Hello, all!
So I was no quite happy how the final arc of Volume 2 went so after talking with my author friend about possible alternatives, I have rewritten it. Those who want to re-read it themselves and don't want to be spoiled - I suggest starting from Chapter 36.
For those who want a short rundown on changes, here it is:
The Fallen ability to kill people with blood has been strongly nerfed. It does not work i...
2024-12-09 10:22:35 +0000 UTC View Post"Princess. Wake up. Wake up, Princess," somebody was shaking Deziara, trying to wake her up. She groaned. She didn't want to get up. The day had been so tiring and this was the first real bed she had slept in for days. It was soft and comfortable, so her body completely refused to move.
"Wake up, Deziara!" something shook her violently, and she got up, just to smack the asshole who dared to bother her rest.
"You better have a good reason for waking me up," she snarled and blinked ...
2024-12-08 06:13:01 +0000 UTC View PostMorrigan's brush glided effortlessly across the canvas for she knew what she was going to paint before she even began. She saw it clearly – something that would suit this small down with its deceptively sinister inhabitants. Blue color dominated her canvas and she slowly felt her magic drain. But this creation wasn't anything as grand or difficult as painting the Glittering Cave. Just a memento that perhaps could help these imps attract more tourists.
"It is beautiful…" one of the i...
2024-12-06 06:33:40 +0000 UTC View PostMorrigan was not responding to him anymore. He had called out to her multiple times from outside the bathing room, but her reply was merely a sleepy-sounding 'I am fine'. Azrael had a bad feeling about this. Imps had the innate ability to put people in a daze, confusing their minds and talking them into giving them their possessions.
While he had thoroughly investigated this particular town before the journey and found no suspicious activities in the past, it didn't mean that the imps w...
2024-12-05 06:13:01 +0000 UTC View Post"That cave was so amazing, Father. I've never seen a place more beautiful before," Morrigan said to her father, as she held her hand on the red pendant. She was currently in her carriage with some privacy wards set up so nobody would listen in on her conversation. It was unlikely that anybody would do that, but better safe than sorry.
"Ah, yes. One of the places in the Underworld where magic is born. There truly is nothing quite like it in this world," Alphegor said through the pendant....
2024-12-04 06:13:02 +0000 UTC View PostBy the time morning came and Azrael realized that Morrigan was already long since gone from the sleeping place, she was finished with the painting. Her fingers, dress and even her face were smeared with paint, but there was a wide satisfied grin on her face as she looked at the finished piece in front of her – a perfect replica of crystal cavern in front of her including the magically swirling mist on the ceiling and the sinister black orb.
"You actually did, Princess," Azrael stared ...
2024-12-03 06:41:24 +0000 UTC View PostDecember is here so that means that the Christmas season is right around the corner. To celebrate this wonderful time, I have decided to give away membership to the highest tier (Admirer) on my Patreon which is currently 26 chapters ahead of RoyalRoad and has an increased upload schedule (5 times/week). To be exact I'm going to give away FREE access to this tier to THREE people. Two people will recei...
2024-12-01 06:02:52 +0000 UTC View Post"Gather all of my painting supplies right. I want every possible color available," Morrigan commanded as soon as she exited the glittering cave. Everyone outside was startled at her sudden command, still unaware of the trouble going on inside.
"Morrigan, have you completed the ritual already? It couldn't have been that fast," Viana narrowed her eyes. "I know that the inside of it would make for a beautiful painting, but we cannot waste time on that. The ritual takes precedence and it wo...
2024-12-01 05:54:24 +0000 UTC View PostWhile the sleeping bags had not made sleeping on the ground as comfortable as sleeping in the bed (a normal bed, not whatever the lizard demons claimed to be a bed), it certainly made it more bearable. The servants and guards were especially happy about them, claiming that they were more comfortable than their regular beds. Morrigan was sure that they were merely exaggerating. Or at least she hoped so.
Another bonus feature of the sleeping bags was the fact that once they were rolled up...
2024-11-29 05:37:18 +0000 UTC View PostMorrigan helplessly looked around the village, wondering what to do for the night. There wouldn't be enough space for everyone to sleep within this small village. Desperate for a solution, Morrigan looked to Viana for help.
"Viana, you had to pass through this village too when you were on your tour right?" she asked.
"Yeah. This is the only settlement in the area," she replied.
"So what did you do?"
"The only logical thing one can do. I stayed to sleep in the vil...
