Slave's Brand

Demon power was given for an indefinite period - there was no exact time after which the spellcaster would lose the received power. However, once the spellcaster accomplished his goal or his body reached its limit, then the demon power would automatically expire.

"Wait... An evil spirit knowing demonic art?" Astrid muttered in disbelief, "How is that possible...?"

For a moment, Evan's eyes went wide with surprise. In his world, only a few dark cultists and the highest ranks in the empire knew about the 72 demons. Ordinary mages, much less humans, didn't know of such power, they simply couldn't have access to something like that.

'Considering she's the only magician here, it's unlikely that she holds a high position in this world... In that case, it can only mean one thing, this world is much bigger than mine.' Evan got a serious expression on his face before stepping forward, forcing Astrid to retreat.

Evan realized that if it wasn't for the strict rules of the empire or if there were kingdoms of the same level, sooner or later the information about demons would have become common knowledge. Such secrets couldn't be kept for long under such conditions.

A family or a hidden organization, with the help of prohibitions, could keep their secrets forever, but if someone who could use a certain power appeared around the world from time to time, it would no longer be a secret.

After all, no power in the world, and no laws, could deprive people of the ability to see, hear, or speak, otherwise rumors would not exist in general.

"Whatever! It's unlikely that a pathetic evil spirit like you can withstand the power of a demon lord!" Astrid exclaimed, trying not to show her fear.

Electric discharges came out of Astrid's fingertips, raining down on Evan once again. Perhaps the balance of power had shifted, but the lightning bolts were still just as powerful and could turn Evan to ash in a heartbeat. 

However, despite the obvious threat, Evan didn't dodge, he just raised his hand, forcing the dark snake to move.

The jaw with two long fangs opened wide, absorbing all the lightning that disappeared into the vast darkness, as if inside the snake was a black hole capable of consuming anything.

"What the hell...?" Astrid stared at the snake with a shocked expression of disbelief. Its crimson eyes were calm but radiated menace like a hunter who had already trapped his prey.

"Oh... How interesting." Evan muttered, "You know about demons, yet you don't know the abilities of even the 72nd of them? Seems like that's information to be mined even for magicians. Fine."

Then, Evan dashed forward, in no time, ending up in front of Astrid.

'Shit! Even though he has demonic arts, it didn't affect his physical stats! Without a sword, his fists can't do anything to me, I'm just an invulnerable target!' Astrid exclaimed inwardly, clutching her rapier tightly, 'All I need to do is deal with this snake!'

Crackle.

Before Astrid could do a single thing, the snake's fangs sank into her shoulder, injecting a voluminous dose of venom that purple streamed down her snow-white skin.

Astrid immediately swung her rapier, but Evan had already bounced to the side, watching his victim whose stance was now quite unsettled.

"Agh... What have you done to me... Why am I so hard?" Astrid muttered, looking at her hand. Her fingers tightly clutching the hilt of the rapier lost their grip until they completely went limp, and the weapon fell to the ground.

Evan looked around, "I see, one dose isn't enough to knock out a magician, but it's for the best..."

Evan wanted to continue, but something caught his eye - an iron rod whose end was above the fireplace flame, red-hot.

His gaze traveled to the twins, who were still huddled in the corner, afraid to even move.

"There is a branding on your bodies, isn't there?" 

The Silver twin nodded, turned her back, and removed the cloth from her shoulder, revealing the letter - 'E', long ago, scorched on her body.

A wide grin appeared on Evan's face, as did the evil plan in his head.

Step. Step. Step.

Evan approached Astrid. She tried to resist by waving her arms, but the poison made her do it slowly like a sloth.

"You are arrogant, cruel, and love power. It is obvious to everyone, and I am not one to judge you. However, more than all that you love yourself, your perfect aristocrat face, don't you?" Evan uttered, not letting her answer since his fist plunged into her stomach.

In fact, it was a rhetorical question.

Astrid fell to the ground only to have Evan grab her by the hair and drag her to the huge mirror in the center of the room. Here Astrid often admired herself.

"You know, killing you is really easy. I just need to wring your neck, but is that interesting? No, it's boring." Evan whispered, lifting Astrid's head and forcing her to look at the helpless self in the mirror.

"Bastard... Do it if you want... My family will hunt you down even to the ends of the world."

"Don't worry. You'll have the chance to get your own revenge." Evan shrugged.

Astrid's eyes went wide as besides fear, a flame of hope was lit in them - if she could survive then everything else didn't matter.

"However... It won't exactly be you. Today, the current you will die forever, both internally and externally." Evan, as a death ghost, muttered before collapsing Astrid's head into the mirror.

Crackle. Crack. Crack.

The impact wasn't hard enough to break the mirror, but cracks went along it, and a few fragments came slightly out of the puzzle.

Droplets of blood flowed from a few thin scratches appeared on Astrid's face. 

"It's humiliating and painful, but it's nothing serious, it won't leave any scars afterward... You're thinking about that aren't you?" Evan grinned evilly, guessing Astrid's thoughts, "Well, you're thinking wrong."

At the same moment, Evan's arm shifted vertically downward, along with Astrid's head.

The sharp tips of the glass fragments, left dozens of deep cuts on Astrid's face, while she slowly approached the very bottom.

"AAARGHHHH!!!"

A piercing scream of agony and insane suffering spread throughout the room, being so horrible that the twins closed their eyes and ears not wanting to be a part of this nightmare anymore.

Astrid was probably experiencing one of the most painful things in the world, for the face had many nerves and delicate skin, yet it was not a vital point like the brain or heart.

"Fine, you look much better now." Evan smirked, looking at Astrid's shredded face, letting her go and heading towards the fireplace.

On his way, he picked up a large shard of mirror from the ground.

In the reflection, he saw a skinny young man with thick black hair, a sharp gaze, and unusual amethyst eyes - a true rarity. 

"Not bad. In a way, I even understand her now." Evan cast a glance at Astrid before picking up the iron rod.

He wanted to get to work, but at the sight of the pliers lying next to the fireplace, he got an idea.

He took the pliers and ripped off two parts of the letter 'E' so that it would be an 'L'.

"Well, now that's a different story. Be glad it's not your family's mark on your body, it's mine!" Evan exclaimed with an excited expression, approaching Astrid, who wanted but could not escape from this horror.