The Demon's Princess: Travel and Speculation

WE'RE ON THR ROAD TO THE VILLAGE.

DAY 12.

THURSDAY.

GOLD: 4,650.

Tyler woke to the sight of Seria asleep in his arms and her pressed into his body. He smiled as he saw her and leaned in her ear.

"I love you, Seria."

She woke with a shiver and smiled.

"I love you too, Tyler. I'm glad you agreed."

"huh?"

She blinked.

"Rias?"

"What about her? she's....ooooh."

His mind refired with the events of the previous night and she smiled.

"remember NOW?"

"Yup."

"Cute. I'm glad you agreed."

He sighed with a smile.

"I'm not sure whether to like it or not. But I'll do it for you."

"I love you. and you're my husband. Remember that. And that it's commonplace."

"Does MYLISSIA have a harem?"

"every maid in the castle is a member if they are not wedded. So yes. Hers is several hundred though."

"Wow."

"Yeah. they have parties too. Where all of them attend and the palace smells a little funny for a few days."

"HOLY."

"Mother loves them dearly."

Tyler just whistled at the imagery and the new knowledge before he looked over his shoulder to see Rias sleep beside him in the bedroll. She having clutched his coat to her like a teddy bear. Seria giggled.

"Okay, that's a kinda cute!"

"I guess."

Rias smiled as she opened her sparkling blue eyes.

"Morning. Your coat feels nice."

Seria blinked.

"She sleeps naked."

"Ooooh."

Tyler sighed as he got his coat back from the naked Rias and found her scent had seeped into the thing. Seria pouted at the new trick.

"Dammit. I'll do that next time."

She got a hug from the warrior and beamed.

"Better!"

"You are too damn cute sometimes, Seria. So how does the spell end?"

"Oh the sun touches me and I teleport back."

"So if the sun DOESN'T touch you?"

"I teleport back in about five minutes."

"Oh. Lame."

"Very."

She smiled as he held her.

"I'll see you soon Seria."

"Me too, My HUSBAND."

She faded out and Tyler smiled as he got dressed.

"I love her so much."

Rias smiled longingly as she pulled her shirt on.

"I want that."

He looked at her and she smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

He patted her with an expaserated smile.

"I forgot how stubborn you can be."

"Hey."

They left the tent were Rias was grabbed by Akeno and Belfast nearly on sight. The two ladies dragged her off for a VERY indepth interrogation as Tyler checked in at the Table. Asuna, Mina, Strand and Victoria were already there and the redheaded Second in command smiled as he walked up.

"Morning Tyler."

"Morning Asuna. All quiet last night?"

"Nothing of note. We'll be ready to move out in half an hour."

"Good."

He looked at the map and the turn they needed to take.

"This crossroads is about 6 hours ride up the road, right?"

Victoria nodded.

"It is. and it be bandit season."

"I doubt they'd attack a full company like ours. If they do we'll take em down."

Strand nodded.

"we are rested."

Asuna nodded as well.

"We'll eat breakfast and head out."

Tyler rolled the map up and the friends split to their tasks. The warrior had a breakfast of coffee and some deer meat and cheese. Fed the warrior helped break camp with the company. Then they were riding along the road. Akeno came up beside him as they went.

"So you allowed her her fantasy."

He sighed at her level tone.

"I didn't really have a choice. She got Seria on her side."

That made her smile momentarily. Then she looked at him.

"We're working on it. Don't give her too much."

"I won't Akeno. I don't want this."

"I know. We know."

She sighed and he patted her.

"She'll be fine. She's a lot stronger then we know."

Akeno smiled warmly at this faith.

"Yeah. She is. Thanks Tyler."

"Sure thing, Sparky."

"Oh come on. You're not gonna let that go are you?"

"Nope. Sure am NOT Sparkles."

"I will tell Seria you've been bullying the girls."

"I'll give Asia your new name."

"Don't you DARE."

He chuckled at her new fear as they rode along without issue. They reached the turn in the road after a few hours and it had an uphill slant that made tyler frown.

"Watch the wagon and the horses people. Let's no one get thrown or bust a leg today."

They slowed their pace to compensate for the incline and Tyler noted the landscape had become more hilly and rocky then before. Strand saw this as well.

"We have entered the Black Foothills. A region of hills and dales kown for their monsters, predators, and bandit hideouts. The nights can be chilly while the days crisp."

"It'll only get worse the closer we get to the mountains."

"Indeed. The land is also prone to slides and avalanches."

He looked at the dirt now under Shadow's hooves and the sides of the hills around them.

"I'd say we're fine for the time being. The dirt's dry and the hills are dusty. I'm not seeing any cloud cover either."

Strand smiled.

"You know the land."

