WARNING! The following content may contain spoilers from one of the chapters present in the story "Glory in War". To avoid even the smallest inconvenience, leave now and come back after you have finished reading (at least) up to Chapter 34 (Part 3).

144 YEARS AGO

23.10.1498

The City of Above

09:37

We are thrown into the distant past, long before the days of present are happening. At the moment, we are witnessing a woman in a room of one of the apartments present in the City of Above, staying on her chair and looking through a lot of books, alone, talking to herself about what she finds out. She seems so fascinated about the subjects of the books, even a bit too fascinated.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...Amazing! So General 4RTHUR did manage to inspire those soldiers even during such a drastic moment! But that still doesn't answer my question...

Then, she throws one of the books she had in her hands on the table in front of her, which makes us see what these books are about. Most of them are recordings of the war done by historians, or lesson books that are thought in the M schools at the history subject.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Okay, so he did know someone close to the God of War and managed to kill him, but nobody knows what exactly stopped him from killing that god. On the other hand, he managed to trick him into disappearing completely somehow and lead to the victory of today. But how did he manage to do that...? I don't remember the God of War being a fool and give up that easily...

Giving her words, she is a person interested in history, one that tries to find out the actual events behind the whole victory of the M soldiers and document it on her own. A historian, if you wish. She doesn't appear that young, but she acts pretty childish for sure.

But then, the door of the room which was closed now opens, with another woman appearing and looking at the historian, tired. The historian didn't notice the sound nor the woman, as she continued talking to herself. But the woman starts speaking after taking a huge breath.

[K1VA]-Alex... It's nine in the morning... Don't tell me you waste your sleep on work again...

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hm? Oh, K1VA! It's already early morning? Why are you awake? I thought you sleep until late 21 so that you are well rested before work!

[K1VA]-I was, but you are making... so many noises by throwing your books around... Shouldn't you rest as well? You will be tired at the waking hour again...

[AL3XANDRI4]-Sorry, sorry, hahah... I was just battling that subject I'm interested in again! I just can't find a proper answer to write down about what happened at the end of the war...

[K1VA]-Can't you do your research after you wake up? I know you wish to get some money from your discoveries, but it can wait... I told you already, I am fine with paying everything for the moment.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Bu-But it's not fair! You work hard being their soldier and bring so many savings in the house! I want to feel like I'm doing something for ourselves too! And I know that this discovery will be the most fascinating the M kind ever dreamt of! I just know it! Probably even General C4E5AR is wondering the same question as well! Just let me give it a try, please!

[K1VA]-*sigh* I do let you, but not at this hour. Just... please, take care of yourself first. Having white nights for so many days isn't good for you.

[AL3XANDRI4]-But I am taking care of myself! I was planning to go to sleep in a few minutes!

[K1VA]-...Were you?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Okay, I'm lying... But I would've gone to sleep at some point anyway!

[K1VA]-Just go to sleep, please...

The historian sure is joyful, but that joy disappears pretty quickly when she hears that the woman only cares more about her sleep schedule rather than her passion by whatever reason. So, she looks disappointed and sad, but not that obvious to not worry the woman.

[AL3XANDRI4]-*sigh* Okay... I will... go to sleep.

[K1VA]-Thank you.

She gets up from the chair and goes towards the door, stopping in front of the woman, giving her a kiss on the cheek and then leaving towards a different room to get her sleep, with the woman remaining to close the door behind.

24:19

Now the historian seems to be present in a different building, surrounded by other people in the same room, working at their own desks. She seems pretty bored about that fact, reading some documents that don't seem to be any near her interest at all. The documents themselves are recordings made by the military about the economy of the city, situation of the C borns and so on. Giving this information, she might be working on taking all those boring notes into a book to register them all as what the city has endured in the past, coming from those topics.

But then, she looks around the room to see if anybody is looking at her, and when nobody notices, she takes out a different book from her clothes to read. It's a book registered during the war, or not even a book. It is more like an old journal of a dead M soldier which talks about the events during that time. She flips the pages over and over again, trying to find an answer she is seeking towards a particular subject.

And that's what she does for a few minutes, until a colleague of hers comes towards her desk and begins to talk, taking her by surprise.

[GE0RG3]-AL3XANDRI4!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hm? O-Oh, Mr. GE0RG3! How are yo... What are you working on lately?

[GE0RG3]-What were you reading?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Oh, it's nothing, r-really! I was just documenting myself on the subject of how the economy of the city has risen after the year of 1453. Y-You know, what I was assigned to do!

[GE0RG3]-Right... Then did you manage to complete the book about this subject so we can give them to the editing team? You've been working on it for a while and we need to complete every person's job first before we send them over to the institutions that needed them. Schools already lack some of those important information about our society.

[AL3XANDRI4]-It will be done in a few hours, don't worry! I told you yesterday that I will finish it today!

[GE0RG3]-Okay then. I was just making sure you complete it so that I can speak to the others later.

The man then tries to leave, but the historian seems pretty upset about this whole work that she has to do. So, she begins to speak her heart out.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...GE0RG3, wait!

[GE0RG3]-What is it?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Look, I know those details are important for the children of the City of Perfection to know how we've came to be such a great city and all, but can't we teach them something else too? It will be kind of boring this subject to them anyway.

[GE0RG3]-Okay, then what's your suggestion? Schools have told us to give them those history records after all.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I know, I know! But why don't we try to teach them about the whole event that actually made us to be this way in the first place?

[GE0RG3]-You mean the Great War? Yeah, we teach them already. Most of the kids know to tell that we've won the war after the surrender of the C borns. What's so special about it?

[AL3XANDRI4]-I mean that nobody knows what truly happened that led to our victory! Like, what happened to the God of War? Can't we research on that topic more and teach everyone the whole story?

[GE0RG3]-Oh, so that's all about... *sigh* Look. I know you are passionate about the whole war, but that incident it is a waste of time. The God of War was our enemy. The end. The story isn't that important for our children to learn about how a murderer disappeared, it's enough for them to know that they don't need to fear him anymore.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I-I know, but-but--

[GE0RG3]- --It's okay if you like this subject, AL3XANDRI4. But do it outside your work. We won't waste resources only for your curiosity alone. I am sorry.

The historian seems pretty disappointed again, looking back into her book while the man notices her sorrow, feeling bad about her.

