Prologue: Once upon a Time...
A millennia of conflicts: Beastman vs. Humans, Beastman vs. Myriens, Demons vs. Celestials; plagued the planet. Wars whose battles altered the terrain, and it's inhabitants; battles that did not end until Rig'osh Akzul- King of Demons- fell in battle to a young Goddess called Seraphina.
"Your leader is dead foul beings, return to your realm and do not come back, for the day that you do, all will be vanquished," the Goddess called out. Her voice echoed throughout the entire world, where many battles were being fought. Though the Goddess could no longer fight, in the face of the demons, she did not falter. The lower demons who had somehow survived heeded her threat, retreating immediately. However, some stronger demons wished to continue; only to be stopped by the Royals. The Royals were a handful in number, and relied mostly on lesser demons to overwhelm their enemies with sheer numbers. Seeing their dim troops flee, to a false threat, angered most. However, they could not blame the lesser demons, for they were unable to sense that victory was near.
"We must return and determine the new King" Myria -the weakest of the Royals- happily shrieked, pleased by the news. Upon his words, and maddened cackle, the mid-level and most Royal Demons retreated to their dark abysmal plane. One Royal; however, stood his ground against Myria. He who refused to listen, spoke to Myria in a grim manner.
"You will not be King so long as my son and I are alive!"
"We shall see young Akzul" Myria enthusiastically replied, a sickeningly sly smile stretching across his face, as he too retreated to his domain.
The Royal then turned to the younger version of himslef, black hair and pure crimson eyes.
"Come Rol'gan, though I hate to admit it, that vile creature is right, we must prepare for an entirly different kind of war." The Demon then opened a portal to the Abyss and disappeared, leaving the young Royal behind.
With no one left to witness his actions, Rol'gan sheathed his weapon and quickly approached Seraphina; catching her before she collapsed.
"Are you all right Love?" his voce but a whisper, his tone unbefitting a demon, let alone a Royal.
Seraphina nodded, but backed away from Rol'gan.
"Leave this place at once," She stated, her tone stern. Rol'gan peered into Seraphina's eyes, seeing his reflection and the pain behind them. With a small bow of his head and an faint sigh, he opened the space beside him like he was unzipping a jacket.
"I will buy you as much time as I can, to recover. But. I cannot guarantee there won't be another war," he said before stepping through the opened space. Calling after him, he heard.
"Become the King and you can prevent another war."
Rol'gan looked back, and smiled as space closed around him; separating him from the one thing he wanted most. Seraphina's amber eyes were wet from tears as she watched the darkness swallow the one being she'd ever truely loved. And thus, peace reined over the earth, allowing the living creatures and the planet, to recover a fraction of what was lost to the demons.
In the Abyss new war broke out among the Royals, one far more grotesque. Lesser and Mid Demons loyalties were brought into questions, a clash of clans that would determine the future of all Demons. House Akzul had been in power for hundreds of thousands of years, and there were some who thought it time to dethrone the Raven Clan. Following the war with the Celestials, the tired but not weakened Akzul's fought a rebellion. Despite loosing two-thirds of their followers, House Akzul was victorious.
After thousands of years demons returned under the rule of a single Royal demon- Rol’gan Akzul, grandson of Rig'osh. And, that day the Celestials followed suit; Seraphina intending to keep to her word.
"Vile beings, I told you never to return," she roared. Her figure blindingly bright and pure. The sight made Rol'gan smile.
"I know, however, you misunderstand something dear Goddess" Rol'gan humbly replied. Feigning offence, the Goddess rose her rapier to the Demon King's throat. The demon simply smiled, a pleasing almost sweet expression, and the Goddess's hand faltered.
The words she needed to speak, did not come. As she stared into the eyes of the creature who had stolen her heart. He looked different yet felt the same. She saw no hatred, though several millennia had passed since they had last seen or even spoken to one another. Rol'gan's eyes held the same depth and love they'd always expressed. After several moments she found her words and spoke sternly.
"I did not think Demons were capable of emotion" she lied to fool the other Celestials. She could not falter, as they would both be killed if anyone discovered their true feelings.
"Demons are capable of a great many emotions Goddess, however, they are generally reserved for loved ones," he played along, his eyes flickered slightly to an Elder Celestial that stood behind Seraphina.
"Why have you returned, after I've ordered you not to?" She continued.
"I seek to form a peace treaty with the humans and Celestials," Rol'gan said. He bowed his head and took a steadying breath, as he fought the urge to take Seraphina, and run, and never let her go again.
"I do not know you Demon, why should I trust anything that spills off your serpentine tongue?" Seraphina asked.
"Goddess Seraphina, I am Rol'gan Akzul, grandson of Rig'osh Akzul who fell to your blade those many years ago. Shortly after returning to the Abyss, a rebellion broke to determine the next Demon King. My father Ra'dol took the throne for a century before he began plotting another attack on the humans.."
