I groaned and stretched out, the sunlight filtering through the window hitting my skin in most unwelcome ways. I had slept like a log and now I had to pay the price. No, that was unfair. Truth was, I was just plain happy to be alive and I had Lyris to thank for that.
She sat next to me, watching me with those crimson eyes of hers. I wondered what she was thinking. Last night, she had been ready to drain me dry, and now she wanted me alive. It didn't make sense.
"Good morning, Ashen," she said calmly, her voice a soft murmur that I still found strangely calming. I blinked a few times, my vision slowly returning to normal as I took in my surroundings. We were still in the chamber where everything had happened the night before. The room looked no different, except for the half-empty bottle of wine that sat on the table.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I tried to figure out what was going on. "What happened? Why didn't you..." I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.
Lyris met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "I changed my mind. I want you alive." She stood up, her movement graceful and fluid. "We have much to discuss."
She didn't elaborate further, instead leaving the room and going to fetch the clothes. I stared after her for a moment, still trying to process her words. Lyris Varkus, a demoness of noble blood and cunning mind, had chosen to spare me.
'Why? What did she want from me?'
With a shrug, I got to my feet and began getting dressed. Lyris had selected practical, dark clothes that wouldn't attract too much attention. I couldn't help but feel out of place in these fine garments, but I supposed that was to be expected.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but chuckle at my reflection. I looked like a street urchin dressed up in his rich uncle's clothes but hey, I was alive. That was what mattered.
Lyris returned just as I was finishing up. "There," she said with satisfaction, examining me critically. "Much better." She nodded approvingly before turning to leave the room.
I followed her out, my mind buzzing with questions but for now, I decided to save them for later. I had a feeling I would need all my wits about me if I wanted to stay alive around Lyris Varkus.
We walked out of the mansion, the sunlight hitting me full force. I squinted and coughed, my eyes not used to the brightness after weeks of hiding in the shadows. Lyris noticed and quickly pulled a hood over my head, muttering something about me not wanting to attract too much attention.
I glanced around, taking in my surroundings. The mansion we had just left was massive and ornate, a testament to the Varkus family's wealth and power but even on the other side of the street, there were other mansions just as opulent, their gardens bursting with color and life.
It was a world I had never seen before, a realm of luxury and decadence that was so alien to me. Yet here I was, walking through its hallowed halls with a demoness who could have easily ended my existence last night. I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all, even as a small part of me thrilled at the adventure that lay ahead.
Lyris noticed my amusement and narrowed her eyes at me. "What are you smirking about?" she demanded, her voice sharp and commanding.
I shrugged innocently. "Oh, nothing, my lady. Just marveling at the beauty of your city and my incredibly fortunate circumstances."
She frowned at me, but didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, she led me down a bustling street, weaving through the crowd with ease. I tried to keep up the best I could, my eyes darting around in wonder at everything I saw.
We eventually stopped at a barber's shop, and I was ushered inside by a smiling attendant. Lyris paid him and then sat down outside, watching me with a mix of curiosity and impatience.
The barber got to work, cutting my hair and shaving my face until I barely recognized myself. The transformation was remarkable, and I couldn't help but stare at my reflection in the mirror.
When he was done, the barber handed me a mirror. I looked at myself critically, my newly styled hair framing my face and my clean-shaven face looking polished and sophisticated. I couldn't help but feel a bit arrogant, like I owned the world.
Lyris must have sensed my boastful thoughts, because she chose that moment to enter the shop. Her crimson eyes swept over me, and I could tell she wasn't impressed by my new look. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she paid the barber and then ushered me out of the shop.
"Let's go shopping," she said flatly, leading the way to a nearby clothing store.
At the store, Lyris took charge, browsing through racks of luxurious garments as if she had done this a million times before. I struggled to keep up, feeling completely out of place in this world of wealth and privilege.
Every time I tried to pick something, Lyris would shake her head and choose something more expensive instead. I couldn't help but feel like a kid in a candy store, wanting everything but knowing I could only have a little bit.
Eventually, Lyris seemed satisfied with my new wardrobe, and we headed to the counter to pay. As the shopkeeper rang up our total, I felt my heart sink. Lyris casually pulled out a stack of bills that would have fed a small village for months, and handed them over without even blinking.
We left the store, my arms laden with shopping bags. "There," Lyris said with satisfaction. "You look much better now."