2024-11-28 06:23:04 +0000 UTC View PostThis week I have to apologize to my Admirer tier members. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter is ill at the moment and requires a lot of my attention. This means that my writing time is greatly reduced and I won't be able to post an extra chapter this week. Other chapters will be posted as scheduled so you will still get a chapter this Thursday, Friday and Sunday. I apologize for this little setback and thank you for understanding.
2024-11-27 06:04:06 +0000 UTC View PostDespite their ominous visitor last evening, the night goes by without any incidents. Except for the fact that Morrigan wasn't able to fully relax in the end even with her guards' vigil doubled. She managed to get maybe a few hours of sleep at best before the loud innkeeper decided to do them a 'favor' and wake them all up for breakfast.
Thanks to the demon maid's hard efforts, the bags underneath Morrigan's eyes were neatly masked, but sadly looking good didn't translate into feeling go...
2024-11-26 06:13:00 +0000 UTC View PostThe dinner time at the inn was quite different from what Morrigan had expected. She didn't really know what she expected. Perhaps a simple dinner where each group would be seated at different tables like in a restaurant. Perhaps something more akin to what she was used to at the castle with everyone enjoying a meal at a single long table. What she knew for sure was that she wasn't expecting this.
Once she, Deziara and Viana stepped into the 'dining hall' all of their noses scrunched up ...
2024-11-24 06:11:59 +0000 UTC View PostAs it turned out, the first day of the trip was nothing more than a big celebration. As Morrigan found out soon after leaving the Demon Castle gates, the city was eager to see her off on the journey. The main street through which they rode was lined with demons as far as the eye could see. They cheered as the princesses passed by them, wishing them good luck and even offering them gifts.
"Shouldn't we accept those?" Morrigan asked as she saw a little demon girl stand on the side of the ...
2024-11-22 06:38:11 +0000 UTC View Post"We can still cancel this. You do not have to go," Alphegor said, watching as Morrigan was filling up her handbag with some of the most necessary things she'd need for the journey.
"Father, we already made the official announcement. I can't back out now," she chuckled. The announcement of her tour was made approximately three weeks after her sixteenth birthday. Alphegor had made sure that only the bare minimum of people received the news, making everything as quiet and downplayed as pos...
2024-11-21 06:30:36 +0000 UTC View PostEverything was completely dark. Morrigan could barely see the shape of objects closest to her.
"Why is it so dark in here?" she asked somewhat nervously.
"You'll see," Galandir replied, then took her hand and guided her through the darkness. She had no idea how he could see anything in the darkness, so it was likely that the elf was relying on some different sense to guide him. They walked for about a minute until the boy stopped.
The bright light appeared in the middl...
2024-11-20 07:07:28 +0000 UTC View PostThe big day had finally arrived. Morrigan was officially sixteen years old and it was time to celebrate this memorable occasion. Unfortunately, she was too nervous to actually feel happy about it.
All of the prominent nobles from the big demon houses will be attending my birthday today. That means that there is no room for any errors. I have to look perfect, act with grace and speak with wisdom. One mistake could easily threaten my already weak position and send this country into ci...
2024-11-19 07:04:29 +0000 UTC View PostSeveral months passed. On the outside it seemed like everything within the Demon Castle was the same way as before. However, an ember had been ignited and it was sizzling and growing with intensity each day. Each evening without fail Morrigan would talk to Alphegor about the Crown Princess Tour. She would ask him questions about it, trying to figure out more.
She could have asked Viana all those things, however by asking her father about the tour, Morrigan believed that she could subcon...
2024-11-17 05:13:00 +0000 UTC View PostFive years passed in what felt like a blink of an eye. Morrigan continued practicing hard with her art magic, learning how to control and use this incredible power properly. She learned her limit and how to effectively create things she wanted. However, after Alphegor forbade her to create anything from the Overworld or Earth, she felt like there was nothing she wanted to create.
Sure, she could make new fancy furniture, unique dresses and attires, and even plants which now filled her b...
2024-11-15 06:48:11 +0000 UTC View PostIt was a typical morning in the largest kingdom in the Underworld – the Demon Kingdom. The sun didn't shine. How could it? After all, it was a world set below the surface. The wind wasn't blowing. Because once again, there was no wind in the Underworld. And there were no blue rivers or vast oceans where one could cool down their body or quench their thirst.
Instead, darkness spread everywhere, like a thick blanket covering every nook and cranny. Lava rivers flowed like an ever-p...
