eska on the left, then Mia on the right before turning back to the blonde in the middle.
"I assume the Coalition is getting a smacking." Veronica offered with a weak smile.
"Can't say," Fletcher mused as the elevator jolted with a falling sensation. "The constant stream of profanities from Gaira, the head of this big tower you're in, didn't relay any plans. There was some mention of the Front's Truth Finders being present for another telling. No matter what they wanted, Lola demanded it be put off during your training.
Of course, it goes without saying we currently have three rather big demons breathing down all our necks. The Coalition will no doubt be getting a smack or two in the future. Right now, keeping us all alive is the important bit."
A question about those 'Truth Finders' almost left Veronica's tongue when the elevator doors flew open. White tile floor extended four feet past the elevator before a wall of steel poles took over. Veronica struggled to grasp what she was seeing before the vision granted its true form. Trunks of steel were placed at close intervals, with branches stretching out in neat rows. This forest of metal was so thick that whatever lay past them was totally obscured, though the stone roof was spotted where the metal branches didn't reach.
"Getting in is the easy part," Fletcher announced as she pulled down on one of the bars to a soft scrape. It went downward and pressed on its fellows to allow space ahead. "These have blades on the other side, so only press down on the top and watch for the swing up."
Veronica did as she was told, carefully pulling the cold metal down with an ease that surprised her and thankfully didn't upset Chattox on her right shoulder. Mia was practically in her element as she almost sprinted through the metal trees, while Eska was surviving by not having the bars pull up and smack her in the face, no matter how gracelessly the task was completed. A state of affairs Fletcher decided was good enough to lecture in.
"The Vanguard holds the beaches, keeping demons at bay who seek to float over from the Lost Lands. If a demon should get out from our negligence, it could taint the local areas, possibly overrun the City proper if its seeds are allowed to take root. And worst of all, it would be our fault.
This is the second floor and the only place where captured demons are allowed to be held. These steel trees will dice them to chunks, using the demons' raw, mindless aggression against them. There are none in the pit."
Fletcher pulled one of the steel branches down but this time stopped to fix her green eyes on the trio. A firm raise of her sharp chin and deep suck of air.
"Women have given their last breaths there. And it was better for all involved that it happened. Out on the demon's lands, one slip in the mud, one step without thought for the wider formation, and entire sections of the formation could fall. Carelessness will be shorn out here."
Her brood of three young women nodded, leaving her to return the gesture before they all moved on ahead. After a minute, the sounds of profanity and winging metal told of others coming closer. Veronica couldn't tell how Fletcher could possibly know where to go. It took her spotting the woman looking to the ceiling for the water scion to finally see the thin yellow line in the stone above. Thankful that missing such an obvious thing would never leave her skull, routine took over for another five minutes before bits of golden glow began showing ahead instead of coming down from above.
At the last tree, when there wasn't the threat of a metal pole smacking her in the head, Veronica took in the previously mentioned pit. The bottom wasn't seen, though at this angle and the hole in the ground being a good dozen feet away, the sides of sandstone were discernible past the wooden tables and chairs. Around the ring of the pit were grey stone columns and women bearing shields and spears, along with various animals Veronica placed as familiars.
"But doesn't that mean if they get out, we'll be too busy pushing down the branches to get away?" A woman in red leather armor off to the right asked her guide dressed in the same manner as Fletcher.
"A small price to pay for containing demons." A familiar voice called.
Off to the left, rising from behind a pillar, was Lola. Her tall form wore the green scaled armor that went down to her waist where it met a pair of black pants. She now sported a steel helmet that covered a sharp nose and smooth cheekbones while letting her white hair flow freely about her shoulders and chest. Green eyes flecked with amber took in the crowd filtering in from the steel trees. By the time she moved around the tables and chairs to stand in front of the group, the minders gave her a round of nods to start.
"This is the safest you'll ever be around these monsters. Fix the fact that doesn't mean safe deeply in your skulls. For the first bit, we're going to dedicate an hour to letting everyone get a good whiff of them. All that training and spear play won't do you any good if you're too busy throwing up to defend yourself.
We can't have all of you do it at the same time, so I'll be cutting the spectators' hair as you are rotated through, those who didn't already go through with it, at least. Don't want to give the demons too much to latch on to."
Deep frowns formed on almost every face in the crowd. More than one began stroking their precious locks. Death and mutilation were one thing; this… Affront to femininity was quite another.
"In the meantime, someone needs to take that first whiff. Any brave ones in this lot?"
Sucking in a deep breath, Veronica raised her hands, which Eska and Mia quickly imitated.
"Excellent!" Lola exclaimed, smiling widely as she gave a light bow and waved her hands to the right edge of the pit where one of the guards was standing vigilant.
With every eye on them, the trio moved forward towards the guard by a pillar. A lever on the leftward pillar crept into view, but the muscular guard woman leaning towards them drew their attention.
"Let it in. Don't hold your breath or cover your nose. And if you need to let your stomach out, don't fight it. Accept it and acclimate. If you can breathe through the mouth, and continue to do so for several minutes, you have passed."
The three nodded, prompting the guard to pull the lever to the mid section of its half-circle holster. A square of stone lowered from the ceiling; ropes were attached at the four corners to provide stability, and stone railing on the sides should that fail to keep the slab steady. The guard worked its steel gate for them, allowing the trio to walk inside, a nervous tremor in Veronica's stomach aggravating with each step despite keeping off her heart-shaped face and Chattox sending comforting warmth through the spirit connection. Mia and Eska were likewise stoic as the guard brought the lever fully down.
This brought the platform down to the white tile floor. Looking to the left, a large set of steel double doors could now be seen, the angle of their exit from the steel forest hiding its presence. Veronica's blue eyes immediately went to the bright yellow half circle in front of the doors, the unease from Chattox's spirit connection doing decidedly little to calm her nerves.
"That marks where the demons can reach when they're chained up. Useful, but not needed for this demonstration." Lola called above, a blade of water in her hand getting ready to butcher the brunette in the chair in front of her. "Stand in front of it while we get the doors open."
