It was dark and silent. The only things that can be heard are the faint blowing sound of the wind as it rustles the leaves and the melancholic song of the nocturnal creatures. Far above Dyrroth can see billions of stars blinking down on him. It was confusing and mysterious why he's in a foreign place once more yet he decided to rise from his reposed position and observe his surroundings.

He's in a forest whose location he is unsure of. The trees are thick and unfriendly, there's a sinister feeling lingering everywhere that he can see like something is watching him and waiting for the proper time to pounce on him. He did not let fear hold him back and pushed in out of his system. Something is pulling him somewhere and he decided to brave the dangers of the unknown and let his instincts guide him.

His feet led him to a small peaceful village. Everything and everyone is already asleep, tucked comfortably in their beds and frolicking in their dreams. Dyrroth walked around the village, not caring if anyone sees him or not. The light of the candle lamps lit his path as his instincts pulled him deeper and deeper inside the slumbering village.

He soon found himself standing in front of the largest house in the whole village. Something inside of him felt like a low burning ember of delight. Like feeling something he really likes. He entered the house and wandered through the halls. His feet seem to know where he needs to be as they led him through the twists and turns of the surprisingly spacious house.

He went up the stairs and opened a pink painted door. He stepped inside the room and noticed a figure under the red covers of a small bed sleeping soundly. Dyrroth approached the figure. His jaw nearly dropped when he saw a very familiar hair of gold, like rays of sunshine that your hands can grasp.

Ruby looked so beautiful and innocent. Her face no longer bore the distraught expression which often decorates her sleeping face, instead, she smiles with all the light and beauty in the world which pulled at his heartstrings. This Ruby is certainly not his Ruby. This girl is smaller and younger so perhaps this was her when she was young.

His expression softened and his hands guided themselves to caress her hair. He noticed the sharp claws of his metal gloves and removed it to prevent hurting the slumbering girl. His hand touched the silk-soft skin of Ruby's red cheeks.

"Sleep with the stars, my little queen. Your throne awaits for you to sit in the Abyss. Your crown awaits to lay on your golden head as the gems shine barely as bright as your eyes while your husband waits for you to bloom and grow. I shall be waiting for you to grow up and be with me." The gentle smile on his face twisted into a frown as he heard an ominous sound outside her window.

He went to her window and swung it open to have a look outside. At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary until he noticed the shadows moving around the village and approaching closer and closer to Ruby's home. A few went briefly under the light of the lamp but Dyrroth already knew what they are. Ruby's greatest nightmare. The primary cause of her sleepless nights. The names she uttered as tears cascade down her eyes when she sleeps.

Dyrroth had listened to her cries and wiped her tears. He was the one that roused her when she had another nightmare and comforts her as they lay on their bed. Ruby detests wolves. She hated them with a passion because they took what was precious to her: her family and her home. That is why he as well cannot forgive them for hurting his precious rose.

He blinked to make sure that his eyes were not fooling him but when he opened his eyes the village was already burning. It happened so fast. What was once a peaceful village is now filled with screaming, crying, and dying. Blood was splattered in every corner as wolves attacked everyone who ran or fought.

Both humans and wolves fought with the same tenacity and for once he wished for humans to win because it means that they will be able to protect his gem, his Ruby. He turned to wake the girl and spirit her away to flee but Ruby was nowhere to be found. Her blanket had been carelessly removed and her door is wide open. He was no longer able to think how swiftly she had left without alerting him when he heard screaming and howling from downstairs and he quickly bolted to protect his princess.

When he reached downstairs things were already over. Blood painted the once pristine walls of Ruby's cozy home. Scythes and guns were left scattered on the floor. A few wolf corpses were littering the floor but the most noticeable ones are the two human bodies that lie on the bloodied ground and Dyrroth didn't have to contemplate it further to know that they were Ruby's grandparents.

The bodies suddenly moved alerting him, but instead of coming back to life, a little girl emerged from the pile covered in blood and bits of flesh. Tears fall from her eyes as she looked at the corpse of her grandparents.

For the first time in his existence, Dyrroth felt pity and sympathy for someone. He's reliving the most painful memory in his beloved's life and he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He doesn't need any words to know how extremely despondent and miserable she feels because her wailing and crying are obvious evidence of her broken heart.

Isn't that just very sad...

