Jayhawk+ by Nick Venom (short novels in english txt) 📕

The next morning arrived as did the carriage, which had the mission to bring Locus to the frontlines in a matter of months. The carriage was a red and black heavily defended carriage with four escorts and two drivers. The carriage was large enough to hold six adults, made out of the best material in the kingdom. 

“You won’t find a better carriage than this,” Andrew told Locus, who nodded his head in response. He stared at the carriage, taking in the medieval appearance and red and black pattern.

“Is it too flashy?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m… I have never seen a true carriage before. In my world, we drive… metal ones like this.”

“You have metal carriages and metal horses!” Andrew exclaimed. 

Locus shook his head. “No, horses aren’t made out of metal. It’s called a car and it’s made out of metal… I think. Maybe more plastic than metal, but-”

“You make carriages out of… plastic? I need this technology now!” He exclaimed. 

Locus shook his head. “I don’t know how to make a car. It’s a technology that I never messed with before. I was a normal teen, not a mechanic.” 

“Oh…” Andrew defeatedly muttered. “I wanted that technology. It would’ve made my kingdom a large sum of money and my value as a king would have increased. My wife can’t force me to clean out of my workspaces ever again!”

“I apologize your Majesty, but I believe she would,” Tedas remarked, appearing from behind Andrew. “I’ve recently talked with Queen Harley and she told me to tell you that you need to clean up your side of the bedroom.”

Andrew scrunched up his face. “Really? That woman! I cleaned up my side last night, how is it dirty already?” He muttered to himself as he headed towards the castle. 

With him gone, Tedas turned to Locus. “You know the mission?”

Locus shrugged his shoulders. “I was told I was going to the frontlines and to help the armies there and that’s all. They never told me anything else.”

“Of course, they didn’t,” Tedas muttered before sighing. “Well, your mission isn’t too difficult. You’ll be joining the Northeast Front of the ongoing war and assisting the armies positioned there. Your mission is to link up with them and help push back the Slade forces with minimal casualties. They’re expecting you to erupt light and take care of everyone by yourself.”

“By myself? I’m still training. I don’t feel confident about my skills.”

“Well, too late for that,” Tedas told him. “Because you’re going off today.”

“And you’re coming with me?”

Tedas nodded. “As an escort. I’ll double as your trainer, so expect every break from the carriage to be taken away by training time. Otherwise, you’ll be a sack of potatoes by the time we arrive at the frontlines.”

Locus nodded before turning towards the carriage. “C-Can we… Can I take someone with me? Like a plus one?”

Tedas nodded. “Yeah, why wouldn’t you? You are the hero here.”

Locus nodded. “So… Can I take Angelica with me?”

“Who is Angelica?” Tedas questioned. “Is she a maid here? Or a citizen you met outside of the castle?”

Andrew, who had returned from the castle after having a short conversation with his wife, recognized the name instantly. He approached Locus, staring intensely at him. “Why did you say that name?” He asked. “When did you go into the dungeon? And why did you interact with her?” He appeared both bewildered and angry.

Locus backed away from him. “I… I went down there and… It was when I used Inspect. I found her down there.”

Andrew shook his head disappointingly. “She is to remain underground until her death. Her name is meant to be buried and all evidence of her existence is to be destroyed.” He whispered to her.

Locus shook his head. “She’s almost dead already. She can’t even use her abilities anymore without Holy Heal. She can’t do anything else anymore.”

“She’s an Alpha Demon. Even if she can’t do anything, her entire existence is something we can afford to mess with.”

“B-But… she’s just a girl with a broken body. Why should you keep her there until her death? I want her to come with me to the frontlines. As my assistant.” He defiantly told Andrew. “She can’t hurt anybody.”

Andrew furrowed his brows. “You want to take her as your assistant? A demon? Even if she’s harmless, as you claim, having a demon following the hero isn’t good for your reputation.”

“I want her to be my assistant.”

“No!” Andrew exclaimed, gathering the attention of everyone nearby. “I will not allow this!”

“I will take all responsibility for her,” Locus told him. “Please… let me do this.”

Andrew huffed before turning away from him. “Locus…” He quietly started. “I will give her to you, but… if she causes chaos, then you will take full responsibility AND freedom limitations. You won’t be able to act without my permission. Is that clear?”

Locus nodded, unsure why he was doing so much for a random girl. Even so, he didn’t deviate from his path. “Yes.”

Andrew nodded. He motioned towards a guard. “Grab the demon. Bring her here.” He ordered. The guard nodded and disappeared into the castle, returning a few minutes later with a handcuffed and tattered-dressed Angelica. The guard brought her to Locus, releasing his grip and backing away from them. Though he was wearing a helmet, Locus could sense the disgust the guard had. 

