The Last Step Chapter 63: When Monster and Devil Cross Paths

Celia's Perspective

4/11/2017 - 10:52 AM

Just like Levi had ntioned, we were leaving early in the morning toward Rinascita. Not that I didn't expect it... but still, I can't help feeling a little bitter.

Especially when I found out he and the other Sword Saints got to ride in a luxurious VIP carriage — polished wood, velvet seats, and probably soone fanning them with feathers. anwhile, here I was... cramd into a shaky wagon that creaked every ti it hit a pebble.

I shifted my gaze around lazily.

Arius was slumped across from , out cold, arms folded like he was guarding so imaginary treasure.

Issac was leaning against the side, drooling slightly — gross.

Sophia, sitting next to , had her cheek pressed against the window fra, smiling dreamily at the passing fields.

I sighed, glaring ntally at Levi.

Oh sure, "you're tougher than you look, Celia," he said. "You can handle it," he said. May your next tea be poisoned, Levi. Mildly. Just enough to panic you.

The sun was shining down on endless rolling hills, patches of wildflowers tossing in the breeze like little flags of color.

The view outside Levinton really was sothing else.

"Pretty, huh?" Sophia's voice chid beside , a little sing-songy.

I nodded, letting my body lean a little against the side of the wagon. "Yeah... it's been a while since I've been this far from the city."

Her head turned toward , ssy strands of her dark hair falling in front of her face. "Really? You look like you belong in a storybook. Like one of those princesses that sneak out of the castle for 'adventure' and imdiately gets mugged."

I let out a snort, trying to stifle it into a polite cough.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind next ti I'm getting kidnapped for the third ti."

Sophia grinned, the sun catching the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey, you've got the look. The world just knows you're abductable and... dangerous."

"Is that supposed to make feel better?" I teased, arching an eyebrow.

Sophia shrugged dramatically. "Take it as a complint! You're abductably adorable."

I covered my mouth with my hand to stop myself from laughing.

Abductably adorable. Great. Adding that to my collection of things to never repeat out loud.

We lapsed into a comfortable silence, just watching the scenery roll by. The fields outside of Levinton were so vibrant, untouched. Fresh.

"It's much more natural compared to Asura... I can't lie." Sophia muttered, enjoying the view.

I caught Sophia smiling faintly at the landscape, sothing softer in her expression.

"Asura's beauty feels... fake, doesn't it?" I said quietly, more to myself.

She nodded almost imdiately, her smile drooping a little. "Yeah. It's the fountains and gardens that get replanted every month to look perfect. It's not alive like this." Her fingers absentmindedly traced the wooden fra of the window. "It's like... they built it to distract you. So you don't notice how ugly everything else is."

I didn't say anything. I just watched her for a mont, the breeze tousling her hair.

There were pieces of Sophia that even she didn't realize she was showing sotis.

I smiled lightly. "I see. You're from Asura so you'd know."

"I like this better," she whispered, before imdiately ruining the touching mont by gasping dramatically. "Wait — are we, like, bonding right now? Oh no. I didn't prepare my emotional speech. Hold on, let cry on cue."

I rolled my eyes, nudging her with my elbow. "Please, spare ."

Sophia gave a little giggle, turning her gaze back outside.

But the wagon hit a slight bump, and she lurched forward awkwardly, smacking her forehead against the window with a loud thunk.

"Ow—!" she yelped, clutching her forehead like she'd been mortally wounded.

I tried. I tried not to laugh.

But the squeak she made was so ridiculous I practically folded over, laughing into my sleeve.

Sophia groaned theatrically. "I'm going to have a forehead dent now. A permanent one. They're going to call Denty."

"Tragic," I said, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. "I'll make sure your tombstone says 'Here Lies Denty, Struck Down By A Window.'"

"You're so an to ," she whimpered, before imdiately touching her denty spot.

"Hey, speaking of an... why are those two asleep?" I said, looking at Arius and Issac.

They looked like corpses. Peaceful, but corpses.

Sophia leaned in like she was telling a great secret. "Apparently Zain held so huge rcenary eting last night. Real serious stuff. Went until like, two in the morning. Those two barely made it back before they collapsed."

I blinked. "So that's why Arius was muttering about grotesques and Levi in his sleep."

She nodded solemnly. "Yup. They're running on negative brain cells right now."

A slow, mischievous grin tugged at my lips.

And judging by the way Sophia's eyes lit up, she knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Oh no," she whispered excitedly. "You're plotting."

"Maybe," I said sweetly. "You in?"

"Always."

We leaned in close like two villains conspiring over world domination.

After a quick whispered huddle, we nodded at each other.

Sophia reached into her small pouch and pulled out a tiny feather she kept for cleaning arrows.

