Chaos erupted throughout the underground city.
Demons rushed through the streets.
Children were escorted toward shelters.
Guards armed themselves and raced toward the northern tunnel.
The alarm continued echoing through the cavern.
Lothan stood still.
His crimson eyes focused on the tunnel entrance.
That energy.
It wasn't human.
It wasn't demon.
But it felt strangely familiar.
As though he had encountered it long ago.
Elder Selene stepped beside him.
"Can you identify it?"
"No."
Lothan narrowed his eyes.
"But whatever it is, it knows we're here."
The elderly demon cursed under her breath.
For centuries their people had hidden successfully.
Now someone had found them.
The timing was too suspicious.
Almost as though someone had been waiting for Lothan to awaken.
Suddenly a guard came running toward them.
"Elder!"
"What is it?"
The guard looked confused.
"There's only one intruder."
Everyone froze.
"One?" Selene asked.
"Yes."
The guard looked embarrassed.
"And..."
"And what?"
"It's a girl."
Silence.
Even Lothan blinked.
"A girl?"
The guard nodded.
"She's demanding to see a silver-haired man."
Lothan immediately felt a headache coming.
Somehow, he already knew who it was.
Several minutes earlier...
Aria stood at the entrance of the hidden tunnel with her hands on her hips.
Around her, dozens of nervous demon guards pointed weapons at her.
She appeared completely unimpressed.
"I told you already."
The guards exchanged uncertain looks.
"I'm looking for Lothan."
"No humans allowed."
"I'm not leaving."
"No humans allowed."
"I brought food."
The guards hesitated.
One of them lowered his weapon slightly.
Another guard elbowed him.
"Don't be tempted."
"It's fried chicken."
"Stay strong."
Aria sighed.
"This is ridiculous."
The guards nodded.
"It is."
"Then let me through."
"No."
Aria groaned.
Back in the city, Kaelen looked shocked.
"How did she even find this place?"
Lothan pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I have no idea."
The truth was, he wasn't even sure how she found him after he left the apartment.
Elder Selene crossed her arms.
"You know this human?"
"Unfortunately."
The old woman raised an eyebrow.
"Unfortunately?"
Before Lothan could answer, another voice interrupted.
"Lothan!"
The crowd turned.
Aria ran through the tunnel entrance.
Several guards chased behind her.
"Wait!"
"Stop!"
"You can't just run in!"
Aria ignored them.
Moments later, she reached Lothan.
Then punched him in the shoulder.
Hard.
The entire city went silent.
Thousands of demons stared.
Kaelen nearly fainted.
One guard dropped his spear.
Elder Selene blinked.
Nobody had ever seen anyone strike Lothan and survive.
Yet Aria looked completely unafraid.
"What was that for?" Lothan asked.
"You disappeared!"
"You were sleeping."
"That's not an excuse."
Lothan stared at her.
Aria stared back.
The underground city watched nervously.
Finally, Lothan sighed.
"I suppose that's fair."
The crowd collectively exhaled.
Several demons looked disappointed.
They had expected something dramatic.
Instead, it looked like two friends arguing.
Aria suddenly noticed the thousands of eyes staring at her.
"...why is everyone looking at me?"
No one answered.
Then she pointed at the nearest demon.
"Horns."
The demon touched his horns.
"Yes?"
She pointed at another.
"Tail."
The demon nodded.
"Correct."
Then realization hit her.
Her eyes widened.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned toward Lothan.
"You didn't tell me demons were real."
Lothan looked genuinely confused.
"You never asked."
The underground city erupted into laughter.
Even Elder Selene struggled to maintain a serious expression.
Aria stared at him in disbelief.
"I thought you were joking when you talked about kingdoms and wars."
"I wasn't."
"You could have explained that!"
"I assumed it was obvious."
"It was not obvious!"
For the first time since arriving, genuine laughter spread throughout the city.
The tension eased.
The fear lessened.
And surprisingly, Lothan found himself enjoying it.
Just a little.
Later that evening, Elder Selene reluctantly allowed Aria to remain.
Although she clearly didn't trust humans.
The group gathered around a large table.
Aria sat across from Lothan.
Kaelen sat nearby.
Several elders watched carefully.
The atmosphere remained cautious.
Until food arrived.
Aria immediately began eating.
Lothan simply observed.
"You should eat."
"I don't need to."
"You haven't eaten all day."
Lothan remained silent.
Aria narrowed her eyes.
Then she grabbed a piece of bread and tossed it at him.
It hit his forehead.
Several elders nearly had heart attacks.
Lothan slowly picked up the bread.
The room became silent.
Everyone waited.
Then, surprisingly, he took a bite.
Aria smiled triumphantly.
"There."
Lothan sighed.
"You are very annoying."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it as one."
For some reason, several demons smiled.
It was a strange sight.
Their king.
The feared Demon of the Abyss.
Being bullied by a human woman.
Much later, after everyone had retired for the night, Lothan stood alone on a balcony overlooking the underground city.
The artificial stars embedded in the cavern ceiling glowed softly.
The city looked peaceful.
For once.
Footsteps approached.
He didn't need to turn around.
Aria joined him.
Neither spoke for a while.
The silence felt comfortable.
Eventually, Aria looked at him.
"You seem lonely."
The words caught him off guard.
Lothan looked away.
For a moment, memories surfaced.
His family.
Nethoria.
Everything he had lost.
"I suppose I am."
Aria smiled softly.
"Then you're not alone anymore."
Something stirred deep within his chest.
A strange feeling.
Warm.
Gentle.
Dangerous.
For a brief moment, the curse branded upon his soul seemed to react.
A faint pain spread through his heart.
Then disappeared.
Neither of them noticed.
Far away, hidden beyond the underground city, a pair of golden eyes opened in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
And smiling.
Because something had begun to change.
And if the ancient curse was truly awakening...
Then the world was about to remember why even the gods feared it.
To be continued...