The trio did as they were bid, coming to stand in a line with their toes barely touching the yellow line in the white tile. Creaks and moans sounded off as steel swung open. Black void greeted them and, for a brief second, Veronica was left wondering what other instructions would be meted out.
Then something hit her nostril like a physical blow. It was foul in a way not even spoiled eggs or bloated corpses could match. The blonde staggered back as she tried to keep upright.
Mia gave up the fight instantly, sending a spew of carrots, corn, and digestive juices onto the floor at Veronica's left. Eska on the right lasted about two eye blinks before her cheeks puffed and gags became a wet deluge. For a moment, Veronica fought. Then, she realized she was going to lose. In that moment between acceptance and arrival, the blonde struggled for the appropriate slur against the universe to match her mood before she bent over. This time, Chattox added to the pile of vomit. Some corner of her mind said this would be a hilarious image, a thought that was quickly shoved down, though, obviously not through the throat.
Now understanding why the morning breakfast had been so meager, the blonde staggered back from the mess, followed quickly by her companions. Looking up, she saw a lot of the women soundlessly laughing. Realizing that an air barrier had been put up with the opening of the doors, she guessed that sound was just a casualty of keeping the smell in the pit. Whatever the cause, she was ready to leave.
As the trio turned towards the platform, they saw the guard above shaking her head. For a moment, she considered having Chattox fly up and force the guard to get them out of this hole. The thought was relished then dispensed. Not wanting to step in their own puke, the trio went to stand several steps back from the yellow line, taking in the monstrous fragrance.
Tapping her foot on the white tile, Veronica had to admit that she did acclimate. The demon's odor was no less foul, not for one single second, but she found herself accepting it. As the blonde focused more on the source of the odor, she noticed some indistinct figures getting some of the glow from the mana lamps above. Sadly, minutes passed, and her brain still couldn't decide precisely what she was looking at.
Breathing through the mouth without gagging was the passing grade and, slowly, the trio achieved it. Despite growing accustomed, they were not one bit less pleased when the guard finally nodded for them to come up. Sprinting onto the platform, they fixed their gaze on the guard as she pulled the lever into the mid position.
When they came up to the lisp, the unseen magic was passed through, sending sweet air into their lungs. Veronica was so satisfied that she couldn't even register the smirks and snickers from the other women. Stepping off the platform, the guard gave the trio an approving nod.
"As well as any can expect." She declared, motioning for them to go right back towards the tables and chairs.
Looking into the pit, Veronica saw water from the double steel doors flood the white tile floor for a second before the small deluge was pulled back through the doors, erasing whatever evidence of the lost meals had been left behind. Mia was the first to her seat around a square wooden table, with the other two following closely behind. Lola gave them an approving nod as she sent off another extremely dissatisfied customer.
"Good. Next! On both accounts."
For a good hour, the labor of chefs was wasted as everyone who went down in the pit left lighter. Those who came after Veronica's group also had to deal with the fact that the doors were already open. More than once, the platform found itself on the receiving end of the foul odors' consequences, leaving the guard working the lever increasingly surly as she had to employ water magic to clean it.
Whatever mirth or merry Veronica's group had inspired with their performance had totally vanished by the time the last batch of damned souls came up from the pit. That everyone now had shortened hair barely reaching past their ears was no small contributor to the decline in morale. Only when the last four women walked up with unsteady steps did Lola finally rise from her seat.
"I can say from personal experience that fighting on a freshly emptied stomach is a poor lesson. You'll be sleeping in the dorms above us, and, if any among you are of a truly magnificent endurance, you can help yourself to the canteen."
Sour frowns greeted the offer. Lola pointing her hands back to the guides was met with greater enthusiasm. While not stated as a rule, the women instinctively went towards those who had guided them through the first time. The trio went to a waiting Fletcher near the center. About halfway to their guide, one unsatisfied woman in brown leather armor gave a growl that drew all surrounding eyes.
"The princess isn't here. She too good to empty her guts with the rest of us?"
Feeling a little embarrassed that she had forgotten about their friend, Veronica pushed down the emotion to look at Lola leaning against the tables, as did all the others.
"You learn how to fight demons; she will learn how to direct you against them, in addition to her own combat training." The white-haired woman said with a shrug.
"Why her?" One of the women in blue armor grumbled to the right. "Maybe some of us want to sit in the back and give orders?"
Lola took a deep breath, dropped her head to stare at her feet, then looked up as she pushed herself against the table. Her jaw was set with a mother's patience as she scanned the crowd. Apparently feeling that this sentiment was too widely shared to go after the one woman spouting it, she took a deep breath and stood straight.
"Nowhere is safe in the Lost Lands. Not one single step anywhere on it is a sure thing. Sure, maybe we could put all the big family members on the front line. It would be an excellent way to spark crises across every nation in the lands and make them reluctant to send any aid. But they still have to send their children into it to keep them invested in the wider venture. A compromise that has served us well so far. That is besides the fact that you all have no experience leading formations of mundane troops."
Lola's green and amber-flecked eyes went a little harder as she stuck out her chin.
"For your part in this, every day you woke up and didn't get your face bitten off was thanks to brave men and women you never knew the names of or spared a thought for. That you will now be one of them isn't a matter of honor or pride; it is what has to be done to survive. For all of us to SURVIVE! The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can focus on coming back alive."
"You want us to just jump in with smiles? Like the three lunatics?" A distraught voice called from the back.
The trio furrowed their eyebrows as their heads turned to find the source. Not seeing who had said it and noticing a few conspicuous looks being sent their way from those around, they quickly snapped back to Lola. Part of the attention was now explained by how the plant and fire scion was looking at them with a constrained smile.
"Trust me," Lola mused as she moved to address the group. "I would never be so foolish as to expect such fortune. I would expect you to act like mages. We are about benefits, and it would be immensely beneficial to accept the training that was meticulously crafted to keep you alive."
She looked around with a patient smile before a clanging off to the left drew eyes. A pale-skinned brunette in green armor, showing a thin frame beneath, had thrown her spear to the ground, her teeth set in a grind.
"We are mages! Not whore-sons brought into the world to catch arrows. By what right are we to be forced into the demons' lands?"
