Alice woke reluctantly as sunlight filtered through the gaps between the trees above, casting long shadows that stretched across her face. She sat straight, glanced toward the demon, seated a short distance away from her.
His hands occupied with something she couldn’t quite discern. Not that it mattered. The entire situation still felt unreal, like a nightmare from which there was no escape. Although he hadn’t yet noticed her, she knew demons were cunning by nature. If she attempted an escape, it would have to be when she had a real chance. For now, her best option was to stay close and observe him, despite the disgust that welled up inside her.
As she sat up, a wave of nausea washed over her. She felt as though she could devour an entire feast and drink an ocean dry. Instinctively, she attempted to reach up and fix her hair, only to realize her hands wouldn’t move. Panic set in as she noticed the cold metal bindings shackling her wrists to a nearby tree. Her heart sank. She tugged at the cuffs, the metallic clanking against her. The noise caught his attention. “Good morning,” he greeted, still not bothering to face her. “I see you’re getting accustomed to life here.”
She pulled at the restraints with all her might, but it was useless. “What is this?” she asked as her voice trembled.
“A precaution,” he replied casually. “To ensure you don’t try to escape.”
She hadn’t yet noticed the rough iron collar fastened around her neck. When she tried to stand, the collar yanked her back down, the chain rattling against her movement. He stood and approached her, offering a half-hearted apology. “Sorry about that.”
She touched the collar, feeling its coarse surface against her skin. Her voice was filled with bitterness. “You don’t really mean that.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” he admitted with a shrug. “But you have to understand, I can’t risk you running away.”
She strained against the chains again, but they held fast. She'd never been physically strong, and the restraints reminded her of that. Her voice trembled as she looked him in the eyes, "I hate you.”
He smiled, holding up a skinned rabbit. “I went out of my way to prepare something you can eat,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “I caught it myself.”
The rabbit was still raw, but its fur had been carefully removed. “I know, I know... you don’t like eating raw food. Fine, that’s fine. I can make a fire too.”
With a flick of his hand, he lit a small campfire he had already prepared. Alice watched, “Why are you doing all of this?” she asked.
“I can’t have you dying after we struck a deal. That would leave a sour taste in my mouth.”
“Good, you deserve it,” she retorted bitterly.
He sat down in front of her, adjusting his cloak as he did. “I didn’t want to cook this rabbit because I was afraid I’d burn it... but with your help, I think I can manage.”
He pierced the rabbit with a sharp piece of wood, holding it over the fire. “This is how you elves do it, isn’t it?”
He was mistaken—this was a human practice. Elves typically boiled animals like rabbits and made stews. But she wouldn’t argue, not on an empty stomach.
As he cooked, she tugged at the chain attached to her collar. The rough iron bit into her skin, causing a burning sensation. Silent tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall. When he noticed, he set the rabbit down on a small rock and leaned in to look at her. “Is the collar hurting you?”
“Hurting” wasn’t the right word; it was suffocating her. She nodded. “Please, take this off.”
“I’ll take it off when you’re eating,” he replied, returning to the fire.
The rabbit was nearly done. He seemed bored with the task but persisted until it was fully cooked. Finally, he handed it to her without any of the games she expected him to play on her. Too hungry to protest or question him, she took a bite, then another. Despite the lack of seasoning, it was the best meal she'd ever tasted. As she ate, he kept his word and removed the collar. Her eyes followed him, wary but grateful.
“Thank you,” she said.
As he settled back in front of her, he noticed the bruises and small cuts on her neck. The rough iron had done more damage than he realized. “I never got your name.” he asked.
She continued to eat, grudgingly answering, “Alice.”
“Alice,” he repeated, as if testing the sound of it on his tongue.
She was halfway through her meal when her senses returned, though her thirst remained.
“Where is the elven town or village you travel from?” he asked, his tone casual but with an underlying curiosity.
His question made her suspicious of him. “Why do you want to know?”
She didn’t need to think long to figure out why he would be interested in such a place. His intentions couldn’t be good. “Surely you miss your home,” he said, trying a different approach.
“More than anything,” she replied, keeping her guard up.
It wasn’t just her neck that bore the marks of her captivity; her wrists were bruised too, with dried blood crusted around the wounds. The rough iron had been far too harsh for her delicate skin. If he wanted to keep her alive—and perhaps more importantly, if he wanted her blood for himself—he couldn’t afford to have it wasted.
