The sky was clear. The sun gently caressed the castle gardens, and a cool breeze moved the tree leaves and flower petals with delicate grace. The courtyard was a charming place, full of marble fountains, stone pathways, perfectly trimmed bushes, and blooming trees.
There, walking side by side, were Ras and Princess Elysia.
Despite the beauty of the place, the atmosphere was silent. Almost uncomfortable.
Elysia, as always, walked with her gaze lowered, her hands clasped in front of her waist, and her steps were so delicate they barely made a sound against the stone.
Ras glanced at her from the corner of his eye and was the first to break the silence:
—"Princess Elysia… I'd appreciate it if you could tell me the real reason why you asked me to take this walk."
She stopped for a moment, lifted her gaze just slightly, and with a faint blush on her cheeks, said softly:
—"I… just wanted to be with you."
That moment of honesty—or at least apparent honesty—made a thousand thoughts explode inside Ras's mind.
"Why now? Why does she suddenly want to be with me?"
"Right after a meeting where I was almost accused of murder?"
"What is the royal family plotting?"
"Is she just another pawn on the chessboard?"
As they continued walking, Ras kept his smile… but inside, each step deepened his suspicion.
"What if someone from the castle sent her to extract information from me? Her, of all people—the one who seems so innocent. Maybe they expect me to lower my guard… to trust her… and confess if I killed Eron or not."
Ras turned his eyes to the path, and after a few more steps, he suddenly stopped. Elysia stopped too, startled.
—"Princess," he said kindly but more firmly, "let's be direct. Why did you really want to come with me?"
—"Eh?" she stammered, surprised.
—"Don't lie," he added, still smiling. "I know someone sent you. Who was it?"
Elysia's eyes widened. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her hands trembled slightly, her fingers fidgeting. She lowered her gaze even more.
—"I-I don't know what you're talking about… I just…"
—"Princess," Ras interrupted gently, leaning slightly toward her, "you're very nervous. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to… I just ask that you don't let others manipulate you."
Elysia pressed her lips together, feeling either shame… or guilt.
Ras sighed, crossed his arms, and looked up at the sky for a few seconds. Then he spoke again, this time in a more relaxed tone:
—"I don't know who's behind all this, but I swear I know nothing about what happened to Eron."
—"R-really?" Elysia asked, still trembling.
—"Really," he replied convincingly. "This whole thing is a mess. Just four days ago, I was teleported to this world, and already they see me as a suspect. I want to know what happened too, and I want to help with the investigation. But playing games of betrayal won't get us anywhere."
Princess Elysia finally lifted her gaze, her eyes trembling. It was clear she wasn't part of the game by choice. Her eyes weren't those of a manipulator… but of someone being used.
—"I… didn't want to do it… I just… they asked me to."
—"I understand," said Ras, stepping closer. "But be careful. This castle is full of wolves dressed in gold and silk. And you… you seem like the only lamb."
She lowered her gaze again.
—"Thank you," she whispered.
Ras offered his arm.
—"Shall we continue walking?"
Elysia hesitated, but then nodded softly and took his arm gently. They walked on through the path among the trees, while the tension slowly began to fade…
But in Ras's mind, the chess game had not stopped.
"At least now I know the younger princess isn't as clueless as she looks… but she's not strong enough to resist either. She'll be useful… if I take good care of her."
In the other hand.The royal meeting had ended. some still murmuring theories about what had happened to Eron.
The crown princess said no more. She left the chamber with a frown, her steps firm yet elegant as she moved through the corridors.
When she reached her room, she locked the door with two bolts, drew the velvet purple curtains, and walked directly toward a massive, ancient mirror—its frame etched with demonic engravings. She kept it hidden behind an enchanted curtain her maid never dared touch.
—"Awaken…" she whispered commandingly, raising a hand over the glass. "It's time to speak."
At first, the mirror remained dark. But slowly, a purple mist began to swirl, and a silhouette emerged—massive horns, crimson eyes, and a grin full of razor-sharp fangs.
—"Princess…" spoke a deep voice, as if echoing from the depths of hell.
She bowed her head.
—"Forgive me, Lord of the Abyss. I couldn't deliver the hero's soul to you."
The Demon King clicked his teeth, as if mildly annoyed… but nothing more.
—"It matters not," he replied indifferently. "My work continues… it's you who's falling behind in your own ambitions. I'm just selling a product."
The princess's expression tightened, clearly offended.
