Author's Note:
Dude... 😭 I cried for three consecutive days...! I have never read so much angst before, and it genuinely hearts my soul. But thankfully, it gave me the motivation to continue writing!
Writer's Block is truly the worst sin.
"By this midnight, we should arrive in Miriam Kingdom." Percival guided. His fair and slender hands were gestured before his chest, leading them forwards. The windy path was enshrouded in bushes, with a crowd of trees clinging to the edges.
The cluster of leaves and thick trunks made it impossible to see what was ahead.
Lucilline observed his surroundings. He could only trust Percival's judgement and continue down the path. After all, getting to Miriam Kingdom and restocking their supplies was the first priority.
The rustling in the air became resolute, and the wind gained momentum.
"It is getting dark," Azalea held a torch lit of fire. It lighted up the pathway forwards, almost as if it was a star guiding everyone to the way home. "Perhaps it would be better to rest first, then continue when it's morning?"
One of the knights frowned. "But we're almost there at Miriam Kingdom. Surely we can continue walking until we arrive and rest at an inn?"
Both choices had no flaws. They couldn't choose.
With no other option, everyone's gaze turned to look at the black-haired nobleman. Lucilline gawked at their shameless gestures. What am I supposed to do!?
He debated with himself.
If they were to wait the next day to arrive in Miriam Kingdom, then a whole night would be wasted. If they were to arrive at night, then they could spend the night in Miriam, restock in the morning, then head towards their final destination; Ubel Kingdom.
The second option sounded more pleasing.
"Let's continue." Lucilline announced. "We'll rest once we get to the kingdom."
Thus, following his orders, the group continued wallowing in the dark forest.
If not for the Azalea leading the way, a torch in his hand, then the group would have forever been lost in the sullen woods. There was not a single trace of amiability within the wicked branches, their strange and bending shapes resembling a cackling witch, pouncing and whipping her bony arms above her head.
Lucilline subconsciously shivered.
Is it the cold...? He shook his head. The black-haired nobleman had worn three layers of clothing—a white shirt sticking to his smooth skin, a black waistcoat outlining every curvy contour, and lastly a thick black trench coat, the warm wool fabric reaching to his slender knees and embroidered in a fancy design.
As a nobleman, his clothing perfectly countered any cold weather.
This must mean... a chilling sensation shot down his spine. Lucilline felt a horrid feeling—nausea sinking his stomach, like an anchor dragging it underneath waters.
"There's something wrong." He deadpanned.
In an instant, Azalea stopped, the torch's illuminating glow pausing amidst the wretched path. "What is it?" By the black-haired nobleman's side, Jacques froze in his tracks, his light pink eyes showing a hint of inquiry.
Lucilline couldn't put his finger down on it, but his gut feeling told him there was something off.
It was then he heard the rustling of leaves, evidently sounding behind him.
There was no breeze. Nobody was moving either. This must mean...
"...A demon!" An ordinary knight immediately unsheathed his sword, unleashing a bright glare from the blade.
"All knights, take position!" Dimitri was unfazed, as if such an ambush occurred daily to him. His golden locks of hair glowed in the dark, like iron smelting into a ruby red spark within a furnace. The glare of the swords paled in comparison to his divine presence.
The four knights; Azalea, Jacques, and the two ordinary knights; had surrounded the ferocious demon.
It bared its fangs at the four knights, threatening to kill them with its ugly roar. Neither of the four knights cowered.
"Wow..." Willow watched in awe.
The four knights quickly disposed of the demon, with the creature dissipating into ashes shortly. It did not take long to get rid of it at all. Their teamwork was riveting and yet smoother than still waters, the flow following one another, like a connecting river.
"It should be fine now," Azalea handled the torch with care.
It was hard to imagine him taking care of the demon with a sword in one hand, and a torch in the other. "Then shall we continue on our way?" The shining knight in silver had proposed.
Lucilline sighed in relief.
"Then let's shall—" He quickly froze.
The black-haired nobleman reacted within a split second. His arm dashed behind Farrah's back, then shoved her forwards, to collapse onto the dirt-covered path. The Demon Princess face planted straight, narrowly dodging the hidden danger slicing at above.
A surprised groan sounded above their heads.
"...another demon...!?" One of the knights exclaimed.
