[Null POV] Year 5, Day 206 (1 day until race)
Null stood outside the cottage in darkness. Everyone else slept. She didn’t need sleep, never had. Just existed there, watching the night.
Space warped nearby. Transfer circle activating.
A daemon materialized. The same one from yesterday – she recognized him immediately. The one who’d answered questions about the race, explained why Kira would never win against her sister, talked about dragon racing details.
He noticed her and approached directly. No hesitation.
“You’re the one who wanted the books,” he stated. Not a question.
Null nodded.
He started pulling volumes from his Item Box. Many of them. Twenty total, each one massive and heavy. Set them on a nearby table carefully.
“Torentos – had to track down copies across the city. Central never sleeps, but midnight isn’t main business time for bookshops, so took some effort. Maya was easier – we had complete collection in sanctuary library. Nobody reads those anyway, so you can keep them.”
So many books. So much knowledge.
The daemon continued. “Also, you mentioned wanting certain food items?”
Null pulled out her list. She’d prepared it carefully, knowing someone would ask.
He took it, scanned through. Paused. “Uh, we have like twenty types of eggs. Also hundred types of this spice – maybe more, I’m not even sure exactly – and these preserved fruits… probably same for lot of other things here. Want to come select yourself? Your simple list versus our large selection – easier if you see options.”
Null hesitated. “Come?”
“The sanctuary food storage. Just quick wrap away through transfer circle.”
She wasn’t fully sure. Going away from Master while he slept…
Through the seed network, Spy’s voice came. Warm, encouraging. «Go taste and check. I know you like food-related things and you’re super interested. I’ll keep watch on Master. If something happens, 22 and Kira are also here.»
Null nodded to the daemon. “Yes.”
They stepped through the transfer circle. Reality shifted. Emerged in a warehouse – multiple rooms, shelves everywhere, containers and boxes, magical preservation runes glowing softly throughout.
“Sanctuary’s main food storage,” the daemon explained while walking between shelves. “Boss – X – doesn’t count money that much. Not his money anyway, Union’s. So he focuses on keeping everyone happy. Result? We ended up with massive hoard over centuries. Magic keeps everything fresh indefinitely.”
Null walked between shelves, examining. Processing. This was… incredible. Professional. Exactly what they needed.
Their current food storage back home looked absolutely pathetic compared to this facility. She made mental note: request something similar. They needed this system.
The daemon noticed her eyes tracking everything. “Want to try things? Most items here are still raw ingredients, but you can taste what’s edible as stored.”
Null looked at him.
He grinned. “Come on. Let’s taste everything interesting.”
They spent hours there. Him showing items, her tasting everything that looked good. Building catalog in her mind. Understanding what existed, what was possible, what they needed to acquire.
When they returned, the daemon explained while unloading selected ingredients. “Most daemon foods take days to make, sometimes weeks. We’re long-living, and most of us get obsessed with perfecting things. Food especially. But I picked some faster options for today.”
They started working together. The meat mixture needed marinating – mashed and seasoned, ready for cooking later. The daemon walked her through each step, explaining why things mattered instead of just what to do.
Null found herself appreciating his teaching style. Ealdred was all about classical precision and punishment for mistakes. This was different – detailed, patient, actually helpful.
Mid-preparation, the Twins appeared. Looking panicked.
“Big sis! We need to go! Master Ealdred called!”
Null stopped working. “What does Ealdred want? Middle of night?”
“Don’t know! Just said come now!”
The daemon looked up. “Ealdred? The maid trainer Ealdred?”
“Yes,” Null confirmed.
The daemon helped immediately. “Come on, I’ll get you to the platform.”
He led them out. Null followed partway, watching. The Twins reached the transfer circle, vanished through it.
The daemon returned, shaking his head with a grin. “Soon as they cleared the platform outside, they transformed and flew off. Big dragon, or something that looked like one. I’ve seen enough actual dragons to know that wasn’t quite right, but still impressive.”
They went back to the kitchen. Started working again.
Null couldn’t stop thinking about it though. “What would make Ealdred call them? Middle of the night? That urgently?”
She wasn’t really expecting an answer – just thinking out loud. Trying to make sense of it.
The daemon paused. “Actually… when I was tracking down those books earlier, there was news going around. Old Capital – someone hit a noble mansion. Big attack. Almost everyone dead.”
He continued while working. “Heard it housed a lot of Ealdred-trained maids. You know how he is about them – famous for it. If something happened to maids he trained…” He shrugged. “Makes sense he’d want to see it himself. Get there fast.”