"By the right of birth," Lola answered with a hard tone and a relaxed shrug. "Every government has provisions for conscription should we call for more troops. All the associations have clauses in their contracts stating they can have you called up for service in the Vanguard. If you were born in the Central Continent, you enjoy many privileges. Nothing, however, is given without cost. That you were able to ignore the bill until it landed in your lap doesn't change that fact."
A smile came over her face as she gave a nod, sending a white strand over her left ear despite the helmet's restriction.
"Bills," Lola continued, her voice honey. "Do come with goods for said purchase. The Convene is arriving in two days. Seeing as you are part of the Vanguard, conscript or lunatic volunteer, it does not matter; you will be given access to its market."
Ears instantly perked up. Scowls and furrowed eyebrows surrendered to puckered lips and eyes filled with greed. Save the trio near the middle trying not to scoff.
"And an early paycheck to help you peruse its goods."
A small chorus of hums and oohs filled the air where grumbles and snarls had reigned.
"That's two days from now. Until then, we're going to focus on keeping you all alive. Something that mostly involves rest for the remainder of the day."
Lola gave them all a final nod before walking off to the left. Veronica, feeling rather aggrieved at the slander of their mental state, motioned for her two fellows to accompany her. They walked ahead towards Fletcher, ignoring the chatter around them.
"I heard they offer magical resources of almost legendary quality."
"Gold gets you a laugh. Mana crystal, formed into coin, and magical resources are what the traders deal in."
Other prattle settled into background noise as the three finally came within their guide's reach. The redhead gave them a smile and nod before pressing down on the steel branches. Getting back to the elevator took nearly half an hour, as they had to take special care to keep their hands away from the blade sections now that the sharp end of the steel poles bared their teeth.
Arrival still came, and when the shiny doors peeked out between the blades, Veronica released a sigh of relief. One cut short by Fletcher's cough from just ahead.
"Lola said it was an option to eat, but I would highly recommend that you do. Out there, meals can be hours past their due, and any chance, no matter the current feeling, should be taken. Think of it as training." Fletcher stated softly as she moved past the last line of blades.
A loud groan from Eska on Veronica's right was the first answer.
"Must the torture continue into the meals as well?"
The redhead turned from the elevator with a smile.
"It was merely a suggestion. One born from experience, both mine and the dead's."
Mia was the next to free herself, running up to the doors while Veronica was putting down the last line of poles. Once the blonde was finally free, Fletcher nodded and pressed the button beside the elevator panel.
"Whatever you decide, your rooms are still being made proper. That leaves you squatting in the canteen for another hour or two."
The doors slid open, allowing the women entrance. Veronica was the last in, though once inside, she was the first to stretch in place despite Chattox's caws of objection. It took only a second of pulling on their frames for the double doors to open again. They stepped out onto a slick floor of grey stone with mana lamps along the wood walls. Above was a sign with red letters, sporting 'Canteen' on top with an arrow to the left and 'Residence' on the bottom with an arrow going right.
"I hope the sign makes it clear enough." Fletcher mused, looking at the trio with a smile and eyes that said she was ready to leave.
Then a question presented itself to Veronica. Followed immediately by heart-exploding adrenaline.
"Our items! They'll be brought to our new rooms, won't they?" The blonde asked, trying to not sound panicked.
"Why do you think it's taking so long to get the rooms ready?" Fletcher answered, raising her right eyebrow.
"Ah!" Veronica said, feeling her heart slow. The space expanded dragon bag was a treasure beyond compare. That was besides the precious memories and vital function out on the Lost Lands it held.
With one last nod, Fletcher pressed one of the buttons on the side. The doors slid shut, leaving the trio to spend the rest of the day as they saw fit. Hearing the other elevators working, they immediately took off for the canteen before others could take whatever spots they wanted. The hallway ahead was more smooth grey stone floor with wooden paneling of dark oak. At the end was a distinct left and right turn, the former being taken by the trio as footsteps sounded off behind them.
The turn brought them into a vast room, with most of the space on the right. It sported the same floors and walls, yet its vastness still marked its uniqueness. In the considerably far back was a long wooden table of pots, platters, and fresh breads in heaps reaching to almost both ends. An impressive feat, considering the place looked like it had the size of a mansion.
While her measurements were far from exact, the rows of long tables between them and the food were more easily quantified, and more promptly used as the women that had been behind them surged past them to start taking up seats. Feeling that there wasn't any spot worth rushing for, the three settled on an outer leftward spot for the relative privacy. Right now, there was no one here save a few cooks directing their assistants working the laden table and the troop of sixty-some newcomers.
Approaching their spot, the fragrance of freshly baked bread and seared meats wafted from the back of the room. Smells of goodness pushed back the vestiges of demon corruption still lingering in the blonde's nostrils. As she came up to the wooden bench, she stopped.
Fletcher's advice came back to her. In the Lost Lands, meals would be quick and meager affairs. No blade was in her hands or sweat from exercise on her brow, but this was training all the same. Taking a deep breath, she turned her blue eyes to the source of the smells that would be heavenly at any other time.
When Veronica looked back to her companions who were getting ready to sit, she was met with resistance. Eska fought the hardest, puckering her lips as her helmet of green painted leather shook with her denying head swing. Mia dropped her head of red leather for a second before looking back up with resignation. The surrender of the redhead made Eska release a long breath. After Mia came up to the water scion's side, the black-haired woman finally caved.
Walking past their fellows, the trio was treated to eye rolls and huffs. Apparently already having the reputation of being mentally unbalanced, none spared them a comment or question. Plates were on the left side of the serving table, three of which were quickly taken up and filled with slabs of steak, salads, and breads. At the right end were mugs and large caskets of beers, wines, and juices which dispensed their goods in self-serve spigots.
Getting back to their corner took a good minute of walking their bodies only just barely felt up to. As Veronica sat on her spot on the outer left bench, Mia took up the right while Eska took up the left, though the new spirit connection on her left shoulder drew the most attention.
'They're right about us. We must be crazy.' Eska grumbled as she started working a fork and knife.
