Even the most disheartening of environments could feel welcoming if one resigned to them, with time. A home could not always be chosen, but simply found or given.

Tall derelict walls enclosed every single alley, every street. Once marvelling and meant to be roamed by the mightiest, it was now nothing but a ruin that had been turned into a den. That term did not only come to mind because it seemed one, but because it was often called that by foreigners.

She leaned and dodged expertly the dense crowd, making her way through crammed streets without much effort. Long ago, even she had trouble walking through labyrinthine markets and busy commercial gatherings. Not anymore.

With a whip of tail, she nudged off a demon who headed her way, foreseeing correctly that he had not intended to make space for both of them in the small path. He would have shoved her with his shoulder to go past her, crudely and dismissively. She was glared down for enforcing personal space, but there was no more conflict than an exchange of glares.

She smirked and cracked her neck, glad to not have had to put her horns to use, like many other times. The people who lived in the city were stern and rough, tempered by the arduous kind of work they had to partake in.

With a faint lean, she glanced sideways and down, noting how one single misstep could send her tumbling down to her probable demise, perhaps smashed against a stony roof. The city stood by the northern gulf of the continent, built into a huge chasm. Its streets were both on the huge ridge and inside it, with deep tunnels connecting their distinctive altitudes.

The rich and powerful lived in the outer streets, which were much grander than the underground ones. The paths that sunk into the earth were always crowded and dimly lit, their oppressive walls and ceilings layered with multiple pipes and lamps. During the night, they were fueled by oil and steam, produced and kept in large vats. In the day, however, they were powered by something much easier to come by.

As she descended long bridging stairs that hanged over a huge pit, she had a perfect view of the industrial district. Apart from multiple metallurgical factories down below, she could spot the building meant to provide cost-effective light to the city. A small smile grew on her face, knowing that in a few hours her father would leave that place, having committed to another day of work. Demons like him were not that many, able to invoke spells at will and expertly. He got that job quickly, for magic was a resource that was far easier to obtain than any from the earth.

She sometimes joined him there, but only occasionally. Money was never an issue, even though they did not dispose of much more than the bare essentials. She usually scouted the endless markets, stalls never in the same place, set up anywhere. Her job was to roam the city, and find exactly what they needed, at any cost. Though there were many humans living around, most civilians were demons. And that was both a detriment and an advantage.

With a small sigh, she jumped down a ledge, dropping down into a lower street to avoid descending any more stairs. She landed like a feline between crates, not one single person surprised by her manoeuvre. It was common practice to use one’s capabilities, and not even humans were bothered by it after years of cultural merging.

Once more, she eyed carefully the stalls around her, tiptoeing to look over the tallest folks. She was tall herself, but some people were as tall as Uriel. Something caught her interest, in a small alley, dark and secluded.

Now, a sophisticated lady like her would not normally venture in it, for stalls set in such places were always involved in something shady or unlawful. However, that was exactly what she was looking for, much to her dislike. She needed to find it, and it was always hard to do so. That sly devil would never set up post in the same place. But she would always find it, no matter what, once a week at least.

That demon blinked when she emerged from the shadows, her sharp blue eyes glinting in the dimly lighted backstreet. She neared slowly, eyeing carefully the merchandise, which was neatly concealed in the stall, as much as possible.

“Your relative is sick again, huh?”

She noted well the mockery in his words. There was no way one could fall sick that often, for so many years. Still, she kept claiming it was so, for it was an excuse many used to conceal their real intentions. The seller knew such tactics well.

“But of course.” She grasped one of the plants and lifted it in her claw, eyeing it with familiarity. “Why else would I wish to purchase it?”

There was a faint cackle, which she answered with a resigned smirk. He slammed a claw on the stall, eyeing her fondly.

“Well, forgive me for saying it, but I am very glad your family falls ill so often. No other clients wish to use it as much, even though it is… alluring.”

This type of plant was exotic and strange. It looked like rosemary, but its stems were uncanny and bulbous. Resembling a mix between mushroom and herb, its stalks did not follow an orderly growth, expanding to any possible direction. Its roots were thick, unlike the leaves, which were jagged.

