Marcus, the father, bestowed upon the child the name Lucifer, a moniker resonating with the Latin meaning "Light-Bringer." Paradoxically, the infant destined to be the harbinger of light lived in perpetual darkness, his sight veiled by the absence of light.
"Honey, look at his eyes; they are golden. I''m sure he will be a wielder of magic," Judith exclaimed with tears welling in her eyes.
"You are right, wife. Whose son do you think he is? So what if we are poor? In this kingdom, magic is the greatest power. Nobody will look down upon him once he starts seeing and sensing mana. Hahaha, my pride, my son..." Marcus declared with a proud smile.
Despite their humble circumstances, Judith and Marcus swelled with pride for their son. Disregarding their poverty, they extended invitations to all villagers for a celebratory dinner, eager to share their joy, oblivious to the future shadows that loomed ahead.
Nestled within the expansive Asina Empire, the Mantric Kingdom stood out as a beacon of magical prowess. Renowned for producing exceptional magicians throughout its history, this realm held a special place for those possessing golden eyes, recognized as magic wielders, or Mantrics. The golden-eyed individuals were believed to harness a unique power enabling them to perceive golden particles in the air ¨C Mana, small packets of energy that could be absorbed and stored within their bodies. The ability to see and sense these particles, coupled with the skill to absorb and store them in a core, distinguished the magical hierarchy.
Formation of the core near the abdomen was a relatively straightforward process for magicians, requiring focus on the absorbed Mana particles. However, the true measure of a magician''s prowess lay in strengthening their core, a task that determined their classification. Lower-class mages, denoted by Red, Orange, and Yellow cores, belonged to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes, respectively. Middle-class mages, characterized by Green and Blue cores, comprised the 4th and 5th classes. The elite High-class mages boasted Indigo and Violet cores in the 6th and 7th classes, while the pinnacle of magical achievement rested with the 8th class ¨C the Great Mage, recognized by a pristine white core.
Attaining the esteemed status of a Great Mage was a rare feat, with only a select few achieving this level in the past thousand years. Among them stood Jacob Noctifer, a revered 70-year-old figure who held the title of the sole Great Mage in the vast Asina Empire. His wisdom and magical prowess made him the embodiment of all magicians, serving as the lord of the esteemed ''Magic Tower,'' a tower-like structure where magicians resided, governed by set laws.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
7 years later.
A village of humans resided in the heart of a forest known as ¡®The Forest of small.¡¯ A forest where basically ¡®the small people¡¯ called ¡®Kobolds¡¯ were the original inhabitants. These mythical creatures were said to have existed long before humans came to rule the world. They were craven reptilian humanoids worshipping dragons as demigods. People believed these creatures were just myths as no one ever saw them and they only existed in stories.
In the village, where the lively sounds of children''s laughter intertwined with women sharing tales of their neighbours'' escapades and boasting about their children''s accomplishments at the town academy, a sombre note pierced through the joyous atmosphere.
Amidst the animated conversations, a soft groan echoed, drawing attention to a little boy with a pale white face, golden eyes, and red hair, nestled in his mother''s arms. This little boy was Lucifer. Fearing another onslaught of his father''s anger, he clung tightly to his mother, holding back hot tears that threatened to spill. At the tender age of seven, Lucifer exhibited a maturity beyond his years, well aware of the reasons behind the ridicule he faced, the disdain in people''s gazes, and the mixed emotions of sympathy and contempt that surrounded him.
Judith held her son close, providing a shield against the potential wrath of her husband. Marcus, slightly sobering from his intoxicated state, gritted his teeth. Despite the love he held for his wife and child, the revelation of Lucifer''s blindness shattered the dreams and pride he had envisioned for his son. Golden-eyed but unable to perceive mana, Lucifer faced rejection from academies, laughter from neighbours, and the unyielding reality of a condition no one could cure.
The acceptance of their new reality, the resignation to lead a normal life, was abruptly disrupted on Lucifer''s seventh birthday. His hair, once brown, transformed into a despised shade of red ¨C a colour that is forbidden in the empire.
Marcus, grappling with his insecurities, succumbed to the numbing embrace of alcohol, losing control and subjecting his innocent son to a torrent of physical abuse. Despite the haze of alcohol-induced rage, Marcus couldn''t escape the harsh truth. Consumed by self-loathing, he stumbled out of the house, slamming the door shut behind him. Unseen were the tears streaming down his face, the fresh wounds etched on his back, and the humble bun wrapped in paper in his pocket ¨C a simple, desperate token of love for his son, lost in the depths of his despair.
In their small cottage, where the roof threatened to crumble at any moment, Judith clung desperately to Lucifer, her tears a silent lament for a life her son could never have. The dim light revealed the anguish etched on her face as she embraced him, the weight of his struggles bearing down on her maternal shoulders.
Lucifer, though blind, sensed the depth of his mother''s sorrow. He could feel her trembling and hear the soft sobs that wracked her body. As hot tears soaked through her worn dress, she tightened her grip on her son, as if shielding him from the world''s cruelty.
Her heart ached as she gazed upon Lucifer, her innocent child trapped in a world that showed him no mercy. The realization struck her like a dagger to the heart: even if he could see, his golden eyes and red hair marked him as an outcast. A wave of regret washed over her, drowning her in the bitter sorrow of unfulfilled dreams.
"Only if your hair remained brown as it was and you didn¡¯t¡¡" Judith''s voice trailed off into a mournful whisper, her words a pained admission of the cruel hand fate had dealt them.
"Hmm?" Lucifer, curious and sensitive to his mother''s emotions, heard her mumbling to herself. Confused, he pondered on the mention of brown hair, a hue that seemed so distant from the reality of his existence. The unspoken grief in his mother''s voice hinted at a past that now seemed lost, leaving behind only the echoes of what might have been.
Lucifer''s heart swelled with a myriad of unspoken questions, each one a shard of curiosity cutting through the fabric of his being. Yet, in the suffocating atmosphere of their fragile cottage, he decided to bury those inquiries, a heavy silence hanging between the unspoken words. With a nod, he acknowledged the need to let the unspoken truths linger in the shadows. As he reached out to perceive the world through his mother''s tear-streaked eyes, Lucifer gently wiped away the traces of her silent suffering. Summoning a fragile smile, he attempted to project a facade of strength, assuring her that everything was fine, that he was fine.
However, the frailty in Lucifer''s smile, like a crack in a delicate facade, intensified the chill in the air. Rather than providing comfort, it seemed to magnify the harsh reality they faced. Her shivers reverberated through Lucifer, the rapid cadence of her heartbeat echoing the silent symphony of her distress. Before he could fathom the source of her anxiety, she pulled him close, cradling him against her bosom with a tenderness that bespoke a mother''s undying love.
Her touch, though gentle, carried the weight of unspoken sorrows and shattered dreams. At that moment, Lucifer felt the warmth of her maternal affection enveloping him, a bittersweet refuge in the storm of their harsh reality. He tightened his small arms around her, not just in a comforting hug, but as a feeble attempt to shield her from the cruelties life had imposed upon them.
A soft smile graced Lucifer''s face, a delicate expression that belied the turbulence within. It was a smile etched with the innocence of a child who yearned to believe that love could conquer all, even the darkest shadows that loomed over their lives. Yet, beneath that facade, lay the unspoken acknowledgement that their journey was destined to be one filled with heartache and silent tears.
2. Etched in heart
Lucifer''s eyes slowly opened, devoid of the usual excitement that accompanied his morning wake-up. With a lazy yawn, he sat upright, a departure from his prior restlessness. Just a month ago, his situation would have been vastly different. Restricted within the confines of his home, forbidden to meet friends, study, or play, he found an odd solace in the absence of taunts, rejection, and the disapproving whispers that shadowed him beyond the threshold.
A low chuckle escaped him, an unintended response to the peculiar train of thoughts that occupied his mind. Quickly stifling the laugh, he sheepishly scratched his head as he rose from his bed. Retrieving his white cane ( A cane used by blind people to scan their surroundings or orientation marks) from the bedside, Lucifer navigated his way through the room, stumbling occasionally. Standing before the window, he drew back the curtains, squinting against the sunlight that, though inconsequential to his sightless eyes, still posed a challenge.
As warmth enveloped his face, the dawn chorus of birdsong reached his ears, the scent of wet earth after rain filled his nostrils, and the taste of his mother''s freshly baked bun lingered on his palate. Despite these sensory encounters, Lucifer couldn''t escape the feeling of being a worthless canopy, unable to appreciate the beauty around him.
