Nereza was on the brink of colpse. She looked at Orion with eyes full of despair. Her body had been pushed to its limits, and sweat dripped from her cheek, her lips stained with blood from the wounds. But what hurt the most was seeing him—Orion, once her best friend—standing there, doing nothing to help her.

  "Orion... help me..." Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with the st shred of hope she had left. She reached out toward the one she had once trusted.

  Orion stood still, moving only slightly, as though he might step forward to help. But then, his gaze turned toward the demon lord standing by the distant throne.

  "Are you really going to let her meet her end like this?" Nereza pleaded once more, her voice rising in pitch as the st of her hope seemed to slip away.

  But Orion’s answer caused her heart to sink to the pit of her stomach. He lowered his head and spoke in a voice that betrayed no emotion. "I'm sorry..."

  Suddenly, the demon lord, sitting on his throne, let out a soft ugh before issuing a command with chilling finality. "All of you... take her to the dungeon!"

  A group of demon soldiers, who had been standing around, quickly moved in and dragged Nereza away. Despite her struggles and her desperate cries for Orion’s help, the soldiers’ strength was too much for her to resist.

  "Let me go!" she screamed, her hands pushing against the demon soldiers, but everything seemed futile.

  As she was pulled away, Nereza tried to look back at Orion, her eyes full of hope, but he just stood there, motionless, as if unable to do anything.

  The demon soldiers dragged her further until only the flickering light of the torches in the grand hall was visible before she was locked away in a dark, cold dungeon.

  Inside the dark room, the demon lord stood before Orion again, his eyes fixed on him with a cold smile.

  "Orion... do you still not understand?" The demon lord’s voice echoed, as he took a step closer, his presence as imposing as ever.

  Orion stood silently, still feeling the confusion and the pain from Nereza’s words, which continued to echo in his mind.

  "Can't you see? She’s not just an ordinary child. She’s the key to unlocking a power no one has ever known before," the demon lord said coldly, stepping closer to Orion. "Her power is beyond anything anyone could ever stop."

  Orion didn’t respond. He knew the demon lord was right, but his heart was filled with doubt.

  "She is unlike anyone in this world, and you know that too... this is the moment where you must make a decision," the demon lord smiled with satisfaction. "Her power is too great to be used for something as trivial as protecting a vilge or maintaining the good in this world."

  Orion gazed at the demon lord, feeling the temptation in his words. But he remained silent, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him.

  "You must choose your path, or let this world turn her into a weapon," the demon lord challenged him, his gaze fixed on Orion.

  Orion remained still, shaking his head as though trying to make up his mind, but the demon lord’s words about Nereza’s power haunted him still.

  "You must choose wisely... or she will be the one to destroy everything."

  The demon lord turned his back to the throne. "So, what will you choose, Orion?"

  Nereza felt as if she were being torn apart from this world. When she woke up in an unfamiliar state, she found herself imprisoned in mid-air inside a dark cavern, with moonlight streaming through a small gap in the ceiling. She was bound to the walls by chains locked around her neck, arms, and legs, leaving her completely immobile.

  The moonlight shining through that gap cast shadows of the chains and her body, making them stand out starkly against the darkness. But what was most obvious was her battered body, her clothes torn from the forced struggles. Every pain she had endured was now visible on her physical form.

  She tried to move, but the chains held her fast, preventing her from escaping. The sound of her breath echoed in the dark room, and the silence that enveloped the space seemed to threaten everything. Even the sounds in her mind were swallowed by the oppressive darkness.

  "Why... why..." Her voice was faint. Her hands tried to move, but the searing pain that coursed through her body made it unbearable.

  Images of Orion lingered in her mind. She saw him making a decision, doing nothing to help her. He had left her at the mercy of the killers, with no way to retaliate.

  Thinking of the past made her heart tighten. The hope she had once held began to dwindle, fading away with every passing moment, almost entirely extinguished.

  Then, the sound of the door opening pulled her from her thoughts. Her body trembled as she saw the light from a torch shine into the room, its coldness spreading across her body. When she looked toward the door, her eyes caught the silhouette of a figure stepping inside.

  "Orion..." She called out to him in despair. Despite the pain, her voice rose.

  He stepped closer to her, and she could only close her eyes, unable to say anything more.

  But the voice that followed was not what she had expected. "I told you before, you can't escape this, Nereza..."

  His words rang through her heart, and she felt a deep, emotional pain as they sank in. "Orion... please help me... I beg you..."

  He stepped closer to her, slowing his pace until he stopped next to her. He extended his hand but didn’t touch her. "It’s not that simple, Nereza."

