Baldwin was running. Athan followed close behind, not entirely sure why they were running in the first place. He noticed that Baldwin wasn't sprinting at full speed—his pace was deliberate, controlled. For a moment, Athan caught a glimpse of Baldwin's eyes. They were glowing red.
"Baldwin! What's going on? Is it another Celestial?" Athan asked between breaths.
"Sort of. I saw an unusual light… but now it's running from us!" Baldwin replied.
"Shouldn't we be running faster, then?" Athan questioned.
"No. If we speed up, it speeds up. If we slow down, it still speeds up. But at this pace... we're closing in. It's perfect," Baldwin said, his eyes locked forward, unwavering as he ran.
"Perfect for what?" Athan asked between breaths, glancing at Baldwin with a confused expression as they moved in stride.
"To catch it, of course," Baldwin said with a faint chuckle, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
As they continued, Athan began to realize something strange. The immense space around them—far larger than it should have been—had to be the result of space magic, a legendary and rare elemental magic no one had possessed for over 2,000 years. He kept the revelation to himself, focusing on the present.
Suddenly, Baldwin came to a full stop. Athan followed suit, silent and alert. Baldwin ascended a staircase and reached for a very old book resting on a dusty shelf. The book looked so fragile that it might crumble in his hands—but it didn't.
"Athan, did you see why I ran?" Baldwin asked.
I mean... I saw an old book. That's all," Athan replied with a smug smile, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his face.
"Wait—you didn't see the light?" Baldwin asked, still facing the book, eyes narrowing as if analyzing its very fibers.
"What light? It's pitch black in here. If a regular human stepped into this place, they'd lose their mind," Athan said, his brow tightening in mild frustration.
"So… you can't see it," Baldwin muttered, then turned to Athan. "Can you at least sense anything unusual?"
"Yes," Athan said, glancing around warily. "This entire section feels unstable. There's a massive space magic anomaly here. If someone without awareness wandered in, they'd be lost forever."
Baldwin hummed, almost to himself. "No… that's not what I meant to ask," he murmured, still turning the book over in his hands, examining every inch like it might whisper secrets if held just right.
Baldwin didn't say anything more. Instead, he studied the book. Beside the stair was a table with four dusty chairs, untouched for what seemed like centuries. Without a word, Baldwin's shadow extended, morphing into a clean table and two chairs.
"Athan, sit down. It seems I've found a talking book."
"Talking book?! What do you mean by that?" Athan asked, already settling onto the shadow-forged chair.
"It speaks to me. Only I can hear it. Let me try talking to it more," Baldwin murmured, his voice distant, eyes never leaving the book as though it pulsed with a rhythm only he could feel.
"This is madness… This really is another world," Athan said with a shrug, half-laughing, half-awed. "I guess I'll study more while we're here."
He wandered off toward the left shelf, letting his fingers brush the spines of ancient books until one called to him—quietly, without words. He pulled it out at random, opened it, and began reading, the stillness of the space wrapping around him like a cloak.
Baldwin sat down, eyes narrowing as he activated Shadow Telepathy. The air around him seemed to thrum with unseen tension.
"So, you were running because you were afraid of us?" Baldwin's voice echoed in the silence—telepathic, calm, but edged with curiosity.
"Yes… I was afraid," came the gentle, feminine reply, echoing softly in his mind.
"And now? Are you still afraid? Or are you even a book at all? Maybe just a clever trap for the curious?"
"Not anymore. I'm a magical book—one that holds forbidden knowledge of the Abyss," she replied.
"Straight to business, huh? Then tell me—how do I read you? Or are you just another illusion wrapped in mystery?"
"To read me," the voice answered, "you must offer a secret in return. The deeper the secret, the more I reveal. That is the law of my magic—equal trade."
Baldwin smiled faintly. "An interesting condition. I could force you… but I'm no tyrant. Power should never trample the weak. Strength deserves restraint."
