The Damned Demon

The once-mighty island had been reduced to little more than scorched rubble and a splintered skeleton of blackened stone.

The massive cave system now lay in smoldering ruins, buried beneath molten rivers of crimson lava that flowed like veins from the heart of the earth itself.

In the middle of it all, Drogor lay half-submerged in the slow-churning lava river, his colossal body breathing deeply, the lava barely tickling his iron-like scales.

Jagged wounds adorned his body, glowing faintly from the raw mana that surged beneath his armored flesh—but even they began to stitch together with a visible hum of regenerative power.

Perched atop Drogor's massive head, Asher sat slumped, one arm draped over his knee as he panted softly, his eyes heavy and darkened from the battle's wrath. His green flames flickered low around his form, almost extinguished.

His voice was low, hoarse from exertion.

"I didn't know Flaralis was your daughter..." he muttered, not looking down at the dragon beneath him. "...Or how much you sacrificed. I am sorry I lashed out on you. The one I am really angry at...is myself for failing to protect those I promised I would keep safe..." Asher said as he lowered his heavy gaze.

Drogor's eyes—two molten citadels of sorrow and wisdom—narrowed faintly, his chest rising and falling like a mountain slowly breathing. The dying breaths of his daughter and his brethren still echoed in his heart.

Drogor rumbled. "Boy, you have no idea the sacrifices the people around you have made for you...and continue to make."

Asher clenched his jaw, the weight of those words settling heavily on his shoulders. For some reason, Drogor's words reached deep within his soul.

"Then tell me why?" he demanded, though his voice carried no anger—just a desperate curiosity that had long been caged in silence. "Why would you...a being of your power, your age...sacrifice so much just to help me get stronger? Why go through all that trouble? You could have brought about peace across the lands—just like your ancestor did. Nobody would have dared to rise against you."

For a moment, Drogor said nothing.

Only the slow churning of lava and the distant cracks of crumbling stone filled the void between them.

Then, Drogor's massive head shifted, glowing eyes turning to meet Asher's.

"If only things were that simple..."

Asher frowned as Drogor continued, his voice lower, more solemn.

"The time will come when you understand. But only He—the Old One—can decide when. Until then, you will just have to trust us, boy."

Asher furrowed his brows, wondering what Skully was hiding and why Drogor was willing to put so much trust in someone so mysterious and unknown. It didn't seem like Drogor was following Skully out of fear but of his own will.

Finally, Drogor let out a deep groan as he began to rise, lava cascading off his massive form like melted gold, revealing the full terrifying majesty of his dragon body. The very ground trembled under the force of his awakening power.

"But talk is for another time," Drogor growled, a determined glint flashing in his eye. "I made a promise. And a dragon never breaks his word."

He spread his vast wings wide, magma and smoke swirling behind him in a thunderous vortex.

"So come now, King of Bloodburn..." he rumbled with a dark grin that bared his colossal fangs, "...Let's go and crush those puny, winged insects whom I am ashamed to share a bloodline with."

Asher slowly stood atop Drogor's broad head, the remnants of his flames sparking back to life as he looked out across the burning horizon, his voice low and cold with resolve.

With a thunderous roar that split the sky, Drogor launched into the air, his wings slicing through the smoke-choked heavens.

—

Little Ravina sped across a dark open field, her tiny feet hammering the ground, each step sending tremors through the earth and kicking clouds of dirt and mud into the air.

Her raven hair streamed behind her, trailing like ink, and her dark golden eyes shone with an ecstatic, childlike excitement as she raced forward, panting breathlessly with joy.

"Whooooosh!" Ravina mimicked the sound of the wind herself, her small giggles carried away by the roaring breeze.

She blurred through the open terrain, covering hundreds of meters in mere seconds. The Bloodburners gathered nearby watched with wide eyes and open mouths, their hearts filled with awe at the sight.

"Amazing… Little Immortal indeed," murmured a soldier softly, his voice tinged with reverence.

"Her strength and growth is…godlike," another whispered, astonishment etched deep into his expression.

Ravina skidded gracefully to a halt before her mother, kicking up another small cloud of dust as she looked up at Rowena with glittering eyes, her pale little face flushed with excitement.

"Mama! Was Ravina fast enough?" She bounced up and down, her small hands clenched into eager fists.

Rowena knelt slowly, her gaze gentle yet proud, as she gently brushed some dirt from Ravina's soft cheek. "You were faster than any child in this world, my little star," she replied softly, eyes glistening warmly with motherly pride.

