Owlriel

Devouring Light

Asran had a very panicked look on his face. Which wasn’t for the reason she thought. “Ayrie what the hell, I told you not to go telling the priests my name,” he said. As anyone with any knowledge on demons knows that Asran is the demon lord of gluttony. Asran looked at the priests with a very scared expression. As weak as he was right then even a blessed butterknife could kill him. Quickly he started backing out of the room. “Well it was nice meeting you bye,” Asran spoke quickly before taking off like a shot. Getting the hell out of there before the priests had even the slightest chance of stabbing him with said blessed butterknife of doom.

Devouring Light

The next morning Asran woke up groaning. His body was still exhausted, and aching from the other night. But, thankfully he was well enough to move on his own again. Even if it was slow moving. He got himself dressed, and prepped for work.

Though Wrath’s words were still bothering him as he remembered Astoria. Of the day she tore his heart and soul asunder. He looked at the runes on his chest as he buttoned on a dress shirt. “Why? Did I truly disgust you so much? Was I just a toy for you to play with,” he asked himself. Then sighed out a deep breath, and went to the door.
He turned to look at the doctor who handed him a packed lunch. “Thank you,” Asran said. “You’re welcome father,” the doctor said smiling. She was one of the few children he’d managed to save before he’d become too weak to even leave the city. Asran left the doctors office, and went to go check on Ayrie. To make sure for his sake, and her own that she was safe.

While walking there Asran had pulled out one of the paper wrapped sandwiches from the basket, and was eating. When he got to the door he was on the last half. Asran gently knocked on the door then waited for a reply. To those priests all he was, was the very friendly mayor. Or at least that was his hope anyways. Otherwise, what the hell?

Devouring Light

“Thank you Astoria, you’ve made me a very happy man. I promise that I’ll do everything in my power to return the favor,” he said with a winking smile. Then turned to his glass of wine offering it gently then drank it. The taste was good sweeter than usual he supposed from the pure happiness he felt.

As he turned to sit down the whole world spun. He took a step then stumbled he braced against the table with a powerful hand, and grunted in confusion. Slowly he tried standing only to fall all the way over knocking the table over.
The bottle of wine rolled by his face, and he looked at it. The scent coming from it, smelled like, no, no she would never. Maybe a mistake? Then why wasn’t she affected when she drank? No, no, no no no slowly he turned to look at the woman he swore his heart to.
“What... what, did, you, do,” he asked slowly. He then grimaced as he still tried understanding trying to fight the feelings of betrayal. Still trying to figure out some sort of logical reason why this was happening. A dream? Maybe she was being mind controlled. That had to be it! He reached a hand out, and cast dispel on her only for nothing to happen. Not even a faint indication that a spell had been broken. So he used anti curse instead, only for nothing to happen. He started trembling as his heart felt like it was breaking. “Why,” he struggled to ask what he did wrong. But, his voice was muddled and came out more like a groan. While the rest of his body wouldn’t listen, and was no longer responding to his commands. So he was forced to just stare up at Astoria with pleading questioning eyes.

Devouring Light

Asran was already on the hill when Astoria came. He’d decked it out with a brand new wooden pagoda just for them. With a table laden with a simple meal by Asran’s standards. There were little lights dancing around made of magic it had a perfect view of the bay, and town.
“Hey, welcome. I know this might be a bit much,” he said chuckling nervously. Then helped her to sit down then gently took the wine from her. “But, I figured something out after the battle. That I’m fortunate to have met you to learn from you there’s a better way.” He gently opened the bottle, and poured two glasses for them. Then gently set the bottle on the table, and picked up his glass. It was clear that he was very nervous, “I want to keep learning from you forever. So... Astoria will you marry me?”

Devouring Light

By the time Asran had returned Nadia had left.

Asran returned to the city slightly wounded, but okay. At seeing Astoria he smiled his armor fading into black smoke as he knew it was safe. That everyone would be okay now that the overly aggressive Angel was gone. Why had the angel just decided to attack like that he’d no idea. He approached Astoria smiling at her, “I took care of that nasty angel. Don’t know what the hell got that asshole in a twist. I mean I haven done anything wrong.” He chuckled then looked to Astoria. “So listen I was thinking... Maybe we could, go on a date later today. Have a picnic on the hill. I’ll cook,” he smiled happily.

Devouring Light

Over the years of helping to build his town Asran had seen less, and less of a need to constantly wear armor. So usually didn’t wear it when he was around his people talking, and guiding them.
Asran pondered the worries of his people for a while then used his immense magic to summon a bag of seeds. From his holding dimension. “Plant these along the outskirts of the fields. They’ll keep pests away, but be careful they can also induce paralysis of eaten. But, tell the alchemists to study them. They can also create good medicines. I’m just not sure as to the how fully. The land where I got these from had people who were rather secretive. I am also going to send a few of my imps to help tend the fields when you grow tired. However, they will not tolerate laziness nor will I, we are better than that.”