  The st shred of hope she had in him was fading away.

  "Your decision... it's too hard for me to accept," he said, his voice cold.

  The pain she felt now was not only physical, from the torment she had endured, but also the feeling that everything she had believed in had been destroyed.

  Orion turned and began walking toward the door. All that remained was the sound of Nereza’s heavy breathing as she struggled to stand firm, refusing to give up. Even in that darkness, with the pain and the hope that had already begun to fade.

  In the silence of the dark room where she was bound, despair began to spread throughout Nereza's body. Every movement was restricted by the thick chains. Perhaps she had lost the strength to fight against them, but maybe... just maybe, there was still a tiny shred of hope lingering deep within her heart.

  "Orion!" Her voice rang out in the darkness, sharp and full of pain, as if it were a plea that no one could hear. "Orion! Help me!"

  Her hope was slowly fading, but she refused to give up. She took a deep breath and tried again, but this time her voice lowered to a mere whisper, almost breaking into sobs. "Why... why are you doing this..."

  She tried to sit up, but the chains that bound her made it impossible to even move a finger.

  As she continued calling his name, amidst the darkness in that room, her breath grew heavier. The pain from her wounds and the fading hope began to merge, erupting in the form of a scream.

  "ORION!!!"

  Her scream echoed throughout the room. It grew louder with all her strength, making everything around her freeze as if time itself had stopped. This was not just her voice; it was a cry that carried anger, hopelessness, and endless pain.

  As her scream reached its peak, it seemed to pierce through the darkness in the room, reverberating up to the sky, as if the moon itself was watching her plea.

  Her voice echoed to the horizon, as if everything in the world was waiting for something to happen. The dark sky and the silent moon seemed to respond to her call.

  The once calm moonlight suddenly bzed down with force, transforming into a strong and radiant light, as if affirming that something was about to happen in the future.

  Nereza remained stiff in her chains, her body twitching and convulsing from the force of the scream she had released. She was almost out of breath, but her shout had caused something to change in the sky...

  In the dark meeting room, illuminated only by the flickering light of torches, the Dark Lord sat upon a lofty throne. His jet-bck hair swayed in the wind from the door slightly ajar. He lifted his head to look at Orion, who walked in and sat down on the chair across from him.

  "Orion..." The Dark Lord's voice was deep and cold. "Now she is in our hands, and everything depends on your decision—how you will deal with this."

  Orion sat quietly, his face revealing nothing. He was still lost in thoughts of Nereza, an endless stream of worry. Yet, his presence in this room showed that he could not escape the truth.

  The Dark Lord nodded as if understanding. Then he continued, "I know she means a lot to you, but right now... what you must do is take care of her for now."

  Orion gazed at the Dark Lord, his eyes filled with confusion and the weight of a difficult decision. He knew that the Dark Lord’s command carried more meaning than what was spoken aloud, but it still felt like a command that created conflict within himself.

  "Why do you want me to take care of her?" he asked softly.

  The Dark Lord smiled faintly and raised a hand in mockery. "It doesn't matter what the reason is... you're going to do it anyway, aren't you?"

  Orion said nothing. He knew this was something he had to do. He knew that he couldn’t let Nereza fall into more danger. Even though the woman was full of pain and loss, he could not abandon her.

  The Dark Lord raised his hand and waved it through the air. "She’s in your hands now... You can handle everything as you see fit. But remember... this is a choice you made."

  Orion gnced back at the Dark Lord before standing up and nodding in agreement. "I will take care of her."

  His words caused the atmosphere in the room to fall silent again. He didn’t know where this decision would lead, but the only thing he knew for sure was that he had to be by Nereza’s side, even though he feared this might be the wrong decision.

  As Orion left the meeting room, he felt the weight of his burden grow heavier. Yet, there was no turning back now. The guilt he felt about Nereza remained entrenched in his heart, and with every step he took, it seemed to tighten around his chest even more.

  As he walked out of the room and towards the cave where Nereza was imprisoned, he knew that he was walking a path with no return.

  Orion stepped into the cave, the atmosphere around him shifted in an eerie, inexplicable way. The air grew unnaturally cold, and the shadows along the cave walls seemed to slither slowly, as if something unseen was moving within them.

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing that something was amiss. Yet, he continued forward.

  At the center of the cave, Nereza remained suspended in midair. Bck chains, glistening under the moonlight filtering through a crack above, bound her in pce. Her figure was frail, her tattered clothing revealing scars and bruises—marks of her captivity.

  She didn’t even lift her head to look at him.

  Orion furrowed his brows slightly before giving a calm but firm command. "Release her."

