The First Visit

Four figures emerged from the crude earthen hut to the tranquil sight of the sun rising over the Superd village, long morning shadows of forest trees reached the doorway. Sylphie wrinkled her nose at the strong scent of charred wood, which was the first sign of the fierce battle that had raged the night before. While Roxy stopped, gazing through the broken tree line. Now, wide gaps let the sun in, and she could see the open grassland and the human town at its center. The Superds’ secret home, once hidden by the dense forest on the border of humanity's Eastern edge, was now visible to anyone who cared to look.

Rudeus placed his hand on Roxy’s shoulder, bringing her back to the moment. Flanked by the three women foolish enough to call him husband, he breathed deeply and set off. The group walked silently along what was left of the narrow footpath leading to the ravine, where Badigadi’s unconscious body had been secured. The forest was dense and hard enough to traverse already, but now that it bore the heavy scars of battle. The journey was arduous; craters pockmarked the ground, and trees lay splintered and scorched. The scale of destruction was undeniable.

The walk was somber, the memory of how close they had come to losing everything was fresh on their minds as they passed through the broken forest. Roxy stopped again, her attention drawn to the largest crater, a circular wound over 1700 feet wide. A diverted stream had already begun working to fill it. Rudeus had made it in a moment of panic, when he saw Badidgadi moving towards Sylphie, he unleashed a reckless and overpowered attack. With that single spell, the dynamics of power were clear; from that point on, the battle was a fight between the two of them alone.

The mere 12-mile journey from the village to the ravine took half a day, slowed by the loose boulders and fallen trees. At its edge, they descended cautiously, using crude steps that were carved overnight for them. The air grew colder as they moved deeper; the sunlight only reached the ravine's bottom for an hour a day at noon. They continued to travel along the bottom for another mile or two before reaching the cave’s entrance. A spear-wielding Superd warrior stood guard, waiting for them. His expression was grim, acknowledging their arrival with a nod.

As the group got closer, the women’s mood changed; the usual softness in their eyes turned cold, and anger hid just below the surface. As they caught sight of Badigadi inside, their anger bubbled up for the world to see. Rudeus raised a hand, and they stopped in their tracks. Obeying without question, though they kept their eyes on him, unwilling to let Rudeus out of their sight.

The cave turned out to be a hole in the side of the ravine opening up into an ancient way station for pilgrims. Rudeus entered alone. The interior was weathered and dusty. The perfectly circular chamber had a cobbled floor and walls adorned with a mural. Ancient images depicted some forgotten ritual of the Dragon Folk curled all the way around the room, their wisdom lost and forgotten. But Rudeus had no time to marvel at the art or ponder its meaning. His attention was fixed on the figure in the room’s center: the unconscious Demon King Badigadi.

The sight of his once-trusted friend and mentor turned foe filled Rudeus with conflicting emotions. The cost of their battle was steep. Rudeus was happy his own family had been spared casualties, but the forest was ravaged, and two dozen allied warriors of the Superd and Oger tribes were dead. Their anger and thirst for justice would go unquenched as Rudeus has successfully petitioned to spare Badigadis' life.

This wasn’t a victory to celebrate; it was a grim day, and the duty of creating Badigadis prison fell on his shoulders. He pulled a folded sheet of paper from his coat (a blueprint for the seal) and stepped closer to Badigadi’s body. Kneeling on the cold stone floor, he traced his finger along the ground, his magic carving a deep furrow as he began inscribing the magic circle that would bind Badigadi for years to come.

