Dyrroth stood alone on top of a tall white tower overlooking the vast expanse of the Moniyan Empire. The merry people of this blasted land go about with their pathetic lives under his feet completely oblivious of the fact that the harbinger of their death gazes down on them. He sneered at their existence and curse their mediocre lives that serve no purpose whatsoever. He doesn't get why Ruby would send her heart out for these people.

There's nothing impressive or amazing about them. They are all mundane, selfish, ephemeral, weak, and fickle creatures with pointless existence like pigs who only want to satiate their earthly desires. They are easy to bend to once offered with grand prizes even betraying their own kind to the Abyss just for money, gold, and gems.  So why does she insist on protecting them and fighting for their safety? Why is she so willing to lay down her one precious life for the good of the many useless ones? It is a mystery if Ruby is really of the same species as these people or if she's really a goddess underneath, but Dyrroth didn't dwell on the matter longer before moving on to the next tower and jumping from roof to roof.

Moving freely in the daylight is very difficult since his eyes that are more accustomed to the dim illumination of the Abyss couldn't keep up with ease to the brightness of the outside world. It's going to be taxing and very exhausting but he's doing all of this to find Ruby. And there is no sacrifice too big for love.

Ah fuck. Why has he become like this? How did he end up thinking so cheesy, so pathetic? It makes him vomit at himself for letting him think of such putrid thoughts. He is surely going to punish that girl hard for trapping him in this powerful enchantment with no way of escape.

Dyrroth is currently shrouded in the appearance of a typical human with commonplace features like brown hair and crimson eyes to hide his original features since he'll stand out if he doesn't put on a disguise. He also wore a burgundy hood and a tunic underneath to add more normality yet a little more anonymity to his persona.

It has been two weeks since Sorca announced Ruby's sudden disappearance. For two weeks, hundreds of hellhounds and demon spies were looking all over the Abyss and the empire just for her yet not even a wit of her existence briefly appeared anywhere in the known world. Only footprints of her existence were seen in the Fangs and Sorca had searched every marked spot on her map but still found nothing about the girl's current whereabouts regardless if she swept the land for the nth time already. The spies also reported nothing about his maiden but there are multiple women who bore the same features and characteristics as her so it was more difficult to look for her here. This information infuriated the prince so he took it upon himself to do the job on his own no matter how dangerous and tedious it is since he is entering the enemy's territory.

So far he found nothing. He had followed multiple women wearing red cloaks and having blonde hair but none of them is Ruby. His patience is wearing thinner and thinner and it is taking everything in his power not to release his anger out on everything that moves in this blasted place if they don't show up his Ruby this instant.

He calmed his heart and reprimanded himself to endure it a bit longer. He landed on the roof of a glass-domed edifice. He paused there to briefly rest but he noticed a familiar person gliding along the wind using cables to propel herself in the air and knew that his cover might be blown because it was one of those Lightborn bastards. Dyrroth cursed under his breath as he noticed the woman eye his direction suspiciously before striking a cable to the building he's at. He quickly moved with lightning speed before jumping off the roof to land on a balcony which seems more empty and lifeless than the others just in time to escape the sight of the flying woman.

He entered the glass door and carefully closed it behind him. Luckily, the place he had chosen is empty and it seems that it has been for quite a while so he doesn't need to worry about someone coming in to throw him out. He walked around the room to inspect a few things to pass the time while he recuperates his energy. Jumping from building to building under the blazing sun is extremely exhausting and draining.

The room was dark and ominously quiet making him more tense and alert. Opening a light isn't an option since it might reveal his existence and it is also unnecessary since he can see perfectly well in the darkness. As he walked deeper inside the small apartment, a rising feeling in his chest won't calm down. There's nothing particularly noteworthy about the room. It is common and simplistic. The decoration is unremarkable and the furniture is bland but there's something about here that feels... Comfortable?

He paused. Something in this room feels extremely odd... yet surprisingly familiar.

