Chapter 44 : Her First Command
"I said, don't hurt him."
The forest around them stilled as if the very trees were listening. The air vibrated faintly with something that wasn't magic, but something older—deeper. The faint golden bond around Elias's wrist pulsed once with a heartbeat-like glow, and Rhea's tiny hands clenched.
The former demon general knelt, still and poised like a shadow carved from obsidian. His hood had slipped back just enough to reveal a single dark horn peeking through tangled black hair and an eye like a molten eclipse—neither human nor entirely monstrous. That eye, which had stared down armies and torn gods from their pedestals, softened.
"As you wish, my Queen," he said with reverence, bowing his head so low it touched the mossy earth.
Rhea's voice wavered. "I-I'm not your queen. I don't even remember your name."
"You once called me Varric, Flamebearer of the Southern Spire." He raised his head slowly. "You forged me in your fire."
"That sounds... weird." Rhea backed up a step and tugged at Elias's sleeve. "I didn't actually forge you, did I?"
"Nope," Elias said quickly. "I'm ninety-nine percent sure it's metaphorical. Hopefully."
Rhea squinted at Varric. "...Do you have an instruction manual?"
"I have a sword," Varric replied solemnly.
"That's not helpful!" she groaned. "Elias, what do I do with a loyal ancient demon general?"