Their journey through the monotone, grey land continued. According to Friska, the scene was gonna change a bit once they get further south, but for now, it was just that scarce grass and barely-alive trees here and there. And mounds, many mounds.

By the first night, they returned to that winding river, which they wanted to follow south. From the hilltop where they were about to spend the night, they could see the rubble that was left of Copperdust, and that single brick building standing in its midst defiantly. They recalled their weird time there with the possessed goblin, and wondered who were those “mysterious visitors” mentioned in the diary, the ones who built that indestructible brick house. Chio then suggested to descend a bit on the opposite side of the hill, to get the depressing remnants of that town out of sight so that they can sleep a little better. The others found that to be a good idea.

After they set up their camp, Friska finally showed them her short distance teleportation ability. She always wore the little fairy-sized enchanted ring which granted her the skill, and she said she wanted to keep it a secret even from them, just for the heck of it, really. To use it, she got down on the ground and stayed still for about five seconds, concentrating. And then in the blink of an eye, she appeared about five meters from where she was standing previously.

“I got it as a gift from an old co-worker of mine,” she said.

Next day, they moved on early in the morning. Their new Donkey, Momo, was now carrying their bags as well as four bamboo sticks which were all carved pointy on one end – they set those up in a square formation at nights, hanging their hammocks up on them. Momo was calm in nature, but for some reason, she seemed to favor Terry above all, despite Chio's best efforts to befriend her. The angel even tried to use her healing-ability on her, hoping its soothing effect would win the animal over, but it only seemed to annoy her, and from then on, she started acting a bit offended with Chio.

“I just don't understand!” the girl complained, watching Terry feed Momo some grass from his hand. “Why doesn't she let me do that?”

Arabella chuckled, finding Chio's rare frustration quite cute.

“Donkeys are stubborn animals,” Porco shrugged.

“All beings have their preferences,” Friska added. “Don't think much of it, just respect her!”

“Of course, it's just...” the girl blushed, feeling a bit silly suddenly. Was she really jealous of Terry for an animal's affection? “You're right.”

Later that day, Chio's suggested that Terry and Porco should start to exercise regularly. Porco wasn't too enthusiastic about the idea at first, saying they are already walking a lot everyday, and that he is good. But then seeing Terry's eagerness, he sort of caught on to the “why” of the matter, and decided to join his fellow male in this new endeavour after all. He soon realized that this extra practice of discipline also helps him take his mind off of Arabella, easing the obsessive effect of the succubus-charm that was now a part of his daily life. They even started practicing sparring with the bamboo sticks (with their pointy ends facing backwards). In that, Arabella too joined them sometimes, but the redhead was quite a bit more athletic than the boys, even in her human form, so she posed them a real challenge.

“She is the... final boss. Defeat her and you'll be... more than a match for a knight,” Porco panted, lying on the ground side by side with Terry after they both got hit by the redhead's stick multiple turns in a row.

“Keep dreaming, buddy,” Arabella grinned, standing over them triumphantly.

“You just wait! We'll show you... eventually.”

“I believe in you guys!” Chio said. She and Friska just watched them fight, as usual.

“Either way, keep at it!” the little woman encouraged them too.

And so the routine of their days was taking shape. Things were peaceful, the atmosphere was good, even Friska and Arabella weren't really at each others throats anymore, although they didn't interact much either.

Three days after they left Murky Bay, they came upon a memorial place of sorts. It wasn't anything too big, just a rectangular stone stood up on top of yet another mound, with something carved into it.

“Holy spirit shall triumph and last forever, but ethereal virtue can never do what the flesh has to. Every mortal soul, the divine shall celebrate and mourn,” Friska read the carvings out loud.

“Who wrote this?” Chio inquired.

“It's debated by historians. But this is supposedly the place where archangel Ariel visited great hero Angus and his army on their way home, after they pushed back the last of the demonic armies. And the quote was said by the archangel, or so the tale goes.”

“Oh, really?” Chio walked to the stone and put her hand on it, as if she could physically feel the significance of what it represents.

“Who knows what was really said that day. The stone was put here hundreds of years after, by some religious Cesanitians, most likely.”

