The Second Life of Demon King

Episode 8: The Order Soul

thout realizing it, Isaac was again transported into a flash of the past. His vision was blurry, but he could feel the roar of battle, the smell of blood and the screams that echoed in the air. He saw the figure of Maximus standing tall in the middle of the battlefield, full of authority and anger. 

Isaac felt a deep hatred, an uncontrollable rage. “They betrayed me… they destroyed everything I built…” Maximus’ voice echoed in his mind, full of pain and revenge. Even though it wasn’t his, Isaac could feel how painful the betrayal was, like a wound that had been cut deep into his heart. 

The next day, Isaac sat in the living room with his mother, but his mind was still stuck in the shadows of that night. His mother noticed Isaac’s gloomy face, then touched his shoulder gently. 

“Isaac, honey… what’s wrong with you? You look so sad,” his mother asked, her voice soft but full of worry. 

Isaac lowered his head, playing with the hem of his shirt. “Mom… have you ever felt like… like there’s someone else inside you? Someone different… who feels angry and… and hurt?” 

His mother fell silent, not expecting the question to come out of her young son’s mouth. She felt a wave of emotions inside Isaac, feelings that were unusual for a child his age.

“Honey, everyone gets angry or hurt sometimes,” his mother replied, trying to understand. “But you’re still a child… where does the pain come from, son?”

Isaac bit his lip, looking straight at his mother with a serious gaze. “I don’t know, Mom. But… it feels like it’s not from my life. Like it’s from someone who’s been… dead for a long time,” he replied in a tone that was almost a whisper, making his mother choke.

His mother felt worried, but she didn’t want to scare Isaac further. “Maybe it’s just a feeling, Isaac. Sometimes, we experience things that can’t be explained, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid.”

Isaac nodded slowly, but deep down, he knew there was something deeper than just a ‘feeling’. Something whispered of revenge and dark power within him, as if trying to break free from the shackles that held him captive.

That night, Isaac looked back into the mirror. Now, he was no longer afraid of the faint image of Maximus behind his reflection. He stood tall, his eyes burning with determination. “If you are a part of me, then I must know why you are here…”

The reflection did not answer, but Isaac could hear a faint whisper in his head, full of both threat and promise of power.

Isaac was sitting with several adults in the living room. The atmosphere was lively with conversation, but every now and then, he felt curious gazes directed at him. When someone talked about hard work and success, Isaac, unconsciously, let out a sigh and shook his head slightly.

“Success isn’t just about hard work. There’s also betrayal, strategy, and… power,” Isaac said, his voice deep and calm. His gaze was sharp, as if observing everyone around him in a way that was strange for a child his age. Several adults stopped talking, looking at him with confusion and discomfort.

One of them whispered to his friend, “That kid… how can he talk like that? Like… someone who’s experienced a lot in life.”

Isaac heard the whispers, but he remained silent. In his heart, he wondered, “Why do I know these things? Why does it feel like I’m talking like… someone much older?”

That night, after all the adults had gone home, Isaac sat in his dimly lit room. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, just like every other night. But this time, he saw more than just his reflection. He saw something deeper, a figure filled with hatred and dark desires. 

“What is this…? Who are you?” he murmured in a low voice, but strong enough to echo in the silence of his room. His gaze was serious, more mature than his age. 

“Why do I feel like… I’m not just Isaac? Like there’s something else… something old, tired, but full of anger…” he said again, this time in a whisper, as if afraid to reveal more. 

A flash of light flashed through his mind—a ruined empire, a crumbling army, faces full of betrayal. Isaac’s heart raced, and his body shivered. 

“Where did these memories come from? Why do I feel… like I was once so powerful, but was destroyed…” 

The feeling grew stronger, and Isaac began to realize that this was not just his imagination. There was something inside him, an older soul, one that had once held great power but lost everything. 

Isaac clenched his fists, feeling an anger he didn’t fully understand. “I know you’re there, whoever you are… I’ll find the answer,” he whispered with a firm determination. His gaze turned sharp, showing a figure full of determination and mystery, even in the body of a child.

Isaac stared out the window, seeing the vast night sky full of stars. The cold air brushed his face, bringing a sense of calm, but also reminding him of the journey he had to take. “Somehow, I have to know who I am. I will find out everything, no matter how long it takes…”

With a mixture of uncertainty and determination, Isaac made up his mind. The night sky seemed to hold the answer, but the road was still long, full of puzzles waiting for him.

Isaac sat on the couch, lost in the soft embrace of his mother as she read him a story. Her voice was calm and warm, and Isaac drifted into a comfort that was so foreign to him. Usually, he always felt restless and suspicious in the midst of silence. But now… there was a sense of peace that he could not explain.

“Mom and Dad love you very much, Isaac. We will always take care of you, no matter what happens,” his mother said with a sincere smile, stroking Isaac’s hair gently.

