Chapter 27 – Gantt Chart

Nine building slots. Each.

Both of his new districts could support an additional eighteen buildings. Mathematically, it made sense. The rings closer to the tower would be much smaller in area.

But triple the number of building options? He hadn’t expected that.

“Shiny, this is Sythara,” introduced Kairon.

The little brood imp had joined them inside the tower, his cheeks and face still smudged with sand and dust.

“Hi. Like eyes.”

“Hmm?”

“They shiny.”

Seeing she wasn’t going to reply, Kairon did instead.

“Sythara, this is our councilor of brood. He’s in charge of the working class. Shiny, Sythara’s our new councilor of void. She’ll be heading up research, under my supervision, of course.”

A frustrated glare was shot his way.

“Just for the time being! After a few weeks, I’m sure we can loosen the reins, so to speak. Come with me please.”

The city lord tried standing up, but ended up stumbling and landed back on the hard stone with a thud. His leadlike foot wasn’t cooperating.

“Shiny. Fetch me a stick please.”

Moments later, he had a firm walking staff gripped tight in one hand. The support finally got him upright and standing on two feet. Mostly.

“Whew. I hope this sigil is worth it. This is really going to be a pain,” he huffed.

“You made a bargain. Complaining about it is unsightly.”

“I know, I know. I just didn’t exactly know what I was bargaining for, mind you. But a deal’s a deal.”

Scaled arms trembling with the effort, he began making his way out of the tower. “Come.”

Shiny scrambled in front of him, worry written on his expression. “Master.. You okay? Maybe meet here?”

“No. I need sand.”

“Bring to you?”

A smile touched the demon’s lips, making each shuffled step feel just a touch lighter. “Thank you. Perhaps next time.”

The trio continued on. One struggling to inch forward, another beside him in concern, and the last following in resignation. As they went, the demoness’s eyes traveled from building to building, assessing her new home.

“Child, this settlement truly is but an infant. Is this what I’ve tied myself to?”

“We might be young, but we are on the precipice of growth!” replied Kairon between heavy breaths. “Which,” he coughed, “is precisely what I want your input on.”

She didn’t look convinced.

When the three passed the other brood imps, Sythara was greeted by a series of uncertain squeaks and pointed claws.

Seeing the spectacle, Shiny spoke up. “She strong. Be good!”

“Strong?”

“FOOD?”

“No!”

“Bring food?”

Eight little imps scrambled around, all trying to get a look at the billowing shadows that were Sythara. When one got too close, she simply glared at them until they slunk away.

“Please, forgive the rather crude nature of our workers. They are very… focused on sustenance. Growing takes fuel, does it not?”

“So not only have I bound myself to a pile of rocks and sticks, but a community of lessers?”

Kairon stopped, eyes going hard. He took a moment to catch his breath before swinging around, taking care not to lose his balance.

“While you may be a ‘named’ demon, as you called it, each living creature here is an important part of our city. Every claw works together. I can’t dig, build, or haul all the materials we need. And, unless you’re hiding something from me, neither can you. That’s something I suspect you might want to keep in mind, particularly when it comes to your transition here. My advice is to approach this as a new experience. One that might be able to teach even you.”

Turning, the city lord continued on, ignoring the fiendish eyes boring a hole in his back.

***

Two trees were bulldozed aside as muscled arms pressed forward. Branches, leaves, and dirt cascaded from the canopy above.

“That fledgling is trouble. He calls upon things he does not understand. Things I do not understand. What does he expect to occur?” spat Vorathrex.

“General?” asked Boney. The wrath imps marched behind, keeping a healthy distance between themselves and the angry behemoth.

“What happened?” asked another warrior.

“Master okay?”

“Yes. Idiot. Master is strong.”

Vorathrex didn’t reply. He just kept ambling forward, orange eyes fierce.

By the time they reached the village, his snorts and growls had mellowed out. Mostly. Boney still wasn’t taking any chances.

Nostrils flaring, Vorathrex turned and waved at the flattened village. Around, burned canvas, toppled huts, and ransacked stores lay exposed to the elements.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

And there were bodies. Lots of bodies.

“Spread what we brought around. Make sure to do so naturally. Our fearless fledgling likes his tricks,” he ordered.

Even if he does not fully understand our kind.

Sixteen wrath imps began unpacking dusty rucksacks.

***

Three forms leaned against the city’s walls, black stone rising behind them. They specifically chose the side opposite the horizon, where the afternoon heat was kept at bay.

“How does research work? And, just how can our city unlock new rituals for construction? Oh! Also, what exactly is essence?” fired off Kairon eagerly.

Sythara was about to reply when the last remark cut her short. “Child? You don’t even know what essence is?! Bah, I knew you were a crude one. But this? This is less than I expected. I once again wonder how I ended up here.”

”Good fortune I’d say. Truly. I think you’ll find that the more you provide for our city, the more it gives to you in return.”

“It had better.” She sighed. “Before I answer, understand that the demonic plane is very isolated. It does not work as this world does.”

“Sure. I’m no stranger to compartmentalization.” He looked at Shiny, the tiny imp busy monitoring the distant brood imps.

“I don’t know what that is… But for demons, many of us never stray far from where we are created. Our realm is… fractured.”

“Interesting. How does that relate to essence and research?”