"This scent... It smells like... Ruby." He mumbled before opening a door and stepping into the foreign space. The scent of the maiden intensified from here making his heart beat harder.

Has he found her? Is she really here? It couldn't be someone else, only his Ruby smells like this. Only she smells this wonderful and attractive.

Dyrroth found a neat bedroom but with no Ruby in it. He wasn't even disappointed at this point already. He searched the whole space up and down and found nothing until he stumbled upon a small portrait with the image of his beloved there. He carefully lifted the picture frame and caressed the glass where Ruby's serene face smiles back at him.

That beautiful emerald-colored eye is something that draws him in even if it's just an image. The thin smile on her lips indicates that the picture was suddenly taken giving her no time to prepare her appearance since her hair is quite messy while her clothes are a bit wrinkled and ruffled in some places but those did little to decrease her adorableness.

Dyrroth let himself collapse on the soft red mattress of her bed while he kept his eyes glues to her image. Her bed smells strongly of her essence making him relax comfortably.

"I miss you already. I wish I wasn't such a dick and pushed you away merely because I was upset. Now I might lose you. You're trying to escape from me and it makes me... Feel upset, angry, sad, and kind of lonely." He whispered to the portrait with melancholy.

"Your spot is getting colder and colder every day that I wake up and you're not there. What makes you so special anyway? You're just a human girl. Surely if I take another human girl I can replace you and your place will no longer be cold because someone new will fill it."

"Will I forget you if I do that?" an unfamiliar voice pierced the air which interrupted his thoughts.

"Come on, Odette the new boutique is about to open. I want to grab the latest style they have." yelled a feminine voice which instantly captured his attention. Dyrroth looked outside of Ruby's window and saw many women gathered around one location. They seem to be flocking around a clothing store and Dyrroth noticed a few of them have similar features as Ruby so he didn't pass this chance to investigate if she was among these women.

Dyrroth went back to her balcony and carefully closed it behind him before jumping down the concrete ground. No one seems to notice him nor do they care so he made his way to the 'boutique' and analyzed each and every face there is.

There were about 50 or so of them so it was quite hard to distinguish if Ruby was among them but so far he found nothing. He sighed with disappointment. He is extremely exhausted. The prolonged hours of exposure to the scoring sun is making his mind swirl and the constant strenuous movements are finally taking a toll on his body. Although his stamina is incredible and his determination is unparalleled, there is only so much his physical vessel could do without nourishment and respite.

He decided to take a seat on a nearby bench while watching the women interact. He observed them a little more and analyzed their individual traits.

The women had diverse features that are vibrant and beautiful under the light of the sun. Their hair comes in different colors and styles that all seem perfect and well taken care of, their eyes look like shinning gemstones, and their faces are gentle, pleasant, and pretty. To sum it all... They are all beautiful and even he, the prince of Abyss, acknowledges that fact. They are very beautiful and by the looks of it, they are also well versed in combat given by the weapons strapped to their belts or backs.

They are all beautiful and strong like Ruby. Or she is just like them, strong and pretty. If she is just like them, then there's nothing special about her. She is not exceptional or grand so why did he love her if she's so common? A prince like him should only settle for the rarest and most precious things in this world, not those that are common possessions of other men. He starts to wonder if he's really in love with her in the first place or was he being led on by his whim all this time.

Did he really ever love Ruby?

His heart tightened with an unfathomable sadness at the sudden revelation. He thought that he must be the richest man in the world to have someone as precious as Ruby. A girl unique in all the world with her hair of gold, eyes of emeralds, and skin as perfect as ivory.

At first, he was so drawn to her because he thought that she was so rare. He had never seen anyone as vibrant as her, as lively as her, as talented as her yet being here... He sees no difference between Ruby and the other girls. Her golden hair like the sunshine is ubiquitous, her verdant eyes that look like emeralds are typical, and her petite yet curvaceous body seemed unimpressive as he gazed at the vivacious figures of these empire wrenches.

