———Red———

I kneel to the pile of ash where Veryon once stood, reaching for the flash Udis had given me. As I fill it, I watch the rest of the pack turn and run into the cave.

I look back now see him standing there, watching them all flee.

"Who, what are you?" I ask as my eyes fixate on the crack in the earth. He pulls his blade from the ground.

"My name is Domnik, and you?" He walks closer.

"Red."

He nods. "What were you thinking going into a place like that?"

"I was given a task. I had to collect..."

The second I try to say it I feel a pain fire across my chest. I turn to look at the night sky and watch as a white light fills its void, sending ripples out in every direction.

Its rays touch my skin and my blood turns cold. I begin to shake as the light grows brighter and brighter. My breath is heavy and my chest begins to cramp now.

"What.. what is happening?!" I cry out to Domnik.

He looks to the sky in awe and horror. "Zenot..."

———Dominic———

Before I can finish, his face goes pale and he collapses to the ground. I run to his side and reach down check his pulse. His heart is racing.

I lift him from the ground and look back up to the sky, white waves emanating in every direction from the planet.

A shiver runs through me as I watch a creeping frost spread across Zenot's surface, an icy veil slowly swallowing the once tropical landscape. From here, I can see it—vast, jagged glaciers cracking the planet's crust, mountains and valleys consumed in freezing blue and white. Clouds of icy mist swirl, blanketing the atmosphere, and the fiery core that used to pulse like a beating heart dims beneath layers of frost.

My chest tightens as the planet's warmth dies out, the cold swallowing everything. It's like watching a living thing take its last breath. Zenot was never supposed to freeze over.

"What the hell happened?" I mutter to myself, though I know no answer will come.

I can almost hear the crackling of the ice even from here, the sound echoing across the void, as if Zenot itself is groaning in agony under the weight of its frozen curse. There's something unnatural about it, something dark. I tighten my grip on Red, the hairs on my neck rising. Whatever caused this, it won't stay on Zenot for long. Whatever caused this, could it be tied to Red?

I carry him for what feels like hours but we soon reach my tree house in the northern plains.

As I approach, the wind whips through the tall grass, the golden stalks bending and swaying under the cool breeze. My treehouse, emerges in the distance, its silhouette stark against the dim sky. Perched high in the sturdy arms of an ancient oak, it's more than just a refuge, it's the only place that still feels like mine.

The trunk of the tree rises tall and thick, its bark twisted and gnarled from centuries of weathering the elements. Vines snake up its sides, clinging to the wood like they've been there forever. The wooden planks of the treehouse itself look aged, but they hold firm, proof of the countless repairs I've made over the years. A narrow rope ladder dangles from one side, swaying gently in the breeze.

As I get closer, I notice the soft creaking of the branches, almost like a welcoming sound. The treehouse is small, just big enough to hold a bed, a few shelves, two chairs, a table and a small fireplace. It's not grand, but it's safe. The wood is worn and weathered, darkened by time but still solid, like a well-kept secret.

I can see the windows glinting faintly, reflecting the light cast by Zenot. The doorway is slightly ajar, a subtle reminder that this place is always waiting for me, unchanged, unmoving, while the world outside shifts and crumbles. I slow my steps as I near the base of the tree, feeling the familiar pull of calm that always comes over me when I reach this spot.

Above me, the branches stretch out, framing the sky. The leaves rustle softly, like whispers in the wind, their shadows dancing on the ground beneath me. As I place my hand on the rough bark of the tree, I feel a sense of peace. Here, in this quiet corner of the world, it's just me and the silence, and now Red, I suppose.

I place him on the bed and turn back to the door. I walk out to the balcony porch and sit in the single chair that sits outside, watching as the sun rises in the distance.

———Red———

My feet pound against the hard, uneven ground, but it doesn't make a sound. The world around me is dark, muted, like it's swallowed by shadows. No matter how fast I runs, the darkness clings to me, slowing my movements, like wading through water. My breaths are ragged, but my chest feels tight, too tight to take in enough air.

I hear her voice now.

