Chapter 12: A World of Watchful Eyes
The village was small, nestled between rolling hills and thick woodlands, with a meandering river carving a lazy path through its center. Thatched-roof houses stood in neat rows, smoke curling from their chimneys as early morning life stirred within.
Merchants unfolded their stalls, arranging fresh produce, handwoven fabrics, and small trinkets under the shade of wooden awnings. The air carried the scent of bread, mingling with the faint aroma of damp earth from the previous night's rain.
Raviel and Horizon moved carefully, their new disguises blending them into the flow of villagers.
Raviel's steps were measured, his posture controlled—a scholar lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. Horizon, on the other hand, strode with exaggerated confidence, swinging his arms and offering dramatic flourishes with every step.
A young girl selling flowers gawked at him as he passed.
"He's a performer from the capital," Raviel murmured to her, without breaking stride.
The girl gasped in excitement. Horizon, catching this, winked at her flamboyantly. She squealed and ran off.
"Performer?" Horizon muttered under his breath. "I was thinking 'wealthy noble's eccentric son.'"
"That would only draw attention."
Horizon sighed. "I am an artist, you know. A performer's not too far off."
They continued through the market, carefully listening to conversations.
The Celestial Court's declaration had reached even this remote village.
"They say the demons walk among us," an elderly merchant whispered to a customer. "Two figures. One dark-haired, one silver-haired."
"Silver?" the customer frowned. "Like moonlight?"
"Aye. The Court believes they are dangerous—beings from the abyss, planning to bring ruin upon humanity."
Raviel kept his expression neutral.
The old man shook his head. "Fools, that's what they are. Picking fights with demons? Do they have any idea what kind of chaos they're inviting?"
Horizon leaned in. "Maybe they're not demons at all. Maybe they're just… misunderstood?"
The old man scoffed. "Doesn't matter what they are. If the Celestial Court wants them dead, they won't live long."
Raviel stiffened slightly but forced himself to remain composed.
They had been in the human realm for less than two days, and already, the world was closing in on them.
Horizon exhaled slowly. "Alright, so we're definitely not safe here. What's the plan?"
Raviel studied the village layout. A simple place, easy to hide in, but also too small to disappear in. If hunters arrived, they would be trapped.
"We leave by nightfall," he said quietly. "But first, we need information."
That evening, the village square was bathed in the warm glow of lanterns, their soft golden light swaying gently with the breeze. The local tavern bustled with life, a sanctuary of hushed rumors and rousing laughter, where drink loosened tongues and secrets spilled like overflowing ale.
Raviel and Horizon took a corner table, their mugs of watered-down mead untouched.
A group of traders sat nearby, speaking in hushed voices.
"You know the capital's in an uproar," one of them said. "The Celestial Court's offering a king's ransom for information on the fugitives."
"Ransom?" another scoffed. "No one's stupid enough to go after demons for a handful of gold."
"Don't be so sure," a woman with sharp eyes cut in. "Mercenaries will take any job if the price is high enough."
Horizon sighed dramatically, swirling his drink. "A bounty? For just two men?" He smiled lazily at the woman. "Surely, they're not that dangerous?"
The woman studied him closely.
"They say the silver-haired one is the son of a Demon God," she said at last. "An heir to destruction itself."
Horizon whistled. "That does sound impressive."
"And the other?"
"No one knows," she admitted. "Some say he's a warlock. Others say he's a trickster, using illusions to evade capture. Regardless, they're both dangerous."
Horizon smirked, nudging Raviel under the table. "Hear that? You're a warlock."
Raviel didn't respond. His attention was fixed on a hooded figure at the far end of the tavern—someone who had been watching them for a while now.
The man's fingers drummed against the wooden table in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
A pattern.
A code?
Raviel tensed. Whoever that was, he wasn't just another traveler.
Their presence here hadn't gone unnoticed.
The hooded man waited until the crowd thinned before making his move.
As Raviel and Horizon stepped outside, the man appeared beside them, his movements eerily silent.
"You need to leave," he murmured. "Now."
Raviel's gaze hardened. "Who are you?"
The stranger pulled back his hood, revealing pale skin and dark markings along his temple—the marks of a former priest of the Celestial Court.
"I have no loyalty to them anymore," he said. "But I know how they operate. If you don't leave within the hour, you won't get another chance."
Raviel's pulse quickened.
"What do you know?"
The ex-priest hesitated, glancing around as if someone might be listening.
"The Celestial Court has already dispatched a team of elite hunters," he said. "They're not just looking for you in the cities. They're sweeping the villages, following the river routes. If they catch you—"
He didn't need to finish.
Horizon exhaled sharply. "Well, that's a fantastic bit of news. What else?"
The ex-priest's voice dropped lower. "They're not just after you."
Raviel's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
The man's expression was grim. "The Celestial Court has reason to believe that something is happening in the Demon Realm. And they think you're connected to it."
A cold chill ran down Raviel's spine.
An invasion?
Horizon's usually carefree face darkened. "Are you saying that whatever's going on back home… they think we had something to do with it?"
The ex-priest nodded. "And until they confirm the truth, they won't just kill you." His voice was like a whisper of death. "They'll drag you back to the capital and use whatever means necessary to extract information."
Raviel didn't need to ask what "means" meant.
They had to move. Now.
The ex-priest handed them a small parchment. "There's a safe house two days west of here. You'll find help there. But be careful—every step from here on out is under watchful eyes."
Then, as quickly as he had appeared, the man vanished into the night.
Raviel and Horizon stood in silence, the weight of the revelation settling between them.
An invasion in the Demon Realm.
A world that now hunted them.
And a journey that had only just begun.