Novel 9-A Soulless body

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Sunlight peered through the clear glass, refracting inside a highly decorated room, weaving in and out as wind blew on the red curtains.

Grandiose mobilia decorated the room's every corner. Carved wardrobes and tables, laced tapestries, beautiful paintings… Like the very definition of Nobility.

In this beautiful room, a middle-aged man and a young woman sat side by side on a couch, thinking about their past and present. Oftentimes the future…

"... Is it time already?... He sure grew quickly… I feel old already." 

"It hasn't been that long dear. He's only five years old!"

The man smiled, looking at a small painting framed on the wall.

A painting of them and a small child in dazzling clothes, smiling sweetly as he hugged his father.

Seeing this, the man said:

"Indeed… Five years isn't much but it feels quite long, doesn't it?" 

"... It's hard to think that such a little boy will one day be as tall as me… I don't think I'm ready to picture that yet."

The woman smiled sheepishly as she touched her face, saying:

"Right? Sometimes, I'd wish he stayed that small."

/Knock knock…/

"... Is it time?" The man asked as he raised his head to the door

A deep voice echoed from the other side of the room, respectful and calm:

"Yes, sire. The young Lord is awaiting you both at the Manor's entrance." 

"Very well, let's not dwindle any further. He doesn't like when we waste time."

The man and woman rose from their seats, making their way to where their son awaited.

…

/Meanwhile…/

"..."

A young child with beautiful dark hair waited in a glossy white hall under the protection of several knights and butlers.

Like a little prince in fantasy stories, the young boy gently sat down on his couch, swinging his feet around as he threw smiles at the nearby maids, who all smiled in kind.

However, while he smiled on the surface, the boy cried inside:

'I hate these clothes. I can barely breathe!!'

Contrary to his pure and innocent appearance, the boy had far clearer thoughts passing through his mind, far beyond what his age may suggest. 

'How long will this last? How many years has it been? Being surrounded by these guys? Being strangled by these clothes… Having these things scratching my forehead!!' He thought with indignation and anger as he touched his forehead

A pair of tiny, sharp black horns poked out on his forehead. They were charming and slender, or so everyone said…

To him, they were his worst nightmare as they were itchy, and he could not take them out.

'They said my horns would grow until adulthood but that's in how many years? Decades...'

As he scratched around his horns, one of the maids approached him, giving him a slightly stern glance as she pushed his hands away, applying a mild, cold towel around them.

His itchiness went down but not away.

"Mnn…"

Unconsciously, his anger manifested as a pout as he held her hands, but with his strength, he could do nothing aside from enduring… Again and again.

'This is my reality… I'm a Demon now.'

This all began four years ago…

…

"..."

'This is bad.'

Sitting on a cradle, a young toddler looked around the room in confusion and bewilderment…

'Just now… I was gently sleeping, sucking my toe and now, here I am having an existential crisis…'

'Did I just awaken my past life's memories?'

The baby was adorable with his puffy cheeks and clear eyes, but his mind was far from baby-like… It was like that of an adult.

'... This was meant to be impossible. I thought it was all over. That those things people believed in were nothing but idealizations… Who would've thought reincarnation is a thing?'

The baby looked around the room. It was very familiar, but now it all felt so alien…

'Moments before, I was a baby with no awareness… Now I'm a man trapped inside a child's body.'

'Dammit… What am I supposed to do?!'

"D-Da… Da… Shit…" The baby said out loud as his expression tensed slightly

'Oh no… I'm not supposed to say that… Wait. It doesn't even matter. The people of this land don't speak English!'

'Actually… Where am I?'

The man reviewed his memories, but most of his life was transient, like a dream. One time, he was there and the other time, he wasn't. His thoughts were short and quick, often devoid of much weight.

Living in the moment one could say as a baby had no memories to dwindle on about and refer to.

Even so, many images passed through his mind, memories of people and places that held deep value to him…

'I remember them… My parents… This place… Home.'

He then thought of his past life, shaking his head in sadness…

'I don't have many regrets anyway… No children and wife… My parents were old… I had a nephew, but… Aside from my close friends, that's it.'

'I'm sorry for my parents for having gone first and my brother for not being there. For going first out of my friends… Sorry everyone…'

The man didn't remember much of how he died, and to some degree… Maybe it was for the best.

Once he made his prayers, while it would be hard to forget, he had to move on. Even if he could return, he wouldn't be he anymore, not to them…

The best he could do was grow up healthy and work toward figuring out why he was there and, above all… Live a life he was proud of.

'Although it's easy to think about me and my family. I can't be so egotistical, can I?'

'I am someone else's child now, and they deserve their child… It may be hard for me to live like their son for now, but I'll find a way to do, a middle ground.'

'I must keep my eyes open. This time, I won't lose the chance to buy crypto if something of the like appears before me…'

That said, he had to make an escape plan.

He could very well just close his eyes and sleep, but he had other plans in mind…

'I want to explore this place a little. And at the same time, learn more about their language.'

'Babies are said to learn very fast, but I'm an adult now… I need to be exposed to things if I want to catch on to things… I hope my mind doesn't fry due to my memories…'

"Mn…"

He got up from the bed, trying hard to keep himself stable as he held onto the crib's sides.

'It doesn't look very tall, but I'm also rather short… Can I climb out of this?'

He tried pulling himself off the bed and quickly did so. 

After testing his grip strength for a few minutes, the man confidently began climbing the wooden beams of his "cage".

"Mnnm…"

Whenever he gasped for air, he cutely murmured like a child, which often distracted even himself…

/Grip…/

Finally, with much effort, he reached the top and sat down with pride, looking at his "kingdom" with sharp eyes…

'This place… It's not hard to envision how large this crib would be. So if I use it as my measuring unit… This room alone would be bigger than my first house.'

'When I moved out and rented an apartment next to my first job, it was small, but it contained everything I needed… Seeing a baby have more room than me is rather infuriating.'

'But I'm glad this baby is me! Maybe I'm rich. It looks like it given the decor around anyway…'

'Now… To get down.'

/Grip… Grip… Slide…/

After holding onto the crib's sides with both hands, he slowly slid down by hugging the wooden beam with his legs.

'This shirt and pants are quite comfortable but fragile. It even feels a little bit of a waste to risk damaging them like this…'

/Land!/

Anyhow, those thoughts went away as he reached the ground.

'I did it.'

He tried getting up, but his body wobbled quite a bit. It was tough to keep his balance…

'I do have memories of trying to walk, but I never succeeded… It shouldn't be much of an issue if I began walking around now. But I can't do it flawlessly… Not like I can even if I tried…'

'If I fall every once in a while, I'm sure no one would mind.'

/Step… Step…/

Slowly but surely, the baby reached for the door where he was faced with yet another issue:

"..."

'How do I open this? No, rather… Should I?'

He turned his head to look around the room, spotting what he imagined to be books on a shelf.

"Umnm…"

'It's a bit hard to see… I'm not much of a baby person, but I heard a lot from my younger brother. From what I remember, a baby's vision continues to develop around the 1-2 year mark as their systems mature or something.'

'The issue is… Would it be proper? A child can't just grab a book out of nowhere. I need a reason to try and do so.'

'Mother… Yes. Mother read me bedtime stories to help me sleep from time to time…'

'I need to develop my language and if I beguin studying at this age, I'll have a massive advantage by the time I'm an adult, especially with my memories.'

'I don't want to be a genius, only rich. Maybe get some girls in this life. That would be great…'

'The problem is that its too tall. No way I'll ever be able to get it from here unless I try to climb the shelves… Which I would rather not. I have enough self-awareness to know the nightmare that would be to witness your child climbing shelves…' 

'Last thing I want is to have people watching over me all the time… I have an idea.'

He turned to the door, grabbing a small weight next to the door and slamming it against it!

/Clack…/

"..."

'Nothing?... Again!'

/Clack!... Clack… Clack…/

/Turn…/

"!!"

'The knob is turning!'

"!@#($*#&$*..."

A strange language echoed from behind the door as it opened…

/Step…/

"*@&#(@)#?"

From the other side. A tall being clad in metal stepped inside the room with haste and wariness… A knight.

"*@&#9… (@#$#!!!!"

The moment it noticed the empty cradle, the knight panicked, running inside the room as the door was jolted open.

"..."

Meanwhile, the baby in question looked up at him in confusion and even a little bit of fear.

'Bastard! Almost stepped on my toes! Look around you, man!'

/Step…/

"&@#^$!..."

