A sudden terrifying glint flickered in Zavian's eyes as if a sleeping beast within him had just awakened.
He had already noticed the silent shadow passing beneath the door.
His anger was now visible. In a single moment, he understood that someone, hidden behind the walls of this house, was watching them closely.
Just then, Sheyaan's soft voice broke his thoughts,
"Now tell me… where did you get lost?"
Zavian took a deep, cold breath. Gently, he held her hand and carefully moved her away from the door, leading her out of its direct line of sight.
He stopped near the bed, making sure whoever was outside couldn't see them.
Now he stood so close that Sheyaan could feel every breath he took.
Leaning near her ear, he whispered in a low but firm voice,
"There was someone outside… trying to listen to us. That's why I brought you here."
Then, looking into her eyes, he continued,
"But… I'm glad you remembered what I wanted you to remember. And I don't like speaking in circles. So now… you can ask me anything you want. I'll answer every question directly."
Sheyaan looked at him with soft yet trembling eyes. Her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest.
The intensity of Zavian's gaze made her nervous… but she gathered her courage and asked in a shaky voice,
"the...then tell me… how do you know me? What… what is our relationship?"
Zavian stared at her deeply. For a moment, he said nothing.
as if countless old secrets were surfacing in his mind.
Then, in a low and heavy voice…he finally began to speak.
A clear mix of restlessness and fear could be seen in Sheyaan's eyes.
Gathering her courage, she repeated the same question that had been haunting her for days.
Zavian took a deep breath and looked at her. There was no trace of humor in his voice now—only a cold, undeniable truth.
"Hm… so that's your question," he said quietly.
"Then here's your answer… yes, I've known you since childhood. Not just in this lifetime… but for centuries."
The word centuries made her mind go blank. Her body felt cold for a moment.
"Centu...Centuries…? What do you mean?" she stammered.
Zavian held her gaze and said slowly,
"Yes… for centuries. Because… you are the one who created me."
Her eyes widened in shock. Her breath grew uneven, as if the ground beneath her had disappeared.
"Crea...Created you? ho...how is that even possible? I'm not God!" she said, her voice trembling.
"Please… answer what I asked. Don't say things that don't make sense!"
A mysterious smile curved on Zavian's lips. He could feel her fear—but he didn't stop.
Stepping closer, he said softly,
"Fine… yes, I've known you since childhood. And to be honest… my life exists within you. If anything happens to you… I won't exist either."
His tone turned firm—like he was making a vow.
Then, looking straight into her eyes, he revealed the truth that made the air in the room feel heavier—
"Because… I'm not an ordinary human. I'm a king Demon."
Sheyaan's heart pounded violently.
Zavian continued,
"And you wanted to know where my powers come from, right? Then listen… a demon's powers are its life. And my life… is connected to you."
Zavian looked straight into Sheyaan's eyes and finally revealed the truth he had buried deep within himself for centuries.
"I came here to protect you… because I was created from your anger,"
he said, his voice filled with an intensity she had never felt before.
"If you die, my existence will disappear on its own… and I'm not ready to die yet."
Sheyaan stared at him in shock, but Zavian didn't stop.
"I want to rule the Demon Empire in my own way… and for that, I came into this world—to collect souls."
A faint, painful smile appeared on his face.
"But look at my misfortune… the moment I held your hand, even for a short time, half of my powers transferred into you."
Sheyaan's breathing grew uneven. She could only stand there, listening.
Zavian continued,
"I came into this world for only three years. But after you fell into a coma… you woke up six years later. And in my world, that equals only six months."
His voice deepened,
"Six years in your world… is six months in mine. And now, another month of mine has already been wasted. I only have two years and three months left."
He paused, then added,
"Within that time, I need to collect 1,000 billion souls… and during this journey, I'll protect you… and take back my powers from you."
Sheyaan was completely shaken. Every word echoed in her mind like an unsolved mystery.
She couldn't process it—she just stood there, staring at him blankly.
Zavian noticed her silence and shock.
Then suddenly.
he snapped his fingers right in front of her eyes.
"Snap!"
The moment Zavian snapped his fingers, Sheyaan jolted back to her senses. Her mind was still numb, but her eyes now held a mix of anger and disbelief.
She stammered, almost shouting,
"Liar…! You… you kill people for no reason! Don't you... feel even a little mercy?"
At her words, that same cold, mysterious smile returned to Zavian's lips.
In a calm yet chilling tone, he replied,
"No… I don't kill humans without reason. First, I fulfill their final wish… then I make them sign a contract stating when they will die. Only then do I take their soul."
He stepped closer, looking straight into her eyes—there was no softness in his gaze.
"A demon has no mercy, Sheyaan."
Hesitantly, she asked,
"Then… why do you protect me?"
Zavian leaned in slightly. Gently, he reached out and touched her face. His touch was cold… yet strangely comforting.
In a soft voice, he replies.
"My Silent Girl… I protect you because I don't want anything to happen to you. Because if you get even a scratch… I'll feel the pain."
Her breathing grew uneven again. Questions still filled her eyes.
In a trembling voice, she asked,
"So… when these two years and... three months are over… will yo...you leave this world forever?"
Tears and fear were clearly visible in Sheyaan's eyes. In a trembling voice, she asked,
"If you leave… then who will protect me? And... humans are bound to die someday… so...what will you do then?"
Zavian took a deep breath, his frustration evident. Looking straight into her eyes, he said,
"As long as I'm with you, no one can even touch you! And.. as for time… I only..have two years and three months left. I'll complete...my contract… and I'll protect you too."
Sheyaan fell silent, but the questions in her heart were far from over.
Zavian stepped closer, his voice turning colder.
"As for your death… I have two options."
He paused briefly, then continued in a chilling tone,
"Either I...take your soul with me to my world… and...keep you there, with me, forever…"
For a moment, pain flickered across his face.
"…or we find a way… to separate our fates."
Hearing this, Sheyaan felt her heart sink. Fear spread through her entire body, making her tremble.
In an innocent yet terrified voice, she asked,
"wi...will you… kill me?"
At her words, something strange flickered in Zavian's dark gaze.
He looked at her and a dangerous smile slowly spread across his lips a smile that said it all he had already made his decision.
"Will Sheyaan be able to escape the cage whose path was shown by a Demon himself?"