The night was pitch dark, and apart from the rustling of leaves and the distant cries of birds, there was no sound. She couldn’t find his way home; she was hungry and exhausted. Though she didn’t have the energy to move a finger, she had no choice but to keep going. She couldn’t stop, not even for a moment, or that thing would kill her. She was trembling from the cold, but that no longer mattered.
As she wandered aimlessly through the forest, she heard a distant voice calling, “Come here, I’m here.” It was Saria’s voice, her best friend. Hearing it rekindled a flicker of hope within her. She immediately started moving toward the voice. After a while, she reached a tree that emanated a dim, purple glow from its flowers. The tree stood alone, oddly out of place in the middle of the forest.
Someone was sitting behind the tree, it had to be Saria. She tried to call out, but no sound came out of her mouth. She walked closer, circling the tree, but froze in her tracks. Her eyes widened in horror as tears streamed down his cheeks. Saria’s lifeless body lay under the tree. Her clothes were torn, and deep claw and bite marks covered her body. The most horrifying sight was her throat, as if something had bitten and torn it apart.
Then she heard another voice, this time a grotesque, chilling version of Saria’s. “Hel…p… me…” it groaned. Turning around, she saw it. A monstrous creature, three meters tall, a grotesque blend of a wild boar and a bear, stood motionless. Half its face was skeletal, and its mouth and snout dripped with blood—not its own. Its small, glowing red eyes locked onto him with terrifying intelligence.
The creature had set a trap. Under the tree's glowing light, the scorched and wounded patches of its fur were visible, yet it had developed a resistance to magic, sustaining minimal damage. With a terrifying roar, the beast charged toward her.
She was paralyzed by fear. Just as the creature was about to grab her, a tall, muscular man burst out of the bushes and landed a heavy kick on the creature’s head. The beast staggered back a few steps. Turning around, the man shouted, “RUN, NOW! DON’T YOU DARE DIE, LEENA!”
Leena woke up drenched in sweat to the sound of her alarm clock. She had been having the same nightmare over and over again for a long time. In it, her best friend died, and her brother saved her. Though she knew it was ridiculous, seeing the same dream repeatedly was exhausting.
She got out of bed, left her room, and took a shower. When she came out, she smelled the breakfast Nuala had prepared. Returning to her room, she put on her school uniform, grabbed her bag, and went downstairs. The table was already set, but her parents were nowhere to be seen. Sitting at the table, she began eating without waiting for them.
The meal was a vegetable omelet. She pushed the peppers to the side of her plate and started eating the rest. Noticing this, Nuala gently said, “You should eat the peppers too, Miss Leena.” But Leena ignored her and continued eating.
A short while later, her parents arrived. Her mother entered with a smile, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “Good morning, sweetheart.” Leena replied briefly, “Good morning, Mom.” Her father, as usual, remained silent, sipping his coffee while reading a piece of paper.
Breaking the silence, her father said without looking up, “Vulren opened his restaurant last week. You should try the food; it’s really good.” Her mother replied coldly, “I’m too busy to go.”
Sighing, her father turned to Leena. “What about you, Leena? Would you like to visit your brother’s restaurant with Nuala over the weekend?” Leena rolled her eyes and said, “Eww, no way.”
At that moment, Nuala entered from the kitchen to refill her father’s coffee and added, “I planned to visit earlier but couldn’t find the time. I’m thinking of going this weekend. Miss Leena, you should give your brother a chance. His cooking is incredible—even better than mine. But Leena wasn’t even listening. Leaving her omelet unfinished, she grabbed her bag and left for school. The school was quite close, and she reached its gates in no time.
Children started attending the magic school at the age of 8 after they had become accustomed to their abilities and graduated at 16. Leena had adapted to her skill very quickly. After Kavrala, she was the second person in the village to achieve a Level 1 skill. Even among family members, revealing one's skill to others was a strict taboo, a tradition rooted in ancient times. Therefore, no one asked anyone about their skill. Leena's skill was not only of the highest level but also an active ability. She could absorb other people's magic into her own magical energy through her palm. However, during this process, she couldn’t use magic herself. Additionally, if she absorbed more magic than she could control, her magic channels could suffer severe damage.
