The Demon king's Last oath

The forest was still again, the faint smell of ash and burned earth lingering in the cool morning air. The group stood in the clearing, their breaths heavy as the aftermath of the Shadowborn attack settled over them like a heavy fog.

Caius adjusted the strap of his satchel, feeling the faint pulse of the shard within. Its quiet rhythm matched the tension thrumming through his veins.

Elara wiped her blade clean on a piece of cloth, her emerald eyes sharp but thoughtful as she glanced at Caius. "Do these things always come in packs?"

"Not always," Caius replied, his voice calm but edged with weariness. "But the shards draw them. The closer we get to the next one, the worse it'll become."

The stranger, leaning casually against a tree, smirked. "And that's just the appetizers. Wait until the real hunters show up."

Elara frowned, sheathing her sword. "The real hunters?"

"Shadowborn are dangerous," the stranger said, their silver eyes glinting. "But they're like wild dogs—uncontrolled, chaotic. The ones who control them? That's where things get messy."

Caius's jaw tightened. "You think the masked figure sent them?"

The stranger shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But if they didn't, you can bet your shard they're tracking the noise we just made."

The group began moving again, the tension between them hanging like a heavy cloud. Caius took the lead, his blue eyes scanning the path ahead for any sign of danger. The shard's pulse grew fainter with each step, but its presence was a constant reminder of the burden he carried.

Elara walked beside him, her expression thoughtful. "Do you ever wonder if the shards are worth it?"

Caius glanced at her, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Elara said, her voice steady, "every time we get close to one, something awful happens. These Shadowborn, the things hunting you—they're all tied to these shards, aren't they?"

"Yes," Caius admitted quietly. "But if we don't stop them, someone else will find them. And they'll use them for something far worse."

Elara studied him for a moment, her emerald eyes searching his face. "And what about you? The shards are changing you, aren't they?"

Caius hesitated, his hand brushing against the satchel. "I can handle it."

"You don't have to," Elara said firmly. "That's the whole point."

Caius didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.

By midday, they reached the edge of a small village—or what was left of it. The houses were little more than skeletons, their charred remains standing like blackened sentinels against the bright sky. The ground was scorched, and the air carried the faint, acrid smell of old fire.

Elara slowed, her eyes widening as she took in the destruction. "What happened here?"

"Shadowborn," Caius said grimly.

The stranger nodded, their usual smirk gone. "This is what happens when they're not stopped. They don't just hunt people—they consume them. Villages like this are easy prey."

Elara stepped forward cautiously, her boots crunching over the ashen ground. "Were there survivors?"

Caius shook his head. "If there were, they didn't stay. Shadowborn leave scars—not just on the land, but on people."

Elara knelt near a broken toy lying in the dirt, its charred edges crumbling under her touch. "How many more places like this are there?"

"Too many," Caius said quietly.

As they moved deeper into the village, a faint sound caught their attention—a soft rustling from one of the ruined houses. Caius raised a hand, motioning for silence as he drew his dagger.

The stranger's silver runes glowed faintly as they moved to flank the house, while Elara unsheathed her sword, her grip steady.

The rustling grew louder, and then, from the shadows, a figure emerged. It was a man, his clothes tattered and his face gaunt. His eyes were wide with fear, darting between the group as if unsure whether to flee or attack.

"Who are you?" Caius asked, lowering his dagger slightly.

The man hesitated, his hands trembling. "You… you have to leave," he said, his voice hoarse. "It's not safe here."

"We know," the stranger said, crossing their arms. "But it looks like you've already learned that the hard way."

The man flinched, his gaze darting to Caius's satchel. "You're carrying it, aren't you? The shard."

Caius tensed. "How do you know about the shards?"

The man's eyes filled with something between terror and anger. "They came because of it. The Shadowborn—they destroyed everything, searching for it. And when they couldn't find it here, they moved on."

Elara stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Who are 'they'? Do you mean the Shadowborn?"

"No," the man said, shaking his head violently. "Not the beasts. The ones who control them. The ones who sent them. They're looking for you now."

The group fell silent, the weight of the man's words sinking in.

The man's gaze returned to Caius, his fear intensifying. "You shouldn't be here. The shard is dangerous enough, but you… you're worse."

Caius stiffened. "What do you mean?"

The man pointed a trembling finger at him. "I saw what you did to the Shadowborn. The fire you wield—it's not natural. It's not human."

Caius felt a flicker of something dark and unfamiliar stir within him, but he pushed it aside. "It doesn't matter what I am. I'm trying to stop this."

The man backed away, his hands raised as if to ward Caius off. "You can't stop it. The shards don't bring salvation—they bring destruction."

Before Caius could respond, the man turned and fled into the forest, his ragged figure quickly disappearing into the trees.

Elara turned to Caius, her expression unreadable. "What did he mean by that? About you?"

Caius hesitated, the weight of her question pressing down on him. "I don't know," he said finally.

"You're lying," Elara said, her voice quiet but steady.

Caius didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

As the group left the ruined village behind, the tension between them grew thicker. The stranger walked ahead, their usual humor replaced by a rare silence.

Elara fell into step beside Caius, her emerald eyes searching his face. "You need to be honest with me, Caius. Whatever's happening to you—whatever these shards are doing—I need to know."

Caius glanced at her, his expression guarded. "I'll tell you when I understand it myself."

"That's not good enough," Elara said firmly.

"It's all I can give you right now," Caius replied, his voice quiet but resolute.

Elara frowned but didn't press further.

As the sun began to set, the group continued their journey, the weight of the shard—and the truths they had yet to uncover—pressing heavily on all of them.