crimson grove

Kaius awoke startled, his body heavy and strange. He was lying face down on the canyon floor, and the chill of the wet grass bit into his skin. He tried to sit up, but something on his back stopped him. He turned his face his back hurt too much until something came out of his back were long bones he approached the lake and got in to wash himself , and then he saw them: two huge black wings, flexible and alive, stretched out like tangible shadows.

A shiver ran down his spine as he watched the wings move on their own, as if they had a will of their own.

"You finally awaken, young warlock," said a deep, gravelly voice.

Kaius sat up with a start, looking around, but no one was there.

-Who are you? Where are you?

"Don't look for me outside. I am with you, I am part of you."

The voice came from his mind, but also from the wings themselves, which rose majestically as if to confirm his words.

-What are you? -Kaius asked, trying not to panic.

"I am Black," the voice replied, an echo that resonated in every fiber of his being. "I am your power. Your guardian. Your doom, if you do not learn to use me."

Kaius took a deep breath, feeling how the wings seemed to respond to his emotions, fluttering when he became upset.

-"Why are you here?

"Because you need it. Because without me, you will waste away. Now, get up. This place is no longer safe for you."

Kaius hesitated for a moment, but then he stood up and walked out of the lake but something else caught his attention the wounds from where black emerged were gone. The weight of the wings was strange, but at the same time, he felt a new strength in his body, as if he could break mountains if he wanted to.

-How... how are they used? -He asked, looking at the wings with a mixture of awe and fascination.

"Don't think, just feel. Trust me."

Kaius closed his eyes and, following an impulse, shifted his shoulders. The wings spread out all at once, so large that they covered the sky above him. With a loud flap, his body lifted off the ground, wobbling at first, but then finding a rhythm.

He was flying.

The sensation was strange, almost intoxicating. The wind whipped at his face, and the world beneath him became a mosaic of colors. Black said nothing more, letting Kaius get used to the flight.

After several hours, the landscape changed. Mountains gave way to rolling hills, and then to a small town that seemed to awaken with the first rays of the sun.

Kaius landed awkwardly in a dark alley, his body exhausted from the flight. The wings instinctively gathered against his back, disappearing from sight as if they had never been there.

The hunger came back with a vengeance, an emptiness that seemed to want to devour him from within. His stomach growled, but he knew it wasn't food he needed. The memory of the ritual and the mutilated bodies hit him again.

"You must feed," Black said, his voice low and without judgment. "Or you will perish."

Kaius stepped out of the alley, watching the town come to life. People came and went, some opening stores, others hurrying to work. His gaze stopped on a staggering man, evidently drunk, who wandered into another alley nearby.

Kaius followed him, hunger guiding his steps. When he was close enough, he reached out a hand and placed it on the man's shoulder drunk enough to miss his face 

-I'm sorry, but I have no choice," he muttered.

Before the man could react, Kaius pushed him against the wall. His eyes turned black, and his fangs instinctively lengthened. He bit into the man's neck, feeling the warm blood fill his mouth and soothe the hunger that was killing him.

The man moaned weakly before passing out. Kaius stepped back, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"Well done," Black said, his tone approving. "But don't overdo it. Feeding too much can get you out of control." 

Kaius nodded, shivering slightly. He looked at the unconscious man and felt a pang of guilt.

-- black I can do something to cure him I don't want to leave a witness -- he said with the pang of guilt fading away.

-- if in fact latis and herm each gave you magic you can create spells however you want to.

-- how do I --

-- close your eyes

-- think of the warmth of your chest --

she said materializing and touching his chest where the magic core was located. 

--Now think about what you want the spell to do....

He thought about healing the man's wound as well as detoxifying him of any alcohol he might have left in his body, and he succeeded. 

--Well now give him a name.

Before he gave it a name the magic shone from his hands and the man was not only healed he seemed to have grown younger by years black was so impressed no magician had such a great control of his magic he realized that it was not only his magic but also that he could use it intuitively even though he said he had never used it. 

--what were you going to say black

--give him a name so that you can access that spell whenever you want to 

he thought about it for a few minutes and

--save seling

after cleaning himself he walked out of the alley with the man in his arms and took him to a park bench across the street. 

 He pulled out some bills he had found in the bag he was carrying - Latis's gift - and put them down next to the man.

-I'm sorry... -He repeated softly, before disappearing back into the shadows of the alley.

The streets of the village were beginning to fill with life. 

-- black can you tell me about the supernatural things that are part of this world? 

-- of course kai there's a lot you need to know.