She looked utterly miserable. The once youthful face he had encountered had now turned into a mask of disdain and despair. Each day, the hatred in her eyes grew stronger. What could he do? He couldn’t let her go, not when the risk of her warning others was too great. If the people of this world discovered that a demon had survived, they would hunt him down. Fighting off a few was possible, but an army of skilled mages and warriors? That was a battle he couldn’t win.
“There’s a river nearby,” he said, trying to offer something, anything, that might ease her suffering.
True, there was a river, but it would take at least a day’s journey to reach it. In her current condition, she would never survive the trek.
“These chains... they’re magic,” she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
The chains were embedded with magic, designed to drain their host of mana. How had he acquired such a piece? Demons weren’t known for their craftsmanship.
“Don’t just ignore what I said,” he pressed. “Do you want to go to the river? You can wash up there too...”
The thought of him watching her bathe made her stomach churn, but she was desperate. She needed to drink, at the very least. How he planned to get her there was a question that lingered in her mind.
“We do need a change in scenery,” he continued, almost to himself. “I’m getting rather bored of this damned forest.”
Finally, something she could agree with.
“Just to make this trip extra special for you,” he added, leaning in close, his eyes locking onto hers, “I’ll remove all your restraints for the day.”
Her eyes lit up with hope.
“But!” he added, holding her gaze, “you must promise me not to run away. Got that?”
She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I understand.”
He grabbed her wrists, and with pure brute force, tore apart the restraints. They were broken before being placed on her—crude, makeshift bindings that he had forced onto her so tightly they had stayed intact. Why he owned broken restraints was a question that gnawed at her.
She looked down at her wrists, darkened and bruised, her once-beautiful skin now marred and unrecognizable. She was grateful he had taken them off, but the hatred for him placing them there in the first place still burned within her. He extended his hand to her. “Come, stand with me.”
She hesitated but took his hand, rising unsteadily to her feet. His eyes lingered on her wrists before meeting her gaze again. “Have you ever flown before?”
Flight was a dream for most—only a handful of elves were powerful enough to fly using magic. She shook her head.
From his back, two massive wings unfurled, each four times her size. They were menacing and sharp, a true demon’s pride. The larger the wings, the greater the power, and his were enormous. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear at the sight of them.
Flying around like this would definitely catch someone’s attention. She wanted to warn him but reminding him of that fact might work against her. However, he had already thought this through, for he created an aura around him that reflected light. This would act as a mirror, resembling things around him, and in the sky, no one would see him unless they were on the lookout with special magical detection. She was not informed of this, leaving her hoping to be seen.
“Let’s go,” he said.
He beckoned her closer, and when she complied, he effortlessly lifted her up. Though she was incredibly light in his arms, her heart pounded as she felt his grip tighten around her. With a powerful flap of his wings, they shot upwards, soaring into the sky.
The view that greeted her was nothing short of breathtaking. The vast forest below spread out like an endless sea of green, its beauty almost otherworldly. She had never seen anything like it and couldn’t help but whisper in awe, "This is amazing."
From this height, the river that had seemed so distant on foot now appeared much closer. What would have taken a day to reach on foot would now be just a short flight away, perhaps an hour or two.
"Hold on tight. If you let go, you won’t survive," he warned, his tone serious.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on with all her strength. Even as she clung to him, her eyes were drawn to the stunning landscape—the snow-capped mountains on the horizon, the seemingly endless wilderness below.
He began to move, and the speed was overwhelming. The wind whipped past them, their hair tangling together—his dark strands occasionally brushing against her silver ones. At first, the dizzying height and breakneck speed made her squeeze her eyes shut in fear. But as she slowly adjusted, she cautiously opened them again, taking in the scenery while clinging to him as tightly as she could. Though she couldn’t hear it over the rushing wind, she could sense his laughter, the thrill of the flight evident in his expression, even as she fought to keep her fear at bay.
As they approached the river, the demon’s sharp eyes caught sight of a small encampment nestled near its banks. From above, he could see goblins milling about, their crude tents and makeshift fires a stark contrast to the natural beauty of their surroundings. He cast his own form of foresight, a wicked grin spread across his face as he angled his wings downward, descending rapidly toward the unsuspecting creatures below.
