The darkness of the Cynophelia Forest stretched like a living mantle, suffocating the moonlight among its twisted branches. An unnatural silence dominated the air, broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath the steps of Bragoz and Dimitri, who advanced through the damp, dense foliage.
Bragoz walked with a firm stride, his imposing figure emanating an almost tangible pressure. His gaze burned with a mixture of anger and restrained frustration, while Dimitri followed a few steps behind, watching every movement carefully, aware that a single misplaced word could cost him his life.
Suddenly, Bragoz stopped. He turned violently, his crimson eyes reflecting the fury of the abyss.
—Dimitri, you are useless —he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder through the trees—. You can't even gather ten thousand souls to summon one of my brothers.
The vampire swallowed hard, feeling the air grow heavy. The mere presence of the demon was enough to make his body tremble, but he forced the words out.
—My lord, you know well that my loyalty to the demons is absolute —he replied, his voice shaking—. But I cannot carry out this plan alone. That is why I ask for your help, to ensure everything is ready when the mana surge begins.
Bragoz's eyes flared with restrained fury. He stepped toward him, and the shadow of his body completely engulfed the vampire.
—Twenty-five days by your side, and every one has been torture —he spat with contempt—. If you think your incompetence can be compensated with words, you are very mistaken. Speak. Explain what you plan to do to make up for your failures... before I lose my patience.
Dimitri lowered his head, taking a deep breath. He knew a single mistake could seal his fate.
—I have gathered all the members of the cult within the kingdom —he said, his voice now firmer—. I have prepared an ambush for the academy students. When we force them out of their hiding places, we will use them as sacrifices. But I need your power, my lord. You can attract the most dangerous monsters in the forest. With them, the ritual will be unstoppable.
Bragoz looked at him with disdain, his fangs showing through a cruel smile.
—So you intend to use me as bait for your clumsy schemes? —he asked coldly—. Very well, vampire. If your plan fails, I will rip out your soul and offer it as a tribute to my brothers.
—Understood, my lord —Dimitri replied with a servile bow, though his thoughts burned in silence.
(One day... I will free myself from you. And when that happens, hell will know who I truly was.)
The shadows seemed to whisper his thoughts as they moved forward. Among the trees, the fifty cult members moved like specters, carrying green-flamed torches that illuminated their faces, twisted by devotion and madness.
The air grew heavier as they ventured deeper into the Cynophelia Forest, where the mist concealed roots as large as walls and creatures whose eyes glowed in the gloom. Their goal was clear: to attract the most powerful monsters, even the feared King of the Forest, a magical beast of Ω (Omega) rank, so ancient and devastating that its awakening was considered a natural calamity.
Corrupted mages, marked warriors, and summoned beasts formed that cursed army.
The ritual was about to begin.
And with it, a new darkness loomed over the kingdom of Carpatia.
Meanwhile, Lusian traveled toward the city of Acropolis, accompanied by his personal escort. The end of the month was approaching quickly, and with it, the promise he had made to Elizabeth: a date.
The sound of hooves on cobblestone accompanied him as his mind wandered.
He knew he had to prepare himself mentally: the princess was a storm dressed in silk, and resisting her would not be easy.
In his previous life, Elizabeth—who had become a demon queen—had been his computer wallpaper, a symbol of power and desire. Now, sharing a date with her in the flesh felt unreal.
The thought made him smile... and tremble.
The meeting would take place in a theater, one of the most refined in the kingdom. Lusian wondered what kind of "activity" the princess had planned. Would they watch a play? A concert? Or something far more elaborate, fitting her unpredictable nature?
At dusk, he entered the theater. The building had seven halls, each decorated with crystal chandeliers and red curtains that absorbed the dim light. Elizabeth had told him she would be waiting in hall number four.
When Lusian entered, he found her sitting alone in the center of the grand room, illuminated by a golden spotlight that fell over her figure. Her posture was elegant, but her gaze was defiant.
—Are you going to perform for me, dear princess? —Lusian asked with a mischievous smile.
—Yes —Elizabeth replied, raising an eyebrow—. And you will perform for me as well.
—You mean you've reserved an entire theater just so we can play at acting?
Elizabeth lifted a book, her expression charmingly dangerous.
—This is one of my favorite novels. I want to perform it with you. I will be Lilith, the maiden, and you will be the evil duke who tries to corrupt her and destroy the kingdom.
Lusian arched an eyebrow.
—Don't give me such grotesque ideas, princess.
—Oh, don't worry —Elizabeth replied, winking as she headed toward the dressing room—. Just follow the script... and don't improvise too much.
Lusian sighed and took the script. The story was surprisingly intense: a duke obsessed with a servant who represented purity, trapped in a game of seduction and power.
When Elizabeth returned dressed as a maid, Lusian's heart skipped a beat. The contrast between her humble attire and her regal bearing made her even more captivating.
—Do you like it, my dear duke? —she asked, bowing playfully.
Lusian felt his self-control falter.
—You're pushing me to the limit, princess.
—It's just a small act. Shall we begin? —she said with a dangerous smile.
The performance began. Their voices filled the empty hall, echoing through the theater. As the story progressed, the characters seemed to consume those portraying them. Elizabeth moved with a blend of feigned innocence and calculated charm, while Lusian naturally embodied the tempting duke.
Then came the crucial scene: the kiss.
Elizabeth waited nervously, expecting Lusian's usual hesitation. But he did not hesitate. He took her by the waist and kissed her firmly, without doubt.
For an instant, time stood still.
(If I die in this world someday, at least I'll take this memory with me.) Lusian thought.
He pulled away slowly and smiled.
—What's wrong, princess? You seem to have forgotten your lines.
—Idiot —Elizabeth whispered, her heart still racing.
—That's not the next line. I think we should repeat the scene —Lusian said, challenging.
—Are you enjoying this, aren't you? —she asked, both amused and confused.
—I'm just fulfilling the princess's wishes. Or do you regret it?
—Do you think I'd back down from something like this? —she replied, lifting her chin.
—Prove it, princess —he said, stepping closer once more.
They repeated the scene three times.
But in the end, Elizabeth no longer knew whether they were still acting or if they were falling into something far more dangerous.
For years, she had enjoyed provoking him, playing with his shyness and watching him blush.
But now, Lusian was different. Defiant. Confident. Able to look her in the eyes without looking away.
And that disarmed her.
As the stage lights slowly dimmed, Elizabeth realized that this game had stopped being a simple joke. She had crossed an invisible line...
and, for the first time, she wasn't sure who was in control.