When they entered the forest, Edo felt a growing sense of unease the entire time. He couldn't tell if it stemmed from the grim atmosphere of the place or something entirely different. The forest looked eerie – decayed trees, shrouded in a dense fog that severely limited visibility, created a landscape straight out of a nightmare. The only things breaking through this gray veil were sparse, lifeless bushes with nearly leafless branches. It was hard to imagine anyone feeling comfortable here, unless they had a peculiar taste for such views. Or perhaps the discomfort was caused by the contract with Sirk? He had granted Edo a new, highly attuned traveler's sense that reacted to even the smallest changes in the environment.
The horse, which had previously galloped with impressive speed, now moved almost sluggishly, as if it, too, felt the oppressive aura of this place. Their journey had already lasted about half an hour. The path they followed was clearly well-trodden by many travelers, yet it was silent and deserted—they encountered no one. Finally, Edo, unable to endure the awkward silence any longer, broke it.
"Are you sure those recent dangers aren't connected to the demigods?" he asked, trying, though not very successfully, to sound confident.
Leni glanced at him with mild pity before responding:
"Of course I'm sure. The demigods haven't caused any major trouble in a long time. The last significant incident involving them occurred about fifty years ago. That's when the demigod of death waged war against the kingdom of Satop, single-handedly massacring entire armies. However, after a month of fierce battles, they managed to defeat and kill him."
Edo furrowed his brow, absorbing this information.
"They killed a demigod? So, that means there used to be eleven of them, and now there are ten?" he asked with visible curiosity.
Leni shot him a bewildered look, as if she'd heard something absurd.
"Eleven? What are you talking about? There have always been ten demigods, and there will always be ten," she replied firmly.
Scratching his head, Edo tried to clarify his thought process.
"But you just said that the demigod of death was killed fifty years ago, and now there are ten. So that means there must have been eleven back then, right?"
Leni sighed deeply, clearly losing patience.
"Do you really know nothing? If a demigod is killed, their power is reborn in another, newly born being. The power chooses the most compatible person, usually someone with a specific mindset or character. It's as if the power knows exactly who can create the most chaos."
Edo listened, trying to grasp this complex principle. Still, he decided to probe further, even if his questions seemed entirely idiotic to her.
"So, demigods are just regular beings? Could they be human, demon, half-human... and so on?"
Leni looked at him with even more astonishment, as if she couldn't believe someone so uninformed even existed.
"Do you really know nothing?" she repeated, almost incredulously. "I don't know how it's possible that you have no clue about such things. Yes, demigods are ordinary beings with divine power. The Dark Era of the Gods ended ten thousand years ago when all ten reigning gods—the god of protection, god of strength, god of vitality, god of time, god of nature, god of life, god of love, god of death, god of momentum, and god of wisdom—were killed by four great mages. Those mages also perished in the battle."
She paused briefly, as if gathering her thoughts, then continued:
"The power of these gods was too immense to simply disappear. Each of the ten great energies chose a new host—a newly born being that best suited the nature of the power. It didn't matter if it was human, demon, or something else. The magical core is destroyed, but the chosen bearer gains a fraction of the divine power. And while these chosen ones live ordinary lives, their strength is formidable and always brings chaos."
Leni sighed heavily, as if her patience had just run out.
"I don't know how you don't know this. Even children know this story," she added with a hint of irritation. After a moment, however, as if remembering something important, she began speaking again, as if the topic required further elaboration.
"The matter of the demigods is incredibly complex. Since the gods were annihilated 10,000 years ago, their powers have persisted, manifesting as demigods. However, some of them are unique—they are called Primordial."
"Primordial? In what sense?" Edo asked, furrowing his brow with curiosity.
Leni sighed deeply, seemingly trying to gather the patience she was quickly losing. Finally, she began to speak:
"In short, take the demigods of death, for example. Over these ten thousand years, we've had more than twelve of them. Each posed a significant threat, but people always managed to handle them. However, the Primordials are the first ones to have received a given power. Take the demigod of protection, for instance. Rumors say someone once saw or even fought them, but since then, they've disappeared, and no one has heard of them for millennia. The same goes for the demigod of time."
She paused briefly, seemingly wondering if Edo was even keeping up with her explanations, then added:
"There have also been instances where demigods weren't evil. Most of them did bring chaos, but exceptions occurred. The divine power didn't always choose the 'right' people. Even the gods seemed to have made mistakes. Some demigods gave their lives in wars or while defending the countries they were born in. If the gods aimed for revenge, their plan sometimes failed. A good example is the demigod of wisdom. For 10,000 years, she has remained neutral. Her name is Sapienti. She's a woman who knows everything about everything. If you ever manage to find her, you'll be truly fortunate, as she can answer any question you have."
Edo shivered with excitement at these words. His mind began working at full speed.
"A demigod who knows everything? That's the solution to all my problems!" he thought. "I have to find her as soon as I help Leni. She might know how to get me back to my world!"
With a voice full of hope, he asked:
"And where can I find her?"
Leni shrugged.
"Unfortunately, no one knows. She could be anywhere, but finding her is next to impossible."
Edo slapped his forehead and sighed.