As he flew, the memories began to filter through like pieces of an incomplete puzzle. Fragments of a past life mixed with the whistle of the wind in his ears. His brother, his father, his best friend... images and emotions that seemed blurry, yet powerful. Ettore Savelli. My younger brother. All my life I had protected him, loved him more than anyone. But it was he who condemned me, who turned me into what I am now: a demon. Edmund Savelli. My father. A cruel, abusive man, who never stopped to consider the damage he was causing us both. His shadow continues to lurk in my memories, a weight I have never been able to shake off. And then there was him. James Lombardi. My best friend. We had shared secrets, laughter, and also pain. James had also been a victim of that woman, the one who brought misfortune to my family. The same one who turned Ettore into a demon. But that woman... I can't fully remember her. It's as if my mind refuses to reconstruct her face, as if a veil were hiding what really happened. The only clear thing is that she destroyed everything we knew. Crimson Grove. Our life in that town... How was it possible that I could remember the streets, the scent of the forests, but not the details that mattered?

--it's because of the rebirth you had that you will remember everything, but you have to wait a little longer

Black explained everything to me, even how the entire world began and what it meant to be a bastard demon, that is, what I was.

to be a bastard demon. These creatures feed on blood, just like a vampire, but in cases of extreme hunger, they can consume human flesh. Everything was starting to make sense: the dreams, the whispers... I also learned about pure demons, the direct descendants of greater demons like Baphomet, Satan, or Lilith.

Unlike pure demons, demons do not interact with the mortal world. They don't seek them out to kill or torture them. Instead, they employ self-punishment: they take the souls to the third cycle, known as Oscure.

There are three great kingdoms, according to what I was told:

Heaven, home of angels, greater spirits like gods, and redeemed souls.

Hell, where both lesser and greater demons reside. It is also the place where the souls of the demons' children go after they die.

Oscure, a place of internal judgment where the darkest and most dangerous souls confront their sins. There, the lesser sinners have a chance to redeem themselves... if they can endure the punishment.

However, there is a fourth place that few know about, one that was not created by angels or demons, but by a generational witch. These witches are different, and more hated by the spirits of the world. While common witches obtain their magic from blessings granted by higher entities —such as demons, angels, or even elemental deities— generational witches made a pact with an unknown entity to create the silent place

the silent place is a place where the spirits of fairies, witches, and other creatures who died violently are trapped. It is a place of perpetual torment. The worst part is that the living the bloody witches channel the life energy of those trapped souls to fuel their magic, a magic that does not belong to them, and in the end, their souls are completely absorbed by the witch and cannot rest or reincarnate.

"What kind of magic do we have?" I asked uncertainly. Is it from angels, demons, or some entity?

the voice of Black was presented

—Kai, you are more than that. You are blessed by two major goddesses, primordial deities. You are something that has never been seen before. They placed you in a separate category, one that defies the known—explained Black firmly, while the young demon listened in silence.

—Mh... well, then let's continue with our journey— replied Kaius with a sigh, pushing away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him.

As Kaius made his way towards his old home, Crimson Grove continued to breathe in its everyday life.

In a simple yet cozy room, James rested on a white oak bed. The morning light filtering through the window illuminated his blond hair with chestnut tones, giving him an ethereal aura as he remained in an uneasy sleep.

"James, James, wake up," Lila's voice broke the silence with an insistent tone.

James slowly opened his eyes, his gaze finding the figure of Lila, who was standing next to the bed. Her chestnut hair fell in soft waves like a cloak, and her gray eyes sparkled with a glimmer that concealed something deeper.

"What's happening, Lila?" he asked, still dazed.

—You don't look well. You need to eat something—she said, offering him a dark blue cup.

James took the cup with trembling hands, observing the dark liquid before taking a cautious sip.

"I don't have animal carcasses or blood to feed on," he murmured with resignation."I suppose this will have to do for now."

—You are still so stubborn, James. You're still not fully recovered— commented Lila, her tone bordering on mockery, though disguised with a layer of concern.—For now, tea is all I can offer you.

James gave a tired smile.—It's a nice tea. Thank you.

Lila walked towards the window, observing the landscape beyond the house. Her fingers drummed on the wooden frame, a reflection of the impatience that was beginning to show on her face.

"What worries you?" James asked, placing the empty cup on the table.

"I was thinking about how long we've been together," she said, turning with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

—About two months, maybe? Why?

Lila approached with slow steps, each one resonating with a soft echo on the wooden floor.

—It's time to do something, James. You know you can't keep living like this. You have avoided human blood since I've known you. What's stopping you? Why don't you accept my help?