Another knight soon followed after the first, seemingly panicking as well… Until he saw the baby on the corner next to the door, looking up at him in confusion.

"... Dah-mar..."

A name, he recognized the name… At least, it felt like one…

"*@#&?..."

"Dah-mar… Look…"

Another word he recognized, although the intent behind it may not be quite right…

"&@#8… !!!! Haaa… *@!#*!@#..."

As the other knight turned around to see the baby standing in the corner, he took a deep breath of relief as he put one of his hands on the cradle to take a deep breath.

"Haa… Haha…"

"Hahaa…"

The two knights laughed lightly as they recomposed themselves, with the second one crouching on the ground to look at him.

"*!@&#? *!@#&$ Play?..."

"... Play?..." 

'I recognize this word. When I hear it, a strange feeling of happiness takes over me… I'm not quite sure what it means, but I think it could be something along the lines of relaxing with my mother?'

He delved into his memories, trying to figure out its meaning…

'Playing? Is that the term for it?'

""...""

While he thought about the word, the two knights were momentarily shocked to hear him repeat his words so clearly…

/Walk…/

Before any of them could say anything in reply, the baby walked through the open door with shaky steps, threading into the "unknown".

"... &@!#8@!#..."

"... *!@#&@#*$..."

The knights exchanged words with one another but he couldn't understand what they said… Before he knew it, however, both were now following him slowly.

'A child that has knights to escort him… Yeah… I'm definitely rich.'

'Since this is the case… Let's play! I have nothing else to do anyway…'

/Walk… Walk!.../

He began walking faster, trying his best to run away from the knights, giggling as they increased their pace to go after him.

He was having fun, until he fell face first…

/Thud!/

"..."

But instead of crying, he sat down lightly. One of the knights kneeling next to him as they looked at him under the guise of their shiny helmets…

A pair of glowy yellow eyes starred down at him from within the veil of the helmet's slits… Sending a faint shiver down his spine…

/Grab…/

He grabbed the man's helmet, entranced by his reflection. This caused the man to take his helmet off, revealing his face to the child, who was momentarily frozen by what he saw.

'I knew something was wrong with my memories, but… This guy… He has horns!'

'I couldn't see it very well due to the angle, but his helmet is shaped to accommodate them… How bizarre…'

/Grab…/

He grabbed the man's horns lightly before letting go.

With a tight grip, he began walking around with the man's helmet in hand, careful not to point its edges at his body.

The knight seemed worried about letting the baby hold onto the helmet, but given how slow he was walking, he let the child do as he pleased.

/Walk…/

Meanwhile, the baby looked around in curiosity and wandered…

'A long corridor made out of shiny marble and wood… Paintings, vases, curtains, crests, and more… I'm more than rich… Maybe I'm filthy rich…'

/Catching!/

""*!@#7#!""

"?..."

Suddently, the two knights beside him slammed their feet against the ground as they posed with their arms raised to their chest.

The baby understood what this was. It was a form of salute, but to whom?...

"Ma…"

A beautiful lady in a long white dress accompanied by a maid in red.

Her long and shiny hair was dark with faint tints of violet. 

She had a gem necklace around her neck, and her horns were like those of a goat, twisted backward… They were elegant, shining like wood.

"Hm?...!!"

Her clear purple eyes seemed to pierce into him as she turned to face him.

Many emotions were contained within that gaze as she saw the baby stand, looking at her with childlike wonder…

"Ma… Mama…" The baby said in a strange language, shocking all who heard it

Everyone from the knights to the maid was surprised to hear the child utter such words.

"... *@#7@#..."

The lady said something he couldn't understand, but as she gently crouched on the ground, opening her arms, he knew what had to be done…

/Let go…/

He let go of his helmet, walking toward her with slow, heavy steps…

Going after her smile and the warmth hidden inside, he wondered if this was the instinct deep inside him, telling him where safety was.

/Hug…/

"!@#(@#8… (!@#9…"

More words he could not tell… But they felt warm… Secure.

He could almost tell what they meant. Even then, it didn't matter for he had already found what he was looking for.

/Pull…/

The woman held onto him, pulling him into her embrace as she got up from the ground with him in her grasp.

In this position, there wasn't much he could see apart from her smile, so he replied in kind, lightly touching her face as he burned her image into his memories.

"... *!@#7@#8?..."

And as she gently played with him, she turned to face the knights, discussing something he couldn't quite understand.

Some words passed through his ears while others he could understand. Unfortunately, they were too few for him to draw a bigger picture, but he could infer what they were discussing.

Given her stern tone, she likely asked what her baby was doing in the hallway while holding onto a helmet…

"..."

As he paid attention to their discussion, his gaze fell on the maid beside his mother.

She had deep blue hair and eyes. And like his mother, her horns were twisted and pointed backward.

"Hi~…" 

She smiled and gestured with her hands as she saw his gaze, causing him to smile.

"*!@#&$(!@#"

""...""

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in the hallway…

/Step…/

"(!@#*#..."

His mother said something as she turned to face a man.

/Bow…/

Meanwhile, the servants around them bowed in his presence…

A tall man with broad shoulders and a stern expression. His pupils were red, and his hair was dark, brushed back in both elegance and style.

His horns, however, were unlike any he had seen so far. They pointed upward like pillars, hooked on the sides of his head somewhere above his ears, hidden by his hair.

They faintly glistered with light, shining like fireflies in the night…

"&!@*#&!@..."

His mother said something as she put him down, tapping gently in his back, urging him to walk.

However, he hesitated for a moment… The man before him had a deep and cold gaze on his face, almost giving him the urge to return to where the warmth once was…

/Step…/

But he was no mere ordinary baby…

/Step…/

"!"

As he walked toward him, the man's eyebrows jumped up as his cold expression broke apart.

At this moment, he went from a cold and silent person to a father… A father witnessing his son take his first few steps…

"Da… Da…"

At the same time, he uttered the only words he knew to refer to the man before him, making his expression change even further.

/Crouch…/

At that moment, the man crouched on the ground, opening his arms to welcome his son. And as he did so, his pace quickened…

/Hold…/

"Haha… *!@#(!@#... *#(!@#..."

The man chuckled as he held onto his child, saying something out loud as he pulled his son upward to face him.

"*!#*!@#... Draxon…"

And with it, he heard his name.

He was Draxon, that was his new identity in this strange world.

…

/Two years later…/

Inside his room, a slightly older Draxon sat under the faint light of a floating lamp, closing the book as he sighed out loud, saying:

"... This will take forever." 

'It's been around three years since I've been reborn in this world, or better said, two years since I've regained my past life's memories.'

'I've learned much about this world. Where I am, who I am, where I belong, and what I should do with my life, but there's one thing that irks me above all else:'

'One year in this world is about six hundred earth days… And it'll take me over twenty years for me to reach adulthood. In comparison, that would mean it would take me over thirty years to reach the same age as someone in their twenties would look like.'

'And this isn't counting the fact the days in this world are longer as well.'

'After much trial and error, I've somewhat managed to measure a minute in this world by counting it in my head when I was younger. It was one of the first things I did so it's rather accurate I'd say.'

'After comparing time between this world and my previous one, I've figured that a day in this world is about thirty Earth hours. So to better compare both, the difference of a year between both worlds is about that of two.'

'So one year in this world is about two years on earth. Approximately I'd say as the basis of this calculation is me measuring time with my imagination while looking at a clock.'

'What this means is that it's been six earth years that I've been nothing but a toddler… A pattern that will repeat itself for a long time… After all, I'm a Capra Demon…'

Draxon took a deep breath as he jumped from his chair.

"It'll take me ages to become a teenager…"

'Capra Demons like most Demons have an unusual growth cycle…'

'From birth to three years of age you're nothing but an infant.

'From three to five years old the baby begins showing their first signs of supernatural abilities. And once their horns beguin gathering Demonic Power, they enter childhoo.'

'Childhood lasts seven years then they'll enter their teenage years around twelve, this lasts all the way to seventeen when they become "Capricorns", which is a transition stage between being a teenager and an adult.'

'This stage will last all the way to adulthood around their twenties when their abilities stop developing naturally.'

"I don't mind any of that, my issue is that it'll take too long…"

'I don't want to be a hormonal teenager for double the time most Humans are… God have mercy on me if I have to tolerate them for double the time as well…'

'I'm unsure what my parents will have me go through once I grow up, but whatever it is, I'll have to take it if I like it or not.'

