Apocalypse: The Invitation

When they made it to the back, they saw Quin hiding the father behind him while glaring at the demon in front of them. It is easy to see that the crash came from one of the logs dropping to the ground.

The demon was a low-level one, a Messenger, shown by the weak aura from it, how it held letters, and how jittery it moved. "I advised you to leave this area, demon," Quin spoke as his eyes began to glow.

"I-I cannot go. I-I am here t-to deliver an l-letter to him." The demon pointed at Endru. Everyone's head turned towards him after the Messenger pointed at him.

Endru's hand left his bow as he walked forward, making his way to the demon. He had hidden knives around his body, so he was not worried if the Messenger tried anything. "Then hurry and give it so that you can leave. If you stay any longer, you will lose your life." He glared.

The Messenger shrank back as a small shriek came out of its mouth. The demon hurriedly began to look through the letters in its hands. When it found the right one, the being slowly handed the letter to Endru; its hands were shaking.

"H-here it is."

Once Endru grabbed the letter, the Messenger quickly flew away, hitting against a few trees along the way. 'Trip him up a few more times.' He told the vines as the demon disappeared.

'As thee wish.' They answered back.

As he turned around, he kept a smile off his face when he heard the Messenger, from far away, let out a scream. "Who is the letter from?" Quin asked as he glanced at it.

The family was also curious, even Lyn, as the creature started tapping his leg and asking about the letter. Endru did not peek at the message as he began to walk back into the house. "Let us sit in the living area, and I will read it there." He told them as he walked away.

They followed Endru back into the house, sitting on the couch when they reached the living area. Endru sat in a chair that was in front of the others; Lyn jumped into his lap.

He couldn't help rubbing Lyn's head before opening the letter that did not have any content on the envelope part. He pulled out the paper, unfolding it. At first, he furrowed his brows as the sender wrote the words in another language he did not understand.

But after a while, the words began to rearrange themselves, translating itself. Once Endru's mind finished translating the letter, he opened his mouth and read:

{I, King Sazriran, personally invite you to my territory.

I want to meet the one that seems to have the mark of my traitorous son. And do not fret, I only want to speak.

But know this, you have 24 hours to respond to this letter, which the time will start once you read these words.

I know you have been entering the outskirts of my area. And if you do not agree to meet with me, I will kill the ones you hold dear.

When you agree, you can bring them here with you; I hold my word that they will be safe.

Once you are ready to reply, yell 'Nünīüß cœrœ,' and someone will instantly come to deliver the message.

-King Sazriran}

After reading the letter, everyone was quiet as Endru crumpled the paper in his hand as confusion and anger filled him. 'What did he mean he had the mark of his son?' He thought until fury filled him at the way the man threatened him to come.

If he couldn't say no, why give him a time limit and make it seem like he had a choice? And he did not want the family to come with him; he does not trust the man not to try anything. As he was getting ready to tell everyone to stay, the father stood up.

"Well, I guess, let's get to packing for a short trip," Jonathon spoke, "I wonder if they can tell how many hidden weapons we bring."

"Adventure!" The children screamed as they raced to the bedroom. Quin stared at Endru, not saying anything, while the mother was already getting up from the couch.

Endru frowned at it all, "I do not want you guys coming with; I want you safe. What if the man tries anything to you? I am afraid of losing all of you."

The mother and father stopped as the children were already in the bedroom, packing a few things. Elisa looked at him with a soft expression while Jonathon turned towards him with a smile.

"Caring is a two-way street, little guy, and we will not let you venture alone into a hostile area. We are coming because a family always sticks together, no matter what." The father answered with a bright smile.

His heart wavered, but Endru was still unsure, so he was getting ready to try to stop them again when the mother spoke out.

"You can say you don't want us to come as many times as you want, but we are as stubborn as you. We will go with you, and that is final." She gave him a stern look, telling him to refute her if he dared to try. He couldn't help a chuckle passing through his lips as the tension left him.

The mother was something else sometimes; such a strong-willed woman. The father looked at her with love and another emotion (that Endru does not know) before he grabbed her, saying, "Let's take a shower together."

When they were gone, Endru sobered up while Quin faced him. The man did not say anything as Endru ran his hands through Lyn's fur. 'Are you fine with going, Lyn? I know you easily get scared.'

Lyn curled more into his lap before answering, 'I follow wherever yo' goes, no matter what. I stick to my person.'

He smiled at the creature; he already knew Lyn would follow him no matter how scared it gets, but asking never hurts anyone. Once they finished their short conversation, Quin spoke up, "If you still have underlining doubts about them coming, know that I will protect your loved ones for you. No harm will come towards them."

Endru still had doubts about the family coming with him, but he cannot change a mind that already found their resolve. So, he was grateful for Quin saying he will keep an eye on them. "Thank you, Quin. That will give me some peace of mind with you protecting them."

"You are welcomed. And know that this will be the start to unlocking the truth about who you are." Quin spoke as he stood up and walked away.

He watched him go, thinking about how the creature always spoke like he could predict the future. He sighed before he looked back at the crumpled letter in his hand. His expression was hard to tell as a dark shadow formed over it.

'Unlocking the truth about myself?' He thought as the dreams, and his first physical encounter with King Sazriran entered his mind. The man was the dark figure who used to be in his dream, always showing and telling him something.

It was not the first time he heard that he had the mark of Sazriran's traitorous son, from the man. The dreams came back to him a year ago when the demon appeared, and he began to remember every detail of them. But he still did not understand what the man means nor when he called him "grandson."

'Am I a demon?' He started to think again, but he refutes the thought every time because he looks different from them, even though there are similarities. And would that also mean that he was related to the demon king? But, that could not be true.

He does not even know his birth parents because he was born alone in this world. The father and mother became like parents to him, so he could not believe King Sazriran when the man says they are related. Maybe, he would find his answers when he goes to the Demons' territory.

But what if the answers are what he deeply fears? He does not know if the family, even him, would be able to handle it. So, he hopes that all his doubts are false.

'Are yo' okay?' Lyn asked when it noticed Endru's mood. The creature began to rub its head on his knuckles that turned white with how he was clenching the paper.

He forgot that Lyn was in his lap. He gave the creature a small smile as he scratched behind its ear with his free hand. 'I am fine. I was only thinking about some things.'

'I will always be here for yo' no matter.' Lyn said.

Hearing those words, he let his negative thoughts leave him as he stood up, softly dropping Lyn to the ground. 'I know.' He responded with a smile.

He looked at the children coming back into the room, then to the dead creature still in the kitchen.

'Time to get the kids to help me with the cooking, then I will respond to the King of Demons.' He thought; he got Jalan and Carlyn's attention as he walked to the kitchen with Lyn following behind him.

*******

Translations:

• 'As thee wish.'

As you wish

• Nünīüß cœrœ

Messenger, appear.