Naz stood before the kingdom's gate, his breath uneven, heart hammering in his chest.
He donned the cloak of concealment, trying to sneak in unnoticed.
"If I enter… maybe I'll find some answers…"
He took a step forward…
But
He froze.
His hand… began to shake.
Violently.
"What… is this?!"
He tried to control it… but it was useless.
His hand moved on its own… toward the sword.
He grabbed it…
Suddenly, the sword flared to life.
A deep, dark red mixed with black, as if the blade had its own heartbeat.
A strange heat surged through his arm, racing into his veins.
A terrifying energy burst from the sword, pulling everything around it toward itself.
Naz's eyes widened, his mind reeling.
"Stop!"
But his body was no longer his own.
In an instant
Shhh!
A streak of light flashed, slicing through the air with a sharp hiss.
The giant demons' legs were severed in an instant.
The ground shook violently beneath him as the demons collapsed, helpless.
Before he could even comprehend what had happened
His body shot into the sky, as if a hidden force were carrying him.
"What's happening to me?!"
Then
He plummeted down with destructive force.
Boom!
Heads fell.
Everything went silent.
Naz stood panting, the sword still in his hand, its glow dimming slightly.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead.
He looked at his trembling hand…
"I… didn't do this…"
Suddenly
Darkness.
Everything vanished.
He found himself in a place of endless shadow.
Absolute silence…
Except
A child's crying.
Repeated. Terrifying.
"Mom… Mom… Mom…"
Naz shivered, his heart clenching.
"Who's there?!"
In the depths of the darkness, red glows appeared.
Eyes? Or something else?
The voice drew closer… and closer…
"Mom…"
Suddenly
A woman appeared, drenched in blood.
Her eyes were sad, yet unwavering.
She looked at Naz and said softly:
"Live… my beloved child."
Naz's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Everything disappeared.
He returned… to the gate.
The gate… wide open.
"What… just happened?"
He hesitated, then stepped inside.
The kingdom was thriving, unnaturally perfect.
People smiled as they passed by, markets overflowing with fruits and food.
"This… doesn't look like a demon world…"
He walked slowly, his stomach gnawing at him, but he had no money.
Thud!
He bumped into someone.
A tall man, broad-shouldered, muscular.
He looked at Naz with a strange smile, then laughed:
"Watch yourself, boy… Zihahaha!"
Naz froze.
The same laugh… his heart raced.
"I… I'm sorry."
He stepped back quickly, heart pounding.
He found a narrow alley and sat down, clutching his stomach.
The hunger was loud in his ears.
Suddenly
A small voice:
"Are you hungry?"
He looked up.
A little girl holding rice balls handed one to him.
"Thank you…"
She smiled.
"My name… is Chimini." Then she ran off and disappeared.
He began eating quickly, but suddenly stopped.
A chill ran through his body.
He remembered the collision, the laugh…
"Zehahaha…"
He clenched his fists, looking around.
Everyone smiled… but… no one was looking at him.
"Am I… in a play?"
Far away, in the darkness…
A faint voice whispered:
"You've started… to notice."