[GE0RG3]-...If you are interested, tomorrow during our free day, I can invite you with some of my other friends to take a free drink. You can come with K1VA too if you wish to stay with her. Around 28:00. Is it alright?

But the girl ignores him at first, reading further the book she brought with her, catching her attention some lines inside it. The line is told from the perspective of the soldier, which goes something like this: "I knew that day that something was off about the whole plan of the General, but I didn't have the heart to say it out loud. He announced us that he will take some of the soldiers with him to finish something that was undone. Most of us remained behind to fight against the C borns, while the most trusted soldiers went with him, somewhere at east or south. I don't even remember. But what I do know is that after they came back, a few more hours of fighting later, the C borns have surrendered and I finally had the time to rest."

After reading those lines, she seems to have gotten a different idea, looking back at the man and finally giving him an answer.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...No. I have different plans for tomorrow.

[GE0RG3]-Alright... Good luck with your work then. I will leave you in peace.

And so he does. The man leaves and the historian remains alone to watch him taking his path, annoyed. Then, she closes the book and goes back to her work, trying to finish her project before finally going home.

35:51

She seems to wander the streets of the City of Above at the moment, going to some shops and buying some things for her house. First are some clothes, then a few decorative and interesting items for the rooms, but then she decides to look around the sections of books. She buys more of those already recorded information taken by other historians about the war, but also an empty and small notebook which she looks at it as if she has a plan.

Then she goes towards the areas where the soldiers are supposed to work, looking for someone in particular that she knows she will find there. But even so, the soldiers stop her since she isn't allowed in those areas because she does not work for them.

[H3RM4N]-Hey, lady! You are not allowed in these parts at the moment!

[AL3XANDRI4]-I know! I'm just looking for someone that is suppose to be here!

[H3RM4N]-Can't you look for that "someone" later? We will allow the citizens here in a few hours!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Please, I'm just looking for--

Then she notices the person she was looking for behind the soldier, beginning to scream her name while the soldier tries to get rid of her.

[AL3XANDRI4]-K1VA? Hey, K1VA! K1VA, I'm here! K1VA!

[H3RM4N]-Please, lady! Leave this area right now! Don't disturb the soldiers, or else you will have problems with us all!

[AL3XANDRI4]-K1VA! K1VA!!

The person seems to have heard her name, so she begins to come her way and see what's happening while the soldier simply gets pissed off.

[H3RM4N]-This is my last warning! Leave now, or else--

[K1VA]-Hey, hey! It's okay, H3RM4N! She is here for me!

[AL3XANDRI4]-See? I truly was looking for someone!

The soldier seems mad, but the woman simply gives him a command...

[K1VA]-I will take care of this. You can go back to your work.

...and he finally goes back towards the building he was suppose to work around. The woman then looks back to the historian, greeting her with such happiness.

[K1VA]-Hey, Alex. Something the matter? My schedule will end in a few hours and we can talk about it in more details if it is important.

[AL3XANDRI4]-No, no! I was just coming to tell you something about tomorrow!

[K1VA]-Tell me something?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Yes! I was wondering if we can cancel our plans of going out in the free day! Is it okay?

The woman was confused and a bit concerned, but she respected her decision.

[K1VA]-...Y-Yes, of course. If that's what you want, we can try the next month. But can I ask why?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Well, let's just say that I came up with a new idea!

[K1VA]-And that consists in...?

[AL3XANDRI4]-I will tell you tomorrow morning! I promise! I don't want to spoil it for you now!

[K1VA]-Don't tell me you are going to do something stupid again...

[AL3XANDRI4]-Nope! You will see, I promise!

[K1VA]-Okay, but can't you at least give me a hint about what is it about? I don't know, like a riddle or someth--

But the historian doesn't pay attention anymore, as she notices some soldiers exiting a building with a C born kid.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Wait, hold your idea.

Then she leaves the woman behind, going towards the soldiers in a rush, more exactly to the kid itself and taking out an old notebook full of notes on it, beginning to question the kid out.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hi, little child of Hell! Can I ask you a few questions?

[S4NDR0]-Hey, get lost, lady!

[IG0R]-Who allowed you to come here!?

The soldiers seemed pretty surprised that a random woman came towards them, even a bit pissed, but the historian didn't seem to care.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I'm a historian who tries to record the events of the Great War! Can you tell me something about your "God of War" guy? Do you know what happened to him?

[S4NDR0]-Didn't you hear me!? I said get lost!

The soldiers were mad, the child almost ready to cry, but the other woman came to save the day, taking the historian by a hand and trying to get her out of trouble.

[K1VA]-Alex, you can't come here! We have to go!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Bu-But I was just asking a few question to the Hell child!

[K1VA]-Sorry for the disturbance, S4NDR0 and IG0R! She a friend of mine! ...Alex, please, let's go!

[AL3XANDRI4]-But wait! I have more questions to ask! K1VA! K1VA!

And so the woman dragged the historian out of the area, even if she was annoyed by this action. But what can she do? She isn't a part of the military, so she doesn't have access to any information about what's happening around it.

24.10.1498

21:42

But now we witness the other woman this time, as she wakes up in the "morning", for her at least, and doing her basic routine. While she does it though, she realises that the apartment is a bit too quiet, going towards the working room of the historian. But... she isn't there.

So, she begins to search around the house, looking for the historian, a bit worried. It takes her some good minutes actually, before she leaves the apartment in hope that she will find her in the city. Judging by her actions, maybe this isn't normal to happen, for the historian to disappear in the morning with no word given.

After some more minutes of looking around the area of their apartment, she finally finds the historian, leaving a bar from what it seems, doing pretty well and being pretty joyful as always. So, she rushes towards her to see what's happening.

[K1VA]-...Alex!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hm? Oh, morning, K1VA!

[K1VA]-Where have you been?? You usually tell me when you are going out! I thought something happened to you!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Oh, right... My bad, heheh! I just went out to grab a quick drink nearby and then take my leave after I announce you. But I sure didn't expect you to wake up earlier than I anticipated...

[K1VA]-Wait, what do you mean by "taking your leave"? Where are you leaving?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Well, remember that I wanted to cancel the plans for today? It's because I want to go somewhere else alone! I'm not sure exactly where though...

[K1VA]-But where are you going? I thought you wished to rest in your free days.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Yes, but I also want to focus more on my goal! That's why I am going outside the City of Perfection's walls to find what truly happened to the God of War!

