Chapter 86 (1/2)

“Exactly what is this?” Grimmy asked as he flew through the sky. Lindyss and Vur sat on his head with Rella and Bella sitting on Vur’s shoulders. A swarm of fairies flew behind Grimmy, blotting out the sun for the people on the ground. “I feel like a mother duck with her chicks in tow.”

Lindyss snorted. “Blame the new fairy king over here,” she said and placed her hand on Vur’s head. “They’ll be following him like moths to a flame until the queen is born.”

Vur scratched his cheek. “At least there’s plenty of space for them in Konigreich, but we’ll have to defeat the guardian for their birthflowers first.”

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” Lindyss said. “It’s probably disabled if it’s a construct or it’ll submit to you if it’s biological. I do wish Charon teleported the room somewhere more convenient though.” A vein appeared on Lindyss’ forehead.

“Where’d he put it?” Bella asked, peeling her eyes away from the rose.

“On top of his tower in Konigreich. Literally,” Lindyss said and sighed. “I just hope a breeze doesn’t tip it over. My skeletons have been telling me about the panic it induces every time it wobbles.”

“Ah,” Bella said and looked down. “And here I was thinking he looked pretty cool when he teleported the whole room away.”

Silence fell over the group save for the chatter of the swarm behind them.

“I should’ve gone with Tafel,” Vur said as he looked up at the sky.

“And bring this many fairies back to Niffle?” Lindyss asked as she gestured behind her. “Not happening. I have a feeling she doesn’t want to see any fairies for a long time.”

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“What does it mean to be the demon lord?” Tafel asked. She sat on the edge of her bed, with her hands clenched into fists on her lap. Her head hung as she stared at the floor. Dustin and Mina sat on chairs across from her. Sunlight streamed through the window by her bed.

Dustin frowned. “Tafel? What happe-“

“Answer me!” Tafel’s voice cracked when she yelled. She raised her head and glared at the duo across from her. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

“Calm down,” Mina said. “We’re just worried abou-“

“It’s just one question. If you’re not going to answer it,” Tafel said in a low voice as her horns glowed silver, “then get out!” She shouted as a circle appeared underneath Dustin and Mina. An instant later, their bodies disappeared along with their chairs and carpet.

Tafel panted as she stared at the exposed marble floor in the center of the room. She threw her body across her bed and buried her face in her pillow. A minute passed and the door to her room creaked open by an inch.

“Excuse me,” Retter said and rubbed his nose. “I couldn’t help but overhear-“

Retter shut his mouth when Tafel raised her head and glared through the crack in the door with puffy eyes.