Tired and weary, Morrigan's retinue continued their journey into the darkest parts of the Underworld. Galandir constantly used his light magic to illuminate the way, but the deeper they went, the dimmer his light seemed to become—whether it was from exhaustion, the strength of darkness, or perhaps a mix of both, Morrigan did not know.

  "How much longer until the next sacred site?" she asked Viana wearilly, who looked equally tired from the journey. Deziara was already half-dozing on Morrigan's shoulder, unable to keep her heavy eyelids open.

  "I believe we are quite close now, judging by how thick the darkness is," Viana replied.

  "How can darkness get thicker? It makes no sense," Morrigan retorted. Darkness was merely the absence of light. It couldn't be thicker or thinner like a liquid. Yet she could not deny that the dark in this part of the Underworld was much more prevalent than anywhere else. Perhaps it was merely an illusion due to the lack of bioluminescent plants and fungi. Or perhaps she just couldn't see them in the overwhelming dark.

  "It really doesn't. And it's exhausting too. Aren't we supposed to thrive in the dark? This is clearly too much," Deziara mumbled sleepily.

  "I can stay in the shadow form for longer," Viana replied. "Granted I do still feel exhausted."

  The three sisters sighed and slumped in their seats, unperturbed by the constant rattling of the carriage. By this point they had grown used to it, as unpleasant as it was. Just as they did that a shadow appeared in the carriage and Azrael materialized out of it, all smiles and unwelcome cheer.

  "Princesses! I come bearing– Hey! Why the long faces?" The mage looks from Morrigan to Deziara and finally to Viana.

  "I just want a bath," Deziara muttered.

  "I just want a bed," Viana added.

  "I just want not to rattle in a carriage for one day," Morrigan sighed.

  "You all have been warned that the journey would be exhausting," Azrael snickered.

  "You're one to talk. You just teleport to a city each night and rest in the lap of luxury," Morrigan grumbled.

  "It's not all fun and games for me either. For the past few nights, I had to teleport all the way back to Demon Castle to interrogate the captured soldiers," Azrael grumbled.

  "Any luck?" Morrigan perked up a bit. She was hoping that one of them might have broken and finally given them the name of their mysterious leader.

  "We finally managed to break a few of them, but the sad thing is that they don't know who the mastermind is," Azrael shook his head.

  "Then you didn't break them at all," Viana grumbled, and Morrigan couldn't help but shudder. Talking of breaking people was making her feel uncomfortable although she knew that in cases like these, there was no other way. They needed the information.

  "Oh, no, they're completely broken alright. Used the strongest truth potion on them. They named all the other generals and the whole composition of their army as well as their whole little plan of capturing us," Azrael explained. "They had used some illusion magic to confuse our coachmen and make them lose their way in the dark, then the scouts followed us until they deduced which town we were most likely to end up at."

  "And then gather their forces and strike," Morrigan finished, her head low.

  "Yeah. The bastards had gone all out too – using the best mages they had to create portals large enough for an army to pass through. Basically, their attack forces had no mages left, only physical attackers which is absolute foolishness if you ask me."

  "Their whole plan was rather foolish. Are you sure it wasn't a diversion?" Viana asked.

  "It could have been, but if that's the case then their diversion worked because we haven't found anything out of place," Azrael shrugged. Everyone's mood turned even more glum and heavy silence overtook the carriage.

  "Oh right, I completely forgot why I came here in the first place," Azrael suddenly perked up.

  "Why did you come?" Morrigan asked.

  "We have reached our destination!" The mage cheered, and all three princesses perked up. As if on cue, the carriage stopped, and Seon opened the carriage door.

  "Your Highnesses, we have arrived," the guard said, but Morrigan was barely able to see his face despite the fact that there were lamps lighting the inside of the carriage and that he was holding one in his hand.

