Coming Soon — Demon Healer Naberius: Volume Eight!
Got a preview for you, reader.
Man, a lot has changed since I last wrote an article here. I quit my job back in August to simultaneously give myself a very generous mental health break and finally take the opportunity to travel. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but up until a couple months ago, I had never even set foot outside California, and considering I’m now in my thirties, that fact brought me a fair amount of existential dread. I’ve since visited a couple National Parks and plan to visit Hawaii in the next month or so, and—if possible—I’d like to see at least one foreign nation before I go back to work. Thankfully, I also left my job on good terms, and I’ve been repeatedly told that they’ll gladly rehire me once I’m ready.
But you didn’t come here for my bullshit, did you? Let’s get to down to business.
Demon Healer Naberius: Volume Eight is currently in the oven. Specifically, it’s in the midst of its second draft, but the art and everything else is already complete, so it’s just a matter of editing and formatting. I initially estimated that the book would be ready mid-December, and while I’ll still work to meet that deadline, I’ll admit that it might take me a little longer. I’d also like to avoid dropping the book on Christmas, so please stay tuned to my Twitter for our exact release date.
Next, here’s the preview. As always, I kneel to Boss Tostantan for providing the wonderful character designs and art that grace my books, and I’m glad I could give him somewhat of a break this time as there was only one new design requested for Volume Eight. That said, I can finally introduce several of the designs requested back in Volume Seven, so please enjoy the feast, dear reader.
Introduction
Past introductory articles are available in the Archive here.
With Alke the Whole now on the team, Nabby and co. are finally ready to take the Monstralia Qualification Exam—the test required to gain entry Monstralia, the deadliest continent on Rullia. Demon Healer Naberius: Volume Eight focuses on our heroes efforts to sharpen their skills, as well as learn how to cooperate as a complete team, before finally facing down the infamous MQE.
Along the way, they’ll work with a tiny locksmith and her guild master’s big personality as they abate an advanced dungeon before hunting down chimeras with the help of a succubus who’s questionable in more than one regard. Likewise, in preparation for Nabby’s departure to Monstralia, Bosa has offered to take her old friend Maia as her new roommate, and the mermaid will join the Nabby and Bosa as they enjoy one last day of fun in the sun together.
And here’s our profiles for this volume. You’ll see a few familiar faces, but let’s greet them warmly all the same.
Characters
“Nabby” Naberius VIII
Race: Goetic Demon
Class: Mage Healer
Age: 672 (22 in Hell years)
Likes: Hamburgers, dogs, making clothes, healing, Bosa
Dislikes: Priests, pickles, death metal, not doing her best
Skills: Dark magic (including healing), herbalism, alchemy, various crafts
Our titular protagonist, who has overcome demonkind’s inability to heal, as well as the trauma plaguing her heart. Nabby is a talented dark mage, but while she is capable of immense destruction, she’s much prouder of her self-made dark healing. She dreams of traveling to Monstralia and helping her hero Reese track down the mysterious Source of All Monsters, and she treasures her best friend and partner Bosa above all else.
Nabby previously avoided using her offensive magic out of fear of giving into her rage and hurting others, but thanks to her mother Naberius VII and Bosa, she has grown past the false shackles she placed on herself. She now wields her full repertoire of spells, and with her budding alchemy and herbalism skills, she offers a blend of healing and combat support that ensures her team is never left wanting.
But despite Nabby’s wide range of talents, her sheltered upbringing has left her unworldly, so Bosa often has to fill in the blanks, and her emotions tend to get the better of her in stressful situations. However, her enthusiasm is infectious, and her amiable personality wins over everyone who meets her.
Mikayla Lilliana “Bosa” MacNamara du Bosa Nova
Race: Scylla
Class: Songstress
Age: 28
Likes: Music, her family, fried chicken, sex, Nabby
Dislikes: Horror movies, budgeting, idols, disappointing her partner
Skills: Song magic, archery, marine biology
Nabby’s best friend and partner, Bosa has transformed from a lazy web idol who only adventured as part of her schtick into a respectable songstress who pairs her beautiful voice with deadly archery. She promised Nabby’s mother that she would help Nabby pass the MQE, so while she doesn’t plan to go to Monstralia herself, she’s putting everything she’s got into preparing for the exam.
While Bosa asserts that she’s the weakest member of the team, her song magic rivals that of the legendary Diaphanous Lyco, and her knowledge of monsters and how to slay them puts most monstrologists to shame. She tends to act as a leadership figure and offer strategies for every encounter, and thanks to her recent training, she’s become a deadeye with her bow.