Goblin Encampment
Enemy Info: Goblin Spearman Enemy Info: Goblin Villager Enemy Info: Goblin Children Enemy Info: Goblin Bowman
Level: 9
Enemy Count: 7
level: 6
Enemy Count: 23
level: 3
Enemy Count: 12
Level: 9
Enemy Count: 8
Race: Goblin
Class: Melee
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Goblin
Class: Melee
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Goblin
Class: Melee
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Goblin
Class: None
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Alignment: Neutral
Stats
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 4
Mana: 0
Health: 600/600
Stats
Strength: 2
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 4
Mana: 0
Health: 200/200
Stats
Strength: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 1
Mana: 0
Health: 100/100
Stats
Strength: 2
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 4
Mana: 0
Health: 200/200
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
The goblins, busy with their daily tasks, were oblivious to the danger hurtling toward them from the skies. It wasn’t until a shadow passed over them that they looked up, their beady eyes widening in terror. But it was too late.
With a powerful flap of his wings, he descended swiftly, landing in the center of the camp with a force that shook the ground. The impact was cataclysmic. Flames erupted from the point of contact, exploding outward in a fiery shockwave that incinerated everything in its path. Tents were torn to shreds, goblins were hurled through the air, their cries of panic and agony quickly drowned out by the roar of the flames.
The ground beneath them blackened, scorched by the intense heat as the flames devoured everything. The demon stood tall amidst the chaos, his wings spread wide, the fiery aura around him crackling with unimaginable power. The goblins that survived the initial blast scrambled in desperation, trying to flee, but there was no escape.
He watched them for a moment, savoring the fear in their eyes, before raising one hand. With a single gesture, the fleeing goblins were raised into the air helplessly and pierced by his massive wings. Their lifeless corpses slid off its sharp ends, as he brushed them off without a care for what he had done.
The camp, once bustling with life, was now a smoldering ruin. The riverbank was littered with the charred remains of what had once been. Satisfied, he folded his wings, the flames around him gradually dying down as he turned to Alice, who still clung to him, wide-eyed and silent.
“Did you enjoy the view?” he asked.
It wasn't just their capable fighters, but the women, and the goblin children too. He had slaughtered them all. They didn't even try to fight against him. “No, I didn’t.”
“I suppose you wouldn’t,” he replied.
“Why did you kill them? Goblins always served their demon masters,” she asked, her voice trembling slightly at the bloodshed before her.
“Do I look like I need their help?” he retorted.
Alice had no answer, the absurdity of her question dawning on her. “No, I suppose not...”
He released her from his embrace, setting her gently on the ground. She turned her gaze toward the river, desperately trying to block out the grisly scene behind her. The river flowed serenely; its surface untouched by the carnage.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Alice hurried to the river's edge. Without hesitation, she plunged her head into the cool, refreshing water, drinking deeply and letting the soothing liquid wash over her. He watched from a distance, allowing her to enjoy herself.
Alice lifted her head from the river, drawing in a deep breath of the cool air. Her hair clung to her damp face, and she brushed the water from her eyes, trying to smooth the unruly strands. As the water dripped down her neck, it reignited the burning sensation left by the restraints. Wincing, she rubbed the bruises that marred her skin, but the soreness lingered. He approached; his presence impossible to ignore.
“Did you drink your fill?” he asked, his voice calm, almost too casual.
“Yes,” she replied, her tone clipped.
She sat down by the riverbank, fixing her gaze on the flowing water, trying to lose herself in its rhythm. She hoped the silence would push him away, but he wasn’t one to be easily dismissed. He seated himself beside her, and though the day still lingered, the unease in her stomach only grew stronger. She couldn’t forget that soon, he would need to feed on her again.
“Tell me more about yourself,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Surprised, Alice turned to him, but quickly masked her emotions. “What do you want to know?”
“Who is Alice?” he asked, his tone curious. “What sort of person are you?”
“Do you find pleasure in torturing me like this?” she retorted, bitterness creeping into her voice.
“Indulge me for once,” he replied, his gaze steady.
She sighed, knowing resistance would only bring more suffering. Maybe if she complied, she could stave off unnecessary pain. “I don’t know what to tell you…”
“Start with your studies,” he suggested. “You mentioned them before.”
“My studies…” she echoed, her thoughts drifting to the life she had left behind. Her friends would surely be worried by now. “I’m a student at the Elven Academy of Magical Arts.”
“Oh, impressive,” he remarked.
Pride flickered in her eyes as she spoke of her achievements. “I’ve always been at the top of my class. My professors even believed I was capable enough to teach a class of my own.”
“I’ve heard much about the Elven Academy. Have you ever heard of Hinus Roswald?” he asked, his tone piqued with interest.