As the dream from last night lingered in her mind, she heard a voice behind her. "Good morning, Leena," a high-pitched girl’s voice said. For a moment, she froze, remembering the monster from her dream. A few seconds later, a hand touched her shoulder. "Are you listening? I’m talking to you," the girl said. Snapping out of her thoughts, Leena replied, "Sorry, I had another nightmare last night, so I couldn’t sleep well." She turned her head and saw Saria, a green-eyed girl with short black hair, smiling at her. Leena, feeling her mood improve, also began to smile.
"Come on, class is about to start. Let’s go," Saria said and began walking toward the school, with Leena following her. When they reached their classroom, they took seats in the middle rows and placed their materials on the desk. The room fell silent as soon as the teacher entered.
The lesson was history, recounting the tale of a demon prince and an elf princess who sought to end the centuries-long war between elves and demons. The demon prince was the most promising member of the royal family. His father, the Demon King, was very proud of him, believing his son could help annihilate all elves.
Despite the prince’s opposition to the war, he was too young and too afraid of his father to voice his opinion. When the prince turned 16, the Demon King sent him to lead a small army into battle. Reluctantly, the prince accepted and led his forces to attack a small elf village. Although he ordered his soldiers not to harm civilians, the demon army massacred the villagers. Upon learning this, the prince angrily made his way to the scene.
When he arrived, he saw the village engulfed in flames. His rage dissipated, replaced by fear and dread. As he walked through the ruins, he heard an explosion. Rushing toward the source, he found a young woman with long white hair, ocean-blue eyes, pointed ears, and pale skin. She was furiously casting spells at the demons, tears streaming down her face.
The prince was captivated by her beauty and couldn’t take his eyes off her. After a moment, the woman noticed him and began walking toward him. Hastily, the prince straightened his clothes and started speaking, "Good day, my lady. I mean no harm; I—" but his words were cut short as she punched him hard in the face. The prince fell to the ground, knowing things were about to get worse but unable to finish his sentence.
The woman climbed on top of him and started punching him, crying all the while. Her punches weren’t strong enough to hurt him, but her emotions were palpable. The prince tried to calm her down, but the burning houses and corpses around them made it difficult. He attempted to speak, but her punches kept interrupting him.
After hours of punching, the woman collapsed from exhaustion. The prince stood up and sensed the approaching energy of a large demon army. Apart from the woman and himself, no one else had survived. He picked her up and fled into the nearby forest. When she woke up, she resumed attacking him, but the prince easily avoided her strikes, which were too weak to cause any harm. Eventually, hunger and fatigue subdued her, and for the first time, she spoke.
"Why do you kill innocent people? Have you ever thought about what would happen if the same were done to you?" she asked. The prince, surprised by her question, gave her an odd look and replied, "The same does happen to us. The elves kill our people too. It’s the nature of war; there’s no way to prevent it."
The woman, with a stunned expression, responded weakly, "You’re lying. Demons attack our villages and kill our people. We’re only defending ourselves." The prince, reluctant to argue further, said, "The children in the orphanage at Elanil Village must have been a real challenge for you to defend yourselves against."
The woman buried her face in her arms and said in a trembling voice, "I don’t want demon children or elf children to die. I just want this war to end. But my father says the war won’t stop until every demon is eradicated." Remembering she hadn’t introduced herself, she quickly composed herself and added, "My name is Aeula Elphine, the third princess of the Elphine Empire. May I ask your name?"
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The prince looked up at the sky and introduced himself, "Zelphar Dortumal, the first prince of the Demon Kingdom."
Aeula was shocked. Zelphar was infamous across the continent for his extraordinary and overwhelming power. Her courage evaporated, and she began looking for a way to escape. But before she could act, Zelphar, still gazing at the sky, continued, "I’m tired of this war too. It might sound foolish, but I want to ask you: would you join me in stopping this war? I can’t do it alone, but having an elf princess by my side would make things easier."
Aeula was somewhat relieved to find the prince different from what she had expected, but his seemingly impossible dream left her skeptical. Could they really stop the war? Thus, these two individuals from opposing races began hiding in the forest, seeking ways to end the war.
