The Wandering Devil (TWD)

The Wandering Devil

Chapter: 23

Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)

(Elven Encounter)

The abandoned church was silent.

I stood in the centre of the sanctuary, my hand outstretched, my focus razor-sharp as I tested yet another spell from the world of Harry Potter. It was a bit more advanced than the rest I had attempted but the spell would be useful in my hands. 

"Expulso," I murmured, channelling my demonic energy into the word.

A brief pulse of raw force erupted from my palm, slamming into a table that instantly began crumbling. It splintered into a spray of debris and wooden shards scattering across the room as the air filled with the acrid tang of pulverized wood.

Hestia watched with amusement. 

Not bad. 

My wand snapped into my hand. 

"Reparo."

The table put itself back together. 

For a mainly weakish world, their magic was insanely useful. Honestly, with it, my battle capability had gone up massively. 

The destructive power translated well even without a wand. 

But as I withdrew the energy, a faint crackle ran along my hand, a web of dark red arcs dancing across my skin. It fizzled out just as quickly, but the gloves I was wearing were obliterated. 

I frowned, flexing my fingers. 

Was this a flaw in my control or a side effect of having my power of destruction unsealed? 

I couldn't exactly use another energy to fuel spells meant for wizards. 

Either way, it wasn't good. 

My control of my demonic energy had taken a hit in exchange. 

I could think about that later, for now, I had people to deal with. 

Stepping outside, I scanned the darkened streets for any signs of the intruders who had been shadowing us. 

My gaze swept across the rooftops, searching for even the faintest movement. Anything that might reveal their position. 

Nothing. 

There was no one around. 

My frown deepened. Perhaps I needed a better vantage point?

Bending my knees slightly, I pushed off with a surge of power, leaping effortlessly onto the nearest building. My boots landed softly against the rooftop, the impact muted by the years of wear the structure had endured. 

From this height, the streets stretched out below me like veins in the city, dim and uninviting.

Still nothing. 

The rooftops were now empty. 

Not a trace of them remained. 

My demonic energy stirred within me, simmering like a pulse beneath my skin. It had recharged during my brief rest and I had been ready for a less-than-civil encounter with my stalkers. 

I crouched, scanning the horizon one last time, my senses on high alert. 

The faint breeze tugged my clothing.

Whoever they were, they had retreated.

Interesting.

Straightening, I stepped back to the edge of the building. The height was no challenge and I barely needed to think as I descended, landing lightly on the cobblestone street below. 

The faint sound of my boots against the stone echoed briefly, the only noise in the otherwise silent night.

Shaking my head, I turned and made my way back toward the church. 

Hestia was waiting anxiously. "Are they still there?"

"No, it seems they've retreated or left for now at the very least," I replied calmly. 

Hestia's arms were crossed as she leaned against the worn wooden doorframe, her eyes flicking between me and the shadowed streets beyond the church. "Are you sure they're gone?"

I nodded, brushing some dirt off my gloves. "Whoever was tailing us has backed off. At least for now."

She frowned, her lips pressed into a tight line. "I don't like this..."

I approached her. "Maybe they figured out they couldn't handle me," I said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Her frown deepened even if her lips briefly flickered up. "Zephyrion, this isn't the time to joke. We just got out of one problem with Lili's old Familia and you've spent the last two days acting as a Dark Lord in another world. Can't we get a break?"

I pecked her on the lips and she melted into my arms. 

"We'll be fine, they would have attacked me when they saw me weak if they intended for that and we've got the magical protection up now," I replied calmly.

She nodded. 

"Okay, but no Dungeon diving for at least a few days, please" She pleaded.

"Sure." I agreed easily enough. 

She gave me a wary look, clearly gauging if I meant it, before finally relaxing. "Thank you. Now, what are you going to do?"

I shrugged. "Take a walk. Orario's still awake and I could use some fresh air. Thought I'd bring Lili along."

I ignored her flat look. 

Lili, who had been quietly listening by the door, perked up at the mention of her name. "Really?" she asked a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"Zephyrion," Hestia whined. 

