Chapter Text
The forest was obscured by dark, obliterating clouds and black mist. The last sparks of magic glamoured the thick air: frolicking trees in circles and flying through the sky like the last shooting star.
A soul that lost it’s purpose, it forever wandering Daemos. A blast of cold magic shot from beneath a looming tree. The soul dropped from the depressing sky, bouncing on the grass when it landed.
A tall and brooding figure emerged from the shadows. His icy blue eyes gazed out across the dark unknown of the forest before peering down at the orb, sputtering where it landed. He knelt down, blue drapes tickling the grass as he picked up the orb. It glowed in his grasp: he raised the orb above his head, a symbol of triumph.
Two figures spawn from behind one of the trees. One has eyes of burning amber and the other cool green.
“Drop it!” Commanded the orange-horned man. He jumped from the tree and landed in front of the taller, daemos who carried the orb. His hair was short and messy peach colored, adorned by two blaze horns. Short sleeved and he bared two slim, sharp daggers.
The second daemos male from behind the tree stepped forward. His forest eyes narrowing on the orb. The three men cautionary of each other. “You heard the man” his white hair caught the wind briefly, ruffling strands. “Now drop it this way.” His cocky voice and fierce green eyes flashed with a hint when he drew his own weapon too.
The men stand in a circle. Throwing stoic looks of warning to one another. “It’s mine,” the orange haired male moved his dagger from one daemos to the other, “I rightfully cornered it first.”
A glint of challenge shown in the white haired daemos’ face. He snarled, clinking his long sickles together “you want to try me?”
“Face me!” The orange haired male threatened. “I’m delivering it to his highness first!” He declared and took a step towards the blue-eyed male with the orb. They stood at a stalemate, all three glancing around with weapons drawn.
A rustle came from behind them and another man shown himself. He carried a sophisticated aura around him and spoke like a royal of Daemos. “Petty.” His dark skin and blue drapes of his robe were silken. “The both of you,” he referred to the orange and green-eyed daemos. He held his head with his hand, shaking with disapproval. “Truly it doesn’t matter who delivers it. As long as it’s me.” He looked up at the rest of the demon boys, menace in his deep blue eyes.
The male carrying the orb huffed, “catch.” And he tossed the orb behind him. It landed between the horns on the white haired daemos’ head as he struggled to catch the orb in his unprepared grasp.
“It’s mine!” The orange haired male shouted as he lunged towards the orb. The white haired male grit as he held off the attack with his sickle, holding the orb in his other hand.
The dark skinned daemos conjured his magic, releasing it towards the two fighting males, “freeze!” The magic casted caused them to be thrown back, the orb dropping into the soft grass below. The orange haired man got up and ran towards the orb only to be thrown off to the side by the bigger daemos who originally tossed the orb.
A circle of fire appeared surrounding the man carrying the orb. The grass burnt red and yellows, turning to ash. The male looked around before his eyes widened and he knelt on his knee. The other 3 fighting daemos noticed, kneeling as well.
The fifth man looked around at the knelt men, his horn had a golden ring, armor only on one arm and a fur cape thrown over his shoulder.
The sophisticated blue draped male stood up. “Your highness, I can explain.” He spoke calmly, “We had obtained the soul when it slipped from our grasp and-“ he was interrupted by the man carrying the orb, in icy blue drapes. “We had a delay.” His voice low and lacking any sense of emotion.
An elderly woman walked out from behind the royal daemos male, turning to him. “Well,” she started, “Is it hot in here? Or, is it just me?” An attempt at flirtation to the younger men.
“Lady Grandma?” The dark eyed male showed surprise at her arrival.
The male with the ringed horn and piercing black eyes showed irritation, “ugh, not now grandmother.”
She snapped back at him, “Silence!” Distaste with her grandsons attitude. “Hmph. When I was queen of this land of Daemos, I could have your tongue for speaking back at me.” She lashed out.
The white haired male called out, “why are you here?” He asked.
The elderly woman turned towards him, away from her grandson. “That soul you boys obtained-“ She started, “you need to take it, unharmed, to the alter now or we won’t be able to use it.”
The daemos male who held the soul slipped it into a bag and away from harm.
The orange-haired daemos spoke up, “I mean, the person killed to get it was harmed but-“ the elderly woman appeared in front of him, smacking him with her walking stick. “Ow!”