"Hometown's in the mountains. I think i told you this."

"You have."

"Well there was a landslide one year. Killed close to 500 people as half a mountain just let go. Prior to that, I;d been on that mountain a time or three and the days leading up to it I'd kept seeing numerous holes and loose dirt everywhere up there. When the land went, I learned those holes meant an unstable mountainside."

The Ranger nodded sagely at the story.

"We are taught the very same lesson when reading mountains. And the weather?"

"THAT I have trouble with. I know what I'm looking for, just not good at it."

"In your opinion, can we expect rain anytime soon?"

He looked at the sky, noting the color blue and the warm feeling in the air.

"I'd say....somepoint this week. MAybe four days."

"Impressive. I have it at five. And that is the MOST accurate we can be."

"ha. We got a saying back up north."

"Go on."

"Welcome to New Hampshire. Don;t like the weather? Wait ten minutes it'll change."

She chuckled.

"Amusing."

"Welcome to New Hampshire, a State where 3 feet of snow on the deck is a PERFECT excuse to fire up the grill."

"A NORTHEN mountain town."

"Yup. Some winters, it gets so cold I spit and it'll freeze solid before it hits the ground."

"MOST impressive. I too have experienced this."

"I could run around up there bare chested."

"Lucky. The cold has no effect?"

"You don't feel the cold if you're disciplined."

"MY MAster would have LIKED you, Tyler."

He chuckled at that as he noted something in the hills arouns them; a flitting shadow moving from shadow to shadow. He smirked and scratched his hair with a finger flick in that direction. The company was alerted and gave no indication of this as Tyler looked ahead.

"Comapny halt! There's a chain in the road!"

The company slowed to a stop as a length of chain rose up before them at the hieght of Shadow's knees. A group of ten men walked out from behind some boulders chuckling. They were garbed in leathers and carrying clean weapons as the leader smirked at Tyler.

"Well now, what have we here? A MERC band moving through WITHOUT paying the proper toll to the road's caretakers? How insulting."

"Dude. get to the point."

Tyler's bored retort made the man smirk.

"I have a thousand men surrounding you. Hand over a few a those lovely ladies and we'll call it even."

The warrior rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"A thousand men huh?"

"Indeed."

"riiiight. A thousand men surrounding us....HOW exactly?"

the land they were sitting in was mostly flat with a few small hillocks dotting the area covered in sparse brush. There was no way a thousand men could be laying in wait. The bandit smirked.

"Magic you idiot."

"Magic. Okay. MAgical REBUFF."

His antimagic field took effect and he got no hits in a 30 meter radius around the company. Including a solid portion of the terrain surrounding the road. Tyler smirked as the bandit gulped now.

"Idiot. ONE survivor."

Asuna, Akeno, Kirito, ERza, and Asia leapt to the attack as the ten bandits were cut down in seconds. Asuna dragged the gibbering lone survivor forward and Tyler smiled as he got off Shadow to face the terrified man.

"Your camp. WHERE IS IT?"

The man gulped.

"To the eassssssst! ARRRRGH!"

"Don't LIE to me."

Tyler has stabbed a dagger into the man's knee just above the cap and had a smile on his face as he slapped the gibbering in pain bandit.

"Right here, here asshole. Talk or I'll pop your goddamned knee off. Where is it?"

"FINE! west for fifteen minutes!"

"Ha."

He tore the dagger free and the man howled as tyler stabbed him in the chest. he dropped dead and he nodded.

"Alright. I'll take a crew and we'll hit the camp. Asuna, loot the idiots."

Victoria spoke now.

"I think we need to TALK Tyler."

He looked at her curiously and blinked at the dark expression on her face.

"what?"

"You tortured him."

"I did."

"When were you going to tell me you were a pracitioner of the Torturer's art?"

"Um when it became nessecary?"

"I see. I will have an oath from you then."

"I promise to never turn my darker skills against my friends."

She nodded.

"Good. And you will be a Dark Hero?"

"I think we've been over that one."

"I remember now."

Asuna came over.

"We got the loot, Tyler."

"Split between the raiders. HALF to the company though."

"Fair. Items?"

"Anything good?"

"A few enchanted necklaces, and an enchanted sword. The spell is increased sharpness."

"Hmm. Metal?"

"Mere steel."

"Add it to the company and we'll see if Hielia can transfer the spell or upgrade the metal so we can actually use it."

"Smart. The necklaces are defense amulets. Adds an extra 25 to defense."

"Hmm. How many?"

"Four."

"Split them among the healers."

"Smart. That's all."

"Alright. Kirito, Rias, Belfast, annnnd I'll take you Bell. We'll hit the camp."

The four named nodded and they moved from the company. Tyler looked at Asuna.

