Standing next to Shadow, we gaze out over the sprouting buds of the forthcoming fruits. Everything has gone according to plan in just two weeks, and the plants are healthy, promising a plentiful harvest. Amidst all this, I've had a lot to do, including reporting to my group about the state of affairs in the human world and my progress in the demon realm.

Despite the initial difficulty, people are gradually relaxing and enjoying themselves without the constant threat of war. While peace talks are not yet on the horizon, it's only a matter of time before progress is made. Speaking of progress, I haven't had much luck connecting with the other generals or Azure. Aside from sharing meals, I haven't seen or heard from Lacey or Bane. Although I sometimes sense Bane's presence, he hasn't made himself known. 

Shadow informed me that Lacey has been absorbed in something lately, and I suspect it's related to what I taught Lilith. Speaking of Lilith, she's also been keeping to herself. However, unlike before, she doesn't seem as distant and may even be somewhat content. It's possible that she's just enjoying exploring the power I showed her, but it's difficult to say for certain. 

Regarding Azure, progress has been slow, but I am convinced that I have broken her spirit - not in a negative sense, but in the sense that she is finally accepting that I am committed for the long term. While she still occasionally throws me out the window with a fireball, she is starting to let me help with her paperwork more often, and I can tell that the intensity of her attacks is decreasing day by day.

I believe this is partly due to my efforts to flatter her whenever we meet, complimenting her on her snout or scales. It's difficult to read her emotions as anger and embarrassment look similar with her, but I think she's gradually getting used to my approach. While she is unlikely to become interested in a romantic relationship so soon, I am slowly wearing her down.

But my efforts to win Azure over with compliments are not the only things keeping me busy. I have also begun researching the demon realm, particularly its lack of resources, and how to address those issues. While providing food is one solution, there are still numerous other problems to tackle, such as the scarcity of water and land. 

Most of the demon realm is covered in dangerous mountains with few valleys or plains to settle on, which trap water in unreachable areas. I have been considering how to bring them down without inadvertently destroying the water or any valuable resources within the mountains in the process. Finding a way to address this issue is proving to be a difficult puzzle to solve, and it may be the perfect opportunity to seek Lacey's counsel, given her exceptional intellect.

Though all of these thoughts can be put aside for the time being. What truly has my thoughts is the prospect of visiting Shadow’s clan. It wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated to convince Azure to let me visit, as I’m sure she just wants time away from me. That’s fine because I can’t wait to see so many dogs in one place.

While I will thoroughly enjoy my time there, I hope to gain more insight into the canine demons and their potential relationship with our domesticated dogs. Additionally, I'm especially intrigued by their eldest member; hopefully, they can answer my questions.

“Everything looks good. Are you ready?” Shadow asks.

“Whenever you are.”

“It shouldn’t take long.”

Traveling through the demon land is akin to the human world, albeit with a setting that's reminiscent of the Middle Ages. Homes do exist, but aside from Azure's castle, most are constructed from humble materials or just built into the mountains themselves. Since Azure's castle is located near the portal, I have yet to explore the land and see any settlements or cities.

Shadow and I sit side by side in a plain-looking carriage being pulled by two-legged dragonoid creatures. They’re definitely not creatures from our world, but instead native monsters that lived in the demon world before the ascended appeared. I still wanted to learn about the demon's history as a whole, but that isn’t what’s important right now.

"What does the canine demon land look like?"

Shadow has forgone his military vestments, advising we keep a low profile during our travel. I have donned a cloak to conceal my features and used some magic to mask my scent for those with a keener sense of smell. So far, any passing by demons hasn’t given us a second glance. 

"Our dens are divided by breed, but we have an open area where we all mingle. There are still many breeds who believe their blood is superior to others, but slowly, this mentality is fading under the weight of our struggles. That is why I was born, the first offspring in many generations from two higher breeds."

“Do the teachings mention how humans loved all dogs equally?”

He shakes his head. "We have lost some of the original meaning over time. It's regrettable that the first generation could not articulate what they knew about our best friend clearly. It certainly would've saved us a lot of trouble."

“What can you tell me about the eldest?”

"She is a second-generation demon, the last offspring of the first," he replies, sighing. "We fear that she does not have much time left."

“How old is she?”

"Approximately two hundred and thirty."

"Is that old for a canine demon to live?" I ask.

"Of a second generation, yes. Admittedly, our lifespan has stagnated since bloodlines were established. On average, we live up to three hundred years. However, I may break that mold, possibly even doubling it," he says with confidence.

"I'm eager to see your clan and learn how many similarities I'll find," I comment.

He smiles. "We're not too far now. But be sure to keep up the charade until we've met with the eldest first. We won't be able to make it past the gates if everyone finds out what you truly are."

"Understood," I say, pulling my cloak closer and preparing for whatever comes our way.

"Shadow! Long time no see!" a golden retriever guard exclaims, nuzzling Shadow with a large smile as they meet.

