As I slept, the sun warmed my face, casting a ray of warmth over me. My

eyes opened, and the first thing I noticed was the absence of something

important.

"Noxx?"

The one thing that was supposed to be with me wasn't here. Something was

definitely wrong.

I got up and grabbed the black scrunchie I'd been using during training

sessions with Belzagus.

"My body is still sore from all those punches. Couldn't he have gone a

little lighter on me? I'm a girl, you know!"

"BARK!"

I heard Noxx barking in the yard — at Belzagus, as usual. I went to wash

my face in the bathroom, then paused.

"Why did he stop barking?"

Outside, the world had begun its quiet shift into winter. Light flakes of

snow drifted from the sky — not enough to stick, but just enough to remind

us that the cold season was drawing near.

"Where is my coat?"

I held my arms together as my delicate frame began to shiver. I found my

heavy purple sweater in the closet and pulled it on along with some black

shorts, then laced up my demon sneakers — purple and black, obviously. My

choice.

"Okay, let's go for a walk. I've been enjoying these morning walks with

Noxx, but this is the first time he hasn't woken me up."

I opened my room door and stepped into the hallway. Not even Jessica was

here to greet me. Then again, I gave her the day off. It's my birthday

after all.

I shrugged and walked down the long hallway, passing the pictures of me

growing up — toddler, small child, a little older. Each one framed and

hanging like I had always been here.

"Can't believe it's already been that long. I can barely even remember my

first day here anymore."

I made my way down the stairs and into the huge living room.

Then I stopped.

"Presents?"

A mountain of them. Stacked and piled against the corner of the living

room like someone had raided every shop in the demon world. I stood there

with both hands tucked in my hoodie pocket, thumbs fidgeting together.

"Uh... what exactly is going on here?"

CREAK

The kitchen door swung open — the one marked OUT, with IN sitting right

next to it.

Jessica stepped through it carefully, both hands locked under a large tray

loaded with everything. Hot chocolate steaming at the corner. A short stack

of pancakes sitting fat in the middle. Oatmeal in a dark bowl next to it.

Orange juice catching the morning light like liquid gold. And still more

things tucked in every corner of that tray that I didn't even have names

for yet.

Her long rich red hair was tied in a ponytail, hanging loose over one

shoulder. Her black eyes found me immediately — not cold, not sharp. Just

warm. The kind of warm that felt like an older sister catching you sneaking

out of bed too early.

Her soft striking face broke into a smile without even trying. The morning

sun poured through the living room window and melted right into her dark

elegant skin.

She looked at me. Then at the presents. Then back at me.

"Uh oh. Someone woke up too early."

I looked at her still holding that huge platter of food

that was very clearly meant for me.

I pointed at the mountain of presents in the corner

and asked with a raspy voice — genuinely asked —

like I was trying to hold back tears and doing

a damn good job at it.

"Is... is that for me?"

Those sad days. The ones where you can't reach

the people who are already too far gone.

They had built a wall around my emotions

so thick I forgot it was even there sometimes.

Jessica noticed me choking on my own words.

She set the platter carefully on the coffee table

and walked over to the mountain of presents.

She picked one up and smiled when she saw the name on it.

She walked back over to me holding a small box.

Her black eyes were warm.

Her red hair caught the morning light.

She reached out and offered it to me.

"Happy Birthday, Princess Sophia."

I held onto the box and opened it.

A necklace.

A satanic cross hung from a delicate chain,

catching the light like it was daring me

to have an opinion about it.

I stared at it like I was deciding whether

to accept it or throw it out the window.

Jessica didn't give me the chance to decide.

She plucked it from my hands and stepped

behind me.

"Hold your hair up."

I didn't move right away.

Something about accepting this felt

like agreeing to something I hadn't

fully read yet.

But I lifted my hair anyway.

She draped the chain around my neck

and hooked it together at the back.

The cross glowed faintly.

Then a protective barrier formed around me —

spreading outward like breath, then pulling

inward until it pressed against my skin

like a second layer of it.

I looked around as it settled over me.

"What's happening?"

It was the strangest feeling.

Not painful.

Not cold.

Just — present.

Like something had decided every single

part of me was worth covering.

And I mean every part.

The glow faded.

The cross returned to normal and rested

against my chest like it had always been there.

Jessica stepped back around to face me.

Her black eyes flared once — warm, quiet,

satisfied.

Her hands came together over her chest

like she had just finished something important.

"If you are ever in harm's way and no one

is around — this will protect you from

a lethal strike."

She giggled once.

Her face twisted into a smiling expression

so genuinely warm that even I wanted

to hug her.

"But I can already protect myself.

I have my sea horses. I have Noxx."

I crossed my arms.

"Don't even mention Scorin."

She pulled me into a deep hug anyway.

Then she sat me down on the sofa and

dragged the coffee table closer until

the tray of food was right in front of me.

My stomach grumbled just from looking at it.

Before I could reach for anything,

she grabbed my face gently and turned it

toward hers.

Her eyes shifted.

Serious now.

The same way Belzagus's eyes shifted

during training — focused, locked in.

But without that endless dark underneath.

"I need you to keep this on at all times.

You can wear it in the shower —

it won't rust. I've prepared it for everything.

And it only activates against hostile intent."