—"I've done everything I can… but too many eyes are watching me."
The Demon King tilted his head.
—"Then tell me… why do you act during peacetime? What is it you truly seek?"
The crown princess smiled arrogantly, crossing her arms.
—"I will never have peace… until all races of this world kneel before me."
The demon in the mirror let out a guttural laugh.
—"I see… and to do that, you need military force."
—"Exactly," she answered firmly. "Alliances are fragile. Diplomacy is useless. If I want to unify the world, I'll do it through power. I don't care how many must fall."
—"And that's why," said the Demon King with a grin, "you wanted to offer me the hero's soul."
—"Yes." She nodded without hesitation. "You reshape souls… and I want you to create a lich for me. An undead being of magic level five. Indestructible. Eternally loyal. A general to conquer them all in my name."
The Demon King narrowed his eyes.
—"I can do it. But for that, I need a soul of extreme power. Peasants, soldiers, even ordinary mages won't do. A hero's soul… now that's a different story."
The princess stepped closer to the mirror.
—"I'll send you another soon. I promise. I won't fail next time."
The Demon King smiled wide, his fangs gleaming in the shadows.
—"As long as you pay well… I don't care how many times you try."
Then she asked, raising a brow:
—"And what did you do with Eron's soul?"
The demon gave a low, amused snort.
—"Ah, that one… yes, I received it. It was decent. I turned it into a low-ranking dragon."
The princess's eyes widened in surprise.
—"A dragon…? Low-ranking?" she murmured. "Even so, that… that could destroy entire cities…"
—"Exactly. His soul wasn't strong enough for a lich… but for a small dragon, it was perfect. I released it in the dark southern swamps. Perhaps it'll find its way to you someday… or perhaps not."
The princess stood in silence for a moment, processing everything. Then she said:
—"I'll send more. You'll have what you want."
—"Excellent," he replied, satisfied. "Then our pact remains. But don't waste my time again. I want souls and money."
The demon's image slowly faded, leaving the mirror empty and dark once more.
The princess stood before it, breathing deeply.
—"Very soon…" she whispered. "Very soon… all of this will be mine."
In the other hand. The lord and king of the abyss. Seated with his face partially hidden beneath a black cloak, his eyes burned like embers in the heart of shadow. His aura was so intense that even the wraiths of the abyss trembled in his presence, not daring to come too close.
He rested an elbow on the armrest of his throne, supporting his chin with a sharp, clawed finger. He was thinking… in silence.
—"So… she wants to unite all the races under her rule," he muttered, his deep voice echoing through the walls of black stone. "To govern in times of peace… using violence as her tool. How… interesting."
He frowned, and his body began to shift. His blood-red skin turned pale. His horns withdrew. His features softened. In a matter of seconds, his demonic form transformed into that of a human.
A man with dark eyes, long straight hair, and skin white as marble. Elegant. Stoic.
The face he used when visiting other realms… in disguise.
He crossed one leg over the other and stared into the void.
—"If she succeeds in conquering all races… that includes me. Am I to be one of her 'subjugated'? One more piece in her empire?" he asked with disdain.
Silence.
—"The races of this world are allies… they trade, they share resources. Even humans and demons collaborate. And yet… she offers me gold and souls in exchange for military power."
He tapped the armrest with his fingers, deep in thought.
—"I can do it. Of course I can. Transform souls… turn them into monsters. Goblins, ogres, wyverns… even dragons. It depends on the strength of the soul I receive. That is my gift. That is my curse."
His eyes darkened, clouded with a distant memory. Then he shook his head.
—"But now that I know her true goal… to build an army to control them all… I don't like it. I don't enjoy working for someone who thinks they can use me. Who sees me as a servant. I am the Lord and King of the Abyss. Not a weapons dealer."
He looked down.
A crack opened at his feet, and from it rose hundreds of souls—glowing like ghostly lights, moaning in silence. Awaiting judgment. Awaiting their fate.
—"And yet…" he whispered as he lifted one of the souls between his fingers, "I need the coin. My kingdom needs resources. My agents need gold. My plans… require time."
He closed his hand. The soul compressed and vanished into blackness. A second later, a new monster was born in the abyss, roaring into existence.
—"I'll keep taking her souls. I'll transform them. I'll give her what she wants. But she must not be mistaken…"
His eyes flared again with infernal fire.
—"…when the time comes, I too will claim what's mine."
The throne shook. The abyss roared. And the monsters under his rule bowed before his will.