I gently plucked it from her fingers, then reached toward Arius's nose. Carefully. Gently.

The feather barely brushed his nostrils.

At first, nothing.

Then... a twitch.

Another twitch.

A half-snort.

And then —

"AACHHOOO!"

Arius jolted awake so hard he punched himself in the chest. He looked around wildly like he was ready to fight a grotesque.

Issac, startled by the noise, flailed in his sleep, punched the side of the wagon, then groaned miserably and curled up like a shrimp.

I clapped a hand over my mouth to muffle my laughter.

Sophia turned bright red trying not to wheeze.

Arius, still half-asleep, stared at us with betrayal in his eyes.

Issac just muttered sothing about "Zain's chickens" and went back to snoring.

Sophia leaned over and whispered to , "Worth it."

I nodded, wiping another tear of laughter away.

It was worth it.

Maybe the ride to Rinascita wasn't so bad after all.

Arius stirred, blinking slowly like so old man being forced awake from his nap.

He groaned lowly, stretching his arms over his head and slumping forward. His ssy hair stuck out at weird angles, and for a second, I thought about saying sothing snarky. But then I rembered we technically woke him up in a pretty... questionable way.

He blinked again, looking at , then Sophia, then the suspiciously shifted wagon seats where Isaac was still slumped half-off, mouth wide open.

A slow, knowing smile pulled at his lips.

"Do I even want to ask?"

Sophia imdiately threw her hands up defensively, eyes wide. "Nope! You absolutely don't! We're just innocent passengers who respect our fellow sleepy teammates."

I nodded sagely beside her. "Respect to the dead. And by dead, I an Isaac's dignity."

Arius stared at us, completely deadpan. Then exhaled one of those deep, suffering sighs only a man surrounded by idiots could produce.

"...Forget it," he said, slumping back lazily against the side of the wagon.

But there was sothing in the way he said it—too easy, too smooth.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

That was Arius-speak for 'I'm plotting revenge and you won't even realize until it's too late.'

He casually tapped the window fra, staring out at the green blur of fields passing by.

"You know..." he started, voice low, almost nostalgic. "Scenery like this reminds of a place once. Outside the southern front... long before you two were even old to be adventurers."

I squinted suspiciously. "You're like, two years older than ."

"Details." He waved it off like I was so peasant interrupting his royal storytelling. "Anyway. We were stationed at a place called Verrit Hollow. A marshland. Pretty on the surface, until the rains ca."

Sophia leaned in slightly, genuinely curious.

"And...?"

"And that's when they ca out."

I felt a tiny shiver run down my back despite myself.

"...They?"

Arius's eyes glead wickedly, like a cat finally spotting cornered prey.

"Gromwalkers. Insects. Thirty legs. Huge as your head," he said, making an exaggerated circle with his fingers. "Ugly. Gray-green. Dripping this foul, sticky stuff. We lost two n the first night just from heart attacks."

Sophia's mouth dropped open. "You're lying."

I wanted to believe that too.

I really wanted to believe that too.

But Arius was... convincing. Too convincing.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice like he was sharing a war secret.

"They don't bite. No... they crawl inside armor. Into places you can't scratch. They'll sit there for hours... laying eggs... moving slightly... just under your skin."

Sophia visibly paled.

I swallowed, feeling my whole body crawl at the thought.

"And worst part," Arius added with a serious grimace, "they only co out... when the sun's at its brightest. Around—" he glanced lazily at the wagon window, "—now."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

Sophia grabbed the edge of her coat instinctively, pulling it tighter.

"T-that's so specific it has to be fake," she muttered, but I caught the way she glanced nervously down at her lap.

"I'm serious," Arius said, voice smooth as honey but carrying that perfectly placed hint of dread. "Sotis they hide under wagon wheels. Sotis inside cushions. Sotis..."

He let his voice drop off aningfully.

"...right under your seat."

My heart dropped.

Very, very slowly, I lifted my foot and peeked under the bench.

Nothing.

But my mind had already betrayed — I felt sothing crawl against my ankle that definitely wasn't there.

Nope. Nope nope nope.

I straightened stiffly, pretending like I wasn't fighting the overwhelming urge to scream.

"So, hypothetically speaking," I said slowly, "if one was here... what do we do?"

Arius tilted his head thoughtfully, enjoying himself way too much.

"Oh, nothing much. Just... stay very, very still. And hope it doesn't like the sll of fear."

Sophia, brave soul she was, imdiately squeaked, clutched my arm, and hissed in my ear, "I can sll my own fear. It's happening. We're gonna die."

I clutched her back, equally frozen.

Maybe if we sacrificed Isaac, it would spare us.

