Circle of feast

It had been a while since Estheria hurriedly left.

Strixx was calming down now. I still held her close, just like I had when she was wincing in pain earlier—tense, struggling to stay conscious.

Then she stirred slightly in my arms, her breathing slower, steadier. “Strixx head doesn’t hurt anymore, Luca.” Relief washed over me. The tight knot in my chest loosened. “Thank God,” I murmured. “I’m glad you’re okay.” I didn’t let go.

Ever since Estheria left, the voice—screaming for help—had vanished too. Everything felt… off. Too quiet. The only light came from the faint moonlight spilling across the ground and the small bonfire flickering at the edge of the cave.

Then Strixx stood up. Her voice trembled. “Demons.”

I turned to her, confused. “What? Strixx, what do you mean?”

Her eyes were wide, her voice still shaking. “Strixx don’t sense just one demon… There are many. Way too many demons. All around the forest.”

She looked at me, fear in her eyes. “Estheria might be in danger.”

“Strixx… let’s go look for her.”

She turned to me sharply, eyes trembling. “No, Luca. No… not anymore.” Her voice cracked. “Strixx doesn’t want Luca to get hurt again. Strixx will stay here. Protect Luca. Stay with Luca.”

I held her gaze, steady and quiet. “Strixx… it’s Estheria. She’s the one who saved us when we were completely lost. If she hadn’t shown up… I don’t even know if I’d still be standing here.”

I looked down, then back up into her eyes. “If I was never found by her… I don’t think I would’ve ever seen you again. She saved us. And now we’re together.”

I reached for her hand gently. “So I want to help her too. Even if I’m weak, even if I can’t do much—I want to do whatever I can. Strixx… let’s go.”

Her hand trembled in mine. “Promise…” she whispered. “Promise Strixx… Luca will stay right next to Strixx. All the time.”

I looked into her eyes, serious. “I promise. I’ll stay with you. I won’t cause trouble.”

She hesitated… then slowly gave me her hand. “Luca better keep that promise,” she murmured.

I squeezed her hand gently, grabbed a burning piece of wood from the bonfire—and we ran. Into the dark. Into the unknown. Her senses guiding us, demons hidden all around, but we didn’t stop.

Then—Strixx stopped. I looked at her. “What is it?”

She turned toward the shadows, her expression alert. “Luca… Estheria is nearby.”

“How do you know that, Strixx?”

“When Strixx saw Estheria for the first time… Estheria had… something strong. Not scary. Just… something big. Something warm and strange. Like… light coming out of her. But it wasn’t light. Strixx don’t know how to say.” She placed her hand over her chest. “Strixx feels it again. It’s close.”

We kept running—blind, guided only by Strixx’s instinct. Shadows shifting around us like whispers. We didn’t stop. Because Estheria was waiting.

The rustling around us grew louder—movement on all sides. It was clear now: we were surrounded.

Then, Strixx stopped. She gripped my hand tightly. “Demons. We’re surrounded. Luca, don’t let go of Strixx hand.”

Before I could speak, she pulled me close and leapt—three massive beasts tore through the trees behind us, their claws shredding the spot we’d been standing. Strixx didn’t stop. Carrying me with ease, she leapt from branch to branch, outrunning the monstrous howls behind us.

Then we burst into a clearing.

The forest opened suddenly into a vast, circular space under the pale moonlight. In the middle stood Estheria, down on her knees. And across from her, farther ahead, stood a lone little girl. Surrounding her were demon beasts—dozens, encircling her in a wide ring, silent and tense.

We broke through the trees. The demon beasts that had been chasing us didn’t attack. They just ran forward and joined the others, forming a wide circle around the girl. They weren’t trying to catch us. They were herding us here.

Strixx slowly set me down, her body tense. My heart pounded. We hadn’t escaped anything. We were being brought in.

The clearing went still. Estheria hadn’t moved. Still on her knees. Still staring at the girl.

We moved carefully, one step at a time. Nothing happened. The beasts didn’t even look at us.

When we reached Estheria, we knelt beside her.

I leaned close. “Estheria… what is this? What’s happening?”

Her voice came out broken. “Luca… I don’t know… I can’t move. Every time I try… they hurt her…”

I placed a hand on Estheria’s shoulder. “It’s alright. We’re here now. They’re not reacting to us. We can do something.”

Strixx stood, calm and focused. “Strixx will go save the girl.”

Estheria’s eyes widened. “You two… please…”

I turned to Strixx, trusting her. “Strixx… be careful.”

Estheria’s voice cracked softly. “Is she going to be okay…?”

I smiled faintly. “She’s stronger than she looks. She’ll do it again. I believe in her.”

And Strixx took her first step toward the girl. She moved slow and steady. The beasts didn’t react. She was halfway there.

Then it happened.

A sudden rustling burst from the trees behind us—more demon beasts leapt out, surrounding Estheria and me. Before I could react, one of them grabbed my clothes and yanked me away. They dragged me across the clearing and formed a tight circle around me—just like the one around the girl.

Estheria’s eyes widened in horror. She flinched, tried to move—but the moment she did, the beasts around the little girl snapped forward, tearing into her.

The girl screamed. Estheria froze, trembling. Tears streamed silently down her face. She looked at me, desperate—but she knew. If she moved again, the girl would suffer more.

Strixx stopped walking. She turned, eyes falling on me—now surrounded, just like the girl. Her body went stiff. And then, without thinking, she sprinted forward—

Then—something shifted.

From the trees, a figure emerged. His voice was sharp, grating.

“You’re not very smart, little girl.” Strixx froze.

“You get it now, don’t you?” His tone dropped, colder.

“Move—and someone you care about pays.”

Moonlight lit his face: skin and hair pale as ash, eyes twisted black with a thin white crack for a pupil.

A demon.

His long black cloak drifted like shadows in the wind.

He raised a hand.

The beasts around me lunged. Teeth tore into my arms and legs. Pain exploded through me. I screamed.

Strixx’s voice cracked. “Don’t hurt Luca!”

She twitched forward—but the demon’s smirk stopped her.

“Oh? Still thinking of running? By the time you reach him… there won’t be much left.” His eyes gleamed, mocking.

“Go on, then. Try.”

He laughed—a cold, hollow sound that split the night.

I met Strixx’s gaze. Blood ran down my arms. My body shook.

And she stood frozen. Too scared to move.

For a long, suffocating moment—no one breathed. Not Strixx. Not Estheria. Not me.

Only the low growls in the dark remained.