Epilogue

Very very far away, beyond the sea and the western mountain range of Dusud, past the ruined cities of Zapadia and deep within the heart of demon territory sits the cursed castle. Its twisted form reaches towards the blood red sky as if it’s trying to claw the stars themselves from the heavens. It is always night here. Always dark. Within this castle is a cold and desolate throne room, at the end of its long walkway sits a throne made of the bones of fallen kings. Upon that throne sits Demon King Rojan.

He is a being of pure and complete evil. To be in his presence is to forsake the very idea of light, of hope. There can be no such things before the lord of darkness. The demon king lounges upon his deathly throne, looking down apathetically at one of his subjects knelt before him. He despises this creature, finding everything about him to be offensive from the way he looks to his very stench.

Humans are such lowly things, so unworthy of the life they’ve been given. All they deserve is suffering. All I will give them is death.

That is what Demon King Rojan thinks as this human priest bows before him.

“Lord of the Abyss. Darkness incarnate. I come before you humbly, a mere servant begging for the chance to serve you further. What would you ask of me?” The priest asks.

Rojan glares down on him allowing his aura to swell for a moment. The pressure of it makes the man’s eyes bleed. He begins to cough up blood as his insides are twisted.

“Your voice is too loud. Chattering apes should learn to speak more quietly.”

“M-my apologies.” The priest coughs and sputters but lowers his tone to a whisper.

“You failed to secure the void walker to our side. What use do I have for a servant that cannot complete such a simple task?” Rojan asks.

“M-my king. We couldn’t have anticipated-“

The demon ruler’s eyes flare as his mana grips the priest’s heart and squeezes. The man spews out a thick bloody mess, frantically trying to heal himself to stay alive.

“Another excuse like that and I will crush that tiny brain of yours to mush inside your skull. Now tell me. Are the preparations in place?”

The priest wipes the blood from his lips with a trembling hand, gasping for air. “T-the church has been c-converted and the p-path has been cleared. The capital of Dusud is unguarded. It will fall in a matter of days once we open the gate.”

The demon king strokes his chin thoughtfully.

“Your arrogance gets the better of you. I should expect no more from a human. Katariel was defeated by the void walker and his allies, lest you forget. The humans will be able to rally behind his strength if he is allowed to return.“

The priest pushes their head further into the cold stone floor fearing more pain. “You are w-wise as ever, O lord of suffering. We will make a plan to intercept him. He and the ship he rides on will be dragged into the deepest part of the abyss. I will send a message to the Ryba. They will-“

“No. Let him return. That well has already been tainted, and we must give the humans a taste of hope before they are crushed to dust. It makes their screams all the sweeter.” Rojan’s voice seethes with malice, drips with sadism. He can hardly wait to watch the city burn.

“As you command. I will return to Provo to carry out the final preparations then make my way to the capital ahead of the invasion to weaken their defenses.” The priest says.

“Do not fail me again. Your judgement will make death seem like a heavenly dream. You will know true horror, do you understand?”

The priest raises his head ever so slightly, pale light illuminates his face. Father Gordon can only nod in obedience for the words are frozen in his throat. Demon King Rojan waves his hand dismissively and he scurries out of the room.

Now alone in the darkness, Rojan sits. Upon his throne of skulls and bones. In his desolate throne room, floor painted by the fresh blood of a fallen priest. He sits in his castle that reaches like a twisted hand trying to snatch the stars from the sky and waits. The red moon comes to swallow the sun. The end is near.

END OF BOOK ONE

Thank you so much for reading!