Night had fallen over the Sky Reign, its serene glow dimmed to mark the passage of time. The melodies of the bards whispered softly in the distance, their ethereal tunes weaving through the quiet like the faint heartbeat of the realm. Normally, their songs brought Lilith a sense of calm, but tonight, they felt hollow—a cruel backdrop to the storm raging inside her.
She sat by her window, consumed by the memory of the conversation she had overheard. The cold words of her father and Lucio replayed in her mind like an unwelcome refrain. To be spoken of as though she were a mere tool—an object to be traded—was a betrayal she hadn't expected, even from him. Her anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.
A faint shimmer at the edge of her vision caught her attention. She glanced down and froze. An ethereal essence, dark and carmine, had begun to swirl around her hands like wisps of smoke. It pulsed faintly, almost alive, responding to the turmoil within her. For a moment, Lilith stared at it, unease breaking through her fury. She had seen traces of magic before, but never anything like this. Perhaps it was tied to her royal angel blood, she reasoned. Shaking her head, she brushed the thought aside. The anger remained, burning within her like a flame that refused to die.
A sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Lady Lilith," came the soft voice of a maid. "Dinner is served. The King requests your presence at the dining table."
Lilith didn't move from her seat. "I'm not hungry right now," she said, her tone flat but firm. "I'll eat later."
There was a pause. "As you wish, my lady," the maid replied hesitantly, her footsteps retreating down the hall.
Lilith exhaled sharply and stood. The walls of her chamber felt suffocating as she paced the room, trying to burn off the anger simmering inside her. But the effort was futile. The storm brewing within her needed an outlet, yet she had none—at least not tonight.
Exhaustion eventually overtook her, the strange essence draining her energy as though she had run a marathon. She climbed into bed, the weight of her emotions pressing heavily on her chest. Sleep came fitfully, a restless haze of frustration and unease.
The next morning, the Sky Reign was as radiant as ever, its eternal light basking the realm in serene brilliance. Lilith rose from her bed, groggy but determined to face the day. After taking a long shower to clear her mind, she dressed and made her way to the kitchen for breakfast. The events of the previous night lingered in her mind, but she forced herself to focus on the present.
As she entered, her steps faltered. There he was—the very man she had been avoiding. Azareon sat at the dining table, his piercing gaze fixed on her with a mock smile tugging at his lips. He seemed relaxed, satisfied even, as though he had been waiting for this moment.
"Good morning, dear," he greeted smoothly. "I waited for you here all night yesterday, but you didn't come."
Lilith sighed, her tone carefully measured. "Sorry, I was really tired," she replied, her words polite but distant. "Is there something you need from me?"
Azareon's smile widened slightly, his sharp features betraying a faint glimmer of amusement. "Yes," he said, his voice calm and casual. "I have good news for you."
Lilith felt her chest tighten, her instincts screaming a warning. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.
"You will be getting a fiancé," Azareon announced, the words as casual as if he were discussing the weather.
Her heart dropped. Her breath hitched. Lilith's eyes widened in shock, and her pulse quickened uncontrollably. She had thought he would bring this up eventually, but not so soon. The weight of his announcement crushed her, and for a moment, she struggled to respond. The betrayal she had felt the night before now sharpened into raw defiance, bubbling just beneath the surface.
....
Far from the floating sanctuaries of the Sky Reign, chaos reigned in another corner of the vast world. A demon army marched relentlessly, leaving devastation in its wake, their dark forces sweeping through cities without pause. Now, they had reached a peaceful realm, home to magical creatures who had long lived in harmony with their surroundings.
The battlefield was a stark contrast to the serenity that had once defined the realm. Fires blazed, and the cries of the wounded filled the air as the demons tore through the defenses of the magical creatures. Among the wreckage stood the queen of the realm, an elven figure of fierce beauty. Her shimmering body was bloodied and bruised, yet she stood tall, her voice ringing with fury.
"Why are you attacking us?" she demanded, her words trembling with anger and pain. "We have done nothing to provoke you!"
Velmoth, the leader of the demon army, loomed over her. He was tall and menacing, with a human-like frame covered in shimmering dark scales. Two sharp horns curved from either side of his head, and his red eyes glowed with cruel indifference. He regarded her with a chilling calm before replying.
"Our goal is to conquer land for now," Velmoth said, his voice deep and unyielding, as though destruction itself spoke through him. "We don't really have an objective yet." His words were laced with apathy, a casual cruelty that cut deeper than any blade.
Before the queen could respond, another figure stepped forward, his presence a sudden shadow that seemed to still the battlefield. He was a young boy, no taller than 1.6 meters, but his aura was overpowering. Dark energy radiated from him, pure malice crackling in the air around him like a tangible force. His red eyes gleamed with unnatural power, and Velmoth, despite his fearsome nature, gave a slight bow of acknowledgment.
"Enough for now," the boy commanded, his voice low yet impossibly commanding. "We have more important matters to deal with."
Velmoth clicked his tongue in irritation, glaring down at the queen. "Tsk, what a shit," he sneered, his sharp teeth glinting as he spoke. "You got lucky this time, little queen." Without another word, he turned and leapt into the air, his wings unfurling as he took flight. The demon army followed, the boy at the forefront, his dark energy pulsing as they disappeared into the night sky.
The queen stood frozen, blood trickling down her side as the remnants of her people gathered around her. The peace they had known was gone, and though they had been spared for now, the shadow of the demons loomed heavily over their realm.