The Divine Demon - Book 1: A New Beginning

29. Revelation

It was six o'clock on an otherwise normal, sunny day about fifteen years ago. The weather was warm, and the sun was just starting to slip over the hazy edge of the horizon.

I had just finished my last patrol for the evening and was fully prepared to race home as quickly as possible, despite the heavy fatigue lingering in my limbs from a long day of work. My stomach - twitching and rumbling within my gut - was looking forward to a hot, hefty meal, prepared the night before and waiting to be heated.

But that was when he called. And when he called - I answered. That's the impact he had on me and my life. With his usual voice - joyful, merry, and energetic - he asked me to swing by the house for a drink and a talk.

Although my stomach groaned loudly and my body begged for rest, I surpressed the desire for warm food and comfortable clothing. Slipping my phone back into my uniform pocket, I began my trip to your house...

All the way on the western border of Aginem.

***

"You want me to what?!" I shouted. The question he asked had stung my ears with its pure absurdity. I nearly dropped the drink in my hand like some cliche movie.

Despite the obvious disapproval in my voice and the scowl on my face, he asked again. But this time, he looked me directly in the eyes when he said, "I want you to use your magic to place a barrier on him that will stunt his magical growth. I know you know how to do it."

My jaw dropped, and I looked at him in disbelief.

"But he's only three, Rollan!" I yelled, hoping my logic would change his mind. "He's so young. He's just starting to develop his magic now! If I place a barrier his magical growth will instantly stop. He'll become one of the weakest in the country!"

He glanced over to you - playing on the living room carpet with the new set of toys he had bought the previous week. Your hair and eyes were a picture-perfect copy of his, but your distinct facial features were exactly like your mother's.

I rounded on him again. "You know how this country treats low magic commoners," I hissed, my face glowing red hot. "They'll cast him aside, ridicule him. You'd sentence your own son to that pitiful life? I-"

Before I could finish my plea, he raised his hand, shutting me up instantly.

His warm hazel eyes glanced over to you again.

"And they'd treat a demon who can't control his magic any better?" he said curtly. "Not even Aryl could give me a useful idea on how the mixture of human and demon would develop. We've never seen it before. So we can only assume the worst - a scenario in which a hybrid of both races would eventually become extremely dangerous." He shook his head. "No one else I've told about his birth has mentioned or suggested this possibility, but my best guess is that his humanly emotions will fuel his demonic side to unstable levels."

He sighed heavily. "I thought he wouldn't inherit his mother's genes after you placed the barrier on her own demonic powers, but I guess we were both wrong in assuming so."

"Yes, but-" I interjected, but he threw his hand up once more. I went quiet again.

"They're coming for him," he said firmly. "You know that just as well as I do. If they get a hold of him as he is now, he'll become the biggest threat this world has ever seen. His power will be unpredictable, and they could use him as a weapon. That is why I called you here today. And that is why I'd like you to place that barrier." His voice had become surprisingly direct and serious, something very rare for the jokester of a man he was.

I couldn't find the right words to say - the words that would change his mind. After a moment, my gaze dropped to the carpeted floor, because I knew he was right.