Beyond the boundary of a forbidden zone—marked by a lone sign that warned all to keep out—Kaeliyus stood before a figure: a demon.
The land stretched vast and barren, a desert expanse dotted with sparse, stubborn shrubs. The air was warm, the breeze steady, carrying with it grains of sand and the faint rustle of fabric.
The demon stood tall beneath the open sky, his skin a smooth tan. He wore the garb of an ancient priest—robes of red and yellow that fluttered lightly with the wind. His face was unnervingly serene, his eyes black with slitted pupils that shimmered faintly gold. Long, dark hair flowed past his shoulders, lifted gently by the breeze, and on his lips curved a knowing smirk.
"To think you'd find me so soon," he said, calm and unbothered.
