Kneeling Demons (11)
It was a thin, piercing voice full of childish mischief. Not the kind of sound you'd expect in an abandoned mine—and certainly not a troll's. Trolls had cries so bizarre that even strangers could tell they were ferocious monsters.
"Asenaris... maybe...?"
Pelle, who knew just as little about Asenaris as I did, simply nodded without offering any real insight. The voice didn't seem like much of a threat right now, so we kept heading toward it.
The sound was coming from a side tunnel branching off the main shaft. As we entered, it grew clearer.
"קור זה הכי טוב!"
"אני גם אוהב את זה!"
"אני גם!"
It was less like random noise and more like a conversation in some unknown language. Not all monsters lived like beasts. Intelligent species communicated in various ways—even orcs had their own crude language, primitive as it was. Language wasn't exclusive to humans. Viewed that way, this could be their tongue.
And with it came a chilling cold that swept over us. Not just simple chill—this was artificial, unnatural frost. Breathing in the blindly frigid air made my nose go numb. Frost rapidly coated the lantern glass, narrowing our already limited view even further.
Damn, it's freezing...
"Over there..."
Pelle grabbed my wrist and pointed ahead of the lantern. In the depths beyond its light, something glowing was moving. Bigger than fireflies, it emitted a soft white or silvery glow as it scurried across the floor.
About the size of a handspan, it had limbs that made it look almost human. If anything, like a naked, underdeveloped child. Smooth skin, no protrusions like nipples or genitals. Like pouring molten white wax into a mold and letting it set.
A dozen or so of them skipped merrily across the floor, chattering in their unintelligible tongue. Some perched on rocks, tearing off and munching dry moss like bread.
"Asenaris...?"
"Seems like it... I heard they look spirit-like... and they really do."
They could pass for spirits at a glance, but they weren't. True spirits hailed from another dimension and were invisible unless properly summoned by a qualified spiritist. They didn't parade around openly like this. And that cold... emanating straight from their glow. That confirmed it—these were Asenaris.
"Cute up close. Chattering away."
"Better put out the lantern."
Killing the lantern plunged the tunnel into darkness. Amid it, the Asenaris twinkled like stars, darting about wildly.
"Can you control them?"
"Gotta try. Should work."
Demons could handle monsters—not through magic or rituals, but like humans and dogs. Hunting dogs like Kali were ruthless to wild beasts but friendly to humans by default. That said, demons couldn't just stick out a hand and expect monsters to roll over like pets. It depended on physical prowess and training skill, from lapdogs to fighting breeds. But Asenaris were weak, non-aggressive pests. Pelle could manage.
"Hurry it up. Stay much longer and we'll freeze for real. No joke."
"Got it."
Pelle approached first. The playful group turned toward her in unison. They gathered at her feet as she crouched slowly.
"מה זה?"
"למה אתה פה?"
Seeing humans for the first time, maybe—they didn't flee, just tilted their tiny heads.
"למה לא ללכת למקום מהנה?"
Shockingly, Pelle spoke their language. They replied eagerly.
Is this the demon-monster bond...?
"זה הבית שלנו זה מקום מואר ומהנה יותר מאשר כאן."
I couldn't understand her words, but a few Asenaris suddenly raised their hands, bouncing excitedly. Glittering powder from their glowing bodies made the already frigid tunnel even colder. Ice crystals formed on Pelle's brows; her breath looked ready to freeze mid-air.
Seemed the talk was going well—she set down her bag and opened it. The excited ones tried to climb in. But others angrily intervened, holding them back. Split opinions: some wanted to follow, others stay. The little things raised voices, shoving and tussling.
The cold intensified; Pelle's brows turned white. Hurry up... freezing my ass off...
I considered grabbing the willing ones and stuffing them in, but held back. For smart monsters with language, rough handling might backfire later at the inn.
As if reading my mind, Pelle waved me back, softly persuading them.
"אתה בסדר. זה מקום ממש נחמד. אני חי שם באושר."
A few shook off the holdouts and hopped in. Three in total.
"תחזירו חברים שלי!"
"אחרת, אזמן את המפלצות ואעניש אותך!"
The rest shook fists at Pelle and fled deeper into the tunnel.
