After several weeks of near-death experiences—no, Silver corrected himself—training. Perfectly reasonable, totally normal, definitely-not-meant-to-kill-him training under Scarlet. He shuffled through the Torikku compound, one hand pressed to his lower back. "...Everything hurts." And it wasn't an exaggeration.
His shoulders hurt. His legs hurt. His arms hurt.
Silver had discovered muscles he hadn't even known existed—until Scarlet somehow found a way to make them ache too.
Thankfully, today was a rest day.
A glorious, beautiful—rest day.
No Scarlet.
No weapons.
No sparring.
No hearing that dreaded word—"Again."
He shuddered.
Silver had been in the Sien Domain for several weeks now—long enough to start adapting to its strangeness. In that short time, he'd already met people whose names carried serious weight throughout the Domain.
Silver had already crossed paths with three Demon Lords—Zerath, Lunara, and his formidable teacher, Scarlet. He'd even encountered the Demon Queen herself, Leonida. For someone who had only just stepped into the Domain, he'd somehow run into some of its most powerful figures. Yet there was still one person he hadn't met—the one he'd expected to find here above all others: his father, Raven.
Silver's steps slowed as Scarlet's words echoed in his mind—Raven had been searching for him and his mother. She'd said it without hesitation, her certainty unshakable. But Silver found it hard to believe. Too many years had gone by. His memories of his father were faint—just fragments of a voice, a hand on his head, a distant laugh. Every time he tried to hold onto them, they slipped away. If his father really was looking for them, why hadn't he found them? Did Raven even know they were still alive? Did he know what happened to their village, or that his son was here? Silver's gaze drifted to the far-off mountains before lowering again. Would his father even recognize him now?
Silence answered him.
Another voice stirred from deep within his soul.
"Kid."
Silver blinked.
Pandora?
For once, there was no trace of teasing in the ancient dragon's tone.
"You've grown stronger."
Silver glanced down at his hands.
Scarlet's training is paying off.
"It is," Pandora replied without hesitation.
"That woman is merciless, but she understands something most creatures eventually forget."
Silver continued walking.
What's that?
"Power that your body cannot control is worthless."
Silver remained quiet.
Pandora hardly ever gave compliments, so her acknowledging Scarlet really meant something.
"Your muscles are adapting. Your reactions are improving. Your mana circulation is becoming smoother."
A pause.
"But it isn't enough."
Silver frowned.
I know.
"Do you?"
Silver froze mid-step as Pandora's presence shifted within him—not with violence or menace, but with a quiet force. In that moment, he realized just how vast the creature dwelling in his soul truly was.
"The darkness mana around you continues to increase."
Silver raised his palm.
Thin strands of black mana slowly gathered around his fingers.
They twisted silently before fading away.
"My awakening changed you," Pandora said. "Darkness notices you more easily now. Your body attracts it, even when you're not consciously trying."
Silver stared at his hand.
Can I control more of it?
"Eventually."
Not exactly the most comforting answer.
Pandora fell quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her tone was heavier.
"Then remember why you need to."
Silver got it instantly, his expression turning serious.
The Mana Devourers.
"Yes."
Just hearing the name made him uneasy. He still recalled what Pandora and Nella had told him—creatures from beyond their world, beings who didn't conquer for wealth.
They didn't fight over kingdoms, nor did they care about demons, humans, elves, or anything else under the same sky. They fed on mana, and this world was overflowing with it.
Pandora's voice was quiet.
"The last time they came here, countless lives were lost just trying to slow them down."
Silver's fingers curled.
"And they're coming back."
"They will." There was no doubt in her tone.
Silver's chest tightened.
"When?"
"I can't give you a day, a year… maybe not even a decade," Pandora said after a pause. "But you've already been warned. Within a century—perhaps far sooner."
Silver frowned.
"A century sounds like a long time."
"To a human child, maybe," she replied, her voice hardening. "To me, it's nothing."
Silver remembered.
His demon blood meant his lifespan wasn't the same as an ordinary human's.
A century wasn't some distant future he would never see.