"Red..." Alyse's voice drifts through the darkness,

fragile, trembling, as if it's coming from miles away. "Red... please... help me." Her words echo, faint but unmistakable.

My heart races even faster, but my legs feel heavier, like they're made of lead. I try to shout, to call out to her, but my throat closes up. The words don't come. My body feels disconnected, like I'm stuck in place.

"Alyse!" I manage to choke out, my voice raw. "Where are you?!"

The darkness swirls, shifting like smoke, and in the distance, I see her, barely a silhouette, but unmistakably Alyse. She's standing alone, her figure small and fragile, surrounded by shadows that stretch out like claws, creeping closer to her. Her face is pale, almost translucent, and her eyes are wide, filled with fear.

"Red... I need you..."

Her voice cracks with desperation, and she reaches out a trembling hand. But as she does, the shadows around her start to twist, wrapping around her wrists, her legs, pulling her down. Her lips part in a silent scream, and her body begins to sink into the ground, swallowed by the darkness.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I lunge forward, my muscles straining, trying to reach her. "No, Alyse! I'm coming!" The distance between us stretches impossibly far. My legs won't move fast enough.

The darkness tightens its grip on Alyse, pulling her deeper. "Red... don't leave me..." Her voice is barely a whisper now, fading into the gloom. "Please... save me."

My heart pounds painfully in my chest, each beat like a hammer. I stretch out my arm, fingertips just barely brushing the edge of her hand, but it's too late. Alyse is sinking faster, disappearing into the shadows.

"No! Alyse!" I scream, but the darkness swallows her whole, leaving me standing in the void, alone.

The ground beneath me gives way, and I feel himself falling, tumbling through the blackness, her voice still echoing faintly in my mind.

"Red... please..."

I open my eyes and jump to a sitting position as the sun's photons fall through the window.

"Good morning." Domnik walked into the room. "Bad dream?"

It was hard to tell in the moonlight what Domnik looked like, but now I can actually see his face. He's wearing a dark, close-fitting tunic with a leather chest plate that has seen its share of battle. The tunic is woven with intricate patterns, almost like veins of shadow running along the fabric, shifting subtly as he moves. His hair, jet-black and windswept, falls to his shoulders, framing a face that's sharp and severe, like it was sculpted from stone. His skin is pale, almost ghostly, with a faint, unnatural glow to it, as if he's not entirely of this world.

His eyes are what draw my attention, though. They burn with a golden light, intense and unyielding, filled with something ancient, something dangerous. His jaw is set, clenched, and he has fangs, sharp enough to catch the light, are visible when he speaks or tightens his lips in thought. He's not a vampire though, I see the way the light rests on his skin, the way he takes it in without hesitation. It doesn't really make sense, what he is exactly, I just know he's not human.

Every inch of him radiates power and darkness, but there's something about him that's restrained, like a beast chained just below the surface. He moves with the grace of a predator, every step deliberate and silent, as though he's always ready to strike. His presence is overwhelming, and I can't help but feel a mixture of unease and reluctant trust. It feels as though there is some sort of purity within him.

I glance around the room. "Where are we?"

"My tree house, but we can talk about everything later. Right now I want to know, what brought you all the way out here to vampire territory? You said something about a task?"

I touch my wound as it begins to throb. "A beast attacked my home, it kidnapped my sister. I am here looking for a way to find the beast and get her home."

He nods. "Sounds like my uncle."

I sit still and look at him with confusion. "You're uncle?"

He grabs a pot and places it over the fire place. "Yeah, my father is... was Zul Wrathrune. My uncle is Muthos and my other uncle is Udis."

I start to laugh. My voice filling the room. "Then why are you killing vampires? Don't tell me you are some rebellious teenage demon who has daddy issues."

He starts laughing sarcastically and then looks at me with a blank face. "Yeah, that's exactly it actually. I hate my family, I really do. My mother never visits, my father died in this war she started, my uncles are always at each other's throats. I don't know their game, but I want to help you get your sister back, just to piss them off."

My mind starts to wander. Why am I trusting a Daem? Just to piss off his family doesn't seem like a good enough excuse. What's your motive Wrathrune?

