Aiden woke up to the faint glow of the ever-dim horizon, unsure if it was morning or just another stretch of endless twilight. After a quick bath and change of clothes, he made his way to the lavish dining hall. The feast before him was as extravagant as ever, the dishes unfamiliar but undeniably delicious. Each bite was a reminder of how, despite his circumstances, he was still alive—and grateful, though uneasily so, under the watchful care of a terrifying demoness.
Lilith's command for him to prepare for the academy weighed heavily on his mind. He had only two months, or so she claimed—though he wasn't entirely sure how long "months" even lasted in this realm. He needed to use every moment wisely if he hoped to survive. The academy, from what Lilith described, was a place of danger, schemes, and brutality. He had no illusions about his vulnerability as a human and resolved to find any edge he could, even if that meant understanding magic—something he doubted humans were capable of wielding.
After finishing his meal, Aiden went to the grand library, its towering shelves casting long, ominous shadows. Lilith had given him a peculiar monocle, an artifact that allowed him to decipher demonic scriptures. Using it felt unsettling—like borrowing someone else's thoughts. It made him wonder if the same magic enabled him to understand Lilith's foreign tongue.
Today, his focus was on finding powers that would be able to defend him. He had already skimmed through books on noble demon families, including Lilith's lineage. The "Lilith" he had read about was a figure of power and controversy, her name whispered both in reverence and fear yet he couldn't erase the weight he felt in Lilith's presence. Her power was undeniable, an invisible force that loomed over him even when she wasn't there. He vividly remembered the moment she caught bullets from his gun without breaking a sweat—a reminder that nothing he could do would ever harm her. Lilith was invincible, a force of nature, and he was just... human.
This thought lingered in his mind as he flipped through the ancient tome on humans. The book's pages were aged but pristine, its demonic script decipherable thanks to the monocle Lilith had given him. It felt alive, pulsating faintly against his temple. Every word he read burrowed into his mind, as if the book itself whispered the truth directly to his soul.
The section he'd found was about humans, though the depiction was far removed from what Aiden knew. According to this book, humans were more than the simple, mortal beings Aiden recognized from Earth. In this alternate world, humanity lived under the shadow of demons, and their greatest hope lay in a prophecy—a messiah who would one day unite them under a single banner.
This Savior, as the book described, was foretold to descend into the human world at a time of great despair, bringing judgment upon evil and ushering in an age of prosperity. Under his leadership, humanity would cast aside their differences, their fractured kingdoms uniting into a single, invincible force. His name would echo across the lands, a beacon of hope for humans and a harbinger of doom for demons.
Demons, according to the book, feared this prophecy. The messiah's coming would signify the end of their dominion, their centuries of terrorizing humanity counted in dwindling days. It was said his light would burn through the very essence of demons, unraveling the spells and curses that sustained their existence.
Yet, as Aiden read further, he felt a creeping unease. The book didn't shy away from the horrors of demons. They were depicted as vile, wretched creatures, their society built on brutality and selfishness. Even among the noble houses, their morality was alien and disturbing, their laws dictated by strength and power alone.
The book detailed their depravity: demons who enslaved lesser beings for sport, nobles who schemed against their own blood for power, and entire cities consumed in ritualistic slaughter for a moment of fleeting entertainment. Even their gods, the ancient deities of hell, reveled in chaos and suffering. One passage described a demonic festival where the nobility gathered to watch gladiatorial games, cheering as enslaved souls were torn apart for their amusement.
The gods of this alternate world, in stark contrast, were portrayed as the last bastion of light in an otherwise dark existence. Each deity represented an aspect of humanity's perseverance and morality, their blessings bestowed upon chosen individuals to fight against the encroaching darkness.
Iserin, the God of Justice: The deity of law and fairness, Iserin's blessings were said to imbue humans with unshakable resolve and a sword that could cut through lies and illusions. Elythra, the Goddess of Healing: A merciful figure who healed not just the body but the soul, Elythra's chosen could purify corrupted lands and cleanse even the foulest curses. Mordain, the God of Wisdom: Known as the Silent Watcher, Mordain granted insight and foresight to those who sought to guide humanity with wisdom rather than violence. Alcira, the Goddess of Flame: A fierce warrior, Alcira's fire symbolized the indomitable will of humanity, burning away despair and lighting the path to freedom.
These gods, though revered, were not omnipresent. Their power waned with humanity's dwindling faith, but their chosen champions—the blessed—stood as living reminders of their existence.
Aiden couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. The humans described here were nothing like him. They were warriors, heroes, and scholars, fighting against impossible odds with divine blessings and magic. Meanwhile, he was just a man—an ordinary human thrust into an extraordinary world.
Still, hope lingered. If humans in this world could wield magic and rise against demons, perhaps he could too. Maybe the library held the answers he needed to unlock that potential. With renewed determination, he turned to a chapter on magic and its connection to humanity.
As he read, the pages described how the messiah's power would unite the gods themselves, breaking the barriers between the divine and mortal realms. The demons, it said, would scramble in fear, their strongest noble houses crumbling under the weight of the Savior's justice.
Aiden closed the book and took a deep breath. The prophecy, while inspiring, felt far removed from his reality. Still, it gave him a sliver of hope. Perhaps, in this world of gods and demons, he could carve out a path for himself—one where he wasn't just a pawn in Lilith's game.
But the thought of Lilith lingered. Her power, her control, and her presence—there was no escaping her, no fighting back. He would have to endure, to survive, and to prepare for the challenges ahead. If he ever wanted to leave this hellish world, he needed to be ready.