My Demon

The Queen Calls - 19

A few more miles should be far enough, but even then something will befall me whether I like it or not. I saw the clearing out in the forest that surrounded Claudis' manor and I concealed my wings after landing in the place where Claudis chased after me. He really was an idiot, but he always found me. I know I can continue to do what I was doing without needing to worry about Ryu, but that won't make fighting demons any easier. Even though I've regained my original wings, I can't afford to let my guard get low enough for demons to attempt any form of attack against me.

I stayed under the millions of branches above and soon I saw the other angels land. They watched me, but I remained still. One was female and the other male. Great, I'm starting to see a pattern of teams. It was like this with Nadia and Lex too. I smiled and walked over to them.

The closer I got to them, I recognized them from my time in Illuminara. I trained with them when I was there, but I hardly talked to them even though they were surprised at my aptitude for combat. "What brings angels from the city out here in demon infested lands?"

"Ryoma, her majesty calls for your return." The young male angel said clad in silver armor and the girl next to him was in a brass colored armor.

"You'll have to give her my regards, but as an exiled angel, I am not allowed to return." I retorted and turned around.

"She has given entrance, and you are her knight." The girl angel said.

Upon hearing that, I scoffed. "There's no point in going back. I failed my vow and I was left to die in the land the demons corrupted. You can tell her, I appreciate what she's trying to do, but I will not return. I have a personal matter to settle."

"You were loyal to her majesty, but why have you decided to deny her orders?" The young male angel asked.

I smiled lightly. The young angels don't understand what they are asking me to do, but it wasn't like they needed to know. I began to wander into the forest and I glanced over my shoulder. "Only an angel would believe that was my intent back then, but you know next to nothing about who stood at her side. I wasn't some guard dog for her, but I was her knight. The vow I made was not for her, I told her that when I was kicked out." I waved them off. I continued walking toward Claudis's manor.

I heard their footsteps behind me. They were less than subtle with the way they tailed me.

"She needs your help," the girl said and I kept walking. "She said that she could not defeat the demons once and for all without you."

I scoffed at the thought. She needed me. Where was this need of me when she left me to die? I smirked. "Funny, she has seasoned soldiers to guard her. I'm not obligated to help you. She may have sent you, but I owe her nothing after my expulsion." I remained focus on getting back to the manor before Claudis decides to go searching for me again. "Go back to the city before you end up dead,"

"Whether you decide to heed her call for you or not, she warned us you may be resistant. We have orders to take you back by force if necessary, Ryoma."

I saw the manor up ahead and froze time for a good minute. After that time limit was up, I glanced back to see those two staring at me from a distance. Idiots. I smirked striding into the Claudis's manor.

Just try and make me go back to Illuminara, you subpar feathered pigeons. I couldn't care less about her request.

Moving around inside the manor was simple, but even I felt the stifling air. Claudis needs a way to circulate his air better.

"Jeez, he's an annoyance." I mumbled, wandering back toward the courtyard at the center of his manor.

When I gave it some thought, Claudis had so many opportunities to tell me who he was. I didn't even consider he could reincarnate. How silly of me, I've been in his presence acting like a total moron.