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The Demon Empress
Chapter 9 - The Gaunt King

Chapter 9 - The Gaunt King

Chapter 9

As the chariot came to a stop in front of the grand palace, Avnas couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. She had never been in the presence of such opulence and grandeur before. Antherion, the virtual world she used to play in, had its share of lavish castles and palaces. Still, they were nothing compared to the real-life counterpart she was now witnessing. Perhaps because Avnas was in person and not “sensing it” or “watching it” while wearing a VR headset. But the palace Avnas was watching was massive, with intricate details etched into every inch of its surface. The sun’s rays bounced off the palace’s glistening façade, creating a dazzling display of light. Avnas felt as though she were staring at a work of art rather than a building.

However, while everything was captivating, Avnas couldn’t help but feel as if something was odd with the building itself. A low hum, a whisper she couldn’t hear properly as if someone were speaking but was so far away from her that only an echo could be distinguished. It was the same feeling Avnas got with that strange red obelisk she saw on the way to New Altes.

The one that Lynas, Elian, and Alex seemed to ignore or not see at all, and Avnas did mention such a structure since she needed clarification on what it was and why it was there in all places. But they only replied with. “What are you talking about? There is no obelisk here.”

And it made Avnas wonder if she was losing her mind. Since the structure seemed visible only to her, and adding those whispers and murmurs, she began to hear. The thought of her going mad, however, wasn’t reassuring in the slightest to Avnas.

We aren’t going crazy, are we? Avnas spoke to herself, hoping that it wasn’t the case. Thankfully, Lynas’s voice helped Avnas focus beyond her lack of self-awareness.

“Here we are, and by the looks of it, they just heard we were coming,” Lynas commented as she observed the maids and servants rushing towards the chariot, getting into formation to welcome the distinguished guests but to Lynas and everyone inside the chariot, it seemed like the palace workers had just been informed of the arrival of some important people.

“It’s been a while since we left Riverfork, and only now do they look ready to receive us,” Alex added, feeling that something was clearly off in this strange place. “Odd, truly odd.”

“Master Avnas, what should we do if things turn sour?” Elian whispered as she suspiciously looked out the window. “Should I prepare an escape route?!” Elian looked at Avnas with a serious face, her mind running with dozens of different outcomes for what could happen. Still, the white-haired woman only leaned back, thinking deeply about Elian’s words.

Avnas was clueless about what she could do if things took a turn for the worse, as Elian had warned. She hoped that nothing would force her to take action that would result in harming others, as that was the last thing she wanted to do. Avnas only wanted information and knowledge that would help her navigate this world that was so alien to her and nothing more. But if she were attacked or tried to be taken advantage of, Avnas would not allow it. Not anymore.

If they attack, kill them, remove them, erase them. We don’t need to ask for forgiveness when there is none to give.

Avnas found herself focusing on the idea that she had to do whatever it took to survive. Was this an inherently evil thing? To protect oneself at all costs? Avnas didn’t think so, but sometimes, the lines between right and wrong could become blurred if not careful.

“Let’s see what happens first. We don’t know what is happening,” Avnas said, deciding to simply force down that extreme line of thought for now.

After a short while, the door of the chariot opened, and the driver appeared outside, quite out of breath and anxious. He extended his hand to help Avnas out of the carriage, yet the white-haired woman just sat there looking at him. The gesture initially confused Avnas, but then she remembered reading and watching such etiquette in movies or novels. So, awkwardly, Avnas took the man’s hand and stood out of the chariot. Her presence was clearly a shock because all the servants and maids simply gasped at her. In their eyes, someone like Avnas couldn’t be real. Again, Avnas had no idea how attractive she was to ordinary people. But then again, it was hard to say if that was because of how she made her character or her unique race traits and skills.

Nevertheless, Avnas found the stares to be uncomfortable, to say the least.

“My lady Avnas, welcome! Welcome!”