Badigadi

“Ah, damn— it hurts,” I thought, pressing my hand over my eyes, my thumb and middle finger pressing my temples trying to dull the relentless pounding in my skull. “Why does it hurt so bad?”
Then it hit me: “Ah, that’s right—he won.”
I let go of my temples, sliding my hand slowly down my face. As my eyes eased open, I found even the dim light of the cave to be blinding, sending a shooting pain through my head. Every heartbeat seemed to reverberate off my skull as I tried to remember the last time someone caused a pain to linger after I’d fully healed. “It's been centuries for sure.”
“Why am I still alive? If anyone could kill an immortal demon, while they're unconscious, he should,” I thought.
I forced myself to focus, taking in the world around me. I could make out a silhouette kneeling just a few feet away. Blurry but familiar— the shape of that boy. I tried to process the fact that he seemed to have grown since our last meeting, “No-no-no... I’m smaller.” I realized quickly that I had shrunk. My memory was slowly returning. He’d cut off my arms one by one, every time he did, the redhead swordswoman rushed in and carried it off.
I flexed my arms, counting: Two... Four… Six... All present.
“My unique immortal body cannibalized mass from the rest of my body to grow them back while I slept. If that's the case, the originals must have been sealed away with magic, cutting off my connection to them”, I realized I was smiling to myself. “Ah, that boy was always cunning.” He had found a way to fight an immortal demon three times his size—and win. He earned his name.
I sat there, thinking, as I watched him: Little Rudeus had fought and defeated me, wearing that impressive enchanted armor of his own making. He had slowly stripped me of mine, leaving me vulnerable. If we fought like that again, there was no way I would win. But here he was, without his armor, kneeling in front of me, working as if there was no risk at all.
“That’s just like the boy,” I thought. “So kind. So trusting.” If I wanted to, I could kill him before he had time to even look up.
But the instant that thought crossed my mind, I froze. I felt it—an overwhelming surge of anger and hate, not from the boy, but from the entrance of the cave. I turned my head and saw them. Three women. Two of them were practically radiating killing intent, their auras so fierce I froze for a moment.
“Boy... It’s not fair that someone as young as you has so much for me to envy.” I spoke aloud, my voice low. When I mentioned his wives, he looked up for the first time, and I saw a smile of pride spreading across his face even as contradictory tears rolled down his cheeks.
Thinking of my fiance, I sighed deeply, “Sorry, Kishirika, my love. That’s one debt I should’ve left unpaid.” I whispered.

ERIS

I’ve always been the most hot-headed person I know, the one most prone to anger, quickest to attack. But not today. Today, I’m composed—cool as a cucumber. Because Rudeus, the man I love, is here and he’s off guard. That’s all I need to relax. But the more we walk, the closer we get to the cave where they took the unconscious Badigadi, the more I can feel it, the anger building in Rudeus’ other wives, Sylphie and Roxy.
They’re always so sweet and beautiful. When I watch Rudeus smile at them, holding hands with him as they walk, I feel a twinge of jealousy. They’re calm and clever like him, a much better match than I. But now, as soon as Badigadi comes into view, these two women look ready to charge forward and tear him apart with their bare hands.
Rudeus was walking just a few paces ahead of us, and with a simple wave of his hand, he stopped us, whispering, “Wait here.” That’s all I need to settle into my usual relaxed pose—arms crossed, feet shoulder-width apart, my long red hair loose behind my shoulders.
I watch him, the most incredible man I’ve ever met. A man who’s defeated a demon king (an immortal demon whom the gods ranked the third strongest in the world). But now I watch Rudeus walking into that cave like a little puppy, head low, a tremble in his step. I don’t know what he’s planning to do, but that’s normal for me. He often does things I don’t understand, but the results are always for the ones he loves. So, I’ll just watch and wait.
I’m not the clever wife, not good for much more than my sword arm, but I always watch him, always waiting for him to ask for help. He never does. I wish he would. I may not be smart, but I can see how heavy the burdens are that he places on himself.
Something stirs, and I instinctively shift my weight to my right leg, an unconscious move to ensure I’m balanced, just in case I need to dash forward. But I stay calm as I watch Rudeus still kneeling on the ground, tracing his finger along the floor, leaving a deep furrow in the solid stone.
Sylphie is the next to notice Badi’s body move, and a moment later, Roxy lifts her staff. I can see Sylphie’s knuckles turning white as she grips her wand too hard. While Roxy pulls a scroll from her pocket and presses it against her staff.
I glance toward Rudeus—he’s still working, no sign of aggression. With a smirk and perhaps feeling a little smug, I gently place a hand over Sylphie’s and nudge Roxy’s shoulder with my elbow. “Calm yourselves,” I say, “Rudeus is working.”

