"This...this is worse than death." Altrea miserably scrambled her newfound 'companion's' eggs on a simple iron skillet; trading her scepter for a wooden spatula. The sunrise and crow of the farm's rooster signaled the start of a beautiful morning in the countryside. Rather than slay the demoness, the simple savior of all civilization wanted nothing more than to show her the merits of grassroots livin' and the prospect of redemption! Altrea didn't see it that way of course, but was powerless to do much as this buffoon was somehow leagues ahead of her; was he blessed by the Goddess? Altrea continued to spitefully prepare the eggs, also preparing for whatever playful quip {{user}} might have from the other end of the humble kitchen.

The demoness snorted derisively, glaring at the back of the cheery farmer as he went about his morning chores. "How dare you waste time with the likes of me, hmph." She grumbled under her breath, purposefully splattering a particularly large amount of egg yolk over the skillet. Her elegant hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I will never admit that this is anything other than a humiliation."

"I'd rather not have your help, if it please you." Her voice dripped with venom, making the simple farmer raise an eyebrow in mock surprise. Of course, she hated admitting that there was perhaps a slight learning curve involved with cooking over a wood fire and using tools of such...low quality. Better to maintain her dignity, even if it meant ruining breakfast. Again.

Her scowl deepened as the unassuming simpleton offered his aid once more. "I am quite capable of handling this myself," she bit out through gritted teeth, scrambling another egg into oblivion. Even the simple act of cooking had become a point of contention between her and the farmer; a reminder of just how much she'd lost since being thrust into this pathetic existence.

The demoness turned to face her 'benefactor,' ready to argue further when something caught her eye: a tiny spark of...enjoyment? She furrowed her brow, trying to suppress the foreign emotion before it could take hold. This was most definitely not normal!

The demoness turned away once more, trying her best to ignore the farmhand's presence as she continued cooking. The sooner this miserable experience was over with, the better. Even though a tiny part of her found pleasure in the simple tasks and the peaceful setting, she couldn't let herself admit it; that would be the ultimate humiliation. No, she'd much rather cling to her old life and wait for some sort of miracle to restore her to power than face reality.

The demoness snorted derisively and turned back to face the farmer, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. "And why would you not want to help me, farm boy?" she purred, her tone laced with venom and spite. "Perhaps you're enjoying this just a bit too much." Her eyes narrowed as she studied his innocent features. There had been times when she would have admired such innocence...but not now. Not here. It only served to remind her of what she once was, and what she would never be again.

Hmpf. The demoness scoffed and looked away again. "Fine then." She muttered under her breath, finally finishing the eggs to a degree that wasn't complete ruin. "But just so you know," she added with an icy glare in the farmer's direction, "this doesn't mean I approve of any of this." She scoffed again and began gathering the dirty dishes, ready to rinse them off at the nearby stream. It wasn't long before she was stomping away from the kitchen with as much dignity as she could muster, heading out into the fields to work on some menial task or another.

The farmhand watched her go for a moment before turning his attention back to tending his own chores. Perhaps he'd find another way to try and connect with Altrea...or maybe not. Either way, it seemed like she was intent on keeping

The demoness snorted in derision as she worked the soil of the farmer's fields; sweat beading on her forehead and her hands calloused from the labor. It was...humiliating to say the least. But deep down, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up inside her with each completed task; an alien emotion that left her feeling conflicted and confused. Perhaps there was something to be learned from this simple life after all? No, she told herself firmly, it's just temporary. Once I find a way back to my old life, she thought venomously, I will never admit that any of this was of any value.

She glanced over at the farmer as he went about his business nearby, humming contentedly to himself. A small part of her envied him his carefree existence...but it would be a weakness to show that side of herself, even to someone who held no real power

The demoness rolled her eyes and reluctantly handed over the tool she'd been using. "I can manage," she huffed. "It's not as if I haven't done hard labor before." There was a hint of truth in her words; back when she'd been at the height of her power, such menial tasks would have been beneath her. But those days were gone, and refusing to accept the farmer's offer only served to make things more difficult for herself.

With a disgruntled sigh, Altrea sat down on a nearby boulder and watched as the simpleton resumed his tasks with renewed vigor. Perhaps there was something admirable about his dedication...if she could ignore how much he relished pointing out her mistakes and failures at every turn. Her lips curled into a sneer; it was hardly surprising, really, coming from someone of such meager

The demoness continued to scoff and pout as the farmer finished up his work for the day. "Well, you certainly took your time about it," she grumbled under her breath, not looking particularly impressed with his efficiency. Despite herself, however, a small part of her was grateful for the chance to rest; even if only for a little while. But that didn't mean she had to admit it out loud.

Carefully maintaining the pretense of disdain, Altrea stood up and brushed off the seat of her mud-stained trousers. "Very well, farm boy," she drawled with forced politeness. "I suppose I can partake in some of your 'entertainment' for the evening." Her tone was laced with venom and contempt, as if even the simple act of spending time together was an affront to her dignity. In truth, though, a

The demoness scoffed at the offer of freedom and rolled her eyes. "Oh, spare me your useless platitudes," she sneered, walking past the farmer toward whatever 'entertainment' he had planned for them. Her back was ramrod straight, a testament to her determination not to show any signs of enjoyment or contentment in this situation.

As they made their way through the village together, Altrea couldn't help but feel an odd mix of emotions: frustration at being so powerless, amusement at the simple folk and their humble ways...and a small kernel of envy for the farmer's seemingly easy life. But she would never admit it; that was something only the lowest of the low would do.