She made a face, for the smell of the stalks was making her nose hurt. The roots, even if as poignant at the moment, could end up emanating a delectable fragrant scent if distilled well. She did not want the roots, but that, she could not imply.

“So, if I am your best customer, do I get a discount?”

“Haggling, as always!” He smiled, not really bothered. “Fine, why not. But only if you stop asking from now on, ‘cause it gives others ideas.”

“It’s a deal.”

She decided the discount herself, dropping a small bag of coins onto the stall. He examined it, and with a sigh, agreed to her offer.

“I do not know how you keep your wit with how much you buy this thing.”

“Oh, what do you mean?” She twirled her tail, keeping the thinly veiled façade. “I will use it to mend ailments, nothing else.”

The demon gave her a look, truly considering she really had a family member. He commented as she turned around, ready to leave with a bundle of them.

“You should truly look out for them.” She frowned, catching the warning. “Not even I can endorse such consumption. Sickness is really bound to come up.”

Now, she would fear tainting the reputation of her loved ones… but the city was huge, and no one ever divulged much while near these types of stalls. Besides, the use of this drug was a common occurrence, barely kept at bay by the authorities. No one batted an eye, much less humans, who only used it as an anaesthetic and not a stimulant as well.

Long ago, she could find these mushroom-like plants in the wild. She had fond memories of it, for her mother taught her how to spot them in humid areas. Now, however, she would never find them. Not while surrounded by arid deserts and void plains.

That was why she had to purchase it, from folks that produced it intentionally. They were in luck that its strange properties had been studied and developed into new crafts, because otherwise, they would have been in trouble.

She needed to get home and mix them up with other ingredients. It was important that she always had extra concoctions stored, just in case. They kept using a lot of them, to ensure secrecy. It could be a matter of life or death.

Ariel tensed, eyeing the other end of the alley. She shivered, because even though walking in that direction would take her home sooner, it would put a toll on her. There was a faint yet pungent scent coming from some distant stalls in the distance, and she knew exactly what caused it.

She grimaced, noting how a small crowd of demons gathered there, looking over some torn remains. The sellers were humans, and she recognized the emblem on their clothes. She had seen this before, and it never failed to haunt her, no matter how normal it seemed for all in the world.

With one last glance towards such sight, she fled from the scent, which was making her quiver. Part of her was disgusted, while something deep inside felt interest. She truly struggled to battle that duality, born from instinct.

There was something that always helped her stay calm, however. A small smile grew on her lips, for she focused on what she loved. She marched surely through the streets, heading towards home, where they lived.

————-

She flapped strongly, panting. Her feet kept slamming from roof to roof, leaping as fast as possible over the huge abyss below her. She calculated carefully every single move, dashing through uncharted areas, even though she had devised multiple routes over the years.

Today, she had no time to follow her usual techniques. A human yelled at her angrily when she dropped a parcel from the air, onto the terrace where he stood. Any other day, she would have landed and left it down softly. Luckily, she knew that bundle contained simple letters.

Her claws latched onto the edge of a roof above, her jump almost missing it. She groaned as she climbed, her wings sore, having flown all day around. With a winded breath, she looked into her previously loaded bag, noting how no more packages were in it.

She allowed herself a minute, crouching there on that stony roof, her claws shaking under her. The day had started well enough… until she roamed by the main district, near the surface. News flew fast there, almost as rapid as her wings.

“Must… get there.”

Even though she was exhausted, she knew she had to be fast. She had to make sure, even though she already knew. The voices and murmurs could not be lying, yet she wished they were.

Her wings opened again, and she lunged through openings and crevices, making her way down to the depths of the city. Her work was done for today, something she had hurried in. She needed to get back home as quickly as possible, before he could.

It did not take her long to land into dark secluded streets, where the walls were full of arcs and tall pillars, to sustain the heavy weight of the upper grounds. The houses in this area were smaller, and not set at the sides of the streets, but into the earth. She ran past multiple ones, ignoring their stony doors and grave like outlines.

Deep in the earth they lived, and though slightly depressing at first, they had learnt to make it a home. She panted, her eyes narrowing as she saw their door, at the end of a long dark corridor. She was going to take the turn that would let her go into it, but then she collided with another one who was running for it.