"I'm not going to get into any trouble," I replied instantly. 

I truly meant it. 

I had just spent two days essentially causing problems and acting as a Dark Lord with minions who were even more problematic than myself. 

Hestia sighed, nodding. 

I turned to Lili. "Yeah," I said, offering her a small smile. "Let's go see the city."

She grinned excitedly before regaining her composure and looking away. 

I needed to give all my Familia members their due attention. 

Bell was still sleeping so I didn't need to take him with us. 

I pulled Hestia into a kiss, and pulling back I left with a blushing Lili. 

This would always be a good chance to test something out. 

-Scene Break-

The streets of Orario were lively with activity as usual. 

Torches and magical lamps lit the cobblestone pathways, casting a warm glow over merchants still peddling their wares. The marketplace buzzed with life, voices blending into a symphony of haggling, laughter and idle chatter.

Was there a reason for taking Lili out? Yes. Unfortunately, with my magical pouches, Lili's porter skills were less needed. Though I would keep her in charge of picking up stones, I had an idea in mind for what other role she could play. 

Lili walked beside me. We wandered through the crowded market, stopping occasionally to look at the various stalls. Lili seemed particularly drawn to a jeweller's display, her gaze lingering on a set of intricate hairpins shaped like tiny flowers.

"See something you like?" I asked, noting how her expression lightened up as she looked at them through the glass.

"Oh, no, no! Lili was just looking. It's nothing important," she said quickly, waving her hands before stepping back from the stall with a faint blush.

I sighed good-naturally and her eyes widened when I pulled out my magical pouch, a pouch filled with Vali. 

The vendor, an older woman with a warm smile, perked up at the sound of money. "Ah, you have a good eye! These hairpins are crafted from silver, it's what gives them their shine. They're 9,000 valis for the set."

If I remember correctly, every singular Vali is akin to 0.02 Dollars, this was one of those differences I had found between the world I knew and the world ie as in. Considering their currency had been a bit different in the original if I remember. 

What she was asking for was akin to one hundred and eighty dollars. 

Lili's jaw dropped. "T-That's too much! Lili could never accept something so expensive!"

I raised an eyebrow at her, shooting her an amused smile. "You've been pretty chilled out considering the weird circumstances I've brought you into. Consider this a thank-you gift."

The vendor chuckled. "Your captain's quite generous, little one."

Despite her protests, I handed over the exact amount which matched the price. The woman carefully wrapped the pins in a soft cloth before handing them over.

Lili hesitated as I held out the package to her, her small hands trembling slightly. "Lili... really doesn't deserve this," she muttered, her ears tinged red.

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. 

"You do," I said firmly. "Now take it before I change my mind."

My eyes briefly snapped to all the roofs overlooking us in quick succession, only managing to catch the briefest flicker that could have very well been my mind playing tricks on me. 

She finally accepted it, clutching the bundle to her chest. "Thank you.

"No problem," I replied relaxedly. 

It was nice to be able to somewhat relax. The Dark Lord's life wasn't one of permanence for me. I had kind of just gone with the flow, I blamed the corrupt downright inept Aurors for just attacking and then labelling me a Dark Lord for defending. 

Further down the marketplace, we stopped at a food cart selling fried skewers. The savoury scent of grilled meat wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble.

My stomach rumbled. 

"Want one?" I asked, already pulling out some valis.

Lili hesitated. "I don't want to waste your money, Zephyrion."

I chuckled. "It's just a skewer, Lili. Pick one."

She finally relented, picking one with chunks of chicken and vegetables. 

I grabbed one for myself, and we stood off to the side as we ate. The taste was smokey and rich, and for a moment, there was nothing to think about but the food.

After finishing, we strolled further into the market, passing a stall selling brightly coloured scarves. 

The vendor waved enthusiastically, calling out to us. Lili, curious, wandered closer to inspect the goods.

"Try one on!" the vendor urged, holding up a deep green scarf.

Lili hesitated before allowing the vendor to drape it around her shoulders. She turned to me with a shy smile. "How does it look?"

"Not bad," I said, nodding. "Green suits you."

