Present, on Asher's Side
The city was alive with celebration.
Torches, topped with mana crystals, illuminated the wide avenues, casting dancing shadows across the colorful stonework. Everywhere, demons reveled in their victory. Deep, guttural laughter echoed through the streets, mixing with triumphant cheers and the clashing sounds of friendly sparring between warriors too exhilarated to stay still.
New demons had joined their ranks after the fall of Demon Lord Azazel. Already, the hierarchy was shifting, reforming around Asher, the new ruler of the conquered territory. He now controlled the entire border adjacent to the human kingdom. His power had never been greater.
And yet, he remained apart from it all.
Perched atop the highest tower of his palace, Asher gazed down at the festivities without really seeing them. The wind tugged at his folded wings, cool against his skin that burned with conflicted emotions. His claws absentmindedly scratched the weathered stone beneath him, but his mind was elsewhere.
Beyond the misty hills and the vast forests of his homeland lay human territory.
The kingdom of Camellia.
Luci's kingdom.
His jaw clenched.
Without realizing it, his fingers brushed against the royal golden ring he still wore on his little finger.
After all these years… he had found him again.
Luci…
And in a single fleeting moment, frozen between fire and ash, everything had come rushing back.
Luci was no longer the child he had known. He had become a strikingly beautiful man. A true prince, or perhaps even a king. That boy had been born to shine, to rule. His people surely saw him as an untouchable star.
A star that had nearly been extinguished by Ignis's flames.
A low growl rumbled in Asher's chest, rolling like thunder beneath his skin. Why had he moved at that moment? Why, when he could have stayed out of it, had he stepped forward? He hadn't thought. He had protected him.
And now, he couldn't think of anything else.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm raging inside him. But the soft rustle of wings jolted him back to reality.
A dark silhouette landed beside him.
"My Lord. Finally, I've found you."
Stolas, the owl demon lord and Asher's closest friend, folded his wings in a quiet rustle before settling onto the ledge nearby. His sharp yellow eyes, piercing like twin crescent moons, gleamed under the flickering torchlight.
Asher slowly opened his eyes.
"Stolas… I already told you not to call me that."
A smirk tugged at the corners of Stolas's lips.
"My apologies, Ash. Old habits, I suppose. You have to admit, your ways are more than unusual for a demon lord. It's easy to get confused."
Asher crossed his arms over his chest, his tail flicking against the stone in irritation.
"If there was anything normal about me, we'd know by now."
Stolas didn't answer right away. He observed him in silence, something like concern flashing in his eyes.
"Ash, why aren't you down there celebrating your victory?"
The dark-scaled demon turned away, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"I'm not in the mood."
Stolas raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He studied his lord for a moment before extending a hand toward him, palm open.
"Very well. At least let me heal your wounds."
Asher hesitated, then gave a slight nod.
A soft blue glow emanated from Stolas's claws, enveloping Asher's body. Slowly, the cuts and bruises left by his battle with Ignis faded—but one scar remained on his side, right where the prince's blade had struck him.
Stolas furrowed his brow.
"Ignis roughed you up, huh?"
The owl brushed his claws lightly over the fresh mark. Asher remained silent, unwilling to reveal the true source of the injury. Stolas continued
"That one's not going away anytime soon."
But Asher was no longer listening. His mind was elsewhere. He kept seeing Luci's eyes. That look… so lost. Had he forgotten him, or had he recognized him? What had he felt in that moment? What did he think of demons now?
What did he think of him…?
Stolas sighed and leaned back against the stone.
"You're awfully quiet. Does this have something to do with that little human prince?"
Asher nearly jumped out of his skin.
"A-Absolutely not! I don't see what Luci has to do with this!" He blurted it out too fast, too panicked.
Stolas's smirk widened.
"Luci… So the little prince has a name."
Asher felt panic tighten in his chest. He scrambled to find an excuse.
"That's not—I mean, I didn't— I don't want interactions with humans! I even forbade our entire clan from crossing into their territory! It would be absurd for me to—"
Stolas chuckled.
"Ash, I saw you. On the battlefield. You protected him. You nearly lost your scales doing it."
Asher clenched his jaw.
"…It's hard to hide from your owl eyes… ahh…"
A silence stretched between them. Then, Stolas spoke again, his tone more serious this time.
"Asher… what exactly is your connection to him?"
The dark-scaled demon lowered his head.
"He's human. A prince. And I'm just…"
He spread his arms, unfurling his wings.
"A demon. So… probably nothing."
Stolas crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"'Nothing'? Hm. You're wrong about one thing, Ash. You're not just a demon. You're an Overlord now. Overlord Abaddon. And that is far from nothing."
Asher didn't look convinced.
"If anything, that only makes things harder…"
He exhaled, frustrated.
Stolas rolled his eyes.
"Asher, you know I respect you. You built the first demon clan where peace and equality actually mean something. That was unthinkable before you. But sometimes, you forget that this isn't how things normally work."
Asher mumbled, tossing small stones off the ledge to vent his frustration.
"Normal, normal… There's nothing normal about me anyway. And there's nothing normal allowing a demon being close to a prince either."
Stolas ruffled his feathers in exasperation.
"Asher, are you serious? You're a force of nature. You are unstoppable. You can do whatever you please. So, for once, act like a true Overlord and let your desires lead your wings, even if that desire involves a human."
Asher felt a shiver run down his spine.
"What are you trying to say? That I should scare him? Kidnap him? Force him to accept me?"
Stolas sighed dramatically.
Oh, Lilith, grant me patience…
Then, he locked eyes with his lord.
"I'm saying that whether human or demon, no one would dare stop you if you decided to… shall we say… 'claim' that prince."
Asher blinked, confused.
"…Claim?"
Stolas gave him a deeply exasperated look.
"Ash. You're the strongest among us, but somehow, you're also the most naïve."
But I—"
"Your demons are worried, you know?"
"Worried? About what?"
"That a Demon Lord as powerful as you has no mate. No conquest, no interest. You realize it's starting to create rumors about your virility ?"
Asher's scales heated instantly.
"W-WHAT?! But—"
"And now, suddenly, you're fixated on a human."
Asher paled.
"So, do you see why some of them are asking questions? And honestly… I encourage you to give them an answer."
Asher hesitated.
"An… answer?"
Stolas threw up his hands.
"OH ASHER! HAVE SEX ALREADY, FOR LILITH'S SAKE!"
Asher stiffened like a board, turning bright red from his horns to the tip of his tail.
"S-STOLAS!!! I—I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THAT!!!"
Stolas took on a firm, exasperated tone.
"You are more than of age for a demon. So if you want your prince, take him. If not… then stop staring at the border like a lost puppy."
With that, he sighed, stretched his wings, and took off, leaving Asher alone with his thoughts.
Asher remained frozen, heart pounding.
What was he supposed to do with all this?
He covered his burning face with a hand, wings twitching nervously.
I don't want to… claim Luci… do I?
Yet, the more he thought about it, the more his entire body shuddered with an unfamiliar longing.
And the more his memories came flooding back.
———
NOTE: Daily update during July for the start of the story ! Don't forget to add it to your library/collection for more ! ❤️