Peter was in a small room with a stone table taking nearly two thirds of the space. On it, there were a bunch of parchments, one of them was an approximative map of Tol’Osa, another one was a map of the surroundings of the town. Against walls, other scrolls were stored on shelves. Cherry was sitting in the only chair of the room, looking at Peter.

  She was covered in medical bandages, like a mummy. On her head, only her eyes and her mouth were visible. She was wearing the same brown tunic as almost everyone else except hers had a symbol sewn on it, a red shield with a small black x in the center.

  “So, Cherry. Who are you, what’s your story and what can you tell me about your barrack and the other ones? ” Peter asked.

  “You know, it’s quite rude to ask someone about their past here in Hell.” Cherry said back with a bad smile.

  “I also know council members can completely ignore that rule for the safety of the town. So ?” Peter said, remembering what Donero told him.

  “Fine.” Cherry said. ” My name is Cherry. I served as a resistant nurse when our town got invaded by the German Authoritarian Empire and I got caught, you can guess the end. Since the Absolute left us behind with that authoritarian mess, I did not want to go to Heaven. I was noticed by Edgar when I arrived. A couple of years later I was a captain in the center barrack, a bad assault of hellhounds four years later in the town and the commandant place was open.”

  “Really ? A bad assault ? ” Peter said, dubious.

  “I swear neither myself or Edgar were involved in this.” Cherry said, raising her hands. “It was just a very large pack. You know, the kind of pack that deals massive damage to a town when they don’t have a secret Primordial ready to slaughter it.”

  “Yeah, I see. What’s about these barracks ? Neither Donero nor Sophie could give me detailed explanations.” Peter said, waving a hand around the room.

  “Well, each of them are basically the same. A dormitory, a communal kitchen and hall, a bathroom, a war room, a small reserve and a training courtyard. The only major difference is the area of influence. Here, at the central one, we mainly resolve issues in the town. The other barracks manage the land in their direction and escort our harvesters outside of the town.”

  “Why the rest of the council doesn’t have this information ?” Peter asked, curious about it.

  “Mostly because they are too busy managing other aspects of the town. Also because Edgar was not very talkative about it.” Cherry said with a smile.

  “And the part about you and Edgar ? ” Peter asked.

  “Hey, that’s private.” Cherry said, offended.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Not when that starts a fight between commandants. Answer the question.” Peter said, trying to enforce some authority.

  Cherry took a long and deep breath. Peter could see her bandages fluctuating. She was probably hesitating between answering and starting a fight again.

  “You killed the man I loved.” Cherry said, trying to stay calm despite emotions. ”And, yes, he loved me back since I arrived in Hell. But it was my abilities and my skills that got me there. Not what I was doing in my free time. There are just some demons that can not comprehend this.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Cherry. I had no other choice.” Peter said with a softer voice. She was honest, or as honest a demon could be for Peter but he did not have any other option except to believe her for now.

  “I know.” Cherry said, removing a tear from her eyes. “He was quite stubborn about Primordials and I always knew this anger was not a good thing for him. But I never expected he would go this far. Even I felt you were too powerful for anyone here.”

  “It did not prevent you from starting a fight when I came in.” Peter retorted.

  “I was angry !” Cherry shouted. Peter looked at her with a mean look and she calmed down “I still am. Those emotions clouded my decisions and I wanted revenge, trying to find help where I could and…”

  “And the others had similar feelings and you thought you had a chance in a one versus twenty five.” Peter interrupted her. “Despite what Sophie tried to prevent this to happen.”

  “Yes.” Cherry said with a small voice lowering her head.

  “But when I powered up, you knew at least some if not most of you wouldn’t survive. You chose to back down to preserve your teammates lives. Because except Alphons, everyone was ready to follow you, am I right ?”

  “Yes, I thought about Edgar telling us how he lost a team against a Primordial and what he felt and I did not want to feel the same thing.” Cherry said with a trembling voice. “Am I a bad commandant for almost leading my team to a slaughter ?”

  “Are you, a fifty year old demon, asking the one week old lucky newbie if you are a bad commandant ?” Peter asked with a smile. “How would I answer you ? I only know my role because a fish clerk with zero emotions and way too many years spent in books delivered me one of the most tiring crash courses I ever got.”

  “Hey, do not bad mouth Donero ! He is the one really running the town.” Cherry said with a serious tone raising back her head.

  “At least, that got you in better shape.” Peter said. “So, no more trying to kill me, Cherry ?”

  Peter extended his hand toward the bandage demon but Cherry shook her head before raising from her chair. Peter started to power up again, shaking the building a little.

  “Cherry ?” Peter started, but Cherry interrupted him, putting her left hand against her torso.

  “I, Cherry, first and central commandant, declare the Primordial Peter as my sole and only leader. May you bring us a safe demon existence here in Hell.”

  “Why is there so much protocol ? ” Peter said, raising his eyes and powering down.

  “Because order is the only thing preventing us from falling back to our most devious instinct.” Cherry said with confidence.

  “You fought against the Authoritarians and you speak of order ? Don’t make me laugh.” Peter said.

  “Back then, I was human and alive. Now, unless you have other questions, I think you have your other commandants to meet.” Cherry said, indicating the door.

  “You’re right. Let’s end this discussion. For now.” Peter said, trying to show some authority, before leaving the room.