Content Warning: Just for sensitive readers.

– 200 Years Ago –

When he was still young, he was chased by rebels. He was heading back to the palace from his training when suddenly, his carriage was attacked. He was the youngest prince, the one who had the fewest knights, making him the easiest target for Hianshu, who wanted nothing more than to ruin the king of Revhera. Back then, the country was barely built, and war was still ongoing. The streets were filled with gangsters, pickpockets, robbers, and murderers in broad daylight was not uncommon.

Zayden had killed countless humans before. But this time, it was different. He was in a rut, making him unable to use his magic properly.

"Fuck," he cursed under his breath.

Just then, a hand appeared from the shadows, dragging him into an alley. He gasped, eyes wide as he glared at the person standing before him: a woman. Long dark curls fell almost to her waist, and she wore a grey dress, too loose for her thin frame. Beside her, an ash-blonde-haired man stood, looking up at the taller figure.

"Who are you?" Zayden managed to ask, his body burning with exhaustion.

"I have some inhibitors for you. Come and take them," the woman said, turning on her heels nonchalantly.

"But you... Are human," he panted.

"Come, or not. Your choice. If your body is found tomorrow morning, don’t blame us."

"You are too harsh, Yuri!" the man sighed, turning to Zayden. "Look, it’s safe for you. We saw those people chasing you. Just come, alright?"

"Jack, forget him," Yuri said, crossing her arms behind her head and walking away.

Zayden was barely able to stand. Having no choice, he followed. After all, they were just humans. And they didn’t appear as dangerous as those who had chased him. Those men were surely sent by Hianshu to have him killed... again.

For the next few days, he stayed in their house. Shabby, so different from the palace. But here, there was something he had never experienced—warmth.

Somehow, they constantly paid attention to him and his well-being, shocking him every time, more than the first time they had offered to help him. The food was simple, sometimes just soup, vegetables, or bread. But neither of them complained, and they ate it as if it were the most precious meal they had ever had.

And one day, he mustered the courage to ask: "How can you be so happy in a life so—"

"So... plain? Shabby?" Yuri completed his sentence.

Zayden simply couldn’t bring himself to ask. After all, they had just begun to grow close. He didn’t want to hurt them.

"Life is meant to be lived, not spent chasing after precious jewels or money," Yuri said, her voice calm but firm. "With money, love fades, distance takes over."

Zayden’s gaze fell to the floor. He knew she was right. That was all he had ever seen in high society—wealth piled high, titles flaunted, but warmth was scarce. Families who barely shared a meal together, people who smiled only for appearances. He nodded slowly, the words striking him deeper than he expected.

"Perhaps... perhaps I have been looking in the wrong place," he murmured.

***

A few years passed, and Zayden had returned to the palace. But he made sure to visit Jack and Yuri as much as his schedule allowed. When he revealed his real identity, their behaviour toward him didn’t change drastically. They had become the greatest friends he had ever had, with whom he could share his worries.

It was winter when he went to visit them. Snow covered the entire country, making every step a struggle, but he didn’t care. When he knocked on the door, no one answered—no one was home. He assumed they had gone to the marketplace and decided to wait. But even as night fell, they didn’t return. Zayden’s chest tightened. Something must have happened to them!

He ran through every alley he could find, searching for the two. Sweat dripped down his face, but he ignored it. His boots sank deep into the snow. He spread his wings—the large black bat-shaped wings he rarely used, forbidden by his father, who believed most humans would see them as inferior and it could cause problems in the kingdom.

His wings fluttered as he searched for any sign of them. Just then, he spotted Jack running down a dark alley, as if chased by savage beasts. Zayden descended, rushing toward him.

"Jack! What’s going on?! I’ve been searching everywhere for you and Yuri!"

Jack’s steps faltered at the sound of the familiar voice. He turned, tears streaming down his face, lips trembling.

"W-What is going on?!" Zayden’s eyes widened. He had never seen Jack cry, much less like this. He was a mess.

"Y-Yuri... they took her away," he sobbed.

"Who?" Zayden frowned, heart racing. Something was very wrong.

"Those men... they’ve been watching her for a while. And now..." He broke down completely, his voice shaking with every word he pronounced. "I couldn’t protect her!"

"We will find her," Zayden said, gripping his shoulders.

"Someone saw them take her to a tower. Come with me," Jack said, not waiting for an answer. He sprinted through the cold, wearing only a thin shirt, no jacket to shield him from the biting wind. He didn’t care—the love of his life was in danger.

Just as they stood in front of the large grey tower, Zayden’s ears caught voices coming from above.

He looked up, and he saw something falling.

No.

It was a person.

Someone he knew far too well.

Yuri.

She was thrown from the tower’s roof of the tower.

Zayden simply stared at her falling body.

He couldn’t move.

But he didn’t know why.

Was it because she was naked?

Was it because she was covered with blood? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Was it because her hair was a mess?

Or was it because her eyes already looked dead?

He didn’t know. But his muscles simply wouldn’t move although his entire being screamed to fly, to catch her.

To save her.

A loud crash, and blood scattered all over his face. Warm, but terrifyingly, it turned cold in an instant once the chilling wind brushed against his face.

He could hear Zack’s striking shrieks, begging her to wake up. However, Zayden already understood. She was gone. And he couldn’t save her despite possessing all the strong powers of a demon.