"What'd they say? Why so pissed?"
"Hand over our friends, or they'll call monsters to punish us."
"Hilarious little shits. Lemme see 'em."
Pelle opened the bag. Inside, the tiny Asenaris glowed softly, playing with her belongings.
"Close it quick. My eyes are icing over."
Sealing the Preservation Ritual bag cut off the cold instantly. Damn, handy ability.
"Inn's set to rake in summer cash now. If it works, raise for you. Your catch."
"Raise it from this month then."
"Sure, whatever."
"You lie too well to trust."
I burst out laughing, echoing through the tunnel. Pelle's lips twitched faintly.
"How'd you speak their tongue? Never seen 'em before."
"Demon trait. Hard to explain otherwise."
"Weird. Dealt with plenty demons, first time hearing that."
"We usually kill 'em before chatting long."
Her jab shut me up. Fair point. Most demons I'd met... I drew the Holy Sword and turned.
Its blade blazed white, lighting the tunnel like day. Pelle yelped, pressing against the wall.
I focused on the noise from ahead.
"What...?"
"Trolls...!"
As words left my mouth, massive northern trolls burst from the unlit dark.
The Asenaris reinforcements—trolls!
Front ones recoiled from the sword's light, but the rear surged with roars, shoving forward.
"Back off, Pelle!"
The sword's glow danced savagely, cleaving the lead two at once. The rest tried retreating, but the tunnel was packed behind. Before severed torsos hit the ground, I plunged into the horde's heart.
Goddess's grace fused with my swordplay, turning the shaft into hell. Trapped, unable to advance or retreat, trolls were shredded defenselessly. I ground them to meat fodder like a grinder.
Any facing me lasted seconds before exploding into blood and chunks. Swordlight clashed day and night; red mist clouded vision. White fur and dark blood contrasted starkly; half-rotted guts reeked, numbing my nose.
Maybe thirty seconds after the first fell—all cleared.
The tunnel brimmed with limbs and blood to my ankles; dying trolls' heat steamed the air.
"Fuckin' hell... so many bastards..."
A roar from Pelle's side. Rushing over, another troll pack charged from the opposite end.
And in their midst...
"Shit... Pelle!"
Pelle, fully Bongma'd—body unleashed—tore into them. Black scales covered her; massive foreclaws ripped trolls apart. Frenzied trolls swarmed like ants on a locust.
She grabbed clingy ones, slamming them into walls—skulls bursting, brains splattering.
As trolls flew and crashed, supports cracked visibly.
Leave it, and the tunnel collapses...!
"Hold on, Pelle!"
Holy Sword light raced the blade, blinding fiercely.
"Kweeeeeek!!"
Trolls exposed fled her wildly opposite. Pelle staggered, collapsing heavily.
Clinging trolls leaped off, smashing into tilted supports. Rotten beams snapped; chain reaction toppled more.
Without supports, the ancient tunnel buckled.
I rolled aside, shaking rubble off my back. I'd shielded Pelle as the ceiling fell.
She lay beneath, back to normal form—but unconscious from the Bongma backlash.
Night vision scan: paths fore and aft sealed. This side's supports held—ceiling half-down. Barely room for us two.
Bag with Asenaris safe at our feet, unburied.
Hmm... what now...
Smash rocks and go? Sure—but it'd chain-collapse. I could escape alone; dragging unconscious Pelle safely? Dicey. Might emerge to find her lower half gone.
If she woke, easier...
"Hngh..."
Thought she stirred? No—moaning, eyes shut. Glancing down: naked. Bongma shredded her clothes.
Freezing tunnel—hypothermia risk. Tried giving her mine, but troll-blood-soaked and cold. Worse than nothing.
I stripped quick, hugged her tight, wrapping us in my intact cloak lining.
Soon, her chilled body warmed against mine. She murmured sleepily, eyes fluttering open.
"Gasp...!"
Realizing our state, she stiffened. I calmly explained: trolls fled, collapse; clothes gone, hypothermic. My duds soaked—skin-to-skin warmth only way.
"No choice. Stay like this a bit."
She eyed me, nodded, burrowed closer.
"Don't misunderstand. Just don't wanna freeze."