A demon is tied to the darkness. It will always tie to the shadow of their true self.

Demons retain their emotions and personality as they are born or converted. They are no different from human beings and other humanoid species of this world.

However, their lives were tied not only by the Goddess of Darkness but also by the Demon Territory itself.

Their goals are tied by the darkness.

Their bonds are tied by the darkness.

Their whole identities are tied by the darkness.

So when a humanoid comes in contact with the darkness of Demon Territory, its influence transforms them into one of the demons. It not only affects them physically but also mentally. They begin to act like a demon, think like a demon, and believe they are demons the moment they are possessed. This changing psychology made it more difficult for them to leave and remember who they truly were before they were fully converted into one of the denizens of darkness.

There is a chance they can avoid that fate. As long as they escape the Demon Territory before the demon's spirits get to them, they can stay in the world of light. However, they must be quick because once they step into the Territory, the spirits won't stop pursuing their potential hosts.

So to all the foolish humans and humanoids who would dare step into the darkness.

Beware that once you enter our world...

There is no going back.

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"...Is that the only reason why I'm here again? I thought you were going to talk about those Arcana people again."

I tilt my head as I walk through this strange art museum filled with strange people again. I'm honestly not surprised anymore. The first was shocking enough, the second was okay. But the third was a bit more bland than before. It might be because I'm a bit curious about this Fool and his adventures so far that I didn't care where I am anymore. But I didn't expect them to tell me the obvious details I learned with Vander regarding how humans and other species turned into Demons in the first place.

The reason why I have to mention this is that the demon's growth is no different than the mortal's. We are individuals who possess the same likes and dislikes. We are people. We might be the same, but we are unique in many ways.

We're...the same as humans and other humanoid species?

I don't know what it all means, but I think I know what they're trying to say.

However, to attain individuality means you possess confidence in yourself.

Suddenly, a new framed picture appeared next to the existing ones. This one has a picture of a woman and a lion.

Take The Strength of this woman. The Fool encountered them one day while he was riding on his chariot. He tried to help her, but she managed to calm it down and free the poor creature of its pain by pulling a thorn from one of its paws. They represent the willpower and determination to help one another and the confidence in each other. It's the same with all of us. Without confidence, we can't achieve what we want in life. However...

Another picture appeared next to the new one. This one has an old man in a brown hooded robe.

There are times when you need to be alone to reflect on yourself. The Fool learned that when he met The Hermit on the mountain. The old man preferred to travel alone and it gave The Fool an idea to illuminate not only his path alone but also to himself.

Then another appeared. This one seems to show a wooden wheel, I think.

It is there where he dreamt of The Wheel of Fortune. It was ridden by a bizarre snake that fell off when it reached the top. If it weren't for the delicate girl, the snake's life wouldn't be forfeited. The same can be said with luck itself. Do good deeds and gain good karma. Evil and you gain bad karma. In some cases, luck wouldn't be on your side sometimes and that's okay. That's part of the cycle.

The cycle, huh? I guess it makes sense.

"What happens after that?" I asked curiously.

Two more pictures appeared right next to me. This time, they are a woman carrying a sword in one hand and some kind of scales in the other, and a man hanging upside down.

After that strange dream, The Fool woke up to witness a woman representing The Justice to the crowd in front of her. They pled every case they were troubled by another and through the mixed emotions, the woman made her judgments. Despite the subject being little impactful it has to The Fool, it gives him food for thought on the decisions he would make. The choices that may change his fate for the better or worse. The choice that either walk him down to the road of justice or the path of destruction.

I see. I tend to get stuck with many choices I face. Some made me wish I could choose all of them and some made me stuck on two out of three. Yet I never thought about the consequences after I chose one of them.

Then, he encountered another man not far from the woman. A man hanging on the cross. The Fool wondered if this was the result of the woman's judgment. But The Hanged Man responded that he chose this fate on his own. He sacrificed his freedom to discover himself once more. To know what went missing in his life so far. There was no progress in his sacrifice, but The Hanged Man persevered. Yet he forged on, knowing haste makes waste to those who choose to take back their offering. It is there that The Fool begins to contemplate his choices.

Sacrifice? Contemplate?

This is all too much for me to follow. I was engrossed by the stories behind the people in the pictures, yet I didn't get all of them at the same time.

I understand your confusion, young demon. It is normal to feel that way. Besides, the experiences I shared with you are not strangers to your own, right?

...Huh? What did they mean by that?

It seems that your transformation hasn't reached you mentally. Then maybe you should recall this. A man who used to be full of life yet was trampled by the people who exploited him.

Hold on... Why does it sound very familiar?

And why am I shaking just hearing all of that?

Then, he was called into a new world with promises of adventure and a new life. Encountering the very same people The Fool made.

I can see it. I can see myself as a man being pulled into another world. I was abused, exploited, and neglected.