Draxon moved to a shelf on the side, storing the book inside before pulling another one with the Title: The Realms of Gehenia.

'This world I live in is called Gehenia. It's the Realm of Demons, Devils, Monsters, and worse. The Realms between, the Netherworld… Amidst other names.'

'It can be said to be Hell, however, not in the traditional sense like Religion paints it. This isn't some kind of Lower World where the Souls of the dammed end up falling into if they sin too much in life. This is a dimension of magic and mysticism where creatures of immense power lurk… Oftentimes devouring the Souls of those foolish enough to vie for their powers…'

'A world of might where Demons and Devilish abominations rule the lands. Where instead of Elves, Dwarves, and Humans, you have Imps, Cursed creatures, and Demons.'

"A world full of cruelty… And beauty."

'A world where thousands of intelligent species live in "harmony"... Even though some of those species have others as part of their diet…'

"I'm… A Capra Demon. Part of the Horned Demons Clan."

'Horned Demons are one of the most common species of Demons around, it wouldn't be a lie to say they compose over 5% of all intelligent life in this realm. And while that may seem small. Some species, like the Gray Pixie, live for only fifteen years and have, on average, two hundred descendants before they die.'

'Capra Demons are part of this Clan. However, while not amidst the higher ups of the gene pool, they're certainly not low at all. And on that note, I've lucked out as I'm the son of one of the Noble Clans of a very successful Empire ruled by this very Horned Clan.'

'Capra Demons reach adulthood between the ages of twenty and thirty, depending on how much latent potential their bodies hold. So this isn't a matter of sexual maturity but a magical one.'

'If we're talking about Sexual maturity, Capra Demons become sexually mature in their teenage years, although most tend to reproduce after they become adults since the potency of their bloodline at the time of conception is extremely important. It's what defines the species and many others of the Demon world.'

'After adulthood, Capra Demons tend to have a lifespan of around one hundred and fifty years. However, that's on the lower end of the spectrum. Depending on how well they trained and their latent potential, living over two hundred years is easy to most, with three hundred if not four hundred not being off the bat.'

'And since most female Capra Demons never run out of eggs since they only reach their menopause at around two hundred years of age, many can choose to have children extremely late in their lives and, with it, pass on their genes when they're at the height of their powers, guaranteeing that the next generation will inherit their best traits.'

'It's this very longevity that allows Clans of Capra Demons to accumulate wealth and power… But as I said before, Horned Demons aren't at the apex of the Demon world, and Capra Demons aren't even at their top either…'

'Demonic Dragons, Dark Elves, Royal Banshes and worse… They can live for thousands of years, and often, in their childhoods, their magical potential surpasses most my species take an entire life to develop…'

"Not without a cost, of course… It takes decades for most of these high profile species to reach adulthood, much less full maturity…"

"My goal is to grow steadily without much hiccups… After all, competing with some of these species is an impossibility."

'Even though I've been studying and training as soon as I regained my memories, that means little. By the time most Capra Demons begin taking training seriously as they develop a sense of self, I would've had a decade of experience more than them.'

'What about Demonic dragons? It takes them three decades to grow out of being a toddler and growing consciousness. But even then, do they need to compete with anyone? They would outgrow entire generations of low-lived species before even reaching adulthood anyway… They'll be there even when a dozen generations of Capra Demons pass by.'

'What I want to do is push myself to my very limits and see how far I can go in this magical world. That's why I never stopped training.'

'In the last two years… Or better put four. I've mastered the National language of the Empire and the Common language used throughout the Continent… World…'

'While Gehenia is the name of this world. Its borders have never been recorded.'

'The world itself is one massive patch of land with some oceans in between acting as lakes and rivers…'

'The borders of maps are often where most species' territories end and unexplored territory rises. Not because no one ever had the will to go so far but either because it was really… REALLY far, or because it was hazardous even for some of the most powerful Demons ever to live.'

'There are also cases where the borders are where territories of old species like Dragons are, and given their personalities, they'll never share what they know regardless of the situation. Keeping the status quo.'

'The Empire I'm part of is somewhere around the middle, but even then, this "middle" section is bigger than the combined land of Earth…'

"With such a massive world, all kinds of cultures and norms are around. It may take centuries for news to travel from one side to the other… If at all."

'By the time the news travels around, those involved in it may have already left this world… The news themselves may end up dying halfway through the path.'

'Most of the time though, important news can bridge the distance thanks to specialized methods…'

"I'm the son of two Nobles, one of them, my father, will succeed the Lord of the region while my mother is the daughter of another Noble house. I don't know if she was married off to my father but they seem happy together, more than I would expect an arranged marriage to be…"

'I shouldn't say that out loud…'

"Ahem…"

'Demons don't usually have ranks of Nobility as this is something belonging solely to the culture and heritage of each land, so I guess this matters little in the grand scheme of things.'

'But if I were to put into perspective… My father is like a High Noble from a Kingdom of Capra Demons vassal to the Empire. This means that while I may not be at the top of the Horned Clan, I sure am at the top of the Capra Demon Race.' 

'Not yet though… Since my father has yet to succeed my grandfather, and I bet this will take decades, if not another century to even happen.'

'My grandparents and great-grandparents are still alive. If I were to trace my bloodline, I might as well find a common Noble to multiple households of the Kingdom.'

'Most Demons value bloodline very dearly and will work hard toward maintaining it. And it's not because of luxury and etiquette… There is real power to the bloodlines.'

'Most Demons are descendants from the Primordials, carrying Mystical Wild powers from Ancient times within them. Many species and races developed new powers that pushed them beyond their ancestors; however, maintaining such ancient powers or developing them further is a token. It proves to the world you possess a deep heritage.'

'All demons have such heritage; however, only a few have maintained it. And without surprise, they are the rulers.'

"Draxon…"

'Draxon Galvidol Tirgath… This is my unorthodox name… Galvidol from my father's bloodline, Tirgath from my mother's. However, my name has over a dozen extra surnames behind it, each indicating the many bloodlines I'm part of. They're not only a symbol of the status of a birthmark as well.'

'I should have a birth certificate somewhere to prove it all as well but I've never seen it, only heard of it.'

'I like to call myself Draxon Tirgath. I like the way it sounds on my mouth when I say it in the Demonic tongue… My father doesn't like it tough… When I first called myself that he almost cried.'

"Anyhow… I've never paid much attention to this part of me… It doesn't matter."

'Not right now at least. I'm far too young to care. Once I grow a little further and my bloodlines start manifesting, then things change.'

'Each of the Noble houses of Capra Demons have a heritage that traces back to what they call the 72-Great Lords.'

'Not only us but all horned species do trace back to them one way or another, even if extremely distant or not in a direct way, their powers have seeped into many species beyond the Horned Clan.'

'If I am to think about how many of the 72's powers dwell within me… It would probably be in the dozens. However, only two of them can be reasonably traced. Those belonging to my father and mother.'

'If we jump one generation more, that becomes four. And if another, that becomes eight… Assuming my grandparents only passed down one power each.'

'I think one of my great-grandparents has mastered over three of their powers…'

'As such, while this will one day prove important, right now, as a child, I don't care much about my heritage and would much rather train myself in all areas than try and think about exposing myself to powers that may help me awaken faster.'

'It's dangerous anyway. Exposing a toddler to such dangers… They'd rather let me live normally than risk it.'

'My parents and their parents seem to agree. Although that may vary depending on the species. Some put their children to fight each other and have the victor devour the defeated… I'm one of the lucky ones.'

'The luckiest of the bunch. Although some Demons may call me cowardly and pathetic for thinking like that… Demon culture is rough and heavy, where power is everything. There is civility and laws, but who would dare stop an ancient ten-thousand-year-old Demonic dragon rampaging through the land?'

'That only happened a few times in the last thousand years, though… Which is rather frequent now that I think about it. Thankfully, the world is vast, so I don't have to worry about it that much.'

'Rather than a Dragon, I should be worrying about Demonic beasts rampaging through the land… As many intelligent as there are, fauna and flora outnumber us by many, many times. And out there, creatures that eat Dragons lurk in the uncharted lands…'

'That is why I'll remain here where it's comfortable. If I grow healthy, a life of riches, respect, power, and many beautiful horned girls shall await me.'

'Although I'll have to put some effort into that… Besides, I'm not so interested in remaining still and retiring as I grow old. I want to pursue the world's mysteries and push myself as I've said before.'

