My head was throbbing and my body was weak.

I had woken up on a lavish and luxurious white bed. My eyes scanned the surroundings and it looked like I was in an open hallway. There were high ceilings, paintings with golden trims on the walls, and immaculate furniture. Just about everything was gorgeous as I looked at the expensive furnishings around me. Then my eyes saw a grand door with light piercing through the windows that lined onto one side.

This open hallway was actually a gigantic room that looked fit for a king. 

I stumbled off the bed and noticed that my clothes had been changed. I was wearing a silky robe and pants with pattern weaves of golden thread. My shirt was gone and replaced by some bandage dressings as I felt some ache near my ribs. My equipment looked to be neatly placed on a counter next to the bed. My bare feet were cold on the tile as I wandered around the room.

Suddenly the grand door had opened and entered what looked like a young girl.

The girl was wearing a maid's outfit of black and white. Her long white hair covered half of her face and she seemed to have a blank expression. Golden eyes from her tanned brown face pierced up at me and she quietly closed the door behind her. The maid turned around afterward and gave me a slight curtsy.

"My Lord," The maid said. "You have awakened."

I walked towards her sparingly as my body felt stiff and weak. I tried to say something but my throat was dry and the words seem to not leave my mouth. The maid noticed my predicament and walked towards me with grace. She assisted me towards a sofa housed in the middle of the room with an arrangement of other chairs and a table. A glass cup and a pitcher of water were seated on a tray atop the table. The maid poured me a glass of water and offered it to me before stepping away slightly.

Quickly, I had drunk the glass of water and felt the nourishment I needed.

"Where…am I?" I asked. "Who are you?"

"My Lord," The maid said. "This servant is called Sabrina and you are in the Castle of the Marquis."

"Where is everyone? Where's Liz?"

"I believe your servants are training in the outer courtyard and I don't know who this Liz is my Lord."

I had forgotten that only I had called her Liz.

"Where is the Oracle?" I said.

"The Oracle had left our premises about some weeks ago," Sabrina said with a bow.

"What!? How long had I been asleep!?" I said.

"About a month and many days, my Lord," Sabrina said.

I slumped back into the sofa I was sitting on.

Just where did Liz go? Why did she leave me here? Thoughts were racing through my mind as well as the pain of some fatigue. How could I have been asleep for so long? I looked down at my finger and see the dull color of the black ring. Every time I had used the ring I had gotten some indescribable pain for some moments of its use. After my pact with a devil, it was taking time off my life to recover.

Frustration mounted for me as I covered my face with my hands.

I slid my hands down and looked back at the maid who didn't say anything else. Sabrina kept still as she looked to be prim and proper about her work. I noticed the small white horns that were on the sides of the headband nestled on top of her head. So there were even Demons that worked as maids here? I really didn't know much about the lives of Demons.

"Excuse me, my Lord," Sabrina said.

"What is it?" I said.

"Now that you are awake," Sabrina said. "The Marquis would like to see you."

Then I had remembered that I had come to this place to speak to the Marquis.

"I guess that's fine Sabrina," I said. "My body is a little weak but I came here to talk to him after all."

"Then it'll be for tonight my Lord," Sabrina said. "I will inform the Marquis."

"Wait," I said. "What do I do in the meantime?"

"I'm sorry my Lord, it's not my position for one lowly as myself to decide," Sabrina said.

Sabrina gave me a bow and left the room.

I was going to see the Marquis later but I had nothing to do right now. I stood up and looked at what I was wearing again. Quickly, I changed back into my old attire and felt more comfortable with a cloak around my back. My sword was still with my equipment so I could guess that they didn't find me dangerous. I was only here because Liz asked me to talk to the Marquis.

I don't really know what the Marquis wants and I didn't see myself as a leader to Demons.

How could I really be a leader? I had failed my own leader and my companions. I could only fathom how heavy my sins weighed. Yet these Demons who I sought to destroy, came to find me and waited for my guidance. Why was I chosen as the Demon Lord?

I shook my head and left the room I was held in.

Outside the room was a long corridor with a row of windows to one side. Looking outside as I walked I could see snow falling down. A city was neatly arranged downhill from the castle. It looked like the Eastern design that Liz had talked about and I felt in awe of its architecture. The city was silent and beautiful from up above in the castle.

After a moment's hesitation, I walked down the corridor and only met more servants in my way. I had used to run and hide inside upper establishments such as this but now it was different. I was no longer creeping through the castle but walking calmly through it. The Demon servants made way for me and often greeted me with the utmost respect. I didn't think that Demons would bow to a human even if I was the Demon Lord.  

The castle of the Marquis was very large and one could be lost for hours in its hallways.

