QUEEN MOTHER

Inside a village, protected by canyons and cliffs, there resides the most strongest demons. The village's population doesn't exceed a thousand but, their battle prowess can destroy ten thousand, even fifteen thousand soldiers of the empire.

The Sanctuary is the capital of the Demon's Army. Only the best demons who has evolved into a pureblood can get inside the barrier that was made by the previous demon kings and queens, getting stronger every generation.

This is the stronghold inside the inner ring that was the most dangerous place in the whole continent. Outside the village, all star beasts from all ranks filled the area.

Every ten miles, there are hives and temples made by the star beasts, intelligent enough to build their own den. And only the fearsome men can step foot inside the inner ring.

Just like the Regulus Empire, the Sanctuary also has royalties. Luce bear the crown and his wife, Lilith, bear his child. The queen was a princess of the previous royal family but, even before her father passed the crown to Luce, they were a lovely couple.

The two fought and hunted for beast cores together, Luce was just a young general from back then.

When they of the heroes longing to hunt the Demon King, Lilith wanted to kill them but, Luce had a better idea.

He befriended the heroes and trained together with them, even their bodyguards were close with Luce.

For Lilith, those so called 'Zodiacs' are just weaklings that were a burden to Luce, she saw one of them up close and she already judged as arrogant and weak, even a high general wipe them out at the time she saw them.

Lilith gave birth to Luke, their heir and lovely son. But, it is saddening that Luce only saw his son one time and that's when Luke was born.

However, Luce never cut their communication. He will send letters to Lilith from time to time, telling their adventures towards the Demon King's castle, that was a false lead.

Lilith will laugh about the contents of the letters, making her happy even though Luce was not with them at that time.

But now, five years have passed by quickly, Luke grew up healthy and cheerful, that made him more lovely in the eyes of his mother.

Lilith was walking on hallway to their garden to watch Luke play with his friends when a female soldier suddenly appeared and kneeled in front of Lilith.

"My queen, the scouts have sent out a report that there's a convoy of humans heading towards the Sanctuary. Shall we annihilate them?", she said.

Lilith, with her ruby eyes, turned to her right to see Luke running towards her. Lilith's happy and cheerful son was laughing as he was being chased by a boy with a red hair.

Lilith breathed in, then exhaled as she looked back to her guard.

"Let them be, for now. Seems like Luke will be playing with me. Report to me again when they enter the inner ring, I'll slaughter them by myself at that time.", Lilith waved her hand.

"Yes, my queen."

The female soldier then quickly left, she even brushed Luke's hair as she passed him and said hi.

"Mom!"

Seeing her son calling out to her by the distance, Lilith kneeled to her both knees and opened her arms.

"Hehe!", Luke happily ran through the hallway to go straight to his mother.

When they embraced each other, Lilith gently patted Luke's black hair. Luke liked it when someone brushes his hair.

"Mom, you know, I defeated Brother Feng in running! He became exhausted in the middle of the game! You should've seen his face."

Lilith watched her son tell his heroic tales while jumping around.

"Mom is so proud of Luke! Luke is a big boy now! Are you hungry? Let's go grab some breakfast."

Lilith stood up and carried Luke towards the dining room.

"Yey! I wonder what Minerva has cooked today! Let it be delicious like always, please!", Luke cheered.

The maids of their castle are all demons with different races in human form. They can't have Luke thinking why they look different from him.

There's a time and place for everything, and it's time to eat breakfast at their dining room.

Lilith and Luke happily are their breakfast, they had a tender loin steak from a star beast that was freshly butchered that morning and some vegetables that Luke was not really interested on.

Lilith had to make tales of people that had become weak due to not eating their vegetables for him to eat it. Luke doesn't like to be deemed weak, maybe because of his pride as a boy or just because of he doesn't want his to know that he is a weakling.

After their breakfast, Lilith and Luke said goodbye to each other because Lilith will need to work. Luke played again with his friends and separated with Lilith.

"Why does it seem like Luke is growing too fast?"

Lilith said, talking to herself. Her maids followed her towards the training yard to see how the soldiers are training.

It's her everyday schedule; she has to boost the soldiers' morale, go in the courtroom to talk with the generals, then spend time with Luke for the rest of the day.

It may seem simple but, that's the way a Demon Queen will have to do. The crimes and political issues have no value here as they are demons.

They can do what they want to do as long as they have the power to do it. All of them will always bow to the strongest demons.

"My queen, may I have your time for a silly request of mine?"

The commander of the army bowed to Lilith slightly, they met at the hallway towards the training ground.

The commander has ash grey hair and has a height of six and a half feet. He wears a black armor and a cape, emblazoned with an obsidian skull being protected by two black snakes with red eyes, the insignia of the Demon King.

"What is your request, Commander Adam.", Lilith approved with a question.

"Most of the children in our village show potential in different aspects; hand to hand combat, intellect and most importantly, their talent to absorb gracia. I suggest it's time to put our attention in nurturing the children."

Adam's request was sincere. He also has a child that he wants to be strong in the future. He's thinking of building a powerful team that can rival the Zodiacs in the future, or even kill them.

'Luce is not here right now so no one is worthy enough to teach Luke except me. I might need to order my guards to teach the other children.', Lilith pondered.

"Don't worry, my queen. The training of the children will be my responsibility. You can rest assured that they will be honed well."

"You can test them first to find the best seeds, then let me teach them together with my son. I'm sure my nephew will also be with is later on so, I give you my permission."

That put a smile on Adam's face. He's happy that his son will be recognized as a best seed in the eyes of Lilith. Seems like blood is thicker than water after all.

"Thank you, my queen. I will make sure that Earl will give you a satisfactory performance."

Adam bowed again then left towards the training yard.

Lilith and her maids continued to walk, heading to the courtroom, while Lilith can't stop showing a sad face. Adam's son is her nephew from her sister that was banished by her father because she has done an unforgivable sin.

She had no power at that time and can only watch her sister be thrown outside the Sanctuary to live in solitude. Then, one day, Adam came with a boy on his arms saying it was his and Eve's son.

Lilith tried to ask him questions but, Adam won't answer her. He said he made a vow to his wife that he will never betray her or else, the heavens shall strike him and lose the ability to absorb or even perceive gracia.

On that day until now, Lilith never asked about her sister and just continue to fulfill her duties as the monarch of their people.

When she reached the courtroom, Lilith directly sat on the high chair at the center. Her elegant aura caught all the attention of the people inside.

There were many people inside the room, about fifty, Lilith can tell. Then, she raised her hand to let her ministers sit up. They are bowing there when the guard announced Lilith's entrance.

"Let's hear today's agenda."

From here on, Lilith's duties for today, begins.