“They didn't say anything about celebrating demons, did they?” Arabella asked a bit resentfully. “Do they even count us as mortal souls?”

“Not likely, not in this context,” Friska replied.

“But we are, though. At least succubi are.”

“I count you as one,” Chio stated.

“We all do, you know it,” Porco said, and Terry nodded.

“I mean, it's factually true,” added Friska.

Arabella almost said 'thank you guys', but that wasn't really her style, so she just turned around and stared into the sunset, feeling confusingly moved. She was just acting a little grumpy on purpose, and now all these people reassured her, simply stating that they see her as an equal. It was just a small thing, it shouldn't have been that surprising, after all they were traveling as a group, already being through some shit together. But still, it was a rather new feeling. What the hell!

“It's getting late. Shall we camp here?” asked Porco, politely taking everyone's attention off the redhead.

“Sure, why not,” the fairy said.

“It's a nice spot,” Chio was still looking at the quote on the stone, then she turned to the others. “Let's make a fire too!”

“Right on it!” the succubus snapped her fingers.

 

Earlier that day, Chio pulled out a few fishes from the river with her power, and now they cooked them for the boys and Friska. They had some dried vegetables as well, from Murky Bay. Once their bellies were full, they just rested for a bit, then the fairy took out her lyre unexpectedly, playing it and singing for the first time in front of everyone. She played one of her more carefree songs, it was about the lively capital city of the fairy kingdom.

When she was done, Chio was the first to start clapping. The others quickly joined her, even Arabella, and Porco woohoo-d too. Friska flew up into the air, bowing in front of her audience theatrically.

“We should sing together too!” the angel suggested.

“I never sung before,” Arabella stated.

“Oh, that's right, I never heard you do. You should totally try, I can teach you!”

The succubus did a dismissive wave. “Maybe another day. Let's not spoil Friska's performance.”

“Heh,” the fairy was a bit taken aback by the unexpected compliment.

“As for me, I know for a fact my singing voice is crap,” Porco commented. “I would rather not.”

“Don't say that, maybe you just haven't had enough practice!”

“Trust me, you don't wanna go down that route,” the boy shook his head.

“Well, as you wish. How about you, Terry?”

“I know a few songs,” the boy said. Then he yawned.

“Let's save that for tomorrow!” Arabella suggested.

Of course for her and Porco, something was still yet to be done, something they both anticipated without mentioning it all day. But as everyone was getting ready to sleep, Porco sneaked up on the redhead, grabbing her ass.

“I almost thought you forgot it's your sex-day,” the succubus murmured, turning to the boy with a sensual look.

“Like I could ever forget such a thing...”

“Come, pervert! Let's get down behind this rock-thing!”

The others did not have to be told where the two of them were going, they were well used to it by now. This time, even Friska didn't roll her eyes; she was still humming that song to herself while she was busy setting up her mini-hammock. It was placed in the middle of the square bamboo formation, hung between two smaller sticks.

Terry climbed into his own sleeping place, Chio walked up to him and gave him a goodnight kiss. She then lay down herself, taking her toga off (or dematerializing it, rather) for the night. She liked to sleep naked below the moonlight, often only half-covering herself with her blanket. As she got into a comfortable position, Friska was suddenly hovering right above her face.

“Hey! Can I sit on your lap for a moment?” she asked.

“Sure!”

The fairy put her butt down on the angel's smooth skin, glanced over at Terry's hammock, then back at the girl.

“I'm glad you sang in front of everyone,” Chio said before the fairy could spoke.

“Eh, what good is carrying around my instruments if i'm never using them?”

“Yea!”

“Anyway, I just wanted to say... well...” the little woman was squirming around kind of awkwardly.

“You tickle me!” the angel chuckled.

“Oh, my bad!”

“It's fine. Say, you haven't been drinking these past days, have you?”

“Not since we left Murky Bay.”

“Why not?”

Friska shrugged. “I shouldn't drink all the time. In fact, what I wanted to say is that I'm sorry.”

“Oh. What for?”

“It was kind of my fault you guys got into trouble in the pirate town. I was an idiot, blabbering on about that diary, getting drunk with total strangers in such a place.”

“But we were the ones who left you alone in that state.”