I looked down at myself, my new clothes fitting perfectly. I had to admit, I did look a lot better but I still felt like an imposter in this world of wealth and privilege.
As we approached the Varkus family home, I couldn't help but gape in awe at the sheer size of the structure before me. It was easily twice the size of the mansion we had just left, a towering edifice made of polished marble and ornate stonework. Demons of all shapes and sizes buzzed around the front entrance, greeting each other in hushed tones as they went about their business.
Lyris gave me a quick once-over, seemingly satisfied with my appearance before stopping in front of a pair of massive iron doors guarded by two demons dressed in matching crimson uniforms. "Welcome to the Varkus manor," she said, her voice carried with a regal authority that I had never heard before. "I am Lady Lyris Varkus. My attendant is Ashen."
The guards bowed deeply, their eyes never leaving us as they opened the doors to allow us entry. As we stepped inside, I was greeted by a wave of overwhelming opulence - the ceilings were painted with intricate murals depicting scenes from demonic lore, while polished marble floors shimmered in the light cast by hundreds of delicate crystal chandeliers.
Before we could make our way any further into the manor, Lyris stopped and lowered her voice, her eyes boring into mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "Remember what I told you," she said, her voice a deadly serious tone that struck fear into my heart. "You are my personal attendant. You speak to no one unless spoken to. You address me as Lady Lyris in front of others and above all else, you do not mention last night."
I nodded my understanding, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to absorb everything she had just said. This was getting more complicated by the minute but I couldn't afford to mess up now. I had already put her life in danger by being here in the first place; I couldn't risk doing it again.
We made our way through the labyrinthine hallways of the manor, passing numerous grand ballrooms and private chambers before finally reaching an ornate double door guarded by two more demons in crimson uniforms. As Lyris knocked gently on the door, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye - a pendant dangling from around her neck, a piece of jewelry that looked like it had once been a human finger bone.
The door opened, revealing a grand chamber filled with senior members of the Varkus family - all older demons, their faces marked with the scars of countless battles and political games. Their eyes raked over me as I stood silently behind Lyris, appraising me with varying degrees of disinterest and suspicion.
"Lady Lyris," an older demon with a heavily scarred face said, his voice filled with the weight of generations of power. "You have returned. I trust your task was completed?"
Lyris nodded, her eyes meeting his gaze without flinching. "It was," she said, her voice strong and confident. "The human I was assigned to eliminate is dead. I disposed of the body through my friend."
"Very well," the demon said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. "Let us not waste any more time. We have business to attend to."
Lyris led me to a seat at the edge of the room, where we sat silently, waiting for the meeting to conclude. As I did so, I couldn't help but observe the other demons in the room, using the Facial Reading skill that had been activated by my time in this world without even realizing it. I picked up on small things - the one demon who was lying about something, the one who was hiding some form of emotion, the one who genuinely didn't care about anything being discussed.
When the meeting finally concluded, Lyris rose to her feet. "I have another matter to attend to," she said, her eyes flicking briefly to me before returning to the other demons gathered around the table. "I trust you will excuse us?"
"Of course," the scarred demon said, his eyes lingering on me for just a moment longer before turning away. "I look forward to seeing you again soon, Lady Lyris."
Lyris nodded her thanks before leading me out of the chamber and into the hallway. Once we were alone, she turned to me and said, "Ashen, this is my family. You will treat them with respect and professionalism at all times. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Lady Lyris," I said, my voice steady despite the trembling in my gut.
As we made our way back through the labyrinthine halls of the manor, I couldn't help but steal glances at Lyris as we walked, trying to understand more about her but her mask never slipped - she maintained her composed and professional facade, revealing nothing of the turmoil that must have been brewing beneath the surface.
We finally emerged back outside, the sunlight hitting my eyes. I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the new light as I waited for Lyris to speak.
Lyris lit a cigarette, taking a long drag before exhaling a cloud of smoke. "What do you think?" she asked, her eyes scanning my face for any hint of my thoughts.
"It was... interesting," I said, choosing my words carefully.
Lyris raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of her lips. "Interesting?" she repeated, sounding intrigued. "What did you think?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer her. But eventually, the truth spilled out of me. "If I'm being honest, Lady Lyris... it all felt a little bit fake."