'I think it's a good kind of crazy,' Veronica offered, a smile on her heart-shaped face as she sipped her weak beer. 'More importantly, this bout of insanity seems to have helped your mood.'
A smile forced itself past Eska's efforts and disposition.
'Well… We're going to be entirely new people when we get back, from what Lola said. Hopefully, I live long enough to see that new me.'
A bit of ache in Veronica's heart eased. Eska seemed to be better off, not just in words but in her step and the way she ate with gusto. Veronica turned right to see the caramel-skinned fire caster violently applying her tools to the slab of cow on her plate. That one certainly never needed minding, for mental well-being, at least.
Forcing out any residual memories of the door filled with demons, the water scion started working her meal, portioning out Chattox's tax as she always did. A few other brave souls went between the tables to get their own plates, but no more than a dozen or so. The rest were content to converse or stare at the ceiling to ponder what deity or cosmic force they had offended to be put here.
It took several minutes for them to finish the meal. Once they had put their plates aside, they stretched in place. As they settled in, Eska coughed for the group's attention.
"This Convene sounds like a meeting and shopping trip. More importantly, a day off. What were you thinking of wearing?"
Veronica puckered her lips in thought, any forming designs immediately distracted by the snort from Mia.
"Leather armor and the spear. What else?"
Eska took a deep breath, closing her brown eyes as she did so.
"How about something to remind me that I'm a woman? I swear, if it wasn't for peeing and watching the days of the month, this place would make me forget."
Mia huffed, rolling her brown eyes.
"You can wear one just fine."
Eska narrowed her eyes.
"I can't be wearing a dress while you walk around in armor. We need to have one style for the group."
"Mia," Veronica said, voice heavy with expectation. "Come on. You can wear armor any other day you want here. Besides, what if you meet a cute guy? A scion with dual elements at the head of a powerful association? And a penchant for music."
The redhead bounced her head around in thought. A smile came over her face as she released a breath.
"And he's secretly a prince of the Bodding empire. Who, after meeting me, wants to take me away from all this and set me up in a tower with a hundred servants."
"Pff," Veronica scoffed, "Only a hundred?"
Several rounds of discussion were commenced on all the meetings of gorgeous men that would no doubt occur at the Convene. Something Eska ceased indulging in after a few minutes as she rose from the table bench.
"The latrine is calling me; hopefully the rooms are ready enough, or they have a public one."
A round of farewells was exchanged as the trio became a duo. For ten or so minutes, at the point when Veronica was beginning to lose both patience and the fight against sleep, the call was finally given.
"Rooms ready!"
Veronica jolted in place, her head swinging towards the voice behind her before registering anything else. A pudgy, pale-skinned woman in a yellow dress and matching bandanna was at the exit, bellowing out orders.
"Not all at once! Right to left, the tables get up one at a time and only when the table to your right has emptied."
Her orders were followed, resulting in a gradual cascade towards the dual exits. Whether having them come on so tightly was the intended effect or not, there was no visible shoving and no demons were deprived of their future meals by a stampede. When their turn finally came, Veronica gave Mia a slight nod as they vacated their table and made their way towards their new rooms.
It took a minute before they were past the elevators. Over the forest of spears and brightly colored leather armor, Veronica could see a hallway going straight from the elevators. Even from that poor angle, she could spot two large boards along the wooden walls, both from their considerable size and the chaos surrounding them. Every woman stopped to pull off a metal cylinder key from a hook or immediately turned around to go to the other board before taking one of the keys and scampering off down one of the hallway offshoots further ahead.
Veronica came within a dozen feet before she understood what was going on. Each key's hook had a plaque above it bearing a name in red letters. They were alphabetical, but each board contained a set independent of the other, meaning if someone didn't find their name on the left one, they would have to peruse the right board, leading to the glut of cross traffic. Combined with the numbers on the keys and the numbers painted at the corner of each hallway leading from the main one, the system made itself apparent.
As she came up to the right board, Mia was almost immediately lost in the mayhem. The accompanying feeling of worry was immediately shoved down as the blonde scoured for her metal cylinder. It was a hard thing, but they would only have to do it once, so Veronica stilled her tongue as she spent several minutes perusing the right board before she had to make for the left one.
When the correct metal rod was spotted, she gave a rather rude push past two women in brown leather armor to free it from its hook. A customary profanity was exchanged, and the blonde immediately made her way down the hallway. The second she felt her shoulders able to move freely, the blonde looked over the key. A red twenty-four was spotted on the back, prompting her to look at the numbers by the corners.
Odd numbers were on the right, leading her to look down the left. After a second, the pair of two numbers showing the needed range was found about halfway to the bare far wall. Not the closest, but not the worst. The crowd thinned out to a few stragglers by the time Veronica made the turn left.
Directly ahead was a bare wall, though it was the four wooden doors on the right wall that drew her attention. Spotting the twenty-four painted over the second to the last door, she half sprinted to her room. Working the key into the door handle slot, she pushed the wooden slab open to reveal a room of crème colored tile floor and wood walls.
The overall shape was a box, though the glass walls on the left, where a shower head and latrine lay, left less room than what was initially presented, with the small wardrobe past it taking up even more space. Opposite the door was a good-looking bed above which rested a wooden panel presumably for the mana lamp in the ceiling. Meager by any mage's standards but fine compared to what Veronica had endured on her trip to the Coalition and at the Roost. On the right lay a desk and chair bearing a pile of her clothes and the red dragon-scale bag, the latter of which drew a sigh of relief. Taking the bag with her would only draw attention to it. Treating the treasure like an item of sentiment to be carried with her clothes had so far spared it undue inspection or compromise, something the blonde hoped would continue.
On the whole, it was a mean offering even when compared to what they had enjoyed just last night. The room had an essence of the bare minimum in its craftsmanship and lack of decoration. A sneaking suspicion in the back of Veronica's mind said this was intentional rather than a necessity of the tower's limited space. They were slowly taking away their comforts, one slice into their very being at a time. All while keeping the women too exhausted and focused on staying alive to stage a real revolt over deteriorating conditions. Unless they were going to be lugging around beds and cooking equipment in the middle of the Lost Lands, the blonde suspected this process ended with them all sleeping in travel bags and eating hardtack with jerky before ever setting foot in the demons' holdings.
