Chapter 30

Duel.

Annabel then opens a communication with Kerefet who then agrees to talk to the demon.

"I offer you my regards Naberius, what can I do for you?"

"My regards, eighth grade priest, I have a communication to expose and that is that priestess Annabel will be trained only by me from now on."

A minute of silence, where she was left speechless and the other replied:

"What? This is a joke right? She is under my tutelage now as it should be and your request is tantamount to breaking the alliance and is also an insult to our race!"

His voice is agitated and that's just what the demon wanted. But Kalego always sure of himself, replies:

"According to the third chapter of this, if one part does not satisfy, it is here I am talking about the disease that has now arrived in the city, where many have seen that the infected were taken away, the other part that is us, we have the duty to take the reins in order to avoid further damage. And I do not consider myself satisfied with your work and as keeper of the priestess, I demand this for the good of the two races and it does not go against our alliance and therefore it will not lead to its breaking. "

Another minute of silence where Naberius waits with some internal happiness. But afterwards Kerefet to his surprise replies:

"You're not wrong, I missed that part ... so let's do this, let's meet to talk face to face."

Kalego astonished: "What?"

Not the answer he expected.

Kerefet: "I want to talk to you live and so I'll see you in a demonic hour in the place that I will send to Annabel and also bring two witnesses. I'm done with this."

In fact, after he closes the communication and the other is left but then, putting his fingers under his chin, he thinks that maybe he wants to do something that he will not like at all and Annabel:

"Is there really such a thing of the covenant? I don't seem to have read it and then ... is yours really a good idea?"

Kalego: "Too many questions! That part exists but it's written in very small print."

"Ah here ... yes I really missed it and then, what are you training me for? Seriously? Do you really want me dead?"

Kalego: "Do you prefer bruises and pains on the body instead? When you train to become strong, you have to suffer but not to the extreme!"

"I have the same fear... ."

Him: "Mph! Trust wife, trust or have you already forgotten this essential couple rule in our relationship?"

She then remembers what they went through and that on many occasions they trusted each other and therefore she only replies:

"Yes it's true and it's okay... ."

After this follows a minute of silence and then:

"Since we have some time .. ."

And he brings up a forbidden book saying again:

"Please ... it's been too many days since the last time and I really want a story."

And he stretches it on her side and she just a half smile.

Next, they sit on the pouf of the room, the demon wants her to settle in that room first and so it suits him for now.

Annabel starts reading the book about a wolf who trusts a human, it is not famous but it is fascinating and Kalego with folded arms and closed eyes, imagines the scene where the two meet and begin to know each other. Where finally his favorite activity, the reading of forbidden books is back!

And now the priestess, now his wife, will be able to read them when he wants and where he wants! A great joy and satisfaction for him!

Now, time passes and Kalego:

"That can be enough. Kerefet will certainly have something in mind to get us naked, so he stays on guard and prepared properly and let's go to the meeting."

She closes the book and then nods her head.

Kalego: "But first... ."

He points a finger to her forehead saying:

"You will have to learn private telepathy."

She: "Eh? Can I seriously? And why private?"

Him: "Of course! Because in case of extreme difficulty, we could communicate in a timely and private manner because only the two of us will do it and it is therefore a closed communication! And now immunity to magic!"

After this, she executes and here with two fingers and closed eyes he touches her forehead and here she concentrates and then, she begins to hear his words in her mind, like an echo that approaches and says:

"Can you hear me? Can you hear me?"

And she is always with her mind, even if it takes a lot of practice not to open her mouth:

"Yeah ... yeah! I can hear you! Wow that's great!"

"Keep your emotions priestess! That if you do not control you I will hear speeches that I must not!"

Always on my mind:

"Ah yes ... sorry! I'll do it!"

Next, she removes her fingers, opens her eyes again and says again:

"As a start it's not bad, I thought of a greater difficulty, but remember, keep your emotions and concentrate when you call me, like when you do your silent sessions. Clear?"

She was excited: "Yes! Very clear and it will be very useful!"

He always with a serious attitude: "Now let's try it also with your immunity, so activate it."

Having said that she also does this and afterwards, she can feel his clear and crystalline voice and he:

"It works the same, very well and good for us."

She just another nod and then:

He always with a serious attitude: "Mph! Now get ready."

Shortly after he is in his room, and it is similar to his accommodation, but much larger and with huge windows and various cacti scattered a little everywhere but in an always orderly way; and now he is thinking that he cannot defeat the priest if it comes to a fight; as she is immune to magic and she will never drink potions made by him, but not by Annabel either, as she now certainly sees her as his accomplice. So just prepare a few weapons imbued with his evil energy by carefully choosing the best ones and to make them appear at the right time.

Kalego: "Damn, my ears are ringing! He sure has something in mind! Something very dangerous!"

Next, they present themselves in the appointed place. In front of the old ruins of a castle, which everyone in that world calls 'Martyrdom'.