"And this leads me to now." He said out loud as he closed his book

/Walk… Pull!/

He pulled the carpet at the center of the room, revealing a complex demonic summoning circle oozing with dark power…

'I want to grow stronger. I want to surpass my peers.'

'While I may be unable to surpass the High Species. I don't wish to lose to my race. I pursue the podium at the very least…'

'Even if I have to take the reigns through the shadows, I'll reach the top of the Horned Clan. This is my goal.'

'Other reincarnation may say I dream low, but I say I have no System to aid me, so… I'm all by myself here.'

'I don't even know if I have any talent. So far, while my parents may call me talented for studying and behaving well, I can't say if I'll be able to keep up with their expectations going forward. So I have to run ahead while I still can.'

'The easiest way for me to do so would be to focus. The more I focus, the greater I can do.'

'I can train my senses ahead of all. I can train my manipulation of supernatural forces. I can raise my energy before most children even learn how to do math…'

'To get ahead, I must increase my Demonic Rank. And what's that? A Demonic Rank is a type of transformation all Demons go through. They say this is the inherent bloodline power of the creator passed down to all who share his blood, including even animals and plants.'

'Hence, if one cannot go through this process, they aren't considered a true Demon. Although it is possible to mimic this power through hundreds of methods due to how researched it has been over history.'

'Ranks signify much more than just the level of one's energy. It unlocks greater potential, a brand new world whenever they rank up.'

'Magic, concepts, ideas, powers… All of it can be achieved by stepping higher as your energy metamorphoses.'

'But who made those Ranks? Why classify them in the first place? Is it truly equal to all species?... No. Each species has different energies and ways to train them.'

'Dragons take a long time to develop, but their energy keeps rising steadily. Meanwhile, Pixie Imps reach their full potential in a few years, having an incredible burst of potential. Like a dazzling star in the sky, burning at their maximum power.'

'However, Dragons in their infinite wisdom… Or contempt. Decided to make a system of measurement based solely on themselves since, at the end of the day, they were at the apex of the Demonic Realms.'

'This way, as you rose through the Ranks, you reached closer and closer to the strength of a Dragon. And over time, all species adopted this measurement method for them to base their powers on.'

'A common unit for all to use and understand each other… Mock each other…'

'Now, one could not hide under the pretext of vague power levels. You were either on the same level or not. You could still defeat one above you, but it wasn't because you had higher energy but because you fought better, end of the story.'

'The System was meant solely to measure your Demonic Rank, not anything else.'

'Like most systems of measurement, they all begin somewhere… And that would be the Valac. Or in other words, the civilian.'

'A Valac has little to no Demonic Power, the civilian of this world, the commoner, the peasant, the useless waste of space that can only rely on the strong to even breathe.'

'The word is so associated with the ideal of weak and pathetic that it's used as an insult in some circumstances. In the same way someone may call another Human… Monkey… From two members of the same race, it may be nothing, but once you go to another race or even species…'

'Wars were waged between tribes to prove they were stronger and superior, they happen even now and likely will continue to happen for as long as you have species that eat others for dinner…'

'Following that are multiple Ranks I couldn't bother memorizing… Really, they're meaningless. Aside from the last Rank that marks a completely new world of power and respect.'

'So I named those Ranks: Low, Intermediate, Advanced, and High.'

'Low Rank, you're a nobody in the Demon world. Intermediate, and you're likely a teenager. Advanced, and you're a worker. High, and you're probably a mature Demon of some status… At least this is how a Dragon would see you.'

'To reach a Dragon's power, you must go beyond… You must become something all Demons aspire to become… A Balor.'

'Even so, this is barely the entryway to challenge one of the High Species… This is the difference between them and everyone else.'

'However, becoming a Balor isn't easy to do. Even in the many households of the Capra Clan, only a few of the elderly have reached it after spending centuries accumulating power…'

'This is a symbol of status recognized everywhere in the world. If someone says a species has become a Balor Ranked Demon in their teenage years or young adult years, they're likely a member of the High Species. And a strong one at that.'

'Most High Species only reach Balor after maturing, growing even further solely after.'

'Both of my parents are High-Rank Capra Demons. Choosing to bear me after realizing it would likely take centuries for them to reach Balor if at all…'

'So simply put. My goal is to reach a high rank in the shortest amount possible. And aside from everything one may expect me to do. Be it meditation or physical exercise, there is one thing I can do as a Demon…'

Draxon looked at the magic circle on the ground, smiling evilly as his purplish pupils flashed with light.

'I've studied non-stop in the last few years for this purpose… This is the summit of my experiences.'

'In a world of Magic, Rituals, Demonic Powers, Supernatural Events, and more. There are many ways to grow stronger. And while I can't guarantee I'll achieve what I wish today, it doesn't matter.'

'Even if I fail a thousand times before succeeding, I'm still ahead of everyone else who are still sucking on their toes… But I won't accept failures that easily.'

'This is a Contract circle… A type of magic that is extremely widespread around the Realm.'

'The issue is that my power is so low I can't even be considered a Valac yet. So I have to rely on ambient energies to perform magic… Well, not magic, really.'

'Demons don't rely on traditional magic. This is something often used in other Realms. Demons rely on Demonic Power and the like… Still, it's easier to visualize if I bundle them all together.'

'I plan to use the Ritual Circle to manifest my Contract Space beforehand. This will allow me to perform contracts like all other Demons and progress even further…'

'There are some consequences… Mainly my parents growing suspicious. After all, a child doing this would be akin to seeing a toddler complete a "science fair project" without anyone noticing…'

'What would come out of that… I don't want to think about it.'

'To hide this circle from others, it was simple… I'm rich.'

'This tapestry is made of some Demonic Beast, its lingering energy enriching the atmosphere...'

'Most Maids can't feel the miniscule energy of the ritual through the carpet. However, even if they don't, they'll eventually clean it without knowing.'

'Every week, the Maids do a deep clean of every room, and tomorrow, they'll do the same here. Today is my last day.'

'I've tried this multiple times but never came this far on time. But it was better that way since it gave me more time to practice and prepare.'

'The consequences of this action will haunt me for many years, likely soon once I become five years old… But I'll think about it then.'

'For now, I should focus on my ritual.'

Darius turned around, checking his room one last time to make sure everything was in line before returning to his ritual circle.

"The windows are closed, locked and so are the curtains."

'The door is closed tight. The next time it'll open should be solely by dinner time, that is, if my mother doesn't call for me sooner or enter the room. However, that shouldn't happen given she was here just moments before as I was studying.'

'Preferably, I'll finish the ritual and leave the room before anyone even realizes the door's locked.'

'Let's begin.'

/… Drip…/

Prickling his index finger with a silver needle, Draxon let a drop of his blood fall onto the center of the ritual circle, lighting it up.

/Shaa…/

The ritual circle began spewing dark fumes into the air, enveloping Draxon's whole body in mist…

'This is it. Now I only have to focus.'

'The ritual is pretty straightforward and meant for children to accomplish without issue. If I can't do it, I might as well give up being a Demon.'

'If a child can draw the magic circle for this ritual than so can I!'

/Swoop!/

Determined to succeed, Draxon's mind was pulled elsewhere…

…

/Dark… Silence…/

A pure void of darkness welcomed Draxon…

/Light!/

In the darkness, a simple rune lit, igniting the surroundings, limiting infinity to but a single, claustrophobic room.

'They say the contract ritual is one of the most advanced yet simple rituals in existence for despite its complex theoretical origin, it can be easily performed thanks to the many millenea of research.'

He looked around, gazing at the dark void as it vanished, being replaced by foggy dark walls… 

'It's done. The space has been contained and this area has been linked to my Soul.'

'From now on, contracts can be performed though this place. Using it as a medium or catalizer.'

'What I saw before was a metaphysical space. I can't quite say for certain what it was, but according to the books, its a reflection of the realm between realms. However, given infinity isn't something anyone can peer into, it is limited into a tiny fragment.'

'A shard of my consciousness given shape… A lot of complex words and terms for what's essentially just a mail box.'

'From here onwards though, I can perform a variety of rituals and spells and train… Hm?'

As Draxon thought about his future, he suddenly felt a strange tug at the back of his neck.

"This… It can't be…"

"This sensation… Someone's trying to summon me."

'Summoning Demons is something often frowned upon. However, many do it for reasons I said before… Power, wealth, forbidden and ancient knowledge… Sometimes they do it to capture and use the Demon for their own means.'

