The smell of fire was everywhere as villagers ran through the streets, their cries mingling with the roar of demonic beasts pouring into the village. The once peaceful homes and market stalls were reduced to smoldering ruins as the demons wreaked havoc. They tore through the streets, their clawed limbs and gnashing fangs carving a path of destruction. Their grotesque forms seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy, their eyes glowing with malevolent glee.
Lucian's father, a captain of a demon hunter squad, fought valiantly alongside his comrades, but the sheer number of demons was overwhelming. They were swarmed, their coordinated efforts faltering against the relentless onslaught. Lucian's father, amidst the chaos, caught a glimpse of his wife, cowering behind a crumbling wall with their two children, Lucian and his sister, clinging to her.
In a heartbeat, a monstrous demon with a maw of fire and fury lunged toward her. Lucian's father saw the horrific moment his wife was struck down, her scream piercing through the infernal din. The sight of her lifeless body was a blow to his heart. Desperation surged through him.
With a shout, he cast a searing fire spell, the *Inferno Burst*, a technique he had mastered over years of training. The spell unleashed a torrent of flame, engulfing the demon in a blazing inferno. The beast's roar of agony was quickly silenced as the fire consumed it.
Grimly determined, Lucian's father scooped up his children, their faces pale with fear. He dashed through the burning village, the cries of the damned and the crackling flames echoing around him. The ground shook violently, and Lucian could see the despair in his father's eyes as they raced toward the edge of the village.
But fate was merciless. As they fled, Lucian's sister, clutching desperately to her father's arm, stumbled and fell. His father caught between saving her and escaping, hesitated for a split second too long. A nearby building, already weakened by the flames, collapsed with a deafening crash, burying her beneath its rubble.
Lucian's scream of horror mingled with his father's anguished cry as they looked back. Tears streamed down both their faces as they struggled to process the loss. Lucian's father gritted his teeth and pulled his son away from the wreckage, forcing himself to focus on their escape. They fled into the night, the village burning behind them.
*******
"Lucian, Lucian, are you okay," Orion said tapping Lucian who was on the ground. "I am okay Father, I just recalled the terrible incident that happened ten years ago at our village," Lucian said getting up from the ground.
Orion's eyes softened with a mixture of understanding and sorrow as he helped Lucian to his feet. "Memories like that never truly fade, do they?" he said quietly, his voice tinged with the weight of his losses as he looked at the sunset.
"I know, Father," Lucian replied softly. "But I can't just sit by and let other families suffer the same fate. I need to do something. I need to fight."
Orion sighed, his hand pausing in Lucian's hair. "I understand your drive, Lucian. I saw that same fire in my eyes when I was younger. But remember, it's not just about fighting. It's about protecting, about saving lives. Don't let the anger consume you like it almost did me."
Lucian nodded, his resolve unwavering. "I'll remember that. I promise."
"I will be going inside now and rest for a bit. I will join you in repairing those dolls" Lucian said entering the house on the outskirts of a town called Briar. "You know these dolls are hard to make Lucian, when training with them can you reduce the damage you deal on them and are you sure you don't need a weapon of any like a sword? You don't have magic like me.
"Don't worry about me dad, I want to kill those demons and eradicate them with my bare fist" Lucian said. "whatever you say, son, I know that you are prepared for the demon hunters entrance exam that is in two weeks.
Lucian entered the small, modest house he shared with his father. The memories that haunted him, especially the tragic loss of his mother and sister, often resurfaced, but he had learned to push through the pain, channeling it into his training. The house, though humble, was filled with the tools of their trade: weapons, spell books, and the wooden training dolls Orion crafted with meticulous care.
I can't believe he retired from being a demon hunter after everything that happened and chose to become a demon researcher and also make potions.
Lucian nestled into his father's lap, the familiar scent of leather and old books enveloping him. Orion's calloused hands gently stroked Lucian's hair, a silent comfort that spoke of years of shared pain and determination. The flickering candlelight danced across the room, casting shadows on the walls.
"Lucian," Orion began, his voice low and gravelly, "I've spent my life hunting demons, seeking vengeance for your mother and sister. But vengeance won't heal our wounds. It won't bring them back."
Lucian listened to his father's words, feeling the heavy weight of their shared history pressing down on his shoulders. He glanced up, meeting Orion's somber gaze. The old demon hunter's eyes, once fiery with anger and resolve, now held a depth of sorrow and a hint of resignation.
"Now look at this," Orion said opening a box and bringing out a syringe filled with a silver liquid. "If my research is completed, when this is injected into a person it will make them stronger, and with the mechanism in it, it might come with a special effect"
Lucian's eyes widened as he looked at the syringe, the silver liquid glinting ominously in the candlelight. "What is that?" he asked, curiosity and apprehension battling in his voice.
Orion held the syringe up, examining it with a mixture of pride and caution. "This is the result of years of research," he explained. "I've been studying the essence of demons, trying to find a way to harness their power without succumbing to their corruption."
Lucian took a step closer, his interest piqued. "And you think it can make someone stronger? How does it work?"
Orion nodded, carefully placing the syringe back in its box. "The liquid contains a purified essence of a demon's strength, combined with a mechanism, This serum might be the key."
"Father, have you considered what could happen if it goes wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.
Orion sighed, closing the box with a soft click. "Of course, I have. That's why I haven't used it on myself or anyone else. The power it could grant is immense, but so are the potential dangers. It's a last resort, Lucian. Not something to be taken lightly."
Lucian nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I won't let anger consume me," he promised again, more to himself than to his father. "I'll fight to protect, not just for revenge."
Orion smiled, a hint of pride shining through his weariness. "That's the spirit, my son. Remember, true strength comes from within, not just from external power."
"Now, go and prepare the carriage, I want to deliver some potions to one of the towns," Orion said "Do we have to go this evening, it is almost nightfall," Lucian asked.
"Yes we have to, it is very important" Orion replied
*******
"Going to the next towns to hunt for humans can be risky, I will just wait here till a human passes by"
Happy new year