Her cheeks turned pink and she quickly removed the scarf, handing it back. "It's nice."

We continued down the market, pausing at a few more stalls. Lili seemed to relax more with each passing minute, her usually guarded demeanour giving way to something lighter, more carefree. 

It was good to see.

Eventually, the crowds began to thin as we moved into a quieter part of the market. I glanced up at the sky, feeling the cool air against my skin. 

I was being watched. This whole trip had been to confirm this fact along with bonding with Lili who I had neglected. 

Lili's abilities as a supporter were still valuable but with my magic pouches handling much of the heavy lifting, her role needed to evolve. If we were to keep growing as a Familia, I had to help her find a new way to contribute.

She wasn't built for brute strength like me or for tanking hits like some of the meatheads I'd seen around Orario. 

No, Lili's strength lay in her speed and her admittedly impressive intelligence. A build focusing on stealth and speed seemed like the best path for her. 

For that, she needed proper training.

"Lili," I said, breaking the silence as we passed a quieter row of closed stalls, "how do you feel about swords?"

She blinked up at me, clearly caught off guard. "Swords? I… Well, I've never used one before. Why?"

"I've been thinking about your strengths," I said. "You're fast, quick on your feet. A short sword or something similar might suit you. Maybe a dagger-like Bell? You'd focus on speed, stealth and precision instead of brute force."

Her expression was a mix of curiosity and doubt. 

"Is this about the new magical pouches you got?" She asked curiously. 

I nodded. "While you would still be picking up monster crystals for us, I was thinking that having a more active role would be good. It's ultimately up to you." 

"You really think I could fight like that? I've always just... supported from the back. I do know how to fight but not with anything but a crossbow." She replied nervously.

"Then maybe we should get you on a dagger-like Bell along with a crossbow for long range." I thought aloud. 

She slowly nodded. "If that's what you feel would help then I'll do my best."

"I'll need to find a teacher. Perhaps Bell can join you." I mused. 

She suddenly looked bashful. "You don't need to keep spending money on me, Zephyrion. I'm already being treated better than I was just by the respect you show me. Please, don't waste it on me."

I activated my ultimate skill and started patting her head abruptly, it was as weird as you thought it looked and she sputtered words out as she looked up at me in surprise. 

"Don't worry about it. If you become stronger, we can go deeper. Which means more money. It's an investment." I logically explained, even if I didn't particularly care about it.

We made our way toward a small shop tucked into the corner of the city's business district. The wooden sign swinging above the door read 'Miach Familia Pharmacy' in simple writing. 

The warm, herbal scent hit us as soon as we stepped inside. 

Shelves lined with various potions, salves, and strange ingredients surrounded a humble counter where a man I believe to be Miach himself stood, chatting amiably with a customer. 

His blue hair and kind demeanour were a dead giveaway. Hestia had told me about him since she was friends with him. 

Another woman that I assumed was Naaza was restocking vials on the shelves behind him.

Miach turned as we approached, his expression lighting up at my arrival. "Ah, a customer! Welcome to my humble pharmacy."

"Evening," I greeted casually, glancing around. "Are you Miach?"

"Indeed, I am." He replied chipperly.

I smiled. 

"I've heard good things about your potions and I need to restock." 

Miach's face brightened at that. "You've come to the right place, my friend. We take pride in our quality and Naaza here is one of the finest potion makers in all of Orario."

The woman with light grey hair's two ears twitched at her name being mentioned. My eyes briefly found themselves lowering to her lower back before I caught myself. 

Naaza glanced over her shoulder, offering a brief nod before returning to her work.

Lili, standing at my side, frowned as she looked at me. Then looked down at herself. 

She then shook her head and observed the neatly arranged shelves with an almost professional curiosity. Her sharp eyes flicked over labels and prices as though mentally cataloguing everything.

"What kind of potions are you looking for?" Miach asked, stepping around the counter.

"Health potions, mainly. A recent event had me see the use in having them on hand" I paused, gesturing toward the shelves. "I'd also like to grab whatever other potions you have."

