The road back to Drakenridge felt longer than usual. The sky above the northern mountains was dark with heavy clouds, and a cold wind pushed through the valley like a warning that the land itself was restless. Eren Thorne walked ahead with steady steps, the broken horn of the demon commander tied to his pack as proof of the battle. Cassian Voss followed a few steps behind, unusually quiet for someone who normally joked through danger. The encounter with the violet-eyed demon had changed the atmosphere between them. For the first time since meeting Eren, Cassian looked genuinely unsettled.
After several minutes of silence, Cassian finally spoke. "You're taking this far too calmly."
Eren glanced over his shoulder. "Taking what calmly?"
"That demon," Cassian replied. "The one who knew about your… ability." He lowered his voice slightly. "You didn't seem surprised."
Eren looked forward again as the road curved through the forest. "I was surprised."
"You didn't show it."
Eren shrugged. "Panicking wouldn't help."
Cassian studied him carefully. "You realize that creature confirmed something important, right?"
"That I have a curse?"
"That you're not the only one who knows about it."
Eren didn't answer immediately. The words echoed in his mind as they continued down the mountain road. For days he had believed his strange power was a secret known only to himself. Every death, every rewind, every painful lesson had belonged solely to him.
But now that belief was gone.
Something in this world understood exactly what he was.
And that thought was far more dangerous than any monster.
They reached the edge of the forest by mid-afternoon. Drakenridge's stone walls stood tall in the distance, the banners of the Adventurer Guild fluttering in the wind above the towers. Merchants moved along the road leading to the gates, while guards watched travelers entering and leaving the city.
Cassian glanced toward the city. "First thing we do is report the demon activity to the guild."
Eren nodded slowly.
But as he took another step forward, something strange happened.
A sharp pain exploded behind his eyes.
Eren stopped suddenly, grabbing the side of his head.
Cassian immediately turned. "What happened?"
Eren leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. The pain wasn't like a wound or injury. It was deeper—something inside his mind twisting violently.
"Headache," Eren muttered.
Cassian frowned. "From the fight?"
Eren shook his head slowly.
"No."
The pain pulsed again, stronger this time.
And with it came something worse.
Memories.
Not normal memories.
Memories of dying.
The demon's blade piercing his chest.
Claws tearing through his armor.
Bones snapping under crushing force.
The dozens of deaths he had experienced fighting the demon commander replayed inside his mind like fragments of broken glass.
Eren clenched his teeth.
"Damn it…"
Cassian grabbed his shoulder. "Eren, what's wrong?"
Eren forced himself to breathe slowly until the pain faded.
When he finally looked up again, Cassian's expression had turned serious.
"That didn't look like a normal headache," Cassian said.
Eren rubbed his temples.
"It's nothing."
Cassian crossed his arms.
"You're a terrible liar."
Eren sighed.
"The demon mentioned something earlier," he said quietly.
Cassian nodded. "The curse."
"Yeah."
Eren looked down at the dirt road beneath his boots.
"What if it's not just a power?"
Cassian frowned. "Meaning?"
"What if there's a cost?"
Cassian stared at him for a moment before answering.
"There's always a cost."
Eren chuckled weakly. "Great."
They continued walking toward the city gates. The guards recognized them quickly and stepped aside to let them pass.
Inside the city, the streets were busy as usual. Merchants shouted prices, blacksmiths hammered steel, and adventurers gathered near the guild building preparing for quests.
Everything looked normal.
But Eren couldn't shake the strange feeling lingering in his mind.
As they entered the Adventurer Guild, the familiar noise of conversation filled the large hall. Several adventurers looked up as Eren and Cassian walked in.
Bram Calder was sitting at a table near the center of the room. The large warrior raised an eyebrow when he saw them.
"Well look who survived the mountain," Bram said.
Eren dropped the demon horn onto the table with a heavy thud.
Bram stared at it.
"…that's not from a goblin."
Cassian smirked slightly. "You're getting better at identifying monsters."
Bram leaned forward to examine the horn. "Where did you find this?"
Eren shrugged. "Attached to a demon."
The room immediately grew quieter.
Bram slowly looked up.
"You're joking."
"Nope."
Several adventurers gathered around the table.
One of them muttered, "Demons don't usually appear this close to the city."
Cassian nodded. "Exactly why the guild needs to know."
At that moment the door to the guild master's office opened.
Alric Stormhall stepped out.
The old warrior's sharp eyes quickly noticed the gathering crowd.
"What's going on?"
Cassian gestured toward the horn.
"We encountered demons in the northern mountains."
The guild master walked closer and examined the horn carefully.
His expression darkened.
"Where exactly?"
"The plateau beyond the northern pass," Cassian replied.
Alric sighed quietly.
"So it's begun."
Eren frowned. "What's begun?"
The guild master looked around the room before speaking.
"Something has been stirring in the northern lands for months. Strange monster movements. Missing scouts. Unusual magical disturbances."
He glanced toward the horn again.
"And now demons."
Bram folded his arms. "Sounds bad."
"It is," Alric replied.
Eren leaned against the counter.
"Then why hasn't the guild done anything?"
Alric looked directly at him.
"Because we didn't know what we were dealing with."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "And now?"
Alric's gaze shifted between them.
"Now we know it's worse than we thought."
The room grew quiet again.
Eren rubbed his temples as the headache returned faintly.
"What do you mean?"
Alric's voice dropped slightly.
"Demons rarely act alone."
A murmur spread through the adventurers nearby.
Cassian sighed.
"That means a demon lord."
Alric nodded.
"Possibly."
Eren stared at the horn on the table.
The demon commander had been powerful.
If that creature had a leader…
Things were going to get dangerous quickly.
Alric turned toward the quest board.
"I'll be sending several parties to investigate the northern mountains."
Bram cracked his knuckles. "Now that sounds like a proper hunt."
Cassian glanced at Eren.
"You're going too, aren't you?"
Eren smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Cassian sighed.
"I knew it."
Eren looked toward the northern road beyond the city walls.
Somewhere out there was a demon lord powerful enough to command the monsters gathering in the mountains.
And if that creature truly existed…
Eren knew exactly what it meant.
A stronger enemy.
A harder fight.
More deaths.
And more chances to grow stronger.
But as he thought about the battle ahead, the sharp pain returned to the back of his mind again.
This time it lasted longer.
Eren clenched his fist.
Because deep down, he was beginning to realize something important.
Every time he died…
The curse was taking something from him.
And sooner or later…
The cost might become impossible to ignore.