The Prince of Demons

Learning that there was a chance that I could close the <Affinity Tier> gap with Nil struck something in me. That was something I did not think was possible, but Krahinn seems to believe that this method at least gives a theoretical chance. The physical adults shifted to the topic of tomorrow and their plan to protect against and defeat the army of Ryker. It was unsurprisingly generally the same plan they had for a foreign invasion or siege from a hostile army with a few modifications given who the opponent was. Nil was sitting on the chair, smiling encouragingly at me; he might have been entirely clocked out judging by how drained his expression appeared. I thought the topic of <Magic> might jar him a little bit, but he clearly is too out of it. I stood up, walked over to him, and stroked his hair a bit more. As soon as I can, I will begin trying to elevate the <Tier> of my <Magic> to <Celestial>, or show it cannot be done. I knew it was likely going to take a monstrous amount of time and effort on top of what I was already doing, but that wouldn't deter me. I was going to prove it was possible.

"You might be able to reach <Celestial Tier> too." Nil told me with a smile. He did follow the conversation, I was a bit worried with how drained he appeared.

"We do not know if it is possible yet." I pointed out. Nil just smirked, leaning against me.

"I know you'll manage it. You always try your best and I believe you're going to succeed." Nil assured me while sounding sleepy.

"You are a sappy dork." I deflected, avoiding trying to focus on how red my face was feeling.

"Sorry for thinking my girlfriend is talented and can be the first in history to do something." Nil teased me. I was petting his head now.

"Thank you, Nil." I replied. My face was hurting a little from how far my lips were stretched.

"I do believe in you." Nil assured me while settling his head against me. He sounded seconds away from passing out.

"Come on, let's get you to sleep." I prodded him, motioning for him to stand.

Nil grimaced as he clearly had been enjoying where he had been. Helga followed the two of us to his room which took a while to climb up that many stairs, where he promptly crawled into his bed. I pulled up the desk chair next to it, stroking his hair. Nil shuffled all the way to the side I was on and leaned into me while remaining on his bed. I gently stroked his hair and horns a bit which sapped his will to remain awake. Nil was softly breathing as he passed out, still leaning fervently into me. He's lucky his single mindedness is cute. I needed to watch him for now and make sure he didn't start entering withdrawal from False Immortal's Serum. Tomorrow is going to be one of the longest days of our lives. It didn't matter how long tomorrow was going to feel, what mattered was we were all standing alive after it. Please be able to emerge victorious. I was scared of what tomorrow was going to entail because Ryker was always a hateful bucknarl, determined to see his vision of the future. What would an army of him being willing to do to win? Especially one motivated by the knowledge a Lord is actively assisting them? I doubt he has any sympathy for the people of Speranza and other innocents that will get in the crossfire. It was chilling to consider.

"Luna, while it is just us, can I ask you about something?" Helga requested politely, speaking in a soft tone of voice to break the silence after a few minutes.

"Sure. What is it, Helga?" I inquired, kind of curious what she would want to talk about.

"How do you put up with being caught up in Nil's world?" Helga probed. Helga sounded a bit ashamed to be asking me that.

"What do you mean by that? Can you clarify?" I requested while trying to make sure I understood what she meant.

"How do you handle knowing that a world ending disaster is out for Nil and everything close to him? That this is the first of at least two beings who will do whatever is in their power to exterminate Nil and what he cares about, and there could easily be more in the woodworks? Knowing that the events of his life tend to dwarf those of the ones that are around him with their urgency and magnitude? That just being near him threatens your life? Knowing most of what you go through will likely be a direct result of him? That you can try to alleviate the burden, but no amount of training is making you close to his ability? You all seem so supportive, and I just can't grasp it. I know I am a caretaker for the Imperial Family, and my girlfriend is his Naval Admiral, but just he tends to drag those around him into his world and it's terrifying." Helga vented, sounding guilty about what she was feeling.

"It is scary, but I would much rather face the threat with Nil. I know you didn't ask for this, I certainly didn't at first. I just… how to phrase this? I know how it ends when he tries to do it all alone, and that is not the future I want. It stings that tomorrow I will be kept on Phestia to avoid becoming a liability in Ryker's siege; Nil and everyone else will be fighting for Umbra against a hateful army and the best I can do is be here for him tonight and hide for him tomorrow. Nil never asked for this fate; none of us did. He is being targeted for simply being born here with memories. I want the future where Tenebrae gets to flourish on its own, not bogged down by the malice of foreign influence. I want to be able to have the life I never had last time, to be surrounded by people that matter to me and care about me. I took so much for granted as I watched the world pass me by, and I won't do it again." I answered her, trying to articulate my thoughts.

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"How do you all have such eloquent answers?" Helga grumbled, sounding frustrated.

"I do not know what you are referring to." I stated, though I suspected I was not the first person she asked.

"You, Empress Mother Poam, and Nautilus in her own way." Helga informed me. Nautilus, being eloquent?

"What did Nautilus say?" I checked as I thought that was going to be the best answer. This is serious and I shouldn't find that amusing. I chided myself for that childish thought.

"I rathe' see a worl' were I trie' t' ma'e a diffe'ence than one I le' be someone el's's vison." Helga repeated. Concise, which was as expected with Nautilus. She was never one to sweat the smaller details.