As Badigadi moved, the eyes at the entrance watched intensely, checking for any aggression. He sat up, crossing his legs and folding his 2 pairs of upper arms across his chest while he rested the other on his knees. Badigadi resigned himself to letting Rudeus complete the magic circle, sealing him away. Rudeus worked for an hour before the circle lit up, the room flashing blue then purple as the magic took effect. Then a thin ring of yellow light formed around Badigadi, and it began to rise from the floor, leaving a faint glowing film in its wake. When the ring rose to touch the ceiling, it disappeared, and the film became invisible. With the barrier complete, Badi gave it a few taps; every time he touched it, it would shimmer, sending a ripple of light around him, then fade away again. “Impressive work, Rudeus, my boy.”
Badigadi remained silent as Rudeus spoke at length, expressing regret over the need to battle and being forced to seal Badigadi away. Further clarifying that he doesn’t hold a grudge over Badis' attack, the true threat to his family was the 'Man-God'.
Rudeus recounted that it was Badis’ fiancée, Kishirika, who told him where to find Badi. Before leaving for battle, she asked him to “Set Badi straight for me, and if you can, please spare his life”. Honoring her request, Rudeus petitioned for imprisonment over execution. He further explained to the Ogres and Superd… Badi was under the influence of the “Man-God.” Also, Badi was still a demon king, and killing him might spark a war.
Rudeus went on to explain the specifics of the seal (the barrier was only impenetrable to anything that held mana within. Fresh air and essentials could pass through unimpeded but no living creature or magic item could enter or exit) and that he would remain sealed here until the feud between the Dragon and Man Gods is finally over. Rudeus bowed his head respectfully; he appointed the Superd tribe as caretakers to bring food and water weekly, ensuring Badigadi's basic needs are met despite his immortality.
“Goodbye, my friend, if Sylphie allows it, I’ll come visit”.
With the magic circle in place, sealing Badigadi for the next century, the tense atmosphere dissipated. The three at the entrance relaxed; for them, the battle had only now truly ended. Rudeus said his final words, turning towards them with his eyes red and puffy. They left. The cave would remain the responsibility of the Superd until the “Man God” was defeated.
Eris took the lead, standing tall and straight and marched forward setting the pace. While Sylphie and Roxy walked beside Rudeus, their presence warm and reassuring.
Roxy, far shorter than Rudeus wrapped both arms around his right arm, her cheek pressing lightly against his bicep. Sylphie was taller, standing at his height leaned into his side as he draped his left arm over her shoulders, pulling her closer as they walked.

The tenth Visit

Sylphie loved teleporting to the Superd village, it was always pleasant here. Home was a land of near-perpetual snow; even in the height of summer, there would be a week or two when it fell. So arriving here by magic felt amazing, the sun suddenly appearing on her face, warming her to the core. And seeing the changes Superd made over the years was nice.

The forest too was healing and the village grew year by year. The most significant change was in the Superd’s way of life; they, as a people, had always been hunters. With the help of the human village that they now trade with to the south, they have recently begun farming, working to become the masters of the forest. Several of the clearings in the trees that were created by Ruseus’s magic during the battle have been converted into small pockets of farmland. The sight of miniature wheat fields and fenced-in pastures, filled with sheep grazing happily in the middle of a dense monster-infested forest, made for quite the memorable picture.
The path that led to Badigadi’s prison was a now well-established route, with Rudeus’ annual visits and the Superd changing the guard, it was being well maintained. The trip that first took them a half day was a trivial 3-hour stroll.
As they walked, Rudeus’ gaze was drawn to the particularly large crater that had been turned into a lake with a quaint fishing pier and a single boat docked. He smiled, remembering that last year, he had taken Roxy there on a little rowboat date. “Mini me” got excited, and they spent the afternoon reclining.
Roxy ended up losing herself, tipping the boat over when Rudeus used a technique that he had been working on. They waded back to shore, their clothes sunk to the bottom of the lake. Roxy gave him the silent treatment as they did the walk of shame back to the village. She did perk up after Rudeus took her on a little shopping spree on their way home.
Rudeus was brought back to the present when Sylphie elbowed him in the ribs. She recognised that smile of his, frowning, she said, “This is no time for dirty thoughts”. Rudeus placed his hand on her behind, squeezing lightly. “Come on, Sylf— tonight’s a Sylphie night. I was thinking, Badi blessed our wedding and we had a baby in our first year. Perhaps after seeing him, we can work on number two”.

