That's So Wizard

Chapter 43 - Secrets

Eldrian's bleeding, trembling hand continued to grip onto the blade of the sword as he struggled to pull himself to his feet, and when he saw that Daveon was too shocked to drive the weapon forward once more, he released his grip, and slowly lowered it to his side. The druid, once mentally recovered, handed Drodias back over to Kevin and took a step back.

"What do you mean you're not controlling him?" uttered Daveon.

"Don't kill her. Wait," Eldrian said with a groan.

Arlandria hustled over to the injured wizard and consoled him. She looked to his wounds, and with her hands at the ready, she began her healing ritual. A soothing light started the process of closing the gashing in his flesh, and for that, he gave her a thankful albeit exhausted smile.

"What do you mean, don't kill her? She's a demon. Isn't that what you came here to do? And she tried to control your mind," Daveon barked.

Eldrian nodded. "I know, but—"

"And where are the home owners?"

"She didn't kill anyone. Her magic might have been controlling me, and for that, I'm incredibly angry," he said as he looked to Zayna. She lowered her head—ashamed. "But I heard everything she said. Her whole story. She doesn't want to harm anybody. She just wants to live peacefully here on Earth. She was following a dream. This time, there was no malice behind it."

"But that's the entire point of finding these demons. They aren't supposed to live on Earth."

"That's true. But that doesn't mean she should be gutted like a fish. That's too far. She didn't do anything to deserve death, but you're right about one thing. We need to tell Lucy we found the run-away."

Zayna nodded her head. "I understand."

"I'll make sure to tell Lucy the truth. You shouldn't be harshly punished for not harming anyone, but you oughta go back to the Demon World. They'll just send more hunters after you otherwise," Eldrian said.

With Arlandria's magic as completed as it could be, she helped Eldrian steady himself, and he stretched open his previously injured hand. It hardly hurt now.

"So then, if we're all trusting each other now, who summoned you?" Daveon asked. "Who helped you get to Earth? We deserve to know that much."

"I really shouldn't say," replied the demon.

"You should," Eldrian said. "To make up for what you did. I don't like being mind controlled."

With a timid sigh, the succubus fiddled with her fingers in deep thought. Her eyes peered up at the crowd still cornering her near the wall, but she finally took a deep breath and began to answer their question.

"It's a bit of a long story, but the one who got me to Earth was... Deena."

"What?" shouted every other one in the room nearly in unison.

Daveon furled his brow. "She's gone too far now. Voodoo, dark magic, but now summoning actual demons to our world? This is the work of the nastiest kind of witch. Arlandria. Are you sure you didn't notice her doing anything?"

The elf shook her head. "No. And since she disappeared, I haven't been able to go back to her home. I went to Eldrian and Kevin's house as a place to stay for the time being."

"She wouldn't betray us. There must be a story," Eldrian said.

"You keep defending her, but she keeps giving us more reasons to distrust her," Daveon stated. "And now she could be anywhere."

"But she's still our friend. We need to give her the benefit of the doubt."

Daveon tugged on the brim of his toque. He lowered his head, and let out a deep exhale before looking to Eldrian once more.