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***
Past
Not everyone can recall their first conscious memory. That time in your childhood when you were really starting to think like a real person. Days when time stretched infinitely slowly, and impressions were bright and new. Everything around you seemed amazing, full of mystery and adventure.
Usually everyone has it blended into some mishmash of first emotions and rare conscious memories.
For Emeric Gremory, a particular incident always stood out. A case where the little red-haired demon was once again playing in the garden at the family castle.
It could only be called a garden. There was a full-fledged sanctuary near the huge castle of the demonic Gremory family, containing the best fauna from both Hell and Earth.
Naturally, with the recent addition to their family, the sanctuary had done a lot of corrective work. Any plant that could even remotely threaten the young demon's health and well-being was simply replaced with a much safer analog. All the animals were moved to other places, and the entire area was fenced off with even stronger magical barriers.
Walking and playing in the garden was one of young Gremory's favorite pastimes.
But there was still an event on that sunny day that was forever imprinted on Emerick's mind.
Usually, his walks were accompanied by a small army of servants, who watched the young heir from a distance and commented on his every action in their company. Naturally, in whispers, so as not to distract the young talent from his undoubtedly incredibly important affairs.
There was only one figure watching him today, though. About ten meters away, a graceful female figure sat on a small spread blanket. The same red hair color hinted at a close kinship between the child and the woman, who was watching the boy playing nearby with a relaxed smile. A slight touch of laziness was evident in the gestures of the beautiful girl who had driven many members of the supernatural world crazy for hundreds of years.
«A bird. - young Emeric murmured excitedly. A small sparrow was flitting about in his hand, pecking at the bait that had been placed earlier in the palm of the little boy's hand.
The young demon was always interested in new and interesting things. And finally, today he was able to lure one of the birds that had always flown away when he came close.
So far, the boy's world consisted of his family, his numerous servants, his castle and his garden. The boy loved it when his rather ordinary everyday life was brightened up by unexpected events, and he considered the "catching" of his first bird to be no small achievement.
And according to his father's stories, the world was so beautiful and diverse! Why were there hardly any demons his age around? Why was home so big and confusing? And what was the difference between "our" sun and the "earthly" sun!
So, while he was thinking about numerous and very, very important things, Emeric didn't notice his hand clenching sharply and mercilessly into a fist. A characteristic crunch and the birds scattering in fright interrupted the peaceful scene.
Emeric flinched sharply and looked fearfully into his little fist where the bird had been cowering earlier. He couldn't understand exactly what had just happened. Why had he unknowingly ended the young creature's life?
Slowly, with hidden hope, he slowly unclenched his little fist. A dead sparrow, which Emeric had already wanted to name and shelter, fell out of it.
With annoyance and sad incomprehension, he shifted his gaze from the dead body and his bloody hand.
«My little star..." The familiar warm embrace formed around him, and the affectionate voice pulled him out of his sad musing. - What has disturbed you so much?
«Sis..." Emeric looked into his sister's green eyes, trying to convey all his indignation at the current situation. She kissed him lightly on the temple and looked at his hand.
«You're all dirty. - she began to tell him. His sister's palm gently grasped the forearm of his "dirty" hand and began to glow with a disturbing red glow. More accurately, to any outside observer, the red and chaotic glow would have seemed disturbing, but to Emeric it felt familiar and native. A similar energy flowed through his veins.
Light flashes of red with sparse veins of dark began to cover the entire surface of his palm and simply annihilate any outside contamination. There was no vapor, no disturbing sounds of any kind, the remnants of the small bird being erased from existence from his hand.
Emeric stared at the process with great interest and tried to memorize as much as he could so that he could repeat it in the future. The red and evil power he could feel in himself was just a cold and obedient tool in his sister's hands.
«Here we go. - she said cheerfully. - Now we're clear. You must be thirsty, come on, I'll pour you your favorite juice.
His sister picked him up easily in her arms and started walking toward her bedspread next to where a small wicker basket of supplies stood.
