Ameriah Tenebria, the youngest princess of the Demon Kingdom, had lived a life of fragility and solitude. From the moment of her birth, she had been plagued by weak health, her body delicate and prone to frequent illnesses. The healers had done their best, yet no magic nor remedy could truly cure her condition.

She had never known the warmth of a mother’s embrace, nor had she ever felt the presence of a father’s guiding hand. In the grand halls of the Tenebrian palace, where power and ambition thrived, Ameriah had only one true source of comfort—her elder sister, Azariah. It was Azariah who had cradled her through the worst nights, whispering soothing words when sickness overtook her. It was Azariah who spun fantastical stories by candlelight, filling Ameriah’s world with adventure and wonder even as she remained confined within the palace walls. No matter how busy she was, Azariah never failed to be there in Ameriah’s weakest moments, reassuring her with a gentle smile and a soft touch on her forehead.

Ameriah did not remember much of the war that had ravaged their lands. She had been too young, too sheltered, too sickly to witness the battles firsthand. But she remembered the aftermath—the heavy silence that loomed over the kingdom like an eternal dusk, the hollow gazes of the people, the sorrow that seeped into the very bones of Tenebria. The sight of ruined homes, grieving families, and orphaned children weighed heavily on her heart. Even as a princess, she could not ignore the pain of her people.

Azariah, as the ruler of Tenebria, had been consumed by the endless duties of reconstruction. Meetings with nobles, strategic decisions, alliances—all of it kept her occupied. And so, Ameriah was left alone in the vast palace more often than not. On rare occasions, high-ranking nobles from across the Demon Kingdom would visit the capital, seeking an audience with Azariah. Sometimes, they would bring their children along.

It was during one such visit that Ameriah’s world changed.

Duke Nakon Breistan, a powerful noble with lands far to the west, had arrived at the capital for political discussions. With him came his daughter, Auria Breistan—a girl around Ameriah’s age. The moment they met, Ameriah felt something shift within her. Auria was unlike anyone she had ever known.

Unlike the palace servants who tiptoed around her illness or the nobles who treated her with delicate formality, Auria was different. She was warm, full of energy, and unafraid to speak her mind. She never treated Ameriah like a fragile doll, nor did she pity her. Instead, she engaged her in lively conversations, finding amusement in the simplest things, always bringing laughter where there had been silence. Auria made Ameriah feel normal—something she had never experienced before. It didn’t take long for their bond to deepen, and before she knew it, Ameriah had found in Auria the closest thing to a best friend.

But their time together was fleeting. Auria was the daughter of a duke, and her life was filled with obligations. Education, training, political engagements—she was being groomed for a future that demanded responsibility. Because of this, her visits to the capital were rare.

Still, Ameriah was not willing to let go of their friendship so easily. Whenever Auria could not come to Tenebria, Ameriah would beg Azariah to let her visit Breistan instead. It was a rare occurrence, given her fragile health and the dangers of travel, but with enough pleading—sometimes tearfully—Azariah would relent.

Two days ago, after much insistence, Ameriah had finally been granted permission to visit Breistan once more. She had been overjoyed at the prospect of spending time with Auria, free from the lonely walls of the palace.

But fate had other plans.

What was meant to be a joyful visit had turned into something far more terrifying. A threat had emerged—one neither of them had anticipated. Though neither she nor Auria had been physically harmed, the sheer terror of what they had faced had shaken them both to their core.

A Hero had appeared.

The realization of it sent chills down Ameriah’s spine. Heroes—beings summoned by the gods themselves—were enemies of the Demon Kingdom, a force of destruction upon their people.

Duke Nakon, taking no chances, had immediately placed them both under strict protection. The doors of the Breistan castle were shut to the outside world, and neither she nor Auria were allowed to step beyond its walls. It was a precautionary measure, but it felt like a prison.

Since that terrifying encounter, Ameriah had been confined to Auria’s room, their every movement watched over by vigilant guards. The heavy presence of armored warriors stationed outside their door served as a grim reminder of the lurking danger beyond the castle’s walls.

Ameriah sat by the window, her fingers lightly tracing the cool glass as she gazed at the shadowed landscape beyond. She still couldn’t believe it. A Hero had appeared—a true, summoned Hero. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

“I can’t believe a Hero appeared…” she murmured, her voice tinged with unease.

This was not something she had ever expected. Heroes belonged to stories, to history, to distant battlefields where legends were forged. Yet now, one had materialized within Breistan’s borders, turning what was supposed to be a peaceful visit into a nightmare.

A voice, soft yet firm, pulled her from her thoughts.

“I don’t believe he should be called that,” Auria said, her tone laced with quiet indignation.

Ameriah turned to face her friend, her crimson eyes meeting Auria’s unwavering gaze.

