The moment Silver stepped through the gates, everything shifted. Just one step, and the world was different. Behind him, sunlight still warmed the lands beyond. Ahead—night had fallen. He stopped, staring up at an endless black sky scattered with stars—some faint pinpricks, others blazing bright enough to spill silver light across the ground. And above it all, commanding the scene, hung the moon.
Large, pale, and beautiful, its cold light washed over the Sien Domain like a silver veil. Silver turned slowly, catching a glimpse of daylight through the massive gateway to the outside world. He looked ahead—night. Behind—day. Ahead again—night.
Julie watched him do it several times before snickering.
"You're going to hurt your neck."
Silver ignored her.
"How?"
June smiled.
"The Sien Domain isn't like the outside world."
Silver arched a brow.
"How is it different?"
Silver shot her a glance before moving on. The path beyond the gate wound its way to the brink of a massive cliff. When he finally reached the edge, he froze. This time, even Julie stayed quiet. Below sprawled the Sien Domain—an endless expanse of shadow and night.
Mountains rose in the distance, their peaks illuminated by moonlight. Great forests spread between them, the trees appearing almost black beneath the night sky. Rivers wound through the valleys like silver serpents, reflecting the stars above.
Farther away, Silver could see lights.
Thousands upon thousands of them.
Settlements.
Some were built between mountains. Others stretched across valleys or stood beside distant lakes whose surfaces reflected the moon so perfectly that they resembled pieces of the night sky fallen upon the earth.
Farther still—more land.
Silver narrowed his eyes, glancing left: nothing but mountains, forests, and faint, distant lights. Right was no different. Straight ahead, the horizon just kept going. Even through his mask, his growing bewilderment was clear.
"I can't see the end."
June stepped up beside him. "There's not much chance you could."
"How big is this place?" he asked.
"Big," June replied.
Julie joined them. "Very big."
"That tells me nothing."
Julie just grinned.
Silver ignored her, letting his eyes sweep the landscape once more. He'd imagined a hidden territory—maybe a vast valley tucked away behind the gates, or even a cluster of cities. But this was nothing like that. It felt like an entirely different world. His gaze lifted to the sky, where countless stars shone—more than he ever remembered seeing beyond these walls. And the darkness around them didn't feel empty. It felt alive.
Moonlight illuminated the mountains. Stars shimmered across rivers and lakes. Strange plants glowed faintly among the forests below, while distant settlements created small islands of warm light throughout the darkness.
Silver couldn't help but stare. For someone who had come expecting the demon lands to be dark and oppressive, they were… surprisingly beautiful. Julie caught his silence. "Surprised?" He didn't bother denying it. "A little." "A little?" she teased.
"You've been standing there with your mouth open for a full minute." "My mouth is behind a mask." "I can sense it." "No, you can't." "I absolutely can." June chuckled softly, glancing over the cliff. "To humans, darkness often means something to fear." Silver turned to her, catching the way her eyes shimmered in the moonlight.
"But this is our home."
Julie gestured broadly to the vast landscape.
"No annoying sun."
June smiled.
"Julie hates mornings."
"The sun is just too aggressive."
Silver gave her a look.
"It's the sun."
"Exactly."
June shook her head before going on.
"The sun has never shone over the Sien Domain. For as long as our histories record, the sky has always been this way."
"Always night?"
"Always."
Silver glanced upward again.
"The moon never sets?"
"No."
"And the stars?"
"Always there."
Silver went quiet.
It should have made the realm feel strange, yet beneath the endless stars, he felt the opposite. There was a calmness to it—captivating in its own way. June gazed at the distant landscape. "Compared to the outside world…" she paused, "…the Domain is far more beautiful." Julie nodded without hesitation. "Obviously."
Silver glanced at them. "You're both fox demons. You're biased." "Completely," June agreed. "And proudly," Julie added. Silver laughed.
