Jasper awoke to find himself in a strange, unfamiliar forest. The air was thick with the scent of unknown flowers, and the trees seemed to whisper secrets in a language he couldn't understand. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind.
"Where am I?" he muttered, looking around.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was an enormous wolf with eyes that glowed an eerie green. Jasper tensed, ready for a fight, but the wolf simply stared at him, its gaze oddly intelligent.
"Follow me," the wolf said, its voice resonating in Jasper's mind.
Against his better judgment, Jasper followed the wolf deeper into the forest. They walked for what felt like hours until they reached a clearing. In the center stood a massive tree with branches that seemed to touch the sky. At the base of the tree, a woman with hair like silver moonlight waited, her eyes filled with an ancient wisdom.
"Welcome, Jasper," she said softly. "I have been waiting for you."
"Who are you?" Jasper asked, feeling an inexplicable pull towards her.
"I am Liora, the guardian of this realm. You have been brought here to learn a crucial truth."
Jasper frowned. "Whoo?! What the fuck are you talking about? a truth?"
Liora gestured to the tree. "This is the Tree of Memories. It holds the secrets of the past, present, and future. To understand your path, you must see what it holds for you."
"Hey are you even listening? Ah anyways..." Jasper said he finally stepped forward, touching the tree's bark. Instantly, visions flooded his mind: battles he had fought, faces of friends and foes, moments of triumph and despair. He saw Sylvaine, Kael, and even Asmodeus, each playing their part in the intricate tapestry of his life.
Then, the visions changed. He saw a future where he was not an archvampire but a mere mortal, living a quiet life in a small village. He had a family, children, and a sense of peace he had never known. The contrast was jarring.
"What does this mean?" Jasper asked, pulling his hand away.
Liora smiled sadly. "It means that even the most powerful beings have the potential for change. Your destiny is not set in stone."
Jasper shook his head, struggling to process everything. "This can't be real, I fucking hate mortals. It doesn't make any sense."
Liora stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes, the most profound truths are the hardest to accept. Remember, Jasper, you have the power to shape your own destiny."
"I don't fucking care about the truth. Wha--"
As her words echoed in his mind, Jasper felt the world around him start to blur and fade. He tried to hold on, but the harder he tried, the faster it slipped away.
Jasper jolted awake in his coffin, drenched in sweat. He looked around, his heart pounding. Everything was as it should be, the familiar surroundings of his castle reassuring him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"Just a dream" he muttered, but something in the back of his mind nagged at him.
On his bedside table, a small vial lay empty, a few drops of liquid still clinging to the glass. Jasper picked it up, realization dawning on him.
"The drugs.." he whispered. "It must have caused this hallucination."
He sighed, setting the vial back down. As he lay back, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that, dream or not, the vision had shown him something important. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to consider a different path.
---
Jasper was deep in his alchemical research when a familiar, ominous presence filled the room. He looked up to see Asmodeus, the Demon King, standing in the doorway. The usual smirk was absent from his face, replaced by an uncharacteristic look of contemplation.
"Asmodeus," Jasper greeted, setting aside his experiment. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Asmodeus strode into the room, glancing around at the various alchemical tools and potions. "I'm going to a human academy."
Jasper blinked in shock. "Huh?! Why?!"
Asmodeus grinned, though it lacked his usual arrogance. "To learn some magic? Maybe?"
Jasper scoffed. "You are the Demon King. What could a mere human possibly teach you?"
Asmodeus met Jasper's gaze, his eyes glinting with an unusual seriousness. After a moment, he sighed. "Brother, I'm bored. I want to live a second life, experience something different."
Jasper's initial disbelief gave way to a mix of amusement and annoyance. "You're going to leave me alone? I thought we were going to play games, like chess 3.0. Not that game for now, but someday we'll play it too."
Asmodeus chuckled, but the spark in his eyes didn't waver. "We will, Jasper. But I need this break. I need to feel alive in a different way."
Jasper sighed, recognizing the resolve in his friend's eyes. "Fine. But what exactly are you here for?"
"I need a mortal body to transfer my soul into. And I'd like you to take care of my real body while I'm... away."
Jasper leaned back, trying to comprehend the absurdity of the situation. "And if I say no?"
Asmodeus's eyes softened. "You won't. Because you understand."
Jasper exhaled sharply, realizing there was no dissuading him. "Ahh, okay," he finally said, smirking. He pulled out a vial filled with a shimmering liquid. "You don't have to transfer your soul. With this, you'll be able to control both bodies. But I recommend closing your eyes in your original body meanwhile because two different visions and mind might make you go crazy."
Asmodeus's eyes lit up with excitement. He embraced Jasper, his gratitude evident. "Thank you, Jasper. I knew you'd help."
Jasper patted his back, a mix of amusement and concern in his eyes. "Just one thing: don't spit in people's mouths."
Asmodeus pulled back, frowning. "What the fu--- Why would I do that?"
Jasper shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a precaution. Now, drink."
Asmodeus took the vial, raising it to his lips. As he drank, a strange sensation coursed through him. His eyes began to glow, a scar-like mark appearing around them,
With a wave of his hand, Jasper teleported an empty body into the room. The body had striking blue eyes, black long hair and a strong build, clearly designed with care. Jasper turned to Asmodeus. "Now, spit in its mouth."
Asmodeus recoiled. "Eww, what? Why?"
"Just do as I say and then close your eyes," Jasper insisted.
Grumbling, Asmodeus did as he was told, spitting into the body's mouth and then closing his eyes.
Moments later, the new body's eyes snapped open, glowing with the same scar-like mark. Asmodeus blinked, looking around with a mix of wonder and excitement.
After wandering around his own body for a while, he said, "What a magnificant demon I am!"
Jasper watched, a mixture of pride and trepidation. "Good luck, Asmodeus. Try not to get in trouble, remember you are just a mere human"
Asmodeus grinned, the fire of adventure rekindled in his eyes. "No promises, brother."
As Asmodeus was about to leave the lab, he turned back and said, "Oh, and I'll also look for the source of that divine portal thing… you know, whenever I have the time."
"Why waste time on that in a human body? Just live your life. That body will die in a few years anyway."
"Humans are closer to divine beings than we are. Being human might help me find the source."
"Whatever. See you in half a century."
"See you."
Asmodeus waved and went on his way to the human kingdom.
---