The Demon king's Last oath

The plains stretched endlessly before Caius and the stranger, the midmorning sun casting long shadows over the rolling hills. The weight of the shard in Caius's satchel pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the danger that followed them.

The whispers from Graythorn still lingered in Caius's mind. Though faint now, they had left an impression—a warning, perhaps, or a promise.

"You've been quiet again," the stranger said, breaking the silence.

Caius glanced at them, his blue eyes calm but distant. "Just thinking."

"About the shard?"

"About what's hunting us."

The stranger smirked faintly, though their silver eyes glinted with tension. "Well, you won't have to think for much longer. We're not alone."

Caius tensed, his hand drifting to the hilt of his dagger. "How many?"

"Five, maybe six," the stranger replied, their voice low. "And they're closing fast."

Caius scanned the horizon, his sharp gaze catching faint movement among the hills. A group of riders approached, their dark cloaks billowing in the wind.

"Shadowborn?" Caius asked.

The stranger shook their head. "No. Humans. Mercenaries, by the look of them."

Caius's jaw tightened. "Then they're working for someone."

"Probably your masked friend," the stranger muttered. "Looks like they don't want to leave things to chance."

Caius and the stranger veered off the road, heading toward a rocky outcrop that jutted from the plains like a jagged tooth. The terrain offered some cover, but not much.

As they dismounted, Caius's heart pounded. The pull of the shard had grown faint, but the weight of its presence was undeniable.

"They'll try to box us in," the stranger said, their voice sharp. "We can't let that happen."

Caius nodded, his hand tightening around the hilt of his dagger. "I'll draw their attention. You flank them."

The stranger raised an eyebrow. "Bold move, boy. Let's hope it doesn't get you killed."

"It won't," Caius said, his voice steady.

The stranger smirked faintly. "I like the confidence."

The first rider crested the hill, his dark cloak snapping in the wind. He was followed by three others, their movements coordinated, their weapons glinting in the sunlight.

"That's far enough!" the leader called, his voice carrying over the plains.

Caius stepped forward, his small frame dwarfed by the rocky terrain. "What do you want?"

The leader dismounted, his sharp eyes narrowing. "You're carrying something that doesn't belong to you. Hand it over, and we might let you live."

Caius met his gaze, his blue eyes cold. "It's not yours either."

The leader chuckled, drawing his blade. "Fair enough. But my employer disagrees. So this is how it's going to work—you give me the shard, or we take it off your corpse."

Caius's hand glowed faintly as dark flames coiled around his dagger. "You can try."

The leader's smile faltered slightly, but he motioned to his men. "Take him."

The mercenaries charged.

The first mercenary lunged, his sword cutting through the air in a wide arc. Caius sidestepped, his dagger flashing as he struck the man's wrist. Flames erupted from the blade, searing through the metal and forcing the man to drop his weapon with a scream.

Another attacker came from behind, his axe swinging toward Caius's shoulder. Caius ducked, the blade narrowly missing him as he spun, his flames flaring outward. The fire struck the man's chest, sending him stumbling back.

The leader watched from a distance, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied Caius's movements.

"That's no ordinary fire," he muttered.

Meanwhile, the stranger moved along the rocks, their silver runes glowing faintly as they struck from the shadows. One mercenary fell with a sharp cry, his sword clattering to the ground as a burst of energy seared through his armor.

"Nice try," the stranger muttered, their voice laced with amusement.

Another mercenary turned toward them, his bow drawn. The stranger raised a hand, and a glowing shield formed just as the arrow struck. The projectile shattered on impact, and the stranger retaliated with a whip-like tendril of energy that knocked the archer to the ground.

"Two down," they said to themselves. "Four to go."

Caius faced off against the leader, his flames burning brightly as the mercenary circled him.

"You're good, kid," the leader said, his tone almost admiring. "But power like that? It'll burn you alive before you can even use it properly."

"Maybe," Caius said. "But it'll burn you first."

The leader lunged, his blade striking toward Caius's chest. Caius raised his dagger, the flames surging outward to meet the attack. The two forces collided, the shockwave rippling through the air.

The leader gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he pushed against Caius's fire. "You're strong, but you're reckless. That'll get you killed."

Caius's blue eyes glowed faintly, a flicker of crimson sparking at their edges. "Not today."

With a sharp motion, he stepped forward, his flames flaring brighter. The leader's sword shattered under the pressure, and the force of the explosion sent him sprawling to the ground.

Caius stood over him, his dagger raised. The flames flickered, casting jagged shadows across the rocks.

"Who sent you?" Caius demanded, his voice cold.

The leader coughed, blood staining his lips. "You think you're the only one looking for that shard? You've got no idea what's coming."

Caius's jaw tightened. "Tell me who sent you."

The leader chuckled weakly, his eyes glinting with defiance. "You'll find out soon enough, boy. And when you do, you'll wish you'd handed it over."

Before Caius could press further, the man's body convulsed. A dark, smoky substance began to seep from his mouth and eyes, consuming him from within. In seconds, he was gone, leaving only ash behind.

The stranger approached, their silver eyes narrowing as they studied the remains. "Well, that's unsettling."

"They were sent by the same faction," Caius said, his voice tight. "The masked figure, the ones from Graythorn—they're all connected."

The stranger nodded, their expression grim. "And they're not going to stop. Not until they have that shard—or you."

Caius clenched his fists, the weight of the shard pressing heavily against his chest. "Then we'll keep moving. There's another shard out there, and we have to find it before they do."

The stranger smirked faintly. "I like the way you think, boy. Let's hope your luck holds."

As they mounted their horse and continued their journey, the shadows on the horizon deepened, a silent promise that the hunt was far from over.