Servant of the Demon Lord

It was the middle of the night when I heard a woman desperately howling. I woke up very confused. Dad was already taking a peek outside through the curtain of the wagon.

“Dad, what’s going on?” I said, whispering.

“I’m not sure, I heard some weird noises coming from the carts on the back. Those people are not part of our group. They are just travelers.”

“Saraqael and his family are in the back,” I jumped out of the blankets.

“Be quiet! The adventurers’ party went to take a look. However, nothing makes sense. Is it a monster, or are those thieves? If it were a monster, someone could have just told the others, and the adventurers would have taken care of it. If those are thieves trying to steal something, they would attack the front. Merchants’ wagons are always in the front and are easy to recognize compared to carts of people.”

Is Saraqael being attacked? Should I help? Should I get involved or not?

“Dammit!” I quickly used a spell to boost myself with air magic, jumped out of the wagon, and ran towards the back carts. Sorry, Dad, but I can’t leave Sara alone. Hopefully, it's nothing.

On my way back, I saw the woman howling for her dead child in her arms. She was in shock, her eyes closed, head butting her son's chest, crying, begging the gods to give her kid back to her.

As I approached the scene, I found dead people on my way. They were all brutally murdered. I have never felt a night so cold before. Suddenly, I noticed there was no commotion anymore. The night was silent, the smell of death was in the air, and I felt pure darkness surrounding my heart.

“What have you done! They have nothing to do with this! These are people like you!” Saraqael was crying.

I have never felt such a terrifying aura before. Not from my Mom, or a beast, or a soldier. I felt my chest being crushed. There was only one way to describe it. It was evil. This man was holding Sara by the collar of her neck with one hand.

“Bwahahaha, like me, you are saying? They are just trash. Who cares what they are?” His laugh was unhinged, wheezing, almost mocking all the people who were dead. I felt chills go down my spine.

“Why have you killed all of them when you only want me!”

“Pfft. You are so mad, I can’t hold my laugh, he he he… Aah, okay. Why are you here?”

“It’s none of your business.”

The man looked around, stepping over the bodies until one of them made a sound. “Ugh!”

“Look at that, one lucky survivor. Tell me why you are here!” The man kicked the adventurer's stomach until he stopped moving. “Do you want me to keep going?”

“Please stop, I will tell you everything.”

“Good boy.” The man placed Sara on the floor. “Sit down and don’t do anything stup-”

Out of nowhere, a massive shadow jumped from behind me, holding a club and whacking the head of the man, making a powerful noise and sending the man flying across the road to the trees close by.

“Albus, quick! Grab Sara and Cato, and leave!” I didn’t notice, but I was frozen in fear, tears coming down my cheeks, unable to move. Albus jumped after Dad took Sara in his arms and held me by my shirt, shaking me abruptly.

“Cato, wake up!” When I was about to move, the man rushed at my Dad and hit him with his knee in the abdomen. Dad fell to his knees without being able to breathe. Without losing a bit, the man lunges forward toward us, but Dad holds his ankle.

“Eh? Your endurance is high.” The man stepped on Dad’s hand, but Dad protected his hand with magic.

“Stop! Don’t do anything to my Dad.”

“Aha! Daughter and father, a slave, and… a friend? Give me that Felidae, and I will let you all go with your lives. I will have mercy on your father. He reminds me of myself.”

“My Dad is nothing like you.”

“Cato, stop. Don’t talk to this man.”

“Cato. What a cute name. Do you see how repugnant your father looks? Look at his body. The gods marked him- Ptooey. He was born with low magical affinity. A curse from the heavenly beings. He has no luck. He will never be loved, he was born a trash, and he will die like one.”

“You know nothing about him!”

“You see, my name is Aicrossus, and I was born like him. I had no magic affinity and was looked down on by everyone. My parents sold me like a slave, and I was treated like trash. However, my savior set me free. Lord Apollyon took me in his arms and healed my wounds. He washed my body and gave me new clothes. He gave me a ring and called me his son. He gave me of his power and now I can use magic too.”

What is this man saying? Is Apollyon the demon Lord? Does he have a way to restore magic? I need to save Dad no matter what.

“Now, Daaad." Said the man mockingly. "If you are willing to cooperate in the cause and worship Lord Apollyon with all your heart, I will give a word to him, and he could cure your magic problem.”

“Pfft. So you were a loser, and now you are a loser who can use magic. Good for you, s*** head- cough.”

“I’m just gonna kill you all.” Aicrossus’ magic started to resonate. Again, that dark aura filled the road. This man seems to be possessed. His magic has a dark purple essence. Aicrossus started hitting Dad to a pulp, but Dad was holding his ground, defending as much as possible. However, Dad cannot fight against magic. Albus boosted Dad with Magic, but that is not going to be enough.

“Air knives!” Aicrossus took a step back and attacked Dad with magic. Dad defended some slash attacks, but others went through his defense, hitting his body.

Dad tried to get closer to attack him, but Aicrossus would step back and attack him with magic.

“You see how utterly ridiculous this is. You are weak and pathetic. You have no way of defeating me.” Suddenly, Albus jumped into the fight and started to send air magic slashes against Aicrossus. Dad used the opportunity to grab his club and hit Aicrossus with everything he had. Aicrossus defended with his arm, breaking Dad’s club in two. However, Albus was able to slash his side with magic.

“Dad, you know what it’s like not to have magic in this world. We are the worst of the worst. We are not part of humanity. We were spit by the gods when we were born. Join us, and the Lord will give you magic that you can possess and use at will. Think about your family. You can do much more if you can use magic.”

“No, Aicrossus. I might be weak, but I have never once doubted the gods. I feel blessed for what I have. I will never sacrifice my principles for anything.”

Aicrossus took his knives out and quickly jumped toward Albus. I used fire magic, creating a wave that completely covered Aicrossus. However, he went through the flames protecting his body and landed a kick in Albus's face, throwing him far away from us.

Dad jumped into the attack again while I was throwing fire magic at Aicrossus. We were holding our ground, but it wasn't enough. Dad was getting tired. He was missing more and more slashes to his body, and he was bleeding from multiple sides. Then, using a faint, Aicrossus landed a hard kick in Dad’s face, knocking him backwards and slamming his face to the ground.

“Cato!” Albus was back and threw me my epee.

“Eh? What is that? No way you are attacking me with that.”

I have competed in so many tournaments before, but never with such high stakes. There is no option for a second or third place. This duel, I must win. My Dad’s life is on the line. I took a deep breath and quickly lunged forward.