"Why would he attack the Humans? Demons have no real use for them, other than to use as playthings correct?" an appalled Celestial snapped at Rol'gan.
"He wished to draw in the Celestials who had promised sanctuary and protections to the Humans. He wanted to wipe you all out," Rol'gan replied with a steady voice. The Celestial closed his mouth as whispers broke out among the his brotheren. "I did not give him that chance," Rol'gan said, his voice remorseful. Seraphina looked at Rol'gan unable to suppress the sadness that washed over her; as she knew what Ra'dol meant to Rol'gan. "My father fell by my hand when I learned of his intentions," Rol'gan met every weary Celestial's eyes with confidence and a small spark of anger.
"I DO NOT WANT WAR!" He snarled. "Right now, I am KING of Demons. And, you have my WORD that until my DYING BREATH, there will be NO WAR!"
After a momentary break, the Celestials agreed to peace with circumstances.
"Give Balrik back to the Demons. It WAS and ALWAYS Will BE a demonic and unholy place. There, we shall lure and warden those with malicious intentions," Rol'gan stated.
"Wait so you'll take in all the criminals?" A Human diplomat stated.
"No, not all. Those who are truly evil do not necessarily seek the help of a Demon. And, we can only lure them there, if they don't take the bait, there is nothing we can do," Rol'gan replied.
"oh," the Human sighed before going quiet again.
"What's to stop the Demons from using Balrik as a foothold into the human world, in order to enact some vengeance or chaos?" A Celestial asked.
"Giving me Balrik will show a sign of trust, and by doing so, you will have proven me right, that Celestial's and Demons can coexist to some degree, by doing that, it will increase my influence over the demons. I'm not saying that all demons agree with me. However, while I stand at the top, NONE can stand against me. There is reason the Akzul's have been in power for generations, I will go as far as raising my own children to protect Humans and seek peace over violence with Celestials, as my grandmother and mother wanted" Rol'gan informed. With his effort given, the others weighed the request heavily before agreeing to this term.
“None with the glow of a star shall be touched by the blight of a demon’s scourge,” Seraphina demanded and all agreed.
“So long as my family reigns over the realm of Balrik, none of your children shall be touched by a demon,” was Rol’gan’s reply.
“Sacrifices are forbidden,” Seraphina demanded again.
“None of the protected shall be allowed as a sacrifice in Balrik,” He replied. "You all must understand that while I am the Demon King, I am not a tyrant. The demons are free to do what they want. Lesser Demons are the violent, unremorseful and a tool for war, they cannot enter the human realm without the Kings permissions, Mid and Higher Demons only require their Royals seal to travel between planes. As for the Royals, they are afraid of me, they will not act, not yet anyways."
"So you expect another war?" A Celestial asked.
"Of course, most Demons hate Celestials.."
"Then why do they attack the human realm?" The Human Ambassador Corbin Mortrix asked.
"Because the Celestials love the Humans" Seraphina replied. Rol'gan nodded and sighed.
"Humans are caught in between because both Demons and Celestials, through certain criteria, can exist in their realm, where a Demon would be vanquished in the Celestial Realm, the Celestials would become currupted and turn into an abomintation if exposed to the Demon Realm. Only Humans are capable of obsorbing both good and evil energy." Rol'gan explained.
The council went on for days before all races were pleased with their terms, and peace was made on the human plane. Unable to sustain themselves within the atmosphere of sin, the Celestials retreated to their sanctum, believed to be a city floating in the sky.
Once again, Seraphina and Rol'gan stood alone.
"Thank you" Rol'gan said softly, a sweet smile forming on his face.
"I knew you could do it, if you really wanted to" She replied.
"Serph.."
"Rol.."
The two cut each other off; smiles and light chuckles filling their space.
"Seraphina, we may never be together, but I will always love you; no matter what, I need you to know that. I will do everything in my power to keep this peace we created today," Rol'gan sighed. "Know that I will ALWAYS love you Seraphina."
"Seems I don't have to worry at all then," Seraphina smiled. "You are more powerful than even you know, and while it's true that we never got the chance to be together... Now, anyone like us, who falls in love, will have a chance...." Seraphina stepped into Rol'gan's chest, a centimeter between them; she looked into deep red pools she always got lost in. "We did that, together."
The two stood there for only a moment, but that moment for them, was an eternity.
"Eyes are on us now," Rol'gan whispered, but Seraphina did not move. Her eyes watery as she tried to hold back the pain once again. Rol'gan placed his finger on her temple and gently stroked a few strands of hair behind Seraphina's ear. "Always" he whispered before opening his rift and disappearing into the Abyss.