But the woman gets rather shocked and sad about the words of the historian, even she being able to notice it. So her joyful expression gets rather confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...What? Why do you give me that face?

[K1VA]-You are not serious... right?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Yes, I am? I mean, if I want to achieve my goal, I have to search in every corner of the universe to find the answer!

[K1VA]-...But it's dangerous in the wilderness, Alex! You can't go there just to find out what happened to that bastard!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Yes, I can! I have a notebook with me to write everything I find, I have a plan of documenting the incident, I have a--

[K1VA]- --No, I mean that you can't go there because you might die!

[AL3XANDRI4]-Who says I'm going to die though? It's not like C borns are out there, hunting people like me!

[K1VA]-What about the demons themselves? You know they are a massive threat to us already!

[AL3XANDRI4]-And that's why I will bring a flashlight! Not to mention that I will come back before the night comes anyway! I'm going to be just fine, K1VA! Please, trust me!

The woman is hesitant at first though, looking at the joyful little face in front of her with such sorrow, being reminded that this is her dream after all. Then she finally gives her an answer.

[K1VA]-*sigh* Alright... But please, be careful!

[AL3XANDRI4]-I will, god dammit! I will see you late at night!

And then the historian waves at her, before finally leaving towards her unknown destination outside the Great Walls, with the woman simply watching her fading in the distance.

The Outside World

23:59

And it sure is a long road wherever she wishes to arrive, walking all alone into the deserted land that surrounds her, with her footsteps following her path. She seems to be writing in her small notebook in the meantime too, writing about herself and her goal, or just some notes she would wish to add in an actual book about what she wishes to discover. This is was she has written so far:

"YEAR 1498

DAY 24, MONTH 10

My name is AL3XANDRI4, I am a historian for about 37 years and I̶'m̶ t̶r̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ t̶o̶ f̶i̶n̶d̶ I am writing here to document about a small question I've been having for some good time now. What is the question, you might ask? It's a secret you need to find while you read my discovery!

The reason why I am trying to find this specific discovery is because nobody else dares to do it other than me. N̶o̶b̶o̶d̶y̶ b̶e̶l̶i̶e̶v̶e̶s̶ Everyone tells me that it is a waste of time trying to find the answer to this question, but I will tell them that they are wrong. I want to prove that. I want to show them a truth behind a mystery that nobody wished to reveal its roots.

I̶ l̶o̶v̶e̶d̶ h̶i̶s̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ I've been fascinated about history as a whole during school, but my passion towards it grew even more after I have learnt about the Great War between the M borns and the C borns from 90 years ago. I mean, who wouldn't be interested in a story about a literal god that gets what it deserves for killing so many of us? I can't be the only one, right?

Right now, I am trying to find a specific spot of land that I've discovered to be told about from an old journal of a former soldier. Who knows, maybe that spot will help me a lot with my answer too! But Hell, it sure is nothing around me. Just sand and rocks.

It's around 24:00 right now, I have the plan of wandering for a few hours before I go back home since the Great Storm will also come today at night. If I don't hurry up, I might as well just be buried under sand forever, with nobody finding out the truth behind my question! Not even me."

Given her notes so far, she sure has planned this whole thing for at least a day before actually deciding to take such a risky decision. She continues walking around and writing stuff in her notebooks, describing the environment around her.

"The outside is actually pretty calm, given how the rumours of bloodshed that are spreading around. Sure, it isn't the same living as in the city itself, but it isn't full of people doubting your words!"

She then looks around the views too, before writing something and crossing it.

"I̶ w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ e̶v̶e̶n̶ s̶a̶y̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶ b̶l̶u̶e̶ s̶k̶y̶ h̶e̶r̶e̶ i̶s̶ e̶v̶e̶n̶ m̶o̶r̶e̶ b̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶e̶r̶ t̶h̶a̶n̶ i̶n̶ t̶h̶e̶ c̶i̶t̶y̶."

"No, that doesn't work..."

She might be doubting what she needs to write down, given that she tries to think of a better idea.

"T̶h̶e̶ s̶a̶n̶d̶ g̶e̶t̶s̶ p̶r̶e̶t̶t̶y̶ a̶n̶n̶o̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶, a̶s̶ I̶ a̶m̶ g̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ m̶y̶ c̶l̶o̶t̶h̶e̶s̶ d̶i̶r̶t̶y̶."

"It's not better..."

Then she tries to give even a better idea, even though those seem fine too.

"Oh, I know!"

And when she finds it, she tries to write it down.

"I wonder why we fear such a land that was once a dream to explore it. Is it truly because of the creatures that wander around during the night? Or are we truly some simple cowards just because we fear the unkno--"

But she stops writing in the middle of the sentence, as she thinks she has heard something weird, beginning to look around. At first, she doesn't see anything, so she finishes writing what she had in mind to not lose the idea. But then she hears that strange sound again, making her to stop thinking about the notebook completely.

She puts it in her pocket and takes out a flashlight, as if her instincts say to search for something that would help her defend herself. Maybe out of fear, to be fair. She then tries to find the source of the sound, hearing it over and over again, but it only leads to a simple rock. Out of pure curiosity, she sits down next to it, touching the rock and trying to take it into her arms.

But when she tries to raise it, a tiny black and corrupted arm makes a small cut on her hand, making her drop the rock immediately and back down to stop the bleeding. It is no serious injury though, but it probably hurt a lot. When she is done with that, she looks back at the rock, then begins to raise it at 45° with the flashlight and being careful to not get injured again.

Yet by doing so, she notices what exactly was hiding under the rock. A tiny creature with black and corrupted skin, ears pointed towards the back out of aggressivity, with such glowing white eyes and having the body shape of a normal being. Almost, at least. It's a living demon, one of the creatures that everyone fears. But if they fear them so much, why does this demon actually seem so... scared? It growls only to try and defend itself, making the sound that the historian heard, and it tries to attack only to get rid of the unknown enemy. But it tries so hard to stay distant, as far away as possible with so little space it has under the rock to not touch the light of the suns.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...So you are the demons we fear? I thought you are way bigger, not gonna lie...

Yet the creature only tries to go even deeper into the darkness to avoid this huge being, growling to intimidate it but failing as even from its trying, it is obvious that the demon is scared. It looks so young though, the size of a three-year-old child. But even the historian then realises that she is facing now a newborn demon.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...Oh, wait, that's not your normal size, is it? But how come you are out here during the day? Isn't your kind scared of light?