Then Arius made a soft clicking sound with his tongue and whispered, "There it goes..." while staring directly under our seats.

"COCKROACH!!!!"

We lasted exactly two seconds.

"AAAAAHHHH—!!"

Sophia and I shrieked at the sa ti, bolting out of the wagon so fast I think I actually fly.

The mont my feet hit the ground, I spun wildly in place, shaking my dress, my sleeves, everything. Sophia was flailing like she was trying to kill a ghost hanging off her.

And through it all, from inside the wagon, we heard the deep, unfiltered sound of Arius absolutely losing it.

He was laughing so hard he was wheezing, clutching his stomach, half-doubled over like he'd just witnessed the second coming of cody itself.

"You should've seen your faces!" he managed between gasps, wiping tears from his eyes.

I glared at him, chest heaving, cheeks burning hot.

"You—You absolute garbage human being!"

Sophia pointed an accusing finger, face bright red.

"Traitor!"

"Hey," Arius chuckled, wiping a fake tear dramatically, "consider this your paynt for waking up with your little stunt. I'm a man of fair trades and gender equality."

I folded my arms, stomping back to the wagon with what I hoped was the dignity of a queen who definitely hadn't been duped by a fake bug story.

"You're lucky I don't stab you in your smug face."

Arius leaned casually against the doorfra, grinning lazily.

I growled under my breath, but sohow...

Sohow, despite the humiliation, the terror, and the utter betrayal... I found myself smiling.

Maybe it was the way Sophia was still checking her sleeves.

Maybe it was the way Arius's laughter, for once, sounded genuinely free.

Or maybe, just maybe...

"That story was true, you know," Arius said, flicking so imaginary dust off his sleeve with a casual grin. His voice dripped with that fake sincerity he loved pulling on us. "Thirty-two legs. Spiny. Glossy. It exists, Celia. Sophia. It's called the... Shadelurker Roach."

Sophia paused mid-sleeve inspection and stared at him like he had grown another head.

I crossed my arms. "You just made that na up. You called it Gromwalkers like 5 minutes ago."

"No," Arius said, dead serious, resting his elbow on his knee. "I didn't lie. Not earlier, and not now. Would I ever lie to the two of you? What I said earlier was just a bluffing na."

We both glared at him.

Silence filled the wagon, only the rhythmic squeak of the wheels and the soft plodding of the horses filling the gap. The driver, poor soul, blissfully unaware of the madness brewing in the back.

Then Arius leaned forward, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.

"There's a cockroach among us."

I blinked.

Sophia blinked.

Arius grinned wider, shadows playing over his face.

"No... actually, two," he added, low and grave, almost tender in the way soone might speak before sentencing you to death. His gaze flicked toward Isaac, still snoring like a rock, drool half pooling at the corner of his mouth.

Sophia and I tilted our heads sloooowly toward each other in the sa cursed realization—

"COCKROACH ON YOUR LAP!!" Arius scread at the top of his lungs.

Sophia and I SHRIEKED so loud the wagon shuddered.

"GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!" Sophia cried, flailing her arms like she was fighting an invisible person.

I felt sothing brush my thigh and just about ascended to another plane.

"OH NO, OH GODS, OH NOOOOO!!" I howled, slapping at my skirt.

Sophia threw her entire jacket across the wagon, hitting Isaac square in the face.

Isaac grunted in his sleep, mumbled sothing about "five more minutes," and turned over.

"IT'S IN MY SLEEVE!!" Sophia shrieked, frantically trying to shake her arm out, smacking her own face and then Isaac's again for good asure.

Isaac's eyes snapped open, utterly dazed, just in ti to catch another slap across his jaw.

anwhile, a SECOND roach flew—no, dived—straight into my hair.

"IT'S MAKING A NEST!!!" Arius yelled gleefully from the corner.

"GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!" I squealed, twisting and spinning like a drunk ballerina, clawing at my hair like it owed money.

Sophia, in full panic mode, ran circles around the cramped wagon, screaming bloody murder, sleeves flailing, one boot missing.

And then... Isaac.

Isaac, still half-asleep, stood up like a solemn chosen one on wobbly legs, looked at us in absolute disappointnt, and said in the COLDEST voice I'd ever heard:

"Cockroach Queens."

Deadpan.

Completely serious.

Sophia and I froze, turned to stare at him with murder in our eyes.

The wagon creaked ominously under the tension.

We were this close to declaring war.

Finally—finally—the two devilish cockroaches, as if sensing their job here was done, flew out the back of the wagon and disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind two emotionally scarred girls and two grown n HOWLING with laughter.

Arius wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

Isaac actually leaned against the side of the wagon, wheezing.

