Five years had passed since the Demon King found her, five years of a life she could remember, though the years before that were a void. The amnesia still lingered, but one thing remained clear—gratitude. Gratitude for the home she had found in the demon realm, and for the honor of holding a seat among the Demon Generals.
Norn is a striking blend of human and spider, an Archanian's distinct form. From the waist up, she appeared mostly human, with smooth, alabaster skin and sharp features that reflected both beauty and an underlying danger. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in tangled waves, but it was her eyes that drew attention—large, multifaceted, like a spider's, gleaming with an unnatural gleam that hinted at both wisdom and something darker.
Below her waist, however, her form shifted into the grotesque elegance of a spider. Eight long, black legs sprouted from her back, thin yet powerful, with joints that could bend and twist with an unsettling fluidity. Each leg ended in sharp, segmented claws capable of scaling any surface. Her body, the sleek and sinuous abdomen of a spider, was covered in a smooth exoskeleton, deep black with a faint iridescent sheen under the right light, giving her an otherworldly aura. The contrast between her graceful upper body and the terrifying functionality of her lower half made her an intimidating figure, embodying both beauty and predation in one creature.
Now, Norn stood at the forefront of an infiltration mission that would shape the future of their war. The Borders of Carmine had proven too difficult a route for their invasion of Bermone, so a new strategy had been devised. This time, they would use the borders of the Stokes Kingdom. The move was as surprising as it was bold, especially given Stokes' deep-seated hatred of demonkind. Yet somehow, the Demon King had secured passage through their land. Norn couldn't fathom how.
Perhaps they see this as an opportunity to gain supremacy over Bermone, she thought, her mind swirling with the political implications. Hypocrisy runs deep in human nature. To work with the very enemies of the gods they worship just to tip the scales in their favor… humans truly are something else.
But the task at hand was not to dwell on the humans' hypocrisy. Norn had a mission to execute.
The Plan: Three Phases of Infiltration
The plan was simple, though precise, unfolding in three stages.
Phase One: Infiltration.
Spies, mostly doppelgangers and shapeshifters, would infiltrate Bermone by assuming human forms. Disguised as traveling merchants, they would gather vital intelligence: the number and placement of soldiers, the location of food stores and armories, the state of communication with the capital, and the trade routes. Each piece of information would be essential for crippling Bermone's defenses.
Phase Two: Raids.
Once the spies had gathered the necessary intelligence, they would carry out swift raids under the guise of local thieves. Food stores and armories would be struck, and the stolen goods sent back to the demon forces. This would not only provide sustenance for their army but also cripple the cities' economies, making it increasingly vulnerable.
Phase Three: Isolation and Conquest.
With a city weakened, the main army, under Norn's logistical command, would move in. Escape routes, previously identified by the spies, would be sealed, isolating the city completely. From there, it would serve as a base to cripple Bermone's economy and conquer more nearby cities. By the time Bermone's queen realizes what was happening, the demon forces would already be equipped and poised for a direct clash.
Despite her high rank, Norn had always avoided direct combat. Her strength lay in strategy and logistics, but there was a far darker reason. In battle, she lost control.
The memories of those missions still haunted her. Missions that started with clear plans, but ended in carnage. One particular monster-subduing quest stood out. The plan had been flawless. Everyone knew their roles. But when the battle reached its peak, something inside her had snapped. The monsters had fallen, but so had her comrades. She had no recollection of what transpired, only the aftermath: blood and bodies scattered across the battlefield.
It happened again. And again. By the third time, she withdrew from direct combat, terrified that her dark magic was the cause. She didn't understand the full extent of her abilities, but it seemed that when pushed, her magic acted on its own, obliterating everything in its path.
Instead, Norn focused on strategic roles, where her mind could function without the danger of losing herself. Over time, she excelled in this role, eventually earning her place among the Demon Generals. The Demon King, ever kind and understanding, had seen past her past mistakes and given her a purpose.
She owed him everything.
Three cities had already fallen to their strategy. Now, the fourth city was in their sights. Every conquest brought them closer to fulfilling the Demon King's vision: a new home for their people. Norn's loyalty to him was unwavering. He was not the ruthless tyrant the humans painted him to be. She had seen his care for his people firsthand. He had taken her in, when she was lost, with no name, no past, and no family. He had given her all that, and more. He had given her a place to belong.
For him, she would see this mission through.
With each victory, the demons rose higher. Bermone would fall. And Norn would ensure that, no matter the cost, the Demon King's dream for his people would be realized.
For her king, for her people, and for the future they all deserved, she would not allow anything to stand in their way.