The Shadows Within

Rizak spent the entire morning explaining how magic works in this world. It was a warning more than anything else. This power responded strongest to emotions; however, trained mages could make things happen even if they felt nothing.

They could do this by concentrating their mana, which was a type of magical energy. Mana replenished when mages slept, at least for humans like me. For demons, it was different concerning how much they feast.

So, a demon who ate thousands of humans wouldn’t have to worry about their magical power.

Sadly, that lesson would have to wait until I understood my basics. Saints, also known as priestesses, had the most mana of all humans.

Of course, these can only be females. Males lack the energy we have, though they have been summoned into this world before. How dumb is that?

With that, I finally learned they indeed abducted me from my world to fulfill the purpose of saving them.

So, in a sense, I was taken by aliens, only that we aren’t in the same dimension as my original world. No, this one has monsters and magic. It's an entirely new life…

The humans had intercepted the spell, and the owl thought that was how Eve and I ended up in the realm together.

Finn and he were the source of the voices I heard before I came into this world.

Rizak also informed me that my sister was a light saint, thanks to his spies in the capital of humans, Traedan.

You’re getting the royal treatment from everyone there. So, saving you was the right choice. I owed you that much for dragging you down here with me, but from now on, I won’t be looking out for you, Eve.

Light magic responded to happy thoughts, while darkness was volatile and responded to the opposite. Of course, it would be the first one I experienced, even though I could use both.

“To cast spells, younglings usually use incantations to concentrate. More advanced users can dance while others do simple maneuvers with their hands to make it come,” Rizak explained, summoning a droplet of water with a whisk of his hand.

It reminded me of Finn when he swallowed that fire; he appeared to crush it with his hand. Of course, to be as advanced as him, I would first need to know how it felt to have magic.

Something that wouldn’t come overnight, if at all. Trying to understand any of this is like gibberish to me!

“This is all elemental level lessons.” Rizak chuckled while my brain was a goner.

Oi! That doesn’t make me feel better!

The owl was kind to me, but I could see I wasn’t moving forward. The only thing I learned from my lesson was that I was a mess. I couldn’t even do it in command with help.

It doesn’t help that I neglected to tell you about what happened in the bathroom when I was alone, but I didn’t fully trust you. All of you will probably cage me up, if you know.

Feeling light-headed with all the information dumped in my mind, I face-planted into the desk.

I’m not meant to be here.

Evelyn had probably already learned everything, but she wasn’t the type to help those who needed it, nor was I. Rizak continued speaking about how magic flowed through us, but I couldn’t keep up.

Instead, I gazed down towards Solas, who was playing with a pen that fell into the bag. A soft sigh left my lips, wincing at the overload.

I’m just… always lacking, aren’t I?

I was an honor student back in my world, but this was all new to me. Magic was invisible energy like all the sugar our bodies broke down to make us move.

But where does it come from?

Rizak mentioned that it was everywhere that had life.

So, the entire world is the spring of magic.

Yet, using too much of it would tire anyone out.

So, it isn’t endless? Arg… Why…

It didn’t matter, even if I did get it.

How can I help them when I can’t help myself?

The entire thing was comical.

Placing all their hopes on me is their mistake, not mine. Yet why do I feel so heavy?

After the lesson, I explored the castle, and surprisingly, they didn’t restrict my movements. I could go anywhere, minus two places where wolfmen were guarding. One appeared to lead to the catacombs, and the other inaccessible room was on the first floor, in front of the castle's entrance.

Why guard this door and not the entrance? What’s so important that it requires me to be kept out?

The door to the outside was unguarded, leaving it readily available for me to go if I wanted. Yet, if I did, it would only end with me turning into a demon.

“The closest human settlement is months away, and Finn’s immunity only lasts twelve hours. So, make informed decisions, Sylvia.” Rizak warned me before letting me out.

The ghastly fog enveloped the entire demon kingdom of Fathal.

So, there isn’t a safe spot for me to escape.

There wasn’t any point either, with all the rabid demons the owl warned me about. If I stepped outside, I’d be an easy snack. Though, with demons like Gael, the chances of me having a worse fate than death were higher.

Being eaten alive or ending up as a toy for a beast isn’t on my to-do list.

It wasn’t long until hunger took me back to the kitchen for a second time. I met with Gael this time, handing me a food box before ushering me out to eat it in the dining room. Not wanting to waste it, I ate it only for my eyes to sparkle with the savory taste it left behind.

Holy cow! This is amazing!

It was almost as if my tongue was dancing with the flavors, leaving me ecstatic. Gazing at the kitchen door, my eyes dropped to the meal before me as a soft sigh left my lips.

Not that I’ll tell you, and it’s not like you’d care.

I shrugged, taking another bite of the hardy meal Gael had made for me. Humming under my breath, I couldn’t help but note that I hadn’t run into Finn this entire time.

Are you still dealing with your generals? Ah… it doesn’t matter.

After the first good meal I had ever had in a while, I headed to the bath to wash before calling it a night. Opening the door to my room, I was surprised by the demon king standing by the window.

The moment I came in, he shifted his gaze to me. Closing the door, I slowly walked towards the bed before placing little Solas on it.

“I heard you were exploring the castle. I’m glad you didn’t run away.” Finn’s voice was colder than this morning.

The only reason for his visit had to be my dose.

“There isn’t anywhere else to be. At least here I have a warm bed waiting for me.” I sighed, sitting next to Solas, who rolled towards the middle of the bed.

The pup was bigger than this morning, but not by a lot. Rizak said it was normal for me to feel sleepy since he had been feeding me, but this entire time, I felt fine. It only made me wonder what was going on within me.

“I’m glad you aren’t as stupid as I thought.” Finn chuckled.

His eyes were fridged, leaving me questioning if they would ever warm up for me.

