The morning sunlight streamed through the leaves, swaying gently in the soft breeze. Nereza sat by the riverbank, her hand dipping into the cool water as she gazed at her reflection. Her emerald green hair danced in the wind. The ten-year-old girl smiled faintly before lifting her gaze to the rge tree on the other side of the stream.

  Nereza!

  The clear voice of a boy rang out, followed by the sound of footsteps as a figure leapt from the tree. Orion, the boy with golden hair and a radiant smile, ran towards her with a cheerful energy.

  “What are you doing?” he asked as he sat beside her.

  “Just watching the fish…” Nereza replied calmly, letting out a soft ugh as Orion tossed a small stone into the water, creating ripples.

  “You always do this, Orion.”

  “It’s fun!” Orion ughed, then id back on the grass, his golden eyes staring up at the vast sky. “Have you ever thought… one day we’ll leave here? Go on an adventure, see the wider world?”

  Nereza turned to look at him. His eyes sparkled with dreams and hopes. The world beyond their vilge felt so distant to her, but for Orion, it was something he longed for.

  “I don’t know… It’s nice here already.” Nereza spoke softly, hugging her knees. “We still have the kids to look after. This vilge is our home.”

  “Yeah…” Orion sighed. “But I want to see what’s beyond. I want to know what it’s like out there.”

  Nereza chuckled softly. “Then, if you go, can I ask you one thing?”

  “What is it?” Orion turned to face her.

  “Don’t forget to come back. Come back to me…”

  Orion paused for a moment before breaking into a wide smile. His golden eyes sparkled, filled with the wonder of a child hearing the tale of a hero for the first time. He extended his pinky finger.

  "Of course. I promise."

  They pinky-swore under the spring breeze, their ughter echoing in the air—an innocent moment filled with hope.

  But at that moment... neither of them knew that fate would soon tear everything away from them.

  Time passed swiftly. Spring turned to winter and then cycled back again. But the vilge’s peace was on the verge of breaking as whispers of war between humans and demons spread like wildfire. Everyone spoke of the "Demon King" and the "Chosen One"—the one ordained by the gods to sy the dark ruler.

  Nereza paid no mind to such rumors. For her, the vilge and the children she cared for were all that mattered. But one day, everything changed.

  The Day of Fate

  The sky was a muted gray, and an unnatural silence bnketed the vilge. The sound of hooves and cnking armor echoed through the air before a procession of church soldiers emerged.

  A man cd in pure white armor led the group. They stopped in the vilge square, their presence casting a shadow of fear over the people. Nereza stood amidst the crowd, frowning as she watched priests dismount their horses. An elderly man, exuding an air of authority, swept his gaze across the vilgers before speaking in a commanding voice.

  "People of humanity, today is a day of hope! The Almighty has chosen a beacon of light among you—one who will bring victory to mankind and vanquish the Demon King!"

  Murmurs spread through the crowd as vilgers exchanged uncertain gnces.

  "The Chosen One is here among you..."

  Nereza’s heart pounded violently.

  And then, a single name was spoken.

  "Orion!"

  All eyes turned to the golden-haired boy standing in the midst of the crowd. Orion stood frozen, just as stunned as everyone else.

  "He is the Chosen One! This child is humanity’s hope!"

  Nereza stepped forward instinctively. "That’s not true..."

  Orion turned to her, his eyes filled with confusion and fear.

  "I’m not going anywhere!" Orion shouted. "This is my home! You must be mistaken!"

  But no one listened.

  The soldiers stepped toward him. Orion instinctively backed away, inching closer to Nereza, as if seeking her protection. But she had no idea what to do.

  "Orion must be trained. Vilgers, accept this fate with joy, for he shall become your hero!"

  Nereza clenched her fists as she watched the soldiers grab Orion. He struggled, but their strength far outmatched his.

  "Nereza!" Orion reached out for her. "Help me!"

  She lunged forward, trying to seize him, but a soldier shoved her to the ground. Orion's terrified gaze met hers before he was hoisted onto a horse and taken away.

  Nereza scrambled to her feet and ran after them. But she was just a small girl, while they were trained warriors.

  All she could do was watch as the dust settled in the wake of their departure.

  Orion was gone.

  And the promise he once made...

  "Of course. I promise."

  But he never came back.

  Years had passed since the day Orion was taken. The vilge had returned to its peaceful routine, but for Nereza, no day ever felt the same again.

  Five Years Later

  On a silent night, Nereza sat by the window of the orphanage, gazing at the starry sky. The image of Orion being taken away was still vivid in her mind.