"What are you really getting out of this, why are helping me? You say it's to piss them off but, seems like there is something more."

He nods. "Muthos placed a bounty on my head. My plan was to hunt him down anyway. You need to save your sister from him. It's a win win. Why?"

"Just, still trying to figure out what your goal is here, for you kill your own kind, you must have other motives. Just not sure if I can trust another Daem."

"I don't like the Daem, they've plunged this realm into chaos. The murder of Chaos was only their first step, they are plotting something, and any excuse to fuck them over is a good enough excuse to me."

"Because of your mother? You said she never visits."

"She's obsessed over this war, so much so that she didn't even raise me when my father died."

"So mommy issues?"

He chuckles. "Whole family issues. What do you mean another Daem?"

"Udis came to me. He's the one who sent me after the vampires to get void ash or whatever it's called. He said it's a way into Muthos' realm."

"Yeah I wouldn't trust a damn thing that swine says. He probably only came to you just as a way of sending Muthos a message and just as a way of getting you killed. Then again, maybe he saw something in you."

I nod "So how do we find her, where do we even start?"

He sits down in a chair next to the fire and begins to poke it with a metal rod.

"We're going to have to kill Muthos."

———Domnik———

He laughs. "Are you serious? Me, killing a god? I'm a kid from Pinecrest. You, you are the son of a Daem. That's your world, your business."

I nod. "What, you thought we were just going to walk in there and ask nicely? I told you he has a bounty on my head. Besides, what you did back there with that blade. You proved yourself to me, maybe it wasn't the most impressive thing in the world but, the point here is that you held that blade in your hand Red. Mortals cannot do that."

He shakes his head. "What do you mean? What's so special about that blade?"

I stand up and walk to the weapon rack on the wall, pulling the DragonsBreath from its place and turn around holding it horizontally with the blade in my hand, and the hilt in the other.

"Red, this is an artifact of the gods. There are many of these scattered throughout the universe. They were created by the god known as Chaos."

He shakes his head. "Who is Chaos? I've never heard of that name before."

I put the blade back on the rack. "Chaos is one of his names. Most people know him as Chronos Magnus, Architect of the Universe. He died sixteen years ago, he was murdered."

He nod. "Right, I know that, he was betrayed by another god was he not?"

I nod. "One of his own, yeah. This blade is known as the DragonsBreath. It takes in what makes it stronger. It's the most powerful weapon ever crafted, it was used by Chaos to kill his brother while he was at his full power. As you said before, you are just an average man. But the fact you were able to hold the blade, let alone wield it in combat... I believe this is a sign Red."

———Red———

"Veyron called it The Darkblade, not DragonsBreath." I say. "Sorry I'm not trying to just breeze past everything else you just said, I mean the whole idea that I could kill a god is still fucking crazy, honestly I think you're crazy for even saying that, but I'm not so sure this blade is what you think it is."

"The Darkblade... are you sure?" His eyes squint at me and he looks like he's in shock almost.

"Um yeah? Wait, why are you looking at me like that?"

He swallows. "The Darkblade was a sword crafted by Iridian. No ones ever seen it, it was thought to be a myth. He planned to use it to defeat Chaos but, he lost it before he ever got the chance." He glances to the pot in the fireplace.

"Well I hope that didn't just kill your whole plan."

"It changes things for sure, my plan was to use this sword to kill my uncle Galagon, and my mother. It's still a powerful blade but, it's not the one. It still doesn't change anything about you though, you still held onto a weapon that was crafted by the gods, mortals would die if they touched it."

I look at my hands. "Well then what am I, a Daem, a god?"

He pulls the pot from the fire. "I'm not sure, in time I'm sure that answer will be revealed. Maybe it has something to do with why Muthos wanted your sister, or maybe he's just getting his rocks off by fucking with mortals again. Either way, I'd like to ask you to come with me, I know someone who might have answers but it won't end pretty. You willing to go on a journey to Malice?"

I stand up from the foot of the bed. "If it means getting Alyse back, yes."

"It won't be easy."

"Never said I thought it would be."

He nods as he places the pot on a table. "Okay then, but first, food."