Ruelle stared at the white serpent sleeping behind that sorrowful cage. Her smile was weak and peaceful. Slowly, her tiny fingers reached for the cage hesitantly.
"Ouch!" She hissed when the force around the cage burnt her fingers.
"What are you doing Ruelle?" The serpent asked with its eyes still closed. Her voice calm but heavy.
"Mom? I...umm..you should rest. I was actually heading out." She quickly stood up, picking up her sling bag.
"Be careful out there" she hissed then curled herself comfortably to sleep.
For a moment, Ruelle stared at her, her jade eyes heavy with sadness. "I will mom" she whispered to herself as she turned around and left.
__________
The woods were thicker here — darker, older — as if time coiled differently between the trees. Moss covered the trunks like velvet, and pale-blue insects floated through the air, illuminating the shadows around her.
Ruelle walked carefully, her jade eyes scanning the path she'd memorized from years of sneaking out. She knew exactly where she was going.
The Broken Tower.
A leaning, half–swallowed structure of stone and roots.
Home of Eryndor Vale — the last wizard alive who still remembered the gods' fall.
The tower groaned softly in the wind as she approached. Vines shuddered. A low ripple of energy ran across the crooked archway.
Ruelle stood before the door and knocked three times.
The door didn't open.
Instead — the wood melted into smoke.
A single golden eye appeared in the air before her.
"Child…" a tired voice breathed. "You carry trouble like others carry baskets."
Ruelle sighed. "Good morning to you too, Eryndor."
The eye blinked, unimpressed.
"Enter."
The smoke parted, revealing the interior of the tower.
Warm candlelight flickered along shelves stacked with scrolls, glowing stones, and jars of memories bottled in liquid silver. Eryndor Vale stood at the center of the room — a tall, sharp, intimidating relic of a man draped in a cloak stitched with constellations. His long hair was silver, his beard braided with charms that rattled softly as he moved.
He looked down at her, eyes narrowed.
"You smell of guilt."
Ruelle flinched.
"Do I?"
"That, and a serpent's tears." His voice softened slightly. "Your mother cried for you today."
Ruelle looked away, guilt squeezing her chest. "She… didn't have to."
"She always will."
Before she could respond, Eryndor rested a hand on her head — heavy, warm, grounding.
"So," he murmured. "You've come to ask for something you know I should not give."
Ruelle took a breath.
A deep, shaking breath.
"I need to go to the demon realm."
The tower fell silent.
Even the jars stopped whispering.
Eryndor's expression darkened, his voice turning dangerously low.
"Ruelle… little one… that place is not for mortal feet. Children do not come back from there."
"I'm not just a child." Her voice cracked but held firm. "I'm Osaka's sister."
The wizard's jaw tightened.
"You are twelve."
"I don't care."
Her hands balled into trembling fists. "He's alone. Blind. In pain. They left him there like a monster. If I don't go, who will? No one is helping him—"
"Because they are terrified of him!" Eryndor snapped, the candles flaring. "Do you understand what Osaka is?"
"Yes."
Ruelle stepped closer, meeting his ancient gaze without fear.
"He's my brother."
The wizard stared at her — long, searching, conflicted.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…You are exactly like Grey when he was small," he murmured, almost to himself. "Stubborn. Too brave. Too soft."
"So you'll help me?" she asked, hope flickering like a small flame.
Eryndor rubbed his temples. "No."
Her face fell.
He sighed again, heavier. "But I will… escort you."
Ruelle's eyes widened in shock. "You'll go with me?"
"Someone must keep your limbs intact."
She launched forward, hugging him around the waist.
Eryndor went stiff, muttering under his breath.
"Humans and their affection…"
---
The wizard raised his staff. The room dimmed. Shadows thickened.
"Stand close," he instructed her.
Ruelle clung to the edge of his cloak as he traced a glowing circle in the air. It pulsed with ancient symbols — jagged, shifting, alive. The air shook. The floor cracked. Light spilled from the markings like blood.
A low hum filled the room.
Not a hum.
A heartbeat.
A demon realm heartbeat.
Eryndor's voice trembled slightly. "Once we cross, stay behind me. Do not touch anything. Do not speak to anything. And above all—"
"Don't call Osaka by his full demon name," she recited.
He blinked. "…You remember."
"I listen."
"That is debatable," he muttered.
The circle burst open.
A tear in the world.
Black wind spiraled around them. The tower shook violently.
Ruelle tightened her grip on his cloak.
"Are you ready?" Eryndor asked.
She nodded once.
And together—
They stepped through.
---
THE DEMON REALM
Cold slammed into them like water.
The sky here was not a sky at all — just swirling layers of white ash drifting across a black void. The ground was bone-like, cracking under their feet with each step. Rivers of pale fire ran through the land, moving like serpents beneath the surface.
Ruelle shivered.
It was silent.
No birds. No leaves.
Just the distant echo of something breathing far, far away.
Eryndor scanned the horizon.
"This place rejects the living," he whispered. "Stay close."