Again, the demon doesn't respond and only tries to defend itself. Its breathing is chaotic though, so fast that it sure looks as it doesn't belong to a normal being. Whether it is because it is scared or because it's simply this way, who knows.

But the historian now sits down pretty calmly, given the fact that she has a literal demon in front of her. Maybe she doesn't fear it because she knows it is only child. Yet she begins to look around a small bag she had with her, taking out a weird bottle and putting some Histvorh into the cap with the similar size as the bottle.

After she does so, she gives it to the small demon who first made such a quick step back from her hand, but started analysing the cap with its sniffing only after the girl took her hand away from the rock. Then, it started drinking from it, so quickly and still looking at the girl to not make a wrong move. The historian only analyses the small creature, watching it drink so afraid, tilting her head to look better at its body, then taking her notes back and writing a few more lines describing the outside world.

But the demon finishes drinking not long after, finally going back to being defensive and being as far as it can from the girl, yet with the growling stopping seeing that the girl doesn't approach it. It doesn't take long before the historian notices it, so she takes a cap back, forcing another growl of defence, then simply staring at the uncomfortable creature which struggles to remain in the shadows.

[AL3XANDRI4]-So, what's your name, little guy? Mine is AL3XANDRI4! You know what names are, right?

But the creature doesn't respond, only staring deadly at the huge being that simply doesn't want to leave.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I will take that as a "no". Then at least you know mine!

Again, the creature stays silent.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...Or not. Actually, can you even understand what I am saying? I would be surprised if you do at this point.

Once again, no response. But she begins to make the first move, getting slowly closer to it and beginning to write something on the sand, facing the creature. She writes "AL3XANDRI4", her name. Then she points at herself, trying to teach the creature what she says.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Me. AL3XANDRI4. My name!

This time, the creature looks a bit out of curiosity at what she wrote, trying to sniff a bit the air, but not getting any closer.

[AL3XANDRI4]-That's my name! You understand?

The demon still doesn't respond, it only stares at the girl that talks nonsense for it.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Well, either way, you need a name! I don't know if your kind named you or not, but I will do it no matter! Let's see what fits you... Maybe Kevin?

The demon still doesn't say anything, but it continues to feel uncomfortable near the girl.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Okay, maybe not that one... Maybe... Mark?

Still remains silent.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Nah, it sounds stupid for a young demon like you... Hmm...

But as she thinks of a name, she looks at the uncomfortable creature, feeling pity for it and taking a hoodie she was wearing off, getting near the rock, forcing another growl, and putting it on the rock itself to make a bigger and better shadow in which the demon can stay. After she backs off, the creature first stares at her to not make another move, then analyses the area in which it is staying with some more sniffing, finally being able to stay pretty normal under the rock and watching the lady in front of it.

Then, she has another idea. A new name that she can give to the demon.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Ooh, I know!

She begins to write something on the sand again, facing the demon in order for it to read. Or at least that's her idea. and what she writes down is...

[AL3XANDRI4]-...Danny. You.

She points now at the creature, telling it that this is the name she gave it. The demon doesn't say anything as usual, but she sure has a lot of things she wants to discover about it.

35:05

She has stood a lot of hours with this creature, even forgetting at some point about her initial plan of the outside world. But even so, she got pretty interested in learning what those feared creatures act like. She has analysed every movement of it, writing it down on the notebook that was dedicated to her work at first. Then she tried to communicate more with the creature, showing it all kinds of objects and saying the words that represent them. At some point, the demon even got curious and wanted to see what the historian is doing, looking at her writing. And when she noticed it, she showed it everything, even told it her goal.

Just like a normal animal, a young demon will act defensive towards anything that it finds new and a potential threat when they are present in an unknown location to them, all alone. And especially young animals, they will be aggressive and afraid, making all kinds of sounds in order to scare the threat away or to attract its own species or family to help it out. But knowing this fact, it will also mean that the attachment towards an unknown being is possible to happen.

Though at first the demon was very aggressive towards her, staying so much time with the girl will begin to give up on the idea that its species will come to help it, growing a sense of depression for being alone in the first few hours. Because of that fact, the creature began to only hide in the shadows rather than attacking or growling any longer, only staring at the being just to make sure she doesn't kill it. But she didn't give up on her plan.

She offered it more Histvorh every hour passed so it doesn't feel any weaker, though she doesn't know for sure if those creatures even need it in the first place. She avoided eye contact with it the more she noticed that the demon isn't feeling comfortable, so she only continued her business with that notebook. Only after hours of those actions, the creature got bored and was curious about what the girl was doing, as mentioned before. This led later on the demon stopping from being so defensive as how it was at the beginning and started moving slowly closer to the girl and watched her do whatever she was doing, while she pretended as she didn't notice but also managed to show it what it wanted.

Her loud tune also lowered for the sake of the demon to feel better, talking quietly and slowly. She managed to keep her joy to herself, even though she was pretty excited about the idea of a living demon standing right next to her. You can say that she is a good observer on this creature's behaviour and managed to adapt to it pretty quickly. A reason why she started documenting the creature itself.

"To my surprise though, while exploring for my answer, I have found a young living demon hiding under some rocks. It was growling at me in order for me to understand that it wants me to leave, it even attacked me when I tried to raise the rock a bit! But did I give up? Hell no! Who would even dare to give up on a literal living creature of the outside!? These things have been a threat to us for centuries! And I will be the one to discover why that is!

Upon some observations, the creature itself appeared scared of me, even though it acted pretty aggressive. Maybe it found me a threat too, given that it seemed more to hide from me rather than attack me. To try and calm it down, I gave it some Histvorh to see how it would react. But it drank it in just a few seconds! They are so quick!

After that, I've tried to communicate with it and see if we can actually understand each other. That one failed so badly... But I think it can learn what the words we are saying truly mean. It's like learning Crevaarian for someone that doesn't know it! It shouldn't be that hard to teach it at least the basic words so that I can understand what it says.

I have tried to tell it my name by writing it down on sand, and it seems as the creature also got curious about my action, so it is progress! Then I tried giving it a name so that maybe it will find me friendly after such an action. I also wrote that on sand too. That's how the demon now is named "Danny".

After a few hours, Danny grew a bit sad, but I don't know why. Was it because I was present there? Or maybe it missed its home. To be honest now, it is a newborn demon from what it appears. Even a child of ours will be afraid in an unknown location with a stranger near it. Maybe it misses its family. But I simply don't know how to find what is it thinking.

