Aalia's laws were unique, a blend of fear and reason. The most notable of her decrees was the Law of Shadows. It dictated that all citizens—demon and human—were to serve her in some way, but the form of service was left to the individual's talents. Those who were born with the gift of magic, whether human or demon, were conscripted into the Blackthorn Academy, where they would be trained in both arcane arts and the loyalty to the queen that they could never betray. Those without magical ability were required to take up the forge, the fields, or the city's countless workshops. But even the lowliest laborer was treated with a fairness that seemed unnatural for a demon ruler.
The Second Law, known as the Blood Oath, was more sinister. It required that all citizens offer a portion of their blood once a month to the Abyssal Well that lay beneath the Blackthorn Keep. The blood, both willingly given and taken from those who defied Aalia, fueled the magic that kept her domain strong. While the common people saw this as a necessary evil, the demons were given a stark warning: betray your queen, and the well will be replenished by your own blood.
Aalia's third and most feared law was the Omen of Silence. It stated that for every transgression committed in her kingdom, a silent punishment would be enacted. The punishment could be as subtle as a family's crops withering overnight or as extreme as entire villages vanishing, their people turned to ash in the dark of night. No one ever knew when the Omen of Silence would strike, but every citizen knew that to break the law was to invite unknown suffering upon their lives.