She giggled again as she finished

adjusting the coffee table.

"Oh — and when you're older and married

to Scorin, don't worry.

It won't do anything against him."

My face went hot so fast I didn't

even think about it.

I grabbed the nearest tea cup.

"You want to say that again?!"

She was already running back toward

the kitchen laughing.

"Hehehehehehe."

CLICK — the kitchen door swung shut.

CRASH!

The tea cup hit the door so hard

it shattered against it.

The door swung back and forth once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

My eyes flared.

My whiskers of grace flickered to life

along my face.

I was standing on top of the sofa

without realizing I'd moved.

Both fists clenched so tight my

knuckles looked dangerous.

I stared at the kitchen door

until it stopped moving.

"These servants are having way too much

personality these days."

THUMP.

I dropped back onto the sofa cushion.

I grabbed the mug of thick hot chocolate

and pulled it close.

Jessica had made sure to learn exactly

what I liked.

It felt like she was trying to be

a mother sometimes.

My eyes softened for a second —

and my father's face crossed my mind

before I could stop it.

Then —

THUMP THUMP THUMP.

Noxx came barreling through the door

and skidded to a stop on the floor

right in front of me.

He sat up straight on all fours,

chest out, chin up.

A purple ribbon was tied neatly around

his neck.

He stared at me and waited.

Patient.

Proud.

Absolutely convinced he looked incredible.

"Too bad you didn't come in a present,

cause I would unwrap you instantly, Noxx."

"WOOF!"

His tail wagged so fast it blurred.

Being praised by me was clearly

the whole point of the ribbon.

The whole point of everything.

He walked over and laid down on the floor

beside the sofa as I continued eating

my birthday breakfast.

"This is so good! MMMM!

I can't wait to try everything!"

While I stuffed my face and Noxx relaxed

on the floor beside me —

out in the yard, Riku was already working.

"Okay everyone, raise it together!

Nice and easy!

If you break it my father will kill you

all one by one."

They hoisted a purple and black balloon arch

so high into the air it looked like it

belonged at a royal event.

Frills.

Sparkles.

The kind of setup that made expensive

feel like an understatement.

I didn't even get to look at it properly

because I was too busy stuffing my face.

Once it was up they bolted it into the ground

so firmly that an earthquake wouldn't

dare touch it.

Riku turned and pointed toward a row

of booths waiting to be assembled.

"Alright — once everyone's back from break

we need these vendor booths up and lined

along the street.

I want the whole block closed off

by the time we finalize everything.

Are we clear?"

They didn't cheer.

They chanted.

My name.

All of them together — the workers,

the staff, the setup crew —

chanting my name as they headed off

to grab their breakfast being served

in the yard.

I sat there with hot chocolate in my hand

and let that sink in for a second.

My family might be demons.

But they treated their own with respect.

Thinking back, I honestly expected to see

something cruel by now.

Something sharp.

Something that reminded me what kind

of world this actually was.

But so far —

everything was alright.

Riku was still scanning the yard when

a voice called out from across the space.

"Riku! I brought the stage!"

His fiancée was waving at him from the

other side of the yard, her staff already

on break, a new stage being built

behind her.

She crossed the yard toward him in

comfortable clothes — the kind of comfortable

that came from belonging somewhere.

My father had given her a key to the house

a while back.

That said everything.

"Are you still looking for Draxx?

Didn't Belzagus and him head to the

training grounds before sunrise?"

Riku got quiet.

His eyes dropped to the ground for a moment.

They had all survived the Trial of Strength.

That wasn't what was bothering him.

He shook his head and walked over toward

Syrin as she held out a basket of

breakfast sandwiches wrapped in paper.

"Ready to eat?"

He smiled and reached for one.

"Yeah."

He unwrapped it slowly.

"This party is going to be amazing."

He glanced back toward the yard.

"I think Sophia might actually cry."

WHAM!

BANG!

Deep within the Demon Kingdom —

Belzagus and Draxx were going at it.

No weapons.

No magic.

Just bare fists and the sound of impact

bouncing off the walls of the training ground.

Belzagus wore a black sweater and black

gym shorts, his demon sneakers squeaking

against the floor every time he stepped

forward or absorbed a hit and pushed back.

"You've been training a lot."

Draxx dropped his hands.

He stood there breathing hard,

face drenched in sweat,

eyes full of something that hadn't

left him since the Trial of Demons.

"I don't want to be dead weight anymore."

Belzagus dropped down onto the floor,

arms resting on his knees.

He grabbed a water bottle and took a slow sip

before he even looked up.

"What do you mean bro? You did fine."

Draxx didn't answer.

He turned around, grabbed his belongings,

and started walking toward the exit.

His voice echoed back through the hallway

as he disappeared into it.

"I will be stronger the next time

Ragalia shows up."

Belzagus watched him go.

The training ground went quiet.

Then Echo appeared and settled

onto Belzagus's shoulder.

"He's holding a lot inside of him."

A pause.

"I wonder what's going to happen

when he sees Ragalia again."

Bel stood up slowly.

He grabbed his hoodie and threw it

over one shoulder,

water bottle in the other hand.

He stared at the empty hallway

where Draxx had just been.

"I gotta babysit my own brothers and sisters."

He shook his head.

"This has to be a joke right?"