The Prince of Demons

Today was Temple. The last few days were spent clarifying a few ideas and making sure the implementation was correct. Currently, my family, Lux, Luna, and Duke Dawnsfield were in Temple. I sat through the service as usual, until it was my family’s turn to go to the statues. I went up to Kron’s statue, knelt, and began praying. Kron, I really need you to answer today. Please. I felt the normal sensation when Kron was there washing over me. In a matter of moments, I was surrounded in a familiar blank void seeing the faint outline of the existence of Kron. That was the easy part; now to learn how uphill the battle was. Please not be that bad. Please not be as grim as I was dreading.

“Hello Kron.” I said with a polite bow.

“Bowing today? What is the special occasion?” Kron taunted. They were hard to read as usual.

“I had two major questions I really need the answer to.” I informed Kron. I could feel Kron shifting.

“You actually want to ask me for a favor today.” Kron snapped, sounding immensely unamused. I knew Kron hated granting favors or people that prayed for them. They made that fact abundantly clear, but I was desperate.

“No. You hopefully know the answer to one question and are willing to answer the other. I just really need the answers.” I clarified for Kron.

“What could they possibly be that you would even risk that line? How desperate are you?” Kron snarled, letting me know how thin the ice I was on was.

“Who is the Void King? How do I get a ?” I asked Kron. I could feel their reaction to the questions as they fought to contain themselves.

“That desperate.” Kron sighed, rubbing the bridge of their nose.

“If I only get one, how do I get a would be my preferred answer.” I told Kron. Kron’s form shifted a bit as they were thinking about something.

“ and our keep his interference between our worlds at bay, but unfortunately due to his immense knowledge of he knows how to influence and decay them so he can invade and conquer worlds beyond his own.” Kron explained. Helpful information, but not exactly what I needed.

“Why? To what end? Why is he so determined to kill me? To destroy everything around me?” I pressed. Kron clearly mulled over how to respond.

“Because Reincarnators slip into our worlds, and he is determined to destroy every last one. The Lords have a policy of no interference, no matter how terrible the Void King may be. We aren’t supposed to favor or help people on that scale, period. Unfortunately, that policy means I will not directly answer what his name is, where he is from, and what happened to make him so resolute in killing Reincarnators. Our conversations are generally us just exchanging knowledge or discussing things, which does not cross the line.” Kron stated. I could feel their pitying stare, but I also could tell nothing I said was changing their mind.

It was a horrible feeling; something about their pity made a dark emotion erupt from within me. No interference? When the Void King was annihilating everyone like me? How many others were there? How much blood was on his hands? And the Lords just didn’t do anything? Knowing how powerful they were and they wouldn’t stop him? The he knew how to manipulate and game was all the extent of their assistance? Part of me wanted to scream at Kron. It was so much worse knowing they were some form of god or deity. I knew they weren’t omnipotent, but to allow someone to unleash such horror on your own creations was mind boggling.

“I know that may upset you, but do not waste our time with that. It has always been the rule, and there will be no exceptions no matter how interesting the individual is. I will tell you though, to get a you need a way into the Realm of . It’s a place between worlds, not in the vacuum of space, but a vacuum of that touches our worlds. It is what the Void King mimicked with Nexus and his to travel between them.” Kron informed me. No interference; the Lords simply observed what they created if they felt like it. It was a harsh truth. Arguing or crying would only hurt me. I took several composing breaths.

“How do I do that?” I mumbled. There was some shred of my mind that hoped the Lords didn’t know and would end his rampage, but that was not grounded in reality. It is do or die and they will watch the outcome. I was struggling to keep my emotions in check.

“You either need to figure out how to open a connection with it or use and force one.” Kron answered. It was amazing how vague they were being, which wasn’t helping how I was feeling.

“Could you please explain more?” I pleaded. I needed more information; I needed something. I needed to get as strong as possible as fast as I could.