Avnas noticed a well-dressed gentleman rapidly making his way towards her. From his attire, it was clear to her that he was not a servant or a butler. The fabric of his clothing was of high quality, and the way it fit his frame suggested that he was no stranger to custom tailoring. As he drew closer, she couldn’t help but notice the smug expression on his face. It reminded her of the countless self-centred imbeciles she had encountered during her time in the corporate world. Their arrogance and sense of superiority were all too familiar to her. But it also made her remember nasty memories that had her gagging and shivering.

“Welcome to the Summer Palace, the seat of the Wilhem royal family! My name is Irwin Vilyn, your host of today,” Irwin bowed deeply, watching Avnas and her group intensely. It seemed that he wasn’t expecting the other three there, but he looked unconcerned and quickly smiled back. “I do hope the travel wasn’t that troublesome, my lady.”

Irwin knew the power of a gentle tone and how to sugarcoat his words to make them more effective. But Avnas has heard that tone of voice before.

“It was not troublesome,” Avnas replied quickly. “But it was surprising that they gave us horses instead of using aerocrucibles to take us there faster. I thought the king wanted to see me as soon as possible.”

Avnas’s words touched a nerve as Irwin’s smile twitched slightly. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting to hear her say that now. But what did he expect to happen? For her to ignore the clearly suspicious nature of the entire thing? That would be pretty stupid. Yet, to give the benefit of the doubt, Irwin also looked quite troubled by her being called there at all.

Irwin could only sigh deeply. “I apologise for such a strange request, my lady. But we have little time to prepare aerocrucibles for you and your companions, especially with what happened at Riverfork.”

Irwin, again, bowed deeply to them, particularly to Avnas. “Normally, our aerocrucibles would be ready to transport a highly decorated guest. But during troublesome times, they are directed towards the defence of the kingdom’s borders. Please accept our sincere apologies.”

Avnas glanced at her side, where she could see Alex frowning deeply at such a statement. “Is that true, Alex?” She asked him, hoping his life as a noble would make some sense of Irwin’s comment.

“It could be,” Alex replied, but there was still a sort of “if” left unsaid. “It does take time—”

“Please, please!” Irwin interrupted quickly, which annoyed Alex. “Whatever worries and doubts you had could be answered later. The king is waiting for you, my lady. Please follow me.”

Irwin’s desperation to take Avnas to the monarchy of New Altes did not go unnoticed by the group. The group couldn’t help but give Avnas a weird glance, but she simply nodded at them. Avnas had to admit that all the secrecy, the disingenuous comments, and the schemes behind her back irritated her.

We are doing this for the knowledge and information they can give us. That’s all. Avnas hissed mentally before taking a big breath. “Let’s see what the king wishes of me,” Avnas mumbled in annoyance, and the group noticed a sudden spark of anger in her golden eyes.

“Maybe the escape route would not be a bad idea, Elian,” Lynas whispered before they followed Irwin inside the palace.

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The group would have been astonished to see the inside of such an old palace if they hadn’t been on guard and were cautious about their reason for being there. The halls that lead to the throne room were covered in old paintings of the Wilhem family’s past members, which Avnas took notice of quickly.

This is a very extensive family line. How many hundreds of years have they been rulers of this kingdom? Avnas pondered before reaching the entrance of the throne room. There, Irwin took a deep breath before opening the large doors, and soon enough, Avnas was met with a scene she was not expecting. The throne hall was a grandiose space, vast enough to accommodate a considerable number of people. The hall exuded opulence and was adorned with ornate decorations, including intricate carvings, glistening chandeliers, and a polished marble floor that reflected the light from the enormous windows. The opulence of the hall was a testament to the wealth and power of the royal family. However, everything was abandoned, and if one were to look carefully, even if the light was reflecting on the floor, one would see dust covering every corner of the hall.

It was as if the place hadn’t seen the light of day in years. The only reason it looked presentable was because maids and other servants were hurriedly cleaning it all.

