Lying beneath the shade of a peaceful tree near the quiet river in Lyron Village, Asuma let his mind wander. The gentle rustling of leaves and the soothing sound of the water calmed him as he thought about mundane things—his next meal, his father's cooking, and the inevitable complaints from Anami.
"She's always grumbling about Dad's awful cooking," he mused with a faint smile. That sly girl only does it because she wants an excuse to eat with Grandfather instead. And every time, she drags me up those hills to see the old man.
A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Brother!"
He turned his head slightly to see Anami walking toward him, her steps light and carefree. She stopped in front of him, hands on her hips.
"I've been looking for you," she said, her tone slightly exasperated. "Why are you always here? It's boring by the lake."
"Is it?" Asuma replied, his tone calm and relaxed. "I find this place peaceful. No one bothers me here, and Dad's not around to drag me off to do chores."
Anami sat down beside him, brushing her dress smoothly. "Dad drags you around because he needs your help. The village is old, and the people here are even older. He can't do everything himself."
"I know," Asuma said with a sigh. "I just wish I could leave this village and travel across Anorak. When will Dad let us go?"
Anami gazed at the lake, her expression thoughtful. "I like it here," she said quietly. "No one here would harm us."
Asuma straightened up, leaning over to ruffle her hair affectionately. "Why would anyone want to harm us? Besides, if they did, I'd protect you. Always."
Anami turned to face him, her eyes lowering. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "You said you'd protect me. But, brother... why didn't you?"
The shift in her tone made Asuma's stomach tighten. "Huh? Anami, what are you talking about?" he asked, confused.
"Why didn't you protect me, brother?" she said again, her voice growing distorted. "Why did you let them take me?"
"Anami?" His confusion deepened, his heart pounding. Something wasn't right.
When she turned to face him fully, her eyes were bleeding, dark crimson tears running down her cheeks. The lake beside them turned a deep red, and the sky above began to bleed as well. The peaceful village was gone, replaced by an ominous, surreal nightmare.
"What is going on!?" Asuma yelled, his voice breaking as panic gripped him.
Anami leaned closer, her hands grabbing his shoulders with unnatural strength. Her face twisted into something inhuman, and sharp fangs extended from her mouth. Before he could react, she sank them into his neck.
"Anami, no!" he screamed, the pain sharp and visceral.
Asuma bolted upright, gasping for air. Sweat drenched his body, and his hand instinctively shot to his neck, rubbing at the spot where her fangs had pierced him. His heart raced as he looked around, the nightmare still lingering in his mind.
What was that? he thought, his breathing shallow. A dream? No, it felt too real.
He glanced around the room, realizing he was in some kind of hospital. The walls were clean and sterile, and the bed beneath him was soft but unfamiliar. Sunlight filtered through a nearby window, and the muffled sounds of a bustling city came from beyond.
Looking down, he noticed Amira resting her head on the edge of his bed. Her long, white hair spread across the sheets like a silken veil, her face peaceful in sleep.
"Amira," he muttered softly, reaching out to rub her shoulder.
She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Blinking a few times to clear the sleep from her vision, she looked up at him. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Asuma! You're awake!"
Before he could respond, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Her warmth was comforting, but he could feel the trembling relief in her grip.
"Amira," he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? What about your injuries?"
She pulled back slightly, a sheepish smile on her face. "I'm fine. My injuries are healed. The doctors here took care of us." She paused, suddenly energetic. "Wait here—I need to tell Leon and the doctor you're awake!" With that, she darted out of the room, her footsteps echoing in the hallway.
Asuma let himself sink back into the bed, exhaustion pulling at his body despite his restless mind. He turned his head toward the window, gazing out at the unfamiliar cityscape. The streets below were lively, bustling with people going about their day. The architecture was different from anything in Anor— it was busier and had the distinct air of a distant city in the Azel Empire.
This isn't Anor, he realized. How far have we come?
His hand drifted to his neck again, the phantom pain of the bite still vivid in his mind. That dream... what did it mean? He clenched his fist, his determination rekindling. Anami, I need to find you. I'll never stop searching.
A few minutes later, Leon burst into the room with his usual energy, his voice loud and full of relief. "Asuma, you're alive!" he exclaimed.
Asuma raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Was I supposed to be dead?"
Leon grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "With all those injuries, I thought you might be, but I'm glad you're fine. You had us worried there."
"I'm glad you're okay too," Asuma replied, offering a warm smile.
Before they could exchange more words, Amira entered the room, a doctor trailing behind her.
The doctor approached Asuma's bed, pulling out a few instruments for examination. After several minutes of checks and light prodding, the doctor nodded approvingly. "You're fully healed," he said, "but you should take it easy for a few days. Any sudden exertion might reopen your wounds."