'I have no means to protect myself, however, this is a chance I can't miss… They say your first summoning defines who you'll be. It's more than just a metaphor. I'd even believe there is some kind of mystical force behind it…'

'I don't need to worry much about my safety though. If I'm captured, it won't take long for anyone to find my unconscious body. And once they do realize I've been captured, an entire Clan of Demons would move to rescue me. And unless there's an entire group of powerful creatures on the other side, little would be able to stop them.'

'Demons are very powerful creatures, that is why its frowned to call upon them, especially when most of them tend to try and trick mortals and other entities into doing their bidding and swindling them off their possessions… From their flesh to their Soul.'

'There aren't many individuals who can compare to a High Rank Demon. They're manaces in the Upper Realms. There's even the chance whoever summoned me sends me back upon realizing I'm a Demon's Spawn… Although it may only make them happier depending on their goals.'

"... I'll risk it. I can't let go of this chance. At worse, I may be captured but since my physical body is still in the Demon realm, it would be complicated to restrain me."

'I'll keep as much watch as I can. The moment I sense danger… I'll leave.'

Draxon followed the strange feeling, letting his body be dragged outside the mist and into the void.

He kept his connection with his body clear, it was his lifeline after all…

Soon enough, he reached his target, but something was wrong…

He was still in the void.

'... Something's off. Where am I?... Hm? There's something nearby…'

A sheen in the dark, it wasn't omnius but it didn't make Draxon feel any better.

'I feel like a fish swimming to an angler fish… Haaa… This will be the last time I'll risk something like this… Hopefully I'll be given the chance to fuck things up in the future…'

He aproached the light, and eventually, he reached it.

The moment he did so… His Soul left his body… In more ways then he could've ever predicted.

"T-T-This can't be!"

There, floating in the empty void… Was his body.

Not his current one though… His past life's body… 

"Just… Shit shit shit shit!! What's this supossed to fucking mean?!"

Without knowing what to do or think, he held onto his old nody wrist and pulled himself out of this place, fearful of the dark…

…

/Fwoop!/

Piercing through the mist walls like a bullet, Draxon landed inside his contract room with his body, taking a deep breath as he calmed down.

"... This is ridiculous…"

He took a quick glance at himself multiple times, but there was no mistaking it. It was his previous body…

"Just what are you doing here?... My Soul crossed over, that I can understand, but how did my body find itself in the middle of the Void?"

He tried really hard to think of a solution or answer to this riddle, however, there was none.

For his physical body to be pulled to the emptiness of reality, something really intense had to happen…

"Unless something happened on Earth… Or maybe… The reason I reincarnated has to do with the reason my body is here…"

He frowned as he touched his temples.

"This is all highly hypothetical, but if I somehow fell into the Void, then there's a chance my Soul departed from my body and fell in the "nearest" dimension… However, even if that was the case, that was years ago!"

"There isn't a concept of time in the Void, but my body should've long been lost in the emptiness of reality."

'... Maybe it was its connection to me that kept it around? That would make sense, but I'm assuming way too much here…'

"... What do I do with you? Should I find you a place to… To bury you? Do I keep you here or something?"

"I don't feel comfortable with holding onto my past life's body like this… It's too morbid… Wait… Why was I even attracted to you?"

Draxon approached his body, crouching near him.

"The connection led me here but did I mistaken it for something else? They say the Soul has a connection that leads it back to its vessel unless severed… But I already reincarnated, this connection shouldn't be there…"

"So what I felt before. Was it my body calling onto my Soul, or was it something else?... Wait… Wait a bit here…"

/Touch…/

"?!?!"

"ARE YOU ALIVE?!"

A horrifying find… His old body was still breathing.

"HOW'S THIS POSSIBLE?! I… Huff… Calm down… No one's here but me…"

Draxon took a deep breath as he sat down on the side, looking back at his body as his heartbeat rose…

"This is ridiculous… How are you even alive?... Not only that, you seem healthy."

'Could it be that while my body spent mere moments within infinity, my Soul spent years inside the Demon Realm?'

'This could explain some things but I have no proof for anything here!'

For a moment, Draxon thought about what to do… And a crazy idea sprung in his mind.

/Unfurl…/

An ancient-looking scroll materialized before him as Draxon opened his left hand. It could only be one thing: A demonic contract.

"This should I work, I guess?... It has no consciousness, so it can't defy me… Above all, this will give me full ownership of my body back."

'A Human body like this is far from useless… It's almost invaluable for some Demons.'

"It's hard to have any living being willingly give up full ownership of their bodies. Even if they can, a Demon can't use a body as easily as their own. However, this was my body at one point. There's no one more fit for it than me."

'I could potentially use it to thread on the Higher Realms without issue. And while I see no point for that now, the future is unpredictable.'

"I'll just write that by signing the contract, this body belongs solely to me and only me and bla bla bla… Make it so no one else but me can intrude into it unless they shatter the contrary, which isn't easy unless they far outweigh me in power."

'As long as no one find out I even have it, this will never happen. And even if they do. Most would only think I'm a little weird and wouldn't immediately try to snatch it away.'

/Cut…/

Using his index fingernail, Draxon made a small incision on his old body's palm before pressing it against the paper.

/Burn…/

Immediately after, the contract became effective, solidifying his ownership over the body, as it should.

"Great, now my body's mine again… This should be it for today."

Draxon stretched his back as he stepped back.

"If I stay here any longer I'm afraid one of the guards outside will find my silence odd and will come to check on me, if that happens and they find me on the floor I'm screwed."

He took one last look at his body before turning around, still slightly shaken.

"I'll come back…"

/Shaa…/

"Hm?... ?!?!?!"

As he was about to step outside, he felt a strange force enter his body, enriching it…

Although the feeling was foreign, there was a familiar sense of euphoria and presence to it… He knew what this was supposed to be.

"T-THIS!! HOW?!?!"

He stepped back in shock as he turned around abruptly.

"HOW DID I ABSORB MY OWN SOUL?!!!"

…

"... Huff… I think I got it… It wasn't my Soul. Not entirely." Draxon said as he touched his forehead

"The Soul I just received was nothing but an amalgamation of energy. A Soul without shape, form, intent, or consciousness… A "true" pure Soul."

'From the looks of it, my body gathered energy and formed a Soul within itself. However, it wasn't given enough time to bloom at all… No… Maybe it never will.'

'A Soul like this is malformed and broken. Shapeless… Guideless.'

'Like a tree of marble. It just is, neither dead or alive… It is purely to the observer to define what it is.'

"Either way, this is an unexpected boom. A Soul will greatly enhance my growth."

'Souls can be used to enhance a Demon's power. The bigger and purer they are, the better.'

'Pure in the way of ones emotions. Pure wrath, pure love, pure anguish… A live of many experiences, a Soul full to the brim with life and power.'

'The stronger a Soul is, the more enticing it becomes to a Demon.'

'However, modern Demons don't see Souls as their ancient counterparts. It's not productive nor is it as easy to pull off as before…'

'Even a single Soul can be of great use. Albeit for stronger Demons, they'd need thousands if not more to grow even a tiny bit stronger… What's the use of it then?'

'In these times, most Demons use Souls to trade. With an ordinary Human Soul being about one unit's worth of currency.'

'A Soul Coin… Maybe I can exchange it… Forget it. If this "Soul" resembles mine in any way, trading it away would only draw issues to myself. Above all, this Soul's flaws are far too evident. Any can tell something's off.'

"So I guess I can only devour it… It's strange, but that's what I should do… But not now."

'Eating a Soul without preparations… Or worse, as a child, would have dire consequences if I can not handle its power.'

"I'm better pushing it back inside… I wouldn't want this body to die yet. Not without doing some research on how this Soul formed…"

'If I can figure out how a Soul forms… And better, replicate it. Wouldn't I be able to gather as much Soul Power as I want? I'd be able to grow indefinitely!'

"Above all, a Soul born from my own body should be extremely similar to mine so there wouldn't be side effects from overconsumption."

'Demons who eat too many Souls can go "drunk" and lose themselves to their instincts. A rather humiliating ordeal.'

"I'm definitely not ready for this… So right back you go…" He said out loud as he pushed the bundle of energy out of his body and back inside his previous one

However, at a certain point, he realized that his body… Couldn't hold the Soul anymore.

"What?... Why can't I push it back inside? Why isn't there enough space for it anymore? There shouldn't be any rejection…"

Draxon investigated further, finding something incredible!

"This… Is there another Soul forming inside it?... I… I'm tired of being in disbelief…"

He looked closer, but there was no way to mistake it. Energy was pooling inside his old body, forming another Soul as we speak.