“You guys just wanted some privacy, to do what you do. I shouldn't be a bother to you all, I was the one who wanted to come with you, after all. If I wasn't acting so bitchy before, maybe this whole thing wouldn't have had to happen.”

“Maybe. But I really don't think any of us faults you for it. It was just all around unfortunate.”

“Whatever, I just wanted to tell you. You all got hurt kind of bad. Poor Terry too. And all I did after was lecturing him. Hey Terry, you awake?”

“I hear ya,” the boy answered from his own hammock.

“Okay, then.”

Suddenly, lightness was cast down upon the mound from above. After a few seconds of confusion, Chio jumped out of her hammock (sending Friska flying), and hurriedly materialized her outfit again. “Terry, Friska, please go on a walk now... no, go find Arabella and Porco to tell them too... unless you don't wanna see them doing it, but... I'm sorry, it's just...”

“Chio, relax!” Friska said said as she regained her balance in the air.

Terry was getting up too, putting his pants on. They could now see a figure descending from up above.

“But this is for me!” Chio continued panicking. “I mean, it's nothing, it's just a bit of a... anyway, you shouldn't be here when...”

“I saw it before, on that island with the pirates. I followed you,” the fairy admitted.

“You did?!”

“Look, girl, if your angel buddies wanted to meet you alone, they wouldn't come here like this without notice, when we are all here. They know what they are doing.”

“But...” the girl gulped. “How about Arabella?”

“What's that?” the succubus asked, appearing from behind the stone memorial, wiping her mouth. When she noticed the beacon of light, she finished Porco off as fast as she could, and hurried back here. The young man was stumbling after her, fastening his belt clumsily, looking kind of breathless.

“Oh, it's just that...”

“An angel is coming,” Friska finished Chio's sentence.

“Why?” Arabella asked suspiciously.

Chio cast her eyes down. “We will see.”

They all fell silent and waited for the winged figure to descend. She landed in the middle of them, right next to the embers of their fireplace – she quickly dashed to the side to avoid her toga catching fire, then she stood up straight and looked around. Big chest, blood-red hair in a braided ponytail, blue eyes: it was Gloria again.

“Greetings, Chio's friends! I know that our beloved fallen angel have not told you about me, she was not supposed to. So most of you do not know me.” She gave a long, suggestive stare to the fairy.

“Yea, I've happened to see you before. So what? If you want a secret meeting, maybe do a better job at hiding it,” Friska advised.

What? When was this? Arabella wondered, then she remembered that time on that island when Chio wanted to go on a walk alone.

“You really are cheeky,” Gloria chuckled. “But you are right. Allow me to properly introduce myself! My name is Gloria, I'm a friend of Chio too. We liked to spend time together up in Heaven.”

“You did?” Arabella raised an eyebrow. “She doesn't seem too happy to see you though.”

“Gloria, I'm sorry, I had to do it!” Chio pleaded. “Our lives were in danger, I had to use my power, I really had no choice this time! Please...”

“I get it, Chio. Don't worry, I'm not here to scold you now. I have good news, and a few words of advice. For all of you.”

“Oh, thank God!” the girl closed her eyes and sighed in relief. A bit of color immediately returned to her pale face.

“What was this about?” the succubus stepped forward. “Were you guys threatening Chio before, or what? Does her freedom bother you so much?”

Gloria took a step back, looking a bit perplexed by the demon's closeness.

“Arabella, stop!” Chio quickly grabbed her lover's arm. “It's okay, it's just what I told you about. I'm supposed to keep my angelic powers a secret, and Gloria warned me about it at one point, she had to.”

“That's bullshit, Chio was only...”

“I've been through this with her before,” Gloria raised her voice. “Our warning still stands, succubus, and you better accept it too. But I understand that at times, she really has no choice. This mayhem in the pirate town you were included in was indeed such a time. Trust me, I have no ill will towards you all.”

“Gloria is on our side!” Chio stated.

“All right. You could have told me about her though,” said Arabella.

“I wasn't supposed to. I'm sorry.”