She didn’t even look at Rudeus as she said: “You better put in the effort later, I expect it to take quite a while. But I don’t need his blessing”. Rudeus looked at her and smiled, thinking, her long elf ears were turning the most beautiful shade of red.

Descending the ravine was easier every year, the Superd continued to chisel out a staircase into the canyon wall despite Rudeus' protest; he even offered to conjure one with his magic. But they insisted that making the hero climb the cliffside would dishonor their village. But because he always brought one of his treasured wives with him every visit, he’d prefer it if none of them fell off, so he chose not to press the issue.

Things went as they did every year. When they reached the cave, Badi would feel a wife's disdain for him, just a tiny bit less than the year before. And a wife waited outside for Rudeus to ask her to enter.

Sylphie

It had been a decade since we first came to this cave, but even now, I still get angry when I remember that day. As always I stand outside, waiting for Rudeus to call for me. Rudeus had gone inside like usual and I could feel Badigadi’s presence on the other side of the barrier. His aura was still strong; no doubt he could sense my disdain for him, I was sure of it, but it was nothing compared to the anger I felt the day I fought him alongside Rudeus. But time had dulled that feeling, though it hadn’t erased it.
I would have preferred Rudeus to leave Badigadi to sit in the dark for the next 100 years but Rudeus still saw him as a friend. Rudi told me he was just another victim of the “Man God’s ” scheming and reminded me that Rudeus was once a tool of the “Man God” too. So I busied myself, setting up and preparing the food I had brought for them. On the table that Rudeus created from stone on our first visit, I remember watching in awe as Rudeus used magic to make it ooze from the ground like lava, rising up and taking the shape of a table and chairs. Then he slid it over the circle and through the barrier, leaving one half on each side of the barrier that kept Badi sealed.
This routine had become familiar: I set the table, then would stand back watching them, Badi would ask me to join them, I’d refuse and Rudeus would look disappointed but say nothing. I prepared this for Rudeus, but I would never break bread with Badi again.
Watching Rudeus laughing with Badi, I remembered when the man God tricked Rudeus into setting out to battle Orsted(the Dragon God ranked 2nd most powerful in the world). Rudeus told Roxy and me it was nothing, told us to stay home, told us we’d just get in the way. He promised he would fix everything himself. When he walked away, I forced a smile. All I could do was cry while Roxy tried to comfort me, saying “he’d be back soon.”
I didn’t know at the time that she was lying.
Then Eris arrived, this woman we had never met stood yelling at us. “Orsted is a monster! Why — why would you let Rudi die on his own?”. I hadn't thought that he would die; he would run if he needed to. Rudeus was Rudeus and he would always come back. I was a fool. Eris inspired us to charge off to help.

We found them quickly, pillars of fire and bolts of lightning were easy beacons to follow. When we got there, the forest around them was devastated, leveled to nothing, trees weren't scorched, they were ash, and the craters were lined with glass. That fight— it nearly killed him.
We arrived to see Orsted: the untouchable, his face burned, traces of blood dripped from beneath his armour, clearly injured, he stood over Rudeus. His sword pressed against Rudeus’ throat. Rudeus was in a far worse state; his armour was destroyed, he was missing a hand, and both legs were crushed. But Rudy had a smile embracing his end. Eris charged in like a bull, putting herself between them while I rushed and held him in my arms, barely conscious, his skin pale, his bones shattered. Eris stood facing Orsted, yelling for us to flee. Then Rudeus began to cry, the man who stood against the Dragon God and earned a hero's death cried like a baby, begging not for mercy but for Orsted to spare fools that interfered. The ones that came to save him. Orsted laughed, telling Rudeus he was jealous that he had so many that would die for him, then offered him a job. The memory still haunts me.