“Well shit, it’s true that they haven’t used this hall for parties in years,” Lynas muttered under her breath, struggling to breathe due to the enormous amount of dust being stirred up by the servants.

“Clearly,” Alex said as he covered his mouth and inspected the surrounding hall.

“There are spiderwebs in the ceiling, and the smell—it’s like something old and rusty,” Elian added softly.

“Where is the king?” Avnas stood in front of the grand throne, her eyes fixed on the empty seat before her. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over her, and she felt as though someone was watching her every move. With a quick turn, Avnas peered behind the thick, velvet curtains that adorned the throne. As she suspected, there was someone hiding there, mischievously observing her.

Avnas frowned deeply, almost deciding to seek out who was watching her in such a manner. However, the more she stared at those hazel eyes, the more they looked childlike. Confused, Avnas decided to simply glare back, using her dark aura to scare that individual, whoever it was. When she did, a slight, scary squeal was heard.

A child? Avnas thought, lowering the intensity of her glare.

Irwin’s awkward coughing caught the attention of Avnas and the rest. “May I present you, King Aferalth Wilhem, ruler of the Kingdom of Aplacia,” Irwin bowed deeply as the monarch entered through the private door. Clearly, the king’s presence weighed heavily on every servant in the throne room, as every step was met with silence.

For her part, Avnas had anticipated meeting a king shrouded in mystery and secrecy. She had imagined him to be a mischievous and untrustworthy ruler. However, the sight that greeted her eyes was not what she had expected. King Aferalth was not an old man, at least not from what she could tell. Though it was difficult to discern his exact age, she guessed him to be in his late forties. But what caught her attention more than his age was his appearance. The king looked battered and worn as if he had been through a lot of physical and emotional turmoil. His countenance was marked by deep lines and wrinkles, and his tired eyes seemed to hold a lifetime of pain and suffering. His neglected hair and beard just proved the shell of a man he was.

Slowly, the king made his way to the throne. For a moment, he stopped and stood there, staring at the ludicrous chair. Then he mumbled something before sitting down. King Aferalth seemed uncomfortable on his own throne, even inadequate. But he pulled through before glancing at the group before him. He wasn’t even bothered that they weren’t kneeling to him.

“Good afternoon to all of you. My apologies for arriving late. It wasn’t my intention,” King Aferalth commented. His voice was almost a whisper. Soft and weak, barely an ounce of strength behind each word. “When I heard what happened at Rivefork, it devastated me. I couldn’t believe that a group of demons would dare to infiltrate so far on the continent and butcher a town.”

As King Aferalth’s gaze landed on Avnas, his dark brown eyes appeared to scan and examine Avnas’s golden eyes with a sense of curiosity. There was no hint of accusation or distrust in his expression but rather a genuine interest in Avnas’s abilities or something else. Still, Avnas couldn’t see malice in his eyes, which surprised her.

“But to hear also that it could’ve been worse if it wasn’t for you, my lady Avnas, I can’t thank you enough,” King Aferalth stood up, strolling towards Avnas before bowing to her and kissing her hand, an action that startled the white-haired woman. “In the name of the Wilhem family, in the name of the king, let me thank you for what you have done.”

Avnas was taken aback when the king made that sudden gesture. Still, the reactions of those around her indicated that it was a significant moment. The gasps that echoed throughout the throne hall suggested that the gesture held great importance, far beyond what Avnas had initially thought.

“I’ve failed as a monarch for far too long. This has been a wake-up call for me,” the king stated, his voice suddenly having that old spark that only those close to him would have recognised. His dark brown hair, while with white hairs, seemed to have gained some colour back with those words. “If there is something you wish, allow us to serve you. Please, you’re my honoured guest. Have you eaten? Have you taken a bath? I beg of you, my house is your house.”

Avnas couldn’t see any ulterior motives in the king’s eyes. She was now even more confused. Maybe the king was an incredible actor and was doing an incredible job of fooling her. Or perhaps everything that has happened until now was simply all in her mind. She doubted, but the thought lingers.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“If I could get a map, or access to a library, it would be much appreciated,” Avnas said, and the king looked surprised by such an odd request, but nodded regardless.

