Welcome back?

Demon:"..."

Ce:" Answer, there is nothing to lose here. Not like I couldn't order you"

D:" Yes, I was. Then I tried to make him kill me"

Ce:" He didn't succeed, apparently"

L:" Excuse me if I'm interrupting, but can we go ahead and restart the mine?"

D:" There is no demons left in here, I send most of them to investigate a river. They'll be back in around three days I suppose. So go ahead! I think we might need some time alone anyway"

A moment of silence - while soldiers pass us. The infiltrator-division breaks through the wall and goes down the big stone staircase aswell. It was easy to see that it was made for demons, the steps were really big and high - so most of our fighters struggled to get down there. Mostly the leprechauns, to be honest.

D:" So... How is it going, Cecil?"

Ce:" Rather well, considering what happened before. And even better after meeting you again, Gus"

G:" Things weren't going too well for me either..."

Ce:" Right! Tell me, what happened after... after that?"

G:" It is a shorter story than the time that passed suggests. After I didn't die, the guards threw me out of the capital to rot away outside, thinking that I DID die. The demon took over after regenerating a bit, and went to this place here."

He points around, he means Götterfels.

Ce:" And started to gain rank-ups?"

G:" Yeah, I learned quite some things about demons in that time. But what is important here: Demons were all humans, the stronger the hatred or pain that turned them was - the stronger the demon. Well, my demon ravaged all three previous generals at the same time without being wounded. You can think why."

Ce:" But how were YOU able to come back?"

G:" I don't really know. It was like... We were talking from time to time. And when I heard your name being mentioned by other demons I asked to get control again. And... he agreed."

Ce:" That sounds highly familiar, I have a similar spirit inside me. We talk, he gives me instructions and takes over me when I am about to die. You beat me again, huh?"

G:" That really sounds familiar, are you sure it's not a demon?"

Ce:" No, but even if he is - what is the difference if he keeps helping me? If he keeps being a good guy?"

G:" So you think like that..."

Ce:" Gus, if you worry. I will never abandon you. Come with us - if you want to"

Gus looks down to the ground. I knew what he was thinking about. 'Am I able to control myself?' and ' am I really worth being taken care for?' and all those thoughts. If I let him think, he will fall deeper and deeper into that loop. How do I get him out...

Ce:" I don't know if you will have a dream like that too, but I dreamt about Marina, Klaus and you one time. In the dream all of you forgave me and it was probably the only thing that kept me going. I'm sure they would want you to go on aswell, your mother is alive aswell. Why don't we go and meet her after the war?"

G:"... Mother is alive?"

Ce:" We went out of town shortly after you supposedly died. So yes, she is alive."

G:" So I didn't bring death to everyone... You lived. Mom lived. But Marina...."

Ce:" It wasn't you that killed her. But the guy who did is dead, too painless if you ask me, but he did scream for quite a bit"

G:" You know... The demon told me that death and despair are the only things that no one can prevent. So you know what? I'll try to prove him wrong. I heard you are trying to built a democratic state? Count me in."

I raise my fist up, slightly slanted towards Gus. He raises his and bumps mine.

Ce:" I better get my generals and let them know that a new one joined our rank"

G:" I doubt anyone follows me, my species isn't really liked around here."

Ce:" You didn't pay attention to who is gathered here, huh?"

G:" What do you mean?"

Ce:" You'll see"

I shout down the stairs for my generals and slowly they came up. Cecilia heard me first, then Servve and Rhage - then Lyght and Laurin. Christian was already up here, because he looked at documents in the leaders cabin. After all of them gathered, I begin talking. At least I tried. I found zero words to describe what was going on. Until Cecilia walked up and stood beside me. Gus looked bitter-sweet.

I take a deep breath then spout my words out.

Ce:" To say it bluntly: The demon behind me is going to be a general. Not only is he back to his human mind and is someone I know to be very reliable, but he also is bound to the blood magic. Any questions?"

The reactions couldn't surprise me more. Servve and Cecilia shook their heads, Laurin and Rhage thought about it a bit, while looking at Gus skeptically. Lyght didn't seem to care. Christian walked up to me and whispered:" If you know him, don't I do too?"

Ce:" You do. You remember my bets friend, hopefully."

Chr:" Gus?! Sure didn't think to see you again, welcome back to the family"

I signaled him to come closer and slowly he came up.

G:" I know I am a demon and all, but I really want to give my best... So could you accept me, even if my species isn't the same"

L:" Hohoho! Look around. Does anyone here seem to care about species?"

G:" Wait... Elves? Dwarves?"

Laurin pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes, then said:" Leprechauns. Why do humans all think we are dwarves?!"

G:" In all books you are explained as dwarves, sorry"

S:" Skip the talking! Let us fight!"

G:"Wha-"

Ce:" He is just a fighting addict, he won't stop asking until you agree. This is a nice way to show your skill aswell."

G:" Can you summon me a sword then?"

Ce:" Oh, while we are at it! What magic did you get?"

While waiting for my answer, I model a sword that was close to the one Gus father had. I can understand why he didn't want to use it in a fight.

G:" A weird rune magic, I can set a way it activates and then certain kinds of magic unravel. For example: I can put a rune on the ground and when someone steps on it, his legs get frozen. Or one at the wall, that when someone passes it activates a loud sound. The effects are limitted to spells I know, though."

Ce:" Sounds useful... We might be able to combine magic with you and our other mages for better effects... Ah! Here your sword"