A request and sequel to my previous story (
Ars Goetia: Seals and Summoning
)
***
"What are we looking for, Master?"
Aedin glanced at his companion--his minion--and allowed his eyes to briefly wander over her body. Sayeni was clad in the strikingly provocative bikini armor that she had been wearing when he summoned her only a few months prior, looking beautiful and wholly out of place within this city of Light worshipping zealots. Her hooves clacked against the ground, and her tail waved with each step she took. She was an odd one, demon or otherwise, but he had gotten used to her... mostly.
The two of them walked side by side through the excessively bright halls of the Exodar, the succubus' hooved gait for once appearing normal amongst the crowd of goat-like draenei populating the fallen ship-city. He had been tasked--by one of the more prominent warlocks within Stormwind no less--to retrieve a certain artifact and deliver it back safely to the clutches of his benefactor. What the relic was he wasn't entirely sure, but the job would pay nicely and that was all the reason he needed.
"Searching for a priest by the name of Caedmos," he finally replied.
"Mmn... It seems strange to me for a warlock to seek out a priest. Is it not?" She asked, her Demonic accent mixing oddly with her Common.
"He's a shadow priest. They are uncommon--especially here--but this one has something I need."
"You mean something that fat man with the curly mustache back in Stormwind needs?"
"Yes. You should pay better attention to such matters when they are being discussed, so that I don't have to waste my breath repeating them. Again."
Sayeni smiled, revealing her oddly sharp set of teeth. She was tall, and her lengthy tail reached up to tease at his hair, the sensitive area behind his ear. "I am too busy paying attention to you, Master."
A tingle shot up his spine and he glanced around nervously to check if anyone was watching. One of the locals gave him an odd look and he scowled, his cheeks flushing pink. "Not now, woman."
"Yes, yes, of course," she said, head waggling happily.
In search of this shadow priest, they wandered the Exodar for what felt like hours, until his feet began to ache and that distinctive feeling of going nowhere finally set in. Initially captivated by the wonder of the city's alien design, their excitement had soon turned to exasperation. The city was huge, with jutting crystals of blinding colors, winding stairways and a verticality that simply didn't exist in Stormwind. They were lost, and few cared to help or provide directions to a warlock and his demonic companion, no matter how enticing she was. Regular citizenry ignored them like they were spreaders of plague, while guards would--so adamant upon their duty to stand vigilant at the single area that they were assigned--simply point in the general direction in which they were apparently supposed to go. Many did not even speak Common, making communication all the more aggravating.
Aedin had little to go off of but a name and a crude drawing, but eventually, miraculously, after only a few more laps around the Exodar, he directed them into a section of the city that was somehow even brighter than the rest. Purple crystals ranging from the size of tiny pebbles to the size of homes rose up like a forest around them, impressively opulent and pulsing with a faint power that he could sense coursing just beneath their shiny surface. It was beautiful. Magnificent.
He wanted to go home.
Still, he was excited over having finally made some form of progress and he allowed his spirits to rise, marveling once again at the impossible architecture of the Exodar. His companion--or rather, his demon--was not fairing quite so well.
"I do not like this place, Master... I feel a power smothering me, as if I am moving underwater." Her movement was sluggish and for once she trailed slightly behind him.
"The light is strong here. That means we are drawing closer to this Caedmos fellow."
Sayeni nodded, looking dejected with her long ears drooping. Not only was she bored, but the Exodar itself seemed to conspire against her demonic nature.
"If you'd like, I can dismiss you until I exit the city?" he offered.
"Oh no, Master! I will not let you out of my sight. Not in this place."
"All right, but if you keep dragging your feet I'll do it regardless."
Playfully, Sayeni slapped her tail against his behind but otherwise did as he asked, mustering her strength despite the oppressive force of the Light's power working against her.
As they walked, the streets were wide and less populated than the rest of the city they had gone through, and those few passersby they did see were obvious adherents of the Light. Glancing around, Aedin spotted an old man whose grey beard was so long he kept it tucked underneath his belt. The man was thin, slightly hunched, and dressed in a simple robe of blue and white. He may not have been human, but if anyone was a priest it was definitely this long-bearded draenei. Even a warlock from Stormwind such as he could see that much.
"You there, man!"
The draenei turned to face them, his eyes quickly shifting towards Sayeni in a manner that seemed more appraising than distrusting.
"What is it you demon worshipping pinkskin?" he spat.
Aedin blinked in surprise before opening his mouth to speak.
"I am looking for a shadow priest by the name of Caedmos," he replied, choosing to ignore the man's hostility. "Have you heard of him?"
"Who hasn't?" he snorted. "Stop wasting time and tell me what you need."
"Er, yes of course. Can you tell me how to find him, perhaps even show me?"