Chapter Four
The Crimson Lord
Underworld.
I scoffed. I couldn’t believe he just said I was in the underworld. Did that mean I was dead? I mean, I’m pretty sure things felt natural to me, but maybe the undead could feel things? I’ve no idea - I didn’t realize I died when I was attacked the first time. Or perhaps I wasn’t. I wanted to ask things, but I still felt uncomfortable - especially now that these spirits saved me twice. Creatures? Races? I have no idea what to call them. They both looked human to me - minus the ears, tail, and whatnot.
I glanced at Enoxon, who was ahead of us and leading the way. My gaze focused on his fox-like tail, which hung down. It swished side-to-side with every step he took, his ears slightly bouncing as his kimono flowed gracefully behind him. So people can just have tails? Was he even a human?
They brought me back to the house I had initially strayed from, and I was asked to sit on the couch. My legs and feet felt cold, and my hands were still frostbitten. Gazing around the room, I took in the tiny home that they had here in the middle of nowhere. The inside of the house was magical, honestly. I didn’t get a good look at it when rushing out, but it was gorgeous! The living room was stunning, with a gentle, starry-blue theme almost. It's not something I’d expect from the underworld. As soon as you walked inside, the room was lined with books on the other side, surrounding a round window that looked over and down a hill. In front of the bookshelves was a rounded couch lined with cushions and blankets and a fluffy ottoman in the middle. Off to the side was a fireplace, and above the fireplace was a picture of a large castle. They even had an indoor tree with, surprisingly, red leaves. It felt like a cozy indoor cabin.
When Enoxon set the fire ablaze, I immediately rose from the sofa, positioning myself in front of the warmth. The cold had left me shivering, but the fire's heat revived me. It flickered and danced, spreading a cozy light throughout the room. I curled up, resting my head on my knees, and gazed at the fire, feeling a sense of contentment. Kurai entered the living room and offered me blankets for extra warmth. Expressing my gratitude, I accepted them, eager to soothe my hands that had turned a shade of purple from the cold. Observing my chilled hands, Kurai instructed me to extend them, then used his abilities to summon flames for warmth. Despite my assurances of being okay, he insisted, drawing my hands closer to banish the frostbite. His hands, warm and large, enveloped mine. I couldn't help but notice the tiny freckles on his face that began to emit a soft orange glow, complementing the light in his amber eyes.
“"ENOXON?!" A booming, disconcerting voice echoed from beyond the living room door.
The sudden noise startled me, causing my hand to brush against the flames Kurai had conjured, lightly scorching my skin. The door swung open, revealing a tall and visibly irate man who immediately locked eyes with me. He noticed Kurai's hands near mine as we sat before the fire. Our gaze lingered, a silent exchange until he snapped out of his thoughts with a shake of his head.
Clearing his throat, he shifted his focus from me to Kurai."I see I've come at an inappropriate time," the man uttered, a hint of apology. "Forgive me, Brother; I wasn't aware you had company."
“My Lord," chimed in another voice from behind him, "I highly doubt he's privy to anything; he's somewhat of a... how do you say? An 'airhead.’”
"Airhead or not, Astaroth—" The man redirected his attention towards me, his gaze sharpening with a tinge of irritation as he probed Kurai and me further. "What is this anyway?" he demanded.
"I believe that is what we call a human, My Lord," the second man remarked, arching an eyebrow in our direction.
"Oh, is that what a human looks like?!" The 'Lord' replied sarcastically, showing his exasperation as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was asking about what's going on here. Why am I out of the loop regarding your life, Kurai? I was completely unaware that you even had a girlfriend," he scoffed.
"Girlfriend?!" Kurai and I exclaimed together, taken aback by the assumption. Kurai shot the man a frosty look, his annoyance palpable.
"Get out," Kurai muttered under his breath, focusing his attention back on tending to the slight burn on my hand caused earlier.
"Now, Kurai, that's not how you address your Lord," the second man chided, his head shaking in disappointment at Kurai's blunt dismissal.
I looked at the taller one being addressed as, ‘My Lord.’ His appearance was strikingly intimidating. He wore a long black coat, its severity softened by white shoulder pads adorned with tassels. Underneath, a white button-down shirt was casually unbuttoned at the top, revealing a glimpse of his chest. Draped over his shoulders and connecting to the tassels of his coat was a medium-length black cape, its hemline intricately decorated with a white swirl pattern reminiscent of undulating waves. Adding a touch of mystique, a red gem was affixed to the front of his cloak, securing a red handkerchief elegantly trimmed with white. He was definitely of some royalty status.
"Kurai, kitchen - NOW," The Lord commanded with a huff, dismissing Astaroth and entering the kitchen. Kurai sighed heavily and shook his head, muttering as he exited the living room.
