The fire burned low.
Benemune watched Anthony from across the cave. He sat quietly, repairing a torn piece of cloth with crude thread, hands rough, movements careful.
Not the hands of a noble devil.
Not the eyes of a monster.
Just a man who had learned how to survive alone.
She finally spoke.
An Offer, Then Hesitation
Benemune:
You shouldn't stay in this forest."
Anthony looked up, surprised.
Anthony:
"...Why?"
Benemune:*in her mind*
"If those two know their kid is still alive, they'll kill you. Especially lucifer,he won't show any mercy"
She thought and gestured toward the darkness outside.
Benemune:
"Because nothing here is meant to let you live."
He gave a small shrug.
Anthony:
"But I'm okay with this life."
The words weren't bitter. Just factual.
That unsettled her.
She hesitated, then said-
Benemune:
"I could take you with me."
His eyes widened slightly.
Anthony:
"With you?"
She nodded.
Benemune:
"To my territory. You'd be safe. You'd have food. Shelter. Don't you want to know how the outside world is? There are so many tasty food you didn't see"
Hope flickered across his face-raw, unguarded.
Anthony:
"Really? I want to eat more tasty food"
Benemune smiles
Benemune:
Anthony, what will you do when you grow up? You don't have any demonic power?"
Anthony:
"Is that a problem?"
Benemune:
"Yes,it is. Devils are obsessed with bloodline and lineage. Pride in one's blood is not just cultural-it defines status, authority, marriage, politics, and self-worth.
And here you are , powerless. If they know about your existence,they won't hesitate to kill you"
Anthony(smiles):
"Then I'll become strong without demonic power, only with strength ,y'know"
Benemune:
"Oh,will you? There's no devil who's strong without powers"
Anthony:
"I'm different from them. I'll become strong and prove hardwork beats talent"
Benemune (smiles):
"What type of devil will you become?"
Anthony:
"Hmm, I'll become Super Devil"
Benemune (confused)
"Super Devil? What's that?"
Anthony:
"A devil that become strong even the devils can't classify. I'll become like that. How is it?"
Benemune (laughs)
"You have a crazy mentality for a teenage kid"
Anthony:
"Don't laugh. I'll become strong, y'know "
Benemune:(thoughts)
"Y'know huh? That's the word lilith uses when she talks. You really are her son"
(Benemune gives him a ring that have storage space)
Benemune:
"So you will become a king that lurks in darkness huh"
Anthony:
"Hehe. You can say that"
(Benemune with her power and write two words on his right wrist that looks like tattoo"
Anthony:
"Wnat is this?"
Benemune:
"That means DARK KING in our language,well you don't know that, right?"
Anthony:
"Ahem, I'll learn sooner or later"
Benemune:
"You will. I want to take you will me right away,but..."
Then she looked away.
Benemune:(thoughts)
"...But I'm a fallen angel."
Anthony:
"what are you thinking?"
She stared at him
Silence.
Benemune clenched her fists.
Her Fear
She thought of Azazel.
Of the fallen angel leaders.
Of what they would say if she brought a devil-
especially one who looked like him.
But she didn't say that.
Instead, she said-
Benemune:
"My people might not accept you."
Anthony absorbed that quietly.
Anthony:
"...Because I'm different?"
She nodded.
He looked down at his hands.
Anthony:
"I understand."
And that hurt her more than anger would have.
Benemune stood.
Anthony immediately tensed-not afraid, just alert.
Benemune:
"I need time."
He waited.
Benemune:
"I'll go back. Ask. Think."
She turned toward the cave entrance.
Then stopped.
Benemune:
"I'll return in two days."
Anthony nodded once.
Anthony:
"Okay."
No desperation.
No pleading.
She turned back, conflicted.
Benemune:
"If I don't come back-"
She swallowed.
Anthony:
"That's fine."
Her wings trembled.
She hesitated one last time.
Benemune:
"...Aren't you angry?"
Anthony thought for a moment.
He met her eyes.
Anthony:
"I get it. I'm hard to place."
That was when she realized-
He didn't know anything.
Not his blood.
Not his face.
Not the reason the world rejected him.
And somehow... that made it worse.
Alone Again
Benemune disappeared into the sky.
Anthony sat back down by the fire.
The forest growled in the distance.
He whispered softly, not to anyone in particular-
Anthony:
"Two days."
The chains stirred beneath his skin, responding to his quiet resolve.
Anthony:(happily)
"If she comes back... I'll go. I want to see how the world is. I want to eat tasty food and live happily"
A pause.
Anthony:
"If she doesn't..."
His eyes hardened-not with hatred, but acceptance.
Anthony:
"I'll keep living."
Anthony doesn't know who he is.
He doesn't know whose blood he carries.
He only knows this-
Someone might come back for him.
And for the first time in his life,
that is enough.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
But fate had other plans for him.