Demon King: Awakening

Prologue

“Children be seated. It's time to learn about the great battle.” Father Thomas cleared his throat before continuing to speak, “They were dark times for humans when our kind was being slaughtered and there was nothing we could do to defend ourselves from them. Our villages, towns, even churches were being burned to the ground. The demons' aim was to wipe us from the face of the earth and to control it for themselves.” He paused for dramatic effect. He towered above the students, looking down at the children he was lecturing in one of the many rooms in the cathedral.

The children sat in silence waiting for him to continue, all the children except for little Areana, “Father Thomas, I have a question.” Her small hand shot up from the back of the room.

“Yes, dear child?” He asked her, but there was clearly some agitation in his voice due to her interruption of his lecture.

“How did the demons get here?” she asked.

“That should have been covered in an earlier class.” He responded dismissively.

“They did, but I don't understand and they wouldn't answer my questions.” She said in a huff. “Where did the demon stone come from? How does it make demons? Why are demons evil? Aren't some humans also evil?” She bombarded him with questions.

“Child please.” He said with a sigh.

She looked up at him quizzically, “Do you also not know Father Thomas?” She inquired.

She had clearly agitated him, “It is unclear as to where the stone came from, but the church believes that Satan himself placed it on Mount. Cadorac to give strength to his demon followers. They are believed not to be born but instead every five years during the first red moon to simply come from the stone itself. This is thought because we have seen an increase in their numbers only every five years around the time of the red moon or rather the blood moon. As for evil, we know this because of the actions that they have taken towards mankind. Humans though have the chance to be good. We are loved by God.” He explained.

“Doesn't God love all living things? Aren't demons also living?”

“That is enough!” He boomed and then quickly composed himself.

She thought for a moment about whether to continue or not and then decided to continue, “What about the demons that are located past the forest?” She pointed in the direction of the Black Forest.

“Child demons are demons no matter how they become demons or where they are from.” He stated without a hint of doubt.

She felt more confused by the answer, “But they don't have a stone.”

“Child those are the demons that have moved from their original home among humans and have turned from God.”

“How do they become demons? That doesn't make sense.” She continued to question.

He quickly hit his desk with his hand, making a loud thud that echoed throughout the room. “That is enough! We must get back to the lesson.” He spat out his words.

“Now, where were we?” He pondered for a moment. “Ah, yes we had just begun to talk about the great war. During those times we had no hope of surviving, yet the Lord sent us a hero just when all was thought to be lost. His name was Albitran. He was tall, stronger than any man in the entire kingdom. He came from afar of place. A kingdom that is filled with humans of a peculiar strength, height, and skills that we simply did and do not possess.” He pointed to a tapestry on the far wall that depicted a battle between Albitran and the demons of old.

“Father Thomas, I have a question.” Little Areana spoke, trying to use her most sugary sweet voice.

He clenched his teeth and tried to calm himself before responding, “Child if you continue to ask questions we shall never complete today's lesson. What is your name?” He asked, narrowing his gaze.

“My name is Areana, Areana Foreman, Father.” She spoke proudly.

He rubbed his bread for a moment, thinking. “You are the daughter of Foreman.”

“That's correct, Father.” She confirmed.

He massaged his temples, exhausted, “I see, what is your question?”

“Why did Albitra come?” She inquired.

“Our ancestors recorded that Albitra came to Zendora to save us.” He smiled.

“How did he know we were in trouble?” She questioned, further.

He bent down in front of her, “God led him to us. Does that satisfy your curiosity?” He asked in exasperation.

“Yes, Father Thomas, it does.” She lied. She had so many more questions to ask, but she figured he wasn't going to continue to oblige her curious nature.

“Good, now let's continue.” He thought for a moment. “Yes, Albitran came from Zendora to save us. He wielded a mighty weapon, trained our warriors to better understand how to defeat the demons and then he led them into battle against the demons and their king. It took two years to push the demons out of the kingdom and then away from the surrounding villages. Once he had finished, it took another year to force the demons away from the kingdom of Pristra. Finally, our kingdoms banded together to push the demons all the way back to Mount. Cadorac where the knights built walls to enclose the demons into their own kingdom called Cadorac. Yet not all the demons went willingly and were separated being pushed into the Black Forest. They eventually cleared the land, creating their own kingdom known as Slamenda. Even to this day, humans will rarely enter the Black Forest or Mount. Cadorac for fear of the demons.” He paused for a moment looking down at the history book.

“Father Thomas, what happened to Albitran?” Areana questioned.

He smiled, happy that she was asking a question that went along with the lesson, “He remained here in this kingdom until the day he passed away.”

“Why were the demons allowed to live? Albritan was strong and had an army, why not kill all the demons? Why let them live?” She asked filled with wonder.

Father Thomas was beginning to lose his temper because she had gone off-topic yet again, “It was written that after four and a half years of fighting and pushing the demons back they were exhausted and weary. Albitran decided to break up the army and disperse them to the villages and into the kingdom of Pristra along with our kingdom. After time passed humans became comfortable and saw no reason to start the war once more. They didn't want the bloodshed. Now demons continue to attack, but it is not as common as it was in our ancestor's time.” He paused for a moment waiting for Areana or another child to ask another question, but when no one made a sound or motion to raise their hand he continued to speak. “That will be all for today's class, tomorrow Father John will be leading the class tomorrow. Please practice your writing by copying the full story of Albitran and memorizing it. You will be tested on what we have learned today. I will see you all the following day.” He smiled before he exited the room.