"Damn, I should have seen that coming!" he thought. But he wasn't about to give up. After a moment of contemplation, he asked another question:
"What were the most significant events caused by demigods in more recent times?"
Leni, as if proud of her knowledge, responded enthusiastically:
"One hundred thirty years ago, there was a skirmish between two powerful cities. One of them had a significant advantage because they had a woman named Potenia on their side—a demigod of strength. The battle claimed thousands of lives. Potenia, seeing the suffering of people from both her beloved city and the one attacking it, came up with an unusual idea. The city where she grew up was close to the ocean. Using her power, she struck the ground with such force that she broke off a piece of the continent, turning it into an island. That land was named after her, and it's said that Potenia still resides on that island, though the locals don't allow outsiders to enter."
Edo listened with growing interest, but Leni continued without waiting for his reaction.
"There's also another story that will definitely interest you because it involves demons. If it weren't for this event, demons might no longer exist."
Edo straightened up upon hearing these words, and Leni continued in a serious tone:
200 years ago, one of the bloodiest wars in history began—the war between demons and the kingdom of Ero. It was ignited by an exceptionally talented demon-mage who, with his otherworldly magical abilities, caused destruction on an unimaginable scale. Entire villages and cities fell victim to his wrath, striking fear into the hearts of Ero's inhabitants. However, he didn't act without reason—his goal was to fight against the discrimination that had plagued demons for centuries.
The demon kingdom, Serot, was significantly poorer than Ero. The land there was barren, plants rarely bloomed, and food supplies were always insufficient. Meanwhile, Ero's citizens lived in luxury, indifferent to the plight of demons, whom they treated as an inferior race. The mage decided to change that. His rebellion did not go unnoticed—soon, other demons joined him, for demons, as is known, can act with extraordinary determination when they have a shared goal.
Though the demons were numerous, their army could not withstand Ero's might. The royal mages, supported by holy swordsmen, eventually defeated the demon-mage and shattered his forces. The battle was fierce, with heavy casualties on both sides, but in the end, Ero triumphed. It seemed like the conflict had ended, but Ero's rulers had other plans.
After the battle, the rulers of Ero realized that demons with magical talent were too dangerous to be left in peace. A plan was devised to exterminate the entire race. First, they invaded Serot and systematically destroyed its largest cities. No one was spared—women, children, the elderly. The massacre lasted two years until all the major demon settlements were razed to the ground.
But even that wasn't enough. Ero's army divided its forces—some returned home, but the rest stayed behind, building garrisons on Serot's territory. Officially, their purpose was to "prevent future threats from demons," but in reality, it was a brutal campaign aimed at eradicating all beings living in those lands. The garrisons were strategically placed—about thirty in total across Serot. Over the next four years, Ero's army nearly wiped the demons off the face of the earth. Village by village, one life at a time—the extermination plan seemed unstoppable.
Everything went according to plan until one fateful night. That night, something happened that changed the course of history. In a single night, all of Ero's garrisons were utterly destroyed. Soldiers were killed, and the infrastructure reduced to ruins. The attack was so flawless and swift that no witnesses or traces were left behind. Had it not been for this event, Ero would likely have driven the demons to total extinction.
No one knows who was responsible for this act. People began to speculate, and the legend quickly shrouded itself in mystery. The individual who destroyed the garrisons was called "The Reaper of Serot." That name evoked both hope and fear, depending on who uttered it.
Leni looked at Edo thoughtfully, as if testing him.
"This couldn't have been the work of an ordinary human. It must have been a demigod," she said firmly before sighing. "What do you think, Edo?"
Edo, absorbed in Leni's story, was about to answer when something rustled in the bushes to their right. The movement was swift, and the leaves rustled so loudly that the horse they were riding froze and let out a loud neigh. The animal clearly spooked, and Leni had to quickly calm its nerves, stroking its neck and whispering soothing words.
"Wait here, Edo. I'll check it out," she said, ready to dismount, but before she could set her feet on the ground, a group of creatures shot out from the bushes.
There were ten of them—small, bizarre creatures dressed in dirty white garments resembling tunics. They were beardless, but their long, unkempt hair almost reached their shoulders. They looked like tiny humans, but their movements and behavior betrayed their unfriendly nature. They were loud, restless, and each carried small pouches filled with some strange powder. Every now and then, one would throw a pouch at another's feet, causing small, loud explosions.
"Gnomlets," Leni said with clear irritation.
"Excuse me, what?" Edo asked, trying to comprehend what he was seeing.
"Gnomlets. Annoying little bastards who judge others based on their shoes. If they don't like them, they'll harass you all day long."
"Shoes? Are you fucking serious?" Edo looked at the little creatures with growing astonishment. At first glance, they seemed desperately poor—their clothes were filthy and torn, yet on their feet, they wore what appeared to be exquisitely luxurious shoes made of gleaming leather.
"What the fuck?" Edo thought, unable to contain his indignation.
