Abyss closed his notebook and waved his pen lightly. The towering stack of books on the desk was gently lifted by the wind and carried back to their places on the shelves.
Just as the last book hovered within half a meter of the bookshelf, a kind yet aged voice drifted up from downstairs
"Your Highness, I heard that you've returned ahead of schedule."
The wind holding the books aloft vanished instantly, sending the heavy tomes crashing to the floor with a resounding thud.
The chair that had been occupied by the dark-haired revenant was now vacated, as the silver-haired celestial slowly rose to his feet. He strolled unhurriedly to the railing, his languid movements exuding an air of effortless grace.
As he walked, his casual black shirt and trousers seamlessly transformed into a pristine white uniform, embroidered with the golden emblem of the Church of Light.
His fingers, pale and slender as if sculpted from pure moonlight, rested upon the railing. Gazing down at the elderly man below, Baders golden eyes no longer bore the malice they held for Abyss; instead, they softened into something warmso inviting it could drown a person like holy water.
"Willy," Bader called out the old mans name, his voice tinged with resignation. "I dislike banquets, so I left early."
"There is no need to cover for His Highness Abyss," the elder replied, his hawk-like eyes gleaming with scrutiny. "Knight Commander Roland already informed meHis Highness Abyss left on his own accord. And on his way through a small town, he engaged in inappropriate relations with an unknown girl."
"Abyss has never once considered your feelings. That is unacceptable."
"Willy." Bader interrupted the old man's rising anger, adopting a look of reluctant defense on Abysss behalfthough he was clearly struggling to find a convincing excuse. In the end, he shifted the blame onto their schoolmates who had invited them to the banquet. "They despise Abyss. Its understandable that he wanted to leave."
It was an empty justificationno one liked a revenant.
Except for that peculiar half-elf. She had actually shown an interest in Abysss body. Whether that made her bold or simply brainless was up for debate.
"She is remarkable," Abyss countered instinctively, sensing Baders silent derision towards Belial. "She has a unique understanding of runes, and no matter what branch of magic it is, she grasps it with ease."
"Yes, otherwise, how else could she have lured you into bed?" Baders offhanded mockery did nothing to disrupt the gentle, benevolent image he maintained before the old man.
The elder was well aware of Abysss situation at school.
If dark creatures were feared and shunned, revenants were undoubtedly the most loathed of them alleven the demon kin, also beings of darkness, wanted nothing to do with them.
Given such a hostile environment, it was a small miracle that Abyss had not turned twisted or cruel. But human hearts are biased; compared to the sullen and withdrawn revenant, the elder naturally felt more sympathy for the radiant and noble celestial, Bader.
Under Baders seemingly conciliatory yet subtly incendiary persuasion, the elders dissatisfaction with Abyss only deepened. Once again, he lamented that these two were bound together as one.
Had they been ordinary twin brothers, then Baderthe Saints Chosenwould have been nothing short of perfect.
If only they could be separated...
With this thought in mind, the elder departed from the library tower, having concluded his daily pleasantries.
As the great doors of the tower closed, the warmth in Baders golden eyes vanished. He turned and strode toward the bookshelves, retrieving the book that had fallen. He slid it back into place between the others, his fingers lingering momentarily on the spine.
"Fools," he murmured, his voice dripping with quiet amusement. "They insist on believing that light is synonymous with virtue and that darkness equates to evil."
Abyss said nothing. Bader loathed him, and he harbored no fondness for Bader either. They despised each other equally.
Bader never expected Abyss to offer any insight that might interest him. Spreading his pristine white wings, he gave a single powerful beat and soared to the towers apex, passing effortlessly through the stained-glass ceilingits mosaic of roses offering no more resistance than a thin veil of water.
He ascended higher, eventually halting in midair, overlooking the entirety of the Holy City.
Everything beneath his gaze belonged to him. Yet as he surveyed his vast domain, not a single flicker of emotion stirred in his eyes.
"Im growing tired of this," he mused. The wind at this altitude lashed at his uniform, sending it billowing around him. "But a kingdom like this... even if it were to fall, it wouldnt be any fun. For those who suffer within it, death would merely be a release."
Leaning back into an invisible chair conjured from nothing, he crossed one leg over the other, exuding an effortless elegance. Then, in an unusually amicable tone, he proposed a thought to Abyss
"Lets change this country. Lets make it prosperous, powerful, harmonious, and just. Lets grant its people peace and happiness under its protection. And then..."
A radiant smile, so breathtaking that it could sway even the most steadfast of souls, graced his lips.
"Lets destroy it."
Until the Duchess used the dragon bone, Belial was to remain within the Dukes castle.
During this time, the Duke had his men gather the materials she required, while Belial focused on preparing for her departure from this world.
She meticulously redrew the magic array, scrutinizing each rune one by one, determined to identify the flaw that had caused her previous failure and to prevent a repeat of the same mistake.
For two days, she combed through every detail, yet found no errors. Instead, she discovered a new approachone that would allow her to designate a precise teleportation destination.
If the runes were correct, then something must have gone wrong when the array was activated.
Belial recalled that someone had broken into her home that daysomeone who had attempted to enter her basement. It was possible that, in doing so, they had disrupted the barriers she had set up, tampering with the runes and interfering with the magic circle.
The problem was, she had closed her eyes.
As a vampire, she was sensitive to sunlight. Though it wouldnt reduce her eyes to ash, exposure to strong light was unbearable. When the array activated and its runes flared to life, she had instinctively shut her eyes.
Moreover, the sheer turbulence of magic at the center of the array had dulled her hearing and clouded her perception. She had no way of knowing whether her suspicion was correct.
So how could she verify it?
Belial fell into deep thought.
Then she rememberedher alma mater possessed a stone, one that allowed its user to review their memories from a third-person perspective.
She needed to return to her school. While there, she could also visit the library to refine her new theory.
Having made her decision, she penned a letter and stepped out to find an elf who could deliver it.
Instead, she got lost.
For the third time, she passed by the same familiar statue. Resolving that if she didnt find someone to guide her at the next turn, she would simply jump out of the nearest window, she rounded the corner
And found herself in a long corridor.
No elves.
Only a portrait hanging on the wall.
It depicted a golden-haired elven youth, bow in hand, brimming with youthful pride.
Belial walked to the painting, gazing at it in silence.
"His name is Frey," Duke Chloris remarked as he passed by, noticing her fixation.
"I know," she replied, her crimson eyes never leaving the face of the boy. "He is your son."
And my father.