Lyris nodded, her face betraying no reaction to my words. "I suppose you're right," she said after a moment. "But that's just the way it is in the demon world. We wear masks to hide our true intentions, to ensure our survival and sometimes, even we forget who we really are beneath all the façade."
I considered her words for a moment, wondering if she was talking about herself or someone else but before I could ask, she extinguished her cigarette
As we approached the Varkus family home, I couldn't help but gape in awe at the sheer size of the structure before us. It dwarfed the nearby buildings, its imposing facade carved from massive slabs of quartz-grey stone. Even with the afternoon sun casting its warm light upon it, the place still exuded an air of unyielding authority.
The clerk at the front desk barely looked up from her paperwork as we approached her desk. She had a prim and proper air about her, her crimson-red hair polished and held in a severe bun atop her head. Her eyes flickered up to meet mine before moving on to Lyris, who had gracefully stepped forward to address her.
"I have new staff that need to be registered," Lyris said in her cool and collected voice.
The clerk's eyes raised an eyebrow in subtle surprise. "Of course, Lady Varkus." She took a small parchment from a nearby tray, swiftly filling out the necessary fields with her quill. Her hands were quick and precise, each stroke of her pen leaving a crisp, black mark on the parchment.
As I watched her work, I couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement and a touch of apprehension. I was about to become a part of this world - a world that Lyris had told me often was both dangerous and enchanting.
When the clerk finally finished her work, she held out the completed parchment for me to take. I hesitated for a moment, my eyes scanning over the lines of text that were written about me. Name - Ashen Carven. Bloodline - Unknown. Rank - Unranked. Origin - Unknown. The clerk's eyes flickered with mild disdain when she caught me looking at it too closely, but she said nothing, merely handing me the parchment.
I took it from her, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and unease wash over me. This small piece of paper would grant me a place in this world - a place where demons and humans lived side by side, where magic was used casually as another person might use a fork or a pen. I stuffed it into the pocket of my new robes, a reminder of the journey that lay ahead of me.
Lyris's soft voice brought me back to the present, her eyes full of warmth as she looked at me. "Ashen," she said, her voice full of confidence and trust. "I have some matters to attend to, but I will send someone for you later tonight. Until then, feel free to explore the city. Just stay out of trouble, okay?"
I nodded my understanding, keeping my expression neutral. "Yes, Lady Varkus," I said, using her title without hesitation. After all, I was now a part of her household, and titles mattered in a place like this.
With a graceful bow of my head, I watched her make her way back into the grand halls of the Varkus mansion. Alone now, I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my new life settle heavily upon my shoulders. "Time to make some friends," I muttered to myself, heading out into the bustling streets of the city.
I saw a Shop.
The shop was easy to miss from the outside — just a narrow door wedged between a spice vendor and a leather goods stall, with a small wooden sign above it that had a glowing symbol carved into it instead of words. I pushed the door open out of pure curiosity and immediately understood why it was here.
The interior was larger than the outside suggested. Shelves lined every wall from floor to ceiling, packed with objects that glowed, rotated slowly on their own, or did nothing at all but radiate a pressure that made the back of my neck prickle. Scrolls with ink that moved across the page on its own. Small crystals. Weapons with edges that bent light around them. An attendant sat behind a counter looking thoroughly bored, barely glancing up when I entered.
I browsed quietly, touching nothing, just looking. Then I noticed the two doors at the back of the shop. I asked the attendant what they were. He explained without looking up — first door, affinity testing with assistance, five gold. Second door, private testing room, twenty gold. I checked the small coin pouch Lyris had left me. Nowhere near enough.
I almost turned around. Then I remembered the pendant. I placed it on the counter without fully thinking it through.
The attendant looked at it. Something in his posture changed immediately — spine straightening, chin lifting, the bored expression replaced with something considerably more attentive. He stood up. "My sincerest apologies sir. I did not realize you were a member of House Varkus. The private room is of course complimentary. Please allow me to show you the way."
'One pendant,' I thought, following him to the back. 'One piece of metal and the entire conversation changes.'
He opened the second door, bowed, and told me to call if I needed anything. I stepped inside.
I sat alone in the private testing room, flipping through the pages of the leather notebook that lay on the table before me. My eyes scanned the unfamiliar symbols and words, trying to decipher their meaning. Slowly, I began to piece them together, learning about the artifact before me and its purpose.
