The journey to the palace did not take long.
Yet to Liora, it felt endless.
She rode beside Cairis in a dark carriage pulled by creatures she couldn't quite name—massive beasts with sleek black scales and glowing red eyes that moved with silent, unnatural grace.
The capital of the Demon Kingdom unfolded around them as they traveled.
Noctyra was enormous.
Larger than any human capital she had ever seen.
Obsidian towers stretched high into the crimson sky like jagged spears. Bridges of dark crystal connected rooftops far above the streets, and magical lanterns floated in the air, casting violet and crimson light across the city.
Demons filled the streets.
Some looked almost human.
Others did not.
Horns. Wings. Eyes that glowed like molten metal.
Many stopped walking as the carriage passed.
They bowed toward Cairis.
But their gazes always drifted toward her afterward.
A human.
In the prince's carriage.
The whispers followed them through every district.
Liora leaned her head lightly against the window frame.
"…Your people stare a lot."
"They are curious."
"That's a polite word for it."
Cairis didn't reply.
His attention remained fixed outside.
Watching the city.
Watching the palace growing larger in the distance.
Something about him felt different tonight.
Quieter.
More tense than usual.
Liora studied him for a moment.
"You're worried."
It wasn't a question.
Cairis glanced at her briefly.
"…The Crimson Gate has not awakened in centuries."
"That doesn't explain the face."
"My father does not summon the entire royal guard unless something serious is happening."
Liora gave a dry smile.
"Your father also seems to think I caused it."
Cairis didn't deny it.
The carriage rolled forward across a massive bridge that led toward the palace gates.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"…You believe it too, don't you?"
Cairis turned his head.
For once, his expression wasn't unreadable.
It was thoughtful.
"I believe something inside you made the gate react that way reacted ."
She frowned.
"That's not comforting."
"No."
He looked away again.
"…It isn't."
The carriage stopped.
Outside, the gates of the Abyssal Palace towered above them.
Massive black doors carved with ancient symbols stretched nearly a hundred feet high. Demon guards stood along the walls in perfect formation, their armor glowing faintly with magical inscriptions.
The doors opened slowly.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Inside waited a vast courtyard of dark stone.
Hundreds of soldiers stood in formation.
And at the far end—
A staircase leading toward the main palace entrance.
Liora stepped down from the carriage beside Cairis.
The moment her feet touched the ground—
The tremor hit.
The entire courtyard shook violently.
Stone cracked beneath their feet.
Soldiers grabbed their weapons instinctively.
Another deep rumble rolled through the palace like the growl of something ancient awakening.
Liora grabbed Cairis's arm to steady herself.
"Okay, that one felt personal."
Cairis's eyes had already lifted toward the palace.
"…It's getting stronger."
From somewhere beneath the palace floor, something like crimson light surged upward.
It passed through the ground like lightning traveling through stone.
Every rune carved into the palace walls ignited at once.
The guards stepped back.
One of them shouted.
"The gate chamber!"
Another tremor.
Stronger this time.
Liora felt it again.
That strange pulling sensation inside her chest.
Like invisible threads tightening.
Calling her.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes drifted toward the palace doors.
"…It's down there."
Cairis looked at her sharply.
"What is?"
"The thing that's waking up."
Her voice sounded distant.
Almost like she wasn't fully present.
"…It's calling me."
For a brief moment, Cairis looked genuinely unsettled.
"You're sure?"
Liora swallowed.
"I can feel it."
Another force of energy exploded upward through the palace.
Crimson light filled the courtyard.
Some of the guards were knocked backward.
The commander of the royal guard ran down the stairs toward them.
"Your Highness!"
His voice was strained.
"The Crimson Gate is opening!"
Liora froze.
"…Opening?"
"That's impossible," Cairis said immediately.
"It was sealed by ancient magic."
The commander looked toward Liora.
"…Then explain why the gate began reacting the moment she arrived."
Silence fell.
Every soldier nearby was staring at her now.
Some with fear.
Others with suspicion.
Liora felt suddenly very aware of how outnumbered she was.
"…I'm starting to feel very unwelcome."
Cairis stepped slightly forward.
His voice dropped.
"She is under my protection."
The temperature in the courtyard seemed to fall several degrees.
The guards quickly looked away.
But the tension remained.
Then—
Another presence appeared.
The Demon King descended the palace steps slowly.
The soldiers knelt again.
But Liora barely noticed.
Her eyes were fixed on the palace behind him.
The pull inside her chest had become stronger.
Much stronger.
The Demon King spoke calmly.
"The seal is weakening."
His crimson eyes shifted toward Liora.
"…And it continues to react to her presence."
Liora shook her head slowly.
"I don't even know what the Crimson Gate is."
The Demon King studied her face.
Searching for something.
"…Perhaps."
Then he turned to Cairis.
"Bring her to the chamber."
Cairis frowned.
"That may be dangerous."
"Yes."
The Demon King's voice remained calm.
"But it is also necessary."
He looked toward Liora again.
"…If the gate truly recognizes her, we must know why."
Liora felt the pull again.
Stronger now.
Almost painful.
Her voice came out quieter.
"…I think…"
She hesitated.
"…I think it already knows."
The palace trembled again.
This time violently.
Cracks spread across the courtyard stones.
Deep beneath them—
Ancient chains began breaking.
And something sealed for a thousand years slowly opened its eyes.