VALERIE:Bonds of Fate

Valerie had been walking for what felt like days, the wilderness stretching endlessly before her. With each step, she grew more aware of how distant she had traveled from the Sanctum.

Alone in a world full of shadows and unfamiliar sounds, the very air seemed oppressive. The cold had set in, and hunger gnawed at her, but it was the suffocating loneliness that pressed hardest against her chest.

She had no real plan, no destination. Her only goal was to put as much distance between herself and the Sanctum, between herself and the people who had treated her as little more than an afterthought.

With each step, the weight of the silence and isolation seemed to grow heavier. But she didn't care anymore.

Suddenly, she froze. A noise cut through the air—a low growl, rumbling like thunder. It was followed by a rustling sound, and then the unmistakable feeling of being watched.

She turned slowly, and there, emerging from the shadows of the trees, was a creature that made her blood run cold.

A Soul Eater.

Its form was nightmarish—twisted, gray skin covered in jagged spikes, its eyes glowing with an unnatural hunger. The beast's long claws scraped against the forest floor as it stalked toward her, its growl reverberating in her bones.

The Soul Eater was here for one thing: her life force. And it moved faster than she could react.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she scrambled backward, but she was too slow. The creature lunged at her, claws slashing through the air. In that moment, everything seemed to slow down.

She was going to die here. Alone.

Just as the Soul Eater's claws came down, there was a flash of movement—quick, precise—and the creature howled in pain, its form shuddering violently.

Valerie blinked in confusion, unable to process what had just happened. Then, before she could even think, the beast collapsed to the ground in a heap of black smoke, disintegrating into nothing.

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

A demon.

He was tall and imposing, his body rippling with muscle, his skin a pale gray, like stone, and his red eyes glowed with an eerie light. His black hair was long, falling in waves around his sharp features.

He was dressed simply, but there was an undeniable power to him—a quiet intensity that made Valerie's breath hitch in her chest. His presence filled the clearing, and for a moment, she forgot about the danger she had been in.

The demon's eyes flicked over her briefly, but his gaze was cold, detached. His hand was still gripping the hilt of the sword that had cut through the Soul Eater's monstrous form.

"You're lucky I was here," he said, his voice low and unemotional.

He didn't seem to care much about her safety—only that he had saved her life.

Valerie didn't know what to say. The adrenaline from the encounter was still coursing through her veins, and her body trembled.

"Who… are you?" Her voice came out shakier than she intended.

The demon didn't answer at first. He simply watched her with unreadable eyes.

"It doesn't matter," he replied flatly, his tone almost dismissive.

"What matters is that you're alive. For now."

She stood up, her legs unsteady.

"You... you killed it. The Soul Eater."

His gaze briefly flickered to the dissipating remains of the creature, but then his attention was back on her.

"I did. I was in the area." His voice carried no emotion, only cold practicality.

Valerie swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. She had no idea who this demon was, but he had just saved her life.

Her chest tightened with something she couldn't identify—fear, relief, or maybe both.

"Why did you help me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The demon's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained impassive.

"I don't have any reason to let you die," he said.

"But don't mistake that for kindness." He turned his back to her and began walking, his movements purposeful and confident.

"You should be more careful. The world out here is not kind to lost souls."

Valerie stood there, still processing his words. His cold demeanor stung, but she wasn't in a position to argue. She had nowhere else to go.

She hesitated, then took a step toward him.

"Wait—can I follow you?" she asked, almost ashamed of how desperate the words sounded.

The demon didn't stop. He didn't even turn around as he spoke, his voice distant.

"If you want. But I'm not here to look after you."

And with that, Valerie had no choice but to follow him, her footsteps echoing through the dark, quiet forest as she trailed behind the demon.

She didn't know where he was going, or why he was allowing her to follow, but she couldn't let him go. Not after everything. Not after barely surviving the Soul Eater.

They walked in silence for what felt like hours. Valerie couldn't bring herself to speak, and the demon didn't seem interested in conversation.

His presence was unsettling, the air around him charged with an energy that made her skin prickle. He moved through the wilderness with ease, as if he were part of it—unbothered by the dark, by the dangers that lurked within.

Eventually, the trees thinned out, and the path opened up to a small clearing, where a stone structure stood. It looked ancient, almost forgotten by time. The demon stopped at the entrance and turned toward her.

"This is as far as I go," he said, his red eyes narrowing slightly.

"You can stay here, or leave. It's your choice."

Valerie hesitated. The coldness in his voice, in his very being, sent a shiver down her spine, but she wasn't sure what else to do. She didn't belong in this world.

"I'll stay," she said finally.

The demon nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Don't get comfortable. This place is not safe either. I'm leaving soon."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Valerie alone in the clearing. The feeling of being abandoned settled over her like a heavy fog.

She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this wasn't it. Yet somehow, she was still alive, still breathing.

She tried to get some rest, but sleep wouldn't come. Every rustle in the trees made her jump, and every shadow seemed to hide something sinister. The wilderness was harsh, and even though she was no longer alone, she still felt like an outsider.

As the hours passed, she began to notice something strange. The longer she stayed, the more she felt a presence watching her—a weight in the air, a gaze that lingered.

It wasn't until she dared to look around that she realized: the demon hadn't left. He was watching her from the shadows, standing still as a statue, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

Every time she moved, every time she shifted, he followed her with his eyes. But he didn't approach. He didn't speak.

He was guarding her, though he made no effort to explain why. It wasn't out of kindness, and it wasn't out of any obligation. He simply was. Watching. Waiting.

Valerie didn't know why, but she felt safer with him close, even if he never showed any sign of warmth. He was there, and that made all the difference.

She couldn't shake the feeling that this demon, cold and indifferent as he was, had more of a connection to her than she cared to admit.

But for now, all she could do was trust that he was still there. Even if he never spoke another word to her.