Demon Queened - Chapter 60 - Rough Draft

Devilla

“Is that a no on the arm wrestling?” Grella asked, when I stared blankly at her.

“My Lady,” the girl behind her said, “you mustn't introduce yourself with such requests. It’ll only make it harder to lure strangers into a dark room where you can force them to fulfill your muscle-brained fetishes.”

“That makes it sound like I wanna do a lot more than arm wrestle!” Grell protested,  turning around and putting her hands on her hips with a pout.

“My Lady’s heart rate increased upon witnessing this unknown Lady’s deeds of physical strength. What’s more, your face grew flush, and your palms started to sweat. I am of the belief that my Lady does, in fact, want to do a lot more than arm wrestle.”

“Damn it, Dyona, what have I told you about monitoring my heart rate without permission!? Not to mention ruining my potential with hot girls… or calling me your Lady when we aren’t near anyone important enough!”

“My Lady, it would seem you have failed to notice the woman currently carried in our savior’s arms.”

“Um… Hi!” Lucy said, waving happily - if a little embarrassedly - from her current position. I moved hurriedly to lower her, only to be met with a look of disappointment when I did. A moment later, though, she was smiling at the newcomers. “I’m Lucy!”

“Lucy…” Grell asked, pinching her chin and tilting her head to one side. “Lucy… Lucy… Do I know a Lucy?”

“You study her portrait nightly, my Lady, constantly claiming that you will defeat her and then sweep her into your arms?”

“Yes, but I do that for all the portraits of hot adventurer ladies I own… Be a bit more specific? Is she that one with the legs from Crownick?”

While Dyona sighed, kneading her forehead with her hands, I took a moment to evaluate the duo in front of me. The first of them - Grell - was… puzzling. Namely due to her fashion sense. The baggy trousers and boots she wore seemed almost designed to cover her up and make her look tough. A trend her shirt failed to continue - especially around the chest, where her buttoned blouse seemed to be almost straining against her breasts. Combined with her slender limbs, and long blonde hair, I couldn’t tell if she was actually tough or merely halfheartedly trying to look the part.

Her companion, meanwhile, had an almost demure look about her. One mismatched with her tongue, from what I was hearing. She wore black shoes, and a black dress, and had a white ribbon tying her long black hair in a ponytail. If we were in the tower, I’d have called her a maid. 

“Um… Actually, I’m the Heroine,” Lucy said, eventually choosing to grant relief to poor Grell, who was still making blind guesses.

“The Heroine!?” Grell demanded, glaring at her companion. “And you couldn’t just tell me?”

“My Lady was so ardently challenging her memory - I couldn’t bring myself to interfere,” Dyona proclaimed, placing a hand against her chest. “Would you care to punish me for my impertinence?”

“And have you spit in my food, again? Right in front of me, no less… Ugh.” Grell shook her head, before turning her attention towards us. “Anyways… Uh… Greetings, your Heroine-ship! My name is…. Really long and rather unimportant! Just call me Grell!”

“Dyona, your Ladyships,” her companion said, bowing at the waist. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Eena,” I replied simply, glancing Lucy’s way for guidance. She, however, was focused entirely on Grell.

“You look really familiar…” she said. 

“I shouldn’t be,” Grell replied. “My family has made very sure we’ve never… I mean… Uh… Quick! Dyona! Say something distracting!”

“Shall I confess my undying love for you?” Dyona asked, arching an eyebrow. “Or perhaps my everlasting devotion toward remaining by your side?”

“Something believable, Dyona!” was Grell’s chiding response.

“I won’t press if you don’t want me to,” Lucy promised, placing a hand on her chest. “As long as you don’t mean us harm, anyways!”

“Hah! Even I’m not dumb enough to harm the Heroine! Or her companion, for that matter.”

“Girlfriend, actually,” Lucy informed them, reaching out with her hand to grab mine. 

A blush touched my cheeks, as our fingers began to intertwine right in front of these strangers. I knew it was likely no big deal to Lucy - a simple, romantic gesture - but to me it felt as if something terribly private was being exposed.Yet, at the same time, I enjoyed the contact too much to pull away from it.