“Don’t speak ill of the dead!” She shouted up at him. Clearing her throat, she turned back to the rest of the men gathered. “Now, follow me. You’ll be in the new world soon enough.” She walked past the group, not looking back, expecting them to follow.
They arrived to the elderly woman’s room. Potions and books laid out and rare items of brewing were scattered across her desk space. She flipped through a couple of pages of a book propped up on her desk before turning around to the men behind her.
“The soul.”
The tall man with the light blue drapes grabbed it from where he stored it in his pocket.
“Bring it to me you handsome, young man.” The grandmother said, her sunk in cheeks misted with pink. “Huh?” The white haired daemos’ eyes widened.
The elderly woman looked at him expectantly, “in order to transfer it into my potion. I need to hold hands with one who possesses some light of magic.” She explained. “And you just so happen to be my type, Pierce.” She purred, winking at the tall daemos.
Pierce composed himself shifting uncomfortably, and looking around. “Uh uhm Noi, take- take it to her..”
“Me?!” The orange haired male yelped.
The dark skinned daemos turned towards him, “you did say you wanted to deliver it.”
“I don’t wanna hold hands with HER. She’s- old!” Noi exclaimed.
The elder woman grabbed one of her many books, throwing it towards Noi and smacking him straight in the face. “Ow!”
“You don’t got any meat on you anyway, scrub!” She yelled from across the room towards the male now rubbing at his hurt nose.
The daemos prince turned towards the white haired male, “Leif, take it to her.” He commanded.
“Pardon me?”
The prince’s eyes narrowed as his voice dropped a tone, “did I stutter?”
The white haired male became worried as he stumbled over his words, “I I, it’s just-“
“Prince Asch.” The smooth voiced man turned towards his lord. “Do you think that is a wise choice?” He asked.
Asch closed his eyes, contemplating for a moment.
“Forgive me for questioning you but Noi is the smarter choice. We all possess limited magic, and if anyone should use the last of their magic for this it should be Noi.” He continued, “speaking tactics, Leif is best at healing, Pierce can-“ He was interrupted by Asch
“I don’t care for your numbers.” He blinked, “Noi, do it.”
Noi sighed; muttering to himself as he walked forward, “aw, I don’t want to hold crusty, old mee ma’s hands. Stupid lowest ranking position.” He took the soul from Pierce and shuffled towards the woman.
She grabbed his hand and light burst from where they were connected. It shimmered and sent purple flecks of magic bouncing off eachother. Noi watched dizzily feeling the magic drain from his body.
He dropped his hand, looking up at the tall ceiling, stumbling a little. The grandmother stood back and turned towards her working table.
“How do you feel, Noi?” The smart daemos asked.
He turned towards the rest of the men, still dizzy and walking slowly back, “used.” He replied weakly.
Grandmother turned around holding a glowing potion which emanated white and purple light. “And with that the last spark of magic has fallen.”
Pierce huffed, keeping his eyes on the ground ahead of him, “we really killed them…” he trailed off, more speaking to himself then the other daemos present.
Leif held a worried expression, looking towards where the last ounce of magic lie, “do you really think this journey is worth sacrificing the last soul?”
“Perhaps,” the elderly woman replied, “it depends on if you boys are successful.” Her expression turned grim,
“But let’s not tell the high council what has happened this night. They currently believe the one who had the last soul is still alive and safe in seclusion.” She closed her eyes, imagining the possible, “if they find out you boys hunted it down, they’ll have your heads.” The men lowered their heads in grimace, “not even Asch will be spared.”
Noi let out a whine.
“There currently is a decent surplus of magic here on daemos, it should be a while before it runs out. It will definitely give us time to survey the new world, if we are smart about it.” The soft spoken daemos turned towards Noi. “Noi, are you able to use any of your magic?” He asked.
Noi squinted, and raised his hands together in concentration. A few sparks came from his palms but quickly disappeared into nothing.
He cried, “it’s gone!”
The horned woman interrupted, “it won’t be long before the citizens of Daemos run out of magic themselves. The council can’t provide any resolution. Things here will crumble.” She spoke.
“If Asch wants to acend the throne before-“
“Enough.” Asch interrupted, turning towards the other men, including a crying Noi. “Our mission is clear. We go to the new world and seek out new sources of magic. Which means we take the new world by force!”