"Thank you," Asuma said, bowing his head slightly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Good," the doctor replied, signing a sheet on his clipboard. "You'll be discharged tomorrow. For now, rest." With a polite nod, he turned and exited the room, leaving the trio alone.
Asuma turned to Leon and Amira, his brow furrowed. "How long have I been out?"
"A month," Leon replied bluntly.
"A month?!" Asuma's eyes widened. "You're telling me I've been asleep that long?"
"Like a baby," Leon teased with a grin.
"The good thing is that we survived," Amira interjected, her tone lighter, though her eyes betrayed the weight of the ordeal they'd been through.
Asuma leaned back into his pillows, his expression darkening. "That monster we fought..." he began but paused, the memories still fresh and raw.
"Camellia, the Lord of Blood," Leon said, his tone somber. "Most call her the Vampire Queen. Honestly, we must have the worst luck in history—to face one of the Seven Primordial Demons on our first contract?"
"You guys knew who she was?" Asuma asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Amira replied. "We did some digging after we woke up. You can imagine the horror on our faces when we found out we'd fought an ancient demon."
"The bigger question," she continued, frowning, "is why Camellia was in a small village like Vermis. Or, better yet, how is a Primordial Demon even roaming Azel freely?"
Asuma nodded slowly, his mind racing. "It doesn't make sense. All the Primordial Demons are supposed to be sealed in their palaces on Noir, bound thereafter the Holy War. That was the agreement made with the Holy Church and the World Council after their defeat."
"Exactly," Amira said, her expression tightening. "It's a well-documented part of history. But now we're left wondering—why is one of them strolling around on the human continent? Is the World Council ignoring it?"
Leon crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "Or worse—they know, but they can't do anything about it."
Asuma's hand tightened into a fist. "She said something strange to me before. Something about being 'Camellia' and 'not being her.'"
Amira tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "What does that even mean? Some kind of cryptic message?"
"I don't know," Asuma admitted. "But everything about her was strange. The fact that she didn't kill us is even more unsettling."
Amira shuddered slightly. "Thanks to her... 'mercy,' we survived."
At the mention of the word mercy, a faint, distorted voice whispered in Asuma's head, chilling him to the core.
"Prince of Mercy."
Asuma froze, his eyes darting around the room. "What was that?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Leon and Amira looked at him, confused. "What was what?" Amira asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
Asuma hesitated, scanning the room again. It was empty save for the two of them. Am I losing it? He thought, shaking his head to clear the lingering echo of the voice.
He shifted the conversation, his voice steadier. "By the way, where are we?"
"We're in Nale City," Leon replied. "It's run by the Department Bureau. This is their largest medical center in the empire. Honestly, I'm surprised they built something like this all the way up north."
Amira crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "With so many departments under the bureau, I'm not surprised they have the funds for it," she said. "This place practically screams wealth."
Leon nodded. "They probably use it to keep the more 'problematic' parts of the north under control. It's no coincidence that their presence is strongest out here."
The Department Bureau was a massive organization, its influence stretching into every corner of the Azel Empire. Composed of countless departments, each with a critical role, it was considered the empire's strongest faction. Among its divisions were the Medical Department, responsible for cutting-edge healing techniques and maintaining the empire's sprawling medical infrastructure; the Research Department, delving into magical and technological advancements; and the Intelligence Department, the silent force gathering information and monitoring potential threats. Other divisions included Finance, Merchants, Infrastructure, and more, their combined efforts forming the backbone of the empire's stability and power.
Their reach was evident even in Nale City, a bustling northern hub dominated by the Department Bureau's largest medical center.
Asuma reclined in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in thought. "How did we even get here?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief.
Leon leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Luck, mostly. A woodcutter found us in the forest. Good thing, too—imagine if it had been bandits instead. We were also lucky we had our guild IDs on us. Without those, we'd have been screwed."
Asuma let out a sigh, a mix of relief and frustration. "At least something worked in our favor," he said.
Leon chuckled. "Yeah. Also, we made the guild aware of Camellia. Surprisingly, we haven't heard back yet, but we did get paid for taking out that Greko. Small victories, right?"
"Maybe they're still trying to process it, just like we did," Asuma replied, his tone thoughtful. "We barely made it out alive. I wouldn't blame them for taking their time."
Amira, suddenly blurted out, "I hope we never face that monster again!" Her voice carried a mixture of fear and determination.
Asuma nodded in agreement. "I hope so too," he said softly. The memory of Camellia—her power, her presence—still sent shivers down his spine.
Leon shifted in his chair, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "So, what's the plan? What are we going to do now?" he asked, glancing between his companions.
Asuma stretched, letting out a small groan as he settled back against the pillows. "For now, let's take a break," he said. "This is my first time in Nale City. Might as well look around for a bit, and see what this place has to offer. After that, we'll pick up a new contract at the guild."
"Fine by me," Leon replied, a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Amira, leaning against the window sill, crossed her arms. "Let's choose a simpler contract next time," she suggested, her tone laced with dry humor.