Doubtful… There isn’t a bone to like in me.

Yet these monsters were more human to me than my family or friends ever were. Perhaps that was why I didn’t bolt at my first sight of freedom.

It also helps that there’s good food and a comfy bed here.

“That’s because I have nowhere to go.” I huffed, crossing my arms.

“You’d rather be with your kin?” he scoffed, walking towards me.

Was this morning a fluke? Your mood is…

From Rizak’s and Gael’s reactions, what happened to this man wasn’t pleasant and was all caused by someone like me.

Why keep me here instead of in the dungeon below?

The stench of death was present when I walked by the catacombs earlier.

How did I know the smell of death?

Well, I once found a pile of dead cats in the garbage. A local restaurant had poisoned them, yet no one cared, calling them pests—much like I was in everyone’s life. I found myself reflecting on the cats in the bin, leaving me humbled.

If I were missing, no one would’ve missed me either.

“No… I wish I could live alone. No one in sight for miles. Everything’s quiet in my dreamland.” I sighed, falling on the bed.

A soft smile crept onto Finn’s lips. “Sounds like a nice place.”

Shrugging, I turned to face him, allowing Solas to lay against my back.

“It is. Too bad I have nothing like that.” I bit onto my lip, gazing at the demon king.

You don’t look like a mass murderer who does it for fun. So… why do you want to kill everything if I don’t lift the curse? What am I missing here?

Rizak’s warning hadn’t stopped resonating within me.

Tell me, would you understand my reason, Finn?

“If you help me, I’ll give you anything you want.” The demon king sat down on the bed beside me.

Shaking my head, I lifted from where I was, facing the demon head-on. He didn’t scare me, not like the others.

No… not like my father did.

“Why do you want my power, little king?” I smirked, knowing that usually triggered him.

On cue, his eyes twitched. “Oi, Sparky. We back to those nicknames?” a soft growl left him.

I hummed, looking back at Solas, who had shifted to my thigh. In a matter of hours, I fell for this pup. The happiness I felt every time I saw him was something I had never felt before.

Warm…

“Are you going to kiss me?” I asked, shifting my gaze back at Finn.

There were no clocks in this world, yet I could see the moon had risen, and he kissed me when the sun was up.

“Hm… Should I?” he tilted his head with a soft smile.

This man was beautiful, with horns and all. He didn’t deserve the soulless eyes he had.

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” I mumbled, feeling flustered under his gaze.

I've made a fool of myself if you aren't here to do that. Shit…

“Yes, and no. There are three hours before I must kiss you, but I have free time. What better way to spend it than with my fiancée?” he smirked.

I couldn’t help but scowl.

This demon’s sly.

“Did Rizak tell you to say that?” I huffed, shifting my gaze away from him.

Finn’s eyebrows raised, shaking his head. “What? No.”

I was saving myself from the earlier embarrassment. Yet…

Why do my cheeks feel like they’ll burn off my face?

“I mean, wasn’t Solas his idea?” I continued grasping at straws, glancing down at the little pup.

He was out cold.

A soft chuckle came from Finn’s lips. “Fuck, no. It was mine. None of those idiots wanted me to give you a dark hound. If you have one, it makes you harder to control, but I loved having a familiar before...”

My gaze quickly fixed on him, catching his subtle gestures. Glancing away from me, he gripped his arms, biting his lip.

You’re going into your shell, aren’t you?

“I remember it helped me through hard times.” He sighed, closing his eyes as his hands trembled slightly.

Even though I had my issues, it hurt to see him like that. My pain was resonating with his.

I’m such a fool. You don’t deserve to be treated like I’m doing, but can you answer why are you being like this? Is it to break the cycle of pain… instead of furthering it? Or is it to trick me?

Even though I couldn’t fully trust his intentions, I knew his pain was real. If I had never experienced it myself, I probably wouldn’t have realized it. Whenever I felt like that, all I ever wanted was…

I can’t be like all the others in my life. Be different! If I can’t be, why did I survive in the first place?!

“Finn… may I touch you?” I mumbled, trying to keep my emotions in check.

Be different! Make it mean something!

A day in, and I already had something that was mine. This world couldn’t be all bad if it gave me something like Solas.

Yes, a reason to keep going... For now…

Yet I couldn’t help but feel like the other shoe would drop soon.

“Why even ask when I’m yours, remember?” he chuckled.

I’m not joking!

My eyes twitched before I released a sigh from my lips.

For a demon king, you’re clueless! You’re not scary at all! No, you’re more human than the ones I know. Why is that? How can you be more human than all the ones I’ve met?

“Idiot,” I huff, grabbing him by his cloak before pulling him into my arms.

My sudden tug caused the demon to lose his balance. He fell snugly on my chest, where I held onto him. The tips of his horns were sharp, yet this hair was silky soft.

“W-what are y-you d-doing?” Finn stumbled on his words.

His hands were on the bed instead of on me, which he had used to catch himself. He was shorter than most other demons but still slightly taller than me.

For a demon, you’re too respectful. Not that I mind it.

“It looked like you needed a hug, so I’m giving it to you. Now, just be grateful.” I mumbled, trying to keep my fluster in check.

Though he could probably hear my heart beating, it felt like it was going so fast. This was the first time I had ever hugged anyone like this. Holding him filled me with a sense of warmth I wasn’t used to.

Yes, you’re nothing like them.

I was beginning to understand why they all wanted to protect their king. Though there was no doubt he didn’t need my protection, perhaps his heart did. It was silly since I didn’t know how to fix mine, let alone his.

We are a pair of broken souls. Perhaps we can find kinship in that.

A friendship was all I could hope for, yet I didn’t expect it. After all, he was a man who wanted to use me.

But you gave me Solas, and that’s worth a hug.