It spoke to the effectiveness of the system that, even being aware of it, Veronica could only muster the energy to work off her armor and spear before plopping onto the bed and lying atop the grey blankets rather than raise the rightful rebellion. Chattox gave his customary cry of indignity as she fell before taking off and landing on the bed's headrest. Veronica allowed herself to feel the agony in her body before getting ready for bed.
A quick shower and change into a nightgown was all it took for her to turn off the mana lamp on the low ceiling before turning in for the night. The barest crack of light showed under the door, but the water scion couldn't bring herself to care as she plopped on the bed and wrapped herself in its grey blanket. Chattox gave a small screech before using her stomach as a pillow. Content to be furniture, oblivion visited her and its invite was quickly accepted.
Morning came without any interruption or midnight raid. A stab of suspicion accompanied the feeling of relaxation. With no one to ask what was going on, Veronica forced herself out of bed. Deciding to accept the charity rather than question it, she enjoyed a hot shower and dried off with a soft towel before donning her blue leather armor near the door. When the helmet was finally in place, Chattox stretched his wings on the bed before flying over to his scion and taking up his throne on her right shoulder. As prepared as she could be, Veronica opened the door and headed out.
The first step back into the hallway revealed no one else was up, though footsteps could be heard on the left towards the main hallway. Following the noise, she got to the end to see a few souls heading towards the canteen. Bereft of any windows, Veronica couldn't decide if the light traffic was due to the lateness of the hour or its earliness. She took off towards the canteen for the answer.
Feet clapped on the crème stone floor, the sound finally dying when she picked up the scent of sizzling meats and apples, her pace slightly quickened. Taking the same left at the junction as last time, the canteen was unchanged since last night, save two aspects: Piles of eggs, pancakes, and bacon were now being set out on the food table, and Lola and Fletcher were currently taking up the table they had last night, sitting opposite Eska and Mia. The white-haired woman's green and amber eyes immediately went to Veronica.
"Ah! Another got out of bed early." She exclaimed, waving her hand that stretched a bit of her black shirt.
Feeling better now that she knew she wasn't late, Veronica approached. In the typical way of things between them, Mia moved further to the left to allow the water scion to sit between her and Eska. As she shuffled off to the side, there was a warm smile between the fire and wind casters. Whatever these trials had done to their inner moods, a full night's rest had sanded off any edges they had been feeling. A night Veronica felt compelled to mention to the two instructors across the table.
"I noticed a lack of intruders in my dorms. No hidden holes for them to crawl out of?"
Fletcher sat perfectly still on the right, a smile fought down on her expressionless features.
"The answer will come in time."
'So the answer is yes.' Veronica groaned internally.
Mia gave a polite cough, drawing the table's attention to her.
"Between the lack of nighttime visits and allowing us to get up at our leisure, this doesn't seem like a training day. I thought we were supposed to be dueling our first demons."
Lola got a serious look, which Fletcher had already adopted. The plant and fire scion took a deep breath before answering.
"This is a special training day. Call me a liar later tonight if you want, but fighting demons gets easier once you get a feel for their movements and inclinations. Which means the first bit of play is the most dangerous. Something that needs to be done at complete rest and at an acceptable level of fullness."
A ball of worry dropped in Veronica's stomach like physical acid. At no point during training in the Diamond Academy, the Roost, or the City had anyone felt that an entire day should be set aside for one lesson. That this was coming from the Vanguard, the organization that had dared to push the water scion the hardest of the three, made her bite her lips white, something her two companions joined in on.
"But we have something special to discuss with you three. Between Palta and the troops needs to be people of authority who can relay orders or even give them to both magicians and mundane. Seeing as you are here willingly, that puts you on the list of consideration for such positions. Veronica's bird familiar is a big factor as well."
Slight nods came from the trio, though the first question was from Mia.
"Any benefits in the position?"
Lola and Fletcher bobbed their heads back and forth in thought for a moment before the redhead instructor spoke up.
"Coin, magical resources, and fame, if that currency holds any value to you. All after the trip, though. We can't afford the space for special bedding or extra meals out in the Lost Lands."
Veronica coughed before offering her question.
"You mentioned me having a bird familiar being important. Would I be wrong to say he would be scouting?"
A smile came over their faces.
"Your guess is correct in its direction, though not quite on the target." Lola mused before leaning against the table with fingers enmeshed. "Has he ever sent you images through the spirit connection at faster speeds? Say two or three a second?"
The blonde pondered the question for a moment, less to peruse memory and more to guess the implications. Something she finished after a second.
"That sounds like the headache would kill me before the demons could."
Fletcher remained passive while Lola nodded with a smile.
"There are certain tricks to help, but training is the best remedy. You and about three others from the coming groups will be given sessions with me. It's not easy; nothing in our work ever is. But it is of vital importance and something only a scion can do."
Long used to the responsibility of her station, Veronica nodded in agreement. Eska, however, was the one who spoke up.
"Can I assume you need a lot of them? Between the other two, one doesn't even have a bird familiar. How many other scions could be deployed in this way?"
Smiles came over both instructors' faces.
"You lot are merely the first through the door. Unless a woman has earned some ire from her betters, or she has so lost her senses that she willingly comes, it takes a while for the associations to figure out who is going to the Lost Lands. The total number of mages coming will be at least five or even six times this number. But, between going to the Convene and getting more time for training, I think the early admission is worth it."
A round of nods greeted her words. Satisfied with their conversation, Lola got up and stretched. The second her hands were down, she moved her green and amber eyes to the other mages ambling about the tables.
"Get a decent breakfast. This will be your first taste of combat with a demon, so eat to move."
With that, she left the table and made her way to the canteen.
Having been among the few who got dinner yesterday, the trio got some toast, eggs, and bacon to go with lemon water. Most were having to eat for two meals, despite Lola's warning, leaving Veronica certain more vomit would be getting cleaned out of the pit. Time still moved forward, and about a half hour past waking, Lola came back, spear behind her back and green armor on.
