Six months had passed since the rebirth of Sirus Rose. Now he lay nestled in blankets, a contented sigh slipping past his lips.
"Hraaaargh… That might've been the best sleep I've had in years," he thought, jaw stretching wide in a yawn.
"Getting used to this life isn't so bad. Sure, being a baby with a full-grown mind is bizarre—but hey, I've got loving parents, good food, and plenty of naps. Could be worse."
His crimson eyes, still gleaming with unnatural clarity, drifted lazily to the wooden ceiling above. "The demons around me… they're fascinating. Ruby-like eyes, dagger-sharp teeth—or should I say fangs—and every one of them bears horns like a crown. Elegant, strange, deadly… but beautiful."
He blinked. Sideways.
'...I still haven't gotten used to that.'
Despite their monstrous features—claws, horns, eyes like molten rubies—the demons lived like peaceful villagers. If one looked past the appearances, they seemed more human than humans themselves.
'Demons grow faster than humans too. I can already hear better, see more clearly… My senses are sharper.'
…
"Ethan, I keep telling you—I'm scared. I keep having these nightmares. The village... It's burning. Holy Knights slaughtering our people, torturing us… and—"
"I know, Sasha," Ethan interrupted gently, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You've told me a thousand times. But you also said it yourself—it's just a nightmare."
He hesitated, then added, "Besides, we haven't told anyone about our son. There's no way the Holy Knights could know we have a Noble child hidden here. Even our neighbors haven't seen Sirus yet. So just... breathe, alright?"
Sasha accepted the cup of water he brought, her trembling fingers brushing his.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes glistening. "It just feels too real. Like a vision, not a dream. I see the flames, hear his screams…"
"Don't cry, Sasha. You know what it does to me when I see you like this."
"I know… I'll try to calm down."
Ethan kissed her forehead. "Good. And hey—did you notice? Sirus is already growing horns. His fangs might even be sharper than mine. Nearly took my finger off yesterday."
Sasha let out a soft giggle, brushing away a tear. "He's so cute when he drools in his sleep. He's going to be a fine demon one day."
"Alright, I'm off. Gotta plough the fields before sundown!" Ethan called, grabbing his tool and heading for the door.
"Be safe, dear!" Sasha replied as she turned toward the kitchen.
Sirus lay in his crib, absorbing every word. "Amazing how good my hearing is now," he mused.
Weeks passed. One day, a tiny figure stood wobbling in the center of the room.
'Huff... Huff... Almost got it!' Sirus grinned triumphantly, fists raised.
And promptly fell on his butt.
'Ow… Still, progress! Mom's gonna be proud.' He glanced toward the door. 'If only I could reach that handle... Is there a mirror in here? I want to see how my horns are growing.'
His eyes locked on a small mirror sitting high on a shelf.
'Too high. But maybe I can knock it down.'
A toy ball lay in the corner—rough, weighted.
'Not sure what it's made of, but it'll do. Let's see if I still got my aim.'
He adjusted his stance, baby legs tense, eyes narrowing.
[SWOOSH] [CRUNCH] [TING] [CRUNCH]
Sirus stumbled as the mirror tumbled, shattering upon the ground.
'Shit. Mom definitely heard that one…' he mused, frowning at the wreckage. 'Still, my prize.'
He picked up a large shard and gazed into it.
'Look at me! Damn... the horns are growing back, toward the skull. Can't wait to see the full shape. Fangs look good too. Heh. I look kind of dashing, honestly.'
His silly grin widened—until his ears twitched.
Footsteps. Heavy. Fast.
[BANG]
"Sirus! W-What happened here?!" Sasha exclaimed, eyes darting from the tilting shelf to her son, who was somehow standing and holding glass.
"That shelf… I told Ethan it wasn't secured right! I'll give him an earful later," she muttered angrily. Gently, she took the shard from Sirus, checking his hands for cuts.
Once the mess was cleaned, she scooped him up and carried him into the kitchen.
On a field not far away, a shiver ran down Ethan's spine.