Lucifer's POV

I stood amidst nature's bliss.

The landscape before me was a masterpiece of divine artistry. Rolling hills clothed in verdant hues stretched into the horizon, their slopes adorned with many blossoms that painted the scenery in vibrant colours. The air carried the scent of fresh flowers, and the gentle breeze whispered soothing melodies that could lull any soul into a peaceful slumber.

The sky above was a canvas of pure blue, adorned with fluffy clouds that drifted lazily, casting playful shadows on the soft grass below.

It felt like I was in a realm untouched by the clamour of mortal affairs; a haven of ethereal peace. The gentle rustle of leaves in nearby trees provided a soothing background melody. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be fully immersed in the moment, savouring the peace that wrapped around me like a warm embrace. In that fleeting moment, I wished for time to stand still, for the world outside this sanctuary to fade into insignificance. The burdens of my responsibilities, and the weight of expectations, all melted away in the tranquillity of this divine realm. It was as if I had found a piece of myself in this haven, a part that longed for the permanence of peace and freedom from the endless demands of destiny.

But alas, the nature of such moments whispered a bittersweet truth.

Without warning, the serenity shattered like fragile glass, the blissful scene transforming into a nightmarish hellscape. The serene surroundings twisted and contorted, morphing into a landscape of devastation and horror. What was once a peaceful paradise now became a raging inferno, flames engulfing it as a whole. The air filled with the acrid scent of burning foliage, and the gentle breeze turned into a fierce, scorching wind that whipped through the inferno. The vibrant colours of the landscape were replaced by the harsh hues of red and orange, painting a grim picture of destruction.

My heart pounded with fear and disbelief as I struggled to make sense of the chaos unfolding around me. The peaceful realm I had known moments ago was now a nightmare come to life, a place of torment and despair.

Panic surged through me, and I frantically looked for a way to escape this hell. The crackling of burning trees and the roar of the inferno filled my ears, drowning out any other sound. The once beautiful scenery was now a sea of fire, consuming everything in its path with voracious hunger. With each passing moment, the intensity of the flames seemed to grow, their wrath unforgiving and relentless. I felt fear gripping me, the kind that makes one's very soul tremble with terror. It was as if the world itself had turned against me, unleashing its fury in a relentless onslaught of destruction.

In that moment of terror and despair, a figure emerged from the flames, its form obscured by the swirling fire. A sense of foreboding washed over me as I beheld the ominous silhouette, a feeling of dread knotting in the pit of my stomach. The figure seemed to beckon to me, its presence both terrifying and alluring. Despite the fear that gripped me, a curiosity tugged at the edges of my mind, urging me to approach the mysterious being amidst the chaos.

As I took hesitant steps forward, the flames seemed to part, creating a path towards the figure. It was as if the fire itself obeyed the command of the enigmatic being, bending to its will with an unsettling obedience. I drew closer, the heat of the flames intensifying with each step. The figure became clearer, revealing a form that was both mesmerizing and terrifying

What I saw was something I had only read in the books. Despite that, the being looked far more terrifying than what was described. Amidst the flames stood a solitary figure, a demon-like being with horns and wings, engulfed yet untouched by the fiery torment.

What was even scarier was his eyes, which felt uncanny in its own way. The sight of him sent a heart-wrenching wave of pain coursing through me, a sensation so profound that it felt as if my very soul was being torn asunder. I felt a myriad of emotions swirling within me - sadness, terror, and anguish - yet I could not pinpoint their origin. It was as if the mere sight of this demon-like being had awakened a deep-seated despair buried within me, a despair that echoed in the depths of my being.

Why? Why do I feel such pain? Such sorrow?

I murmured, the weight of it all pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. His presence was both terrifying and strangely familiar, like a distant memory clawing its way to the surface of my consciousness. As I gazed into his eyes, I saw reflections of my own fears and uncertainties staring back at me. It was a haunting experience, confronting a mirror image of my inner turmoil embodied in this demon-like figure amidst the consuming flames.

The flames danced around us, casting eerie shadows that seemed to writhe and contort with a life of their own. The air was thick with the scent of burning embers, and the crackling of the fire provided a dissonant backdrop to the silent exchange between us.

I tried to speak, to voice the turmoil raging within me, but no words escaped my lips. It was as if the intensity of my emotions had rendered me speechless, leaving me to grapple with the overwhelming flood of feelings that threatened to engulf me.

The demon-like being's expression shifted, a flicker of empathy crossing his features before being masked by a veil of resignation. It was a fleeting moment, yet it spoke volumes of the pain he carried, a pain that resonated with my own.

But before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, everything shifted. The flames dimmed, the surroundings blurred, and I found myself plunged into a void of emptiness and darkness. The transition was disorienting, like being ripped from one reality and thrust into another without warning. The excruciating pain made me clutch my chest. I dare not open my eyes, the pressure or aura I was feeling was making it even harder to breathe. As the pressure subsided, I gasped for breath. After hardly catching my breath what I saw ahead was nothing but darkness.

It's dark here.

Terror filled my insides as my body felt lighter with each passing second. This obscurity feels different, no! rather creepy. The farther I look, the further I see. However, it’s only darkness; as if I am trapped inside an endless abyss.

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In the far distance, a speck of light was visible.

Maybe if I walked a little, I could get there? I tried to walk, but my body wouldn’t budge.

Maybe if I shout, someone will hear me and save me? I tried to shout but my voice wouldn’t come out.