Leif spoke up, “and we have to be smart about it. Noi is depleted of magic and after you open the portal-“
“I’m the prince. My source of magic is far greater.”
“But not unlimited.” Lady Grandma looked at Asch. “Creating this portal will drain you.”
“Asch, we don’t have to do this alone. You can always ask your-“ the soft spoken male said.
“Enough talk! I care not about the politics of Daemos, nor of the risk we are about to take. I would not be here sacrificing everything if I had any second guesses myself.” Asch shouted.
“Give me the potion and let me cast.” He threatened.
Lady Grandma stepped toward and sighed, “you’re going in blind, Asch.” She handed the potion to his open, expectant hand.
Asch walked forward and turned back towards the rest of the group, “my knights,” he glanced toward each one of them, “if you are loyal to me, to the future I vow to bring once I’m king then follow me. I understand should you choose to remain. However, should I see you after you abandon me,” he laughed, “oh, I will kill you.”
Everyone’s eyes widened and Noi let out a yelp, “Asch!”
Leif put a hand on Noi’s shoulder, shaking his head.
Asch summoned the portal, the room glowing purple and blacks, surrounding the group in an unworldly hue.
As if their world shattered, an opening appeared. Lady Grandma stepped forward and letters appeared in an order as she rearranged them to spell…
“E… Arth.”
“It’s beautiful.” Leif said starstruck. He turned towards Noi, “we have to take over all of that?” The orange haired male exclaimed.
“Eerth.” Asch got a fell of the world’s name on his tongue, “it shall be mine.”
He stepped through the portal, his knights following behind him.
Pierce first, the tall male with light blue horns and long dark brown hair which was lazily thrown into a low hanging ponytail. His light blue and black drapes which hung off one of his arms revealing a black swirling tattoo on his muscly bicep.
Then Leif walked through the portal. Tanned scarred skin. Short and unkept white hair with emerald green horns. A black and green armored suit which was tight against his torso, revealing chiseled muscle. A scar which hasn’t faded from his eye since a great battle ago.
Noi followed shortly after him. Peach hair which swept to the side of his face, sometimes getting in his amber eyes. Black and gray drapes with orange lining and a pair of short orange horns that rest on his head.
Lady Grandma sighed, “Rhys,” she began turning to the last male, “your the smartest of them all. Please, you know what to do. I’ll keep things calm here as best as I can for my grandson. Please, do be safe.”
“Of course Lady Grandma.” He replied before walking through the portal. Smooth dark skin with almost black short brown hair. Piercing Blue eyes and dark blue scholarly drapes which matched his horns.
After he left, she turned to the darkness behind her. A pair of large white eyes appeared. “Keep an eye on him.” She said to the shadows, “go.” She commanded. And the eyes blinded into nothingness and a shadow scurried past the elderly woman and into the portal.
The portal closed quickly, patching itself up as if it had been destroyed. “I pray to the gods. Please, watch over them.”
————————————
Beep… Beep.
7:00 Am
Beep Beep
Talia groaned. She had work that morning at the cafe across the street from her apartment. Her shift started at 7:30. Waking up at Seven gave her enough time to get ready, eat breakfast, feed the cat in case her roommate forgot to, and walk to work.
Throwing off the blue covers and rolling out of bed, Talia stretched her tight limbs. The alarm turned off, and her uniform laid out for her on the wardrobe, she got ready quickly.
She exited her room and walked down the hall past the kitchen. “Avaaa.” She cooed, knocking on her roommates door. A groan could be heard from inside.
“Wakey wakey.” She knocked again.
She heard a mumbled ‘stop’ from the other side of the door. Talia crept the door open and peered in at her roommate lying down.
Johnny, Ava’s cat, ran through her legs; hopping up onto the bed. “Hm, cute but not today.” Her roommate mumbled towards the cat.
“Glad to see you’re awake.” Talia smiled. “Thought I’d get you up before I left for work. Don’t you have an interview today?”
Ava grumbled, finally sitting up. “Don’t remind me. It’s bad enough with my dads getting on my back.”
“You need to start helping out with rent. It can’t just be me.” Talia sighed. In the past, Ava had begged Talia to cover her part of the rent month after month. It started to become a problem where Talia had to contact Andrew and Devin, Ava’s dads.
