Phaedra stared out over the claimed territory, eyeing the elven city from her position on top of the largest tower. It felt weird. During the war she’d always been told the demons were like a plague, a swarm washing over the land. Destroying all in their path. ‘Vermin that cared for nothing but destruction’.

  But the city still stood. The elves within seemed scared, but hardly exterminated.

  Then again, they had apparently surrendered once the army arrived. Her father had many faults, but he wasn’t a merciless slaughterer of the innocent. Even if she had once thought he was.

  She thought this tower would have meant more to her, considering it was the place she had been summoned to this world. She wondered if it was odd that she hadn’t really noticed until now. Even now she only realized it was because this view was so familiar. Elves had such weird building habits. It was always massive phallic symbols that seemed to stab at the skyline, each with attached flagpoles or something else to ensure they were ‘taller’ than they actually were.

  Then again, it only ever seemed to be that way in the major cities. There probably were plenty of advantages to having the tallest building as well. Still seemed like a waste to her. It wasn’t like the world was suffering from overcrowding, they had plenty of space to expand. She supposed that, as well, was another reminder that she had once been human. Everything here always seemed to be built with the future in mind. Very little was actually considered disposable and everything always seemed to be built with the expectation that if it could be, it would be used for the next few centuries. Expanded on.

  When you suspected you’d be there in the next few centuries, it was probably a little easier to think that far ahead. She wondered if she’d be looking out over the world in a century or two. Would her friends be with her? Would Yroth? Would her dad? Or would he be trying to kill her? Was she going to be hunted by her own family?

  She wondered what it said about her that even though she felt more like the human she had once been than the demon she was now, she felt far closer to her demonic family than she ever had her human one. Or maybe it said more about her prior family. She leaned against the battlements and sighed. More and more of her cousins were arriving, and her uncle was already here. Soon she’d have to face them and hope they didn’t already know who, and what, she was.

  She wondered if the gods of this world even listened to her when she prayed, but she hoped they did. Despite it being the reason she was summoned to this world to begin with, she prayed that she wouldn’t have to fight her family. She knew it would likely enrage Yroth, likely disgust the rest of her friends. It even offended her, a little. But she couldn’t help it. She loved them. Violent, dangerous, brutal, even sometimes cruel. But they were the only family she’d ever truly known and she didn’t want to lose them.

  “Gods, I am pathetic,” Phaedra whispered softly.

  ------

  Phaedra felt as if every eye was on her. It wasn’t, she knew it wasn’t. In fact, very few of them were. But she still couldn’t help feeling like they were all watching and waiting for her to make a mistake. Her father only had the one child, while her uncle had considerably more. So whenever these gatherings happened, she couldn’t help but feel the odd one out. Especially considering, as far as she knew, she was the only one here about to have her name hunted. On the upside, it seemed it was only their immediate family who chose to attend, so her uncle and a few of his children. Circe being here wasn’t really a surprise, considering she came to retrieve her. The Twins, the Viper, the Spider (Phaedra swore one day she’d figure out how an elk demon got THAT nickname) and then one who, like her, was away from the group.

  Drolveth. A demon, obviously. He had the same elven features of his father, with glowing red eyes. Aside from that, she couldn’t remember much about him. But she knew she had seen his demonic form and she’d seen the type of demon he was before. Yet she, for the life of her, couldn’t remember what features he’d had. For the moment he was sitting on a crate, a book open in his hands. Seemingly ignoring everyone.

  It sent shivers down her spine. She always hated that about him, always forgetting, only to remember later what he was… then have it disappear from her mind when he wasn’t around. She hated demons that did memory things like that.

  “You look ready to run,” Circe said, making her jump and look towards the succubus.

  “Just nervous,” Phaedra said.

  “Awwww, is the lil sheep scared of the big bad Medon?” Circe asked. “Hard to believe I saw you snuggled up against an Ascended Dragon just a little bit ago.”

  “Dragons are easy,” Phaedra said before she could help herself. “But Medon is… troubling.”

  Circe shook her head and lightly chuckled. “I’ll never understand you, sheep. Trust me, compared to that dragon? Medon won’t be anything to worry about. If he’s even really here. I think you have something larger to worry about.”

  “I do?” Phaedra asked.

