In the spring of 1556, the world of Aredhia was shrouded in the mists of war. Two races, humans and demons, lived in an endless and relentless hostility. But in the midst of all the destruction, there was one young demon with a different story.

He was born with blue horns, a rare anomaly among his kind who had red or black horns. To his clan, blue horns were a bad omen, a bringer of shame and misfortune. Because of this anomaly, he was cast out into the forest as a baby, abandoned under an ancient, towering tree.

Without a family or a tribe, the young demon survived alone. He learned from nature, making tree roots his bed and the river his source of water. He ate wild berries and foraged for edible mushrooms, living far from the violence and hatred that were at the core of his people's lives. Solitude taught him the meaning of tranquility and gentleness. He often pondered why the war never stopped and why he had to hate humans he had never met.

One bright afternoon, as he was looking for berries in the forbidden Vesper Woods, which was the border between the demon and human territories, he got lost. His steps led him to a clear river, flowing between moss-covered rocks that connected to the sea he usually traversed. There, he saw a human girl. Her hair shone white like snow, decorated with A gardenia flower she wore on the right side of her hair, and her eyes were like the light of an emerald crystal, radiating calmness as she bent down to wash her face with the river water.

His heart pounded, not from fear, but from an unexpected beauty. The girl was the embodiment of the perfection of a being he had met during his life's journey. He wanted to get closer, to know more, but his foot tripped over a tree root, and he fell. The sound was so clear, it broke the magical silence.

The girl immediately stood up. She was surprised and turned around. She knew exactly where she was: on the border. And perhaps she knew exactly who might be there.

"Who's there?!" her voice was firm, trying to hide a tremor of fear.

When he rose from behind the bushes, the girl saw him clearly—a demon child with small blue horns. Her eyes widened, a cold fear running through her body. Her knees trembled, and she slowly backed away.

"A-A demon?! (Why is a creature like this around here??!)" her voice was choked. She didn't expect to meet a demon this close.

"This... this isn't possible."

She accidentally stumbled over a rock behind her. Her balance was lost, and her body fell into the river, her head hitting a rock hard. Suddenly, the river was filled with her blood all over her body. Her vision began to blur. Flashes of memory about her father who promised to protect her, and her loving mother, flashed through her mind. She thought, Maybe this is the last time. Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Mother.

But just as her eyes were about to close, she saw something unexpected. The demon child quickly jumped and caught her before the river current could carry her towards the sea. The girl vaguely saw worried blue eyes and an anxious face, muttering something like a spell in a language she didn't understand towards the girl's head, far from the impression of a cruel demon. Her consciousness faded.

Rising from the Darkness

When the girl opened her eyes, she felt a gentle warmth and the scent of lily flowers. She was on the riverbank right where she had stumbled. Soft voices greeted her.

"Are you awake, my dear?"

She blinked her eyes, her vision still blurry. She tried to remember what had happened, but her head felt empty. She only remembered a river and falling, and then... darkness.

In front of her, a woman with the same blue eyes, smiled warmly, looking at her with great affection. Her peaceful face was a source of calm. And it was her mother.

"Mother?" the child asked, her voice hoarse, almost unable to produce any sound. Her mother quickly took a bottle of water from her small bag and gave it to her daughter to drink.

"Yes, it's me, darling. Are you okay?"

Her mother asked, in a tone full of concern.

"I've been looking for you everywhere. Don't make me worry like this again, you naughty child!" She hugged her mother tightly, tears wetting her shoulder.

"I'm okay, Mother. I just... found a beautiful flower garden just now and I washed my face here," the child answered, also crying and smiling a little.

(The girl was bewildered, because she had just felt a very severe wound on her head, but it was all gone, even the traces of her blood couldn't be found.)

"You're soaked. Did you fall into the river? Let's go home, you'll get sick," her mother said softly while helping her up.

On the way home, she tried to remember. Little by little, fragments of memory returned. The river, the fall, and then... worried blue eyes. An act of kindness she never expected.

"Mother..." She called, her voice innocent.

"Is it true... that there are demons with good hearts?"

Her mother stopped walking. Her face showed surprise, then a mysterious smile.

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden? Are you sick?"

"No! I'm just... just asking!!!" she shouted, her face red with embarrassment.

Her mother smiled again and said,

"Maybe there are, my dear. I always hope so. If there are, I hope they can be a turning point, to stop this war. But... that's just my wishful thinking."

"Hee.. I hope so, Mother!" She replied enthusiastically, her heart filled with new hope.

