In the heart of the city, a fissure loomed like an unhealed wound, its ominous presence drawing Kain's gaze. He had anticipated throngs of onlookers, possibly even confrontations as he ventured closer, but what met him was far different. Demons ambled by as if the fissure were no more than a mundane street. Some even stepped across its threshold with a casual ease, while others chose to ignore it entirely.
There were no guards or barriers in sight, just a quiet invitation. Kain slowed his pace as he neared the fissure, studying its steady, crimson glow. It was calm now, devoid of the chaotic violence that once characterized it.
"So it's this easy," he murmured, and with no one to impede him, he took a step forward and entered.
In an instant, the world transformed. Ground and sky vanished, leaving only an expansive darkness. However, it felt alive; small lights twinkled around him, drifting like stars and pulsing gently, as if they had a consciousness of their own.
Kain hovered—or was it the stars that lifted him? He could not be sure. As these lights danced around him, brushing past without contact, they pulled him deeper into this ethereal realm.
Then, a voice rang out, echoing in the vast abyss.
"I call upon the hosts of hell. Please descend upon this world and fulfill my contract."
Kain's attention sharpened as one particular star began to glow brighter than the rest. He reached out and touched it. Instantaneously, the world snapped into motion.
He was thrust forward through a tunnel of light, spiraling as the stars elongated and became streaks rushing past him. Then, just as abruptly, it all halted.
He found himself standing in a lavish room, the warmth of soft light replacing the chill of the fissure's glow. Rich carpets covered the floor, and the walls boasted intricate designs with opulent furnishings that hinted at nobility.
As Kain's gaze swept the room, he noticed a young man sitting on the floor before him, eyes wide with astonishment.
Shock was written all over his face.
Kain glanced down at his own hands, relieved to see they were still intact and that he had not sprouted a second head.
It seemed this young man was completely captivated by his presence.
"…good," Kain managed to say, lowering himself to meet the man's gaze. His demeanor softened slightly, and his voice became smooth and measured. "What do you desire?"
The young man blinked in disbelief. "It… it worked?"
His voice quivered. "I summoned a demon?"
He looked at Kain as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Slowly, he collected himself, a measure of confidence breaking through.
"My name is Prince Kanis Valan," he stated firmly. "By the laws of magic, I have captured you. Consequently, I am entitled to a contract."
Kain straightened, casting a faint smile at the prince. "You may... state your terms."
Kanis rose to his feet, though there was a hint of unease in his movements. "I want to be king," he declared without hesitation. "I am third in line, and my brothers obstruct my path."
His expression turned resolute. "I want you to remove them."
Kain listened intently. Kanis pressed on, "In return, I offer human blood. The codex suggests it is beneficial to demons."
Kain nodded slowly. "...reasonable."
Tilting his head slightly, he inquired, "And what is the penalty for breaking this... contract?"
Kanis did not waver. "The one who breaks it will have their body claimed by the other, bound as their servant for eternity."
Kain's smile widened a fraction. "Eternity is a long time."
"Regardless, I accept. With this, the pact is sealed."
As the words left his lips, a mark blazed into his right arm—a symbol resembling a thorned, inverted cross that glowed briefly before settling into his flesh. Kain glanced at it before redirecting his attention to the prince.
"Now," he said calmly, "you should devise a method to bring one of your brothers here or to a location where I can confront him alone."
Kanis nodded eagerly, a sharp smile breaking across his face. "I already have a plan."
Without another word, he turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Silence enveloped Kain, who chuckled softly to himself.
"It's time to be a demon."
Days slipped by as Kain remained in the opulent chamber, waiting. At first, the solitude was bearable, but soon it became tedious and then utterly unbearable. He found himself lying on the bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling, before finally sitting up with a resigned sigh.
"There has to be something to do," he muttered, his gaze drifting to his hands.
Demonic energy throbbed within him, a force he had yet to fully grasp. He extended his hand toward the wall. "Let's try something."
He hesitated for a moment before muttering, "Abracadabra."
Nothing happened.
He frowned. "Alright… maybe not that."
