Author's POV
Deep within a cursed forest, far beyond the reach of ordinary beings…
A chilling sound echoed through the darkness.
The air was thick with the stench of decay, as if countless corpses had long been buried beneath the damp soil, left to rot for centuries. The twisted trees stood lifeless, their branches stretching like skeletal hands clawing toward the sky.
At the very center of the forest—
A deep pit burned with an eerie crimson glow.
Inside it sat a man.
Flames circled around him, yet they did not burn him. Instead, they moved as if obeying his will, rising and falling with every word he chanted.
Ancient spells flowed from his lips, each syllable filled with forbidden power.
A ritual meant to restore immortality.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed.
Another man approached cautiously. His strong build contrasted with the uneasiness in his expression as he stopped near the burning pit.
"She got lost…" he reported in a low voice.
Inside the flames, the chanting stopped.
Only a pair of eyes appeared.
They slowly opened.
Filled with anger.
The surrounding air trembled under the weight of that gaze.
The man inside the pit slowly closed his eyes again, suppressing the rage within him.
"Let her go… for now," he said calmly.
"She will become the greatest pawn in the future."
His chanting resumed.
The flames intensified violently, wrapping around him like a cocoon of dark power.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
After a hundred years—
His face began to form.
Skin stretched over bone.
A throat emerged from the shadows of the fire.
A satisfied smirk appeared on his lips.
Finally…
His body was beginning to return.
The man who delivered the message lowered his head respectfully before disappearing into the darkness.
The forest returned to silence.
Only the sound of crackling flames and forbidden magic remained.
Lucian's POV
Inside the Nether Hall, silence ruled.
Ancient scriptures lay open before me, their fragile pages filled with forgotten symbols.
All of them related to the pendant I had seen around her neck.
A dragon's aura was unmistakable.
Yet something about it felt… wrong.
My fingers traced the faded ink as I searched for answers.
Just then—
The heavy doors creaked open.
A guard entered, dragging along a small girl.
Her pale skin was covered in dirt, her clothes torn and worn.
She was frighteningly thin… so thin that even a strong wind might carry her away.
Yet her eyes…
They still carried resistance.
The guard pushed her forward and bowed.
"My lord, she is a member of the Dragon Clan. We caught her sneaking near the borders."
I lifted my gaze slowly.
First at the guard.
Then at the girl.
"A Dragon Clan member…" I murmured softly, placing a finger lightly against my lips.
A faint smirk formed.
Interesting.
"Make her a maid in the eastern castle," I ordered calmly.
The guards froze.
Confusion appeared on their faces as they exchanged glances.
My gaze darkened.
"Is that unclear?"
My voice echoed like distant thunder.
They immediately fell to their knees.
"Yes, my lord!"
The girl struggled weakly as they dragged her away.
Silence returned once again.
I lowered my eyes back to the scripture.
If the Dragon Clan had already begun to move…
Then the situation was becoming more complicated than expected.
My fingers stopped on a page.
The same symbol as the pendant.
So…
It was not a coincidence.
I leaned back slightly, my expression unreadable.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Lyra's POV
I woke up with a groan, raising my hand to massage the back of my neck.
"Ouch…"
What did that man even hit me with… a brick?
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.
Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
The only source of light came from thin rays of sunlight entering through a small window high above.
Then I noticed them—
Huge iron bars.
Thick enough to trap a monster.
I blinked slowly.
Then suddenly—
I laughed.
"Heh…"
"Hehehe…"
Soon my laughter turned dramatic.
"You big black oversized pig!" I shouted loudly.
"I didn't even commit a crime and you threw me into a dungeon?! Even criminals sentenced to death get their last wish fulfilled!"
"But you didn't even let me explain!"
I kicked the bars lightly in frustration.
"Just wait until I get out of here… I will make you pay for this!"
"How dare you treat me like this, you cold jerk!"
"Let me out! Once I'm free, I'll show you who Lyra Vega really is!"
"Let me out and I will—"
"You will… what?"
The deep voice froze my soul.
My entire body stiffened.
Slowly…
I turned my head.
He was walking toward me.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Yet every step carried overwhelming pressure.
My survival instincts immediately activated.
I quickly fell to my knees.
"Hail, my lord… hail…"
I stood up again awkwardly.
Two guards beside him looked ready to kill me if I even blinked wrong.
"Open the cell," he ordered calmly.
The guard unlocked the heavy door.
The sound echoed loudly.
He dismissed the guards with a small gesture.
Then—
He stepped inside.
My throat went dry.
"Do you even know who I am?" he asked.
I nodded quickly.
"The great Demon Lord… I heard the guards say it…"
His expression didn't change.
"Let's… talk peacefully about this situation," I said nervously, stepping closer.
"Just let me go… okay?"
I decided honesty was the best option.
He let out a soft laugh.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"And why would I do that… simply because you asked?"
My breath caught.
"I really don't know how I came here," I said quickly.
"If you let me go, I will build an ancestral hall for you! I'll pray for you every day!"
I clasped my hands dramatically.
He observed me silently.
Then stepped closer.
Too close.
His breath brushed near my ear.
"Do you know what a Demon Lord's favorite food is?"
My heart skipped.
"A human heart."
My eyes widened.
"And right now… I have one standing right in front of me."
His voice was calm.
Terrifyingly calm.
"How could I let such a rare opportunity go?"
My mind blanked.
I immediately closed my eyes and pretended to faint.
My body fell limp.
Before I could fall—
He caught me.
I stayed completely still.
"Get up," he said coldly.
I didn't move.
"Very well… then I will take your heart now."
Suddenly—
I was lifted onto his shoulder like a sack.
I immediately screamed.
"No! No! Wait! You big pig!"
"Are you even human— oh right, you're not!"
"Leave me! I only have one heart!"
"If you need organs, take my kidney! I have two!"
"But not my heart! That one is limited edition!"
I kept rambling as he walked through a portal, ignoring every word I said.
What kind of crazy world did I fall into?!