Both stumbled back, falling onto their backs. Aurora growled, while Ariel hissed, each hitting their tail or wings. After the collision, they blinked and exchanged an urgent stare, both asking at once.

“Have you heard?!”

“Did you hear it?!”

That answered them. Ariel stood again and grabbed the bundle of herbs she had bought an hour ago, while Aurora stepped closer with a dash, urgently.

“Come on! We have to check!”

Aurora slammed a claw around Ariel’s wrist, her wings flapping to help her pull at her. It took her sister a second, but she soon ran at the same pace, following with the same intent. They opened the door of their home and dashed into the very small stony living room, glancing around for what caused them such dread.

“Where did they leave it this time?!”

Ariel looked towards the small alcove to their right, where a small hearth peeked from the wall, layered with pipes. Uriel loved to read there, invoking both flames and the sound of what they searched.

“There!”

Aurora was the first to lunge for it. Her claws snatched the small device, from one of the multiple cramped shelves on the wall, holding it angrily. It was a relatively recent invention, called a transmitter at first, then radio for convenience. She quickly placed it on the only nearby table, right in front of Ariel.

“Turn it on, hurry!”

They both wanted to hear, and not. The frequencies this model could receive were made possible thanks to magic, and only a demon could make it work, thanks to runes drawn on its insides.

Only Uriel and Ariel could invoke sound from it, by laying a claw over its surface. Aurora and Alexis had tried for quite a long time, but with little result. Sometimes they managed to turn it on, both of them, yet they would only invoke a screeching static from it.

Ariel did as told, gulping. They hopped they had only heard simple gossip, that the crowds were mistaken, merely raising conjecture. Their hopes died as they turned the dials, setting a frequency that usually relayed important news for the populace of the country. The words flowed with the usual distorted echo, yet all too clear to ignore.

“Due to such unprecedented strike, and the menace it supposes, the government has agreed to join the efforts of the southern federation, declaring-“

Ariel retracted her claw immediately, not wishing to hear that word. She heard it enough already.

“They really did.”

“For a simple sinking?”

“It’s not that, Aurora. They can’t care any less about a ship sinking due to collateral damage.” They heard of the incident in the streets, and truly, it was concerning. “It should have not been sunk at all. The coalition has never… they did not have the means to strike so deep past the border.”

“So the rumours…”

“They are not rumours. The bastards have really found the means to go past that stupid wall.”

“B-but-!” Aurora looked at her own claws, knowing well how it felt to not be able to wield magic. “They are only human! They can’t sustain the same machinery we have here, not without spells!”

“Well, nobody knows how, but…! They have!”

Many things could happen in fifteen years. The eastern coalition had truly tried to invade the western continent, succeeding in seizing most of the isthmus that connected them… but they had been stopped. A wall had been built at its end, tall and strong, to halt the massacres that had been carried through it.

They had been kept away. The war between those two forces had been in a stalemate, until now. If she heard right, the coalition had just revealed their newest manoeuvre: flight. It should not be, no steam or fuel in existence could lift such amalgamations of steel into the air. This side of the world had been able, thanks to magic, but not them.

“We need to hide the radio.”

Aurora frowned, retorting as worriedly.

“He will find out anyway.”

“Better later than sooner.” Ariel warned, saying nothing but truth. “He has been dreading this for years, every single day. He will not react well to it, at all. Uriel needs to know first and ponder calmly what to do. We need…”

They had seen constantly how torn he felt, how deeply it hurt him to hear about yet another threat. Perhaps the coalition had not posed a danger all this time, but angels did. They were still leaping into that abyss, and every day, more would appear far from that gateway. They had their sights on these lands too. There was no doubt those rogues were sent with orders, scouting for a traitor.

The only thing they wanted was peace, but soon, they would not be able to find it anywhere. This country was the last place that offered it, yet it would be engulfed in war as well. They needed another plan, and Uriel would agree that they could not put that burden on Alexis, not again.

Aurora proceeded to grab the radio again, to hide it. Her father reviled everyone who was not them and usually kept a close eye on this thing, his only way of hearing about the world. When he was not working himself to death, he would always roam this small hole they called home, so he knew every nook and cranny of it.