Dyrroth heard someone unfamiliar say from somewhere. He looked around but found no one there but him and little Ruby who was busy grieving.

You were so happy...

He prepared his weapon to protect Ruby in case someone tries to hurt her.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" he yelled at whoever was talking to him.

You just had your birthday...

This is when he realized that the voice wasn't talking to him but to Ruby instead.

You were celebrating and now they were taken from you...

Don't you feel...

Angry?

Furious?

Don't you want to... 

Kill them?

"I will kill them and I will make them pay for what they've done." Ruby whispered in a low sinister voice. 

Good girl...

The voice said with delight.

Thunder and lightning suddenly struck the sky and released a terrible booming sound that made the air vibrate with terror. When the light faded they were already outside. Rain poured from the heaven as if weeping for the tragedy that has befallen the maiden. 

Ruby now stood in the middle of a bloody field where corpses bow their heads to her might. They sneer at her in fear while their blood thickened the blade of her scythe which her right hand held. Her left hand held the beating heart of the alpha who commanded the pack to terminate her family and destroy her home. Time seemed to stop as Ruby looked at the organ with scorn for a long time yet her face inched closer and closer to it as the seconds pass. 

Her lips made contact with the hideous flesh and she bit on it without remorse. Her teeth tore the organ piece by piece and she chewed it like a... Well, like a ravenous wolf. Dyrroth watched his once innocent princess devour the heart of a beast, unable to believe what his eyes are telling him yet he knew full well that this scene is true. After all Ruby herself told him how she did it; how she sliced open the chest of an alpha wolf and how she broke his ribs to take out his beating heart as he died of the excruciating pain before devouring it right before his eyes. Unlike any other person, it did not disgust him. No. It made him proud. He's proud of the valor and might of his chosen partner. Her thorns are just as beautiful as her petals. 

Dyrroth suddenly felt dread in his stomach that can't be explained. It's certainly not because of Ruby nor her activity. No. Something or someone is causing this to happen. Now he feels cold. When he breathed out, a puff of smoke escaped his lips. It wasn't that cold earlier it was just raining and not snowing. 

That's when he finally noticed the large silver wolf sitting adjacent to him. The wolf focused on gazing at Ruby, never missing a second of her activity, never blinking. The creature wasn't like any ordinary wolf given by its size that is ten times larger than the once that Ruby fought with.

This one... Is also different. It feels odd. Looking at the wolf and the azure aura emanating from him made him feel extremely... Afraid. 

The wolf's head turned to him and his gaze finally met its piercing azure eyes that bore deeply into his soul as if finding every weakness and exploiting every fear and secret he held in his being.

He couldn't speak. His heart felt like it went up to his throat as his stomach sank to the bottom. The wolf's extraordinary gaze penetrated through the fortress of his mind and exposed his deepest thoughts and terrors. He had never felt more exposed and vulnerable and all of it was caused by a single stare from a wolf. 

"I have made her... Unbreakable." it uttered before lightning whipped the heavens creating a brief crack in the the sky as the thundered roared and rumbled. The sound was so intense it shook him to the very core.

That was the last thing that Dyrroth heard before waking up in cold sweat panting and gasping as the dream felt suffocating. He's back on his bed in the Abyss and Ruby is nowhere to be found as well as the wolf. 

🌹

"Que'am is still missing." Dothron announced with sadness. 

"Ruby has escaped. I pray for it, she won't die. There's a reason why the prince favored her and that's because she's strong and resilient." Arethria reasoned yet she herself doubts her words. The two of them are currently drinking in a pub somewhere far from the village after a week of Ruby's promised return which never came, disheartening the whole village especially the couple who spent the most time with the huntress. 

"The crimson girl is dead don't be foolish. No one survives staying a single day in the Fangs. You can't find a corpse since she's been eaten whole." An elder demon said frankly, making the couple grit their teeth in annoyance. 

"She's dead. She is a foolish little girl. She should have just thrown herself to the prince's feet and asked for forgiveness instead of doing that madness." another one added.

"Yeah, a human like her has no chance of surviving in a place like this. She was bound to die sooner or later. It was only a matter of time."

"She should have stuck to sucking the prince's cock instead of getting cocky." the demon and the other bystanders of the pub released hysterical laughter due to the obscene comment. 

Arethria glared at the man and stood to defend Ruby's honor however a flying knife struck the skull of the four demons who uttered foul comments about the maiden which instantly killed them in the process. 