That did make sense. Null thought it through – Ealdred would call the Twins back to Borderwatch first, then fly with them. Faster than trying to arrange other transport. Old Capital was on the opposite end of the Republic from Borderwatch. They were in Central now – literally the center. Old Capital was way out on the coast, around the usable farmland the Republic had. Used to be the capital back when the Republic first formed, before Central grew bigger. Still massive though – second biggest city, one of the largest harbors in the world from what Null had learned.
Null remembered something else. Old Capital was Kira’s family home. The Razorclaw seat. Kira had talked about the fish market there many times. Best fish food anywhere, she’d said. Only time Null had seen Kira getting genuinely happy and excited about food topics. Almost passionate about it. Though that applied to all feline beastkin anyway – they all loved fish.
But Old Capital was too far from Borderwatch for easy visits. This world was massive. The continent probably bigger than entire Earth from Null’s original world. The Republic itself was similar size to Eurasia and Africa combined. Distances that made casual travel impossible.
They kept working. Finished the meat prep, got it into pots. Made some dough. The daemon kept teaching while they worked, and Null kept learning.
She thought again – this guy really should run a cooking school or something. Way better at teaching than Ealdred’s classical approach of “do it perfectly or get punished.”
When they finished, Null asked, “Is there water nearby? For washing?”
The daemon looked at her, confused. “You want to wash? You look fine though.”
“Dress,” she clarified.
“Oh! Yeah, follow me. There’s a river.”
The river wasn’t far. Just far enough that you couldn’t see or hear it from where they’d been standing before.
Null willed her clothes off. One moment wearing them, next moment in front of her on the ground.
The daemon undressed also.
That’s when Null noticed – his lower half was completely flat. Front and back. Just smooth skin where anatomy should be.
He caught her staring and laughed. “Expecting to see something there?”
Null nodded without thinking.
He walked into the water, still amused. “Daemons aren’t really like the other races. More spirit than flesh. We pick a form that lets us fit in with whoever we’re around.” He dove under, came up, started washing. “Takes time and effort to change it, so most of us stick with one form our whole lives.”
Null entered the water, started working on her dress.
“Lot of daemons pick flashy forms,” he continued. “Beautiful females especially – opens doors, makes things easier. Also gives us a terrible reputation in some places.” He paused. “Some of us even take monster forms. Live with them, look like them. But underneath? We’re all the same. Born from eggs, live long enough to collect essence, then we become eggs ourselves at the end. Next generation.”
Null washed carefully, thinking about that. “I haven’t met many daemons. The few I have though – none of them seemed interested in… that kind of thing. Made me wonder about your race surviving long-term. Usually those urges are everywhere.”
The daemon laughed – actually laughed, like she’d said something genuinely funny. “No daemon’s ever going to be interested in any of the races that way. Not even the ones walking around in beautiful bodies. It’s just the most efficient form evolution found. All those people chasing after flashy daemons? Idiots.”
“Oh.” Null processed that. “I didn’t know. Thank you for explaining.”
He grinned. “You know what’s funny? I’m supposedly an expert on love.”
Null looked at him, confused. “What?”
“My form, my nature – females use me to cry on or ask for advice all the time. Love problems, relationship problems, all that.” He swam back toward shore. “Not sure someone who only knows the scientific definition should be giving advice, but here we are.”
Through the network, Spy’s voice came with clear amusement. «Perfect gay friend, Host.»
Null kept washing her dress. The daemon seemed okay. She liked how he talked. Direct, honest, no complications.
The daemon finished his swim and got out. Started working on his clothing. But it wasn’t like any clothing care Null had ever seen or heard about.
The seamstress had mentioned men’s clothing was rougher, built to withstand harsher treatment. But this…
He put soap inside the fabric. Dunked it in the river few times. Then started hitting the clothing against rocks. Hard. One rock actually cracked under the impact.
More water to rinse all the soap out. Then he just dressed himself in the wet clothing and cast fire magic on himself. Everything dried in moments.
Null almost wanted to ask what that was. But something in her instincts said it was okay. That this was what the clothing wanted. Needed even.
She continued washing her own things. Started pulling more items from her Item Box. Placed them on the shore, stacking them carefully.
The daemon watched with interest. “You want to merge them?”
Null nodded.
“Then mix them more while washing. Put different pieces together in the water. Let them share the same space, same experience.” He gestured at the river. “And wash yourself in same water. Swim with the clothing around you. Creates connection. They bond to you, bond to each other.”
He continued, more technical now. “Use nice facilities usually. But once a week, use natural water like this. River, lake, ocean. Different element. Prevents bonding from stagnating. Keeps it growing.”
