The way to hell was paved with good intentions.

Hubertus stood at the edge of a graveyard shrouded in mist, the faint glow of distant lanterns casting flickering shadows over the crooked headstones. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay, and an unnatural chill seeped into his bones. Why a graveyard, you might ask? Well, that’s a long story.

He had come here to meet someone. Someone dark and sinister.

Hubertus gulped, his hands flexing nervously. A thousand years of existence should have steeled him against fear, but this was different. He wasn’t human anymore, and his newly demonic nature seemed to make everything feel… sharper. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, but he knew that wasn’t an option.

The figure he was waiting for could bring him one step closer to unlocking the mysteries of his newfound powers—or drag him into a pit from which even he couldn’t climb out. A deal with the devil—or whatever passed for a devil in the Abyss—could spell doom or deliverance.

The iron gates creaked open, though no one was there to push them. The sound reverberated through the fog, sending a shiver down Hubertus’ spine.

“Courage, Hubertus,” he muttered to himself, stepping cautiously into the graveyard. “You’ve already eaten a snake that could kill a hundred men. What’s one little meeting with a demon?”

But the truth was, this wasn’t just any demon. This was someone—or something—that even Carl had warned him about.

And Carl didn’t warn people lightly.

Dark flames sprung up and a creature, half man, half elephant appeared.

Its horns white amber, a mixture of the wicked kind.

„So, you are the human turned demon, who wants to join the Order of Flames?“

Hubertus nodded. It was all part of the plan. „Yes, I have heard about you, and I think you know a thing or two about me?“

„Yes, I have, quite the deal you have got yourself. Three wishes for a serpent of eternity? Its a wonder you even survived. Cunning two demons, and turning yourself into one. You are queit the accomplished demon already. I see that you have the guts to join the order, and I will take it that your first job, will be to devour the flaming heart of amber.“

„The flaming heart of amber?“ Hubertus asked.

„Every Member of the Order comsumes one in order to join. It will, how should I say it, it will change you.“

Change? That doesn‘t sound assuring.

„Don‘t worry, it is nothing, serious“, the demon said, eyes gleaming with inspired terror.

„Okay“, Hubertus said. „I will do it. Where do I find this heart?“

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„Right here, in this graveyard. Go take a look.“

The demon motioned for Hubertus to look at a particular kind of grave. There it was, his name on it. Hubertus van Schnecken?!

This can‘t be. It was his own grave?

The demon was standing behind him, suddenly and without warning, a claw graped him from behind and, pulled out his heart.

Dark flames erupted in a circle, and from the inferno emerged a towering creature, half man, half elephant. Its leathery gray skin glistened like molten ash, and wicked white-amber horns twisted upward from its head, pulsing faintly with inner fire. Its crimson eyes fixed on Hubertus, unblinking and piercing.

“So, you are the human turned demon who wants to join the Order of Flames?” the creature rumbled, its voice deep and resonant, like an earthquake given speech.

Hubertus nodded, forcing himself to appear calm. It was all part of the plan. “Yes, I’ve heard about you,” he said, his voice steady. “And I imagine you know a thing or two about me?”

The creature snorted, its fiery breath illuminating the mist. “Indeed, I have. Quite the deal you struck, didn’t you? Three wishes for a Serpent of Eternity? It’s a wonder you even survived. Outsmarting not one but two demons, and turning yourself into one in the process. Cunning and reckless.” It leaned closer, its tusks gleaming menacingly. “You are quite the accomplished demon already, Hubertus van Schnecken. I can see you have the ambition—and the guts—to join the Order.”

Hubertus remained silent, but his mind raced. Compliments from a being like this felt more like a veiled threat than genuine praise.

“Your first task,” the demon continued, “will be to devour the Flaming Heart of Amber.”

“The Flaming Heart of Amber?” Hubertus echoed, his brows furrowing.

The creature’s trunk-like snout curled, and it let out a guttural chuckle. “Every member of the Order consumes one to prove their worth. It will… how should I say this…” It paused, its eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “It will change you.”

Hubertus felt a pang of unease. “Change?” he asked, his voice betraying his hesitation.

The demon’s grin widened, showing rows of jagged teeth. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s nothing… serious.” The gleam in its eyes suggested otherwise.

The knot in Hubertus’ stomach tightened, but he forced himself to nod. “Alright. I’ll do it. Where do I find this heart?”

The demon gestured lazily toward the graveyard behind him. “Right here. Go on. Look closely.”

Hubertus turned, his eyes scanning the eerie landscape of weathered gravestones and mist-shrouded mausoleums. At first, nothing stood out—just the same ominous stillness that had greeted him earlier. Then, his eyes caught a particular grave.

His breath hitched.

There it was—his name, carved in jagged, infernal script.

Hubertus van Schnecken.

“This… can’t be,” Hubertus whispered, staring at the grave. His pulse quickened, his unease deepening.

“Surprised?” the demon rumbled, appearing behind him without a sound. “You didn’t think you’d come this far without leaving something behind, did you?”

Before Hubertus could react, a clawed hand shot out from behind him, piercing through his chest.

The pain was blinding, white-hot and searing. Hubertus gasped, his knees buckling as the demon ripped something from his body—a glowing, pulsating orb. His heart, no longer human but demonic, burned like molten amber.

“Ah,” the demon murmured, holding the flaming heart aloft, its glow casting shadows that danced like firelight. “Here it is—the Flaming Heart of Amber. Your essence, transformed by the Abyss itself.”

Hubertus fell to his knees, clutching his chest, though there was no blood—only a gaping void where his heart had been. “You… ripped out my heart?!” he wheezed, struggling to breathe.

The demon laughed, the sound reverberating through the graveyard like rolling thunder. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You’re a demon now. You don’t need a heart… at least, not in the way mortals do.”

Hubertus tried to stand, his vision swimming. The demon leaned closer, its eyes boring into his.

“Consume it,” it commanded, holding the heart out to him.

Hubertus stared at the fiery orb, his mind reeling. Was this what he wanted? To become something more… or something far worse?