After weeks of arduous travel, the group finally arrived at the gates of Aetheria, the grand human kingdom. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the towering city walls.
"Finally, we've arrived to Aetheria," Borin announced with a mixture of relief and weariness.
Asmodeus looked up at the gates, expecting a rigorous inspection from the guards. To his surprise, the security was lax, and they passed through with minimal scrutiny. He raised an eyebrow, sensing something was amiss.
"That was...easy," he murmured.
The group exchanged uneasy glances as they entered the city. The scene that greeted them was far from the bustling, prosperous kingdom they had imagined. Buildings were cracked and damaged, many appearing as though they had been hit by a massive earthquake. Debris littered the streets, and the normally vibrant marketplace was eerily quiet.
"What happened here?" Lyra whispered, her eyes wide with shock.
"It looks like a war zone," Aric said, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.
Asmodeus scanned the surroundings, his mind racing. "Something catastrophic occurred. This isn't just neglect; it's devastation."
That wasn't their problem, they had to find a place to stay.
"Let's try the tavern over there," Borin suggested, pointing to a nearby building.
They entered the tavern, but the innkeeper shook his head. "Sorry, no empty rooms. Everything's taken."
Frustrated, they wandered through the city, checking various inns and guesthouses, but the answer was always the same. No vacancy.
"Ugh, this is pointless," Asmodeus grumbled. He suddenly lay down on the sidewalk, using his arm as a pillow and looking up at the sky.
The others stared at him in disbelief. "What are you doing?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Asmodeus shrugged. "We looked everywhere, there's no place to stay."
"So we're gonna sleep in the streets?" Borin asked, incredulous.
"Yeah," Asmodeus replied nonchalantly, still gazing at the sky. "This actually reminds me of my childhood."
The group exchanged glances, unsure how to respond. Lyra knelt beside him. "You had a tough childhood, huh?"
Asmodeus sighed dramatically. "No I had a common one. You know, had to eat rats to survive--"
"Rats? Seriously?" Aric asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep, rats. And sometimes, if I was lucky, a bird. But usually just rats."
Lyra shook her head in disbelief. "That's awful. How did you manage to eat it?"
Asmodeus smirked. "I mean, we, demons don't mind the taste that much and sometimes we stole so we could buy something healthy. After a certain point stealing was a daily activity. You learn to be quick and sneaky or you don't eat."
"Stealing? From who?" Borin asked, curiosity piqued.
"Anyone and everyone," Asmodeus replied. "Fellow street kids, vendors, sometimes even from guards if I was feeling particularly daring."
Aric frowned. "And no one ever tried to help you?"
Asmodeus shrugged. "Why would they? That was not their problem, they had their own problems. Nights were the actual problem, we spent the nights shivering in the cold, hoping I wouldn't be found by someone with even worse intentions."
"Man, that's rough. But you're strong for getting through it," Borin said.
Asmodeus chuckled. "It's not that deep, guys. Seriously. That was thousands of years ago. Don't worry about it."
Borin, shaking his head, approached and patted Asmodeus on the back. "Yeah, buddy. Long time ago." A tear fell down Borin's cheek, though he still didn't believe Asmodeus had lived that long and thought he was traumatized and delusional.
Asmodeus laughed, lightening the mood. "Relax, Borin. We can handle one night outside. Besides, it's an adventure!"
The group unwillingly settled down on the sidewalk after hearing his story, using their packs as makeshift pillows. They shared stories and jokes, turning an otherwise miserable situation into a surprisingly enjoyable night. As they were getting ready to sleep, Lyra, the healer of the group, approached Asmodeus.
"I thought you were the Demon King," she said, her tone curious.
"Yeah?" Asmodeus replied, raising an eyebrow.
"How did you have that kind of miserable childhood?" she asked, her confusion evident.
Asmodeus looked puzzled. "What do you mean? How is being the Demon King relevant to childhood?"
Lyra furrowed her brow. "I mean, you were a prince, weren't you?"
Asmodeus laughed heartily. "Haha, no, we demons don't have that corrupted system you humans have. The strongest one has the right to challenge the Demon King and take his title. That's how I became the Demon King. We don't have noble bloodlines and that kind of stupidity."
Lyra shook her head. "I don't know, our system has its merits. Having noble bloodlines ensures some stability and continuity in leadership."
Asmodeus smirked. "Stability, sure. But it also means incompetent rulers who rely on their birthright rather than their abilities."
Lyra frowned. "But challenging for power constantly leads to chaos. Look at how many wars and conflicts have been caused by power struggles."