Talia’s phone beeped and she took a step back towards the door. “I need to get going. Oh! And take out the trash on the way to your interview please!” She gave her grumpy roommate a smile before rushing out. Talia grabbed an apple from the kitchen and left, eating it on her way down the elevator.
She passed Jake, the landlord, in the lobby. She gave him a brief smile before hurrying out the door. She walked a block down the street, crossing to the right before walking another block and turning left, arriving at the cafe. It was only a five minute walk but sometimes Talia still stressed about walking too slow or waking up past her shift.
She walked in through the front door and a cold breeze hit her face. There was a line by the cashier, some of the people in cosplay.
That’s right. Ava had mentioned hearing about a cosplay convention happening in town this weekend. Talia went behind the counter and into the back where she put on her apron and washed her hands. She came back out and started working on orders beside her coworker who had a look of despair plastered on a freckled face.
She was confused before looking towards what her despair struck coworker was looking at. A hoard of cosplayers from outside entered the building, at least 20 of them.
“Oh no.” Talia heard from beside her.
—————
Ava rounded the corner of her apartment building carrying a bag of trash just like Talia had asked her to do. She lifted it above her head, tossing it into the dumpster. She didn’t seem to notice the men behind her, some lying on the pavement with distraught looks.
She turned around, “Hey are you guys alright?” She called out.
Rhys, who was crawling on the ground, yelled a curse, “it’s a human!” He spoke to the other men there.
“It’s got us cornered!” A worried Noi whispered.
Pierce was leaning against his knees, sweat beading down his tanned skin. “Don’t show weakness.” He spoke and some of the men stood up, turning towards him.
Leif scowled, “we can barely move!”
Pierce stood straight, “be strong. Hold your stances.”
“Are you guys okay?” Ava repeated, taking a step towards them with wide eyes.
The four knights turned towards her. All of them had
a look of tiring concentration and threat towards the girl.
Ava was confused as she looked around before seeing Asch on the ground, “Oh my god! Are you alright?!” She ran towards the daemos lying on the ground.
“Your friend is not breathing!” She said turning back toward the other daemos men.
“Intimidate it!” Pierce shouted. The four of them drew their weapons.
“Hello? Are you guys not going to do anything here?” Ava shouted towards them.
“Ugh, ok, I got this.” She said to herself before kneeling before Asch and starting chest compressions.
30 chest compressions, and then part the mouth of the receiver and give 3 breaths of air.
28,29,30 She gave him mouth to mouth and heard gasping from behind her.
“She’s sucking his organs out!” Noi shouted
“Through his mouth?” A confused Pierce watched.
“We need to act!” A frantic Leif yelled.
“Pierce!”
He nodded to Rhys’ command and ran towards Ava. He lifted her up by the collar.
“What the hell! What are you doing?” She shouted at him. Asch gasped from beneath them and let out a cough.
“I-I’m fine.” He stood up.
“Oh thank the gods.” Noi nodded with relief.
“Let me go or I’m calling the cops!” Ava shouted at an unmoving Pierce.
“She’s calling in reinforcements! Evasive maneuvers!” Rhys directed.
Pierce pulled out a blue great sword with one hand, still holding Ava up by the collar in his other.
“Peaceful evasive maneuvers!” Rhys commanded again.
Pierce lowered his sword a little confused. He walked to forward and hung her by her shirt on a tree branch.
“What the-“ she started, trying to move but to no avail.
The men walked away
“Are you serious? How am I supposed to get down?” She flailed her legs letting out a gasp, “I’m late for my interview, no! Stupid sweatshirt!” She groaned.
Twenty minutes later the men returned to Ava, still stuck in a tree.
“I missed my job interview. I blew off a con invite. I didn’t even get my munchy scrunchys. I don’t care who sees me in my bra anymore.” She let out a forced laugh.
“Oh no. Beautiful men.” She pouted, seeing the Daemos surround her.
“Descend at once.” Asch commanded.
“Huh?”
“Descend.” Asch repeated.
“You can drop the mid evil roleplay. I’m in no place to participate, as you can tell!” She said with sarcasm, referring to her stuck form.
Leif was stunned, “she’s- rejecting Prince Asch’s request.”
