Here's a bonus chapter, since I couldn't update yesterday. Enjoy~
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Within the ethereal confines of Divine Dividing, a place where the will of the White Dragon Emperor resided, Albion Gwiber stirred.
His essence, once steady and eternal, shuddered.
Something was wrong.
Moments ago, the presence of Ddraig, his eternal rival, had been felt—strong as ever, locked in his usual cycle of reincarnation, residing within his latest wielder, Issei Hyoudou.
And then...nothing.
Albion's draconic soul recoiled as if struck.
The link that had existed between him and his counterpart was gone.
Not severed. Not dormant. It was erased.
For the first time in countless millennia, Albion knew true silence.
And then, in that silence, dread.
"…Impossible." His voice, always calm, always measured, carried something it never had before. Unease.
Vali Lucifer stood in the quiet stillness of an evening sky, gazing toward the horizon with his usual unreadable expression. His silver hair was illuminated under the glow of the rising moon, but his mind was elsewhere.
A pulse.
Something distant yet intrusive rippled through the fabric of existence.
It felt like the universe itself had twitched.
A system disturbance? No, this was worse.
His grip on his Divine Dividing gauntlet tightened.
"Albion?" he murmured, voice calm yet expectant.
The dragon did not respond.
A flicker of surprise crossed Vali's face. Albion was never silent when addressed.
The White Dragon was many things—arrogant, calculating, annoyingly wise—but never silent.
Then, just when Vali was about to call again—
"…Ddraig is gone."
Albion's voice was low, quieter than Vali had ever heard it.
The sheer weight of those words made something cold settle in his gut.
"...What?"
Albion took a slow, deliberate breath, as if reluctant to say it again.
"Ddraig. He has ceased to exist."
Vali froze.
His entire body tensed, but his mind reeled.
That—That was impossible.
The Heavenly Dragons were too powerful to simply die—even in defeat, their souls would reincarnate, their existence permanent within the cycle.
Yet here Albion was, saying Ddraig was no more.
Vali's jaw clenched. "Explain."
Albion, still unnervingly quiet, did not answer immediately.
Instead, he searched. He dug deep into the universal threads, searching for the familiar resonance of his eternal rival.
…There was nothing. No lingering fragments. No traces of reincarnation. Not even an echo.
Ddraig had been completely erased.
Albion had always believed that nothing—not gods, not devils, not even the strongest of supernatural forces—could ever truly erase a Heavenly Dragon.
He had believed himself above fear.
But now, Albion was afraid. Because whatever did this…It was not normal. It was not natural. And worst of all—It was not bound by the laws of existence.
A presence that could consume a being like Ddraig entirely?
It should not exist. Yet it did. And it was still out there.
Albion finally spoke again, his voice carefully measured, but Vali could sense the undercurrent of something grim.
"This… is a catastrophe."
Vali narrowed his eyes. "Who?" This will complicate his plans. Vali didn't like the thought of that.
A long pause.
Then, "I don't know. But whatever being could cease the existence like someone like Draig, needs to be eliminated. Immediately."
Vali's fingers flexed around the Divine Dividing, his silver brows furrowing. Albion, his ever-steadfast partner, was shaken. That alone was telling.
And yet, the most concerning part wasn't Albion's unease.
It was his ignorance.
Albion always knew. He had knowledge spanning eras, memories dating back to before the Biblical God's fall, before devils and angels waged war.
And now?
Now he had no answers.
That was dangerous.
That was unacceptable.
Vali exhaled slowly, controlling the tight coil of tension building in his chest. "Explain what you do know," he ordered, his tone sharper than usual.
Albion was silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
"...The method of Ddraig's erasure was not destruction."
Vali's eyes narrowed. "Meaning?"
Albion's voice was grave. "Had Ddraig been slain by normal means, I would still be able to sense his remnants. His essence would scatter, and in time, he would reincarnate once more. But this?"
A beat of silence.
"This was consumption."
Vali's grip on his gauntlet tightened.
"His very existence was devoured. There is no reincarnation. No afterlife. No lingering will. Nothing remains."
Vali was not a man easily shaken. But that?
That was disturbing.
