The Prince of Demons

Luna

Nil launched us off of the cliff that was easily a mile to the ground. Not that our alternative was much better. A forling . Why? Who wanted to kill me this badly? Even the assailants targeted me first. This was set up to kill me; someone wanted me dead. Nil had kept us alive so far. He’s always been tenacious. Even now, it was impressive seeing him somewhat composed in the face of such a threat. We began free falling; Nil was panting. I’m amazed he had enough to get us out. Nil forcefully refilled his , but I knew he couldn’t chain it. I definitely would be dead if it wasn’t for him. I might have trained like a woman possessed to try and close the gap on him, but it wouldn’t have mattered against that monster. This was new; I never had anyone who wanted me dead this badly when I was young. I suspected it had something to do with Nil. Who wants to kill people close to him? Nil was able to initially resist the effect enough to get dragged in. That was for later. Now was for not dying. As we approached the bottom, Nil used some to kill our momentum. His face was contorted in pain. Nil was shaking, taking deep breaths. He killed our attackers. It was surreal seeing how much killing affected him. I’m used to adult him who could use his to rip out your spine with a smile. I rubbed his back again. He seemed to like this. Nil steeled himself, standing back up. It was obvious he was trying hard not to break down.

“We need to keep moving; I can recover my as we walk.” Nil told me. He’s amazingly composed all things considered.

“We can take a minute, Nil.” I replied, seeing Nil’s breathing. He needs a second.

His eyes shot to me. He might have been struggling, but that was not slowing him down. Nil looked amazingly determined as he forced himself to his feet with his eyes glowing. He’s using his again. After a moment or so, all of his was back. How does he do that? There was no way the was gone.

“Time is precious. We need to figure out shelter. It’s going to rain in about five hours. We need to cover ground that way our scent is washed away.” Nil informed me. What?

“How do you know the weather?” I asked, trying to figure out how he knew that.

“My ; up until now it’s been a useless ability. I guess context does determine how useful an ability it is.” Nil answered, his voice was trembling a little.

“Do you know which way is home?” I probed. We needed a plan. I had some experience, but none that’d help here.

“Not a clue. I want to find a waterway.” Nil informed me, as he was taking some deep breaths.

“Why?” I inquired. What is he thinking?

“Because towns and civilizations tend to be built on them. It has its own risks, but I don’t want to try walking approximately four thousand miles.” Nil stated. He was scanning around, just trying to judge where we were. Forest. Forest as far as the eye could see. Technically we could see a mountain or two. All we had to go off was the cliff.

“You realize the Ahzen Forest borders the Modinar Kingdom?” I checked. Nil grimaced. The kingdom that’s been threatening war for most of your life.

“I guess we are either walking that far or figuring out a miracle.” Nil grumbled, looking distraught. A came to mind now that I thought about it.

“What if you folded two points in to each other?” I asked. He made that spell before.

“Like a wormhole?” Nil inquired. HOW THE FORL DOES HE KNOW THE NAME ALREADY?!

“I think so.” I stated. Nil is something else. How? How does he already have this idea?

“I mean, I can conceptualize it, but I don’t think I’d survive casting it.” Nil told me. How? He doesn’t know where we are, but can conceptualize that idea?

“We can keep that as a desperation maneuver.” I quipped. There were parts of Nil that were baffling. It feels so unnatural.

The two of us began walking towards the mountains. Dark clouds were rolling in. He was right. I knew Nil always seemed to have the weather he needed. I just assumed it was luck, but he can just see the weather forecast. Nil had a tense expression as we walked; we walked in uneasy silence as we scanned around us. Even now, he is able to come up with ideas and act. It was odd. He’s seven. I walked up to him and rubbed his back again. Nil looked at me, with a complicated expression.

“What’s bugging you, other than the obvious?” I inquired. Nil was making an odd expression. It’s tense; we’re in deep trouble.

“We can talk later. We have about an hour of travel before we need to look for shelter.” Nil stated, looking like he wanted to keep moving.

“Okay.” I agreed, getting his point.