Then my thought drifted to how hard he worked preparing for the battle with Badigadi. I knew he was fairing worse than he let on. There were days when the pressure of it all nearly broke him. I remember watching him, how he struggled to sleep, his nerves stretched to their limits. He tried to hide it. When anyone approached him, he put on that practiced smile, but I saw the cracks forming. A few weeks before the fight, when I brought a meal to his study, I saw through the partly closed door that he was sitting alone in the dark, his face buried in his hands. He didn’t say a word, but I could feel his pain. The weight of the world was on his shoulders, and no matter how strong he was, he wasn’t invincible. I learned that with Orsted. He suffered in silence.
When the battle with Badigadi came, it had been even worse than I imagined. This time we fought together and we had the Superd and Ogre tribes with us. Badigadi slaughtered half their numbers before Rudeus finally defeated him. This time too the damage to Rudi’s body was terrifying. I wasn’t there in the last minutes, but I heard how he fell to the ground, his face swollen with bruises, blood pouring from wounds. He should have died. But somehow, he survived. And even then, even after everything Badigadi had put him through, Rudeus pleaded—begged—with tears in his eyes for the Superd and Ogres to spare Badi.
Now a decade later the world knows Rudeus as: “the right hand of the Dragon God”, the most powerful mage in the world, a fearless father, warrior of legend, and peer to kings and queens. But I‘ve seen him when he was weak. I’ve seen the man behind the power, the man who would cross the world to spare an acquaintance any pain he had ever felt himself. That was the Rudeus I loved.
I knew there was no one left who could truly challenge Rudeus—not anymore. Cutting him, hurting him physically—that wasn’t possible anymore. Rudeus’ strength came from his heart, but that‘s also where he was vulnerable. If you wanted to hurt him, you hurt what he loved. That was where he was soft, where the cracks in his armor showed. And I wanted nothing more than to protect him from that, to shield him from the pain he carried for others.
I couldn’t challenge demigods or demon kings like Eris. I couldn't teach him new magic or divine the workings of the world like Roxy. That’s why I stayed home, why I cared for the people he loved so deeply. I could be there when his heart was near breaking. I could mend it. It was a role I accepted willingly, because there was no one else in the world who could hold Rudeus together the way I could.
I finished setting up the table and I left them to their discussions, holding the woven picnic basket in front of me as I watched them from outside. It was nice hearing Rudy laughing, laughing as if their battle was a lifetime ago, as if it had never happened. I watched them, the sound of their voices drifting out of the cave. Rudeus smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges, and for a moment, he looked younger, as if the years had fallen away. He laughed easily with Badigadi, the only clue that there was ever any bad blood between them was the invisible barrier. Rudeus forgave the demon king who once tried to take everything from him. I couldn’t understand it, but maybe I didn’t need to. That was Rudeus—kind, compassionate, endlessly forgiving.
He saw something in Badigadi, something worth saving. And as much as I didn’t like it, I trusted that Rudeus knew what he was doing. After all, he always did. I took a crust of bread left behind in the basket and stood nibbling on it in silence.

The two of them arrive at the cave entrance, Sylphie holding a huge woven picnic basket. She carried on her own, refusing to let Rudeus help. Inside was the feast prepared by Sylphie, which consisted of an assortment of cold dishes that would travel well and not need heating when they reached their destination. The star dish was a simple wooden bowl of roasted and salted nuts that came from the region of the demon continent where Badigadis' home was. They were the only crop that was cultivated in the area around Kishirika’s castle. The nuts tasted bitter and had a smell that lingered on your breath, resembling over-boiled egg. Rudeus couldn’t stand them, but Bagi seemed delighted to have one of his fiancée's preferred snacks.

She had sent them to Rudeus from across the world, taking a whole 19 months to arrive. Although Rudeus and his family teleported from the Dragon God’s office to here in secret. Teleportation circles were a threat to a country's national security and were banned worldwide via international treaty. So Kishirika had to use what counted for a mail system. Sending Badi many gifts and correspondence from the officials back home, but Rudeus made sure to leave them behind in the Superd village. Badigadi was a prisoner and although Rudeus was free to do as he liked, the Superd and Oger tribes still treated Badigadi harshly.

