Renald, his wife, and a guest from the nearby village sat around the table as dinner was served.
Renald spoke first. "Granny, since you're trapped here with us today and can't go out in the rain, why not tell us about the village? We'd love to hear some news, hahaha."
Verena nodded in agreement. They rarely had guests, and Killial seldom joined conversations with them.
"The village is doing well," the old woman said. "In fact, recently we've been doing better than usual. There's nothing interesting to talk about, except the mysterious Night Shadow, hahaha."
Renald couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, there's nothing we can do about it, honestly. As long as he's not doing bad things, we parents wouldn't possibly object."
Verena nodded. "Just some wild animals and weak monsters. But let's not talk about it. If Killial finds out we know, it will break his spirit."
Everyone stopped discussing the matter, and the mother called out, "Killial, time to eat!"
Upstairs was unusually quiet. Killial, normally noisy and always breaking things or making a fuss, sat silently by the window watching the rain, admiring the view. It had been pouring all day, and he wasn't allowed outside.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, since he always found ways to escape boredom, reading books or venturing into his inner space. But rainy weather was perfect for animals and low-level monsters to appear, and hunting them was his favorite hobby. His mother's voice interrupted his thoughts, calling him for dinner.
He knew these weren't his real parents, but he felt it was his duty to be a good son and show gratitude, since when he was a baby and vulnerable, they had taken care of him.
Downstairs, everyone wore smiles, though each had different thoughts. The old woman was satisfied and grateful to have such people living near the village. It meant safety and many benefits. Even the kid was protecting the farmers' fields.
The parents were also content, glad their child had the chance to make friends and develop his personality. But Verena worried about Killial's obsession with magic and books.
Killial, meanwhile, was enjoying the meal while trying to suppress the voice inside his head. Not long ago, the demon figure within him had begun moving, waking up, and now even speaking to him. He couldn't figure out what it wanted, not because of a language barrier, but because the demon refused to speak about its past or origin. Instead, it teased him.
"Hey, little devil… it's been a while since you last visited me. Are we on good terms? Hello…? Are you ignoring the mighty demon? I am destined to rise above the skies and humble the gods…"
Killial didn't flinch. "Mom, can I play in the rain?"
This surprised everyone. Of course, he really meant, Can I go slay some boars and goblins? But he was met with refusal.
His daily routine was broad: reading magic books, studying zodiac charts to figure out his inner world, trying to control his lightning mark but failing miserably because it was damaged.
The only way he could adventure was with a sword and basic lightning control, using it to make his body faster. After long, hard work, he successfully formed one star.
The demon often made fun of him, but also gave valuable hints on how to control lightning. That was how Killial discovered he could still manipulate the element, even with the Stone of Recognition denying his affinity.
After dinner, his only options were sleep or reading. Training elemental control indoors was out of the question, and sneaking out during the rain was risky, using lightning while soaked wasn't wise given his shallow control. Left hanging, he decided to try again to get information from the demon.
He closed his eyes and opened them in a vast inner space, split into two by a powerful barrier. The sky was dark, colorful stars shone above, and below stretched a vast lake.
Killial walked steadily across the water toward the barrier. The other side was calm and unmoving, but as he got closer, the waters trembled and a demon rose from them, standing midair with arms crossed and wings spread.
"You came at last. It's been days, and honestly boring with no one to talk to."
Killial didn't respond right away. Instead, he sat cross-legged in midair a trick he had also learned from the demon. "I only came because I had no other choice. I'm not allowed out today, but who knows when I'll visit again."
He was trying to provoke the demon. Either reveal something, or remain lonely forever.
The demon didn't move a muscle, not even a blink. He just stared. "Boy, you're not trying to fool me, are you? You think I'll just start speaking?"
Killial knew it wasn't easy to fool a demon. "You said you can't talk about certain things because it's dangerous for both of us. You also said you are a demon…"
The demon focused intently. "Yes, I said that. Which point is so hard to understand?"
Killial continued. "You certainly look like a demon, but aren't you planning to take my body and destroy my soul? That's what demons do. I know you could hear me reading books." His tone was honest.
The demon understood his curiosity. "Fine, I'll explain. If I shared my body with a human, I'd feel the same. But the most important thing now is that I can't tell you certain things." He paused, then sighed. "There are things we are not allowed to know. Once we start understanding them, bad things happen. These are called the hidden principles of the world. If I tell you where I come from or what I want, you'll probably face danger tonight, and given your low strength, you'll perish your family too. But I guarantee I won't harm you. On the contrary, I'll help you with my knowledge so you grow stronger." He spoke with absolute honesty.
Killial shock his head. "sounds like a big lie a demon would tell, I won't insist anymore. I will find a way to get my answers "
The demon's response was quick and short. "Morbious is my name." He paused a moment, then added, "I am but a remnant soul of my dead clone. But if you ever meet my true self in the future, I hope you won't act in haste. I'll also tell you the secrets of this inner space, would that be enough to believe me? I don't think that will trigger a catastrophic event."
Killial then asked a deeper question. "What if everyone in the world came to know those hidden principles?"
The demon answered plainly. "That day, everyone will perish. Don't be hasty to know and perish. But I guarantee that day is coming and the world isn't ready for it."
Then he fell asleep.
These words shook Killial deep in his soul. He had read fantasy books in his former world, but most were harmless stories. Now, he felt like he was living a nightmare. And this demon is likely telling the truth or at least part of it. Otherwise why did he help him master his element. And why would he reveal the secrets of the inner world.
The worst part was that every time the demon revealed new information, he fell asleep for a long time. Especially after revealing so much this time, who knew when he would wake again?
With that, Killial went to sleep.
In the morning, breakfast was ready, and his mother gave him a heroic mission. "Escort your granny to the village. Make sure she's safe, and don't act recklessly."
As an obedient son, he had to comply, and as an aspiring adventurer, the task suited him. Without wasting time, he set off for the village.
The village was lively. Some hurried to check on their fields, others prepared shops and stalls. Various items were on display for sale, and there were even fortune tellers.
As Killial passed through the village, many people paid attention. They didn't know him personally, but everyone knew he looked after their fields when wild animals attacked their crops.
The fortune tellers and some other stall owners didn't recognize him. Instead, they noticed the old woman and invited her for readings. She politely declined.
Suddenly, many people came running to the old woman, panicked. One of the children in the village had gone missing. The parents collapsed in front of her. "We tried to look everywhere, but we couldn't find him," they cried.
The old woman comforted them and promised she would do everything she could to help find the child. Killial felt sympathy immediately. He stepped forward and suggested he could help. After all, he was the only one in the village capable of using an element to assist in the search, though he didn't know where to start.
The parents refused, worried about putting a child in danger. But the old woman, as the village chief, accepted Killial's offer. His words and calm demeanor made her feel as if he were older than he looked.
"Thank you, Granny," he said with a smile, then immediately went to work.
The area wasn't known to be dangerous, but to ease his own doubts, Killial borrowed a real sword instead of the wooden one he usually trained with at home.