"Greetings, Miss," the second man, who had entered the home alongside The Lord, addressed me. "My apologies for the Crimson Lord. He's a bit, well, angry with the younglings in the other room.” The man approached me and sat beside me in front of the fire. He seemed a lot calmer than the Lord.
Awkwardly, I sat up straight and adjusted the blanket I had wrapped my body around. I folded my now warm hands and kept them neatly tucked in my blanket.
“If I may ask, how are you today?” The man asked me.
I looked behind us towards the kitchen, where a lot of yelling sounded. The words were too disheveled to understand what they were discussing thoroughly. Still, it seemed they were arguing over something. “Are… they okay?” I asked, shuffling awkwardly. Then I turned to look at the man just a few feet away from me, sitting beside me.
He has a distinguished figure with long, thin gray hair that gracefully transitions into a slight teal color towards the ends. His deep purple eyes exude a sense of enigma and sharp intelligence, complementing his balanced physique that is neither overly muscular nor slight, suggesting an underlying agility and strength. Astaroth's attire is fittingly regal, mainly black, to symbolize his esteemed position and the realm he represents. A small, striking purple gem adorns his neck, signifying his loyalty and high status. In contrast, a matching gem is featured in a single earring, adding an elegant touch to his dignified appearance.
“You must be the one they are calling, Snow, correct?” he asked me, ignoring the yelling just a room over.
I winced when I heard a crashing noise from the kitchen, lowering my gaze to the fire to avoid eye contact with the one The Lord called Astaroth.
“Um, yes, I am. My name is Snow,” I murmured. “And you are… Asta-”
“Astaroth, a pleasure to meet you! Demon to the Underworld and Duke to the Crimson Lord,” He said, awkwardly putting his hand out to me over his knee.
Turning slightly, I reached out of the blanket and grabbed his hand to shake it. The blanket slid off my shoulder and covered our hands as I did.
Astaroth's gaze quickly shifted as our hands touched the demon marking adorning my arm. His amethyst-colored eyes reflected genuine concern as he lightly ran his hand above the marking. A frown marred the face of the demon-man. "Were you, by any chance, attacked by a demon? I'm assuming Kurai attempted to attend to it?" he inquired, his voice laced with worry and curiosity.
Quickly, I pulled my arm away from him and covered the marking with my other hand—cheeks flushed with pink. “I think so,” I replied quietly, frowning and avoiding his gaze. I left this house and went into the woods, hoping to find a home,” I explained to him. When I was there, someone talked to me, and I was hoping it was someone friendly. But things took a turn for the worst,” I explained to him.
“I am grateful to see you unscathed, minus the marking. But it seems this wasn’t from today,” he said, glancing at my arm. It seems you were in a mess before this attack, yes?” the duke probed. It seems you were able to fight it off.”
"Not... Exactly?" I murmured hesitation in my voice. I was compelled to share the tale of the blue celestial-like wolf that emerged from the darkness to save me. For reasons I couldn't fathom, it felt like I was being coerced into divulging every detail to him. My narrative flowed smoothly, my words pouring out as gently as a river, revealing every aspect of the encounter. Despite not knowing him well, I couldn't resist the urge to tell him everything. It was an odd sensation, feeling like the words were being extracted from me, a strange force pushing me to share my story with Astaroth.
“Hm. I’ve heard stories of a creature that would guide souls home - but no one has seen it for long,” Astaroth replied quietly. “It seems this may be the creature you had seen. Are you certain it was this wolf-like creation, as you described? Perhaps it was an illusion from the demon blood that spilled into your veins?” He demanded.
“I don’t think so … She was there. I could see her, I could hear her, I could feel her presence… Her warmth - her words, everything. She saved me - I know she did. She took this demon into her own… Darkness? I guess? I’m not sure. That’s when Kurai and Enoxon pulled me out of this shadow-land and into the underworld.” The feeling of needing to explain everything to him grew stronger; I had to tell him this. There was no doubt in the back of my mind that he needed to know this - for whatever reason. I glanced at the demon beside me, his sharp black horns peeling out of his teal-gray hair and curving upwards. From what I noticed, his eyes had the same slight glow - very dull, though - that Kurai gets when upset.
“You say the Celestial Wolf saved you-”
“Mundus, I told you to leave," Kurai's voice echoed into the living room as he approached Astaroth and me. His eyes immediately fixed on Astaroth, and his expression morphed into anger and worry. His temper seemed to ignite, with even tiny sparks of fire flickering around his fingertips. "By the Celestials, Astaroth, if I catch you doing something like that again, I'll end you," he said, his voice growing darker and more urgent as he moved swiftly towards us. He reached out to grab Astaroth's shirt. Still, the demon gracefully stood and sidestepped, a subtle smile curving his lips as he avoided Kurai's grasp.
