I

"Upon the forest,

a village thrives.

With cobbled streets and wooden planks.

Its homes are humble, yet its spirit strong,

A shelter for its people, a safe place they belong."

There, there, is a thriving village, imbued with peace and tranquility. The women tended to do their chores as wives, while the men toiled around to support their families at their own fault. Children romped, enjoying each moment as they embraced the joy of their young lives—destined to go through their parent's footsteps—the cycle is unreal.

Outside of it—is an extending far beyond the outskirts of the village—lies a foggy forest that enveloped in a blanket of mist that thickened the further it stretched, offering no visible limit as one could go. It is teemed with various life forms. Lived to hide, and to hunt—the stupid, and the vulnerable—becomes the prey for whatever comes from the top, with everyone competing for the top of the hill.

Amongst the village—was a child who was adorned in an array of clothing, and she was the favorite, as she was the only child in her family. Her family's devotion was centered around her like a guardian protecting a queen's throne, as they saw her as a precious being who required protection and nurturing. On this particular day—her parents were busy doing their drudgery and there was no one home but the child. They were doing their chores and toils.

The child woke up, it was very late—Her bedroom was small, covered by polychromatic papers and warm pelage all over it, there was no window, so she could not tell the sun's shine. As the child rubbed her eyes with her tiny clenching fist—flinging off the boogers from her eye—she sank down onto her oversized bed, a small whimper escaping her lips and she happily waddled around the room with her little fluffy toy.

She then lay down the fuzzy toy on a wooden fun-sized chair, corrected it thoroughly as if it precisely seated the way she imagined it to be—She let out a little smooch on its nose—She raised her little arms, as well as her pointy finger and muttered to the little toy in a childish tone, with a blend of high-pitch chime,

"Now don't you leave this home! Or you will be taken by bad guys."

She goes outside her home because there was nothing to do—she then shut the door by pressing against it with her little body as she could not reach its knob. Once outside, in front of her home—she inhaled the refreshing breeze infused with the laughter and cries of other children. A warm smile spread across her face—like a sunflower basking in the radiant sunshine.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As she turned around, ready to leave the fray. She saw a man, he was no human, though he still had a body akin to a human, like a demon. He features a dark and vivid stature—He stared at the child, his hands clasped behind his body. So tall as a tree, skinnier as its trunk—He fixated his gaze upon her—as he grabbed a notepad from his pockets and checked it—He returned it to his pockets again and spoke in a calm tone,

"Hello there, beautiful child."

As the child's head slowly raised, taking her a while to see the towering demon, her eyes locked onto his face—Her tiny arms waved playfully at him and replied,

"Hello."

As the demon lowered his arms, putting them both at his sides—his gaze swept across the surroundings from the right to the left before settling upon the little child before him—but there was no one present as it felt like an empty hall where it is the least-liked spot—He spoke, like a whispering mist, his voice again with a calm and measured tone, issued a question,

"May I ask on what you are doing on this lovely day?"

The child's eyes followed the same direction as the demon—her small head tilted slightly, from the right and to left—She then let out a soft murmuring sound and gazed again at the demon, she answered with a hint of shyness,

"I'm gonna be playing with my friends."

The demon's words once again, were slow and deliberate, as if the syllables were forming in the shadows themselves—His calmness was evident anew as if he had uttered these words countless times before,

"But aren't I a friend?"

The child replied back to him—both of her little hands clasping together before her slight utter,

"Everyone's my friend."

Once again, without a moment's hesitation, the demon returned to his familiar stance, crossing his arms behind his back anew—His calm, echoey response was accompanied by a still composure, as if he were completely at ease in the child's little presence,

"Of course. Would you like to have fun with me?"

As the child ceased her small waves, the air became filled with a short silence—Yet the child remained undeterred—she finally broke the quiet, her words breathing with a slight excitement, with her shyness still intact,

"Sure, you can play with my other friends."

The demon remained motionless, his legs planted firmly in place—His voice held a serene tone as if he uttered a lullaby that could easily make a group of children fall asleep with just his little tales—He calmly spoke,

"You played with them too many times now, how about just the two of us? We could play something new and fun."

The child glanced to her right—her gaze lingering for a moment before shifting her little head back to the demon. With a tiny nod—she accepted the demon's words—She then took short little steps from the stairs of her home, now revealing her actual extent compared to the demon's—She was merely petite, very much—Like a massive father carrying his newborn with only his palms.

The demon then reached his hands to her—and she as well held the demon's palms without hesitantly contemplating it—The duo then set foot to the left side of her home, their feet synchronizing with the cobbles, planks, and finally the grass each time they step—With the child, only glaring forward, while the demon kept staring at the child.