The Damned Demon

Asher, with a bewildered expression, confronted the reality of his experience, "Wait a minute. Are you telling me that I was made to believe I was Raziel and live through his memories without knowing who I really am?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and intrigue.

He was also astonished that Raziel was none other than the Devourer, the very man who founded the Bloodburn Kingdom. To think he would be learning more about this legendary figure through a trial was the last thing he expected.

He wondered how Rowena and everyone back home would feel if they came to know the real history of the origins of their kingdom.

Drakaris responded with a hum, the sound reverberating through the air, "In a way, yes. Only your soul was present while your memories were locked away. Instead, you started the trial with Raziel's memories and his character," he explained, his voice echoing with a profound depth.

Asher, his brows raised in realization, absorbed the gravity of what he had undergone. 

It was a revelation that the trial was not just a test of skill or knowledge, but a deeper examination of the soul itself, "I still don't understand. What's the point if I was not even aware and did not have my abilities, my memories, or anything that defines me. I was forced to be Raziel. So, if I had failed, wouldn't it mean that Raziel failed and not me?" Asher probed, seeking clarity.

He felt it quite unfair that he had to play a weak and naive boy with little to no experience of the real world. 

"No. It was still your soul that was present. The decisions and every action you carried out were influenced by Raziel's memories, but they were driven by your soul. If your soul wasn't worthy enough, you would have failed just like countless others," Drakaris elaborated, providing insight into the complex nature of the trial.

Intrigued, Asher asked further, "How did they fail? What did they do in my place?" His brows furrowed.

Drakaris revealed the sobering truth, "Most of them succumbed to my offer of giving them a way out. They killed Raziel's mother or Selene or someone they initially loved without any hesitation, for all they wanted was for it to end and gain power. Some of them didn't even make it that far. They broke before they reached that point, while others tried to run away and had their souls taken away for failing the trial. Very few were so scared, their fear stemming from their soul overwhelmed Raziel's feelings, and they ran away without even climbing up here."

"Oh..." Asher murmured, absorbing the weight of Drakaris' words. He wasn't surprised since even he was almost tempted to give up. But if he was aware of who he was, he definitely wouldn't let himself get tempted.

However, it was common knowledge that demons valued strength more than anything. They would do anything to become powerful because their world demanded them to survive through their hellish world.

And so he wasn't surprised that nobody managed to pass the Trial of Torment before him. The fact that the draconians were managing the tower only lowered the chances of anybody passing.

But a perplexing question lingered in his mind that made his expression become complicated as he asked, "Something also doesn't make sense. Why did I see someone I know as Raziel's mother and Naida as Selene? It's impossible for them to look the same," he questioned, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.

Drakaris responded in a profound voice, "The appearance of the woman you saw as Raziel's mother must be somebody you deeply love because it differs from soul to soul. If it was somebody else attempting this trial, they would have seen a different face or not. But only the appearance differs while the rest always remains the same," His words echoed around them.

Asher's expression turned somber as he digested this revelation. The realization that he had witnessed the death of his mother from a past life, a pitiful woman who meant the world to him, brought a sense of sorrow and pain, a feeling that permeated his soul.

Seeking further understanding, Asher inquired, "Then what about Selene?" Asher still felt it a bit weird and strange now that he remembered seeing Naida as Selene, and to make things even more bizarre, both of them were of the same bloodline, with Selene being Naida's ancestor.

He felt as if he had an affair with Naida even if he really didn't, not technically. 

He could only hope she wouldn't remember all this. It could make things very awkward and messy, though he was finding it hard to stop thinking about what happened.

"You let Naida accompany you. That is why you saw her as Selene. Usually, people would bring someone loyal or someone they care about to accompany them into the tower. They think that bringing someone will help them succeed, but it only makes it harder. But it didn't really matter in your case because apparently you didn't hold any deep sentiments towards her," Drakaris elucidated.

Asher let out a chuckle of disbelief as he shook his head, "How clever. Then what would have happened if I had brought in a man?"

"Then you might see them as Chief Caius or somebody else if that man was someone you care about. Your actions could also differ based on that and your soul. As Raziel, quite a few didn't feel attached to Selene as strongly as you did. Some didn't even care," Drakaris' words made Asher blink.