Null tried it. Gathered her clothing pieces in the water around her. Swam with them. Mixed them together. Washed herself and the garments in same space.
And… something. Feedback again. Stronger than before. The clothing responding. Pleased. Connected.
The daemon noticed her expression. “You felt that?”
“Yes.”
He looked impressed. “You have to have crazy potential with mind reading if you can detect feelings from something as alien as legendary clothing. Usually only top seamstresses can somewhat sense it, and even then barely.”
He paused, thinking. “If you manage to use those books properly – the mind magic ones – result could be both beautiful and terrifying.”
“Beautiful because abilities in use are always nice. Terrifying because no privacy anywhere near you. Horrible for everyone else.”
He grinned. “But in my book? More beautiful than horrible. Watching someone master their potential is worth the privacy cost.”
Null filed that away. More reason to study carefully.
The daemon pulled something from his storage. Metal plate. Asked, “Can I draw you?”
Null didn’t answer right away. The question unexpected again. Processing what he was asking, why someone would—
He must have thought she was upset. Started explaining quickly. “It’s just hobby. Interest in form and anatomy. Not anything sexual – I already explained about daemons. I have drawings of lots of people who agreed. Galadriel, others. Just capturing shapes and movement.”
He pulled out his collection again, showing examples.
Null could barely read his thoughts – mind almost empty. Everything he thought came out his mouth. No hidden desires. No suppressed agenda. Just honest interest.
She’d seen this before with few daemons over the years. Complete lack of sexual interest. This reproductive cycle explanation connected everything.
She nodded. “Okay.”
He looked pleased. Settled on the riverbank. Started working on the metal plate with some kind of magic – one thread at a time, creating picture directly onto the surface.
Through the network, Spy’s voice came. «You know he’s making naked picture of you, right?»
Null thought about it. «He clearly likes making them. And he would die before sharing these pictures with anyone unauthorized.» She’d read that much from him. Plus all those other females who’d trusted him to make their pictures.
«Just checking, Host.»
Null continued washing. Trying the new techniques. Mixing garments. Swimming with them. Feeling the connection strengthen.
By the end – success. Noticeable improvement. The bonding had deepened. She’d mix techniques in the future. There were few nice rivers near Borderwatch. Could use those regularly.
Maybe get a fishing pole for the Twins. They’d probably enjoy that. And Flower-siren would like swimming in those rivers. Make it proper visits. Not just dress washing. Activities. Things to do together.
The daemon finished. He’d made two pictures during the long washing session. Handed one to Null. “For you. Reminder of the technique maybe.”
Null took it. Examined it. The quality was incredible. Every detail captured precisely.
“Thank you.”
They were heading back toward the cottages when Null spotted someone coming from that direction.
Kira. Wet. Covered in something – sticky-looking, dripping. Her maid dress soaked with it.
Null tried to be helpful. Friendly. “Nice river here. You can wash your dress too.”
Kira’s face went red. Then she exploded.
“ARE YOU INSANE?! WASH MY DRESS IN A RIVER?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT PROPER STANDARDS?! PROCEDURES?! DEDICATED FACILITIES?!”
Null felt confused. The river worked fine. What was the problem?
The daemon tried to help. Calm, academic tone. “Maintenance care is more important than location. Consistent daily attention creates stronger bonding than elaborate facilities used irregularly. The water source matters less than—”
“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!” Kira’s voice pitched higher.
“Actually, that is precisely the point,” the daemon continued, clinical and precise. “Your attachment to facility standards over actual care quality demonstrates fundamental misunderstanding of bonding mechanics. Location is aesthetic preference. Care consistency is functional requirement.”
Kira looked like she was about to explode further. “You’re DEFENDING river washing! BOTH of you!”
“It’s efficient,” Null stated simply.
The daemon nodded agreement. “Exactly. Water is clean, process is thorough, results are excellent. Your objection is purely cultural, not practical.”
“CULTURAL?!” Kira stared at him. Then at Null. “What is your NAME? Who ARE you to lecture ME about—”
“I don’t have one,” the daemon said simply.
Silence. Kira processing. “You… don’t have a name?”
“My tribe requires names to be earned. Gifted by elders or those we respect. I haven’t earned mine yet.”
Kira looked like this was the final straw. “You don’t even have a NAME and you’re lecturing ME about standards and procedures—”
She stopped. Took breath. Visibly fighting for control.
“I’m going to find my own quiet place. To wash myself and my dress. PROPERLY. Away from river-washing lunatics who don’t even have NAMES!”
She stormed past them. Still dripping with whatever that sticky substance was. Heading toward the river despite her protests about standards.