The realization hit me like a wave crashing against the shore. I was no longer in control of my physical form; I was adrift in this abyss as a mere essence of myself. I didn't have a body, to begin with, and rather a wandering soul.

"Where am I?" I whispered into the emptiness, the sound of my voice swallowed by the void. "What is this place?"

Questions swirled in my mind, each one more desperate than the last. How had I ended up here? What had happened to the world I knew? And most importantly, who or what was that demon-like being amidst the flames?

Images flashed through my mind - the burning landscape, the haunting gaze of the demon-like being, the shared agony, which I felt from him. But they were like fragmented pieces of a shattered mirror, offering glimpses of a truth I couldn't grasp.

"Why do I feel such pain? Such sorrow?" I murmured, the weight of it all pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. "And why does that encounter feel so familiar, yet so foreign?"

"Is this punishment?" I wondered aloud, the idea sending a chill down my spine. "The punishment I deserve to be envious of my friends? for resenting my parents? or rather for resenting my useless self?"

But no answers came, only the oppressive silence of the void. It was as if the void itself was withholding the truths I sought, taunting me with glimpses of understanding just beyond reach.The weight of unanswered questions, coupled with the lingering trauma of my encounters, threatened to overwhelm me. I needed clarity, for a guiding light to lead me out of this abyss of confusion and fear.

In the void, as I struggled to navigate the shadows of my own mind, a presence emerged from the darkness. It was the obscured being, its form shifting and contorting in eerie ways, like tendrils of inky blackness reaching out from the abyss. Its features were obscured by the darkness, save for a creepy smile that sent chills down my spine.

As the being's form coalesced before me, a wave of terror crashed over me like a tidal wave. My heart raced, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead as I stared into those void-like eyes, feeling as though they bore into the very depths of my soul.

"You," the being's voice echoed, a blend of curiosity and trepidation. "Embrace the darkness within you, and you will ascend to unimaginable heights."

The words were like a siren's song, tempting me with promises of power and recognition. Yet, beneath the surface allure, there was a darkness that sent shivers down my spine—a fear that whispered of the unknown consequences of such surrender. I hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at my resolve. The memories of pain and suffering, the echoes of envy and resentment, swirled around me like a storm of emotions. The being's words echoed in my mind, tempting me with the prospect of harnessing these dark energies for my own gain.

"Power," I whispered, the word tasting bitter on my tongue yet tantalizing in its potential. "But at what cost?"

The being chuckled, a sound that sent chills down my spine. "Cost is but a fleeting concern in the face of true greatness," it hissed, its form pulsating with malevolent energy.

A part of me recoiled at the notion, the inherent darkness within me clashing with the being's temptations. As I grappled with these conflicting emotions, the being's presence loomed larger, its tendrils of darkness curling around me like a suffocating embrace. It spoke of the power I could wield, the dominion over worlds and destinies if only I embraced the darkness fully.

I felt a surge of fear, not for myself but for the being. It was as if my very presence, my potential for darkness, struck a chord of terror within it. The being's attempts to manipulate me were tinged with desperation as if it feared what I could become.

"Why do you fear me?" I questioned the words emerging as a whisper in the oppressive silence of the void.

The being's form flickered, uncertainty briefly flashing across its obscured features. "How do you k...?" It questioned, its voice carrying a sense of curiosity and immediately it added, ".... I do not fear you," but the tremor in its voice betrayed its words.

"You do," I insisted, a strange sense of empowerment rising within me.

The being recoiled, its form wavering as if threatened by my words. "No," it protested weakly, but I could sense the truth beneath its facade.

In that moment of realization, as I stood face to face with the quivering being, a surge of power coursed through me. It was a power I had never felt before, one that resonated with the very essence of my being. It was as if I had tapped into a wellspring of strength that had always been dormant within me. The being recoiled further, its form flickering more violently now as if struggling against an unseen force. I could sense its desperation, a palpable fear that radiated from its diminishing presence. It was in pain, a pain which felt all too familiar.

"Are you in pain?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and sadness. "What is it that you fear?"

The being's form wavered, its inky tendrils curling inwards as if shielding itself. "Help me... I'm scared, it hurts, please..." it whispered, the words carrying the weight of centuries-old dread.

Despite its terrifying appearance, I could sense that the being was in tremendous pain and that pain seemed to be the driving force behind its desire for me to surrender to darkness. It emitted a soundless cry, a haunting echo that reverberated through the void, a testament to its torment. In that moment, I felt a deep pang of sadness for the being, a profound understanding of its suffering. It was as if I could feel its despair, its longing for solace, and its desperate desire to be understood.

I took a step closer to the being, my hand trembling as I reached out tentatively. The tendrils of darkness recoiled slightly as if surprised by my gesture. For a fleeting moment, the oppressive atmosphere softened, and I dared to believe that there was more to this being than met the eye.

As my fingertips brushed against the shifting shadows, the darkness seemed to respond to my touch, pulsating with a strange energy that resonated with my own. I felt a pang of sadness for the being, a sense of kinship that defied logic and reason.

But as quickly as the moment had come, it passed, leaving me standing there with my hand outstretched, fingers tingling with residual energy. The being's form began to dissipate, its tendrils of darkness retracting into the void.

A single tear rolled down my cheek, and everything seemed to have stopped.

In that spur of a moment, a weird sensation an unfamiliar longing bloomed inside my heart. Affection, sympathy, anger and happiness all kinds of feelings crashed inside me all at once.

My eyes blurred, my head dizzy and my heart throbbed as I heard a voice before my consciousness drifted away

"Master..."