The First War of Raventhorn
The night had not yet met the dawn when the skies above Raventhorn shattered. Cracks of light split the darkness like heaven's claws tearing into the earth. The cold ground, soaked with the blood of old kings, trembled beneath the feet of thousands clad in white armor, glowing like angels. But Seraphine knew—there was nothing sacred about this war.
From the highest tower of the castle, she stood draped in her demonic robes, a black veil cloaking her growing belly. Beside her, Kaelion was already clad in armor—this new era had no room for childhood. Rai'el, his two horns now fully grown and slicing through his dark hair, stood swinging a sword forged from dragon bone.
"My blood will never bow to hypocritical light," Seraphine murmured.
"And our blood will write history tonight," Rai'el replied.
As the war bell tolled from the tower of Tenebrae Solis, the armies of Raventhorn surged forth from the shadows. Seraphine led from the front. Yes, she was not a queen who hid behind stone walls, but one who carved death alongside her soldiers.
Kaelion, wielding the crimson sword passed down from his father, slashed through the air, cutting down two divine warriors in a single stroke. The boy's eyes no longer belonged to a child. He was a prince of demons.
From the sky, the seraphim descended with golden wings. But as they approached, the air above the city froze. Rai'el flew upward, crashing into the heavens, hurling a spear of black light that pierced through seven seraphim at once.
Their screams were not sacred songs. They were the wails of death.
---
In the heart of the battlefield, Seraphine stood face-to-face with an Archon of Light—the high priest of the holiest temple. The old man summoned a false sun and hurled tongues of flame at her.
But Seraphine raised her hand. Black veins erupted from her palm and devoured the fire whole.
"Light cannot burn what has already become hell," she said coldly.
She walked forward. With each step, the earth turned into stone of blood. With one swing of her blade, she split the Archon's chest, and from his body burst golden light that exploded, obliterating the hidden cathedrals beneath the city.
Victory came to Raventhorn in a single night—but not without cost.
Three demon generals fell. Five towers crumbled. And Kaelion was gravely wounded—a beam of light nearly seared away half his body.
Seraphine carried her son into the ritual chamber. There, she poured her demonic essence—half of her very soul—into him, to save his life.
Rai'el was furious.
"You've burned your soul! Your child isn't even born yet!"
But Seraphine looked at him sharply. "I won't let one child die to save the other. They will both live—or I will die with them."
Rai'el fell to his knees. For the first time, the Demon God wept.
---
On the quiet night after the war, Seraphine sat in the obsidian garden. Crimson stars lit the sky of the demon realm. Kaelion slept in her lap, while Rai'el gently brushed her hair from behind.
"Did you ever think… we'd live like this?" Seraphine asked softly.
"No," Rai'el replied. "But I know one thing. If the world comes to destroy us, then let us fall—while holding each other."
Seraphine took his hand. Beneath his cold skin, his heart still beat—for one name only: Seraphine.
And the high heavens began to tremble. For they knew: the demon they feared… had fallen in love. And that was more dangerous than any curse.
---
The Coronation of Hell and the Torn Crown
Darkness blanketed the skies of Raventhorn. But this time, not because of war—but because the entire underworld awaited one thing: the coronation of Seraphine, the Demon Queen who now held absolute dominion over hell's throne.
On the obsidian altar raised atop the skull of an ancient dragon, Seraphine stood in a black gown that shimmered like dead stars. Her horns rose elegantly, no longer hidden beneath the golden crown of her late husband. Below the altar, millions of demonic beings from every race bowed in thunderous silence.
Rai'el stood beside her, wearing demon armor laced with silver blood. His gaze was sharp, yet every time he turned to Seraphine, his eyes burned with a love that could not be denied.
"I never wanted this crown," Seraphine said quietly.
"But the world kneels because you are worthy," Rai'el replied. "Not because you are cruel. But because you are just. And because you never asked for power—power came to kiss your feet."
A red lightning bolt split the sky as the obsidian bell tolled three times.
The coronation began.
---
In that ancient ritual, Seraphine had to touch her blood to the Dark Oath Stone—a relic of the oldest demons, capable of reading the true essence of a ruler's soul. The stone was known to burn anyone who was unworthy.
But when Seraphine's blood touched it, the stone did not burn. It did not crack. Instead, it emitted an ancient violet glow—one no generation of demons had ever witnessed.
The Demon Elder fell to his knees. "That… is the color of eternal rulers."
Rai'el stared deeply into her eyes. "You are not just the Demon Queen, Seraphine. You are the curse of every heaven."
---
After the coronation, the demon world celebrated. But within the inner chambers of Tenebrae Palace, Seraphine wanted only one thing:
To stay beside Kaelion, who had not yet fully recovered.
She entered his room, where her son slept surrounded by healing magic. Seraphine sat at the edge of the bed, stroked his now longer hair, and gently held his hand.
"Forgive me, my son, for having to wield a sword before I could read you bedtime stories."
Kaelion stirred weakly. "It's okay… because you've taught me to be a king even before I became a man."
Seraphine's tears fell. But she wiped them away quickly. "I only want you to live. That's all."
From behind, Rai'el watched. And his heart tightened at the sight of Seraphine like that. He knew her strength did not come from her demonic blood—but from the love of a mother willing to challenge both heaven and hell for her child.
That night, while all in the palace slept, Rai'el entered the throne room.
He sat there, staring at the empty throne once occupied by the previous king.
"I will never be worthy to sit there," he whispered.
Seraphine emerged from the shadows. "You don't have to be king. Because there's only one thing I need from you, Rai'el."
"What is it?"
She smiled. "Stay with me… until the end."
And that night, for the first time, they slept without armor. Only skin touching skin, wounds kissing wounds, and a promise unspoken but pulsing in every heartbeat.
But far above Raventhorn...
Heaven began to crack.
And from behind the Sealed Gates of the Third Sky, a high archangel—Rai'el's adoptive brother from the time before he fell from grace—opened his eyes.
"Seraphine… you've broken the balance. And I will descend into hell to return you to dust."