The Demon king's Last oath

The sun rose reluctantly over the rocky hills, casting pale light through a thin veil of clouds. Caius and the stranger packed up their camp in silence, the faint crackling of dying embers the only sound.

Caius tightened the straps of his satchel and mounted his horse. The stranger walked beside him, their cloak pulled tightly around their body as the chill of the morning clung to the air.

"You're quiet this morning," the stranger remarked, their silver eyes glinting as they glanced up at him.

Caius adjusted his reins, his expression calm. "I have a lot on my mind."

The stranger chuckled softly. "You're always thinking, aren't you? Makes me wonder if you ever stop."

"I can't afford to stop," Caius said.

"Fair enough," the stranger replied, their tone light but thoughtful. "But sometimes, boy, thinking too much can get you killed just as fast as not thinking at all."

Caius didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the faint outline of the ruin's location waited in the distance.

The morning passed uneventfully, the rocky terrain giving way to patches of sparse forest. The road narrowed as it wound through a dense thicket, the shadows of the trees stretching long across the ground.

Caius felt it before he saw it—a faint shift in the air, a prickle at the back of his neck. He tightened his grip on the reins, his blue eyes scanning the trees.

"We're not alone," he said quietly.

The stranger slowed, their silver eyes darting to the shadows. "I was wondering when they'd show up."

A moment later, the first arrow struck the ground inches from Caius's horse. The animal reared, and Caius pulled hard on the reins, calming it just as a figure emerged from the trees.

It was a man, his face obscured by a scarf and his armor patched and mismatched. Behind him, four more figures stepped into view, their weapons drawn.

"Travelers, eh?" the leader sneered, his voice muffled by the scarf. "Looks like you've got some coin to spare."

Caius dismounted, his movements calm and deliberate. The stranger remained still, their hands hidden beneath their cloak.

"We don't want trouble," Caius said evenly.

The leader laughed, his yellowed teeth flashing. "Oh, I think you do. Hand over your bags, and maybe we'll let you leave with your lives."

Caius glanced at the stranger. "What do you think?"

The stranger grinned, their hands slipping out from under their cloak. "I think they've made a mistake."

The leader's grin faltered as the stranger's hands began to glow faintly, silver runes etched into their skin lighting up like molten metal.

"What the—?"

Caius stepped forward, his blue eyes narrowing. "This is your last warning. Leave."

The bandits hesitated, their confidence wavering. But the leader barked an order, and they charged.

The first bandit lunged at Caius, his blade swinging in a wide arc. Caius sidestepped easily, his hand shooting out to grab the man's wrist. Heat surged through his palm, and the bandit screamed as his weapon clattered to the ground.

The stranger moved like a shadow, their glowing hands weaving through the air as silver light erupted in jagged lines. One bandit cried out as the runes burned across his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Caius turned to face another attacker, his blue eyes flickering with crimson. He raised his hand, dark flames coiling around his fingers. The bandit froze, his face pale with terror.

"You were warned," Caius said quietly.

The flames lashed out, striking the bandit's sword and shattering it into molten shards. The man stumbled back, his arms raised in surrender.

"Enough!" the leader shouted, his voice trembling. He backed away, his scarf slipping to reveal wide, panicked eyes. "We're leaving! Call it off!"

Caius lowered his hand, the flames flickering out. The remaining bandits scrambled to their feet, dragging their injured companions as they fled into the trees.

The stranger dusted off their hands, the glow of the runes fading. "Well, that was fun."

Caius turned to them, his expression neutral. "You could have warned me about those runes."

The stranger smirked. "And ruin the surprise? Where's the fun in that?"

They continued their journey after the ambush, the stranger walking alongside Caius's horse as the road opened into a wide valley.

"You're full of surprises," Caius said after a long silence.

The stranger raised an eyebrow. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."

"Those runes," Caius pressed. "What are they?"

The stranger's smile faded slightly, their gaze turning distant. "A gift. Or a curse, depending on how you look at it."

Caius frowned. "From who?"

The stranger hesitated, their steps slowing. "Someone who thought I could be useful. Someone who saw potential in me… and decided to chain it to their will."

Caius's expression darkened. "You mean someone tried to control you."

The stranger nodded, their silver eyes gleaming faintly. "Tried and failed. But the chains left their mark." They held up their hands, the faint traces of the runes still visible in the dim light. "These are a reminder of what I escaped."

Caius studied them carefully. "And now you're running."

The stranger chuckled softly. "Aren't we all?"

By nightfall, they reached the edge of the valley. Ahead, the land rose sharply into a craggy ridge, where the faint outline of a ruined tower loomed against the dark sky.

Caius felt the pull again, stronger now, like a chain wrapped around his chest.

"That's it," he said, his voice quiet but firm.

The stranger followed his gaze, their expression unreadable. "The ruin. It doesn't look like much, but looks can be deceiving."

Caius dismounted, his blue eyes fixed on the tower. "There's something there. Something old."

"And dangerous," the stranger added, their voice low. "If we're going in, we'll need to be ready for anything."

Caius nodded, his jaw set. "I've been ready for a long time."