"No," Lucilline frowned. "More than one..." Several figures began to emerge from the shadows, revealing themselves in hideous sight. Some were ominous-looking, their eyes hollow with a dull pupil, resembling a black hole—constantly consuming and never sparing a glance. It seemed to devour all fear, leaving behind only a numb and hollow vessel.
Those demonic eyes—it scared the wits out of Lucilline.
He could recognize those anywhere; creatures of the shadow; Shadow Demons. There wasn't only a few—but rather an entire platoon! A group of approximately fifty Shadow Demons...!
"Run towards Miriam!" Lucilline ordered. Trying to fight that group of fifty demons head-on was suicidal! They were only a small group of 10 humans; well, 9 humans and 1 amnesiac Demon.
Without any hesitation, the group began sprinting down the path.
The torch flickered to Azalea's every step in his run, almost resembling his thumping heart beat. The sound of the demons roamed closer. They were like mud sticking to their shadows. No matter how far the puny humans may run, they can never outrun the darkness pooling underneath their figures.
"Gah..." Jacques sent a concerning look at the back of the group.
At the back was Lucilline and Farrah, the two running in sync, neither lagging behind the other.
However, the demons were close to them—too close for comfort.
All of a sudden, a claw darted out to grab onto the Demon Princess! Farrah quickly bowed her head down, avoiding the sudden attack. Inwardly, she sweated several droplets.
She had the choice to reveal her insane pressure. That way, she could scare off the demons.
However... that would also reveal her identity as the Demon Princess to the other group members. They only knew her as a small female demon... not Farrah Umbra, the Fourth Princess of the Royal Demons! This would complete bust her...!
Farrah chose to continue concealing herself.
"They're getting closer!" Percival hollered out, also nervous, his bones jittering to the tension. He could not stop looking back, only to briefly catch the glimpse of Lucilline and that female demon dodging each impeccable strike.
The distance between the demons and the group had shortened.
At any time, the tip of the first demon's claws could slash straight into Lucilline's flesh— and impale him into a sea of blood!
But it didn't.
Instead, it kept trying to swoop up Farrah into its sharp claws. Every attempt remained useless, as Farrah could predict its every move, constantly dodging, shifting, and jumping to avoid the ominous blow.
"There's something wrong." Lucilline couldn't tell what was wrong, but he could feel it.
The chase felt like an infinite cycle of fear... as if the Shadow Demons could never be shaken off, but they had never truly surpassed them either...
"They're after you?" Lucilline arched an eyebrow, darting an expression at the Demon Princess.
Farrah bowed her head, an indescribable expression etched across her pretty face.
The black-haired nobleman also fell silent, but he did not stop helping the Demon Princess from dodging each and every assault of the Shadow Demons.
Gradually, he reassured her, "Don't worry, Nineteen. I won't let them catch you."
"Of course." Farrah sharply retorted, "I'm not so weak that I cannot fend for myself."
A stunned expression flashed across Lucilline's face, but then gently melted into a soft smile. "Naturally. You are strong." There is no reason for me to be concerned. The black-haired nobleman returned to focus on running, but his heart raced uncontrollably. But why is it that I cannot stop... worrying?
Every single fibre of his instincts were throbbing, gushing, and shaking. They were telling him that there was something wrong.
Something ominous would happen.
He could only shake off this foreboding feeling. After all, he could be completely wrong. Sometimes, his gut feeling... his instincts.. his thoughts were wrong, or rather a false alarm. It was probably just the nerves.
"I see Miriam Kingdom!" Azalea gasped.
His voice brought back hope to the group—just like the torch he holds, shining a ray of light to those running behind.
"Hurry!" Percival yelled. Everyone exhausted the last bits of their strength into their legs. Despite the burning ache tearing into their thighs, slashing across their calves and flesh, they persisted and raced forwards.
Even Lucilline, who was at the back of the group, had seen the extravagant buildings of Miriam Kingdom. The sloppy shapes were oddly therapeutic, as if forming some sort of hidden design.
The huge and towering towers filled their sights.
Just a little further! Just a little further and we're there—
"Not~ so~ fast~" The Shadow Demon behind him seemed to have trouble piecing together the words, resulting in the sentence to fall out in clumps.
In an instant, Lucilline felt a surge of animosity skyrocket behind.
He had no time to process everything.
