Victorious

Kali rushes over to you, laying glowing hands upon you. Your pain fades, and you feel the bones in your arm knitting, a very strange feeling. You smile at her. “Thank you, Kali. Do you think you could heal her as well? I think she has a lot to explain.”

Kali nods, and kneels beside the **** changeling. Meanwhile, Uzume limps over to the crumpled form of Gaius, reaching down and removing his mask. She stares at him for a moment, then looks at you. “I know this guy was undead before, but he’s super dead now…”

Before you can answer, you’re tackled to the ground by a blur of blue. You grunt, realizing that your still pretty hurt, but Sadie hugs you tightly. “We did it! Oops, did that hurt, Joshie? Sorry…”

You chuckle, sitting up and holding her on your lap. “It’s fine, just a little sore still.”

She smiles, glancing over at the **** woman. “I guess the spankings will have to wait until she’s awake…”

Kali looks up, turning to face you. “She’s not hurt, physically. I can’t heal her. I think her body shut down because of what she was doing, she overloaded with magic. I think she just needs rest.”

Sadie bounces in your lap excitedly. “She’s pretty! And I liked her when she was Hana…can we keep her?”

You look around to see the girls looking at you expectantly. “Anyone have any objections? She hasn’t directly worked against us, and she probably did us a huge favor today. Obviously, it’ll be her choice when she awakens, but…”

Samara cuts in. “Kali and I did far worse than she did. And now look at us.”

Clarissa nods as she approaches, grounding her axe. “Like Sadie said, I liked her as Hana. If she wants to stay with us, I say let her.”

Uzume grins. “You know I’m on board for the spooky goth girl.”

You laugh, looking to Kali as you stand, Sadie refusing to let go. Kali smiles. “Of course. I just want to hear her story.”

You nod. “Uzume, could you carry her? I’m a bit occupied by a clingy djinn.”

Nodding, the Oni scoops up the **** woman, and you all turn back towards camp. You see general Ochiba picking his way across the battlefield towards you. The field is littered with corpses, mostly demons, but others as well.

Ochiba smiles as he approaches. “We did it, sire! Their army is scattered, and the demon lord is dead. I never thought I would see it happen.”

He gives you a salute, smiling still. His smile fades a notch as he looks around. “We won, but it was costly. Without you beating the demon lord, I don’t think it would have turned out so well. Even with the dragons.”

He looks at you and your group. “When he went down, the demons turned on each other, or fled. At that point it was all over.”

You nod. “He was the only one keeping them organized. General, I would love to celebrate with you, but right now, we all need rest.”

Ochiba looks you up and down. “I’d say. You look like someone threw you down a mountain.”

You chuckle. “If it wasn’t for Kali, I’d feel like it too. Maybe in the future I’ll find solutions that don’t involve head butting my problems until they fall down.”

Ochiba nods. “That seems wise, your majesty. Go rest, we’ll mop up here.”

Your group slowly makes its way back to camp, basking in the cheers of the soldiers as you pass. Back in camp, you struggle out of your armor, as the others do the same. You and the girls make sure the changeling is as comfortable as she can be, while Sadie and Samara volunteer to watch her. You agree, and collapse onto your bedroll. You feel Kali snuggle up next to you, and hold her close as sleep claims you.