The Queen's Quest

I started heading towards where the giant spider was hiding. I was seething with rage. It was the one monster I'd never regret killing. The journey took longer than expected. I did not want to rely on my newly-acquired powers, so I walked the whole way. Surprisingly, I never got hungry or thirsty. I got exhausted though, and decided to stop by a demon village on the way. The village, like Satyro's, seemed deserted. The houses were in ruins and looked like they would collapse in a single, slight shake. I ran into a few demons but they went running away from me before I had the chance to ask where to take shelter. I walked around for hours until I reached the southernmost past of the village. The houses were different there. They were bigger and somehow in better shape than the rest of the village. I knocked on the wooden gate of the biggest house. A man demon opened it. I watched as the demon's eyes widened in fear and he was immediately on his knees. Then a deep powerful voice spoke, "Ivana?"

I stared at the demon that was both man and beast. A demon of the third kind, a monster like me. I looked at it with confused eyes. I was talking to a buffalo with a grown man's voice. He was standing on two legs - like a man - and was wearing a set of silver armor. The demon world sure is fascinating, I thought. "No, you are not Ivana", he began. "But I can sense your power. You are the new Queen of Thorns, I presume?" "No, but I need some shelter for the night. I was wondering if you would be so kind?", I asked trying hard to hide my anxiety. "Of course. You may not be Ivana but the treaty still stands between us. As the new lord of the beasts, you are always welcome to my home", he smiled showing razor-sharp teeth. "Thank you" was all I could utter. I was shown to my quarters and was treated like a royal guest. They prepared my bath and offered me fresh clothes adorned with precious jewels. I was perplexed. Things were getting more confusing by the minute. I was lying on the bed, thinking, when a woman demon knocked on the door and told me that the master of the house has invited me for a drink. I got up and followed her to a solarium. The stars above were radiant. It was probably the first clear sky I've seen since coming to the demon world. The buffalo was sitting by a round table with beautiful carvings.

"I am Lord Auroch, Monarch of the South. And you are the Queen of the Monere...?" "It doesn't matter who I am. We might never even see each other again", I said coldly. "What would the queen be doing away from her swamp?", he was curious. "There's a giant spider hiding in a cave a few kilometers from here. I'm on my way to it", I explained. "Ah, yes. Ivana had asked me to let the monere stay in our lands. She had just laid an egg, and Ivana wanted to keep them safe. What would your business be with it, if I may ask?" "I'm on my way to kill it", I boldly blurted out. "Kill it? It isn't any of my business, but the beast is under your jurisdiction, your own demon. Why?", he was obviously appalled. "You are right, it isn't any of your business. Since the beast is under my jurisdiction, shouldn't their fate be decided by me?" "That is correct. It is getting late, you must be tired. You can stay for as long as you like. I'll take my leave first." Then I suddenly thought of something. "Wait. There's something I've been meaning to know. I was hoping you'd be able to enlighten me", I said calmly. "Anything." "Tell me, how do you open a portal?"