The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long golden streaks across the landscape as the group emerged at the edge of a vast, glittering lake. The water was still—perfectly still—like a polished mirror laid across the earth. It reflected the soft pastels of the early evening sky, the clouds painted in amber and blush, while a quiet breeze stirred the surrounding trees, whispering through their leaves like a lullaby.
Not another soul was in sight.
Kalanie's eyes widened with delight, a bright smile blooming across her face.
"This is perfect!" she said, voice full of awe. "We've got the whole lake to ourselves!"
Without waiting for a response, she jogged ahead, her boots thudding lightly against the grassy path. Sariah followed close behind, already laughing, her bracelets jingling with each step as the two of them raced toward the shimmering water.
Sunlight danced across the surface, casting scattered sparks of gold and blue that flickered like stars.
"Wow... it's even prettier than I imagined," Sariah breathed, crouching near the edge and watching the ripples stretch outward from her fingers.
"You've never been here?" Kalanie asked, glancing over with surprise.
"Nope. First time," Sariah said, smiling softly.
"I haven't either," Indra said, his voice coming from just behind them.
Sariah turned with mock shock, clutching her chest. "Wait... yours too?! Indra! How romantic!"
Kalanie rolled her eyes hard. "Oh my god, seriously. Can you not?"
"Aww, don't be jealous," Sariah grinned, looping an arm playfully around Indra's shoulder.
"I'm not jealous!" Kalanie barked back, folding her arms stubbornly—but her flushed cheeks gave her away.
Off to the side beneath a tall tree, Tomoyah had already found his peace. He sat with his back against the bark, a worn book resting on his lap. The shade made a soft canopy over him, and he barely spared a glance toward the others before muttering under his breath, "They're always so loud," and casually flipped the page with a lazy flick of his thumb.
Time passed gently.
The sky had shifted into soft shades of orange and rose, the last light of day rippling across the lake like molten glass. The water mirrored the heavens so clearly, it looked as though the stars themselves were preparing to descend. The group sat quietly near the shoreline, their legs stretched out in the grass, shoulders close, eyes following the fading sun. No one rushed the silence—it was too comfortable, too peaceful.
Indra leaned back on his hands, eyes scanning the horizon.
"Hey," he said softly. "Wouldn't it be cool to have some kind of ability?"
Tomoyah didn't look up from his book. "Like the stories?"
"I guess," Indra said, brushing his thumb against the grass.
"It's not just stories," Sariah added, her voice gentle. "Some people actually have them."
"Really?" Indra turned toward her.
"No way," Kalanie said, skeptically. "That stuff's just myths."
"I'm serious," Sariah replied, nodding. "My dad swore he saw someone once—back when he traveled through Kovaria."
"Huh," Tomoyah muttered, finally glancing up. "Thought that stuff was made up."
Kalanie tilted her head toward the clouds, her eyes thoughtful. "It'd be kinda amazing if it wasn't, though."
"Right?" Sariah stretched her arms behind her, smiling. "If I had powers, I'd travel everywhere. See the world. All the places we only hear about in books."
Tomoyah gave her a lazy nod. "You'd be gone in five seconds." "Absolutely," Sariah laughed.
Kalanie turned slightly toward Indra, her voice more curious now. "What about you? What would you do?"
Indra didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted to the lake's surface, where a soft ripple distorted the perfect reflection of the sky.
"I don't know," he said eventually. "I think it'd be cool... but I don't think I'd want to use it just to use it. Maybe only if someone needed help."
Kalanie blinked at him.
"You always think like that," she said quietly.
Indra gave a half-laugh, shrugging one shoulder. "I guess I do."
"That's why she likes you so much," Sariah teased with a grin.
Kalanie's head snapped around. "Sariah—!"
Too late. Sariah ducked behind Indra, laughing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry! I couldn't help it!"
Kalanie lunged, but Indra instinctively held out an arm between them.
"Okay, okay," he chuckled, "let's not start a war."
But just as the laughter died down—
—the ground beneath them trembled.
A deep, thunderous vibration rolled through the earth like a wave, knocking loose pebbles into the water. Trees shook. Birds screamed into the air, fleeing in every direction.
Then—BOOM.
A distant explosion shattered the calm.
And just like that, the stillness was gone.
Everyone froze.
"What was that?" Indra asked, already rising to his feet.
The lake behind them had stilled into glass, the explosion's echo lingering in the sky like a held breath. The scent of burning wood drifted faintly on the wind.
"Is that... smoke?" Sariah whispered, pointing toward the horizon where thick, black plumes now coiled upward—ugly scars against the fading orange sky.
Indra squinted, his stomach sinking. The distant haze wasn't mist. It was ash. Fire. Something was wrong.
"Indra," Kalanie said slowly, her voice low and tight, "I have a really bad feeling about this."
Tomoyah remained seated, arms lazily folded over his book. "What, because of what that weird guy said last week?" he muttered. "Demons don't exist. It's probably just a bad lightning strike or something."
"Yeah," Indra replied, though even he didn't believe it. He tried to steady his voice, but the unease had already crept in. "I'm sure it's nothing. But..."
He clenched his fists, stepping forward.
"...I still want to check it out. Just in case."
He looked over his shoulder. "Come on, Tomo. Get up."
Tomoyah exhaled through his nose, closing the book with a thump. "Okay, okay. Let's go play hero."
They started moving—quiet at first, uncertain—but the pace quickened with every step. Leaves rustled around their ankles, and the trail that once felt like home now felt endless. The warmth of the lake faded behind them. The laughter, the comfort, the peace—it all disappeared into the past.