Yet the more I stood with it, the more curious it grew. It started looking at what I was writing in my notebook! I knew that moment that we can be friends, but it will take some more time for sure. I showed it everything I have written, even managed to draw him on a previous page so that everyone can see how does a newborn demon look like. It's pretty small though, not like those adults creatures we fear and we think of being huge.

Somehow my drawing interested him the most though! I mean, I suck at doing sketches and I usually hire an architect to draw me what I need for my work, but in those times most of my needs are actual buildings which are explained in my writings, or just a few areas of the City of Perfection. But now the subject was about a demon, a creature that people don't know exactly what it looks like at all. I'm glad it liked it!

But to be honest, I am also curious how did it end up here in the wilderness alone. I believe that demons usually stay together in groups and only wander during the night. Sure, I never knew there are newborn demons, but I never thought they can actually get lost. Maybe it fell asleep under that rock and by the time it woke up, morning has come? Given that it can't move during the day because of the light, it might be a possibility, but I sure am curious what it was doing here with its family.

Speaking of family, how exactly do they come to life? Is there another machine like we have in our city? If so, how is it possible? Why is that machine creating demons and ours is creating M borns, R borns and even the C sinners? Maybe the Great War wasn't the only war that happened in these lands. Maybe there was another war that we don't know about, which led to these two machines being created. If so, are there some overpowered gods that have existed before us? And if yes, what was their purpose and why did they fight each other?

But going back to the demon until I find the answer to these questions, now that I think about it, why are we told that demons are aggressive? This one can be friendly if I manage to teach it that I am no threat. Is it only the adult demons? Maybe yes, actually. I mean, old books that talk about the findings of these lands say that the creatures act based on their instincts. Maybe young demons don't have those instincts awaken before a certain age, only being defensive towards new things. It would make sense, but I have to see an adult demon to prove that theory.

It's getting late though. Now it's around 35:00, and if I don't start going back home, the Great Storm will take me alive. I will probably have to leave the demon observation for later until the storm calms down."

And so she ends her notes there, with a lot of pages being already finished and closing the book to get ready to leave.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Okay, buddy! Time for me to leave! You can wait for your family here that will take you home! In a few hours, it will be dark enough for you and your kind to wander freely!

She did not look at the demon before however, because now when watching it for a final glance, the demon seems scared, and it's not because of her anymore. It moves chaotically, growling as if it is in agony which only makes the girl confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...What? What is it?

But the demon doesn't respond. It only continues to move chaotically, even when the historian sits down next to it, very close. It isn't defence anymore, it is just fear.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Your family... won't come?

It doesn't respond. But the girl made an idea in her mind about what's happening, taking the hoodie from the rock and managing to place it somehow on the moving creature, covering its whole body and putting the hood on its head, before taking it in her arms, even struggling from the movement it does.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hey, hey, hey! Calm down! You are coming with me! If you move any longer, I might drop you and reveal your skin to the light!

The creature continues to move though for some more minutes while the girl only walks towards her home with the help of the footsteps left by her. But after some more chaotic moments, the creature finally calms down, exhausted, looking through the small holes between the hoodie and the body of the girl, noticing that it is now moving, then trying to see the face of the girl above.

"...But if I left it there, I guess it was like leaving it to die alone. I didn't know that demons have fears too though, but now it seems as they do. It began to move so randomly without me noticing, making such sounds as if it wanted to cry. Then I thought... do these creatures feel when the wind comes? 'Cause if they do, it seems that if I didn't leave in that moment, we both could've been under sand already. Maybe their instincts are more advanced than we thought. Maybe they can feel natural events that come before they actually do so. And maybe... just maybe... it can also feel what normal beings feel and what are their intentions. 'Cause if not, I can't explain why it would trust me so easily in just a few hours."

The City of Above

37:48

The girl managed to get in time inside the walls before night fell completely, ready to bring her new discovery home while the storm will begin to go wild outside the walls themselves in a short period of time. It appears that the City of Above has a defensive mechanism against it, which makes sense to exist because the storm is coming every year. During the witnessing of her actions, the whole city was undergoing a few changes of protecting the buildings from sand by covering them with a special "blanket". The whole city is actually in this state to avoid the mess led after the storm, planned a month earlier before it comes. But in the present days, for an easier solution, the City of Above has now a complete new half sphere wall that is transparent and can be activated very quickly with just a few buttons pressed. The evolution of their technology, in short.

But night falls completely by the time she goes towards her home on the empty streets of the city that is now staying inside the buildings to not get into the storm, hurrying to get to the door, open it after struggling for a few minutes, then closing it, barricading it, and going towards her apartment. She gets inside pretty easily now, locking the door and going towards her working room. Or at least that's what she wanted, as the other woman has made her appearance the moment she heard the door, stopping her and looking at her in relief.

[K1VA]-...Oh, thank heavens, you are alright... I thought you ran into trouble out there, what took you so long??

[AL3XANDRI4]-Oh, hi, K1VA!

[K1VA]-That's all you say? Hi? Alex, you could've gotten stuck in the storm and die!

[AL3XANDRI4]-And you see me dead? Cool! Look, I'm a living souuul! Boooooo!

[K1VA]-I'm serious, Alex! I've been worried!

But the woman then notices something strange that the historian is carrying in her arms. She stares for a few seconds, noticing it moving, then dares to ask.

[K1VA]-...What do you have there?

[AL3XANDRI4]-H-Hm? Nothing, nothing, hehe! It's just some books that I bought on my way home!

[K1VA]-But the shops are closed for hours now.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Y-Yeah, strange, isn't it? Now, if you excuse me, I will be working on a new project!

[K1VA]-Alex, tell me the truth! What is happening??

But the historian seems rather embarrassed about this subject. She knows that this woman will fear a living demon in the house, but what can she do?

[AL3XANDRI4]-Mmmokaay... But promise you won't get mad!

[K1VA]-What do you mean?

She then tries to reveal what she is hiding without dropping it, taking parts of the hoodie off and finally revealing a head of a dark creature that pops out and begins to look around, curious. The woman then gets shocked, takes a few steps back and remains silent, as if her mind screams for help but her body remains paralysed.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Look, I got a new friend! His name is Danny! Isn't he cuuute?

[K1VA]-A-A-Alex, t-that's a-a--

[AL3XANDRI4]- --A demon? Yes, he is. But look how adorable it iiiis! Aww, I could've kept it forever if it wasn't so feared by our people!!