“Yes! A lot of what we study is based on his research. He’s a genius, discovering ways to extract magical energies from nature.”
Her eyes lit up as she spoke of Hinus, momentarily forgetting the demon beside her. He nodded, recalling, “I’ve read some of his work. I remember one about extracting magic from grass.”
“That’s the research that earned him an award and a position as a teacher at our academy,” she said, her enthusiasm palpable. “I’m surprised you know so much about him.”
“Well, before he became a teacher, he was a skilled mage who brought prosperity wherever he went.”
“Have you… you know, fought him?” she asked hesitantly.
“No, I never had the opportunity,” he admitted.
Alice felt a small wave of relief, though she couldn’t help but wonder who would win if they ever did clash. Her heart wanted to believe her professor would, but doubt lingered.
“I suppose your family and friends must be worried about you,” he said, breaking her thoughts.
“If you released me, they wouldn’t be,” she retorted.
He smirked, a silent refusal that crushed the hope she briefly entertained. Her gaze drifted back to the river, and she rubbed her neck again, the bruises aching under her touch. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her discomfort.
“Those chains were once placed on me, you know,” he said, his voice low. “By your own people.”
Alice turned to him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What?! You’re lying.”
Such a crude contraption placed on him by elves? The thought unsettled her. How many years had he been trapped there? When they first met, he had asked what year it was. Could he be some ancient demon of old? If that were true, he could be one of the most powerful beings in the world—strong enough that the elves had no choice but to restrain him.
The woods themselves were known as a graveyard of elves, a forbidden place for both humans and elves. She had ventured against the rules but never imagined she would encounter a demon within.
Could all of this somehow be connected?
"I'm not lying. It's the truth," he said, breaking her train of thought.
In her mind, elves were not capable of such things. To create a restraint so barbarous and to leave it on him for who knew how long... She could barely endure it for a day, yet he had borne it for who knew how many years. If what he said was true, she might have felt sorry for him. And though she found it hard to believe, a part of her wanted to.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't worry. I'm not blaming you," he replied dismissively.
The thought of returning to the woods and having those contraptions placed on her again filled her with dread. She wanted to delay that as long as possible.
"You're not going to wash yourself?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"Not if you're going to watch."
He fell silent, then spoke again. "I won’t look."
As if she could believe that. "Yeah right."
"I promise you I won’t. You have my word. As long as you don’t try to run away."
She longed to bathe, but his presence made her uneasy. The dirt had piled up on her from captivity, and she wanted nothing more than to cleanse herself.
"I can trust you... to your word?"
"Yes," he confirmed.
"Okay then... Please, if you would."
He stood up, brushing off his cloak. As he turned to leave, he added, "Don't get any funny ideas."
She nodded, genuinely not planning anything.
With him gone, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She undressed, but as she looked at the water, she instinctively rubbed her neck again. The pain would fade, and soaking in the water would do her good.
She dipped one foot into the water, then the other. The river was calm, yet its flow had a gentle strength. She stepped forward, submerging herself until only her head remained above the surface. Taking a deep breath, she submerged completely, emerging moments later. The pain in her neck was less noticeable now, and the cool water soothed her aching body.
She moved around until she found a shallow pocket by the river’s edge where she could rest. Occasionally, colorful fish darted through the water, a brief distraction from her thoughts. The river was close to the elven village, but she knew escape wasn’t an option. The unusual quiet around her, with only the sound of the river in her ears, offered a moment of respite in her sorrow.
She wanted to wash her clothes, but the thought of being seen naked by that demon made her hesitate. She’d have to endure for now, unwilling to risk another humiliation.
Luck was not on her side. A sudden gust of wind blew her clothes into the river, and panic set in. She sprang forward, fighting against the current as she desperately tried to catch her garments. The river swept her dress downstream, but she managed to snatch it up just in time. Unfortunately, it was already soaking wet.
At least she hadn’t lost it entirely, but it felt as though some cruel god was intent on making her suffer.
She tossed her damp clothes onto the riverbank, but she hesitated to get out of the water. There was no way she could let him see her like this. Her air magic might have been helpful, but without anything to anchor her clothes, she feared her magic would only send them flying away.
Frustration boiled within her. She stomped her feet in the river, seething with anger. She wanted to scream, and so she did—underwater, where he wouldn’t hear.
Returning to her secluded spot, she watched her clothes with a growing sense of dread. An hour passed, and her clothes remained as wet as before. Sooner or later, he would come looking for her.
And he did.