Isaac looked at his mother’s face with a confused look, feeling a mixture of confusion and warmth. “Is this… love? Why does my heart feel light… like there is no burden?”

However, behind that feeling, there was also a familiar fear. “In my old world, affection was just a weakness. But… why does it feel different here?” Isaac thought. He wanted to believe, but his betrayed soul was not easily softened.

Isaac and his father were sitting outside, enjoying the afternoon in the backyard. His father put his arm around his shoulders, making him feel safe. They talked about simple things, but every word felt sincere and caring.

“I love seeing you smile, son,” his father said, looking at him with affection. “You are everything to us.”

 Isaac was momentarily stunned, frozen in the new feeling that had seeped into his heart. “Is this really… life?” In the past, a smile was something he had shown only to deceive or manipulate. But this time, he felt it come naturally, genuine and without any hidden intentions.

Isaac hugged his father again, still hesitant. “Do I… deserve this?” he thought, his inner voice trembling with uncertainty. For the first time, he wanted to feel happiness that was not based on power or dominance.

At night, when everything had calmed down, Isaac sat by his bedroom window, gazing at the stars in the night sky. There was a warm feeling that filled his heart, but on the other hand, there was also an emptiness that continued to haunt him. “What would happen if they found out who I really am?”

For a moment, he stared at his own hands. They were small and soft, unlike Maximus’ hands that were covered in wounds and battle scars. “Can I live like this forever? Can I let go… of the figure who had destroyed so many people?” he asked himself.

Isaac finally lay in bed, mixed feelings enveloping him. Curiosity, fear, and perhaps, for the first time, hope. In the silence of the night, he whispered to himself, “Maybe… I can try. Maybe this time, I can live a different life.”

That night, Isaac fell asleep with a new feeling—a desire to accept the affection that had been given to him, even though he knew that the shadow of his past still loomed over him from a distance. But for this time, he chose to feel the affection that warmed his soul, even if only for a moment.

Isaac sat on a park bench, a little away from the other kids running around and laughing. His gaze was cold and judging, watching them with scorn, as if all the fun was just a fake game that could easily be exposed. 

Suddenly, a boy with messy hair and a smiley face approached him. “Hi, I’m Ben!” he greeted cheerfully, sitting down next to Isaac without invitation. 

Isaac raised an eyebrow, fixing the boy with a sharp gaze. “Why did you approach me?” he asked, his voice full of suspicion. 

Ben just chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “I just wanted to talk. You’re always here by yourself… I don’t think it’s fun to be alone all the time.” Ben smiled broadly, as if he considered Isaac an old friend, even though they had only just met. 

Isaac felt confused. What did this kid want from me? Why was he smiling like that? In his life as Maximus, no one had dared to approach him without a reason—and their reasons were always about power or profit. “Why do you care?” Isaac hissed, trying to push the kid away. 

But Ben was undeterred. He just chuckled and said, “Well… I like talking to people. My dad said, making friends is like having wings, we can help each other when someone is in trouble. Isn’t that fun?”

Ben’s words felt foreign to Isaac. “Wings?” he mumbled, almost as if thinking to himself. I’ve never needed anyone… what are wings for? However, a small curiosity began to gnaw at his heart.

When Ben started to tell him about trivial things like his adventures looking for insects or his love of rain, Isaac just listened quietly. Although he tried to keep his distance, the way Ben talked with genuine enthusiasm made Isaac start to be interested.

At home, Isaac pondered about his meeting with Ben. How could the kid be so innocent and carefree? Why wasn’t he afraid? Shouldn’t he have seen the dark gleam in my eyes?

That night, Isaac lay awake with a strange, disturbing feeling. A small voice inside him said, What if there was another power, something that didn’t involve fear or power? Could that comfort be their power?

Isaac met Ben again who greeted him with an equally warm smile. “Isaac! Come sit with me!” Ben said, patting the seat next to him.

Isaac stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge the meaning of that simple action. But this time, he sighed and accepted Ben’s invitation. When he sat down, he felt… a little different. As if he was stepping into a world he had never imagined, a world without betrayal or the fear that had always haunted him.

That day, Ben showed Isaac how simple and sincere togetherness meant. They shared stories, even though Isaac didn’t say much. In between Ben’s laughter, Isaac felt something begin to change inside him.

Isaac didn’t fully understand, but he began to feel comfortable around Ben. Without realizing it, he even smiled a little, an expression he rarely let show.

“Maybe… this world is different,” Isaac thought. Maybe power doesn’t always come from control or power. Maybe power can also come from someone’s courage to smile and believe.

Isaac went home in contemplation. Even though he still felt the shadow of his past as Maximus, his meeting with Ben made him wonder. Could he possibly have a new power? A power that came from this warm and calm feeling… from friendship.

 For the first time, Isaac felt less alone.