The ground shook as huge chunks of concrete collapsed onto the ground below. The people who called this great city home tried in vain to escape the black and white shapes that warped around the crumbling alleyways, but ultimately, many are consumed by the spirit of destruction.
The chief of the city looked down at the couple responsible for conceiving the abomination. If not for their title, he would have executed them on the spot. But because of their prestige, all he could do was look at them with disappointment.
“Look at what you two have created. Look at the atrocities that have been brought to our people.”
The two remained silent.
“Hannan, Marko, you both knew the consequences of this type of union, yet—”
“We can’t choose who we love!” The ifrit interjected angrily.
“That may be the case, but the two of you still knew something like this could happen. It’s why unions between beings of light and darkness are prohibited: to prevent these abominations from ever being born!”
“Our son is not an abomination.” Marko stood up, but the guards quickly forced him back to his knees.
“He is the Ekmidenisi, the Bringer of the End. If you still don’t think that is an abomination then I’m afraid to find out what you think one is.”
In the distance, the screams of dying victims could be heard. The crowds that had managed to elude the shapeless burst into the palace, the last remaining refuge in the city.
“I won’t let this madness go on any longer. We have to destroy that thing now.”
“Please, don’t!” Hannan cried out.
“There is no other choice, we either kill the child and save our world, or spare it and doom both our world and the mortal world.”
The chief grabbed his staff and began to direct his men to direct his men into defensive position, readying themselves for the attack by the doom bringer.
“There’s one other way.”
He turned to look at Marko, who had stood up once again.
“And what would that be?”
“We seal the Ekmidenisi.”
The chief’s eyes widened.
“And where are you going to get a strong enough seal, if I may ask?”
“We use the Seal of Rex Magus.”
When he said that, all the guards in the room let out a collective gasp.
“Do you even know just how much power that requires, or the cost of using that seal?!” The chief growled
“I do, but the price is nothing compared to my son’s life.” He looked down at Hannan, the demon he had called an enemy for many decades, and the woman he ultimately fell for.
“Hannan, would you join me in saving our boy?”
The look that was in Marko’s eyes at that moment awoke a sensation in the ifrit that she had not felt since their battling days. Slowly, she stood up and took hold of his hands.
“Of course.”
 “Are you two really tossing your lives away for that thing?”
“Yes,” Hannan answered, “And I’m sure you would do the same thing if it were your child.”
The chief rubbed his temples. It was clear that the couple had made up their mind, and no amount of persuasion from him would sway them
 “I’ll give you until the clouds reach the palace. After that, there will be no quarter for that beast.”
“Thank you sir.” Marko said with a smile.
The couple took off down the halls as fast as their legs could take them. Within seconds, the two were out of the palace and out of sight.
“I can only pray that you two are successful in this endeavor.”
====
It did not take long for the two of them to reach the epicenter of the destruction. However, it was still quite daunting to see the destruction and the numerous skeletons that now littered the streets.
The walls of the healing springs glowed brightly as the tendrils emanating from the birthing chamber buried into the stone walls, releasing their energies into the air around them.
“Well, this is it.” Hannan stuttered. The couple took hold of each other’s hand and walked forward, into the birthing chamber. Surprisingly, the tendrils that blocked the entryway separated as soon as the couple approached, allowing them to reach their child.
At first glance, the inside of the chamber did not appear to have changed since the disaster began. However, the hanging skeletons of numerous babies and mothers brought the couple back into reality. At the center of the room was the floating form of their child, who was surrounded by both pitch black shadows and dazzling light.
“Konrad…”
Marko reached out to try and touch his son, but Hannan pulled his hand away.
“We have to hurry. No dawdling.”
“Y-Yeah…”
Taking their positions, the two took hold of each other’s hands and began the sealing ceremony.
“Rex Magus, we call upon you now in our time of need, help us lock away the enemies of your people, and help us bring prosperity to those who honor your name…”
As the ceremony continued, energy began to crackle around them, and their bodies began to glow. They gave one last look at their son before muttering the last words of the incantation.
When the last words left their lips, the bodies dissolved and turned into two brilliantly colored orbs that immediately entered the child. When this occurred, the miasma that covered the city began to retract, and the tendrils wilted and died; the city now lay silent.
====
“We found the child!”
From the remains of the healing springs, a soldier climbed out with the child of Hannan and Marko in hand. If not for the large seal that now adorned his back, one would think this was a normal child.
“What should we do with it, sir?” the soldier asked the chief.
“We can’t keep him in this world. It is far too dangerous for a being of such destructive power to be allowed to remain here. By now I’m sure news of this incident has reached all corners of this world.” The chief took the child into his arms and looked down at him. Killing the child now would end destroy the Ekmidenisi. However, to know just what kind of price the child’s parents had paid to seal it had staunched any urges he had.
“Let us send him to the mortal world. At least there, this child can have some semblance of a normal life.”