Abaddon entered the house, his cloak covered in dust. Nerya couldn't hide her shock when she saw him. "Abaddon! Are you okay?"

  "I’m fine Nerya, don’t worry... Here it is, the Eclipse Fragment." In Abaddon’s palm sat the artifact, glowing with a power that seemed to swallow the surrounding light like a black hole. Nerya had only heard of this item from books and rumors; it was her first time seeing it.

  "Okay... But do you know how to use it?" Nerya asked excitedly.

  "From what I know, the artifact must be engraved into the body with an incantation. The artifact's own power will handle the rest. Nerya, you are knowledgeable about enchantments, right? Can you engrave this piece into Kael?"

  Nerya shook her head worriedly. "I can write normal enchantments, but I’ve never engraved an artifact into a living body. It’s too risky... We can ask my father for help; he is a master in these matters."

  The couple took Kael and headed toward Vaelmon’s mansion, trying not to draw attention. As they approached the grand gates, sentry knights blocked their path with spears.

  "Halt! Who are you and what is your business here?"

  Nerya slowly lowered her hood. When the knight saw Lady Nerya, he stepped back in surprise and bowed. "Ah, My Lady! It’s you? Forgive me, I didn’t recognize you in the dark. Please, come in."

  Vaelmon came out, hearing the noise. "What is all this noise? Hendrik, do we have uninvited guests?" Just as the guard Hendrik was about to answer, Vaelmon froze. "Ne-Nerya? You... at midnight?"

  Vaelmon was surprised to see his daughter's family at his door so late, but he turned serious when he saw Kael’s condition. "Get inside immediately, it’s freezing out here. You’ll make the child even sicker."

  Inside, Elowen hugged her daughter in surprise. "Nerya! My dear daughter, what a surprise!" But when she heard Kael’s cries of pain, her joy turned into deep fear. "My God, what happened to Kael?"

  Vaelmon approached Kael in Abaddon’s arms. He was horrified to see the cracks and the leaking mana. "Nerya, what’s wrong with my grandson? These cracks... he’s leaking mana from his body!"

  "Father, Kael’s body cannot hold both human and demon mana at the same time. Abaddon went North and found this for him." Abaddon handed the Eclipse Fragment to Vaelmon.

  Vaelmon couldn't believe his eyes. "This... this is the Eclipse Fragment! Where did you find this? The Northern Kingdom doesn't give this technology to just anyone!"

  "I bought it at an auction in the Northern Kingdom," Abaddon said briefly.

  Vaelmon looked suspiciously. "How did you get in there? Did you steal it?"

  "No, I paid for it. I wore a mask and completely suppressed my mana. I took it and came back without any trouble. These don’t matter father, Kael is dying! We thought if we seal Kael’s demon side, his body would become stable. We came to you because we don’t know how to enchant it. Can you do it?"

  Vaelmon looked at the artifact and then at Kael’s cracked skin. "I can enchant it, but this artifact won’t keep him sealed forever. Kael must adapt to demon magic at some point. If we suppress it now and it triggers again later, his body will react much more severely."

  "This is the only thing we can do for now, father! Don’t you see his small body can’t take any more?"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Vaelmon sighed and took Kael. "Fine, let’s go upstairs."

  Abaddon handed his son to Vaelmon’s safe arms. In the room, Vaelmon laid Kael on the bed and placed the artifact on his chest. He began to draw a complex enchantment in the air with his fingers. As a golden magic circle began to spin over Kael, the baby’s body suddenly stiffened and black smoke began to rise from his mouth.

  "Something is going wrong!" Nerya shouted.

  Vaelmon stirred. "The demon mana is resisting! I need to give more mana!" As Vaelmon’s mana intensified, the Eclipse Fragment melted and seeped into Kael’s chest like liquid metal. After a moment of silence, the cracks on Kael’s body began to fade, and his skin returned to its normal color.