“Oh?” Grell asked. “Is that jealousy I hear, Heroine? No worries! I would never plunder that which is yours.”

“She’ll just plot how to take you both to bed,” Dyona added.

“I don’t really do jealousy,” Lucy admitted, before Grell could react. “And Eena’s free to sleep with whoever she wants! Though I think I want to keep sex to people I feel things for, personally.”

The way she squeezed my hand at that last bit sent a new rush of red through my cheeks. At the same time, though, her words confused me. What did sex have to do with love?

…Well, I suppose I knew the answer to that. At least, I knew what people on Earth would have said. That love and sex are intertwined, and that it’s worth saving yourself for someone you have feelings for… Personally, though, I just couldn’t understand it. Yes, sex was better with emotions - undeniably so, at least for me - but sex without was still sex. It still felt good, and just because I’d pick one over the other didn’t mean I saw a reason not to indulge in both.

At the same time, though, if Lucy was abstaining…

Again Lucy squeezed my fingers, as if she knew what I was thinking. Perhaps she did. The bright smile on her face was certainly easy enough for me to read - it was reassurance to do whatever I thought right.

Still, I shook my head. “My bed is full enough, for the time being. Though I certainly wouldn’t mind a session or two at a future date - if we hit it off… Though, speaking of that, there’s the small matter of how long we’ll be in each other’s acquaintanceship. I can’t help but notice that there’s a few things missing from your carriage…”

Like the horses. And half a wheel.

“Sorry, my brain’s just imploding from the idea of the Heroine having sex,” Grell said. “I mean, you’re not married, are you?”

“I believe your family would have informed you about such important news,” Dyona said, frowning between us. “Perhaps the Heroine means she’s saving herself?”

“Man, either way, if my family got a hold of that information, it…” She froze. “Uh… wouldn’t matter either way?”

“I already promised not to press,” Lucy reminded her. “Though I don’t think I can avoid being curious at this rate. I still won’t push, though!”

“Our thanks, my Lady,” Dyona said, bowing again. “And to you, too, Lady Eena. Your concern for us is appreciated. We shall be fine without assistance, however - I’m sure that Lady Grell can simply carry her carriage the rest of the way towards Gruelle.”

“Like hell I can!” Grell protested.

“Oh?” Dyona asked, arching an eyebrow. “Did you not say, some hours ago, that you could reach the city faster on your own two feet? Surely you weren’t positing leaving behind our carriage to make such a feat possible, were you?”

“T-That’s…” Grell stuttered, shrinking back a little. “I mean… I keep saying I’d have been happier on a horse…”

“My Lady. Did you not promise me a proper vacation? One where each part of my body could rest?”

“Well… Yes…” Grell admitted, hanging her head low.

“So surely you should be able to carry the carriage and me to Gruelle. Yes?”

“Well… I… Wait. I’m carrying you?!”

“Who begged me to include her on my hard won vacation?” Dyona retorted, narrowing her eyes. 

“Um… If it’s not too much trouble, maybe we can help?” Lucy suggested. “Me and Eena are on our way to Gruelle, too!”

“We are?” I asked, curiosity caught. “Come to think of it, you’ve never actually told me our heading…”

“Well, I was going to keep it a secret,” Lucy confessed. “But… Remember those skewers we bought on our first date? I wanted to take you to their home - the city of Gruelle!”

“Is that so?” I asked, recalling the conversation in question. “Does that mean you wish to show me some of their differing culture?”

“Kinda?” Lucy said. “But also, I just thought it would be a really good place for our next date! It’s also known as the City of Cuisine, after all!”

“...Cuisine? As in… differing dishes? New types of food? Things I haven’t tried before?”

“Maybe they’ll even have stuff made with potatoes!” Lucy suggested, with a twinkle in her eyes. Part of me couldn’t help but wonder if she was teasing me… but even if she was, it hardly mattered.

An entire city devoted to Cuisine…

“Are you going for the Dragon Feast Festival?” Grell asked, interjecting herself back into the conversation with wide eyes. “Maybe we could all go together!”

“I’m not even sure what that is, but I do believe my date with Lucy will be a private affair?”

“Well, sure,” Grell agreed, “but the festival lasts for days! We can hang out during one of them, right?”