  The two demon guards standing watch exchanged brief gnces before hastily obeying. With a cruel yank, they unfastened the chains, causing Nereza’s weakened body to plummet.

  Before she could hit the ground, Orion stepped forward and caught her in his arms. Her small, fragile frame was light against his hold, and he could feel the chill radiating from her skin—an unsettling sensation, as if she were fading away.

  "You…" he murmured softly.

  Nereza did not respond. She cked even the strength to lift her head. She merely allowed herself to be held, like a lifeless doll.

  Orion let out a quiet sigh before carrying her out of the cave. But as he walked, a strange feeling stirred deep in his chest.

  For just a fleeting moment—a mere fraction of a second—he gnced down at her. Those emerald eyes…

  ...They used to shine brighter than this, didn’t they?

  He paused for a brief second before turning away, as if suppressing something rising within him.

  Something had happened to her… And he knew all too well that it was something that never should have happened at all.

  The Demon Kingdom was nothing like Nereza had imagined.

  The houses, constructed from pitch-bck stone, stood firm and orderly. The streets were paved with dark gemstones that shimmered under the glow of enchanted nterns. Her emerald eyes swept across the scenery, observing the citizens who carried on with their peaceful lives.

  Demons lined the streets—some were merchants, others were musicians pying soothing melodies. Elderly demons ughed as they shared old tales with children, while groups of witches sat together weaving fabrics and brewing herbal potions.

  …This pce was nothing like the filthy, wretched nd humans had described.

  On the contrary… it seemed more peaceful than her own vilge.

  There was warmth here, a sense of community. A love and unity she had never truly seen among humans.

  She pressed her lips together as she walked, following behind Orion, who led her through the bustling market. The sound of ughter echoed nearby—demon children pyed with one another, carefree, just like human children would.

  Why…?

  Why did this nd, branded as a realm of evil, feel warmer than the world she had known?

  Orion slowed his pace slightly and turned back to her, as if about to say something.

  But at that moment—

  He saw nothing but empty air.

  She was gone.

  Orion's eyes widened as he realized Nereza had vanished. His body tensed instinctively, fists clenching as his gaze darted around the area.

  "Running away…?" he muttered under his breath, trying to keep his expression calm, though unease began to creep into his mind.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse—

  The tattered hem of her dress disappearing into a building—a library.

  Orion wasted no time. He moved swiftly, striding toward the entrance and pushing the door open with force. The sound of the old wooden door creaked loudly, echoing through the silent space.

  Inside, the library was eerily quiet. Rows of neatly arranged bookshelves stretched before him, illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted candles. The scent of aged parchment and ink lingered in the air.

  And there, at the center of the room—

  Nereza stood before a gathering of demon witches.

  She hadn't noticed him. Her gaze was locked onto an ancient book held by one of the witches, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced the inscriptions on its worn pages.

  A record of their kind—witches.

  Orion was about to scold her, demand an expnation, but then he heard her voice—

  A voice ced with bitterness and uncertainty.

  “…Back in the vilge, they called me a witch…”

  Her voice wavered slightly as she ran her fingertips over the carved letters, her eyes dark with unspoken memories.

  “Just because of my hair… and my eyes. They said I was a demon… even though I had never done anything wrong.”

  Her hands clenched into fists, trembling as she continued.

  “But here… no one fears me. No one looks at me with hatred…”

  Orion remained silent, watching her intently.

  He could feel it—something was shifting inside her.

  Something he might no longer be able to stop.

  "Listen to me, Nereza…"

  Orion stepped closer, trying to keep his voice steady, though his mind was in turmoil. He didn’t understand why she was saying these things—why she was changing.

  "Just because they don’t reject you here doesn’t mean it’s right—"

  "It’s not just about ‘not rejecting’ me, Orion."

  Her voice cut through his words, firm and unwavering. The warmth that once shone in her emerald eyes was gone, repced by something colder, sharper.

  "They accept me."

  She stared straight at him, as if challenging him.

  "They never called me a demon, even with my hair and eyes. They never cast me out like humans did."

  Orion clenched his fists, an unsettling feeling creeping through him. He could feel something shifting inside her—something unfamiliar, something dangerous.

  "What happened, Nereza?" His golden eyes locked onto hers, demanding an answer. "When I wasn’t with you in that cell… What happened to you?"

  For a moment, she said nothing. Then, she tilted her head slightly, those emerald eyes studying him—evaluating him.

  And then, she smiled.

  A smile that didn’t belong on her face.

  "Orion…" Her voice was soft, but there was something hollow in it.

  "...What if I told you I’m nothing anymore?"

