# Chapter 3: The Price of Survival
Rose moved like a shadow across the rooftops of Magnolia, her dark cloak melding with the night. Her special ability to see souls had revealed something extraordinary – the boy in Nordus's arms wasn't dead. Despite the fatal wound, two distinct soul energies pulsed within him: one pure light, the other dark and demonic.
"What did you do, Zorde?" she whispered to herself, tracking Nordus's movement through the streets. As one of the Shadow Knights, Rose had been tasked with gathering intelligence on the demon invasion. Instead, she'd witnessed something unprecedented – a Demon Lord saving a human child.
Nordus was heading toward the demon army's camp outside the town. Rose knew she had to act fast. Drawing on her power, she activated her invisibility spell and dropped silently behind the demon.
"Stop right there," she commanded, her short sword already pressed against Nordus's back. "Put the boy down."
Nordus froze, his grip on Ronin tightening slightly. "Shadow Knight," he growled, recognizing her technique. "This child is under Lord Zorde's protection."
"The child is under *my* protection now," Rose countered, her blade pressing harder. "Put. Him. Down."
As if responding to the tension, Ronin suddenly coughed, a weak sound that nevertheless carried both hope and warning. Rose's soul-sight showed her the two energies within him fighting for dominance.
Nordus spun around, drawing his twin short swords with impossible speed while maintaining his hold on Ronin. "You don't understand what's happening here," he said, his eyes glowing in the darkness. "The boy needs—"
"The boy needs to be far away from demons," Rose cut him off, moving into a fighting stance. "Especially now."
Their blades met in a series of quick, precise strikes. Rose had to admire Nordus's skill – he managed to fight effectively while still protecting Ronin from harm. But she hadn't become a Shadow Knight by being easy to defeat.
Feinting left, Rose suddenly activated her invisibility spell again. Nordus cursed, his blades cutting through empty air. In that moment of confusion, Rose struck – not at Nordus, but at his grip on Ronin. The boy fell, but Rose was already there to catch him.
"This isn't over," Nordus warned, his blades raised.
"You're right," Rose agreed, holding Ronin close. "It's just beginning." With that, she activated another invisibility spell, this time encompassing both herself and Ronin.
Nordus's frustrated roar echoed through the streets as Rose made her escape. She could feel Ronin's fever-hot skin against her arms, could sense the battle raging within him between demon blood and human soul.
"Hold on, little one," she whispered, running toward the forest where she knew Stanley and Shin would be waiting with the royal children. "Just hold on."
---
In the forest outside Magnolia, in a small safehouse hidden among the trees, Stanley paced while Shin tried to keep the young prince and princess calm.
"They should have been here by now," Stanley muttered, his tactical mind running through worst-case scenarios.
Shin, sitting between Lucy and Rin, offered what comfort he could to the royal children. "Rose knows what she's doing," he said, though his hand remained on his sword hilt. "She's the best scout we have."
A rustle in the bushes brought them all to attention. Stanley's hand went to his weapon, but then he caught a familiar pattern in the movement – Rose's signal.
She emerged from the foliage, her invisibility spell fading to reveal her carrying an unconscious Ronin. The boy's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, his skin pale except for dark veins spreading from his wound.
"What happened?" Stanley demanded, already moving to help.
"Zorde," Rose said grimly, laying Ronin down carefully. "He gave the boy his blood."
Shin inhaled sharply. "Demon blood? But that's—"
"Fatal in most cases, yes," Rose finished. "But look." She pointed to a chain around Ronin's neck, where a stone gleamed with magical energy. "His mother's last gift. A teleportation stone."
Lucy moved closer, her young face filled with concern. "Will he live?"
Rose looked at the royal children, then at her fellow Shadow Knights. "He has to. But we need to make a choice now." She touched the teleportation stone gently. "This could take us anywhere. It could be our salvation or a trap."
"The demons will be looking for the royal children," Stanley said, his tactical mind working. "And now they'll be looking for him too."
Shin nodded. "We're out of options. Whatever his mother planned with this stone, it has to be better than staying here."
Rose gathered Ronin in her arms again, while Stanley and Shin picked up Lucy and Rin. "Everyone close together," she instructed. "The stone's magic will only work within a small radius."
As they huddled together, Rose could feel both energies in Ronin growing stronger. They were running out of time. With a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening, she crushed the teleportation stone.
Light exploded around them, and Magnolia disappeared in a flash of magic. Their destination was uncertain, but one thing was clear – nothing would ever be the same again.
[To be continued in Chapter 4: New Beginnings]