Asuma smirked. "How about investigating corpses this time?" he joked, his voice light.
Amira laughed softly, shaking her head. "Why not? Sounds better than fighting another Primordial Demon."
Leon snorted, joining in on the laughter. "Anything's better than that nightmare. Let's just hope this time, the contract doesn't try to kill us."
The room filled with quiet chuckles, a much-needed moment of levity after the chaos they had endured. Outside the window, the vibrant streets of Nale City bustled with life, a stark contrast to the desolation of Vermis Village. For now, they had a reprieve—a chance to recover, regroup, and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
Bagon City, nestled far to the north, was renowned for its vital trading route that extended to the Ice Empire, home of the great elves. The city bustled with life and commerce, its streets filled with merchants bartering exotic goods, travelers sharing stories of distant lands, and the vibrant hum of a community thriving on the exchange of wealth and culture.
But this lively haven was about to change in mere minutes.
Beneath the city's cobbled streets lay a network of dark, labyrinthine passages, forgotten by time and overrun by rot and decay. The air was damp and foul, alive with the sound of fluttering rotten bats and the distant drip of stagnant water. The silence of this underworld was suddenly shattered by a bright, pulsating glow.
A portal appeared, its edges flickering with dark crimson light, casting grotesque shadows on the walls. The portal swirled like a wound in reality itself, its energy crackling as it forcibly bridged the human realm with the Dark Continent. This was an Abyss Gate, a rift that could only be opened by a high-ranking demon, allowing them passage into the human world.
From the depths of the portal, an ominous figure stepped forward.
The figure was cloaked in shadowy, tattered robes, their ragged edges drifting unnaturally as though responding to some ethereal breeze. Jagged horns jutted out from her skull-like mask, their twisted and grotesque form radiating raw malice. The mask itself seemed to shift and writhe, as though alive, with faint, fiery glyphs etched across its surface.
On one hand, she carried a staff of darkened, gnarled wood, its surface adorned with sharp, organic protrusions. The staff glowed faintly with a red energy that pulsed in sync with the rhythmic hum of the portal, as though it channeled the essence of death and chaos. In her other hand was an ancient book, its weathered pages radiating an eerie crimson glow. The symbols on the pages were arcane and forbidden, vibrating with an energy that made the very air around them shudder.
Her long, flowing silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, but even it seemed ghostly, moving unnaturally like tendrils of mist caught in a spectral wind. Her robes were intricately adorned with thorn-like patterns and dark jewels, each pulsing faintly as if imbued with a life of their own.
She paused, her crimson eyes gleaming beneath the mask as she surveyed her surroundings. The damp, rocky ceiling of the cave above her seemed to tremble under the weight of her presence.
"How beautiful," she murmured, her voice like a chilling wind that carried both grace and contempt. "How beautiful is the human realm, how beautiful the life of humans..."
Her tone shifted, dripping with venom. "How disgusted I am to breathe the same air as those lowly creatures."
She tilted her head upward as if sensing the world beyond the stone ceiling. Her aura flared momentarily, and she smiled, her voice a chilling whisper.
"I can feel them," she said. "An abundance of their auras... mingling like insects. So fragile, so fleeting." Her grip on the staff tightened, the glow from its jagged surface intensifying.
"I, Manola, the Demon Dryad, shall honor the Prince of Mercy. And with his mercy, I will provide him with the sacrifice of a million insects."
Her proclamation echoed through the cavern, reverberating with an ominous finality.
Behind her, the portal flared violently, and the roar of low-rank demons filled the chamber. A tide of tree-like demons emerged, their bodies twisted amalgamations of wood and flesh. Their gnarled forms oozed with sap-like fluid, and their glowing eyes radiated mindless hunger. They poured through the portal in endless numbers, filling the cavern with their grotesque shapes, their gnarled limbs cracking like dead branches as they moved.
Manola began walking through the dark passages, her stride regal and unhurried. The demons followed her like an army, their footsteps shaking the ground as they marched into the human world.
Above, Bagon City slept peacefully, oblivious to the nightmare rising from beneath.
By dawn, Bagon City was no more.
Its vibrant streets were silent, its bustling markets reduced to rubble. Bodies lay scattered in grotesque arrangements, their lifeless forms overrun by creeping vines and roots that spread like a disease. The once-thriving trade hub had become a grotesque fortress, its ruins twisted by demonic magic and claimed by Manola's tree-like demons.
Standing at the center of the carnage, Manola surveyed her new domain, her staff glowing with satisfaction. Her crimson eyes glimmered with malice as she whispered to herself, "This is only the beginning. Soon, the Prince of Mercy will see the beauty of my offering."
Far from the scene, her dark proclamation would send ripples across the empire. And in Nale City, Asuma would soon learn that his nightmare had only begun.