The air crackled with tension as Gloria and Eragon stood beneath the swirling, ominous clouds. A ripple of dark energy had cascaded through the atmosphere, chilling Gloria to the bone. She was prepared for a fight—her instincts were screaming that danger was near—but the approaching figure wasn't what they expected.
Out of the shadows, a man stepped forward. He appeared human at first glance, but there was an unmistakable otherworldly aura about him. His eyes gleamed with an ancient malevolence, though his posture was humble. Gloria and Eragon both recognized the truth: this wasn't an ordinary human. This was a demon, and not just any demon, but a Great Demon, one of immense power."Young lieges," the demon greeted, his voice smooth and respectful, bowing his head slightly. "I sensed an unusual surge of dark energy in this area, and upon tracing it, I was led to this place. Do you, by chance, know what transpired here?"Gloria exchanged a glance with Eragon.
She could feel the weight of the demon's gaze upon them, assessing, probing. He clearly knew something had happened, but demons were never straightforward in their intentions. They played by their own rules, rules that mortals—and even most supernaturals—couldn't easily comprehend."Yeah," Gloria replied, her voice steady but cautious. She pointed to Eragon. "A dypent attacked us, and he killed it."The demon's eyes flicked over to Eragon, narrowing slightly as he evaluated him.
There was skepticism in the air; the demon wasn't entirely convinced by Gloria's explanation. And why would he be? Dypents were formidable creatures, not easily defeated. For someone as young as Eragon to have killed one so easily—it seemed too simple. The demon didn't believe them. Not yet.But then, in a flicker of movement, Eragon's dragon familiar revealed itself. It wasn't large, but its presence was undeniable, a shimmering, scaled entity that hovered protectively near its master. The demon's eyes widened in an instant, and Gloria felt a shift in the atmosphere.
A ripple of fear passed through the demon, something so primal that even a creature of darkness couldn't mask it.The dragon's mere presence had struck a nerve.The demon's voice faltered, though he tried to maintain composure. "I see… I was mistaken in my doubt," he murmured, bowing once more. "You are far stronger than I had presumed. My apologies for the intrusion."Without another word, the demon turned and vanished into the shadows, his presence evaporating like smoke in the wind.
Gloria let out a slow breath, her heart still pounding from the encounter. Demons were unpredictable, but for now, the threat had passed.