"No one speaks about Ruby like that or I shall execute you in the name of the Prince without remorse."

A crimson demoness stood from the shadow of the sidelines and everyone obviously stiffened after discovering her identity. Captain Sorca glared at the demons who all laughed at the girl's name. Time seemed to stop as she menacingly dared anyone to speak ill of the human girl ever again and it seemed enough to silence the demons completely. She walked towards the couple and beckoned them to follow her. 

Dothron and Arethria shared a hesitant look but the terrifying scowl of the captain made them comply instantly. They stood up and followed Sorca to a remote location where minimal demons are passing by. 

"What do you know about Ruby's last location, her mission, ideas, everything?" Sorca asked as she crossed her arms and looked at the two with eyes completely devoid of the slightest bit of enthusiasm. Tiredness and worry are clearly written on her face showing her great care for the girl not just for her job but also for their friendship. Somehow, that girl has the charms to enchant even the toughest and coldest demons of the Abyss such as the Captain of the Guards and even the Prince himself. 

"We know where she intended to stay for the rest of her exploration in the Fangs but we don't know if she did or did not relocate." Dothron answered. 

"Ruby planned well. She listed several places she cleared so she has somewhere else to go to if her primary one got attacked or something."

"Clever girl." Sorca breathed allowing a small smile to briefly decorate her lips before continuing with her interrogation. 

"I want you to tell me every location she listed. Also, had she told you anything about seeing an actual portal and what was her primary mission? You will be rewarded handsomely by the prince for your cooperation."

"We don't want any reward. We just want to know if our friend is safe. Ruby is the only person who ever did anything to help us. She built us up from muck and now we're stronger." Arethria said firmly. 

"We will help in any way that we can to find her. And if she has escaped then... We will stop." Dothron completed which his wife clearly agrees upon. 

"Very well. I need you to tell me everything and give me the smallest details about where she went including where she made her plans so I can report immediately to the prince."

"Did the prince order you to look for, Que'am?" 

There was a pause from the captain as she debated whether or not to answer them honestly, but since they all share the same care for the girl she felt obliged to tell them even that bit of information. 

"The prince originally ordered me to keep track of Ruby's activities and report to him if she is wallowing in grief or suffering without his protection for his entertainment yet the little human proved his expectations false. Also, I'm not doing this because Dyrroth ordered, I'm doing this for Ruby because... she's my friend too. And sooner or later that stubborn prince is going to look for his princess. I can gamble with my whole life that he will lift his ass from his throne and descend from his pedestal just to look for Ruby because he might deny it a thousand times over and over again yet he can't fool anyone that he doesn't love her. And I dare say she is the first and only person that he shall ever love."

"So we must find the little Que'am so that our prince will no longer grieve and be an asshole." Dothron joked making Arethria elbow his stomach. 

"That is correct. Now, lead the way."

Arethria and Dothron led the demoness captain back to their village and showed her the objects Ruby has left behind. Sorca spent hours and hours deciphering the symbols written with charcoal on the dirty white fabrics which the maiden used to draw her plans because of the lack of proper means to sketch her ideas but so far she figured nothing out. Luckily, she was able to find a map Ruby drafted although it was terribly done. Drawing is clearly not one of her strongest suits yet the familiar shapes of the mountains and significant landmarks are enough to allow her to understand the picture. 

There were 5 places in total which she could go to and almost 20 places were marked X signifying that those were the places she would most likely not visit narrowing down the territories she had to cover. Sorca didn't waste any more time. Dyrroth needs to know about this. 

She is determined to find Ruby but even she knows the dangers of going to the Fangs alone so she needs backup. Sorca carefully collected the things Ruby left behind even the ones that are trash since it might lead to a clue before returning to the palace. She just hopes that Dyrroth won't be too much of a drama queen once he finds out about the whole ordeal. 

🌹

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S GONE?!! WHERE IS SHE??!!!" Dyrroth's voice thundered throughout the Abyss as he screamed at Sorca who knelt before his raised dais. Panic and fear were clearly written on the demoness's face as she opened her mouth to speak. 

"I don't know yet your majesty... It has been a week since she entered the Fangs and she promised to return in three days if she fails to complete her mission. The villagers concluded that she either found a portal and returned home or..." she hesitated looking at the ground with a mournful face. "She died." 

