Chapter 17 Hide and seek, life and death

Hoot*

The night owl woke up the insects with its voice, telling them that it was ready to hunt. Whether it was a small insect or animal, the night owl was the apex hunter of the night.

Grab*

It grabbed the white mouse that was desperately running for its life. With a single peak, the owl had ended its life, bringing gory sight. That was the natural cycle of life. The strong eat the weak and the weak become prey for the strong.

Drip*

Blood dripped from the tree as the head of the owl rolled on the ground with its eyes open. The owl couldn't see what killed it, but it moved again. The head opened its eyes wide, not knowing what was happening to it and who did this to it.

The owl despaired as it wanted to die naturally in spite of its new form as an undead. The thoughts of killing crossed its mind, corrupting the very essence of a living being.

The head was attached to the body, bathing in the darkness that crept into the woods near the castle. It was ready to infect something or someone that should be protected at cost. The monsters were licking their tongues, eyeing the distant king's palace with a hunger that was devouring their insides.

Flap*

The owl landed on the shoulders of a cleric who was using magic to spy on the guards. He saw a beautiful woman in a gown, sleeping in a big bed. Her beautiful hair fell on the floor as she was in a deep slumber, not knowing someone was spying on her despite the anti-magic barrier.

The demon's magic allowed him to use the power that harnessed the different principles of magic which were yet to be explored.

" I am sorry, but it was for myself."

The cruel words escaped his mouth, signaling the fiends to move to the castle silently in the darkness. As the servant of the primordial demon, they had the stealth ability of the demon and they could fool most of the people and that was enough.

The guards didn't know or see what was happening, falling into sleep for unknown reasons. The fog of drowsiness brought their mind into an inexplicably tired mood. Their eyes felt heavy as they struggled to keep them open, but in the end, everyone fell asleep.

The undead wanted to tear their flesh, but the cleric stopped them with a single thought. He walked through the garden, enjoying the beautiful view of the flowers. The cool wind of night breezed past him, making him feel alive and dead at the same time.

Step*

A man stood in front of him, looking at him with a poker face. He raised his sword, ready to cut him down before he does something terrible.

" You must be the iron general, Carl Long. I heard your fame and they praise you as the greatest soldier under the king, but you don't look like a soldier. You look like a politician. A man who wants more authority and power beyond his level."

The cleric gazed at his eyes without any motion, believing this man wouldn't stop him since he had blocked other generals from coming here. He was the reason for his infiltration and he was one of his colleagues.

" Do your job quickly. We don't have much time. I will erase your trace and plant some evidence."

His cold voice made the cleric smile. He was only a step away from being from this damned shackles of fate and death. He could feel the chains of the cycle was loosening on his body as he got more power from the demon with each passing minute as an apostle or a contractor.

" I thank you for your hard work. I hope we will keep this relationship in the future."

He bowed, moving to the next step. The figure of his body faded into the shadow, leaving a bloody trail of filth on his way.

" As long as I can live."

The general muttered, touching his heart with a cold face. The time was running out and he was dying. Only hope his living was the power of a demon that surpassed the mortal realm.