šļø They Bowed ā But Not in Fear
It began with one man.
Scarred, rag-wrapped, kneeling in the dirt.
Then another.
And then dozens more ā workers, elders, former soldiers, refugees.
They didn't kneel because he demanded it.
They knelt because they couldn't lift their heads under the weight of what they'd done.
"Forgive usā¦" they whispered.
"You were the savior we cast out."
"And still you returned."
The Demon King stood silent.
He didn't speak.
But he didn't turn them away either.
And so, the rebuilding began.
šØ From Ruins, Verdantia Rises
Fields were cleared.
Temples rebuilt.
Old banners burned ā and new ones raised.
Not with the mark of a demon.
But with a single black flame ā steady, unwavering.
The symbol of a kingdom once brokenā¦ now healing.
Children ran through markets again.
Families rebuilt homes.
And wherever he walked ā no one flinched.
They bowed.
Not out of fear.
But reverence.
š The Treasure Hidden in Guilt
Weeks into restoration, the Demon King turned to his brother.
"You once told me there was more."
The brother nodded.
"Ashura only took what they found in the palace."
"The real vaultā¦ they never saw."
They traveled through hidden paths, ancient locks ā only the brother knew them.
And there, beneath the mountain ā
The vault opened.
Gold, relics, enchanted tomes, rare cores, weapons sealed from a lost age.
Enough to rebuild the kingdom ten times over.
The people were stunned.
The Demon King stepped forward and simply said:
"Take what you need."
"Build what we lost."
š§ But His Sister Had Other Plans
Seraphina stood beside him ā sharp-eyed, calm, firm.
"This much wealth shouldn't be left to emotion."
"It needs purpose. Structure. Order."
She turned to their brother, whispering plans, figures, estimates.
She mapped a five-year recovery strategy in minutes ā stabilizing magic flow, dividing investment zones, protecting sacred sites.
The Demon King watched quietly.
He, who once ruled alone, who took orders from no one ā
Simply nodded.
"Then I'll let you handle it."
"Take what you need."
šļø And He Watched Her Work
In silence, he observed her ā giving orders, correcting errors, calming nobles, rallying citizens.
She was bold.
Decisive.
Wise.
And as she moved, he saw Aira in her shadow.
The way she spoke with pride.The way she carried the kingdom like a shield.The way she cared without saying it aloud.
He felt something stir in his chest.
Not grief.
Not power.
But peace.
A fragile, precious sliver of it.
"Maybe I'm not as far from home as I thought."