Shadows of the Demon Army

The Silver Curse – Volume 3, Chapter 3: Shadows of the Demon Army

A Gathering in the DarkDeep within the heart of the Demon Army's war camp, tension filled the air. The glow of enchanted torches cast eerie shadows against the crimson-stained banners that fluttered in the cold wind. Soldiers clad in blackened armor patrolled the perimeter, their movements precise and disciplined.

At the center of it all stood the highest-ranking officers of the Demon Army—warriors, tacticians, and generals who commanded legions with an iron grip.

Raegis knelt before the grand war table, his head bowed, his expression unreadable. Before him sat Draelith, the Supreme General of the Demon Army—a towering figure clad in obsidian armor, his horns curling like a demon lord of old. His deep crimson eyes burned with silent fury.

"You failed," Draelith's voice was like a growl of thunder, his gloved fingers tapping against the heavy wooden table. "The Demon Lord granted you the honor of bringing him back, and you return with nothing."

Raegis clenched his fists but remained silent.

"I warned you not to underestimate him," a sultry voice cut through the air.

Selphira, the Mistress of Shadows, leaned against the far side of the chamber, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. Her dark cloak barely concealed the form-fitting leather armor beneath, and her twin daggers rested easily at her hips. "Shade isn't some lost little lamb waiting to be led home. He's dangerous."

"No," a cold voice corrected. "He's unstable."

The one who spoke was Varian the Frost Fang, a pale, silver-haired man who radiated an unnatural chill. Ice clung to his armor, his breath visible even in the warmth of the war tent. "He's on the verge of breaking, and when he does, he will either become one of us or destroy himself."

"Perhaps we should push him further," Selphira mused, twirling a dagger between her fingers. "Break his spirit. Crush his hope. Then he'll have no choice but to join us."

"Enough." Draelith's voice cut through their murmurs. "We do not move without the Demon Lord's command."

He turned his gaze back to Raegis, who remained kneeling. "You will not be punished, but your next failure will not be tolerated. We will allow Shade to stew in his own misery. The curse will drag him further down. And when he comes to us—it will be because he has no other choice."

The room fell silent, the weight of the Demon Army's decision hanging in the air.

The AftermathBack in Valkris, the echoes of battle still lingered in the air.

Yuto sat in the dimly lit guild infirmary, his body battered and sore. The rings on his fingers no longer pulsed, but their presence was still felt, a whisper at the back of his mind. His thoughts were muddled, torn between what he had done and what he nearly became.

Mira stood at the foot of his bed, arms crossed, watching him with an expression he couldn't read.

"Are you going to say something?" she finally asked.

Yuto exhaled slowly. He had no words to give.

Mira sighed and sat on the stool beside him. "I don't know what scares me more—how easily you gave in to the curse or how much you seemed to enjoy it."

Yuto stiffened but didn't look at her.

"You're not alone, you know," Mira continued, her voice softer now. "But every time you let those damn rings take over, you push yourself further away from the person you used to be."

He clenched his fists, the metal of the rings digging into his skin.

But what if that person is already gone?

"You need to rest," Mira said, standing up. "We'll talk later."

As she turned to leave, Yuto found himself gripping his sword instinctively, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He had no idea what his next step was supposed to be.

But he knew one thing for certain—he couldn't stay here much longer.

Elsewhere—Lina and Lyra's JourneyFar from Valkris, two figures trudged through the muddy roads of the western forest.

Lina pulled her cloak tighter around herself, scowling at the storm clouds overhead. "We should've reached the outpost by now."

Lyra, ever unbothered, twirled a dagger between her fingers. "You're the one who insisted we take the scenic route."

Lina shot her a glare but didn't argue. Their journey had been slow, plagued by distractions—bandits, rogue beasts, and the occasional mercenary looking for a fight.

But their goal was clear.

"We're running out of time," Lina muttered, glancing at the map in her hands. "If we don't find him soon—"

"We will." Lyra's voice was calm, but there was an unshakable certainty in it. "He's strong. Stubborn, too. He's still out there. And when we find him—"

She grinned, flipping her dagger once more. "We'll knock some sense into him."

Lina sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

For now, all they could do was keep moving.

And hope that when they found Yuto, he was still the same person they once knew.

A New PresenceNot far from where Lina and Lyra traveled, another figure stood on a ridge, watching them. Cloaked in black, their face remained hidden beneath a hood, but their red eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"So," the figure murmured, "they're still looking for him."

A second presence stepped beside them—a demon, clad in obsidian armor.

"Do we intercept them?" the armored figure asked.

A slow smirk spread across the cloaked one's lips. "Not yet. Let's see where their search leads them. If they get too close to our prize—then we'll deal with them."

A gust of wind rustled their cloaks, and in the next moment, the two figures vanished into the night.

End of Chapter 3