“At least he chose the side away from the garden.” Dusty commented as they walked around to look over the field that sloped down toward the half fallen building. In the middle of the field, Dylan stood facing his father, his wings hanging out behind him.

“Wait, they’re really going to fight?” Angelica asked.

“No other way.” Paicy shrugged. “You insulted Daddy, and he’d kill you to protect his honor. The only way Dill can keep you safe is to prove his domain, anything on which is under his protection. And to do that, he has to fight.”

“It’s my fault. He doesn’t have to do this.”

“He wouldn’t be doing it if he didn’t want to.” Dusty commented.

He was protecting her. Again she had done something that required someone to save her. Angelica looked at Dylan. The air around him was shimmering, the same way the barrier had when she had moved her hand through it. She saw it collapse in on him and in the next moment the earth around him exploded upward and hurtled toward Naresrom.

Fire flared up around the larger demon, melting the earth that came in contact with the living shield. Naresrom rushed forward, bringing his hand around in a curled fist, only Dylan was no longer where he had been. The earth impacted under the force of the punch as he turned around, eyes searching. Angelica was looking as well. She had not seen Dylan move. He was just suddenly no longer standing there.

She saw movement and Dylan was coming swiftly down from above, feet first. Unfortunately Naresrom also saw him, and he reached up, grabbing his son’s leg and hurling him down onto the earth. The larger demon gripped Dylan by his neck, hefting him into the air and then slammed his fist into his son’s stomach, over and over.

Angelica started forward, but she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Dusty’s face masked with anger. His eyes were locked on the battle with an intense glare.

Fire exploded around the two fighters, burning off all of the grass around them. Out of the fire and smoke, Dylan dashed away, but Naresrom’s fire crashed down on top of him, followed quickly by the larger demon’s fist.

Is Dylan really this weak? Angelica thought grimly. Was he so weak that he had misjudged his father’s power? Perhaps that was why he had hidden away for so long. He was no match for his father, and yet he was fighting him. Fire reached high into the sky, the roar of it assaulting her ears. Dylan was not visible beneath the orange and yellow flames. Was he already dead?

Angelica broke from Dusty’s grip and ran forward, cupping her hands to her mouth. “Dylan, you stupid demon! Stop getting hurt!” Her voice was lost under the roar of the flames.

Paicy pulled her back gently, but then stepped past her, eyes on the fight down the hill. Moments later Angelica saw that the flames were being pushed back by some invisible force. In the center of the gradually expanding sphere stood Dylan.

Naresrom’s face was now contorted with concentration, and yet his fire continued to be pushed back. The fire vanished all at once, and the ground at Dylan’s feet cracked open, tracing along the ground until the earth broke and moved under his father’s feet, rising to catch him in the grasp of the earth.

With a roar the large demon broke free of the earth and descended on his son, fire swirling around him, but the fire was not nearly as vibrant as before. Earth shifted around Dylan, snuffing the fires and slamming Naresrom into the ground.

“Do you yield?” Dylan asked.

“You should finish me off,” Naresrom growled.

“My domain, my decision. Do you yield?”

“…yes.”

The earth retreated. Dylan stepped toward them. Angelica rushed forward, followed closely by Paicy and Dusty. Almost all of Dylan’s clothing had been burned away. One wing fell limply down his back, and blood was running from multiple cuts.

Naresrom stood gingerly, looking up toward his son. “I take my leave from your domain, Del Dylan ne Merinaken.”

Dylan turned for a glance at his father, and then turned back to them. Dusty was already healing the numerous wounds without prompting.

“Gratz on the title, Dill,” Paicy grinned.

Dylan nodded with a smile.

“What the hell were you doing?” The princess demanded. “I didn’t need you to save me. I’m just a human, and he’s your father. And your building thing even got burnt down, and the grass here is dead, and you’re hurt and…”

The humanoid demon had taken Angelica’s hand in his. “You’re the one who saved me. You gave me the courage to stand up to my father and earn my title. Thank you.”