"As fiery as ever, Kurai," Astaroth chuckled, his amusement evident. With a swift snap of his fingers, Kurai's movements were abruptly halted, and he found himself compelled to sit down, an invisible force guiding him to a seated position next to me. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I was merely engaging Lady Snow in a casual conversation to inquire about her day," Astaroth said, his tone sly yet marked with a serene smile.
Kurai, now surrounded by a faint purple aura, found himself immobilized and forced into a crisscross position beside me. The only part of him that remained under his control was his head, which he used to direct a fierce glare towards the Duke. "Get out now," he demanded, his voice firm despite his constrained situation.
Enoxon stumbled into the kitchen, followed by the Crimson Lord. “Ugh, did you have to go so rough on us this time? I told you what I knew,” he groaned, rubbing his head. “Seriously, who throws throw pans in the house?” he grumbled.
“Next time, be more open about your decisions,” The Lord said, giving me a quick look as he said, ‘decisions.’ It was a pleasure; see you soon.”
“We shall be departing now, Lady Snow. We will see you again!” Astaroth called over his shoulder as he approached the taller man.
Before they disappeared, I glanced at the man ‘Lord’ who was talking to Enoxon and Kurai. I stared at him, taking in his appearance as quickly as possible. My head tilted when I saw something flicker in his appearance as I gazed over him. He is an imposing figure with an ethereal presence. His long, ghostly white hair cascades around him, its otherworldly texture resembling ghostly flames that seem to flicker and dance in an unseen breeze. This spectral aura adds a haunting elegance to his appearance, making him appear both mesmerizing and intimidating. His eyes, piercing ice-blue eyes, exude a cold and chilling intensity as if gazing directly into them could freeze one's soul.
Adorning his head are two black horns resembling a deer's antlers, adding to his formidable visage. These horns curve gracefully downwards, looping around his ears, and are tinged with a slight hint of blue that echoes the chilling color of his eyes, creating a harmonious yet fearsome aesthetic. He was of royalty, that’s for sure. He was whatever kind of Lord he was.
With that, a flash of red, the two of them disappeared into thin air. Stunned, I stared in complete disbelief. I could easily talk with the duke - almost as if I knew him. But with the Lord, he treated me like I was a threat to him. Then again, if I were honestly a threat, he would’ve made that clear to me by approaching me and stating something. At least, I figured he would. Maybe he was intimidated by me! That’s got to be it. The thought of a big, scary prince being scared of a white-haired human girl made me giggle, and a smile played on my lips.
“Ugh - sorry about that, Snow!” The sorcerer groaned as he came over to me. “Oof, looks like Astaroth took Kurai?” He murmured, eyeing the room around us.
I gazed around the room, not even noticing that Kurai had suddenly disappeared, too. He was right next to me, and almost as if poof! He was gone.
Enoxon sighed and turned his attention to focus on me, “It seems you took a liking to Astaroth, yes?” He asked.
"What?!" I exclaimed, my head snapping up in surprise and a flush of embarrassment warming my cheeks. "That's outrageous—he's been nothing but kind, the gentlest demon I've encountered!" I frowned and turned my head the other day.
Enoxon's expression shifted uncomfortably, the corner of his mouth dipping and his eyebrows knitting together in a frown. "I... uh, Astaroth has a way with people—humans, celestials, and demons alike," he murmured, easing himself onto the couch a few feet away from me. "Come sit, have something to eat," he suggested kindly, a gentle invitation in his voice.
It seemed my awareness had been somewhat lacking until that moment—I hardly noticed Kurai's emotional state or the magically floating plates Enoxon had introduced to the living room. The familiar, comforting scent of bacon and eggs suddenly filled the space, drawing my attention back to the present.
"A human breakfast for a human woman," Enoxon said, his smile radiating warmth as he gestured toward the levitating plates, which basked in a gentle golden glow. His words pulled me further out of my daze.
I looked up at the floating plates and pushed myself off the floor. I settled onto the couch beside Enoxon, who was to my left and eyed the food on my plate with curiosity and caution. Given my profession as a bartender, being cautious has become second nature. After all, one can never be too careful, right?
"Are you…" Enoxon began, then shook his head, dismissing his initial thought. "Nevermind. Human things, I'm assuming. Go ahead, try it. It's not that bad."
Encouraged, I started eating.
"My cooking isn’t that bad," Enoxon remarked after a moment, a hint of pride in his voice. "Kurai has never complained about it.”
Thank you—this was very kind of you," I responded, offering him a gentle smile, genuinely touched by his gesture. “Where did they take Kurai?” I asked.
"Ah, the Crimson Lord took him back to the Asturdorm Kingdom Castle," Enoxon sighed, his shoulders lifting in a mild shrug as he began to shed the trappings of his sorcerer identity. Removing his hood, he let his shaggy gray hair fall freely, its thick and slightly unruly strands suggesting an intentional dishevelment that added to his charm. "Do you mind?" he queried as he removed his wizard coat.
Feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment, I turned my gaze away, mistakenly assuming he was about to disrobe entirely in front of me. I busied myself with the bacon, murmuring appreciatively, "Oh, so good!" Yet curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but look back at him. To my relief, beneath the robe, he wore only simple garments—a thin, white button-down shirt and slim black trousers. His amber-red pendant remained around his neck, matching the aquamarine jewel that adorned his ear. His transformation from a robed sorcerer to a man in casual attire made him appear entirely different, and it dawned on me that even sorcerers might seek respite from their heavier, more formal wear.
As the quiet moments passed, I finished my food, contentedly watching the fire. The house was tranquil, with Enoxon engrossed in a book, and I felt a warm sense of ease filling me. The comfort was especially pronounced given Enoxon's non-demonic nature. Despite the magical world I found myself entangled in, being in the company of Enoxon—a magical human yet still human—made me feel safe.
"Thank you," I whispered appreciatively to Enoxon again before standing up. I returned the plates to the kitchen to rinse them off, eager to show my gratitude for his hospitality. I’m assuming that between their arguing and fighting in the kitchen, some things were thrown against the wall or at each other. A few pots on the ground, I went to pick them up and wash them in the sink. It was the least I could do because he went out of his way to make breakfast.
After tidying up the kitchen, I returned to the living room to find that Enoxon had fallen asleep. The sorcerer seemed utterly at peace, the gentle flicker of the fireplace casting a warm glow on his pale face and illuminating strands of his gray hair. The moonlight streaming in through the round window complemented the firelight, filling the darker corners of the room with a serene luminescence.
Moved by a sense of generosity, I fetched a blanket and draped it over the slumbering sorcerer. He instantly cuddled up with the blanket and almost looked like a sweet child - adorable. With absolutely no hesitation, I reached and brushed a strand of hair off his face, which caused him to shuffle a little. As I turned around, I felt his hand go and grab my arm, and he hugged it like a child would hug a stuffed animal.
Caught in a moment of unexpected intimacy and slight embarrassment, my initial reaction was to retreat. I attempted to extract my arm from Enoxon's grasp gently, but his hold only tightened—a silent plea for the comfort my presence seemed to bring him. Thankfully, he hadn't grabbed my injured arm, but his grip was firm, leaving me with little choice but to follow. With a soft sigh, I settled back onto the couch, resigning myself to the role of a human-sized stuffed animal.
I wasn’t tired, but I also couldn’t get away. I glanced at the book on his lap and picked it up with my free hand. I'd better make the best of it.
The book's title, "Soulkeeper, Memories of Light's Hope," was embossed on the cover, hinting at a tale of depth and possibly adventure or profound introspection. The title alone piqued my curiosity, suggesting a journey through memories or a quest tied to the essence of hope itself. It was a welcome distraction, offering a glimpse into another world or revealing insights into Enoxon's life. I wondered what kind of stuff he enjoyed reading. As I flipped to the first page, I prepared to dive into the story, letting the words transport me away from the moment's awkwardness and into the realm of imagination and intrigue.
I opened the book, curious about what sort of literature a sorcerer like Enoxon might find engaging. The moment the cover parted, an inexplicable sensation washed over me, instilling a profound sense of calm and peace. However, the pages before me were blank, without any text or illustration. How could someone derive enjoyment or knowledge from a book without words? Despite the soothing effect the book seemed to have, confusion swirled within me.
Lifting my gaze from the mysterious empty pages, I discovered that the room had vanished, replaced by an encompassing darkness. Was this an aftereffect of the demon's poison? Yet, something felt markedly different. The serene calmness persisted, defying the oppressive shadows that surrounded me.
Suddenly, from the book in my grasp, a golden blaze emerged, casting light into the shadows. As I watched, images began to materialize within the glow. Two figures, a man and a woman, appeared alongside a smaller one—possibly a baby. The scene showed the parents parting ways, leaving the infant alone. Darkness encroached upon the abandoned child until a dazzling blue light enveloped it. Then, another blue light joined the first, encircling the baby's golden outline. Gradually, the blue merged into the gold, altering the baby's aura to a radiant blue. Just then, a dark red hue entered the scene, approaching the baby and carrying it away. The red and blue intertwined as the red figure transported the baby to a white, circular outline. The baby was passed through the ring, emerging on the other side outlined in white, transitioning from gold to blue, then to red, and finally to white.
Two new figures appeared, their outlines a blend of gold, blue, red, and white. They approached the white-outlined baby, and their colors flowed into it, causing the baby to inherit their multicolored aura. Over time, the baby grew, its outline now mirroring the diverse hues of its new guardians. The story was beautiful. It just kept flowing as pictures flew around.
Astaroth! The Duke of Asturdorm. Similar name? Coincidence or just... You know?