"It's gathering the ambient energy and converting it into Soul Power?? Not only that, its actively shaping this energy into a Human Soul, even if faintly… Incredible!"

'This is exactly what I just thought off!! Something thought impossible!'

"An artificial Soul!!... No, this is far beyond it. It's like finding a cave that shits out gold nuggets if you drop iron through another hole…"

"This find… I must throughout keep it secret… From everyone, regardless of their blood connection to me."

'I'm unsure why this is happening, but for now, I'll avoid messing around with it. I'll research as much as I can before moving on.'

"I can't wait… I should leave now. I spent too long here already."

'Once I have the chance, I'll gather some food and water. I don't know if this body needs it, but… I won't risk it.' 

'Some creatures under Demonic Contracts still need sustenance, so I expect this to be the same.'

'As for its needs… I'll think about those nasty things later.'

Nodding to himself as a sound plan weaved inside his mind, Draxon vanished from his contract space, returning to his real body.

From there, he quickly cleaned things before unlocking the door and windows and leaving his room as if nothing happened.

Right now, he needed knowledge. And luckily for him, he was the son of a steemed household. Information was something they did not lack…

While he wasn't allowed inside his father's office, the family library was still built from the donations of his parents' families and his parents' wealth over the last few decades.

If he couldn't find what he wanted there… He would defy his parent's will, even if it led to issues later on…

Draxon departed from his room, followed by his knights…

…

/Two years later…/

In Manor's cafeteria, dozens of knights can be seen chatting as they eat lunch as they do everyday… However, today was no ordinary day.

Today was the young lord's birthday!

"... Five years old now... The young lord is growing quite well, isn't he?" 

"I've heard he did something quite incredible recently. What was it?"

/Chomp…/

"Hm? You were with the second regiment?"

"Yeah, we've just returned from the expedition, so we don't know much about it. I've heard much of him, be it now or before, in the wild. Is the young lord that great?"

"Careful with what you say, pal. The other regiments won't appreciate you doubting the young lord like that." The knight replied as his eyebrows furrowed 

"I'm not trying to downplay him, it's just that…"

"I understand. But my warning stands. Even if everyone understands your point, it doesn't change how they see you, and you'll understand why once I tell you about it."

"... It started around three years ago when he became one year old. The young Lord showed great progress by suddenly learning how to walk properly and speak some words. And while that isn't impressive given he was off age, what he did after was out of the norm."

"In the months after, the young lord has shown great initiative. Mastering the Imperial tongue and the Common tongue…"

"Wait. "The" common tongue? The one used throughout the continent?"

"That one. He mastered both within a few months. And this isn't mastery for a child; I'm talking about being able to understand and read at a level most of us are at."

"Just last year, he had already shown scholarly mastery over them by reading a classic with the madam."

"That's quite impressive…"

"I'm not done."

"While the mastery of language came as a surprise, the young Lord has also shown great talent in several scholarly fields, including the Arcane Arts."

The knight looked around before whispering to the man:

"There's a rumor going around the reason why the Lord's been so ecstatic in the last few months was that the young lord reached a Valac's level of potential."

"That's not… Wait… Isn't he just five?"

"That's right. The young Lord is five years old and has yet to even awaken his innate potential. The fact he can exude energy at his age already tells much of his innate power."

"This can be proven by how the young lord's horns have already formed a band."

"What?! You're telling me a five-year-old formed a band already?!"

"Shhh! Do you want the others to hear it, too? It's an open secret, but don't go telling others about it! The Lord doesn't appreciate others talking about his kin like that."

"But… That's incredible. Forming a band without training…"

"That's where you're wrong. There are also rumors that the young Lord has begun training… Without even awakening his potential."

"..."

"Every night, the young Lord's room remains lit, often reflecting unusual lights onto the gardens below. The guards in patrol often say they can feel faint fluctuations coming from his room… And while the Xerafs won't admit to it, they all seem rather proud of the rumors."

"Rumors have it that the young Lord's innate Demonic power is so great he can train with only its traces exuding from his body."

"... Has the Lord said anything about it? I can't see him hiding such a thing. It should be celebrated."

"... It's likely because of the young Lord's age… With his childhood ceremony coming up, the Lord likely wants to ensure no issues with his growth before revealing his talents to the world so he can shine. Isn't that the usual in such families?"

"The young Lord has been free to wander around the territory. His personality has tugged at the hearts of many, and if we add to everything I said before, its no wonder everyone is so defensive of him, so don't doubt him next time."

"If someone accuses you of downplaying the young lord's efforts, you won't hear the end of it, especially if he's around and ends up affected by your words. You know how children are…" 

"I see… I'll have to warn the others… But speaking of the Lord…"

"He left with the madam and the young lord already."

"So quickly? His birthday was yesterday."

"I told you. The Lord dotes on him heavily. He wanted to go yesterday, but the madam barely stopped him… And that's after the Manor Keeper barely stopped her…"

"I always knew the Lord and the Madam doted on their child, but this…"

"Humph. We shouldn't speak of such a subject, so let's drop it here. We've wandered too far." The first knight said as he finished his meal

"Just be aware that the young Lord's talents are about to be revealed. After today, things will likely grow hectic… He's nearing that age, after all."

"Right…" The second said in agreement as he sighed out loud

"I don't expect much to happen either way given his personality, but they say that the tamer a Devil is… The wilder his suppressed side is."

"I wonder if that's the case for the young Lord…"

The second knight looked at his food, chuckling.

"If he inherited even a small piece of the Lord's personality… Then it's likely it'll be beyond our expectations."

"... You said that not me."

"Hey…"

…

/Meanwhile…/

"... Mother… Can't we do this at home?" Draxon asked as he pulled his collar slightly, only for his head to be gently grabbed by his mother as she pulled it away

"I've told you that we can't! How many times…"

"Dear… Cut him some slack. You've stuffed him with clothing, and now he looks like a paper roll…"

"Why can't we? Can't the doctor just come home instead?..."

His father sighed as he tapped his son's soldiers, saying:

"Son… It's a matter of formality and etiquette, above all, respect."

"For the doctor to perform his duties properly, he needs his instruments… Many of which he can't bring along due to their volume."

"It's been a tradition to visit them like this. And remember, don't mistreat those responsible for your health. Give them respect and they'll give it back to you."

"Mnn…"

"..."

'This kid sure is hard to deal with sometimes. He may be tame and quiet at home, but he sure raises a fuss whenever he's doing something he doesn't like.'

'I was worrying about him since all he does is study in his room, but moments like this reassure me that he is a child. Just one with a quiet and focused personality.'

'Who did he even pull this from? At his age I…'

"Your father's right. Now be a good boy and stop pulling your collar and messing up your clothes."

"But mother… It itches…"

"I know… Hold it in, baby… Do it for mama." She said gently as she patted his hair, trying not to mess it up

"..."

'It's been four years… No, I should say eight, shouldn't I?'

'Eight years as a toddler… I'm tired of being pushed around by everyone and being treated like the most fragile thing in existence… They aren't wrong, but it feels like crap.'

'When I was still smaller, months after awakening, it took me an unbelievable amount of effort to convince my mother I could go the bathroom by myself… Even then, it took me months to rid myself of those darned diapers.'

'Only after I kept ripping it off and going to the bathroom myself did my mother allow me to go around like this… And at one point, she even used magic to seal the diapers around my waist… If it wasn't for the maids telling her that was excessive, I may have spent a few years more on them.'

'There are things that I'll only be able to rid myself of once I grow older, and some of them may never come out of my shadows, like this overwhelming expectation people have of me.'

'Demons aren't so different from Humans in the way they act, however, its their culture that makes things so different.'

'A Culture built around the supernatural. Demons have far other senses and ideologies. Humans may find them odd if not straight out maniacal.'

'Horned Demons, for example, see beauty mostly through one's horns and not through their facial/bodily features.'

'Like a woman looking at a homeless man. Even if he's the richest and most handsome guy in the world, she'll look away in either pity or disgust.'

'Appearances are everything. Both men and women judge each other from what they see, even if unconsciously. Demons only emphasized different things.'

'Heritage, racial features, Demonic Rank, wealth, etiquette for nobility, and so on.'

'Since there are so many races in the realm, it's hard to make an equal measurement of beauty, in fact, I don't think anyone should ever even try.'

'Some races are brutal and violent if not animalistic in the way they interact with one another while others are restrictive and "moral".'

