I was still staring numbly at Marshal Decker, trying to process the horrors he'd described. The weight of undead armies, monstrous kings, and twisted spirits settled in my chest like a lead weight.
Before I could sink deeper into dreadful thoughts, I felt a gentle warmth against my hand. I looked down to see Xier's delicate fingers lightly intertwined with mine, her soft, gentle touch grounding me instantly.
"Hey..." she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. "Don't let it overwhelm you."
Her smoky eyes met mine, calm and steady, filled with unspoken reassurance.
"This world is... complicated," she admitted gently, her tone tinged with melancholy. "There's so much you haven't seen... things hidden from humanity's eyes."
She paused, searching my face, then continued quietly.
---
"There was a time..." she began, her gaze distant, as though remembering something far away. "When demons and humans were... enemies. We were hunted, feared... just as we hunted you."
Her fingers tightened slightly around mine, her expression softening.
"But that was a long time ago," she whispered, her voice tinged with regret... and hope.
"Things have changed."
---
"How?" I asked hesitantly, still trying to grasp what she was saying.
She smiled faintly, her lips curving softly with sincerity.
"Because we realized..." she paused, choosing her words carefully. "We're not... so different. We can... coexist."
Her fingers lightly traced patterns on my hand, her touch comforting yet firm.
"*The Enforcers... and the Demon Guild... we work together now. We fight alongside each other against... things far worse than ourselves."
---
I could hear truth in her words, the earnest sincerity that she couldn't hide.
"But... why?" I pressed, still unsure. "Why help us... after everything?"
Her gaze softened, something tender and deeply personal shining in her eyes.
"Because we learned..." she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Survival means... letting go of hate."
---
Marshal Decker snorted from behind us, his gruff voice cutting through the moment.
"Took you damn demons long enough to figure that out," he muttered, half-serious.
Xier laughed softly, shaking her head but not denying it.
"We're... slow learners," she teased lightly, but her smile remained genuine.
---
Marshal Decker shifted, crossing his arms as his scarred face took on a thoughtful expression. For a moment, the roughness in his voice softened, touched by something faraway and personal.
"It wasn't always like this," he admitted slowly, glancing between us. "The Demon Guild and the Enforcers… working together? You couldn't pay me to believe it back in the day."
I nodded slightly, still processing what Xier had told me about cooperation between humans and demons. It seemed impossible, like something out of a fantasy tale.
---
Decker huffed, shaking his head as though recalling something both ridiculous and profound.
"The reason things changed… it all comes back to one insane story," he began, his voice steady but reverent.
"You ever hear about... the Demon Supreme?" His eyes narrowed, searching my face.
I hesitated, the name sounding vaguely familiar from old legends. "The ruler of the demons?"
"That's the one," he confirmed, serious. "Old as sin... powerful beyond reason... and stubborn as hell. For centuries, that bastard ruled the Demon Realm like a tyrant, constantly probing for ways to invade humanity's lands."
---
I swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in.
"What stopped him?" I asked carefully.
Decker's grizzled face lit up with something... unexpected. Admiration.
"Her."
His voice softened as he spoke, his rough edges smoothed by genuine respect.
"One woman. A human Enforcer, and a damn good one. The best we ever had."
---
I leaned forward, captivated by the way he spoke—as though recounting something sacred.
"They met... during one of the last great conflicts," Decker continued, his voice lowering with intensity. "She was supposed to kill him... And he was supposed to destroy her."
---
He paused, letting the gravity of the moment settle.
"But instead... they... chose each other."
His voice softened, tinged with something close to awe.
---
"It wasn't about power," he explained quietly. "She didn't 'defeat' him in some epic battle... she reached him."
His scarred fingers tightened into fists, not with anger, but with emotion.
"For the first time in his cursed life..." he whispered, "*someone... saw him.**"
---
Xier listened quietly, her dark eyes shimmering with something unreadable.
"He fell in love," Decker continued, his tone reverent. "*Not because she was stronger than him... but because she understood him. They found something neither of them ever thought was possible."
---
I sat silently, stunned by the unexpected depth of the story. Not a war... not a conquest... but love—simple yet immeasurably powerful.
"What happened after?" I asked quietly.
Decker shrugged, though his expression remained serious.
"He walked away from war," he said simply. "Not because she asked... but because he wanted to."