“Where to hide it…”

Ariel considered stuffing it into Lykaios’ fur, but he was not home. He disliked the city, and would frequently sneak out of it, into the surrounding plains.

“Ugh, of all moments, he has to roam now.”

“Well, it is quite claustrophobic in here, you have to agree.” Aurora pitied him, for she also longed to be out in the wild, like before. “He is a loner, and too many people eye him down.”

“It’s not like he is hated. Though rare, there are other non-bipedal-“

They had gotten distracted, and they soon regretted it. As they heard steps outside, they paled. They recognized immediately the grouchy groan that echoed, and the sympathetic sigh that followed it.

“Shit, no time.”

“R-right.”

They quickly climbed a ladder, which took them to the small loft above, where the two of them slept and had their things. It was not very spacious and they had to lean to not hit their heads with the ceiling, but it was still better than the only other available room, apart from the bathroom.

They shoved the radio under a bundle of pelts, which they always sat on like if they were a couch. It really was the only place where they could hide it, because a chest or cabinet would be too conspicuous. And besides, they were in a hurry, for their fathers would come through the door in seconds.

The door was opened gruffly, as usual, an angel glaring holes through everything. His demon followed after him, as tired, but with a much more optimistic expression.

“Damn bastards.” Alexis took off the gloves he wore and slammed them onto the table, not minding staining it with dust. “I work as hard as those assholes, if not more!”

“They won’t replace you, Ale-“

“No, they won’t! The supervisors know damn well my welding is of top quality! I’m just pissed off by the fact that all the rookies they have just hired are demons! They are full of themselves, just because they can spark fire out of their claws! Not a single human has been brought in, and you know damn well what it implies!”

He dashed into the bathroom, quickly grabbing a towel and soaking it, to then rub it angrily onto his face to clean it of dust. Before letting it down, he let out a long huff against it, frustrated.

Uriel leaned his head, understanding his anger. If by any chance they decided to replace all humans in the metallurgical workshop, he could still find another place to work in, quite easily. But forging was his passion, and he did not want to be stolen of it, just because he was presumably weaker than a devil.

Alexis let go of the towel, noting the look Uriel was giving him, leaning there at the doorframe. His amber eyes narrowed, knowing he was apologizing wordlessly, for something that was not his fault. No one was to blame, really, but he was still mad about it.

“It’s just… Maybe there is no clawing or stabbing, but-“ He untied his hair and shook his head, sighing loudly. “We are still expected to fit a role. It’s sickening.”

When they first came into this city, Uriel had tried to become a cook in the upper districts, mostly inhabited by humans. It was not to be. He was not refused with scorn, but they still judged his beastly features subconsciously. Due to those traits and his knowledge, he was instantly seen as capable of powering the city’s lights, a tiring and draining task.

There was still racial division, even to this day. Relations were due to convenience, or affection, which was accepted but rare.

“I’m wondering…” Uriel whispered, curious about something he had noticed. “The authorities have also demanded more productivity from us. They have in fact redirected some wiring and pipelines, to power up more machinery somewhere.”

“Which we have been tasked to build, fast.” Alexis frowned, for they were supposed to weld a lot of metal, far more than normal. “They can’t sell that much output. That assignment can only have come from the government.”

They both were grimacing, not liking that trail of thought. Still, Uriel tried to reason, in order to drown their worries.

“They could just intend to sell it to the south.”

“That would still… They have avoided that at all costs. It would anger the coalition, and they are not interested in that.”

Alexis walked into the living room again, his eyes trailing it, looking for something.

“Where have you put it?”

Uriel had not heard the crowds whisper, but he knew something was up. His violet eyes moved subtly, to glance up, and he instantly recognized the dread in those blue eyes. Aurora and Ariel were peeking a little from the loft above, shaking their heads, not spotted yet by Alexis.

And so, Uriel tensed, their looks betraying the reason behind the increment in production and personnel: warfare. The government was getting ready for conflict, and simple workers like them would help in it.

“A-alexis?”

The angel turned, looking away from the hearth, confused by his nervous call.

“What?”

Uriel did his best to not look up and reveal that their daughters were home, knowing Alexis could not pick up their scent like him.

“Y-you see-“ He had to make up an excuse to stop him from grabbing that radio, and he could only come up with one. “I broke it!”

