Author's Preface
"Not that I am saying no, because I had a plan to go there already. But can I ask for the reason?"
Samuel grabbed his cup of tea. "As you know from the summit, they have been granted their freedom. We saw it fit to send you as a representative of the Guild."
"What for? And why me?"
Nyx cleared his throat. "Well, I want you to help establish an Adventurers Guild there. I want to know if it is viable, if the demons themselves would actually participate."
Samuel put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Zareth is a friend. The Guild would help them build their economy, help them integrate back into the world as well. Adventurers from all over would travel there simply for the new adventures and dungeons the Demon Continent has."
"He's right, but I need to know that the crown prince and his father will abide by the Guild's rules, and I can't think of anyone better to tell royalty how things are without giving them an inch of room to negotiate."
"Ahh, so you want me to be myself."
"I do, but there is a line, Mr. Kade. For the sake of the one arm you have, I would not cross it."
"So good to see you care. So when would I be leaving, and who am I going with?"
Nyx snapped his fingers, and Thirty-Seven walked in a moment later. She stood in front of Ryan with her arms on her hips.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Ryan stared back and made a funny face at her. "Seriously? Nothing?" They stared at each other for another ten seconds before Ryan gave in. He sighed. "Ugh, fine."
He snapped his fingers, and Fido appeared between them. Fido looked up at Thirty-Seven with his tongue out as he panted. Thirty-Seven dropped a piece of monster meat on the floor. Fido dropped and rolled onto his side and began to chew on the meat as Thirty-Seven patted his belly.
"Really, you're forcing me to take her along?"
"It is simply a precaution."
"Precaution? What aren't you telling me?"
Samuel set his teacup down. "There are rumors that the Beastkin may attack the demons. They are just rumors for now, so to be safe, we decided to send her with you. Since, you know, you two seem to get along fairly well."
Ryan looked at Thirty-Seven as she petted Fido. "And I assume I don't have a choice in the matter?"
"You don't." Nyx chuckled. "You leave in two days."
"What would you have done if I wasn't back from helping that girl?"
"But you are back, aren't you?" Nyx smiled.
"You're fucking unbelievable." Ryan looked at Fido. "I am leaving. Are you coming?"
"I will stay with Thirty-Seven, Master, to protect her."
Ryan shook his head. "Traitor." He stood, smiled at Samuel, and walked out of Nyx's office.
Ryan spent the next two days in his room meditating. Halfway through one of his meditation sessions, Bubba appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of Ryan looking very proud.
"I am the leader of the Shadow Generals, Master."
Ryan opened one eye and looked up. "Great."
"Big dumb orc cheated."
"I don't care, Meatloaf." Ryan looked at Bubba. "Can't you two see that I am busy?"
"You look like you're resting though."
Ryan opened both eyes, sighed, and stood up. "I am trying to gather mana to evolve your ass. But that fucking egg is making it impossible."
Ryan checked his stat screen.
[Mana reserves: 2250(3250)/∞]
"There has to be a better way to gain mana. This shit is so slow. At this rate, I will never be able to use that shadow from the mountain."
"Maybe your answer to that is in the towers as well."
Ryan flicked his hand up and down at Bubba. "Oh my gosh, go away!"
Bubba nodded and disappeared into his shadow once more. Ryan stood and walked toward the window. He looked to the sky. "Okay gods, is the Demon Continent part of the path you're sending me on? Or is Nyx just an asshole who refuses to give me a break?"
Ryan stared and waited. Silence followed. "Wonderful talk." Ryan sighed. "I suppose I'll just walk down it and do what I feel is right."
The next morning came as Thirty-Seven and Fido sat at the foot of Ryan's bed while he slept. Fido finally bit Ryan's blankets and ripped them off his bed.
"What the fuck, man?" Ryan opened his eyes and saw both of them staring back at him.
"Seriously, you can just knock and wait like normal fucking people."
"The boat leaves in one hour. I suggest you hurry. I'll be downstairs."
Ryan sat up and swung his feet over the side of his bed and onto the floor. He looked up at the ceiling. "If this is your path for me, can we make it without any crazy, mind-blowing prophecies? I just want to relax on this trip, argue with some royals, and see the Demon Continent." Ryan stood, got dressed, threw his mask on, and headed downstairs.
Ryan and Thirty-Seven stood downstairs in the empty lobby of the Guildhall. "You know he has to go back in my shadow, right? He can't just stay out the entire time."
"Fine. For now."
Ryan shook his head and snapped his fingers. Fido disappeared into his shadow. The two of them walked to the east side of the royal palace. There stood a guard in front of a portal.
"Halt. You need permission to use this port." The guard froze as Thirty-Seven walked right up to him. She didn't say a word. She simply stood there and stared at him. The guard scanned Thirty-Seven uo and down and stepped to the side a moment later. "My apologies. Enjoy the port."
Ryan ran up to Thirty-Seven's side. "Seriously, you have to tell me who the fuck you really are one day." Thirty-Seven shrugged as the two of them walked through the portal.
A second later, they stepped onto a platform on the second level of Elyndor's port. Ryan looked out over the city. It was bustling with traders, ships flying flags from every country hauling goods on and off, and vendors lining the streets, each yelling prices and doing their best to swindle anyone dumb enough to spend their coin.
Thirty-Seven looked at Ryan. "Let's go. That's our ship." She pointed.
Ryan looked at a ship docked at the far end of the port. If every other ship looked fantastic, this ship looked like it could sink at any moment. The wood was black, like it had been caught on fire. Cracks could be seen everywhere along the bow. The masts themselves didn't look very sturdy as they swayed back and forth with the wind. The flag was black with a red demon head adorned on it. Ryan stepped onto the boat as the wood beneath his feet creaked loudly. Five demons walked out of the captain's quarters.
"You are our two passengers, correct?"
"Seems that way," Ryan said as he looked around the ship. "This thing does float, right?"
The captain laughed. "Don't worry, she floats. Zareth commanded the best ship be used to bring our esteemed guests across the ocean."
"This is your best ship?"
Thirty-Seven slapped Ryan in the arm.
"Ugh, I mean... thank you."
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