After describing the hold Elmidath’s uncle had over us with the enchanted cloth he’d attached to us, the snake suggested we seek out another inhabitant of this underground world. It described them as an eater of magic, capable of freeing us.

We went back to the central chamber and down one of the other paths. The spikes on the walls decreased in size and number as we continued, before vanishing altogether in the next room. The stone here was grey and unmarked, quite unlike the rest of the tunnels.

A tangled knot of dark purple crystal sprouted from the earth ahead. It pulsed with a soft light, though much of it was hidden by the huge creature wrapped around it. Rolls of fur-covered fat jiggled as it rotated around the crystal, seemingly oblivious to our presence. Furry spines protruded from all over its body, brushing over the crystal.

The way they waved and shifted reminded me of a sea anemone. And perhaps the spines served a similar purpose, it didn’t seem to have any other manipulators other than its stout legs. This was the eater of magic? It certainly did have an appetite, if its physique was anything to go by. Elmidath strode forward. “You there.”

The six-legged beast showed no sign of having heard her, I wasn’t sure it even had ears. Or a head for that matter. It didn’t bare much of a resemblance to anything I was familiar with, who was to say it even had a brain. Though if that were the case, it would make communicating difficult to say the least.

Elmidath tried a few more times. It was only when she resorted to shouting that the creature took any notice. Peeling itself off the crystal, it flopped onto the ground with a thud and rolled over. Based on the position of its legs, it was facing toward us, but I could see no sign of eyes, ears or mouth. It was just a great mass of flesh with legs.

A voice appeared in my head, much like it did with Shotensho or Elmidath’s link. It uttered only a single word, a question. “Who?” It spoke slowly, drawing out the word.

I sent back that I was Lady Sarinknell’s sworn servant but there was no sense that it received my message. Perhaps its sending was only one way. I was opening my mouth to speak when Elmidath pre-empted me. “It does not matter who we are, what matters is that we have magic to offer you. Which you can devour free of obligation.”

The voice sent another word, presumably into both of our minds. “Give.” It spoke quickly now, its voice full of naked desire. Without waiting for a reply, it lumbered forward, surprisingly fast for its size.

I moved in front of Elmidath. “This thing isn’t going to attack us, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

Taking her word for it, I steeled myself and tilted my head back, exposing my neck to the creature. It trundled over, stopping short of crushing me, and one of its spines reached out toward me. As it brushed against the collar around my neck, I felt the warmth drain and the cloth lost its hold. Figuring it must be safe, I pulled it free. When nothing happened, I sighed. Part of me had expected immediate incineration.

The voice came again. “More.” It was half-pleading, half-demanding.

If it could do that much, was it possible that could free me from my magical bonds? Mind racing as I considered the idea, I was interrupted by Elmidath, who held out her wrist with cloth around it. “Here.”

In a flurry of booming steps, the magic eater surged over and brushed a spine over the cloth. She pulled the band off. “Thank- “The voice cut her off. “More!” It filled my mind, eclipsing all thought.

I stood there, stunned, as it slammed into Elmidath. She collapsed, pinned to the ground by the creature’s bulk as the spines stabbed at her, seeking magic. The lantern went out, crushed by the wave of fat. What the hell was I doing?

I unslung my sword and slashed at the creature. It cut deep but all I seemed to hit were thick layers of fat, probably causing it little real injury. But I wasn’t finished yet. Leaving the blade in contact, I called upon Shotensho’s magic.

A chill spread through the weapon and reached my hands before fading away. How could I be so stupid? Of course magic wouldn’t work against this thing. I drew back and struck again. Again and again I hacked away at the great squirming mound.

Was Elmidath even still alive? She must be if I was, but beyond that there was no sign of her. Her body had disappeared beneath the creature. I carved through flesh, seeking a vital organ. Once I was through the outer layer, I drove the tip in to the hilt and twisted.

The magic-eater shuddered violently, tearing Shotensho from my hands. And with it any hope I had of saving Elmidath. What was I supposed to do now? Beat it to death with my bare hands? I’d have as much success as if I used them to dig through the stone. No, I had to get my sword back.

Trying to grab the blood-slick hilt was hard enough, made even harder by the creature’s writhing. After what felt like an eternity, but had likely only been seconds, I tore my weapon free from its flesh. Blood leaked from the hole and the series of gashes I’d given it, but it didn’t seem like enough to kill it anytime soon.

Trying to hack away at the main body would get me nowhere, I’d have to strike at its only apparent vulnerability; its legs. My overhead cut cleaved halfway through on the first attempt and it staggered. Favouring its other legs, it scuttled back like some kind of colossally fat spider. Had the circumstances not been so dire, I would have laughed. It was a ridiculous looking creature, which only made our current plight all the more galling.

Free from beneath the creature’s bulk, Elmidath slowly got to her feet. One of her arms hung limply by her side but she was alive. I was sure an ordinary human would have died, crushed beneath the massive beast. But it seemed Demon Lords were made of tougher stuff. Even if they had only reached the first circle. I felt a flood of relief, I had both my sword and my companion back. “Are you okay?”

She was breathing heavily, trying to make up for the time she’d been pinned against the ground. “Well enough.”

We kept our eyes fixed on the magic-eater, waiting for it to make its next move. But after skittering over to the corner, it lay down, apparently having no interest in further conflict. I lowered my blade. It seemed we’d won, even if it didn’t feel that way.

There was a chance the creature would indeed be able to free me, but I was in no hurry to try after what had just happened. And even if it did break the connection, then what? It’s not like I had anywhere else to go. No, it was probably best that I save that for future consideration and focus on the present.

Even if I was still trapped, we’d destroyed Lord Sarinknell’s leverage over us. All that remained was to confront the man himself. Hopefully this time I wouldn’t end up a blackened husk, a breath away from death.