The crystal artifact with the small metal rings around it was designed to test for magical affinity. I would place both hands on the crystal and pour mana into it, and the artifact would glow a specific color based on my elemental affinity. It was a 90 percent accurate test, according to the notebook.
I put down the book, my mind racing with possibilities. I had always felt different, like I was meant for something greater than my life as a street rat had allowed me to become. Perhaps this test would finally reveal my true nature.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to focus my mind. It had been difficult to channel mana before, and now with the pressures and uncertainties of my new life weighing heavily on me, it felt almost impossible. I could not even feel the mana within me, let alone direct it toward the crystal.
But then, suddenly, something shifted. A warmth began to spread through my chest, like a door opening that I did not know existed. I opened my eyes in surprise and saw the crystal artifact vibrating slightly, emitting a low hum that reverberated through my palms.
In the next moment, the hum turned into a beeping sound, and then the entire artifact exploded with color. Not one color, but every color of the rainbow and more, layered upon each other in a dazzling cascade. The room was filled with vibrant light and my jaw dropped in awe.
I stared at the glowing artifact, my hands still on it, unable to believe what I was seeing. But I knew, deep down, that this could not be normal.
I felt a surge of excitement and fear rushing through me as I realized that I might be something much more than I had ever imagined. But there was no time to dwell on it now. I had a new life ahead of me, full of danger and unknowns, and I knew I would have to face it head on if I wanted to unlock the full potential that seemed to be rising within me.
The artifact was still blazing every color at once when the notification appeared in my vision, hovering over the light like it had been waiting patiently for me to notice it.
[ Detected that host wishes to confirm magical affinity ]
[ Would you like to open your Affinity Status Window? Y/N ]
'Oh right,' I thought. 'I have a system. I keep forgetting it exists.'
I accepted.
[ Affinity Status - Ashen Carven ]
[ Affinity Type - Omnipotent ]
[ Omnipotent Affinity - Host can acquire and wield every element that exists in the current universe. Criteria must be met to unlock each individual element. Usage is dependent on host's current level and acquired affinities. ]
[ Current Affinities Unlocked - None ]
[ Detected Acquisition Path - Darkness Affinity available through Target: Lyris ]
[ Note - The artifact displayed all colors simultaneously because it detected Omnipotent potential but could not classify a single element. The artifact is functioning correctly. ]
I read the first line and felt something genuinely warm move through my chest. Omnipotent. Every element in existence. I let myself sit with that for exactly three seconds because three seconds felt like the appropriate amount of time to enjoy something before this world took it away.
Then I read the second line.
Current Affinities Unlocked — None.
The warmth left. I stared at that line longer than the others. Zero. Not one. Not a small one. Zero affinities for a man with Omnipotent potential, which was either a cosmic joke or the universe's way of keeping its sense of narrative balance. I thought about arguing with it but there was no one to argue with so I just sat there for a moment with the particular feeling of a person who has been handed the most powerful weapon in existence and told he cannot lift it yet.
'Of course,' I thought. 'Why would anything be simple.'
I moved to the third line.
Darkness Affinity available through Target: Lyris.
I went still.
I read it again. Then once more. I sat back in the chair and looked at the ceiling and thought about the last twelve hours in order. She had found me tied to a bed and decided not to drain me. She had taken me to a barber. She had bought me clothes without asking my opinion once. She had walked me through her family home and lied to their faces to keep me breathing. She had registered me as a citizen of this kingdom. She had given me her house pendant — the thing that turned bored attendants into people who bowed — and then sent me out into the city alone with coin in my pocket and no instruction beyond come back by evening.
And now the system was telling me I needed her to unlock my first element.
I looked at the ceiling for a long moment.
'The universe,' I thought, 'has a very specific sense of humor.'
I closed the status window. The artifact was still glowing behind me as I stood up, still blazing every color with no sign of stopping. I picked up nothing, walked to the door, and opened it.
The attendant outside straightened immediately and bowed from the waist. "I hope everything was satisfactory, sir."
"Very informative," I said. "Thank you."
He bowed again as I walked past him through the shop and back out onto the street. The city noise hit me all at once — vendors, footsteps, someone haggling loudly three stalls down, the smell of food from somewhere nearby.
I stood on the street for a moment and thought about Lyris.
Then I started walking back toward the mansion.