The evening after the Ceremony of Fate was the longest night of Lucian's life. The once familiar walls of his home felt constrictive, the air thick with unspoken fears. His mother, Mara, had retreated into silence, her earlier encouragement replaced by a worried furrow in her brow.
Lucian lay in bed, the weight of his new title pressing down on him like a physical force. Demon lord. The words echoed in his mind, each repetition a hammer blow to his sense of self. He was no longer just Lucian; he was something to be feared, something potentially evil.
The next morning, Lucian woke to the sound of hushed voices outside his window. Peering through the glass, he saw a small crowd gathered, their faces a mix of curiosity and fear. Among them stood the village healer, a kind-hearted woman named Elia, who was attempting to calm the murmurs.
"He's still just a boy," Elia was saying, her voice firm despite the anxious looks she received. "We've known Lucian all his life. A title changes nothing about his heart."
But her words did little to sway the crowd. "A Demon Lord in Avalon?" an old man spat on the ground. "It's bad luck, that's what it is. Who knows what kind of curse he might bring upon us?"
Lucian withdrew from the window, his heart sinking. He knew he couldn't stay here—not if his presence would bring trouble to his family and friends. He needed to leave, at least until he could understand what being a Demon Lord truly meant.
By mid-morning, Lucian had made up his mind. He packed a few belongings into a worn leather bag—clothes, a bit of food, and his father's old dagger, the blade cool and reassuring against his palm. He wrote a note for his mother, promising to return once he had found a way to control or rid himself of his dangerous powers.
Mara found him at the door, his hand on the latch. "You can't leave," she said, her voice cracking. "Not alone. It's too dangerous.
"Lucian felt a surge of warmth for his mother. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, the fear in her eyes cutting deeper than any blade. "I'll be alright," he assured her, though his voice trembled. "I have to do this, for all of our sakes."
With a heavy heart, Lucian stepped out of his childhood home, leaving behind the only world he had ever known. He headed toward the Eldor forest, a place rumored to be filled with ancient magic and hidden dangers. Perhaps there, in the depths of those whispering woods, he could find answers, or at least a place to hide until he could come to terms with his fate.
But Lucian was not entirely alone. Unknown to him, a pair of eyes watched from the shadows, curious and calculating. The owner of those eyes was a young girl, her presence as mysterious as her intentions. Her name was Aria, and her interest in Lucian was more than mere curiosity. She too had a secret, one that might change the course of Lucian's journey forever.