"I mean, she's right in a way. You are at a point where you can either believe and help those that are trying to keep Tenebrae under the vision of those born here, or distance yourself to spare yourself while potentially seeing it fall to someone motivated purely out of malice." I replied while petting Nil a bit more.

"But Nil wasn't, I mean, technically he was born here, but that's not much a distinction." Helga pointed out instantly. She had a point, I may not have liked it, but her point was valid.

"I can guarantee you his vision for the future is alive and happy with his family and all of us by his side. He has not thought passed that point, but I am not sure what you want to hear. It is your decision at the end of the day." I told her, wondering if I was helping or hurting.

"A lot of what has happened was not my decision." Helga snapped at me.

"What would you have decided then?" I asked her. Helga paused as she mulled over her response.

"Why are you asking me that?" Helga checked after a few moments.

"You said a lot of what happened was not your decision, so I am curious what would you have decided if it was up to you then? I do not know if you want to vent while I listen, you want my insight as we discuss this, or something else. I am assuming you wanted to talk about it, and I do not know how to reply if I don't know what you wanted to happen if it was to your sole discretion." I clarified for her.

"Discuss it. I probably would not have pursued a relationship with Nautilus, which would have been a mistake. I was kind of just going with the flow and enjoying the fact that I have a nice job." Helga confessed. That's why she wanted to talk to me at least.

"I can honestly say, going with the flow is one of my biggest regrets. I had no idea what I had until it vanished, and no matter how much I tried to fill that void, nothing could. I know it feels like trying to steer a canoe in a maelstrom with what's been happening, but maybe you regret letting it reach here without asserting your desires more rather than what's happened?" I replied. Helga let out an odd laugh in response.

"You might be right." Helga agreed, still making that odd laugh.

"What is so funny?" I inquired as I wondered what made her chuckle.

"You have this knack for knowing what to say. There is some part of you that grasps others way better than I think even you realize." Helga informed. That is a bit similar to what Lord Utol said.

"That I should focus more on what I can do? Not what I'm lacking?" I checked. Helga stopped laughing as she thought it over.

"We both do that I think, focus on what we can't do or control." Helga admitted. I really needed to be better about it.

"I hope I was able to discuss what you wanted." I told Helga. I checked the time, to see if it was nearing when Nil needed more False Immortal's Serum.

"You did. Thank you for your perspective." Helga thanked me. It felt a bit odd being thanked for having a conversation.

"It's fine, whenever you want to talk just let me know." I replied. Hopefully I was helpful.

"I will. I do appreciate it." Helga assured me. Maybe I should enjoy moments like these more.

"Is it manipulative when I talk to people like this?" I inquired as the Burgomaster kept flashing through my mind.

"No, or at least I don't think so. What you did a few years ago with Nautilus and me, that was manipulative. Conversations like these? Not really. If I were to try and phrase it, you are more of a calm to the chaos, despite your clear reservations on some things. When someone needs you, you tend to know how to help or what to say for them. It helps you clearly aren't judging who you talk to." Helga informed me.

"Thank you." I replied, mulling over what she said. I need to focus on moments like these more. I still wanted to elevate the <Tier> of my <Magic> to <Celestial>. I might just be a bit greedy.

"It is nice being able to talk like this." Helga admitted. It definitely was nice having someone to express less than pleasant thoughts to and discuss them rather than bottle them up.

"I agree. I enjoy being able to have open conversations and discuss what's bothering us. We all might feel like we can't vocalize those feelings when we should, even if it is just to know we all have our doubts here and there." I added on. Helga undeniably illuminated a bit of a flaw with how things were currently going.

"Except Krahinn, I do not think he can doubt himself on anything." Helga joked. I chuckled at that.

"He may not doubt himself much anymore, but he does regret some of what he's done." I informed her.

"Bull shiza." Helga shot back immediately.

"Not in regard to any of us." I clarified in my defense.

"Oh, that I can believe." Helga conceded. Though, that unwavering jerk being so steadfast is helpful.

"I think we all have our battles, and we should be better at relying on each other's strengths and help cover each other's weakness more." I stated. It might make all of us feel a bit better thinking about it.

"I think you're right. We should all talk more about this than we do. We all kind of just march forward towards the future working on the various parts. We talk but I don't think we discuss as much as we should." Helga added on.

"After we survive tomorrow, we should bring it up." I pointed out.

"We, I think you mean you. You are in the spot to voice and bring that up. I am not." Helga corrected me.

"I think you could, you are not as voiceless as you think." I assured Helga. I could feel her doubt.

"Really?" Helga challenged.

"Really. After this mess tomorrow, go for it. I'll support you, and I know Nautilus will." I stated.

"We'll have to wait and see." Helga replied as Krahinn materialized with Ein and Riva.

"Slumber pa-" Riva began until Helga's hand shot over her mouth with a shushing gesture.

"Now is quiet time." Helga lectured instantly. Riva looked to argue until Krahinn's noticeable irritation silenced her.

"There are strengths I should rely on more." Helga told me. I bit my tongue to avoid laughing.

"What does that mean?" Krahinn checked, his eyes narrowing at us. Ein quietly shrugged, taking the couch Nil had in his room while Riva was distracted.

"We appreciate you." Helga told him. Krahinn decided he did not have enough energy to care as he put several wards around the room, shrank to a raven, and perched on the bed frame to sleep.