His gaze drifted back to the horizon. The moon cast its glow over forests he'd never explored, mountains whose names were unknown to him, and cities teeming with demons he'd never met. Somewhere in that vast darkness was Scarlet. Somewhere was his mother, Lucia. Somewhere lurked the Four Noble Demon Families and that unhinged lunatic obsessed with his father. And somewhere in this realm, Silver hoped he'd finally grow strong enough to stop relying on the protection of those around him.
He stood there for a moment before quietly admitting, "It is beautiful." Julie instantly pointed at him with a triumphant "HA!" Silver instantly regretted speaking. "I knew it!" she said.
"Not even five minutes in and he already prefers the Domain." "I didn't say that." "You were thinking it." "No." "June, he was thinking it." June giggled. "Probably."
Julie trailed right behind.
"You wouldn't last ten minutes."
"At least Aster doesn't talk this much."
June rushed to catch up.
Behind them, the massive gates stood open, framing a far-off sliver of daylight.
Ahead, only moonlight stretched on.
Silver glanced back at the boundless realm under the stars.
The Sien Domain.
For the first time since starting this journey, he realized something—he hadn't just stepped through a gate.
He'd crossed into another world.
The trio had only just ventured deeper into the Sien Domain when Silver spotted someone up ahead. A man stood casually by the roadside, one hand resting on a serpent-headed staff. Silver's pace slowed. He didn't recognize him, but there was something off—dangerous, though not exactly evil. The man was tall and lean, dressed in flowing blue-and-black robes patterned with gold. Rings gleamed on his fingers, and sapphire ornaments caught the light as he moved. His long dark hair framed his face, but it was his expression that held Silver's attention—a calm, cunning smile, like he was already several moves into a game no one else knew they were playing. As the man's golden eyes turned toward them, Silver's instincts sharpened.
He was strong—how strong, Silver couldn't quite tell. That was the problem. With Aster, it had been obvious. The massive bull demon looked exactly like what he was: a walking fortress. One glance at those absurd muscles, scars, and towering horns, and Silver knew picking a fight would be a terrible idea. But Aster wasn't threatening—at least, not on purpose. There wasn't a hint of deception in his giant frame. If Aster wanted to hit someone, Silver figured he'd just say so first. This man, though—he was different. Silver couldn't read him at all.
His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, yet there was nothing careless about it. The hand holding the serpent staff hung loose, giving the impression of harmlessness, but Silver couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger could strike at any moment. For a brief instant, the staff seemed alive, and he thought the snake's head turned to look at him. The man's smile never faltered. Definitely more dangerous than Aster. Not necessarily stronger—just far more unpredictable. Silver quietly leaned toward June. "Who's that?" June followed his gaze, and her expression shifted instantly.
"That's Zerath."
The name didn't ring a bell.
"And Zerath is…?"
"The lord of the Demon Snake Family, and that lunatic's father."
Silver's eyes flicked to the serpent staff.
June leaned in, voice dropping.
"He's cunning, crude, shameless when it suits him, and you should never think he says anything without a purpose."
Julie joined in.
"He'll smile while insulting you too."
"Julie."
"What? He does?"
Silver kept his gaze locked on Zerath.
The snake demon lord had clearly spotted them by now—more importantly, he had noticed Silver. Those golden eyes lingered on him just a bit too long.
June spoke softly.
"But Zerath isn't a bad person."
Silver arched an eyebrow under his mask.
"That's not the impression I got from your description."
"He's fair," June said. "Always."
"Annoyingly fair," Julie chimed in.
Silver glanced between them.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
June paused, considering.
"Zerath might trick you into making a terrible deal, but once you agree, he'll follow the terms to the letter."
Julie smiled.
"He won't cheat."
"He doesn't need to," June interjected. "He's typically resourceful enough to achieve his goals without resorting to cheating."
Somehow, that sounded even more troubling.
"So, he's trustworthy?"
June's expression was difficult to read.
