Liora had faced armies, slain legendary heroes, and crushed rebellions with the snap of her fingers. But nothing had prepared her for this moment.
She stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, staring out the window. The Demon King—her former boss, the only being she (more or less) respected—was right there, standing in the garden, watching her.
Worse yet: he was smirking.
"Oh no," Liora muttered. "He found me."
Her mind raced. He wasn't just passing by. The Demon King didn't pass by places—he invaded, conquered, or annihilated them.
And yet, there he was. In broad daylight. In the garden. Like a lost tourist.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Lúcia asked gently, placing a warm hand on Liora's shoulder. "You look so pale."
Pale? She was beyond pale. She was teetering on the brink of a second death.
"Yeah, totally fine, Mom. Just… a sudden existential crisis. Happens all the time," Liora said, casually stepping in front of the window to block the view.
Lúcia nodded, utterly unfazed. "Oh, darling, that's just the light working within you!"
Liora forced a smile. No, Mom. That's sheer panic.
Then came Valério, glowing with his usual heroic aura.
"Time for training, daughter! Let us strengthen your connection to the light!"
And then, something very unfortunate happened.
The Demon King waved at her.
A friendly, casual wave.
Like a distant uncle spotting her at a family barbecue.
Liora's soul briefly left her body.
Valério, following her gaze, finally noticed the figure outside.
"Oh," he said in a grave tone. "A stranger." His hand moved toward his sword.
Liora panicked.
"NO—WAIT!" she shouted, grabbing his arm before he could draw the holy blade of doom.
"A stranger staring at our house is suspicious," Valério frowned. "Perhaps... an agent of darkness?"
Liora clenched her jaw. If only you knew...
Lúcia, ever the radiant optimist, clasped her hands sweetly.
"Maybe he's lost! We should offer him some fruit!"
Liora barely stopped herself from screaming: NO FRUIT, PLEASE!
But before she could intervene, Lúcia was already heading toward the door.
Liora's brain shut down. What was she supposed to do now?!
The Demon King—her ex-boss—was about to meet her holy, pure-as-sunlight parents.
This was a catastrophe in the making.
She glanced back at the window… and the Demon King's smirk widened.
Oh, he was definitely enjoying this.
And somehow, Liora just knew: he wasn't going to make things easy.
---
Liora's worst nightmare was coming true: her saintly family was about to invite the Demon King in for tea.