Chapter 162 – Redux
No one came to interrupt their long sleep
Which they were very glad about.
[Ergh! Ahhhhh, that was the best sleep I have had in a while.] (Syrus)
[My bones ache…] (Eva)
[It is a good ache.] (Syrus)
[Sure…] (Luna)
Once they got out of bed, they looked around to see the children still sitting around in Velelenra’s room. Velelenra wasn’t around, but they didn’t doubt she would show up soon.
“Afternoon, everyone,” said Syrus.
“Syrus! You are up.” Jerry spun off the ground to greet her first.
“Yeah, yeah, that I am.” She crouched down to pat the boy on the head. “Good to see everyone is up we got more crap to talk about.”
[Nearly repeating our interaction before we went to sleep.] (Luna)
[The boy is just excited.] (Syrus)
Susan guessed. “You want to discuss about us leaving?”
“Pretty much, we have been here for a few days longer than planned, so we should get a move on soon. We need to return you guys to the rest of your family.”
Home.
The kids had been wanting to return to everyone for a long while, but for some of them, they were conflicted.
Jerry asked, “Hey, Syrus, I know you started teaching us before, but can you give more lessons?”
“I will assume that simply asking me questions like you have been is not what you want.” Syrus had given them tips over the days they had been resting in the demon home. There wasn’t much to do besides play games or train, and thanks to trauma, training is what they pursued first.
“Do you mean to give you more lessons when we return…” Syrus’ eyes sharpened. “Or more lessons here?”
No words needed to be spoken to know the answer. Seeing the longing in Billy’s eyes, he clearly wanted to go home and wouldn’t mind extra training there. Susan seemed uncaring about where but clearly wanted more training. Jerry clearly wanted to stay here.
[Jerry…] (Eva)
[Feeling so guilty that he is even fine not seeing his sister for a further extended period of time.] (Luna)
[There are benefits… but no… they need to be taken home.] (Syrus)
Syrus sighed, “That… we should take you kids home first–”
Velelenra flew over from the window. “Before that, Alraius wanted to speak with you.”
“Oh, okay.” Syrus turned to the children. “I’m going to deal with that real quick.”
The kids nodded, and Velelenra piped up. “Just follow the hallway and jump a layer. While you are doing that, I promised to show the kids the human junk store room.”
Velelenra picked up the children in her arms with ease and flew them out of the window. Susan was cheering while Billy was shaking, unable to speak.
[...Okay…] (Eva)
[I guess we should visit Alraius?] (Syrus)
[Let’s…] (Luna)
They decided to get this talk with Alraius over with. Anlesa followed the directions and found Alraius sitting on a stone seat, with a few others nearby.
Alraius noticed Syrus jumping into the area. “It’s good to see that you are up and ready.”
“Thanks, I can still taste blood in my mouth.” Syrus moved towards one of the seats and sat down.
Alraius laughed. “Haha, that’s more of your fault than mine.”
“True.”
The wounds on his body had also already healed and seemed to be brimming with energy. “I heard about your injuries, so I do apologise, but we only allow full-blooded demons to be gifted the full strengthening effects of the prime redux crystal, even if they don’t win.”
“Fair, I expected there would be some conditions to it.”
“Hmm… I do love to give demons who improved after challenging me a chance for improvement, but if you were a demon, I would’ve made an exception even if it was your first fight.” He scratched his beard. “I would’ve loved to have fought you at your peak.”
Syrus answered honestly, “Maybe one day. I don’t have a reason why I wouldn't come back here in the future.”
The fact that their main base of operation was Arisea Station would make it at least easier to visit if the opportunity ever came up.
“Good, very good. It is nice to have a human who shares the enthusiasm for a brawl. I have been greatly disappointed in my travels in the other demon home and the attacks the church attempts on us when it comes to human combative abilities.”
Luna's eyes raised. “So you do understand who is attacking your territories.”
“Oh, I understand the relationships between the groups of humans. Most of the younger generations refer to the ones we regularly deal with as the ‘annoying ones,’ but I do know the church is the source of the main annoyance.” He heavily sighed, “It would be fine if they were strong or at least weren’t so bloody annoying, but I guess my home was the unlucky one.”
Luna asked, “Other homes don’t have this problem?”
“Definitely, most don’t deal with human attacks from my experience. I know two territories that actively trade with humans. The one that faces the most attacks from humans is the getrua demon home.”
Luna asked, “I assume that’s closer to the central church?”
“I believe that to be the case. They are also a lot more violent when it comes to being around humans, so be careful. Most in the getrua home do know that not all humans belong to the church, as going to a different demon home is an important step for one's growth, but they are certainly way more hostile.”
Eva asked, “What is this place called?”
“The redux demon home.”
“...”
Eva coughed, “I do need to ask to satiate my curiosity, but what are these redux crystals?”
He chuckled, “Hehe, good question. Getting to my next point.” He pulled out a small redux crystal that could fit in someone’s large pocket and tossed it towards Anlesa. “A gift from me to you. You were able to use the energy, so even a small crystal like this should be useful.”
Syrus caught it, and Eva examined it.
[It feels full of energy.] (Syrus)
[Amazing… What can I make from this…] Eva’s wonder and curiosity exploded.
This crystal was clearly a bit different from the ones that were in the walls. This one had more energy and seemed perfectly curved.
“Wow…” Eva marvelled at it. “It certainly is impressive.”
“Thanks, I grabbed that one myself. To answer your question, all demon homes have an equivalent to the redux crystal; while they might vary in feel and shape, the primary purpose is always to assist a demon’s growth.”
“Assist?”
“Yes, demons have a wide range of shapes and sizes, but it is easy for demons to die while growing because of issues. These crystals allow demons to grow up without issue, with the added benefit that in their future years they can still be used as healing devices and an enchantment for the truly ready.”
“You said each demon's home is slightly different?”
“Yes, as you clearly noticed.” He chuckled again. “This one is really rich in the earthly blood, but others can feel very different, and you won’t find the same compatibility in those. The redux crystal can heal humans, but it is much more effective on those with demon blood.”
Eva stared at the crystal for a long while longer.
Syrus asked, “Speaking of which, you mentioned you were curious if we had any demon blood?”
“Yes, there are many humans that do possess our bloodline, and when a human arrives here, they usually have our blood. We predict it is an instinctive mechanism; if their body has trouble growing, they try to return home.”
“Is it possible?”
“Ha, us demons have an amazing sense of direction. I can travel to every demon home now, even though it has been decades since my last visit.”
Alraius's one-on-one with Anlesa didn’t last much longer. Syrus thanked him again for the crystal, and he told them to return one day when they are fully healed for the rematch.
With the quick meeting complete, they left the area looking for where the children and Velelenra were.
Anlesa walked out of the caves to an open area high on the mountain, and looking up, she saw Flick standing on a ledge.
“Hey, Flick.” Syrus waved.
“Hello, Syrus.” Flick hopped down from the rock. “I assume we will be heading out soon.”
“Yes, though I hope you haven't gotten into too much trouble with your thieving.”
Flick froze, then coughed. “I-Cough. Not sure why you would assume such things for me.”
“I hardly know you.”
“Exactly–”
Luna finished. “But I know you well enough that you have been looking around trying to find something you could steal.”
Luna said, “I won’t ask what you took, but you better not be thinking about taking anything actually important to the demons.”
Flick rolled her hands. “Well, watching you swap from careful time movements and precise attacks to a blood-covered creature who could likely break all my bones in a single punch and the fact you still lost, made me reconsider a few things
“Sure…”
“So… leaving today or tomorrow?”
“I will discuss with the children about that, but yes, the latest will be tomorrow.”