Dyrroth turned to her with a sharp glare. "Never speak that thought ever again in my presence. Ruby is strong and she is resilient. Nothing in that place can match her tenacity and possibly beat her." There was a short pause from the prince as he contemplated the things his vavasor informed him. 

"lI have found a map she drafted and there are five places where she could have gone to. What shall we do, your majesty?" 

"Send spies to the empire. Tell them to look for Ruby and report to me if they find even the smallest wit of her presence and deploy our best hellhounds in the Fangs. Gather your platoon and look at these places you speak of. Collect every single data you could find about her. I don't care if it takes you hundreds or thousands of dogs and demons to search but find her no matter the cost!" his voice boomed and reverberated throughout the whole room making the wall vibrate with fear of his terrifying wrath. 

"Yes, your majesty." 

"I have placed the things she left behind in the village inside your room. I think those might lead you to have an idea of where she might have gone to or where she is specifically. I don't understand the human symbols so I cannot gather what some of the fabrics are saying but they might be of more use to you since you understand the human letters." Sorca bowed and then left leaving the prince with his solitude. 

When the demoness was completely out of sight, Dyrroth took his anger out on everything that his hand touched and destroyed anything that came into view to let his frustrations out. The mantles were torn to shreds, columns were shattered, and even the thick stone walls were left with deep dents. It looked as if a hurricane had ravaged his throne room as he swept everything with his claws and decimated anything except his throne where a great memory with his special maiden still lingers. 

A loud piercing scream of grief, sadness, frustration, anger, and despondency erupted from his throat, shaking the primordial stones of the Abyss to their very core. He fell on his knees with his head bowed, his silver locks falling over his face casting a shadow not even a fraction as dark as the void in his heart. 

"Ruby..." he whispered trying to call out her name and maybe summon her where he is. 

"... I want you..." 

"... I need you..."

"Ruby... RUBY... RUBY!!!" 

"RRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUBBBBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" He gritted his teeth to prevent the sobs that threatened to escape his throat however he can no longer suppress the single tear that fell from his eye.

"Why won't you let me forget you?" 

Unbeknownst to him are the two shadows that linger in the darkness watching him with pity. 

"We should do something..." suggested one. 

"Let him grieve first. He needs to feel the pain and let it linger before he finds her importance." The first one stayed silent for a while assessing the prince. 

"I wish he realize it soon enough because the stars seem to be machinating for her departure. A powerful entity is doing all his best to claim his maiden once again. Ruby will escape in a week's time..."

"If that happens then it will be too late for us to have our happy ending. What do you think, Lunox?" 

"Let's stay low for a while, Selena. We cannot interfere. We can speak but fate will always find its way." 

🌹

Ruby opened her eyes. She blinked a couple of times to ward away the blur. She carefully moved her head sideways inspecting the foreign place where she is. Just as she expected, the place is unfamiliar though it has similar themes to what an Abyssal house would be: hot and made out of stone, dirt, and bones. A few mantles and tapestries were hanging from the roof which depicts the common scenes in the Abyss which are volcanos, lava flow, rivers of blood, and so on. 

Ruby tried pushing herself up to get a better view of her environment only to have a stinging pain strike her whole body. She fell back on the bed, wincing due to the pain before placing her hand on her stomach.

"It would do you well, little lady, to not move your body since it is still healing. Your wounds are not deep but your flesh is thoroughly scorched by the fire salamander. It will leave nasty scars but what are warriors without a few remembrance of their victory." Ruby glared at the owner of the voice yet her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when her mind registered who is speaking to her.

"You fought well, girl. I am impressed that you are still alive." said an incredibly tall man with bright red hair like the magma of the Abyss while his skin glowed a bit of a green hugh. Everything about him is terrifying. His height, his face, his voice, his built, including his clothes or armor since he wore a metal tunic. But Ruby knew that he was the one that helped her and mended her wounds.

"Terizla... You are the blacksmith." Ruby was completely astounded to find the humongous red-haired blacksmith taking care of her.

"You've heard of me? I thought that the empire was covering up my whole existence."

"No, well yes but... I've known you when I was just a little girl. My grampa and grandma would go to your village to buy your weapons and have their scythe sharpened. That's where I met you." Ruby tried sitting up once again but the pain was excruciating. She was about to give up when Terizla held her back and gently helped her sit up straight.