'Who can define morality? Who can define barbarity when cultures have been developing for tens of thousands of years?...'

'In the end, there's only one thing all Demons understand:'

'Power.'

"Are we getting there? I'm hungry." Draxon said as he rested his head on his mother's arm

'There are some advantages to being a child. I can act oblivious to everything and sway people far easier.'

'Even if I enter father's office without his permission and someone finds me there, I can just cry a little, and they'll let me go if I comply. I've done that a few times already…'

'I've also noticed that most Demons aren't very gentle with one another. The ways they show affection and care vary, but by acting like a Human, I've surprisingly gathered much of their favor.'

'They seem to like this form of affection, although I can't say if it's because of my identity or because I'm just a child and they have little to fear.'

"We're almost there dear. The clinic is just south of Daremban, after all."

"Uhum…"

'Daremban… That's the city my father's in charge of. As while he is the inheritor of the Galvidol household, he isn't the patriarch yet.'

'Instead, he's been given a major city of the household to manage and prove his abilities. Daremban is a city known for its services, so it makes most of its profits from travelers wishing to have something done. Either equipment, buy materials, hire a workforce, and so on.'

'Our Manor is located to the North of Daremban toward the plains where the town of Hafal is located. My parents chose that land thanks to its advantageous position. They believe it can be developed into a major territory city with time… But I don't know much about the economics of this world yet.'

'It's not that I haven't tried to learn things, it's just that I'm too young to even be able to do anything. The most I've done so far is gathering some pocket change from time to time but at this rate, I'd never be able to use it since I can't even leave the Manor without an entire squad of Knights following me.'

'And that's just me going to the gardens… This is my first time leaving town and one of the few times I've left the family estate… It's rough.'

"..."

While Draxon rested, his father looked at his son with a heavy gaze. However, as his son raised his head to face him, he only lightly smiled in reply before looking out through the window.

The rest of the ride was fast and smooth. With a few minutes, just as his mother said, they stopped before a five-floor circular building.

…

/Later…/

"... Hum… How long has it been since his first band appeared?" 

Inside the building, Draxon could be seen sitting on a tall couch as an elderly horned Demon with thick glasses inspected him with a small crystal orb on his left hand.

As he went around his body, pinching his skin, opening his eyes, and asking him to do certain actions like holding his breath, reading, and jumping, his parents stood on the side, answering questions whenever they popped up.

"Around a year. That was when we noticed the first signs of a band forming. And it took around three months for it to form completely on both horns." His father replied as his eyes narrowed

"That's quite some time… You should've come sooner." The old doctor replied as he applied a strange concoction with a brush on Draxon's horns

"Cold…"

"I know child. But don't worry, the coldness will go away soon."

As he said that, the doctor spun Draxon's chair, having him face his parents.

"Premature bands forming is often associate with Great innate potential, however, that refers to children around the ages of eight and eleven right before puberty. His case is what we call Embryonic Growth."

His mother grew concerned, asking:

"Is there any issue with my baby, doctor?"

"Such extreme early growth usually forms due to malformations or suppressed bodily functions. However, there's no need to worry as his case is none of the above."

"This, however, doesn't mean he's safe either."

/Tap…/

The doctor tapped on Draxon's horns, causing the liquid to light up faintly, showing several lines across his horns.

"T-That is…"

Draxon's father showed immense surprise, almost gasping at the sight.

"As you can see, your son is developing multiple bands even now as we speak. I suspect over half a dozen still lay hidden from view."

"From all of the physical tests I've conducted, your son's health is completely on line with the expected. In fact, he excels in most of them."

"He is strong, his eyesight is sharp, his growth has been stable, his reflexes are fast and precise, and while we still have to conduct one, he hasn't shown any allergic reaction to anything, nor do he possess any diseases that may impact his journey ahead."

"That's great…" His mother said as she sighed in relief

"Now, we'll still have to perform some exams later, but let's go over the pressing issue at hand... Your Son has far greater potential than both of you can imagine. And this may have deep consequences for his growth."

"What… How so?"

"The Demonic Power slumbering within him is extremely great. I believe he may have already surpassed the threshold of a Low Rank, something that is reflected by the ever-increasing number of bands on his horns."

"His body is trying to come with the extreme energies within himself by building more bands; however, his horns are still those of an infant, and he cannot hold energy within them at all. Sooner or later, there's the chance he may lose them entirely as they break apart from the pressure."

"I-It can't be!"

Draxon's mother was so euphoric by the news she almost fell unconscious. Meanwhile, his father closed his eyes in pain, already knowing this was the case.

The doctor saw this but didn't press the issue any further, saying:

"Madam, do not lose your composure, the situation is far from lost."

"The issue is that his body cannot handle the energy as it is right now. So there are three solutions we must work toward to prevent the worst from happening."

"I'll do everything, doctor! Please… Not my baby…" His mother said as she got up from his seat, holding onto Draxon's face

"..."

'It's great to see someone worry so much about me… But I feel bad now since this issue comes from me alone…'

'I shouldn't have abused it so much…'

"I'll tell you what to do. This is a routine you guys will have to maintain until he estabilizes or reaches adulthood. He'll likely have to come back a few more times over the next few Cycles so we can follow his development closely."

"First. You need to find something he can spend his energy on. You told me he spends much of his time reading, which is excellent for a child at his age but not ideal. Children should be running around with each other, falling, getting injured, and being emotional."

"It's in the outbursts of emotion where their bubbling energy is released… But he's like a pressure pot. Physical exercise is off the chart as he is too young, and since he has lived… Pardon my wording: a sheltered life. He hasn't been given the means to release this power."

"Other children wouldn't have as much issue living his life, but as his energy potential is too great… It has outgrown his capacity."

The doctor opened a drawer on the side, pulling a small cube full of lines carved on its sides.

"My second recommendation is training. While I would expect teenagers to begin dabbling on their innate powers, he must know it far earlier than most."

"Training leads to understanding, which leads to mastery and a reduction of the pressure on his body." 

"A great tool for this is the Faraelm Cube. This one has a resistance index of three, so he would struggle to even begin solving it. However, its a great item for him to tire himself with."

"If its too much, please acquire one with an index of two. Even one is decent however he'd have to spend more time on it each day."

"The minimum for a grade two would be an hour. For a grade one, two hours. But twenty minutes every day should be enough if he sticks with a grade three. But still, not ideal."

"It is best he spends his energy as every child should, running and playing around. It develops the body and their mind… I'd suggest finding him a friend."

"..."

'Please no… I'll run around the manor every day but not a brat for me to look after…'

"My last recommendation is a change in his diet. However for that, you may need to consult a nutritionist. They'd be able to tell you exactly what a child like him needs to consume to grow even stronger."

"These are the ways that wouldn't suppress or hurt his potential. But if things take a turn for the worse, even with all of these methods, we may have to seek out other means to halt his deterioration."

"If everything goes well, his potential will unfurl during his teenage years and his body and ability together will be enough to support it easily. At worse, I expect he'll reach at minimum the rank of Gal-Por."

"..."

'That's around the same as an Intermediate Rank Demon. Gal-Por is the term for an Intermediate Demon with Demonic Power rivaling that of an Advanced Rank Demon.'

'Someone at the limit.' 

"... Is that really true?"

His father showed surprise but pride. As expected of his bloodline!... But he said nothing as his wife was sure to complain.

"He sure is my son!" She said out loud as she held him tightly

""...""

"Cough… Honestly… I'm underestimating him a little but its best to be subtle about it. There's great potential with this child and it should be nurtured."

"If we fail. While what I said before is highly unexpected, there may be adverse effects such as… The shortening of his horns due to compression."

"That can't happen." Draxon's father said deeply as his expression grew heavy

"He's right. I won't let our oversight hurt my baby's luck with girls in the future." His mother agreed as she nodded deeply

"..."

'What's so great about these horns? They all look so over the top…'

"Then I'll write you some recommendations for further exams. In his case, the more we know, the better. He'll need a great deal of help to support himself, that's for sure."

"He's already plenty strong but that much isn't enough… They often say that those with great talent are often those that work the hardest…"

"He'll have a busy life ahead of him… But listen to my advice…"

"No matter how much you dote on him, be sure to give him the space he needs. Children should be free, not caged. The more you press him for something, the worse he'll bounce back."

"He needs space to grow. Putting him inside a box for his safety won't help him."

All of that said, the doctor walked to a small dex in the corner of the room while Draxon's mother cleaned his horns.