The book chuckled softly. "Force me? You sound like some noble king pretending he's not a conqueror. Who are you really? Don't mistake me—I won't bow to any king."
"You're confident. I like that," Baldwin said. "Then let's strike a fair deal—name for name."
"Clever move. Very well. You first."
Baldwin leaned back, crimson eyes glowing faintly. "My name is Baldwin VI, the 36th Emperor of the Red Moon Empire… also known as the Demon King."
A beat of silence. Then—
"Never heard of that empire. Did you make it up? Or has a new empire risen while I slumbered? And why does a human claim the title of Demon King?"
Baldwin smirked. "Ah, so you can't sense lies. Pity."
"You're awfully calm for someone claiming royalty. I am Inkbound—a book, yes, but one with a strange fate. Now then, what secret will you offer in exchange for my knowledge? Your name and title are merely pleasantries. I want more."
She laughed darkly, but Baldwin only grinned wider, shadows dancing beneath his feet.
"You think you've won something? You're amusing. Fine—here's your payment. Our secret."
Suddenly, his shadow flared with a deep crimson glow, rising like smoke in the quiet air.
"W-What are you doing?!" Inkbound cried, her voice laced with panic.
Athan, still a few feet away, caught sight of the change.
"Should I step in? …Nah. Let's see what he's up to." He muttered to himself, watching closely.
Baldwin's voice dropped, a chuckle rolling from his throat.
"Don't worry. I'm just reminding you why I'm called the Demon King. In return… I want everything you know."
"Wait—wait! I understand now. You are the Demon King. But… what secret did you give me? What could possibly be worth all the knowledge I hold?"
Baldwin's gaze didn't waver.
"We're not from this world. We came from another."
A stunned silence followed.
"Another world…?" Inkbound whispered, voice trembling with awe. "Impossible…"
Baldwin leaned in, smiling darkly.
"Oh dear… you have no idea what's impossible."
What is he doing this time?" Athan thought to himself.
Meanwhile Far to the west, past the southern horizon, a large piece of land floated in the sky. It was vast—large enough to hold an entire city. At its center stood a majestic castle, towering at the end of the island. Everything on the floating land was white, save for the castle, where gold and white shimmered in brilliant harmony.
Inside the castle was a throne room. Not just one, but four thrones stood proudly within—each throne distinct in design and aura.
The first throne, on the far left, had a pair of wings carved into its frame. Dragon scales lined its armrests. Seated there was a man with two curved horns. In Baldwin's world, such beings would be considered mid-tier demons, but this one was different. His arms bore fish-like scales; his cheeks were marked with three shimmering plates; and his eyes were like those of a beast. Dressed in noble garments with a flowing crimson robe, he sat like royalty.
To his right was the second throne, woven entirely of ancient wood and shaped like intertwining roots. At the top bloomed a vivid blue flower. Seated there was a man in a long green coat, his ears pointed—an elf, true to both appearance and origin.
Next, a throne of white marble lined with golden triangles. Upon it sat a beast-like man with a lion's mane and beard. His face was feral, noble, and proud—a walking lion. In Baldwin's world, he'd be called a beastman, and rightly so.
To the far right stood a traditional royal throne, entirely golden and inlaid with countless diamonds and rare stones. The man seated here was a human, young, and adorned in regal black and white robes.
There was a heavy, awkward silence hanging over the thrones, as if each one was aware of the weight of the moment.
"So, how's the sky cities plan progressing?" the young human finally asked. "One city isn't enough for all of humanity."
"Sky cities?" the elf replied, raising a brow. "I don't think they're necessary yet. The Dark Side recently signed a ceasefire with us."
"That's good news, isn't it?" the human asked again, a hopeful tone in his voice.
"Good news? Don't lower your guard, Lord Aurelian Veyrus," the horned man said gravely. "Have you forgotten about the Mirror World demons?"
"The Mirror World… We know little about it," Aurelian replied. "Isn't the Dark Side's true purpose to unleash it, Lord Xzrythvox Draekzhar, Dragon King?"
