The Demon Prince

It was an average day at school. Kei and her friends were socializing as always, though something was missing. Noticing how Kei was looking at her phone a lot more, Yusuke decided to tease her a bit. “Do you~ miss your friend?” he asked, pressing his face closer to her.

Kei recoiled at the gesture, trying her best not to yelp at Yusuke’s closeness, “W-what do you mean?” She asked, leading Yusuke’s eyebrows to lift.

“You know what I mean.”

Hearing this, Kei scoffed, hiding her mouth with her phone, “As if, they’re only gone for a wee-”

“He, is only gone for a week,” Yusuke corrected, leading Kei to sigh.

“Oh, so if I tease someone, there's instantly something between us?” She asked, clearly in a sarcastic manner. Yusuke shook his head as he began to click his tongue.

“It’s not that~ I know you, Kei, there's a difference when you tease someone,” he then sat at the table in front of her, his smile cheeky, his eyes looking up at her, “And when you tease someone.”

Looking at him, Kei couldn’t help but blush, but what he was insinuating was true, even though she would never admit it. She missed the short-tempered boy, the one so smart yet so clueless, the one who felt so regal yet immature, the one who made so much of an impact on her life, even though he was only in it for a little under three months.

But as the bell rang to start the class, Kei sat down as she wondered if Iscodaya had arrived at his destination. But unbeknownst to her, he had, just not on earth.

In a realm, far, far away, a dragon ripped through the clouds, as seven figures rode at its back in a covered carriage. “We’ve arrived, your Majesties,” a hooded man remarked, his hands holding the rope that was controlling the dragon.

A young man from the group smiled, his hair was a blazing red, slicked back like a raging fire, his eyes, scarlet. On his head was a crown, and on his body was clothing of royalty, colored red and white. On his shoulders was red fur, and on his waist descended a white skirt covering up the back of his long black pants. “Braja, I only hoped we didn’t come here to do this type of work,” remarked Daranya, the first Prince of Phirines.

“My fiancé and I went here a while ago, I really enjoyed it,” stated a young boy, no older than fourteen. His hair was a vibrant orange, tied into a ponytail, his eyes, yet again, scarlet. He wore the same clothing as Daranya, except his was orange and white. “I really want to go to this place again~ don’t make them into enemies, okay, big brother Isco?” asked Senodaya, the third Prince of the Phirines. The boy turned to another figure clothed like them.

Black and red were the two colors of his clothing, the same as his styled black hair, and piercing scarlet eyes. “Let’s see if they piss me off first Seno,” stated Iscodaya, second Prince of the Phirines.

“Let's try to avoid that, shall we, Isco?” Daranya politely asked, only to be given no attention by his younger brother, “You were so cute when you were younger,” Daranya thought as the dragon landed. The door opened, leading the other three beings to leave the carriage first. One of them was the famed swordsman, and the Second Prince’s sword, Kaus Irom.

He, along with the two other swords, stood in guard as the royals left the carriage. The civilians around them, humanoid beasts resembling those of felines from Earth, looked on with awe and fear as they saw him. Dark hair, red eyes, the Raven of the Battlefield, the Undefeated Son of War, the Demon Prince, Iscodaya Kousa.

One look from him almost gave the civilians a heart attack: “That’s him, the royal without magic.”

But before more whisperings could happen, a stern look from one of the blades shut their mouths. But not a moment later, an advisor approached the group, bowing, “Welcome to Braja, Princes of Phirines, follow me, the King is waiting for you all.”

Daranya took the lead, following the advisor through the city, and eventually to the main castle gate. As they passed, Iscodaya caught the glances of the soldiers around him, it was either of fear or of hate. But the young Prince was already used to this, opting to completely ignore it.

And finally, the group of six made it to the throneroom, and sitting in a regal manner, was the King of Braja, Kyarus. His face scarred, and his eyes sharp, the tiger-looking King stared down on the six.

“What brings you here, Princes and Blades of Phirines?” He asked, his voice clearly meant to intimidate. Hearing his tone, Iscodaya’s eyes sharpened, but Daranya gripped his shoulder firmly, smiling at him before stepping up.

“We are sent by King Drano Kousa of Phirines, to figure out why you have severed ties with us? For your envoy never told General Serioth anything,” Daranya asked, his tone respectful to the highest level.

But this respect was not reciprocated, as Kyarus scoffs, “Why? I’ll tell you why, Prince. Phirines is a brutal and warring state. Do you expect us to keep supporting you even when you pile up enemies for your ally?” He roared out, but Daranya didn’t react to it, just looking back at Iscodaya.

He saw his brother’s brows begin to curl, but before his mouth could open, Senodaya grabbed onto Iscodaya’s arm. His innocent, pleading eyes kept Iscodaya’s temper down. “Your Majesty, please understand that Phirines doesn’t want war; we only defend ourselves from invaders,” the young boy stated, matching the respect of his older brother.

But yet again, it wasn’t given to him, “And what do you know, boy?” Kyarus stated, his tone disrespectful, “Your father, that, Drano, who isn’t even a royal at birth, declared war on HALF THE CONTINENT!! JUS-”

“I don’t want to hear your cowardly blabbering,” a voice echoed through the room, stopping Kyarus’ mouth. Daranya sighed as Iscodaya touched the head of Senodaya before stepping up, “It was because half of the continent united to battle Phirines, it was only after my father and uncles sent them running that the cowardly nation of Braja decided to ally with us.”

Hearing his nation get disrespected, Kyarus stood up from his throne, “YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE BOY!!” He yelled in anger, sending a gust of wind towards the six Phirinians, but Iscodaya didn’t even blink.

He cleared his throat again, and looked deep into Kyarus’ eyes, fearless, “And now, after the tribes of Eternals have strengthened their lines, what does Braja do?”

“IT IS YOUR FATHER’S FAUL-”

“TELL ME WHAT BRAJA DOES KYARUS!!” Iscodaya finally yelled, leading the warriors in the throne room to flinch, “DOES BRAJA DEFEND AND HELP THEIR ALLY!?! NO!! THEY ABANDON THEM!! AND TELL ME KING OF COWARDS!! WHO IS IT WHO SHOULD BITE THEIR TONGUE!?!”

The room was silent. Iscodaya stood tall against Kyarus, his eyes expecting an answer, but none came, leading him to scoff.

“I already knew why you severed ties with us, but your silence clarifies it.” Iscodaya continued to stare into Kyarus, his gaze paralyzing.

But instead of a reason, Kyarus responded with an insult, “I don’t want to hear that from you, cursed child who killed his own mother and started the seven-year plag-”

But before he could finish, a hand of fire pointed at his neck with a scythe around it. Daranya stared deep into Kyarus’ eyes, his eyes piercing through Kyarus’ soul, “Say that again? King of cowards.”

Kyarus couldn’t move out of fear as Senodaya held his scythe so close around his neck. The soldiers around him were the same as the three swords looked at them. But Kaus, turned to Iscodaya.

Gritted teeth, vulnerable eyes, and shaking hands, it was the appearance his Prince hated the most. Kaus quickly wrapped his cape around him as Iscodaya opened his mouth again, “We are finished here,” he stated before Kaus escorted him out. Daranya and Senodaya followed, but their gaze were still on Kyarus.

The King of Braja’s legs almost gave up, as he knew they were so close to destroying his city.