Emeric began to slowly move away from the recent demonstration of magic and looked at the dead calf that had been left behind.
«Sis, why-" Emeric couldn't find the right words for the current situation. Did he kill the bird or didn't he? Could it be some special kind of critter that makes it destroy itself?
«Yes?" his sister gently sat him down next to her and poured him some juice. - What is it, star?
The young demon mustered up the courage to properly phrase his question.
«Why did I kill that bird! - He asked her perplexed. His favorite sister was always happy to answer any of his questions and help him. For as long as he could remember, his sister had been there to take care of him. Emeric was sure his sister knew everything!
She looked thoughtfully into his eyes and with a sigh, she planted him in her lap.
«Because we're demons, my star. - he replied sternly.
«Demons?
«It's in our nature. - he was gently stroked on the head. - Demons are incredibly ancient beings with a very complex nature. We are beings who are forever linked to Hell, a dimension that is a concentration of original sins and the corruption of all sentient beings.
«So we're evil? - he asked sadly.
«No, no, no..." his sister denied everything expressively and took him in her arms. - It's instinct, you know? Just basic urges that push us. Just as any child has a breathing reflex, demons have a predisposition to evil, but..." she looked him in the eyes. - Our nature does not determine all of our actions. Emeric, I have spent my life trying to correct that misconception. I've taught countless demons to keep their vices in check, and I know you can, too.
His age and knowledge were not enough to fully comprehend all the information, but it was forever etched in his memory. Over the years, at different points in his life, Emeric would discover more and more about himself and his worldview in this speech.
«You're such a good boy! - she laughed, twirling him around and kissing him on the cheeks. - I'm sure none of the little demons ask that question, but you're special.
«Ha ha ha ha ha, sister, stop it...!... - Emeric laughingly tried to fight off the tickling attacks, but was utterly defeated.
His fondest memories from his early childhood were always of his family, especially his beloved sister. She was present in almost every bright moment of his life.
«Ahem-" A cough interrupted their little game and made the duo abruptly freeze in place. The cough was familiar and habitually conveyed a myriad of meanings.
A girl dressed in a maid's uniform stood in front of them with her hands folded in front of her. Her cold beauty and austere appearance immediately elevated this figure from the rest of the servants. There was an invisible aura of power that distinguished this 'maid' from most of the figures that surrounded Emeric in everyday life.
«Mrs. Aldis, don't you think it is time for the young gentleman to finish his walk? - she asked his sister. - And, if I'm not mistaken, you have an appointment with Prince Peymon today, about the discrepancy in the last quarter's tax return.
«Well Greyfy-ya..." the Lord of Hell stretched capriciously in front of her friend. - I've only just gotten out to my favorite star!..... - she finished her speech by snuggling up to Emeric.
«Mrs. Aldiss-s-s-s-s. - she said with an urgency. - Young Emeric shouldn't spend too much time in your company.....
«What do you mean, Greyfia! - Asked her sternly in response.
«He can learn from you..." The maid thought for a moment, but decided to spare their ward's too young mind. - All sorts of things.
«La-la-la-la, I can't hear anything, la-la-la-la. - one of the Lords of Hell began to wail childishly.
«La la la la, ha ha ha ha ha," Emeric began laughingly repeating after his sister.
This kind of buffoonery led by Aldis and Emeric could have gone on for a long time if the boy hadn't just had a rumbling in his stomach.
Here both representatives of the fair sex realized that it was time to feed the young talent.
«Okay..." Aldis sighed and gripped her brother tighter, heading for the castle. - I'll feed him and go back to my workplace.
«But Ms. Aldis, Prince Paymon...
«Greifia, Greifia," Aldis shook her head. - Do I have to teach you? Let's pretend we've had a preventive conversation. Just tell him that if he steals as much next time, I'll break his back.
«Sister, what does it mean to break a backbone?
Emeric Gremory grew up a very curious child.
***
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