Why am I remembering all of this?! Please stop it!

But just as The Hanged Man let go of his freedom, someone sacrificed you for themselves. To save their own by exchanging yours. A pitiful way to end your journey, isn't it?

No, no, no! I don't want to hear this! I don't want to remember!

Why are you doing this?! What's the point in all of this?!

You want a reason why, correct? You want to know why you died, correct?

No, I don't! I don't want to remember!

This is my new life! There's no point in remembering my old!

I don't want to go back!

I know remembering the past you tried to abandon can be hurtful. But to move forward from the old, you must eliminate parts of yourself. The parts that connect from your past self. There is no such thing as a true ending in life. After the end comes the beginnings and death comes life. This is a cycle that is meant to continue for lifetimes to come. You must see through the end to open the path to your true beginning. Your transition from a man deprived of his future to a boy filled with boundless potential.

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My...true beginning. My transition from my past to present.

I don't know what he meant all of that. But I want this life. I don't want to go back to my old life. I don't want to become weak again.

Even if parts of me die, I want to move forward as Aster. As the Master of the House of Lavender. And as Vander's ally and brother.

Then you shall have the life you rightfully earned.

I look up and see not a framed picture. But rather, an older figure wearing a black hooded robe wielding a large scythe.

To face the future means you have to face Death. The cycle must continue to face your true beginning.

The figure walks closer and closer to me.

Change is inevitable. You can delay it but never avert it.

I want to run... Yet at the same time, I didn't. I didn't scream the moment they raised their scythe towards me.

Death is eternal. Yet it is temporary. You have a right to be afraid but do not run from it.

That's right. I close my eyes for the inevitable.

And let Death take the last of my old self.

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"Man, that was exhausting."

I stretch my arms after I put down the watering can. It only took me about an hour and a half to water all of these Shadow Lavenders and yet, Aster hasn't woken up! I thought we agreed to share the pain with the garden until Casia returns. Yet, he hasn't kept his promise at all!

"Seriously, Aster," I speak up while scratching the back of my head. "What's with you lately?"

"What do you mean, Vander?"

I scream and reach out a watering can. But I stop to see my reflection smiling at me.

"Come on, Aster! You almost gave me a heart attack," I complained. "Besides, I end up doing all the work here. What happened? You never slept in before."

It really is odd. Normally, Aster is always the first one to wake up and do some stuff like tending the gardens and taking a bath. But now, he started spacing out and ignoring his books and experiments with the Mana Crystals. I'm really worried about him. But it's not like I can say that right in front of him.

"Sorry about that. It's just that my mind is going off places lately," Aster explains. "Like those dreams and nightmares I've been getting and why is it all connecting to me? You haven't gotten them, too, right?"

I shake my head. "Nothing springs to mind. I'm supposed to be your alter, yet I'm still wondering if I can dream just like you. Why don't you ask Casia about it? He knows about all things mind-related. He might have some ideas."

Honestly, that's my only advice for him right now. I wish I could do more for him, but it's not like I'm the expert with dreams like Casia.

"Maybe." Aster hums again. Seems like it's not enough to move on, huh? "That's another thing. Do you think that... you aren't you?"

...Eh?

"What the hell are you talking about about?" I ask. "What kind of question is that?"

"I mean... Do you feel like you thought you already knew yourself, yet you feel like you're not? As if you have a hole in your heart that you can't plug it in?"

When he put it that way, he might have a point there.

I already know who I am thanks to Casia and Master. The Master's successor was saved and was given a new life in the Demon Territory. Yet even if I think of that fact, there's something about it that feels wrong at the same time.

GAHHHH!!! What the heck am I thinking?! There's no way I can answer that confusing question!

"Oh... Sorry for asking that, Vander. It's just a stupid question."

I doubt that was stupid. Your awkward chuckle says that.

"So... What do you want from me?"

"Huh?" I can see Aster's eyes widen when I ask that. "What do you mean?"

Don't act dumb. I know there is more to your thoughts and "dumb" questions.

"I feel like you want to do something crazy with me. Your eyes say it all," I explain. "Don't forget I have a knack with experiments and you did with the Mana Crystals by yourself. If you want to realize your goals, then you have to do it yourself. You did it with the hot and cold shower, remember?"

"That's true, but..." Aster pauses, who is somehow hesitant to continue as he bites his lip. "This is much different than the crystals. I feel like... I need to become something more. A role I have to fulfill in this world. I need to figure out what it is."

I understand what he means. If he needs time to think, then I should let him be. I can't do anything but reassure him that he is still him. And yet...

Aster, Vander, I see you two followed your chores very diligently.

I gasped to hear a familiar deep voice. Before I can react, a strong gust of wind suddenly blows through me and the lavenders nearby. I look up and see who came into our mansion.

"Casia! You're back!"

