A message
Ten Years Later:
Lilith stood before her father Oliver's grave, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. Gently, she laid a bouquet of daisies upon the resting place.
"Father, I'm doing well. Tomorrow marks my 20th birthday. Your daughter has traversed a long journey," she whispered, a delicate attempt at a smile gracing her lips even as her gaze remained misty. "The ache of your absence is a constant companion. I deeply regret not heeding your advice that fateful day. If only I had returned home instead of indulging my curiosity with that flower, perhaps this calamity could have been averted."
Lilith's insatiable curiosity inadvertently ushered in a malevolent tempest into her life. She lingered a few moments more, lost in her thoughts, before reluctantly parting ways with the graveyard, the weight of her emotions still heavy upon her heart.
A decade ago, it wasn't only her father who met his demise; numerous others perished alongside him. The devils, locked away for millennia, managed to break free that ill-fated day.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the entire royal lineage was ruthlessly extinguished upon the Devil Lord's command. None who served the Royal Family emerged unscathed. Among the victims was her father, taken by the hands of the malevolent Devil Lord.
When her father cautioned her against gazing upon the sinister bloom, its significance eluded her comprehension. Ignoring his warning and plucking the flower, misfortune swiftly coiled itself around her existence.
A cryptic mark manifested upon her neck, and those who dared meet her gaze met their end in ashes. Branded a sorceress of darkness, she became a target of scorn, enduring the weight of curses and relentless attempts on her life.
Her existence remained enshrouded in an unrelenting curse, casting a shadow over every aspect of her life.
Yet, in the face of insurmountable odds, she clung to the flicker of hope that persisted within her. Defiance coursed through her veins, undeterred by the adversities that continued to assail her.
She nurtured an unquenchable desire: to end the reign of Apolloyn, the malevolent Lord of Devils responsible for her affliction.
Embracing the curse that had befallen her, she resolved to harness its power. Her determination to reduce Apolloyn to ashes fueled her every step.
For a decade, she fervently pursued the opportunity to breach the heavily guarded palace walls. The fortress-like security measures posed a formidable challenge, rendering entry an almost unattainable feat.
Atop the hill, Lilith arrived at her humble abode, a hut she had built for herself.
Shedding her cloak, she delicately draped it on a hanger, revealing her hair that she had neatly fastened into a bun atop her head.
As she slipped out of her shoes, a flicker of movement caught her attention. Raising her eyelids, she was met with the sight of a young man in his early twenties, an enigmatic presence before her.
To her astonishment, the stranger stood unscathed; the intensity of her gaze upon his eyes held no destructive power over him. Intrigued, she maintained her focus, yet no harm befell him.
"Miss Lilith, I am Karin," he introduced himself, his voice carrying a tone of formality.
From his pocket, he retrieved a small scroll, its significance evident. "I bear a message from Lord Apollyon," he continued, extending the scroll toward her. "Please, take a seat and peruse the contents of my Lord's missive," Karin suggested, a note of deference in his words.
The revelation that Apollyon had dispatched a message for her left Lilith in a state of bewilderment. "Apollyon sent a message for me!?" she echoed, her thoughts racing. However, skepticism crept in as she pondered his knowledge of her identity and residence.
"Furthermore, how do you possess knowledge of my name and my dwelling here?" Her eyes narrowed, suspicion evident as she cautiously sidestepped to her left.
"Tracking down Miss Lilith was not a daunting task," Karin remarked, a subtle smile gracing his lips. "Kindly accept this scroll and peruse the words my Honorable Lord has penned," he politely urged, offering the scroll to her.
As Lilith's hand slipped to the left drawer, she retrieved a dagger with a quiet determination. Her resolve hung in the air, palpable.
She longed to confront Apollyon directly, to wrest control from him and meet him in a final, decisive showdown. Her grip on the dagger tightened, a challenge in her eyes, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
"I've no intention of entertaining his messages. Let your Lord know that hiding like a coward won't save him," Lilith declared, her voice laced with determination.
Advancing toward Karin, she drew the dagger from its sheath, launching an attack. The blade's trajectory resulted in a cut across Karin's hand, causing the scroll to tumble to the ground. Blood seeped from the wound, staining the floor in dark droplets.
Meeting Lilith's gaze, Karin let out a chuckle. "Miss Lilith, Lord Apollyon holds dominion as the King of Azuria, overseeing countless responsibilities. If he were to perceive my injury, I fear you might face consequences for your actions," Karin calmly stated, their confrontation underscored by the complexities of Apollyon's authority.
"I am not scared of him. If he's truly courageous, let him face me head-on," Lilith retorted with unshakable resolve. "Remove that scroll from my sight, and inform Apollyon that his reckoning is upon him," she affirmed, standing her ground in the face of the devil's emissary. Karin's smile remained, his actions swift as he retrieved the scroll from the floor. Without another word, he exited the confines of her small dwelling.
As Lilith restored the dagger to its sheath and placed it on the compact round table, a moment of stillness enveloped her. Her gaze shifted to the door, revealing Karin's departure from her sanctuary. The air hung heavy with her audacious proclamation, setting the stage for a confrontation that held the fate of both their worlds.
Lilith's mind swirled with a multitude of questions, a torrent of thoughts cascading within her. The enigma lay in Apollyon's decision to reach out to her despite her secluded dwelling.
The riddle deepened as Karin, a man, remained untouched by the usual consequence of meeting her eyes. The paradox defied the logic of her curse; men should have crumbled to ashes in her presence.
Could it be that her curse had dissipated? The possibility surfaced, mingling with the anticipation of facing Apollyon, the very individual who had cast the shadow of pain and loss over her life.
The prospect of vengeance stirred within her, a flicker of hope that after years of suffering, justice might be within reach at last.
Overwhelmed by the weight of her grievances, Lilith succumbed to her emotions, tears streaming down her face as she sank onto the floor.
Grief-laden words tumbled from her lips, lamenting the unjust suffering that had plagued her existence. The loss of her innocent father and the wreckage of her life bore down upon her, leaving her vulnerable and shattered.
"Forgive me, Miss Lilith, but I must escort you to the palace," Karin's voice broke through her sorrowful reverie.
At the sound of his voice, Lilith's gaze snapped towards Karin. Swiftly rising to her feet, she wiped her tears, her face a mix of raw vulnerability and determined strength. The dagger gleamed in her grip, her posture ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.
Amidst the tension that hung in the air, Karin's chuckle resonated, an unsettling note that heralded his approach. His words held a veiled warning, conveying his reluctance to resort to force.
However, before Lilith could react, he closed the distance between them in a swift leap. His hand met her forehead in a gentle flick, and a wave of darkness swiftly engulfed her senses.
Lilith's eyelids fluttered shut, her consciousness slipping away as her body fell to the floor. Karin remained impassive, allowing her descent. "This is in response to your dagger," his words lingered as he examined his wounded hand.
Karin moved decisively, kneeling to scoop Lilith into his arms. Her slight form rested against him as he bore her weight.
Without further ado, he took Lilith to the palace where the Devil Lord was waiting for her.