  The artifact was completely settled in Kael’s body. Nerya asked fearfully, "Father? Is my son okay?"

  "Thank God, he’s fine, daughter. I’ve completed the enchantment to keep the demon magic locked. Now his own human mana will slowly heal his body."

  Nerya hugged her father in tears. Abaddon leaned against the wall and took a deep breath when he saw his son finally breathing easily.

  Vaelmon said, "You’ve come a long way, stay here tonight. Kael needs to rest." Elowen added, "Yes Nerya, you never bring my grandson to us, stay a few days so we can spend time together."

  After two days, they returned to the village. But the peace was short-lived. Mezrathus summoned Abaddon to the Demon Realm with an urgent call. When Abaddon returned, he told Nerya, "Darling, I received an urgent call from my father."

  Nerya asked, "Did something happen?"

  "He didn't give details, but the matter seems serious. I have to go, I’ll be back soon," he said and set off.

  When he appeared before Mezrathus, his father's face was very tense. "Abaddon, have you been to other kingdoms lately?"

  This question made Abaddon very nervous. "Yes father, I have. Why?"

  "You know that the demon race cannot just roam in other kingdoms, right?"

  Abaddon desperately explained Kael’s situation. Mezrathus shouted in anger: "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Kael is my grandson too! I would have done my best to help. Or do you not trust me?"

  "I trust you father, it's just that demon magic is very heavy for humans. Kael was at the breaking point and time was running out. I hid my identity in the Northern Kingdom, no one recognized me."

  "So you think," said Mezrathus. "A noble from the North reported seeing a six-winged demon. They wouldn't care if it was a two-winged one, but they know six-winged demons are very rare. The Northern Kingdom sent an envoy to the border; you must be much more careful."

  Abaddon remembered that night he flew to reach Kael. He never thought his black wings could be seen in the darkness of the night. When he quickly returned to the village to Nerya, he saw foreign guards in front of the house. He immediately put on his mask and approached.

  A seven-ring light mage was standing next to the guards. Abaddon called out to the guards, "Who are you?"

  "I am Silyan, a light mage of the kingdom’s church. The villagers said a demon was flying in the area; we came to check as soon as we heard. The demon might still be hiding around here."

  Nerya and Abaddon looked at each other in fear. At that moment, Kael in Nerya’s arms started to cry. Silyan approached the baby. "What's wrong with the child?" He frowned when he saw the healing crack marks on Kael's body. "Hmm, it could be mana disease. It needs to be healed."

  When Silyan reached out his hand toward Kael, Abaddon panicked; if this seven-ring light mage touched Kael, he would instantly feel the dark mana inside, even if it was sealed. If it were revealed that Kael was a half-breed, not only themselves but Vaelmon and his entire family would be interrogated.

  Just as Silyan's hand was about to touch Kael, Abaddon suddenly spread his wings and released his intense dark aura. Silyan stepped back in surprise. "You... you’re brave enough to show yourself, huh?"

  Then he turned to Nerya: "Do you know this man?"

  Just as Nerya was about to speak, Abaddon cut her off: "This woman doesn’t know me! I was holding them hostage so they wouldn't tell my location!"

  Silyan’s eyes filled with hatred. "Demons really are disgusting creatures... Guards, seize him!"

  Nerya saw that sacrificial look in Abaddon’s eyes; her husband was turning himself into a monster in the eyes of the kingdom to clear his family. Abaddon caught the spear of the first guard coming at him with his bare hand, broke it, and sent the guard flying into the trees with a single blow.

  As he knocked down the guards one by one, Silyan drew his sword. "I know how strong a six-winged demon is, but you broke the rules of the kingdoms. You broke the treaty with the demon realm. Do you want to start a war?"

  Abaddon knew he wouldn't get anywhere by talking. He lunged at Silyan. Every time the swords clashed, the light illuminating the forest and the darkness merged, spreading a wave of energy that shook the surroundings.