The grand hall stretched around them, with its crystalline walls reflecting golden light from floating chandeliers overhead.
Samael and Lilith walked side by side through the center of the space, watching as gods moved about in preparation for the wedding.
So arranged flowers along the towering pillars. Others hung banners of white and gold silk from the vaulted ceiling. Lm
Lilith’s face was bright with excitent. Her eyes darted from one corner of the hall to another, taking in every detail as if committing it all to mory.
"It’s perfect," she said. "Everything is coming together beautifully."
Samael walked beside her without expression as his gaze moved across the preparations with practically zero interest.
After a mont, he spoke.
"I need a favor from you,"
Lilith turned toward him imdiately, as her excitent turned into a tender expression.
"You should not hesitate to ask," she replied, reaching out to take his hand. "I am, after all, going to be bound to you by our love."
Samael’s lips curved into a faint smile.
"Co with ," he said.
Without another word, he turned and began walking toward the hall’s exit and Lilith followed behind
——
Not long after, Samael and Lilith stood inside Asahel’s residence.
The demon lords were gathered in the main chamber, as Lilith moved between them one by one.
Red magic circles appeared before her outstretched hands while she cast her enchantnts, each one tailored specifically to the demon lord standing before her.
One by one, their appearances began to change.
Horns dissolved away, their Pale and ash skin smoothed and lightened, taking on the tones of normal flesh.
Those with dark markings no longer had ti as they faded from their faces and arms, leaving them clean and unblemished.
Morrigan’s ring of floating bones vanished, leaving only the armor that clung to her fra. Her blonde hair remained, but the demonic edges that had defined her presence were gone.
Akravos, whose face had always been shadowed and impossible to make out, now wore a gold helt that covered the upper half of his face entirely. It gave him a mysterious look, but it was far less unsettling now.
Most of their clothing shifted as well, transforming into the robes and tunics commonly worn by gods in Eden.
The changes were seamless, blending them perfectly into the city’s aesthetic.
When Lilith finished, she stepped back and surveyed her work with satisfaction.
Most of the demon lords looked uncomfortable. A few pulled at their new clothing with visible distaste, adjusting sleeves or collars as though the fabric itself offended them.
Others, like Zephron and Korvax, seed indifferent. They accepted the transformation without complaint.
Lilith turned toward Samael and explained.
"This is a temporary feature enchantnt," she said. "Your Lord expressed a concern to . He would like for all of you to be in attendance at the wedding."
She paused, glancing back at the demon lords before continuing.
"Although I have told him that it is no problem for any of you to attend as you are, he insists. He would not want any sort of disruption on our day."
Her gaze returned to Samael, softening as she looked into his eyes.
Samael smiled back at her and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a slow kiss.
So of the demon lords turned their heads away imdiately. Morrigan felt a sharp tingle of pain in her chest.
Her jaw tightened as she forced the feeling down, burying it beneath a layer of indifference.
When the kiss ended, Samael pulled back slightly and said, Thank you."
Then he added, "Is it all right if I speak with them a bit more privately?"
Lilith’s expression faltered for just a mont. It was in between disappointnt and confusion.
She was about to be his wife so what couldn’t he discuss with them before her?
However she masked her discontented expression quickly and smiled, saying "Sure."
She turned and walked toward the exit, with her robes trailing behind her as she stepped through the doorway.
A mont later, she took flight, rising into the air and disappearing from view as she flew away from the abandoned castle.
Samael watched her go, then turned his attention toward Asahel, who stood near one of the pillars.
Without a word, Asahel inclined his head and left as well, walking silently out of the chamber.
The mont he was gone, Morrigan stepped forward.
"My Lord," she began, bowing her head respectfully. "I an no disrespect, but I fail to find the necessity in what Lilith just did."
Samael laughed lightly. "This was my intention," he said. "I need you all on a task, and your demon forms will draw too much attention."
Morrigan imdiately expressed readiness.
"You need only ask, my Lord," she said, bowing once more.
Samael reached into his robes and pulled out a rolled scroll. He unfurled it with both hands, revealing a large, detailed map of Eden.
The demon lords gathered closer, leaning in to see. Samael’s finger traced along the scroll as he spoke.
