At Allargas, halfway through the Alanqian Empire, they were stopped by a protest. Edwin didn’t understand what this was all about. Did the demons of Alanqian actually wanted to keep their dungeons?

“We want free healers!” Screamed a red skinned succubus in a modest dress. Edwin took a double check on that. Was he seeing this right? Were his ears failing him?

Edwin stopped the carriage and exited it. He knocked on the tightly packed carriage and, since it was night, he beaconed the rest to get out. Hadrian scanned the area and waved a stable boy from the community stables. He gave him a gold coin and the boy went towards the stables with the carriage.

“Do we follow the protesters?” Asked Sebastian, amused.

“That is just asking to be arrested and blacklisted,” said Hadrian and they began to make it to the mayor’s office instead. Sure the man could shine some light on the whole predicament.

When they made it to the mayor’s Edwin sucked in a breath. In the waiting room were Boliarins Maxwell and Hunt, two Nosferatu demons who used to be angels, once.

“You,” said Maxwell in a guttural tone. “You started this!”

“I did, but it was long overdue,” defended himself Edwin and Hadrian stepped before him.

“Scion of the Polites family? I guess congratulations are in order. Your sire has changed your silly last name to the family one,” spoke Hunt and Hadrian grinned.

“Really? Paul named me his heir?”

“There was no one else, boy,” said Hunt, but Hadrian’s smile didn’t dim.

That made Edwin wonder, how old was Hunt? Or Maxwell?

“More than there have been humans on Adosinda,” spoke Maxwell with a smirk. So, the rumors that they could read minds was true? Edwin wondered what else they could do.

“Are you searching for a mentor, Roberts?” Asked Hunt this time. “You are a vampire, so a citizen of Alanqian. I am sure the emperor wouldn’t mind.”

Before Edwin could behave like he was in a candy store, Hadrian placed a hand over his shoulder.

“What will you two get out of it?” Asked Hadrian, skeptical.

“Well, we don’t do charity. But, we can’t summon shadows either. Rumor has it that Roberts has two. Surely, he doesn’t need them both?” Asked Maxwell with a fake innocent expression.

“Eddy’s shadows remain his. However, I can pay you,” suggested Hadrian. Not wanting for Edwin to lose this opportunity.

“We get to observe a Lich without a phylactery and attempt to replicate the effect with the healer guaranteeing our health,” said Hunt. This counter offer got to the bottom of things. Just as Edwin was about to agree, Sebastian snorted.

“So, admitting that this is what you wanted from the start? And, why did you want a shadow, huh? So, you can tinker with it? You must have known that, without its summoner, it was going to rebel,” Edwin stared at Sebastian. He hadn’t known that. And Sebastian had taken a shadow from him just fine. Was it the truth?

“It will be good PR to teach a Boliarin of two nations, three, if the petition of the mountain Imps goes through,” Edwin didn’t want any more responsibility. Maxwell raised an elegant eyebrow.

“It doesn’t matter what you want, boy. You must take the mantle of responsibility to appease the masses. You don’t want angry demons eyeing your children because they think they are slighted, do you?” Edwin gulped at that and shook his head.

“So, it is decided. Hunt will teach you more battle orientated magic while I will focus on your summoning technique. Between the two of us, you will be delving in dungeons by yourself. Instead of sending shadows first,” Maxwell smirked at Edwin who looked at him in question.

“What is wrong with sending shadows first?” Edwin didn’t understand. Dungeons were dangerous places, and he wanted to avoid delving in one with all of its monsters still roaming around. Going through the Asylum of Blood had been harrowing enough.

“It is fun, for one,” spoke Hunt with a feral grin. “Gets the blood pumping.”

Edwin wondered if both of his new teachers jumped at every opportunity to show their strength. Then, he remembered that they could read minds, and he blushed.

“I meant no disrespect,” said Edwin quickly and the two Boliarins just grinned at him.

“When you are done with our training, you will see the allure in a fight. Polites, you are welcome to come train with us too. Your healer will need a sparring partner,” Hadrian seemed to perk up after Maxwell’s words.

“You bet I’ll help. So, are you staying in Allargas for a while?” Asked Hadrian and both Boliarins nodded.

“It is not our power base, but it is close enough for us to oversee our armies and still be able to teach Roberts,” said Hunt. Then, Edwin got curious.

“What is the policy about necromancy in the lands of the empire?” He asked and waited for a response.

“Pretty lax,” said Maxwell with a grin. “We can do everything we want. Provided we carry our Boliarin batches with us. For you, it won’t be so. If you don’t accept the offer to represent the empire, alongside Duria and the Surian Theocracy.”

Edwin didn’t have the intention to go crazy with the summoning, but he was still going to accept the position. He had no choice. Besides, the demons of Alanqian were supporting his healer movement. He would help them any way he can.

The mayor, a dark-skinned demon with bullhorns, exited his office and slammed the door behind him.

“Which one of you is Roberts?” He all but yelled. Edwin raised his hand, unsure if he was going to be pummeled to death.

“Thank you,” said the bull demon, now calmer. “It is just that I have been waiting for you for a month. And now that you are here, we can get to see when you are going to give your speech for the free healer movement. By the way, can you take a look at my son? He has cancer.”

Edwin nodded. Cancer he could deal with. The speech was the hard part.