He wasn't attached to Naida, so why did he feel so strongly about Selene, including his feelings and her death?

This made him ask, "But Raziel did love Selene, right?"

Drakaris revealed, "Yes. You resemble Raziel in many ways. So, I was not surprised to see your actions being similar to what originally happened. It only makes more sense that you passed the test, just like Raziel."

Asher, visibly baffled, pondered over this startling revelation. The alignment of his actions with Raziel's was a mystery that piqued his curiosity and raised questions about their similarities. 

But this also made him more curious to learn about Raziel.

"What happened to Raziel after? I know that he went on to become the strongest in the realm and built the strongest kingdom that even exists today. But the Umbralfiends...they seemed quite powerful compared to their present state. Don't tell me, Raziel..." Asher's voice trailed off, hinting at a deeper question that lingered in his mind.

Drakaris confirmed his suspicion, "Yes. He helped Thorne conquer the Umbralfiends even though he initially didn't want to." 

Asher, seeking to understand Raziel's motivations, inquired further, "Then why? Was it because he still held a grudge against them for not helping when he needed them?" Asher felt the Umbralfiends didn't really do anything wrong based on the rules of how this world worked. 

But of course, as Raziel, he would obviously feel pissed, especially when he was that desperate and broken.

Drakaris explained, "He did hold a grudge, but nothing too deep enough to destroy them personally like he wanted to destroy the Bloodclaw Clan. But at the same time, it was deep enough to not stop Thorne from trying to take over their lands," There was a hint of insight in his voice as he continued, "He even quoted back what King Morro once said to him when he came beseeching Raziel to stop Thorne, 'Blame your fate and luck for not being strong enough.'"

Asher raised one of his brows, but again, he wasn't surprised since he could still feel the anger Raziel had towards the Umbralfiends. He could only imagine the confusion Morro felt since he wouldn't know he wronged Raziel in a reality that never happened.

But he felt sorry for Isola since she and her people suffered for thousands of years due to a single bad decision made by her ancestor.

Asher's thoughts then drifted to the young Umbralfiend woman who had shown kindness to Raziel. 

He shifted his gaze back to Drakaris, "What happened to that woman? Did Raziel not consider her act of kindness before deciding to remain indifferent to her people's plight?"

Asher felt he could understand why Raziel felt angry towards her at that moment, but he knew she was trying to be kind in the only way she could.

She obviously can't go against her king's wishes. 

Drakaris hummed, a sound that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the surroundings, "Raziel almost stopped Thorne from committing a massacre because of her. But I advised Raziel not to intervene. As you already know, pain and suffering are necessary evils. It's the only way the Umbralfiends would rise stronger and better in the future. Thorne wanted to eradicate every last one of them, but Raziel ordered him only to banish them after what I told him."

Asher felt it a pity that the woman perished or suffered with her people when she was the only one who was trying to do something good.

He could only imagine the regret and anger she must have felt and how she must have thought her father was right after seeing the young man she tried to help becoming the very person who caused her and her people to suffer so much.

This was why he felt kindness should only be shown to the right person at the right time. It wasn't something that should be given or shown carelessly, especially in the demon world.

But on second thought, she wouldn't even feel the regret or remember helping Raziel since such a reality never took place outside the test. That only made it seem even worse in a way.

Asher's brows furrowed as he asked with a hint of bitterness in his voice, "So, you're the reason Isola's people suffered for thousands of years. Do you really believe there's no other way but to make everyone suffer for them to get better?"

Drakaris' voice carried a weight of centuries, "Once you have lived as long as I have in this world, you wouldn't be asking me this question. If the Umbralfiends had continued as they were, they would have perished within a couple hundred years and would have affected the growth of your Bloodburn Kingdom as well. Isola wouldn't have come into existence as a leader figure her people need more than anything. Her leadership and power will help her people and kingdom reach greater heights than ever before."

Asher felt he had a point and wondered if this big guy knew about the Prophecy of the Ancients.

This made him ask with a narrowed gaze, "What are you exactly? Are you alive, or am I speaking to some spirit? Or perhaps are you a... devil?"