I wiped my sweaty forehead and glared at them. "How the hell... HOW THE HELL were there cockroaches even here?! We're in the middle of nowhere!!"

Sophia looked equally traumatized. "Yeah!! Where did they even co from?!"

Arius, in the most mockingly sweet tone ever, said,

"Oh, I brought them."

We both gagged. "YOU WHAT?!"

Arius smirked, lazy and victorious. "I slipped them into Isaac's pocket when he was asleep. Just to prank you two in the morning, which I did."

Isaac's eyes widened. "WHEN?!"

Arius shrugged. "It was last night during our slumber. You're not exactly hard to rob."

Sophia and I just stared at him, disgust written all over our faces.

"That's... that's—"

"That's VILE!!" Sophia snapped.

"DISGUSTING!" I shouted, still scratching at phantom sensations on my scalp.

"And genius," Arius added, folding his arms behind his head smugly. "Don't forget genius."

The three of us exchanged a glance. A silent, sacred agreent was ford in that mont.

Team up.

Destroy him.

Arius blinked. "Wait. Wait wait wait, let's not—"

Too late.

Sophia lunged first, pinning one of his arms.

I tackled his other side, grabbing his collar.

Isaac, still looking half-dazed, shrugged and casually was ready to do a beating.

"BETRAYAL!" Arius yelled, struggling like a worm. "I OFFERED YOU ENTERTAINNT AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ?!"

Sophia punched his arm. I shoved his head. Isaac just sat there, humming a song as we were beating him.

Maybe it was insane. Maybe it was stupid.

But as the wagon rattled down the road and our laughter echoed into the wilds, I couldn't help but think—

This was nice.

Really, really nice.

"IT WAS JUST A PRANKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 2

Lucas's Perspective:

4/11/2017 - 2:32 PM

Location: Tavern for lunch.

I can't believe I fell asleep for twelve hours straight last night.

Man, I am a total lazyback.

My forehead was still glued to the wooden table of the tavern, arms lazily folded like so abandoned scarecrow. Across from , Navina sat with a plate of untouched lunch and a very forced smile—like she was reconsidering all her life choices at once.

Honestly, sa.

「 Reminder: Sleeping through two als, wasting a perfectly good day, and still looking like a dead body isn't exactly peak hero behavior.」

...Appreciate the encouragent, System. Really feeling the love.

I peeled my cheek off the table with a dramatic groan, blinking up at the empty space where my food should've been. Nope. Nothing. Just the sa suspiciously sticky tavern air and a couple of drunk rcenaries arguing about who cheated in a card ga.

When I finally looked at Navina properly, I noticed it—

That subtle, strained look. The way her finger tapped the side of her cup, faster than usual. Not like her usual calmness she shows.

Sothing was up.

"Hey," I muttered, straightening up and running a hand through my embarrassingly ssy hair, "you good? You look like you're very stressed about sothing."

Navina smiled, but it was that polished kind. "I'm fine," she said, voice lilting like a feather, "Why? Are you worried about , dear Lucas?"

There it was—the classic Navina quickswitch: deflect with humor, tease, pretend nothing's wrong. I smirked.

"Yeah, I'm worried," I said, waving lazily at the room. "Mostly worried you're gonna snap and throw soone through a window."

She chuckled, setting her cup down with a soft clink.

"For soone who just woke up from a twelve-hour coma, you're surprisingly observant."

"Talent," I shrugged. "That, and the last ti you wore that exact expression, a guy ended up 'accidentally' tripping face-first into a fountain when we were on our way to the field yesterday."

"Accidents happen," Navina said innocently, flicking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

「 Analysis: 87% chance she did that on purpose. 13% chance fountain was simply unlucky.」

Glad to see I'm not the only one keeping score.

"But if you must know," Navina leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a near-whisper, "there's been... rumors."

Oh boy.

She scanned the room, making sure nobody was eavesdropping, before continuing.

"Word is, soone's been spreading tales about a new cursed artifact surfacing near the border towns. Apparently, it turns its wielder into a mindless beast if they hold it too long."

I raised an eyebrow.

"And get this," she added, "soone claid they saw a whole caravan of traders disappear overnight. No blood, no screams. Just... gone. Like they were swallowed whole."

Damn.

"Right," I said, resting my chin on my hand. "And here I was worried about missing lunch."

Navina smirked.

"But that's not even the worst of it," she said. Her tone shifted, slightly heavier. "You rember the Dark Killer?"

The na alone made the tavern's background noise seem a little... quieter. I've heard about him a little since arriving here in Rinascita.

"The guy who used cursed magic to kidnap people?" I asked. "Tortured them and dumped the bodies in the streets at midnight?"

She nodded. "Last week... he went missing. No one's seen or heard anything since."

