The Demon king's Last oath

The sun dipped below the horizon as Caius and the stranger traveled along the winding road, the faint glow of twilight casting long shadows across the landscape. The plains had given way to rocky hills, their jagged peaks silhouetted against the darkening sky.

Caius rode in silence, his posture straight, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the road ahead. Beside him, the stranger walked with an easy gait, their hood still drawn low over their face. They had refused to take a horse, claiming they preferred the ground beneath their feet.

The silence between them was heavy, charged with unspoken questions and unease. Finally, Caius broke it.

"You've been watching me," he said, his voice calm but firm.

The stranger chuckled softly. "Observant. I like that."

"Who are you?" Caius asked, his gaze shifting to them. "And what do you want?"

The stranger tilted their head, the silver gleam of their eyes catching the last rays of light. "Names are tricky things, boy. Best to keep them close to the chest, especially when dealing with people like us."

"People like us?" Caius repeated, his brow furrowing.

The stranger's smile was faint, almost wistful. "People who don't belong. People who've seen the shadows and walked away from the light."

Caius's grip on the reins tightened. "You said you wanted to help me. Why?"

"Because I've been where you are," the stranger said, their voice quieter now. "Lost, hunted, not sure who to trust. And because…" They paused, their gaze turning toward the horizon. "Because if the people after you find you, it won't just be your problem. It'll be everyone's."

By the time night fully fell, they had reached a small clearing sheltered by a ring of boulders. Caius dismounted, tying his horse to a nearby tree as the stranger set about building a fire.

They worked with practiced ease, striking flint against steel until sparks caught the dried grass. Soon, flames licked at the dark, casting a warm glow over the clearing.

Caius sat across from the stranger, his satchel resting beside him. He watched them carefully, noting the fluidity of their movements and the way their sharp eyes never stayed still for long.

"You're not just a traveler," he said finally.

The stranger grinned, their teeth flashing in the firelight. "Very good. But I think you already knew that."

"Who's hunting you?" Caius asked.

The stranger leaned back, propping themselves against one of the boulders. "Same ones hunting you, I imagine. Shadowborn, remnants of the old war, maybe a few bounty hunters if they've been paid well enough."

Caius's jaw tightened. "The Shadowborn are after me because of what I am. What's your excuse?"

The stranger's grin faded slightly, their gaze growing distant. "Let's just say I've made some powerful enemies. And like you, I've got… skills they'd rather not see used against them."

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the fire. Then Caius spoke again. "You know what I am, don't you?"

The stranger's sharp gaze snapped back to him. "I've got an idea. That fire you called back there? That's not something you see every day."

"It's not just fire," Caius admitted, his voice quieter now. "It's… part of me."

The stranger nodded slowly, their expression unreadable. "Thought as much. You're carrying something old, something dangerous. Whatever it is, it's drawn attention—and not the good kind."

Caius leaned forward, his blue eyes narrowing. "And you're saying you know how to deal with it?"

The stranger shrugged. "I know how to survive. Whether that's enough to deal with whatever's chasing you, well… that depends on how far you're willing to go."

As the fire burned lower, Caius shifted his gaze to the stars overhead. The pull he had felt earlier had dulled to a faint hum, but it was still there, a constant reminder of the path ahead.

The stranger watched him carefully. "You're not just running, are you?"

Caius glanced at them. "No."

"Thought so." They leaned forward, resting their elbows on their knees. "You've got that look. The one people get when they're chasing something bigger than themselves."

"I'm not chasing anything," Caius said evenly. "I'm looking for answers."

The stranger chuckled. "Same difference."

Caius didn't respond. He reached into his satchel, pulling out the journal he had taken from the estate. He flipped through the pages, his gaze scanning the notes and sketches he had scribbled in the quiet hours of the night.

"What's that?" the stranger asked.

"Research," Caius said without looking up. "About the Shadowborn, the forces behind them, and how to stop them."

The stranger's eyes narrowed. "You think you can stop them?"

Caius looked up, his blue eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. "I swore an oath. I intend to keep it."

The stranger stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. But if you're going to fight them, you'll need more than research and raw power."

"And what do you suggest?" Caius asked.

The stranger smiled, their silver eyes gleaming. "I suggest we find someone who knows more than either of us. Someone who's been in this game a lot longer."

Caius frowned. "And where would we find someone like that?"

The stranger's grin widened. "There's a place not far from here. A town built around an old ruin—one that's said to hold secrets from before the war."

"A ruin?" Caius asked, his interest piqued.

The stranger nodded. "If we're lucky, it'll have what you're looking for. And if we're not…" They shrugged. "Well, let's just say it won't be boring."

Caius closed the journal, his jaw set. "Then we leave at first light."

The stranger's grin softened into a faint smile. "Good. I like your style, boy."

As the fire burned low and the stars wheeled overhead, Caius felt the faintest stirrings of hope. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, he wasn't facing it alone.

But deep in his chest, the pull of that unseen thread grew stronger, a silent reminder that the answers he sought would come at a cost.

And in the shadows beyond the firelight, something watched, waiting for its moment to strike.