“As you wish, my lady. Our library is yours to use, at your will. Is there something else you wish?” The king asked.

“I wouldn’t mind taking a bath,” Lynas mumbled in the back. “Or eat something.”

“Yeah, I can’t deny that would be nice,” Alex added, and it was something that Elian agreed with him.

Avnas had to agree with the statements of her companions. Not that she was tired. In fact, now that she has thought about it. It has been quite some time since she arrived in this world. And she had yet to fall asleep or eat anything.

We are not hungry, nor do we feel sleepy. Uh, very interesting. Avnas thought, wondering if that was a good thing or not. Nevertheless, she still wanted to take a bath and eat something.

“If that’s not a problem, I believe my companions and I would benefit from some rest and warm food,” Avnas commented, making the king smile gently at her.

“Of course,” he replied. “Please, as long as you’re under my roof, all your needs will be catered to. That’s the least I can do to show appreciation for what you have done.”

After the king’s command, the servants hastily escorted the group towards the grand dinner hall, where a lavish feast awaited them. As they were leaving the hall room, Avnas caught a glimpse of a young child who appeared to be around eleven years old. The child had a charming appearance—pale blond hair that shone brightly under the light and a pair of beautiful hazel eyes that sparkled with innocence. The child was petite and fragile, with delicate features, and had a pair of full, rosy lips that gave them an adorable look.

Still, the girl hid behind the curtain again. She stared at the group suspiciously before squealing once as Avnas locked on her. Then, the girl fled. Avnas hoped not to cause the girl nightmares.

Hopefully not. Avnas thought as she walked away.

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Lynas let out a deep sigh of relief as she sank onto the soft mattress of her bed, still basking in the afterglow of her long-awaited bath. After weeks of relying on murky rivers and dingy tavern bathrooms to cleanse herself, the feeling of warm water cascading over her skin had been nothing short of exquisite. Lynas leaned back against the pillows, wearing only a towel around her body. She glanced over and saw Elian, too, with the same relief on her face.

“It seems that I was not the only one who enjoyed a proper bath,” Lynas said, smirking. “You took your time!”

“Yeah, taverns don’t offer the best facilities for one's cleaning,” Elian commented as she stared at the mirror before her. “It was almost like going back home.”

“Ugh, don’t tell me you are a noble like Alex! I bet he is taking his sweet time cleaning his ass in that shower of his or styling his annoying perfect hair,” Lynas drawled, and now Elian looked back at her with an insulted look on her face.

“Like an Imperial Noble?! Never!” Elian replied with a gasp. “The Aquilae family is only a merchant family. A well-respected merchant family of Liberia City.”

“Uh, so you’re not a noble, just filthy rich?” Lynas stated, slowly smirking as Elian simply blushed.

“A little,” Elian mumbled, embarrassed. “We are just the third wealthiest family in Liberia Free State. Or the second one, I don’t remember—Mmph!“

“Piss off!” Lynas laughed as she threw a pillow at Elian’s face. “Only the third wealthiest family? Pff! Poor you!”

“We are a big family!” Elian exclaimed, her face red in embarrassment. “Like vastly big!”

“Oh, how many castles does your family have? Three?” Lynas teased, but Elian couldn’t see the joking tone in Lynas’s voice.

“We have eight all over the free state and two palaces, but those are from my grandfather—Oh, I forgot to count the Gran Citadel in Little Red Stone,” Elian replied worriedly. Now Lynas just stood there, looking quite shocked.

“Only eight?! Only eight?!” Lynas replied, shocked. “And the Grand Citadel belongs to your family?!”

“Well, it belongs to the Merchant Guild.”

“And who is in control of the merchant guild?” Lynas asked, and now Elian began to stutter.