In this garden, she is merely a common rose like a thousand others. She is nothing special or valuable since roses can be easily replaced by something that looks identical and you wouldn't notice the difference. Ruby is another common rose that blooms and will soon wither.

Dyrroth stood from his seat with a heavy heart and began making his way back to a secluded location to recall to the Abyss. He is dejected and tired after realizing that his most precious possession is just like any other object that a million other men possess.

He owned a gem much like a thousand others. That doesn't make him that impressive of a prince, does it? 

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"Your wounds are healing exceptionally well. Maybe because you are a fighter with exceptional Lifesteal or because you are the harbinger of wolf, Fenrir, that you receive additional healing properties." Terizla commented as he removed the bandages wrapped around the maiden's torso.

"It's surprising how he hasn't visited my dreams recently. Usually, he would be most annoying when I am this vulnerable. How's my scythe coming along, Uncle Terry?"

"Don't call me that ridiculous nickname." Terizla warned tightening the fresh bandages hard around her waist making the girl wince.

"Ouch! Right sorry, sorry. So how are you doing with my crescent baby?"

"I have to modify the original design of your scythe. First, it does not provide balance. Gravity pulls harder on the blade and which could cause you to move uncontrollably in a singular direction which will unable you to respond quickly if you need to divert to another direction. Second, the materials of it are too heavy. It can harm the user more than the target. The weapon you usually use is very flawed but since you are well-versed in the use of it, it seems that you are exceptional at this art. I might even dub you as a genius."

"Oh, thanks. I was never called a genius before so I guess it's quite touching to be called one by someone as knowledgeable as you." Ruby smiled gratefully to the blacksmith who, after such a long time of not experiencing this sort of gentleness, was speechless as he fixed his gaze on her small back.

"Right. Uhhm. Swords are made to kill and repel while your scythe is used to defend, attack, and taunt. There are only a few people who can master the scythe and fewer are those who can survive battles with it. But there is a reason why the great Lava Lord, Thamuz chose this as his primary weapon. Using such a complex weapon shows his greatness. Additionally, the scythe had always been attributed as the weapon of the Grim Reaper, but originally it is a farming tool used to reap the harvest making it a weapon of two extremes. Life and Death. And the person who controls life and death is a god. I think that's his primary philosophy for it."

"Oh, that is a very interesting point of view. I've never really thought of it like that before. What about the material you are using? Sky iron you called it. How do you shape a metal that fell from the sky?"

"It is a long and tedious process but if I succeed perhaps it will be my most excellent work. The true manifestation of my soul. Shaping adamantine star iron is quite difficult requiring the excellence of a god. I'm not particularly Hephaestus but I'll do my best. This particular batch is really unique. The ore is red so your blade might appear crimson. Will that be okay?"

"Are you kidding me, Uncle Terry? That's awesome! A crimson scythe is way cooler than common silver." Ruby exclaimed as her eyes sparkled with joy.

"What did I say about the Uncle Terry thing?" the towering man reminded flicking her forehead.

"This should do it. Just don't be too ecstatic or your stitches might reopen." Terizla advised before patting her back.

"Thanks, Terizla."

Ruby stood from the high pallet bed before lowering her shirt to go back to the kitchen where her pot boiled with a delicious smelling soup. Since he is still partially human and quite high ranking among the Abyssal residents, Terizla sometimes goes out to collect vegetables and collect human-domesticated animals for his meals. Today, Ruby insisted on cooking as a way of saying thank you for saving her and taking care of her. She started helping around the house to keep it tidy once she was finally able to move around freely without assistance.

"By the way, how's Dyrroth's progress in finding me? Still blank? I made sure to put them in a whirlwind with the map that I left." she asked as Terizla poured a cup of tea for himself.

"No luck. Dyrroth recently sent spies to the empire just to track you there and hundreds of hounds in the Fangs led by Sorca and her squad. He's still out for your blood. Your virginity blood that is."