He placed his crystal ball on a blank pile of papers and they were all suddenly marked with black words and graphs.

"Here is his diagnosis. I expect him back here in a year. Aside from that, you're dismissed."

He opened a small box on the side, took a small candy from within, and gave it to Draxon:

"And for you being a good kid." He said with a laugh as he turned around

"Thank you, doctor Jabam. We shall return in a year as instructed."

"I shall be waiting, Mr. Droruund, Madam Algra…"

…

"..."

'This is hard. I've poured every ounce of my energy into it, yet it barely budged… I hate this. I hate complicated things.'

Later that day, after going through multiple doctors and appointments, the family of three sat down at a nearby restaurant to eat.

While his parents discussed something, Draxon poured every ounce of his attention on the small cube before him.

'These things are meant to train a Horned Demon's senses and control. Their grades are equal to a Demon's Rank, so a Grade 3 like this one is equivalent to an Intermediate Rank Demon's control.'

'This exists because Horned Demons tend to grow stronger by controlling and manipulating Demonic power; however, some species benefit more from direct bursts of power instead.'

'The reason I'm stuck with this mess is because of my contract… Two years ago I realized it constantly reabsorbed energy to form a Soul. Once this Soul formed, it was immediately consumed by my body.'

'I tried to stop it, but I couldn't. Unless I break the contract, this process won't stop. I tried to rewrite the contract, but it's not easy. Contracts are powerful tools because they restrict both parties…'

'It's strange to think I would want to remove my control over my body but as the doctor said, if I don't stop this, I may end up crippled.'

'At first, I didn't realize the issue so I experimented with the body, trying to learn more about it.'

'Essentially, the body acts like a transformer, altering the chaotic energy it consumes into pure Soul power I can then absorb to enhance myself.'

'Every five minutes, it absorbs enough to transfer me the equivalent of one Soul. This means that if left alone, every day, my body would be nourished by 360 Human Souls.'

'And in the last two years, I've absorbed the equivalent of 432.000 Human Souls… Pure Souls…'

'This amount alone would've been enough to push my father to the Rank of a Balor, much less me, a rankless child that hasn't even developed his inner energy…'

'And at the start, having yet to realize the issues this would cause me, I began experimenting on gathering more energy, faster, safer, and overall just better.'

'For example, I thought that if I could strengthen my old body, maybe the Soul it could house would strengthen as well?'

'After much research, I decided just to strengthen my body as any Demon would strengthen a Human. And in this research, I realized how to massively improve the energy gathering speed.'

'If I connect my Soul with my past body, what I can do is that upon consuming the Soul it formed, I can immediately transfer back a portion of my own Soul back to it.'

'Anyone would be appalled to even think about slicing their Soul like that, but in truth, that's not what I'm doing. I'm just letting my Soul power flow outside of my body, which isn't possible given what I know… But possible by writing a contract.'

'The contract is simple. Whenever I sit down to train with my old body, whenever I consume its Soul, I'll send back the same amount through my Soul.'

'This creates a loop where I consume a pure Soul and release my old one… But this alone seems redundant… Until you realize that my old body gathers Soul power naturally.'

'If I immediately fill it with my Soul power, through pressure alone, it'll strengthen my Soul power ever slightly and, in this process, increase its vessel as well.'

'As such, for every cycle I perform, I usually return with a near negligible amount… However, this can be done within seconds, so if I sit down and train like that, I can increase my Soul power faster than directly absorbing a complete Soul from the body while also strengthening my old body in the process.'

'For each Cycle I perform, the Soul would increase in size. Eventually, it'll double in size, and eventually, triple… Each time it does so, its value will increase.'

'Within a few years, this won't have much impact. But within decades and centuries?... It would be equivalent to having an eternal supply of Heroic Souls.'

'It didn't take me long to feel the aftereffects of cheating, though… As the doctor said, my body can't handle this much Soul power being shoved inside. And without reaching puberty and awakening my potential, I have nowhere to send that Soul power aside from my own Demonic Power.'

'I have consumed enough Souls to create another High-Rank Demon, it is a miracle my body hasn't burst yet…'

'To try and solve this issue, I've been researching Soul theory like a madman. And while I've figured out ways to decrease the impact of such wantless consumption, because I am a child, there's little I can actually do to stop this.'

'Worse, given how exoteric this topic is, it may take me decades to reach any sort of mastery over it… Even for Demons, the study of the Soul is a complex one.'

'If it was so simple, Demons wouldn't travel dimensions to consume Souls. They'd instead fight each other for them.'

'The easiest solution I've reached was to condense the Souls into artificial vessels. However, they're not easy to do or maintain… They slowly degrade, and honestly, I can't let such valuable power go to waste, so I often absorb it again. Which changes nothing.'

'I can only keep improving to try and delay this process as much as possible. And as the old Demon said, learn how to manipulate my energies so I can handle the pressure building up inside my body.'

Lost in his thoughts and the complex training cube before him, Draxon didn't realize how his parents were looking at him.

"... He's really focused on it, isn't he, dear?" Algra asked as she looked at Draxon

"..."

"Still worried about it? It'll be fine…"

"I know. I'm thinking about how I'll follow the doctors' requests… I was thinking it's time to ask father for some assistance."

"... After what happened?"

"He'll listen to me. Regardless of how upset he is at how we named him."

'He won't sit still after realizing the potential within him. Even if he doesn't talk with me, that's okay. What's important is getting some help from the family.'

"I can contact my father as well. I may not be the first daughter of the Tirgath household but father would surely lend a hand if we request for it."

"... Only if we need to…"

"Are you suspecting my father?"

"No… Not him…"

"Dear. My brothers wouldn't be so petty…"

"Not until they realize what Draxon can be… If he keeps developing at this rate, Draxon may as well become a High Rank Demon before even reaching adulthood. Do you realize the weight of this statement?"

"He'll definitely become a Balor soon after, and with time… Becoming a Baol doesn't seem completely outside the realm of possibility."

"If we go back seven generations from our boy, there are no more than twenty Balor's in our bloodline and not a single Baol… We'd have to go much further back to find a Demon of that caliber amidst us."

"If Draxon can become the next Baol… Even if he cannot, he has the potential to become one of the strongest and youngest Balors in the family. His dominion will expand centuries."

"This goes far further than just a discussion between us parents… This is a matter involving the noble houses of the nation."

"I chose my father because Draxon is a direct descendent of the Galvidol household, so there's no reason for him to hold back from nurturing him at all. But what about your father? How would your brothers feel about it?"

"Nurturing a cousin or nephew may seem harmless and an act that would strengthen the familial ties… But what happens when Draxon's grows strong enough to unite all?"

"Dear… You're looking too far ahead, Draxon is…"

/Clack!.../ 

"Ha! I… I did it." 

""...""

After much struggle, Draxon successfully managed to make one of the lines in the cube light up, activating a hidden mechanism that spun the entire cube around its axis, rearranging the lines.

Seeing this made Draxon's expression tense as he frowned before getting right back into the action.

Both of his parents watched silently before his mother made up her mind, saying:

"Very well. Contact him." 

"... I shall."

Not long after their food arrived and with their stomachs full, they returned to the Manor.

…

/One week later…/

/Clack…/

"... This darned cube… That's it, I'm done for the day."

/Thud…/

Throwing the cube aside, Draxon yawned as he got up from his seat.

He went to the window nearby, gazing at the gardens outside.

"Tired…"

'I'm tired of being a toddler. I want to grow up and be able to research and practice magic like I'm meant to… But seven to eight years of growth are still waiting for me.'

'Worse, if I look at things from an Earth perspective, that's fourteen to sixteen years…'

'I did begin training to some degree but it's not enough to settle my hunger.'

"... I feel as if my parents are holding back… Hm?"

Draxon looked down at the garden, seeing a young child walking around the place as if looking for something.

"..."

'It's her again…'

'She's the daughter of another Noble household. One that isn't deeply tied to ours. Around a year ago, her father visited mine to discuss something, and I met her by chance.'

'Since I have no reason to be rude to a child, I played with her a little, but ever since then, she's been visiting regularly.'

'I always found it tiring to deal with her since I'm not a child, but given how I need to exercise, I'll just treat this is a light jog.'

/Turn back…/

Draxon left his room, meeting with the young girl soon after.

Seeing him made the girl extremely happy, her small smile also helped by lifting his mood slightly.

It was like taking care of a younger sister…

...

.

.

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Notes