I punched the tree in front of me, blowing it apart into sawdust as the head of the tree toppled over, falling head first into the soft snow with a thud, joining many other toppled trees in my long path of destruction. The few remaining trees barely covered the falling snow from covering my now still frame as I slumped down, back first into the snow, partially exhausted.

“How–how could this have happened!” My sharp breath turned into cold mist as I shouted out of my exhausted lungs. It had been close to two hours since Luke revealed the demon's plan, as well as our only surviving hope to save my lost mother. I had long since passed feeling despair and now only felt anger–anger at the demons who took her– and anger at myself who let it happen.

“...Tene. The fault doesn't lie with you, it lies with me only.” My father's hazy words barely pierced through my frustrated feelings as I continued to lie down in the soft snow, ignoring my fathers own self-contempt. My father had tried his best, his attempts into goading me into loathing him instead of myself were shallow at best. He fought to the best of his abilities while still trying to protect Lita and I. While I just watched as he was taken prisoner by a demon.

I snickered to myself in contempt. Then I had pleaded for others to fight my battles for me.

His looming shadow soon fell upon me completely, as he bent down and looked directly into my eyes. His gaze was stern and reprimanding–reprimanding me?! What a joke.

“You heard what he said, right!! They don't exist on this continent father!? The only passage to their land is through the shift–that opens once a decade!!!” I shouted as the memories of what Luke had said in our previous meeting surfaced in my mind. Reigniting my anger.

Osmond’s shift. Honestly, if Luke truly wasn't lying, then the demons had truly not only created one of the largest potential reversals in history but had potentially already won an upcoming war. Osmond’s Shift was a large dimensional gate that swept the vermillion ocean, west of the empire every five to ten years. It was the only naturally occurring dimensional gate with a fixed and recurring location. This had originally attracted many great minds that had attempted to extract the gate's secrets. However, it was quickly labeled as a danger zone when such a mind, Dr. Osmond tried to use the gate for an experiment of his, a tale that ended in tragedy and the lost lives of many. The area had been sealed off by the first generational king, It was an extremely powerful seal too, to the point that future kings and even the sages themselves were unable to break it.

“To think the demons truly managed to use the gate to rebuild their civilization elsewhere, and now they plan for their king's resurrection and revenge.” My father whispered under his breath.

Yes, the demons had somehow managed to succeed where Osborn and the previous generational kings had failed, somehow gaining populace in a new continent, planet, or perhaps even dimension, all Luke had said is ‘he had never seen anything like it’.

I clenched my fist. If it was truly a utopia, then they wouldnt be coming back here, trying to steal our lands.

I won't be able to save my mother until the portal opens up again–that could take anywhere between five and ten years! The portal had just opened up, allowing the demons to migrate en masse, hiding amongst us as they gathered information on their future attack.

“For them to destroy entire cities and give away their presence as they did, instead of returning intel and making a mass hidden invasion during the next shift…”

Meant they were either idiots or utterly confident that there was nothing we could do if they decided to invade us at any time. So they have powerhouses that at the least surpassed the four sages.

My father sighed loudly as he slumped down into the snow next to me. Unlike me, he was no longer just thinking of my mother, but of the continent as a whole. It somewhat Irked me, his ability to put the people before his own needs and desires.

“Tene, you leave for the academy tomorrow. There, you will continue to attend as a normal student until the next shift. I on the other hand–will do my best to prepare how I can, to not allow these failures to repeat themselves. There is still the possibility that there is some way to enter their realm without the shift…”

“Academy? I cant attend an academy when mother is missing! Presumably dead!” I shouted, letting out the anger in my heart as I stood up abruptly. How was I supposed to study, focus on work when mother could be suffering?! The thought made me sick to my stomach.

“Tene! A storm is coming, and all you can do is prepare. Prepare and strengthen yourself, channel those emotions you are feeling correctly, and five years from now, We will save your mother!!” My father shouted, raising his voice for what felt like the first time in my life. My mother had always said his aura was like water, tranquil and calm. She would be shocked to see him now.