It wasn't just death.
It was annihilation.
A slow smirk curved his lips, but there was no humor behind it. "Now that's interesting."
Albion did not share his amusement.
"Vali. This entity—whoever, whatever they are—has the power to erase a Heavenly Dragon like a footnote in history. You should not take this lightly."
Vali hummed, tilting his head slightly. "And yet, we still don't know the 'who.' That is the problem, Albion."
He would need to find out who this entity was.
The wind howled between them, an eerie, whispering sound that felt far too fitting for the revelation that had just discovered. Something or someone could threaten his plans. That could not happen.
Vali's eyes flashed. Someone new had entered the chest board.
And that? That made things very, very interesting.
~☆~
Hespera groaned, stretching her arms over her head as she reluctantly rose from the silky embrace of her bed. The soft fabric pooled around her as she lazily blinked her heterochromatic eyes, still half-lidded with sleep.
Another day of pretending to be a normal high school student.
Oh, the absolute joy.
She let out a slow exhale, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds longer, contemplating whether or not it was worth the effort to even get up.
'Maybe if I set the school on fire, I won't have to go.'
The thought was tempting, but she dismissed it with a snort. No, no—she'd promised Ophis she wouldn't do anything too destructive.
At least, not yet.
With an exaggerated groan, she rolled out of bed, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders in wild waves. She padded across her room, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she made her way toward her bathroom.
Hespera yawned as she stepped into her luxurious bathroom, the marble floors cool against her bare feet. The dim morning light filtered through the tall, frosted glass windows, casting a soft glow over the elegant silver and obsidian decor.
She shuffled toward the sink, turning the faucet with a flick of her wrist, letting the cool water run as she stared at her reflection.
Her hair was a wild mess—silver streaked with violet, indigo, and green-blue tumbling over her shoulders like a chaotic storm. Her heterochromatic eyes, still groggy from sleep, glowed faintly beneath the long, thick lashes that always made her look half-feral.
She leaned forward, her fingers tracing the smooth, flawless skin of her cheek. Not a blemish, not a scar—just inhuman perfection.
Hespera smirked, baring her fangs slightly in amusement. "I really am a masterpiece~"(Is our Mc a narcissist?! 🤔)
She turned the faucet off and splashed cold water onto her face, the sudden chill snapping her fully awake.
Shaking off the last remnants of drowsiness, she stepped into the walk-in shower, the warm water cascading down her body in soothing waves.
As she lathered the scented soap over her skin, she let her thoughts wander.
Today… would be interesting.
Yesterday had been a test run. The school was watching her now.
The Occult Research Club was curious.
And her adorable little perverts? Well… they were no longer a problem.
Hespera chuckled, tilting her head back as the water streamed down her body.
Her mind flickered to Vali Lucifer and Albion.
Something told her he wouldn't stay quiet for long. Oh, how fun~
Finishing up, she stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in a fluffy black towel before heading back into her room.
The ring on her middle finger started to vibrate again.
Hespera sighed, rolling her eyes fondly. "Geez, Noctis, I literally just woke up. Can you wait until after breakfast before demanding more chaos?"
A soft pulse of energy was her only answer.
She snickered, drying her hair with a burst of magic, then strolled over to her closet.
The standard Kuoh Academy attire was so dull, but at least she made it work. She sighed dramatically as she fastened her uniform's last button, rolling her shoulders to get comfortable. The standard Kuoh Academy attire was so dull, but at least she made it work. The crisp white button-up was left slightly undone, teasing but not breaking dress code—yet. The black blazer fit her like a glove, its sharp edges only adding to her air of casual dominance.
She adjusted her pleated skirt, tugging it slightly higher, then stepped into her thigh-high stockings and sleek boots.
Her reflection in the mirror grinned back at her, a smirk curving over full, kissable lips as her heterochromatic eyes gleamed with mischief and malevolence.
With one final glance at her reflection, she grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and turned toward the door. It was breakfast time~
As she walked, she thought of the cute little devils in Kuoh Academy.
"Rias Gremory," she mused, tilting her head. "That girl is practically drowning in untapped power, and yet… she chooses comfort over evolution."