"I don't want to be a burden to you... or anyone else," he replied, looking away.

—You are not a burden—she insisted, although the flash of frustration in her eyes belied her words.—If only you would trust me...

James sighed and stood up with effort."I think it's best if you go back home." I promise that I will find a solution tomorrow. Don't worry about me anymore."Don't worry about me anymore." — "Just take care of yourself, okay?" — said Lila, trying to sound kind.Just take care of yourself, okay?— said Lila, trying to sound nice.

As he escorted her to the door, the silence between them felt heavier than ever.

When saying goodbye, Lila let out a calculated smile before leaving.

"It's just a matter of time," she murmured to herself as she walked home, the frustration bubbling beneath her calm facade.

Deep down, she knew that James was resisting, but she didn't know why; it was something she wasn't clear about.She knew it wasn't her beauty, as she was very beautiful according to her, but she could only sigh and go home 

kai spent a night and a day traveling.

Crimson Grove awoke under the gentle glow of the morning sun, illuminating the quiet streets and the dense forests that surrounded the community. In an old wooden mansion, James was waking up from his second nap. His routine was meticulous: he showered, dressed in a casual yet impeccable suit, and opened all the windows, letting in the fresh breeze from the forest.

The sun flooded the mansion with a warmth that would be deadly for a vampire, but not for a demon like James. Unlike vampires, his kind could walk under the sunlight without any problems, although their weakness compared to other demons was enough to torment their pride.

With a sigh, James stepped into the forest behind the house, delving into the thicket. It wasn't the first time he questioned his decision not to feed on humans. His morals, or perhaps his stubbornness, kept him hunting animals to survive, but he was aware that this choice made him weaker than other bastard demons.

After a couple of hours, he had hunted enough. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and returned to the mansion, with a mix of relief and disdain for his daily routine.

"This should be enough for today," he murmured as he washed his hands and disposed of the remains.

Back home, he made a light tea, a habit that relaxed him and reminded him of before this. He checked the clock on the wall: it would soon be time to go to the local university. It was a perfect facade to go unnoticed and keep busy.

James walked towards the entrance, picking up his backpack with books and some papers. Before leaving, he made sure the house was locked and secure, a habit he had adopted after centuries of caution.

"—Alright, time to pick up Lila," he said in a neutral tone as he got into his car, an elegant black convertible.

The road to Lila's house was short, but during the journey, James couldn't help but feel a slight discomfort. There was something about her that unsettled him, although he couldn't quite identify what it was. Maybe it was her apparent perfection, or the way her concern always seemed... superficial.

—"It doesn't matter. Today will be a normal day. Nothing strange," thought James, trying to silence his suspicions.

He soon arrived at Lila's house. He got out of the car and rang the doorbell, preparing for his day which would be normal, or so he hoped to have some normalcy in his chaotic life.

The university was bustling with activity, students hurrying through the hallways and the echo of conversations filling the air. James and Lila arrived on campus, and as always, Lila walked with a radiant smile, holding James's arm as if he were her most prized trophy. Her impeccable appearance, combined with the obvious admiration she evoked in others, made Lila strut even more.

Her friends, Ayelia Parnin and Jenny Eralme, quickly joined her.

"Lila!" exclaimed Ayelia with enthusiasm. She was a young woman of Asian descent, with large, expressive eyes and a figure that drew attention no matter where she was. She always wore fashionable clothes and knew how to highlight her natural beauty.

"You look incredible today," added Jenny, daughter of a family of guardians who had a long history in Crimson Grove. Although Jenny didn't have supernatural abilities, her air of superiority and her straight hazel hair made her stand out among the human students.

Both were the very picture of superficiality. They shared with Lila a pretentious attitude, convinced that their popularity stemmed from being part of the circle of "perfect" girls. However, they couldn't hide the contained envy they felt when they saw Lila with the enigmatic and handsome James.

As they walked, they didn't miss the opportunity to belittle other students. They passed by Clark Marcus, Lila's ex-boyfriend, a very handsome guy with greenish eyes and hazel hair, who was sitting on a bench with a book in his hand. Ayelia let out a laugh.

"Look who's here, the campus poet," he said sarcastically, pointing at Clark.

"It must be so sad to be so... weird," Jenny added with a mocking smile.

Clark looked up, without deigning to respond. He had learned to ignore Lila's comments and her entourage, although they bothered him internally. He had been sincere with Lila, but she had left him as soon as she saw a better "opportunity" with James.

Lila, for her part, cast a disdainful glance at Clark before squeezing James's arm tighter.

"Well, girls, let's not waste time." Some of us have important classes to attend —she said with a triumphant tone.