  "Why is everything so dark?" Deziara grumbled, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

  "We're officially in the darkest part of the Underworld. Getting any sort of illumination is rather difficult here," Azrael replied and jumped out of the carriage, a fireball in hand. Unfortunately, his fireball did little to illuminate the surroundings and Morrigan couldn't see anything that was further than a few meters away.

  "I believe some stronger light is in order," Galandir's voice resounded in the darkness, and with a snap of his fingers, a bright light ball appeared above the retinue, illuminating everyone. Much to Morrigan's horror, she saw that they were dangerously close to a chasm.

  "Wow, that was a close one," Azrael whistled, looking into it.

  "Do not worry, Your Highnesses. These moles are excellent at navigating in the dark. They would never just fall into a chasm," Seon said and patted one of the carriage-pulling moles who angrily snarled at the demon. Nonetheless, it did calm Morrigan a little bit. If you didn't rely on your vision to navigate then surely this darkness wasn't an obstacle for the moles.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Then again how much do they care about us? The only emotion I've ever seen from these beasts is anger. One would think that a dragon would be harder to reason with but Haku is positively charming when compared to them.

  Morrigan took a look at Haku, who was curiously sniffing at the chasm, not daring to step too close.

  "So where is this next sacred site?" Deziara asked, looking around the place. Nothing in particular stood out – it was craggy and filled with stalagmites and stalactites much like the rest of the Underworld.

  "Right there," Azrael said and pointed at the chasm. Morrigan blinked a few times and narrowed her eyes, trying to see into the dark – Galandir's light didn't quite reach beyondit.

  "It'll be difficult getting over the chasm. I imagine our only way over is on Haku's back," Morrigan noted.

  "Oh no. The sacred site is not beyond the chasm," Viana shook her head, her complexion looking rather pale.

  "Not beyond the chasm… You don't mean?" Morrigan paled and looked at the threatening hole in the dark.

  "Yes, the next sacred site is within the chasm!" Azrael announced cheerfully, laughing like a maniac.

  "This guy is insane. I vote we throw him in first," Galandir said, looking at Azrael with disdain.

  "I agree!" Deziara quickly added.

  "Me too," Morrigan nodded.

  "Same," even Viana joined in with a solemn nod to which Azrael appeared to look completely shocked.

  "I can't believe you would treat me so coldly," he appeared to be offended but obviously nobody bought his charade. Instead, Morrigan slowly approached the chasm, trying to peer into it. The elf followed behind her, his hand outstretched, ready to catch her in case she would fall.

  "All I see is darkness," she grumbled, retreating from the edge. "How are we supposed to get down there? And how deep even is it?"

  "There's a narrow ledge that leads down. As for how deep it is… Nobody really has measured. But it'll take a while to get to the bottom. And I'm afraid flying on Haku is a no-go. The dragon is far too large to fit in there," Azrael announced, appearing rather satisfied. Morrigan had the strongest urge to just throw a fireball in his face.

  "Why are you happy about it?" Deziara voiced Morrigan's exact thoughts and punched Azrael in the shoulder without holding back. The mage groaned although it was clear that most of the impact must have been absorbed by some sort of magic.

  "Well, it's only fair that the future queen has to go through a bit of hardship," the mage shrugged.

  "And plummet to her death?" Deziara grumbled. Viana visibly shuddered and stepped further away from the chasm.

  "I'm sorry, Morrigan, but I don't think I'll be able to accompany you this time. Going down there once was… quite enough for me," Viana said, wrapping her arms protectively around herself. If Viana with her mastery of earth magic had trouble climbing down then what chance did Morrigan stand?

  "Wait… I'll just go down as a shadow," Morrigan announced, shrugging nonchalantly, but a smile appeared on Azrael's face.

  "Princess, did you forget already?" He snickered, and now Morrigan couldn't hold back and threw a fireball at the smug mage who promptly blocked it with a wide grin.

  "Shadow form is not allowed," Viana said with a sigh, and Azrael laughed. Morrigan flung a few more fireballs at him in anger.

