There exists a place alongside our home plane, one we cannot see or touch, but it's there. A plane without the atoms that make up physical existence, save for the energy of the universe. Over time, the primeval energies gave shape, beginning to recognize their existence and surroundings. Sentient energy. Age upon age passed, but time was irrelevant in a place without matter. Until, one of the strongest decided to reach out. It grazed something, and with its curiosity peaked, kept pushing, until at last tearing the curtain between realities and finding things never before seen in its existence. Atoms, molecules, granules and objects. In time, others followed, though only the most powerful could independently travel though.

Seeking to experience the new reality, with their formless energies struggling to retain their grip in the physical plane, innovation gave way. Through trial and error, the energies making up their being could alter the world around them. Eventually, they achieved their goal, shaping it into the elements, becoming part of the world. Their first bodies. Each of these extradimensional beings finally interacted with the life they had previously observed, and in doing so became like them, filling themselves with more knowledge and trade than their entire existence in the void of energies had.

Though it was far from the truth, Earth's denizen's first name to their new visitors was demon. So, they called themselves demons.

What of those who did not have the means to cross reality on their own? The lesser beings that far outnumbered the few greater ones. In their time in the world, they saw the method of service in humanity and conceived to emulate it. When the first allowed their lesser kind into the world and began teaching them to mold their forms and the ways of their new reality in addition to reaching Earth on their own, others began doing the same. In exchange for their services, these collective demons were given order. As new demons came, it was soon clear on the problems the lesser kind had their superiors did not. The greatest were able to change realities in ways they discovered, but their smaller kin could not even keep their physical forms together permanently, eventually returning to the void of their birth until regaining enough strength to worm back. Until it was discovered that emulating the ways of physical life solved that. By resting and consuming food as fuel, the demons could regain strength, enough that provided they had all they needed, they could indefinitely stay in the world. Agriculture was founded, and while the lesser kin required it to avoid an inconvenient return to their realm of birth, the greater ones found enjoyment out of it.

So began demon society, a collection of independent lords with hundreds, sometimes thousands of lesser demons, dubbed imps, at their command. The lords live their existence they see fit, in castles or manors, whatever they deem to be built by their subjects. No need for currency, save for commerce outside those of their kind, all receive what they need. There are times lords treat those with disrespect, or even cruelty, but they are eventually left with nothing. Imps may simply pass back into their realm of birth, return elsewhere to pledge to a new master. Sometimes, if the master is especially unkind, revolution may give place, and may succeed, in where the master is banish and the imps celebrate before eventually fading away without the support of a demon lord. Even if they fail their vengeance, they will simply find a new master. Some may try to develop on their own, but it is a struggle for it soon became clear that the presence of a lord alone provided a subtle but effective anchor that eased the struggle of maintaining an imp's foothold on reality. Imps that still try to exist without a master become little more than vermin eating trash. So they serve, and the lords know that respect will go a long way to gain loyalty.

In ages past, in the times where swords clashed when demon civilization first rose, some adopted the ambitions of other races, arrogant of their own power to bend reality that they create fire or move matter, along with their immortality given death only meant a temporary return to their realm. They quickly learned the armies of the world grinded them down like nothing, destroying all they created every time. The most ruinous ones had to return to their realm and wait out time less they become constantly hunted down, before returning with more humility.

Few demons wish to stay in their realm of birth as their home. The pleasantness, even merely the stimulation, of physical life was overwhelmingly preferred over the existence of formless energy.

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Shivian wormed her way into the Earth like the other lords did, and upon learning to form her own body she took a liking to the feminine side of life. One of her greatest fascinations in her early times on Earth was water and ice, how matter changed from different states. Demons tend to devote their method of manipulating reality, their powers, to a type that way they may better develop it. Shiva chose both ice and water, and didn't shy from having two appearances to associate them both. When she brought her first imps into Earth, she had been one of the most compassionate lords out there, earning a loyalty so strong that none had left her service. She made her home in the snowy mountains of Russia, developing her home into a prosperous community. Alas, her weakness was not being prepared to defend her home, and it became nothing more than ash.

Upon gathering her followers, she made the journey in finding a new place to call home. Unexpectedly, she had found another demon lord, a masculine one that associated himself with fire by the name of Magvrith. The lord invited her as a guest, and it despite relations between other demon lords to be fragile enough it encouraged isolation from one another, they made friendship. Shivian was patient and determined to find the perfect new home for her kingdom, but saw Magvrith again many times. The relationship blossomed, sprouting into something never before seen in demon kind: love. It was a monumental action, but the two decided to emulate the other species in the ceremony uniting two lives. They married, uniting their kingdoms. Magvrith's castle was taken apart and completely rebuilt twice as large as before to announce the new beginning.

Despite sparking resentment from some other lords, they lived peacefully into today in the 21st century.

Yet, there is one remaining thing Shiva desires that she cannot have that the lovers of other races do.

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Shivian ©

Art ©