The morning quickly came. At the crack of dawn, Ezrel’s eyes opened. He stretched his arms over his head with a yawn. Rubbing the sleepiness away from his eyes, he pushed the blanket away from his naked body. With a flick of his hand, he cast a fire spell on the bowl containing fresh water. In the meantime, he parted the curtains and stared at the forest surrounding the cabin. The water warmed up after a short time. Ezrel used it to wash up his face and teeth. He combed his hair and used a wet towel to clean his horns. After putting on a clean set of clothes, he gazed at the cloak and mask hanging on the door. He was glad to have cast a soundproof barrier around his room last night. He needed all the sleep he could get.

Opening the door of his bedroom, he met the silent maid already waiting for him. He knew little about her, but Ezrel was certain she was loyal. In the palace, she was one of the low-ranked maids working to clean the halls. But when Serik Albimbert’s men invaded, she stayed while the others fled. It was a naïve and foolish decision, but she was the reason they could now live so comfortably.

While she escaped the castle with Ezrel, she didn’t leave unscathed. She fought the men, trying to get to him while he gathered all the resources they would need. In addition, she had no training in fighting. Against a handful of soldiers, she didn’t stand a chance. A knife was pressed against her throat as they held her down and raped her. Yet, she fought, she scratched, she bit. They, therefore, cut off her tongue and broke her arms and legs. Ezrel saved her, but it was already too late. She spent weeks recovering from her injuries. Although healed, scars covered her body, but the deepest and darkest ones were the scars invisible to the eyes.

“Good morning,” Ezrel greeted as she slightly bowed her head in response. “Did you sleep well?”

She tilted her head to the side and frowned.

“Of course not,” Ezrel shook his head. “Let’s get breakfast ready. It’s going to be a long day.”

The maid followed a few steps behind Ezrel. They reached the kitchen, and he was surprised to see their breakfast already cooked and ready to be eaten. It was a simple meal. It was the same as every other day, but he appreciated her effort and dedication.

“Thank you,” Ezrel smiled as she nodded.

They sat down next to each other as they silently enjoyed their breakfast. Tearing the bread into a smaller piece, he pierced the egg yolk with it. Then, he warmed his body with a spoonful of ham and potato cream stew. The maid slowly chewed as she enjoyed the soup more. While she was halfway through her meal, Ezrel was done.

“Enjoy your food. I’ll set the table and wake them up,” Ezrel stood up before placing the dirty dishes into the sink. “Stop, I will manage,” he added when he saw her gulping her food.

She frowned. It was her job. He didn’t need to dirty his hands with such tasks. She only finally agreed to it since he didn’t seem to budge on his decision.

“Eat more,” he scooped another bowl for her. “Then we will go shopping.”

She gave him a nod before dipping her bread into the stew. Then Ezrel left the kitchen to set the dining table. He knew the couple didn't clean the table last night after their meal. However, everything was tidy. He grabbed clean plates and bowls before methodically placing them on the table.

Once everything was ready, he walked to his master's bedroom. He straightened up his clothes before knocking on the door. He heard the bedsheets rustle, followed by a low, guttural growl.

“What?”

“Your Majesty, it's time to wake up,” Ezrel politely answered, unfazed by the harsh tone.

“The sun's barely up,” the King groaned.

“We have a long day of travel before us. Breakfast is ready.”

“We will be there in a minute.”

Kian yawned as he now could not fall back asleep. He hated being awakened so early in the morning, but duties called. Rare the days he could sleep in. He tore himself from Malak’s embrace and got out of bed. Half-naked, he went to do his morning routine. Disturbed by the sound of dripping water, Malak stirred. He was about to fall back asleep when he felt the empty, cold spot next to him.

“It’s too early,” Malak whined as he shifted in bed.

Kian turned around and took in the sight in front of him. A white blanket barely covered his lover's naked chest as he lay in bed. Despite not being muscular like Kian, Malak's muscle lines could be seen.

Demons had a higher metabolism than humans. Therefore, the body didn’t tend to store fat. Also, the use of magic required a considerable amount of energy. This was also true for those without magical abilities, or with little to none, though they could gain weight more easily. Other advantages included enhanced physical abilities and faster healing power.

“I know, but we have a long day in front of us,” Kian answered as he sat on the bed. “Breakfast is ready too.”

Malak stretched his arms with a yawn. “Alright.”

A while later, the couple made it to the dining room, where Ezrel and the maid waited. They pulled the chair out so the noble pair could sit down. Efficiently, their breakfast was served. It was a fancier breakfast than the one the attendants had. While including the ham and potato stew, they also had buttery pâtisseries and bread with a small ramekin containing fruit jam, eggs, sausages, a bowl of fresh local fruits, and a cup of hot coffee and tea.

Like last night, the food was extravagant, but Malak didn’t say a word. In the conditions they were now living in, he would have preferred simpler dishes. However, he didn’t want to hurt the maid and Ezrel’s efforts. Food shouldn’t be wasted.

Once Kian started eating, Malak grabbed his knife and spread jam on the buttery pastry in a crescent shape. He took a bite of his food, and joy overflowed his taste buds. In no time, he emptied his plate.

“Did you cook it?” Malak asked the maid, who politely nodded.

“It was delicious.”

Her lips curved into a grimace as if she had forgotten how to smile.

“Your Majesties, everything has been taken care of. We are ready to depart whenever you’re ready,” Ezrel explained.

“Let’s go then,” Kian nodded as he stood up.

As well to the black cloaks they wore, Kian, Ezrel, and the maid wore silver masks bearing the old imperial crest engraved in gold on them. Malak was the only one in white and without a mask. He felt nervous about the future. The road in front of them contained endless dangers. There was also no guarantee they’ll get the throne back. However, Malak couldn’t voice his worry.