The next hour we marched in a straight line. Or almost an hour. Telling time was never a strong suit of mine. Nil paused and switched from his sword to a bow. Nil already has the habit of keeping numerous weapons on him. He took a deep breath, notched his arrow, and launched it. I heard a faint cry as Nil descended upon his quarry.

“A rabbit. We’ll need to keep the pelt. Once we have some bearings, we’ll need to hunt something with a large pelt.” Nil declared, showing his catch.

Nil retrieved his arrow and stored his catch. We walked a bit further as we surveyed for a place to rest. We need a place to stay the night and wait out the storm. Nil pointed out a thick cluster of trees that grew into each other. I got near him, and he us to our destination. Nil pulled out some inscribing chalk and made a small . He pulled out the rabbit and began skinning it the best he could. While Nil handled that, I made a small canopy to protect us from the rain. He placed the meat on the . Nil activated it, nearly instantly cooking the meat. It tasted horrible but it was food. It’s charred but I’ll take it. A few drops of rain began falling as Nil meticulously made sure everything was stored. Nil picked me up and set me in his lap. What the forl is he doing?

“Nil?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

“We need to conserve body heat. We don’t have a blanket, and I can’t power a heat overnight.” Nil told me like it was obvious.

“Why don’t you have your sword out?” I inquired. Why am I panicking?

“It’s metal.” Nil answered. That was not the answer I was expecting.

“Why does that matter?” I probed. Nil, can you please be more normal for a few seconds?

“Metal is conductive. If there is lightning, it will be drawn to the metal.” Nil explained. How does he know that? I couldn’t think of a place in the world to learn that.

“Where did you learn that?” I asked. It was odd being this close to him. The first guy I snuggle with is kid Nil. Did not bug me. At. All.

“Not relevant.” Nil deflected. IT IS HIGHLY RELEVANT!

“I think this knowledge is highly relevant.” I retorted, trying to remain calm.

“Where I learned it is not.” Nil snapped. It kind of irritated me. Nil, we’re kind of in a do or die situation.

“Is this really a time to be putting up a wall?” I inquired. Nil made a face.

“Luna, someone really wanted to kill you. This is an incredible effort to kill you that we currently survived by the skin of our teeth.” Nil spat. Skin of our teeth? That’s an odd expression. Nil always had odd expressions now that I thought about it.

“I don’t know why. It’s scary. I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you.” I retorted. All that training, all that effort, and I still needed Nil’s help. The most concerning thing, this trap was clearly designed to kill me; it would have certainly succeeded.

“I’m sorry. I’m just. Stressed.” Nil sighed. He held me a bit closer; Nil was shaking.

“It’s okay. We’ll make it out of this.” I assured him as it really began pouring.

“Something is bugging me though; how did you know the concept of wormhole? That’s a highly theoretical idea that I don’t know how a vision could show you it.” Nil probed. You are questioning me on how I have a weird idea?

I mulled it over for a minute before replying. I knew it bugged Nil I could keep up with him when we talk. It was obvious over the two years that he always wondered why. Do I tell him? Seeing Nil up close, he was certainly an odd one. His brilliance was well beyond normal. Nil knew the weirdest facts that I can’t even fathom where he learned them. I sighed. What if Nil backs away knowing the truth? I don’t want to see him become the monster I know. Miscommunication often paved the way for you to make your own nightmares. Let’s test the water.

“If I’m honest about one thing, will you be honest about one thing?” I offered. Nil was making an indecisive face as he looked at me. It was still kind of cold even close to Nil thanks to the wind.

“What do you mean?” Nil checked, shaking a bit more.

“If I answer your question with the one hundred percent truth, will you answer one of mine with the hundred percent truth?” I clarified. I think it’s time we addressed each other’s oddness.

“Fine, provided your answer actually answers the question.” Nil agreed. His nervousness was palpable.

“I have memories of a timeline that was destroyed. was a you stunned the world with.” I informed him. Nil instantly relaxed.

“Huh. What’s your question?” Nil checked. Wow he took that surprisingly well. Actually, Nil took it ridiculously well. He clearly believed me. That was it? He was just going to accept such an outlandish claim?

