The wind was crisp at the mountain's peak, whistling through jagged stone and whispering across the tall grass that clung to the cliffs. From where they stood, the world stretched wide — an endless canopy of forest beneath them, a river carving through the trees, and far beyond, the silhouette of a city glimmering faintly in the sun.
Khaeryon narrowed his abyssal eyes, the light of the mortal sun reflected in their black voids. He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a subtle smile.
"So this… is Earth?" he murmured again, tasting the word like it was something foreign. His voice held no awe — only a deep, calculating curiosity, as though he were dissecting the land itself.
Caelan stood beside him, eyes wide, but not with wonder. His gaze was locked on the city in the distance, a flicker of fear in his chest. That was where danger lived. Where hunters like the SS-rank who had threatened their mother walked freely.
Ciel tugged lightly at his brother's sleeve, his small voice breaking the silence.
"Brother… it's so high. Everything looks so small…"
Caelan nodded slowly, though his hand unconsciously tightened around Ciel's.
Meanwhile, Zerath stretched, rolling his shoulders like a bored cat. "Well. You've seen the view. I'm done. I shall return to the cavern."
The dragon turned on his heel, already stepping back toward the shadows of the cave.
But before he could take another step, a pale hand gripped his shoulder firmly. Khaeryon's smile curved wider, though his eyes were cold, his intent unreadable.
"Ah ah," Khae said softly. "No, Zerath. You shall follow us."
Zerath blinked, turning back with confusion. "Huh? Why? The outside world is of no concern to me. I was fine in the abyss of the mountain."
Khae leaned closer, his grin almost playful, yet edged with menace. "We will see why. Consider it… an order."
The dragon stiffened under that gaze. Even in his human form, Zerath could feel the weight of his abyssal lord pressing down on him like a suffocating chain. He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Ah… right, my lord. If you insist."
Caelan sighed, rubbing his temples again. "This is insane…"
Ciel tilted his head up at Khae, still clutching his brother's sleeve. "Where… where are we going?"
Khae released Zerath, straightening to his full height. His shadow stretched long against the stone floor of the cliff, falling over both brothers. His voice carried an authority that brooked no argument.
"To your house."
Both boys froze.
Caelan's eyes widened. "Our… house?" His voice cracked, as though the word was a wound still raw. That house wasn't just a place to him. It was a graveyard of memories.
Ciel's lips quivered, his small hand tightening on his brother's sleeve. "Mother won't… be there…"
The air grew heavy for a moment, silence thick with grief.
But Khaeryon's smile never faltered. Instead, he looked down at them with something strange in his eyes — not pity, but recognition. He understood the weight of loss, though he would never admit it.
"Yes," Khae said softly. "That is precisely why we are going there. To see what remains."
He turned, the long hem of his shadowy form flickering like smoke as he began striding down the mountain path. The boys exchanged a glance, and then Caelan took Ciel's hand firmly, following after. Zerath sighed dramatically, dragging his feet as he trailed behind, muttering, "I should've just stayed asleep…"
As they descended, the forest grew louder around them — birds cawing, leaves rustling, the distant howl of monsters echoing faintly. The world was alive, dangerous, and waiting.
And with each step, the brothers realized one truth:
Their lives would never again be ordinary.
But just as Caelan braced himself for the long descent, Khaeryon stopped abruptly. His sharp gaze swept over the forest and city below, then turned to the boys.
"Tell me," he said, his voice casual yet commanding. "Where is your house?"
Caelan blinked, confused. "It's… near the outskirts of the city. Past the eastern walls. But why?"
Khae's lips curled into a sly smile. "Walking is tedious. Let us make this faster."
Ciel tilted his head. "Faster…?"
Before either boy could question further, shadows pooled at Khae's feet, swirling like liquid ink. His pale hand rose, and the darkness stretched upward, forming a spiral of writhing tendrils. The air turned cold, the ground trembling as though the abyss itself had opened a doorway.
Zerath's eyes widened. "Wait—are you seriously—"
"Yes." Khae smirked. "We shall teleport."
Caelan instinctively pulled Ciel closer, suspicion clear in his eyes. "Can we… trust that?"
Khae glanced at him with mock offense. "Do you doubt me, little human?" He leaned forward, his smile widening into a grin. "I gave your brother candy. That alone should prove my benevolence."
Caelan groaned, rubbing his temples. "A candy-bribing demon god. Wonderful."
Meanwhile, Ciel's eyes sparkled. "Teleport…? Like in the stories, brother?"
Khae chuckled, snapping his fingers. A purple-black sigil spread beneath their feet, glowing faintly. "Not stories, child. The abyss is reality."
Zerath shuffled backward nervously, his arms crossed. "Ugh… I hate this method. Makes me dizzy. Do you even know if you'll land at the right place?"
Khae tilted his head with feigned thoughtfulness. "Mm… more or less. If we miss, perhaps a few hundred miles. Nothing fatal."
"WHAT?!" Caelan's voice cracked.
But before anyone could protest further, the sigil surged with power, swallowing them in a flash of violet-black light.
The sensation was overwhelming — like falling and flying at the same time, their bodies pulled through an endless void. Ciel clutched Caelan desperately, eyes squeezed shut. Zerath groaned as though he might vomit. Khae, on the other hand, whistled cheerfully, arms folded behind his back as though he were strolling through a garden.
Then, with a final lurch, the light spat them out.
They stood on uneven ground — the edge of a broken path, with the outlines of houses in the distance. Smoke curled faintly from chimneys, children played in the street, and just beyond the hills lay the shadow of their old home.
Khae dusted off his hands, satisfied. "See? Flawless."
Zerath gagged, clutching his stomach. "Flawless, my scales… You nearly tore my insides out."
Caelan's knees shook, but he steadied himself, eyes fixed ahead. His home — the place his mother had left them — was so close now.
Ciel tugged his sleeve softly, whispering. "Brother… we're back…"
For the first time since their mother's death, the brothers stood before the life they had left behind.
But little did they know — something, or someone, was already waiting for them.