The sky above Eldervale had always been grey.
Not the peaceful grey of rain.
But the tired grey of forgotten dreams.
Kael Arven stood barefoot on the cracked rooftop of an abandoned building, staring upward.
He liked watching the sky.
Because when you're poor, the sky is the only thing that belongs to you.
He was seventeen.
Too old to be hungry. Too young to stop dreaming.
Below him, the slums breathed with quiet misery. Rusted metal roofs. Broken lanterns. Smoke rising from burning scraps of wood.
Kael clutched a small piece of bread in his hand.
It was all he had for dinner.
And yet—
He broke it in half.
A skinny stray dog with dull fur approached him carefully.
Kael smiled.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "I won't hurt you."
The dog wagged its tail.
He gave it the larger half.
Because kindness was the only wealth he had.
And that's when—
The sky changed.
A deep red crack split the clouds.
Thunder roared without lightning.
The air became heavy.
The dog whimpered and ran.
Kael didn't.
He stared.
From the crack in the sky—
Something fell.
Not like a meteor.
Not like rain.
But like a wounded angel.
No—
Not an angel.
She crashed into the forest beyond Eldervale with an explosion of fire.
The sky sealed.
Silence returned.
Kael's heart pounded.
Anyone else would run away.
But Kael?
He ran toward it.
The forest was burning when he arrived.
Trees cracked under heat.
Smoke filled the air.
And at the center of the crater—
She lay there.
A girl.
About his age.
Long silver hair spread across ash-covered ground.
Two massive crimson wings folded behind her.
Horns curved slightly from her head.
Her black dress was torn.
Blood shimmered like dark fire on her skin.
Kael froze.
His mind screamed:
Monster.
Devil.
Run.
But his heart whispered:
She's hurt.
Her eyes opened.
Golden.
Not human.
She stared at him.
There was no fear in her gaze.
Only calculation.
"If you scream," she said coldly, "I will kill you."
Her voice was soft.
But ancient.
Kael swallowed.
"I won't scream."
She tried to stand—
And collapsed.
Her wings trembled violently.
Blood stained the ground.
Kael hesitated only one second.
Then he stepped forward.
"You're injured."
She glared.
"Do not touch me, human."
He removed his torn jacket anyway.
Kneeled beside her.
Wrapped it gently around her shoulders.
She stared at him like he was insane.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you're bleeding."
"I am a devil."
"And I'm still not scared."
That wasn't entirely true.
He was terrified.
But not of her.
He was scared of the loneliness he saw in her eyes.
She studied him carefully.
As if trying to understand a language she had never heard before.
"You should fear me," she whispered.
"Maybe," he replied softly. "But right now, you look like someone who needs help."
For the first time in her existence—
Azryelle Vireth, Princess of Noctyra…
Had no response.
Wind blew ash around them.
She tried to summon fire.
Nothing happened.
Her powers were sealed.
The fall had cost her strength.
And she hated weakness.
Especially in front of a human.
"What is your name?" she asked coldly.
"Kael."
"You live here?"
"Yes."
She looked around at the broken forest.
At the distant slums.
"This world is pathetic."
He smiled faintly.
"Yeah. It is."
She expected anger.
Defensiveness.
Instead—
Agreement.
"You're strange," she muttered.
"I've been told that."
He carefully helped her stand.
She leaned on him unwillingly.
Her wings brushed his back.
Warm.
Strangely comforting.
He led her toward the city.
If anyone saw her—
They would panic.
So he brought her to the only place no one ever visited.
An abandoned clocktower.
It had no doors.
No windows.
Only broken walls.
But to Kael—
It was home.
He laid her down on an old blanket.
She looked around in disgust.
"You live in ruin."
"It's quiet here."
She touched her chest.
Her heart was beating fast.
Why?
She had slaughtered warriors before.
Burned cities.
Yet—
This fragile human boy…
Made her pulse unstable.
"You should leave," she said suddenly.
"Why?"
"Because when my power returns… your kind will suffer."
Kael sat beside her.
"Then don't make them suffer."
She stared at him.
"You think it is that simple?"
"Isn't it?"
She almost laughed.
Almost.
"You know nothing about fate, human."
"Maybe. But I know this."
He looked at her wings.
"They're beautiful."
Silence.
Devils were called terrifying.
Monstrous.
Cursed.
Never—
Beautiful.
Her throat tightened slightly.
Something unfamiliar.
She turned away.
"Sleep," she ordered.
"You need rest."
He smiled.
"You too."
Night covered Eldervale.
But inside the broken clocktower—
A devil girl lay beside a poor boy.
Two beings from opposite worlds.
Destined to destroy each other.
Yet—
Neither knew.
This was the beginning of a war between Heaven, Hell…
And the human heart.
And for the first time in her immortal life—
Azryelle felt something dangerous growing inside her.
Not hunger.
Not rage.
But warmth.
And warmth…
Was far more terrifying.
...
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