“Uh, well, you know, there is an association between the Aquilae family and the guild—Mmph!” Elian was silent again when another pillow hit her face.

“Piss off!” Lynas burst into laughter, relishing the sight of Elian’s flushed face, which clearly showed her embarrassment.

While Lynas playfully teased Elian's rich upbringing, Avnas was taking her time inside the restroom to wash away all her worries. The sound of running water filled the room as Avnas carefully lathered soap on her skin, feeling the warm droplets slide down her back. Her eyes were closed, and she focused on the sensation of the water, letting her thoughts drift away. But of course, Avnas could hear Lynas’s laughter echoing from the other room.

“Does my lady wish for me to take care of her needs~?”

“What needs?”

Avnas shook her head as she heard Lynas’s cackling and Elian’s squeals of embarrassment.

“They surely are loud,” Avnas whispered, but did so with a smile on her face. “Very loud.”

Avnas stood under the flowing water, relishing the tranquillity of her private sanctuary. The shower provided a brief respite from the chaos outside, and she savoured every moment of it. However, despite the temporary reprieve, there were unresolved issues that she was grappling with. Avnas had tried to push them out of her mind, but they continued to gnaw at her subconscious, refusing to be ignored.

Avnas let out a deep, contented sigh as she stepped out of the warm, steamy shower. She still found it remarkable that such luxuries were available here. The droplets of water still clung to her skin as she stood in front of one of the mirrors, admiring her reflection. She reached up and used her hand to clear away the condensation, revealing her own image once more.

“This is me, eh?” Avnas commented, watching her naked body. “They are definitely bigger.”

Ever since arriving in this world, Avnas had little time to honestly sit down and think about the fact that she was here, in another world, in her avatar body. It felt oddly surreal.

“Would my body still be somewhere? Or is it rotting away in my apartment?” Avnas traced her curves softly as she spoke in a whisper. For her, at least, it became clear that her body was a sexual being in its own right. Avnas took her time creating it—a lot of time, if she was honest. She wanted to create the perfect being. A beautiful, strong, and otherworldly being that would not have a rival.

Everyone would do that, especially in a game. Anyone would wish to be someone else but themselves if given the chance. That’s something Avnas could swear on. But she was still Elaine, too, even after taking the name of Avnas and refusing to call herself by that human name in a desperate move to erase that past. However, there was no way to simply forget and move on so quickly.

And it came rushing back when Avnas looked at her naked body. She felt disgusted, dirty, and unsure. Avnas quickly hid it behind a towel. Hissing like a snake, she pushed away those memories of the abuse she endured in the office and of all the things they forced her to do in order to simply survive.

We are not that! Stop it! This is a new body! Not dirty, not used, only for us! Avnas’s voice sounded loud and furious, but she had no idea if it was her own thoughts. Her nails and teeth were growing, and her human disguise was on the verge of breaking down. However, she was able to calm herself down before that happened.

“I can’t think of that. It’s not helping me at all,” Avnas sighed one more time. She shook her head and focused on what was at hand. But before leaving the bathroom, she got the courage to look in the mirror again. This time, she looked confused at something in particular. “Uh, so it’s not only my breasts that are big. Is this what people would like? Did I make her like this? I don’t quite remember.”

Avnas mumbled before simply ignoring it.

Avnas exited the bathroom, and could not help but smile at the way Lynas snickered at Elian’s red face. But soon, both of them glanced at her, stunned and even quite flabbergasted.

“By Milzaras’s tits!” Lynas stuttered, feeling quite taken aback by Avnas’s unnatural beauty and allure. “You’re beautiful!”

In her long life, Lynas has seen her share of stunning women from many races. Yet, the white-haired woman, however, possessed an undeniable charm that was hard to ignore. It seemed almost mystical, as if Avnas was sculpted by gods from the ancient world to be flawless and aesthetically tempting.

She is more alluring than the most gorgeous succubus I’ve seen! Lynas thought, wondering why she felt flustered by Avnas’s body.