  She had constantly sought news about him. Rumors of the "Chosen One" circuted—some said he was training in the Church’s kingdom, others cimed he had been sent to the front lines to fight the demon army.

  But none of them spoke of the Orion she had once known.

  She often wondered—if he ever returned, would he still be the same Orion?

  The Night of the Witch Hunt

  A warning bell rang out in the dead of night. Nereza jolted awake as screams echoed from the vilge center.

  She quickly grabbed her cloak and rushed outside to the town square. There, she found a crowd gathered, their attention fixed on an elderly woman who had been bound and forced to kneel before a group of clergy.

  "She’s a witch!" a man shouted.

  "A witch?" Nereza furrowed her brows.

  "She cursed our crops, making them wither! She made the vilge children sick!"

  The priest’s voice carried authority, stirring the fear and rage of the vilgers. They shouted in agreement, their voices blending into a deafening roar.

  Nereza stepped forward. "Wait! You have no proof!"

  But no one listened.

  The priest raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to drag the old woman toward the wooden stake prepared for her execution.

  Nereza clenched her fists. She knew that no matter what she said, no one would listen. The elderly woman cried for mercy, but her pleas were drowned out by the vilgers’ cheers.

  The fmes began to rise.

  Nereza’s eyes trembled as she stood frozen, helplessly watching the fire consume the woman.

  Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through the vilge. Heavy footsteps echoed in the distance. From the vilge outskirts, a dark army emerged under the moonlight, their bck-and-red banners billowing in the wind. The sound of hooves and cshing armor sent a wave of panic through the vilgers.

  Terrified screams filled the air as the people recognized what was coming—

  A demon army.

  Nereza stood in shock, staring at the unfolding chaos. Among the figures, a lone man dismounted his horse. His golden hair gleamed under the fire’s glow, though his armor was no longer that of a Church warrior.

  His gaze met hers through the panicked crowd. He stepped toward her with a calm demeanor, as if this was nothing more than a simple homecoming.

  “I remember you… Nereza, right?”

  Nereza stared at Orion as if she couldn’t believe her own eyes. Was this truly the childhood friend she once knew?

  The young man before her bore a familiar face, yet at the same time, he looked entirely different. His golden eyes no longer held the warmth they once did. He was cd in bck and red armor, embzoned with the insignia of the demon army.

  "What happened to you, Orion?"

  The murmurs of the vilgers and the priests around her grew louder.

  "The demon army! They've invaded!"

  "Is that… Orion? Wasn’t he the Chosen One!?"

  The people were confused—some fleeing in terror, others gripping their weapons in defense. But among them, one priest’s gaze fixated on Nereza instead.

  Emerald eyes that reflected the firelight, green hair—something forbidden in this vilge. They had never questioned her before, seeing her only as an orphan girl who cared for children. But now…

  "A demon woman!"

  The priest’s voice rang out across the execution square. The murmurs of the vilgers quickly turned into frightened cries.

  "She’s a witch! Look at her hair and eyes!"

  "A demon has been controlling her, hiding her among us!"

  Nereza gnced around, realizing she was now trapped between two threats—on one side, the approaching demon army, and on the other, the vilgers ready to burn her at the stake.

  "This is..."

  She took a step back, her mind racing, uncertain of what to do next.

  Orion stepped closer, observing her carefully before speaking in a calm, steady voice.

  "Looks like I arrived just in time."

  Orion’s voice remained calm despite the tension in the air. Nereza stared at him, bewildered. Everything was happening too fast—he had returned as a general of the demon army, the vilge was in chaos, and now she had become the target of a witch hunt.

  "Orion… what have you done?" Her voice trembled slightly, unsure whether she should feel anger, relief, or fear.

  Orion didn’t answer. He simply extended a hand toward her, as if inviting her to come closer. But before she could make a decision, the vilgers’ cries erupted once more.

  "Burn her! Kill the witch!"

  "Don’t let the demons deceive us!"

  Nereza turned to face them, her emerald eyes widening slightly. These were the people she had once helped—the children she had cared for, the vilgers who had once smiled at her. Now, all she saw in their eyes was fear.

  She pressed her lips together tightly before turning back to Orion.

  "Stop, Orion… Don’t hurt them," she said firmly.

  Orion raised an eyebrow, as if he wasn’t surprised by her words.

  "You don’t want revenge? After they turned their backs on you like this?" he asked, his voice eerily composed.

  "No…" Nereza shook her head. "I just want this to end without anyone else dying."