"The meal has ended, the demons are coming, and it's time you met them."
She turned around back towards the left exit of the canteen. Veronica, Eska, and Mia found themselves at the front of the pack, though the stragglers were only a few feet behind them this time. When they came up to the elevators, the usual assortment of guides in black clothes trimmed in gold met them. Each of the mages went to their respective guide, with the trio going to Fletcher near the back right elevator. A simple exchange of nods and the elevator button was pressed. Once they were all inside, the three stretched as they felt the world of glass walls and metal floor fall for a moment before coming to a stop.
The doors slid open, leaving Fletcher to wave her arm for them to go on. Now familiar with the steel trees' workings and purpose, the trio set off with their guide hanging around near the middle. After an amount of time that was beginning to approach annoying, the pit and its surrounding chairs and tables came into view past the metal branches.
Grinding metal from the right and left said that others had also gotten used to the constant pressing down and stepping over. When the trio finally got to the proper open area just outside the pit, Fletcher guided them to one of the leftward tables near the railing around the edge of the pit walls, a spot almost opposite Lola, who was resting in a chair by a rightward column. Aside from her, only the six guards around the pit's edge were waiting for them. Another five minutes of idle rest went by before the last of the women arrived.
"Excellent!" Lola announced as she shot up and out of the chair with a smile. "The smell is always going to be an issue, but it will diminish with time. Time that will be spent studying and working spears.
This will be your first time doing work on real demons, but don't worry, we'll put the odds firmly on your end. You remember that yellow line down there surrounding the door?"
She looked around, making sure every eye of every mage was on her. Only after confirming that did she continue.
"That is the divide between death and life. The chains have been measured down to a hair and will activate fire and stone enchantments if cut. Not a single tooth, claw, or horn from the demons will reach past it. Study them, stab them, notice how their legs work and their arms swing. And while I could tell you all the subtle tells of a coming strike, seeing them will say more than I ever could. Of course, there is the need for that first team to go in."
Lola's green and amber eyes swept the crowd for volunteers before sliding to her right where Veronica, Mia, and Eska were raising their hands.
"I would never have guessed."
As sarcastic as her words were, she still swung her arms for the trio to go past her towards the platform. Smiles and chortles went around the crowd, all ignored as the three made their way around to the pillar with a lever and its attending guard. When they were within arm's length, the guard pulled the lever down midway, causing the platform above to slowly lower.
"Stay behind the yellow. Get a stab in where you think you can, just don't grip the spear too tightly. The demons won't grab them, but that doesn't mean it won't get pulled from bad luck."
Their brief instruction finished, the trio stepped onto the platform. Veronica took what could be the last bit of fresh air for the hour right as the platform jolted with its meeting of the white tile floor. Mia took the first step, followed by Veronica, then Eska. Ahead of them, they heard the gears of the doors turn. Veronica took another deep breath as the doors creaked open. It took the steel slabs coming apart by an inch for the foul smell to wash over them. Judging by the gags and groans coming from above, whatever air enchantments kept the smell in the pit weren't being used this time.
Resigned to torture, Veronica took in a foul breath and put her hand behind her back to ready her spear. A motion that stopped with a rending screech of metal. There was barely two inches of open space in the doors, small yet enough for several pairs of hands bearing blade-like nails to already start squeezing out. Another inch and the groping hands became arms.
As the trio was getting their spears out, a shriek cut through the air just as hairless snouts of grey flesh stuck out between the moving doors. A creak of gears gave the demons another few inches and enough of the light to reveal three hairless goat faces with white eyes and clacking teeth.
Their horns still kept them in until one at the bottom, either through his own power or the shoving of his fellows, forced his head through. A sickening crunch and tearing of flesh accompanied the right horn being torn off, but the demon gave a single shriek of pain before sprinting to them. Looking him over, Veronica realized there was no indication of gender, not even at the joining of its legs. She then determined that the hard muscle beneath taught grey skin and the lack of breasts gave it a vaguely masculine air.
Exactly why her brain decided this was so important to determine at this very moment eluded the blonde as she worked her spear into its practiced position with its butt in the ground. Clacking chains tumbled over the white tile as the mass of grey muscle sprinted to them. The trio was ready, as any could be, when it came close enough for the tongue in its mouth to be seen, and the smell somehow intensified.
True to Lola's promise, the monster got within arm's reach before the iron bands around its neck, hands, and waist stopped it just past the yellow line. Grey muscle bulged around the restraints and its teeth clacked in an appalling manner, but it stayed in place. Gooey, black blood dripped down its forehead and chest, not meriting any attention from the creature as its clawed hands desperately reached for the women in front of it.
The double doors finally slipped open enough to allow the other two their exit. They sprinted across the field, clattering chains following. Less than a second passed before they reached the same spot as their fellow and assumed their positions.
"Experiment with dodges and thrusts," Lola commanded above.
A look passed between the trio before they spread out a few feet, leaving Chattox to stand watch on the ground between them. The demon mirrored the movement, despite their chains. Veronica got the one missing a horn away from the other two and pulled back her spear. The pole's blade shone from the mana lamps above as it struck the demon's right shoulder. A brief piercing of the skin was all the blonde managed before the shaft bounced off. The demon gave her a mild cry for her efforts, though it never physically reacted to the blow.
For several minutes, the trio dodged back and forth, struck with bladed pole, and kept a close eye on the yellow line at their feet. As time went on, Veronica adjusted her mental description of the demons. Lola had explained their tactics of mindless charging, but that hadn't captured the whole of the demon's essence.
Any animal, no matter how bloodthirsty or aggressive, still had a set of instincts for self-preservation. Some inner instruction telling them to pull back from pain or watch out for danger. The portion of the brain where these instructions were supposed to be in the demons was apparently left blank. They cared not for the women's spears save a yelp of pain, even when Eska managed to drive one deep enough to draw blood.
