Kael woke up abruptly.
It was not a slow or calm awakening, but the kind where the body reacts before the mind, as if something inside him had already made a decision while he slept. His eyes opened immediately, and the first thing he saw was the golden afternoon light filtering through the curtains of his room, drawing warm lines across the walls and the floor.
For a second, he remained still, staring at the ceiling.
Then he remembered.
The kitchen.
The voice.
The warning.
The paradise of the gods.
He sat up immediately, ignoring the slight dizziness that ran through his head as he did so. His body still ached from the brutal training of the past few days, but he no longer cared. There was something stronger than the pain pushing him forward.
Something he could not ignore.
He got out of bed and walked straight to the wardrobe. He pulled it open and stared at the clothes inside. Garments he had never worn, carefully arranged, clearly meant for someone with a status he still did not feel was his own.
For a few seconds, he hesitated.
Then he simply grabbed the first thing that seemed functional.
Nothing elegant.
Nothing flashy.
Something practical.
Something that would let him move.
He entered the bathroom without thinking further and took a quick shower. The cold water ran over his body, clearing away the fatigue that still lingered in his muscles. It was not enough to restore all his energy, but enough to stop feeling like someone on the verge of collapsing.
When he stepped out, already dressed, his reflection in the mirror was different.
Not because he looked stronger.
But because now he had a direction.
The clothes he had chosen had nothing of a king. He wore a gray cloak that wrapped around his neck and fell down his back, designed more to conceal than to stand out. Dark gloves fitted to his hands, sturdy boots, and a belt with several pouches and empty sheaths ready to carry weapons.
He looked like an adventurer.
Not a ruler.
And for the first time since arriving in that world… that felt comfortable.
He wasted no more time.
He left the room and began running through the castle corridors. His footsteps echoed against the stone floor as he advanced with a speed that made several maids and guards turn in surprise as they saw him pass.
No one stopped him.
No one understood what was happening.
They only saw their Demon King running as if someone were chasing him.
Or as if he were running away from something.
He crossed the corridors, went down the stairs, and passed through the grand hall without stopping. The guards at the entrance barely had time to react when Kael passed in front of them.
Their gazes filled with confusion.
His Majesty was not only alone.
He was dressed like someone who planned to disappear for a while.
And before they could say anything…
He was already gone.
Kael left the castle and entered the streets of the kingdom without slowing down. His breathing remained steady, though his body was beginning to feel the strain. Even so, he did not stop.
He kept moving.
Crossing alleyways.
Dodging people.
Jumping small obstacles.
All with a single objective in mind.
Leave the kingdom.
Reach the Abyss.
Discover the truth.
Finally, when he saw the great gate of the kingdom in the distance, he slightly reduced his speed. But just when he thought he had managed to leave without being stopped…
He came to a sudden halt.
In front of him, at the exit, there was a group of people.
Seven figures.
Waiting for him.
Kael blinked, confused.
And then he recognized them.
All the sins.
Aurum, with his usual relaxed posture.
Viridia, arms crossed, watching him as if she already knew everything.
Magnus, firm as always.
Dormius, calm, almost indifferent.
Seraphyne, with that calm that seemed to see everything before it happened.
And the others, gathered as if this had been planned from the beginning.
Kael opened his mouth to speak.
—How did you know that I…?
But he did not finish.
Because they all looked at each other.
And started laughing.
It was not a mocking laugh.
It was a light laugh.
As if it were obvious.
—Well, it's easy —said Seraphyne as she walked toward him naturally—. I saw you this morning. You were distracted, thoughtful… and not very good at hiding it.
Then she gently took his hand.
—It was quite obvious you were going to do something impulsive.
Kael lowered his gaze, a bit embarrassed.
—Was I that obvious?
Seraphyne tilted her head slightly.
—Just a little.
Kael let out a sigh.
He did not know whether to feel relieved or exposed.
Probably both.
Viridia stepped forward, placing a hand on her hip.
—So, are we going or what? —she said with a slight smile—. It's not every day we take an improvised trip to the most dangerous place in the world.
Some of the others nodded.
Others simply looked interested.
But none objected.
Kael looked at them, surprised.
—You're coming… with me?
Aurum let out a laugh.
—Did you really think we'd let you go alone? We're not that irresponsible… well, not all of us.
—Speak for yourself —murmured Viridia, giving him a light elbow.
Magnus crossed his arms.
—Besides, someone has to make sure you don't die along the way.
—How motivating —Kael replied with sarcasm.
Then he frowned.
—But… what about Agnitus? Aren't I supposed to keep training?
—Ah, that —Aurum replied casually—. He's busy. And honestly, you already survived his training… that counts as passing.
Kael did not seem very convinced.
—And the kingdom?
—Serenna will handle it —said Magnus with complete naturalness—. She was quite clear about it.
Kael sighed.
For some reason, that did not reassure him completely.
But he did not have many options either.
He looked at the group again.
They were all there.
Waiting for him.
Without questioning him too much.
Without demanding explanations.
Simply… accompanying him.
Viridia turned toward the forest.
—Well, are we going or not?
Without waiting for an answer, she began to walk.
The others followed her.
One by one.
As if they had already made the decision for him.
Kael stayed behind for a few seconds, watching them.
A strange feeling tightened in his chest.
It was not sadness.
It was not fear.
It was something else…
Something like gratitude.
—Thanks… guys… —he murmured softly.
Then he started running to catch up with them.
He was not going to stay behind.
Not this time.
And so, the group entered the forest, leaving the demon kingdom behind as the sun slowly began to descend in the sky.
But not all the eyes watching them were visible.
Among them… someone else was walking.
In silence.
Unnoticed.
A presence that did not fully belong to the group.
"—Lord Gorgos… the Demon King is heading toward the Paradise of the Gods."
The voice echoed in the mind of someone kilometers away.
And the response did not take long to come.
"—So he finally moves… stay close to His Majesty. I am also on my way."
A pause.
Then, one last sentence.
"—When they arrive… I will already be there."