---
He exhaled slowly, as though letting go of something old.
"We talk about 'winning' all the time..." he murmured. "But sometimes... winning means... choosing something greater than yourself."
---
Xier's fingers tightened around mine, her gaze soft but steady.
"*Love isn't about power," she whispered. "*It's about... trust. About letting yourself be seen."
---
Decker snorted again, though this time... it sounded fond.
"Never thought I'd live to see it..." he muttered, shaking his head with gruff affection. "The worst monster of them all... tamed... by a woman with nothing but her heart."
---
Marshal Decker scratched his chin, his scarred face settling into something half-thoughtful, half-stern. He studied Xier and me for a long moment before grunting softly.
"Maybe... you two are just another chapter..." he muttered, voice rough but sincere. "Carrying on what those two started... whether you realize it or not."
His piercing gaze hardened again as he turned fully toward Xier.
---
"That said..." he added sharply, crossing his arms, "I'm still watching the Demon Guild. Don't think love stories change that."
His voice lowered, cold and firm. "We know about what happened with your old landlord," he said pointedly, fixing Xier with a measured stare. "You're lucky... you didn't go too far."
I tensed, heart jumping, but Xier only blinked innocently, her soft lips curling into a playful pout.
"Aw... Marshal," she purred, tilting her head with exaggerated sweetness. "I was being sooo gentle..."
Her large, dark eyes widened, filled with mock innocence. "He was... so mean, though... can you blame me?*"
---
Before Decker could respond, she stuck her tongue out playfully, flashing a cheeky grin.
"*I could've done so much worse, but I chose to be nice!" she added, batting her lashes with exaggerated sweetness.
---
I stared, completely spellbound. How could someone this cute also be so dangerous?
Before I realized what I was doing, I stepped forward, shielding her with my arm.
"She didn't mean any harm!" I blurted, suddenly defensive. "He was... awful! He... he deserved worse!"
Xier giggled softly, looping her arm through mine with delicate grace.
"See?" she chirped, snuggling against me. "He understands!"
---
Decker groaned loudly, rubbing his temples like a frustrated parent.
"Great... now you've got him under your spell." He muttered something about "idiots in love," then sighed heavily.
"Just... keep it clean," he warned, pointing sharply at Xier. "No more... near-misses. We can't keep covering for you.*"
---
Xier winked, beaming mischievously.
"Cross my heart, Marshal,*" she promised sweetly, skipping forward with mock seriousness. "I'll be extra good..."
Her playful tone made my heart ache with how endlessly charming she was. I couldn't stop smiling, completely entranced.
Decker rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in mock defeat.
"I'm getting too old for this..." he muttered, walking away.
---
As Marshal Decker stomped off, still grumbling under his breath about "damn kids and their lovey-dovey nonsense," a younger Enforcer agent approached me with a warm smile. He carried a neatly bound folder marked with the Enforcer insignia on its cover.
"Hey, new guy," he greeted lightly, extending the folder toward me. "Here's your trainee file. You're not officially signed up, but... if you ever feel like stopping by for extra training...*"
He winked playfully, tapping the folder.
"We could use someone with potential... and a strong motivation to protect someone." His eyes flicked meaningfully toward Xier, who was waiting patiently near her car, pretending not to eavesdrop.
I blinked, startled by the unexpected kindness.
"Thanks..." I managed, accepting the file.
---
The agent smirked, giving me a thumbs up.
"Good luck," he added, grinning. "You're gonna need it... especially with her."
I laughed softly, nodding as he headed back toward the main building.
---
As I turned back, Xier was already at the driver's side, leaning gracefully against the car's sleek black frame, her long hair shimmering under the afternoon sun.
"Making new friends?" she teased, her voice lilting with mock curiosity.
I shrugged, holding up the file. "Looks like I'm... unofficially part of the team."
She arched a brow, smirking playfully. "*Oh? My strong human protector is becoming a fearless warrior?"
I rolled my eyes, sliding into the passenger seat. "Somebody has to keep you out of trouble."
---
She laughed softly, the sound warm and musical, as she slipped into the driver's seat and started the engine.
"I don't get into trouble..." she murmured sweetly, her dark eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Trouble finds me."
With a soft hum, the car purred to life, and we rolled out of the Enforcer Base, leaving its cold, imposing walls behind.