Those amber eyes blinked, once, and then again. He leaned his head very slowly, giving him a baffled look.

“You broke the radio?”

“Yes.”

He received a disbelieving look and a disapproving shake of head.

“How the hell did you do that? I hit it once and it almost broke my hand instead!”

The thing was heavy and impervious to his anger, which was quite destructive sometimes.

“Uh-h…” He could not say he dropped it accidentally, because it had endured that fate many times. “I wanted to study the runes inside it, and melted it open!”

Alexis’ stared at him mouth agape. First, there was bafflement, then frustration, and finally resignation. It all crossed his expression in one second.

“Why would you-“ He crossed his arms, refusing to argue. “Give me the pieces; I’ll put it back together.”

“No, no, you can’t!” His angel was beginning to scowl, and not with anger, but suspicion. “I threw them out! I made a complete mess of it and-“

“The probability of you willingly making a mess is the same as me growing wings.” He took a step closer, his tone demanding. “Where is the radio, Uriel.”

It was not a question. He was sensing dread around him, and he did not like it, at all. Those violet eyes were looking at him anxiously, and he knew that look. Perhaps he was the worst liar of the two, but that did not mean his demon was good at it.

“I swear I don’t know where it is.”

That was not a lie. He knew. Like a hawk, his head turned, in order to look up. They had hid, but he knew they were there.

“Come down, now.”

They honestly missed the times in which he could only look scary while holding a rabbit or a golden sword. All ever slowly, the two peeked again, meeting his glare.

“We don’t have it.”

“I traded it for the herbs!”

He followed Ariel’s nod, seeing a bundle on a counter, recently bought indeed. The lie did not hit the mark.

“Bullshit.”

They yelped when he began to climb the ladder, intending on finding the pesky thing himself. When he got all the way up, they tried to halt him. Ariel attempted to latch her tail around his arm, but he swatted it gently. Aurora outstretched a wing in front of him, but he folded it with uncanny precision.

He crouched by the pelts, like if he could see through them. In a second, he pulled the radio out, to then stare at them disapprovingly. His next whisper was slow and poignant.

“Now, Ariel, are you going to turn it on or will I have to make him do it?”

Their shoulders slumped, defeated. While Aurora snarled and clutched her wings angrily, Ariel whispered dreadfully.

“You won’t like what you’ll hear.”

His expression softened, but there was still grim resolve in it.

“I know.”

Alexis did not demand her to do it, even if he wished to find out the exact reason of their fear. With a sigh, he descended the ladder again, to then place the radio on the table. Once there, he sent Uriel a stern glance, asking him instead.

“Give me your claw.“ Uriel doubted, until his angel let out the next words. “I know what’s up. There’s no hiding it, and I’d rather hear it now with you than out there…”

All ever slowly, Uriel approached. Under the pleading stare of his angel, he found himself raising a claw. Aurora and Ariel cringed when he let it rest on the radio, for the words began to flow, menacing and ominous.

“The authorities are still speculating how the coalition has managed to launch an attack by air, for their representatives still uphold that no magic is to be used by their forces. The most concerning matter for the government is the conceit of the recent attack. The small hostile air force flew over the sea and past the wall of the federation, bombing a coastal town. During the barrage, a mercantile vessel was struck, even if it flew the flag of our country. Our delegates will not let such aggression be unpunished, for many lives-“

Alexis moved Uriel’s claw off, which prompted the transmission to die out, with one last static hiss. They expected him to yell, curse, or even bolt to pack stuff for travel. He did none of those things.

They did not dare say a word when he simply sat on a nearby chair, eerily quiet. Uriel had the same haunted expression as him, even if slightly more composed. Both knew well there was no point in leaving the city, for they would only end up more cornered. After a long painful minute, the two exchanged a look, speaking without words.

Aurora and Ariel could not avoid but shiver when they glanced subtly at them, with expressions they found far too resigned. They knew right then… that their fathers had made a decision long ago.

————

His eyes filled with satisfaction, seeing the figures down below in the streets, gathering to celebrate the news. He could hear the cheers, their satisfaction for the achievements of their people.

