Juchim ran for his life, the demons close behind. The caves that his village took shelter in had been discovered, he had seen his mother rent limb from limb and he had no doubt that the rest of his family was dead.
At 12, Juchim was about to make his passage to manhood, but he still was too young, not that they had had much time for such ceremonies since the demons had come, not that he had had much chance to be a child. He only knew only that he must survive, that his mother had given her life to distract the demons long enough for him to escape.
He ran through a ravine and came to a stream. Standing by the stream stood an old man talking to a rock. He had heard the elders talk of people driven mad, either by the loss of everything they had known or by more direct demonic influence. There was little doubt in his mind, he had just encountered one of these madmen.
Desperation beat in his heart, but he knew he could not leave this man here, “Mister, “he said breathlessly, “the demons are right behind me, we have to run.”
The man turned to him, his eyes strangely did not have the look of madness, they seemed… wise, kind, his voice carried compassion in it, “I know child. Keep running, I will delay them.”
Juchim was not going to let this man die too, “Mister, we both have to run, they will kill you.”
“I am Nos, I have walked in what isn’t, I fought in the Progenitor Wars, their chance to even beginning to comprehend how to harm me, let alone being capable of it, is beyond remote.” As he spoke, Juchim knew that what he said was true. He stood in the presence of a god.
“Help them!” Juchim begged, a glimmer of hope shone in his eyes.
“I can not child, I am bound by conditions beyond your comprehension. Were I to bring what might I have to bear, it would as surely destroy those I sought to aid as it would everything else. I am sorry, Juchim, there is nothing I can do.”
As he finished speaking the demons who had been chasing the boy burst from the ravine. There were six of them, their leader Churixl a particularly large example of his kind, though not particularly important in any demon hierarchy, stopped the others in their tracks.
All of the demons saw something different that they boy was speaking to. Bound in this existence, their minds translated the form of Nos differently, one saw him a demon of unknown variety, one saw him as a flame burning blood red, one saw him as a group a spinning spheres, winking in and out of existence. Churixl saw him as column of dancing lights.
Churixl was not sure what to make of this, but he knew that boy had lead him on a merry chase and he was not getting away, even as the boy turned to run. He charged the column of light, best to take out an unknown enemy first.
He passed through the light, feeling nothing but air. As he did, thoughts were communicated with him, Leave the boy alone, slaying him will accomplish nothing.
Churixl certainly planning on killing the boy before, but after falling through this “thing”, making a fool out of himself, he certainly was not going to let him live now. He reached to his belt, and grabbed the bone throwing blade and hurled it with all his demonic might at the fleeing child.
It took Juchim in the back of the skull killing him instantly. Churixl rose grinning evilly at the column of light. “No one tell Churixl what to do! I killed the prey, just as I will kill you.”
Nos looked down on the fallen boy, some how the child had managed to make Nos care what happened to him, he felt sadness at the loss and then anger at the demon who was responsible.
He watched as the demons attempted to harm him, knowing full well they lacked any means of doing so. Finally Churixl gave up, “You are an illusion of air and light. I may not be able to harm you, but you are powerless to harm me as well, I pronounce you a coward unworthy to even being prey.”
They light changed, reality rippled around it, it grew brighter and less distinct. The voice once again spoke in his mind, I may not be able to harm you directly Churixl, but I am far from powerless. I give you this gift, Demon. The gift of knowledge, the gift of negation.
Nos willed it and Churixl Knew and in knowing transcended what he was. His eyes grew wide and there was a pause and then he screamed in horror at what had been imparted in him, his clawed hands ripped at his face, at his head trying to claw the knowledge out of it. He tore his eyes from their sockets, digging his clawed hands into his skull, he sunk to his knees, then finally falling face down, convulsing on the stream bank.
Nos walked to where the child’s body lay, as Churixl went through his transformation. Quietly mourning the child who had sought to protect him. The other demons kept their distance, though Nos did nothing threatening towards them. One of the braver one approached the now still form of his leader. Cautiously watching Nos, he checked his leader, more for anything useful than any real concern.
Churixl’s transformation was nearing completion, his form had blacked, almost as if it had been burnt, when the demon touched him, he ignited in a black light, an unlight. His hand lashed out and into his compatriot. The demon screamed as his life force, his essence was consumed.
Churixl became known as the Reaver of Demonkind, consuming demons, adding their power to his own. Eventually he gained enough power to claim dominion over all demons, but of course General Palqul took exception to this and a civil war broke in the demonic ranks.