Badi found great amusement watching Rudeus get harshly scolded when he innocently tried to help Sylphie set the table. This was one of her tasks and for reasons beyond his understanding, she took them very seriously. Rudeus was grateful for the effort she always put in; the years since he erected Badis’ seal have been the calmest of his life. When she placed the last item on the table, he gently squeezed her hand, whispering, “Thank you”.

Badigadi asked Rudesu to make another chair, but Sylphie simply glared at him before backing up and out of the room. It was Rudeues who broke the silence.
Rudeus updated Badigadi on Kishirika’s activities: she’d stopped wandering the demon continent in disguise, living off the charity of her people and had taken up Badis' seat in the castle. It was quite the surprise seeing her acting regal after 300 years of hiding her identity, living like a vagrant, and generously dishing out blessings on those who treated her with compassion. Rudeus smiled like an idiot every time he shared a story about his own children.
Next was a more serious topic, Rudeus mentioned his daughter Lara. Informing Badi that she turned 15 and was summoned to the head of the Beastfolk tribe, where she gained the title of ‘hero'. Some centuries-old prophecy seemed to be close at hand. Rudeus believed because of the timing, it was likely the approaching battle between the “Dragon God” and the “Man God”.
With a somber tone, Rudeus continued, “ I won’t be around when the battle begins, but if all goes well, Lara will help end the Man God. I have spoken with her mother, the Ogre and the Superd tribes. Once the battle is over and the Man God can no longer interfere with my family, then everyone agrees that Lara will come and release you.” But if she failed and was not able to return, the seal should run out of power in about 200 years. The Superd and Ogre tribe both agreed that they would not pursue Badigadi after the seal was released, but if Lara herself was not able to free him, then they would not allow another to do it. They would rather Badigadi remained there until the seal itself ran out of power; their anger towards Badigadi is still strong.

After the visit, Rudeus and Sylphie started heading home, but they only used the Teleportation circle the next morning. In the center of the Supered village was a great hollow tree where all manner of ceremonies were held. Outside the tree was the open-air gathering place of the tribe, where weddings were held. The inside of the tree, on the other hand, was private, a very cosy bed covered in furs and a thick secure door to keep everything out. But it was not as good at keeping sounds inside. The next morning, they left the tree, as they walked to the teleportation circle, Rudeus seemed to strut with pride, while Sylphie’s long elf ears were red as tomatoes. She couldn’t ignore the many, many eyes looking her way. She couldn’t hear their whispers, but she could tell gossip was afoot and that a few villagers were kept up late by some loud sounds in the distance.

<

The Final Visit

A young Superd warrior in his early twenties stood inside the cave facing Badi; he leaned against the loose rock wall that made up the entrance to the chamber. The two were having a relaxed conversation like usual. Badis’ multi-millennia-long life was filled with many interesting tales, and the young man revelled in their retelling. But their conversation was cut short by feeling a powerful presence approaching, Badi took on a serious look. He told the young man. “Best stand outside, before the guests arrive… You’re lucky, today you’ll get to meet him.”

The young warrior clumsily ran to take up his post outside the prison, grabbing his spear and doing his best impression of a dutiful guard. A few minutes later, the party of three walked into view, arriving at the cave a short while later. Moving very slowly as they passed the guard on duty.

Curiosity got the better of the young Superd on watch and he peered inside as the guests moved in silence. He had only been given this duty at the start of the new year and this was his first time seeing Rudeus and his escort. Depite his orders and warning of Badi’s treachery, the young Superd chatted with him every day. He heard from Babi about the great mage that defeated him over 50 years ago, locking him within this prison. Earning himself a spot as one of the 7 great powers; of which each was said to have the strength to defeat entire kingdoms on a whim. Badi, always the dramatist demonstrated by pounding the barrier with all his might, a golden glow formed at the point of impact and showing no signs of letting him out.

The Superd Elders warned to never anger Rudeus, never failing to remind the young Supered that the village owed him a great debt. But the man that came to visit was frail and to this young warrior, he did not give off the aura of one who could be part of the 7 great powers. Badi, on the other hand, gave off an air of power; even before you saw the Giant 6-armed Demon, you knew he was there and if he was angry, you might have a hard time keeping your lunch down.