  Her voice was hoarse—not with anger, not with hatred… but with the emptiness of someone who had lost everything.

  The air around Orion felt heavier. His golden eyes wavered as he looked into hers.

  It wasn’t the gaze of someone who resented the world.

  It was the gaze of someone who had been completely consumed.

  "You're nothing anymore?"

  Orion tried to suppress the unease creeping into his heart. He stepped closer, his golden eyes searching deep into her emerald ones—eyes that now seemed empty, reflecting nothing at all.

  "You're Nereza… the one I know. The one who protected the children in the vilge. The one who never gave in to fate."

  His voice was firm, yet beneath it y a quiet desperation.

  "Don’t say something so ridiculous." He forced himself to sound composed, clenching his fists at his sides. "You can still come back—"

  "Come back to what?"

  Nereza’s voice cut through his words, eerily calm. She lifted her gaze to meet his, her emerald eyes devoid of emotion.

  "Come back to being a naive fool who believed this world was fair?"

  Orion fell silent.

  "Come back to being someone who waited for help… when the truth is, no one ever came?"

  She stepped closer, her face now so near that it felt almost like a challenge.

  "Orion."

  She spoke his name softly, then smiled—a smile stripped of all warmth.

  "Do you remember our promise?"

  Orion’s eyes widened. His body tensed as her words dragged him back to a past he had nearly forgotten.

  Their promise.

  His heart clenched, memories rushing back with overwhelming force.

  Nereza never looked away, never even blinked.

  "I never forgot," she said, her voice steady.

  "Have you?"

  "Of course, I—"

  Before Orion could finish, a sudden explosion echoed from outside, shaking the ground beneath them. His instincts took over immediately.

  "Stay close." He grabbed Nereza’s wrist without hesitation and pulled her along as he hurried towards the entrance.

  The air outside was tense, charged with an ominous energy. The distant sounds of shouting and cshing steel filled the night. Orion cursed under his breath. Another attack? Now?

  He turned to Nereza, his grip on her hand tightening. "Stay here. Don’t move." His golden eyes locked onto hers, silently urging her to listen.

  For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then, slowly, she gave a small nod.

  Satisfied, Orion turned and dashed into the chaos.

  By the time he returned, his heart nearly stopped.

  Nereza was on the ground, her body trembling. Around her stood a group of demons, their twisted grins full of malice. One of them held a torn piece of fabric—her clothing.

  Orion saw red.

  Before they could react, he was already moving.

  SHNK!

  The sickening sound of a bde slicing through flesh rang out. A severed hand hit the floor, followed by a guttural scream. Orion’s sword dripped with dark blood as the demon reeled back, clutching its stump.

  The others backed away in shock, but Orion wasn’t done. His gaze burned with fury as he raised his bde again.

  "Touch her again, and I’ll carve you apart." His voice was deathly quiet, but the weight behind it sent chills through the remaining demons.

  They hesitated—then scattered, vanishing into the darkness.

  Breathing heavily, Orion turned back to Nereza.

  She was curled up, gripping her face with both hands. Her entire body trembled violently. But something was… off.

  This wasn’t just fear.

  Her fingers dug into her skin as if she was trying to contain something.

  "Nereza…?" He crouched down, reaching out hesitantly.

  She didn’t respond. Instead, a shuddering breath left her lips—one that sounded almost… delighted.

  Orion froze.

  Then, slowly, she lowered her hands.

  And the look in her eyes—sent ice through his veins.

  The cold night air wrapped around them as Orion led Nereza through the dimly lit corridors of the fortress. He didn’t say much—perhaps because he didn’t know what to say after what had just happened.

  Instead, he simply draped his military cloak over her shoulders. The thick fabric was far too rge for her, almost swallowing her frame, but she didn’t protest. She only gnced at him briefly before looking away.

  They walked in silence.

  Orion stole a few gnces at her along the way. She looked… calm. Too calm. As if the events from earlier hadn’t shaken her in the slightest. Or maybe—just maybe—she was holding something back.

  He clenched his jaw.

  What happened to her?

  The questions burned in his mind, but he didn’t ask. Not yet.

  By the time they reached the holding cells, the fortress had settled into an uneasy quiet. Orion stopped in front of her cell, hesitating for a fraction of a second before finally unlocking the door.

  She stepped inside without a word.

  Orion exhaled, gripping the bars for a moment as if trying to steady himself. His golden eyes searched her face one st time—maybe for something familiar, something that reassured him that she was still her.

  But she simply met his gaze with an unreadable expression.

  For a fleeting second, the words stay where I can see you nearly left his lips.

  But he swallowed them down.