Null watched her go, still confused about what the problem was. Even mind reading didn’t help—angry people often didn’t have clear minds to read, just random explosions of rage against whatever poor target was available. Hard to get actual answers when there were no clear thoughts, just chaos.
Then noticed another figure. 22. Coming from the cottages. Also carrying her dress, clearly heading somewhere to wash it.
Through the seed network, Null reached out. «Maid dress maintenance?»
Brief pause. Then 22’s response, carrying weight of realization. «Yes. Proper care.»
«River is good. Builds bonding.»
22’s presence in the network felt like she wanted to argue. Then resignation. «Understood.»
She altered course. Heading toward where they’d just come from. Toward the river. Her expression showed someone who’d just been reminded of standards and was not happy about being caught lacking.
The daemon watched both departing figures with amusement. “That tiger really needs to calm down. Stress response makes sense given her situation though.”
Null agreed. Kira’s situation was terrible. But efficient washing techniques were still efficient regardless of stress levels.
They continued back to the cottages.
As they approached the cottages, Null noticed the group ahead. X, Galadriel, a cowkin female she’d seen yesterday sampling an entire box of coca-cola with hamburgers, and a wyvern.
The wyvern caught her attention immediately.
Null had seen wyverns yesterday – the two used for initial training – and few more that had arrived with riders earlier this morning. All of them carried themselves with pride. Loyalty visible in their bearing. Oaths and bonds making them dignified, serious creatures.
This wyvern was… different.
It looked happy. Extremely happy. Like – Null struggled to find comparison – someone who’d just left a brothel maybe? That kind of satisfied, content, blissful expression.
And its mind. Null could read surface thoughts easily. The wyvern’s mind was full of strange fantasies involving Kira. Too dragony, too alien for Null to fully understand. Images of scales and essence and something that felt like hunger but not for food.
She remembered what Kira had looked like. Wet. Covered in that sticky substance.
Through the network, Spy’s voice came. Sharp, confused, demanding. «What the HELL is happening here?»
Spy couldn’t expose himself – X had seen him but these others hadn’t. But clearly he was watching through her senses and equally baffled.
Null approached the group. Asked directly, “Is this Kira’s wyvern?”
X tried to answer. Failed immediately. Started laughing. Uncontrollably.
Galadriel tried. Also failed. Started laughing too.
The cowkin collected herself somewhat. Professional effort but clearly struggling. “Well. Jack got the wyvern as requested. Old owners didn’t know what to do with it. Too unruly, too wild.”
She paused, fighting laughter. “We showed him some wyvern ladies to make a deal. Standard motivation. But this bastard understood he had leverage. Detected the dragon essence in Kira. Demanded Kira was also part of the package.”
Brief pause. Failed composure attempt. “X and the wyvern had discussion about it. You should have seen Kira’s face. Pure panic. Probably thinking she’d have to—well. Boss was serious. Kira panicking.”
She stopped. Laughed for several seconds. Collected herself with visible effort.
“Eventually they compromised. Wyvern was allowed to lick Kira. For about an hour. Just licking. Absorbing dragon essence through contact.”
Another pause. More suppressed laughter. “Boss finally stopped it. Afraid the wyvern might evolve on the spot if it got more essence.”
X recovered enough to add, still grinning, “This bad boy will evolve anyway in few days. But should be fine until race. Can’t wait to see how it performs in breeding program. So much dragon essence absorbed.”
Through the network, Spy was laughing. Hard. «Oh that’s perfect. That’s absolutely perfect. Poor Kira.»
Everyone else in the group – X, Galadriel, the cowkin – all laughing. Sharing the story. Finding it hilarious.
Null and the daemon looked at each other. Not laughing. The daemon seemed mildly amused but not finding it that funny. Null felt… nothing really. Just processing information.
Something was missing. Some context or understanding that made this hilarious to everyone else. She couldn’t identify what.
But she could ask the practical question. “Does this mean the wyvern will help Kira?”
X nodded, still grinning. “Oh yes. Very cooperative. Very motivated. Best possible scenario for her actually. The wyvern’s completely on board.”
That was useful information at least. Kira’s wyvern would work with her. One advantage in otherwise terrible situation.
The daemon looked at the wyvern thoughtfully. “Interesting motivation structure. Unconventional but effective.”
X clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s one way to describe it.”
Null found something else interesting in the cowkin’s mind. She was a known chatterbox, and X had given her a task—go talk about this Kira and wyvern motivating scene somewhere it would reach Kira’s brother Aldric before the day ended.
