Chapter 7: Demons of the Golden Age(2)

“—Azeriyuje.”

As I chanted the subjugation spell, the once-ferocious dragon, poised to unleash its fiery breath, turned docile as a puppy.

Soliter reached out and stroked its head.

“So this is the magic of subjugation. To tame a dragon like this.”

The dragon purred and snorted, a small spark nearly setting our picnic mat ablaze.

No point hiding it—Soliter and I were on a forest picnic. I pulled a sandwich and a bottle of peach liqueur from my bag. Soliter held out a glass, and I poured.

“If I subjugate a few more dragons, maybe I can ride them across the continent. What do you think?”

We clinked glasses, the dragon lounging beside us. The liqueur, Soliter’s recommendation, was sweet like peaches.

Soliter’s voice was hazy.

“A trip… sounds nice. It’ll only happen after the human-demon war ends, but it’d be good together.”

I stared, stunned. Soliter rarely agreed so openly. Usually, her grin meant she was fine with anything, but it sometimes left me wanting more.

“Huh. You agreed, right? No takebacks?”

Soliter nodded, sipping her drink, her face as red as her sunset-colored cardigan.

“I’ve always been a coward and a brat… but I do what’s needed. With two strong demons like us, we’d travel safely even through a swarm of wizards.”

My heart raced. Was it being called a powerful demon? Or Soliter, a Great Demon, acknowledging me?

Soliter laughed softly, “Haha.” I laughed too. The dragon growled.

A warm west breeze swayed us. Our laughter mixed with the wind, drifting far.

I tossed a sandwich into the dragon’s mouth. It ate it eagerly—adorable, surprisingly.

“Okay, Aura, enough sappy talk.”

Soliter’s body glowed briefly, likely a spell to sober up. These conversations were so unlike her; she must’ve leaned on the liqueur.

Her face brighter, she stood from the mat and flopped onto the grass.

“Soliter?”

Still awake?

I was about to tease her for being drunk when she spoke.

“Aura, come lie with me.”

Her hand patted the grass, inviting me.

“…Ugh.”

My eyes widened. Yep, she was drunk. So many firsts—how could she not be?

Still, I didn’t mind.

I stepped off the mat and approached. Taking a deep breath, I lay beside her.

Soliter stayed still, then propped her arm behind her head like a pillow. In a clear, soft voice, she spoke.

“Humans are always with someone. Even those who died alone named others in their wills—mothers, lovers.”

The air smelled of sweet-sour flowers, sunlight sharp and clear. In the lush forest, Soliter and I felt enveloped, cozy.

“Living and dying alone might be fun, demonic even. But I thought trying something human like this could be nice. An experiment, really.”

“An experiment?”

“Yeah. Demons are complete individuals, numb to others. I wondered what’d happen if I, a demon, spent time with you, another demon.”

She added, “Though you’re a bit of a different breed.”

Her voice, calm yet faintly joyful, made me pause. Then I blurted out.

“So, Soliter, how’s the experiment going?”

She blushed slightly, scratching her cheek.

“Well… I don’t know.”

I looked into her sparkling eyes. She met my gaze silently.

After a moment, her lips parted.

“But… I don’t want to rush to conclusions. We’ll need more time to see.”

I smiled faintly.

“That’s good. Demons live long. We’ll find out eventually.”

Soliter didn’t reply or nod. She just gazed at me.

“Aura.”

“Yes.”

“You’re truly amazing. Like magic.”

“Yes…!”

Her words sank into me. I wanted to swallow them, hold them deep inside.

We lay on the grass, staring at the sky until the sun set and darkness stretched long.

*

At dusk, as the sun touched the earth’s edge and trees sank into shadow, Soliter and I returned to the shipyard.

Demons see well in the dark. A figure stood tall before the shipyard.

“It’s been a while, Soliter,” he said calmly.

Soliter greeted him.

“Yes, Schlacht. What brings you here?”

Schlacht, clad in black robes with large horns, moved as if he commanded time itself.

“I touched the flow of time, too distant to see. After grasping it, I knew what I must do. So I came.”

He felt otherworldly, standing in a time beyond Soliter or me.

Soliter grumbled.

“You talk too much about losing the war. I won’t join, no matter what you say. I fear death too much.”

Schlacht shook his head, countless futures flickering in his eyes.

“I know. You’re not in the Demon King’s plans. Your death lies elsewhere.”

“Then what’s your purpose? Get to it.”

Schlacht’s gaze shifted to me, pointing.

“Aura. You must be the demon who created the subjugation magic.”

His eyes held both sorrow and resolve. In a grave voice, he declared:

“The situation is dire. The Demon King is deeply concerned. I appoint you to Chilbunghyeon. This is his decree: join the war to decide the Demon Clan’s fate and secure peace for a thousand years.”