As disturbing as that was, Veronica felt frustration more than anything. She had known her sex's physical weakness since her earliest years. Magic, however, had allowed her to mostly ignore it, both at the Diamond Academy and the Roost's missions. Sure, they had some physical training with weapons, and the Roost had been harsh on that side, but using physical weapons was mostly a backup or to save mana in case something dangerous got too close. Without watery miracle, Veronica felt like a toddler swatting an older sibling with a stick. Finally understanding as to why the training here emphasized having the demons impale themselves on the spears did little to comfort her. When sweat started to pool at the water scion's forehead, Lola called from above.
"Enough! Return to the platform."
Their hands shaking and lungs gasping for air despite its foul taint, the trio made their way back. As they stepped onto the stone platform, the leather armor and constant movements had left them sweating around their faces. Veronica felt a slickness all over her skin, the worst of the sensation being where leather touched skin. Something the disgusted movements of the other two women said they shared. A jolt ran through the group as the platform ascended, which took a second before coming to a stop when it lined up with the wall's top.
Stepping off the platform and onto solid land, the trio were tired, sweaty, and frustrated. They did so without freshly emptied stomachs, so Veronica counted it as a better end than the last. As they stepped away from the guard and towards the group, Lola smiled at them before speaking.
"Any advice for your fellows?"
Their heads bounced around for a second before Eska offered hers.
"Their flesh is somewhere between leather and thin iron."
Mia nodded before speaking.
"Dodging left and right is probably the best strategy. They put all their power in each move, leaving them vulnerable to sudden switches in position."
Lola puckered her lips with a slow nod. Then those green and amber eyes turned to Veronica.
"They don't feel pain. Distracting them with a quick jab or cut on the skin won't do anything."
"But they cried out when cut," One of the conscripted women to the left said, unseen by Veronica as she kept her eyes on the plant and fire scion.
"Without bodily reaction," Lola answered, turning her gaze to the wider crowd. "There's something about the workings of their brains that allows them to register the pain sensation but keeps the rest of their body from following through on it.
For most of their lives, at least. Demons, like us, have stages of development. In their earliest moments, they can still fully react as any normal creature would. And during their pregnancy. But after their wombs empty, they take on the aspects you have just witnessed. And will experience. The next batch can volunteer or be randomly selected."
Another few hours came and went, with snacks being delivered around midday and visits to the latrines for those in need. Down in the pit, varying degrees of wretchedness were displayed for all to see. The demons were retracted by their chains into the double doors on each excursion to give the newcomers a full view of the monsters' headlong rush. More than one woman dropped her spear in tune with the chains stopping the mass of grey muscle trying to kill them.
Veronica had spat at her own efforts, but she had at least stuck the sharp bit in. A feat barely ten managed while the rest couldn't land their spears blade on grey flesh, instead using their spears like swatting brooms against the uncooperative enemy. The other two scions weren't exactly putting fear in the demon's hearts, either, despite their familiars cheering them on from behind. It was a grim showing, yet no less dangerous for it. A wrong step or too heavy a shove would see them over the yellow line and reduced to shredded meat. It was trivial to imagine how one could die here. Near the end, when the last dozen or so were getting ready for their turn, imagination gave way to reality.
There were three just beyond the yellow line, feebly swinging their spears around with all the grace and agility of a drunkard, that looked to finish in the poor manner the others had. That was until a pig-tailed redhead in matching leather armor sent her spear upward, right at the middle demon's right side. Its arm, by total coincidence, was on a downswing and caught the spearhead in its pit. The monster promptly jerked to the side to get at the other woman on the left.
Despite the warnings, the training, and the instruction from the guard, she didn't let go of the spear and found herself pulled beyond the yellow line.
The only reason there wasn't an immediate dousing of blood and guts on the white tile was the demon's turn to the other woman. Mia's advice proved true, though the mistake was being corrected as three pairs of white eyes turned to the now in-reach meal. Lola was already summoning a large block of stone above the chains before anyone could even blink in surprise.
Two spears were quickly thrown into the monsters' sides. Two cries, yet they dove all the same. Despite getting herself into the situation through sluggishness, the redhead managed to scramble towards the yellow line. She was given three blinks of an eye before the demons piled on. One of the bladed fingers cut deep into her left shoulder, but that was all her upper half suffered as she crawled backward.
Her legs were less fortunate.
"AAAH!!" The redhead screamed to a chorus of wet ripping.
Two lines of flame and three stone shards were buried in the demon's back courtesy of the guards. These mortal injuries were ignored as the demon's teeth ripped out flesh, tendon, and fat along the lower legs. There was barely any flesh left between the feet and knees when Lola's stone block finally fell. Accompanying it was a long blade of water, which sliced clean through the woman's legs just above the knees. The stone block was the size of a carriage and slammed onto the chains with a deafening thud. This proved too much for the redhead to bear, her green eyes looking on in horror before the pain drove them up into her skull as her body went limp.
This sudden pull on the demon's bindings sent them flying backward and slamming into the stone block. Not that they cared. After so long, their prize was in hand, and they proceeded to devour whatever bits of flesh on the bones were left. One of the guards used wind magic to float into the pit and land beside the unconscious woman threatening to bleed out.
A strong pull on the legless woman sent blood spraying everywhere, yet what was left of her was now past the sacred yellow line. Flesh mended under the guard's hands as they passed over the gushing stumps. It took a minute of listening to wet ripping, crunching bones, and fevered moaning before anyone said anything, which turned out to be the injured woman ten seconds after a vial of bright red healing potion was put down her throat. She looked around, confused, before her gaze turned down at her missing legs, then shot up to Lola standing above the double doors.
"You cut off my legs, you fucking cunt!" The redhead screamed like the wounded animal she was. Fiery green eyes burned into Lola, accusation plain as the profanities previously given.
"Better that than to lose everything they were attached to," Lola answered coldly. "You had a moment of decision to make. The legs or your life. You decided to attach yourself to the extraneous bits instead of staying alive. Such decisions will be yours to make in the future and their consequences yours to bear. Since the thought of getting out of the slog in the Lost Lands hasn't occurred to you yet, let me preempt it by saying a healing scion will be giving you the legs back over the course of today and tomorrow."
