“Come, Javier,” 

I glanced up as Kozani spoke, standing from the table as soon as our dishes were taken away. I rose from my seat, following Kozani's lead as he motioned for me to join him. The mysterious woman stood gracefully, her presence commanding attention as she moved with a quiet elegance that seemed to envelop the room. Azriel and Lucilla followed suit, their youthful energy palpable as they took the woman’s hands. I watched for a moment as she walked away with the children, disappearing deeper into the palace.

I followed Kozani as we walked the opposite way, exiting into a lush garden, the air fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh greenery, despite the wintery chill. A winding path led us deeper into the verdant oasis, the sound of trickling water from a nearby fountain providing a soothing backdrop. As we strolled through the garden, the morning sunlight danced through the leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows on the path before us. Kozani walked with a measured pace, his demeanor both regal and approachable, but I remained silent. 

“How was your sleep?” Kozani’s voice caused me to look up, but the emperor kept his gaze ahead, still walking along the path as he spoke. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, considering the question carefully before responding. 

"It was good," I admitted, choosing my words carefully.  "I am still confused about everything, to be honest."

“As expected, Javier,” Kozani replied with a faint smile, his gaze softening as he turned to me. "You have been thrust into a world vastly different from your own, and it is only natural to feel overwhelmed."

“May I ask… why you summoned me?” I managed, my voice trailing off as uncertainty crept into my words. Kozani paused, his steps slowing as he regarded me with a thoughtful expression.

“What did Rael or Darian tell you?”

“Darian said you would explain everything,” I answered, staring at the stone path below me. “Rael said… that I was to become your heir.”

“Well, Rael is not incorrect, although I’m sure that still doesn’t answer your questions,” Kozani chuckled, and I looked back up at him, relieved to see a hint of humor in his eyes. “First let me tell you a bit about demons.

“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Lucilla and Azriel do not look like me, and yet they call me Father,” Kozani continued walking again, and I nodded as I followed behind him. I finally started to notice more servants about, tending to the garden as we walked. “That is because almost all children are turned into demons and then adopted into our empire.”

“Turned?” I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper as the implications of Kozani's words sank in. The gentle rustle of leaves seemed to amplify in the sudden silence that followed my question, and I held my breath, waiting for Kozani to respond.

“Yes, turned,” Kozani confirmed, his tone grave as he stopped walking and turned to face me fully. “It is fair to say that demons do not live, since we are born from the dead. A demon is created when another race attempts to bring another of their kind back from that abyss. As such, children born between demons do not live.”

I nodded, taking in his words. So, it sounded like demons were basically like magical vampires, but considering the breakfast, it was clear they still needed to eat. I frowned as I pondered over his words.

“You said almost,” I pointed out, catching the hint of pride in the Emperor’s eyes. “Where do other children come from?” 

“A summoning ceremony, like the one I performed to bring you here,” Kozani answered, his voice calm and measured. “It is an old and dangerous practice, but allows what we call ‘living demons’ to be born. A soul from another world, placed into the body of a demon.

“Such rituals often fail, as the magic requirements are immense and often kill the summoner. The last successful summoning was thousands of years ago, and summoned a body much older than yours. We're lucky I was able to give you such youth,” he continued, gently placing his hand on my shoulder. I was once again captivated by the beauty of his face, the Emperor smiling at me softly. “The magic of a living demon is said to be a unique force in our lands, capable of feats that others can only dream of.”

“But why? Why take the risk to summon me?” I pressed, my voice trembling slightly with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Kozani chuckled as he released me, once again motioning me to follow him down the path. 

“Because I trust my wife, and her visions,” he answered matter-of-factly, and my thoughts turned back to the woman who had been at the table. So, that was the Empress. “She has foreseen a great catastrophe coming to Aesatia, one that would require the power of a living demon to survive. Her vision was not clear enough to see the disaster’s cause, but it will surely destroy our land, not just Ikeapis.”

