Night draped the land in a deep, endless blue. Stars burned quietly above the demon plains, vast and unreachable.
Reeve stood alone, eyes lifted to the heavens, feeling strangely small.
The world is too big… he thought. Bigger than fear. Bigger than destiny.
Soft footsteps approached behind him.
Seraphyne emerged from the shadows, silver hair glowing faintly under the moonlight. Her crimson eyes softened when she saw him standing there.
"Why are you here?" she asked gently.
Reeve didn't turn. "Just… thinking."
She stepped closer. "About what?"
He exhaled slowly. "About how big the world is."
Seraphyne followed his gaze to the sky. "Mm… maybe too big," she murmured. "Even the Demon King himself doesn't have permission to go too deep into Demon Land. Some places reject rulers."
Reeve glanced at her. "Then tell me something. What's the real difference between demons and vampires?"
She smiled faintly. "Demons eat humans. Vampires drink human blood."
"I already know that," Reeve said calmly. "Tell me the reason that feels real."
Seraphyne fell silent.
The wind stirred her cloak as she finally spoke.
"If you kill a demon… that demon doesn't truly die. They can be summoned again. Even destroyed bodies mean nothing."
She turned toward him, eyes steady.
"But vampires are different. If you kill a vampire… that is the end. No summoning. No return."
Reeve listened quietly.
"Demons also follow power," she continued. "If they sense someone capable of becoming the next Demon King, they will abandon the current one without hesitation."
Her voice lowered.
"But vampires are loyal to one person. Forever."
She hesitated.
"If I needed blood… and only you and I were here," Seraphyne said slowly, "I wouldn't hurt you. Even if it meant my death."
Reeve blinked, then smiled slightly. "Oh? You're talking like you love me."
Seraphyne instantly turned her face away. "I—I'm giving an example!"
Her cheeks burned red as she moved away and sat down, pretending to stare into the dark. 🩸🌹
Reeve returned his eyes to the sky, memories stirring—of another world, another life.
After a long silence, he walked toward Tsukiyra, who stood near the ruins, arms crossed.
"Tsukiyra," he asked, "can I go back to my world?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"Maybe," she said at last. "Or maybe not. No one has ever tried to travel between worlds."
Reeve frowned. "Then how can I go?"
Tsukiyra's eyes sharpened. "You would have to die here first."
Reeve's voice hardened. "If you don't know the truth, why suggest death to me?"
She looked away. "Someone did it in this world. He disappeared… and after five years, he returned saying I was right."
Reeve stiffened. "And what happened to him?"
"One year later," Tsukiyra said quietly, "a Demon Lord killed him. After that… no one knows what truly happened."
Silence crashed down like a blade.
Reeve clenched his fist. "I will never forgive you, Elaryn."
Tsukiyra turned sharply. "Huh? Elaryn?"
Her voice grew cold. "You're wrong. She didn't kill him."
Reeve's eyes narrowed. "Then who did?"
Tsukiyra spoke a name that made the air itself feel heavier.
"Azrathiel."
The night seemed to recoil.
"Azrathiel, Sovereign of the Black Verdict," she continued.
"The Unforgiven.
He Who Ends Salvation.
The Blasphemy King.
Lord of the Obsidian Tribunal."
Her voice was steady—but there was fear beneath it.
"He is calm. Emotionless. He judges intent, not words. He despises false righteousness.
He does not enjoy cruelty… but he never avoids it."
Reeve felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Tsukiyra finished quietly:
"He killed that man."
Above them, the stars flickered—
and somewhere deep within Demon Land, something ancient opened its eyes.