"What? That can't be right. Last time I heard he's been fucking whores left and right. Basically, banging anything with a vagina and a pair of dope tits." Ruby spat with disapproval while she stirred the soup and roll her eyes at the notion.

"Are you... Jealous?" Terizla mused earning a sour look from the maiden.

"What!? No, definitely not. How can you assume so wrong, Uncle Terry? Maybe I should be the one bandaging your head. Did you hit yourself with your own hammer in the brain that's why you're thinking that way? Because that's caah-raaaay-zzzz talk."

"Now you're just in denial. I remember when I was still courting Nadia, Kali's mother, she was so in denial like you that a handsome fellow like me likes her. Then I took her on a date in the woods and then that's when the miracle happened. I would have had more sons and daughters to continue the smithing business but she passed away. Now think about what Dyrroth will do once he gets his hands on you? He's a horny bastard but he's been abstaining, Ruby. Which means that when he gets the chance, he'll definitely make love to you nonstop and make more babies with you than all the swords I could forge in a year. And that's a lot."

"Can we not talk about babies? And speaking of which I think I'm getting infertile I haven't been having my period for months now since I got in the Abyss. I think my eggs died due to frustration and despondency."

"No, I've seen this before. Your body is just under stress therefore it is not the perfect time to carry a child that's why your womb is withholding the eggs from being released. You'll start menstruating once your body acknowledges that it's safe to make babies. Dyrroth's babies." teased the gigantic man.

"Stop it! That's so weird! He's a demon and he's mean and brutal. He won't be a good father to our children." Ruby yelled but paused once she realized the mistake she had made. Terizla smirked at her.

"So it 'our children' now, huh?"

"Uncle Terry!"

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Dyrroth walked languidly around the Abyss as depression obviously show itself on his usually proud countenance. A prince shouldn't show that he is sad. Being sad means that you are weak. In the Abyss, being sad means that you lost. So a prince cannot be sad because his heart is not fickle. He is not weak and fragile to be upset because of something trivial.

Dyrroth paused on top of a cliff where Ruby would usually sit over the edge to watch the lava flow and think things through. He made his way to the edge and sat himself there to consider what he recently learned.

He began reminiscing every memorable moment he spent with Ruby and how it made him feel these odd feelings inside his chest. Was it really love or was it just lust? The difference between the two is so thin it's almost the same. Is Ruby simply an object in his possession or was she ever more to him than just a pet? And why did he think that he loves her when he is a creature of darkness incapable of feeling such an unnecessary emotion?

"Prince Dyrroth." called a familiar feminine voice. The said demon turned his gaze to the person who had addressed him and saw Lunox and Selena approaching him.

"Oh, it's just the two of you. What do you need? And make it quick I don't have time to deal with you two." he responded with nonchalance.

"Why do you look sad there? Is there any way we can help?" offered Lunox.

"He's probably missing the human girl. She's precious to him after all." Dyrroth's ears rang because of Selena's words. Ruby is not precious to him. She is common after all, there's nothing special about her.

"She is not precious. Ruby is replaceable. I went to the empire and saw many other girls who look exactly like her and some were even more beautiful. Excellence in combat is also not uncommon among women these days. Her body is also not as luscious as the voluptuous women of the Abyss. In short, Ruby is a common rose. Now leave me alone. I need to think." the couple shared an odd look before taking a seat beside the prince.

"Prince, I doubt that even if you find the most perfect woman in all the universe who is unique among all the beings that exist you will still yearn for Ruby. You will compare her to the most perfect being and you will either say that she is lovelier or less beautiful than Ruby you know why?"

"What's your point? I told you to scram didn't I?" Dyrroth replied with clear disinterest.