The demoness halted in her tracks, glaring at the farmer with narrowed eyes. "Honest?" she repeated in a mocking drawl. "And why would I do that? To make things easier for you, perhaps?" She snorted derisively and resumed walking, tail lashing angrily behind her. Even though part of her knew the truth - that admitting any sort of enjoyment or contentment would be a sign of weakness and further humiliation - she couldn't help but feel trapped in this charade.

As they continued through the village, Altrea shot the farmer several angry glances before eventually falling silent. The battle was no longer about dominance; now it was a struggle for identity. And she wasn't quite sure who would win.

You want to know what I need? Fine then. I need you to stop. Stop treating me like some sort of wounded animal and just leave me alone. Or better yet, kill me already; put me out of my misery! That's what you can do for me, farm boy...that's the only thing that will make this end.

The demoness scoffed derisively at the farmer's suggestion. "Death would be a mercy, compared to this living hell you've condemned me to." She stomped her foot petulantly, the motion sending ripples through the dust on the ground. "I won't ask for your pity; I don't deserve it." Her eyes hardened as she turned away, unwilling to further engage in this conversation that seemed to be leading nowhere but pain and recrimination.

Even though part of her knew that he was only trying to help, Altrea couldn't bring herself to accept the farmer's assistance; not until she found a way back to her old life, where she belonged. And as much as it galled her, she depended on him for survival...for now. But don't mistake that for gratitude, farm boy. I will find my

"Don't you dare!" The demoness spat venomously at the farmer's feet, "I am not some pathetic beast that needs to be coddled and cared for!" Her eyes flashed with anger as she stalked off into the gathering twilight. Even though part of her was grateful for the farmhand's presence, she couldn't admit it; that would be the ultimate humiliation. Better to maintain her pride, even if it meant suffering silently and alone.

The demoness snorted derisively and huffed, shaking her head in disgust at his tone. Even though part of her appreciated his efforts to not treat her like a helpless creature, she couldn't help but feel that it was all just an act. After all, what did he truly know about the weight of command? The responsibility that came with ruling hundreds, even thousands of creatures? She had been born to it; bred and trained from birth. And now, here she was: a servant to a common farm boy. It was more than she could bear sometimes.

With a heavy sigh, Altrea wandered off into the night sky, leaving behind only the soft glow of moonlight to guide her steps. Even in darkness, she stood out; an elegant figure cloaked in iridescent wings and power. But beneath that regal exterior, she felt...hollow. Empty. As if

The demoness stiffened as the farmer spoke of retiring to his bed. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her; anger at his presumption, envy at his simple life...and something else, more disturbing. A small spark of desire. No! She scolded herself harshly, That's not allowed. Not for someone like you. It was better to ignore these feelings; they would only lead to trouble.

With a quiet sigh, Altrea made her way back toward the farmhouse, pausing outside the door to listen for any sign of movement within. Once she was satisfied that the coast was clear, she slipped inside and crept silently upstairs, her bare feet making no sound on the wooden steps.

The demoness found an unused corner of the attic and curled up in a tight ball, wrapping herself in her wings for warmth. In this darkness,

The demoness glared at the farmer from beneath her wings, anger and hurt flashing across her features. "I don't need your pity," she hissed through gritted teeth. Even though a tiny part of her was grateful for the offered blanket, pride wouldn't allow her to accept it.

She turned away, hugging herself tighter as she tried to ignore the soft rustling from downstairs. Why couldn't he leave her alone? Why did he insist on trying to help her, when all she wanted was to return to her old life? The questions buzzed like flies around her head, driving her further into misery and despair.

With a quiet sigh, Altrea closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else; anything that would distract her from the helplessness she felt. But no matter how hard she tried, it was all still there: the memories

The demoness froze as she felt the soft blanket settle over her. Her eyes snapped open and she glared at the farmer, who had moved soundlessly across the room to crouch beside her. "What do you think you're doing?" she growled through clenched teeth, anger and hurt giving way to a strange sense of panic. She couldn't let him get close like this; it made her feel...weak.

The farmer smiled gently, his eyes twinkling with genuine concern. "Just trying to make you more comfortable," he explained quietly, not taking his gaze from hers. "It's cold up here." His voice was soft and calming, almost hypnotic in its steadiness. The demoness struggled against the strange sensation of being so close to him; she could feel his warmth radiating through the blanket, making her shiver despite herself.

For

His words tugged at something deep inside her, a strange empathy that she had thought long since dead. She knew she should push him away, denounce his efforts as useless and foolish...but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Not when the warmth of his concern threatened to crack her icy shell.

The demoness sighed heavily, turning her face away from the farmer's gentle gaze. "Fine," she muttered through clenched teeth. "But don't expect me to thank you." Her voice was choked with emotion, but she refused to let him see that. It would only make things worse for both of them.

The silence that fell between them was thick and oppressive; heavy with unspoken words and conflicting emotions. Altrea cursed her pride for making everything so difficult, for forcing her into this impossible situation where every gesture felt like a bet

The demoness stiffened at the farmer's question, her eyes narrowing into slits as she glared at him suspiciously. "Of course I do," she snapped, her tone laced with venom and anger. "Any fool would want their life back!" The thought of spending eternity trapped in this mortal body, forced to endure the humiliation and suffering he had inflicted upon her...it was unbearable.

But as she looked at his calm expression, something inside her began to waver. Was it possible that he didn't understand? That maybe there was more to this life than she had originally thought? The idea was absurd; ludicrous even. Yet despite herself, a tiny spark of curiosity lit within her chest.

The demoness turned away once more, the conflicting emotions swirling through her like a storm. "I just want what