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As they left the castle, the other rangers moved ahead more quickly back to the village, taking Aurik’s ride. Aurik walked back with Luna, and they wandered for about five minutes in silence.

Finally, Luna looked at Aurik and asked, “Why didn’t you stop me?”

Aurik smiled as they continued to wander. “Stop you from what, Miss Moonshadow?”

“From going ahead with it, signing the contract with Magnus?”

“That’s not my role, Miss Moonshadow. Are you starting to have regrets?”

“Not regrets, Aurik, just thoughts.”

“Ah, a thimble for your thoughts, then?”

“Well, I’ve seen the power that I could wield in the visions, but I don’t feel that powerful. How do I get that power?”

“Miss Moonshadow, you have entered into a contract where you now have some of your patron’s power, Mr. Magnus, running through you.”

Luna smiled at Aurik’s turn of phrase, though she didn’t realize the joke he had told. “It is up to me to now work on developing that power, Aurik. Practice my spells, see how I can make them more powerful, see how I can adapt and grow in power. I just don’t know where to start.”

Aurik nodded. “That’s the right attitude. Magnus is a pretty powerful demon, but only relatively new to our world.”

“How do you know he’s relatively new?”

“His style of dress, for one. He was wearing something the ancients would have worn, a time before the three empires and the flood. That and he stopped to listen to me. There have been times on occasion where the patron has decided to take out their frustrations on myself. The fey are the worst for that.”

“How do you survive their frustrations?”

“My faith in my Lord Kreditos, and my gavel that provides protection from outsiders. Needless to say, those contracts are then considered null and void when those patrons try to call on those souls.”

Luna nodded, absorbing the information. “But why would a demon like Magnus want someone like me? What’s in it for him?”

Aurik’s expression became more serious. “Demons like Magnus are always on the lookout for potential, especially one who has just come back into this world from many years on the outside. Magnus needs more followers, but it takes time to do this. They seek individuals who have the capacity to grow and develop their power.”

“You, Miss Moonshadow, showed a remarkable resilience and determination. Magnus saw that you could be a valuable asset in his plans. Your potential is what drew him to you, compared to your fellow villagers. Oh, and you’re very attractive. Some might say you have a certain allure that drew him towards you, compared to your fellow villagers. At some point, you would have left this village to head to Ithrill to seek your fortune. Magnus saw that in you, and he recognized a kindred spirit.”

Luna felt a mix of pride and unease. “So, I got picked because I was the prettiest one?”

Aurik shook his head. “No, it’s more than that. You have more potential because of the partial magic you have gained from tending to the chapel, the lack of family who are going to try to get you married to someone with tracts of land, and the wanderlust you have. At some point, you would have left this village to head to Ithrill to seek your fortune. Magnus saw that in you, and he recognized a kindred spirit.”

Luna thought about her life in the village. “I always felt like there was more to life than tending to the chapel and the bar. I never really fit in, and I always thought I could do more. Just living in a small village, I always felt like there was more out there.”

Aurik nodded. “That’s exactly what Magnus saw. By nurturing your abilities and guiding you, he ensures that you become a powerful force in your own right. This, in turn, strengthens his position and allows him to achieve his goals more effectively. It’s a symbiotic relationship, though one that comes with a steep price.”

Luna’s mind raced with this new information. “And what if I fail to meet his expectations?”

“Having read the contract, you still end up in his harem, just a little bit quicker. You get to spend your time as a demonic plaything, but the games will be different. The path to power is fraught with challenges, and failure has its own consequences. But if you succeed, you can become a formidable force in your own right.”

Luna’s curiosity was piqued. “What is a harem, exactly?”

Aurik’s expression softened, and he seemed to consider his words carefully. “A harem, in the most basic sense, is a group of individuals, usually females, who are kept by a male, often for his pleasure and entertainment, in a way they are married to the male. In the context of a demon like Magnus, a demonic harem may be a little more graphic in what happens. The activities and conditions can be quite intense and involve a range of physical and magical challenges.”

Luna’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. “So, it’s like being a wife, but with more... intense activities?”

Aurik paused, “You’re probably better to speak to a member of the College of Contracts,” he said in a jarring calm, professional way, contrasting the relaxed tone he had been using before. “I’m not one to comment on what happens in the depths of darkness, opposite my fundamental beliefs in the Law and Order of the universe.”

Aurik paused, took a deep breath, and adopted the same relaxed tone he had been speaking before. “However, I am a representative agent of Ithrill at the moment, and as you have the same protections as those citizens by living in a village that is protected, including the protection to deal with a demon as a basic right.”

Luna, processing Aurik’s words. “I see. So, the College of Contracts can provide more information about what a demonic harem entails?”

Aurik nodded. “Yes, they can, and they soon will be in contact. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience dealing with such matters. I am assuming they are sending a representative already as the contract you signed has already been sent to the college. It’s far too valuable to transport by hand.”

“The College is not actually run by those who sign contracts, but by those who are interested in the deals and patrons. They will be checking the castle and how the portal interacts between the abyss and our world. They have a vested interest in ensuring that the balance of power remains stable and that no one demon becomes too powerful.”