Lovely. Nothing gets the appetite going like public executions and vanishing serial killers.

"And because of that charming gentleman," Navina continued, swirling her drink idly, "people around Rinascita are growing... less patient with cursed magic wielders."

"Yeah, I noticed." I said, scratching my cheek. "Makes sense though. Trauma's a hell of a motivator. Especially since cursed magic's got that shiny representative, The Queen of Curses herself."

Navina gave a small, approving nod. "In Celestine especially, it's bad. They already hated cursed magic before, but now... it's dangerous to even be suspected of it."

I leaned back in my chair, letting the information sink in.

"So basically," I said, "if you so much as sneeze and soone thinks it sounded cursed, congratulations—you're getting a complintary torch-and-grave made in your honor."

Navina snorted.

「 Correction: They will burn you faster than you can say 'not it'.」

Thanks for the ntal image, System. Really makes wanna eat now.

"That's not even exaggerating," Navina said, half-smiling, half-serious. "People are on edge. Even harmless rumors are enough to start fights."

"And the Dark Killer's still missing?" I asked.

"Still missing," Navina confird. "No sightings, no hints. It's like he just... vanished."

I let out a long, low breath.

Great. Sleep-deprived, traumatized townsfolk, cursed magic discrimination, and a missing psychopath who liked late-night corpse delivery.

What a ti to be alive.

My food finally arrived—a slab of bread, so thin stew, and a questionable-looking vegetable that probably had a life once.

As the server placed the plates down, Navina grinned at .

"Eat up," she said sweetly. "You'll need energy if you plan on not dying today. The treat is on ofcourse."

I stared at the suspicious vegetable.

Bro, if death's coming, this thing's gonna beat it to .

「 Warning: Attempting to ingest that 'vegetable' may be considered self-harm.」

...

Yeah, maybe just the bread.

I continued eating, carefully dodging the vegetable of death lying in my soup like it was plotting my murder. Bro, that thing looked like if I touched it, I'd gain a new disease not even the priests could cleanse.

Navina, across from , had the royal treatnt. Juicy steak, seasoned bread, so rich-looking soup that slled like an actual al. anwhile, here I was, fighting a half-cooked broth and a brick soone dared to call bread.

Man, being broke was a personality trait at this point.

As I heroically bit into the bread of despair, the tavern door creaked open.

A cold wind blew in.

And so did the human embodint of a horror movie — Azrael.

His steps were soundless, his face locked in that sa murderously neutral pokerface like he was calculating exactly how much oxygen he should waste standing here. The tavern chatter dropped a notch when he passed by. Even the guy playing a lute in the corner stopped mid-chord like he forgot how music worked.

Azrael reached our table and pulled out a chair. No words. No greeting. Just vibes.

「 New Objective: Survive Lunch Without Getting Emotionally Crushed By Azrael 」

Thanks, system. Very reassuring.

I leaned back, stabbing a piece of bread so hard it broke in half. "Where've you been all day, rock?" I asked, casual as ever.

Azrael lowered himself onto the chair, his posture perfect, his stare straight through my soul. "Engaging in a more aningful interaction than this."

He tilted his chin slightly at my sad excuse for food. "I was conversing with the local animals. They appeared more evolved than what you are attempting to eat."

...Did this dude just say animals are more civilized than my lunch?

I huffed dramatically. "Hey, this is premium peasant cuisine, alright? Takes years to master the art of... surviving it."

Azrael, without missing a beat, replied in that dead serious, slightly sardonic tone, "It is impressive how you continuously manage to disappoint basic biological standards."

Bro.

Bro.

I opened my mouth to defend my honor — but caught Navina subtly shifting her chair a few inches away from Azrael. She hadn't stopped eating, but her movents were tighter, her smiles thinner.

Raising an eyebrow at her, I tapped my fork lightly against my bowl and asked, voice low and easy, "All good?"

Navina gave a small nod, flashing that mirthful grin she wore when pretending everything was fine. "Nothing to worry about," she said lightly, waving a hand.

Yeah, because scooting away from soone like they're a danger is totally casual behavior.

Azrael just sat there, utterly indifferent, observing us with those unblinking eyes.

I smiled at Navina, trying to cheer her up. "Don't worry, he's harmless. Like a rock. An emotionless, soul-stealing rock."

Navina chuckled a little, her shoulders loosening just a bit.

Azrael, deadpan, replied, "Comparing to a geological formation is generous. Rocks at least provide shelter."

...Bro. He really one-upped while looking like he was trying to file my existence into a database.

I grinned. "See? He even does motivational speaking now. Very versatile rock."

Navina finally laughed properly, the tension bleeding off her fra. She shook her head and pushed her plate a little closer to , probably feeling guilty for my food tragedy.

