Unnecessary hostility

The three of you reach the clearing you remember from the last time you had an audience with the Court of Seasons. However, this time only one figure emerges from the trees.

Koras addresses Daigo first. “The dragon of the south. Your assistance is appreciated, but your presence is not required here. You may go.”

Daigo shakes his head. “There are things being discussed today that I want to hear. I’ll be staying, with Josh’s permission, of course.”

You nod, and Koras narrows his eyes. “So now you suborn yourself to a human, Daigo?”

You answer for Daigo. “Daigo is a friend, an ally, and my future father in law. And we have a mutual enemy.”

Koras looks at you, and you’re surprised by the disdain in his eyes. “As for you, ‘King’, I’m surprised you survived your little civil war.”

You nod. “It wasn’t without sacrifices.”

You lift your left arm, pulling up your sleeve to reveal your rune-carved arm. “I saved as many as I could. I risked my life. I’m here to ask assistance in defeating the demon lord…”

Koras interrupts. “I know why you’re here, human. I’ll get to that.”

He turns to Ruka. “You have been away too long. You should return to your forest, it suffers without its dryad.”

Ruka clenches her fists. “It was suffering already! All my sisters died, at the hands of demons! You would have me go back now? You are supposed to be our god, why didn’t you protect us?”

“I protect the forest, and sometimes sacrifices need to be made to protect the rest.”

Ruka gasps, glaring at the bear-like deity. “My sisters…you let them die like that, intentionally?!”

Koras nods. “It was what was required of me, to protect the rest.”

You place a hand on Ruka’s shoulder, the dryad shaking in her anger. Her green eyes glowing, she seems in the edge of exploding in anger. You look at Koras. “You make it sound like you struck a deal. Did you make an agreement with the demon lord?”

“Of course I did. I can’t fight him, no one can. If you think you can, you’re delusional, human!”

You grimace, controlling your anger. “So you gave some of your people up, to appease the demon? Why would you think he would stop there?”

Koras glares at you. “Do not speak to me like that, you should know your place!”

Daigo steps forward. “His place is leading this alliance. Defeating the demon lord. Meanwhile you reject his offer, and try to send poor Ruka here back to be a sacrifice? You’re a coward, Koras.”

Koras sighs. “You’re wrong. I’m a survivor. And I was trying to protect Ruka.”

You snarl at him, “Protect her? From what?! And where’s the rest of your council?”

He looks at you, and there’s an emptiness in his eyes that makes you pause, and even Ruka gasps. “The council couldn’t understand what needed to be done. They will be missed. The deal had to be changed.”

You see red eyes appearing in the woods around you. Koras turns to walk away. “Once you’re gone we can live in peace.”

A winged demon steps from the forest, followed by several more. You summon your armor, and draw your sword.