1 Mina "Xuzredar" Vuzgal, Princess of the Underworld

"In a very, very long time ago, there was once a demon went by the name of Oriana Ar'en. Oriana was born with a flaw that couldn't go unnoticed, and that is being a single-horned demon. Based on the folklore of Demonkins, one-horned Demonkins are considered an ill omen, disgrace, and dishonor to the clan who bore it.

Because of that, Oriana spent her youth being bullied and abused by her brethren, and even her family was disgusted by her existence. And soon banished her from her homeland during her juvenile.

And the days after her exile, her resilience is the only thing that carried her will to live. Believing that one day, there would be someone waiting for her, someone who would not mock her for her flaw but cherish it as her irreplaceable trait."

The story was interrupted by Princess Mina, whom the Queen of Vuzgaria was telling.

"What happened to Oriana then? Did she actually achieve what she wished for? Is there really someone who adores her despite being one-horned? Did such Demonkin really exist?" Mina was so eager that she lashed at her mother with numerous questions.

The Queen faintly smiled and hushed Mina in a soothing tone and added,

"Mina, we have yet to conclude the story." after calming Princess Mina, the Queen proceeded,

"Despite Oriana's journey just a beginning, it remained disastrous, as Oriana continuously suffered all kinds of challenges. She was discriminated against by others, getting penniless after each day and starving till she was malnourished. Despite these harsh and unfair treatments she sustained, Oriana never gave up hope and still pushed herself forward, aiming for the dream she had craved since the commencement of this jarring journey. Find the one who will adore her.

After days and nights, drops of blood and sweat, she eventually arrived in one of the rural towns. A town that is distinct from any other she visited in the past. Demonkins there were friendly, kindhearted, and generous. No one discriminated against her deformity like she was never an outcast. And it was there she met the man of her life..."

"Who is it?! Who is it?!" Mina interrupted the Queen once again before she could mention the name. The Queen was not upset but gently stroked against Mina's hair and continued.

"And he is your great-grandfather, Azemos "Irthremos" Vuzgal, the greatest, mightiest, and most powerful demon ever walked upon these blazing lands. He was so powerful that he isolated himself from the world to keep the essence of life balanced. Otherwise, his simple mistakes could bring utter destruction to our realm.

Thus, he locked himself up in the shack built at the mountain's peak beside the village Oriana stumbled upon..."

"What happened next?"

"Well, too bad, my beloved Mina. It seems you have passed your bedtime." the Queen closed the storybook and rose from the side of Mina's bed.

"But Mom, can't you finish the story before I tuck in?" Mina begged her mother to continue the story. But the Queen rejected Mina's request.

"I will tell you more about it next time, sweetie. Now is the time for your beauty sleep." the Queen tucked Mina in, proceeded to the door, and wished her good night.

Mina was unsatisfied, but she had no choice but to heed her mother's bidding and replied,

"Nighty night, mama..." after Mina wished her mother, Mina immediately dived into her slumber.

After the Queen left Mina's bedroom, she was stopped by one of the royal guards, Chester Zaran.

"My apologies for my abrupt intrusion, your royal highness. It seemed the prophet had arrived earlier than we expected."

"Shouldn't he be arriving by noon tomorrow?" the Queen was displeased.

"My apologies, your royal highness." Chester bowed and apologized, although it was not his fault.

"It's okay, Chester. Lift your head. It's not your fault that the prophet arrived early. It was the worries of what made the prophet hasten his arrival." the Queen paused for a brief thought and added,

"Chester, summon the king and the councils. We shall attend to what the prophet had borne for us immediately." the Queen ordered Chester and immediately went to the council chamber.

Once all the council members and the king and Queen congregated in the council chamber, the prophet was soon allowed in. The prophet slowly but surely moved toward them.

The prophet is over a hundred years old according to the Demonkins' age system, but in the human age system, the prophet is already over ten thousand years old, as one demon age is equivalent to 100 in human age. The flow of time in the underworld is rather 100 times slower than the time flow in the human realm, causing the longer span of Demonkins in mankind's perception.

Demonkins' age stages are also parallel to mankind, as Demonkins age of early childhood is within the range of zero to seven, moving on with childhood is within the range of seven to fourteen, and so on. Thus, over a hundred demon years are considered old in the span of Demonkins. It is also the reason why the prophet was walking at a slow pace while using a walking cane to assist his stance and mobile.

After the prophet reached the comfortable zone between himself and the authority, they began the conference,

"Speak, Prophet, on what necessity does that hurried to your premature arrival?" the king interrogated.

"My sincere apologies, your excellency... The prophecy I conjured forced me to shorten the expectancy of my arrival! The message was so dire that I have to tell you right this instant!" the prophet spoke in an uneasy tone.

The Queen was highly bothered and demanded the prophet deliver the message he carried,

"Then speak, Prophet!"

"The message I came with... *gulp* was...was... about your daughter... Mina "Xuzredar" Vuzgal!"

Everyone began to be dismayed as they received the answer. The king alleviated the councils and his wife from being dismayed and continued his interrogation,

"It is preposterous, Prophet! Mina is only six. How could there be any prophecy afflicted with Mina? Everyone knows you can only foresee the upcoming ten years! At the moment, Mina should only be in her fifteen!"

"Please heed my word, your excellency! Heed the warning and the prophecy I carried! Defying the will of prophecy will only trigger the hideous catastrophe!"

"Then do tell, Prophet! What will become of my daughter!" the Queen urged the prophet to convey the rest of the message he bore.