In the days that followed, Zelphar and Aeula spent their time in the forest, learning about each other's worlds. They met in secret, always under the cover of night. The war was an ever-present shadow, and though they knew their actions could never fully erase its impact, they believed they could make a difference.
Zelphar began to learn about the elves' culture, their peaceful ways, and their deep connection to nature. He had always been taught to see them as enemies, but spending time with Aeula, he started to see them in a new light. Aeula, in turn, was gradually coming to understand the demons. She had once thought them all ruthless and merciless, but Zelphar showed her that not all demons were like the ones who destroyed her village.
The two of them often spoke about their dreams of peace. They would sit by the fire, discussing plans to bring both sides to the negotiation table. They knew that such a feat would be dangerous, and their enemies would never accept it easily. But still, they held on to the hope that things could change.
One night, as they sat under the stars, Aeula asked Zelphar, "Do you really think this is possible? Can we really stop the war?"
Zelphar, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke. "I don’t know. But I’ve seen the destruction on both sides. I’ve seen the people who suffer. If there’s any way to end this, even if it’s just a small chance, I have to try. I can’t just stand by and let more innocent lives be lost."
Aeula nodded, her eyes filled with both hope and doubt. "I want to believe in that too. But sometimes it feels like we’re fighting against fate itself."
They spent the rest of the night in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The moonlight shone down on them, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
The next day, as they made their way to a secluded clearing, they were ambushed. A group of demon soldiers had tracked Zelphar’s scent, and now they surrounded them, weapons drawn.
Zelphar immediately stepped in front of Aeula, his sword drawn and ready to fight. "Stay behind me," he ordered, though he knew he couldn’t protect her forever.
Aeula, unwilling to be a mere bystander, stepped forward. "I won’t run. If we die today, we die together."
Zelphar turned to her, surprised by her resolve. Before he could say anything, the battle began. It was fierce, the sounds of clashing steel echoing through the forest. Zelphar fought with all his might, but the odds were against them. The demon soldiers were well-trained, and they had the numbers.
Just when things seemed at their worst, a blast of magic surged from behind Zelphar. It struck the demons, knocking them back and giving him a moment to regroup. He turned, and to his surprise, Aeula was standing with her hands raised, her body glowing with the magic of the forest.
"I won’t let you die, Zelphar," she said, determination in her voice. Her magic, a combination of elven power and the energy she had drawn from Zelphar’s own life force, swirled around them, creating a protective barrier.
Together, they fought side by side, slowly turning the tide of the battle. With each strike, they grew closer, their bond strengthening. As the last of the soldiers fled, Zelphar and Aeula collapsed to the ground, exhausted but alive.
Breathing heavily, Zelphar looked at Aeula. "I guess we’re not so different after all," he said with a weak smile.
Aeula, still panting, smiled back. "I suppose not."
In that moment, both of them realized that the war could not be ended through strength alone. It would take more—sacrifice, trust, and unity. And while the path ahead was uncertain, they knew they would face it together.
In the aftermath of the battle, Zelphar and Aeula took shelter in a nearby cave, their bodies bruised and worn, but their spirits unbroken. The night was quiet now, but the events of the day lingered in the air like a thick fog. They both knew that this skirmish was only the beginning, and that there were many more challenges ahead.
As they sat in the cave, Zelphar looked at Aeula, his mind racing. He had never felt so torn. Part of him knew that he couldn’t just keep fighting, but another part was afraid of the unknown—afraid of trusting the elves completely.
"Aeula," he said quietly, his voice full of doubt. "What if we can’t convince either side? What if everything we’ve done here is for nothing?"
Aeula met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "Zelphar, I don’t know what will happen in the end. But I believe in what we’re doing. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future. And if we fail, at least we can say we tried."
Zelphar swallowed hard. Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that he hadn’t realized he needed to hear.
After a long pause, he spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I don’t want to lose you, Aeula. I can’t afford to lose you."
Aeula reached out and placed her hand on his. "You won’t lose me. We’re in this together, remember?"