I smiled as I watched him land in the middle of the garden without harming the lavenders in the process. I'm relieved to see him again, but I stop waving when I know who is on Casia's back.

"Um... Who is that?" I ask as I point at the boy who looks to be my age wearing only a white shirt, brown shorts, and shoes. He doesn't have horns or a tail like mine. Probably a human like the ones I read in books.

"Let's just say I saved him from his village," Casia answers after he changes into his human form. "I know Master Hyde was specifically against inviting strangers, especially with humans, but I have a good reason to let him into your humble abode."

I tilted my head as soon he said those confusing words. I thought he was joking but from the frown on his face said otherwise. Something must have happened beyond saving that human boy. I look at him and he doesn't seem to be scared after seeing my horns and tail. He even copied my tilting head, too.

"You look funny for a kid." Is that the only thing he can say to me?! "Are those horns real?"

Again, really?! This human kid is weird. Then again, something about him makes me wanna be friends with him. But I don't know why.

"Vander, can we talk in private?" Casia asks. "And yes, that includes Aster."

I shrug and say, "I guess. If it has to do with that human, then you better have a good explanation about it."

If anything, it's better than him not saying anything that doesn't involve this.

"Young man, how about you go around the garden for a while?" Casia asks the boy next. "Just don't enter the mansion without our permission and don't touch the flowers around here, okay?"

"Okay, Mr. Casia!"

With that, I watched the human boy running off through the garden as if he didn't see a dragon and a boy with horns and a tail in front of him. He's interesting but again, weird. Either way, I turn to Casia next.

"Alright, Casia. You better have a good explanation about that strange human kid."

And he did. He explained how the boy was chosen for some ritual in his home village outside the Demon Territory, his parents are careless about bringing him back, and abandoning him in hopes of driving out the demons away from it. The more I listen to his story, the more I feel disgusted at how the village treated him like trash acting as demon bait. Not only that, who do they think they are treating us on the same level as the monsters outside our home?!

Dammit! I just wish I had enough power to teach those jerks a lesson!

"Calm down, Vander. I know you and Aster are furious about his situation, but we can't let our emotions drive us to take vengeance for his sake," Casia said. "Even if you have the strength to do so, hurting them would make things worse if we don't have enough evidence of their misdeeds."

"Why not?! Those humans tried to throw their own kind into our world, thinking that would give them good luck or something!" I said back. "That kid doesn't deserve to be here and they don't deserve the blessings of the gods after what they did to him!"

"Even so, avenging the young boy through harm isn't the way to go. Violence gives way to revenge and revenge births another. It's a never-ending cycle that cannot be stopped unless one person realizes this. That's the same with Demons as they were born closer to the darkness. We are creatures who are easily driven by our negative emotions and if we're not too careful, well... We're no different to the Wild Demons and monsters."

I guess he's right. I'm no better with those human villagers if I do hurt them.

"Not to worry. I'll make sure to keep him safe even if you refuse. I will not allow anyone or anything to hurt him under my watch." Casia suddenly bows to me with his fist on his chest. "That is my [Dark Vow] as your guardian and mentor."

My eyes widened when he said those words. A [Dark Vow] is supposed to be a big promise made by Demons if they are super serious about it. But just hearing it from Casia is a bit shocking for me.

"Hey! Raise your head a bit! That's a bit too much for a [Dark Vow] you taught me before!" I pleaded. "Besides, I didn't say I won't let him stay in my mansion."

Casia gasped and said, "You don't mean..."

I knew he was going to react that way. "Yep! He can stay here as long as he likes!" I declare with a grin. "Human or not, I never had a friend at my age before. It's my best chance to have one and Aster would feel the same."

I could hear his thoughts of approval as soon as I said all of this. Well, there's also the same anger I also felt from our Synchronize ability, but I don't think I can repeat that to Casia.

"I understand. There is still the matter of the aftereffects of the Demon Territory, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I'll inform him immediately," Casia said with a nod. "Thank you for understanding, Vander."

"No. Thank you for bringing him here, Casia. I would have done the same if I was in your position. I know humans are also easily corrupted by their goals, but I never thought how twisted his parents and villagers did to him just to get their Gods' blessings."

"Even if it went through, I doubt most of them accept their methods. As for the God of Chaos, that's another issue. But again, that's another bridge to cross if we get there."

God of Chaos... I have a feeling I don't want to know until I'm ready. Besides, I don't know who are the other gods besides Our Grace.

"Why don't you go back inside and rest? You have been tending to the garden for a while and I can tell from the lavenders you have the same love and care as your Master."

I smile before I bow and leave the garden and the human boy to him. Honestly, I'm happy about it, too. Sure, it's a pain to tend the garden every day. But I'm glad that I can take care of the flowers Master and I loved them so much.

However, things might be different in the mansion with the human boy around. I still don't know the full details behind his situation other than the village ritual he had gone through, but I hope he has a better time here than in his village.