Elian, for her part, had a more innocent approach as she looked at Avnas with awe. “You’re stunning, master!”

Avnas was somewhat taken aback by the stares. She has never been one to feel beautiful or get used to being called like that at all. But it was Elian’s words and expression that took the worries away. There was an odd feeling of pure naivety coming out of Elian that made Avnas simply relax.

Truthfully, that was the case since Elian’s words were not coming from lust or desire but simply the joy of watching someone attractive, an odd way to explain what Elian felt towards people.

“Thank you, both of you,” Avnas replied before coughing awkwardly. She was now noticing the three of them were all just wearing towels and no more. And again, she was uncomfortable with the lack of clothes. But that also allowed her to see that both Lynas and Elian’s bodies were quite toned out. Those two were fit in every sense of the word. With obvious surprise in her voice, Avnas remarked, “I didn’t know you had that many muscles, Elian.”

Elian tilted her head, a bit confused by the statement. But she looked at her exposed arms and shoulders. “Well, if I wish to be able to use my skills, my body needs to be strong enough to withstand the drawbacks of overusing Mana.”

“Overuse Mana?” Avnas questioned. “I thought you didn’t use magic.”

“We use Mana to enhance our physical abilities,” Lynas mentioned before stripping her body naked for some reason. Avnas closed her eyes, not wanting to see someone naked, and Elian simply stared at Lynas’s nakedness with confusion.

“Look, Lady Avnas,” Lynas said, making the white-haired woman stare at her body. And it was then that Avnas noticed that the green-haired half-elf was indeed incredibly muscular. “Our muscles need to be strong enough to handle the skill. If I have to explain it in a very basic way, Magic casters train by casting spells in order to make their Mana veins thicker. The bigger those veins are, the more spells they can cast, and the more power those spells will be.”

Lynas then focused and whispered. “[Arms-Strength]” Then, Avnas saw how Lynas’s arms became tense. Those biceps even grew in size. But the veins of Mana became apparent to the naked eye. “But we non-Magic users have to work on building up the thickness of our Mana’s veins through physical exertion. And we have to get our muscles used to working with the influx of Mana in them.”

“Is it painful?” Avnas asked, watching Elian as if the blue-haired girl seemed to recall the first years of her training.

“At first, it is,” Elian added. “In order to train one’s Mana veins, the first several years of training are extremely difficult. I remember when I learned my first set of skills. For three days, I had high fever and felt like my muscles were screaming with anguish.”

“Yeah, me too,” Lynas mumbled as she sat on the bed, breathing deeply as her muscles returned to normal. “It must be good to not be a human. They have the hardest time training their Mana’s veins. Well, not all.”

Lynas said this while observing Avnas’s reaction. They all understood that Avnas wasn’t a human, but they were still unaware of what she was.

“But you’re human, half-human,” Elian commented, feeling slightly insulted and hurt by Lynas’s words.

“Oh! I am not saying it like that!” Lynas quickly replied. “I loved my human father. The man was fantastic, and I am not ashamed of my human half! What I mean is that using Mana is more challenging for humans. Even I had some troubles along the way, and I am only half.”

“Other races had it better then? When it comes to Mana and Magic, I mean,” Avnas commented, taking mental notes about what she was hearing.

Elian responded, “Yes, almost all other races. It's also the reason why not all humans use magic or Mana due to their inherent limitations. It just takes too much time, dedication and pain to reach a decent level.”

We have to find a library. After this party, we have to make sure to learn all we can.

Avnas nodded to herself, still feeling lost and overwhelmed in this new world. But also wondered how it could be that humans, who were supposed to be the weakest race, were also the most prominent race in the world. It has to be because of something.

“Still, humans are resourceful,” Lynas added with a sigh. “They always find ways to innovate. Ever since the rise of the Angram Empire, the first human nation two thousand years ago, they have always had to move forward. Finding ways to do things without depending on magic.”