It was indeed amazing how a Demon with such a lowly noble rank could have such a castle. The Marquis is not a Duke and is far from royalty. But the Marquis in the Demon territory seems to have the status of a human Duke. With so many servants and even a city nearby that is most likely governed by the Marquis.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

When I had enough of walking, I asked a nearby servant to guide me to the outer courtyard.

With a series of twists and turns, I had finally come to the outer courtyard. I thanked the servant who gave me a bow and left. I saw many Demon soldiers practicing their weapons and craft. Some created mock battles while others drilled in sections. I was glad that most of them had survived the previous battle. In the center of them all, a Demon was shouting out commands and I recognized Petra's voice. It looked like some of the Marquis' men were integrated with the group.

The Demons looked like an army preparing for war.

"To serve your lord! Offer up your bodies! How disgraceful that his lordship had to take matters into his own hands! Don't you as soldiers feel any disgrace!?"

"Yes!"

"Then battle! Then learn! Then improve!"

"Yes!"

"For the future of the Demons!"

"Yes!"

"For our Lord Demitri!"

"Yes!"

I walked towards the center of the courtyard to see Petra.

The soldiers had conducted themselves in a frenzy of training. Most of them didn't notice me at all as I walked through. Perhaps, it was my own unique skill of being able to blend into most crowds. Yet I felt satisfied that I was still able to lose the sight of others even if they knew who I was. I went to Petra and looked at the soldiers she was overseeing.

The soldiers had immediately recognized me and knelt down to the ground.

"What are you idiots doing?" Petra said.

"I'm sorry," I said. "It's probably my fault."

Petra turned around and was shocked to see me.

"My Lord!" Petra shouted. "You've awakened!"

Soon all the Demons in the courtyard began to kneel and even Petra herself prostrated before me.

"Stand up everyone," I said. "It's alright."

I hadn't gotten used to the treatment that the Demons were giving me at all.

"See! Our Leader returns! Together he will lead us through the war!" Petra shouted.

"War!?" I said.

These Demons wanted to wage war? No, I don't want any part of that. The Demons quickly returned to their routines but now with much fervor. I could tell that my appearance had increased their resolve and stamina.  I waited for Petra who still kept her posture below me. I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the courtyard. Petra seemed dazed and confused by my actions.

"My lord!!?" Petra said.

"It's alright Petra," I said. "I just wanted to speak to you privately."

Petra stood up but kept her eyes down to prevent making direct eye contact with me.

"What's going on!?" I said. "You want war?"

"No, my Lord," Petra said. "But we will triumph against all those who oppose us!"

I only sighed, speaking to her wasn't a good action.

"Where did Liz go?" I asked.

"To secure some alliances I was told," Petra answered.

"What? Must we go to war!?" I said.

Petra looked up at me blankly when she heard my words.

"Yes," Petra said.

So it might seem that I was right all along about these Demons. I knew Demons were powerful but I didn't see the aggression from them before. I had once bought into the human's myths created for Demons. Until I saw everything in a new light and I hoped for a change. Do Demons not care about their lives or the lives of their loved ones?

I was vexed at what I should do.

"Are all Demons so bloodthirsty?" I said.

"No, my Lord."

"Then why must we fight in a war?"

"To protect ourselves," Petra said.

"To declare war to protect ourselves!? This is not what Demons should be doing."

"We didn't declare war," Petra said. "So we have no recourse."

"Wait," I said. "What do you mean?"

"The Western and Eastern Kingdoms have unified under the leadership of Queen Helen," Petra said. "Then right after, they declared war to the Demon territory."

This had become too ridiculous, I had been asleep for far too long. Is Helen now Queen? The Western and Eastern kingdoms have united? I never thought humans would be so bold to declare war and enter Demon territory. How wrong I was but it was very peculiar as to the circumstances.

"Why would they do such a thing and cause more needless deaths?" I said.

"They have a trump card," Petra said.

"What?" I said.

"There were reports coming in," Petra said. "Something that has led to this brazen act by humanity."

I shook my head and grabbed Petra by the shoulders.

"What happened!?" I said. "Just tell me!"

Petra cast her eyes downward again and then moved back to me.

"He's returned," Petra said.  "Multiple reports and some people even confirmed it was him."

Petra looked to be gathering her courage.

"Who?" I said. "Just tell me."

"The Hero of the Veil…he's come back," Petra said.

"What? You're joking right?"

Petra kept her composure as she stared at me and shook her head.

"What!? No….no….no," I said.

Was this true?

I slumped down to the ground and felt paralyzed. My life on the run and everything I did after killing the Hero was for nothing. Was I being punished by fate and destiny again? I was certain that I had killed the Hero  and I don't think Petra would've lied to me. 

Heavy emotions emerged within me as I fought them with my mind.

The Hero of the Veil.

My friend.

My leader.

The Hero Gabriel had returned…back from the dead?