In the distant past, the Kingdom of Akakawa was devastated by an unholy invasion. Demons spawned from the depths of the underworld, seeking to claim the entire land as their own.
The war that followed was brutal and lasted four whole years. The humans, led by their brave King Wasabi, fought for as long as they could against the demons, who seemed almost invincible with their dark magic and supernatural strength.
Despite their resilience, the humans were slowly but surely pushed back. The demon hordes outnumbered and overpowered them, and the final assault was merciless. The remaining towns were reduced to ruins, and leaders were brought to their knees. Countess humans, sorcerers, and witches fell prey to the hordes, their screams echoing through the desolate landscape as they were slaughtered, devoured and dragged away into the darkness. Others were made into slaves by demons of the upper hierarchy known as the Fallen.
Their leader, the Archdemon Lord Hiroka, claimed Akakawa as his own and ruled with cruel tyranny. Any attempt at resistance was met with certain doom, as any human or witch who dared to fight back would be hunted down and annihilated.
The few who tried to lead rebellions were made examples of - their public executions serving as reminders of what would happen if one defied. People lived in constant fear. Every second, every day was consumed by the dread of their overlords. It was like being trapped in a never-ending nightmare.
Soon, a new ruler emerged among the Fallen, following Hiroka's untimely death.
Tsuyoi was a demon lord who seemed less cruel, unlike his father, Hiroka. He sought a different path, believing that the endless conflict between humans and demons could be put to an end.
Many of the Fallen met his vision with scepticism. They saw humans as nothing more than prey and hated the idea of treating them like equals. Needless to say, not one demon objected, and soon, demons who shared the desire for peace came together, and the tensions dissolved.
Humans were granted the freedom to govern themselves to some extent, and the land was divided into two main regions: Natsuki, the southern land, and Fuyuki, the northern land. Tsuyoi, as young as he was during the time, established his stronghold in Fuyuki, a land of eternal winter, and continued to rule over both humans and demons with an iron fist.
...19 years later...
Slowly, as if wading through a sea of darkness, Sayu opened his eyes.
The world around him seemed hazy and unfamiliar, and for a moment, he wondered if he had slipped into the Void. But as his senses gradually returned, he realised that he was not in the demon realm, nor was he dead. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body, causing him to fall back against the cold surface beneath him.
"I wouldn't try to move if I were you," a familiar voice spoke.
Sayu slowly turned his head, his teal eyes scanning the dimly lit space until they landed on Kotaro.
"I'm sure you're aware what those will do to you." Kotaro said, his hazel eyes fixed on the chains around Sayu's wrists and ankles. Their eerie glow brightened slightly as Sayu pushed himself up to a sitting position. He examined the chains, watching as their glow faltered for a second before steadying once more.
Sayu sighed. "Do you honestly believe kagiru chains are enough to restrain me for long?"
"No, I don't. But I'd hoped they would slow you down, at least, and keep you in one place while we... talk."
Sayu watched him through the metal bars, the dim glow of the torches casting an eerie light on his sheen face. "What about?" he asked.
Ko sighed and sat down on the small wooden chair in front of the cell. His brown ponytail swung with the motion.
"About what happened last night," Kotaro said, his eyes locked onto Sayu's. "About why you tried to kill Mother."
He leaned back into the chair and continued, "Were you really going to kill her?"
Sayu's expression didn't change.
"Isn't the fact that she's still breathing a good indication of my intentions?"
Ko chuckled. "Of course. Even you'd know better than to kill the Queen."
Sayu said nothing. He just looked up at the stone ceiling, and Kotaro continued. "You've always been one for subtlety, but you made no secret of how you really feel about her last night."
Sayu raised an eyebrow, his expression unimpressed. "Aren't you supposed to be guarding the east wing or something?" he asked, his voice dry.
Ko's grin faltered for a moment. "Oh, right. I was. But I got bored, and I figured I'd come keep you company instead." He smiled. "And besides, someone has to make sure you don't get too comfortable in here."
Sayu sighed heavily this time, and Kotaro knew what that meant. He chuckled at Sayu's irritability and leaned forward, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Listen, Sayu. I know you're not exactly looking forward to it, but you're going to have to apologize to Mother if you want to get out of here. Otherwise... let's just say you won't be leaving this cell anytime soon. And trust me, you don't want that."
"Is that right?" Sayu responded, his fingers splayed as he stared down at them with a detached interest. His tone was casual as he glanced down at his bare torso and asked, "Did you undress me?"
"The guards did. You were burning up."
"Couldn't I have at least gotten a cushion? A little bit of comfort for someone who was developing a fever?"
"For someone who attempted to murder the queen, I'd say that's a lot to ask."
"You really think so?"
Ko nodded. "And by the way, you look tired. Is it possible that what happened last night could be due to a lack of sleep?"
Sayuri's gaze drifted upwards, and a soft sigh escaped his lips. The sound carried a hint of exasperation, as if Kotaro's statement was almost... laughable.
He stared at the ceiling for roughly ten seconds while collecting his thoughts. "Perhaps it was." he said eventually.
"I see..." Ko replied. The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken understanding between the two brothers.
A gruff voice cut through the silence. "Time's up, young Sir. It's been an hour."
A demon guard stood at the entrance of the dungeon, his silver eyes fixed on Kotaro.
An hour? Sayu raised his brows at Ko, who then smiled at him again. "You tend to get angry when your sleep is interrupted, so I figured I'd just wait until you wake up on your own. Very considerate of me, right?"
Sayu shook his head.
Ko's movements were deliberate, his standing slow as if unfolding from a meditative pose. Meanwhile, the guard shot a concerned glance at Sayu, who sat unmoving. It was brief, but it spoke volumes. Kotaro noticed, knowing what this was about.
"I'll be going now." He said, turning to leave. "I'll save you some of my vintage wine."
The guard followed behind Ko, the sound of their footsteps echoing on the cold floor. Then, the sound of metal scraping against metal, the clang of locks engaging, and the heavy thud of a secondary door sealing shut echoed through the cell, a reminder of the special prison that held him.
Sayu's hand rose, his slender fingers seeking out the familiar comfort of his hair, a habitual gesture of his. His fingers combed through the golden strands as he shut his eyes and leaned against the cold stone wall.
Meanwhile, Kotaro watched as Jyun, the demon guard, hesitantly locked the cell door, his silver eyes darting back and forth. Jyun had been working there for years. He was once their guardian.
"Will the young prince be all right, Sir?" he asked, referring to grown-up Sayu, "He's never done well in confined spaces. I've seen him... lose himself before."
"Don't worry, Jyun," Ko said. "Sayu will be out of there soon. I'm certain he'll be able to handle it until then."
Jyun nodded, "I'll make sure to keep an eye on him, young Sir," Jyun said.
Kotaro nodded and headed down the corridor, Jyun falling into step behind him. "We'll just have to hope that he's in a better mood when he gets out."
~
...TO BE CONTINUED...