Fatal Realization

The Demon Lord sat on his obsidian throne, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the chamber. Outside, the storm raged, lightning illuminating the jagged peaks of his desolate domain. He leaned back, his black armor groaning with the motion, and let his thoughts drift—back to a time long before he had become what the world now feared.

Once, he had been mortal—a man named Kael, born in a small village nestled in a fertile valley. Life had been simple, if harsh. His father, a farmer, worked tirelessly to provide for the family, while his mother tended to their modest home. Kael was the eldest of four children, and from an early age, he bore the weight of responsibility.