"Hold until we return. See if you can pry that chain out."

"We got it."

Tyler took his spot at the front of the formation as the one called Bell spoke up.

"Um, how do you know my name Lord Berserker?"

"Oh. Your story was famous in my world."

"That's kinda nice."

Bell was a slender boy with short cut snow white hair and vivid red eyes set into a kindly smiling face. His frame was well cut from his life as an adventurer while his attire was a suit of light armor. On his belt was his choice weapons of a pair of knives and he spoke in a soft yet firm voice. Tyler smiled as they got moving.

"Hestia come too?"

"She did not, no. But she contacted me with her power and said she'll join me the next summon."

"I can't wait to meet THAT bundle a nerves."

"Please don't pick on her."

"I'm not. Hestia's a goddess in my world too."

Bell smiled at that.

"She's done so much for me."

"And NOW you can put on a show for her."

"Yeah."

Kirito chuckled as he brought his stallion over to Tyler's side.

"Another ME?"

"Kinda. Only kind to a fault, naive, and a dual knife berserker."

"Oh damn."

"Yeah that guy is no joke. Piss him off, and he's faster then Asuna."

"HOLY. Glad he;s on our side."

"Ha. Me too. The name a his show?"

"Hit me."

"Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?"

"Bullshit."

"No bullshit. That's LEGIT what it's called."

"Jesus that is hilarious."

The raiders rode through the hilly area until they reached the top of one that gave them a clean look at an encampment set into a valley between four hills. Tyler noted the 20 tents.

"We're missing heads. Alright. We'll go in from this angle. Do it quick, clean and keep it tight."

Rias smirked as she flicked her blood red hair.

"You HAD to say it like that didn't you?"

"Kinda."

The raiders dismounted and headed to the camp with the warrior hefting his greatsword. The camp was silent save for the sound of snoring from the sleeping bandits and tyler smirked.

"Throatcutting, go."

They nodded silently and the visitors of death crept around the camp slitting the throats of sleeping bandits. Tyler was approaching the largest tent when a mountain of a man came out yawning carring a 8 foot greatsword in one hand. Tyler rushed the man on sight and the still half asleep giant blinked at the flash of black...

"Mighty BLOW."

Tyler's blue glowing sword howled as he swung it in an upper cut that saw the caught offguard man in the side and sliced him CLEAN in half. he dropped dead to the ground and Kirito whistled at the blood rain.

"Damn dude. OVERKILL?"

"Is the perfect amount. Mighty Blow has a 90 second cooldown."

"Huh."

He shrugged as Tyler took the other greatsword.

"Huh. This is lighter then it should be. I'll have Strand look it over later."

He went into the leader'd tent and found a wooden crate that housed the crew's spoils along with the leader's journal. The camp was looted and they returned to the company where he passed the massive sword to Strand.

"what's the metal?"

The elf smiled.

"It be made entirely of Silveria. The magical silver metal. It weighs less then silver and your current metal, and it a more magical material in general."

"I'll see if Heilia can repurpose it into something useful."

"I would suggest armor. As it boosts Magical Defense as a base."

"I'll be sure to do so then. Oh! Infusion?"

"Depends on her skill. But they ARE possible."

He nodded as he looked at Kirito.

"How much for the camp?"

He looked up from the crate.

"They had 55,438 for gold, Tyler."

"Half to the company and we'll split the rest."

"Gotchya."

Tyler smiled.

"Half is 27,719. That by...me, Kirito, Bell, Rias, and Belfast. That by five. That's 5,543 per with four extra coins. Those are to be added to their split."

Kirito had a magical paper for such figures and whistled when he did it out.

"Okay that's a little scary. He's right."

"Math an i are old enemies."

They chuckled at that as the shares were taken. Asuna looked at tyler.

"We purchased a company coffer. I have a key, Rias has a key, and we have three more aside from yours."

"Mina, Belfast, and Kirito."

The named nodded at the trust and the keys were well hidden. Tyler looked at Asuna as the company rode out.

"How are we for company funds?"

She smiled.

"We're okay. Not as well off as I would like, but we're okay. With the deposit we are holding at 727,719 gold for the entire Company."

"Hm. Not bad. But for a Company of 125 active fighters, I expected it to be a lot higher."

"I did too. And the slackers got REAMED."

"Good. Everyone pulls their weight. if they DON'T, they don't get a cut."

That made her chuckle.

"We'll make them work."

Belfast rode beside him now on her own unicorn and he chuckled at that one.

"Do not say it Dear."

"why? It suits you."

"Oh dear. Do not inspire me to revenge."

"Ha. Unicorn riding a unicorn?"

"She is. And finds it hilarious."

"So what's up?"

She looked at him.