He approached the river, scanning the area. She couldn’t blame him—it had been far too long for a simple bath. When he noticed her and then saw her drenched clothes across from her, he walked over and bent down as if to pick them up.
"Don't touch that!" she shouted.
He paused and turned to face her. Though she was naked, the river concealed enough to protect her modesty. "What happened?"
"The wind blew my clothes into the river!" she yelled.
"You can't stay in there until they dry," he pointed out.
She already knew that.
An idea struck her. If he held her clothes still, she could use her air magic to dry them faster. It seemed like a reasonable plan. "Uh... could you do me a favor?" she asked cautiously.
"Hm?"
"Could you hold my clothes still so I can dry them with my magic?"
He glanced at her damp clothes, realizing that air magic would only remove some of the moisture. Nevertheless, to her surprise, he agreed. He held her clothes firmly with both hands and said, "Go for it."
She raised her hand and began her chant. Small magical circles, glowing with a blue hue, formed in the air. An intense gust of wind shot from her palm, blowing through her dress and drying it quickly.
Relief and joy washed over her as the magic worked, though not completely. Some stubborn moisture remained, but at least the dress was now wearable.
He placed the clothes down on a flat rock by the river so they wouldn't get dirty, drier than before. "Can you please leave so I can get dressed?" she asked.
"Go ahead."
To her genuine surprise, he turned and left without protest.
She hurried out of the water and quickly got dressed. The dress was still damp, and she could feel it clinging to her skin, but it was better than nothing. Unfortunately, some parts of her remained somewhat visible, drawing attention. She tried blowing down her chest to fix it, but it made no difference.
Night was about to fall, and once she was dressed, she made her way to him. She found him setting up a campfire near where they had initially landed. Approaching from behind, she tried to be quiet, but he seemed to sense her presence immediately. "You're dressed, I hope."
She had intended to surprise him, but it was as if he had an uncanny awareness of everything around him. "Yes, I did. Thank you."
He had taken some crude seating arrangements from the goblin camp, claiming them for himself—no use to their previous owners now. He gestured for her to sit and then took his place as well. "We're not returning to the forest tonight."
A wave of relief washed over her. The last place she wanted to be was back in those cursed woods. "Oh, I see."
He lit the fire with a simple gesture, using magic. She found herself staring into the flames, while his gaze rested intently on her. After a moment, she felt his lingering eyes and quickly covered herself. "I never took you for a creep!"
"Please," he replied, "You're not much to look at."
Though she was gifted with magic, she lacked the physical allure she wished she had, which infuriated her. But she bit her tongue.
"Are you going to feed again?" she asked.
"That was our arrangement."
She looked down at the ground, dreading the moment. "When?"
"Whenever you're ready."
She wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. Rising from her seat, she extended her wrist toward him. He stood as well but shook his head. "Your neck. Not your wrist."
His words sent her heart racing, but she knew she couldn’t refuse. Her neck was still bruised, the pain only slightly dulled. It was her own deal, after all. She moved her hair aside, exposing her neck to him.
He stepped close, so close that she could feel his breath on her skin. She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. His fangs brushed against her neck before sinking deep into her flesh. Searing pain shot through her as he fed.
Her skin grew pale, the light in her eyes dimming. She felt herself growing faint, her heart pounding wildly as he pressed against her, his body brushing against her damp clothes. "Please," she murmured, "Stop."
He finally released her, invigorated and brimming with energy as if he could move mountains. She collapsed back onto her seat by the fire, while he seemed practically elated.
He wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.
But he had taken too much. Far too much. Alice fainted, her body unable to bear the loss.
Seeing her like this ignited a surge of anger within him. He kicked the fire in frustration, sending a flurry of ashes and debris into the air. His eyes returned to her frail, vulnerable form lying unconscious. Was one rabbit even enough to feed someone like her? He genuinely had no idea. The truth was, she had been starving, wanting to eat before sleep, but he hadn’t noticed.
He cursed his insatiable hunger. If he wasn’t careful, his feeding could easily kill her.
The night was growing colder, and she would need the warmth. He retrieved the flaming wood he had scattered and carefully rebuilt the fire. He added more logs to ensure it would burn longer and brought her closer to the flames so she wouldn’t freeze.
Satisfied that she was safe for the moment, he took one last glance at her. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically as she breathed, illuminated by the faint moonlight that cast a soft glow upon her and her silver hair. The light made her appear even more delicate and vulnerable. He forced himself to look away, turning and disappearing into the nearby woods.