Kira had asked X to make sure her brother heard about her training struggles. Well, after something like this licking scene, Aldric would definitely think Kira was trying hard and suffering appropriately. Perhaps not what Kira had in mind when asking for it—X was clearly having too much fun with the execution—but the result would be efficient, so that was all that mattered.
Null and the daemon headed to the kitchen area. Time to prepare breakfast for everyone.
“What are we making?” the daemon asked while examining the ingredients they’d prepared earlier.
“English breakfast,” Null said. Started pulling out eggs, sausages, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread.
The daemon watched her work with interest. “Never seen this combination before. Interesting. Not bad though – looks fast to prepare.”
Null showed him the technique. Simple but specific. Everything cooked separately, plated together. The daemon learned quickly, asking good questions about timing and temperature.
They were making good progress when some dwarves appeared. Looking hopeful. One spoke up, “Any chance of getting something to drink? Proper drink?”
The daemon answered before Null could. “Already prepared. Got selection when we were in storage earlier.” He pulled bottles from his Item Box. Beer. Ale. Something stronger.
The dwarves looked relieved. Almost emotional about it.
After they left with their drinks, the daemon explained to Null. “If you serve food to dwarves and there’s no alcohol? Your food is always a failure. Doesn’t matter how good it is. No alcohol means you didn’t care enough to get it right.”
Null filed that away. Important information. Ealdred had never taught that. Too classical, too rigid in his approach. This daemon understood practical details that actually mattered.
[Once back home and Kira calmed down, will ask him to hire someone who can teach things like that to the maids. Or maybe just hint about it to Ealdred. Better teaching methods. More practical knowledge. Less rigid classical approach.]
People started heading out. Getting ready for the day’s training. Kira flying practice, weapons testing, race preparation.
Null watched them organize. Then looked at the daemon. Something had been on her mind.
“Is it not bad to be without name? Would you like one?”
The daemon stopped what he was doing. Looked at her carefully. “Of course I would like one. But a name that’s not earned goes against everything I believe in. Many have offered, but it’s mostly out of pity.”
He paused, then asked, “How did you get your name? You’re a monster – they’re not born with names.”
“Gave it to myself,” Null said simply.
The daemon’s eyes widened. “That’s… that’s nearly impossible. I’ve never seen anyone who actually managed it. Seen some fools who tried and messed it up. Paid costly for it too.”
Null just shrugged. She didn’t really understand what the big deal was.
The daemon studied her more carefully now. “Have you actually named anyone other than yourself?”
“Void.”
The daemon looked surprised again. “You named your master?” He thought for moment. “Wait. You found a nameless elf slave and gave him a name?”
“Yes. But didn’t exactly just find him.”
“What do you mean?”
“There were some slavers around.” Null said it casually. Matter-of-fact.
The daemon understood. Didn’t say anything for moment. For the first time since meeting him, Null saw him struggle to find words. His mind though – she could read it clearly.
[Most beautiful story I’ve ever heard. Monster kills slavers, finds nameless slave, frees him, gives him name, then decides to serve him.]
Null felt pleased. He got it. Understood their meeting in the correct way. Saw it how it actually was. Beautiful and right.
She hugged him. She’d learned the meaning somewhat – humans did it. The Twins did it often. Seemed fitting.
The daemon froze for second, then carefully returned it.
When Null stepped back, she asked, “Do you want me to give you a name?”
She heard his mind first – immediate acceptance. Then calculation. Reason would be nice too. Good reason.
So Null explained. “You taught me dwarves need alcohol or every food is failure. Ealdred never taught that. You gifted me this beautiful picture.” She gestured at the painting stored in her Item Box. “Taught new ways to take care of dress. And—”
The daemon stopped her. Speaking this time, not just thinking. “I agree. It would be an honor.” He paused, looking slightly smug. “Also, it’s very interesting having discussions where you read my mind faster than I can say things out loud. Makes things easier.”
Null nodded. Then stopped. Name. She needed to give him a name. Couldn’t give some half-assed one. She’d never thought this through…
What were cool daemon names? She tried to think. From her original world. Associated with daemons, with knowledge, with…
Ah. Lucifer.
“I name you Lucifer.”
The daemon – Lucifer – bowed. Then she saw tears. Actual tears. Happiness showing clearly.
“I thank you, Namegiver.” His voice steady despite the tears. “It’s an interesting name. Never heard it before. I will try to honor it as well as I can.”
Through the network, Spy’s voice came. Warm. Genuine. «Nice to see you have a friend, Host. Actual friend. Not just useful person. Friend who you care about naming. Friend who makes you sad thinking about leaving.»
Null wanted to argue. But couldn’t. The feelings were there. This was friendship. She accepted it.