Auria was a striking girl, her features delicate yet refined with an elegance befitting her noble lineage. Though she was slightly younger than Ameriah, she carried herself with a maturity beyond her years. Her light blonde hair, a cascade of soft curls, was elegantly tied back, accentuating the sharp brilliance of her red eyes. Despite her composed demeanor, there was a fire within them—a fire that flickered with both intelligence and defiance.

“Auria?” Ameriah’s brows furrowed slightly as she studied her friend’s expression.

Auria leaned back against the cushions of her bed, her lips curling into a faint smile—one that did not quite reach her eyes.

“He attacked us without warning, Ameriah. Without reason. People died because of him,” Auria said, her voice steady but firm. “Does that sound like something a Hero would do?”

Ameriah hesitated for a moment before lowering her gaze. The weight of Auria’s words settled heavily upon her. The title of ‘Hero’ was meant to symbolize righteousness, to be a beacon of hope. But this man—whoever he was—had brought nothing but fear and destruction.

“You might be right, Auria,” Ameriah admitted with a soft sigh. But then, as if a brighter thought had suddenly graced her mind, a warm smile spread across her lips. “A Hero is most likely someone like Samael,” she added, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

At the mere mention of his name, Auria’s expression lit up with excitement.

“The Hero of Darkness…” she breathed, her red eyes shimmering with admiration.

Auria had never had the fortune of meeting him in person. Only her father, Duke Nakon, had spoken to him, and she had been more than a little jealous of that fact. Since his emergence, Samael’s name had been whispered in every corner of Tenebria. His legend had grown so immense that even those in the highest ranks of nobility revered him with a respect that rivaled the Demon King himself.

He was no mere warrior. He was a force of nature—an anomaly that had single-handedly shifted the tides of war.

Samael had done what no demon had ever managed before: he had driven back Kastoria’s forces alone, forcing them into an uneasy alliance with Tenebria. His presence alone had reshaped the balance of power, ensuring that their kingdom no longer stood as a vulnerable target for the neighboring human realms.

For years, after the Demon King’s retreat, Tenebria had been plagued by relentless invasions, its borders constantly tested by opportunistic kingdoms. But now? Now, there was a fear that hung over those same nations—a fear so great that large-scale invasions had all but ceased.

And it was all because of him.

Because of Samael.

Of course, there were still skirmishes, small conflicts that could not be avoided, but gone were the days of catastrophic wars that threatened to tear Tenebria apart. The other kingdoms no longer dared. Not when the Hero of Darkness stood between them and their ambitions.

Ameriah’s smile softened, her fingers resting against her warm cheeks as she thought of him.

He was what a true Hero was meant to be.

Auria’s excitement was palpable, her usual composure slipping away entirely. Her red eyes sparkled as she leaned forward eagerly, abandoning any attempt at maintaining her mature facade.

“Can you tell me about Lord Samael, Princess?” she asked, her voice filled with unmistakable anticipation.

Gone was the poised and dignified noble daughter—now, she looked like nothing more than an infatuated girl, utterly captivated by the mere thought of Tenebria’s greatest warrior.

Ameriah blinked in disbelief.

“Again?” she asked, utterly dumbfounded.

This was far from the first time Auria had brought up Samael, and by now, Ameriah had lost count of how many times she had answered these same questions.

“I think I’ve already said quite a lot, Auria,” Ameriah said with a soft laugh, shaking her head.

Auria let out a deep sigh, slumping dramatically onto her bed. Her blonde curls cascaded over the pillows as she gazed wistfully at the ceiling.

“Right… I suppose you have,” she admitted with a hint of disappointment before pouting slightly. “But how I wish I could meet him…”

Before Ameriah could respond, a sudden tremor rattled the windows, causing both girls to flinch. The glass panes shuddered violently as if struck by a powerful force.

Auria’s body tensed. She immediately bolted toward the window, gripping the wooden frame tightly as her eyes widened in shock.

Outside, soaring above the city with an awe-inspiring presence, was a massive golden dragon.

Its majestic form cast an immense shadow over Breistan, its shimmering scales gleaming like molten gold under the light. The beast’s enormous wings spread wide, stirring the air with each mighty beat, sending gusts of wind rushing through the streets below. Its reptilian eyes, deep and ancient, scanned the city with an unreadable gaze.

Auria felt the blood drain from her face.

Her heart pounded against her ribcage as a horrifying thought struck her.

“The Hero. Is he attacking?!”

Her instincts screamed at her to act. “We have to—!”

But before she could finish, she turned around—only to see Ameriah standing there, her crimson eyes wide, her expression not one of fear… but of pure delight.

A bright, almost childlike smile lit up the princess’s face as she clasped her hands together.

“It’s Samael!” she exclaimed joyfully.

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