  “Yes, obviously,” Circe said before spreading out her wings. “Your name? It’s about time for you to start to seek out your own. You have your own territory now, so it’s kind of expected.” She then frowned before shaking her head. “Or are you trying to do what daddy is doing?”

  “Making my name into a legend?” Phaedra asked. “I’ve… been thinking on it. Perhaps even try to replace my father, one day.”

  “Replace Fenrir with Phaedra?” Circe asked before giving a light laugh. “You’d need quite a few names before you’d even try. I-- ah hell. Sorry, cousin. You’re on your own,” she said before quickly walking away towards Obsius.

  Phaedra blinked a few times, staring at her cousin’s retreating form. On her own? Why was she--

  A pair of incredibly muscular, scaled arms wrapped around her a moment later, making her shriek before she was hugged to a slightly damp, massive chest. She looked up to see a gray head and a mouth filled with rows of massive, razor sharp teeth. “Gibs!” she said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice when she realized who the massive shark demon was.

  “Long time no see, lil Phae,” he said with a laugh that was so gentle it barely suited his massive, muscular form. “It’s Leviathan when I’m acting as one of Fenrir’s generals. You know that.”

  “Oh, right,” Phaedra said before giving him a cheeky grin. “Hi, Gibs.”

  He gave a light chuckle and a tight squeeze before letting her go. The towering demon looked down at her with dark blue eyes. “I hear you’ve been up to all kinds of trouble. As expected from my student.”

  “Just a little bit,” Phaedra said before glancing back towards her cousins and uncle. “So, why are you here? Wait, we’re not secretly related, are we? That would explain so much.”

  “No,” Gibs said, shaking his head at her joke. “Your father just wanted to make sure I was around in case things got out of hand.”

  “Uh huh,” Phaedra said. “So… you do know why we’re all here?”

  “Of course,” Gibs said. “And before you ask, no. I can’t tell you.”

  “Awwww,” Phaedra said. “Just a hint?”

  “Fine, just one,” Gibs said before grabbing her shoulder and turning her around. “Pay attention.”

  “Huh?” she asked before realizing how quiet it had gotten. Fenrir had entered the room, but she wasn’t certain that was why it had gotten so quiet. What had everyone’s attention was the man trailing just a little behind him. A middle-aged elf. He looked… familiar. Though she couldn’t be sure why. Her father didn’t directly employ many elves and he hardly looked dangerous.

  “Circe,” Fenrir said, his eyes locking onto her cousin. “I expected a larger turnout. I hope you didn’t leave anybody out just because you wanted less competition.”

  “I delivered the message to everybody I was asked, my lord,” Circe said in a mildly annoyed, almost dismissive tone. “It turns out, most of them didn’t want to drop everything to come here and see what you have to show us based on a rumor. So, what DO you have to show us?”

  Fenrir gave a sigh before turning to the elf. “Not what I, but what he has to tell us. Now then, this is Flinar.” He lifted up a claw and placed it on the elf’s shoulders, making him jump and stand at attention. “Nearly a century ago, he was the personal assistant to High Mage Rendel.”

  THAT WAS WHERE SHE KNEW HIM! Phaedra had to suppress the desire to yell out at him. He looked a little older now, but he’d always been following in Rendel’s shadow. Taking notes, disposing of things for him. Casting worried looks at Medon.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “So?” Obsius asked, managing to sound a little annoyed. “Brother, I really hope you didn’t make me come all the way here to see you brag about how you’ve taken the elven capital. What does this have to do with Medon?”

  Fenrir laughed and shook his head. “An impatient lot, aren’t you? Well then, allow me to explain. Rendel was the man who summoned Medon. When we were within inches of capturing him, he took his own life, denying me the opportunity. However…” He then nudged Flinar forward, making the elf gulp when every eye fell on him.

  “A-ah. Right,” Flinar said before coughing into his fist. “High Mage Rendel had… some particular ideas that were not… entirely accepted by many of my brethren. While he kept most of his work hidden, he’d often have me dispose of things for him. I uhhhh… always made sure to keep records of things I felt might be useful in the future. In the event, errr… a wise, generous, mighty--”

  “Less groveling, get to the point,” Fenrir said with a low growl.

  “Of course, your lordship,” Flinar said quickly. “Medon’s summoning was rife with… issues. Namely, the first attempt failed. High Mage Rendel decided to alter the spell and summon Medon using items from his last summoning. However, he tampered with the spell considerably more than just that. He made it so, when Medon died, he would be reborn.”