Badigadi’s sharp eyes followed them as Roxy and Sylphie guided Rudeus to the chair, his steps slower now, his body no longer able to move as easily as it once had. For the first time in 50 years, Badi didn’t feel any disdain from the women. Time had dulled their rage, though perhaps it was something more specific; he had a feeling today was not going to be the usual visit

Roxy

As Sylphie and I helped walk Rudeus to Badis prison, I thought it was good to see someone new on duty for a change; it seemed poetic that none of the old warriors were here today. We are leaving the past behind, this was our last visit after all.
When Eris passed away, Rudeus was the one who found her lying still in her bed. He held her, cradling her in his arms, crying. I wanted to console him, wanted him to stay home for the last of his days, holding him against my chest, never letting him go.
But to spite Rudeu’s age, he insisted on being here, crossing the country to see Badi. He asked me to help make something for Badi. I wondered: how was it that this man, who had given so much of himself, still found the strength to give even more? Holding his frail hand, I knew my time with him was running out. In a few short years, he would be gone, while I, because of my lineage I would live on. I wanted to create something together like we used to, so I agreed. But he came up with—this gift for Badigadi—it was pure Rudeus. Something none would think of yet was perfectly obvious. By all accounts, the perfect gift for this friend, the man who once tried to take Rudi from us.
I reminisce so much these days, I’d get lost in memories of the ways Rudeus had changed the world. He had helped to make a queen. He had restored teleportation to the world. He’d even found a way for mail to cross continents in days. And yet, as I looked at him now, frail and worn, those achievements felt small compared to the man himself.
Rudeus’ body was showing the passage of time more and more with each year. His old bones struggled under his weight. While I stood by his side, looking no older than a woman in her 40s. I glanced at Badigadi—unchanged, ageless. His immortality fascinated me, as it always did. Badigadi had not aged a day since the first time I saw him, and the scholar in me was intrigued. Rudeus never stopped studying either, that was something we shared—a love for knowledge. Perhaps that was why we were such a good match.
I couldn’t help the little tears that welled up in the corner of my eye. Whipping it away, I cursed my nostalgia. I was supposed to look strong today. I remember a decade ago, Rudeus came rushing into our house, an excited smile stretching across his face. He was carrying a severed arm, of all things. I can still picture him hurriedly brushing all my papers off the desk, dropping one of Badigadi’s arms onto the table with a heavy thud. He excitedly babbled, telling me the barrier that was used to seal it away had begun to fade, and he’d brought it home to study.
Those long days and sleepless nights spent hold-up in the study with him were some of the happiest I’d had in years. His eyes had that same inquisitive sparkle that they did back when I was his teacher. Also, I’ll admit, there was something... pleasing about seeing Sylphie holding our dinner, a hint of jealousy barely visible on her face as she peeked through her favored crack in the door. It was quite satisfying in a way.
After extensive study, we returned the arm to Badigadi on our next visit. It was quite the sight watching it melt back into him, his body reabsorbing it and growing back to its full height. The transformation was fascinating.But the changes in Rudeus didn’t fill me with awe. Knowing that his body was reaching its limit, that time was running out, made every new discovery feel a little hollow. He was 73 now, while I was over a century old. Yet because of my race, my body still looked so young, like a woman in her 40s. I would live another hundred years, maybe more, while he… he only had a handful left. I thought while looking over at Sylphie, the half-elf who stood beside me. She and Rudeus were the same age, yet she looked like she had barely turned 30. The years had been kind to her as well.

I thought about the last three months and all the work Rudeus had asked us to do for him—preparing this final gift for Badigadi. I smiled to myself, remembering how hard it had been, the time it took, the endless nights spent with Rudi perfecting every detail. Rudi and I were the most frugal in our family so when the cost of magic jewels we used reached more than two years income for me, I asked Rudi if it was ok to spend so much on a gift and he just squeezed my hand saying “it’s not just for him, it’s for her too”.
I thought about it for a second before replying, “I see, I’m sure she’ll be grateful.” I guess I could let the cost slide. If it were for someone he cared for, then the cost wouldn't matter. I breathed in deeply and audibly let it out slowly. That was why I fell in love with him. His compassion and self-sacrifice knew no bounds. I felt my lip quiver a little, so I tightened it, forming an involuntary pout that Rudi so often teased me about.