As the succubus stepped back, Gloria looked her up and down with an expression of wariness mixed with curiosity. Meanwhile, Terry was watching Gloria in awe. For him and Porco, mere human males, the presence of a true angel was unexpectedly strong. She was not only beautiful, but her divine aura could almost be physically felt. She was like a superior being. Chio could invoke a bit of the same feeling too, especially when she got her wings out and everything, but this was stronger. Porco realised that his succubus-fatigue greatly diminished just by witnessing her. Gloria's presence was calming, reassuring, but humbling too.

Friska was a little affected as well, but she was mostly just spectating with empirical interest. She was not one to give special treatment to folks just for what they were born as, but at the same time she knew that mortals don't often get to hear an angel's words.

“Things have somewhat changed,” Gloria said at last, turning to Chio. “I talked to Archangel Ariel, told him about how you found the phrase 'holding back as much as possible' ambiguous. Well, it just is, there is no way around it. But Ariel's interest of you only increased after our conversation, and he was granted the opportunity to be the head of your case, so to speak. He is going to personally keep an eye on you from now on.”

“Yes!” Chio cheered.

Archangel Ariel had a soft spot for mortals' desire for more direct heavenly guidance ever since his interactions with great hero Angus thousands of years ago. Some of his acts in the past (such as creating the artifact Ariel's Gratitude) definitely pushed the boundaries of God's rule of no interfering, and yet, he still managed to hold on to his heavenly status. If Chio had to be overseen, Ariel of all angels doing that was indeed good news.

“What you mean, keep an eye on us?” asked Arabella.

“Don't you worry,” Gloria smiled. “It's not exactly literal. It's hard to explain if you aren't in the know. Either way, sexual acts and such are to be expected here in the realm of mortals. You shall not be judged. Feel free to be the wild beast of a female you are.”

Friska snorted.

“That goes for all of you, do what you must. Your fate is yours, all we have to keep track of is Chio. She understands why.”

“I do,” the girl nodded. “It's fine, Arabella.”

As there was a moment of break in the discourse, Friska wondered if this is the part where Gloria asks them to get a little sexual so she can watch. Surely not with all of us present.

“before I go,” the angel cleared her throat. “I want to say a few words to all of you, individually. I would prefer that the others don't hear it.”

And so the group agreed to walk behind the memorial rock, and come out one by one to hear out Gloria. She was quick with all of them.

First, it was Chio. “You know balance in your heart, it will lead you, as it always did. You are doing something truly special, Chio. Stay true to yourself. Some of us up there believe in you.”

The girl hugged Gloria warmly and thanked her.

Next was Arabella. “Wanting to protect those who you care about is noble, but know that you can rely on them too. They will grant you the strength to face your demons.”

Haven't I already? Arabella thought of all the darkness she has been through in her life, but she did not say anything. She gave a little nod to the angel, and walked back to her friends.

It was Terry's turn. “The most important thing for you is to pay attention. Know yourself, and you will know what to do. That's all there is to it.”

The boy wasn't really sure what that meant, so he just bowed down politely.

As Friska flew over, Gloria extended an arm, gesturing to her to land on her palm. “Your spirit is erratic, your wounds still not healed, you know it deep down. But you are on the right path. Be patient with yourself and others.”

“Eh, is that it?”

“What did I just say?” Gloria smiled.

The last one was Porco. Standing in front of the angel with blood-red hair and nice big tits pushing up her white toga, he was surprised to realize that she was blushing. “Absolutely do not tell the others about this, okay?” she asked in even more of a quiet tone than how she talked with the rest.

“About wha...”

The young man was pulled in for a kiss. It was quick, but rather deep, a passionate tongue kiss. A strange mix of nervous, eager, almost childishly innocent lust with that calming, superior, angelic divinity.

“Wow,” Porco was astounded.

“There was a purpose to it, I swear!” Gloria said. “You are a man who has an active affair with a succubus, so... in times of weakness, remember this moment! Cherish the feeling! It will help, I'm sure.”

“T-thanks.”

Gloria took a long, wide-eyed look at Porco – she really just done it just like that, her first ever kiss. She then bashfully turned away, and called for the others to come out.

They said their goodbyes, Chio hugged it out with her one more time, and Gloria began her ascension in the beam of light, with the starry sky as the backdrop.