After Ruya finished, Kajin’s eyes dropped to the side, uncertainty clouding his face. Should he open up to Ruya or not? His expression was one of sadness and exhaustion. Leaning forward, he gripped his knees for support, his long, wet, messy hair falling down and covering his face entirely. Ruya said nothing, waiting patiently for Kajin’s response. After some time, Kajin finally spoke.

"It all started 19 years ago. The Demon Queen gave birth to me, a cursed child, half-human, half-demon. Controversy spread like wildfire about how the Queen could have had an affair with a human. Many believed she was manipulated, but others dismissed that idea because of her mastery over manipulation magic. Either way, the Queen remained silent. There was little information about who this human was or where he might be now. Rumors claimed he was killed immediately after the two had done the deed"

Ruya listened attentively, though confusion flickered across his face. "Your family’s weird, bro," he said, breaking the tension.

Kajin sighed, not disagreeing. "Don’t call those creatures my family," he muttered. He paused before continuing. "Right after I was born, the Queen ordered my death. And my executioner? None other than Agnus."

Ruya’s eyes widened in shock, but he stayed quiet as Kajin went on.

"Agnus unsheathed his blade, prepared to strike, and swung. But the blade never reached its target. Just as it was about to sever my head, a magical barrier of red flames appeared, blocking the sword and melting it instantly. Everyone froze, not because of the barrier, but because of the magic behind it. It turned out I possessed Lucif Magic, an ancient, dark magic once wielded by the First Demon King. Somehow, I had inherited it."

Ruya’s mouth fell open, but he didn’t interrupt.

"After that, they spared me," Kajin continued, "but I wasn’t treated as royalty. I was made a slave. When I turned five, the King locked me away in one of the castle’s towers. I was given just enough food and water to survive, but no clothes or protection from the cold. The stone walls were my only shield against the harsh winds, and even they didn’t help much. I only survived because I knew a little fire magic, just enough to keep my body warm."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Kajin paused, his voice lowering. "The only things I remember from that time are the freezing cold and the hard stone floor I slept on."

"When I turned seven, they started training me to become a war weapon. The training was hell, pure hell. That’s where I got my scars."

Leaning back slightly, Kajin stared at his arms, his eyes distant. "Because I had immense magic power and exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills, they turned me into a Close Combat Mage. I relied on flame magic heavily, refusing to use the Lucif Magic. Do you know why? Because I hated the Royal Family. I didn’t want any connection to them. To me, they were monsters who used me, tormented me, and treated me like I didn’t belong. But I didn’t care about belonging. I just wanted to survive."

Kajin’s tone shifted slightly. "I met Anastasia when I was thirteen. She introduced herself, but I didn’t believe her. I thought she was some crazy freak, and honestly, I still think that. I tried ignoring her, but she wouldn’t leave me alone. One day, I got fed up and attacked her, but… she beat me. After that, I had no choice but to listen to her."

Kajin’s voice grew more reflective. "She told me her story and revealed secrets about the Royal Family. Over time, I learned more and more from her. She even taught me the White Flame Magic, a rare and powerful light magic once wielded by William the First, the founder of the Montag Kingdom. From history to magic basics, Anastasia was my teacher."

Ruya nodded thoughtfully. "If she helped you so much, why do you hate her? You treat her like she did something terrible."

Kajin slowly lifted his gaze to meet Ruya’s. "The reason is simple… She treated me like a weapon, just like the rest of them."

Ruya’s eyes widened. "What?! How? Why?" he asked, disbelief coloring his voice.

Kajin sighed. "Just because she taught me all these things doesn’t mean her intentions were pure. Like the Royal Family, she saw me as a tool, a means to an end."

Ruya stayed silent, though questions filled his mind. He knew now wasn’t the time to ask them.

Kajin glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze back to his arms. "When I was fifteen, they started sending me on missions: assassinations, rescues, patrols, raids, and more. Around that time, Agnus returned from a long mission in the southern kingdom. He made it a point to visit me in the tower every day. His visits weren’t out of kindness. He came to humiliate me and beat me until my bones broke."

Kajin chuckled darkly, his voice tinged with bitter irony. "He called it revenge. I called it an act of love and care. Hah… Agnus tasted his first defeat, when I was born, and for fifteen years he had held his anger. For four years, I was his personal stress reliever. Every day, I endured his wrath, mentally and physically. But one day… Everything changed."