"Mom!" Her lady's son rushed out of the portal and ran towards his mother. Her lady, with joy in her eyes, hugged her son as she cried tears of happiness. "I am so sorry for abruptly leaving your side! I was abducted by a group of demons and I had to work for them regardless of how much I really wanted to visit you!" The son hugged back.
Aefia got out of the portal a second later, holding a bunch of things over her shoulder. Most of which were weapons. Helio and the demoness came over to help Aefia with the things she had brought while the dragon sat at the far distance with his wings covering his face and body and only his horns were visible.
"So, I believe the situation has been settled? Or whatever you went there for?" Helio asked Aefia while spreading the white fabric on the ground, while also handling the weapons with precaution. "By the way, how did you get so many weapons? Is the demon king really that generous?" He asked while inspecting a dagger.
The dagger had the entire handle made from a dark green stone that was presumably jade. It was covered in very detailed carvings of swirling lines and loops that wrap all the way around the grip. These tiny patterns made the handle look like it was made by a master artist. At the top and middle of the handle, there were small green jewels that shone with a soft light.
The blade itself was made of a dark, heavy metal that looks strong and old, similar to Aefia's fully transformed dagger or sword. Inside the dark metal of the blade, there were small pockets that allowed any sort of medications to be easily stored, this was especially created for doctor who had to deal with quick and responsive patients. This small pockets moved down the center of the blade, giving it just enough color to look glamourous. The whole dagger looks both very fancy and a little bit dangerous, as if it belongs to a powerful king or a magic user from an old story.
"I simply threatened the demon king to give me the things I wanted otherwise I would tear down his nation." Aefia said while laughing. "Usually he isn't that generous but it seems he was a human before becoming a demon king too."
"What other things did you get?" Helio said while investigating the green dagger with more interest. "Nothing much, just two slaves and a dragon and a couple of weapons. Oh, and don't worry, you can keep that dagger. I thought it would be useful for you in some cases so I brought it." Aefia answered with a waving gesture to show it more sincerely. Helio's face lit up as he tucked the dagger inside his coat's pocket.
"Demoness Aritea!" Aefia called out to the demoness who was resting next to a pillar. "You are supposed to be choosing a weapon." Hearing this, the demoness got up and rushed towards Aefia and Helio. Upon reaching, she squat down to take a closer look at each of them.
"By the way, do you have any information on where your siblings are?" Aefia asked the demoness. "Yes, I keep note of their doings on a daily basis." The demoness replied while tapping each blade. "Good...because you will need to have them packed and left within five days otherwise the demon king will have them as his slaves thinking that you don't want them." Aefia answered while clearing the ground to sit on.
The demoness gulped, but didn't dare to ask anything. She took a quick look at every single one of the weapons. Although Aefia had already determined that she really wanted the demoness to have the spear which was supposedly by one of the Guardian of Space's disciples, because it matches her power and skills better. The demon king had also told her that it was better for someone to have a weapon which best matches their magic category because that way it would be much more easier to wield. In the demoness's case, her 'splitting open the space fabric' power was best match for the Sky Splitting Grand Spear.
Each weapons had their figurative name like the Sky Splitting Grand Spear. The one Helio and choose was called 'The Doctor's Scapel'. Aefia thought it would better suit a healer than a scientist, although, it could actually work as both.
There were three more weapons which were left unclaimed. The sword that could slice other swords, the bow which could shoot from more than fifty kilometers away and the book which had multiple potion formulas, most probably a spell book.
The sword that could slice through other swords, was given the name 'Marabel' in the honor of the first King who had risen to power. It was obviously named after the king herself and once her passing, the sword was sold off to a much more powerful entity to avoid their world from running out of wealth. Another name it was given was, 'The Curse'.
The sword was a legendary weapon that looked like it was pulled out from a grand myth. It featured a long, double-edged blade forged from a shimmering, silver metal that glowed faintly under the light. Along the center of the blade, ancient runes are deeply engraved with a few waves of light blue magic erupting from its sides. The hilt was wrapped in high-quality leather for a firm grip and guarded by a crossguard shaped like the outstretched wings of a golden dragon.
A large, polished blue shapphire was set into the pommel, acting as a focal point for the weapon's power. Every inch of the gold-plated hilt was covered in tiny, swirling patterns that represented the wind and the sea. This sword is not just a tool for battle, but a symbol of royalty and loyalty. It felt balanced and light when held and it seemed easy to use during a long range battle.
The bow was a striking example of master archery craftsmanship, dominated by a deep, crimson-red theme. The recurve bow was carved from a rare, dark wood that had been stained a rich mahogany red, with the limbs polished to a mirror-like sheen.
Intricate gold filigree winded along the length of the bow, contrasting beautifully against the primary red color. The central riser was wrapped in soft, scarlet leather for a comfortable and secure grip, while the tips were reinforced with polished metal tips.
The thing about this now was that when an arrow pulling gesture was made, the arrow which was supposed to be there would appear from thin air. Its shaft is made from the same red wood, perfectly straight and balanced. The fletching consisted of three vibrant red feathers, clipped into a sharp, aerodynamic shape to ensure a true flight.
Due to its overall durability, long-range shooting and sturdiness, the bow was given the name, 'The Hunter'. It was said to have been crafted using the magic of the Hunter moon, which allowed a clearer and more precise bullseye vision for hunting. It was also said to have belonged to the previous demon king.
The spellbook was an ancient and imposing volume that radiated a sense of immense magical power. Its heavy cover was bound in thick, weathered linen of a deep violet hue, reinforced at the corners with blackened iron plates to protect the corner of the pages within.