Lost in contemplation, he pondered the hypotheticals: Could he see mana if he had his vision? Would his parents be happier? Would he? A solitary teardrop traced his cheek, hastily wiped away. Deep in his thoughts, a knock on the door disrupted the solitude of Lucifer''s brooding.
Knock! Knock!
¡°Judith! Are you at home? I¡¯m Carol. Hey! Open the door.¡±
Knock! Knock!
¡°Judith? Hello?¡± exclaimed Carol a fat lady, well known as ¡®The snoopy lady¡¯ of the village. She had a bulky body without a neck and was quite small in stature. She wore a faded pink woollen dress complimenting her pale white skin and an apron on top of it with stains of chocolate. She also had a basket on her left hand which was full of cookies and was covered by a thin cloth. Speaking about her personality, she was a person who loved to meddle and gossip as if it was her only objective ever since her birth.
¡®Oh no! Mom said she would arrive in an hour, but she is not back yet. What do I do? She strictly told me not to meet any of our villagers or anybody else. Moreover, it''s aunt Carol, mom told me to be extra wary of her¡¯. Lucifer thought to himself. After pondering for a while, he decided just to stay quiet until his mother returned.
¡°There is no lock outside the door. Lucifer are you at home? Why aren¡¯t you playing with your friends since last month? Are you sick? Hey! Lucifer?¡± yelled Carol while practically pounding on the door.
"kyaaaaaa" screamed Carol her wits out. Judith appeared out of nowhere behind her back, which took her by surprise.
¡° Huff! Oh my! Miss Carol, Huff! are you trying to destroy my door by striking it so hard?¡± Judith asked her while panting.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
¡°Oh, dear lord! You surprised me Judith and no! I am just knocking on the door!¡± Carol stomped with her foot as if she did nothing wrong.
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure you are. By the way, what brings you here Carol? You never once visited our home¡what reason brought you here?¡± asked Judith with a suspicious look.
¡°My my Judith! aren¡¯t you being rude? I brought cookies which I made myself! Are we just going to talk outside? Lets¡¯ sit and talk¡± Carol ignored Judith and reached for the doorknob.
¡°Wait! N-no you can¡¯t! I mean my house is a little messy so maybe next time? ¡°Judith rambled while pushing Carol aside.
¡°No, it¡¯s oka-¡°
¡°Yes, yes I just remembered I forgot to switch off my stove! Sorry Carol, Bye!¡± Judith cut her off and hastily opened the door and slammed it on her face.
¡®Look at this! There is something fishy. I am sure she is trying to hide something; they have been acting strange since last month. What are you hiding Judith? What caused you to panic? I will certainly find out¡.Kekekeke¡¯ Carol thought to herself while laughing like a maniac with a creepy wicked smile plastered on her face.
************
¡°Haaa¡¡±
¡®Another minute and our whole house would have been in wrecks¡¯ Lucifer sighed heavily as he thought to himself.
Click! Shut!
The door opened and slammed shut as he heard his mom muttering to herself.
¡°Phew, I arrived just in time or else she could have seen Lucifer.¡±
Every so often Lucifer thought to himself what would have happened if aunt Carol or someone else had seen him? Why does he have to live in hiding? Why couldn¡¯t he go outside? Meet his friends, teachers and everyone else? Why he couldn¡¯t even meet anyone at home? What¡¯s wrong? what changed? Why him? Why?
But every time he questioned; he was met with silence. They never answered and he stopped questioning.
Lucifer¡¯s life was not always like this. Yes, it was indeed tough, tough because he had no sight but he was happy, they were happy. He still remembered those memories when his mom used to teach him letters and read him a lot of books on magic, his father used to carry him on his shoulders every day after work. Marcus used to buy him sweet buns and feed him with his own hands. But now¡he didn¡¯t even recall when his father last caressed him with his hands. It looked like he hated him now, why? What had he done wrong?
He had two great friends with whom he used to play. They chatted together, studied together even sometimes ate and slept together they used to have a lot of fun. Without them, he couldn¡¯t even imagine a single day. Leo and Canary, the only ones who never belittled him, cared for him and loved him¡..or so he thought.
¡®Don¡¯t they miss me? They never once came to visit me or did they forget about me?¡¯
¡°Is this because I¡¯m blind? Why can¡¯t I see? why?¡± Lucifer screamed while sobbing with tear-soaked eyes.
Lucifer startled. Someone was patting his head.
Pat, Pat.
Lucifer''s unfocused gaze wandered, lost in a world beyond his sight. A warm hand gently rested on his head, patting him in a soothing rhythm. Judith, with a tenderness only a mother could possess, wiped away his tears with her thumb. Cupping his face with both hands, she pressed a kiss to his forehead, inhaling deeply before beginning to speak.
"Luc, my child, listen carefully to what I am going to say. Engrave my words in your heart and never forget¡ª"
Her words, a profound solace in the silent storm of his thoughts, carried a weight beyond their utterance. "Don¡¯t make your lack of sight be your weakness; make it your strength. After every storm, the sun will shine again because it can¡¯t rain forever. Stand sturdy in the face of hardship; happiness will find its way. Be strong and never give up."
As the words resonated in the air, they transcended mere counsel, becoming an indelible mantra etched deep within Lucifer''s heart. These four lines, spoken in a moment of profound connection, would accompany him through the twists and turns of his journey, a guiding light in the darkness he faced. Until death, those four lines would continue to echo, a timeless refrain in the symphony of his life.
3. The Nightmare
High up somewhere in the mountains in a rock-strewn-cavern, a scrawny creature laid curled up in the corner. This four-legged, winged creature had red reptilian scales, a long tail and two horns protruding out of its forehead. The creature resembled a scaly lizard or a crocodile with a long neck except for the fact that it had a humongous body as big as a 10 storied building.
¡®Dragon.¡¯
That was what this supposed-to-be-extinct creature was known as. These prideful creatures were supposed to be the protector of humanity-The messengers of God. Dragons were born magicians with an already formed core and 5
th level of magic while the adult dragons had more than average level of intelligence and with infinite mana close to the 10
th level of magic. But this red dragon had a very small, next to an insignificant amount of mana swirling around itself. It appeared more than a thousand years old, its scales were worn out and cracked. It was breathing feebly and seemed to be in its slumber.
Crack! crack!
A cracking sound could be heard apart from the monotonous dripping sound of water from the cave roof. Two small paws cracked open the eggshell and crawled their way out. The cute little reptile as small as a newborn human child had no horns, nonetheless it closely resembled the thousand-year-old dragon. It wide opened its round beady golden eyes with a vertical slit in each. Its eyes darted back and forth vigilant of its surroundings. When its blurred vision returned to normal it saw the thousand-year-old dragon weakly breathing by its side and it uttered its first word-Daddy?
_________________________
Lucifer¡¯s P.O.V
The excruciating pain made me clutch my chest. I dare not open my eyes, the pressure or aura I was feeling was making it even hard to breathe. I could feel a tremendous force swallowing my body as a whole. As the pressure subsided, I gasped for breath. After hardly catching my breath what I saw ahead was nothing but darkness.
It''s dark here.
Terror filled my insides as my body felt lighter with each passing second. This obscurity feels different, no! rather creepy from what I¡¯m used to in my everyday life. The farther I look, the further I see. However, it¡¯s only darkness; as if I am trapped inside an endless abyss.
In the far distance, a speck of light was visible.
Maybe if I walked a little, I could get there? I tried to walk, but my body wouldn¡¯t budge.
Maybe if I shout, someone will hear me and save me? I tried to shout but my voice wouldn¡¯t come out.
The realisation hit me hard when I discovered that I didn''t have a body to begin with, and rather a wandering soul.
The next moment, memories came crashing down on me like a downpour of torrential rain. Crying, I called out to my only family; my Mom and Dad.
Mom Dad where are you? Where am I? Save me please. Please, someone? Anyone?
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours but no one answered.
It¡¯s cold it¡¯s lonely.
Pain, sorrow, grief, helplessness filled my mind as a thought crossed.
What if I''m lost forever in this endless darkness? I¡¯m scared, afraid that I will be trapped here for eternity; I want to get out of here, this endless void, it¡¯s stuffy please let me out! Please!
Crackle! Crackle!
As if my desperate pleadings reached the heavens, the next moment I knew the darkness faded away, to be replaced by brightness.
A flash of luminescent heat greeted my eyes. I felt that familiar force sucking me up again. The suction in it wrenched my wretched heart. I fell on my knees, screaming with terror and pain. Now I could feel the warmth, the brightness.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Ah! It¡¯s warm and bright.
This is what I was searching for. However, my happiness couldn¡¯t last long.