  Orion studied her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. "Still as kind as ever."

  Before she could respond, she felt herself being pulled into his embrace. His strong arms wrapped around her tightly, and for a fleeting second, she felt the familiar warmth of his presence.

  She looked up at him. "You’ll listen to me, won’t you—"

  But before she could finish her sentence, a sharp pain shot through her side.

  Her eyes widened in shock. Her body immediately weakened, her lips quivering as she felt something cold and metallic embedded deep into her flesh.

  Her trembling fingers pressed against her side, feeling the warmth of her own blood seeping through her clothes.

  "Why…?" Her voice came out as a whisper, her strength fading with each passing second.

  Orion held her gently, his golden eyes still filled with an eerie softness, yet distant—as if he felt no remorse for what he had done.

  "I’m sorry, Nereza," he murmured against her ear. "But this is the only way to take you away from here."

  Her consciousness began to fade, darkness closing in as the st thing she heard was Orion’s voice calling her name—soft and gentle, yet carrying a meaning she could no longer grasp.

  The thunderous roar of the demon army echoed throughout the vilge. When Nereza regained consciousness, she found herself cradled in Orion’s arms. He carried her effortlessly, his steps unhurried, as if the weight of her injured body meant nothing. The pain from her wound pulsed dully, but as she opened her eyes and looked ahead, it was not the physical pain that struck her hardest—it was the sight before her.

  From this height, she could see everything.

  Her vilge—her home—was drowning in despair and death.

  The csh of metal, the screams of the people—sounds of destruction filled the air.

  "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

  The order rang out, unmistakably from Orion. His demon army carried it out with cold precision, their expressions empty, as if destruction was simply another task to complete. The remaining vilgers were being rounded up, dragged to the vilge center like mbs to sughter.

  Nereza’s breath caught in her throat. Her trembling hands pressed against the wound at her side, warm blood seeping between her fingers. Her body was still weak, but the pain in her heart was far worse—seeing the people she once cared for being cut down like they were nothing.

  The gunfire and the csh of weapons grew louder.

  "No! Stop!" Nereza cried out, but her plea was drowned by the agonized screams around her.

  She forced her weakened hand to grasp Orion’s cloak, tugging at it desperately.

  "Orion… stop… please… stop this," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "They’re innocent… they’re my people…"

  Orion turned to look at her. His golden eyes were as dark and unreadable as ever. There was no anger, no sorrow—only the same cold detachment.

  "There is no pce for them in this world anymore, Nereza," he said, his voice calm, unshaken. "You know it as well as I do. This is the only way to end it."

  "No… not like this!" Her voice wavered, barely above a whisper. "They’re my people… every single one of them… please don’t do this."

  But no matter how much she begged, the command had already been given.

  Orion raised his hand, his fingers stretching toward the burning vilge. His voice was firm.

  "Destroy everything."

  The demon army moved again. Some vilgers were dragged away, their screams muffled as they were silenced. Others were bound and beaten, their struggles futile against the overwhelming force of their captors. Bdes cut through the air, slicing through flesh as if it meant nothing.

  Nereza’s vision blurred, her heart breaking with each passing second.

  "Orion!" she screamed, her voice raw with anguish. "Please! Stop this! I beg you—this isn’t the path we should take!"

  But Orion did not answer. He kept walking, his grip on her steady and unyielding, as if nothing she said could change what was happening.

  Despair cwed at her chest. She was trapped in his embrace, powerless, watching helplessly as everything she loved was torn apart.

  After the swift and ruthless destruction of the vilge, everything around Nereza gradually changed as Orion carried her away from the devastation. They walked along an unfamiliar path—one that no one would have ever imagined she would set foot upon… the Demon Kingdom.

  The scenery around her was almost enough to tear her heart apart. Everything was barren, shrouded in smoke and ash, as if the world she once knew had been reduced to nothingness.

  The sky loomed overhead, dark and oppressive, as though cloaked by an unseen force. The nd that had once thrived with life had crumbled into ruins, leaving only a kingdom soaked in darkness, its soil littered with the remnants of the fallen.

  Demons moved about, their eyes fixated on her—not just with curiosity, but with a sinister hunger. Nereza could feel their stares crawling over her skin, their attention drawn to her emerald-green hair, an unnatural sight in this forsaken realm.

  “She…” some of the demons whispered amongst themselves, their voices slithering through the air like a cold breeze. “There’s something… unusual about her.”