2024-11-14 05:13:01 +0000 UTC View Post"Perhaps you can make the flowers bloom from your fingertips," Dezira guessed while sitting on Haku's front paw. The dragon was lying on the ground at the back of the Demon Castle, observing Morrigan trying to create flowers from her fingertips. She furrowed her brows in concentration, but after several minutes it became clear that nothing would happen.
"No, it's not flowers," Morrigan groaned. It had been two weeks since she absorbed the Burmese Ruby into her body, and yet she still ha...
2024-11-13 06:13:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe carriage tracks clattered as its badger mount pulled it forward, occasionally swiping at the obstacle in front of it. Morrigan sat, cradled in her father's lap, his hands gently stroking her hair. She felt so utterly exhausted. Not physically, her body was still strong and was actually itching for some movement. No, she was exhausted mentally.
There was a small vial in her hands within which sat a lone drop of her blood. The whole reason why she now was officially betrothed to the P...
2024-11-12 05:49:03 +0000 UTC View Post"It is truly inspiring to see a princess who is ready to do what is necessary to take care of her people. But do tell me. Why should I let my son marry you instead of you taking the materialistic recompense? After all, we'd have to wait for you to grow up first and in that time you can come up with all sorts of ploys to get out of marriage," the Fallen King said with a smile.
"If you doubt that I would keep my word, then we can sign a magical contract that will bind us to our word. In e...
2024-11-10 06:13:00 +0000 UTC View PostIt has been three days since Morrigan, her father and other demons set out on their way to the border city of Tamrin. The trip was long and exhausting and much to Morrigan's chagrin there were no chances for her to actually look around the Demon Kingdom. Theoretically, it was such a good opportunity for Morrigan to see more of the Underworld. However, in practice, all she could see outside the narrow carriage windows was darkness and the large grumpy badger that was pulling it.
"C...
2024-11-08 06:13:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe next morning Morrigan and Alphegor both sat at their breakfast table poking at their food. Neither of them had slept very well, Morrigan catching a few winks towards the morning while Alphegor diligently watched over her, not having slept a wink all night. Neither of them had the appetite to eat, their mind constantly going back to that drop of blood that Azrael couldn't retrieve.
That was the first time Morrigan had truly seen the demon look broken. She didn't know whether it was t...
2024-11-07 06:31:28 +0000 UTC View PostWill you give it a rest already, you stupid oath? I am already doing everything I can.
Azrael clutched uncomfortably at his chest, trying to lessen the gnawing feeling that hadn't let up since early afternoon. It was supposed to be a day of rest and respite after the Festival. A time he had been looking forward to since he was constantly busy managing the competition and making sure that everything went flawlessly.
Getting the sphinx to cooperate was the trickiest bit. Th...
2024-11-06 05:13:00 +0000 UTC View PostAlphegor strode through the hallway with heavy steps, his piercing gaze cursing seemingly everyone who dared to cross his path. Lucius followed after him, holding Morrigan's hand, and they in turn had the dozen best demon warriors following after them, fully equipped and ready for combat. She didn't fully understand why their reaction was so grim.
Of course, the fallen trying to break into the Royal Treasury using her blood wasn't anything to be happy about. But she expected her f...
2024-11-05 04:55:06 +0000 UTC View Post"Our time has been cut short, it seems," the fallen man snarled as he looked at Morrigan who had a victorious smile on her face. All she had to do was hold out until the guards or ideally her father came to her rescue. "Forget the dragon and the boy – get Princess's blood! I don't care if she lives or dies."
Oh shit…
Morrigan paled as all of the dark figures turned their attention to her. Before she could even realize what was going on, a barrage of various spells was...
2024-11-03 05:13:00 +0000 UTC View PostHaku was elated to have visitors and without a second thought began jumping around Morrigan and Galandir in joy, his tail whipping around and sending his chewed-up toys flying. Morrigan had to dodge a few random toys as she tried to calm the dragon down.
"Yes, I am happy to see you too, Haku," she cooed, gently rubbing at his snout.
"Still keeping him locked up, I see," Galandir noted bitterly, looking around the stables. It was by no means a small structure as it could easily fit...
2024-11-01 06:37:10 +0000 UTC View PostAs the silent day after the Festival continued, Morrigan used the opportunity to sneak into the prison. She had never actually been there since obviously, a princess had no business going to the prison. However, from her trips down into the dungeon, she knew that its entrance was located right across from the dungeon entrance, guarded by Chad. The stoic guard never once tried to stop her from going into the dungeons, however, it certainly would be different if she tried going into the prison....
2024-10-31 05:13:01 +0000 UTC View Post