But his companions greeted him with smiles. One after another, they nodded to him. Out of respect. And pride. Demon pride.
“A gray demon, eh? Wasn’t expecting that!” Badal said. “You’re like me!”
Vir stared at the man. With red eyes, black hair, and gray skin, they truly were similar.
“My name’s Ekavir, by the way. Vir for short. Apramor’s just an alias.”
“Well, then, welcome, Vir,” Badal said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Glad to have you.”
There wasn’t even a moment of suspicion or hesitation in his voice. Vir figured that as demons, they were plenty used to this sort of thing.
“Does… the term Ashborn mean anything to you?” Vir asked hesitantly.
Badal snorted. “Yeah, sure. Means absolutely nothing. It’s what the humans call gray demons like us. We’re rare, even among demons, sure. But ultimately no different.”
Vir took a moment to process that revelation. For nearly sixteen years, he’d thought he was human, just… different. To think this whole Ashborn business was a sham, born from a misunderstanding…
Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, Vir thought, staring at the Ash prana within him. Humans are wrong about a lot of things.
“Do, uh… do you have a tattoo on your chest?”
“Hmm? Nah. Never been much into body art, myself.”
“I see.”
So that might be unique to me. The Symbol of the Akh Nara.
Vir had wondered if there were others like him. Others with past reincarnations. Perhaps, if the Pagan Order proved worthy of his trust, he might ask some of those questions. If he was lucky, maybe they’d even have some answers.
He did his best not to get excited but failed spectacularly.
“Come. We are nearly there,” Zora said, leading them. Though her gait must have felt normal to her, it looked to Vir like she was skulking, trying to avoid detection.
From gray demons to four-armed demons to Ghaels, Vir would have some getting used to.
“What about the Upper City, then?” Vir asked. “Won’t the humans there panic if they learn what’s down here?”
“We’re very careful with who we allow down here, and who we allow to know about the existence of the Undercity,” Badal said.
“Many humans live in the Upper City, yes,” Zora replied. “Along with demons in disguise. But we select everyone who lives there.”
“Human immigration to Balindam is extremely strict,” Badal added. “We choose them based on their personality and their perspective on demons. Demon haters are weeded out, except those we carefully select to preserve our deception.”
“They’re your agents?”
“Nah, just bigots who flock here. You won’t believe how many fling themselves at us, wanting to ‘help the cause.’ They’re largely kept in check by the other humans living topside, and we monitor them like hawks. As for spies? Well…” Badal gestured his thumb across his neck.
“But why take the risk? Why not make Balindam exclusively a demon city?”
“We shall. One day. When we are ready,” Zora replied. “The humans in the Upper City can be easily killed if need be. Just a few more years. Perhaps a decade. Then we’ll have enough forces and inroads with other nations to prevent backlash. We’ll be ready. For the Purge. Then the Pagan Order will truly become a sanctuary for demons. A place where we can roam under the sun without fear of persecution.”
A country for demons sounded nice and all, but Vir blanched at their methods. “Purge? Is there such a need for brutality? Why not just ask them to leave?”
“We shall. Some of those humans hate us, however. We’ll allow everyone to leave, regardless. Those that refuse will die. It’s more than they would do for us, yes?”
“That’s…”
“Our goal is not merely a sanctuary for demons, but a Demon Empire, right here in human lands,” Badal said quietly. “Some sacrifices must be made.”
They weren’t wrong. Even so, the thought of murdering innocents whose only crime was refusing to abandon their homes? That didn’t sit right with Vir.
There has to be a better way… Except Vir was in no position to lecture them. Not yet, anyway. Certainly not until he understood more about their plans.
They soon passed through a market, almost a duplicate of the market above ground. It was eerie, in a way. Vir was being given a tour just like he had upon arriving at Balindam. And he wasn’t very far from the market where the lady had sold him medicinal herbs. Even the building arrangements were similar.
And yet, the difference was as stark as night and day. In one market, no demons dared tread. Or if they did, they hid it. But here, no humans roamed. One was brightly lit by the sun. The other was plunged in darkness, lit by the strange non-magical lights the Order had cooked up. The bustling city buildings fell away, and the group walked through a series of tunnels that cut through the cavern walls. These, too, were lit by the same strange lamps Vir had seen earlier. A kind of thin rope connected them all, but Vir couldn’t fathom its purpose.
“The nexus we were just in contains the merchants, eateries… all the public stuff. The residences are all in here,” Badal said, gesturing to the myriad of closed wooden doors they passed.
“You live here, too?” Vir asked.
“Sure do,” the gray demon replied. “In fact… we’re gonna be neighbors!”
“Uh, come again?”
Zora stopped in front of a door and inserted a key. “Your home,” she said, gesturing him to enter.
Inside, Vir found a cozy hollow carved out of the rock and brightly illuminated by the same non-magical light that powered the city. Not too small, but not large either, its domed ceiling made it feel larger than it was. In a corner was a clean, comfortable-looking bed, with a wooden side table next to it. On the wall was a most strange contraption. A tiny lever with two set positions. When raised, it filled the room with light and plunged it into total darkness when lowered.
It’s like a water valve but for light! Such luxury, Vir thought. To have light without magic had never been this easy for him.
A work desk and a chair occupied another corner, while a basic round table sat in the center, with seating for four.
“I already have accommodations topside, though?” Vir said, hesitantly touring the room. “I appreciate the offer, but is this necessary?”
“Not accommodation. This is your home. From now on.”
“I’m not sure I understand you. You’re saying this is a permanent residence? You’re just giving it to me?”
Zora extended her gangly limb to Vir. “You are one of us now, brother. You are family. You will always have a home here.”
“That’s… I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Vir said, barely getting the words out. Emotions flooded him, and it took everything he had to keep them in check.
They’re practically strangers. And yet, that wasn’t exactly true.
There was a bond they shared. The bond of the oppressed.
“There isn’t a demon in Balindam who doesn’t know how bad life can be outside. Every brother and sister we bring here, we offer a home. It’s your choice to stay or to leave. But so long as you’re here. You will have a place to call your own,” Badal said.
“Now come,” Zora said. “There is one last place I wish to show you.”
“Part of the welcome tour?” Vir asked, wondering what else there was to see.
“Not exactly,” Badal said.
“What I am about to show you must be kept to yourself at all costs,” Zora croaked, giving Vir a fierce stare. “Our very survival depends on it. I show this to you as a sign of good faith.”
Vir nodded. “I understand. What is it?”
“It is the reason prana does not exist in the Voidlands. It is the Pagan Order’s greatest weapon. Follow me.”