  Instead, he just nodded, stepping back as the door clicked shut.

  "Get some rest." His voice was quieter than he intended.

  She tilted her head slightly, as if amused by his concern. But she said nothing.

  And as Orion turned away, his grip tightened at his sides.

  He should have felt relieved that she was back in his sight.

  But deep down… he knew that the Nereza standing in that cell was not the same person anymore.

  Late into the night, Orion found himself standing before the grand doors of the Demon Lord’s chamber. The air here was always thick with something—power, menace, an unshakable weight pressing into his bones. But Orion had long since grown used to it.

  He pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

  The Demon Lord sat upon his throne, his crimson gaze piercing even in the dim candlelight. He didn’t seem surprised to see Orion. If anything, he almost looked… amused.

  “You’re troubled,” the Demon Lord remarked, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “I assume this is about her?”

  Orion clenched his jaw. There was no point in denying it.

  “…She’s not the same.” His voice was steady, but there was a tightness to it. “I need to know what happened to her. What they did to her.”

  The Demon Lord only smiled. “And if I told you there’s nothing to be done?”

  Orion stiffened.

  “She’s changed, Orion. And you can’t force her back into the mold of who she used to be.” The Demon Lord’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “Let her be as she is now. That is the only path forward.”

  Orion inhaled sharply. “You’re saying I should just—”

  “Yes.”

  The answer was so firm, so absolute, that it left no room for argument.

  For a long moment, Orion stood there, fists clenched.

  Then, finally, he exhaled and nodded. “I won’t interfere.”

  The Demon Lord’s smirk deepened. “Good.”

  And yet, despite his words, Orion found himself once again slipping into the dimly lit corridors of the fortress, moving silently through the shadows.

  His feet led him back to the cold, isoted cell where Nereza y curled beneath his cloak, her breathing soft and even.

  He knew he should leave.

  He had promised not to interfere.

  But as he watched her lying there alone, something deep within him ached.

  So, without a word, Orion sat down just outside the bars, leaning against the cold stone wall.

  He wouldn’t wake her.

  Wouldn’t speak.

  Wouldn’t try to bring back the girl she used to be.

  But he wouldn’t leave her alone again either.

  Not this time.

  Orion stood at the door to her room, heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the weight of the decision in his hands, the responsibility of what he was about to do. He had promised the Demon Lord that he would not interfere, that he would not try to bring her back. But every day, seeing her like this—empty, lost—was wearing him down.

  He could no longer stand by and watch her fade away.

  Without thinking, he gestured to the soldiers standing guard. "Open the door," he ordered, his voice more strained than he intended.

  The door creaked open, and Orion stepped inside, his gaze immediately finding her. She was sitting in the corner of the room, as usual, her eyes dull and distant. Her posture was slumped, as though the weight of the world had settled on her shoulders.

  “Nereza,” he said softly, walking closer.

  Her eyes flickered briefly in his direction, but she didn’t look up. There was no recognition in her gaze, only that same hollow emptiness.

  Orion couldn’t stand it. He knelt down in front of her, reaching out a hand toward her.

  “I brought you something today,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Do you remember what you liked? I... I thought maybe you’d want this.”

  He pced the small object in front of her—something simple, a trinket he knew she once found joy in.

  She gnced at it, then at him. For a moment, there was a flicker of something in her eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or a distant memory—but it was gone just as quickly. She didn’t take it.

  "Please," he whispered, almost pleading. "Come back to me. Come back to us."

  But she just stared at him, her expression unreadable.

  Day after day, Orion kept trying. He brought her food she liked, books she once devoured, small things she used to cherish. Every time, she would look, take what he offered, and say nothing.

  But the strangest thing happened on the days he didn’t come to see her.

  When he didn’t visit, the atmosphere around her changed. It grew darker, colder. It was as if her very presence was being consumed by the darkness that she had been running from. The walls would close in, the silence would press heavier, and she would tremble in the isotion.

  Orion noticed this. He noticed it more and more, and with every passing day, it felt as if she was slipping further and further away.

  He couldn’t let her go like this. He couldn’t abandon her when he was the only one left who still saw the person she had been, the person she could still be.

  “Nereza,” he said again, his voice thick with emotion. "I won’t leave you alone again. I promise."

  He didn’t know if she could hear him. He didn’t know if she even remembered who she was anymore. But he wasn’t going to give up on her. Not now. Not when there was still a chance—no matter how small—that she could find her way back.

  Day after day, he would keep coming. Even if it seemed like nothing was changing, even if the silence stretched between them like an unbridgeable chasm.

  He would keep trying.

  For her.