The trio had returned with the old man to Oldville, where he had two wives and many children.
They dined with the family, in gratitude for having brought the old man back.
Sometimes the old man would wander off and fall into deep places, getting stuck for days, but this time he had returned almost unscathed, except for the broken leg.
BEACH
Said the boy, one of the old man's youngest sons:
— Did you know the Ēaganingas have a talking bird? — everyone ate in silence, annoyed by the boy speaking. He was a child, and everyone hated his nonsense. — It has been speaking prophecies, it's a huge bird. It sits on top of the wardrobe. Difool Ēaganingas said the bird told them to plant in the sand. And it was a mess. Ox carts loaded with saplings and seeds. And the Ēaganingas farm spent almost three days being entirely moved to the beach sand.
— Shut up, child. — Æthelflæd complained, and they finished eating, leaving the house.
It was a small village, only twelve streets, with houses side by side leading down to the docks, wooden bridges over the water, where small fishing boats anchored.
— I still think you could have fought better against the Demon King. — Æthelflæd remembered the epic fight against the giant serpent, and the three left footprints in the sand, moving away from the silent village.
— Æthelflæd, he was immune to fire! Enough of this subject. And there's another simple reason, in case you haven't noticed, I can't control the flames. If it weren't for the rain and the ocean, you and Cwenburg would have turned to ashes. The seven seals exist to protect the cities. Imagine a world where people go around melting houses and streets, think a little!
— You could have just killed us and defeated him! — Æthelflæd insisted, she had no alchemy prepared, as she had lost everything on the boat, and, without drinking, smoking, injecting, or snorting, her mood turned terrible.
— I wouldn't mind killing you, but I wouldn't sacrifice Cwenburg for anything.
— Not even to kill the Demon King?
— Not even for that.
— You just want to be Cwenburg's girlfriend! — Æthelflæd accused, but a blushing Leofwynn did not deny it. — Fuck you two, I'll go on alone. — the less alchemy in her blood, the more curses emanated from the human.
At that moment, the marks of the curses glowed. And the voice of the Demon King sounded, from Æthelflæd's back, from Leofwynn's butt, and from the roof of Cwenburg's mouth:
— I haven't received anything from the three of you for a while. What are you doing?
— Not many people want to work in your castle, besides, one of your enemies attacked us! It was a giant snake.
— What was his name? — the Demon King wanted to know.
— What was it again? — Æthelflæd looked at the other two, but even if they remembered, both were afraid to speak to the Demon King.
— I don't know, he had a Kraken, it was his friend, and many dolphins.
— Dolphins or river dolphins?
— What's the difference?
— River dolphins can be pink.
— Then they were river dolphins.
— What an unpredictable fate, you faced Līeget, the Great. Well, it seems you are in trouble.
— Actually not, it's quite calm.
— For now, listen, human. There are many groups, and there used to be many more. They long to sit on my throne and rule the world in my place, however, not all are as calm as I am.
— Calm? — Æthelflæd observed the asteroid ring beyond the clouds in the clear night.
— It may not seem like it, but there are many contenders for the Demon King's throne, probably, you will be attacked by them. Great warriors of ancient lineages. The three most powerful opposing groups are, the Gut-Devouring Bloody Butchers, the Revelry of Those Who Set the World on Fire, and the worst of all, the Waltz Upon the Corpses of the Children of my Enemies. Well, good luck, and, never forget, I still need a cook!
— Wait, you called to warn us of danger? That was cuter than I expected. — Æthelflæd would have been happy if it weren't for the withdrawal.
— No! — the Demon King roared, getting lost in his own words until he threatened. — Ten days for the cook or the three of you will be cooked.
And the message magic ended, erasing the runes on the lolis' bodies.
— Well, it could be worse. — Cwenburg breathed a sigh of relief, ten days was a long time. — Do you want to go see that talking bird?
— Do you want to go see, Æthelflæd? — Leofwynn replied, watching Godwyna's distant wings in the sky, approaching.
— Fuck this fucking damn bird.
— Alright, let's stop somewhere for Æthelflæd to make her alchemies, and then the cook.
And so it was, they flew along the beach, and for five days Æthelflæd delved into the woods, with Leofwynn training with the fire sword, for the other one had been melted in the conflict with the giant, and Cwenburg in a bikini sunbathing with Godwyna.