Human-Demon Bond: Hope or War?

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.

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