"Yes, that is their goal," the elf, Lord Sylrath Aethar, confirmed. "But the Light Side has always managed to stop them."
A deep, rumbling voice echoed next. "What are we doing about the new power? I believe the Dark Side paused their aggression because of it." It was the lion-man, Gorath Rukthar, speaking.
"Let's not approach this new power with hostility," Xzrythvox suggested. "Let's try to make them our ally to defeat the Dark Side. What do you say, Lord Sylrath?"
"Hmmm…" Sylrath hesitated. "Gorath may be right. The Dark Side might have stopped due to fear of this new force. But what if they've already formed an alliance? What if the new power plans to strike with them?"
"It's all just speculation," Gorath said with a shrug. "I'll investigate any individuals who stand out within my territory."
"So, Lord Gorath suggests we investigate any outliers?" Aurelian said. "That's rather bothersome…"
"Do we have another option?" Gorath sighed. "The world is vast. We're always on guard—let's just be more careful moving forward."
"Our meeting ends here," Xzrythvox Draekzhar declared. "In four days, we meet again. The Mirror World's seal… it's weakening."
One by one, the figures stood and began to vanish through teleportation magic.
Xzrythvox was consumed by flames, disappearing within the blaze.
Gorath's body and throne expanded, glowing—then vanished, leaving only his throne behind.
Sylrath Aethar's form dissolved into a greenish-white light before fading.
Finally, Aurelian Veyrus swung his cloak, and in the next instant, he too was gone—leaving only the empty thrones in the silent chamber.
What none of them realized was that the Mirror World's seal had already cracked.
In a forest, far from sight, a sunny day suddenly turned dark. Rain poured heavily. Then, without warning, a mirror emerged in midair. The grass, trees—everything—froze in place. Not a single leaf moved.
From the mirror, a small crack appeared, but the shards didn't fall—they floated in the air.
And then, from the broken frame, something stepped through.
A figure shrouded in darkness. Mist at first… then it twisted into the shape of a woman, black and purple hair. Her eyes glowed amethyst. She was nude at first, but then her body was cloaked in a noble black Western gown, elegant and haunting. Her hair was long and silky. Though rain poured from above, not a drop touched her.
"This time… I will be a female. To understand what they call love," said a voice—deep, chilling, and otherworldly.
The woman looked around the dark forest, her purple eyes scanning the dripping leaves and the soft, muddy ground beneath her feet.
"How long has it been… since I returned to the mortal realm?" she whispered.
"I am not cruel," she continued. "Not anymore. I only wish to understand these living beings called humans. They speak of something… something they name emotion."
As she spoke, the deep, disturbing voice began to soften—shifting into the gentle tone of a woman. Her eyes dimmed slightly as a distant memory flickered in her mind.
This was not her first time in the mortal world.
Once before, she had taken on the form of a man, believing that was the path to understanding human love. But instead of love, she had brought fear. Misunderstanding. Pain.
She remembered the woman's voice… the accusation, the desperation, the final scream. Words that echoed in her mind even now:
"You demon! You deceived me! Now you're forcing me! You will never understand what I'm feeling. Between death and losing my dignity—I choose death. Dying with dignity is better than living without it!"
And right there, in front of her—he, as a man—had watched as the woman took her own life.
That moment... that one act, remained etched into her existence.
She never truly understood. Why was the woman so afraid? Weren't humans supposed to desire closeness? Companionship? What was this thing she called dignity?
She hadn't known then. And now… she still didn't.
But this time, things would be different.
"I failed to understand them once," she said to herself. "So this time, I will walk their world as a female."
Her expression darkened—calculated, yet oddly serene.
"I will find a strong male. A worthy father for my child. And through that child… I will learn. I will finally feel what it means… to be a mother."
She took a step forward, the ground drying beneath her feet, the rain refusing to touch her.
"I will succeed this time. And when I do… I will open the gate. And destroy all living things."
With that, she walked deeper into the forest, vanishing into the mist.