Krampus could think of nothing but what stood ahead of him. The factory was seething with black smoke that rose from its vents. None of the lights were off, which explained why the town was so empty.

I bet they're just enthusiastic to do their job, he figured. Even as he tried to reason with Vanilla's words, doubt stirred in his thoughts. His heart felt like it would be torn in two by the conflicting emotions that battled from within its hold.

Krampus shook his head as memories of the King taking him in after his father and mother were murdered on Christmas eve. Before the kid could dedicate his life to avenging his family, Santa Claus stopped him and said, "Instead of dying in vain, come with me. You can make the children of this world feel happiness."

Young Krampus' mind could only drift to the poignant smell of iron that burned his nose when he accepted the King's offer with dead eyes. His parents were gone; he wanted warmth.

Yet now Krampus wondered if his parents' corpses weren't the only source of stench that infiltrated his nose at the tender age of six hundred. Regardless of the past, if what Vanilla said was true then he had no choice but to protect the defenseless elves and deer. Even if that meant commiting the same sins he would devour with greed.

He then remembered the elves' obvious distaste for himーthey thought he was the King's favouriteーand hesitated. Why do I need to save them? If they're being abused in such a brutal way, they can protect themselves. Krampus gritted his teeth in anger before halting. They were the ones who eagerly supported my exile without hearing my pleas as the King threw me away.

The prince chuckled bitterly at the cold memories. However, he couldn't turn away. His legs were firmly planted to the ground along with the undying flames of justice that roared in his soul. No matter how much they hated him, they were also his responsibility as Prince even if the King who gave him that title was a tyrant.

The goat demon marched forward, preparing for whatever may come at him. His feet pounded on the snow with his heart racing with worry. He hated to suspect the king, but after seeing the prisoners' reaction to his entrance along with the scars that burned into their skin, Krampus wasn't sure what else it could be other than the king's blatant overuse of power.

A heavy door was cracked open as he neared the factory, inviting him in. When he looked closer, he noticed the paint that chipped away in the center. Almost as if they tried to scratch their way to freedom. Krampus grimanced before placing his hand on the cool black door and slipping inside.

The sight before him was shocking. Krampus' black eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of the workers. Most of them were dressed in rags. The once freshly sewn green uniform that was crafted by the tailors in the finest of silk was stained and torn by the claws of time. The elves had shackles clinging to their ankles and wrists that jingled with every movement.

They were all sitting at desks trying to craft the toys for the children, but Krampus noticed something peculiar: they weren't smiling. The elves were instead the epitome of grief, with dark bags under their narrowed eyes and frowns that masked their once permanently joyful expressions.

He couldn't fathom what horrors they must've gone through to not be able to have fun while making toys anymore. From what the king told him as a kid, Santa formed a peace treaty with the native elf elder half a millennia ago.

They were supposed to willingly work under King Santa for the rest of their lives and in return, bless the innocent children of the world with joy. That wasn't the case anymore. Krampus bit his lip in anger as the image of Simon's scarred back pushed to the front of his mind. What is this foolish king doing?!

Nothing corrupted his thoughts more so than the growing hatred he held for the king. As he watched from the shadows how the elves struggled to build, sort and wrap the various toys that were littered about the room, his toes curled, making his devilishly cut nails scrape against the concrete floor. Is this why he invited me back? To mock my status and stab me with the undeniable knowledge of my mistakes? I should've been here.

Krampus looked up, clenching his fists tight enough to let a trickle of blood slip through his fingers. Whatever doubt he held towards the Vanilla faded and was replaced by a burst of rage for the king.

I will destroy his chaotic monarchy right in front of him, then. What better way to do so than murder? He may have left me in the dark for the past 100 years, but I will make it up to this town. I swear.

The prince tried to get a closer look without being noticed by the elves. Unfortunately, the strength of his furious grip was too much for the wall to bear and caused some rubble to drop to the floor.

The sound startled the elves, for they had impeccable hearing. They hastened their pace while glancing at the spot where Krampus hid. The goat demon watched as they sprinted from station to station with trembling legs. He couldn't stand the fear King Santa forced them to have.

Krampus could feel all of their eyes on him when he took a step forward. Low whispers filled his ears as the skittish elves wondered who it was that concealed themselves in the darkness of the shadows.

All of them visibly trembled as they scurried to look like they were working with every heavy step that the goat demon took. A cough erupted from his lips. He wasn't sure why they were so frightened, but he was about to find out. Despite their differences, he and the elves had similar goals now. Changing the North Pole.

Krampus allowed the light to cast over his features and reveal his identity. He wiped his hands together to rid himself of the rocks that lingered on his fingers before waving with a smirk. "Hello, little elves. Miss me?"

One of the smaller ones gasped, her blue eyes widening in shock. She pointed at him with a shaking finger and sputtered, "Pr-Pr-Prince Krampus?! You're alive!"

Krampus observed his nails with interest before responding, "Indeed I am." He then licked the blood from his fingers as the scars that he inflicted upon himself earlier sealed. "Prince of the Winter Throne," he bowed playfully, "at your service."

The room was silent; only the wheezes and stutters of the ancient machines were audible. Mothers were hiding their curious children from the eyes of the wicked demon. Their husbands shielded their family with every ounce of courage they had as the elves huddled together. Each of the older ones were giving him mixed looks of suspicion and fear. They all clearly remembered the last time they saw the prince; when they were violently endorsing his royal punishment.

Krampus raised his hands defensively. "Just because I'm here doesn't mean all hell will break lose. I didn't come here to kill you― any of you. I just came for clarification. But obviously..." he stopped then glanced at the shackles on their feet and sighed. "I have enough reason to take action."

"Lies!" A mother cried while keeping her dirty child nestled in her chest, "you would never save us voluntarily after what we did to you!"

The goat demon was slightly piqued by their stubbornness. Is this why Vanilla's so hard-headed? Before he could snicker at their bravery, he gave a smile. "You're right. I wouldn't have."

An elf opened his mouth, but Krampus abruptly cut him off with a shush. "That is, if I hadn't known exactly what it felt like to be betrayed by those whose recognition I previously sought. However, if none of you want to stop him, then I'll just-"

"What?!" The one standing at the front yelled and stomped his tiny green-clothed foot. "No, don't wedge your villainous ways into our territory! We were doing just fine until you came!"

"Ha, really?" The prince crossed his arms, tail swinging with impatience. "Look at yourselves. You're all cowering in fear at the slightest sound, forced to slave away at the factory for extended hours. The elves, the children... when Vanilla tried to fix it, only a few of you offered to stand up to the red man."

He looked away for a moment before glaring at the worn out toy makers. "Now when she gets arrested, you just pretend it didn't happen? Do none of you have souls? Do you want your children to work for the rest of their lives?!"

At the sound of the demon's voice laced with anger, a child's whine pierced through the dead silence that forced the Prince's words down the throats of almost every elf in the factory. The ginger-kissed hair that blessed a majority of the elves' necks stood from fear as well as curiousity. The single flame of hope that they lost was igniting little by little. A single tear fell from the elf that stood with her back arched as she recalled the pain that each and every elf had to endure in order to cater to the King's needs.

She tightened her small fists and wiped her face before facing the tall creature. "Prince Krampus, how kind of you to offer your assistance to us even after our errors. However, we were ordered to kill anyone who entered without permission from the King. Therefore," The girl tugged her hat over her eyes and took out the pocket knife that was hidden inside her vest, "If you don't want to die, you'd better run."