“Where do you have these ideas from? I knew you always were innovative and had the wildest ideas, but you have them even now.” I asked. Nil’s reaction was not what I was expecting.

“I’m curious which of us is mentally older; I’m about thirty-one.” Nil confessed. What? How? It would explain A LOT about Nil.

“I’m roughly thirty. That didn’t answer the question.” I replied, trying to figure out the relevance. But his knowledge was still weird.

“I know. I’m from another world, kind of. I died and was reborn here.” Nil told me. That explains so forling much. I laughed a bit.

“Wow. No wonder.” I chuckled. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

“I knew you were too mature and quick witted for a kid.” Nil stated, also seeming more relaxed.

“You know you’re the oddest child? If it weren’t for you’d be doomed.” I retorted. I thought he was super weird for a child.

“So, was your grand plan this life to be my childhood friend and try to seduce me?” Nil taunted with a shiza eating grin.

“I did not intend to seduce a child. Why would I seduce you?” I shot back, glaring at Nil.

“Become Empress. Try and rule with an iron fist.” Nil teased, seeming glad to be able to tell someone. It is nice.

“Uh huh. You caught me.” I replied. Nil, you are such a dork.

“Knew it. Shameless.” Nil taunted, looking pleased with himself.

“Says the man who snuggled a seven-year-old. Lecherous old man.” I mocked. Nil raised an eyebrow back.

“We need to conserve body heat. We will die if we don’t.” Nil told me. It definitely was not that warm here.

“Justifying your actions. Do you know what accountability is?” I checked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“I saved your life. I will have the burden of knowing your actions are a result of my heroics.” Nil shot back dramatically.

“Where did you live before? You are remarkably calm.” I inquired. He managed to stay fairly composed, which is impressive.

“I really don’t want to die again. Panicking under pressure does nothing other than waste time.” Nil explained. He’s oddly rational.

“What was your past life like?” I probed. Was he just used to this sort of thing?

“Horrible. Lords above it was horrible. I can’t think of a single happy memory. My family was awful.” Nil explained. I realized his arms were slowly wrapping around me a bit tighter as he leaned on me. It made me slightly warmer.

“What was the world like? People outside your family?” I asked. I’m wondering how he knows so much.

“People really disliked me; I’m not sure why. I was never popular. People always sucked in my opinion. The world had no , only technology. Science was way more advanced back on Earth than on Tenebrae.” Nil told me. No wonder he’s so fascinated by . So many things were clicking in my head. Some of his wild ideas are just mundane to where he’s from.

“Aren’t you curious about what happens?” I checked. Nil thought about it for a second.

“I’m going to assume the future has already changed a lot. I’m not sure if you actively changed events, but I think if you and I were friends last time, you would’ve known what television was.” Nil answered. He is sharp.

“We weren’t friends last time.” I confirmed, trying to dodge the question.

“Were we enemies? What happened? You said it was destroyed.” Nil inquired. How to phrase this? You conquered then destroyed the world?

“We were. You wanted things to go better than they did. When you reset things, it destroyed the timeline.” I informed him. Nil deflated a little.

“Ah. Wait, you said things went poorly, right?” Nil checked as he seemed to realize something.

“Generally, yes. A lot of your family and friends died.” I confirmed. It’s like the world hated you now that I think about it.

“Nez and Ein nearly died. This was a trap to kill you. Someone really wants to kill those close to me.” Nil deduced, looking a bit confused.

“Who? Why? It ended disastrously.” I inquired. I can’t think of any one where it ended well. So much was destroyed in your wrath.

“No idea. The fact you asked that means it’s not an obvious answer. For now, just train steadily to deal with their attempts.” Nil stated, looking dismayed.

“Well, their attempts appear to be quite solid.” I sighed. That is not comforting. Not that it currently mattered. We needed to survive the current one.

“We’ll survive. I just don’t know how yet.” Nil assured me. He was resting his head on me now.

“I hope you’re right.” I retorted, snuggling into him as he laid into the canopy. It was at least warm enough to sleep now. We need a blanket. I closed my eyes, hoping tomorrow we’d make progress.