And then they arrived.
The world had changed.
The village they knew—the quiet, lovely heart of the Partera Region—was in ruins.
Houses lay in pieces, roofs caved in, walls scorched black. Fire roared down the main avenue, devouring the market stalls where children used to play and elders once traded stories. Smoke curled thick into the air, choking the sky, turning the sunset into a hellish smear of red and gray.
Screams echoed everywhere.
People ran—tripping, crawling, clutching one another. Mothers cried out for children. Guards barked orders in panic. Some tried to fight. Most simply fled.
And in the chaos— They saw them. Monsters.
No other word fits, or could fit... right? Twisted creatures, moving like animals made of nightmare. Some crawled. Others leapt. Their eyes burned with hunger. Their claws tore through flesh. Their mouths twisted open in silent, otherworldly shrieks that turned screams into silence.
Sariah stumbled back, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh my god..."
Kalanie's eyes widened in horror, the fire reflecting in them like mirrors of fear. "No, no, no—this can't be happening..."
Tomoyah stared, speechless for once. The color drained from his face. Above it all—floating in the smoke, cloaked in darkness—was a figure. A man maybe.
Not exactly.
Something is wrong.
A pair of curved horns rose from his head like a crown. Black smoke coiled around his body as if alive, wrapping him in a shifting, wraith-like shroud. His arms hung loosely at his sides, calm. Controlled. Waiting. And his eyes—those inhuman, glowing eyes—burned bright with cruel serenity.
Indra stared at him in frozen silence. He didn't know who this being was. But somehow... he knew what he was. A demon.
These are demons... real ones.
And in that moment, as the village burned and the sky wept ash, a voice echoed inside Indra's mind.
His own voice.
Quiet. Broken.
[Today... we realized a harsh reality. Demons really do exist.
And we are willfully unprepared.]
Far above the battlefield, inside the palace, panic reigned.
"Everyone is in a complete panic. This is looking bad," said Queen Helena, her voice trembling.
"Someone tell me what the hell is going on!" roared King Melzamar, slamming his fists on the window ledge as the sky beyond burned red.
A soldier burst through the door.
"My king! I have news!"
"What is it?! Which kingdom dares to attack my region?"
"It's not a kingdom, your highness."
"Then what is it?! Spit it out!"
The soldier paled. "It's... demons! They're attacking the city!"
"Demons?" Melzamar echoed, stunned. He turned slowly back to the window. "After all these years... why now?"
"I don't know," Helena said, her voice hollow. "We're not prepared for this. I'm afraid this might be the end of Partera as we know it."
Back in the city, Indra and the others stood frozen.
"This can't be... What are those things?" Tomoyah whispered.
"Good question," Indra said grimly.
"It's what that guy was talking about!" Sariah cried, her voice cracking. "Guys—look!" Kalanie shouted, pointing skyward.
High above, a black figure floated silently. Its presence chilled the air. It locked eyes with Indra.
And then it vanished—
—only to reappear instantly in front of him.
Its hand shot out, grabbing Indra by the face.
"Indra!!" Kalanie screamed.
"Pitiful creatures," the figure growled, scanning the street. "This region is far too calm. Far too happy. Do you not fear me? Or maybe... you think you're heavily protected?"
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Only silence. Only fear.
"The cost of your ignorance comes with a heavy price," it continued.
Indra, straining against its grip, managed to choke out, "Whether we fear you or not... doesn't matter..."
The figure tilted its head, amused. "What was that, boy?"
"You did this... right?" Indra growled.
"And if I am?"
"Someone... will pay you back... The kingdom will come for you." The figure leaned in, eyes narrowing—expecting terror.
But instead... it found defiance. "You might be useful," it muttered.
Then a strange red light pulsed from its hand, and it placed a glowing, sigil-like mark on Indra's forehead.
In the next instant, it vanished.
Indra collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Are you okay, Indra?!" Sariah cried, running to him with Kalanie and Tomoyah close behind.
"I... I think I'm okay..." Indra said weakly, the red mark already fading.
"Are you sure?" Kalanie asked, her face pale.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"What was that thing?" Sariah asked.
"Forget that," Kalanie said sharply. "What was that on your forehead?"
"My forehead?" Indra echoed. "I didn't feel anything."
"It was a red mark. You didn't feel that?"
"Not really."
"Let's worry about that later," Tomoyah muttered, glancing around. "We should get out of here before—"
THUD.
Before he could finish, a demon erupted from the shadows and drove its claw straight through Tomoyah's chest.
"TOMOYAH!! NO!!" Sariah screamed.
The demon turned, blood dripping from its arm, and lunged toward Kalanie.
Indra moved like lightning, throwing himself in between.
"Hurry and run!" he shouted.
"But—" Kalanie froze.
"RUN NOW!!!"
Kalanie grabbed Sariah's hand, tears spilling down her cheeks as she turned and ran.
"Wait—what about Indra?!" Sariah cried.
Kalanie didn't answer.
She just ran.
Indra wrestled the demon, buying every second he could.
The creature seized him by the waist and slammed him into the ground with such force that the earth cracked. Blood spilled from his mouth. Vision blurring, he watched the girls disappear into the distance.
"At least... I can... help you escape..." he whispered. "Please... don't... die..." The demon raised its fist.
And struck.
Silence.
Then—a brilliant white light erupted from Indra's body, flooding the street in divine fire.
The demon was obliterated instantly—incinerated in the light before it could even scream.
Darkness.