The Demon

"Lady Sylvia! I advise you stop your stubbornness and hand it over." A being similar to Sylvia's first form impatiently stated. "If you hand it over, then the lord might even heal your wound."

Suddenly, everything paused. The falling rubble, the blinding dust, and even the demon. The very world around turned monochrome. Sylvia peaked under her wind, looking at the horrified Artha.

"Sylvia… Is what he said really true?" Artha asked in a shaky voice.

"Do not listen to his honey coated words. Every word he speaks is a lie." Sylvia chastised.

"But you'll die if you don't!" Artha exclaimed.

"I would rather die than go back there," Sylvia replied.

Artha began to cry, her brown eyes containing a glint of red due to the tears welling up. Sighing internally, Sylvia used her claw to wipe away Artha's tears.

"Artha, dear, I will die. No matter what or who you are, death isn't something to be conquered." She spoke softly—almost whispering those words.

"B-But you can live longer if you go…" Artha persisted.

"Sometimes death is a fate far better than living, child." Sylvia smiled. "To every event that exists, there is a countdown. Learn to see that countdown and use that to your advantage."

Standing upright, Sylvia walked towards the incomplete power. "Now that I'm in this form, I can finish the portal, but it will only take you to nearby humans."

The portal shined in a purple divine power, giving Artha the sense that this power wasn't so simple. Moments later, Sylvia finished the portal and turned towards Artha.

Sylvia smiled at Artha. "Artha, dear, I must admit I had initially delayed the completion of the rift. I wished to keep you as my own child even if only for a little bit. For that, I hope you can forgive me and call me grandma."

"No! I don't care about that! I'll call you grandma as many times as you want, just come with me!" Artha hammered on Sylvia's claw. "Grandma, grandma, grandma!"

"Thank you, child." As Sylvia pushed Artha through the portal, Artha felt as if she could see a human standing where Sylvia did.

The feeling of vertigo from the portal lasted all but a minute. Artha felt as if this portal took a long time—too long—but she never used a portal before, so she could only guess this was normal.

Artha didn't care about that and merely curled up into a ball as she cried. Even after she reached her destination, landing on god knows what, she did nothing and kept on weeping.

A/N: Shorter chapter, but some rats are trying to take my daily update streak.