Azrael, ever the observer, tilted his head slightly. "Is sothing wrong?"

Navina stiffened — just for a split second. Then she took a breath, smoothed her expression, and answered with a perfect, confident smile. "Nothing's wrong. Just... tired."

Yeah, sure.

I might be dense sotis, but even I could feel the forced lie under her words.

Navina wasn't just nervous because Azrael had that emotionless poker face...

Sothing else happened.

Sothing last night — when I was busy sleeping twelve straight hours.

I stabbed my sad soup again, mind working.

What could've made her lose her normal casual eloquent persona so quickly?

As I shoveled another miserable spoonful of soup into my mouth, so dude suddenly kicked the tavern door open like he owned the place.

"Brother! You won't believe it!" he yelled across the room. "There's a fight breakin' out near the carriages—! The Sword Saints showed up... but they brought soone cursed!"

...Cursed?

Azrael, still looking like the world's most depressing statue, tilted his head slightly.

"I suggest we check it out."

Man of many words, huh?

Navina and I exchanged a glance, shrugged, and stood up. No way we were missing this free drama.

Following the commotion, we slipped through the growing crowd until we reached the carriage spot. My eyes widened the second I saw her.

There, standing against a small mob of furious townspeople, was a girl—white hair like fresh snow, red eyes glowing like fire, dressed in a simple white outfit. She couldn't have been much older than , if at all.

And man... she looked exactly like the one person this world probably hated the most.

Navina stiffened next to , her confident vibe flickering just slightly. Even she recognized it—the resemblance to the Queen of Curses. The white hair. The eyes. Everything.

Great. Public victim speedrun any% about to start.

The crowd surrounded her, faces twisted with suspicion, fear... and straight-up hate.

The girl placed a hand over her chest, voice steady—at least at first.

"My na's... Celia. I'm here to protect the town from the grotesques. I am not a killer or here to hurt you!"

One woman, her eyes bloodshot from anger—or maybe grief—scread from the front, pointing a shaking finger at her.

"It's her! She must be the Dark Killer! You killed my son... my one and only boy!"

Another man, burly and drunk-looking, staggered forward.

"You're a demon wearing human skin! First, you kill, then you lie!"

"Get out of our town!" another shrieked, throwing a rock that barely missed her feet.

Celia flinched but stayed standing. Her hand trembled against her chest, but she didn't lower it.

"I'm not... I'm not her..." she said, voice a little thinner now.

Another woman spoke—this one quieter, more cutting.

"My brother was found dead near the streets a week ago... White hair. Red eyes. It was you. It had to be you."

Celia's lips parted. She shook her head, desperately, silently at first.

"I didn't—!" she gasped, voice cracking. "I didn't do anything! I'm not the one who—!"

The people didn't listen.

Soone in the back muttered, "Just kill her before she brings more curses!"

Another voice: "We shall hang her before she curses our families!"

I felt my hands ball into fists at my sides.

I swear, if I hear one more dieval braincell shout "hang her," I'm gonna personally introduce their faces to the ground.

Navina leaned closer, tense. Even Azrael... well, he stood there like a gothic statue, but the air around him felt heavier but he was looking at soone else, not her...

Celia swallowed hard, trying to stand straight. But the more they accused, the smaller she looked.

The hurt showed now—flashes of betrayal in those red eyes, her arms hugging herself slightly like she was trying to keep the pieces of herself from shattering.

She opened her mouth again, voice barely a whisper...

"I just... wanted to help..."

As the people kept hurling their words like knives, I stepped forward, ready to put an end to this crap.

Who cared if she looked like the Queen of Curses?

I wasn't about to stand there like a bystander and watch a girl get ripped apart because everyone suddenly accused her as a monster without any proof.

One guy grabbed a rock off the dirt road, followed by another, and then another. The air shifted—thick, ugly.

She didn't even run.

Instead, the girl—Celia, she had said—just raised her arms over her head, shrinking into herself like she expected it. Like she thought she deserved it.

My teeth clenched.

Nah.

Not happening.

I pushed off my back foot, stepping forward—but soone beat to it.

A hand shot out, catching the incoming rock mid-air before it her face like it was nothing.

The crowd gasped. I stopped dead, blinking.

Standing there was a man I hadn't noticed before.

Black overcoat fluttering in the breeze.

Black hair.

Sharp, almost cruel blue eyes.

Strong posture like he owned the ground he stood on.

Bro... why the hell did he look like... him?

A strange, cold feeling slid down my spine.

For a second, a stupid, impossible thought crossed my mind.

But then Celia spoke, voice small but alive with recognition.

"Arius...?"

...Arius.