I ignored the thrumming in my chest, the new feeling of that underlying destruction seemingly becoming all the more apparent as I mentioned the recent event. 

Miach nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "How strong are you looking for? We have standard potions, as well as stronger variations for more... challenging adventures. I must warn you that Potions are quite expensive"

He admitted that last part with a frown. 

"Let's go with mid-tier for now," I said. 

He moved to the shelves, pulling down a few vials. "Our mid-tier health potions are 10,500 valis each. Stamina potions are slightly less at 9,500 valis, antidotes are 12,000 valis due to the rare ingredients required. Mind Potions cost 20,000 Vali and are quite pricey." 

10,500 was 210 Dollars. 9,500 was 190 Dollars and 12,000 is 240 Dollars. 20,000 was 400 USD. 

Quite expensive. 

Doing a quick mental conversion, the prices seemed reasonable.

"I'll take three health potions, two stamina potions along with three mind potions," I said, pulling out my magical pouch.

Miach nodded and began carefully gathering the requested potions while Naaza packed them into a sturdy leather satchel. "That'll be 110,500 valis total."

110,500 Vali.

2,110 USD.

Expensive. 

I pulled out the large amount of money and exchanged it with the happy God. 

"Out of curiosity, what Familia are you a part of?" Miach questioned curiously.

"We are both from the Hestia Familia, I am the newly appointed Captain," I replied cockily.

"Ah! Hestia finally started building up a Familia. How joyful. Send her my regards." He happily responded. 

"I will," I replied. 

I liked him. 

I nodded in thanks and turned to leave. "Thanks for the potions."

"We're always here to help!" Miach called after me as I stepped outside.

Lili tugged at my sleeve, clutching her new hairpins as she smiled faintly. 

"It's been a long time since Lili's seen a day like this... Thank you, Zephyrion."

I smiled, ruffling her hair again despite her embarrassed protests. "Don't worry about it."

As we walked down the quiet streets, I glanced at the satchel of potions, already formulating plans. 

Comparing these potions to what I knew from the Harry Potter world was something I wanted to test out. If the Potions from Harry Potter were better then I could look into potion-making when I went back there in the coming weeks. 

It's why I wanted these Potions and I figured it could be a very good way to generate income. 

Perhaps Bell and Lili could even learn it as a hobby to do besides just fighting in the Dungeon. 

We turned a corner and bumped into someone, literally. I caught myself before falling and instinctively reached out to steady the person, my hand brushing against their shoulder.

I went to say something but the words died in my throat.

The figure before me wore a hooded cloak, their face mostly obscured by the expensive-looking cloth. 

I instantly recognised her, there was no mistaking the delicate features, and the elegant posture. Along with the when they tilted their head just enough for the light to catch their face, my suspicions were confirmed.

I didn't need to register her pretty smooth green hair or her pointy elven ears that twitched ever-so-slightly. 

Riveria.

I paused for a moment, memories flashing of the last time we met in the Dungeon. 

She had healed me after I had that fight with the Black Goliath. That had confirmed my suspicions that the Dungeon was actively against me for some reason I still had yet to find out. 

Her sharp pretty green eyes flicked up to meet mine and though her expression remained passive, I could see the flicker of recognition. 

She inclined her head slightly. "Zephyrion," she said, her tone as calm and composed as ever.

"Riveria, it's been a while," I replied easily. "Fancy meeting you here. I didn't think someone like you would have the time to wander the city."

Her lips curved faintly, almost imperceptibly. "The Loki Familia don't confine me to the dungeon every day, I do have a life outside that." 

Her response earned a cocky grin from me. "A life outside the dungeon? I wouldn't have guessed."

"Careful," she cut in smoothly, her voice holding a warning edge, but there was no true heat behind it.

I chuckled. "Touchy. Relax, princess, I'm just teasing."

Riveria's expression didn't change but I caught the subtle shift in her posture, a tightening of her shoulders and a flicker of something behind those sharp green eyes. 

It wasn't irritation but instead curiosity. I wasn't sure yet. 

"What are you up to?" I asked, moving the conversation along. 

