The Damned Demon

Kayla tilted her head, her confusion mingling with a naive intrigue.

She blinked slowly, processing the unexpected visitor and her unusual offer, "Who are you?" she asked, her voice imbued with both wariness and a childlike wonder, yet feeling curious about this mysterious figure and her offer.

"This young lady is Silvia, a friend of yours from a neighboring kingdom," Silvia answered, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

Kayla's brow furrowed, her mind churning through what she knew, "Silvia?...Ohhh..." Suddenly, recognition sparked in her eyes, brightening like stars, "Silvia Valentine?? Is that really you? The pretty young lady of House Valentine?"

With a playful yet low giggle, Silvia puffed up her chest and nodded, "This young lady is indeed Silvia."

Kayla's eyes widened with childlike wonder and disbelief, "You really want to play with me?"

"Why not? You don't want to play with Silvia?" Silvia replied, her tone dipping into feigned disappointment.

"No, no," Kayla hastened to correct, shaking her head vigorously as she slid off the bed and tiptoed towards the window.

A shadow of doubt crossed her face as she murmured, "Mother told me that the Bloodburn Kingdom is very powerful and that even if we are friends with them, they don't mingle with a weaker kingdom like ours more than necessary."

"That isn't true. Silvia wants to mingle with you. Come out quick, or those scary guards might stop us, Silvia whispered urgently, casting a wary glance at the royal guards who, oblivious to the unfolding drama, smiled idly at the sky.

She had put them all under a spell, and it wasn't that difficult since they were Soul Purgers, but that didn't mean she could keep them under that spell forever. She only wanted to buy enough time to meet the Nightshade Princess, who hadn't revealed herself in decades and wanted to have fun with her.

Kayla, spurred by Silvia's urgency, leaned out the window, her gaze flicking to the guards.

Yet seeing them only made her feel more nervous and uneasy about going out.

"Here...I will give this pretty flower to you once we are done playing," Silvia said as she offered a rose in one last attempt to lure her out.

"Wahhh...so pretty..." Kayla murmured with a look of awe and wonder, making her feel the desire to hold and possess such a pretty thing forever.

In a sudden, impulsive move, she tried to jump through the window, only to clumsily bump her head on the frame, "Ow..." she muttered, more in surprise than pain, realizing and shocked to see that she was so big and tall compared to how she should be.

Silvia couldn't help but puff her cheeks in exasperation as she watched the awkward attempt of this grown lady to squeeze out through this not-so-big window.

Grabbing Kayla's wrists, she declared, "Silvia will help you," With a mix of determination and amusement, she helped squeeze the confused Kayla through the window, the scene unfolding in a comedic yet innocent way.

Kayla, her feet unsteady on the leaf-strewn earth, stared down at herself with a growing sense of dread. Her body seemed unfamiliar, overly large, and daunting, sending a shiver of fear through her heart.

"Hey, where should we go? If these pesky guards catch us, both of us will be done for," Silvia whispered urgently, her voice a contrast to the quiet rustling of the leaves. She tugged at Kayla's hand, trying to get the attention of the disoriented princess.

Jolted from her fearful inspection, Kayla blinked away tears and pointed towards a set of descending steps that led deeper into the shadowy forest. Her breath came in short, erratic gasps, her mind racing with confusion over her altered appearance.

Before she could spiral further into panic, Silvia seized her hand and pulled her toward the stairs, her determination lending them both a desperate speed. They darted and ducked behind the natural cover, finally breaking free into the deeper solitude of the forest.

After a few minutes of cautious movement, Silvia clapped her hands, a gleeful noise in the otherwise solemn environment, "We are finally safe!"

But her joy faded as she noticed Kayla's tears and the terror etched across her face, "What happened? Are you scared of coming here alone?" Silvia asked, her brows knitting together in puzzlement.

Kayla shook her head, her lips trembling as she sniffled, "I...I look so big and scary," she whispered, her voice fragile as she glanced down at her long limbs and her changed body, "Did I get cursed by a monster? I-I want to see my mother... Uwaahhhhh..." Her voice broke into a cry, a sound of pure distress.

Silvia's eyes widened, and she quickly hushed her, "Shhh, stop crying. The guards might hear you and feed us to the real monsters."

Silvia couldn't understand why Kayla was getting scared of her own body. Even if she was mentally crippled, wouldn't she have gotten used to her own body already? Still, she had to find a way to calm her down before she got in trouble with Asher.

Kayla's crying halted abruptly, fear replacing her sorrow, "F-Feed us?... Noooo... I want to see Father... Big Brother... Mother..." Her cries softened, but the sadness lingered.

Silvia pressed her lips together in helplessness since it was impossible for Kayla to meet her family.

But then her eyes lit up as she thought of something, "Silvia can help you meet them right away," she offered, hoping to restore some hope to Kayla's troubled heart.