On the other side of the forest, the young demon returned to his hiding spot under the tree roots. He felt relieved, knowing that the girl was alright. He didn't know why he did it. Instinct, perhaps. An instinct he didn't realize he had. He was supposed to hate humans, to stay away from them, but something in the girl, her beauty and fragility, had touched something deeper within him, something that had been hidden for a long time.

He touched his cold blue horns, thinking about the words he had whispered—an ancient healing spell he had learned from nature, a secret he believed only his race could perform. But he never expected to use it to help a human. He had broken all the rules, all the teachings that were passed down, even if he only heard them from the whispers of the wind.

That night, under the bright moonlight, he reflected. The war, the hatred, the hostility... it all felt so meaningless now. He saw the girl's face, a face filled with fear that had turned into relief and gratitude. He thought about his mother's words, "a turning point." Was he that turning point? Could his small act, born from pure instinct, change the fate of a world that had long been locked in darkness? He didn't know the answer, but for the first time, he felt he had a purpose. He was no longer just surviving; he was living for something bigger than himself.

To be continued.

A day after the unexpected incident, Claire Earthelinda, the only daughter of a renowned scientist and witch, returned to the place where she almost lost her life. Her snow-white hair reflected the morning sun, and her bright emerald-green eyes shone with a burning determination, a flame that refused to be extinguished. She returned to Vesper Forest, right by the river that had witnessed the accident. But this time, she wasn't there to relax. She was there to unravel a mystery that had unknowingly captivated her—who or what had saved her from the clutches of an unavoidable death?

Claire stood on the riverbank, looking at the calm flowing water. She tried to recall every detail from the previous day's events, but all she felt was confusion.

"It should have been here, right?" she whispered to herself, her voice filled with bewilderment.

"I remember falling from this cliff... but why are there no marks? Not even my footprints or any signs of eroded soil."

She scoured every inch of the riverbank with sharp eyes, looking for the smallest clue that could reveal the secret. A footprint, a broken twig, or even a drop of blood—but there was nothing. The forest seemed silent and peaceful, as if nothing terrible had ever happened there. A full day passed, but her search was in vain, leaving her with a deep sense of emptiness. There was no physical evidence to explain how she survived. Frustration began to creep in, gripping her heart.

"Damn it," Claire muttered with a heavy sigh.

"This is so weird. There's no way I survived without help. I have to come back tomorrow." She clenched her fist, her resolve hardening.

"I won't give up! Whoever or whatever helped me, I have to know. I won't let you go. I will find you and find out who you are."

The next day, Claire Earthelinda began her adventure with more thorough preparation, bringing an offering that she hoped would attract the demon's attention. The night before, she had spent hours in her mother's vast library. She browsed shelf after shelf, her fingers tracing the spines of ancient books about demonic creatures, hoping to find a clue about what they liked. However, the books only explained their origins, powers, and dark history—not their favorite foods. She still brought one of the old books with her as a personal reference, just in case she managed to meet the demon. With no other option, Claire decided to bring berries that grew in abundance near the forest, hoping this simple gift could soften the demon's heart.

Upon arriving at Vesper Forest, Claire carefully picked the berries and arranged them on a mat, right where she had lain. After that, she hid behind a bush, her eyes tightly closed, her heart praying that her plan would succeed.

"I hope this works," she whispered to herself, her breath held.

("I just hope he likes berries. This is all I could think of.")

Time passed. Morning turned into afternoon, and evening arrived, but the demon she was waiting for never appeared. Claire's face, which had been full of hope, was now filled with stinging disappointment. With a heavy heart, she packed her things and headed home, almost in tears. However, in her distress, she didn't realize that the important book she had brought from her mother's library was left behind.

Halfway home, Claire realized her mistake. A feeling of anxiety and panic rushed over her.

"No! No way!" she muttered, her hands gripping her head.

"I... I lost Mom's book! This is an important book! Maybe it contains a very secret magic!"

It was already late at night, but the anxiety continued to mount. Claire finally arrived home, sobbing like a child.

Her mother, who was in the kitchen, heard her sobs and rushed to her. She hugged Claire gently, rubbing her back.

"Shhh, don't cry anymore, Claire," her mother whispered, her voice as warm as the embrace.

"You're okay, right? That's what's most important. I was so worried when I didn't see you. Tell me everything, honey. What's making you cry like this?"

Claire looked up, her wet eyes meeting her mother's. She took a deep breath, trying to control her sobs.

"Mom... today I went back to Vesper Forest," she began, her voice trembling.