“I cannot explain more. On an unrelated note, have you tried learning to use your more?” Kron deflected. Was Kron serious? Just change the subject? From being unhelpful to. To. Wait. Ah.

“No. I was practicing other and .” I answered Kron. Maybe this was not as hopeless as I was thinking.

“Have you ever tried casting a through your ? You know, they are a form of lens that can do more than focus . Mortals are always so limited in their thinking.” Kron taunted me. Definitely not as passive as they acted.

Which ? Which one or what did I need to envision to cast ? I needed to somehow get between worlds, to open a hole in to pass through it. Which could do that? From the way Kron phrased it, I likely knew the base version. I needed to create a hole to pass through. Wait. ? A severed space, or an attack that used the energy from tearing the space around me and redirecting it. Maybe it was the same effect, just how much you stabilized it was the difference. You made a hole and sucked around inside it while supporting it with your own or using the resulting torrent of from creating such a tear and launching it. What happened if I focused it through the ? Wait. Kron didn’t say focus; they said cast. I needed to practice this, or at least try it. First and foremost, I needed to verify with Kron that was at least the right idea; I at least had the foundation and idea of what to do thanks to Kron.

“I have been thinking too small. Maybe I should try casting through them.” I mused. Kron let out a small laugh.

“An interesting idea. You definitely should try it.” Kron confirmed while shaking their head up and down.

“How difficult is it to cast a through an ?” I probed. Kron bobbed their head back and forth.

“I have no idea how difficult it is for a novice.” Kron confessed with a shrug.

“You are fun to talk to. Would the other Lords be annoyed by our riveting conversations?” I checked, wondering how flexible this line and policy was.

“Not as bad as Nyx and her conversations with her favorite mage.” Kron mused with a smirk. Something the Void King said clicked in my mind.

“Wait, is the Nyx Mage a title or ?” I probed, not understanding.

“Both. It’s how the Nyx Mage can find what interests them, by giving them an immense that greatly boosts their . It is technically a neutral action which is allowed.” Kron informed me. I had the wrong idea; I was starting to understand what Kron was saying.

“That seems to be violating the spirit of the policy.” I grumbled. So, he was the golden child of Nyx.

“In a sense. Nyx loves talking about her favorite representative. The is not limited to only the subjects of interests, but her representative is immensely skilled at sniffing them out which is why it is barely tolerable.” Kron clarified for me.

“What does Nyx have against Reincarnators?” I probed. To help to this extent, what incited this level of her playing with the line?

“Nothing, believe it or not. She wants to prove the strength of which is her domain is part of it. More than anything, Nyx just enjoys watching the struggle and carnage, much to the chagrin of her favorite representative. Reincarnators shouldn’t exist in his mind, but as long as she can watch endless ‘dramas’ as she calls them, she doesn’t care if Reincarnators are here. Nyx just gets to watch the might of triumph over and over while watching the struggle and carnage of his hatred towards you all. It’s the perfect play as far as she’s concerned as it is endlessly remaking itself.” Kron told me. That. Wow. What a chilling perspective.

“Where do you stand on the matter?” I inquired. They were giving me hints, but I wondered to what extent they would.

“I am the Pacifist who is isolated from all; I keep the peace between the Lords. Fate unites all and should be the only thing that does.” Kron answered. I knew from Utol they were not a united front, but I clearly misunderstood what was happening behind the scenes.

“I see. Thank you for your insights.” I thanked Kron. I was unfortunately going to be forced to play the Lords' game. It was still bleak, just not as bleak as I originally thought.

“Sorry if I came across as overly harsh or cold to start. There just had to be a certain order or operations.” Kron apologized. I nodded along.

“Sorry if I nearly started screaming at you. I didn’t grasp or understand what you were trying to tell me originally.” I apologized back.

“Not an issue. Now we’ve talked long enough for today. I will warn you, should you succeed, are finicky and will give you tasks if you want them to be your . It’s some sort of game they all enjoy.” Kron warned me.