Noi let out an amazed wow.
“Do not disobey me!” Asch yelled.
“WOW. I don’t know what your roleplay is but I’m not into that.” Ava commented towards the Prince.
Rhys turned to him, “let me try, your majesty.” He took a step towards Ava and the tree. “Greetings,” he spoke calmly, “it’s a pleasure to meet you. Before you stands Prince Asch. The future king of-“
Ava interrupted him with another sarcastic wow. “You guys are really into this, huh? Okay fine, I’ll play along.” She cleared her throat and raised her voice to a fake tone, “oh cruel fate. How could a poor maiden like me get stuck in a tree?” She dropped the sweet princess voice, “oh I remember, because your stupid muscle bound friend that put me here! Now get me down before I call the cops!”
“Silence!” Asch yelled and sent a ball of fire whirling towards the tree. Ava fell down and looked back at the tree now lit with glorious reds and oranges.
“Did- did you just..” Ava stuttered.
“Prince Asch!” Rhys scolded, “do not use your magic on such trivial matters!”
“The next words that come from your mouth better be-“ Asch was interrupted by Ava pulling down on his horns causing a blush to erupt from his pale face and gasps from the men around them.
“In public!?” Leif stuttered and Pierce covered a gaping Noi’s eyes.
Ava let go and Asch rose with fury in his face. “They’re real.”
“How dare you!” The prince screeched.
“I wish I slept in today..” Ava let out a forced chuckle before passing out.
“You- killed it.” Noi peeked his head from behind Pierce.
“No-no I didn’t.” Asch’s eyes widened as he whipped back towards his knight.
“The human is alive, just unconscious.” Rhys spoke. “We need to take her and establish a base of operations.”
A cat purred, rubbing itself against Asch’s leg.
Johnny let out a meow. “A spirit.” Asch looked down at the cat who walked away.
“It’s trying to guide us.” Rhys narrowed his dark blue eyes.
Noi’s eyes were wide, “we need to follow it! It’s bad luck to ignore a spirit!”
“Grab the human and follow it!” Asch commanded.
Pierce walked towards Ava, lifting her up with broad hands and holding her against his chest before following the rest of the daemos.
—————————
Talia swiped the sweat from her brow, and watched the last customer leave the cafe’s front door.
The rush ended just a few minutes ago and her manager told her that they’d be closing early because they needed to restock. Talia agreed immediately to going back home. The morning rush left her drained. But before she left she hung up her apron and grabbed a slice of coffee cake with buttermilk frosting, the kind that Ava liked and placed it side up in a plastic container.
She brought many delicacies home for Ava to try. Cookies, cupcakes, some times leftover loafs that weren’t sold. What Ava liked the most was the frosted Coffee Cake. It was a treat, Talia thought. It was to celebrate the interview.
With a wave, Talia exited the building and walked towards her apartment. With each step she took it felt like something was weighing her down.
As she opened the door to the lobby, bowling balls might as well have been dropped on her feet. It was eerily quiet. No one was present. She clutched the plastic container in her hands as she walked towards the elevator. As it took her up and beeped at every floor, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, expecting the worse.
It’s nothing, she told herself. Nothing at all.
The elevator beeped on her floor and the doors opened with a thump. She turned and walked towards her apartment. She was about to fumble for her keys when she noticed something that sent her into a state of worry. The doorknob.
The door knob was burnt. Did someone break in? Ava had left already, right? Why was it just our door?
Talia’s shaking hands gripped the box tighter, her fingers denting the lid. She raised a hand and turned the knob. As the door creeped open, no sound came from inside.
She walked in, looking at the walls which still seemed untouched. The paintings weren’t stolen. She peered quickly at the bathroom to see nothing abnormal there either. Her room across the hall from the front door was untouched.
She turned the corner, calling out into the chilled apartment.
“Ava?”
Silly Talia. The robbers must have already left. Maybe they took a few things and scrammed. Or maybe Johnny scared them away.
She let out a small gasp when she saw the horned men in her living room. She saw Ava on the couch, unconscious. Her fingers clutched around nothing, not noticing the ruined coffee cake on the floor as she dropped it.
“Ava?” She repeated again and the men turned towards her.
She wished this was a simple robbery but there were people in her house, surrounding her roommate.
She wished they had just stolen something instead.