  "Oh, and you're only allowed to take one person along this time. The magic down there is rather sensitive," Azrael said.

  "You are so coming with me," Morrigan growled at the white-haired demon who just shrugged.

  "Obviously. Who else but me could handle such a journey?" he said triumphantly. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't die."

  "How about I go with Morrigan instead?" Galandir spoke up and bright light wings sprouted from his back. There was a confident smirk on his face, and Azrael's smile disappeared.

  "Wait… wait… wait… the princess needs her mage," Azrael objected weakly.

  "Oh? Do I?" Morrigan snickered. "Is the mage required as part of the ritual?"

  "Yes!" Azrael said.

  "No, he is not. All you have to do is submerge in the waters below," Viana interjected and smiled triumphantly.

  "Why do you have to betray me like this?" the mage whined at Viana.

  "It's enough that you made me endure that horrible climb down. I'm not making my little sister do it when the elf boy over here can just fly her down," Viana said, crossing her hands over her chest.

  "But the elf in a place sacred for demons is… you know… bad. Don't you all agree?" Azrael turned to the many servants and guards who were watching the whole exchange with mild amusement.

  "It's fine as long as Galandir doesn't go inside the sacred water," Viana retorted.

  "If our next Prime Minister believes it to be fine, then who are we to object?" Seon bowed his head towards Viana and the rest of the guards and servants nodded approvingly.

  "He's merely taking Her Highness to the sacred place."

  "Why should Her Highness risk her life and climb the ledge when she can be flown down safely?"

  "It would be foolish for Her Highness to risk her life."

  "So it's decided. I'm going together with Galandir," Morrigan announced with a smile. Everyone nodded in approval except for Azrael who began sulking.

  His own fault for trying to torture me. I know he wouldn't actually let me fall and die, but I'd much rather just fly down instead of scraping my hands on rough stone. Besides, I might need my hands to paint…

  "Could you all pack up my painting supplies and lower them into the chasm?" Morrigan addressed the servants. They nodded obediently and began gathering everything from the wagons.

  "Why painting supplies?" Deziara cocked her head curiously.

  "You believe there will be another one of those black orbs down there?" Viana asked.

  "I'd be surprised if there wasn't one," she replied with a heavy sigh. This meant she'd have to expend a lot of magical energy once again. Viana suddenly grabbed her by the sleeve and pulled her aside, whispering into her ear.

  "If there indeed is another black orb there, then no matter what happens you mustn't let Galandir supply you with magic!"

  "I… Of course not," Morrigan replied awkwardly. She almost forgot about the rule that only those of equal social standing could supply each other with magic. While Galandir wasn't technically a slave, he was still considered a servant and way below Morrigan's station. Not to mention that he wasn't even a demon. What Viana did not know was that she had already given her magical energy to Galandir once.

  "If worst comes to worst, then send him back up and we'll have Azrael supply you with magic," Viana said, and both sisters looked at the moping mage who was drawing circles in the dirt.

  "I don't think he'll be willing to give me any magic," Morrigan said.

  "Oh, don't mind that useless fool. We'll convince him. Just don't take any magic from Galandir. Got it?" Viana warned. Morrigan nodded dutifully.

  "Can we go now?" Galandir spoke up, looking over them curiously.

  "Yes, let's go!" Morrigan announced, walking up to her elven friend. Without hesitation, he put his arms underneath her legs and back and lifted her up – princess style.

  "Wasn't there a less embarrassing way to do this?" she muttered, her cheeks flushing red.

  "Nope! Just relax and enjoy the ride down, Your Highness," the blonde elf smiled cheekily and flapped his wings, taking off the ground. The feeling was a bit odd since Galandir did not fly as smoothly as Haku. However, his firm grip on her alleviated any worries of falling.

  "You're still as light as a feather!" he announced and then flew straight into the dark chasm.