“It seems you know quite a lot of history, Lynas,” Avnas noted as Lynas only hummed in reply.

“Well, I am not a historian. But I am 93 years old,” Lynas commented, her voice suddenly sounding like a murmur. “And I will live for a few hundred years more. And I can’t help but wonder how different the world would be then.”

Avnas now wondered just how far humanity has come since the birth of their first nation. We are going to find out soon enough. Avnas thought before giving Lynas one last glance.

“Could you, uh, maybe put some clothes on? And close your legs?” Avnas asked, a bit bashful.

“Oh, sorry, so unladylike of me!” Lynas giggled.

“I also would like to have my armour back,” Elian added. “The servants and maids told us that they were preparing clothes for us for the party.”

“Clothes for us?” Avnas asked, looking perplexed.

“It’s a party, with nobles and all that shite,” Lynas stated, still showing her bits without shame as Avnas simply sighed and closed her eyes. “But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m excited to look cute! Maybe I can attract a nobleman and show him all my experience~!” Lynas smirked widely.

“Show him your experience in what, exactly?” Elian asked, confused.

“Eh, you know, experience in the—well, forget it.”

Avnas simply shook her head, trying to ignore Lynas’s statement. But her mind was still focused on what she wanted to do and was merely learning more about the world. However, while her mind was still thinking about that, Avnas felt as if there was something going on in New Altes. The voice she heard when entering the palace, the obelisk that only she could see—the gaunt king—and how everyone seemed so desperate to have her there.

Hopefully, they will not anger us. They better be careful. Or we—we? Where did the “we” come from? I, I—It’s only me!

Avnas lost herself in thought, arguing with the voices inside her head. She didn’t know that her eyes were undergoing a strange transformation. The pupils were shifting and twisting, taking on shapes she had never seen before. Unbeknownst to her, a fierce battle was about to commence—a race against time, a fight within herself, against herself. But would the outcome of this battle be in her favour?

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Irwin Vilyn, one of the trusted advisors of the royal family, was descending a winding staircase that led to the deepest dungeons of the palace. The walls were damp, and the air was musty, as if the place had been abandoned for centuries. The only source of light was a small crystal lantern that Irwin held tightly in his hand, casting a dim glow on the path ahead of him. As he hurried through the old tunnels, his footsteps echoed loudly in the eerie silence of the underground.

Irwin looked exhausted, taking big breaths. Soon, he arrived at his destination—a dark, empty hall far bigger than one would think possible, especially so far below the city. This place had ancient scriptures on the walls, depicting a story lost to time. But Irwin wasn’t there to learn about history—not at all.

“I have done what you told me to do,” Irwin whispered. “She is here.”

Irwin’s gaze was fixed on a dark figure that stood motionless, observing an obelisk that emanated an eerie green light. The shadowy figure seemed to be transfixed as it stood there, captivated by the pulsating radiance of the obelisk before it.

“Good, good,” the dark figure replied. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. I am still surprised that those demons attacked so quickly. They must be desperate.”

“You expected them to do something like that?” Irwin questioned.

“Yes, they’re dying. Their race itself is fading away, and the Demon King knows it. His father, the previous Demon King, knew it as well. But let his own madness and paranoia ruin any chance of survival. Now, this new Demon King knows that if he fails, his race will fall with him.”

The mysterious man touched the obelisk and looked incredibly intrigued by it. “Green for the path they walked. Blue for the door they created, and red for the key they left behind. I’ve seen the path! I found the door! But the key eludes me.”

Irwin looked troubled at the man's words. “What is the plan now?”

“Wait and see if this woman, if this person, is an Ellbarien. An Outlander.”

“Outlander?” Irwin asked. “What is that?”

The man shook his head. “There is nothing you should worry about. Just make sure she remains here.”

Irwin looked annoyed but nodded. “And about her companions?”

“They are of no use. Kill them.”

Irwin nodded as soon as a group of shadows emerged from the deepest parts of the hall.

“Understood.”