  A hush fell over those gathered, every eye locked on him. She almost felt bad for him. Almost.

  “More than that, when he was reborn he would be born into a female body, thereby weakening his powers as his name would be incorrect and wouldn’t properly bond with him. If he could even acquire it,” Flinar said. “If the spell worked correctly, it would have forced him to be reborn as a goblin.”

  “A goblin?” Obsius asked, his voice filled with relief. “So you mean to tell me Medon is out there somewhere, as a goblin?”

  Phaedra barely suppressed the urge to sigh with relief. A goblin. Oh, she couldn’t imagine anything less like her. She didn’t know what Rendel’s notes said, but it seemed they were wrong.

  “Possibly,” Flinar said. “But the most important part is why High Mage Rendel intended for this to happen. When this goblin is killed, their name will be bestowed on their killer. Even if Medon hasn’t acquired it yet. I believe he intended to remove the name from its position as one of the pillars of our world and permanently take it as his own. And all of the power that entailed.”

  Once more, silence fell over her family. Every eye was locked on him, but none of them could say a word. Not that she could blame them. If the power that Medon was supposed to wield was truly all she’d been told, it was incredible. But did that truly mean if anyone killed her, the power would be theirs?

  Finally, Fenrir began to laugh. “So I’m sure you can all imagine what an opportunity this is. Medon, when I faced him, was pathetic. But this? If he, now she, is truly reborn? This is an opportunity unlike any other. A chance to take that name for yourselves. Even if it’s not the full power of Medon, it will still be a worthy prize for even the greediest of demons.”

  “So, what, there’s a goblin out there with one of the most valuable names in existence?” Circe asked. “How do we know it hasn’t already been claimed?”

  “It may have been,” Flinar said. “Though, if… I may confirm one other thing. I can’t be certain he is a goblin. While making him be reborn as a woman was woven into the initial spell, I believe sending it to a goblin was what he intended to do once he died. But as the High Mage perished at the same time as Medon, I do not know if he managed to complete that portion of the spell. It is possible that he could have been reborn as anyone.”

  “So Medon could be literally anyone?” Obsius asked, the frustration clear in his voice. “Brother…”

  “Now now,” Fenrir said in an amused tone. “What fun would there be in a hunt that was too easy? The answer is simple. Somewhere out there is a woman with that name. Someone who is bound to be powerful, far more powerful than they should be. More importantly… we know what his goal is.”

  “What?” Phaedra asked.

  Fenrir looked to her and gave a grin. “My head.”

  There were excited murmurs amongst them for a few moments, the notion of this hunt obviously exciting all of them. She wished she could share their enjoyment.

  “Phaedra! You cheater!” Circe suddenly yelled, making her heart almost stop.

  “W-what?” Phaedra asked. “Cheater? How?”

  “Is this why you’ve been getting close to that dragon?” Circe asked, turning on her.

  “What?” Phaedra asked. “What does she have to do with Medon?”

  “If Medon is back, he’s going to definitely try and get his old friends back,” Circe said, her voice filled with annoyance. “Which means he’ll come right to you.”

  Phaedra blinked a few times, staring at her, and tried, desperately, to suppress the urge to scream. “You know, he probably would,” she said carefully. She looked around before glancing to her father. “I think she has a good point, Lord Fenrir. It’d be hardly fair if I was the only one to have such an edge. Perhaps all of the prior companions of Medon should be given. If we could turn them to our side, against Medon, then surely that would make it even easier. After all, if I could make an Ascended Dragon learn to enjoy my company… surely some of my cousins can do the same for an angel, a dryad and an elf?”

  “I call the angel,” Circe said quickly. Fortunately, within moments that sparked a whole new argument and yelling soon broke out. Phaedra felt relief wash over her as she saw her family start to squabble, grateful that her cousin’s focus was so easily diverted. Before long fights would break out, someone would rise above and then, when it was all over, they’d hopefully forget about her entirely.

  Hopefully they wouldn’t realize that Medon was doing exactly as they suspected. That the first thing she’d done when she could was seek out her companions. She quickly shuffled out of the room and let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against the door. Safe.

  “That was pretty clever, Little Phae,” Gibs said with a laugh, making her cringe and stand at attention.