And while they wait, he with his arms behind his back and as he watches:

"Another really unexpected place ... if that damn chooses them well."

"I just hope everything will be okay."

"Mph! This place is called Martyrdom, and the reason is that demons have been brutally tortured and killed here and I am wondering if this is a warning he wants to give us."

Annabel: "What? Seriously? Well I just know he likes to play with who he dislikes."

Him: "I see. Eyes and ears open."

Because they are coming, as are the two witnesses of the demon.

Balam and Dali; instead Kerefet brought two priests, a crow and an anthropomorphic eagle, with really scary and aggressive looks and wearing the usual black capes with clothes like those of the ancient Egyptians underneath.

Dali: "Hello everyone! And what exactly do we two have to do?"

Who is dressed in a white, slightly unbuttoned shirt and black trousers. Annabel is the first time she has seen him without a school uniform.

Balam: "Maybe look and judge?"

Kalego: "Just look and remember this day. That's all!"

Dali: "Perfect!"

Kerefet approaching him, where he does not get upset in the least and looks at him from the other down:

"I offer you my greetings and also to you priestess, where I do not agree to leave you in the hands of a demon, who will train you against the evil that afflicts this world."

Dali: "Oh ooooh! Interesting! Here's what I didn't know!"

Balam: "You heard it, we have to just look."

Kalego: "I'm not backing down."

Kerefet: "Very well, since you are right and I am not entirely convinced, even if it is written in the alliance, I propose a flight competition, just the two of us and you can choose the route around here that you like best! What do you say?"

Kalego: "What? So a duel? Are you doing it too?"

The other two demons plus Annabel are also left and the other:

"Sure! But in a very peaceful way! So if I win, Annabel will train her again and you will no longer be able to interfere and if you win, I will entrust her to you, even if in my opinion it is crazy."

Kalego thinks about it for a few seconds, where this is the opportunity and perhaps the only one, where he can make the cursed bird pay once and for all, with so much joy of her as a high-ranking demon.

Then he answers:

"Mph! Okay, I accept."

The others are silent, but amazed and the other:

"Well, then choose the path, but everyone is fine and the only condition is not to use weapons or even witchcraft."

Kalego: "Yes, it suits me!"

And then he brings up a three-dimensional map, where he shows the route to take, like that of an airplane simulator by saying:

"We are here and the path to take is this, and it is called the 'Tangle of the mind', whoever gets to the huge tree you see here wins and returns to these ruins."

Kerefet who watched everything carefully:

"Mmm perfect and I have no questions! We can already go!

Him: "Mph!"

And he is very safe, since he plays at home and he has no idea what he will encounter along the way; in fact he has chosen one that he knows very well and that is full of obstacles.

Then he gets ready, taking off his long dark coat and letting it go to poor Balam who grabs it without letting it fall and therefore dirty and Dali:

"So now we'll see some good ones!"

Annabel is not so sure about this duel just proclaimed and she feels that something bad will happen and Balam, seeing her worried face of her says softly:

"Do not worry, that someone who can beat the great Kalego Naberius in the flight competition has not yet been born, where in fact he has also won many medals!"

Her: "Eeeh? Su-seriously?"

The other replies with a nod of the head but she is still worried, even if her husband is a marvel in all demonic disciplines.

The other replies with a nod of the head but she is still worried, even if her husband is a marvel in all demonic disciplines.

Dali: "How about the demo cameras? If we want to be witnesses, we need to see it with our own eyes!"

Kalego has nothing to complain about, even better, in this way that bird will not be able to do something risky.

Kerefet: "He is fine and it seems right!"

Then Dali makes them appear, small black and round demons, with objectives on the eyes and where they immediately go to position and after, he also makes a huge screen appear and after again, Kalego with a snap of the fingers changes and wears a sporty and tight-fitting black suit, complete with gloves that he arranges very calmly, like his goggles, which resemble those of swimmers.

Dali: "How about the demo cameras? If we want to be witnesses, we need to see it with our own eyes!"

Kalego has nothing to complain about, even better, in this way that bird will not be able to do something risky.

Kerefet: "He is fine and it seems right!"

Then Dali makes them appear, small black and round demons, with objectives on the eyes and where they immediately go to position and after, he also makes a huge screen appear and after again, Kalego with a snap of the fingers changes and wears a sporty and tight-fitting black suit, complete with gloves that he arranges very calmly, like his goggles, which resemble those of swimmers.

Kerefet: "Ooooh you are a very professional eighth rank demon!"

However, he says it with a smile and as if it were an insult rather than a compliment, which the other does not take badly, on the contrary, he gives it and answers only:

"Mph! Things have to be done as they should and the suit also plays his part!"

And below.

Dali: "In position dear gentlemen!"

Kalego opens his huge black wings and flaps them and then takes a pose, as well as the other one that when he stretches them, they are longer than his and thinner and tapered, where the demon has remained from this, but then returns to focus.