He might actually live to see it happen. And if the Mana Devourers arrived sooner… his mother would be there. June and Julie would be there. Cornelius. Scarlet. Everyone he'd met. Entire kingdoms. Entire races. All facing the same enemy. Silver clenched his fist. Could the Demon Lords stop them? Pandora didn't answer right away, and that silence told Silver enough. At last— "Don't make the mistake of thinking strength guarantees survival." Silver's eyes narrowed. "Your Demon Lords are powerful by this era's standards. Some may be far stronger than you've seen." Then Pandora's voice dropped lower. "But the Mana Devourers don't need to defeat every warrior." Silver listened closely.
"They just need to keep feeding."
His face grew grim.
"The more mana they take in, the worse the disaster will get. If they settle in before this world realizes what's going on…"
Pandora halted.
Silver swallowed hard.
Then we're already losing.
"Exactly."
For a while, silence hung between them.
Silver walked on.
The Sien Domain suddenly felt different.
He saw merchants setting up their stalls.
Horned children darting through the streets in playful chases.
Winged demons gliding between tall buildings.
An old demon dozing beside a shop while his irritated wife yelled for him to wake up.
Everyday life.
There were those who had no clue that something might one day come to consume the very mana keeping their world alive.
Silver stared ahead.
Then I need to get stronger.
"Yes."
Strong enough to fight them.
Pandora paused.
"Strong enough to survive them first."
Silver blinked.
"Don't dream of saving the world when you can't yet protect yourself."
Harsh, but Silver understood.
Pandora went on.
"There's darkness mana within me you can borrow."
Silver's focus sharpened.
Your mana?
"A fraction."
The darkness in his soul stirred.
He felt it instantly—an unimaginable reservoir hidden far beyond his reach.
His own darkness mana was a mere pond compared to what lay within Pandora.
Silver frowned.
Would that make me stronger?
"Temporarily."
How much stronger?
"That depends entirely on how much your body can handle."
Silver instantly understood the warning.
And if I overdo it?
"Your body will give out before my mana does."
Silver kept his gaze forward.
Pandora wasn't trying to lure him in. She wasn't showing off. She was giving a warning.
"My power isn't yours, kid."
Silver stayed quiet.
"Remember that."
Her words resonated deep within him.
"Borrowed strength can save you, but it can also make you reliant on something you haven't earned."
Silver remembered Scarlet's lessons well. It was fine to have a favorite weapon, but relying on it too much was risky. Weapons could break, enemies could take them away, and situations could shift in unexpected ways. Now, Pandora was driving home the same point, just in her own way.
"So I shouldn't use it."
"That's not what I said."
Silver blinked.
"If death stands before you, use every resource you have," Pandora's voice was firm. "Pride means nothing when you're dead."
Silver gave a slow nod.
But until then…
"Build your own strength."
A faint smile played at his lips.
"Scarlet would probably agree with you."
"Don't lump me in with that violent woman."
Silver almost chuckled.
The weight on Silver's mind felt a little lighter. He glanced around. Without June and Julie constantly pulling him along, he'd wandered much farther than usual.
The heart of the Sien Domain was unexpectedly full of life. Dark stone buildings stood alongside towering trees, their leaves shimmering under the moonlight. Strange crystals lit the streets with a soft violet glow. The eternal moon watched over it all—there was no sun here. Still, the Domain thrived. Silver strolled through bustling markets, passed by training grounds, and paused to watch two young demons bicker over some roasted meat. Eventually, he bought a piece himself, still unsure what creature it came from. It tasted good, and that was enough.
Eventually, the crowded streets began to thin, and Silver found himself on a quieter road with a view over part of the Domain. He paused beside a stone railing, taking in the sight—forests stretching out below, distant mountains silhouetted against the horizon, and the scattered lights of settlements glowing in the dark. Above it all hung the enormous moon, casting its pale light over everything.
"...Beautiful."
"It is."
Silver froze and turned to see someone standing a few steps away—a man in dark clothing. He hadn't even heard him approach. Instinctively, his hand shifted toward his staff. The stranger noticed but, instead of reacting defensively, lifted one hand.
"Easy."
Silver studied him.
There was something oddly elusive about the man. His presence felt faint, almost unnaturally so, like if Silver looked away for a moment, he might vanish into the shadows.
