A Demonic Crow

***

Crossing the doorway, the Lord of the castle having preceded her by a few steps then turned towards Lavinia Serdargent, letting her walk in as well. She looked with an intrigued look at the shelves filled with thick books with leather or fabric covers. Two braziers ignited on either side of the entrance, their blue flames, in a crackling breath.

The Fourth Princess of Ningea approached one of the shelves, her fingertips brushing the back covers.

"I don't think you'll find a book to your likings."

"Is that so?" she asked, curious, while grasping one of the books. 

The back cover was draped in purple fabric, with a black stone embedded in its center. And, opening the book, she began to leaf through it at random. The symbols that composed it were those of an ancient runic language. Were the other books written like this? As she asked herself the question, blackish fingers began to emerge from the middle of the open pages, and taken by surprise Lavinia couldn't help but let go of the grimoire with a cry of astonishment. A purplish mist began to escape from the book and spread to the ground while a second hand already began to emerge. It was creepily curling its fingers to get out... But at the same moment, a foot relentlessly trampled on the first one, and it cracked, melting away as a broken egg.

''Huhh?!" Lavinia let out an exclamation. 

Meanwhile, the Demon Lord calmly bent forward, closing the book and grabbing it.

''I warned you. These are all ancient grimoires enclosing formidable incantations and secrets. Someone who doesn't seek power shouldn't touch it."

As Lavinia stayed silent, observing the Lord of the castle, she couldn't help but remark the overwhelming magic aura enveloping him. Hence, the demon added.

"Are you okay?"

For a fleeting moment, for some reason, she widened her eyes, half-opening her mouth. Albeit soon, a beaming smile replaced that expression.

"I'm alright. Please, would you agree to show me another spell book?"

"...I already told you that-"

But he couldn't finish his sentence as the Princess wanted to correct herself.

"I mean! I don't want to read it. Only to see you using it."

Lady Lavinia solely wanted to distract herself and found another way as reading appeared compromised. Though that wasn't really understandable to the eyes of the Demon Lord who stared at her for a few moments, though soon resigning to understand.

Not uttering any other word, he simply reached to the shelves, putting back the spell book she took before. Then, he took a few steps along the shelve and took another one, to her greatest joy.

Making another few steps, he opened the book, the pages fluttering as beating wings. The Demon Lord stared at them until he decided to place his hand against one of the pages, interrupting their scrolling. At this exact moment, dozens of butterflies, their wings black and violet with iridescent reflections, emerged from the book. Lady Lavinia was mesmerized by their appearance, and followed their enchanting yet macabre dance through the air. A dark trail following their wake, everything it touched, as one of the brasero at the entrance, got dissolved in a black cloud. One of the butterflies happened to approach the Princess, his wings beating so that it flew over her. The black trail was about to touch her when she realized its presence, her heart skipping a beat...

''Åvēin.''

In an ancient language, the Demon Lord uttered a single word. At the same moment, the butterflies vanished, as well as their gloomy trail. He closed the book, gazing at Lady Lavinia.

"Are you satisfied?"

She gazed back at him, thinking that he was impressive being able to control anything around him that easily.

"Yes, thank you Lord Oweil!" she joined her hands expressing her contentment, when a chirping sounded from her pocket.

"...You're really keeping it.''

''Of course I am!"

The Demon Lord lightly raised an eyebrow.

''It isn't a mere crow, though. This is a kind of demonic beast, fond of human flesh."

''It doesn't matter now, he needs assistance. I can't abandon it."

The Demon Lord slightly sighed.

***

During the following days, Lady Lavinia didn't have much to do, mostly spending her time taking care of the demonic crow, strolling through the castle, which she began to know by heart.

Today was no exception as, seated over a stone bench in the courtyard, she absentmindedly observed the little mass of feathers while, with the tip of her finger, she stroked the top of his little head. With his eyes closed, he had finally calmed down after eating until he was full, burying his head under his plumage, his beak tucked under his wing. She sighed. 

"I wonder how things are going for the demon sent to my kingdom."

Like herself, sent as a diplomatic envoy to Akumirgh, a demon was sent as such to Ningea. Were things going smoothly?

"Maybe he knows, don't you think so, Cinder?"

And, standing up, the hem of her dress fluttered behind her while the demonic beast she collected chirped briefly as in response.

***

Staring through the window with an unreadable expression, his fingers intertwined in his back, the Lord of the castle looked at the lands beyond the castle, lurking in the mist. This same mist which enveloped the hearts of the beings populating these lands. As a vague smile gradually crept onto his face, the Demon Lord felt a presence approaching, and soon footsteps echoed in the large living room where he was standing. Without, however, trying to turn around.

"Lord Oweil!" a cheerful voice rose in his back, enclosing.

He slowly turned his head to take sight of the human lady that appeared by his side.

"Here you come again. May I know what brings you here?"

Adressing him a smile, she didn't respond immediately, turning her eyes so she could take sight of the same landscape he had been observing.

"It somewhat lacks of colors. Aren't you sometimes bored from seeing this grey landscape every day?"

"I'm not quite sure to understand what is the problem about it." he replied in a collected tone.

"But...'' she begins, turning back her sweet features to him. "...our eyes are made to see colorful things.''