Ruelle nodded.
They walked.
Through valleys shaped like ribcages.
Through forests of dead feathers.
Through winds that whispered names they shouldn't know.
Every step felt colder.
Every breath felt thinner.
But Ruelle didn't stop.
"Osaka…"
She whispered the name like a prayer.
"I'm coming."
---
A shadow moved overhead.
Slow. Massive. Graceful.
Ruelle froze.
Eryndor pulled her behind him instantly, raising his staff.
A creature descended from the sky — wings wide enough to cover the horizon, feathers white as untouched snow. Its talons cracked the earth like thunder when it landed.
The blind owl.
Osaka.
He tilted his enormous head, milky eyes seeing nothing — and everything.
Ruelle felt something inside her chest pull… like an invisible thread tied between them.
Eryndor whispered, "Do not move."
But Osaka's head snapped sharply toward the sound of Ruelle's heartbeat.
The demon owl inhaled.
And the entire realm exhaled with him.
Slowly—
So slowly—
He leaned down.
Lower.
Lower.
Until his massive beak hovered just inches above the trembling girl.
His blinded eyes—
His presence—
His overwhelming, ancient silence—
Everything devoured her breath.
"Osaka…"
Her voice shook.
"It's me."
Something shifted in him.
A memory.
A recognition.
A soft, guttural rumble left his throat — a sound the demon realm had not heard in centuries.
Eryndor whispered, horrified—
"He knows you, that's my cue to leave"
"You're going?"
"I'll be outside, waiting to take you back home" with that, he turned and left.
Ruelle's gaze returned to the huge white blind owl that was Infront of her. But a warm smile appeared on her face when she saw a tall elegant man standing infront of her. His silver eyes held nothing, his white long hair flowed like a mystical river all the way to the end of his back. His face read nothing as he moved closer to Ruelle in his long black clock with red patterns, like blood. His elegant clear appearance looked nothing like a demon. A dangerous, wild and strong demon.
"You shouldn't be here" his voice was deep and sharp.
"I lost the book" she said with a low but confident voice.
Osaka sighed heavily, putting out his hand. An old ancient book appeared on his hand.
"You were supposed to hand it to Grey," he made it to disappear, "you know there are punishments for irresponsible little demons like you, right?"
Ruelle kept her head down. But not with fear, but respect.
Suddenly, Ruelle's skin started burning, feeling like glass shards being inserted in her skin. She squeezed her eyes shut as drops of tears fell from her eyes. Her hands were in a tight fist. The heat increased and the pain was now inside her body.
Osaka paced back and forth slowly, hands behind his back. No expression. But his eyes were turning into pitch dark, from the silver color.
"I'm hungry" he said suddenly, coming to a halt.
"I_I__I brought y_you the usual " Ruelle struggled to talk, as the pain was becoming unbearable.
The pain suddenly disappeared and Ruelle exhaled softly.
Quickly, she pulled out black plastic bags filled with blood.
"They're still fresh" she smiled warmly as she handed him the bags.
Osaka grabbed them hungrily and placed them on top of an old wooden table. "It's a matter of time before I leave this place. Atlas is almost done" He paused then turned to Ruelle, "Now leave before they sense your presence"
"See you soon" her smile faded as she watched his gigantic white owl form returning.With a deep sigh, she left, heading to where Eryndor will be waiting.
__________
Vard's Realm
Gerald took one grape from the golden bowl and tossed it into his mouth. He leaned back on his seat and turned to Siren.
"You have spaced out for over an hour now. This is literally my third bowl"
Siren exhaled sharply. He stood leaned back in his seat and turned to Gerald.
"This used to be Blue's favorite room," a subtle smile appeared on his face as his eyes scanned the room. "You know, he barely talked to anyone inside and outside the kingdom."
"I'm an exception " Gerald shrugged.
"Yeah..not you. I mean you were his confidant "
"That's deep, but I'll take it"
"I know he was going through something. He was suffering mentally and..I just..I...I couldn't get him "
Gerald's gaze softened. He fixed his arm around Siren's shoulder softly.
"Hey, be calm Siren. We are going to find him anytime soon. We just have to wait for our guy to prepare the way.."
"And when is that Gerald?Huh? What if something has already happened to him? What will I do then?...what will Winter do, a..and what will mother do?"
Gerald took a deep breath, his hand finding it's way to Siren's. He squeezed it a little in small assurance.
"Blue's the toughest guy I've ever met. Trust me, no one is gonna lay a finger on him..and if some filthy demon tries, they'll know I'm not just an Olime god who's Blue's__umm.. confidant, like you said. But I'd rather just say best bud" He finished with a chuckle that earned him a small smile from Siren.
_____
"Something's off" Lance said as he observed Grey talking with Blue Infront of the lockers.
"Yeah, I mean...why did the lunch lady have an extra boob?"
Lance wore a confused and irritated look at the same time. He hit Charles' head then turned back to look at Grey, "Not that you prick! I'm saying that" he pointed at the two of them.
"Oh..yeah, right."