I was momentarily shocked. That was just how rare it was for my father to shout as he did. I was sure he wasnt angry at me…no he was trying to guide me. Me, who should be many years older than him. Pathetic.

“I-I dont have the right to tell you what to do, or how to feel, Tene. I can only push you in the direction I think is right. Please, just think about what Ive told you when you have calmed down.” My father said, his voice lower now, more controlled. How quick his controlled anger was to dissipate–mine could never. He turned around and giving me one last steadfast smile he walked away. His face,his expression, looked lonelier than I had ever seen it. I felt a pang of regret in my chest.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I messed up. For once, I actually acted like my age.

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The concrete floor of the dungeon was as usual damp and cold as I forced myself to peek through the purple bars of my small windowed cell. The small opening was fitted on the walls of the cramped, dirty room, barely allowin g any light through from the candle lit hallways. The sound of rats and dripping water echoed drearily across the prison as the once empty cell opposite me now held the presence of what I could tell was once a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair and alabaster skin now rough and frizzled with dirt and grime. What looked to have been once expensive clothes were now torn and wet with dried blood sticking the once white dress to her skin.

Was it strange for me to see someone as beautiful when I was a woman myself? Perhaps, but she reminded me of my mother before the uprising, so perhaps the correct wording was mature and motherly. She seemed to encapsulate an aura of warmth and fragility as she hugged herself closely to warm up. There was hardly any heating so the addition of liquid blood must have made the cold floors unbearable for her. I knew because I had been there–you get used to it.

She glanced at me for the first time since she had entered her cell moments ago, with a similar gaze to what mine had been like, unwavering despite her new circumstances–like when I had first entered the demon's captivity.

I had overheard the Jailers talk about a new prisoner before she had arrived. Vile little evil things they were. Bat shaped creatures that resembled imps from the legends. They loved fear and despair and any attempts to plead to any sort of empathy within them was useless–I had learned that first hand. Jailers and torturers were clearly a good career selection for them. Still, they gossiped when they chose not to ridicule or torture. They probably thought there was no way we could ever divulge the secrets they let slip here. I learned a lot about this place just from their conversations.

The woman's name was Zara Renhart and she was the wife of the current despised head of the Renhart Family. Everyone knew who the Renharts were, I couldn't help but pity her. To be married into such a family and now to be captured by demons who harbour nothing but hate towards that name. A life filled with nothing from pain to an outsider like myself looking in. I couldnt help but feel a sense of comradeie to our similar dispiriting cirrumctances in our lives. She had been brought to wife the lineage of demons and while she had not run, I had. I found it Ironic that regardless–we had both ended up in the exact same circumstances.

One of the goddesses pranks im sure. Still… why is she looking at me like that?

“Poor thing…they even took your arm. How long have you been trapped here? What's your name, dear?” The woman called Zara called out to me softly within her cell. Her tone and voice was exactly how I thought it would be, soft and reassuring, embracing like a mothers. I couldn't help but choke up slightly at her words, how long had it been since anyone had said something like that to me? For a second, I didn't know how to respond. I felt my chest tighten as I remembered how their king had treated me before throwing me in here. I choked back a sob. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of crying. I wouldn't cry towards Lukes murderers. Towards my torturers. Never.

Her voice, her tone, that expression when she looked at me, it's all so similar to my mothers…

Taking some deep breaths, I recollected myself. “My name is Claire. Sorry, it's been a while since I've seen another human–these prisons are only for us. They see us as lesser, not deserving of the other prisons. As for how long since I've been captured… I–haven't been keeping count, I don't even want to know how many months it's been.” I responded, my voice breaking slightly at the end.

“I heard you are Renharts wife…they hate the Renharts deeply for what the first king did to them. I lost my arm just because I talked back—Ill give you a fair warning, those eyes, you can't look at them like that …just don't.” I tried to give her advice on the few things I had learned since I got captured. I didn't mean to ask her to break her will–just to hide it. It was the only way. I would rather the person who reminded me of my deceased mother not have to learn such a lesson the hard way, as I did.

