Master Grimm and Pyros slowly opened the door and entered the room. The heavy air inside was a silent testament to the destruction outside.
"We heard the news, Kael," Pyros said, his voice softer than usual. "You've survived a truly harrowing battle."
Kael bowed his head in shame as he tried to sit up in bed. "Master... despite all your teachings, I couldn't stand my ground against that demon. I'm sorry for disappointing you."
Pyros immediately intervened. "It wasn't your fault, lad. Most likely, even we wouldn't have been able to stand against a high-ranking demon. It's a miracle you're even alive. We've brought you some sedatives and a special herbal tea; you'll recover in no time."
Meanwhile, Grimm remained silent in the corner of the room, his eyes fixed on Kael. "We spoke with Zephyros for a bit," Grimm said suddenly. His voice was deep and inquisitive as always. "It seems those who attacked you knew who you were, is that right?"
Pyros turned to Grimm, frowning. "Grimm, this is hardly the time for—"
"Yes, Master," Kael said, interrupting Pyros. "I believe they were my father's associates or servants. My memories are still hazy, and I can't quite remember their faces, but they recognized me."
Grimm took a step forward. "How could they know you were here? Is someone spying on us?"
"I don't think anyone in this manor would spy for demons, Grimm," Pyros countered. "When Zephyros brought him to the Kingdom, someone might have grown suspicious of the boy and leaked information."
Kael looked up at his masters. "Master, there was a name they both kept repeating: Lord Abaddon. Could that be my father's name?"
The mention of that name sent a literal chill through the room. The faces of Grimm and Pyros turned pale as chalk; it was as if the mere utterance of the name had plunged the room into darkness.
"M-Master? Are you alright?" Kael asked anxiously.
Pyros swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "You... you must have misheard, Kael."
"No, Master. They repeated the name Abaddon so many times... I am certain of it."
Grimm clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath. "Kael... there is a region we call the Demon Realm, at the far southern edge of the Kingdom. Just as we humans and other races have a hierarchy, so do the demons. This 'Abaddon' you speak of... he is a Duke. He rules over a vast territory in the Demon Realm. He is a formidable being."
Pyros muttered angrily, "Ah, Zephyros! He definitely knew who the father was, but he didn't tell us it was Abaddon!"
"Zephyros must have had his reasons," Grimm said.
A hint of resentment flickered in Kael's eyes. "If my father is someone so powerful, then why did he abandon my mother to live in that remote village? And why did he send his subordinates to attack us? Did we do something wrong to him?"
Grimm placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "I don't want to meddle in your family affairs, lad. You should ask Zephyros when the time is right. In the meantime, Pyros has made a new sealing ring. Just like before, do not take it off until you reach the 6th circle."
"I understand, Master," Kael murmured as he slipped the ring onto his finger. "By the way, since the ring broke, I was able to keep my consciousness for much longer this time."
Pyros smiled faintly. "You've reached the 4th circle, Kael. That's perfectly normal. The more mana your body produces and the more familiar you become with magic, the more easily you can control the dark mana."
Grimm turned back one last time before leaving. "Now that you've seen a real demon, Kael, you must have realized the vast abyss that lies between humans and other races. You still have a long way to go."
Over the next two days, Kael's body, fueled by his demon blood, healed with astonishing speed. Upon waking up that morning, his first priority was to go to his uncle's room. In the hallway, he ran into Elias, who was carrying a breakfast tray.
"Master Kael, you haven't fully recovered yet! Please, return to your room," Elias said with concern.
"I'm fine, Elias. I need to see my uncle."
When Kael entered the room, he saw Zephyros lying in bed, covered in bandages. "U-Uncle? Are you alright?"
Zephyros opened his eyes and gave a weak smile. "Ah, Kael... you're awake. Come, sit down."
Elias left the tray and exited the room as Kael pulled up a chair. "You've healed quite fast, haven't you? The perks of being half-human, I suppose," Zephyros joked.
"Uncle, I'm fine, but you... you were gravely injured. I'm so sorry."
"Come on now, don't pull that face. It wasn't your fault. Your uncle was just caught off guard. Healers from the Kingdom come every day; I'll be as fit as a fiddle in a week or two."
Kael couldn't hold back his tears. "I'm just so happy you're alive, Uncle. I thought we were going to die there."
"Ha ha! Yes, we ran into a truly tough customer," Zephyros said, his tone turning serious. "Varkas was injured too. Not as badly as us, but he needs a week of rest."
Kael took a deep breath. "Uncle, there are things I want to ask about my family—"
Zephyros raised a hand to stop him. "I know, you have a thousand questions. In a few days, we're going to see Nerya. Your mother placed a life-rune on her hand without us knowing; she realized something went wrong and has sent dozens of letters to the manor. She's incredibly worried. If we don't go to her soon, it won't be a demon that kills me, it'll be Nerya. You can ask her everything when we get there."
Two more days passed. Thanks to the high-level healers sent by the Kingdom, Zephyros was now able to walk. Kael, meanwhile, had almost completely healed. As the carriage was being prepared in front of the gate, Kael asked for his uncle's permission and headed toward the manor's infirmary. Varkas was struggling to sit up in his bed, his massive shoulders barely fitting, despite the bandages on his arm. A tired but genuine smile appeared on his face when he saw Kael enter.
"Little master... I thought you'd leave without stopping by," Varkas said, his voice as booming as ever, though a bit raspy. He took a deep breath. "That day... when I swung my sword at that demon, I felt like everything I'd learned in my life was a lie, little master." The shock was still visible in his eyes. "I gave it my best shot. I used all my mana for that strike... but he stopped it with just his hand. He looked at me as if he wasn't facing a soldier, but a small child swinging a stick."
Varkas straightened up slightly, wincing as his bandaged shoulder flared with pain. "I remember the moment you stepped in. How that monster absorbed all that mana, how we were tossed around in that cloud of dust... To be honest, in that moment, I realized both my steel and my honor were shattered. There truly is an abyss between our world and theirs."
Kael listened in silence. Seeing a man as strong as Varkas feel so helpless drove home the weight of the war once again. As Varkas turned his gaze back to the wall, Kael spoke:
"Please, don't blame yourself. What stood there that day was not human; therefore, you cannot expect to be measured by human strength. If you hadn't drawn that demon's attention and landed that blow, I might not have survived. You did your duty as a knight and kept me alive. There is no greater honor for me than that."
Kael bowed his head slightly in respect and added:
"Now, just focus on healing. Please... and thank you for everything, sir."
Varkas paused, stunned by Kael's mature and humble words. The defeated expression didn't vanish entirely, but a sense of peace settled in his eyes. His voice was steadier now. "Safe travels, little master."
Kael and Zephyros boarded the carriage waiting in front of the manor. As the grand buildings of the Eastern Kingdom faded behind them, the carriage set off toward the quiet village where Kael was born, toward Nerya. Looking out the window, Kael knew that the answers he would find would change his life forever.