Avaris’ POV

It was dark. Really dark and silent.

The only thing I could hear was the labored breaths of the boy beside me. Not that I wasn’t breathing too—it was just too difficult for me to breathe, and I knew I’d die sooner or later.

In fact, I delayed my breathing to die as soon as possible.

Just the thought of dying brought some kind of relief. At least, I wouldn’t have to worry about the pain or the memories that haunted my head, memories that had become a part of me I never truly wanted.

Was I scared?

Even if I feared anything, it wouldn’t be death. The same death that took my whole family from me, or the same death that visited me every night, reminding me of my time on earth that would soon end.

No, I could never fear death.

In the face of death, they say, the happiest memories would resurface, reminding the dying of things that meant a lot to them.

But I had no such memories, no happiness to hold onto in my last moments.

“Is this really it?” the boy beside me asked, his voice trembling.

I didn’t answer. We both knew the answer anyway.

“What if we could be saved?” he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper this time. I felt him shift closer to me. “What if we had a chance to be saved? What would you do?”

What would I do?

I’d watch every one of them burn and everything they’d built crumble to ash. I’d avenge my family’s death in the cruelest way, savoring every moment. I’d watch their children suffer, just as I had. I’d erase their clan so that they would never exist again.

But those were just fantasies now, lost in the shadow of death. It was too late.

I closed my eyes as I felt death approaching, ready to tear my soul from me, just like it had torn apart everything I’d ever loved.

A minute passed, two minutes passed, seven minutes passed… but nothing happened, except for a powerful gust of wind that brushed over my face.

I opened my eyes, only to realize I wasn’t in that dark place anymore, nor was I lying in a heap of dirt. I was now standing, gazing into a light that seemed both near and far.

I squinted, looking around. Everything was dark except for a stream of light above me.

Where was I?

Before I could think further, I heard footsteps. I squinted to see better, but there was nothing, only emptiness.

“Weird.”

I heard a voice at that moment, deep and unfamiliar. My gaze landed on him.

He sat on a throne, his legs crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. Shadows loomed over him, enhancing the dangerous allure that seemed to emanate from him. Even from afar, I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person.

Nothing really surprised me anymore. I had seen more than hell in my life.

“Who are you?” I asked in a steady tone, but there was an odd thrill inside when I saw him.

He rose from his throne, but he didn’t approach me. He continued to smirk as his voice reverberated throughout the room. “What a brave human. You are the first to summon me here, human. Don’t waste my time—tell me what you want.”

My brow furrowed, processing his words. “Summon you here?” I asked, blinking. “Are you Death? I never thought Death would be so… striking.” A dry laugh escaped me. “Anyway, I’m ready. Take me.”

I shut my eyes and waited for the end, the ultimate escape from this cruel world. Instead, I heard a cold, low laugh that slid through me, leaving behind a weird, unnerving thrill.

“Death?” He laughed again, his voice deep and sultry. “I don’t take souls like he does. I make deals with humans, feeding on their desires and fears, making them bow to me, revealing the worst sides of themselves. I fulfill their wishes—in exchange for something. And now that you’ve summoned me, my dear, you’ll have to make a deal.”

I stared at him, struck by the strange allure in his gaze. A demon? Had my dark thoughts summoned a demon? I was supposed to feel shocked, but I felt… something else, something I couldn’t name.

“You want them dead, don’t you? You want to see them burn, to wipe out their clan, don’t you?” he murmured, his voice curling through the darkness, drawing me toward him. He stepped closer, and I felt myself freeze, caught by the intensity in his eyes. “I could fulfill all of your wishes.”

As I listened, my heart raced in my chest, his words left me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Not because he had uncovered my desires, but because his voice and gaze seemed to pierce right through me.

I had never spoken these thoughts to anyone, had kept them locked away. Yet here I stood, in front of a demon who offered to bring me my one desire—the thing that might bring me happiness.

“Don’t waste my time, human. I have matters to attend to.”

He kept his gaze locked on me, and it was like he was looking into the very core of me, stripping me bare. I could feel his power in every glance, every word, and it left me raw.

Why not agree? I was fated to leave this world anyway.

“Yes, I want them all gone.”

A glint of satisfaction sparked in his eyes as he nodded. “Good.”

He flicked his hand and a scroll materialized in front of me. Before I could understand its purpose, my name, ‘Avaris,’ appeared on the scroll, and then a second name followed: ‘Dyvian.’

"Let us begin by fulfilling your wishes, Avaris," he said, his eyes dark with amusement. He flicked his hand, and the scroll disappeared.

In an instant, the world around us changed. When I lifted my gaze, my eyes landed on the mansion I had once called home.

“Enjoy the scene with me,” he murmured, and I could feel his presence at my side.

And then, in a flash, the mansion burst into flames.