"Yayyy!" Ravina clapped her tiny hands together joyously, spinning briefly in a happy circle before throwing herself into her mother's waiting embrace. "Ravina loves running! It's so much fun!"

Rowena chuckled softly, feeling her daughter's warmth, and held her gently yet protectively. A gentle sigh escaped her lips. Though pride filled her heart, an undercurrent of melancholy lingered—she wished she could let Ravina remain carefree for longer. But she knew reality didn't allow them such luxury. Not anymore.

After a moment, Rowena gently pulled back, her expression growing slightly more serious but no less affectionate. "Now that you have mastered running, I'm going to teach you how to use your powers. Just the simple ones for now."

Ravina tilted her head, curiosity brightening her wide eyes. "Powers? Mama, what do you mean? Like when Sea Mama uses water to make those magic bubbles for Ravina to play?"

Rowena smiled gently, hearing Ravina's adorable name for Isola. She caressed her daughter's silky hair. "Yes, something like that, my love. Sea Mama uses mana to make those bubbles. Mana is the special energy we all have inside us. It helps us do things that seem like magic...beautiful but powerful."

"Mana?" Ravina repeated the new word, blinking thoughtfully. "Is it like… food for magic?"

Rowena chuckled softly at her daughter's innocent analogy. "In a way, yes. It's like food, or maybe a little bit like fuel. Everyone has mana inside them, and some people, like you and me, have more of it. We can use it to protect ourselves and those we care about."

Ravina's eyes grew even wider, sparkling with innocent curiosity. "Protect? Like when Mama and Ravina's aunts scare away monsters?" Ravina remembered her aunts and a few other people scaring away big beasts who seemed like they wanted to be friends with her.

Unfortunately, they were scared off before she could have a chance to play with them.

Rowena nodded softly, her heart aching just a bit at Ravina's simple words. She wished Ravina didn't have to understand the concept of danger so young, but she knew it was necessary.

"Exactly," Rowena said, her voice gentle yet firm. "There are sometimes bad people and monsters out there who might want to hurt us or our friends. They might even try to appear friendly or kind but when you look into their eyes...you will get a glimpse of their evil nature. So, Mama wants to teach you how to keep yourself safe. Would you like to learn?"

Ravina nodded rapidly, her expression determined and earnest, fists clenched again in childlike seriousness. "Yes, Mama! Ravina wants to protect Mama, too!"

Rowena's heart melted at Ravina's pure sincerity, and she smiled warmly, brushing Ravina's cheek lovingly. "You're already my brave little protector. Now, watch carefully."

She gently lifted her hand, focusing her thoughts inward, letting her mana flow freely through her veins. Ravina gasped in wonder as tiny sparks of crimson flame began dancing in her mother's palm. The flames grew slowly, swirling and coalescing until they formed a beautiful, pulsing orb of crimson fire.

"Woooow…" Ravina murmured in awe, leaning closer but careful not to touch it. "It's so pretty, Mama. Can Ravina play with it?"

Rowena chuckled softly, shaking her head gently. "No, sweet girl. This isn't a toy. A fireball isn't for playing—it can be dangerous if you're not careful, and you could even hurt yourself. But I'll teach you how to control it safely, so if some monster or a bad person tries to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable, you can protect yourself by simply throwing this ball at them."

"Ohhh…" Ravina nodded seriously, staring at the flames with a mix of fascination and respectful caution, "Ravina understands. Only for bad people, right?"

"That's right," Rowena confirmed gently. "Only for bad people, and only to protect yourself or someone you love. Remember, Ravina, true strength isn't just having power; it's knowing when and how to use it."

Ravina's small face grew thoughtful, clearly absorbing every word, her dark golden eyes reflecting wisdom beyond her tender age. "Mama is so smart. Ravina promises to always listen to Mama!"

Rowena's chest swelled with affection, and she tenderly kissed Ravina's forehead. "And Mama promises to always guide and protect you."

She lowered her hand, extinguishing the flame softly, and gently took Ravina's tiny hands in hers, feeling their warmth. "Now, close your eyes, my love, and listen closely. Try to feel the mana inside you. It's like a warm stream that flows through your body. Can you feel it?"

Ravina obediently shut her eyes tight, tiny brows scrunched in deep concentration. After a moment, she peeked open one eye sheepishly. "Um… Ravina not sure, Mama…"

Rowena chuckled lightly, caressing Ravina's small hands encouragingly.

"That's alright, my love. It takes time. Let's try again together. Feel my hands holding yours. Imagine my warmth moving into your body, gently helping you find your mana."

