Daemon was standing in front of the throne thinking of his lover, Raynes.
"Wasn't it you who had a great desire to sit on this throne and did long hard exercises to refine your soul and earn the right to rule?
So why have you disappeared now? Could it be that I've lost you?"
And his heart trembled.
"No, you're alive. I feel you nearby. You're somewhere in the capital."
And he turned and went to the exit of the palace to look for Raynes.
He decided to go first to the lowest part of the city, the place where the disgusting smell of the swamps around the capital had spread and the houses had turned into ruins.
He walked through the narrow streets and passed under the unfriendly glances of suspicious passers-by until his attention was drawn to a crumpled body in the corner of the wall.
"Raynes, is that you?"
Hearing his voice, that person raised his head from his knees and covered his face with his hands and got up and started running in the opposite direction of Daemon.
"Wait. Why are you running away from me?"
And he quickly ran to him and wrapped his arms around him.
"What happened? Why are you covering your face?"
"Daemon, please leave me alone and go back to the palace and become king in my place."
"What are you saying?"
"You previously promised me that if the unexpected happens and I fail to become king, you will accept this position."
Daemon's heart sank in his chest.
"You are scaring me with your words. Is your face scarred and you think because of that people will no longer accept you as king?"
Raynes turned his face to him and removed his hands from his face, and Daemon was horrified to see a deep black gash on his face that stretched from one side to the other and a thick tar-like liquid was flowing from it.
"See? This is no ordinary wound. A demon attacked me and entered my body. I managed to get it out with the help of a wizard, but this wound was created on my face."
He started sobbing and buried himself in Daemon's arms. Daemon also tightened his arms around him and said:
"Don't be sad, my love. I promise you I will find a solution for treating your wound no matter what. I will travel to every distant land and meet every wizard."
At this very moment, the demon who cast a spell on Raynes was watching the two of them from behind the wall.
"It's always interesting to hear the lovers' conversation, but what really excites me is imagining the outcome of the brave and loyal Daemon's future endeavors. Will walking down his chosen path plunge him into darkness?"
