it's just me in a world I think I know

A slight shiver ran through her body as she slowly opened her eyes. A vibrant sunset painted the sky with shades of gold and crimson, bathing everything around him in an almost unreal light. The forest reflected the sun majestically while the small, mango-like fruits of rainbow colors swayed in the wind. "Back here again..." he whispered with a hoarse voice, more to himself than to anyone else. His gaze swept across the horizon, unable to ignore the feeling of familiarity.- Again? I've been here before, he wondered. Something inside him knew he had been there before, even though his mind was a complete blank. He stood up, swaying slightly as the grass moved beneath his feet, the color of dawn, everything seemed to reflect that beautiful landscape. Who was he? Where was he? —Kaius... The name resonated in his head, like a distant echo. Kaius? Is that my name? He tried to remember something else, but the pieces didn't fit. All that remained were fragments, like broken mirrors reflecting something incomplete. —Yes, you are... but not entirely. The voice emerged from nowhere, feminine, warm, and serene. A shiver ran down his spine. He took a step back, searching for the source of the voice, but saw no one. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling. —Someone who is here to help you. Just trust me. The sunset light suddenly seemed to intensify, and in front of him, a bright figure began to take shape. An ethereal woman, enveloped in a white and golden glow, slowly materialized. Her eyes seemed to contain entire galaxies, and her presence radiated a peaceful yet imposing power. "I am Latis, the goddess of creation."Her voice was pure music, resonating directly in his mind and heart. Kaius took a step back, dazed. His mind was a chaos of emotions and thoughts. —What do you want from me? I don't understand anything... I barely know who I am... Latis leaned his body slightly to be at his height, rubbing his head to calm him, as if he were a crying child. —You don't need to remember everything right now. What matters is that you are here —as he continued rubbing his head, a torrent of images filled Kaius's mind. A name, a face, a feeling of something lost and regained, and two silhouettes seemed different—a man and a woman—but their energy was the same or almost the same."A fusion?" he murmured, vaguely remembering. —Yes. A fusion that will allow you to survive. Don't worry about the details. The only thing you need to do now is find your family. They will help you find answers. Kaius clenched his fists, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions that consumed him. —How can I search for someone if I don't even know who I really am? Latis smiled tenderly, like a mother comforting a lost child. —Be patient. Everything will come in due time. When you fully awaken, the pieces will start to fall into place. And with those words, Latis began to fade away, leaving behind an inexplicable sense of calm and a single direction in Kaius's mind: Crimson Grove.

And with those words, the entity and the beautiful landscape began to fade into a glow of white light, leaving behind an absolute void.

Everything went dark. There were no sounds, no colors, no sensations. For a moment, Kaius thought he was dreaming within a dream. But then, a faint light began to seep through his closed eyelids.

When he opened his eyes completely, he found himself in a spectacular valley. The air was fresh, imbued with the scent of freshly cut grass. A crystal-clear lagoon reflected the surrounding mountains, while a waterfall cascaded forcefully, filling the space with a constant murmur. Around it, a dense forest stretched as far as the eye could see.

The place was beautiful, but its peace lasted little. Kaius felt a sharp pain in his head, as if something were tearing inside him. Images began to flood his mind. A ritual. Blood. Bodies scattered on the ground. She saw their sharp teeth, fangs like daggers, sinking into raw flesh. Not only did he see it... I felt it, the taste of blood was intoxicating just like that of human flesh.

She brought her hands to her face, trembling. In an instant, he knew those images were not foreign. He was the monster in those scenes. His eyes, black as the darkest night, reflected an abyss. Her teeth... were not normal, they were a row of sharp fangs that seemed to extend with each memory.

"What am I?" she whispered, looking at her hands in disbelief.

And then, a single word resonated in his mind, with a force he could not ignore:

"Demon."

That word... demon. That was it.

Kaius couldn't think clearly. Hunger blinded him, burning like embers inside, consuming him with each passing second. Stumbling, he approached the lake, desperate for something to calm his mind.

He leaned over the crystal-clear water, his trembling hands sinking into the cold liquid. It was then that he saw his reflection for the first time.

It was then that he saw his reflection for the first time.

A masculine face met his gaze, though there was something subtly feminine in its features: high cheekbones, the delicate curve of his jaw. His green eyes shone intensely, contrasting with his dark hair that fell messily over his forehead. He stood mesmerized, trying to recognize that face as his own.

"Finally awake, young core wizard." The female voice pulled him out of his trance. He turned abruptly, searching for the one who was speaking to him.

There she was. A woman of imposing presence, with bright orange hair cascading over her shoulders. Her figure, voluptuous and robust, radiated a strength that combined both coldness and warmth. Her gaze seemed to pierce through him, though there was something comforting in her posture.

"Who are you?" asked Kaius, distrustful but unable to take his eyes off her.

—I am Hermineria, the goddess of nature in this world.—Her voice had a firm tone, like the earth itself, but there was a hint of sweetness that calmed him.

Kaius narrowed his eyes. There was something about her, in her energy, that reminded him of the landscape he had seen before, but she was clearly not Latis.

"What are you doing here?" Hermineria asked him, crossing her arms as she examined him from head to toe.

Kaius told him about Latis, about the fusion, the fragmented memories, and the insatiable hunger that tormented him. While he spoke, Hermineria did not take her eyes off him. Finally, she raised a hand, and a soft green light began to emanate from her fingers, enveloping him completely.

—You are a bastard demon. —The statement was direct, and Kaius felt something break inside him.

"What does that mean?" he asked, confused and frustrated.

Hermineria sighed, as if the explanation were a heavy burden. She sat on a nearby rock, with the grace of someone who had mastered nature itself.

"Listen carefully."He gestured for him to come closer, and he obeyed, still enveloped in the green light.

He spoke to him about the origin of the supernatural: how the gods had created the world in a joint act with the greater demons, shaping all creatures, including humans. He explained how the lesser demons had corrupted some humans, transforming them into what were known as bastard demons: condemned beings, incapable of using magic and bound to their darkest impulses.

"But you..." said Hermineria, leaning towards him, "you are not like them."

Kaius looked up, surprised.

—What do you mean?

—Latis blessed you. That makes you different. You can use magic, and not only that, your core as a sorcerer remains intact. It's something unheard of. —His words were both a warning and an acknowledgment.

Kaius didn't fully understand, but something inside him reacted to what she was saying. Hermineria watched him for a moment, then extended a hand towards his chest.

—Latis asked me to strengthen your connection with magic. It will be painful, but necessary.

Before he could object, Hermineria's warm hand touched his chest. A wave of heat spread from the point of contact, coursing through his entire body. Kaius gasped, feeling a soft and light energy flowing through him, as if his body were being reconfigured from within.

It was an indescribable sensation: the warmth of magic mingled with the lightness of the wind, as if every fiber of her being were touched by nature itself.

"Do you feel it?" asked Hermineria, with a slight smile.

Kaius nodded, his breath ragged. He felt something new inside him, a latent force that was beginning to awaken.

—Use this power wisely, young core wizard. The path that awaits you will be more difficult than you imagine.

-Hermineria withdrew her hand and stood up, her eyes carefully evaluating him.

—Go find your family. And remember: this world is not kind to your kind.

Without further ado, Hermineria vanished in a flurry of leaves and wind, leaving Kaius alone in the valley, with a new purpose and a growing sense of power within him. But before he could even think further, his entire world darkened again, his body collapsed, he tried to stay awake but in the end, he fell again.