Annabel's words reach his mind and say:

"I know it is useless to tell you but... .please be very careful, Kerefet belongs to the family of swifts and they are very skilled in acrobatic and fast flights."

Without turning around he replies:

"Mph! At least I won't be bored and the one who will take them will be him!"

With a wicked smile where she can't see it and after, Dali kicks off by lowering one arm and the two, they leave at lightning speed, raising a pile of dust.

Flying over a gorge, which is already the second part of the path, Kalego whizzes sinuous and majestic instead Kerefet whirls around him, always going fast and saying:

"Let's enjoy this dead landscape, before we finish the race!"

Kalego is now upset, because he notices that he is not competing but playing, which irritates him and a lot given what is at stake. In response, he then accelerates followed by the other who flanks him with a grimace.

On the way they first encounter large orchids, climb up some trees that spit acid and they avoid them with great speed and acrobatic moves, then they overcome a rain of flying and pointed stones, then they face some poisonous and annoying little animals that immediately avoid both! In short, the two are very good at avoiding dangerous obstacles!

And now the demon is worrying, because his rival is very good and he didn't expect this!

But there is still a part of the journey that is treacherous and so he just smiles and goes on.

So the flying competition continues and Kerefet proved to be a worthy opponent, where he managed very well in the most complex obstacles.

Kalego is not at all happy, because in addition to this the other teases him by doing stunts and therefore can not help but resist and finish the race in style, giving a moral and hopefully physical slap to that hateful bird . And they arrive at the point where a strange smoke gray fog appears, of course the demon already knew and hopes to stop him in this way, but what he gets is something he didn't expect; in fact all of a sudden he feels as if his body has taken a strong shock and then, he can't move a muscle anymore! And in fact afterwards he begins to lose altitude and to fall dead weight and he thinks agitated, because he cannot speak:

"What the hell! I can't move anymore! And it's no good because I'm falling!"

In fact, after he hits some rocks and finally falls into a puddle full of mud, but not normal.

Kalego: "Damn! This is moving mud and I'm sinking!"

But she just can't move and then get out of that place!

Then he hears Kerefet's voice telling him: "Oops ... so I caught you with my snake gun mmm what a bad luck ... I shouldn't have used it then ... But oh well you're a demon and so you'll be fine."

And he says it more viciously than with regret that Kalego in fact took off, understanding and saying: "May you be a damned bird! You did it on purpose to get me out of the way, as you dared! this unforgivable duel! "

And in fact he leaves it there slowly sinking into that brown pool and walking away and continuing the race, followed by a pleased laugh.

Kalego then telepathically calls her familiar Cerberion! Where he immediately orders him to get him out of that mortal place and immediately executes, taking him with his huge jaws and then placing him outside the pool, all without having touched the mud of death! But he doesn't know how to move, his body is completely paralyzed!

Kalego: "Bastard I won't let you get away with it!"

But at least twenty full minutes pass, where his familiar has guarded him and below and finally, he manages to move again even if with difficulty, angry and embittered that an ally has attacked his life with an amateur demon expedient! An unacceptable thing for him who 'trusted' in some way.

So again he can also move his wings and take off again and has increased the speed as much as possible; since he doesn't want to lose!

But upon arrival, he notices that Kerefet is already there striding with the others he has won and he, while the other two demons look at him and pronounce his arrival happy, lands sad and irritated.

At first he clenches his fists and grinds because he wants to lie to him, but then he thinks that everything will end in the breaking of the alliance, which he has always defended for their good and then everything will fall into a war, where the worst will always be. they! So, as a true noble, he approaches and says nothing, calming down, lowering his racing glasses and accepting, for now, defeat.

Annabel, who has noticed this, tells him in thought:

"Kalego, what really happened?" He who looks at her only with a certain shame about her always replies with her telepathy:

"Whether you want to believe me or not, that damn cheated! He wasn't fair at all and he hid behind a mistake!"

She just face upset but she doesn't answer and then Dali:

"When you arrived in that strange fog, however, the cameras have seen you. What happened?" She asks him incredulously.

Balam: "Kalego?" Really worried about him who has always won in these races.

But for now he does not give an answer also because now it is Kerefet who speaks:

"See? I beat you even if it's not my world or my sky. This shows that we always know what we're doing!"

He nothing, arms crossed and eyes full of shame, where this is the first time he is humiliated by a not-demon. Sullivan and Opera, with his nephew Iruma, are cases apart.

So he can't say a word, but Annabel responds by saying:

"This duel is not valid, because now I am no longer a priestess!"

Kerefet and Kalego look at her in disbelief and the first replies:

"What? What are you talking about?"

She then indicates the place where there are usually the degrees with the fins and in fact they notice that there are no more:

"I delivered the grades before your arrival."

He face shocked like Kalego again that he actually didn't notice anything, because he was sunk in defeat of him.

Dali: "Ah! We are the witnesses and therefore we confirm everything!"

Balam also: "I agree too!"

Defending the colleague by raising a hand.