DEMON REALM- VALTORIA
CAPITAL- KARKOTH
Deva's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit throne room, the chandelier's crystals casting faint, shimmering patterns on the walls as he approached his Father. The king's figure sat imposingly on the throne, shadows accentuating the sharp angles of his face.
Deva's expression was solemn, his eyes fixed on the king's as he stopped before him. "My lord," he said, his deep voice low and respectful. "I have arrived as summoned."
The king's voice was grave, his words dripping with an unspoken weight. "There is a matter of great importance, Deva."
Deva looked at the man he regarded more as a king than a father. "Matter of great importance?"
The king's voice boomed through the throne room, his words carrying the weight of unyielding authority. "The pact is sealed," he announced, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity. "You will wed the mortal king's daughter on the next full moon, binding our realms together." His gaze pinned Deva, challenging him to defy the arrangement.
Deva's eyes locked onto the king's, his expression unreadable. "The next full moon? Why the rush, your majesty?"
The king rose from the throne, his movements deliberate and imposing, and strode towards Deva, who met him with a steady gaze, unfazed by the dark power emanating from his Father. "You will do as I say." His voice dripped with venom when he stood close to Deva.
Deva's gaze held steady. "I've obeyed your will without question, Father," he said, his voice firm. "But I must know, why the haste? What urgency drives this marriage?"
The king's gaze lingered on Deva, his expression unyielding. "You've grown bolder," he stated, his tone low and commanding.
Deva's eyebrow arched in silent inquiry as the king swept past him, the sound of his dark robes rustling against the stone floor.
"Follow me," the king's voice echoed back, a command rather than a request.
Deva inhaled sharply, his shoulders squaring as he fell into step behind his father.
The heavy wooden doors of the throne room creaked shut behind them, and they walked in silence until they reached the dark hallway, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the walls.
The king's footsteps slowed, and he spoke, his voice low and measured, "As you know, the marriage between both realms is highly beneficial." His words hung in the air, punctuated by the soft crackle of the burning wood in the chandeliers that lined the corridor. "This would help us form alliance between both realms, thereby strengthening the relationship."
Deva's expression remained neutral as he listened, though his mind seethed with skepticism. An alliance with the fragile mortal realm seemed inconsequential to him, the humans hardly a force worthy of the demon realm's notice. Yet, he knew his father, the Demon Lord, didn't act without ulterior motives. There was more to this pact than met the eye, and he suspected it was something bad.
"You will wed the king's eldest daughter and ensure her comfort and loyalty," the king stated, his tone cold and calculating, implying that Deva's obedience was crucial.
"Of what benefit is this marriage, my Lord?" Deva inquired, his voice measured.
The king halted mid-stride, spinning around to face Deva with sudden intensity. Deva met his gaze unwaveringly, his eyes locked on his father's without a hint of submission. "Do not question my orders."
"I am not questioning your orders, my Lord," Deva said, his voice firm and unwavering. "I am seeking to understand the purpose behind them. What is it about this marriage that makes it so crucial to our realm's interests?"
The king's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with a mixture of annoyance and calculation. He seemed to weigh his words carefully, choosing to reveal just enough to placate Deva without exposing his true motives.
"The mortal realm holds resources that could tip the balance of power in our favor," the king said, his voice measured. "Their realm holds vast ancient knowledge of power and strength."
Deva's expression remained skeptical, his eyes never leaving his father's face. "And what of the daughter?" he asked, his voice low and even. "She is just human and is definitely oblivious to the powers held by the mortal realm."
The king's face darkened, his jaw clenched in irritation. "She is a key part of the pact," he said, his voice tight with restraint.
Deva's gaze never wavered, his eyes boring into his father's as if searching for the truth behind his words. "This has been your plan all along. I knew there was more to this alliance than just relationship," he said, his voice dripping with irritation.
The king's face twisted in a snarl, his patience wearing thin. "You will not speak to me that way. I am the king," he growled. "You will do as you are told, and you will ensure she remains loyal to our realm."
Deva's expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a fierce intensity in the dim light of the hallway. "I will do as you command, Father," he said, his voice serious. "But I will not be party to cruelty or manipulation if I am to wed this woman."
The king's eyes bore into Deva's, his voice laced with disdain. "You're weak, Deva. Demons don't show mercy or hesitation. We dominate, we exploit, we conquer." He jabbed a finger at Deva's chest, his face twisted in anger. "Your heart is weak. A true demon seizes power, crushes opposition, and rules with an iron fist."
"I am not weak," Deva declared, his voice low and even, his fist clenched at his side.
"To claim the Flame Throne, I fought, bled, and conquered. I demonstrated my strength and dominance. Everything I do is for the realm's benefit. A true leader knows that strength isn't about brutal force, but strategic power. Showing weakness is a liability, and I won't jeopardize our realm's stability."
Deva's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as he met his father's gaze, the accusation of weakness igniting a fire within him. His jaw clenched, and his face set in a resolute mask, as if daring his father to doubt him further. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Deva's determination solidified, his very presence exuding an unyielding resolve to prove his father wrong and demonstrate his strength.
"Deva, you will obey my command," the king growled, his voice laced with malice. "You will marry the human king's eldest daughter and secure her loyalty, granting us access to the ancient knowledge and power held by the mortals. This is not a request. It's a decree, and it will be done."
The king's gaze scorched Deva's face, his expression twisted in a scowl. With a dismissive turn, he walked away, his dark robes billowing behind him. "A true demon is not weak," he tossed over his shoulder. "To ascend to the Flame Throne, you must prove your strength. I expect nothing but power from one born of my blood." The king vanished into the shadows, leaving Deva standing alone in the dimly lit hallway.
Deva stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides, as the king's words seethed beneath his skin. The accusation of weakness ignited a fire within him, fueling a burning determination. He would prove his father wrong, access the ancient knowledge, and demonstrate his strength. Deva vowed to show his father and the entire demon realm that he was worthy of the throne.