Enchanting Embers: Dance with the Divine

Markas is situated in the central part of the Eastern Continent, the nearest town to the City of Shadows. Dozens of villages surround it, and it's currently the season of summer festivities. Residents from all directions gather for the celebration, lasting for several days, a rare spectacle in the annual calendar. Approaching noon, the town buzzes with activity. The air is thick with the scent of alcohol, and musicians play by the square's fountain. Girls in vibrant dresses stroll hand in hand, their layered skirts blooming like flowers, and the clink of beads and silver jewelry echoes. "Vivi," Aurora shakes the hand of the girl next door, "are they dark elves?" A group of young people turns the street corner. Clad in light leather armor, some carry swords or daggers in their waists, while others have bows and quivers slung across their backs. Their unsheathed blades glint in the sunlight. With dark hair, pale skin, and pointed ears, they stand out among the human residents. Even with the crowd, Aurora notices them immediately. This is Aurora's first summer on the Eastern Continent. Previously a citizen of the Haiden Empire in the Western Continent, she lived in a town within the jurisdiction of a large city, the central hub of the influence of the Holy See. Mentioning dark races was almost taboo there. Vivi, with brown hair and hazel eyes, slim and fair-skinned, a beautiful girl from the central region, follows Aurora's gaze. "Yes, quite obvious. But don't keep staring at them." As they pass, one of the elves notices and smiles, waving. They continue chatting in a rapid demonic language, and Aurora, despite her attempts, can only catch a few words, the rhythm and accent confusing her. These creatures speak a language common among the dark races. Created by the dark god Ashia when leaving the divine realm, it's a concise language used for communication among various demonic beings. Over time, even the other dark races adopted it. Walking a distance away, the elves seem unbothered by Aurora's attention. One of the boys laughs, waves, and gives a short demonic reply. They continue their conversation. Aurora tries to suppress her excitement, realizing that staring is impolite. The girl lowers her head nervously, offering an apologetic smile. The elves seem unfazed. One of them even chuckles, responding to Vivi, and they proceed without further incident. Aurora, realizing she needs to improve her demonic language skills, makes a mental note. The elves soon vanish into the crowd, and Vivi remarks, "You better work on your demonic, or it's going to be uncomfortable." "Got it," Aurora replies, her initial excitement tempered by the realization that she needs to adapt to her new surroundings. Later in the day, news of a recent battle to the south reaches them. Vivi, recalling the conversation with the elves, mentions that a battle between the Holy See forces and the dark elves just concluded. Though one of the Holy See's quasi-gods killed an opposing quasi-god, the elves claim that the former was swiftly defeated by the dark god Elias. This prompts a discussion about the ongoing conflict between the Holy See, representing the Western Continent, and the dark gods who control the Eastern Continent. As they talk, Aurora observes that the residents of the Eastern Continent, while acknowledging the dark gods, maintain a level of freedom not seen in the heavily controlled territories of the Holy See. This realization makes her appreciate her new home even more. At lunchtime, Aurora explores the market, purchasing affordable items to stock her pantry. The goods are reasonably priced, and she returns with a box of cheese, a small barrel of malt beer, a can of almond candy, and some freshly caught fish. After bidding farewell to Vivi, she heads home, carrying the box filled with straw. Markas, situated on high ground, is surrounded by roads leading to various villages. Houses bathed in sunlight, clear rivers shimmering, and green fields create a picturesque landscape. In the kitchen, Aurora, feeling tired and hungry, begins preparing the newly acquired fish. Slicing and seasoning the fish with salt, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon, she hears an unusual sound. Aurora pauses, looking around, but sees nothing out of the ordinary. The garden outside is quiet, without the usual chirping of birds and chattering of squirrels. Shaking her head, she resumes her work, yawning. Humming a tune, she fries the fish until golden, then arranges the slices on a plate with tomatoes, lemon, and fresh lettuce. Adding a pinch of sweet grass and thyme from a jar, she suddenly hears a loud noise. —Bang! Followed by various chaotic sounds, as if things are being shattered or thrown to the ground. Aurora nearly knocks over her spice jar. "What in the world?" Setting down the spices, she rushes downstairs to the pantry, where she's met with a scene of devastation. Boxes and baskets are scattered everywhere, as if a tornado swept through. Biscuit tins and liquor bottles are strewn across the floor, grains spilled all over, and broken glass from shattered jars litters the ground. Aurora stares in disbelief. Furious and on the brink of swearing, she suddenly catches sight of a black figure— A small demon crouches on top of a cabinet. Aurora gazes at the unexpected visitor. Before this, she had completely failed to sense the presence of another being in the room until she precisely observed the existence of this little guy. The small demon has a thick mane of black hair and dark skin. Two curved, sharp, black horns protrude from the top of its head, and golden-red demonic markings, cracked and burning, adorn its bare chest. A tail covered in scales crawls up, radiating flames in the dim underground storage room. Tilting its head back, the demon cradles a jar, earnestly focused on l*****g off the remnants of honey. Its demeanor resembles that of a wicked little bear. Aurora, utterly astonished, almost forgets her tongue. The little demon sets the jar aside, l*****g its lips with satisfaction. Grabbing a handful of sausages, it chews voraciously, all the while casting a gaze that's a mixture of indulgence and benevolence. Its irises are a dazzling and beautiful gold, akin to the proud, scorching sun above the heavens, yet they conceal the most brutal and insane flames of hell.