"Regardless of how many other identical or better-looking roses you find in the whole garden of the universe, Ruby will still stand out the most because she is your rose and that makes all the difference." Selena explained capturing the prince's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"Ruby is unique in all the universe because of the efforts you've poured into her. I remember the time when you would cut off portions of your meal just so that she would not starve during the first weeks of her stay. I remember your scheduled visits to her cell when she was still imprisoned and how you'd be lighter, having something to look forward to."

"Hells, did I really seem that desperate?" muttered the prince who began listening to their words.

"Short answer: yes. So, are there any other women whom you've caressed as tenderly as you did with her?"

"Nope, Ruby's skin was the smoothest I've ever touched."

"Are there any other women whom you've kissed as passionately as you have with Ruby?"

"Nada. Ruby's lips are the softest once I've felt."

"Are there any other women who made you feel even a wit of what she made you feel like?" Lunox questioned making him think thoroughly.

"There is... none." Dyrroth answered absent-mindedly as he took in their words.

"She is special because she is yours. She is yours because she has tamed you and you have tamed her. Now, for someone else, she might be a common rose but for you, she is the most precious rose in the whole universe. It is the time you've spent with her that makes her so special. Like how Selena is unique for me because she's the one I took the time to fall in love with." Lunox explained with a faint blush as she took the elf's hand who winked at her.

"Ruby is precious because she is mine..." Dyrroth uttered in contemplation.

"And you will keep loving her no matter how many times her thorns make you bleed, no matter if she will someday wither. That's how you know that your love is true and unparalleled."

"She's unique in all the universe because she is the one I chose to love."

A feeling of lightness broke through the thick blanket of darkness coating his heart to allow a profound joy to pour into his bloodstream due to the information recently enlightened to him. A smile made its way to his face as he bit his lip to prevent the tear that threatened to fall from his eyes.

He needs to find her. He needs to find his most precious rose. The most precious treasure that made him the richest man to ever exist because she is unique in all the universe.

Dyrroth stood up from his seat with a newfound determination.

"Thank you, lesbians. You were actually useful for once. I'm gonna find that girl and once I do I'll tell her that I love her and I'm never letting her go." Dyrroth rushed back to his throne room to once again converse with Sorca and their spies. He won't stop until he found her now that he finally realized how important she really is for him. 

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"I found you."

Dyrroth had a wide evil smirk on his lips as the dots finally connected.

"Pardon, your majesty?" Sorca asked putting down the map that Ruby drew which she was inspecting.

"See here, all these five destinations are safe, right?" Dyrroth asked demonstrating the map in his hold.

"Yes, I believe they are."

"There are caves and minor monsters that she can easily handle that's why she marked them but she never intended to go to any of them if not for a brief pause. This place which Terizla frequently visits to look for star iron, the Scourge, has been cleared of major monsters, right?"

"Yes, I remember it." Sorca replied unsure of what the prince is getting at.

"It is near the places Ruby encircled yet it is not marked in her map. This couldn't be a mistake. Ruby is a huntress and a good navigator, she may not be the best artist but this penis-shaped landmark is a part of the map and a potential place that she couldn't miss which means that she's been leading us on a wild goose chase. She didn't mark it because it's the place where she will be staying and she doesn't want us to know it. This map was designed to confuse us."

"What?!" Sorca exclaimed incredulous of the information.

"After losing her stuff on her first cave she went hunting on the other side of the Scourge but a lava salamander appeared and hurt her according to your report. We should have found a body or anything because it is obvious that she retained serious injuries after that encounter but we didn't, which means that someone carried her someplace else." Dyrroth concluded with a wide proud grin.

"Someone has abducted her? Who could it be?" Sorca questioned finally catching up to the information the prince is presenting.

"Someone from the palace was also missing at the time Ruby probably got to the Scourge. And there's only one bastard who goes there."

"Terizla." Sorca uttered in realization

"Now I know who has her." A dark foreboding chuckle escaped from the prince's lips which reverberated to the dark stone walls.

"I'm coming Ruby and I will get you by hook or by crook."