Ahhh! It¡¯s hot! ahhh help! Help me!
Crimson Red-hot flames roared around me with crackling and sizzling sounds as if trying to engulf me whole. Even before I could take the surroundings in my view the scorching heat made me beg for mercy.
The heat reached my skin, my flesh, my bones, as a putrid smell tickled my nostrils. The feeling of being burnt alive was petrifying, I could feel my skin melt, eyes burn, an immeasurable pain which no one deserves to experience. I wanted to lose my consciousness in hopes the pain will lessen a bit but it seemed like with each passing second, I could feel each sensation ten folds more.
Cries like howling pierced my ears, and I spared a glance at my surroundings. Terror coursed through my veins as I beheld the sight beyond. Apart from me, hundreds, no thousands of people were burning. The flames as if berserk reached high up to the skies to swallow everything in its way.
Amidst the flames, I could see a man, a lonesome figure who stood out the most. The man had two horns poking out of his head and large wings protruding from his back. He looked like a demon, who descended from Hell to Earth. The most astonishing part was that the red-haired man remained unharmed in those roaring flames, it seemed as if the root cause of the flames, was none other than him. The red-haired man facing me with his back moved a little and slowly turned around.
Getting a closer look at him I realised he had golden eyes and bright red hair just like me. The man looked miserable with a severed arm, a tattered white robe, bruises all over his face, and blood trickling down his mouth. He rather looked like a pathetic demon to me. However, looking at myself I couldn¡¯t pity him more.
But then our eyes met.
In an instant, all of my pain and the burning sensation subsided as if everything had been a lie. The crimson red-hot flames roared around me but to my surprise instead of getting burnt, the flames coaxed my whole body with warmth, which was rather cosy. I spun around to look if it happened to others as well but regrettably it was just me. Why me?
I turned to look at the man but was startled in disbelief. The man was turning into dust starting from his feet. He had a soft smile on his face as though he predicted this would happen.
A single tear rolled down his cheek, and at the same time, everything seemed to have stopped.
In that spur of a moment, a weird sensation an unfamiliar longing bloomed inside my heart. Affection, sympathy, along with anger and happiness all kinds of feelings crashed inside me all at once.
My eyes blurred, my head dizzy and my heart throbbed as I heard a voice before my consciousness drifted away.
¡° Seems like you have awakened. Use this power to protect yourself, unlike me never¡ ¡°
***************************
Huff! Huff!
¡°Marcus look at Luc, he is not waking up, what do we do?¡± Judith cried out with a panting Lucifer in her arms.
¡°He is sweating too much and just silently weeping¡.maybe he is having a nightmare?¡± Marcus replied worriedly.
¡°What can a child who doesn¡¯t even know how he looks like, dream about?¡± Judith barked out with teary eyes.
¡°Y-you are right but¡.Lucifer!¡± Marcus called out in surprise.
Lucifer snapped open his eyes, and hurriedly bolted upon his bed. He was covered in cold sweat, his whole-body shivering.
Huff! Huff!
¡°Wh-where am I?¡± asked Lucifer as he gasped for breath.
Paranoid of his surroundings he frantically moved his hands on the bed to confirm where he was. Judith got hold of his hands and squeezed them hard. She asked worriedly ¡° Luc¡are you alright?¡±
With a horrified expression still visible on his face, he inquired with his trembling voice ¡°M-mom?... wh-where am I?¡± as if everything felt unreal.
¡°Luc, you are at ho¡. wait! are you crying?¡± Judith asked with wide-open eyes.
Drip. Drip.
¡°Huh? W-why am I crying?¡±
Lucifer asked as tears streamed down his face. He felt his throat dry from all the weeping. He placed his hand on his chest, it was beating ever so quickly. The face of ''TheMan'' was still vivid in his eyes and so were the emotions. Whenever he thought about ''That Man'' his chest hurt a wave of emotions filled his heart, an unknown longing.
"That man...who was he?" he mumbled.
"Who? Which man, Luc?" asked Judith worriedly.
Lucifer shook his head biting his lips. He didn''t want to make his parents worry by telling them about a dream he had for the first time. And more so a dream felt so real like he was the one experiencing. The grief, helplessness he felt in the abyss, the scorching heat melting his skin all were still vivid in his mind.
"Luc, I will sleep with you today, we won''t talk about it if you are uncomfortable. But feel free to share your burden, you are just seven, we are always there for you" She gently said as she kissed his forehead.
Marcus placed his hands on his head.
"Good night," He said as he gently ruffled his hair and went out of the room.
Lucifer closed his eyes on the bed with his mother by his side. But he kept thinking about the weird dream and the mysterious man.
''Why did he make such an expression? What did he mean by awakened? and what was he going to say before his voice drifted away?'' He had no answers to his questions. After pondering for a while, a sudden thought crossed his mind which gave him the chills. Lucifer''s face crumpled to a frown.
''How did I know, what flames looked like? How did I know, what does a person look like? How did I know, the mysterious man had red hair or golden eyes when I have never known what these so-called colours appeared to be? I have been blind since birth, so how?''
It was as if, these were just the forgotten memories he was relieving. The more he thought about it the more his head ached, like it was going to rip off.
That night was the longest night of his life because he couldn''t sleep a wink.
4. The Mysterious Chest
In the rock-strewn cavern a tiny red reptile was trying very hard to flap its wings in anticipation that it could fly. The little red dragon as if unsatisfied walked towards a rock and climbed it with its claws. It stood upright with its hind legs and took a deep breath; it had a face full of determination and confidence that it would succeed.
Twinkling blue dots surrounded the little dragon and glowed as if excited. The blue dots like
stars were non-other than the ¡®Pixies¡¯ or ¡®Fairies¡¯.
They were creatures extremely small in size and thus appeared as dots of different colours radiating from their wings. These ones were ¡®Blue Pixies¡¯, with a lively caring nature unlike the ¡®Yellow Pixies¡¯ who were mischievous and loved to play pranks on humans or any other
beings.
They had a human body with wings on their backs which were of different colours for
different pixies. These twinkling blue dots like stars swirled around the little dragon as Pixie
dust fell from their wings. (Fine grain like particles formed when pixies flutter their wings)
¡°Achoooo¡± sneezed our little dragon due to the dust that fell on its nose.
The pixies started chattering among themselves.
¡°Look it¡¯s a dragon!¡± said one with an expression of awe.
¡°The great red dragon! Hehe¡± said the other while giggling.
The little dragon perked up its ears with a smug look on its face.
¡°Oh! But she is small¡± a blue dot said while taking a closer look.
¡°Yea! She is a baby¡± said a blue pixie named Tinker as she sat on the little dragon¡¯s nose. She was the one that was comparatively bigger than the other pixies.
The little dragon narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose as if irritated.
¡°Awwww! Shooo cute!¡± said Tinker glowing even more.
¡°I¡¯m not a baby I am the majestic red dragon who is 1 day old¡± exclaimed the little dragon looking really majestic with a puffed-up chest and wings opened wide.
¡°Oh!¡±
¡°Woww!"
¡°She looks cool !¡±
Clap. Clap.
Cheered all the pixies all together glowing even brighter.
The little dragon smirked and started to speak again.
¡°Yes I¡¯m¡.achooo¡± she sneezed again breaking the imposing atmosphere in an instant.
¡°Aiiiiii ¡° cried out Tinker as she was blown far away.
Sniff. Sniff.
The little dragon wiped her snout as she glared at the pixies. The pixies whimpered and backed off.
She opened her wings wide, took a deep breath again with an upright posture and started to flap her wings. She closed her eyes shut, although she was scared, she looked determined.
She kept on flapping her wings hard and jumped down the rock. Then she cautiously opened one of her eyes and to her surprise, she was indeed flying.
¡°Look! I¡¯m flying! I¡¯m flying!!¡± She exclaimed in joy as she flew around with the pixies while flapping her wings.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Clap. Clap.
¡°Whoa!¡±
¡°Congo! Congo¡±
¡°The great red baby dragon¡± rooted the pixies for the little dragon who succeeded to fly after nth time.( She failed uncountable times)
She had a wide smile which exposed her brutal sharp fangs but nevertheless she looked adorable with her eyes twinkling in joy .
But the next moment she stammered as if she was out of strength. She strived to keep on flapping but her wings gave out. She fell on the muddy floor with a thud and flipped and rolled around due to the momentum as she slowly came to a stop near a small chest with a
small hole above.
¡°Ouch!¡± the little dragon cried out as she sat up straight.
Her whole body was covered in dirt and she looked nowhere like her past majestic appearance.