This time, Ravina squeezed her eyes shut tightly, focusing hard. Slowly, her expression relaxed, and after a moment, a small gasp escaped her lips. "Mama! Ravina feels it! It's warm and tingly!"

Ravina's brows raised not expecting her to quickly connect with mana at such a young age. It's barely been a minute since she started trying.

Smiled proudly, she nodded encouragingly. "Very good, Ravina. Now, slowly imagine guiding that warmth into your palm. Let it grow and become a tiny little flame, just like Mama showed you."

Ravina giggled softly, her little palms outstretched as a spark of mana gathered between her tiny fingers. The air around her trembled subtly, flickering darker as a small dark green fireball manifested before her, its eerie emerald flames crackling gently.

Rowena watched silently, crimson eyes widening slightly in astonishment and realization. The unusual color, the otherworldly aura—it was unmistakable. Ravina had inherited Asher's flames, the mysterious fire that did not belong to this world.

A tender relief blossomed in Rowena's heart. Despite their troubling situation, this flame would grant her daughter strength. Strength that could protect her in these dark times.

"Look, Mama! I made another one!" Ravina exclaimed, her voice bright with childish excitement as she repeatedly conjured fireballs one after another, each appearing faster and bigger than the previous.

However, it wasn't long before the child began to pant, her breathing becoming heavier, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. She blinked tiredly, her little arms trembling slightly.

"Mama…why is Ravina feeling so tired? Did I…do something wrong?" Ravina asked with an innocent frown, clearly puzzled.

Rowena knelt beside her daughter, gently caressing Ravina's soft cheek. "Nothing's wrong, Ravina," she explained patiently. "What you're feeling is natural. Every time you manifest those flames, you're consuming mana. The more mana you use, the more tired your body becomes. That's why you should always use your mana wisely and carefully."

Ravina's eyes shone brightly with curiosity, taking in her mother's words thoughtfully. Yet, her expression shifted into confusion as she mumbled, "Mama, I see some…strange things in my head. There are numbers…and some words. And this thing called 'mana points'…and they're becoming smaller every time I make fire."

Rowena paused briefly, knowing that she would of course see the stats right after she awakened.

"Those things you're seeing are called 'Stats', my little one," Rowena gently explained, sitting beside her daughter, holding her small hands tenderly, "They're special numbers and words that show you how strong you are, how healthy your body is, and how much mana you have. It's something everyone sees as they grow stronger, and it helps them understand their own power."

Ravina's little lips parted in awe, absorbing every word as though her mother had revealed the most magical secret. She tilted her head, golden eyes glowing with fascination. "Stats…? So, if Ravina gets stronger, these numbers will grow too?"

Rowena smiled warmly, caressing her daughter's hair lovingly. "Yes, they will. But always remember to grow carefully, Ravina. You must never push yourself too much, or you'll harm yourself."

Despite her evident exhaustion, Ravina's eyes sparkled with excitement. She bounced slightly, clapping her hands, "Mama, Ravina wants to learn more! Please teach me!"

Rowena chuckled softly, gently placing her palm on Ravina's forehead. "You've learned enough today, my sweet girl. Now it's time to rest and regain your strength."

Ravina's shoulders slumped, her little face forming an adorable pout. "But Mama…"

"No buts," Rowena gently but firmly insisted, pulling Ravina closer. "Rest is also important."

Ravina sighed dramatically, her small face soon softening as she leaned into her mother's comforting embrace, feeling warmth and safety wash over her.

Her eyes lazily gazed into the distance, suddenly noticing a small child happily holding hands with a man and a woman. The child giggled, clinging to the man's large hand, a carefree smile on her face.

Ravina tilted her head curiously, pointing a tiny finger towards them. "Mama…why is that man walking with that child? Ravina saw other children with a man too."

Rowena followed her daughter's gaze, her heart momentarily tightening upon seeing the family. Her expression grew slightly heavy, her eyes dimming with bittersweet emotions.

She took a deep, steady breath, voice gentle yet touched by hidden sadness. "That man is the father of the child, Ravina. Someone a child would call 'Papa'. A child like you…can only be born when a mother and father both want one."

Ravina's golden eyes widened, her expression one of pure, innocent curiosity and confusion. She slowly lifted her eyes to Rowena, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then…Mama…where is Ravina's Papa?"

Rowena's heart trembled painfully at the innocent question, her throat tightening instantly. She closed her eyes slowly, as if trying to shield herself from the aching truth she was not yet ready to speak aloud.