The group moved steadily along the path that wound toward Zerpia. The metropolis rose commandingly amidst green hills, embraced by a crystalline river that flowed around it like a natural, ancient protector. Everyone gazed at the marvel in fascination; Biel, in particular, could not hide his awe at the magnificence of the towers scratching the sky, shimmering under the intense sunlight.
"Welcome to Zerpia," Acalia announced, pausing for a moment to observe the city. "A city of exchange for adventurers, merchants... and trouble."
"Sounds lovely, friend," Xanthe commented with a light smile, trying to brighten the mood.
"We are not friends," Acalia cut in immediately, her voice devoid of any warmth. "I am only here to protect this boy from any threat until he can fend for himself. Do not confuse things, girl."
Xanthe fell silent, her friendly expression vanishing at the harshness of the reply. Easton leaned toward her, placing a protective hand on her shoulder.
"Easy, sister," he whispered. "Maybe she’s just in a bad mood and that's why she spoke to you like that."
"It doesn't seem that way," Xanthe murmured, looking down. "Her words sound real."
Biel, witnessing the whole scene, approached Acalia with a deep frown.
"Why did you say that to her?" he reproached. "There was no need to be so harsh."
Acalia held his gaze with absolute seriousness. "I am here for you. My duty is to protect you until you get used to this world. Others do not matter to me."
"Even so, you shouldn't have treated her that way," he insisted, though he knew arguing with her was a lost cause. Biel turned back to Xanthe, trying to smooth over the awkward moment. "Don't worry about it. I think that's just her personality. Since I met her, she’s always been very cold toward others."
Kael, who had watched the exchange in silence, decided to intervene to focus the group.
"I ask you to be cautious," he warned, lowering his tone. "This place is full of mysteries. Gard could be nearby; after all, he also knows that one of the five fragments is located here. His people might even have already infiltrated the city."
Acalia nodded slightly, and the group entered the urban sprawl with their senses on high alert. Cobblestone streets, vibrant markets, and a mix of scents—spices, iron, and fresh-cooked food—welcomed them. However, the atmosphere, while lively, hid an unsettling undertone. Biel sensed curious, and sometimes hostile, glances fixed on them as they pushed through the crowd.
"I feel like we're being watched," Biel whispered to the group, uneasy. "We need to move fast and find a safe place for now."
"Do not worry," Kael replied confidently. "I already have a place where we will be safe for the time being."
Following their guide, they headed toward a discreet inn where they would spend the night. There, shielded from prying eyes, Kael promised to reveal a story intrinsically linked to everything that was occurring.
Upon arrival, they settled around a worn wooden table. The inn's lighting was dim, perfect for sharing secrets. Kael broke the silence, his face adopting a solemn expression.
"I have to tell you something," he began, catching everyone’s attention. "Something related to the five fragments, the five sealed Demon Kings, and this boy."
As he spoke, he extended a finger, pointing directly at Biel. The young man startled.
"Did you say Demon Kings? They actually exist in this world?" Biel inquired, stunned.
"They existed, but they were sealed away long ago," Kael clarified. "They are beings who care for nothing but causing chaos—though there was one who was different... By the way, young Biel, how do you know about Demon Kings or what they are? I know perfectly well you are not from this world—that you appeared out of thin air."
Easton and Xanthe’s eyes went wide, exchanging looks of disbelief; until that moment, they were completely ignorant of their companion's origin.
"Wait, you’re not from this world?" Easton asked, unable to hide his shock.
Biel scratched the back of his neck with a nervous smile. "Hehe, I hadn't told you; I guess I let it slip by," he admitted shyly. "Well, I'll tell you. No, I'm not from this world; I come from another land. I was sent here by accident along with my best friend, but he didn't appear with me. When I woke up, I was here and an entity appeared before me, told me we’d meet again, and vanished. Hours later Acalia appeared and told me she’d help me understand this world... and well, now I'm here."
He paused before adding: "And, by the way, about the Demon Kings... I know of them because in my world there is something called 'anime,' where Demon Kings and that kind of stuff are mentioned."
"Fascinating," Kael murmured, stroking his chin. "Your story is very peculiar."
Xanthe looked at him with an air of compassion. "And don't you miss your world?" she asked softly.
"Of course I do; I have a younger sister," Biel confessed, his voice tinged with melancholy. "I want to go back, but it's impossible since I know nothing about this world. I just hope she isn't worrying too much about me."
"Unfortunately, I cannot help you with that. My apologies," Kael said, bowing his head in respect.
"It's okay," Biel replied, trying to regain his spirits.
Kael resumed his upright posture and his storytelling tone. "Well, let's get straight to the point. I will tell you about the sealed Demon Kings. This story is true and took place 200 years ago. They were real entities, incredibly strong; they ruled this world and sowed chaos in both this world and the Spiritual Plane."
"What is the Spiritual Plane?" Xanthe interrupted, curious.
"The Spiritual Plane is a place distinct from this one," the old man explained, "where beings of light such as angels, spirits, and elves live. It is also the place where those who die go to be judged, to determine if they go to Heaven or Hell."
He made a dramatic pause before continuing. "But not all of them were evil; there was one who was different from the rest, seeking balance, even if his methods were incomprehensible to mortals. Among them, these five stood above the others; each dominated a fundamental aspect of the universe."