She pursed her lips, her expression faintly contemplative. "I was just about to indulge in a hobby of mine."

"Oh? What's that?" I asked, curiously. 

She hesitated for a moment, her emerald eyes flicking away as if debating whether to answer. 

Finally, she spoke. "I like to hunt in the lands around Orario, specifically the forests. It holds a certain tranquillity that the dungeon lacks and I enjoy it."

-{Riveria Ljos}-

Riveria's expression remained calm, though her thoughts were in conflict beneath the surface. 

She couldn't quite understand why she had shared that with him.

Her time in the forest was something deeply personal, an escape she rarely spoke of. Few knew of her little hunting sessions and she preferred it that way. 

It wasn't simply about the act of hunting; it was about the solitude, the quiet and the way nature itself seemed to clear her mind. The Dungeon was a place she had to stay alert in, mostly when they dived into the lower floors. 

As Level Six it would take something at least on floor level 35 to even threaten her. Her perception level was just too powerful along with her magic but she always had been alert for anomalies. 

Instead, the forests provided a peace that Orario could never offer. 

A place where she could truly work on her hunting skills without anyone judging her. 

Among the Elves, her status as a High Elf and a royal made her an object of reverence even from those who owed her no allegiance. 

That constant deference, while aligned with tradition, had often felt like a chain. How could she have any friends when her fellow Elves glared at anyone who wasn't from her Familia or a fellow Elf? 

To Riveria, it was nothing more than a persistent annoyance.

Now, here she was. 

Speaking to the man she had found fighting some sort of weird strong variant of the Goliath that even gave her pause. 

The way he acted was refreshing and his scent was oddly nice. 

In a weird way, he just didn't give a shit. Was the most basic way to describe it. He spoke to her so openly even though she had only met him once before. 

It was even stranger that she found herself enjoying it.

Who was this person? He wasn't human, that she was sure of. 

-{Zephyrion Gremory}-

"And you?" she asked after a beat, her tone as steady as ever. "What are you doing here?"

I smiled easily at the deflection of the topic. 

"Just getting some potions," I replied. 

I pulled out a pouch and her eyes snapped to it and narrowed. 

A potion that definitely didn't look like it had come out of the pouch appeared and I gave it a little wave before dropping it back into the pouch.

Her eyes practically shined with interest. 

"Some sort of artefact?" She mused. 

"Yeah, something like that," I replied mysteriously, placing the pouch back in my pocket. 

Her brow arched slightly, the faintest hint of amusement tugging at the corner of her lips. It was subtle but it was there.

"Would you care to enlighten me on its functions?" She finally asked. 

"Sure, let's make it a trade. How about you take me hunting with you and I'll tell you all about it on the way." I replied. 

Despite what this looked like, it served a more practical function. I needed to seriously upgrade my stealth abilities. I was like a bull rampaging in the middle of a daycare when trying to be sneaky.

I had a feeling I could learn something, she was light on her feet. 

I also did want to get to know her more. 

Lili sent me a look from beside me that I easily ignored. 

She shook her head in slight amusement and I could tell my boldness caught off guard massively. 

She arched an elegant brow, her lips curving ever so slightly. "You truly are a troublemaker, aren't you?"

I shrugged. "Depends on who's telling the story."

Riveria didn't reply immediately. 

She studied me, her eyes sharp and assessing, like she was trying to see through the mask of bravado I wore. 

I let her look; it wasn't like I had anything to hide.

"It's a deal." She replied coolly. "Will your friend be accompanying us?"

I looked over to Lili. 

I thought it over. 

"I think it's best if you head back, Lili," I said, pulling out a flyer and giving it to her. "Use this if you feel in any sort of danger at any point on the way back." 

She nodded, sending a glare to Riveria but giving me a small smile. "Ok. It's been nice spending time with you Zephyrion, I hope we can do it again."

"Of course." I shot her a smile. 

She blushed slightly and nodded, turning to leave.

I could see Riveria staring at me. 

No doubt the contract had caught her interest too. 

My smirk widened.

This was going to be fun.

-END-

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