"Rias' fixation."

He sighed at this.

"Akeno said they're working on it."

"We are. So WHY did you agree?"

"Seria asked me to."

"Ah. I see. Good for her then. And YOU?"

"I didn't have a choice."

"Amusing. Very well."

She dropped to her spot in the company and Tyler side at the mess he was in. The Company made good time with their ride that day. They made camp inside a larger valley that hid their cookfires rather well and the smoke the same. Tyler had his tent near the rear as usual and cast his Hallowed ground spell for practice. He had the map out and smiled as he saw their progress.

"We'll be at the village in two more days."

Asuna appeared beside him then with her own platter of food.

"Plan once we DO get there?"

"for the time being we throw our magic and strength around. Healins, rebuilding, that kinda stuff. We'll get the story on what happened from their mouths and see what we can find at the Ranger Station."

"We'll be on our A game."

"I'll count on it."

She left and Rias appeared beside him with a smile.

"Hi! miss me?"

"Like the plague."

"Dick."

She pulled a chessboard from her pack and he chuckled at that one before he patted her.

"Purify."

She blinked at the spell and when it ended she looked at him curiously.

"What was that for?"

"MAke sure you weren't under a curse or something."

"Oh."

The redhead sighed as they set the board.

"Is it that hard to believe I'm interested?"

"No. More hard to believe you're THIS pushy when you get rejected."

She sighed at that valid point as the pieces were moved.

"I'm sorry."

"Rias. I like you. A lot. And you're my best friend in this world. As much as I'd like to be friends and to count on you, I HATE being your crutch more."

her hand slipped off the piece she held at this and she looked at him shaking.

"My what?"

"Your CRUTCH. You're not in this to be with me or whatever. You just want to hide from the fact Issei dumped you or you dumped him or whatever. Your heart got broken, and now you're trying for a rebound with me. So for gods' sake, FACE it. Please."

She was still as a statue at this plea and he waited for her to react. Then she shivered hard.

"Why?"

He sighed at her soft, hurt voice.

"Because I don't let the ones I care about wallow. OR sink into denial or depression."

She sniffed now as she hung her head.

"You...DO care?"

"I didn't you'd be dead already. I DO care about you, Rias. So for fucks' sake, get your dignity back. You're better then this."

She shuddered at that hit to the heart and Akeno appeared like magic to take her away. Belfast took her place across from him.

"THAT was BLUNT like a hammer. And FAR too soon."

He looked at her.

"SOMEONE had to, Belfast. Like i told Seria, it's CRUEL to let her think otherwise. I WON'T do that to her."

"Her heart was on the verge of breaking, Tyler."

"I know. That first one sucks. But if it's a choice between letting her heart break, and letting her live a lie? I'd break it in a heartbeat."

Belfast frowned at this harsh stance.

"Why do that to her?"

"So she can remain who she is. And NOT hide from her own pain. If she runs from her pain, Belfast, she'll lose a majority of that which makes her HER. NOT on my watch."

She smiled at that vow.

"You DO care for her."

"I do. She;s RIAS for fuck's sake. The Empress of Ruin, the Princess of hell, and wielder of the Dark Flame. Before I met Seria, SHE was the one i loved. even if all I had were pictures and a story."

He smiled at the thought of his dear friend.

"Then I met her, and my god did those stories not do her justice. She's FIERCE and GORGEOUS. Kind, warm, just...RIAS. I dunno what else to say about her. There's no one else like her. Seria's the one I love with all my heart and soul. Rias is the one I count on. The MOST."

A pair of slender arms twined themselves around his neck as a girl pressed her face into his back.

"Thank you."

He smiled as he patted her arms.

"I gotchyer back Rias."

She smiled happily at this.

"Demonic Chariot."

He hugged her tightly and she sniffed.

"I gotchya."

She rested her head on his back as the broken hearted redhead faced her reality now. Belfast smiled as she left the pair to their devices. Tyler tended the flame as Rias fell asleep on his back like that and he sighed with a smile at this stunt.

"She's almost cuter then Seria when she does that."

"Thanks."

Her blue eyes opened and she snuggled his back like a cat.

"I want to stay with you."

"Rias."

"As a friend. I....you're right."

He looked at her and she had a sad smile on her face.

"I was just riding the Princess' coattails trying to weasel my way into your love. That was cruel and beneath me. I'm sorry."

He smiled at her clear eyes.

"Alright, Rias. We'll snuggle later."

She smiled in relief.

"Okay."

The pair returned to the chessboard and went a few rounds over it. when the fires burned down they went into the tent and the redhead smiled as she snuggled up beside him.

"And this is nice."

He sighed as he held her.

"It is. I guess."

"Good night Tyler."

"Good night, Rias.