James remained silent, allowing Lila to lead the interaction. Although he was accustomed to her attitude, he couldn't help but feel a certain discomfort at hearing her mock others. Her face remained serene, but her mind was elsewhere.

When they arrived at the classroom, Lila said goodbye to her friends with an air of superiority.

—See you later, girls —she said while kissing each of their cheeks.

"Goodbye, lil," said Ayelia and Jenny in unison, almost singing, with flirtatious smiles.

James just nodded slightly before following Lila into the classroom.

As he took a seat, he looked out the window, lost in his thoughts. There was something in the routine of the university and in Lila's company that felt... empty. But that emptiness was something he had learned to live with, at least for now.

The usual calm of the class was interrupted when the classroom doors burst open. Two police officers entered, their faces serious and determined. The professor interrupted his lesson, directing a puzzled look towards the officers.

"Sorry to interrupt," said one of them, a middle-aged man with a deep voice. We are here to ask some questions related to a recent incident in the nearby forest.

The tension filled the air immediately. The murmurs among the students began to spread, while curious glances went back and forth. James remained silent, observing attentively, while Lila and her friends exchanged nervous glances.

—It's about two girls who were attacked a few nights ago —the officer continued—. According to witnesses, the last time they were seen was at a nighttime party organized here, at the university.

The room fell silent. The officers began to ask one by one, gathering information. Lila pretended to be deeply worried, even letting slip comments like:

—How horrible! I can't believe something like this happened so close to here.

Ayelia and Jenny followed her, echoing her indignation, although their faces could not hide the anxiety of being questioned. When it was Lila's turn, her performance was impeccable:

"I don't know anything, officer." That night I was with my friends, right? —he said, casting a glance at Ayelia and Jenny, who nodded quickly.

James, on the other hand, responded briefly when asked:

"I didn't attend the party," he said, his voice calm but distant.

The agents didn't seem to suspect him, but James felt their gazes linger a bit longer than usual, as if something about him caught their attention.

When the interrogation ended, the officers thanked the cooperation and left the classroom, leaving a heavy atmosphere behind them. The students, uneasy, began to whisper among themselves, speculating about what had happened.

"Who do you think it was?" Ayelia asked in a low voice, looking at Lila.

"I have no idea," replied Lila, feigning concern, although there was a spark of excitement in her eyes. But I hope they don't think of me.

James didn't say anything. He simply stared out the window, his thoughts clouded. Even though she hadn't been at the party, she couldn't help but feel an unsettling connection to the attack. "Who do you think it was?" Ayelia asked in a low voice, looking at Lila.

"I have no idea," replied Lila, feigning concern, although there was a spark of excitement in her eyes. But I hope they don't think of me.

James didn't say anything. He simply stared out the window, his thoughts clouded. Although he hadn't been at the party, he couldn't help but feel an unsettling connection to the attack. There was something in the air, something that made him feel that this incident was not just a common crime.

Kaius was flying at low altitude, letting the fresh air fill his lungs as the horizon revealed a huge white wooden sign announcing his destination: "Crimson Grove: The place where the trees bleed." The name sent a shiver down his spine, although he couldn't shake off a contradictory feeling. Part of him was excited to explore a new place, but there was something deeper, an echo in his mind, a strange certainty.

"I've been here before," he thought, although he couldn't pinpoint when or how. A fleeting image crossed his mind: a young man driving a similar sign into the ground, a smile of satisfaction on his face. His chest filled with nostalgia and confusion.

Unbeknownst to him, his steps took him beyond the village limits, delving into the modern wooden houses and updated shops until he finally reached the city center. His thoughts kept him distracted, reviewing the vague memories that surfaced in his mind like small flashes.

Suddenly, he inadvertently crossed a barely visible circle of stones on the ground, covered in moss and fallen leaves; at first glance, it seemed like a decoration. What he didn't know was that he had activated a silent witch's alarm, designed to detect intruders with external magical energy.

meanwhile In a medium-sized house in the city center, Atelia Park, the mother of the group's witch, felt a shiver down her spine. She was practicing a projection spell when the impact of the alarm resonated in her mind like a distant echo. His grimoire, resting on the table, briefly illuminated, as if responding to the disturbance.

"What the hell?" he murmured, slamming the book shut. He walked to the window and looked towards the forest. Although he couldn't see anything from there, the air felt different, as if something had changed.

Atelia snapped her fingers, making a small floating orb of light appear that began to spin around her. The orb was a magical tracker linked to the alarm circle.

—what could that have been

for a moment, the shudder turned into true terror