Chapter 1

ICE AND THE DEVIL

Chapter One

Athena pov

I had always loved sunsets. There was something peaceful about watching the red sun sink into the horizon as I sat atop the mountain. The snow-covered land below reflected its glow, turning white into shades of crimson. For a moment, the world felt calm.

I knew better.

"Her Majesty, Queen Metis, demands your presence."

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Zed.

I smiled faintly. "Let me guess. Your brother complained about me again?"

Zed sighed. "Athena, must you always make things difficult?"

"Only when people give me a reason to." I rose to my feet, brushing the snow from my clothes. "Besides, if your brother learned to keep his hands to himself, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

He fell silent for a moment.

"Whatever happened between you two, you can't keep solving everything with your blades."

"Then perhaps he should stop giving me reasons to use them."

"Athena."

"What?" I asked innocently. "I'm being reasonable."

He let out another sigh.

I grinned. "You know, you should try smiling once in a while. It might do you some good."

"Your mother is waiting."

"Then we shouldn't keep Her Majesty waiting, should we?"

I turned and started walking away.

"Athena, I'm serious."

"So am I."

I was already walking away when I called out, "Hey, Slog!"

My personal ride-a majestic unicorn-descended from the sky. I mounted in one smooth motion, and we took flight.

From above, the city of Aurelia unfolded beneath us: towering spires, creatures going about their mundane lives, tiny figures scurrying like ants through snow-dusted streets. Under the red sun, the city looked almost unreal.

We landed before the grandest tower of all-the palace. My home.

Inside, I spotted a massive man speaking with my mother.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Queen Metis of Aurelia," he said, bowing.

"Lord Mirog," my mother replied warmly. "It has been a long time. How fares the Demon Realm?"

"Thriving, Your Majesty."

"I'm glad to hear it. Please, make yourself comfortable. Lord Zed Remizires will show you to your quarters."

"My thanks."

As he left, my mother finally noticed me.

"Athena. Good-you're here."

"Am I ever not?" I replied playfully.

She ignored that. "You're familiar with the human territory, correct?"

"Yes," I answered, my tone sharpening.

"There's been a report of a Kiju attack."

"That's surprising."

"Indeed," she said. "I sent Brad, but I've heard nothing from him. I fear this may not be an ordinary Kiju incident."

"I'll go and investigate," I said immediately. "And about Lord Remal-"

"He was molesting a slave girl," I cut in.

"The report says you nearly killed him."

"I considered it," I said flatly.

She studied me before sighing. "You are betrothed to his brother, Athena. We are meant to be family. Try to show him some respect."

"Yeah, yeah." I waved it off. "No reminders needed. May I be excused, Your Majesty?"

"...You may. Be careful."

"Always, Mother."

As I flew toward the human territory, unease settled in my chest.

Brad should have handled something like a Kiju easily.

And since when do Kiju wander into human territory?

Thinking about him made my skin crawl. I hoped he was dead.

I landed near a human village on the edge of the desert.

Something felt wrong.

The streets were empty. No people, no movement, not even the usual sounds of life. I looked around, searching for any sign of destruction, but everything seemed strangely untouched.

Where had everyone gone?

I continued walking through the deserted streets, keeping my eyes open for anything unusual.

A strange noise came from somewhere nearby.

I paused, listening.

Nothing.

I frowned but continued searching. Perhaps the villagers had simply fled after the Kiju attack.

Then I heard it again.

This time, it was closer.

I stopped walking.

Something wasn't right.

My instincts screamed at me to move, and I immediately drew my twin blades.

The air shifted.

Before I could react, a deafening roar shattered the silence.

A massive demonic creature emerged, its wings spreading wide and its eyes glowing red. It lunged at me.

I dodged, rolling through the underbrush before striking with precision. Sparks flew as my blade met its arm. It blocked and countered, moving faster than I expected.

I adjusted mid-motion and severed its hand.

Its wings beat furiously as the creature screeched and launched into the sky.

"No, you don't," I muttered.

"Slog-now!"

We shot upward, chasing it through the clouds.

Then-

Lightning.

I leapt just in time, but the bolt sliced through Slog.

"No-!"

I landed hard, shielding myself as attack after attack followed. When the dust settled, Slog's body lay in pieces at a distance.

My vision blurred with rage.

"Show yourself, coward!"

A man stepped forward, his white hair glowing faintly.

"Brad," I said, clenching my fists. "Why am I not surprised?"

"This barren land will be your grave," he replied.

"You think you can take me alone?"

"Who said I was alone?"

Another presence appeared-an entity I didn't recognize. Bald-headed, smiling, and radiating playful malice. His scent was wrong. Blood loss clung to him, hidden beneath that unsettling grin.

"I've always wanted to pluck a goddess's wings," he laughed. "But you'll do just fine."

Goddess?

They were after my mother.

"So you separated me to ambush me alone," I snarled.

"Don't worry," Brad said calmly. "You and your mother will be together soon."

I have to finish this. I have to protect her.

My grip tightened around my twin blades.

The bald man stood beside Brad, that irritating smile still plastered across his face. His body seemed relaxed, but his eyes never stopped watching me.

Brad's lightning crackled around him.

I studied them both, watching their stances, their breathing, and the slightest movements of their bodies.

Brad was preparing to strike.

The other one was waiting for me to make a mistake.

Fine.

I'd give them something else to worry about.

I moved first.

The ground cracked beneath my feet as I launched myself forward, closing the distance between us in an instant. My twin blades flashed toward Brad before he could release his lightning.

He barely managed to block.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air.

I twisted, using the force of our collision to propel myself toward the bald man. His smile widened as he vanished from my sight.

Too fast.

I couldn't follow his movements with my eyes alone, but I didn't need to.

I watched the direction of the dust, the shift in the air, the subtle changes in his body's position whenever he prepared to move.

I predicted his next move and swung.

My blade caught him across the chest.

For the first time, his smile faltered.

But before I could press the advantage, lightning exploded behind me.

I twisted away, narrowly avoiding Brad's attack, but the blast sent me crashing against a wall of rock.

Pain shot through my back.

I pushed myself upright, barely giving them time to breathe.

They were fast. Strong. Dangerous.

But I was not going to let them take my mother.

I charged again.

This time, they attacked together.

Lightning tore through the air as I dodged, only to be smashed aside and thrown against rock. I forced myself up.

Lightning and speed collided across the desert. The bald one moved faster than the eye could follow, while Brad's bolts crackled relentlessly. Every dodge, parry, and strike was a matter of life and death.

The bald one was pure speed. Brad controlled lightning with terrifying precision. Their attacks overlapped, relentless.

I was losing.

Still, I fought.

I timed it perfectly-ducked beneath Brad's lightning and drove my sword straight into the speedster's chest.

He grabbed the blade halfway through.

Then Brad struck us both.

Pain exploded through me.

Everything blurred.

I forced myself into the air, hurling my body as far away as possible-

-and was smashed midair, sent crashing toward the ground.

I collided with something solid.

Arms caught me.