Not infernal heat, not fever - sunlight.
Elyon blinked against the brightness overhead. He lay in tall grass, dew clinging to his clothes. Birdsong stitched the morning together. The air smelled of chimney smoke and fresh bread.
He sat up slowly, heart racing.
In the distance, a village - alive. Children darted between market stalls, woman hung linens, carpenters hammered planks by the well. Smoke curled from chimneys and laughter rippled across the square.
It was thriving, so far removed from the hovel he once called a home.
He rose to his feet in disbelief and spun on his heel. No chapel, no snowstorm, just rolling green fields.
How long was he unconscious? Is this even the same land?
He turned back and took a few steps toward the village before a voice lifted over the wind.
Serakha stood by an acient oak, wings folded and arms crossed loosely. He looked different, somehow, less menacing, or simply just amused.
"Where-where am I? Where did you take me"? Elyon questioned
Serakha approached, boot quiet in the grass. "I took nothing," he said. "You passed out before the bargain was sealed, an unfortunate but... not an entirely unexpected response"
Elyon touched his chest, heart beating strong, steadier than it ever has in months. "But- I feel better"
"You should do." Serakha nodded towards the village."This is the life you wanted, is it not? A world mot dying around you. A future with more than graves to greet you."
Elyon smirked. "Did you use magic to move me"?
Serakha smile was unreadable.
"I brought yoy somewhere safer. that's all that matters," he paused for a second to listen to child laughter off in the distance, "somewhere untouched by plague, consider it a gift until you are strong enough to continue the bargain".
Elyon stared into the bustling village, at the clear blue sky, at the sunlight gently warming his skin.
"What's your name?" elyon asked
"Serakha, son of gavran halden, human turned demon" Serakha winked.
"How long have you been demon?"
"150 years, I'm a youngster"
"Okay, well I'm elyon, human turned..uh carpenters apprentice.. I made coffins, lots of them"
The demon smiled at his new friend, the thought of friends made him happy.
"Why did you take part of my soul?"
"Oh elyon," the demons murmured, taking a step closer to the human, gently brushing greasy hair off his forehead before cupping his cheek, their eyes meet with a passion both have never experienced before, "I did not say I wouldn't"
His hand's lowered to elyons chest, "the bargain is not yet finished"
"You will come to me again. You always will"
His wings unfurled, catching sunlight in deep Crimson
"Immorality is not a single act. It's a commitment".
With that, serakha stepped back, shadows curled around him even in broad daylight
"Explore your new home," he said "live, grown, learn who you are without death stalking you"
"And when the time comes, I'll collect what's owed"
Before elyon had a chance to speak, serakha vanished.
Leaving elyon alone, alive, renewed, and holding a promise he did not remember agreeing to.