"True," Asmodeus admitted. "But it also means that only the strongest and most capable lead. Strength should be the measure of a ruler, not their lineage."
Lyra sighed. "If only it were that simple for us. Our way might be flawed, but it has its reasons. Continuity and heritage have their own value."
Asmodeus leaned back, gazing at the sky. "Maybe. But at least I got to where I am by my own efforts, not by birth."
She was unconscoisly smiling as she spoke, "Demon king or not, I really liked the way you think and speak"
"I just think the same way as every demon..."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully, then moved closer to him and lay down. After a while she slept right next to him. In other hand Asmodeus stayed awake and didn't even blink his eyes all night long, because he knew cities were way more dangerous than forests at night, especially after such a disaster...
The night in Aetheria was quiet, with only the distant sounds of the city echoing through the cracked and damaged streets. Asmodeus lay still, pretending to be asleep, his senses alert for any potential threats. The rest of the group slept soundly, unaware of the dangers that might lurk in the shadows.
Asmodeus' keen senses picked up a faint rustling nearby. He remained still, his eyes barely open, as a shadowy figure approached their makeshift camp. The thief, a scraggly man with desperate eyes, moved cautiously, his gaze darting around to make sure he wasn't being watched.
Asmodeus waited until the thief was close enough. As the thief reached out to rummage through Borin's pack, Asmodeus sprang into action. He grabbed the thief by the collar and yanked him off his feet, throwing him to the ground with a thud.
The thief struggled to get up, but Asmodeus was on him in an instant. He stomped down hard on the thief's groin, eliciting a high-pitched scream of agony. Asmodeus immidietly closed his mouth with his hand. The man's eyes bulged, and he writhed on the ground, clutching his privates.
"You picked the wrong group to steal from," Asmodeus growled, his voice low and menacing.
The thief gasped, trying to catch his breath. "Please... don't... I... I didn't mean any harm..."
Asmodeus' eyes glinted with a dangerous light. "Oh, I believe you. But you need to learn a lesson."
He reached down and grabbed the thief's hand, yanking it up. With a swift, precise motion, he twisted the man's fingers back until a sickening snap echoed through the night. The thief howled in pain, his body convulsing.
With that sounds, Borin, Sienna, Aric, and Lyra quickly surrounded them, eyes widening at the sight. Asmodeus's expression was one of cold fury.
"You want to steal from us?" Asmodeus snarled. He pressed his knee into the thief's back, reaching down to grab a handful of dirt and grime from the street. With a cruel smile, he smeared it across the thief's face, forcing him to taste the filth.
"Let's see how you like it," he said, his voice devoid of mercy. He grabbed the thief's groin, applying pressure until the man screamed.
"Stop!" Lyra shouted, horrified. "You're going to kill him!"
Asmodeus ignored her, his eyes blazing. He was about to inflict more pain when Aric stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Enough!" Aric shouted, pulling Asmodeus away. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Asmodeus released the thief, who immediately curled into a ball, whimpering. He stood up, brushing off his hands as if nothing had happened.
"I was teaching him a lesson," Asmodeus said nonchalantly.
Aric shook his head in disgust. "You're a psychopath! I told you he was a problem. Look at him now! He thinks he's some kind of demon king, but he's just a deranged maniac!"
Lyra knelt beside the thief, her hands glowing as she began to heal his wounds. Sienna and Borin exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to make of Asmodeus's behavior.
Asmodeus looked at Aric, his expression unreadable. "Sometimes, fear is the only language people understand."
Aric snorted. "Fear? You're just a bully."
"Call it what you want," Asmodeus said, turning away. "But he won't be trying to rob us again."
The group was silent as they processed what had happened. Lyra finished healing the thief, who scrambled to his feet and ran off into the night without looking back.
Borin sighed heavily. "We need to find a place to stay. We can't keep sleeping in the streets."
Sienna nodded. "Agreed. Let's move."
As they gathered their things and prepared to leave, Aric shot Asmodeus a final glare. "Stay away from me," he said. "You're dangerous."
Asmodeus shrugged, unfazed. "Sure"
They moved on, the tension palpable. Asmodeus walked at the back of the group, his mind racing. He had acted on instinct, his demonic nature taking over. But he couldn't afford to alienate his companions. He needed them, at least for now.
As they searched for a new place to stay, Asmodeus kept to himself, the night's events replaying in his mind. He knew he had to be more careful. His new life was already proving to be more challenging than he had anticipated.