“...Perhaps,” I agreed, glancing Lucy’s way.

She, of course, smiled. “Maybe! Especially if we’re all going together, anyways… I bet if the three of us work together, we can lift the carriage and Dyona without any trouble!”

“...Well, I suppose I did perhaps have something to do with the damage on their wheel,” I admitted, eyeing the reason why I hadn’t suggested merely pushing the thing. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t lift the thing with a single hand, if need be.

“I think it was already broken from the rats,” Grell told me. “Though hey, I’m not saying no to company on the road! Especially not if we’re all going to be feasting together!”

“Speaking of, is anyone going to inform me of what this feast is actually about?” I asked. “Or do you intend to keep me in the dark, until it’s too late for me to do anything but enjoy it?”

“Well, it’s mostly just a really big feast!” Lucy told me. “It’s based entirely on food stalls, and outside cooking, though! Everyone makes the best, most delicious smelling things they can!”

“An interesting idea,” I confessed, trying not to salivate at the mere idea of such deliciousness. “But what does it have to do with dragons?”

“Well, supposedly, one came down the mountain hundreds of years ago, drawn to the scents of the town. It was still small back then! Just starting out! And the whole place could have easily been wiped out! But instead, they managed to turn it aside by bribing it with the same food that drew it! They satisfied its tongue so well, it left without harming anyone! So now the city celebrates, every year, making a feast so big it could satisfy a hundred dragons!”

“An interesting story,” I remarked. “If true…”

“It’s a children story,” Grell declared. “Real dragons would never play so nice… but that’s exactly why I’m going! If one really gets drawn down to town, I wanna give it a beating!”

“And here I thought you merely wished for my continued company during this vacation,” Dyona sighed, shaking her head. 

“I don’t think it would be a very good idea to fight one,” Lucy warned. “I’m told even late stage Heroines struggle with them…”

“Is that so?” I asked. A late stage Heroine should be about on par with a Demon Queen. Strong enough to kill one, at least. If a dragon could kill them… Well, the very thought of so much destructive power sent a shiver down my spine.

“Don’t worry!” Lucy said, “dragon attacks are really rare! At most, they usually scoop up a cow or something in passing… I think humans are too small and flighty for them.”

“Though if ever a dragon were to be drawn down, it would surely be during this feast!” Grell declared. “You do see them from the city sometimes, you know?’

“Through telescopes, perhaps,” Dyona countered. “They mostly stay in the mountains.”

“Mountains which are right next to the city!” Grell pointed out. “And they do come down sometimes. Rarely. You know, to snatch a cow or whatever.”

“Or to visit the city!” Grell argued. “You know, there are tales about dragons taking human form to mingle with the populace…”

“More children’s tales,” Dyona stated, matter of factly. “All I can say is that we are unlikely to see it this year.”

“Bah, you’ll see!” Grell scoffed. “You’ll all see! And then we’ll all go punch the thing!”

“Well, first we have to get there!” Lucy pointed out. “So why don’t you get in the wagon, Dyona?”

The woman in question froze for a moment, before turning to look at Lucy. “Are you serious?”

“It’s your vacation, isn’t it? So let’s go! I’ll help Grell carry it!”

“And I suppose I might as well,” I offered, shaking my head. “Let’s hurry. With luck, we can make it to the city by nightfall.”

If possible, I’d have preferred a solid inn room to hide my teleporter circle, rather than a tent perilously close to unknown humans.

Even more than that, though, I had to admit that I was looking forward to the festival. To the feast. I just hoped with all my heart that despite the holiday’s name - and Grell’s flag - it remained a feast for humans.

…Well, mostly humans, anyway…

~~~

Author's Notes

Not entirely sure how I feel about this chapter. While I've been waiting to introduce Grell and Dyona for a long time now, the fact remains that I don't have a lot of experience writing them. With two new characters so heavily featured in the chapter, I'm left me feeling a bit unsure of myself... Hopefully the chapter was entertaining, at least?

At least we know Devilla's and Lucy's destination now! A date spot. Perfect for getting to know each other better before storming the church and demanding answers... Guess Lucy figured they might as well relax while obfuscating how fast Devilla's true travel speed is.