“Demon King!”
Neo suddenly jolted awake.
He was breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell rapidly, while cold sweat drenched his forehead.
He looked around in a panic.
This place was unfamiliar.
It wasn't the dark room he'd seen in his dream.
Nor was it the ancient room with the dragon altar.
Neo was in a simple bedroom. Sunlight streamed through the gap in the window, illuminating part of the room.
Beside the bed, a girl who had been sitting there immediately turned toward him.
“Oh, you're awake?”
Neo fell silent.
The girl was Diana.
Diana looked relieved to see that Neo had finally regained consciousness.
“You kept shouting in your sleep. That's why I came to check on you.”
Neo still looked confused.
His eyes studied Diana's face before shifting to take in the entire room.
Finally, he looked back at the girl.
“W-who are you?”
Diana was slightly startled.
“I'm Diana.”
She gave him a small smile.
“I found you at the sacred house and saved you.”
“The sacred house…?”
Neo repeated the words softly.
But no memories surfaced in his mind.
Diana watched Neo's expression with curiosity.
“Where are you actually from?”
She paused for a moment.
“And why did you suddenly appear in that house?”
Neo fell silent.
The questions made him try to remember something.
He closed his eyes.
But all that appeared was darkness.
No faces.
No places.
No memories.
Nothing at all.
Neo opened his eyes again.
“I… don't remember.”
Diana's eyes widened slightly.
“You don't remember?”
Neo slowly shook his head.
“I really don't know who I am… or where I came from.”
Diana fell silent.
The room grew quiet.
But a few moments later, Neo remembered something.
“The only thing I can remember is one thing…”
Diana looked at him.
“There was a god…”
Neo furrowed his brow, trying to recall the figure who had appeared in his dream.
“He told me to find the Demon King.”
Diana suddenly went silent.
“The Demon King…”
Her expression changed.
As if those words reminded her of something she'd heard before.
Diana lowered her head for a moment.
“Could it be…”
She murmured, almost inaudibly.
“Was that old woman's prophecy really true?”
Neo stared at Diana in confusion.
“Prophecy?”
Diana immediately came to her senses.
She raised her head and looked away.
“It's nothing.”
Neo continued staring at her.
Diana was clearly hiding something.
But Neo was too confused about his own situation to force her to answer.
Diana then stood up.
“Anyway, come outside first.”
She walked toward the door.
“My father wants to talk to you.”
Neo slowly got out of bed.
His body still felt a little weak, but he was able to stand.
Before following Diana, Neo suddenly stopped.
“Oh… before that…”
Diana turned around.
“What is it?”
Neo gave her a small smile.
“My name is Neo.”
Diana was silent for a moment.
Neo continued sincerely,
“Thank you for saving me.”
Diana returned his smile.
“You're welcome.”
She then opened the door.
“Come on, follow me.”
Neo nodded.
“Okay.”
With slow steps, Neo followed Diana out of the bedroom.
But neither of them realized it…
That simple meeting would become the beginning of a long journey that would change both their fates.