Not who I thought.

I let out a slow breath.

Alright, mystery guy. Noted.

The crowd, of course, didn't care. They weren't impressed by the rock-catching Olympic performance.

Instead, they started barking like dogs, turning their hatred on him.

"Why're you protecting that monster!?"

"You're with her, aren't you?!"

"Maybe you're cursed too!"

Arius didn't even flinch.

He placed a hand gently on Celia's shoulder, guiding her behind him, shielding her from the incoming hatred with his own body.

Then he cleared his throat, about to speak.

I glanced sideways.

Navina was watching like it was her favorite drama series. Way too invested. Girl was almost sparkling with curiosity.

But when I looked at Azrael—

Sothing shifted.

His usual cold, deadpan stare... wasn't deadpan anymore.

No.

There was a glint in his fractured eyes now. A darkness that felt older. Hungrier.

He looked at Arius like he wasn't sure whether to analyze him... or destroy him.

「 You want to lock in and load? 」

The System's ssage blinked into my vision, half-serious, half-joking.

「 Say the word, hero. I'll handle the spellwork. You just stand there and look pretty. Like always. 」

I gave a ntal snort but didn't react outwardly.

If a fight broke out, I wasn't going to hesitate.

I let the thought rise and settle into my chest, heavy but clear:

If protecting an innocent girl ant burning this town to the ground...

Then so be it.

Because I wasn't going to be ignorant and careless like before...

I muttered under my breath, voice steady and low, almost lost in the murmuring crowd:

"I won't let soone innocent suffer... even if it ans they will."

Navina glanced at , sensing sothing, but I kept my eyes forward—locked on Arius, locked on the trembling girl behind him.

I'll see what happens next.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 3

Celia's Perspective:

I thought... I was over being sad or hurt over people seeing like this...

But why... why am I clinging back to those awful mories again?

mories I tried so hard to bury deep inside, telling myself I had gotten stronger, that I had moved on.

I thought I had. I really did.

Yet standing here... seeing the glares, the anger, the disgust in their eyes...

It's just dragging it all back up, like an old wound soone kept picking at, never letting it heal.

I shift a little closer to Arius, almost without thinking.

Even after everything—after all the growing, all the steps I told myself I took forward—my feet still want to run.

My hands still tremble. My heart still aches.

Why ...?

Their words kept crashing down on , each one like a stone hurled at my heart, and even though Arius looked ready to say sothing to stop them, my mind was just... drowning.

I wasn't really hearing them anymore.

I was sowhere else. Sowhere colder.

Smaller.

Before I even noticed, I had gripped the sleeve of Arius's overcoat, my fingers curling tightly into the fabric.

I could feel myself almost hiding behind him.

How pathetic... even now.

Last ti...

The last ti it was like this... it was in Levinton.

When I was with Kaiser, and Zain blocked our path, trying to humiliate in front of everyone.

I-I... I was so scared. So useless.

But Kaiser... he...

My breath caught in my throat. My eyes burned.

Kaiser stood there like nothing in the world could ever stop him.

Even when the whole town seed ready to turn against him, he didn't flinch. Not even once.

He stood in front of like a knight I didn't deserve.

I rember... I still rember the way he spoke to Zain.

Not loud.

Not angry.

Just... calm. Calm in a way that made your heart freeze.

"The next ti you put your hands on ," he said, voice steady, deadly, "you won't have hands left to regret it."

I clutched tighter at Arius's coat, my nails digging into the thick fabric as my heart trembled inside my chest.

And when Zain threatened him with the guild's power...

"The only mistake here is thinking you can stand in my way."

No hesitation. No fear.

He ant every word.

Every single one.

He was so protective of back then...

So fearless, even when I was too weak to stand on my own.

And now...

Now that he's gone...

I can't even protect myself.

I feel my eyes sting again, the air thick and heavy around .

I lift my head, just a little, glancing up at Arius.

He was about to speak...

And I... I could only hope whatever strength Kaiser saw in back then still lived sowhere inside .

Sowhere... even if it was buried deep, trembling and scared.

Then it happened...

Arius stepped forward, his eyes scanning the crowd like a predator sizing up his prey. The tension was thick in the air, the murmurs of unease and distrust whispering in the background.

With an almost effortless smirk, he began speaking, his tone smooth, carefully asured.

"You know, I've always admired the clarity with which people like you hold onto their convictions," Arius began, his voice warm and sincere.

"But it's funny, isn't it? How quickly things can change when the story shifts. When you're given a little extra information, or when the world you thought you knew turns out to have been... not quite what you imagined." His smile deepened, and the crowd stilled, hanging onto his every word.

"What are you saying boy?! Are you trying to persuade us into thinking she's not a threat?" A man spoke up to him.

