DEMON REALM- VALTORIA
CAPITAL- KARKOTH
Deva's face was twisted in a scowl as he stood on the balcony, gazing out at the dark, foreboding landscape. The twisted mountains and ominous forests seemed to mirror his mood, shrouded in an eerie gloom.
"A human, huh?" A voice floated over Deva's shoulder from the shadows, the words laced with amusement. Slowly, a figure appeared in his room, a hint of a smile played on his lips, but his eyes sparkled with a sharp intensity that seemed to pierce the darkness. The dim light danced across his chiselled features, casting shadows that accentuated his sharp cheekbones and angular jawline. "I really didn't see that coming."
Deva had sensed Gortha's presence long before he teleported into the room, the familiar energy unmistakable. "I don't remember inviting you to my bedroom." He growled.
"You don't have to invite me, brother. I know my way around." Gortha's smile remained.
Without turning to look at him, Deva asked, his voice stern and unwelcoming. "What do you want, Gortha?" Even if he guessed why his brother was in his chamber, he wanted to hear him to say it.
Gortha stood beside him at the balcony. "I came to see how my big brother is doing."
"I don't want you here. Get out."
Gortha gazed at him, his expression unyielding. "Oh, don't be like that. I know you want to talk to someone, so here I am."
With a frustrated sigh, Deva turned away, disappearing into the shadows of his dimly lit chamber, leaving Gortha alone on the balcony. Undeterred, Gortha trailed after Deva.
"So you don't want to talk about your marriage with the human?" He asked, his voice still dripped with teasing sarcasm.
He knew it. Deva stopped in his tracks, his back still turned to Gortha. "There's nothing to discuss." His voice was low and even, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his irritation.
Gortha chuckled, the sound echoing off the dark walls. "I'm sorry I am laughing, but this is funny, don't you think? A human and a demon, the chemistry is unlikely. King Xandros has plans, and he is using you to achieve his plans." Both brothers didn't have a good relationship with each other or their father.
Deva's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "Gortha, leave!"
Gortha's smile never wavered. "I should back off, but I won't. You're still trying to prove to Father that you're not weak, and this human thing is just another misstep in that endless game."
Deva spun around, his eyes flashing with warning. "Get out, Gortha."
Gortha's smile faltered for a moment, but he didn't back down. "You're reacting exactly as I expected. You're still trapped in Father's web, Deva. He is using you as a tool in his game for power. When will you break free?"
Deva's anger simmered just below the surface. "You're not in the position to tell me whether I am a tool or not, Gortha. You're just as bound to Father's will as I am."
Gortha's expression turned serious, his eyes glinting with a hint of vulnerability. "Maybe I am, but at least I'm honest about it. You're pretending to be something you're not. It's time to face the truth."
The air between them crackled with tension as Deva's patience wore thin. "Leave. Now."
"You are about to make a mistake. A grave one."
"I don't care!"
"Even with the future of the realms at stake?"
Deva went silent.
"You know how father has been about taking over all five realms. Will you give him the satisfaction to rule? Make everyone his puppet?"
Deva remained silent.
"Alliance with the mortal realm would give Father access to the ancient wisdom. You know what this means."
"I don't care what Father does."
"But you should. You are going to be king of Valtoria.... Do you not care about its people and what Father's actions will cause all five realms?"
"I don't." Deva's reply was firm.
Gortha stared at him for a while, his eyes searching. "What happened to you? You've grown so cold."
"You should leave." Deva stated, his voice firm and his expression unreadable.
Gortha's smile returned slowly, but it was tinged with a hint of sadness. "As you wish, brother. But know this, It's time to take a stand, Deva. Break free from Father's strings and forge your own destiny."
With that, he vanished into thin air, leaving Deva alone in the darkness.
Deva's mask of indifference slipped for a moment, revealing a glimmer of pain and turmoil beneath. As the silence enveloped him, he felt a heavy weight settle upon his shoulders. Gortha's words lingered, echoing in his mind like a haunting melody.
'You are about to make a mistake. A grave one.'
Deva knew his father's plan to form an alliance with the mortal realm was a ruse, a calculated move to exploit their ancient wisdom and further his own ambitions. The thought sickened him, and he wondered how far his father would go to achieve his goals.
He sighed. Gortha was right. His father had always used him as his bait for power. But for how long will he remain his father's puppet? For how long will he feel trapped, bound by the expectations and manipulations of his father and those around him.
The weight of his responsibilities as future king of Valtoria bore down on him, and the fate of the realms hung precariously in the balance. Deva knew he had to make a choice: continue down the path his father had set for him or forge his own destiny.
As he stood there, the darkness seemed to press in around him, suffocating him with the weight of his doubts and fears. But amidst the turmoil, a spark of defiance flickered to life within him. He thought of the possibilities that lay beyond the boundaries of his father's plans.
After a while, Deva's eyes narrowed, and his jaw set in resolve. He would not be a puppet forever. He would take control of his own destiny, no matter the cost. The question was, where would he start?