Photographic Memory

Staircase (2)

I slowly got up, my body aching from the unexpected blow that had rendered me unconscious. Turning to Lesly, I asked where we were now. She gave me a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable, before answering, "We're on our way to meet the owner of this particular floor."

I fell into step behind her, the cavern around us shrouded in near-total darkness. The only source of light was an orb of radiance Lesly had conjured with her magic, its soft glow illuminating the path ahead.

"I thought demons couldn't use light-based magic," I remarked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence as we made our way through the gloom.

Lesly's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I'm a halfling," she replied simply. The implication was clear – she was a hybrid, born of both demonic and elven lineage.

Curiosity piqued, I pressed further, "How did your mother end up here?" I assume she was the elf, since her father is the demon lord.

Her expression darkened slightly. "She was born here. She's a demon, after all," Lesly said, her tone matter-of-fact.

"But your father—" I began, only to be swiftly cut off.

"The king isn't my real father," she interjected, giving me a pointed look. "Sigh... look, the king sees all species besides humans as his children," she continued, elaborating. "My mother wanted to see the surface so much, and the king granted her wish. She then met my dad. However, the village was against them being together – a typical story, really. When they were escaping the rage of the villagers, my dad died while protecting my mother, who managed to get back to the tower safely due to his sacrifice. She was already pregnant with me by then, so there you have it. I never met my actual father."

I listened, my mind reeling from the revelations. These demons seemed so...human, their stories laced with the same emotions and struggles that plagued my own kind. Were they truly the creatures we were supposed to hate and fear?

My line of thought was cut short by a sudden, blood-curdling scream echoing through the darkness.

"Who's there?" Lesly demanded, her voice sharp and alert, her posture tensing as she prepared for a confrontation.

From the shadows, a towering figure emerged, dragging behind him the lifeless corpse of what appeared to be another demonic creature. As he stepped into the light, I got a better look at him – a tall, muscular male with dark, reddish skin, his torso bare and showcasing his impressive physique. But what truly unsettled me were his eyes; the moment he noticed me, his red irises widened, and a predatory smile spread across his face. My instincts were screaming at me to run.

"Oh hey there, Lesly," the newcomer rumbled, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. "The dinner was trying to escape, so I went and caught it. Sorry for startling you, hmm? A human? How rare..."

"He's no food, Yory," Lesly said firmly, stepping in front of me in a protective gesture.

"Hmm, so what's the occasion? Why the sudden visit?" Yory asked, his gaze still fixed intently on me.

"I want to pass to the lower floors," Lesly replied, her tone unwavering.

"With this?" Yory exclaimed, genuine confusion etched on his features.

"King's orders," Lesly stated, her words carrying a weight of authority.

"What? That lazy king actually gave an order? Now that's news. I'm more interested in the little fellow there," Yory said, his eyes gleaming with a predatory curiosity that made my skin crawl.

"Yory, don't cross the line," Lesly warned, her voice laced with a subtle threat.

A tense silence followed, the air thick with unspoken tension. Finally, Yory clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tsk, what a loss. I can only get you to the 80th floor. Keep in mind that the other three clans don't care a lot about the king's orders. He's given them too much freedom."

As we continued our descent, I began piecing together the information I had gathered. From the 100th floor to the 90th, this was the demon lord's territory, along with his family. From the 90th to the 50th, the floors were divided between four powerful clans, each ruling over 10 floors. Below the 50th floor, the monsters that lost their intelligence reside, the higher the floor, the stronger these creatures became.

I remembered the demon lord's words – after the 50th floor, I would have to continue on my own. In a way, I saw his mercy in having Lesly guide me to the 50th floor, as I had no chance against these demon folk if they chose to harm me. However, I still had to contend with the monsters on the 49th floor, a feat that humanity had yet to accomplish, despite their best efforts.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed as Yory stopped in front of a large, green door, stating, "Past this door is the Gladiolus clan territory. This is as far as I can get you. Good luck out there, Lesly." He gave her a small pat on the shoulder, then turned to me and winked before disappearing back into the darkness.

Lesly's expression remained impassive as she faced the ominous green door. "Let's go," she said, her voice calm and resolute.

As we stepped through the threshold, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. The air here felt heavier, the shadows deeper, and the silence more oppressive. The very atmosphere seemed to whisper of the dangers that lurked beyond.

Lesly led the way, her footsteps sure and unwavering. I followed closely, my senses on high alert, my mind racing with a thousand questions. Who were these demon clans, and what was their relationship with the demon lord? What was their true nature, and how did they view the surface world and its inhabitants?

The path ahead grew narrower, the walls closing in around us. I could feel the weight of the floors above, the sheer power and ancient magic that permeated this place. It was both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling.

Suddenly, Lesly raised her hand, signaling me to stop. "We're here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The owner of this floor will be waiting for us."

I swallowed hard, steeling my nerves as I prepared to face whatever lay in store. With a deep breath, I followed Lesly into the unknown, my heart pounding in my chest.