Chapter 9 (Eternum Noctis)

The demon boy, with his eyes filled with confusion, hatred, revenge, and darkness, stared at Kwan.

Kwan seemed to be the only one capable of saving the half-demon boy, much like a powerless person in a ring facing a powerful opponent.

While Kwan was busy negotiating, the demon boy ignored him and unleashed his dark powers on the half-demon.

As he cast the spell, a dark smoky cloud began to form and swiftly moved towards the half-demon. Without hesitation, Kwan stepped in front of the half-demon and took the hit from the dark cloud.

Upon contact, the cloud wrapped itself around Kwan like a tornado, and a blue light enveloped him. Whispers emanated from the dark cloud, startling the demon boy, who also seemed to understand the strange whispers. Despite the chaos, Kwan remained floating in the midst of the swirling darkness and blue light.

In response to the whispers, the demon boy shouted in another language, "Weilem Dae Snera!"

Upon uttering those words, everything came to a halt, and the darkness surrounded the demon boy instead. He vanished into thin air, seemingly swallowed by the cloud.

Once the darkness left Kwan, he fell to the ground, and the half-demon rushed to his aid.

Kwan looked ahead, still trembling, and saw a mysterious dark figure standing where the demon boy had been. The figure was clad in a dark cloak, completely obscuring their face, and it resembled dark smoke.

"Who are you?" Kwan weakly inquired, trying to address the enigmatic figure.

The half-demon boy trembled as he looked up at Kwan and revealed, "Sunbae, that's not an ordinary thing; the figure in front of us is an oracle."

"An oracle? What do you mean?" Kwan asked, intrigued.

The figure began to whisper, the sounds growing louder until they suddenly stopped. Both Kwan and the half-demon were captivated by the enigma before them.

"Les Cast, les beo, Ze nova destructo, Ze nova Savier," the enigmatic figure spoke in a deep, heavy voice before vanishing into the dark smoke.

"What does that mean?" Kwan whispered, still trembling and powerless.

"I think I know; the oracle has spoken, and it's a prophecy. I couldn't decipher the exact meaning, but the words seem to indicate 'les cast' - the great caster, 'les beo' - speaks of, 'ze nova destructo' - the great destroyer of destruction, and 'ze nova savier' - the saviour who will bring both destruction and salvation. It's an old forgotten demon dialect, not spoken often. I once took a class on it," the half-demon boy tried to explain while deciphering the message.

"I don't understand what just happened. After he attacked me, I don't remember anything except for those whispers," Kwan said, placing his hand on his forehead as he stood up.

"It seems the spell was being reversed, but after the demon said, 'weilem dae snera,' which means 'free me before the ultimate end,' it appears he ordered the spell to kill him, may be he was afraid." the half-demon boy replied, cleaning his muddy clothes.

"Why would he be afraid?" Kwan asked, still puzzled.

"Not every day a death spell from a demon fails to kill someone. It's clear you're something else, not a typical vampire," the half-demon boy remarked, staring at Kwan intently.

Kwan was taken aback, "I am a vampire, and I've always been one. Why would I be something else?"

"Well, a vampire should have died, shouldn't they?" the half-demon boy said, expressionless.

Kwan rubbed his head, feeling even more confused and thirsty.

"Thank you for saving my life. These demons aren't fond of me, but that's my problem. I need to disappear before morning; other demons will be after me now. I'll learn to survive as a half-demon. Let's talk more another day. My name is Chul; nice to meet you," the half-demon boy said with anticipation.

"Kwan Yoon," Kwan replied.

"Vampires of eternum noctis; interesting indeed," Chul remarked.

Before Kwan could ask further questions, Chul disappeared, leaving him with a lot of unanswered questions and an extreme thirst for blood that could kill him if not quenched soon.

As Chul vanished from sight, Kwan felt a mix of emotions swirling within him. His encounter with the enigmatic figure, the mention of the vampires of eternum noctis, and Chul's revelations about his unique nature had left him with a head full of questions. Yet, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on his immediate need – satisfying his relentless thirst for blood.

Quietly navigating the dark hallways of the demon realm, Kwan kept to the shadows, seeking a suitable spot to feed and find blood without drawing attention. He had always been cautious during his nocturnal escapades, but now, his senses seemed heightened because of lack of blood.

As he turned a corner, Kwan's sharp ears picked up the faint sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. Panic surged through him, and he quickened his pace, seeking refuge behind the massive pillar near the entrance of the blood bank.

Peering cautiously from his hiding spot, Kwan's heart skipped a beat when he saw the figure approaching. It was a werewolf – tall, imposing, and undoubtedly formidable. Kwan knew all too well the dangerous rivalry between vampires and werewolves, and he instinctively shrank further into the shadows, hoping the werewolf wouldn't notice him.

As the figure drew closer, Kwan's heart pounded in his chest, and his fangs involuntarily extended in response to the heightened danger. But as the werewolf stepped into the moonlight, Kwan recognized the face. It was Geonhak, a werewolf with whom he had crossed paths a few times before. Geonhak was really something else, Kwan thought because why would he be wandering around at night, and inside the demon wing isn't he afraid of them?