A small sneeze, echoing throughout the palace of a home...

It came from a young Demon boy, shaking his head twice before the sudden sneeze.

"It seems you're coming down with a cold, darling—", the boy's mother said, sweetly.

" I'm fine, momma."

"I could always fix up fresh meat for you in a stew. Would you like that?"

"It doesn't sound too bad," the boy replied, not wanting to turn down his mother's excellent cooking.

A gentle, warming giggle came from the woman as she began to slice a hefty chunk of meat using a large blade. The first cut was rather slow and careful, since the meat was fragile yet hunky. It was upon the second delicate slice, did she hear the palace door shutting quite violently. The entrance was huge, but the way the slam echoed, she recognized immediately who'd returned.

Her cutting ceased, head lowering, with her lips pursed in fear...

The smile of the prince, as well as her own, faded in that immediate instance.

"Seems your father has returned..."

"I'm aware," the boy's response being laced with bitterness.

"Just act natural, Kyū. He'll leave again soon."

A hand was placed upon the corner of the entrance to the cooking area, a gruff and angered voice called...

"Swine! What have you made for food?!"

She responded with a nervous tone, even a slight whimper.

"I haven't finished it yet! I'm cooking stew for Kokyū's cold!"

"Let the damn slaves do it! You cook for me!"

A rather buff, and husky, tall male stepped into the room, only to appear directly in front of the woman. Gripping her by her collar, he shoved her backward, smacking the hunk of meat directly off of the wooden counter.

"That was fresh!", she snarled at him. " You didn't have to throw it like that! "

A growl came from the king as he slowly turned.

"Watch. Your. TONE!"

With that, his right hand rose, backhanding her straight into the wall afar.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!!"

Kokyū charged towards his father, his left fist clenched. His father merely sent his foot directly into the child's nose, enough to cause quite a lot of bleeding, and for the boy to fall back against the floor with tears in his eyes. Surveying the damage he had inflicted, the king spit on the cold tiles before leaving the room.

Kokyū sniffled, already crying over what had just occurred. His mother slowly crawled over to him, bloodstained arms reaching over to wrap around his neck, holding his head close to her chest. She stroked his hair gently, humming a tune with shaky breaths.

"It's okay, my dear... Mother is here..."

Diablo, home to the Demons, was a poorly conditioned dimension with a bad economy. It's climate was hot, beverages available only for warriors and the elite class. Normal villagers and slaves were treated the same... like they didn't exist. Insignificant. Trash.