Zelphar nodded, feeling the truth of her words settle in his chest. He had spent his life fighting for survival, never trusting anyone enough to believe that true strength came from unity. But with Aeula, he felt something he hadn’t felt before—hope.
The next few weeks were a blur of planning, scouting, and evading enemy patrols. Zelphar and Aeula knew that they were being hunted, and they couldn’t stay in one place for too long. They made their way from one hidden refuge to another, always one step ahead of those who sought to destroy them. The war raged on in the distance, but they had a different goal now—a goal that was far more dangerous.
They reached the heart of the elven kingdom in secret, hoping to gather support for their cause. The elves, still mourning their losses and grieving the war, were skeptical of their mission. Many saw the demons as nothing more than monsters, their hate for elves unending. Convincing them otherwise would be no easy task.
Aeula had to speak to her people, to her elders, the leaders of her land. She knew it would be difficult, but she also knew she could not let fear stop her.
Zelphar stayed in the shadows, watching as Aeula made her case. She spoke passionately about the possibility of peace, the shared suffering of both sides, and the need for a new beginning. But the council was divided, and the debates grew heated. Some argued for more force, more destruction. Others agreed with Aeula’s vision, but feared that a peace treaty would be impossible. The scars of the war were too deep.
In the end, it was the quiet, wise voice of an elder who spoke the words that would change everything. "We are not the children of hate," the elder said. "But we must first recognize that the demons are not the only ones to blame. We must look within ourselves. Only then can we begin the work of rebuilding what was broken."
Zelphar listened, feeling the weight of the elder’s words. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way forward.
But as the council broke up and the discussions continued, a shadow moved outside the hall—a dark figure watching from the trees. A messenger, cloaked in the black armor of the demon army, had arrived with a warning.
The war, it seemed, was far from over. And soon, they would find out just how high the cost of peace would be.
As Zelphar and Aeula left the council hall, the air outside felt colder, heavier. They knew that the warning from the demon messenger would only make things more complicated. The elves’ hopes for peace were fragile, and the demons’ threat loomed large.
"Do you think they’ll act on it?" Zelphar asked, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any signs of movement.
Aeula’s expression was serious. "They have no choice but to. The demons won’t stop. And if we want to have any hope of survival, we need to push for peace now before the war escalates further."
Zelphar nodded, but doubt still gnawed at him. He’d fought alongside demons and elves, seen the horrors of both sides. Could peace truly be achieved? Was it possible for two races so scarred by years of bloodshed to come together?
Their path led them deep into the forest, toward the hidden sanctuary where they’d arranged to meet with an emissary from the human kingdoms. The human kingdoms, once distant and uninvolved in the war, had begun to take notice of the growing conflict. They were preparing to join the battle, and the balance of power could shift at any moment.
"I hope this emissary is worth the risk," Zelphar muttered, his thoughts still racing. The journey had been long and perilous, but it was necessary if they were to rally the support they needed.
"She will be," Aeula replied, her voice firm. "She’s a strategist and knows how to work with all factions. We need her expertise if we’re going to win this war."
They approached the sanctuary, a hidden grove surrounded by thick trees and vines. At its center stood a large stone circle, where the emissary waited.
She was a human woman, clad in armor that bore the insignia of her kingdom. Her face was sharp, her gaze calculating, but there was something about her presence that radiated authority.
"You must be Zelphar and Aeula," she said, her voice even but strong. "I’ve been briefed on your mission."
Aeula stepped forward. "Thank you for meeting with us. We need your help to broker a peace, but we don’t have much time. The demons are preparing for something worse, and the elves are divided."
The emissary, whose name was Lyra, gave a slow nod. "I’ve heard rumors. The demons are planning an offensive, and it will hit both the elves and humans hard. But a peace treaty? It’s going to take more than just words."
Zelphar couldn’t hold back. "We know that. But it’s the only chance we have. We have to bring everyone to the table, or we’ll all be destroyed."
Lyra studied them for a moment before speaking again. "Alright. I’ll help. But I’ll need assurances. You both will have to negotiate with not just the elves and demons, but also the human leaders. If we don’t get them on our side, everything will fall apart."
Aeula and Zelphar exchanged a glance. This was a far more diffi