The blue glow of the pixies died down as if they were dejected. Silence filled the cave and only the feeble breathing of the old red dragon could be heard along with the monotonous dripping sound of water.
¡°Daddy?¡± the little dragon called out with a weak voice.
She shook her head, her hands trembling.
¡° When will you wake up?¡± her voice now as low as a whisper.
****************************
One day ago
When she opened her eyes for the first time in this world, she saw the red dragon by her side and instinctively she knew that he was her father.
¡°Daddy?¡± she called him out expecting her father to wake up from his slumber. But no matter how much she called he didn¡¯t. At that time, when she came closer to the massive body of the red dragon and tapped him on his body, she realised that this was not the natural
hibernations which dragons went through. Her heart sank as a chill ran down her spine, something was definitely wrong.
A very thin next to negligible amount of mana was swirling around him and no matter how much she called or struck him he was showing no signs of waking up moreover his breathing was way too weak with a slow beating heart.
She closed her eyes and chanted something under her breath while waving her front arm but to her surprise nothing noticeable happened. She repeated the gesture several times but each and every time her spell was being cancelled.
¡°This¡Ah! ¡± she gasped as she reached the conclusion as to why none of her spells were working. She suspected that her father had casted a Spell cancellation magic surrounding the cave which may be to protect her in egg form and his vulnerable body from intruders. That
was the reason she couldn¡¯t even cast magic here. Whatsoever the reason was she had to get out of here and try to find the reason of her father¡¯s state and cure.
¡°I have to get out of here first but Dimensional magic ?.....¡±The little dragon said to herself as she looked throughout her surroundings . Apart from Spell cancellation magic her father had also put Dimensional magic. Honestly speaking the cave was way too big to call it a cavern it was rather as big as an underground city, after all it was a dragon¡¯s lair. This was possible due
to Dimensional magic, a magic to create extra dimensional space in a limited area.
The cave had several tunnels leading to different rooms and the current place was possibly the room where ¡®The Great Red Dragon¡¯ experimented in his polymorphed appearance.
Broken glass pieces, books scattered all over the place, water or god knew what chemicals dripping down, the place was a mess as if a storm had swept through.While exploring the current room, all she found out was a whole bunch of books written in a language she couldn¡¯t understand and a jar with the sleeping blue pixies.
****************************
Back to present
While the little dragon had a glum look on her face Tinker the ¡®Blue pixie¡¯ poked her on her cheek. The little dragon without turning her head glanced at Tinker and asked with an annoyed look.
¡°What?¡±
¡°Umm¡the thing is¡¡± Tinker hesitated as if scared.
¡° Just say it I won¡¯t bite you¡± The little dragon hissed.
¡°H-how should I address you? ¡.I mean this insignificant thing dares to know your name, Oh! The Great Red Baby Dragon¡± she asked sugar-coating her words with gleaming eyes.
¡°I don¡¯t have one¡¡± she returned with an even more gloomy face.
¡°Then I will address you as Miss Red Dragon¡± Tinker said with an embarrassed look.
¡°¡..Do whatever you want¡± she said unfazed.
¡°Oh! by the way what¡¯s that chest?¡± questioned Tinker as she twirled around the muddy small chest with which the little dragon had bumped earlier.
¡°Hmm?¡± The little dragon held the chest close to her face as if examining it. She poured her mana inside the chest to take a look inside. A radiant bright light pored inside the chest.
Thud. Booom!
The chest fell down with a thud and the ground shook.
¡°Wh-what is happening?¡± Tinker asked as she and the other pixies quivered while hiding behind the little dragon.
Swish. Whoosh.
A black aura was swirling around the chest making a whooshing sound. An ominous power seeped out of the small chest which made her skin crawl. A power she was unaware of, a power that repelled mana- A strange power which even made a great dragon falter.
5. The night is long
Chapter 3 (The Nightmare) continued...
The sky was strangely dark, gloomy, dusky and silent without a hint of light. The wind blowing past the leaves made an eerie sound along with the crunching of the dried up leaves.
Whoosh. Crunch.
With each passing step, the twigs snapped, tree trunks creaked and the breathing grew heavier. The wolves howled, fox yipped, a menacing aura draped against the whole forest. A grunt of pain could be heard but the being kept on running as if his life was on the line.
Tree branches scraping against the window cut into his sleep. Lucifer rolled over to his other side, frowning, even more, frustration visible on his face. The unresolved questions still haunt him, his mind refusing to shut down. The face of the man was engraved in his mind, the emotions still vivid.
''Ah! I couldn''t sleep a wink'' Lucifer muttered. He tossed and turned around the bed, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts. He turned his body, now facing the mattress. Putting a pillow over his head, he began counting backwards.
''100, 99, 98,......,3,2,1'' surprisingly his eyelids became heavy and his mind relaxed.
''Finally, some sleep'' Lucifer thought to himself while lifting the pillow off his head and gently placing it on the edge of the bed. He scanned the sheets for his blanket, ready to finally get some sleep, but alas! he couldn''t.
"Haaa... can''t I have some peace here? now, this blanket also had to fall " he grumbled, his eyes dull and tired. Even though his mother was beside him, he didn''t want to wake her up for such a trivial thing. Lucifer got off his bed, reaching down in the darkness until he was met with the soft silk-like fabric.
What he didn''t know was that the room was filled with a white mist containing an enigmatic fragrance.
Swish.
A gentle breeze blew past him. He froze, a slow chill ran down his spine, as his heart thumped. He gulped, unsure if it was simply his sleepless paranoia taking hold.
Huff. Huff.
Lucifer''s eyes widened. Even though he couldn''t see, he could hear it. He could hear the sound of faint breathing. Someone was there, he was sure of it. In the curtains of darkness, a pair of fiery red eyes were staring right back at him; an eccentric being with a piercing gaze and sharp fangs.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Thud!
He fell back on his butt. Instinctively he knew it was a predator''s gaze looking at his prey. Every inch of his body screamed to run away, to be far away from the being. His unfocused shaky eyes darted through the surroundings as he broke into a cold sweat. He wanted to scream but he couldn''t move his lips, nor his body, as if paralyzed. In the darkness, the red fiery eyes twinkled, the being with small careful steps made his way towards Lucifer.
Step. Step.
''No! I will die. He will kill me. I can''t die...mom dad what about them? No!'' Lucifer''s mind was a mess. He felt like his whole body was going to be ripped. Now, the being was right in front of his face, staring intensely. Lucifer could feel the piercing gaze as if looking right through his soul.
''I will die..'' His instincts screamed. He shut his eyes tightly.
"Oooooohh! oh my! ohhhh you are quite handshome?" The being scratched his chin with twinkling eyes and smirked while exposing his brutal fangs. " But shtill can''t beat my beauty" The being puffed up his chest and crossed his arms. He took out a mirror from his pouch and stared at his reflection. With a goofy smile, he exclaimed " Ohhh! I can''t get ushed to this face, shoooo handshome...kekeke" while laughing out loud.
"Huh?" Lucifer blurted out in bewilderment. The menacing aura had long subsided when the being exclaimed to himself. But he couldn''t find words to say in this outrageous situation. He didn''t know to laugh or cry. His mind was already chaotic due to the frightening nightmare. As if a sleepless night was not enough another problem had come to his threshold. Just a few moments ago this being was excluding a murderous intent and all of a sudden he changed into a narcissistic praising his own self. The situation was indeed weird.
"Ohhh! Ahem! my name ish Ubel" he cleared his throat and declared his name with a hint of pride. (''Ubel'' means ''Evil'')
"Y-yeah, I''m Lucifer...but why and who are you Mr?" Lucifer asked while scratching his head, he couldn''t believe the situation, he was interviewing a stranger who wanted to kill him not long ago.
Sniff. Sniff.
"Hmmmm indeed I wash right, this shmell... it''sh definitely from you" The being caressed his snout as he nodded his head in satisfaction.
''What the heck is this blockhead talking about?'' Lucifer thought to himself.
"Kekekeke...I''m shoo shmart, Keke I found him, am I not the great one?" nevertheless the being was just busy admiring himself.
Frustration took the better of him. Lucifer barked at him, literally flipping the table of the prey and predator, "You dare barge into my house? and what nonsense are you spewing to yourself? You better give an explanation or my parents will better deal with you!" Lucifer huffed his chest, he was at his limit.
But what followed was a deadpan silence. Lucifer immediately regretted it and closed his mouth with both of his hands. He was afraid the unknown being will lose its temper and lash out at him.
"Ohhhh! indeed you are the one, quite bold of you...hmmm but you can''t call your parentsh, thish white misht with fragrance caushesh one to fall ashleep hehehe" Ubel laughed out loud.