All of the Shadow Demons converged together, melting like a dark liquid—black like squid ink—then gradually mix with one another. They formed an odd fat and clumpy shape, towering at a height of 10 metres! It oozed off the scent of heavy smoke, as if trying to clog up the humans' lungs with the pungent smell and black gas.
"...take this!" A figure leaped in the air.
Willow almost seemed to become one with the clouds, floating in the midnight sky. She raced against the winds, her bones racing with adrenaline. All her blood rushed to her right fist, white knuckles brimming to the bone—and a punch threw dangerously at the 10-metre demon!
The winds seemed to be gathered in that one punch. All the leaves were thrashed violently, forced to hug onto the branches for dear life as they were rustled.
"Gah!" Without warning, the liquid-like demon formed a hand out of nowhere—directly grabbing onto Willow by the torso, while clamping her limbs shut within its grasp.
Relentless, the combined demon swung its arm—
Then threw Willow into the ground!
BANG!!! A loud crash cemented through the lands, the ground trembling and the soil cracking. "Willow!" Lucilline could hardly feel himself breathe, his golden eyes focused solely on the unconscious figure, whose eyes rolled to the back of her head—and a wound slashed across her head, blood spilling down the forehead.
Willow was completely indented into the ground, forming a large human-shaped figure to be hammered down within the soil.
She was already knocked out.
Lucilline hurriedly squatted, trying to pull Willow out from the ground. Her limbs had lost all of its strength, almost lifeless like a porcelain doll. "Come on..." From the shaking of the lands, the black-haired nobleman could tell that the Shadow Demon was merely a few metres away from him...!
"This demon can change it's shape at any time." Farrah muttered under her breath. "It's form seems to imitate water... like liquid shadows."
This was the unique ability of Shadow Demons.
Since they belonged in the shadows and shadows could also bend into any shape... their form could constantly change, and they could also combine into one.
"Help me get Willow out, Nineteen." Lucilline's jaw clenched.
He had never seen his maidservant get knocked out unconscious so badly before. The combination of 50 Shadow Demons into one... it's strength was truly great! Not even Willow could counter it...!
Farrah complied. She bent down and quickly pulled the unconscious maidservant out of the indent.
"Carry her to Miriam Kingdom—get her to safety." Lucilline ordered.
Farrah's eyes shifted. She could tell from the way the black-haired nobleman talked... that he wasn't planning on fleeing with her. "...you're not coming with?"
"No." A short and yet concise retort.
Lucilline chuckled, "I'm not so weak that I cannot fend for myself."
Farrah was stunned speechless. This is the same exact line I had said earlier. A smirk fell on her face. "Then you better survive, Lucilline. After all, you promised me that you'd get me my memories back."
The Demon Princess retrieved with the maidservant hanging from her back.
Lucilline faced the 50-Shadow Demon, his face indifferent and unmoved to the ugly appearance. He forced himself to calm down, to smoothen the wrinkles in his crumpled heart.
"As beings of the shadow, you are afraid of one thing." Lucilline deadpanned. "Light."
But it was nighttime—how could there be any light sources...?
"Lucy!" A voice hurled in the air. Lucilline could recognize that voice from anywhere. It was the same voice that haunted him, ever since he hallucinated at Grand Duke Delta's birthday banquet. It sounded soothing and gentle, but Lucilline feared that it may turn on him some day.
Azalea understood his friend's intentions at an instant.
He did not need any hints.
Without any communication involved, the silver knight dashingly threw his torch across the air. The Shadow Demon watched this with an unamused expression. "There~ is~ wind~ The~ fire~ will~ be~ put~ out~"
The fire flickered constantly, yet was not put out by the harsh winds.
The Shadow Demon was shocked. How was that possible?
Lucilline caught the still lit torch with his hands. He was impressed by the silver knight again and again. To ensure that the fire wouldn't be put out by the wind, Azalea purposely felt the winds around, and threw a calculated throw!
The torch was thrown in a swift parabola, as if floating in the air by its own will, instead of being sent forwards.
"You were told by your leader to capture Nineteen, weren't you?" Lucilline faced the irked Shadow Demon. The latter shirked backwards.
Lucilline smiled. "Tell them to keep trying. They won't succeed."
Then, the Shadow Demon was sent on fire.