"Oh, believe ," Liria laughed, excitent buzzing under her skin, "I wouldn't dream of it."
Enara's face turned an impressive shade of crimson. "This is absurd! I don't need so… commoner stumbling along at my side and calling it protection." She turned toward her mothers, fury flashing in her eyes. "Mother, I am perfectly capable of handling myself without a so-called bodyguard!"
Nyssara lifted an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Enara, this is not a request, nor is it negotiable. Your behavior has made it clear that a protective presence is necessary."
"But—"
"No buts," Verida cut her off, her voice firm. "Your recklessness has gone unchecked for too long. Consider Liria your… reminder to think before you act."
Enara clenched her fists, glaring daggers at Liria. "A reminder? She's going to be a nuisance, not a help!"
[Highly accurate observation,] the System remarked in Liria's mind, almost as if it were amused. Liria had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
"Co now," Daena said, standing with that graceful, commanding air of hers. "Both of you need to gather your belongings. We leave soon."
Liria nodded, suppressing the flutter of nerves in her stomach. She wasn't thrilled about playing guard dog to a prickly demon princess, but if it ant getting stronger… well, that was worth a little friction. She headed to her room, picking up her few belongings a couple of changes of clothes and, of course, her blade.
The sword glead as she lifted it. It was a slim, elegant weapon, with a hilt wrapped in dark leather and intricate silver engravings tracing down the length. It felt balanced in her grip, as if made just for her.
[Well-crafted,] the System noted. [Perhaps it will last even through your more questionable decisions.]
"Thanks," Liria thought dryly, not bothering to hold back her sarcasm. "Can't wait to put it to use."
With her belongings gathered, she t Daena in the main hall, where Enara was sulking next to her mothers. Enara's expression was sour enough to curdle milk, and Liria had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.
"Ready, girls?" Daena asked, her eyes glinting with an almost mischievous spark. "Good. Then let's not waste ti."
Nyssara reached out, gesturing for the others to co closer. "Stay close to during the teleportation. We'll need to cross realms quickly to avoid drawing attention."
Liria stepped up, feeling a strange, tense energy build around Nyssara. Enara muttered sothing under her breath, scowling at Liria, who responded with an exaggerated smile. "Don't worry, Princess. I'll be right behind you every single step of the way."
With a final smirk, Nyssara raised her hand, and the air crackled with energy. A deep, pulsing hum filled the room as Nyssara chanted under her breath, creating an intricate, shimring portal. A wave of vertigo crashed over Liria as she stepped through, her stomach twisting in a way that was entirely unpleasant.
Then, in an instant, the room disappeared, replaced by a dizzying blur of color and sound. Liria's senses whirled in a chaotic tumble as she was pulled through what felt like a hundred different places at once, each more foreign and disorienting than the last. Her head spun, her stomach churned.
With a lurch, they landed on solid ground. Liria barely had ti to register the dark, sprawling plains around her before she doubled over, stomach heaving. She managed a strangled cough before losing her breakfast entirely, collapsing onto her hands and knees as she gasped for breath.
"Ugh, humans," Enara sneered, looking down at Liria with barely concealed amusent. "Can't handle a little teleportation, can they?"
Liria shot her a glare, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Princess," she muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize 'almost puking my lungs out' was part of the royal etiquette training."
[Note to self,] the System chid in. [Next ti, adjust stamina before teleportation.]
"Oh, that would've been nice to know beforehand," she thought irritably.
Slowly, she straightened, taking in her surroundings. They were standing on a vast, rugged plain, a sweeping landscape of dark soil and rock stretching as far as the eye could see. The ground was speckled with silver and violet minerals, which caught the weak sunlight and glinted eerily, like scattered stardust. The sky above was a shade darker than she was used to, with thick clouds rolling like waves across a sea of stormy gray.
"So, this is the Demon Realm," Liria murmured, feeling a strange chill creep up her spine.
Daena nodded, her face thoughtful. "Welco to Noctir, holand of the demons. The Dark Plains stretch far and wide, dotted with mountains, valleys, and forests… and our people, of course."
The demons now that she looked closer were everywhere. So worked in the fields, harvesting dark plants that glistened under the weak sunlight, while others road in small groups, talking and laughing. Despite the foreboding landscape, the people seed lively and… well, surprisingly polite. They offered nods of acknowledgnt as the group passed by, their deanor far more civilized than Liria had expected from a place called "The Dark Plains."
Enara, on the other hand, looked as though she was barely holding herself together. Her shoulders were rigid, and her eyes darted warily to every passing demon as if she expected a sudden attack. Liria almost laughed almost.
[It appears the princess is nervous,] the System observed dryly.
"Oh, I've noticed," Liria thought back, resisting the urge to nudge Enara.
"Co along," Verida said, her voice a low command that resonated across the plains. She gestured toward a looming structure on the horizon—a towering black castle that looked carved from the darkest stone, its jagged spires piercing the gray sky.
As they approached, Daena's form began to shift. Her skin deepened to an obsidian shade flecked with purple and silver, and massive, curving horns spiraled from her head. Her eyes glowed with a faint, ethereal light, casting a strange radiance against the shadows around them. Leathery wings unfurled from her back, spreading wide with an elegance and power that left no doubt about her heritage. A long, whip-like tail flicked at her side, tipped with a barbed end.
Liria had seen this transformation before, but the sight still took her breath away. Daena's presence was as regal as it was deadly, a terrifying, majestic figure from so ancient legend.
Liria glanced over at Enara, who was watching her grandmother with a blend of awe and slight annoyance. Clearly, even Enara knew better than to test Daena's patience in this form.
"So," Liria said quietly, nudging Enara as they neared the castle. "Is this the part where you tell to stay out of your way?"
Enara sneered, folding her arms. "Oh, I don't need to say that. I know you're smart enough to avoid getting in my way."
"Good to know," Liria replied, grinning. "You just keep worrying about yourself, Princess, and I'll handle the rest."
[Reminder,] the System said, breaking into her thoughts. [As her designated bodyguard, technically, you will need to 'handle the rest.' All of it.]
Liria groaned inwardly. "Thanks for the pep talk."
[Always here to serve.]
They walked through the massive front gates of the castle, stepping into a vast hall lit by floating orbs of dim blue light. Statues of ancient demon warriors lined the walls, their fierce faces carved in exquisite detail, each one a reminder of the strength and power this place had fostered for centuries.
Daena led them deeper into the castle, her powerful form casting an imposing shadow that made Liria acutely aware of how small she was in comparison.
They finally stopped in the grand entrance hall, where Enara's mothers took their places on either side of Daena. Verida turned to Enara, a hint of warning in her golden eyes. "Rember, this arrangent is for your benefit. You'd do well to appreciate it."
Enara huffed, her scowl deepening. "Fine," she muttered, clearly less than thrilled.
Liria leaned close, whispering just loud enough for her to hear. "Looks like you're stuck with , after all."
Enara's glare was icy, her voice dripping with venom. "Just stay out of my way. And try not to embarrass ."
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