Pandora's quiet voice broke the stillness. "Interesting." Silver's eyes narrowed. Strong? "Skilled," she replied, though it didn't feel like much of an answer. The stranger turned back to the scenery. "I wasn't trying to frighten you."
Silver relaxed a bit. "…You walk rather stealthily."
"A habit." Leaning against the stone railing, the man said nothing more, and for several seconds, silence lingered. Then he glanced at Silver. "I haven't seen you around before." Silver blinked.
"I'm new."
"That explains it."
The man's gaze swept over him, not with menace, but as though trying to recall where he'd seen him before.
"What's your name?"
Silver hesitated. That was… complicated. He settled on the name he'd been using since arriving in the Domain.
"Silver Crow."
The stranger went still.
"...Crow?"
Silver nodded. "That's what people call me."
The man's gaze lingered for a moment longer.
"Crow..." Something seemed to occur to him, but it vanished just as quickly.
Silver tilted his head.
"Something wrong?"
"No."
The stranger glanced back.
"Just an interesting name."
Silver shrugged.
"What about you?"
The man looked at him.
"What about me?"
"Your name."
A short silence passed.
Then—
"Shadow."
Silver blinked.
"...Shadow?"
"Yes."
"That's your actual name?"
The man's lips twitched, maybe the start of a smile.
"It's the name people know me by."
Silver folded his arms.
"That's suspicious."
"Says the boy calling himself Silver Crow."
Silver opened his mouth, then stopped.
Then he closed it.
"...Fair."
For the first time, Shadow chuckled, and Silver found himself smiling too. They stood by the railing—two strangers beneath the eternal moon.
After a pause, Shadow asked, "What do you think of the Domain?"
Silver looked out. "It's amazing."
"I thought the Demon Domain would be..." He paused, searching for the right word.
"Terrifying?" Shadow suggested.
"Maybe," Silver admitted, rubbing his cheek.
Shadow gave a quiet laugh. "Humans tell many stories about this place. Most of them aren't very nice."
"Most demons don't tell very nice stories about humans either," Silver replied after a moment.
"...Also fair."
A gentle wind drifted past as Silver watched the distant lights. "But it's beautiful."
Shadow's expression softened. "Yes. The moon takes some getting used to—you stop noticing after enough time."
Silver glanced upward.
"I don't think I'd ever want to stop noticing," Silver said with a faint smile.
Shadow glanced at him in silence.
"If something is beautiful, shouldn't you keep noticing it?"
For a moment, Shadow didn't reply, just watching Silver until his expression softened.
"...Perhaps you're right."
They kept talking after that—nothing urgent, nothing risky. Eventually, Silver asked about places worth visiting.
Shadow warned him about a few places where wandering alone was probably a bad idea. Silver asked about food, and Shadow suggested a market farther east. Then Shadow asked how long Silver had been staying here. Silver complained about Scarlet's training, which earned the first genuine laugh from the mysterious man.
"You know Scarlet?"
"Unfortunately."
Shadow laughed harder. Silver pointed at him.
"Don't laugh! That woman is insane!"
"I would never say such a thing."
"You were thinking it."
"I value my life."
They stared at each other, then both burst out laughing. At some point, Silver realized he liked this guy. Shadow was quiet and mysterious, but talking to him felt surprisingly easy—maybe because he didn't ask too many questions or care where Silver came from.
No one questioned why a young boy was wandering through the Demon Domain, nor did they treat him like someone who needed constant supervision. They simply talked. Silver extended his hand.
"Well…"
Shadow glanced at it. Silver smiled.
"Nice meeting you, Shadow."
The man stared at the small hand for a moment before reaching out. Their hands met.
"Likewise…" Shadow paused. "…Silver Crow."
Silver grinned.
"Maybe I'll see you around."
"Perhaps."
Silver turned toward the busier streets, raising one hand without looking back.
"See you, Shadow!"
Shadow watched him go, eyes fixed on his retreating figure. Silver Crow. A strange child. An intriguing child. And, somehow, one Shadow wouldn't mind speaking with again. Silver faded into the distant crowd, leaving Shadow alone beneath the eternal moon. Neither realized—at least not yet—that their simple meeting would one day mean far more than they could have imagined.