The demon then notices the other woman too, most of his body still covered with the hoodie and remaining unable to leave the arms of the girl. It gets rather defensive again since it doesn't know this new girl, but it isn't as aggressive as it was before.

[K1VA]-...W-Where did you find it??

[AL3XANDRI4]-Oh, I found it outside the walls! It was stuck under a rock to protect himself from the light and my curiosity couldn't die that easily!

[K1VA]-B-But why did you take it with you??

[AL3XANDRI4]-What was I suppose to do?? I couldn't just leave it there to die because of the storm! I juuust took it home for the night until the storm calms down and I will take it back to its house tomorrow after!

[K1VA]-H-He's gonna kill us, Alex!

[AL3XANDRI4]-No, he's not! He is a gentle guy! If you are so afraid of him, then I can sleep with him in my room! And you will see, he is no danger! I will prove it to you!

And then she simply goes inside her room, shutting the door so that the demon won't get out while the woman remains confused and afraid outside. Even so, the historian finally put the demon down to explore the area and took a seat herself to observe it.

The demon at first was hesitant to move around since it was a whole new environment, but slowly it took courage and made such tiny steps, sniffing around and walking on its four limbs so softly to see every little detail. The historian in the meantime takes her small notebook and records its movements, trying to understand what it feels and why it chooses to make such actions. But then, after the demon is done wandering, it slowly goes towards the girl in such position that looks like a predator watching its pray, but with its intentions being rather because it is scared and untrustful of the woman entirely yet, still remaining prepared in case of any attack.

The historian then slowly takes some more Histvorh for it to drink, keeping the cap in her hand this time to not make a mess around the room. The creature backed off at first quickly, but then it slowly came back, staying in two limbs this time and looking at what the woman has in her hand, beginning to drink not long after. While it does so, the historian tries to put her hand on the head of the demon, so slowly so it won't notice, and she does succeed. But the result isn't something she expected at all, that being the creature actually liking her hand moving on its head, finally closing its eyes while drinking as if it feels protected.

40:11

"I managed in the end to bring Danny with me inside the city. The person I am living with wasn't so happy about that idea though, and I understand why since our people fear these creatures so much. But I kept the creature inside my room the whole night, unable to leave and disturb her. While Danny stood with me, I managed to take a lot of notes on what his movements represent, and it sure is different than the movements of a normal being.

Even so, I managed to also build trust between each other, showing him all kinds of things from my room. Sure, it was scared at first of everything, but the more he stood with me, the more he understood to not fear the environment he doesn't recognise. He feared big white papers, he feared tools I was using for the books I was writing for work, but it was funny.

Until the storm was still making its way towards us, we've stood to have fun. Once he let me finally touch him, I started taking its limbs and do a small game with them by clapping around. He sure didn't understand that one though... Then I tried playing a game that kids love. I was running around the room trying to catch him, while he was running away from me. I don't know if he understood that this is game or not, but he still did it. And it was hilarious how it was jumping around my stuff, looking back at me struggling to catch him with those cute and tiny glowing eyes! But we sure did a mess...

Then I began to try and communicate with him again, this time trying in signs. It was still no hope in the fact that he couldn't understand what I was saying but I managed to have fun for sure."

The girl and the little demon stay on bed, as the historian tries to show it movements with her hands while talking and the creature looking with its tilted head at her, confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I aaam speaaking! Caaan youu speaaak?

Doesn't seem as her attempts have any result though, no matter what gestures or how slowly she speaks to the demon to understand what she is saying.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hmm... Oh, I have a better idea!

She then raises both of her hands in the air, looking at the demon as if she wanted it to do the same. It doesn't, only remaining confused. So, the girl then takes both of its limbs and puts them to stay as hers, in the air, while the demon simply doesn't know what's happening.

[AL3XANDRI4]-This is called "imitating"! Can you do the same to what I'm saying?

The creature still seems perplexed, staring at the girl in that position not knowing what to do. Then, the girl takes it by surprise and puts her hands at its armpits, beginning to tickle it. The demon didn't know this action before though, but it sure caught it off guard and began to give such weird noises, screaming as it was laughing.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Caaan youuu speaaak?

The girl continued tickling it and repeating the same question, hoping for the creature to start talking. But instead of doing that, it simply laughs without being able to stop, before the girl lets it in peace after a few seconds. Even so, it continues laughing on the bed they were sitting, laying down with its eyes closed while the girl was simply amusing herself out of this.

But to her surprise, when the demon calmed down, it raised back its limbs in the air, staring at the girl and waiting for her to do something. Almost as if it was trying to tell her something.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Ooh, you like it?

So, she began to tickle it more and more, before she got exhausted and felt like doing a pause from it, with the demon continuing giving such weird noises of a laugh. She got up from the bed and made her way towards her notebook to write more while the creature was trying to calm down again.

When it managed to do so, it looked at the historian while still laying on the bed, tilting its head and getting curious about what she is doing. But when trying to get up itself, its ear moved towards a window of the room that was covered for the storm, before it too started staring at the window. The girl noticed it and looked confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-What is it, buddy? What bothers you?

But the creature still doesn't respond. Instead, it gets scared, taking a few steps away from the window and beginning to find a place for shelter. A blanker in this case, where it goes under it and covers itself up, looking terrified at the window. The girl still didn't understand. She didn't hear anything coming from the window and the storm didn't start yet. But not too many minutes after, noises begin to come from the outside, announcing the start of the storm.

"After a few more observations though, it appears that the demon has a better hearing than most of the normal beings. It was aware that the storm was coming, but it began feeling scared only a few minutes before it actually came towards the city. I couldn't hear a thing from what he heard and I was so confused about why would he choose to hide now, but it made sense minutes later. It's just amazing what these demons are capable of and we weren't even aware about it!

It makes you think though... If even they are afraid of something, then what makes them any different than us? Sure, they have weird instincts that tell them to kill us when they get to a certain age probably, but if those young ones appear to be able to learn things from us, would it be possible for a person to teach a demon to be normal? Maybe if they do not stay with their kind for too long, their instincts don't work anymore when they age!

But even if I would want to test that, I would feel guilty about the fact that I took a scared creature like this in my house and separated it from its family. Like... wouldn't you feel uncomfortable in an area you don't recognise? I know Danny wishes to see his people, I feel it! So I'm waiting for the storm to end and for me to take it back where I found him."

