The Demon king's Last oath

The estate's gardens were shrouded in mist as Caius crept outside under the cover of darkness. The air was cool, the stars faint through the veil of clouds. While the household slept, Caius had no such luxury—his thoughts were loud, relentless, and filled with questions he couldn't answer.

He stopped near the rose garden, where the air was still. The scent of flowers mingled with the faint metallic tang of magic that lingered in his veins. He raised his small hand, staring at his palm as if searching for something invisible.

"This power… it's not fully mine anymore. It's fractured, weaker than it should be. Yet it stirs, waiting for me to call on it."

He closed his eyes, focusing inward. His breathing slowed, the sounds of the night fading away as he reached for the faint ember within him.

A flicker of heat answered his call.

When he opened his eyes, a small flame hovered above his palm, its light faint but steady. It wasn't ordinary fire. Its edges shimmered like shadows, curling and twisting unnaturally.

Caius frowned. "Still unstable." He willed the flame to grow, but it sputtered, flickering violently before disappearing altogether.

Frustration bubbled in his chest. "I once commanded legions, tore down kingdoms with a single word. And now…" He clenched his fist, his nails biting into his palm. "Now I can barely summon a spark."

A sudden rustling in the bushes broke his concentration. His head snapped toward the sound, his body tense. "Who's there?"

The bushes stilled, the night falling eerily silent. But Caius could feel it—a presence, faint but deliberate, watching him.

"Show yourself," he commanded, his voice low and steady despite his small form.

The air grew colder, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It wasn't human.

The creature stood hunched, its form draped in tattered black rags. Its face was obscured by a hood, but its glowing red eyes burned through the darkness. The same eyes he had seen in the wolf.

Caius's heart raced, but his expression remained calm. "So it wasn't just a random encounter in the forest. It followed us."

The creature tilted its head, its voice a low, guttural whisper. "Fouuund youuuu…"

Caius's small hand tightened into a fist. He didn't flinch. "Who sent you?"

The creature chuckled, a hollow sound that sent a chill down Caius's spine. "Youuuu… cannot hide… King of Shadooows…"

For a moment, Caius froze. That title. It wasn't one he had heard in this life, but in his past, it had been whispered by countless mortals and demons alike.

"You're mistaken," Caius said, his voice sharp. "The Demon King is dead."

The creature hissed, its body trembling as if in pain. "Deaad… and yet… here you staaand…"

Before Caius could respond, the creature lunged.

Time slowed as the creature's claws slashed toward him. Instinct, ancient and primal, surged through Caius's small frame. He raised his hand, and the flickering ember within him roared to life.

Flames erupted from his palm, engulfing the creature mid-strike. It screeched, its body writhing as the dark fire consumed it. The shadows around it twisted and contorted, fighting against the flames, but the fire burned hotter, stronger, until the creature crumbled into ash.

Caius staggered back, his chest heaving. His hand still glowed faintly, the remnants of the flame flickering out. The power within him pulsed, stronger now, like a beast that had been awakened from slumber.

But as the flames died, he felt something else—a faint whisper at the edge of his mind, like an old voice trying to reach him.

"Caius…"

He turned sharply, scanning the empty garden. The voice was gone, but the chill it left behind lingered.

"That wasn't just some stray creature. Someone—or something—sent it."

He looked down at his hands, trembling slightly. The strength he had unleashed felt familiar, but it was still incomplete, fractured. He had to understand it, control it, before it consumed him.

"I need answers."

Caius sat at the breakfast table with his family, the events of the previous night playing over and over in his mind. Lady Helena smiled warmly at him, cutting his toast into small pieces despite his protests.

"You were so quiet this morning, Caius," she said. "Did you not sleep well?"

"I'm fine, Mother," he replied, his tone even.

Lucian, sitting across from him, narrowed his eyes. "You're always fine, aren't you?"

Julian, oblivious to the tension, grinned as he reached for the honey. "That's just Caius. He's like a little statue—nothing bothers him!"

Lucian leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing. "Nothing except wolves, maybe."

The table grew quiet.

Lady Helena glanced between her sons. "What's this about wolves?"

Julian fumbled with his spoon, his face turning red. "Uh… we saw one in the forest the other day. It wasn't a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Lucian scoffed. "That thing nearly killed me." His gaze shifted back to Caius. "And then it just… stopped. Like it was afraid of him."

The Marquess, who had been quietly reading a letter, lowered it slowly. His dark eyes settled on Caius, sharp and thoughtful.

Lady Helena laughed nervously, waving a hand. "Oh, Lucian, don't be ridiculous. Caius is five years old. What could he possibly have done to frighten a wolf?"

Lucian didn't answer, his jaw tightening.

Caius met his brother's gaze calmly. "It wasn't me," he said, his tone measured.

Lucian studied him for a moment longer before looking away.

The Marquess remained silent, but his eyes lingered on Caius longer than they should have.

That night, Caius sat in his room, staring at the faint scars on his palm where the flame had burned too brightly. The events of the past few days had changed everything.

He could no longer afford to suppress his powers. If creatures like the one in the garden were searching for him, it was only a matter of time before someone stronger came.

But more than that, he needed to know who was pulling the strings.

"The oath I swore was to protect this world. But if my past refuses to die, then I'll use whatever power I have to end it myself."

His blue eyes glowed faintly, a crimson hue flickering at their edges.

"The Demon King may be gone, but I'm not powerless. Not anymore."