I remained silent as we continued our walk, mulling over the details in my mind. The weight of Kozani’s revelation settled heavily upon my shoulders as we wandered through the serene garden, the vibrant colors of the flowers around us offering a sharp contrast to the gravity of our conversation. My mind buzzed with questions, doubts, and the weight of it all threatened to overwhelm me.

“For now, our focus is to help you adjust here,” Kozani’s voice interrupted my thoughts, causing me to meet his gaze once again. “You must keep the fact you are a living demon a secret, as it could create chaos if others find out what you are.”

“Alright,” I replied, shrugging off the concern. It’s not like I had anyone to tell anyway. Kozani offered me a reassuring smile before we resumed our stroll through the garden, the morning sun cutting through the autumn chill. As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as if unseen eyes followed our every move. The lush foliage of the garden seemed to whisper secrets, and a shiver ran down my spine despite the warm embrace of the sunlight. 

“Ah, so this is the new child you ran off to find,” a playful voice called out, causing us to pause in our walk as we turned to face the source. A figure emerged from behind a cluster of tall bushes, her form obscured by the foliage until she stepped into the sunlight. It was a woman, her demeanor exuding an air of confidence and mischief. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she regarded us, a mischievous grin playing on her lips as her dark hair swayed in the slight breeze.

"Lady Thalassa," he greeted evenly, his tone helping to relax my apprehension. "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"

“I’d gotten word you’d finally chosen an heir, and I just had to come see for myself,” she chuckled, her gaze on me like a hawk. “You and Nisha haven’t taken in another demon child in years, I was convinced you were happy with two.”

“Javier, this is Lady Osana Meditri Thalassa, a member of The Royal Court,” Kozani introduced, and I bowed my head, unsure of what else to do. Lady Thalassa inclined her head gracefully in acknowledgment of my greeting, her eyes still glinting with a playful curiosity that made me feel like a specimen under scrutiny.

“Such an ethereal appearance, I haven’t seen a demon this lovely since your little Lucilla,” she commented, her voice dripping with amusement as she circled around me, appraising me from every angle. I tried to maintain my composure under her intense scrutiny, but her words sent a chill down my spine. “Surely only an elf or magical human family could produce such a specimen.”

“As of now, we are not sure of Javier’s origin, as you know it is rare to find adult demons. He was found close to the border of Rasu, so human may be a good guess,” Kozani answered smoothly, his tone calm and measured as he addressed Lady Thalassa's probing remarks. I glanced between them, feeling out of place in their clearly political game. 

“Well, mystery or not, I’m sure he’ll make for quite the addition to the Royal family,” Lady Thalassa remarked with a smirk, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before turning back to Kozani. “I’ll leave you two to your stroll. I look forward to the meeting later today, your Majesty.”

With that, the woman finally left, leaving me feeling somewhat relieved to be out of her intense scrutiny. I glanced at Kozani, who wore a thoughtful expression as he watched Lady Thalassa disappear from view.

“She can be... quite the character,” Kozani remarked, his tone betraying a hint of amusement as he resumed our walk through the garden. “But she means well, in her own way.”

“Is it common for demons to have big families? She said it's been years,” I asked, thinking back to Azriel and Lucilla. Azriel looked like he could’ve been about eight or nine, but Lucilla didn’t look a day over four. Kozani chuckled as he nodded, fully turning to face me again.

“Yes, especially for royal families, since again, demon children are usually adopted young to help them adjust. Azriel came to us when he was only five years old, and Lucilla was little more than a newborn,” Kozani explained, a fond smile playing at the corners of his lips as he spoke of the children. “I didn’t adopt more children because I did not wish to add more stress to my wife.”

“Stress?”

“But enough of that for now. Let us enjoy our walk, and I will introduce you to your teacher,” Kozani’s words filled me with a sense of both anticipation and trepidation. As we continued our stroll through the garden, I found myself lost in thought, mulling over the revelations of the morning. The air around us hummed with the tranquil melody of chirping birds and rustling leaves, the bitter autumn wind a reminder of the approaching winter.