Silvia felt that all she had to show Kayla was her family, and then they could have fun and become good friends.

Kayla's tears ceased as she looked up at Silvia, her eyes wide and filled with a mix of hope and eagerness, "R-Really??" she whispered, her voice tinged with both desperation and a flickering hope, clinging to the possibility of meeting her family and helping her revert whatever happened to her.

Silvia's expression brightened into a comforting smile, a beacon in the dim light, "Hold hands with Silvia, and together we can meet your family."

"Mn," Kayla nodded eagerly, her fingers intertwining with Silvia's with innocent trust.

"Now dance with Silvia and think about meeting your family," Silviainstructed,her voice a gentle melody. She began to skip in a circle, her movements graceful and light, pulling Kayla along.

The air swirled around them, and Kayla giggled, the sound mingling with the rustling leaves, finding it fun to move like this.

Despite the playful dance, her eyes remained locked on Silvia's captivating ruby-red eyes, which flickered mysteriously for a moment.

Suddenly, the surroundings blurred, the forest melting away to be replaced by a cold, snowy landscape shrouded in mist, "S-

Silvia? Where...did you go??" Kayla stammered, her joyful expression faltering intoone ofconfusion and fear as she spun around, finding herself alone.

A distant echo broke through the silence, the mist carrying a woman's voice that was heartbreakingly familiar, "Kayla... Run…"

Her heart leapt upon recognizing that voice and turned around to see shadows of three figures in the distance,"M-Mother?Is that you? I am coming!" Kayla called out, her voice filled with renewed hope.

She dashed towards the figures, her feet crunching through the fresh snow, her mind focused only on the shadows that beckoned.

But as she reached the spot, the shadows dissipated like smoke, leaving behind a harrowing sight.

Feeling confused, she slowed down her steps but suddenly stumbled upon something. She looked down in confusion, and the next moment, her face paled, her breath catching in her throat as she saw three lifeless bodies, their blood staining the snow, "Mother... Father... Big Brother.... no... no...." Her voice shattered, sobs escaping as tears blurred her vision, shaken by what she was seeing.

A chilling voice of a woman sliced through her grief, "You should have listened to your family..." It was cold, unfeeling, and seemed to come from all around her.

Kayla's tear-streakedface lifted, and her eyes met two glowing, ominous red orbs piercing through the mist.

Her heart raced, panic seizing her as a shadowy handreached towardsher, "NOOOOO!!!" Her screamechoed,a desperate sound that filled the misty and cold expanse.

---

The fading light of the evening cast long shadows across the ornate walls of the dining hall, where Asher had just partaken in what Lakhur modestly termed a 'small feast.'

Despite the sumptuous spread, the atmosphere was tinged with the unresolved tensions of their earlier conversation.

As they stepped from thegrandeur of the dining hall, the air cooled, and the first lights ofshattered stars of the nightbegan to peek through the twilight.

Asher sighed, a mixture of resignation and fatigue clouding his features. He glanced at Lakhur, his voice low, "So...I can't change your mind, can I?"

Lakhur, matching his pace, responded with a slow nod, his expression somber, "I am sorry. I know you are greatly disappointed, but—"

"It's fine," Asher interjected, offering asmall, understanding nod, "At least I got to have some rest and filled my belly with delicious food. Thank you for making me feel welcome here," he said, preparing to move forward when,

"Your Majesty!" The urgent call echoed through the corridor as several royal guards hastened toward them, their armor clanking with each hurried step. They halted before Lakhur, bows of urgency rather than courtesy.

Lakhur's brows furrowed deeply, his voice a sharp command, "What is it?"

One of the guards, his voice trembling with urgency,managed to speak, "It's the princess...She is missing!"

"What?! What do you mean 'missing'? Explain it!" Lakhur's voice boomed through the hall, his demand sending a palpable shiver through the guards.

"We believe..." the guard hesitated, casting a wary glance at the Bloodburn King, "...Y-Young Lady Silvia might have taken her somewhere. She is missing as well and... tricked us into losing sight of her,"Theguard admitted as he and the others bowed in shame and fear.

Asher's hand went to his forehead as he closed his eyes, exhaling a frustrated breath, "Oh devils..." he muttered, his worst fears of bringing Silvia along actually coming true.

"Then what are you fools doing here? Go and find them! Now!" Lakhur's roar was fierce, spurring the guards into immediate action as they scattered to obey.

Lakhur then looked at Asher with a heavy look, but before either king could discuss further, the heavy doors of the castle burst open.

Another guard appeared, his voice booming across the now silent hall, "Your Majesty! We found them!"

Both Asher and Lakhur's expressions shifted from alarm to acute anticipationin an instant.

The guards who were about to leave also froze in their tracks, their expressions shocked.

Without a word, they hurried toward the entrance, their previous thoughts forgotten in the rush of urgent hope and looming fears.