Past midnight though, she decides in the end to go to sleep after hours of only working around what she had left, moving the scared demon that was already resting on a corner of the bed, far away from her so she won't bother it, while still making sure it is covered by the blanket as its shield. She then takes a different blanket for herself and lays down, finally closing her eyes and falling asleep.

But minutes after that, the demon begins to move its limbs chaotically, as if it is still scared of this natural phenomenon, waking up all of a sudden with its floppy ears and looking at the covered window. It gives such a sad corrupted moan, looking at the blanket that covers it and sniffing it around just for a small period of time and seeming more upset by each second. As if it misses a smell close to it.

Then it starts moving around after leaving its blanket, moving in darkness like it can see perfectly fine. It explores a bit more, sniffing some random items that it touches and putting them above its body, getting disappointed on the results. But then it gets back on the bed, looking at the historian that was sleeping, sniffing her and disliking the smell, but still deciding to try something only it knows.

It gets closer to her, getting under her blanket and trying to go under her body too, putting its head between the body of the girl and the bed and moving straight ahead. Or at least trying to, as it doesn't manage to get under the girl. It tries this for a few minutes, until even the historian wakes up confused, sleepy and looking at the creature that was doing such a weird action out of nowhere.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...What is it, Danny...? Are you *yawn*... trying to find something...?

The moment the creature hears her voice, it gets out of the blanket with its head towards the face of the girl, beginning to do weird noises as if it tries to tell her something. She doesn't understand though, but the demon begins to act weird, moving around and continuing to do the same noises.

Then the demon takes her by her right hand, before going under it and doing the noises while looking at the girl. She thinks of something possible that it might want, and as sleepy as she is, she just wants to get it done fast. So, she moves its body to stay on her right side, putting the left hand on the demon while covering it with the blanket and falling asleep again.

It doesn't seem to be entirely what the creature wanted though, but it stops its noises while looking at the girl that was sleeping, then trying to put its head under her body again as much as it can and finally beginning to sleep for a bit.

"...Oh, and I made a new discovery! Demons like tickling!"

01.01.1499

25:02

The next day, the historian wakes up with the demon's head right underneath her body. It sure shocks her for a bit that scene, waking her up completely and beginning to think that she might have killed the creature by suffocation. She moves her body away from the demon, but it only results in more confusion, as the creature, even sleeping, tries to go back into that dark place where it was, something similar to an instinct.

Then she gets up from the bed to see the demon's reaction, only waking it up when its body senses no being next to it. It looks sleepy and confused at the woman, yawning and showing such glowing teeth hidden from the outside.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Morning, Danny! Oh, wait... Does your kind usually wake up during the day or you sleep until night falls? 'Cause you seem more exhausted than before!

The demon doesn't understand, only continuing to lay down under the blanket and staring at the stranger confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-I will take that as an answer too! Don't worry, buddy! Today you will go back to your family! We just need to wait until the storm calms down and when night comes! I promise you!

Still no response. But she leaves the creature alone, getting out of the room to let it sleep, shutting the door and going to take some more Histvorh for it to drink. While so, the other woman comes out of a different room after she has heard the noises and greeted her.

[K1VA]-Good day, Alex.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Oh, morning, K1VA! See? I'm alive! Danny didn't hurt me!

[K1VA]-Yeah, I see... But, Alex, I still don't believe the idea of a living demon to be around us being a good one. Please understand. I don't want to break your dreams or anything, you know that. But it is still a wild creature that can kill us.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Why do you worry so much, K1VA? He is not gonna live with us for the rest of our lives! It was just for a night! I told you, I'm going to take him back to his home today!

[K1VA]-Yes, but it could've gone so badly for you this night! What if it was actually going to kill you?

[AL3XANDRI4]-He didn't! Now stop worrying about that! When night comes, I will go and get rid of him as you wish!

[K1VA]-Night? Don't you have work to do for tomorrow during this storm?

[AL3XANDRI4]-So whaaat? I can do it tomorrow too! I don't need to work every minute for my job!

[K1VA]-Alex...

[AL3XANDRI4]-Now, if you excuse meee, I have some Histvorh to take for Danny so that he can gain some energy for the day! I will be careful with him, I promise! But you have to stop telling me what to do!

And so, she leaves towards her initial destination, while the woman stands and looks at her.

[K1VA]-...Why do I feel that you've started caring more about your discoveries than your own safety, Alex?

Still, minutes later, the historian comes back in her room, going towards the sleepy demon and giving it some Histvorh in front of it, waking it up again and watching it drink.

[AL3XANDRI4]-You like it, don't you? It helps you somehow!

The demon doesn't say anything, but the woman only continues staring and talking.

[AL3XANDRI4]-...They don't believe in you, Danny, but I do. I know there is something about you that we don't know. And I want to find that something. Can you tell me, please?

Still no response, but the woman begins to pat it on its head, gently, and wishing to find more about this small creature that stands in front of her.

The Outside World

37:19

"YEAR 1499

DAY 1, MONTH 1

After the storm ended, I managed to get out of the Great Walls while putting Danny in a backpack so that it has its own dark little space during the day. But while I was leaving, I sure got annoyed by the sand that got into the city. It is a mess those first days of the new years and the citizens try to clean it for almost a month even! It sure didn't help that I was getting from a sand city to a sand land either. And it sure didn't help the fact that my footsteps were now gone since the storm made sure to not leave a trace. Not only that, but I do bet that some rocks I saw yesterday on my way in the wilderness either disappeared or got under the sand itself!

Even so, I got in time as the suns were setting in the sky, being my plan from the beginning. I had in mind to let Danny during the night so that he can wander back home on his own, so I had to get a bit earlier before the night began in order to avoid any kind of danger towards me. He was pretty friendly in the morning though, as if he already got used to my presence. But I don't understand why would a demon feel attached to something it hunts when it becomes an adult. Maybe he met some other people like me before?

No matter, we've finally arrived far away from the city, where I intended to leave him. What I have left now is to wait until the night comes and then I will say goodbye to him. Until then, I am writing here."

And sure she does. The historian sits down with the backpack next to her, writing everything she thinks of and looking at the suns setting for the night to begin. Then she takes a pause, taking the backpack closer to her and opening it to see the small demon inside, which looks at her the moment it sees her face. She made sure to not let any light travel inside though.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Hey, Danny! Are you comfortable in there?