I went to thank them, but with a flick of their wrist I was back in Temple. I victoriously stood up; my face was hurting from how hard I was smiling. Just had to sit through the rest of service and it was testing time. I took my seat next to Luna as I was bouncing up and down. My family picked up on my joy and began smiling. That went quite well. Waiting was the worst as I wanted to try out the . It was gnawing at me having to just sit here. Lux retook her spot around my neck and began napping. I could feel her smirk as she knew I wanted to go test something. Luna poked my ribs as the service continued.

So, what did Kron tell you? Luna inquired. Lucky guess again.

It was a actually. I lied. Luna kept her head forward but poked my ribs again.

You only get that giddy when it is . Nice try lying. Luna retorted. Lux shifted like she did when she was trying not to laugh.

You’re a giant nerd. Lux agreed. They were ganging up on me again.

Why do you always butt into Luna and I’s mental conversations? I asked Lux to try and change the subject.

I’m your idiot. It’s easy to read each other’s thoughts; you just never bother trying. Lux chided. I could feel her grin in my soul.

Easy for you. I grumbled, struggling to keep my face straight during service.

A I can do better than you. Lux taunted with glee in her voice.

Back to the matter at hand, what are you going to test in the carriage? Luna probed. She was really good at guessing.

There’s no to test in the carriage. I replied. Because if it worked, I needed space to use it.

So, it needs space to cast. Luna deduced. How was she so good at guessing? It was baffling. Luna poked me again.

It’s not guessing you dork. Luna stated with a small smile.

Bleh. Get me fish; I need fish. Lux interjected, not a fan of the conversation apparently.

Vegetarian fish doesn’t exist though. I teased her. Lux subtly began tensing to put an awkward pressure on my neck.

We are about to have a lot of strict lessons because you decided to be born. Totally unfair to me. You can at least compensate me with fish. Lux demanded. This glutton always wanted more fish.

Soaked in lemon and rosemary? I asked. Lux began tensing and leaning harder on my neck in irritation.

NO! THAT IS BLASPHEMOUS! Lux pouted at me.

But my existence is a crime. I need to fully embrace the blasphemy. I continued, struggling not to smile.

So back at the castle, what will you be casting? Luna inquired again. Why was she so difficult to distract?

to get me my fish. Lux answered. I could imagine her nodding along like it was a good idea.

Mom glared over, and we all looked dead ahead. Fine, we’ll look more paying attention. How would this work? How did I cast a through my ? How did I normally cast ? I formed the , envisioned it slicing through space, and enacted the effect. Wait. That was wrong. I also used to focus the resulting energy, either to make a pocket or grab it and throw it at someone. I envisioned the structure of the as I cast it. I doubted the answer was trying to slice the space in the eye itself; I’d only be able to do it twice in that case then get to be blind for the rest of my life. Hold on, the structure of the after the initial cast needed some form of anchoring point to manipulate the resulting energy. The entire time from the slicing portion to controlling the result all had a focal point. That was probably what needed to be in my eye. Definitely start small as I did not want to accidentally detonate my eye. I definitely was going to start small.

Service was soon over, and after some royal formalities we headed back to the castle. It was a short ride, and my family was all smirking as they could tell I wanted to test something. I immediately ran for the courtyard, where there was plenty of space for this. My family followed me, wondering what I was about to try. Okay. Start small. I activated my which put them a bit on edge. Test one would be using my in low gear, so nothing to fear in that regard; tapping into my would only increase the risk of blowing my eye up. I envisioned a small , one that would be suitable for killing a bug, and set the focal point to my active . I cast the , trying to create a stable opening. I then learned two important things. First, when an is the focal point of a , it greatly increases the power of the as I unleashed massive that I quickly had to aim up from the sheer strength of the . A truly haphazard hole appeared for a few seconds in the sky before it collapsed on itself. The second lesson I learned in that moment, OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW! I was clutching my face and rolling on the ground as my eyes felt like they were searing into my skull. That was not right. That was not right. I messed something up. It was naively optimistic this would be easy.