The Broken Halo

The playfulness in Saevrith’s eyes faded slightly after hearing Korran speak about the invasion on earth.

She placed her glass on the table and leaned back against the couch.

"Where on Earth is the rift opening?"

"The northern Carpathian region," Korran replied. "A mountainous area in what the humans once called eastern Europe."

Saevrith’s brows rose slightly.

"Once called?"

"The names of several countries and territories changed after the death of the Hero of Earth. The region is now controlled by a human alliance that calls itself the Carpathian Front."

Korran paused, then continued.

"The rift is forming beneath a mountain range close to one of their fortified cities. There are forests, minor settlements, and several aether-rich regions nearby."

Saevrith picked up her glass again, but she did not drink.

"That sounds like a terrible place to establish a foothold."

"It is."

The mountains would make moving a large army difficult. The forests provided countless hiding places, but they could also be filled with traps and ambushes. Even worse, the human forces controlling the region had experience fighting demons and beasts that entered Earth through smaller rifts.

Korran’s expression became colder.

"The humans have noticed the rift."

Saevrith’s tail stopped moving.

"Really? You sure are unlucky."

Though her words sounded like she was mocking him, her tone and expression were not one of mockery.

She was being serious.

"It happens. Humans are also advancing, and don’t forget that they have seers and prophets that can predict where a rift would be formed."

"Either way, my sources confirmed that they began evacuating nearby settlements almost three weeks ago."

Saevrith crossed her legs with a slightly solemn expression.

"So they’ve started preparing for us."

"Yes."

Korran leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees.

"They have placed soldiers, demon slayers, hunters, and aether engineers around the region. They are constructing fortifications while trying to collapse the rift before it stabilizes."

Saevrith narrowed her eyes.

"And how successful have they been?"

"Not successful enough."

A faint smile appeared on Korran’s lips, but there was no warmth in it.

"The rift has two sides. They can damage the spatial structure from Earth, but our stabilization arrays are holding it together from this side. Every time they weaken a section, our rune masters repair it and reinforce it."

Saevrith raised a brow.

"So we’re winning in regards to the opening of the rift."

"For now."

Korran did not sound pleased despite his words.

The humans had failed to close the rift, but they had slowed its growth. Without their interference, it might have stabilized in less than a month. Instead, Velmora’s spatial experts estimated that they needed two more months of continuous work.

The struggle was not only about raw power.

Earth’s aether constantly resisted the demonic energy that was used to stabilize the passage. The two energies clashed inside the rift and caused sudden distortions. Several spatial anchors had already collapsed, killing workers and destroying expensive formations.

’Only if we had another spatial user. The process would be much faster for us.’

Korran decided to push these thoughts to the back of his mind and continued speaking.

"Small objects and perception techniques can pass through for a short time, but living beings cannot. Two scouts tried."

Saevrith looked at him.

"What happened?"

"One was torn apart. The other arrived on Earth with half his body missing and died before he could report anything useful."

Saevrith’s expression became more serious.

"That is wasteful."

"Yes. And it also confirmed that the rift is not ready."

Korran’s sources on Earth had still provided useful information. The human alliance was building a containment zone around the estimated exit point. They were placing restrictions across the mountains and preparing abilities designed to weaken demonic energy.

They were not only trying to close the rift.

They were preparing to kill anything that came through it.

"The first group will not be an army," Korran said. "It will be a raid force. We need demons capable of surviving the crossing, and destroying whatever the humans build and have in store for us and our demonic energy. They also need to secure enough land for the larger force."

"And if they fail?"

"The humans will most likely win the battle."

Saevrith slowly swirled the wine inside her glass.

"So that’s why the recruitment rewards are so high."

"Yes."

Korran looked directly at Saevrith.

"A lot is at stake and it’s why I need you to invest heavily in the campaign."

She smiled faintly.

"There it is. That’s why you’re here."

Korran did not respond to her words and kept on speaking.

"I need medicine, spatial storage artifacts, armour, weapons, hell stones, communication items, and materials for emergency formations. The city treasury is already spending too much on stabilising the rift."

"And you want my pavilion to cover what remains." Saevrith’s lips curled up slightly.

"Not everything."

"But enough to hurt." She scoffed.

Korran did not deny it.

Saevrith studied him for a moment.

"This raid matters to you personally."

Korran nodded.

"It does."

If the raid succeeded, Velmora would become one of the cities of the Darkness Kingdom to establish a foothold on Earth, and the officials who organised it would receive war merits, resources, territory, and greater authority.

Korran’s name would rise in the rankings of the Darkness Kingdom.

He did not pretend that he was acting only for Velmora.

"I want the rewards," he said calmly. "And I want the position that will come with it."

Saevrith’s smile widened.

"At least you’re honest."

Korran shook his head slightly and leaned into the couch.

"You can join the raid if you’re interested. Your strength, abilities, and knowledge of ancient artifacts would be useful."

"And if I’m not interested?"

"Protect Velmora in my absence."

Saevrith raised a brow.

"There are demons stronger than me in this city."

Korra nodded.

"I know. I’m asking you because I trust you more than some of them."

That answer pleased her.

Her tail uncurled from the table’s leg and moved slowly across the carpet.

"You came here asking for my money, my resources, and possibly my body on the battlefield."

"I came to offer you an opportunity."

Saevrith laughed softly.

"Call it whatever helps you sleep at night."

She placed her glass on the table and stood.

The black night robe slipped from her shoulder, travelled down her body, then fell around her feet.

Korran’s gaze remained on her.

Saevrith stood completely naked before him. Her dark violet skin appeared smooth beneath the golden flames, while her full breasts, narrow waist, and wide hips were completely exposed. Her translucent wings opened slightly behind her, and her crescent-tipped tail curled around one thigh.

She stepped out of the robe and slowly approached him.

"If you want me to invest in your campaign, you know what you have to do."

Korran’s expression remained stoic, but his eyes had changed.

Saevrith stopped between his legs and placed one hand on his shoulder.

"You’ll satisfy me properly."

She leaned closer, her lips almost touching his ear.

She whispered seductively.

"And if you want me to join your raid instead of remaining in Velmora, you’ll have to convince me with that body of yours."

Her hand moved down his chest and then it reached his dick.

She grabbed it.

"And your cock."

Korran released a slow breath.

Saevrith smiled against his cheek.

"You also gave that boy a twenty percent discount without my permission. You’ll be punished for that too."

Before Korran could respond, she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

For a brief moment, they only looked at each other.

Then Saevrith kissed him.

The kiss began slowly, almost teasingly. Her lips brushed against his once, then returned with more pressure. Korran’s hand moved to her waist as her tongue slipped between his lips, and he pulled her tightly against him.

Saevrith released a soft sound into his mouth.

Korran stood while still holding her, one arm around her waist and the other beneath her thighs.

Her legs wrapped around him.

Without breaking the kiss, he carried her toward the bed and their bodies joined just like several times in the past.

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