Attempt after attempt yielded nothing. With each failure, frustration bubbled to the surface. Finally, his hand fell to his side in defeat. "This is stupid."
Eyeballing the summoning circle below him, he decided to take a different approach. "Fine," he grumbled. "Let's do this the cliché way."
He closed his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, all was still.
Then his awareness shifted.
He stood in a different realm, engulfed by swirling flames that rose and fell like ocean waves. The heat did not scorch but rather enveloped him in comfort. At the center of this inferno loomed a large gate, locked and adorned with haunting faces; chains wrapped tightly around it, secured by two locks.
Kain approached with deliberate steps, noticing one of the locks hung openly. "So, someone has already started this," he mused.
He reached out, unfastening it. As it fell, one of the chains slackened and crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.
The gate shifted and opened just a crack. From the gap, a thick, purple mist began to seep through.
Kain's eyes snapped open, back in the room, but something was different—the purple mist coiled around him, thin at first but growing denser as it expanded outward.
It drifted toward the door, and Kain's expression shifted to alarm. "...no, not there."
Instinctively, he drew it back, and the mist obediently flowed toward him, sinking into his body.
He blinked. "...I did that?"
With newfound confidence, he tried again, allowing the mist to escape, then drawing it back within. It felt instinctive, like a memory he had always possessed, guiding him through this newly discovered power.
Kain let the purple mist swirl around him before pushing it upward, lifting off the ground.
He hovered, a slow grin spreading across his face. "...now that's useful."
Testing his newfound ability, he ascended higher before lowering himself. Pushing the boundaries, the mist shifted once more, obscuring his form. In front of a mirror, he paused, startled to see no reflection staring back.
For a brief moment, he simply stared in disbelief before bursting into laughter, joyous and unrestrained.
As he calmed, the door creaked open, and Kanis stepped inside, frustration written all over his face. "Idiot… idiot…"
He kicked a random object on the floor, muttering incoherently before turning to scan the room. "Demon?"
Kain allowed the energy to dissipate, solidifying into view beside him. Kanis jumped back in surprise. "Stop doing that!"
Kain smirked, "What's wrong?"
Kanis took a breath, visibly steadying his nerves. "I have a plan," he announced. "I will lure one of my brothers to the back gardens under the pretense of running an errand for our mother. That's when you can… handle him."
Kain nodded in agreement.
"That will work," he confirmed.
Kanis grinned. "I knew you'd understand."
Feeling far more satisfied, Kanis exited the room, his confidence restored. But Kain did not remain behind; as soon as the prince stepped out, he cloaked himself in the purple mist and slipped through the door before it could close.
The hallway greeted him with opulence and grandeur, servants moving silently, intent on avoiding notice. Kain hovered above them, following Kanis for a while as he traversed the corridors. Then he halted. "...later."
He shifted direction, toward a window at the end of the hall, passing effortlessly through it.
The sprawling city unfolded below, a layered tableau of orderly houses. Beyond the affluent districts, the structures grew denser and less refined.
Kain peered down, a slow smile creeping across his face. "...let's try something."
He descended into the ugliest of districts, where shadows mingled and the air felt heavy with despair. People wandered through the dim streets, visibly suffering, their ribs pronounced beneath thin skin. Their wary gazes were cast downward, bodies tensed with anxiety.
Kain glided through them unseen, observing until he spotted an easy target: an old woman.
Seizing the moment, he blurred into action, pulling her into an abandoned building before she could muster a scream.
She struggled, panic rising, but Kain held her firmly as he concentrated. Gathering the purple energy in his hand, he forced it into her mouth.
Her body stiffened as her eyes rolled back, turning jet black for a fleeting instant. Then, serenity washed over her; her struggles subsided, breaths slowed, and a haunting calm settled in.
She sank to her knees, eyes downcast. "Master."
Kain stared at her in amazement, then erupted in laughter. "...so it works."
Gently, he placed a hand upon her head. "From this moment on," he said softly, "you are One. You shall be the beginning of my conquest of this universe."
She bowed her head deeper, and Kain's smile widened, the prospect of his first demonic human stirred a thrilling ambition within him.