Foul-mouthed and irreverent, Bosa can rub people the wrong way, though she’s always got Nabby to round out her rough edges. She spent too long being dishonest to others and now struggles to be honest with herself, but she never turns a blind eye to someone in need, and Nabby has always been proud to call Bosa her partner.
Bune IV
Race: Goetic Demon
Class: Mage Knight
Age: 752 (24 in Hell years)
Likes: Reading, combat practice, curry, adventuring, her jacket
Dislikes: Gambling, electronics, weak foes, her past self
Skills: Pugilism, dark magic, various crafts
Bune is Nabby’s superior in the ranks of the Goetia and daughter to the presiding Duke of House Bune. Raised like the prodigy she is, Bune excels at both unarmed combat and dark magic, and she seeks to make a name for herself as a mage knight who eschews weaponry. Her father tasked her with achieving fame for the sake of their noble house, and she has chosen to do so by joining Nabby on her journey to Monstralia.
Once upon a time, Bune was guided by her shame and indignation, but being forgiven by the one she hurt the most has brought her much-needed peace. She now seeks to be the best version of herself, and if that path demands that she defy royal norms, then she will rewrite the definition of nobility to suit her. Strong and durable, she is the might to Nabby’s magic, and she has occasionally disappointed herself by slaying foes too quickly.
As expected of a regal demon, Bune is confident, snobbish, and often looks down on mortals. That said, the time she’s spent on Rullia with her newfound friends has broadened her empathy, and while she still has her family’s image to consider, she is prone to “whims” that conveniently aid others. She is grateful to Nabby and the “conniving sire” Bosa for helping her find her way, and she is the only person Alke has confided in regarding his personal interests.
Alke “the Whole” Pavesi
Race: Dwarf
Class: Bulwark
Age: 41
Likes: Ginger ale, dating sims, his armor, respectable lusts, self-improvement
Dislikes: Social media, maccha, parrots, big egos
Skills: Defending, barrier magic
The first of Kinki Shikozaki’s Lurid Blades—thirteen students trained to carry on his teachings—Alke the Whole is considered the finest Blade, which is perhaps a bit ironic given that he’s a defensive specialist. With a shield and armor forged from clementium, one of the hardest metals found in Rullia, and barrier spells of the highest caliber, he offers a peerless defense. He trusts wholeheartedly in Kinki’s philosophy on lust, and his desire to find dreams worthy of his protection has set him on the path to follow Nabby and Bune to Monstralia.
Guarded in every sense of the word, Alke is a laconic man who never shows his face, making him particularly difficult to read. He has spent most of his adventuring career as a lone wolf, despising his fellow adventurers and their vapid lusts, but thanks to Master Shikozaki, he’s now found allies he’s proud to defend. He is the highest ranked member of the team and fittingly classed as a bulwark.
Alke’s attitude has done him no favors. While his abilities as a defender are unquestionable, he regularly receives complaints from fellow adventurers for being difficult to work with, and he even insisted on testing Nabby, Bosa, and Bune before joining their team. But now that they’ve broken his cynicism, he dreams of being a stalwart protector for his allies…though he’s only found the courage to share his love of innocent platonic love stories with Bune.
…Uhh…?
Race: Lamia
Class: Barista?
Age: Early 20s?
Likes: …Coffee? The colors red and yellow?
Dislikes: Rude customers, probably
Skills: Brewing coffee (I hope)
Seriously, who is this?
Where can I find Demon Healer Naberius?
All my novels can be found on my Amazon author page. They’re priced at $2.99 for an ebook and $9.99 for a paperback except for Demon Healer Naberius: Volume One, which has an $0.99 ebook so that it can be a low-risk introduction. Volume Eight will have a $2.99 ebook and $9.99 paperback.
Updates on my books will be posted here, as well as my Twitter, @varnicrast, and my new Bluesky, @varnicrast.bsky.social. I recently did a thing called “Nice Nabby November” where I went over all the art I’ve commissioned from Tostantan for Demon Healer Naberius, so check out either of those socials if you’d like a glimpse into the past paired with some of my commentary.
In Closing
Volume Eight marks the end of the second main arc of Demon Healer Naberius. After this, things will take a bold shift, and we’ll enter the third and final leg of the story. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, I can’t express how much I appreciate your support, and if you’re just popping in now, I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen here and will consider checking out Nabby and Bosa’s journey as well.
As stated back in the beginning, I’ll keep chugging away to get the new book into your hands as soon as possible, though rest assured that I won’t sacrifice quality to rush things. I’ll also admit I might take a day or two off to play Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising when that drops, but feel free to drop in and beat my ass if you’re interested in the game too. I main Zeta.
Okay, that’s all I’ve got for now. Take care, and believe in victory.
