A Demon's

Prologue

When Aron Steelside began adventuring, the golden years were already past. Almost all the High Demon lords had long been defeated by the heroes of old, whose statues now resided in the cities they had made safe. There was still some money to be had clearing out nests of goblins and protecting smaller villages from bandits, but fame was a pipe dream.

The dark haired grey eyed young man was a dreamer though. His father was a smith, just as his father before him. Aron had been trained in the ways, and had even forged the sword that hung by his side. But he wanted more from life than a good job and a stable income in the same town he'd grown up in. If he hadn't left, he knew he never would, doomed to reside in the same place repeating his father's and grandfather's stories, and passing on the same mundane legacy to his own sons. No, Aron wanted more from life than that.

So he packed up and became an adventurer, even though it was no longer fashionable to do so. And for a couple of years he spent his life travelling the continent of Soros, killing goblins, orcs, wolves and men for what coin he could haggle. Occasionally he'd come across a vampire den, or a goblin king, and he'd get paid double. But those occasions were becoming fewer and further between, and his coin was drying up quicker and quicker.

It was by pure chance he happened to be in town of Cubano at the same time of the incident at the temple of Liru. A priestess by the name of Ana-Maria had a dark dream, a vision of towering muscled shadow, wrapped in red and preparing to devour the town whole. The town folk were in hysterics. Nothing like this had happened in nearly a century. Some wanted to ignore her, insisting it was all for attention. Others wanted to burn her for inciting fear. A few cautiously left town.

True or not, Aron saw the opportunity to make a name for himself, and some coin. He introduced himself to the town folk as an adventurer and presented the following offer, that for small fee he would go and find this shadow. If it were real, and he killed it, he would bring back its head, and pay him ten fold. If he found nothing, they would owe him nothing more. Discussions broke out among the people. Some wanted to ignore him too. Others tried to negotiate, as if their lives were not on the line. But the mayor had the final say, and, after much hesitation, agreed.

The head priestess had one request. That he take Ana-Maria with him. She would lead him to the place in her dream and her prayers would protect him. Though she was wrapped in temple robes, he could see her cute face, with big beautiful round eyes and full, pouting lips. A few strands of chocolate brown hair peeked out beneath her veil. Having traveled alone for some time, he welcomed the attractive company.