Night in Edrin did not fall.
It draped around the realm like an eerie veil.
The village lay quiet beneath the dark sky. The darkness was too still to be natural, its silence stretched thin across crooked rooftops and dim lanternlight. Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass through, as if afraid it might disturb whatever listened from the dark.
Kael Viremont stood at the edge of the well, barefoot. The edge of the wall was an armor of jagged rocks and dark green moss.
The water inside the well wasn't reflecting the sky. It stood stagnant with only the darkness of the abyss swirling in its depths.
"Kael."
The voice came from behind him, soft. It sounded out through the dark veil, piercing in the still air.
"Don't stare into the well so late at night."
He didn't turn immediately, but his tense muscles seemed to relax.
His gaze lingered on the surface of the water, where something almost moved—just beneath sight, like a thought he couldn't quite remember.
"…I wasn't."
A pause.
Then he turned.
Selene stood a few steps away, a shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders, her expression caught somewhere between worry and quiet patience. Lantern light softened her features, made her look warmer than the night allowed.
"You always say that," she said.
Kael walked toward her.
His silent steps steady against the cold soil.
"You don't have to always come looking."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Someone has to."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Selene reached out, brushing his pale cheeks with her slender, callous fingers. The fingers were rough against his pale skin sending warmth through his heart.
"You're cold again."
"I'm fine."
"You're always 'fine'" She sighed in resignation.
Her hand lingered a second longer than necessary.
Kael didn't pull away.
A sound broke the stillness. Like metal crates grating against the hard floor. The sound filtered through the silent night, sending shivers down their spines.
Selene's fingers tightened slightly.
"Did you hear that?"
Kael had already turned.
His eyes moved, scanning the empty stretch between houses, the narrow paths, the places shadows pooled too deeply.
"I hear it every night," he said quietly.
Selene stilled.
"…That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
The lantern flickered, then steadied.
The air seemed to tremble.
The once still darkness seemed to writhe under invisible pressure. it spread through the night sky like a living thing.
Kael's expression didn't change as he pushed Selene to stand behind him. His breathing slowed.
His eyes narrowed as he scanned his surroundings. The sound rang out again.
The scrape rang in their ears. Goosebumps lined their pale skin.
Selene moved closer to him now. Her palms covered his own as she stood beside him. She wasn't one to cower and hide, Besides she was older.
"Kael…"
"Go inside."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"Selene."
Her name, this time, wasn't soft.
It wasn't loud either.
But it held.
She hesitated, her fingers curled tightly.
And that hesitation…
Cost them. The darkness surged like a tide as it crashed down on the duo. From within, a dark silhouette dashed forward—no warning.
Kael reacted before thought.
He shoved Selene back.
The impact knocked her to the ground just as something sliced through the space where she had been.
The air split with a sound like tearing fabric.
Then—
Silence.
Selene's breath hitched.
"W-what was—"
"Stay down."
Kael stepped forward.
Barefoot on cold earth.
The thing revealed itself slowly.
A shape peeled itself from the dark, tall and strong, its limbs too long, its posture bent at angles that didn't belong to anything living. Its face… almost human.
A mocking smile spread wide on its face. Its cold eyes trailed them like prey.
"Ah…" it whispered.
Its voice layered. Not one sound, but many— overlapping, echoing.
"You can see me."
Kael didn't answer.
Selene pushed herself up behind him, her voice shaking now.
"Kael… what is that…?"
The thing's head tilted as it stared at Selene.
"She hears me too."
A soft, delighted sound slipped from it.
"How Interesting."
Kael stepped forward, blocking its sight from Selene.
"Stay away"
The words were simple.
The creature laughed relishing in the smell of the two humans it was about to devour.
The low level demon's nose twitched slightly as the scent of nightshade filled the air.
It paused.
Its gaze fixed on Kael.
A Hunger so deep, it riled its blood.
"Don't you worry child, i'll take of you first"
Selene's breath caught.
"…Kael!"
But he didn't look back.
The thing moved.
Faster this time. It appeared right in front of him.
Its hand—if it could be called that—reached toward his chest.
It paused.
As if sensing something beneath his skin.
"…Ah."
The sound it made then was different.
Fear.
The fear resonated deep in its blood. It's four eyes dilated, its dark skin quivered underneath an invisible pressure.
Kael's vision flickered.
Just for a second.
The surrounding darkness pressed inward—
And something inside him…
Answered.
It tore through his chest like a hungry beast.
He didn't scream.
But his body reacted. A sharp inhale.
And then—
His hand moved on pure beastly instinct.
He grabbed the creature's wrist and plunged his other hand through the demon's chest.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
The thing froze.
Its many voices fell silent. The fear in its eyes was palpable in its moment of death.
The darkness around them recoiled, drifting away with the now gentle breeze.
Selene stared at the child's back. Her heart beating wildly in her chest.
"…Kael?"
His eyes—usually steady—now held something else.
Something deeper.
Something that did not belong to the boy she had shared parents with.
Silence returned, this time it was the light silence of dawn.
Kael stood alone.
His hand still outstretched, dripping with crimson blood.
Selene's voice trembled behind him.
"…Kael… what did you just do…?"
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
Slowly…
He lowered his hand.
But beneath his skin, deep in his chest.
Something shifted. It was satisfied.
And far beyond the village…
Beyond the Veil…
Something ancient paused, then grinned.
A proud grin.