Chapter 163: Pinky Promises and Shadow Tricks
Chapter 163: Pinky Promises and Shadow Tricks
Elyn’s POV
I watched Aziren’s face crumple.
It didn’t happen all at once. It started small—his brows knitting together, his lower lip trembling like it was fighting a losing battle against gravity. Then his nose wrinkled, his eyes glassed over, and before I could even fully register the danger—
He sniffled.
And just like that, my heart did that stupid thing where it clenched so hard it felt personally offended by the situation.
Ignivar panicked immediately.
"No, no," he said quickly, crouching a little and reaching for his son. "Aziren, it’s alright. Daddy can do something similar. Not shadows, but fire. Fire is—"
Aziren shook his head violently.
"I don’t want fire," he said, his voice wobbling. "I want... I want the shadow thing."
I had to admit, the shadow thing was cool, so I was kinda on Aziren’s side here.
Tears spilled over, hot and sudden, streaking down his cheeks. His sniffles turned wet and broken, the kind that made every adult demon within a five-mile radius feel like they were personally responsible for the fall of civilization.
Aziren rubbed at his eyes with the backs of his hands, smearing tears everywhere. His voice went quieter, smaller.
"Aziren, come on, don’t cry. I’ll do something else for you. I just... I can’t do shadows," Ignivar said to his son.
He looked like he was a few minutes from breaking down himself.
"Don’t worry, Daddy," Aziren said, sniffling. "I know you can’t do it, and Mommy told me to be content with what I have."
He tried to sound mature, but after he said that, he broke down crying even more.
Naviel made a face and moved to the far corner of the hall, choosing to stay far away from Aziren.
I didn’t focus on him or try to understand why he did that. Perhaps he also thought Aziren was a nuisance, like how Zorathys thought he was.
Internally, I screamed. Externally, I inhaled very slowly, because if I didn’t, I might do something wildly irresponsible. Like summoning a demon king by the collar and shaking him until shadow tricks fell out of him like loose change... and then risk my head, because I was very certain Zorathys wouldn’t appreciate that.
I crouched down again, ignoring everything else in the room.
"Aziren," I called gently.
His ears twitched.
"Come here," I said softly, opening my arms just a little.
Ignivar stiffened.
I saw it immediately—the hesitation, the instinct to pull his son back, the wariness etched deep into his bones. He looked like he wanted to argue, wanted to say something about danger or boundaries or fire hazards... I really should have let him, but then I was a stubborn human.
But then Aziren took a step toward me.
Ignivar hesitated... then let him go.
Aziren walked over slowly, shoulders hunched, still rubbing his eyes. I waited until he was close enough before speaking again.
"You liked the shadows Zorathys did, didn’t you?" I asked.
He nodded immediately.
"They were cool," he said softly. His voice was still shaky, still small—but undeniably adorable. "They moved like they were alive."
I smiled despite myself.
He sniffled again, rubbing at his eyes harder. "I know Daddy can’t do it," he repeated. "So I won’t ask anymore."
I hated how responsible that sounded coming from someone so small.
"Well," I said carefully, "what if I help you?"
Aziren froze.
He wiped his eyes with both hands and stared at me like I’d just suggested turning the sky purple... maybe I should actually try something like that.
"Huh?" he asked.
"I said," I repeated gently, "what if I help you?"
He blinked, then frowned slightly. "How?"
"I’ll help you see the shadows again," I said. "Because you clearly want to."
His eyes widened.
"Really?" he whispered.
I nodded. "Really."
His gaze flicked around, like he was making sure no one was about to tell me off. "But... how?"
"I can make Zorathys show you again," I said.
That did it.
His eyes went huge.
Like, dangerously huge. Like I was worried they might just fall out of his face.
"Really?" he asked again, louder this time.
"Yes," I said firmly. "I’ll make sure of it."
He bounced slightly on his feet, then paused. "But... but you are busy. Daddy is always busy too. You won’t have the time."
I smiled. "That is true. And that’s why I’m not going to help you see the shadows right now. It’ll be a while later—maybe after the ball?"
Aziren turned to look at his father.
Ignivar looked back at him, startled, then slowly nodded.
Aziren turned back to me and nodded too. "I’d like that."
"Good," I said. "Then no more crying."
He sniffled once more, then nodded seriously. "Okay."
"And I don’t go back on my promises," I added. "Especially a pinky promise."
He tilted his head with a frown as he stared at me.
That gesture definitely spoke for itself—he had no idea what a pinky promise was.
"Do you know what a pinky promise is?" I asked him.
He shook his head.
"Alright," I said. "A pinky promise is a very special promise. It means you promise something so hard that even magic knows you’re serious."
His eyes widened again.
"If someone makes a pinky promise and breaks it," I continued gravely, "they get punished."
His mouth fell open.
"Like... like they get burned to death?" he asked with wide eyes. I daresay that sounded appealing to him.
I blinked in shock, but then remembered I was in the demon realm.
I chuckled awkwardly. "Something similar," I said. "But don’t worry. I won’t break it."
I held out my pinky.
Aziren stared at it in awe.
Slowly, carefully, he lifted his own pinky.
I helped him hook it around mine.
His skin was hot—not unpleasantly so, but intense, like standing too close to a hearth. I felt Ignivar tense immediately.
"Your Highness—" he started.
I shook my head.
"It’s fine."
I smiled at Aziren. "It’s sealed."
He nodded eagerly. "It’s sealed."
I stood, chuckling softly.
"Alright," I said, turning toward Ignivar and Naviel. "You two should probably do whatever work you came here to do."
I turned to leave.
Then—
"Elyn?"
I looked back.
Aziren tapped my leg gently. "Are you going?"
"Yes," I said.
His ears drooped again.
I crouched immediately. "Do you want to come with me?"
His face lit up.
"Yes!"
And he nodded eagerly.