War Realm

Farrah and Red Demon talked for hours as she packed. He was still seated on her floor and was drawing still. Now his sketch was not only the ceiling, but a sketch of half the room. Farrah finally showed signs of relaxing that was till Scarab returned to the room, "We have the pyre ready" he told them. She nodded "Let me go bid my sister farewell" she was somber and seemed to be resolute with her death. "What was she like?" Red asked. They were walking down the long stairs towards the open door leading to the courtyard. "She was a bright young woman who had a bright future. She loved to read and she seemed to enjoy that over anything else" this thought seemed to make her smile. Her memories of her sitting at her window enjoying a good book while snacking on sweet fruits. In a way Farrah felt like a mother had lost her child. She was the older sister, but their mother didn't raise her. And thinking of her mother was even more painful. 

Enduring and not living out an abusive relationship with her father their mother showed great strength. And with the revelation of Samantha being her half sister didn't really matter to her. She was her blood and her heart always there to keep her company through the hardships to come. They came out to see wood perfectly cut stacked on top of each other. With Samantha's body laying upon hay that layered the top of the pyre. Her face was visible under the linen cover over her with a strip of cloth over her throat. She looked clean and in a nice white dress this caused Farrah to turn, "Thank you for showing her respect for Scarab. This is a worthy send off for her" she turned back to the body. She climbed the small stairs and was now standing over her sister. She began to tear up and said nothing. She bent down, kissed her forehead and began to cry harder. "I love you..." she mumbled as she pulled herself away descending the stairs. 

She stood with the others and she slowly raised her hand up. She paused, staring at the pyre and then flames erupted from her palms igniting the pyre. 

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Scarab walked the three to the gate before he went to the Hideout. Farrah was now wearing her demon mask and the new garments given by Fate. She had a small bag on her back and a new wakizashi upon her belt. She wore the silver jeweled bracelet along with the bracelet carrying all her things from the palace. Scarab and her walked away from the two demons. "I want you to know that I do not harbor anger for lying to me or anything like that. We were partners in this and I saw you do great good for this realm. You set a good example for me to follow and Sun Demon will live on here through the people" Sun Demon nodded, "They are in good hands. Perhaps one day I'll return. But Scarab I doubt I ever will come back" she extended a hand. Scarab seemed to be surprised, but he understood. Her life here was done and he had to carry on the fight. He took her hand and shook it, "I'll make you proud and please stay safe out there" he then gave her a nod. "Thanks for everything fellas" he said to Red and Smiling. "Good luck to you," Red told him. Scarab then left the three heading to the Hideout. 

"Shall we then" Smiling asked Sun the bracelet on his wrist began to glow and a portal opened. "War Realm right?" he asked Red who merely nodded. "Were going to the War Realm?" she asked. "Yes one more person we needed for this cohort and the War King is next on the list" they stepped through the portal and opened up to a canyon spread out like a deep scar across the land. They could see misshaped rock formations with a red and brown tint to them. The three were standing upon the cliff overlooking the canyon. They could see smoke billowing up into the sky in the far off distance. "Think that's a town or city?" Smiling asked pointing to the smoke. "Guess we'll find out" he pulled out his compass studying it. "That's north so perhaps we follow the smoke" the three then began to walk edging around the cliff that wrapped around the canyon. 

As they walked, Smiling began to ask Sun Demon questions. He wanted to get to know her better as well. They would be traveling companions. "So living life as a royal? That must be really nice, am I right?" Sun Demon shrugged. "Well it was nice for a while till things took a dark turn I guess. But it was nice having a royal chef. Oh the food I do miss and the training facility" she seemed to take a long sigh at that sad thought. 

The chef was a great one till her father found him to be too flashy and wanting to change up menus he had his soul extracted and put into a robotic chef. That way he could control what meals to prepare. Made the same thing every day. "Where did you live?" She asked curiously. "Land of Madness" he was blunt but she seemed surprised by that. "Uh…what's that like?" Smiling Demonnthen shrugged and chuckled. "Think of it like this. Everything there wants to either kill you, or earn you. Every day a constant battle for survival. And the only sanctuary you have is an underground hole. That's where I grew up. It was called "Rabbit Hole." Sun Demon was clearly speechless. Under her mask she was wide eyed. 

"Hey Red, let's stop and fry up something to eat. Princess made me hungry" Red Demon sighed. "You're always hungry" he wasn't wrong by any means. Smiling removed his mask and lowered his half mask down to begin chewing on some jerky. Sun stared at his face. "Do you both wear two masks?" She asked with confusion. "Yes. The demon masks stand out when we don't want them too. But also no one knowing what we look like has been beneficial" Red Demon explained pointing to the mask upon his face. "Hmmm…have an extra one?" She asked. Red Demon reached into his belt and removed a cloth mask from it that was black and looked to be a soft material. He threw it back at Sun Demon. She removed her mask, clasping it to her belt. She then pulled the mask over her head bringing it down covering her neck and then finally looping it over her nose. Half her face was a chestnut brown while the other was a black as pitch. 

"If it makes you feel any better, Sun. I have never seen Red's full face" Smiling took a bite of jerky. "Why?" She asked. "What's life without mystery huh?" Red Demon's answer wasn't sufficient but she still took the answer anyway. "Seems our plume of smoke is getting closer" Sun Demon stated. That's when they heard a scream. 

Smiling shoved the jerky in his mouth and put on his masks. The three sprinted forward and came over a hill to see a woman and two children running in open desert. They were being pursued by soldiers in leather armor. Three men on horses with fiery red manes. One of the men laughed as they licked their lips. "Come on girl! Come back! Ditch the kids!" He shouted laughing. "Fuck these guys" Smiling said running at high speed. Red Demon followed and next to him was Sun Demon.

She spun her spear around and shot out a beam of light past the face of the horse. It then reared back on its hind legs and began to panic. The horsemen was thrown off and fell to the ground. Smiling was immediately on him driving a metal fist into his stomach. The man gasped from the attack. He was then lifted up by his neck. 

Red Demon sent a katana to the nearest horseman. The impact threw him from the horse and backwards. He convulsed on the ground. Sun Demon jumped up at her opponent decapitating him mid air. The woman and children watched in horror as she stood in front of the children. She was bruised, beaten, and bloodied. The children were no better. They cowered looking at the three warriors. "What happened?" Red Demon asked. The woman scowled at him. Red Demon realized his mistake and collected himself. He then approached one of the horses. He then led the horse as he walked towards the woman. He stood in front of her and held out the reins, "we merely want to help. Take the horse and run. Just tell us what's happening?" His tone was more friendly this time. 

She reached out and took hold of the reins. "A pillaging. They are rebel bandits that move around the desert picking off settlements. My village is being attacked. We ran" she picked up the kids and put them on the horse before climbing on herself. "We go to the capital for safety" she then kicked the horse and it began running forward.