"You were the kind man who gave me candies while I was running around your forge. And I would always be delighted to watch you shape those formless irons into fine weapons. The candies tasted terrible but the show was excellent." This elicited a chuckle from the gigantic male who grabbed a small bowl and poured some soup into it.

"I remember you. You were the nosy little girl who used to watch me forge and you also played with my daughter, Kali." Terizla handed her the bowl with a small melancholic smile.

"Oh, I remember her! She was the pretty red-haired lady I used to play with within the forest. Where is she?" Ruby noticed the sudden change of his expression to that of sadness which pulled at her heartstrings.

"Kali is... Dead. She was raped by Moniyan soldiers when they attacked our village to learn our secrets about forging. They devoured her and then killed her. I would never forgive those bastards for what they did to my little girl. I want them all dead." Ruby looked at the steaming soup in her hand and felt a heavy feeling inside her chest.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's not your fault. Let's forget about that since sad topics won't help in any way of your recovery. Tell me, girl. What were you doing in the Fangs? I heard that the Prince kicked you out."

"A Witch told me that a portal appeared in the Fangs so I went to check it out but so far I found nothing. There were only a few limited places I could go to since the other parts are too dangerous. Never would have guessed that a lizard monster would suddenly pop out from a place I considered safe. But I guess it was naive of me to think that there's even a small inch of a safe place in the Abyss. And now I'm bandaged up here like a mummy. Where is 'here' even, Terizla?"

"You are in my small clay hut. It is quite near to the castle but barely anyone who passes this place. That is precisely why Dyrroth won't be looking for you here. You are free to stay for as long as you need."

"Thank you very much. I don't know why you are doing this but thank you very much. I would have died if you didn't save me."

"It was nothing. Kali would have wanted me to save her nosy friend as well if she was alive. You should eat now, girl and rest. If you want to get out of here I suggest you gather all your energy, strength, and will. The Abyss will be attacking the Empire soon which might give you a chance to escape. The gates will be wide open. You can sneak as another member of the legion and live your life far from the Empire. The prince will soon forget about you. I hope."

"That is an excellent plan. When will this be happening?"

"In a few months, when Alice finally finish creating her new monsters. You should run far away from the Empire. Even to the Northern Vale, Oriental territory, Iga Village, or even Macdan, Chief Lapu-Lapu's place. Anywhere far from here and far from Dyrroth."

"That's the plan. That bastard is too overbearing and he's mean... And perverted." Ruby whispered the last part with a blush.

"You are quite the charmer. You managed to make the Prince of Abyss fall deeply in love with you. He made me build a coliseum for "your children". Your baby dragons that you shall hatch after marriage. Currently, the other artisans are still building it as of the moment. Even if he threw you out he has no real plan on letting you go, I presume."

"Tell me, girl. Has he ever forced you to do something you don't want? Has he... Raped you?" Ruby blushed and nearly spat out the soup.

"Well, we haven't had real sex before but he would constantly touch me in uncomfortable places. He... Forces his fingers inside me. He would usually be sweet and clingy but he has mood swings. Sometimes he would be violent. He won't hurt me... But he would be very forceful."

"I see... I will leave you to rest. I also need to get back to the Forge to avoid suspicion. Sleep for now. I left a pitcher of water, a cup, a few snacks, and a little book inside the chest beside your nightstand. You will also find your clothes and things there. As for your scythe..."

Ruby's expression turned downcast when she remembered what happened to her most precious belonging. The only memento of her grandparents and her home. In a way, her scythe is also her greatest symbol. It's a part of her identity and a piece of her soul. Losing it feels like something inside her shattered as well.

"It is thoroughly damaged. Shattered actually. It won't be of any use to you any time soon. Or ever." Terizla seemed to notice her despondent expression so he thought of something to cheer up the young girl.

"You won't be able to fight in your current condition so I will see what I can do to your scythe while you heal. They have many fine metals here in the Abyss plus I got some sky iron when I rescued you. You can rest assured that your weapon will be restored. Or improved even."

"Thank you. This means a lot to me." Ruby smiled making the gigantic man pat her head due to her cuteness.

Vavasor- a vassal (a person serving under a lord/king owning a large land and army) owing allegiance to a powerful lord and having other vassals under him/her; Sorca is Dyrroth's vavasor because she leads his elite demon soldiers which Alice had given him for his 18th birthday. Sorca also acts as his spy and assassin.