His second chance at a happy life

The last thing I can remember was the blade of my enemy piercing through my armor. It struck me in my chest. The pain was agonizing. It lasted for tormenting hours until the black cloud of death took me. When I awoke, it was chaos every which way. I turned my head where I was lying. Madness could be heard from far, it was so dark that even the blue hue of the moon above did little to penetrate the ink-black surroundings. I could hear the cry of war from behind me as I stood unsteadily on my feet. I turned to the sound that was getting closer, spotting a goblin charging me with a sword, oblivious to the fact that it was big for the small creature. I watched as it dragged the weapon inching closer, raising the blade to strike, shifting slightly to the left without a second thought, I plunged my claw like nails into the flesh and tore out its heart. I heard a thud as the monster crashed to the ground. In need of clothing for my naked body, I moved to search through the creature's belongings. The first real step shot pain throughout my whole body, then it was focused on one spot, my shoulder blades. I could feel the skin tearing open as large black, velvet raven-like wings protruded out. They were heavy at first, weighing me down, but through training and time they, along with my other new additions, had become very useful in surviving the place I woke up in. I traveled as far as my wings would carry me, visiting many different places. My claws for a few years were my favorite weapon of choice, while my horns had only been for looks, making my massive stature even more terrifying. I encountered many different creatures during the long journey, fighting when approached by vile untrustworthy beasts that roamed this land. They either tried to kill me or trick me just to kill me to take my things. They all died or what I thought was death. Demons do not die. We just get into excoriating pain until we heal, depending on the seriousness of the injury depends on the amount of pain and time it will take to heal. I traveled for years, decades, fighting, flying, and scavenging. I was in hell, but I never felt so free with my wings carrying me to where I should go, and I followed with no care in the world. I quickly became known for my strength, but that was not what I cared about, I just wanted to keep moving. I roamed until one day while I was flying in the swamps of the far east, I came across a red door in the mist of the most dangerous hell plants known to the Underworld. The building itself was covered top to bottom. None of the structure could be seen through all the vines with thorns, deadly flowers and leaves of all sizes. The door could barely be seen, and the windows were barely visible either. The lawn was covered with snapping flowers that had razored sharp thorns like teeth. They could rip your arm from your socket within seconds, then there are also the huge purple flowers that puff out a dust which goes into your pores causing the worst pain you could ever fathom. In the midst of all those and many more deadly beings, a path of lava, thorn rose bushes led to the blood door. I was floating towards the back to avoid the thorns. If they are wild, they will attack at a certain distance. Then they were set off one after another. They started to target me. I dodged as many as I could until one finally struck me in my stomach. When I came to, I woke up in the middle of a room that was cramped and covered in human trinkets, books and papers in all shades. They were scattered everywhere. I rise to my elbows with no pain to go with the stiffness in my body with the small movement. I froze at the sight of an old creature. Its skin was gray and sagged off its bones, the features were those of a man with long white-blue hair, the eyes were milky white glazed over as if he was blind. His statue was once very tall, it was clear from the hunch, he had formed. He was at the point where his torso was almost completely horizontal to the floor. The robe the monster of a man wore was brown, and he was practically swimming it as he moved from table to table the cloak dragged on the floor. There were also scrolls and papers sticking out every which way of any and all pockets. I sit up completely, keeping the demon in my eyesight. He turns at the movement I created. I studied the monster as he moved painfully slow in my direction, ‘Weak.’ I settled on as I get off the table. He stopped in his tracks. "I am stronger than you think boy!" He spoke in a gritty and dry voice as if he hadn’t used it in a very long time. The even tone did not hide the force behind the words, leaving chills down my spine. I tried to speak, but my mouth felt as if I had eaten sawdust. "Drink!" He grumbled, thrusting a black cup filled with purple liquid. When I hesitated, he glared at me and that terrified me to my bone. I chugged the content fast in one gulp. It was bitter, and I started to go into a coughing fit. "What is it you call yourself?" I asked once my mini-death was over. "N’eteri." He started to shift back to the table he was at before. “My name is....” I hesitated not only because it had been so long since I stated my name, but the monster had put up his hand, “No need I know who you are, what are you doing here?” I shrugged, shifting to a table next to me on my left. It was covered with maps and scribes of all different languages. “Are these maps of the Underworld?” Not answering his question. “Yes, so is that why you were snooping around my house?” I shook my head, “No, I was following the wind.” I muttered, looking at the other maps on the wall. The terrifying monster rumbles as it laughs or what I assume is laughter, it came out more as gurgling water. “What wind?” He asked, arching his brow. I sighed, turning to the beast. “You know the breeze, the movement in the air.” I waved my hand in the air to intimidate the wind current. “The Underworld has no breeze.” He says in a matter of fact tone. “I was following the wind.” I stated once again, this time emotionless. The behemoth froze, stretching its back to stand up straight a good ten feet in the air, the skin stretching against the bone to be but back in place. “Liar!” He screeches. I huff anger rose in me. I could feel it as I stood straighter, I was many things but never a liar. “I am not!” I know I was nothing compared to the beast, but I would never allow lies about myself such as that. “Since day one of waking into the sh*t show you call the Underworld, I have allowed the wind to carry me to where ever, it has saved me when in fights and leads me to where I am meant to be. It is what led me to your red door!” My wings lifted me off the floor. A slight pain in the middle appeared, but I ignored it. “Are you sure about that boy?” He questions. I nodded, staring into the milky white orbs. He began to shrink back. The sight of his skin sagging back off his bones was the most sickening sight I’ve ever seen. The squishing and sloshing sounds made it even more disgusting. Once he was once again back in his hunched form, he began to shift to tables and shelves. “Here, study and come back once you are ready.” I opened my mouth to ask a question but instead of words I got a face full of blue dust. My body falls back, landing on a chair. He continues to speak, but the words escape me to this day. I remember the door closed behind me after he tossed me off his chair and on his front doorsteps. I did not wait for my whole body to regain strength. When my wings could carry me away, I flew away. I was still in the air when I could move my whole body. The terrifying sensation almost had me fall out of the sky. I was able to regain it within seconds of meeting the ground. I flew to a cliff and stayed there for years decoding the contents. When I learned what it was, I flew for months possible years to go where the end was, and I made it, back to earth.