Chapter 8

The scale etched into my right horn marked the passage of time – two years since the day I first felt the heat of demon fire coursing through my veins. My dragon horns, once mere nubs, now curved back sharply from my temples, the familiar weight a constant presence. My tail, a slender whip at first, now coiled and swished with a life of its own, its scales shimmering in the light. My reflection in the training hall's polished obsidian floor showed a taller, leaner figure than the one who had first stumbled into this world. I'd moved through the challenges like a ghost through fog, each one dissolving before me, a testament to the hours spent honing my power. Only the Challenge of Forgiveness remained, a gnawing knot in my chest that tightened whenever my thoughts strayed to it, a wall I knew I couldn't breach. Yet, the fluidity of my movements, the effortless way my fists blurred through the air, spoke of a different victory: the Wolf Demon's Martial Art, now as instinctive as breathing.

The roar of the arena crowd had become a familiar symphony. Dust swirled beneath my feet as another opponent crumpled, the cheers echoing my chosen name, "Zero," now whispered with a mix of awe and fear through the demon realm's fighting pits.

In the quiet moments, away from the arena's clamor, the bonds between us had tightened. Kira, Elizabeth, and Henri had folded into our small circle, their laughter mingling with Suzie's and mine. Henri, for his part, had returned from his own quest with a grim set to his jaw, his eyes holding a haunted depth. He spoke of his father, the words clipped and flat, of a life cut short for the unforgivable crime of loving a human, a royal execution that still resonated in his quiet fury.

For moons, it felt as though we existed in the blind spot of the Demon Queen's gaze. No summons, no recognition of our growing power or our presence. Then, a shift, subtle at first, a whisper carried on the wind, a heightened interest in the new blood that had spilled through the arena. Today, that whisper had crystallized into a direct summons.

I pulled on the soft pink sweater, the crisp white polo shirt collar peeking out. The black skirt felt familiar against my legs, and my usual black mask settled over my features, its cool surface a comfortable barrier. Downstairs, the others were already gathered.

Kira stood, her lithe frame unchanged, but the magnificent phoenix wings, russet and gold, flared gently from her back, catching the light like stained glass. Elizabeth, too, seemed much the same, though a twitch of a pointed ear and the playful flick of two bushy tails behind her hinted at her awakened Cerberus lineage. Suzie, my sister, had gained a subtle height, her frame a touch more elegant, and the soft, pointed fox ears that crowned her head were a stark contrast to the nine silken tails that swished behind her like a silken fan. Henri, though, was outwardly identical to the day we met. But an almost imperceptible shimmer, a faint aura of conflicting energies, pulsed around him as he gestured, explaining a complex theory with fervent certainty, utterly convinced that combining pure mana and demonic mana would forge him into something unstoppable.

I ran through a series of katas, my movements fluid as water, then sharp as a lightning strike. A whisper of dark energy flowed from my palms, then coalesced into a shimmering replica of a light element spell I usually cast. With another shift, a crimson thread of blood-infused mana pulsed from my fingertips, tracing intricate patterns in the air, a silent, precise art of extraction.

"Are you buzzing?" Henri asked, his eyes bright, barely contained excitement thrumming through his voice.

I adjusted my mask. "It will certainly be...an experience. To finally stand before the all-powerful Demon Queen."

Henri nodded, a short, sharp jerk of his head. "The trip will be quick, with your wings, I mean."

"I can carry Elizabeth and Suzie," I said, already picturing the mechanics of it. "Kira can take you."

Henri's mouth opened, a faint grumble beginning to form, but he caught my unwavering gaze, a long sigh escaping him instead. His shoulders slumped in a silent concession. "Fine," he conceded, and we were off.

The ground blurred beneath us, the wind tearing at our clothes. Kira and I powered forward, the rush of air a roar in our ears. In less than thirty minutes, the colossal demon castle loomed ahead, its dark spires piercing the sky. Kyuro, the imposing head of the Demon Queen's army, stood waiting on the landing platform, a solitary, unmoving figure.

We descended a short distance away, landing softly before approaching him. "General Kyuro," I said, bowing my head respectfully, the others following suit.

He grunted, a low rumble from his chest. "Took you less than I expected." His gaze swept over us, quick and assessing. "Follow me. Her Majesty is interested in meeting all of you."

We followed him through the castle's immense halls, our heads tilted back, eyes wide. Soaring arches disappeared into shadows, intricate carvings adorned every column, and vast, polished floors reflected our shapes like still water. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming, dwarfing every other stronghold we'd ever seen in the realm. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of ancient stone and potent magic, as we neared the throne room.