The demon doesn't respond though, only looks at her confused.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Don't worry! In just a few minutes, you will be free to go back to your family!

Still, it doesn't say anything. But the historian then puts her hand inside the backpack next to it, leaving the demon sniffing it and even licking it for a bit.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Can you speak, Danny?

Then when it hears the sentence, the demon stops doing any action, looks at her in joy and raises a bit its limbs, only for the woman to start tickling it for a few second. She sure has fun playing with this creature, and it doesn't look like it doesn't like her company either, giving such weird noises as if it laughs again.

It's like a normal child, wanting to have fun and spread joy with others. Sure, it is a different species than her, but the historian doesn't seem as she minds that at all. While others will fear even a newborn demon like this one, which are defenceless and afraid, she took it home like it was an abandoned pet and showed it love. As if she fears nothing. Not even a threat to her own kind.

But minutes later, night finally falls upon the lands, reminding her what she came for and taking the demon out like a child, putting it down and watching it leave her. Yet it doesn't leave, it only looks confused around itself and then at the historian, with the glowing eyes becoming a source of light for her.

[AL3XANDRI4]-You are free to go now, Danny! Go back to your family!

It looks confused at her again, tilting its head and trying to understand what the woman is saying.

[AL3XANDRI4]-Shooo, shooo, go to your home! Shooo!

Still nothing. So, she tries to scare it off with her hands but fails, as she makes it think that they are playing a game again. It begins to stands on its four limbs, looking at her and moving around her or even in circles.

[AL3XANDRI4]-No, I'm not playing! Go home! Go!!

It continues though, annoying her that she can't communicate with the demon. She sits down, staring at the playful creature and puts her hand on her head, wondering how to make it understand what she says. Then she takes her notebook again, beginning to write a few more things while the demon calms down from its joy.

"I've encountered a problem. When it was time for me to leave him, he began to not miss home anymore and I don't know what to do to make it understand that he needs to go back where he came from. I am happy that he trusts me, believe me. But I don't know how to find his home, nor I can actually keep him with me forever. He just thinks that I'm playing with him again!"

The demon then notices that she doesn't "play" anymore and gets closer to see what she's doing, only for it to stop out of nowhere before it could get next to her. Its ears point the direction behind it, only for it to look back towards that noise we cannot hear, nor she can either. Then, its ears get rather down, as if it is a feeling of fear, but not for itself anymore.

It begins to stare back at the woman who was minding her own business, doing such noises while coming closer to her quickly to attract her attention and moving around. She was rather confused when she noticed it.

[AL3XANDRI4]-What? What is it, Danny?

It still continues doing those noises though, as if it screams a message to her. But she only watches it, before getting a small idea and writing something again.

"He began now to act weirdly. I think he tries to tell me something that I don't quite understand, but I have an idea. I think his family is coming! Maybe he is saying goodbye to me! By the looks of it, he seems rather excited that he will be reunited with his kind! But I sure wish I could've had more to discover about him and his people.

It should be my time to leave now. My mission of reuniting him with his kind was a success. Who knows? Maybe one day I will have another chance to meet hi--"

But in a blink of an eye, the little creature's warning becomes reality, watching her taking her last breaths in front of its very own eyes. And the final sentence of her not even being finished in the notebook.

An adult demon came her way without her even noticing, cutting off her head completely from her body by only using its limbs, remaining everything from her to fall lifeless on the sand. It was a wild creature, not like the one she has met yesterday. It acted based only on its instincts. Besides this one, there were even more of those beings, coming towards their way and starting feasting on the corpse, while only one remains to look at the little demon that was looking depressed and shocked.

That other demon which remained seems a smaller size than the others, with some being similar to it too. It feels like it acts based on its mind as well, since it ignores the corpse completely and starts sniffing the demon child, licking it on the head after. As if it is the demon's mother, which has come with the pack to finds its baby and bring it back home, being led by its scent in the wilderness.

But the little demon didn't care, as it rushed towards the other adults that were eating the historian's guts, doing such painful noises, even growling at them all, yet with no response. The taller ones are lifeless, have no emotions towards what they witness at all, so they only ignore the tiny creature. The smaller adults only give a look towards it confused, then continue to mind their own business. It's not like they will listen to a child, right?

Then it tries to drag them away from the corpse by biting them by a limb and moving behind while pulling them. It fails. The taller demons don't give damn. But when it tries to do the same at the smaller breed, one of them becomes aggressive for a second towards the child, growling angry for the small creature to understand that it needs to leave them in peace. It gets scared by the adult demon as a consequence and makes a few steps back.

But then its mother takes it in its mouth, similar to how animals carry their kids. The tiny creature moves chaotically though, making even more noises and speaking to its mother, while the mother doesn't really seem to care about what its kid says and begins to move towards their home slowly, to wait for the pack to end their meal and then fade into the horizon.

Even so, the next night, the tiny demon came back to the scene of the crime, led by the scent of a corpse nearby. It stared at the bones that remained from the body, then at the head that had its eyes wide open. It got closer to the head and started moving it with its own head too, watching the lifeless eyes that couldn't look at it anymore.

It stood down for a few minutes, just watching the dead girl for a moment while the sky full of stars were watching them. Then, it noticed her bloody notebook, which made it get up and look at it for a second too. It didn't know what exactly it meant to her though, but it was probably the only thing it could take with its own limbs, moving it around. When it stopped playing with it, it took it in its mouth and went back towards the head. But instead of simply watching it this time, it began to do something in the sand with its fingers like knives. When it was done, it left towards its home, leaving a name written on the ground: "Danny".

Yet that is not the end of this demon's story at all. Being a child, it has a whole life ahead of it. The way it chose to spend its time though it to visit the place where the historian died. Every night, it comes back and sits down, then goes back to hide in the darkness. Every day, it stays in a cave nearby, whether it is to stay alone or with its kind. It doesn't really matter to the demon. It has done it for such a long time already.

It was a surprise for it to smell that scent of a weird being to it again though. After such a long time, that scent came back on a different form, as a stranger has fallen into its cave by accident. And it remained curious as ever, even remembering everything that has happened throughout its life. Yet it stood so long, even alone, in a cave near her end place, with no given reason why. Maybe it misses her, even if it can't communicate. Maybe it waits for another being to meet it like she did...

"...Or maybe it waits for her to come back again, the friend it made from a different kind."