The Rise Of The Dark Lord

Chapter - 05

Chapter - 05

"Yeah, I know" Erebus replied meekly.

"Are you feeling nervous?" Agrud asked as he ruffled his hairs with affection.

"Yeah, a bit. What if I don't find a strong daemon like yours?" Erebus asked nervously.

It was a well-known fact that after children in the Demon clan turn five years old, they are required to find themselves a daemon. 

Demons were not the only ones who were banished in this abyss, of hell. Even before they were banished here, another race was exiled to live here. They were the 'Daemons'.

But unlike the demon race who was left to fend for themselves, the gods were kind enough to turn a large piece of land in this abyss to the same environment favourable for the Daemons lived in.

That land was the only place where the sky was blue, trees were long enough to touch the sky grew and one could breathe fresh air without getting irritated by the fumes in their lungs.

Unlike the other races, Daemons were mythical beasts who often served as the mounts to the Gods. No one truly knows what happened, but they were exiled to live here, but maybe because of the past contributions, they were allowed to maintain their original life, only not allowed to leave this hell.

When the Demons were banished here, the then clan leader who was also Erebus's grandfather went to meet the Leader of the Daemon clan. His grandfather was mortally wounded that time but still, he set out on the journey to meet the Daemons all alone. It is said that he stood with the support of his spear for three days and night before he was finally allowed to enter.

No one knows what he talked about their or how he convinced the leader of the Daemons, but when he came back, he was followed by a tiger. From then on, it was decided that when children turn five years old, they will be given a chance to go to the land of Daemons for a month and find themselves a partner. The demons and Daemons could feel a connection between them as soon as they crossed path with each other. If they could not find the one they were destined to, they would be given a second chance every ten years, until they find one. Usually, people find themselves a daemon on their first attempt, but some in the clan have not found themselves a Daemon yet.

The signing of the contract between them was simple, but it could be sometimes peaceful or b****y the other times. Though they agreed to be partners with Demons, Daemons were originally proud mythical beings, they won't form contracts so easily.

The contract between the Demons and the Daemons was not that of a master or slave, instead, it was an equal contract, where the two of them stated their own terms. It might take days for the two parties to come to a settlement on the terms of the contract. Unlike the master-slave contract, here if something happens to the other party, the one who is left behind can choose to return to his former life if he wants to. 

The then clan leader after coming back from the land of Daemons soon succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the war. His daemon, instead of going back to the land of Daemons, chose to live in the village established by the demons. On the hill where Erebus's grandfather was buried, the clan people built an abode for the tiger who was now the Guardian of the village. Though he was rarely seen, people knew that he was there looking after them.

"You are not supposed to find yourself a big and powerful Daemon. What you need to look for is that unusual feeling you will experience when you come across the one you are looking for. He will not be your guard but will be your companion for the rest of your life be it in happiness or sorrow" Agrud told Erebus the importance of Daemon.

Hearing his father, Erebus looked confused, he looked towards his father and questioned, "What will be the feeling like? And why would I feel unusual?"

"It is hard for not only me but anyone to explain that feeling. You will just feel like this is the one. As for why would we feel like that? No one knows the answer for that too. After your grandfather came from the land of Daemons, he never explained anything or more like he never got the chance to explain anything to any of us" Agrud tried to clarify his son's doubt.

Erebus listening to his father, asked, "Do you miss grandfather? "

Agrud nodded to his son's question, "I do sometimes, but as time went by now I don't even remember his face clearly, it's all hazy to me. How much I wish I could see him again" Agrud expressed his wish.

Erebus felt the sadness in his father's voice, but he did not know how to console his father. None of them spoke for some time lost in their own worlds.

Finally, Agrud stood, " Let's go, your mother would be getting impatient now ".

Erebus nodded and followed his father.

* * *  

Nariha was standing outside the cave waiting for the father and son duo, to come home. When she saw them coming, as Agrud walked leisurely while Erebus sat on his father's shoulder, she was fuming in anger. Here she was worried as to why it was taking so long for Agrud to come back with their son, and the two of them are enjoying themselves. She stood there with her arms crossed, across her chest.

Agrud who happened to look towards their cave when saw Nariha standing outside glaring at them gulped in fear. ' What is the tigress doing outside?' he thought to himself.

As they approached the cave, Agrud put Erebus down and with the sweetest smile he could put on his pale face he said, " What are you doing here outside? You must have gotten tired of waiting for us. Come let us go inside. Come Erebus". Agrud said and turned towards to enter the cave.

"Stop right where you are. If you move even an inch, you will see the worst of me." Nariha stopped the father and son duo as they tried to sneak their way into the cave.

Listening to his wife, Agrud and Erebus stood petrified to that very spot.

Nariha came and stood in front of Agrud, she glared at him said, " What were you doing outside at such a late hour? Erebus is a kid so he will play around there is no helping it, but you too are behaving like a kid".

"Wife---".

"Shut up, not a single word".

Erebus was giggling on the sides. When he saw that her mother was all focused on his father, he again tried to slip inside the cave.

"Where are you going? I am not done with you" Nariha said.

Erebus could now imagine what was going to happen to him.

When people walked outside the cave of Agrud, they could not hold their laughter. Two extra-large roosters stood on either side of the cave.

* * *