"I tried to find evidence, a trace, anything that could explain the accident. I'm sure someone saved me, Mom. There's no way I survived just like that."

She continued, her voice getting softer.

"I... I brought berries and put them there. I also brought a book from the library, a book about demons. I thought... maybe he would come."

Her mother listened patiently, her expression turning more serious.

"Then, what happened?"

Claire began to sob again.

"He didn't come. I waited all day, but there was nothing. And now... the book is gone. I left it there! I'm so scared, Mom... scared the book is important, scared you'll be angry..."

Her mother smiled, a smile that could calm the storm raging in Claire's heart.

"That book? Oh, don't worry about that, honey," she replied with a soft, calming voice.

"It's just an old book. What's important is that you're safe. I'm not mad. We can find the book again, but there's no substitute for you."

Her mother wiped Claire's tears.

"Tomorrow morning, we can go back there together, okay? Maybe we can find the book before someone else does. Everything will be alright."

Claire nodded, her sobs subsiding and a thin smile returning to her face, a little relieved that her mother wasn't angry.

On the other side of the forest, the blue-horned demon, for some reason, felt a strange urge to return to the place where he met Claire. When he arrived, he was surprised to see some berries neatly arranged on a mat. Beside it, lay a book. He approached slowly, suspecting it was a trap. He scanned his surroundings, looking for signs of danger.

After making sure there were no traps, he approached the berries, then his eyes shifted to the book. He didn't know what a book was, but a deep curiosity urged him to open it. Page after page was filled with writing in a foreign language he didn't understand. However, in the middle of the pages, he found a picture that stopped him in his tracks—a picture of a horned demon that looked very much like him.

The demon realized that the book was about his own kind, a surprising and thrilling discovery. He decided to leave, leaving the book behind, but with the thought of returning. He knew the book was the key to understanding himself. Maybe he could meet the girl who helped him again and ask her to teach him how to understand this foreign language. With new hope, the demon disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

To be continued.

Hidden away in the depths of a forest, beneath the gnarled roots of a massive, ancient tree, lived a little demon. But this little demon was different. It couldn't speak the human language. That morning, it woke up with a feeling of unease. The night before, it had found a book with a picture of a creature that looked just like itself. A burning curiosity welled up inside, compelling it to return to that spot. It hoped to see the little girl who had left the book again, the girl who seemed to understand it.

Dawn had not yet fully broken, but the demon was already moving like a flash. It arrived at the spot, staring at the book and the remaining berries left behind. Its sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any traps or hidden dangers. However, its worries faded, replaced by a singular focus on the book, a mirror that might explain its very existence. It sat quietly, patiently, waiting for the arrival of the little girl who had unsettled its heart.

Meanwhile, in a house on the edge of the forest, Claire woke up with a fiery determination. She got ready and went to see her mother, who was still consumed with worry.

"Mother, I'm going back to that spot," Claire said. "I hope your book is still in one piece."

Her mother looked at her with concern. "Child, stop this. I'm afraid something will happen to you. Should I call your father?"

"Mother, don't worry," Claire reassured her. "I'll hide. I'm sure he won't hurt me." She continued, her voice filled with conviction, "I don't know why, but something tells me he's different. There's a kindness in him that I haven't seen in others' stories."

Her mother didn't give up, trying to persuade her to change her mind. "What if you have a guard with you? That way, you won't be alone."

Claire, who was strong-willed, finally agreed. "Alright, I agree," she replied, "but I want the guard to obey my every word."

A sigh of resignation escaped her mother's lips. "Stubborn child," she mumbled. "At least don't do anything dangerous."

"Hooray!" Claire cheered, quickly grabbing her bag. Her steps were light, followed by a guard who looked at her with a questioning gaze.

The guard, named Sir Gareth, was a war veteran who had fought many demons. He wore worn leather armor and carried a long sword. However, beneath his rugged exterior, his heart was filled with doubt and anxiety. His duty was to protect Claire, but he felt uneasy about this mission.

During the journey, Gareth tried to scare Claire with stories of demonic cruelty. "Are you sure, Princess? They are vile, heartless creatures." His voice was hoarse and serious, as if he were recounting a nightmare. "I've seen with my own eyes how demons destroy villages, burn fields, and kill farmers without mercy. Their horns are like knives, and their fangs can tear flesh. They are the embodiment of darkness."

However, Claire was unfazed. She was confident she could face the demon. "Even though I look like this, I can cast high-level spells. If he tries anything, I won't hesitate! Besides, I want to know the truth behind all those stories. Maybe not all demons are as evil as they say."

