Arc 1- Crimson Rules

"It has to work this time." 

Soot flew through the air, getting swept over all of the death lands covering the black trees in a grey layer. It messed up his dark blue hair more than it already was but he didn't even notice. "I even came to this godforsaken place for this, if it fails now then I-" No don't even think about it now let's concentrate on the matter at hand.

He took a handful of blood, which he had collected by who knows what means and drew some strange symbols on the floor of the altar he was on. The altar- or whatever the ruin he sat on used to be, was painted in a faded dark red color but when he looked at it closer when he came here he knew it used to be blood red. That is said to be common for ritual altars here in this waste land. He knows he doesn't have much time because the "dead" lands didn't have its name for nothing. Normal creatures wouldn't even dare to set one foot on this ground because it'll drain their life force plus soul flame- so basically a good old suicide option if someone crazy would even think of it this way of course. He sights lowering his head looking at his blood and dirt covered hands. "Well, you know what they say Silfa" he started trying to mimic the other warriors. "Don't forget who you do this for, as long as you have a will there is a way" He finished looking at the drawn symbols. Looks good to me.

Some may wonder what he was doing with a ritual altar and blood but seeing the other preparations he made, one could pretty good guess what all that was about.

And so, he took a deep breath reciting the words in his head and going through the ingredients again. Blood of an Imp, shards of a war blade, the soul flame of a warrior…all set

He took out a knife cutting himself carefully in the palm of his hand letting the blood drip down on the symbols being careful that he won't smear them.

He looked around the death lands one more time. Black trees that looked as if someone burned them down yet somehow still carried leaves, a crimson red sky that is just somehow there when entering the lands, cries and shrieks of the some death creatures like hell crows, an blood and coal like smell in the air- yeah its definitely still the death lands.

And so, he recited the ancient words word for word for maybe second, minutes or hours continuous. He could feel how a part of him was slowly drawn into the words on the altar. As he recited the words, he glanced down to his left at his bare hand witnessing how it is slowly turning pitch black starting from the tip of his fingers. Breathing slowly started to get difficult too and the excruciating pain was rising from his fingers upwards his arms but he knew he had to keep going.

And so he did.

After what seemed like an eternity, he fell over to the side with a dull thud yet still conscious.

He was groaning in pain yet refusing to let it show even in this situation. 

Fuck that hurts- 

There was nothing but silence and that was definitely not what was supposed to be going on right now. Silfa squeezed his eyes trying to see something, anything in his blurry vision but nothing. He let out a slow breath feeling the pain soar through his body with every breath he took afterwards before he unwillingly started to smile- not a happy smile or anything similar to it but rather a small smile of disappointment and bitterness. "Haha what did i expect of this…" At first it was just a rough huff like laugh but soon he laughed- quietly and weak but he did."I will probably die here huh….what a cra-"

"Who is dying where?" a sharp voice rang through the air and Silfa even though unable to move jolted slightly searching for the source with his blurry green eyes.

 Then he saw two dark boots just before his face but he was too tired and numb from pain to lift his head.

"My you look ugly right now" the person or creature said with a hint of boredom. Before he could even do anything to try to answer Silfa could feel something around his wrist and he hissed from the pain. The person didn't seem to care though and janked him up to his wobbly feet and held him in place by the shoulders.

Silfa finally got it together and lifted his head a bit although just a split second later one could see that he regretted his decision. Why? Because the moment he looked up he could have sworn he saw death in the eyes. Crims- No. Blood red eyes that seemed so intense Silfa could feel his pain get worse. They just stared at him thoughtfully and expectantly."Hey human, you're still alive… i guess?" The person got a bit closer to his face as if checking that he didn't die with his eyes open but for Silfa that idea seemed pretty realistic in that situation and judging from the demons reaction for him too.

And honestly? He wouldn't have a problem with that either. That was before he realized why he was here again.

Idiot! How could i forget that?! With the strength he had left he managed to speak at least a bit. But…if that person is who he thinks it is then he has to talk respectfully or he could have just died before all that anyways. "uh….demon-?" Yup I am so dead!

To his surprise though the person had a small smile on their pale lips and a little sharp tooth peeked out. "a demon indeed" the pers- demon answered before tightening his grip on Silfas shoulders slightly.

"Seeing that no other half dead person is here I guess you are the one who summoned me" Silfa managed to nod slowly and on that the demon placed him down on the ground against an altar wall in a sitting position. "Well then greetings new contractor my name is Shin, demon lord of death" he stood up, took a step back and placed a hand over his chest slightly bowing like Silfa had only seen from the royals in the capitals. After that the demon took a step closer tapping Silfa on the forehead with a cold fingernand nearly immediately he could feel the pain in his arms go away and the dizziness was also slowly disappearing enough that he could sit up straight and take a good look at the demon. Now with a clearer eyesight he could see that the demon has pitch black hair that goes just over his shoulders and was tied in some way but Silfa couldn't see well from his perspective, he has still the creepy blood red eyes and as expected two dark curled back horns on his head, other than that he was clad in dark ancient looking clothes that looked pretty elegant for a demon but of course not too much for a demon too.

Silfa supported himself on his arms sitting up straighter, now looking the demon directly in the eyes. "I, Silfa have summoned you for the sole purpose of giving me the power to take revenge"

The demons eyes widened in interest and maybe excitement. 

He brought a hand up to his chin, smiling wide.

"Oh? How amusing" He snickered before extending him a hand