“Go, Locus,” Andrew muttered as he turned around to face him. “I expect good news.”

Locus bowed his head. “Yes, your Majesty.”

Andrew nodded, a small smile appearing on his face. “Tedas, protect him well. And make sure he stays on task.”

Tedas nodded. “Yes, your Majesty.”

Andrew nodded before turning away, being escorted back to the castle. Locus watched him until his figure disappeared through the castle’s iron doors. Once his figure was completely gone, Locus turned around to face the carriage.

“Ready to set off?” Tedas asked.

“In a second,” Locus answered him before turning to face Angelica, who was looking at the ground. She trembled in her spot, blatantly afraid of her new situation. Locus reacted to her predicament by crouching and looking up at her. “Do you remember me?

She didn’t respond, staring past him.

“My name is Locus. You’ll be joining me on an adventure.” He tried again.

“As a prisoner?” She retorted.

Locus shook his head. “No, of course not! You’re going as my assistant. As a free man… person.” He told her. “You’re not a prisoner or a slave.”

Angelica nodded her head as her response. She didn’t speak further, simply shadowing Locus’s movements. He realized this instantly, rising to his feet and turning to Tedas. “I’m ready to set off.”

Tedas nodded, glancing at the carriages and the guards’ glares. “Be wary of our escorts. Many of them despise demons. Keep an eye on Angelica on our travels. The King won’t punish anyone for her if something were to happen.”

“You believe they would murder her?”

“Maybe worse. Just saying, be careful not to leave her alone. She’s weak, harmless, and a demon. It’s the worst pairing she could’ve gotten.” He told her before turning away from him. “Well, let’s go.”

Locus nodded, shooting a glance at Angelica, before facing the carriage. “Let’s go!”

The carriage then departed.

TBC…

“We’re here!” Tedas exclaimed, motioning for Locus and the others to disembark the carriage. They complied, slowly rolling out of the carriage with back problems and sore butts. 

“I don’t ever want to get on a carriage again,” Locus thought out loud.

“Well, that sucks for you since we’re taking it back,” Tedas remarked with a big smile on his face. He was enjoying the sight of Locus’s pained face. “Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

He nodded, following Tedas’s lead, glancing behind him at Angelica who kept her eyes trained on the ground, not daring to raise her head even a centimeter. She walked slowly as if she was being troubled by a limp, but strangely her body was in perfect condition - for someone tortured and left to rot in a cell at least. 

Locus slowed down to a stop, waiting for Angelica to catch up to him. Once she did, she shifted her eyes up at him, staring at him for a second before darting away. She stared off into the distance, almost ashamed to have connected eyes with him. 

“Don’t worry… let’s go.” He reassured her, holding out his hand to her. Angelica adjusted her view to see his hand, tilting her head slightly. She shakily reached out her head, inching closer to him before quickly retracting it and shaking her head. Locus nodded, acknowledging her fear. He then turned around and continued following Tedas with Angelica shuffling behind him.

“He’s here,” Tedas told several men standing over a campfire. The men were donned in iron armor from head to toe, but, unlike the royal guards that looked over Locus and Angelica specifically, they had their helmets off and wore different markings on their armor to differentiate them. The biggest of the men had the marking of a ram on his left shoulder, which sometimes appeared to move. Or maybe it didn’t move, Locus wasn’t entirely sure. 

All four men kneeled, bowing their heads. “Greetings, Holy Sire!” They exclaimed simultaneously. 

Locus shook his head, caught off-guard by their behavior. Even if he had seen it before, he wasn’t used to being treated with such respect.  “You can just call me Locus.” He told them.

The man with the ram marking shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Holy Sire. How could we disrespect the incarnation of our Creation God Czeco?” 

Locus glanced at Tedas who was quietly giggling. “Shouldn’t they rise… Holy Sire?” He mocked him.

Locus glared at Tedas, which was strangely effective to make him stagger backward and nearly fall on his butt, surprising everybody, Locus included. “Oh, I’m sorry Tedas. I didn’t mean to-”

Tedas shook his head, rising from the ground. “That’s interesting,” He muttered to himself. “I think you need to be careful of that glare… I just felt like my life was in danger.”

“Oh,” He muttered. “That never happened before. Is it because… because of-”

“Your godly connection, most likely. But let’s ignore that for a second, of course, I mean that respectfully Holy Sire.” Tedas said, continuing to mock him. He then motioned to Locus to tell the men, who were still kneeling, to rise. Locus nodded, immediately telling them to rise, which they quickly did. Being on their knees for too long didn’t do the older men’s aged legs any good. 

“Okay, hit us with the facts,” Tedas told the ram-marked man. He nodded, clearing his