"I found out that this high god of records, Mocles, went as far as mapping out this entire city. It shows different locations throughout Eden."
His finger stopped at one corner of the map, tapping against a specific point.
"This place," Samael continued, "is the gateway into the city. It is controlled by a lesser god nad Rhyos. Without him, most beings are unable to leave this city and return freely."
He raised one finger for emphasis.
"The first task is bringing this Rhyos," Samael said. "By doing so, you remove the one who controls entry and exit into this city."
That way, when they finally struck, there’d be no way for them to run from here.
Asmodai, the Demon Lord of Pride, stepped forward and spoke up.
"My Lord, Is there a need to honor a lesser god with all of our presence? One or two of us should be enough."
Samael smiled at that and gestured around the chamber with one hand.
"Look around you, Asmodai, this is a city filled with gods. So are powerful enough even for you."
He paused, letting that statent settle before continuing.
"The reason behind all of you being on this task is to cover for all eventualities. Or do you expect that the Gatekeeper will always be alone at his duty post?"
Asmodai nodded slowly, acknowledging the point.
Samael then continued.
"In this large city, it is normal for gods to have argunts that may lead to fighting every now and then,"
"The others do not interfere unless it escalates beyond control, except for a certain one nad Aveta."
He tapped the map again with his finger.
"She leads a small army ant for peace and order restoration in the city. However, this gateway point is at the city’s lowest end and the farthest away from her."
Samael rolled the scroll back up slowly and handed it over to Morrigan as he added his final instructions.
"I expect you all to be quick and fast with this," he said in firm tone.
He then turned his gaze toward Akravos, the Demon Lord of Carnage.
"And you are to bring his body intact,"
Samael said coldly. "Each of these gods are precious materials to until I take from their bodies that which is of greatest importance."
Akravos nodded in acknowledgnt.
Samael’s gaze swept across the demon lords one final ti before he said.
"The final act will be in a few hours, right when every god in this city has gathered for the wedding."
"My Lord, Do you really not think that Lilith would be a problem?" Morrigan asked carefully. "And she has the Grail too."
Samael’s lips curved into a smile.
"Admittedly, I have grown to love her devotion to ," he said. "And I fear not the Grail’s power, nor Lilith herself. So if she is unable to accept how it must be, then as I have said before, even Lilith will be removed."
Morrigan nodded before moving backwards.
——
Not long after, Samael was leaving the residence. He stepped through the main entrance and crossed the courtyard, making his way toward the gates that led out into the rest of Eden.
Just as he was about to pass through, a voice called out behind him.
"May I speak with you, Father?"
Samael stopped mid-step. He tilted his head backward slightly, not turning fully, and said, "Go on Isda."
"I see no problem with doing as you see fit with the others," Asahel began. "But Mother, I consider different."
Samael turned now, facing him properly m. His expression shifted into one of genuine surprise, and then his lips curled into a smirk.
"So you’ve been defying all this while and listening to us?" Samael asked.
Asahel shook his head.
"It is not of my intention," he said. "You see, when a prayer is made to god, it goes to his temple. And so far as the god is within that temple, he can hear everything that goes on within it, which includes those prayers."
He paused before continuing.
"Now while what you and your generals say may not be prayers, this place I’ve made my temple will still retain everything said within it. And I am, after all, part god."
Samael studied him for a mont, then nodded slowly.
"I see," he said.
He crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "Why co to after all this while?"
"Because your plan seems to be nearing completion with this wedding," Asahel replied. "And Lilith’s fate seems to be the only one hanging on uncertainty."
Samael’s smirk widened. "So the betrayal of your mother doesn’t make you angry?" "Doesn’t make you want to tell her?"
Asahel’s expression remained steady.
"No," he replied. "Even if I wanted to, ever since your ergence, I’ve begun to understand that an angel is naturally wired to obey their patriarch figure or not do anything against him."
Samael looked thoughtful for a mont, then he stepped closer to Asahel.
"Perhaps I have a task for you as well."
Asahel inclined his head, waiting.
"I really do not want your mother affected," Samael continued. "So in the ti when it cos, should she try to go against , your task is to stay her hands."
He paused, letting the instruction settle.
"That way you also get what you want, is it not?"
Asahel nodded to make it clear he understood.
Samael smiled again before turning to walk away.
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