"Technically."
Julie gave a short, derisive laugh.
"That's perhaps the least reassuring way to describe Zerath."
Silver shifted his focus back to the man.
Aster was simple—strong, loyal, straightforward, and almost painfully easy to read. Zerath was none of that. Silver had no clue what the man wanted, what he was thinking, or if that smile was genuine amusement or a warning. If Aster was a bull blocking your path, Zerath was a snake in the grass. The bull would charge; the snake would wait. Silver knew instantly which one he'd rather deal with—Aster. Definitely Aster. Then Zerath's golden eyes met his.
The man's sly smile widened just a touch, and Silver's muscles tightened beneath his clothes. If Zerath made a move, Silver was ready. For a few tense seconds, neither of them stirred. Then Zerath's gaze slid slowly to Silver's mask, and he tapped the base of his serpent staff against the ground. Once. Tap. "Well…" His voice was smooth, unhurried. Those golden eyes locked back on Silver's. "What have our two little foxes brought home this time?"
Julie groaned, June sighed, and Silver stayed silent, though his eyes narrowed behind the mask. Yeah, he definitely preferred Aster.
Zerath's golden gaze shifted from Silver to the twins. "So," he said, resting both hands on the head of his serpent staff, "how is that troublesome master of yours?" June blinked. "Master Scarlet?" Zerath's smile widened. "Unless you've somehow found another woman crazy enough to take responsibility for you." Julie frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounded like." "Want me to tell Master Scarlet you said that?" For the first time, Zerath's smile faltered. "…No need to repeat every detail of our conversation."
Silver nearly laughed. Even the sly serpent seemed to know when it had pushed too far. June spoke up before Julie could continue her threats. "Master is doing well." "Good," Zerath replied, sounding genuinely pleased. "It's been a while since I've seen her." His fingers drummed lazily on the serpent's metallic head. "I heard an interesting rumor recently." June's expression turned wary. Zerath's eyes narrowed in amusement. "Apparently, Scarlet has taken another disciple." Silver tensed. Julie glanced at June, who glanced back, and together they slowly turned toward Silver. Zerath followed their gaze, his smile widening. Silver sighed inwardly. Subtle. Very subtle. "So the rumor is true." Zerath stepped closer, his focus now entirely on Silver.
"And here I was, wondering who this mysterious little friend of yours might be."
Golden eyes studied him once more.
The mask, the clothes, the posture, and the silver hair.
Silver stayed motionless.
Zerath tilted his head.
"Well?"
Silver understood.
"My name is Silver."
A brief pause.
"Silver Crow."
The air seemed to shift, just a little, but Silver caught it.
Zerath's smile didn't move, though something in those golden eyes grew sharper.
"Crow?"
Silver stayed silent.
Zerath repeated, softer this time, "Crow…"
The Demon Crow Family came to mind instantly.
The Zi Family.
One of the Four Noble Demon Families.
And Zerath knew enough to grasp the meaning at once.
"Interesting."
Silver didn't particularly like the way he said that.
Zerath leaned slightly against his staff.
"Are you part of the Zi Family?"
June and Julie fell silent. Silver was ready for a question like this.
"No."
Zerath studied him, and Silver met his eyes through the mask.
"I have no connection to the Zi Family."
Not entirely true, but not something Zerath needed to hear.
"Crow is just the name I use."
Zerath kept staring—one second, two, three. The twins fidgeted nervously beside him. Then Zerath simply shrugged.
"I see."
And that was the end of it.
No interrogation.
No accusation.
No attempt to remove Silver's mask.
Somehow, that only made Silver more uneasy.
Did he believe him?
He couldn't tell, and that was quickly becoming the most frustrating thing about Zerath.
With Aster, Silver always knew exactly what the man was thinking—mostly because Aster said whatever was on his mind aloud.
Zerath gave nothing away.
The snake demon simply smiled.
