Chapter 518: A Matter of Friends
Fyren led me on a walk around the camp for almost an hour, allowing me to stretch my legs and rebuild some of the stamina lost during my extended slumber. The constant periods of inactivity had left my muscles weak and atrophied.
As we walked, he explained more about the meeting and why he had been invited. As the strongest demon on Enusia, he commanded respect and authority rivaling Luke’s, especially among the Devoted who had infiltrated this world. They were represented by one of the black dots on the map, a force numbering nearly ten thousand, operating without direct Apostle oversight.
The requirements to officially join the Devoted were stringent, so most of their ranks were filled with evolved demons or scions with enough sentience to grasp their complex mission, even if they weren’t formally recognized as members. A few powerful fifth and sixth-level demons led them while Fyren remained by my side. He didn’t mention what they were doing, or why their position placed them near several undefended villages, and I didn’t dare ask. Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.
The two demons present were low-level commanders in the demon hordes. Demon invasions required leaders at every stage, from the initial incursion to the final conquest. While the true power resided with the demon lords, they were forced to delegate authority to weaker demons until they could manifest in the mortal realm themselves. It was a gradual process; as stronger gates opened, more powerful and trusted commanders would arrive, escalating the war with their experience and might.
The presence of the apostles was a novel development in this realm, marking a departure from traditional demon invasions. This change was evident in the resentment and resistance shown towards Luke, who had usurped the demons’ traditional leadership role. It was Luke who had allowed mortals to participate in the war council, beings the demons typically subjugated and terrorized into obedience. Granting them an equal voice clearly rankled the demons, further escalating tensions in the ongoing power struggle.
"It doesn’t seem very effective," I muttered as Fyren fell silent, absently rubbing my horn. The Last Light Company hadn’t always been perfectly unified, but they were a paragon of cooperation compared to this chaotic mess of warring factions. How did the demons ever manage to accomplish anything?
"Indeed," Fyren agreed with a nod. "I’ve never had the authority to participate in such meetings, but I find Luke’s patience impressive, if naive. He would be better off annihilating the demons who resist his will, as they would do to him given the chance. Demons respect only strength, seeing mercy or compassion as weakness, befitting only those beneath them. While I don’t believe Luke is weak, most demons lack that perspective."
I shivered, drawing my cloak tighter around me. Demons were more human than the Church claimed, with minds, thoughts, and complex emotions, but that didn’t make them mortal. Their philosophies were shaped by their immortal nature, and such casual violence was impossible for someone with a single, precious life to truly understand. Even Alveron, the vilest man I had ever known, wouldn’t resort to killing his subordinates at the slightest provocation.
Fyren returned me to my tent shortly after. The gentle exercise left fatigue creeping on the edges of my mind, but it vanished as we found Elise and R’lissea waiting for us. They had prepared something of a breakfast and smiled as we approached.