The Demons Hidden Kingdom

Found

Kinru POV

Traveling through these mountains can be dangerous... for the average man.. Peaks as high as the clouds and valleys deeper than the Dark Sea. The cold air feels sharper with every breath taken, lucky my blood runs warm or I’d be long gone already.

I’m sure I’ve come to the right place this time, it has to be. The scripts never made complete sense until I spoke with that Elder from the church.. I still think he knew more than he let on, guess I should be grateful he let me buy the scrolls I needed.. He was a stubborn old bastard, but helped me none the less..

I decide to rest for a while and take shelter in a small cave at edge of the mountain pass, darkness was already approaching and I wanted to check out the scrolls that I had paid so much for...

I build a fire and settle down for the evening. Finally! It’s good to get off my feet I’ve been travelling for months it feels nice to rest.

I take out the scrolls I bought from the old guy and carefully start to open one, they’re so old I need to be careful and concentrate.

I hope that they at least have some information that I’m looking for..

The dark came quickly taking any remaining light, but my fire burns bright and fills the cave with a comforting warmth. Before I open the scroll completely I stare past the fire I lose myself in my own thoughts...

What if she doesn’t exist? And even if she does she’ll be over 1000 years old!? I know we don’t age the same and we’re technically immortal but 1000 years? Come on.... I’ve been here 200 years now but there must be an end at some point, I wonder if she’s as monstrous as the old writings say.

I pull my self away from my discouraging thoughts and focus back on the scrolls, I continue to open the first and feel the age as the rough texture of the paper slid through my fingertips. The smell hit me hard, I was shocked I couldn’t think of what the scent was but it smells so....

Good...?

How can scrolls hundreds of years old smell so alluring?

I became slightly confused and couldn’t focus but I quickly compose myself and become alert, I shake my head and look back at the scroll.

Well.....

I don’t understand any of it... what is this language? I’ve never seen this, the old man said they would give me guidance... Did he con me? He can’t have... I can always tell when a human is lying so he must have at least believed they would help. I place the scroll on floor gently beside me and begin to open another.

The smell hits me again causing me to feel flustered, what is going on? I look down at the paper and see the same language written in this scroll also, I study this one a little longer looking for anything that might give me direction. Nothing makes sense to me and I feel myself getting frustrated, I drop the scroll to the floor with the other feeling defeated. My head falls into my hand and I try to think...

Suddenly I feel a steady flow energy pass through the cave causing me to check my surroundings. No human was here and no other creatures that would match what I felt, and then from the corner of my eye I see the text from the scrolls begin to shift... I tilt my head and watch closely when again I feel more energy enter the cave..

This time it was strong and it was right behind me...

I turn quickly and pull my blade from its sheath to find that there was nobody there... however, markings had suddenly appeared all over the cave walls... the exact same marking as the ones I’d just seen! A ghostly breeze brushed my cheek and rustled the scrolls grabbing my attention, I pick them up and shove them back into my satchel.

I turn back to analyse the markings but the entire back of the cave wall has now disappeared, there seemed to be a short passage with an opening at the end, I can see a glimmer of light but it’s dull. I breath for a second taking everything in, I try to be rational but struggle. After a few breaths I look down the passage and begin to take steps...

What is this feeling? The mix of emotions was getting to me but as I walk I feel a blanket of comfort and familiarity take over my body. I wasn’t used to this feeling, in fact.. I’d never felt this before.. ever. I follow the light through the dark and find the other side blocked by trees, vines and leafs. I push through them easily and enter a heavily grown forest, the sound of many different animals echoed in my ears and the smell of the forest filled my lungs. My eyes widen as I believe I may have found what I’ve been looking for.

I start to make my way through the trees and come across a unkempt dirt path; or what remains of one. I stand and take a deep breath, taking in all my surroundings. I try to focus and pick up any other Auras like my own, but sense nothing. I still have this unusual feeling of comfort though, it’s like the feeling of ‘Home’.

I decide to continue down the path when I suddenly feel a spark! This is no ordinary presence... I focus again and attempt to find exactly where it was coming from..

Forward..!

My eyes glared straight ahead and without thinking I run, tracking the presence as I darted between the trees and shrubbery. I feel myself start to change the more power I use. I needed to be fast. I knew I was close and like hell was I going to fail now! I knew my eyes had changed and saw my claws had extended, they helped cut though the overgrowth and made my chase easier.

I came to a sudden stop as my way was blocked by a city wall. I’d never seen anything like it, the walls must have been above 50 meters. The grey worn stone stretched as far as I could see from both directions, it was intimidating. The presence felt so close at this point, I knew the only way to go was up...

I buried my claws into the wall effortlessly and made the climb up as fast as I could. I see the edge and climb over steadying myself at the top, I stand and glance over at what was at the other side and.... Wow.....

An entire kingdom... many many small villages and town areas, shops and markets, churches and temples, fountains and gardens. There even looked to be an old theatre or entertainment district further in. It was bigger than any other city I had ever seen before, but also the quietest. The place looked totally abandoned and the silence felt haunting. It was sad thinking that a place like this had no one to enjoy it or make use of what was here. I bet the forest produces so much food too, people would die to live here.

Whilst immersed in my own thoughts I caught a shadow figure fly by, I turn my head to see a girl stood atop the wall not that far away from me. Her hair was long down to the bottom of her back and white like the frost snows of The Iced Fields. Her skin also pale but perfect like a newly crafted doll, eyes piercing blue and brighter than any crystal known to man. She looked so small... Around 5ft and slim build, she only wore a long sleeved black dress that went below her knees and was fitted nicely exposing her figure to me. I started in disbelief...

I feel my hair stand up on end and my skin begins to tingle filling me with a warm sensation. My heart starts to beat so fast heating up my already hot blood, I just knew it was her! She looked just as flustered as I was and was analysing the forest, I noticed her take a step forward and released she was about to jump. I was so nervous to speak but I had to say something before she left, I didn’t want to spook her either so I try to be gentle with my approach. hold my hand out towards her and say...

“Hello there?”