Within, on a throne carved from what looked like solidified darkness, sat a woman. Her black hair cascaded over regal shoulders, framing a face dominated by piercing red eyes that seemed to look straight through us, as if we were no more than motes of dust. A single, elegant dragon horn curved from her forehead, and a slender, scaled tail twitched subtly behind her. Three other women and a solitary man stood beside her, silent as statues.

I knelt, the cold stone pressing against my knees. "I greet Her Majesty, the Demon Queen Yelena," my voice unwavering despite the tremor in my chest. One by one, the others followed my lead.

"You may rise," the Queen's voice resonated through the vast room, calm and absolute.

I stood, my gaze instinctively drawn upwards. But as I tried to meet her eyes, a wave of intense discomfort washed over me, a feeling like an electric shock warning me away. It felt like an intrusion, a brazen act of defiance, and the last thing I wanted was to be perceived as daring in the presence of the Demon Queen. My gaze dropped, fixing on the impossibly shiny floor.

"You are Zero," the Queen's voice cut through the silence, each syllable precise. "The one said to have completed all the challenges in a span of two measly years?"

My eyes remained locked on the floor's reflection of the high ceiling. "Yes, my Queen."

"What is your real name?"

My throat tightened. The words felt lodged there, refusing to come out. I could feel the tension radiating from Henri beside me, his sudden stillness. "Your Honor," I managed, my voice a fraction softer, "I do not feel comfortable telling Henri my real name."

A low chuckle, dry as leaves skittering across stone, echoed through the room. My heart hammered against my ribs, a wild drumbeat of fear. Why was she laughing? What did it mean? I dared not lift my head, terrified of what I might see, of what she might read in my expression.

"Is Henri the reason you used an alias?"

"That is correct, Your Honor."

The Queen's red eyes flickered towards Kyuro, a silent command passing between them. Without a word, Kyuro moved, his hand resting gently but firmly on Henri's shoulder. I risked a quick glance. Henri's face crumpled, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and profound disappointment as Kyuro led him away, out of the throne room. For two years, I'd held this secret, and I knew in that moment, seeing the hurt in his eyes, that it had never truly occurred to him until now.

I felt the Queen's gaze settle on me again, a physical weight. A shiver traced down my spine, even as my gaze remained fixed on the floor.

"My name is Riku Snowfield," I said, the words feeling alien on my tongue.

"What a lovely name." Her voice, though still calm, held a new, almost possessive, note. "I will call you Snow." Her voice dropped to a near whisper, "And that name, Snow, will be exclusive to me."

I gave a single, stiff nod.

"Kyuro should be returning with the half-demon now," the Queen murmured. A beat of silence stretched, then the distant sound of footsteps growing louder, echoing on the polished floor. In less than two minutes, Kyuro reappeared, Henri walking beside him, his head still slightly bowed.

"Now," Queen Yelena's voice resonated, shifting back to its formal tone. "Let us introduce ourselves." She gestured to the figures beside her. "My name is Yelena, the Demon Queen."

"I am Lilian," the first woman said, her voice crisp and clear, "the First General of Her Majesty."

"I am Lilith," the second woman chimed in, her voice a shade softer than her twin's, a hint of something playful in her red eyes. "Lilian's twin sister. I am the Second General of Her Majesty."

"I'm sure you already know me," Kyuro's gruff voice cut in, "I'm Kyuro, the Third General of our great Queen."

"My name is Yeri," a younger-looking woman said, her voice gentle, "the Fourth General of our Majesty."

"And I," a fifth figure, flamboyant in attire, announced with a flourish, "am the last and most extravagant general, Quinzel."

Suzie stepped forward slightly, her voice soft but clear. "My name is Suzie Snowfield."

The Demon Queen's head tilted, her gaze shifting immediately to me, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "Are you siblings?"

"Yes, Your Honor," I confirmed, my voice an automatic reflex.

"I am Kira," Kira said, her voice calm and steady.

"My name is Elizabeth," Elizabeth added, her voice a little shy.

Henri took a step forward, his gaze still avoiding mine. "I'm Henri Kigatsu."

A thick silence descended. No one spoke, no one moved. The air in the vast throne room felt heavy with unspoken understanding, all eyes eventually drifting back to the Queen, waiting for the one who had drawn us here, the undeniable authority in this realm, to break it.

"Now," Queen Yelena's voice dropped, its previous regal tone replaced by something solemn and grave. "Let us get on to the reason why we are here."