Asking people to cut off their limbs was a stretch, even by Veronica's measure. To say nothing of the askance looks Lola was getting from the rest of the women. The gory display was now finished save the crunching of bones and chewing from the demons. Taking a breath so deep it was heard above the pit walls, the healing guard hoisted her up and helped her to the platform. Above, a stretcher was being laid out by the other guards.
"As for you two," Lola snarled, staring down the other two mages in red and blue leather armor with a simmering fury. "She made a mistake; you two made one every moment you witlessly stood back and did nothing. If this had happened in the Lost Lands, I would have you killed on the spot.
You'll be working with the women fighting demons out on our beaches in addition to the regular training. Seeing how unreliable you've proven yourselves to be, you'll be given the most dangerous assignments and will either straighten out or receive the reward of incompetence somewhere it will have the least impact on others. For the rest of you! Once the guards are back in position, bring in the next lot!"
That near-death proved insufficient to bring the training to a close sent groans through the women, even those whose time in the pit had been served. The stone block above the chains dissipated into nothingness. Between that and the last bit of bones being in the demons' stomachs, only red stains told of what had transpired. It took almost half an hour for the guards to deliver the injured woman to wherever she would be healed and return.
The rest of those descending into the pit had taken the redheads' lesson, leaving with at worst scraped knees for the dozen who remained. As the last group was getting off the platform to join the rest and the demons' chains were pulling them into the dark void, Lola turned away from the pit towards the crowd around the tables and chairs.
"Save the one incident; you've all done quite well, whatever your personal assessments. Typically, we would work on getting the demons charge to work against them the day after first combat practice. Tomorrow would be free for such training. Instead, it will be a small vacation of sorts, as having the Convene and the materials meeting for the expedition at the same time leaves us no time to chop off your legs, though I won't stop you if you decide to do it yourself."
Bits of laughter escaped the crowd's lips, lifting the tension that had hung in the air.
"Dismissed!" Lola announced.
The trio got up from their table and made towards Fletcher on the left side of the room as the rest of the room found their guides. Routine took over, seeing them through the forest of steel blades and back in the canteen. People had settled into their usual spots, leaving the trio at the table on the left side. The only real change being everyone was now eating after training. Veronica was feeding Chattox his tax of her chicken when Eska coughed to her left.
"We all agree on the clothes, right?"
Her brown eyes went past Veronica to stare at Mia, who was finishing off a mug of beer.
"AH!" The redhead moaned with satisfaction as she put the empty mug down. "Sure, dresses for everyone. I think we've missed the point of the Convene, though. What will we be buying and with what coin?"
Veronica felt the need to interject with a question of her own.
"Do they take coin? I thought it was all mana crystals."
A huff from Mia was the first answer.
"Is there anything there we'd want? Besides magical resources, which we probably aren't going to be able to afford."
Eska scoffed, leaning further over the table.
"Does the gathering of the world's greatest magical, artistic, and crafting talents have anything that might interest us? Are you serious, girl?"
Veronica furrowed her eyebrows at the black-haired woman, feeding the last bits of chicken leg to the glutton on her right shoulder as she did so.
"I thought it was an exchange of magical meats and plants from all over."
Eska rolled her brown eyes, shaking her head as she pushed her empty plate to the side.
"It's a good thing I'm here to ask basic questions. Who knows where you two would have ended up without me."
Two pairs of raised eyebrows and puckered lips answered her, prompting Eska to cough into her right hand before speaking.
"I asked the people back at our more comfortable accommodations. The Convene is where the associations and countries announce their resource agreements. Who's getting how many mages, crafts, sirings from desired male mages, and which hunting grounds have been purchased, things of that nature. It's all been agreed to before anyone arrives; this is just where those agreements are made official.
Having all these important people together naturally drew some trade. First of magical resources, then other goods were gradually introduced. Over the decades, the Convene went from a list reading to a party and market. This time it's even got the planning for the Lost Lands expedition."
Veronica nodded; Mia snorted.
"And that's worth dressing up for?"
Eska took a deep breath, shrugging as she did so.
"Yeah, if you want to make a good impression on the most important people of the Central Continent. Who knows what opportunities it could open for us."
"And do we want to stay in the Central Continent after we slay the demons?" Mia asked, sounding less like a challenge and more like a genuine question. "I don't know about you guys, but I do want to see my family again."
Veronica's stomach squeezed. Her mother was a subject off in the distance, safely out of daily life's path. The moments when she stepped back in front of her were few, yet no less potent when they happened. Taking a deep breath, the blonde looked to the redhead.
"Let's focus on staying alive. When we get back, we can start asking those questions."
Eska nodded in the corner of her eye, which Mia quickly mirrored.
Mealtime ended with the handing off of plates and mugs to the washers carrying tubs. Like last night, there was a small stampede at the canteen exit, but it dispersed almost as quickly as it arrived. Veronica hounded a servant for a page and some writing tools, all of which were quickly secured and put to their use. When she had the needed words written down, Veronica left the canteen while barely paying her surroundings any attention, save the good nights she bid her two fellows. Mechanical drudgery eventually brought her to the wooden door with the number twenty-four above it. Opening it required little thought, though some was given to the clothes now neatly stacked on the wardrobe past the glass shower. Her first move, however, was to the desk on the right and its middle drawer. For a moment her heart raced before she grasped the handle and pulled.
As expected, the bag of red dragon scales was still there. Putting the paper in her hand on top of it, she took in the penmanship of the words: 'Gift of my father, DO NOT TOUCH.' scribbled down. Hiding the space-expanded treasure would invite suspicion; wearing it too casually was asking for chance to work its cruelty. Keeping the thing as a barely touched memento until the last possible moment was the only solution she could come up with.
That was only her first task; the second waited in the drawers of the wardrobe on the left wall. Nearly an hour passed as Veronica tried on various dresses and shoes. Chattox's view helped her see how each combination looked better than any mirror. As tiredness crept into her, she decided to leave the decision for tomorrow morning. Her day now at an end, she washed and crawled into bed as Chattox took up a spot beside her feet. Her familiar needing a nest was the last thought that came to her before oblivion arrived.