  “It… it was?” Phaedra asked, turning to look at him. “I was uhhh… just…”

  “They’ll be squabbling over Medon’s companions for ages,” Gibs said. “By the time they notice you’re gone you’ll already have quite the lead on them.”

  “I mean, I already do,” Phaedra said. “Circe can probably do it, but I don’t think most of my kin are exactly… talented in the wooing department.” May her companions forgive her for whatever spectacle they would soon have to endure until she could save them. “Especially once they discover why. Then again, if they find out Medon’s true nature… well, they might be so furious they offer to help kill him immediately.”

  “Possibly,” Gibs said before leaning down to look her in the eye and then shoving something into her hands. She looked down at them for a moment before frowning.

  “Field reports?” Phaedra asked.

  “Your father isn’t supposed to play favorites,” Gibs said. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t. I’m not saying that Medon is one of them… but it wouldn’t surprise me to find out one of those women are her.”

  Phaedra nodded, her cheeks going red. “T-thank you, Gibs. Really. I’ll… I’ll do my best.”

  “I know you will,” Gibs said before reaching out to ruffle her hair a little. “You’ll make us all proud. My greatest student couldn’t do any less.”

  Phaedra nodded before quickly walking away, clutching the reports to her chest. She very, very much doubted she would make any of them proud.

  ------

  Phaedra stared at the reports and tried, desperately, to not feel too guilty. She failed.

  A few angels, dryads, elves, even a dragon or two (though none of them ascended). They were all going to become targets because of her. Sure, they were already targets because they were at war, but now they were extra targeted. Was there a way for her to warn them? Should she? Should she try and ‘capture’ all of them herself, so they could be saved? But if they were the heroes of her enemies, wouldn’t that be the same as waging this war herself? What even was the point of this stupid war? Claims over territory? Even if demons owned all the world, would they put a stop to it? Would they just make a new justification? She hated this war. She hated all this fighting. There wasn’t any reason for it. There wasn’t any glory. It was just a stupid waste that--

  A sudden knock on her door made her jump. She glanced towards it for a moment before sighing. “Come in. Door’s unlocked.” She hoped whatever it was was good news. Maybe her ship could finally leave this stupid city.

  The door opened and she froze when she saw who it was. Her father. “D-daddy?” Phaedra asked.

  “My little lamb chop,” Fenrir said before walking inside, slowly. “We… need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t,” Phaedra said before quickly lowering her gaze back to her work. “I’m busy.”

  “I can see that,” Fenrir said before walking forward and placing a palm down on the papers. “We still need to talk.”

  “I don’t wanna,” Phaedra said.

  “Phaedra!” Fenrir yelled, making her jump.

  “F-fine! Fine, let’s talk!” Phaedra yelled back, collapsing into her chair. “Talk. Just… talk.”

  Fenrir muttered under his breath before shaking his head. “All of this talk of Medon has gotten me thinking. Especially since…” He glanced down at the reports. “It was Leviathan, wasn’t it?”

  “None of your business,” Phaedra said, annoyed that he figured out who gave those to her so quickly.

  “My little lamb chop,” Fenrir said again in a soothing tone. “We need to talk about what happened, all those years ago. I… hoped you would have been over it by now. But…”

  “I don’t WANT to talk about it,” Phaedra said, crossing her arms and looking away from him. “I just—”

  “You’re scared of me, Phaedra,” Fenrir said softly. “It shows. More than that, you’re scared of others. This Medon… he will kill you if you try to fight him like this. I won my battle, but my capabilities are far beyond most.”

  “He’ll kill me?” Phaedra asked. Oh, she found that INCREDIBLY unlikely. Not that she could tell him that.

  “He is dangerous,” Fenrir said before walking to her side and kneeling down. “You know I’ve never wanted anything more than to keep you safe and happy,” he said gently. “But you’re growing up now. I can’t protect you anymore. But I can’t allow you to go out there and face the world like this. You’ve… barely even taken your wolf form since that day. I thought… I thought perhaps after your earlier fight, you might have finally recovered. But I can still see that fear from you. You need to face it.”

  Phaedra stared at him, biting back the words she desperately wanted to say. The words she didn’t dare say to him. What had truly terrified her on that day, so long ago. Seeing his full demonic form hadn’t been what made her so frightened.

  It was the day she remembered who she was. What she was.

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