"What have you done to my parents? " Lucifer''s voice came out hoarse.
"Ohhh! don''t worry they are shafe, they will wake up next morning, but aren''t you curioush why you didn''t fall ashleep and who really am I?" Ubel questioned with a wicked smile, his voice low that could give the chills.
Lucifer gulped, he was curious, but he felt like knowing something unnecessary would give him even more headache. But nevertheless, he nodded his head in agreement.
"Hehehee right choice..." Lucifer felt a chill from Ubel''s voice.
" I...I am a Kobold" Ubel whispered.
"Haa...the night will be long " Lucifer sighed as he wrinkled his face even more to frown.
6. Kill the Devil
A 20-25 cm tall being, with burnt brown scaled skin. He had long clawed fingers and a jaw like a crocodile, with white horns protruding out of his head and a tail like a lizard. He was the very being believed to be just a myth; the reptilian-humanoid creature-''The Kobold''.
"So...um Mr Ubel...for God''s sake can you please tell me why you are here?" Lucifer asked with a look of extreme frustration. The terrifying being he only heard in stories, the being known to be selfish and dreadful, the entity from whom he must be frightened but rather he was pissed. He was indeed terrified just a few minutes ago, he even thought he would get killed by the intruder but now he was serving cookies to that very being.
Crunch. Munch.
"Delicioush, Human food is indeed good" Ubel was munching on the cookies with twinkling bright eyes without a care in the world, he was like in a world of ecstasy far from listening to what Lucifer had to say.
"Haaaa..." Lucifer sighed heavily covering his face with both of his palms, "What sin did I commit to suffer like this?" now he was questioning the purpose of his life.
Burp.
"Shooo tashty! HeHe" Ubel laughed while licking the last bits of crumbs from his lips and fingers. If Lucifer could see the scene he indeed would have been terrified, after all a monstrous being licking his claws and sharp fangs were nothing you can see usually.
" Ahhh I''m shoo full" Ubel voiced while taking out a toothpick-like twig from his pouch and scratching his fangs.
Lucifer frowned while muttering, "Why won''t you?..you finished 3 jars of cookies all by yourself"
"Hmm?"
"No..nothing" Lucifer ruffled his hair and asked again "Mr Ubel what''s the reason y-"
But before he could even finish his question he heard screams from outside.
"Wh-What?" he stood up straight with widened eyes.
"Lucifer!" Judith called out to him.
"Judith! Lucifer! what''s going on?" Marcus came running from the next room.
Crash.
The window glass shattered into pieces. A pebble came rolling down near their feet.
"Wh-What''s going on?...and Ubel?" Lucifer asked in fear.
I am invishible right now. I have removed my shleeping shpell so your parentsh woke up and don''t worry only you can hear me. But...I guessh I wash late, I''m shorry . I-I should have come shooner..I''m sho shorry.
Lucifer looked confused with the sudden chaos but what was this Kobold suddenly talking about? Why was he sorry and on the verge of crying?
"Come out, you devils"
"Show yourself!"
"I knew something was wrong...but this?"
"If you don''t come out we will break into, come out!"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The villagers screamed outside while Marcus had a horrified expression on his face.
"They found out! No! this can''t be! no!" he shrieked.
Judith hold Lucifer in her embrace as she cried out "No! nooo!" while hugging him.
"M-Mom?" Lucifer was perplexed by the sudden turn of events. He knew something was definitely wrong but he couldn''t figure out what.
"Ahhh!" a stone flew out from the broken window and hit Judith on her head.
"Judith!"
"Mom!"
Marcus and Lucifer cried out. Her head was bleeding but still, she kept on hugging Lucifer more like she was trying to protect him.
"Those bastards!" Marcus hissed.
Crash.
The wooden door broke into pieces. For the villagers like giants with well-built bodies and muscles, the shabby door was just a piece of cake.
In the middle of the villagers, a figure ever so familiar stood tall, none other than ''The Snoopy Lady''-Carol.
"Drag the devil out!...the red-haired devil!" Carol exclaimed.
"Nooo! " Judith screamed while tightly hugging her child.
The villagers with marshals and bars of wood came rushing in, each with a look of disgust and fury.
"How dare you stand in our way? Move aside Marcus...you know too that boy is a Devil-A Devil!" an elderly man known as the Village Chief roared.
"Over my dead body, he is my son. He is not a Devil! Just because of some old stories and beliefs you think my child is Devil? No! he isn''t!" Marcus yelled.
" He is Red-haired! Don''t tell me you don''t know the meaning of this? He has the Devil''s bl-"
"Shut up! just stop it" Judith cried out, "I will kill you if you touch my child, I gave birth to him he is my child...a-and, not a D-devil"
The Village Chief had an expressionless face as he ordered, "Move away! or get beaten to death! The Devil needs to be annihilated."
Lucifer''s P.O.V
W-What is happening? What are they talking about? D-Devil? I''m a Devil? In between the foreign words they were talking about what caught my attention was red hair. I-I have red hair, so what? what is going on?
The nightmare, the visit of an unknown stranger, and the sudden chaos at dawn, there were too many things to process. It felt like it was yet another weird dream, and when I will wake up, everything will return back to normal.
I-I have to wake up from this dream, I have to....but then I heard, my steel strong father''s cry.
The sound of a hard object beating the flesh pierced my ears as the screams grew hoarse. My mind went blank. Who''s scream is this? Father''s? The person who stood tall no matter what the situation was, the person who didn''t care that I was useless; a blind and did everything in his ability to cure me, the person whom I thought would never shed a tear was screaming in pain. No! it''s just a dream, it has to be...or so I thought.
But whatever I did I couldn''t wake up and the screams gradually stopped.
"D-dad?" I yelled but no one replied, "Huh?" and I felt my mother shiver even more.
"M-Mom? w-what is happening? Mom?" I shook her shoulders and wanted to break free of her embrace to go look for my dad, but instead, she squeezed me harder.
"Now next is that red-haired Devil!" I heard one villager, and the next moment before I knew someone yanked my hair.
"Hold Judith! I will take care of this Devil!"
My mother was not letting me go, she was holding onto me with all her strength but unfortunately, the villager was stronger.
Dragging me by my hair on the hard cold floor he threw me hard. I rolled a few times before coming to a stop. I couldn''t see but I could feel the piercing gazes surrounding me.
What did I do wrong? What did my parents do wrong?
"L-let him goo! pl-please ..huff huff" .
I heard my father''s voice as low as a whisper, I tried to raise my head but eventually couldn''t, as someone stepped on my head to lay it low.
"Dad!"
"Who gave you the permission to raise your head?..thu!" the man howled as he spat on me.
"This boy has the devil''s red hair! nobody in the past thousands of years had this treacherous colour...the reincarnation of the Devil, the traitor I say!" Carol cried out.
"Yes! the traitor''s blood, the Devil, we have to annihilate him...sacrifice, kill him"
"Kill him!"
"Burn him to death!"
"The Devil needs to be killed!"
"Sacrifice! Kill him!"
From the shrieks of the villagers to kill me, the word ''Burn'' hit me hard. Memories or more appropriately the feeling of being burnt alive as I felt in my dream was still vivid. My blood was boiling in anger. More than fear of my death what I was feeling was extreme fury.
Each and every fibre of my body was screaming What did I do wrong? why do I have to suffer like this? why do my parents have to go through all these?
At that moment all the shrieks and screams died down, only if I could see the faces of the villagers standing as if bewildered or more so frightened.
L-Lucifer? What did you do?
My body felt hot, my head ached as if splitting apart. And this is what I heard from Ubel just before I lost my consciousness.
7. Lucifer is Dead [ 1 ]
7. Lucifer is Dead - 1
Lucifer awakened to an entirely unfamiliar setting, his eyes adjusting to the surroundings. Assuming an upright position, his countenance bore a vacant expression, reminiscent of bewilderment. Attempting to rise, he faltered and collapsed, the grip of excruciating pain permeating every inch of his body, accompanied by a deluge of emotions flooding his consciousness. Memories of the preceding night, just before his loss of consciousness, replayed like a fractured record.
"Huff...Gasp.." despite the momentary relief from pain, Lucifer found himself gasping for air on the ground, the lingering memory leaving a bitter taste. The ground beneath him felt hard, possibly a rocky surface, and the struggle to keep his eyes open suggested an outdoor environment.
"What happened to Mom and Dad?" he exclaimed.