Outside the wooden cabin, four horses were waiting for them. Once again, Malak’s mount was the only one who stood out from the other three. Only his horse was black.

“Good horse,” Kian praised as he caressed one’s snout.

“They were the best on the market. They are not only strong, but they are also fast and will carry us until Biraz,” Ezrel answered as he checked the saddles.

The four of them quickly mounted their respective horse. The front was led by Ezrel, while Malak and the maid were in the middle, and Kian was last. Trotting on a dirt path, most of the ride was in silence. They were on the lookout for monsters or bandits. As they got deeper into the dense forest, the leaves hid most of the sunlight from reaching the ground. The humidity was high and the air thick. It was suffocating.

The distance separating the town of Gathun and the village of Biraz was eighty kilometres (fifty miles). On horseback, the travel would take at least half a day. However, many factors came into play, such as the weather, the type of terrain, the weight they carry, etc.

“How are you doing?” Kian asked Malak after reaching his side.

Both horses walked side by side as Malak clenched the reign. “We should introduce cars. This is harsh on my rear.”

A worry immediately took over his features. “Let’s take a break.”

“We barely started. The horse will need a break in a few hours. Let’s pause then.”

“I’m sorry,” Kian apologized sincerely.

“I’m alright, but next time you’ll have to restrain yourself,” Malak whispered.

“Everyone heard you last night. I wasn’t the only one at fault,” Kian smirked.

“The barrier, you didn’t?” Malak blushed before quickly turning his gaze to the other two persons in front of them.

Mad and embarrassed, Malak used the stirrup strapped to his feet to encourage the horse into a trot. Kian, who was still smiling, was being left behind as he gained speed. For the next hours, Malak ignored Kian. The latter tried to apologize multiple times but in vain. While they took several small breaks, they couldn't stay in the same place for too long. Monsters were roaming the area, and they would rather not engage in unnecessary fighting.

Hours later, they finally reached the edge of the forest. The sudden sunlight temporarily blinded them. A rush of fresh air ruffled their hair as the horses neighed. Grabbing their reign firmly, the four riders quickly calmed their mounts. The view in front of them was worthy of a wallpaper. Overhead, a clear blue sky stood over a vast expanse of green land. Because of their presence, the herbivores suddenly tipped their heads upwards with pointed ears.

“There’s a river nearby. The horses can rest, and we can eat some food,” Ezrel informed the group. “Once we reach the river, it will only take two or three hours to reach the village.”

It's better to arrive while the sun is still up. This will reduce suspicion among the villagers,” Kian added as Ezrel nodded.

The horses galloped as the riders urged them on. They quickly reached the river as Ezrel directed. Seemingly untouched by man, the water was sparkling under the sun. Recognizing the sound of flowing water, the horses grew restless. The long hours of riding had made them thirsty. After finding a suitable spot, the riders got off of their mounts. As Ezrel tended to the horses, the maid prepared a light lunch by starting a fire.

As a result of the long ride, Malak's back was stiff. He stretched and felt a satisfying pop. Next to him, Kian did the same.

“Cars are far more comfortable,” the king commented as Malak smiled.

“Told you.”

“Ready for your lessons?”

Malak nodded. “Let’s do this!”

Without wasting time, Kian explained the fundamentals of magic. The way magic materialized differed from person to person. For Kian, his appeared as darkness. As a result, he could accomplish a lot with little constraint. While he could not create healing magic, the concept was the same.

“Healing magic is quite rare among demons, as we often associate it with divine magic,” Kian explained. “But that's not always the case.”

“I have used it before, but they were often accidents,” Malak mumbled as he concentrated.

After a minute, nothing happened. Being born a commoner, he didn’t learn how to control it in his childhood like the other high-ranked families. He was a blank slate. The possibilities were endless.

“Your strengths came from your emotions. This is common among children, and it is an unstable approach. You must have a clear idea of what you want and draw energy from your core.”

“Where’s the core?”

Kian pointed at Malak’s chest, where his heart was. “I suppose you can call it a soul in the other world. Demons who lose their core do not live for very long afterwards.”

“All demons possess a core? But it’s not everyone that has an ability with magic,” Malak asked skeptically.

“Exactly, but don’t ask me why. We still don’t know,” Kian shrugged. “Anyway, back to training. First, try creating a ball of light.”

Malak remembered the warm little ball in their room last night. He quickly pushed Kian’s naked body out of his mind. He had to concentrate. Malak frowned at his extended hand as he tried to draw the energy from his core. After what seemed an eternity, he felt a rush of warmth travelling from his heart to his hand.

“I did it!” Malak exclaimed as he showed the orb floating above his open palm.

“I’m proud of you,” Kian smiled before kissing his lover’s temple. “Remember that feeling, and you can do anything.”

Overjoyed, Malak saw the maid struggling to light a fire. He glanced at Kian, who simply nodded. The young demon made his way toward the girl and proposed to help her. With a deep breath, he extended both his hands toward the sticks of wood. He imagined the warmth of the fire against his palms, the whimpering hisses, the cracks, and pops of the fire consuming the wood, and the smell of musky smoke filling his nostrils. Once again, heat travelled from his core to his hands. The first sparks of fire appeared, followed by a flame.

“Good job,” Kian praised once more as the maid clapped.

“Thank you,” Malak smiled shyly.

Suddenly, a knife materialized in Kian’s hands. Without warning, he stabbed his shoulder. Blood spurted out from the injury. Shocked, Malak quickly placed his hand on the cut to stop the bleeding. At the same time, the maid tore a piece of her dress to bandage the injury.