Side Story: Sigil and Diana's Discovery

Inside the stillness of his tent, Rei sat in thought. The words of the king echoed in his mind.

"You must make contact with Sigil and Daina."

The names meant nothing to him. Sigil? Daina? Strangers. Allies? Enemies? He didn't know. But his instincts warned him to remain cautious. Deals with kings always came with hidden blades. He could only hope that these two weren't the kind of people who'd try to take his life the moment they met him.

Far from Rei's camp, in the bustling desert town of Varmir, a man stood behind the curtains of a second-floor inn. His gaze locked onto an extravagant, overly decorated cart rolling down the sand-covered street below.

Sigil's voice came without turning. "You're back."

A young woman walked in, sword on her hip, her steps quiet and measured. "I came back, Master."

Sigil didn't face her. "What did you find?"

Daina placed a scroll and a small book on the table. "The townsfolk said a noble is heading into the fields. They mentioned he intends to test his new 'power.'"

"Power?" Sigil scoffed, finally glancing at her. "What power?"

"They called it sorcery," she replied. "They even printed this book about it."

Sigil picked up the book and flipped through its pages. His brows furrowed.

"'Sorcery'… What is going on in this kingdom? We need to check the seal."

His eyes narrowed. Rei's name wasn't mentioned, but Sigil could feel it—this was no coincidence.

That night, before the moon fully set, Sigil and Daina departed on horseback toward the southern desert. The wind was sharp, the horizon endless.

Daina glanced at her master. "You look worried."

"I am," Sigil said quietly. "The world has become unpredictable."

"Hasn't it always been?" she asked.

"You won't understand," he muttered. "Not yet."

Hours passed under the fading stars until they reached the edge of the great desert. Sand stretched endlessly before them.

"The horse can't go further," Sigil said, dismounting. "We continue on foot."

They hadn't taken ten steps when the sand beneath them burst upward. A massive worm erupted from the ground, its body thick as a tree trunk, armored in dull, cracked plates. Its scream echoed across the dunes.

Daina didn't hesitate.

"Let me handle it."

She dashed forward, sword drawn, slicing at the worm's hide, but her blade barely left a mark. The creature thrashed and lunged, and Daina flipped back, dodging the blow by a hair.

"The hide is too tough," she called. "I can't cut through!"

"It's a land worm," Sigil shouted. "Not a sand worm. Their outer shell is tougher. Aim from the inside!"

With a nod, Daina made a break for it, sprinting alongside the creature as it lunged again. She jumped—straight into its gaping maw.

Inside the foul, mucus-slicked throat, Daina stabbed furiously. The creature shook violently, trying to spit her out, but she stayed agile, leaping between folds of flesh and hammering down her blade again and again. Then, using a burst of strength, she kicked off the soft walls and shot herself out of its open mouth.

The worm howled, spun in a circle, and dove back into the sand.

Breathing hard, Daina sheathed her sword. "That one was tougher than expected."

Sigil didn't respond. He had already begun walking again.

Five hours later, the sun was high, and the two stood deeper within the desert's dead heart. No other worms had shown themselves. It was unnatural.

"Master Sigil," Daina said, struggling to keep pace, sweat running down her face. "Are you sure the seal is here? We've been walking for hours."

"I'm sure," he said, unflinching. "It hasn't moved."

She groaned but followed. As they climbed a dune, a sudden quake rocked the ground.

Another worm.

This one was even larger. It rose like a tower, its body wide enough to crush a house.

Sigil drew his twin swords, but didn't move. "Daina. Handle it."

"Yes!"

This time, Daina didn't waste time striking the surface. She ran straight at the worm's midsection, leaping onto its body. Her feet touched the armored hide, and she ran along its length, slashing again and again, dancing across its spine.

The worm bucked, trying to throw her off, but she read its movements perfectly. Each twist, each jerk—she anticipated them all. She leapt to the other side each time it bent, keeping her balance, until she finally ran up to its head and stabbed down between its armor plates.

The worm screamed and collapsed, crashing into the sand, writhing once before vanishing beneath the surface.

Daina landed lightly, brushing off her sleeves.

"Weaker than the last one," she muttered.

Sigil stood still, swords in hand. He didn't look pleased.

"Something is wrong," he muttered. "This doesn't follow the 1000 Records Prophecy. Nothing is happening as it should."

He turned without explaining, heading further into the sands. Daina followed.

Soon, they reached a shimmering wall of cold—an ice mountain in the heart of the blazing desert. It loomed tall and wide, unnatural and chilling.

Sigil raised a hand. "Don't touch it. You'll freeze on contact."

Daina nodded and stepped back.

Sigil stepped closer. His eyes scanned the surface. Shapes moved beneath the ice—twisted shadows, clawed hands, eyes filled with malice. Then his breath caught.

"No…"

He staggered back.

Daina looked worried. "What happened?"

Sigil pointed to the frozen mountain. "They're not here."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"The demons," he whispered. "They were supposed to be sealed here—according to the prophecy. First circle demons, including the Fate Demon… they're gone."

Daina's eyes widened. "Gone? But that means…"

Sigil nodded grimly. "They've escaped. And they're coming for us."

"Why? Why us?"

"Because according to the 1000 Records Prophecy… they will try to kill you."

Daina's blood ran cold. "They're hunting me?"

Sigil turned sharply. "We must keep moving. We can't stay in one place for long. If the Fate Demon has truly returned… then this world is already shifting from its destined path."

They left the ice mountain behind, its frozen horrors buried for now—but not forgotten.

And far away, in a tent bathed in silence, Rei opened the sorcery book he had written… unaware of the storm he had unleashed.