Kael began to list them, counting on his fingers: "I do not know the name of the first, for he was never present; he was the Demon King of Divine Chaos. Then there was Karia, the Demon Queen of Forbidden Knowledge; she, unlike her brothers, was not so associated with chaos or anything of the sort. She and her brother Monsfil, the Demon King of Eternal Destruction, were polar opposites. Unlike those two, there were Quizza, the Demon Queen of Inordinate Ambition, and Tahiel, the Demon King of Primordial Darkness. Those two were the worst demons to ever exist in this world; their actions are beyond forgiveness."
As he spoke of the last two, Acalia noticed a physical change in the narrator: his hands clenched into fists with such force that his knuckles turned white.
"You know a lot about these Demon Kings for a story from 200 years ago," Acalia observed sharply, fixing her eyes on him. "And you even seem bothered by it."
Kael let out a dry, joyless laugh. "Hahaha... it is something personal, but I suppose I hate them, after all."
"That does not answer my question," she insisted, implacable. "You seem suspicious to me. What else are you hiding from us?"
Kael sighed, a sound loaded with years and fatigue. "This story is not something I can tell just anyone; after all, it does not have a happy ending. If you suspect me, then kill me. After all, I have lived too long and I am tired."
Acalia relaxed her posture slightly, though her gaze remained cold. "I will not kill you," she declared. "It is just that I still do not fully trust you."
Kael resumed the tale, his deep voice filling the room. "Those Kings were so strong that even the gods feared their influence. It was then that a hero arose: a human who came from another world, a mortal chosen by the fragments, who managed to seal them away. Unfortunately, the price to pay was death. But, apparently, the seal was not entirely perfect, as it has begun to weaken over the years. That is why Gard is looking for them."
Biel felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing that. "Why is Gard looking for them now? What is he trying to achieve?" he asked fearfully.
"Gard is not just looking for the seals of the Demon Kings," Kael responded sternly. "He believes that by uniting the five seals, he will be able to claim that power and rewrite the rules of the universe. If he knew what those things truly are, no human would attempt to gather them."
Acalia narrowed her eyes, analyzing every word from the old man. "You speak with too much familiarity, as if you were there when they were sealed—as if you truly knew those Demon Kings," she pointed out distrustfully.
"It is a matter of perspective," Kael defended himself calmly. "I have read the stories left by the people of that era, and the way they speak of those entities simply makes me think very ugly things about them."
Biel decided to intervene to return to the present. "After everything you've told us... what exactly are we doing in Zerpia? What is hidden in this place?"
"In this place, specifically in the Catacombs of Zerpia—a dark and forgotten site that lies beneath the city—is the seal of one of those Demon Kings," Kael revealed.
Everyone was startled, except for Acalia, who remained impassive.
"How is it possible for a seal to be in this place?" Easton questioned, incredulous.
"How do you know it's here?" Xanthe added.
"I researched everything about this place when I was with Gard," Kael explained. "I know that an ancient city lies beneath us, and it is there that the seal rests."
"Then let us go before Gard begins to move and finds it," Acalia urged, standing up.
Biel, still confused by the mechanics of the plan, asked: "Wait a second. If we find the seal, what do we do with it?"
"We will take it and carry it far away so Gard does not find it," Kael declared.
"And how are we going to find that place?" Biel insisted.
Kael pointed toward a discreet corner of the establishment. "In this very inn, there is a hidden staircase that connects to that place. That is where we will enter."
Without wasting more time, the group headed toward the entrance of the catacombs. As they descended the ancient, poorly lit stairs, the air became heavier, permeated by a pungent smell of mold and antiquity.
"I don't like this," Xanthe whispered, clutching her staff tightly.
"It doesn't have to like you," Easton replied, ever the pragmatist. "We just have to make it out alive."
Biel, who was in the lead, suddenly felt something inside him resonate. It was like a distant echo, an invisible vibration calling to him from the depths.
Finally, they emerged into a wide chamber bathed in a reddish glow. In the center, upon a stone pedestal, rested the seal. Its light pulsed rhythmically, like a living heart, saturating the room with an oppressive, dense energy.
"There it is," Kael announced in a thin voice. "The Seal of the Demon King of Eternal Destruction."
Biel took a step forward, magnetically drawn to the object, but stopped dead when he heard a voice erupt inside his head. It was deep, resonant, and loaded with overwhelming authority.
"Are you my bearer?" the echo thundered in his mind.
Biel felt his body freeze. The words seemed to come not just from the seal, but from something much larger and older that defied his understanding. Acalia, always attentive to detail, noticed his sudden rigidity.
"Are you alright?" she asked Biel, concerned.
But before he could answer, a thunderous crash shook the foundations of the chamber. From the deepest shadows emerged an imposing figure: a Dark Knight covered in ornate armor, whose eyes glowed with an intense and lethal red.
"No one shall take the seal," the Dark Knight declared, unsheathing a sword that seemed forged of pure, crackling energy.
The group instantly moved into a fighting stance, preparing to do battle, aware that this would be their greatest challenge to date. And in the center of the looming chaos, Biel felt the seal calling his name, binding him to an inevitable destiny—as if he alone could decide the outcome of this confrontation.
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