The gnomlets, meanwhile, were making more and more noise, inching closer to the horse and the two travelers. They were agitated, waving their arms and exchanging incomprehensible words in their language. But suddenly, everything fell silent. The creatures stopped dead in their tracks as if they had seen something extraordinary. All at once, they straightened, bowed, and began retreating into the bushes from which they had emerged. One of them, the last in line, managed to throw one last pouch at his companion's feet before disappearing, causing a small explosion.
"What the hell was that?" Edo asked, a mix of bewilderment and amusement in his voice.
Leni sighed, clearly exhausted by the whole ordeal.
"A gnomlet test. They judged our shoes. Luckily, they liked them, so they left. If not, they'd have tormented us the entire way."
"What a load of bullshit," Edo thought, shaking his head.
After the gnomlet incident, they continued their journey. The forest they traversed seemed increasingly hostile. The air was heavy, the fog limited visibility, and the sounds of nature coming from various directions made Edo uneasy. Despite this, Leni remained unfazed. She sat confidently on the horse, guiding them through the thickets with her usual calm demeanor.
Edo, naturally vigilant and unaccustomed to such limited visibility, felt increasingly anxious. He had the impression that something was lurking nearby—something invisible but palpable. After a while, however, he felt something else. A sudden shiver ran through his body, and a strange sensation filled his consciousness. It was the power bestowed upon him by Sirk—his intuition seemed to tell him that their destination was near.
Not long after, they emerged onto a main road, where an unusual sight awaited them. A massive, heavy caravan stood ahead, devoid of horses. It faced them as if it had been waiting just for them.
Edo looked at the caravan and felt a sense of relief.
"We made it" he said softly, though there was a note of uncertainty in his voice.
Leni immediately dismounted and ran toward the mysterious vehicle, paying no heed to anything.
"Stop, it could be a trap!" Edo called after her, but the mage didn't react. Before he could warn her again, she vanished behind the caravan.
Edo sighed deeply, irritated by her recklessness. He dismounted with care and followed her. As he rounded the caravan, he saw an entrance leading inside, where Leni already was. He took his first step but was suddenly struck by a sharp, burning pain—as if someone had driven a needle straight into his left eye. The boy groaned, clutching his face.
"There are no... no crystals..." he heard Leni's voice from inside the caravan. "There are valuable items here, but no crystals!"
But Edo barely registered her words. He knew the pain in his eye could mean only one thing—tragedy. Suddenly, the sense of danger that had accompanied him since entering the forest became overwhelming. His instincts, aided by Sirk's power, screamed one thing:
RUN!
"Leni, we have to get back to the horse, now!" he said, trying to stay calm despite his racing heart.
"But—" she began.
"No buts! Come on!" he interrupted her, almost shouting.
Leni looked at him, confused, but ultimately nodded. She quickly headed for the steps leading out of the caravan. Unfortunately, it was already too late.
A deafening blast echoed through the air, like the sound of a cannon firing. The horse neighed loudly before bolting away. Edo instinctively shut his eyes, bracing himself for the worst. Moments later, he cautiously opened them, surprised to find himself still intact.
"What the hell was that? Did you hear that, Le—"
He stopped mid-sentence, staring at a horrifying sight. Blood. There was blood everywhere—on the ground, on the caravan walls, even on his own clothes. At first, he couldn't comprehend what had happened. His eyes wandered to Leni, and what he saw froze him in place.
Leni's head—or rather, what was left of it—was mutilated. Her lower jaw was the only part left intact. Everything else had exploded, scattering fragments of skull and brain matter everywhere. Her white attire was now soaked in blood, and one of her eyes, still attached to shreds of tissue, hung grotesquely, swaying back and forth.
The woman's body tumbled from the caravan straight into Edo's arms, which caught it instinctively. Only now did he notice the massive hole at the back of the vehicle, as if a powerful projectile had pierced through Leni's face before obliterating the structure.
Edo looked down at the lifeless body in his arms, seeing the mutilated head up close. He dropped it, and the corpse hit the ground with a dull thud. The woman landed face-first, fragments of her teeth—the only remains—shattering into tiny pieces. Edo felt his stomach lurch violently. He vomited onto the ground, and the sight of his own vomit mixed with blood triggered even stronger retching.
Fragments of Leni's body were everywhere—her blood and tissue stained every inch of the ground around him.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" Edo screamed, clutching his head. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?! WHY?!"
Tears streamed down his face. Even though he had only known Leni briefly, witnessing such a brutal death shook him to his core. It felt like his entire world was falling apart.
Suddenly, through the mist, something caught his eye—a shimmering blue light. It looked as if someone was aiming a massive bow at him.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Edo shouted, charging toward the light.
But before he could take a step, another deafening blast echoed. Edo felt something tear through his body. Blood poured from his mouth in a torrent as he spat it out. Looking down, he saw his chest had been pierced—a gaping hole where his heart had once beat.
He collapsed to his knees, feeling his strength leave him. Despite this, he lifted his head, staring at the shimmering blue light flickering again in the fog.
"YOU THINK YOU'VE WON, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT?! I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU! YOU'LL SUFF…"
He didn't finish. Another projectile tore through his head, shattering it into pieces. His lifeless body fell backward, landing on Leni's corpse. The bodies of both lay still, sinking into the massive pool of blood that dyed the ground a deep, dark red.