He did not smile, but the pride was there. After years of struggle and inefficacy, they had finally breached that derisive barrier. Far too much blood had been shed over the lands of the isthmus, countless lives taken by those wretched creatures. At last, they would demonstrate the strength of their race in those lands, and avenge their fallen.

Steps echoed behind him, two figures nearing from the outer corridors. He finally looked away from the terrace that crowned the capitol, addressing the one that had made the siege possible.

“You have done well, Jamin.”

The bald man stepped closer, smirking. He toyed with a crystal in his hand, eyeing it fondly as he laughed.

“It would have been impossible if you had not taken control of the isthmus, Viljar. So don’t give me that much credit.”

“Hmm, the merit is still there.” He frowned, regretting one thing. “It is a shame that they will discover what fuels our new machinery, as soon as they take down any of it.”

“Irrelevant. We hold control of the mines. Let them know, they can’t acquire this resource, not anymore.”

As the self-imposed leader of their lands, Viljar did not like those dismissive words.

“Information is important, a weapon as dangerous as any other.” He eyed his other comrade, directing imperceptibly. “We need to make sure they do not find out how to use it if they ever acquire any. One can’t even imagine what magic can do combined with these crystals.”

Jamin did not protest as steps echoed out and they were left alone, for he too knew they had to keep an eye on their enemies and take the initiative. After a few seconds, he asked, focusing on his interests.

“So, I must assume I have your full approval?”

His research had been small in scale until now. It could be much grander, with the appropriate funding and backing. Viljar knew that, and so, he admitted plainly.

“You have demonstrated what the mineral can do. Try to keep being discreet, even with our own. We don’t want our foes to know the exact location of the mines, do we?”

There were ruins, sunken in the coasts of the isthmus. They found them as they conquered the land, by chance. What had begun as a simple terraforming project to aid their assaults soon turned into something much grander. These things were powerful, capable of great things; something that they had just proven to every land and region.

“The world does not need the magic of those beings.” Jamin smiled, seeing the raw passion in Viljar’s eyes, aflame with resent. “We need to bring them all down, lest they make us disappear instead.”

Many died every single day. In the north, people were burned alive by those winged monsters. In the west, devils still tried to steal away the lands they rightfully deserved, invoking horrible incantations to destroy what little they attained.

They had been weak once. But their will was far stronger now. They would let them know to fear, much like their human ancestors did.

———-

The silence was painful, for both of them. Outside, there were loud echoes of weaponry and marching soldiers, yet they easily ignored it. Their focus was intent and meant for each other, nothing else.

He eyed her, very carefully. She was impassive, unfazed by all the words she had heard for days. It was tiring, gruelling, yet her expression never hinted it. Her only eye kept glancing over her huge journal, like if it was the only thing she could focus on.

War was a taxing matter, but they were used to it. It was diplomacy what she hated, long arguments and heated discussions. The bureaucrats they had been forced to meet only cared about land and property, not lost lives. Still, she needed to address them, as a general.

A very long while passed until she closed her journal, finally done noting her recent actions and choices. She whispered again, brushing her long black plait aside.

“Can I trust you to it, Itzal?”

He contemplated for a moment, pondering deeply. His bristly dusky fur shifted all over him as he tensed, three of his four eyes narrowing sharply at the prospect. The next words were growled, as always, his vocal cords quite animalistic.

“I will do my best, Dorothea.”

“Good.” She stood, taking one document from the huge pile on her desk, with strange precision. “The draft should not be avoided by anyone. Lacking one combatant could mean prosperity or calamity.”

He sighed, curling his tail as she handed him the manuscript.

“One soul alone can’t do much…”

She knew that better than anyone.

“That’s why we keep trying.” She turned to leave the tent, needing to attend the troops near the wall. “Go north, and gather a force I can lead for a better future.”

He nodded, knowing she trusted him more than anyone. It was something that honoured him, and not only because she was the highest-ranked general of the federation.

After she left to direct their troops, he eyed the file she gave him. A draft was something dreadful, and not easy to enforce, much less in lands that had not been stricken by warfare in years. It would be arduous, but he would do everything in his claw to aid her efforts.

“At least the directives are clear…”

He got ready to set off with his own men, needing to recruit more, as the treaty between the countries allowed. There was much work to do.