Amidst the agony, his thoughts gravitated towards his parents. The recollection of his father''s cries under a barrage of blows, his mother pleading for mercy, and the crowd branding him a Devil weighed heavily on his 7-year-old mind. In the seconds before losing consciousness, Lucifer recalled Ubel''s enraged voice, a searing heat engulfing his body, and the descent into darkness.
A disconcerting revelation interrupted his thoughts ¨C a peculiar discomfort in the texture of his clothes. Gasping in surprise, Lucifer examined the unfamiliar fabric on various body parts. Unbeknownst to him, three young kobolds observed his actions from a distance, speculating on his behaviour.
"Hmm?" Lucifer gasped in surprise while fondling the weird fabric on his different body parts.
"Ohhh, it''s a human!" someone whispered while hiding behind the tree.
"He is weird!" commented the other with unfazed eyes.
"He is a pervert, I guess" another one chimed in while caressing its chin. Believing Lucifer to be a deviant, the kobolds whispered among themselves, unaware of his astonishment at the unfamiliar attire.
The three beings were young kobolds, may be of similar age, each with a height of 15 cm.
"Who is there?" Lucifer exclaimed while turning in the direction of the voice.
"Oh my! you can understand us?" one of the young kobolds came forward with curious eyes and started inspecting Lucifer.
"Hey! be careful, he can be dangerous," another kobold said in a low voice while still hiding behind the tree.
"He is weird and different" the kobold with unfazed eyes commented again with his hands behind his back while walking forward.
"Umm..who are you guys?" Lucifer asked back while pointing in the direction with his finger. He couldn''t see but by the voice, it appeared they were quite young and might be of different species since they were surprised to see him; a human.
"I guess, he is the being uncle Ubel was talking about, in that case, let me introduce ourselves. I am Alison and I''m the older brother and we are the three sons of the Former Kobold tribe leader," answered Alison with his hands behind, he had an aristocratic atmosphere around himself and appeared rather calm and calculative. He wore a thin white cloth draped around his shoulders, the same as what Lucifer was wearing. [ Alison (French origin), means "noble" ]Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
"I''m Addison, and I''m the second brother," said Addison, while still looking at Lucifer with curious eyes.
"And I-I am Arion." said the third brother with a low voice.
"Don''t mind him, he is a little shy" exclaimed Addison.
"Oh, I''m Lucifer. Nice to meet you, by the way, do you guys know where I am? it''s a little urgent, I want to go back to my vill-" Lucifer stopped mid-sentence. He remembered what happened the other night, the villagers were screaming at the top of their lungs for him to be killed. How could he go back to such a place where he was not wanted? But nonetheless, he had to go to confirm that his parents were alright.
The young kobolds looked at each other and ended up bursting into laughter. Addison asked while cracking up., "Are you talking about the only village in this forest? That village might be in ashes by now. kekeke"
"What?" Lucifer thought he heard wrong, so he asked again " What are you talking about?"
This time Alison answered, "Ahem! I''m sorry for our disgraceful behaviour, but I''m afraid what my second brother said is true, 1 week ago the village was indeed burning and mig-" but he was cut off mid-sentence.
"Wait!..you are saying it has been 1 week since the village was burning? t-then I was unconscious for a week?" anxiety visible on his face.
"It seems so" Alison answered carefully.
"N-no! I have to go, I have to..." Lucifer couldn''t think of what to do in this sudden situation. He had to go, but where? He didn''t even know where he was, hell! even if he knew, how would he have been able to go? he was a useless blind after all. With every beat of his heart, his chest ached, and tears burnt deep down in his throat. It felt like his world was crashing down right now, his tears had long dried up, and he couldn''t feel anything now, what sin did he commit to suffer like this?
He fell on his knees," just why?" he questioned.
"Brother Alison...I believe our good-for-nothing uncle Ubel said that this human was strong. But he seems weaker than the usual humans though. What''s more? he is blind!" Addison commented with his hands crossed around his chest.
"Shhh! brother Addison, you must not say in front of him, he will hear us" whispered Arion fiddling with his fingers as if embarrassed.
"So what if he listens? won''t he be just a burden to us whatsoever?" Addison questioned back.
"No! that''s true but..." Arion shook his head.
"Both of you keep quiet! even if this human is useless, he is a guest of Uncle Ubel, and I believe in him. We must not disrespect the Kobold Tribe Leader (Ubel)." Addison declared while looking in a direction with his eyes without moving his head.
" Alishon! my dear nephew..thank you for believing in mee...sniff sniff " Ubel sniffed as he said while wiping away the nonexistent tears from his eyes. He had just arrived and heard their conversation.
"Ohh, quit the acting uncle," Addison remarked.
Lucifer heard a voice he had long forgotten." Ubel?" He turned in the direction of the voice.
"Lucifer! Shorry for leaving you like this, but don''t worry your parents....they are fine.." Ubel said with an unsure face while walking towards him with quick steps and helping him to get up even though he looked quite tired.
Lucifer got up with Ubel''s help and asked back, " They are alright? y-you are not lying right?" He had a face full of anticipation as if he saw the last ray of hope.
"Yesh, they are alright but..." Ubel blurred the rest of his sentence as he avoided his gaze.
"But what? please finish what you were saying!" Lucifer shouted. Agitation and impatience were visible on his face.
There was a moment of silence.
It appeared, that Ubel was contemplating the right choice of words to say. The emotional turmoil continued as Ubel assured Lucifer that his parents were safe but hesitated before dropping a bombshell as he declared- "Lucifer, you are dead!"
"What?"
The abrupt revelation left Lucifer''s face contorted with disbelief and apprehension.
.
8. Lucifer is Dead [ 2 ]
Five individuals gathered around a stone, meticulously carved into a flat surface resembling a table. An eerie silence permeated the air, stifling any inclination to break it.
Amidst the frigid and tense atmosphere, Lucifer''s voice pierced through the quiet, devoid of emotion. "So you are saying the village is... no more? Ubel, struggling with a lump in his throat, responded hesitantly, "W-well, you shee... th-that''sh true...
It would be an overstatement to say he was scared; rather, he was astonished. The events of the previous day had exceeded his expectations. Lucifer had always been different, carrying a distinctive scent (HIS scent) that Ubel recognized, but witnessing the extent of his abilities left him baffled. (''HIS'' refers to a being introduced later.)
''Is he really....?'' Ubel thought to himself. He shook his head while holding his temple as if it gave him a headache. His gaze shifted to the three brothers, or more precisely, to one individual among them. ''I can''t reveal everything in front of them...'' Ubel diverted his eyes towards Lucifer, noting the distress evident in the young boy. Despite being special, Lucifer, at the tender age of seven, had already faced unimaginable challenges. Humans were fragile, both mentally and physically, a sentiment that Kobolds harboured against them. However, Lucifer stood out, and Ubel wouldn''t have approached him if it weren''t for the scent of ''that being'' he detected from the boy.
Lucifer possessed radiant, fiery-red hair that resembled burning flames, complemented by a flawless, smooth, and pale white complexion. His features included a sharp nose and large, golden eyes, seemingly an angelic presence straight from heaven. Yet, this seemingly innocent boy harboured a power capable of reducing everything to ashes in an instant. The contrast was staggering, leaving Ubel shivering involuntarily at the thought of such a frightening capability.
Despite Lucifer''s blindness, an untrained observer might not notice it immediately. His eyes, a mesmerizing golden hue, darted aimlessly in various directions, giving the illusion that he could see everything around him. ''That''sh not important... I have to show him rather than tell him, but how?'' Ubel pondered, fully aware that revealing the truth about Lucifer''s powers required a delicate and thoughtful approach. As Lucifer spoke, Ubel grappled with the challenge of guiding him through the complexities of his extraordinary abilities.
"What happened that day? Why did I faint? And... why...?" Lucifer''s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. From birth, he had yearned to survive in a world that deemed him unworthy. Disabled and blind, Lucifer harboured dreams of becoming a magician, a magic wielder, despite his inability to use magic. He believed if he studied hard he would be able to overcome anything, was it merely an innocent wish, hope springing from the impractical? Lucifer questioned the validity of his aspirations. He lacked memories of the moment his parents discovered his blindness, but he harboured a deep certainty that their reaction was one of profound disappointment. His father, in desperate pursuit of a remedy, exhausted every conceivable means to cure his son''s condition. However, Lucifer contemplated the futility of dwelling on spilt milk ¡ª a metaphorical acknowledgement that some events, once transpired, could not be changed or undone.
It seemed god had forbidden him right from birth to use magic. Why? well, now he knows...is it because he is a devil? He smirked.
The triplets flinched, for just a moment it felt like a menacing aura was squeezing them. But Ubel saw, he saw Lucifer''s gaze burning like flames of hell with fury and anger like that of a reaper who foretold death. ''It was the same as that day..'' He recalled what happened the other day....
