The Attraction

After Celly left. I was on my own again. I did have something to do though. Two Demons showing up to one area within years of each other is uncommon.

Demons naturally go where other Demons have not been. As they don't want to waste time going somewhere that has already been ravaged, or is being ravaged. Unless they want to do some joint ravaging on a large target. Which is the closest thing they have to social gatherings.

Hence, I spent my time surveying the land. Making maps to get a larger picture. Using spells to see what is underground.

I learned how to use magic in a new year during this endeavor. I found it quite fun.

It wasn't until years later that I found a clue. In the northern part of my forest. Using seismic sensing, I detected unnatural formations. For after mapping and exploring the cave systems, I've learned what natural looks like.

"Guess I need to start digging..."

Of course I used magic to dig. I'm not a regular brutish Troll after all. It still took days of Earth magic to safely dig to the depth I need and reach the unnatural formation.

Once I reached it, I realized it was cut stone. It was a piece of a building.

My search became an archeological dig once I found that. I used golems in addition to my magic to dig out the building and so much more.

What I discovered made me feel real fear I haven't felt in decades.

"A city of evil, a city of Demons."

I walked through the streets littered with brittle bones of Demons, humans, elves, dwarves, beastkin, soara, and more. I saw it littered even more with Troll bones. After much time inspecting the city and searching for answers. I got my answers and learned what had happened.

Using a spell to measure age, I knew this city was at least 500,000 thousand years old. The Demons ruled it, and had an actual society. The sentient races were their pets and cattle. A great battle happened here. Trolls are among the only races in the world that can match up to Demons one on one. Our regeneration is legendary and no weaker than that of a Demons.

Trolls attacked this city until it was turned into the ruin it is today. This city is my answer onto why Demons appeared in the area. There should be something here that is calling for them. So I searched more.

I re-entered the Demonic palace and sought to explore it more deeply. I walked down winding stairs and half-collapsed corridors that led deeper underground. Demons built large as their forms were typically large. Which made it not too difficult for me.

I came upon a room devoid of light. Then I heard a vicious and vile voice, "A Troll? What is a disgusting creature like you here for? Here to gloat after all these ages? As if a Troll has the brains to gloat in the first place."

I cast a floating flame from my hand to illuminate the room. I then see a demon four times my size bound by chains that are beyond mortal making. The Demon speaks in the language of Trolls.

Even though I have some fear in my heart, my utter revulsion of this Demon gives me a fool's courage.

"I assure you Demon, I have the wits to gloat and more. What a pathetic state you are in. Completely inglorious. All trussed up like a pig for a roast."

The Demon is surprised by my words and then gets angry, "You dare insult me!? I am the King of Demons!"

I laugh, "Really? well, there have been a few Demon Kings that have appeared in the world. All defeated too. Unlike you, they were truly killed though. Not subjected this embarrassing confinement."

I continue while he growls, "I know you are using what meager power you can wiggle out from those chains to call other demons to you. However, no demon alive has the power to break those chains. They are obviously above mortal origin. What's your plan?"

He snarls, "A green golem of meat like you has no need nor right to know."

I chuckle, "Well, nice talk. Now that I know you're the reason. I can take care of this. Have fun wasting away for eternity in the dark. King Lucidius, the Chained Disgrace."

He starts to roar, but I surround him with a sound suppression bubble. I hear nothing. I begin to add enchantments to the room to prevent any leakage of demonic magic. So the attraction is taken care off. The ancient king knows what I am doing and is popping veins in his chains in fury.

Once I am done, I make my way out of the city. There is plenty of magical knowledge in the libraries, but it is all evil and demonic magic. Such magic is best left alone to be lost in the dark. I collapse and conceal my mine to the city as I leave. It would be a good thing if I never had to go down there ever again. 

Standing before such an ancient evil severely racks the nerves. If those chains were not binding hit, I would have been squashed like a bug. That thing may be a demon, but felt like the Devil himself.

With the entire mystery solved, and sealed away. I rested in my home for the next few days. As for committing the experience to paper? I would never write of the Demon City for as long as I live.

After those days of leisure, I was filled with a new ambition. I wanted to get strong enough to kill that old evil one day.

For though it is chained, only death has a guarantee.