A Journey Within the Realm
Chapter 14: Tazu the Demon and Solada the Friendly Shadow Commander?

We were already halfway though our two day trip. The magic map read that it would only take us six more hours for us to reach Rune City. By the position of the sun, I could see we would arrive as the sun was beginning to set. It took us less time than we expected because Miwa packed some Energy Shrooms from her garden. With the help of those magic mushrooms, we didn’t have to stop and rest at all during the whole trip. Of course, Rin got upset that everyone wanted the mushrooms instead of her potions, but I didn’t blame them. I looked over towards Rin. She was still pouting, even though she was munching on the Energy Shroom herself. When she noticed that I was looking at her, she quickly hid the mushroom behind her back and looked away. I chuckled as I turned away. We kept walking until we finally reached Rune City. Just as I thought, the sun began to set as soon as we entered the city. Once inside, I got an eerie feeling. I guess I wasn’t the only one with that feeling.

“This place is creepy,” Kuri said.

“I kinda like it,” Nori said.

“Me, too,” Kyoko agreed.

“You two would,” Kuri said.

Rune City was just as the name implies. It looked like an ancent ruin. Pilliars are lying everywhere, half broken with plenty of cracks. The buildings, looked like they were from Ancent Greece, aged and worn. On the other side of the city was a building that could be used to worship a god, or in this case, a goddess. It had a different design and stood much taller than other buildings around it. It also looked promising for us to replace the last teammate.

“Let’s go take a look at that building at the far end,” I said, “We might replace something or someone useful there.”

Everyone nodded as they followed me to the building. Upon entering the building, I saw that the inside looked much like the outside, worn and in ruins.

“You guys go and set up camp here,” I ordered, “I’m going to have a look around.”

“Be careful, Randy,” Miki said.

I smiled as I walked off. As I walked deeper into the building, the place got darker. I looked around for a piece of wood and saw a fallen torch. I picked it up and lit it with some fire magic. As the room lit up, I saw that their was not much here of importance or usefulness. The deeper I went, the less I saw that was useful. I was about to turn back, when I sensed someone above me. I shined the torch upwards. Hmmm… nothing’s there. I turned and was about to head back, when I was pounced on. I fell on the floor, dropping the torch when my arm struck the ground. The torch went out when it struck the ground.

“Oof…,” I grunted, “Who’s on me?”

With the hand that wasn’t holding the torch, I used the fire spell to keep a little flame on my pointer finger. Once I could see again, I saw a woman with a small set of horns, bat-like wings, and a tail with a heart-shaped tip. She was a red haired woman with an interesting feature. She had two different eye colors. Her left eye was green while her right one was hazel. As she sat on me, I sensed that she had some of the same feeling as that shadow demon commander, but not completely.

“You must be a demon,” I finally said.

“That’s right, Cutie,” she said.

Great… another person to activate Miki’s jealousy.

“The name’s Randy,” I introduced, “What’s yours?”

“I’m Tazu,” the demon replied, “Am I correct that you are a man?”

“Yes, you are,” I answered, “By the way… can you get off me?”

“Awwww… but, why?” Tazu whined.

“A certain elf won’t be very happy if she saw this,” I replied.

“No, she wouldn’t,” a voice agreed.

I turned towards the voice. Oh-no… too late. There, standing with her arms crossed, was Miki.

“Tazu, meet Miki the elf,” I introduced, “Miki, meet Tazu the demon.”

Miki cleared her thoat.

“Tazu… please get off me before Miki wrings your neck,” I warned.

Tazu instantly jumped off me and bowed in apology. Miki smiled to show that she was pleased. I got up and dusted myself off before I grabbed the torch and re-lit it.

“What are you, Tazu?” I asked, “I know you are a demon, but I sense something else other than just a Succubus.”

“Very clever,” Tazu said, “I’m only half Succubus. My other half is Devil.”

“Is that why you have two eye colors?” I asked.

“Correct,” Tazu replied, “But, tell me… what are you exactly, Randy?”

“I’m a Light Mage,” I started to explain, “I’m on a journey to defeat Overlord Kei. Along with Miki here, I’m with a vampire, a ghost, a witch, a goddess, a kitsune, and a fairy.”

“Wow… you’ve been busy,” Tazu said, smiling very mischievously.

“Don’t think dirty,” I said, “Follow us. I will introduce you to the others.”

I started walking towards the camp, followed by Miki with Tazu behind her. When we reached camp, I introduced Tazu to the rest of the team.

“So, now that we found our demon teammate, what should we do?” Rin asked.

“We will rest here for the night before we decide where to head next,” I answered.

“I guess I should set another place for dinner for our new teammate,” Rin said.

Tazu’s stomach grumble. She rubbed her belly as she smiled weakly.

“I guess that’s my answer,” Rin giggled.

After Rin finished cooking dinner, we ate our meal and then went to bed. During the night, I woke up with an odd feeling. Someone was out there. The person I sensed felt similar to Rin, but a bit different. It didn’t feel evil, but had a slight feel as the other shadow commanders. Carefully, I got up and left the tent without disturbing Miki. Yes, Miki had been sleeping with me ever since Kyoko joined. Luckily for us, Miwa packed her own tent. Tazu and Miwa now shared her tent. Once outside, I looked around as I tried to pin point where the person I sensed was.

“Don’t bother, Light Mage,” a young voice said, “I will come out.”

Upon saying that, a shadow figure appeared sitting by the dead fire pit.

“A shadow commander,” I said, preparing to attack, “I should have figured that when I sensed it.”

“Please, don’t hurt me,” she cried, “I’m not here to do any harm!”

I looked at her. She was actually scared. I lowered my hand and just lit the fire pit so I could see her better. Once the room was lit, I saw that see was, in fact, a shadow being, but she looked too young to be a commander.

“Who are you?” I asked, sitting across from her.

“My name is Solada,” she answered, “I used to be one of the shadow witch commanders.”

“’Used to?’” I repeated with a raised eyebrow.

“For a while, I noticed that there were fewer shadow commanders around the Undershadows,” Solada started to explain, “I asked my older sister, Aneko, what happened to them, but she wouldn’t tell me. So, I decided to watch Kei’s throne room, where my sister works. You see… Aneko is Kei’s highest commander and second-in-command. Anyway… a couple of days ago, I watched Kei kill Commander Dai for failing in her duty. I was afraid for my life, so I decided to try and replace you to help you get to the Undershadows.”

“Even if you might have to fight your sister?” I asked.

Solada sadly nodded.

“I see…,” I said, “Tell me… where is the enterance to the Undershadows?”

“There’s an area in the middle of the five cities you have been to,” Solada answered, “There you will need the power of the five beings that live in each city. I believe they are a ghost, a witch, a vampire, a goddess, and a demon. I will tell you guys what to do to open the portal to the Undershadows.”

“Understood. However, I will warn you that if you betray us, I will be forced to kill you,” I said.

Solada nodded, “Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“Your welcome. Now, go some place within hearing distance and wait until I call you in the morning,” I ordered, “I have to tell everyone about you before you can show your face. If you don’t, I don’t think I can protect you from becoming ashes.”

Solada nodded before disappearing. After I put out the fire, I went back into my tent to rest up before a very interesting day tomorrow.