In the center of the front cover, a large, glowing purple crystal was embedded, acting as a mystical eye that pulsed slowly with magic. Surrounding this crystal were complex silver runes that shimmered and shifted as if they are alive, constantly recording the flow of magic in the room. Two sturdy silver clasps, shaped like reaching claws, hold the book firmly shut, ensuring that only those with the proper knowledge could open it.
When the book was unlocked, the thick parchment pages inside were revealed to be filled with elegant, handwritten script and detailed diagrams of celestial movements. Faint wisps of magical smoke rose from the edges of the paper, carrying the scent of old dust and ozone.
Although it seemed to be a book of evil, it was actually a separate weapon which had the power to borrow its user the magic of different celestial objects. For instance, borrowing the power of the moon allowed the user to cast a shield without actually saying anything. That was the huge disadvantage. It only summoned the magic it could progress that instant, and no one could disrupt the way the magic flowed. It could be used by the wisest and the most knowledgable in the entire group.
The spellbook too had a name, and that was 'Master Magician'. Although it sounded absurd, it was said that it was created by the help of many mages and when presented to the King of an unknown world, the spellbook outshone the mages themselves, causing the spellbook to become a magician itself.
Aefia picked up the spellbook and the sword before walking towards her lady and her son. "Sorry if I am interrupting your conversation, I just came here to drop off your weapons. And may I ask? Do you still remember any skills in combat?" Aefia asked her lady's son.
"Yes, I was an army member for the demon king before becoming demoted." Her lady's son replied. Aefia nodded at the words and places down the two things. "Then the sword is yours and this spellbook belongs to you, her lady." Aefia said politely before stepping away from the mother-son conversation. "Wait, hold up Aefia." Her lady called out.
Aefia spun around to see what was going on, "Yes?".
"My son brought me this cloak. What do you think?" Her lady wore it around her shoulders and spun around.
The cloak was floor-length which seemed to have been crafted from heavy, forest-green velvet that draped with a regal weight, lined on the inside with contrasting midnight-blue satin. It featured a deep, oversized hood trimmed in plush, cream-colored fur, designed to frame the face. The garment was defined by its exquisite silver thread embroidery, which displayed an intricate tapestry of oak leaves, celestial moons, and forest animals like owls and deer along the borders.
At the very edge of the sweeping train, a line of ancient, glowing runes adds an air of arcane mystery. The entire piece is secured at the throat by an ornate silver filigree clasp, centered with a large, polished green gemstone that anchored the cloak's dramatic, circular silhouette.
"It's very fitting to your status. You look pretty young in it." Aefia answered. I don't understand. Every demon-crafted items have runes encrypted onto them, what do they even mean? I know how to translate multiple 'heard' languages, but I can't translate the read language.
"Now if you don't mind, I have to get going." She spun on her heels and walked back towards Helio and the demoness. She picked up the bow and traced the ancient runes with her fingertips. They are a very common language in terms of ritual. Could it be that these weapons were made with ritualistic magic?
Given the fact that the demon king didn't hesitate to give away such expensive and rare weapons, could it be that he had already deduced a proper plan which he knew that I would fall for? That also triggers another sense in me, could it be that he knows that I am going on a big mission which he plans on sabotaging so that we lose?
Should I warn the others not to use too much of the weapon's powers? Because it seems to me that this isn't just a weapon, it's something more than a plan or a sabotage. It could be a way for them to sell data of our adventure to the Torture Cell. If so, I would like to conduct an experiment on it. But I believe it is better to warn the others in case anything goes wrong.
Aefia looked up from the writings. "Hey, Aritea! Can you go call her lady and her son to this area? I have somethings to warn them about." She told the demoness.
Without hesitation, the demoness got up from her place and walked towards them. "Warn us? Did something go wrong during the meeting with the demon king?" Helio asked, concerned.
"No, nothing went wrong during the conversation with the demon king. It's just that...do you happen to find these carved writings suspicious? I feel like for every single weapon that I have taken a good look at, they all have these absurd, non-understandable characters that are encrypted onto the weapon's body." Aefia asked.
"No, I don't seem to find them suspicious. Why?" Helio replied.
"...Given that demons highly relay on ritualistic magic on an everyday basis, I was just worried that these could be some sort of their ritual written into the wooden parts of the weapons, which in return, would cause her harm whenever we try to use the magic stored inside these weapons." Aefia explained.
"Well it isn't a necessary task to use the magic inside the weapons, is it? What if we used the weapons only for defense? I know you wanted these weapons for their durability and their strength, you never really wanted them for the magic, did you?"
"Yes, but the fact is, two out of the six weapons I have brought, are fully reliable on magic. One is the spellbook and the other is this bow. If anything, I think we should avoid using these two for the time being. At least the dagger, the spear and the sword are usable, that will be enough. We have three more weapons in stock anyways." Aefia smiled and shrugged.
"Three more? But I see only one." Helio asked.
"That is because, this last spear is supposed to be the weapon which controls the chimera dragon. The chimera dragon has magical properties so it is considered a weapon. And lastly, there is the demoness who can summon hundreds of spears that plunge at you." Aefia said while laughing.
"So you plan on using the demoness as a weapon? That is going to be interesting seeing a demon acting as a bodyguard for a human." Helio laughed too. "Though, I don't get it. Why do you fear using the magic inside the weapons when they have ancient runes written on them?"
"Because I fear that the same things happen to you guys the way it has happened to me." Aefia replied while opening the eye which was previously injured.
Helio gasped at the sight.