*********
''Kobold'' what kind of beings were they? There was only one word to describe them - Bootlickers. They were simply creatures that would always side towards the strong, but it didn''t mean they didn''t have any pride and just fawned anyone, wagging their tail in between their legs. They simply were like lackeys to stronger beings since ancient times like - Dragons. They worshipped dragons like Demi-Gods and sided with the strongest ones. The instinct of following the strong was simply to survive in this world and that''s how it had been for ages. But a thousand years ago a world-shattering war took place, which didn''t only cause havoc to humanity but all kinds of living beings on Earth. A war, a devastating at that. The details were unknown to date but every single child knew one thing, the war was like a one-sided rampage by - The devil. He had many nicknames like ''The red-haired Devil'', ''The Traitor'', and '' The First Magician''. Yes, the first Magician - The man who swore to protect humanity with his life, the man who first discovered the use of the golden particles- Mana, the man who reached the realms of being 8th level, was said to have become too greedy for power and made a contract with a Demon King and wiped out half of the living beings on Earth. Although Humanity was victorious the price of that victory was severe, and the casualties were heart-breaking, where all the Dragons- ''The protector of Humanity'' and ''The messengers of God'' became extinct. Some Dragons were old and died ages ago, some abandoned Earth and went to other planets and some went hibernating God knew where.
Since that time it had been hard for Kobolds to survive, just when they gave up on everything they found a way to live on and that was simply - Alchemy. Alchemy is related to both magic and a little bit of chemistry, in ancient times it was like a power to create and change things. Simply put, it was similar to creating chemicals/ drugs/ medicines but in a more advanced way. The so-called medicines were Elixirs ( A magical or medicinal potion) and could create miracles. To make High-end elixirs one needed lots of research with many trials and errors, but the end product was worth the hassle. That was what was called Alchemy, hope to the dying, a boon to the strong. With the use of Alchemy, the Kobolds managed to create a potion that could make them invisible, and that is how they have lived so far, they were able to avoid the predators although people thought them to be just a myth now they were indeed alive in hiding.
Ubel, was the younger brother of the former Kobold Tribe Chief, as such, he never had any interest in inheritance he went to travel around the world in search of advanced alchemy, little did he know he would discover a Dragon''s Lair. The lair was surrounded by dimensional magic, he knew if he stepped inside, death was inevitable and thus he decided to return to his hometown to deliver the good news. But the moment he stepped into the village he became devastated to know that his Big brother - The Tribe Chief was no more and the tribe was in a dire situation with being the target of several predators. He had died of chronic disease, the village doctor said. Ubel refused to believe, how can such a strong being have a chronic disease? but his sudden death and the sudden attack of predators didn''t add up to the puzzle and thus he decided to take over the position of Chief, fortunately, his nephews didn''t object except Addison the Second one grumbling a little bit. But the elders were the problem. They refused someone like Ubel who was a geek and not strong at all to be the Head. That was his story until one day he found ''His'' smell. ( ''His'' refers to the Dragon''s smell where he found the lair)Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Due to Ubel''s years of immersion in alchemical research, he possessed a remarkably sensitive nose that allowed him to recognize scents almost instantly. On that fateful night, a compelling scent caught his attention, and his instincts urged him to hasten in locating its origin. Urgency drove Ubel to run as if his life depended on it, leading him to discover a dilapidated cottage on the verge of collapse. To his disbelief, within the crumbling structure, he encountered a young human child, approximately six or seven years old, with vivid red hair, grumbling about a sleepless night.
Initially sceptical of his senses, Ubel questioned, "Did I smell wrong?" Yet, as a seasoned researcher, he dismissed the possibility of error. Opting to observe the child closely, Ubel found nothing extraordinary about him, raising the perplexing question, "Why does he smell like ''Him''?"
As the boy stooped to retrieve his blanket, Ubel decided to exert his aura¡ªa form of pressure used to assess another being''s power. The child, seemingly unaware of his abilities, emitted a comparable pressure. Ubel''s astonishment grew as the young one, despite the evident strain, matched him in intensity. Despite the pressure exerted, the child displayed signs of distress, drenched in cold sweat and wearing a horrified expression, akin to someone facing imminent danger. Deciding to ease the confrontation, Ubel withdrew his pressure and locked eyes with the child, revealing golden orbs. The realization dawned on Ubel that the child, a potential magic wielder, was, in fact, blind.
Just then chaos broke out, and the clamour of people demanding the young boy''s death reverberated through the air.''Puny human beingsh that don''t know their place...tsk tsk,'' Ubel clicked his tongue in disdain, silently criticizing the foolishness of the crowd. The irrational assumption that the child, merely possessing red hair, bore the blood of the devil fueled the frenzy. Ubel, recognizing the baseless fear, pondered the audacity of those who believed they could kill him solely based on such unfounded suspicions.
Resigned to his own perceived inadequacy, Ubel chose to spectate, acknowledging the limitations of his strength¡ªlimited to alchemy. The unfolding situation grew increasingly dire, with Lucifer''s family subjected to humiliation and violence. Ubel could do nothing more than watch the tragic scene unfold before him. However, the unfolding nightmare surpassed even Ubel''s darkest fears. An overwhelming and menacing aura permeated the surroundings, causing shivers to cascade down Ubel''s spine. The villagers, caught in the grip of an unseen force, stood frozen, paralyzed by an inexplicable power. Lucifer''s gaze burned with fury like flames consuming all in their path. Ubel attempted to call out to him, but what transpired next plunged him into terror.
''I am shcared? ...of a human?'' Ubel questioned his own emotions, stunned by the immense power emanating from Lucifer. The boy''s entire form became engulfed in red-hot flames, yet remarkably, he remained untouched by the fire. The villagers'' expressions mirrored their homes¡ªboth reduced to ashes.
"L-Lucifer what did you do?" Ubel''s words were directed solely at the unconscious boy, for only Lucifer could hear. The answer, however, remained elusive, as Lucifer lay unconscious, leaving a foreboding sense of uncertainty hanging in the air.
*******
"Ubel?" Lucifer''s voice sliced through the heavy air, attempting to draw Ubel back from his deep contemplation, which had persisted for approximately 5 minutes.
"Only you know what happened that day, I beg you please tell me what happened.." he implored, his hands joined together in a gesture of earnest request.
"Alishon, Addishon and Arion could you three pleashe excushe ush, I have shomething I want to talk to him alone," Ubel said as he glanced in the triplet''s direction.
"Why should w-" Addison rebutted when he was cut off mid-sentence.
" Yes we will, Let''s go Addison and Arion, we should just trust uncle" Alison said calmly.
"Hmph" Addison huffed his chest, as the three departed.
"Do you know what Alchemy ish? " After Ubel reassued that the triplets were gone and couldn''t hear them anymore he asked Lucifer as he shook his head.
"Alchemy?..well I know what it means but never did I practice it" Lucifer answered.
"That will do...sho Lucifer lishten carefully to what I''m going to shay and if you have any queshtionsh, shave it, ashk after I finish. Ok?"
"...Yes"
The long story continued. With each passing second, the temperature of the cave fell like Lucifer''s demeanour. He was rather calm, for someone to know that he may have the blood of a traitor or someone to possess such frightening power albeit he couldn''t control it and this power was only triggered when he was angry according to Ubel''s hypothesis.
"And then I created the illushion with my alchemy that Lucifer Fernandez hash died," Ubel said.
"So,for everybody.... I am dead?"
"Yesh.." Ubel said worriedly.
"It''s better this way..." Lucifer stated impassively, resigned to the notion that being presumed dead was preferable to facing the hostility of his village. Even if he went to his village people would want to kill him and harm his family, it was better if everyone thought he was dead. Although his parents would be heartbroken, the assumption of his demise would keep them safe. The villagers wouldn''t interfere unless it was a matter of grave importance. It felt as though he had resigned himself to this fate, devoid of any desire to protest
"Hahhh...the village was burnt to crishp, but don''t worry the past week I made shtrengthening and shpeed increashing potionsh which I secretly mixed in their food, the villagersh have more or lessh built as many cottagesh as posshible and there ish shome good newsh about your parentsh..."
As the story unfolded, Lucifer sat there, a mere shell of himself, his countenance etched with a profound emptiness, as if the very essence of his soul had been cruelly extracted. The revelations seemed to wash over him, numbing his emotions, until the word ''parents'' pierced through the haze and reignited a spark within him.