He then turned to the man who was his go between with the docks. “The fish are low? I can fix that with some work. But, as for the docks? As we are right now it might be dangerous. But, so long as the merchants, and guards in town remain prudent. We shouldn’t have any issues. I will have Obidiah come in to teach the builders more tricks to construction.” As the children grew Asran had gone to calling in favors he’d done in his past. In order for them to teach the children different things. He’d even opened a library filled with books of every kind. He’d even taught a few with the aptitude magic.

Soon a teenage beastkin came running over to Asran screaming and panicking. Asran pushes past the adults running to the boy. The teen clutched onto Asran’s shirt panting with fear. “Angel, I saw an angel father. He’s I don’t want him to hurt you. So I came as fast as I could,” he said panting. Some of the children Asran had taken in had taken to calling him father. Which Asran did not mind in the slightest. Many of the children saw Asran as a giant soft hearted man. Not some monstrous demon that everyone claimed. He’d even seen him take beatings from their adventurer parents in order to take them away to safety, here. Asran gently calmed the trembling, and panting teenage boy in his arms. “I’ll be okay, thank you for telling me Stewart.” Once he was sure the teen was okay Asran gently stood him up. Then turned to Asrtoria a smile on his face he loved her deeply. “You’ll keep them safe yeah,” he asked.

With his answer he turned to where he could sense the angelic presence. With a burst of demonic energy he was wrapped in demonic plate armor. He walked towards where he could sense the angelic presence.

Devouring Light

Asran chugged the water getting the meat down. Then paused to breath out relief. Astoria’s words made his revealed mouth twist with anger. “They did more than just kill her... The things they did to that poor child, I can never unsee. It’s a reason why I hate you humans. Just because she wasn’t a human she was treated worse than shit,” he said. Cattle in that time had more worth than most people. Astoria’s idea did bring a light bulb on in his head. If he could save the children bring them with him. Protect them build a city around them to keep them safe. To use his power so they’d never go hungry to protect them from following the same path as their parents. “I can do that,” he said. “I even know a place already. Just need to clear it of some weeds first.”

Devouring Light

Asran looked away shaking his head deeply, and faintly chuckled. He leaned back against a fence post, and summoned a chair made of dark magic. “Goodness, decency... That really doesn’t sound like a demon lord now does it. Besides I’m not just going to turn into a garbage disposal just for you self serving humans. I’m a lord not ever will I be your equal or your lesser. It’s like asking the sun, and moon to obey a baby. Honestly with the way you humans wage unnecessary wars over the shittiest of reasons, sounds like an infant having a tantrum,” he smirked behind his helmet. He leaned his head back to look back at Astoria. Then pulled out some meat, and the mouth part of his helmet peeled back so he could eat. “Then again *chew* you adults are too ugly *chew chew* from sin to be as cute as children or babies.” He then swallowed wrong as he realized what he’d just said he sat up hard coughing. Trying to get the meat that had somehow someway gotten stuck in his gluttonous throat down. He frantically looked through his travel gear for a water jug.

Devouring Light

“Oh, You’ve come to stop me? A little girl in over her head,” Asran said. He grew bigger as darkness rolled off him in waves blocking out all light behind him. His eyes bursting with blue energy making it look like his eyes were made of blue fire.

When they were at the pasture Asran huffed out in annoyance. “Jeeze, you’re annoying. The only reason I didn’t kill you was because I realized dealing with the repercussions from killing a light would be far more trouble than the meal would be worth.” He crossed his arms looking away from Astoria. “Besides even if I did want to help people. Which I don’t because you’re all annoying.... It’s not like they’d actually hear what I have to say. People are terrified of demons, and especially terrified of demon lords.”

Devouring Light

Asran had come to this village in peace. Had observed them from afar. Of the horrific things they did to the beast folk. Seen how much sick glee as they tortured them. He’d found a dungeon filled with bodies. He thought maybe not all were bad that there were some that deserved to live. But, he was wrong. The woman he’d found in the dungeon she had been chained to a wall burned, and cut into. Her husband he’d found hacked to pieces, and stuck on spikes in their cottage. While the little girl.... god the thought made him sick.

His grip tightened on the doll he’d made for the child, and he turned to look at it. He held it in on hand so easily. A man came screaming at him brandishing a hoe at him. Asran caught the tool with his spare hand pulling it close, and then grabbed the man. His helmet cracked open pouring forth blue hellfire, and he bit the man’s face off before chucking the still alive man into a burning building.

The screams even though sweet to his ears brought him no solace. He turned to look at the doll again the thing was so tiny in his giant hand. Just as the girls hand had been. He sighed out strongly, NO. He could not, would not ever be this weak. He chucked the doll angrily into the fire.