“...I can see you've been through a lot dear–” I quickly cut her off. I knew what she wanted to say. “No, don't patronise me when you just got here. I haven't given up yet either, but from what I've heard, we can't escape until at least the next portal opening in five years time…we have to be patient. you, don't know what they're like, you're a Renhart– You hold value so they won't kill you–they will try to break you instead.” She looked at me with steady warm eyes, as if she didnt care what happened to her in particular. I sat up, slumping my back against the cold stone walls–ugh the wound is bleeding again. I would need them to give me more bandages. I hated asking them for things. Those disgusting Imps would ask for things in exchange.

“If they think you are already broken, they can only inflict pain on the body, not the mind. Those sick bastards are capable of depravity you can't even imagin–ugh” I grimaced in pain again as I struggled to finish my sentence. “-Y-you have loved ones that are waiting for you outside, right? Or do you just not careabout your life…is that why you think you can just give up?” I finished while struggling through the pain, clenching my fist and teeth. If she truly had nothing to lose, then it made sense why she was acting so fearlessly and reckless.

At first, Zara seemed surprised when I mentioned if she had any loved ones waiting for her. It looked like she was struggling with something–I definitely glimpsed it for a second. Fear. Shaking her head as if to clear her doubts, Zara then stared at me as I winced in pain–I had to be strong for Luke, for my mother.

Zara’s hand bagan to glow gently as she threw something red between her bars. She missed the first time and the object slammed into the bars on my side of the hall, dissipating into nothing. She threw a second one, this time it managed to pass through both bars. She was a mage? Clearly not a warrior anyways. It looked like they had decided not to entrap her with anti-magic like they did for me, so I doubted it was either. What was she then?

“Swallow it whole, it will relieve your pain and stop your bleeding to an extent Claire.”

A healer?! That was even rarer. The requirements for that class were extremely difficult to aquire and it usually evolved into a form of a saintess class. My father had wished for me to gain the class since a condition for the class was to be a female and it was highly coveted. Still, why hadnt they trapped her if she had such a class? I felt a lump form in my throat as I picked up the lightly glowing red pill.

“T-thank you Zara.” I responded as I glanced down at the floor, unable to meet her gaze. I was supposed to be helping her, now here I was being helped by her instead– I sighed internally, I was always like this. Constantly being saved by those around me.

She raised an eyebrow at the mention of her name.

“Demons love to talk, especially imps.” I quickly responded as I swallowed the medicine she gave me. Instantly, I felt the pain in my lost arm greatly relieve itself. Like cool water pressed against a burn wound I couldn't help but audibly grunt in relief. Zara laughed gently as she looked at my expression. More heat rushed up towards my face as I wondered what my face had looked like.

“To think that such a young child the same age as my daughter would have to go through such hardships, I'll try my best to help you anyway I can dear. Until my husband comes to save us, you can rely on me” Zara replied.

Of course she had a daughter, only a mother could have looked at me the way she did. I could tell she deeply trusted her husband, the Renhart. Still, If a woman of this kind truly believed in that name, then maybe…

No. No matter what, I can't let it show to the guards. Hope. They would do their best to kill it. I–still have to carry lukes dream. Our dream.

“How can you be sure he will actually come? Aren't the Renharts selfish and cruel?” I asked inquisitively, the pain in my voice now completely gone. Those imps might look for more ways to hurt me just for that–I might have to keep the act up when they get here.

“He will.” Zara replied unhesitantly and for a moment I thought everything would be fine, that was how much hope filled her voice. How much certainty filled her gaze.

Then, the dreaded sound of a light flickering of wings like a beating drum, echoed loudly in the jail, getting louder and louder.. The snickering sound of playful childish laughter soon followed and the reassuring smile Zara had shown me disappeared from my mind, replaced by the endless tortures I had been through. I wore my mask again, killed my gaze, and dulled my mind. No one would save us from these creatures that saw us as nothing but playthings. At least for now.