"And what brings you to our lovely little realm, Silver Crow?"
"I came to train."
"With Scarlet?"
Silver nodded.
"I intend to ask her to become my master."
That earned a real reaction—Zerath raised an eyebrow.
"You intend to ask Scarlet?"
"Yes."
"And she hasn't accepted you yet?"
"No."
Zerath stared at him.
Then laughed.
Not mockingly.
He sounded more amused than anything. Silver frowned. "What?"
"You either have enough potential for Scarlet to accept you…" His smile grew. "…or I'll get to hear a hilarious story about how badly this goes."
Julie folded her arms. "Don't scare him."
"I'm encouraging him."
"That wasn't encouraging."
"It encouraged me."
Silver was starting to grasp what June meant by crude. Zerath straightened. "Well, then." He tapped his staff against the stone.
"It seems I've learned everything I wanted."
Silver's eyes narrowed.
There it was—the casual admission that their whole exchange had been nothing more than an interrogation.
Zerath had been after information about Scarlet.
He'd discovered her new potential disciple, gotten Silver's name, his supposed affiliation, and his reason for entering the Domain.
And he'd done it all through casual conversation.
Silver watched him turn away.
Snake. That was the only word for him.
"June. Julie."
Zerath glanced back over his shoulder.
"Try not to cause too much trouble."
Julie grinned.
"No promises."
"I expected nothing less.
''Goodbye, Lord Zerath."
He walked a few steps before suddenly halting.
"Oh."
The serpent-headed staff struck the ground with a tap.
"One more thing."
The twins turned to look.
Zerath's smile grew gentler.
"Tell Scarlet I said hello."
"And tell her…"
His golden eyes flicked briefly toward the eternal moon above the Sien Domain.
"…that I'm looking forward to seeing her in ten years."
Silver frowned.
Zerath's smile returned.
It wasn't the playful smile from before.
This one was sharper, tinged with excitement.
"The battle should be interesting."
Silver glanced between him and the twins.
"What battle?"
Zerath started walking again.
June hesitated.
"The selection."
Silver's confusion only deepened.
"What selection?"
Zerath replied without looking back.
"The one who decides our next ruler."
His robes swayed gently as he vanished farther down the moonlit road.
"In ten years, we'll choose the next Demon King…"
He lifted a hand in parting.
"…or Demon Queen."
And then he was gone.
Silver watched him disappear.
For several moments, only the faint sounds of the Domain broke the silence.
He turned slowly to June and Julie.
"What was that supposed to mean?"
Julie blinked.
"The Demon King selection?"
"Yes."
Silver waited.
Julie glanced at June.
June met her gaze.
Apparently both had just realized there was another fairly important detail about the Sien Domain they'd forgotten to mention.
Silver crossed his arms.
"Who's the Demon King now?"
June scratched her cheek.
"We don't have one."
Silver frowned.
"But he just said—"
"We have a Demon Queen," Julie corrected.
"Fine. Who's the Demon Queen?"
June pointed over her shoulder, and Silver's gaze followed, tracing the line of her finger all the way to the distant cliff and the massive gates they had come through. His eyes widened behind the mask. "No." Julie's grin spread. "Yes." Silver glanced between them, disbelief creeping in. "Don't tell me." June gave an awkward smile.
"The current ruler of the Sien Domain is…"
She paused.
"Aster's sister."
Silence.
Silver remembered the story from earlier.
The woman who had once wanted to challenge Scarlet so badly that she had ordered her brother to stop Scarlet at the gate.
The woman indirectly responsible for Aster receiving the beating of his life.
"Leonida?"
Both twins nodded.
Silver stared at them, then glanced back at the gates.
He pictured Aster, the enormous, grinning bull demon.
I guard gate. Masks are nice.
Then he tried to imagine that man's sister on the throne, ruling this entire endless realm.
His brain just wouldn't go there.
Silver slowly turned back to the twins.
"HUH?!"