The End of Home
The town was gone.
Houses burned. The streets were cracked and broken. The river, once clear and calm, was now filled with rubble and the bodies of those who had lived here.
Cedric stood frozen in the chaos. His heart pounded in his chest, but his body would not move. He saw everything—families crying, people running, others falling as the Pandemoniums drained them of their mana.
A deafening roar shook the ground.
The Belphegor raised its massive sword again. It did not care about the screams or the destruction. It had only one purpose—to kill.
Cedric's breath caught in his throat. He had never felt fear before. Not like this. Not the kind that wrapped around his heart like chains.
But something inside him rejected that fear.
A warmth spread through his body, deep and ancient. His fingers tingled, and a faint golden glow flickered around his hands. It was the same light he had seen before—but stronger now.
His body knew what to do before his mind could process it. His feet moved on their own.
"Ciara!" he shouted.
She was trapped beneath a broken cart, her arm bleeding. A Pandemonium hovered above her, its red eyes glowing hungrily as it reached for her.
Cedric's vision blurred. His chest burned.
Move.
His body responded.
He dashed forward—faster than he had ever moved before. His foot slammed against the ground, and for a brief moment, he felt weightless. His hand shot out, grabbing the wooden cart, and without thinking, he lifted it—easily, as if it weighed nothing.
Ciara gasped.
Cedric turned, his eyes meeting the demon's.
The Pandemonium lunged.
His instincts screamed. He raised his hand—and suddenly, a burst of golden light exploded from his palm.
The demon shrieked. The light burned through its body like fire, turning it into ash.
Ciara coughed, her eyes wide. "What… was that?"
Cedric didn't answer. His mind was spinning. His hands trembled as he looked down at them. That power… it came from me?
Before he could think further, another roar echoed.
The Belphegor had noticed him.
And it was coming.
Run
The ground shook as the massive demon turned toward them. Its golden-black armor gleamed under the fire-lit sky. It lifted its sword, aiming straight at Cedric and Ciara.
"Run!" Cedric grabbed Ciara's hand and pulled her to her feet.
They ran.
The Belphegor swung its sword, and the force of the strike shattered the ground behind them. The shockwave sent them flying forward, rolling across the dirt.
Cedric gritted his teeth. His body ached, but he forced himself up. He had no choice. If they stopped, they would die.
Ciara struggled to her feet, limping. "We… we won't make it!" she gasped.
Cedric's mind raced. He needed a way out.
Then he saw it—a narrow path leading to the forest.
He grabbed Ciara's arm. "This way!"
They sprinted toward the trees. The Belphegor let out a guttural growl and raised its sword again.
Cedric knew they wouldn't make it in time.
And then—
A blast of wind erupted from the side, knocking the Belphegor off balance.
Someone had interfered.
The Stranger
A figure stepped out from the shadows, wearing a long cloak. Their face was hidden, but Cedric could feel power radiating from them.
The Belphegor roared in frustration and swung its sword toward the stranger.
The figure raised a hand. A wave of blue energy shot forward, colliding with the demon's blade. The air trembled from the impact.
Cedric stared in shock. Who is this?
The stranger turned slightly. "Run, boy," they said in a firm voice. "Get the girl to safety."
"But—"
"Go!"
Cedric clenched his fists. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to run away. But right now, he had no choice.
He grabbed Ciara's hand again, and together, they disappeared into the trees.
A Safe Place?
They ran until their lungs burned. The town was far behind them now, only the distant glow of fire in the night sky.
Cedric finally stopped, leaning against a tree. Ciara collapsed beside him, clutching her wounded arm.
She was breathing heavily, eyes full of fear. "Cedric… what's happening? What were those things?"
Cedric swallowed hard. "I… I don't know."
But that wasn't true.
Somewhere deep inside, he did know.
Those creatures were demons. Pandemoniums. Servants of the Monarch of Shades.
And the power that had awakened in him—it wasn't human. It was something greater.
His head pounded as flashes of light flickered in his mind. Strange images. A golden battlefield. A burning sword. A voice calling his name.
Alistair.
The name appeared in his mind suddenly, as if whispered by something unseen.
His stomach twisted.
He wasn't just Cedric. He was someone else. Someone powerful. Someone who had already died once.
Ciara shivered. "Where do we go now?"
Cedric looked up at the sky. The darkness was spreading. This was bigger than just their town.
And he had a feeling—this was only the beginning.