"Hello, Max. I’ve come with urgent news. Is the eldest available?" Shadow replies, a serious expression on his face.

“She is.” Max peers over at me, lifts his muzzle, and takes in a breath. “No scent?”

"He is with me. I assure you he will cause no trouble. Please, we must see her now," Shadow responds.

"I trust you," Max says, looking up to the sky and letting out a long howl, which then chains and resonates further in. Then, the gate lifts as he waves us through. "You’re in luck; the eldest is having a good day."

"Then I could ask for no better timing," Shadow says as we make our way inside, pulled by the dragonoids.

As we travel through, I catch glimpses of all types of breeds, each with their unique shapes and sizes, all familiar to me as breeds from our world. It's a surreal experience seeing them in this different context. I'm careful to keep my face low, avoiding any eye contact, so none can see my features. The dogs briefly look our way, but then continue about their business. It's challenging to remain composed, but I remind myself that we're here for a reason and keep my focus on the task at hand.

As we approach, I can see two massive wolves, almost standing as tall as Lilith, guarding what looks like a cave entrance. Shadow whispers for me to stay close as we approach the imposing creatures.

“I’ve come to meet with the eldest,” Shadow says, meeting their eyes.

"What's your business, halfbreed?" one of the wolves growls.

"It's urgent and not meant for a grunt," Shadow retorts.

The other wolf interjects, placing a hand on his companion's shoulder who had taken a step toward Shadow. "We're not here to fight. If it's important, let him through."

The first wolf grunts. "Fine. And who's this pup?" he eyes me suspiciously.

"Top secret," Shadow replies, turning to me. "Follow me."

Without hesitation, Shadow leads the way, and I trail behind him. I keep my head down, focusing on following Shadow. Further in, we come across a small fire and a white and brindle pitbull terrier wrapped in a blanket sitting in a rocking chair. My mind brought flashes of my past and a bitter sweet memory of a dog I used to own.

Shaking that away, I see her eyes are closed as she sways back and forth. Her appearance is the most striking of all the demons we've encountered. While the others have perfect humanoid figures, hers is almost werewolf-like, more savage and muscular.

"What brings you here, Shadow?" she speaks without opening her eyes. "It's rare for you to be away from your books."

Shadow approaches her, kneeling and resting a hand on hers.

"Eldest, I bring astounding news," Shadow said, his voice filled with urgency. "You may think I've lost my mind, but I assure you, what I've discovered is more fateful than the ravings of a mad dog." He turned to me. "Alex, please, drop the magic."

I complied, removing the spell that had been concealing my scent and revealing myself by pulling back my cloak.

“Eldest, I’ve fou-”

Shadow's words were cut off as his eyes fixed on the eldest dog, widening in astonishment. I didn't understand what was happening, but I could hear a low whine in the air that slowly grew louder as the eldest looked at me, her tail wagging uncontrollably. It was as though instinct had taken hold of us both as I closed the distance and embraced her. 

She continued to whine, even letting out a few shrill barks of joy as I stroked her gently.

"It's okay, girl," I murmured, caught up in the memories of my past. "It's alright."

Suddenly, one of the other wolves burst into the room, weapon drawn. "What's a human doing here?!"

Shadow positioned himself between the wolf and me, ready to fight if necessary.

"Stand down," the eldest commanded, her eyes now open, though full of tears that streamed down her cheeks. "Both of you, leave us."

Without question, Shadow and the other wolf left the room, leaving me alone with the eldest, who continued to stare at me.

"It's been so long," she said softly. "Where have you been?"

“You know what I am?” I ask surprised, isn’t she second generation?

The eldest nodded. "My mother always wore a sweater that our friend had given her. The scent of him never faded, and the second generation was told to remember it.” She leans in and takes a deep breath. “This scent, I know it's a relic of our best friend, but it reminds me of my mother. I'm sorry for my reaction earlier. It was just too many emotions at once."

I place my hand on her cheek, wiping away the tears that have matted in her fur.

"You don't need to apologize," I assure her, caressing her cheek as she leans into my touch. "I would like to ease any doubts you may have about me. In my world, dogs are considered 'man's best friend'." Her tail wags just as vigorously as Shadow's did when I told him this. "I adore them with all my heart, but it's been so long since I've seen one."

"Why is that?" she asks, her tail slowing.

"It's because I was summoned here as the hero," I reply.

As realization dawns on her, she takes a moment to ponder over my statement.

"So you're the one who's been killing the other clans?" she asks.

“I am. In the thirty years that I've been fighting, I haven't encountered a single canine demon," I explain.

"I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. We were preoccupied with our own troubles. Shadow was the first to join the demon queen's army."

"I know, and that's why I couldn't bring myself to take his life when I saw him. As unlikely as it may seem, he reminded me of what I had lost."

She leans in and licks my cheek before drawing back with a smile.

"Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss," she says. I sit on the ground and am taken aback when she gets up unsteadily, walks over, and lies down with her head resting on my thigh. I smile and pet her as she lets out a sigh of contentment. "My mother spoke to me about pets...I never thought I'd get to experience it."

"Can you tell me more about your mother? What did she look like? How was she different from you and the generations that came after you?" I inquire.

"Before we get into that, my name is Princess. What is your name, friend?" 

"Alexander, but any canine may call me Alex."

"Alex... my mother was nothing like me or any of the canines that came after me. She walked on all fours, and her speech was broken. She told me about her mother, and how they couldn't even communicate back then. I was the next one to ascend. I can only speak and be understood easily is because of my lost teeth. When I was in my prime, my teeth were so large that it was challenging to hold a proper conversation. Where did your kind go all those years ago?"

"I wish I knew, Princess, but I don't have an answer for you. I can only assume that something caused us to go our separate ways. While we still have dogs in our world, none of them have ever ascended like you or your mother."

She snuggles into me. "I'm envious of that. Even though I never knew our best friend personally, all canines have an emptiness within them. A void that is only now filled for me."

Leaning down, I plant a gentle kiss on the side of her head. “I’m sorry I took so long.”

She shakes her head. "Don't blame yourself. As a canine demon, I take life one day at a time. Having you here now is all that matters. I'm grateful for the time I've had and the chance to meet you." Looking up at me, she asks, "Can you tell me about your dogs?"

I nod. "As I mentioned earlier, they have not ascended like your kind. However, we have many breeds, perhaps more than those that reside here. There are small ones that could fit in my palm, and large ones that could tower over me if they stood on their hind legs."

"Do our best friends love them?" she asks.

"Absolutely," I reply. "While some people may prefer the personality of a particular breed, we tend to love all canines equally."

"How are they treated?" she inquires.

I falter, gazing off into the distance. "That's a difficult question to answer," I admit.

She places her hand on my cheek, turning my attention back to her. "I won't judge. I understand that times change, and all living beings are unique."

I look into Princess's eyes. Why do all dogs have that look about them? The look of pure trust and openness. I sigh, stroking her fur once more. It’s strange; even after so many years, I can recall how my dog's fur felt.

"Sadly, many dogs in the world are without homes," I explain. "There are also people who despise dogs enough to harm them. While there are those who will do anything for dogs, there are just as many who fall in the opposite direction. Overall, we want to give dogs a better life, but our species hasn't even managed to solve our own problems."

She chuckles, but the sound is tinged with a hint of sadness. "Many demons would relate to that sentiment. We've been fighting for so long that it's hard to imagine a world without violence. Even if we were to take over the human world, it would only delay the bloodshed.” As she closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle strokes of my hand, she let out a contented sigh. "I'm too old to worry about these things," she said. "But perhaps deep down, I know that you'll be the one to make it better."

I haven't shared my plan with Shadow yet, but being here with Princess has lowered my defenses. She just reminds me of my dog so much that I can’t help but want to put her at ease.

“Can you keep a secret, Princess?”

She looks up at me and smiles. "Anything for you."

"I'm tired of fighting," I confess. "From now on, I plan to change things for the better. It won't be easy, but for now, Azure is cooperating with me. You're right, the slaughter is only being postponed, but I intend to end it by any means necessary. Azure and I are the only forces strong enough to bring about that change, so long as we do it together. Whether human or demon, I want everyone to be happy."

Princess's tail wags again. Without hesitation, she pulls me down and presses her lips against mine. It's not a kiss I'd expect from a human, but one I knew very well from a dog. She's just pressing her lips gingerly against mine, and it's less of a romantic gesture than a gesture of love.

When she pulls away, her eyes glisten once more. "I know you'll do what's right," she says before getting up and sitting in her rocking chair. "Thank you."

I stand up and kneel before her. “I’ll be here for some time. Don’t hesitate to call if you want to spend more time together.”

"I'll keep that in mind," she replies. She looks towards the entrance to her cave and gives a small howl. Shadow and the wolf both enter.

"You called?" they say in unison.

Princess instructs the wolf, "Tell the breeds that our best friend has arrived." The wolf's eyes widen, and he sprints out of the cave, letting out a loud howl as more join in the chorus. Princess then turns to Shadow and says, "Keep him safe, Shadow. In time, you will understand his importance."

Shadow smiles and bows, "Pardon my rudeness, Princess. But I already know how important he is."

She chuckles, "Good. Take him to the town square. I'm sure the dogs are eager to meet him."

“What about you?” he asks.

"I've already spent time with him. I'll rest for the time being."

"Understood." Shadow rises from his bow and turns to me, "Shall we go?"

Before leaving, I walk over to Princess and give her one last hug, kissing her on the side of her muzzle.

"You're a good girl."

With that, Shadow and I depart. There will be plenty of things to worry about, but for now, I will enjoy myself.