Tahk

Tahk

Tahk. Clink.

Vshhhhhhhhhhh….

Rey spaced out while wandering through the cave to the sound of his echoing footsteps, the bracelets present on his right arm occasionally collided with each other as he was walking. It has been three days since he got there, three days since he lost everything. The sound of flowing water could be heard rumbling, a river must be nearby. The cave was filled with luminous gems that lit the area around it, the gems seem to be absorbing the ambient mana. Some gems were brighter than most and some just faintly gave light off.

Tahk

Tahk. Clink.

Tahk

VSSHHHHH….

He followed where the sound was coming from, the gentle rumbles of the river started to become more audible as he nears the source. He would occasionally find berries that grow in the crevices found on the walls of the cave along the way, but that could not sate his hunger alone.

'Weird'

He thought to himself, there were no beasts nor monsters to be found in the cave. He must either be unlucky or most of the beasts here have been hunted down, he lets out a sigh and shrugs off his thoughts.

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He reaches the source of the sound, it was not a river but a small lake. Unlike a calm lake its waters were churning and a dim light was pulsing at the center of the lake. He inferred that the source of the light was below the water's surface. The lake was surrounded by greenery, fruits and flowers of vibrant colors could be found near the bank of the lake.

He sits down to observe the water, it was drinkable. He scooped water sloppily into his mouth wetting his cracked dry lips. His pale face regained some of its color, refreshed by the cool water, he went around and gathered the fruits he deemed edible and sat down near the bank and started eating.

'Zen and Maki would undoubtedly jump in the lake with no second thoughts of their safety, if….they were still here….'

Lost in his thoughts, tears began to stream down his face without him realizing. The pent up emotions he had been keeping finally escaped his heart with no one listening to his cries. After a few moments have passed his tears began to stop. He failed to notice something that he should have noticed earlier. The flowing sound of water that should be present was gone, the space he was in was filled with complete silence as if the environment itself was mourning with him.

He looks at the lake and the waters were still churning with intensity the dim pulsing light was still the same, but the sound was absent. A chill was felt travelling down his spine, he didn't know what was happening but his instincts were screaming at him to run away.

Tahk Tahk Tahk Tahk

Tahk Tahk

Tahk Tahk Tahk

Vshh....

His footsteps echoed through the cave as he ran frantically, he did not know what he was running from, but fear was carved deep into his heart. He ran for minutes without stopping. As he got to a certain distance away from the lake, the sound of water churning could be heard he was too panicked to notice this.

Huff huff

He gasped for air, he was running at full speed. His legs were hurting and his feet was burning due to overextertion.

Tahk

Tahk

Only upon stopping to rest did he realize those footsteps weren't echoes. He went on full alert, he scanned his surroundings and took on a fighting stance. He grabbed the air and a dagger appeared instantly in his right hand, the dagger was white in color it looked like it was made from marble but only a fool would assume what it was made of. The bracelets present on his right arm began to crumble and started travelling to his torso creating a thin piece of metallic armor.

"Show yourself!"

He shouted.

.

.

.

Only silence followed. The same phenomenon happened, his voice which was supposed to echo through the cave did not echo back, the sound of footsteps began again as Rey stood still.

Tahk

Tahk

Tahk

The footsteps come to a stop. Rey already knew that he was cornered and he couldn't do anything, he stood his ground and prepared for the worst.

Vwooooooooooom....

A tear in space began to open in front of him as if someone was slowly cutting it diagonally from the other side. The tear in space widened and a figure appeared. It slowly stepped out of the opening and looked at Rey.

The levitating figure looked emaciated with bandages covering its arms. A worn out hood covered its face and a metallic chest plate protected its torso. The figure's bottom half was covered by its robe. Its appearance looked like an illusion as it was swaying with the non-present wind.

(https://imgur.com/a/tRTGwlu )

The figure tilted its head as it looked at Rey with curiosity. It pointed its claws at him and uttered,

"Na-van-tal-und-drux…"

'Demon tongue'

Rey mumbled inwardly. The fear he had felt a while ago couldn't compare to what he was feeling right now.

'Those that show the capability to understand things to an extent are usually high ranked demons. Most importantly the demon in front of me is a humanoid type, the most cunning of them all.'

"Hello….human….hm…hmm."

The demon greeted Rey with a raspy voice and a friendly tone. If he could see under his hood the demon was currently smiling at him in a creepy way.

Rey was shocked he couldn't utter a word after the demon's greeting. It spoke in his native tongue the thought he had a while ago was completely shattered, a high ranking demon was an understatement.

"A-arch demon..?"

Rey unconsciously let out a question. A cold sweat formed on his forehead and fear was very visible in his face. His body was trembling and his voice was weak.

The demon noticing this moves a step closer to Rey. A deep smile was etched on the demon's face behind the hood.

"Corrrrrrreeeeeecccctttt.."

Rey's legs gave out and he fell to the floor. The demon was looking down on him with the eyes of a predator. Rey tried to peer through the dark hood but all he saw was a deep abyss and two golden eyes staring right through him.

"Do not worrryyyy humaaannnn, I alsoooo loosssssssttt EVERYTHINGSSSSS…"

Anger was present in the demon's voice. He gestured Rey to stand up, threatening him if he doesn't follow. Rey flinched and quickly stood up, he didn't flinch because of the threats he heard but because the demon knew his situation.

"I camee here to make a deaallllsssstttt…I am criticalllyyyy wouunddeed and I wont lasttttsssss long.."

Rey looked at the demon with confused eyes, questioning why the demon would tell him that it was critically wounded. The fear present in his heart slightly disappeared. He tightened the grip on his dagger and he looked at the demon with dangerous eyes.

"I knoooowwss what youu are thinkinnn humannnn…"

The space they were in was instantly covered by thick killing intent that emanated from the demon. Rey struggled to breathe and his thoughts were muddled.

Clink!

Rey unconsciously dropped the dagger. Strength from his body suddenly disappeared, he staggered but he remained standing up mustering most of his remaining strength on his legs.

The demon removed its hood, its face was objectively handsome in human standards a high nose, Pale ash skin, Silver blonde hair. Its eyes were covered with a dark cloth but one could see a golden dim light behind them. A creepily wide smile appeared on its face showing its sharp teeth.

"Don't you…want to seeeee…yourrrr…friieeendsss..aliveeee..once…..mooreee?"