"Among the imminent ten years, Mina... will...!"

***

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***

On the next bright sunny afternoon,

Mina was so bored that she began to run around the castle to spend her leisure time. But called out by her head maid, Lilia Zaran.

"Princess Mina! Please refrain yourself running around the hallway! You might accidentally injure yourself!" a soft and gentle voice emitted from Lilia. However, Mina disregarded the warning and taunted Lilia in a playful manner,

"Catch me if you can, Aunt Lilia!" After taunting Lilia, she dashed away from Lilia like a hare that spotted a wolf.

"Princess Mina...!" Lilia sighed deeply and proceeded to chase Mina. While Mina was only six demon years old, she was yet mature at her Demonkin age, leaving her at a disadvantage when playing tag with a full adulthood demon.

In less than no time, Lilia eventually caught Mina and lifted her up in the air while Mina screamed in joy.

Lilia Zaran, a Demonkin who derived from the clan of Zaran. Clan of Zaran is one of the renowned clans in the underworld that is alongside the other three prominent clans, Vuzgal, Urkon, and Xorros. Most Zaranborn were birthed with insane physical fitness attributes, and many of them were honored as the champions of the under realm. However, for specific reasons, Lilia forgoes that title and becomes the head maid of this Vuzgal-ruled kingdom, Vuzgaria.

Every maid in Vuzgaria awe Lilia, as she is part of the ace in this kingdom, outranking most demons that dwell within Vuzgaria, except for a few like the champions, the head guard, and the royal guards. She is always strict, insensitive, cold, and merciless, and no one can break her adamant heart.

Except for one person in Vuzgaria who can soften that metallic heart of hers. No matter how hard she resisted, yet could not succumb herself from softening up. The one and only, Mina. She is the only being that can liquefy her icicle heart, leaving her with a broad smile every time they mingle.

And soon, in the late afternoon, after a continual playtime with Mina, Lilia brought Mina to a floating garden built on the castle's top floor. And gazed upon the veil cast at the border of Vuzgaria, the veil that safeguarded the kingdom from exterior threats.

During the serene and quiet moment between Mina and Lilia, Mina broke the silence and questioned,

"Aunt Lilia! Are there any Demonkins like us who live beyond that veil?"

"Silly, of course, there are! But there are also a lot of terrifying and fierce creatures living beyond that veil. Ones that put us in jeopardy..."

"Jeopardy?" Mina shifted her gaze upon Lilia's face with her big jewelry pupils. But only find a somewhat lamenting yet faintly smiled creature staring upon the veil.

"Yeah, because they are fierce and dangerous! And the reason why, whenever Mina almost went through the veil, your parents and I would panic till our hearts exploded!"

"But every Demonkins have nine hearts. Even one exploded. You guys still have 8 more, right?" Despite Lilia being serious, Mina responded with a ludicrous yet factual answer, bringing Lilia into laughter.

"But Mina... Heed the word from your Aunt Lilia, okay? Don't ever, I mean EVER! Cross that veil under no circumstances. Especially no matter how enticing the outside world is to you!" Lilia warned Mina in a stern tone.

Mina nodded as she promised not to cross the veil in any event.

"Would you keep your promise, Mina?" Lilia once asked Mina to confirm Mina would not violate the promise. Instead, Mina responded by pulling out her pinky and saying,

"Pinky promise!"

Lilia faintly smiled and replied to Mina by hooking her pinky with hers to form a deeper contract of promise. And added,

"Pinky promise."

After the personal time between Mina and Lilia, the sun eventually settled,

"Mina, it's about time to return to the indoors. You must be beaten after a whole day of activity." Lilia then leads Mina back indoors by holding her delicate small palm.

During their advance, Mina slightly tucked on Lilia's sleeve and questioned,

"Aunt Lilia, did I trouble you?"

"What? What do you mean, Mina? How could Mina ever hurt me when Mina is the greatest gift ever granted to me? The only thing you ever hurt me is scorching this ice-cold heart of mine!" Lilia replied and tickled Mina right after, leaving Mina in a tear of laughter.

After Lilia stopped her ticklish hell, Mina continued in a solemn tone,

"But Aunt Lilia, I may be young and blunt, but I can still understand someone's emotion, especially if it is shown on their face."

"Oh, you mean just now? Don't worry, Mina. It's nothing, probably just the dirty works done by the sands." Lilia remained reluctant to answer the reason behind her melancholy. But Mina was unamazed by her answer and replied,

"Hiding your feeling is like submerging yourself into a depthless ocean. The more you wrap within, the deeper you sink. Eventually, you would reach a level of no return and slowly slump yourself to dejection. So, Aunt Lilia, sometimes you must crawl out from your hard-shelled bubble and express it..."

"Huh...? Mina, what did you... just...said?" Lilia was driven speechless by Mina's unexpected statement. However, Mina giggled and said,

"I'm just teasing you, Aunt Lilia...!"

Before Lilia could respond, Mina dashed toward another maid that had just arrived to escort her further.

Before Mina's departure, Mina asserted,

"But... if Aunt Lilia ever wanted to talk to someone, heart to heart. You can always count on me! I mean, after all, I'm just an innocent little girl who knows nothing about the concerns of adulthood. So... I will never ever laugh at Aunt Lilia!" Soon she concluded her sentences; she parted Lilia with her vigorous waves of goodbye.

Lilia was so bewildered by Mina's unpredictable statement that it rooted her to the spot. Her eyes were wide agape, and she mumbled out of a shivery tone,

"When did... Mina get so... sensible?"