The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

A Meeting in the Desert, Redux (Part 1)

***The border crossing of Chersea and Cherflammen***

The demon border guards assigned to the outpost in this part of the human realm stood their ground, as they watched multitudes of knights, gunners, cavalry, artillery and air forces from the united kingdoms of Chersea surround their small force. As their duty was to prevent any unauthorized incursion into the demon territories, their commander issued an order for them to fight to the last demon and to the last bullet, fighting with their horns and teeth if they had to.

At the head of that mighty host was the Human Saint, riding a pure white war steed, in all the splendor of the paladin armor. With one gesture from her, she could command the human armies to obliterate the demon outpost. But, in consideration of Chersea's amicable relations with Cherflammen, she withheld her forces in time for negotiations to begin.

"..."

The Lady Madelaine watched as her emissaries approached the demon positions under the flag of peace. Her proposals included, the unmolested passage of her armies into Cherflammen, in return for the demon border guards' lives, and a good word on their conduct to the demon lord. As they waited, she had the artillery placed in several commanding positions for firing, in case the talks failed.

"Maddie!"

"!!!"

The Human Saint's attention turned towards a familiar voice approaching her from behind. Much to her surprise, it was the Beastman Saint, Ruro, who teleported all the way from the Holy Palatial Gardens after her. The wolf lady asked, "What are you doing? What are these men doing in this place? Didn't the Lady Seirna and Natasha asked you to stop this madness?"

"I reclaiming what is mine," she replied. "Please stand back, Ruro."

"This is not right!" the Beastman Saint insisted. "You're making the situation for you and for everyone worse!"

"I did not ask for your opinion," Maddie sharply rebuked her.

Ruro was taken aback. She was not sure if her friend was under the influence of the Seductress, for she couldn't feel any miasma from the latter. Nevertheless, the Beastman Saint was determined to stop her colleague from walking towards the point of no return, for if Maddie crossed into Cherflammen with her armed contingent, it would mean war against the demon people.

"Turn back at once!" she pleaded. "If you cross now, all of my master's—your beloved Kuro's—work would be wasted! Do you even want that to happen?"

"You won't understand my reasons, Ruro, please stand aside. I don't want to fight you."

At that point, Maddie pulled her sword, and though she didn't point it towards the Beastman Saint, Ruro knew that her friend was serious. But the wolf lady wouldn't follow the Human Saint's demands; she blocked her path, in a vain attempt to keep her from proceeding.

"Your Holiness!"

"!!!"

However, the rising tension between them was interrupted when a soldier came in to report the progress of the negotiations with the demon border guards. "Pardon for my intrusion, Your Holinesses," the man bowed to show his reverence. "The demon commander agreed to our proposals, and would allow us free passage into the crossing."

Maddie glared at Ruro, who answered in kind. "Tell the generals that we're permitted to cross," the Human Saint ordered, without averting her eyes from her opponent, "I and my entourage will go first."

That very moment, Ruro knew that her attempt to stop them was lost. And, though her heart was heavy, the Beastman Saint had no choice other than to let Maddie continue on her plans, lest she risked disunity among the saints. She could only watch the human armies march into Cherflammen, and into uncertainty. Then, when they already disappeared through the portal, Ruro uttered a teleportation spell...