  Their gazes weren’t just those of mindless creatures; they were scrutinizing, predatory. Every step she took was met with murmurs and piercing stares. Some even dared to reach out, skeletal fingers brushing too close to her wrists, as if testing how much they could take before facing consequences.

  Nereza turned to Orion, fear evident in her eyes. He didn’t say a word, but his stance spoke volumes. His grip on her arm tightened as he quickened his pace, shielding her from their intrusive gnces.

  “Don’t worry,” he murmured, his voice calm yet firm, his eyes sweeping over the demons with a silent warning. “They don’t matter… but you do.”

  She looked at him, uncertain of what he meant, but she didn’t question him. All she could feel was the warmth of his grip—both protective and possessive—as he led her further into the abyss.

  Some demons continued to gre, discontent fshing in their monstrous eyes. They didn’t like the way Orion moved with her, how he kept her close, how he made it clear that no one was to touch her. Yet, despite their hunger, they hesitated. Something about Nereza drew them in, something beyond mere flesh and blood.

  “Don’t let them near you,” Orion whispered, his tone ced with something darker. “They shouldn’t—no, they won’t—harm you.”

  The pain from her wounds still gnawed at her, but beneath it, she could feel his protection like an unshakable shield.

  Her emerald eyes flickered toward the demons prowling nearby, their twisted figures shifting through the shadows. Her presence stood out, a lone spark of color amidst the void. Yet the deeper they ventured, the more she felt an unsettling truth settling in her bones.

  She wasn’t just afraid.

  She wasn’t just lost.

  Here’s the English transtion of your story:

  As they reached the final destination of their shadowed and perilous journey, Orion brought Nereza to a halt before the massive doors of the grand throne room. The thick wooden doors loomed before them, sealed tightly as if keeping something monstrous contained within.

  Their footsteps echoed down the narrow corridor until they finally came to a stop in front of the doors, embzoned with the sigil of demons. A heavy silence hung in the air.

  Orion pced his hand against the door and pushed it open, revealing the eerie chamber within.

  The throne room was vast and chillingly cold, dimly illuminated by torches lining the crumbling stone walls—remnants of a kingdom long forgotten.

  Amidst the darkness, the Demon King sat upon his towering throne of bone and stone. His skin was jet bck, his cold and enigmatic eyes glinting in the firelight. His long, dark hair framed his striking features, and on his forehead, a pair of bck horns stood as symbols of his dominion.

  "Orion..." The Demon King’s voice was low yet commanding. "Bring her forward. Let me see her."

  Orion did not respond. He strode forward with Nereza in tow, holding onto her as if she were a precious relic. When they reached the base of the throne, he released his grip and let her fall to the ground with force. The pain from her wounds surged through her body as she colpsed, barely able to stay conscious.

  "Hah... an unusual girl indeed," the Demon King murmured, his gaze fixed upon Nereza with undeniable intrigue. He descended from his throne slowly, each step bringing him closer.

  Nereza forced her eyes open. She could feel the weight of countless stares pressing in from all sides, but the most devastating sight of all was Orion’s expression—one of silent acceptance, as if he had resigned himself to whatever was about to unfold.

  "Orion..." Her voice trembled as she struggled to rise, but her body was too weak. There was no escape.

  The Demon King smirked and crouched before her, reaching out to touch her emerald-green hair. "This hair... those eyes... it seems there’s something extraordinary hidden within you. Tell me, what do you pn to do with it?"

  Nereza remained silent, her heart answering with nothing but confusion and the agony of betrayal. No words would hold meaning now.

  The Demon King’s smile deepened in satisfaction at her helpless state. "Orion... what do you intend to do with her, knowing she is no ordinary human? She might be the key to unlocking power we have never seen before."

  Orion stood still, eyes cast downward, unable to answer. A heavy silence stretched between them, thick with tension and unspoken thoughts.

  The Demon King turned his gaze back to Orion. "You don’t pn to use her? I am giving you an opportunity."

  Orion looked at Nereza, lying fragile and wounded on the floor. Despite her weakened state, what tormented him most was the realization that he had failed to keep her from ending up in this accursed pce.

  He finally spoke, his voice quiet yet firm. "No..."

  His answer reverberated through the chamber. "Not yet... She will decide for herself."

  The Demon King’s smirk widened, almost as if he were entertained by the defiance. "It seems you don’t understand… but that’s fine. We’ll see soon enough what she chooses in the end."

  Nereza felt the pressure growing with every passing second, her mind spiraling with fear and uncertainty. But somewhere deep within her, something stirred—a force long dormant, beginning to awaken.