"So....congratulationsh, your mother is more or less 2-3 monthsh pregnant. You are going to be a brother," Ubel shared, attempting to infuse warmth into his words.
"B-Brother?" Lucifer responded, his voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and vulnerability, caught off guard by the sudden surge of emotions.
"I-I am going to be a brother, a brother....." He repeated the words almost like a mantra, each repetition trying to anchor the reality of the revelation within the recesses of his being.
"How are they... My Mom, Dad, and.... the baby?" Lucifer''s voice trembled, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes.
"I checked her state myself while she was shleeping, the baby ish fine, though you know she believesh you are dead.... sho of course she couldn''t care any lessh. Your father is taking care of her; he showsh himself shtrong, but I shaw him cry all by himshelf. They shtill love you, they shtill have not gotten pasht the shock of your death. They will know shomeday, but before that, you have to become shtrong, Lucifer, to protect your family, yourshelf."
Lucifer closed his eyes tightly, the weight of the revelation pressing upon him, tears streaming down his face. In a hushed whisper, barely audible, Lucifer spoke to himself, "Don''t worry, baby, your brother will return stronger. I promise I will become stronger to protect you, I will....." The cave echoed with the weight of Lucifer''s newfound determination, "I promise, I promise..." His fists clenched in a silent pledge, the echoes in the cave resonating with the profound depth of his emotions as if sealing an unspoken pact with destiny..
9. Change [ 1 ]
Lucifer''s P.O.V
"Brother..."
The mere thought that I was going to be a big brother, sent a tingling sensation through my heart. I assume in this rough situation I was in, the unborn baby; my little brother/sister bought a little bit of happiness to my crumbling soul, as contentment warmed me from within. But at the same time, the thought that maybe just maybe, What if I go back one day and they don''t recognize me? What if they refuse to accept me? what if my parents forget about my existence after the baby is born? What if they choose to hide from the baby that he/she had a brother...or supposedly a Devil?
A low chuckle escaped my lips. Was I in a position to think of such trivial things? I didn''t even know if I will survive tomorrow and here I was thinking of something far in the future. Sitting on the flat rock I believe was made for sitting, I stared at the pitch-black horizon without an end. I was too familiar with darkness now, like a layer of the blanket, it had always covered my eyes restricting me from enthralling the beauty of the world.
"Haaa..." Taking in a long breath from the cool crisp air, I sighed heavily. Currently, I was in the Kobold Tribe. Of course, humans were not welcomed here and so neither was I. However, since Ubel was the Tribe Chief, the other Kobolds couldn''t refuse and chose to just ignore me completely. It was better this way, I needed some time to clear up my mind and organize my thoughts after all.
I chugged up whatever soup Ubel had left for me before he went back to my village to take a look at the progress. The soup had a bitter aftertaste to it but was still edible. I was unconscious for a week, and so the indifferent kobold doctor suggested only soups mixed with some medicinal potions. I was really thankful to Ubel for what he did for my village and for me. But, I am not used to this kindness, whoever was kind to me except my parents was my friends Leo and Canary, but they too in the end turned their backs on me. What if Ubel one day finds me useless and abandons me? Where will I go? What will I do?
Slap!
I slapped my cheeks with both of my palms to snap out of my weird train of thoughts and recalled what Ubel had told me. According to him, the Mantric kingdom had a vast history, I knew bits and pieces of its history which I was taught by mom but never did I know that the devastating war that took place 1000 years ago was by the devil, no rather by a red-haired one. Red hair was basically uncommon in the Mantric kingdom since ancient times, as such ''the traitor'' ''the first magician'' was initially black-haired, and after he made a contract with the Demon King, his hair turned red, people started to believe contracting the supreme Demon king made the contractor''s hair colour turn red. Thus, practically in this kingdom Red coloured hair seemed like a taboo. And me, Lucifer was born with brown hair like my mother but unexpectedly on my 7th birthday they changed to red, I was inevitably suspected to be a Devil. It indeed made sense, they thought I have also made a contract and thus wanted to rip me off from the bud. But I never made such a contract, hell I was not even aware such a thing existed... those old geezers. I cursed.
But the mystery still remains, why did my hair change to red? Now that I think about it, was there any connection to the dream I had? The man I saw had red hair, golden eyes, he had wings and a pair of horns protruding out of his forehead, yes why didn''t I think of that before? it made sense he really might be The Devil. The sudden realisation hit me hard, as I stood up abruptly while pacing around in the cave. Everything was burning around him except him, isn''t his power similar to the power Ubel mentioned that I had? Although practically I was unaware of this, it got triggered when I was in fury and I didn''t even know how to use it. The power was practically useless to me unless I want to burn everything crisp. Did he bestow his power on me? Why me? What did he say to me in the end? My memory was hazy I couldn''t remember....something awakened? to protect yourself? What did he say in the end? I can''t seem to recall....what was that again?The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"What the..?" I clutched my head with both of my hands, as I felt a stinging ache in my head. Whenever I tried to remember that Man I got a severe headache, that was mortifying, I felt like dying.
"I-It started again...huff hufff" I gasped for breath. My legs felt weak, and soon after, I fainted...again.
*********
Rustle.
Not long after Lucifer lost his consciousness, two beings emerged from the bushes near his cave.
"Hmm...he doesn''t seem strong? and....he fainted again?" The being with dark brown scales said while caressing his chin.
"Never underestimate your opponent, we have to keep a close eye on him," the other with dark red scales stated, his eyes never leaving the sight of the unconscious Lucifer lying on the cold hard ground.
"Mhmm...it''s the best opportunity, should we just kill him?" the dark brown said as he licked his lips.
"Patience is also an art...now is not the time" the dark red one smirked. The presence of this human child irked him but his plan will get messed up if he killed him here. Like a predator observing its prey to know its behaviour for a successful hunt, he decided to first monitor him.
"Things are getting really interesting" he licked his lips. Sparing a last glance at Lucifer both of them disappeared into the darkness.
*********
"Ah..." A short groan left his mouth. He started massaging his head, he felt a massive headache.
"You are awake?"
"Gah...who? Ubel?" Lucifer exclaimed in shock, he didn''t know someone was sitting beside him.
Munch. Munch.
"Ya...it ish me...you feeling better?" Ubel sat next to Lucifer while apathetically chewing on some weird grass.
"....I feel like crap" Lucifer answered as he pushed his body to sit upright. His whole body was aching like he has been beaten up.
"What happened that made you faint again...when I came back I found you lying outshide on the ground," Ubel asked taking another handful of grass from a pot followed by putting it into his mouth.
"I just remem-..." Lucifer shook his head.
''Should I tell him? Can I trust him?'' Lucifer contemplated.
His memories at the moment were faint. The only thing he remembered was him thinking about the man in his dreams...and that, the man resembled the description of "The Devil". The next moment he felt dizzy, as a wave of pain crept through his body his cells and he just lost his consciousness.
"You don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to...but yesh I will help you" Ubel calmly returned as he kept the pot full of grass aside.
"....Help? How?" Lucifer responded after a short pause.
"I will help you to change" Ubel stopped chewing the grass as he stood up and went towards the interior of the cave.
"Change?"
"Yesh...Look at this" The cave was quite spacious with different kinds of things made of rock carvings including a small shelf filled with old tattered books. The room had a pungent smelt like alcohol and other kinds of chemicals in it. The interior of the cave had a number of shelves filled with different tubes made of glass and jars of different shapes and sizes with a variety of colourful liquids. Ubel took out his round steel-rimmed specs from his pouch and wore them. From one of the bookshelf, he picked out the book which had the most volume to it and bought it in front of Lucifer.
"Hmm.."
"Even if you don''t tell me, I have figured out that you know something about "The Devil" ..." Ubel said.
Lucifer''s brows furrowed tightly. "H-How do you know?" He asked in shock.
"OH! sho I wash right !" Ubel caressed his chin as he mused. He gently flipped over some pages of the fragile book before coming to a stop at a certain page.
"What? Y-You you fooled me" Lucifer yelled while stuttering. He felt like an idiot to expose his secret so easily.
Ubel didn''t notice his agitation as he waved his hands, " No I really figured out, jusht that I wash not shure, but now I know, shoo...", and said while his eyes still glued on that certain page.
"So..?" Lucifer asked back impatiently as he crossed his hands over his chest "Spill it!"
Ubel pushed his round steel-rimmed specs upwards as he looked towards Lucifer and said slowly " I have found a method to change your hair colour and....."
"..and?"
"And bring your eyes back to normal"
Silence enveloped the room as Lucifer stared at Ubel with his mouth gaped.
After a minute or so Lucifer broke the silence, "...How?" while Ubel smirked.