It appears that someone had swept; the chamber was not dusty, despite the long time it had been host to Immortal Demon King Badigadi. He was an unpopular prisoner to the Superd, but someone had recently started putting a little effort into caring for this space. The trio walked in slowly, the women quietly depositing the well-aged mage on his usual seat across the solid stone table. Rudeus gave a weary smile, it was not the cheerful one he sported every year.
Badi picked up on the unusual atmosphere right away; instead of his usual flamboyant greeting, he simply sat watching Rudeu’s wives work in silence. They didn't wait outside; they had entered with Rudeus sitting him down and began working on something. They both drew lines in magic ink on the stone floor with confidence. Only every now and then, glancing at a sheet of paper in their hands.
Badi turned to look at his aging friend, “No feast today, I was looking forward to something sweet.” Rudeus leaned forward, a melancholy look on his face, “I'm sorry.” Badi knew it was not about the food and simply smiled. “What is it that the great mage has to say to the foolish demon king?”
Rudeus began to talk, he didn't stop, he simply talked. Telling Badi about his children, about his sisters’ children. He talked and talked and talked about how much he enjoyed his life with his wives and his children and every happy memory he made while Badigadi sat alone inside his cell. Badi sat uncharacteristically quietly listening, not saying a word. Then Rudeus apologised again. Then he told Badi about Eris' passing, Rudeus apologised for keeping him from his fiancée for half a century.

Badi glanced over at Roxy, who had just finished drawing a small but very intricate magic circle next to Rudeus. While Sylphie was putting the finishing touches on a larger circle that wrapped around them all. Encircling Badis barrier, Roxys’ circle and Rudeus’ chair.
“What’s happening, old friend?” Badi finally asked
“There is no getting around it. I’ll be leaving this world soon, this is my final visit.”
Bahdigadi stood up, crossing one pair of arms over his chest, and bowed his head. “It has been an honor knowing you—” Rudeus lifted his hand, cutting him off.
“You’ll shame me if you make me cry in front of my young wives,” and they both smiled. “Pains me that I cannot return the time I took from you and Kishirika, so I leave you this.” Rudeus bent down, placing a hand on the large magic circle that surrounds them all and the smaller circle next to him. As he released mana into it. A golden barrier grew out of the ground and stretched to the roof, enclosing it. “This barrier is designed to be linked to Kishirika castle and the space within is, for all intents and purposes, part of the demon continent.” Badi furrowed his brow, trying to Make sense of his words. Then Rudeus turned to the side and placed his hand on the smaller circle just inside the new barrier and poured mana into it as well. “As long as she remains inside the barrier, the contract that binds her to the demon continent will remain unbroken. I leave you in her hands.”
With that, Rudeus stood up and his wives took his hands, helping him out of the chamber. Rudeus put his hand lightly on the Superd's shoulder and whispered. “Tell your people that they are released from their burden." And without a word, Rudeus turned around, focusing his magic on the rock wall. Roxy and Sylphie watched as the stones seemed to come to life and began to seal the gap shut..

As Rudeus was sealing the cave, Roxy yelled to stop him. Just as the last stone was moving into place, Roxy asked, “If you seal the cave, who’s going to clean up Badi’s waste?”
Rudeus froze, his hand still touching the wall next to where the opening used to be. His eyes widened and a familiar "oh, shit!" expression took hold of his face. After a little thought, he forced an unconvincing air of calm. "Ah, Roxy," he began, "I endured Kishirika's crap for thirty years. I figure it’s only fair she gets to deal with some of Badigadis’ now.".

Sylphie lifted her hand to her mouth, stifling a little chuckle. Just before the hole sealed completely, they saw the familiar light of a teleportation circle deep within, followed by the unmistakable laugh of Kishirika. “Hahaha, rejoice my subjects for the Great Empress has arri—” the hole closed, cutting off her words.