She let out a soft hum, toying with the black choker she'd added to her outfit.
"Such a waste. Maybe I'll give her a little push in the right direction~"
Her mind drifted to the other little devil in her class.
"Akeno," she whispered, her smirk widening slightly. "Oh, sweet little Akeno. The hidden storm behind the fake smile. You wear it well, but I see you."
She traced the bottom of her lip with one finger, her expression turning thoughtful.
"All that rage, all that resentment—so much delicious potential being wasted because of daddy issues."
She clicked her tongue, amused.
"Not my problem—except, of course, when it is. I suppose I'll have to fix that at some point."
Then her gaze darkened, her smile turning razor-sharp.
Her brothers.
The thought of Azazel made her grip the edge of the staircase, nails lightly scraping against the polished wood.
"Experimenting on my divine body like I was some broken doll?"
Her pupils contracted into dangerous slits.
"That bastard really thought there wouldn't be a price to pay?"
A low, dangerous chuckle escaped her lips.
"Oh, I will punish you, dear brother."
She flicked a strand of silver hair over her shoulder, collecting herself.
"And Lucifer's little reincarnation… tch."
Her fingers twitched, the desire to shatter something humming just beneath her skin.
She had delayed long enough.
She would have to deal with her dear twin sooner than she had planned.
A soft pulse from her ring brought her back to the present, a silent reminder of another promise yet to be fulfilled.
"Patience, Noctis," she murmured, tapping the cool metal. "I'll feed you more fun soon enough."
She strolled down the lavishly decorated hallways of her mansion, the soft glow of enchanted lanterns casting long, elegant shadows across the gothic architecture. Her fingers trailed idly along the smooth banister as she descended the grand staircase.
The scent of freshly brewed tea and something sweet—vanilla, honey, berries—drifted through the air.
Hespera's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Ophis wasn't the type to cook.
At least, she hadn't been before.
Stepping into the dining hall, she was met with an unexpected sight.
Ophis sat at the long blackwood table, her violet eyes staring impassively at a steaming cup of tea. In front of her sat a plate of perfectly golden pancakes, drizzled with what appeared to be strawberry syrup.
Hespera blinked. Then blinked again. Then—she grinned.
"Mom~," she drawled, sliding into the chair across from her, resting her chin on one hand. "Since when do you make food?"
Ophis slowly lifted her gaze from the tea to Hespera, her expression as unreadable as ever.
"Since my Silence requires sustenance," she said simply, pushing a plate toward her.
Hespera stared at the offering. Then back at Ophis. Then back at the damn pancakes.
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Then—Hespera's shoulders shook with soft, breathy laughter, remembering the book her mom was reading last night.
"That book really helped, huh?"
Ophis blinked once. "Yes. I learned alot."
Hespera cackled, grabbing a fork and stabbing it into the perfectly soft pancake.
"Ahhh, this is so cute," she mused, lifting the bite to her lips. She took a slow, deliberate bite, chewing thoughtfully.
A pause. Then another blink. Then—her eyes widened slightly. "Wait. This is actually good?"
Ophis nodded, taking a slow sip of her tea. "I followed the instructions correctly."
Hespera chewed another bite, tapping the fork against the plate. "And here I was, thinking you might try to poison me."
Ophis tilted her head. "I would not do that."
Hespera smirked. "I know, Mom. But wouldn't it be fun if you did?"
Ophis said nothing.
Instead, she calmly placed another strawberry slice onto Hespera's plate.
Hespera grinned, popping it into her mouth. "You really do enjoy doting on me, huh?"
Ophis stared at her, the faintest—faintest—hint of something in her expression.
"Yes."
Hespera's fork paused mid-air.
A slow, amused chuckle spilled from her lips. "...You're such a good mom~."
Ophis didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
The silence, the comfort, the gesture—it spoke for itself.
Hespera finished her breakfast with an easy smirk, licking the syrup off her fork before standing up and stretching.
"Alright, alright, I'll actually go to school today. Don't miss me too much, okay?"
Ophis sipped her tea. "I will not."
Hespera laughed, making her way toward the front door. This new life really was fun.