Gareth was stunned. He had never met someone so brave, or perhaps so foolish. "Whoa! You're amazing, Lady Claire!" he said, clapping his hands proudly, though his heart was still filled with great anxiety.

Finally, they arrived at the forest. From behind the bushes, they saw the demon. Gareth's heart pounded. He watched the demon carefully, seeing its curved blue horns and its big, round eyes.

At that moment, the little demon, who was engrossed in the book, suddenly looked up. Its sensitive nose caught a foreign scent—a human scent mixed with the smell of iron and sweat. It felt a subtle vibration in the ground, a tremor that could only be felt by a forest creature that had lived in the wild.

Its big, blue eyes narrowed, alert. It immediately stood up, pulling the book to its chest, and looked around. It didn't see anything, but its instincts screamed that there was danger nearby. It hid behind the tree roots, ready to flee if a threat came.

"Hey, Claire, is that the demon you were talking about?" Gareth whispered, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword.

Claire was silent, her mouth agape. A faint memory flashed, connecting her to the blue-horned demon in the book.

The guard continued to mumble, "But it's a blue-horned demon... could it be..."

Unconsciously, Claire stepped forward, as if hypnotized. She approached the demon, and finally, they stood face to face by the river, under the sudden, chilling silence of the forest.

"You..." Claire whispered, her voice trembling.

The demon looked at her, its big, blue eyes radiating an unexpected warmth. Claire held out her hand, offering a basket filled with berries. "Thank you for that time," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I want to give you this as a thank you for taking care of my mother's book."

The demon was surprised, unable to believe that a human would give it food. It waved its hand, politely refusing. However, Claire remained bowed, not moving. "Please, take it," she whispered. "I'm serious! It's for you!" Claire said, shouting with an embarrassed blush.

Forced, the demon accepted Claire's gift. Afterward, it took Claire's book, opened the page with its race's picture, then pointed to the picture and to itself.

"Demon?" Claire was confused.

The demon nodded, then pointed to itself again.

"Oh... yes, that's a demon, your race!" Claire said, smiling. "So, you want to say that you're a demon from this book? I get it now! I thought you were just a regular demon, but it turns out you're one of them!"

The demon's eyes lit up. It nodded excitedly, like a happy little dog.

"Could it be you can't talk?" Claire asked. "I just realized... you can only make sounds. If so, I'll teach you how to communicate!"

Claire finally realized, the demon in front of her couldn't utter a single word. She promised to bring a sign language book tomorrow. Without words, they understood each other through body language, a bond formed that transcended their racial differences.

Claire opened the picture book and read the page about demons.

"Demons are ancient creatures," Claire began reading aloud. "They have existed since the beginning of creation. Their forms are not always fixed. In the early stages of their existence, they were abstract beings, without a clear physical form. They were a manifestation of pure energy, like shadows or mists that could change shape at will."

Claire turned the page, looking at an illustration that showed various demon forms.

"However," she continued, "as time passed, when their interaction with the physical world became more intense, demons began to take on physical forms. This is a process called 'Incarnation.' This Incarnation can be very diverse. Some take on the form of terrifying animals, like dragons or giant wolves. There are also those who take on a more humanoid form, like the one you see in this mirror."

Claire pointed to the picture of the demon that looked like it in the book.

"And the rarest," Claire whispered, bringing the book closer to the demon's face, "is Human Incarnation. This type of demon has the ability to take on a human form. They can walk among us, speak our language, and even feel our emotions. They are very difficult to distinguish and often become a myth among humans."

Claire closed the book and looked at the little demon with sparkling eyes. "So, you are one of those who have incarnated. And you still can't talk, maybe because you're still very young or for another reason we don't know. But I'm sure you will understand."

Gareth, who had witnessed all of this from behind the bushes, felt his entire belief system crumble. He saw the demon he had always considered a monster, now interacting with his Princess so gently. The sword in his hand felt heavy, and the horror stories he had always heard seemed to turn to dust. His eyes welled up, realizing how narrow his view had been all this time. He felt ashamed of himself, of the hatred he had harbored for so long. His cold and vengeful heart began to melt.

Dusk arrived. Claire and her guard said their goodbyes. "See you... we'll meet again tomorrow! I'll bring a book that can help us understand each other!"

Their waves were warmly reciprocated by the little demon. Claire and her guard finally went home, leaving the demon with a heart full of happiness, looking forward to their meeting the next day. Gareth walked behind Claire, no longer with the steps of a wary guard, but with the steps of someone who had just found enlightenment.

To be continued.