Kaito woke up dazed and began looking around, staring at the place — what is this hut? Someone opened the door.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the deputy of the Ice Knights. My name is Julian. Welcome to the Ice region, and also among the Ice Knights. So — we've finally arrived."
"Wait… there was a man and a girl with me. Are they all right?"
"Take care of yourself first."
"Yes, they're fine — thank God. So we're in the Zero Ice region?"
"No. You're in the White Snow Village. The Zero Ice is about three kilometers from here. Why didn't they say that instead of 'Zero Ice'? Because that area is known for an unnaturally intense cold; it became famous because of that and is often mentioned."
"Now that you know, I welcome you again to the Ice squad and ask you to forgive the girl for what she did to you — she has come through a past… even I might not get past it."
"It's okay. The important thing is that she's fine. Maybe I don't know her past, but I'll forgive her."
"I don't want you to forgive me, Emily. Didn't we agree you'd wait until I gave the signal?"
"If you think I'm here to forgive you or anything like that, you're wrong. If it were up to me I'd have killed you, but he stopped me. I'm not a demon."
"Then what is that demon mark? Tell me."
"It's not decoration or any ordinary mark — it's the Mark of a Lord."
"Then which of us is right?"
Anderiah grabbed his sword and pulled the wrap off it, revealing it. Everyone was shocked; the deputy commander stared at him while gripping his hand.
"That's the reason for the tattoo — it's a curse. But I can't leave it. How did you manage to break the sword's chains?"
"I didn't break them; they chose me."
"You all say that, but we know the truth: you hide in our human forms and then betray us. You betrayed us like you did to my mother."
"Emily… calm down, there's no need to bring that up."
"No — he should know, because I made a vow: I will not leave any demon alive."
"All right, but remember your promise."
Emily nodded.
My father was a merchant in one of the villages, and my mother was with him. Our life was ordinary until we met a man who called himself Li. He seemed normal; I would visit him occasionally so he could tell me stories of his travels. I was five years old. His stories fascinated me so much that I began visiting twice a day. But one day…
My mother was baking a cake and my father wasn't home; I wanted to take some to him, but the door was locked. I thought he was asleep; my mother was in the house and told me not to go to him because he was sleeping. I wanted to surprise him, but I found him in a different form — horns, two red eyes, and a body with the Mark of the Lord on his neck. He was a little different, but the symbol was drawn inside the horn on his neck.
I was terrified and couldn't move. When he heard my breath he smiled, left the corpse, then disappeared. When I tried to leave, he was in human form and I saw him heading toward our house. That's when Master Li arrived.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"I only wanted to pass by and say I'll leave tomorrow. I wanted to greet Emily before I go."
"Emily is asleep now, so wait a moment."
"I'm waiting."
My mother went to my room but couldn't find me; she searched desperately. When she didn't find me she seized him and shouted, "Where is my daughter? I don't understand!"
"Don't be foolish. I know what you were like, you Eye. But I didn't mean to harm my family because of this, so stop the nonsense and tell me where she is."
"If you're spying on me, you devour corpses, but you won't speak, you irresponsible woman of inheritance. Little one, will you stay hidden or will you show yourself?"
My mother drew away from him. "My daughter— thank God you're okay. I was worried about you; did you know?"
"My daughter, we'll talk about this later. For now, just stay behind me."
"All right."
A mother defending her daughter — I like that. Then the man said, "What do you think of a little game?"
"A game?"
"Yes. I want to know how much you love your daughter. If you win, your daughter lives. If you lose, I'll tear her to pieces in front of you. You won't be able to stop it — there are heroes in this village."
"And are they stronger than me?"
"We'll find out soon, demon."
In an instant, the demon found himself struck and flying toward the ceiling of the house. "Are you all right, madam?"
"Yes. It's good you came. Don't worry, madam — just go, we'll take care of him. I rely on you. Come on, my child."
"What bad luck! You ruined my fun. How will you make this up—by cutting off your head, you filthy thing?"
"Big words from you, human. If you want my head, come and take it!"
Teeth snapped and the first charged. One wielded a sword named Arthur, the other a spear named Lux. Lux lunged and threw his spear at the demon, who dodged; the second fighter cut the demon's shoulder, and when the demon tried to counter, the spear struck the other arm.
They attacked again, but the demon pressed his hand to the ground, forming a large cage of bones that surrounded the area where they were fighting. "Now, you clumsy ones, it's judgment time."
A bone suddenly shot toward Arthur's foot and another into Lux's hand. Drops of blood flowing down moved toward the demon and gathered. "Your blood will feed me, heroes," the demon said. "Keep it, for I will rip your heads out before you drink it. How can two people, one with a foot-wound and the other with an arm—" They threw their weapons at each other and charged. Broken bones erupted everywhere, attacking the two of them. Arthur used his power to form a shield of earth while Lux made an opening in the wall, and Arthur launched the spear, striking the demon's head.
The demon suddenly stopped moving. The two knights thought they had won, and when they advanced to finish him, the demon moved. "Humans… even though I have not used parts of my power, you have angered me greatly. Allow me to show you true hell." The spear began to sink into his head as if pulling; then drops of blood spread across the bones, and flesh began to cover them. A voice from beneath the ground screamed as if hungry for the meal — something ravenous wanting food.
In the forest, the mother ran. She heard a terrifying sound and blood flew up into the sky. When she saw that she sped up, but the demon stood before her, covered in blood, laughing. Then he said, "Do you bet or not, mother?"
The mother agreed to save her daughter. They say a mother is at her greatest when her child is in danger. "Then you will be eaten — but without making a sound. Your daughter must watch you as you are eaten. If you make a sound, she will be eaten too. What do you think, Master Li? Please, she is a girl."
"Do I understand that you disagree?"
"No, I agree, but…"
"Will you swear to me?"
The demon cut his finger and let the blood drip onto the little girl's hand, saying, "This forms a bond with the words spoken. I want to speak to her — not in front of you. A few seconds, a few words, then we begin. Your time is running out."
The mother held her daughter and stroked her hair. "My little strong daughter that I raised. I know your mettle. When I ask you to promise, you keep your word, right? Promise me you will not cry or move — agree no matter what happens."
"Mom… I'm scared."
"What is there to be afraid of? I'm here beside you, so don't worry. I'm with you."
The mother hugged the child, and before she could say another word, something beneath them was being eaten. Every bone, every tendon, every piece of flesh was being ground. The mother endured and only held her daughter close. The monster ate from the feet upward. The girl saw that and tried to scream, but her mother's look stopped her. The child kept watching her mother being slowly eaten until everything was consumed — all but her arm. The demon grabbed the arm and told the girl to eat a part of her mother's arm.
The girl was in an indescribable state: she wanted to scream but could not; she wanted to hold something tightly to feel even a fragment of safety but could not hold herself. The demon smiled and said, "If you want to live and not have your mother's sacrifice be in vain, take a portion of her arm. Go on."
The little girl grabbed her mother's arm; tears fell silently, as if the girl had died. She tried to bite but couldn't, then she put the blood-covered fingers to her mouth as if to say, "Mom… don't leave me. I need you; I feel unsafe."
The demon looked at her and handed her a knife. "I won't hurt you, but you are the cause of your mother's death. If you have the courage, cut your hand."
When he stepped away, the girl took the knife and began stabbing her hand. "I hate them… I hate demons. I hate them; I will kill them, I swear…" Then she let out the scream of a person who has lost everything.
-----++
"Readers, of course, I was late in posting, but it was due to urgent reasons. Secondly, I'd like to request a review of the novel."