Luna felt a mix of relief and curiosity. “So, they can help me understand more about what I’m getting into?”

Aurik nodded. “Exactly. They can provide you with detailed information about the terms of your contract, the expectations Magnus has, and the potential consequences. Sometimes they have petitioned against the patron and managed to get contracts revoked; but for a lot of people, they get disappointed to discover that those contracts are ironclad, which is why getting the initial contract is important.”

“So why did you step in for me, Aurik?”

“Because I was responsible for you being the lead investigator, and out of professional pride. I have negotiated 32 contracts in my time, with beings of good and evil, lawful and chaotic. I have made sure that the arrangements are fair to benefit both parties and that the city of Ithrill is protected from any potential fallout from the person acting against the city.”

“So why does Ithrill allow such contracts?”

“Why does Ithrill allow the Necromancers? The Demon Worshippers? Because, in their way, they have added to the city and protected it throughout history. The college is filled with the names of those who have given their lives in protection to the city, only to die and burn in hell for their actions.”

Aurik stopped and held Luna’s hand. She turned to look at him, and he had a firm grip for someone who came up to her waist.

“Luna, make sure you do the best with what you now have. When you come to the end of your days, whatever goes on in that harem, make sure the memories you have are the ones you can look back on with a smile, not regret.”

Luna felt a wave of gratitude and determination. “Thank you, Aurik. I will keep that in mind.”

Aurik smiled, his expression warm and reassuring. “You’re strong, Luna. I have faith in you.”

As they went to turn back, Luna put a finger to her lips and started to scan around them. She whispered, “I don’t think we’re alone, Aurik.”

Aurik smiled. “No, well, time to put some of your gifts into practice.”

They continued to walk into town, Aurik sending a message back to the Rangers who were probably five minutes away. As Aurik got the message back that they were on their way, three individuals appeared with swords and bows pointing at them.

The bandits were a rough-looking bunch, their clothes tattered and their faces hardened by years of living on the edge. The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek and a scarred, weathered face, stepped forward. His eyes were cold and calculating.

“You two are coming with us,” he growled. “We have orders from the Iron Claw to bring you back.”

Luna walked towards them, smiling, her words attempting to drip honey. “Oh, you must be mistaken. We’re just villagers on our way back home. There’s no need for any trouble.”

The leader sneered. “We know who you are, girl. Don’t try to play us for fools.”

Luna held her hands up, her smile never wavering. The bandits walked towards her, still brandishing their weapons. Once they had surrounded her, she clapped her hands together, and a shadowy thunderwave erupted from her palms. The wave of dark energy knocked the bandits off their feet, stunning them momentarily.

Aurik cast a spell, and a glowing blue barrier appeared around one of the bandits, keeping him from moving. “Well done, Luna. Now, let’s see if we can keep the others at bay.”

The other two bandits, dazed but not defeated, struggled to their feet. One of them raised his bow, but Luna was quicker. She extended her hand, shouted, “Veifal!” and a blast of shadow energy shot out from her palm, straight into the bandit’s face. He fell to the ground, his body convulsing from the force of the blast.

Aurik stepped forward, his gavel glowing with a holy light. With a prayer to Kreditos, the glowing light from the gavel hit the other bandit in the chest with a force that sent him flying backward, his breath knocked out in a squeal of pain as he collapsed to the ground.

From the bushes, an arrow flew, narrowly missing Luna’s cheek. Luna turned to spot the hidden bandit and unleashed a blast of dark energy to engulf the hidden bandit. The arrow had come from a fourth bandit, who was now revealed. Aurik blasted him with the gavel, and Luna fired a blast of dark energy, only to hear a cry of pain and a gasp of life coming from his mouth. The bandit fell to the ground, lifeless.

The two bandits in the open, wounded by Luna and Aurik’s powers, remained down when Thorne and the other rangers got back to them. Luna was buzzing from the adrenaline that had raised in her during the fight. She went to check on the hidden bandit and discovered he was dead.

Luna did some slight healing for the remaining bandits’ wounds so they could walk back to the village. They all walked back together, weapons drawn and watching for other members of the Iron Claw crew.

Aurik nodded approvingly. “You handled that well, Luna. You carry on like that and your Patron will be very happy.”

Luna, slightly coming down from the adrenaline high, replied, “Aurik, many thanks. I hope so too.”

It took about 20 minutes to head back into the village. The bandits were put into the village gaol, and a number of rangers took up guard.

Aurik turned to Luna. “I need to head to the village hall to write my reports on this incident. We’ll need to document everything that happened today.”

Luna nodded. “Of course, Aurik. I need to head back to the cottage to freshen up and change into something more appropriate for the bar. I’ll see you later.”

Aurik smiled. “Take care, Luna. And remember, you’re doing well. Keep it up.”

Luna felt a surge of confidence and determination as she walked back to her cottage. The road ahead was uncertain, but she was ready to face whatever challenges came her way. The dark magic that coursed through her veins was a double-edged sword, and she was determined to wield it with skill and wisdom.