"I won't lie to you, I understand your fears. People like her"—he gestured subtly toward —"they've always been seen as monsters. That's a hard image to shake off. But imagine this—what if she's not the monster you've been told she is? What if you've been misled?"

He let that hang in the air, the silence almost suffocating as the crowd processed his words. Arius didn't wait for them to speak, his gaze shifting from face to face.

His eyes locked with a man at the front—a known skeptic—and with a small, teasing grin, Arius continued.

"You know, it's easy to hate what you don't understand. It's easy to point fingers when you've never walked a mile in soone else's shoes. But I've walked beside her for a while. I've seen the person she is—the real person, not the fabricated image the world wants you to see."

A few of the townspeople shifted uncomfortably, so of them murmuring to each other in quiet tones, but none dared interrupt.

Arius noticed this and subtly raised an eyebrow. "Look, I get it. Your trust has been shattered before 500 years ago. You've been burned by your own. People are quick to judge, quick to pick sides when it's convenient. But what happens when you stop, really stop, and think about it?" He leaned forward, the charisma oozing from every word.

"What happens when you choose to question the history you've been fed? When you see beyond the hatred, beyond the fear, and consider that maybe, just maybe, she's not the enemy?"

The crowd was visibly unsettled. So were starting to nod, their doubts starting to slip maybe.

His eyes flicked back to briefly, a brief flash of sothing colder running through him. "And if it costs everything to make sure the truth cos out... so be it. I don't care about the price. I care about the truth."

The murmurs in the crowd were quieter now. More uncertain. They were starting to listen, starting to wonder.

He stood tall, his gaze now sweeping over everyone, his smile still in place. "So, what will it be? Will you hold on to the old story, the one that serves only fear in the past 500 years? Or will you stand with —and with her—and make a stand for what's right?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, so voices skeptical, others intrigued. The one man Arius had locked eyes with earlier spoke up, his voice hesitant but edged with doubt.

"I-I don't know... You're asking us to trust a curse wielder, soone who—"

Arius cut him off smoothly, his smile widening just slightly. "Trust? No. I'm asking you to think to yourself. To question what you've been told. Is she truly a threat, or is she simply the scapegoat for people who are too afraid to face their own ignorance?"

He let the question hang in the air. Silence followed.

A woman spoke up from the back, her voice trembling.

"I... I don't know. It's just..." She faltered, unsure of herself. "But what if—what if she's dangerous? What if...?"

"Ah, the fear again," Arius interrupted gently, his tone still coaxing, but now tinged with a subtle edge. "You're afraid of sothing you don't fully understand. How many tis has that been the case in history? People feared the unknown, and in their fear, they hurt each other. Just like 500 years ago, just like you're clinging to currently."

The crowd was now noticeably quieter. So were looking at each other, unsure but no longer certain in their previous anger. Arius had shifted their perspective, if only for a mont, making them reconsider what they thought they knew.

He nodded slowly, as if giving them ti to process, though inside, his mind was already planning his next move.

"I'll leave you to think about it," he said finally, his voice lighter, almost apologetic. "Just rember, the choice is yours. You always have the power to choose. Don't let anyone take that from you."

I watched it unfold, my heart racing in my chest. He was incredible. The way he manipulated them without them even realizing it... It was almost like a strategist—slow, deliberate, and always one step ahead.

I hated how easily they fell for it. How easily he made them question everything.

But... was he right?

Was I just the monster they'd all been taught to fear? Or could I be sothing else? Sothing better?

I couldn't help but think—maybe he had his own reasons for protecting .

"Do you really think I would stand by a cursed wielder, if she were guilty of what you claim?"

The woman stood in front of us, the sa one as before who accused of killing her son. Her hands trembling as she held onto her grief.

Her voice cracked with the weight of her pain. "My son... He was killed by that Dark Killer... And you, you're telling this girl has no part in it? She's just like that woman, that Queen of Curses. I can see it in her eyes!"

Arius tilted his head, his smile widening. "I understand your pain. I really do." His voice softened, dripping with false empathy. "But I assure you, Celia has nothing to do with your loss. She just arrived here at Rinascita. The real enemy is out there, hiding in the dark."

The woman's eyes were wide, her hands shaking. "But—"

"Listen to ," Arius interrupted, his tone suddenly firm, cutting through her hesitation. "What you think you see, it's not the truth. The truth is, you're forcing that belief at her because it's easier than facing the real monster."

"But if you let that fear fester, if you let it control you, it will consu you. And that's exactly what he wants. The killer. He is counting on your fear."

I could see the crack in her resolve, the flicker of doubt. Arius was doing it again. The woman's voice wavered, her grip loosening as if she was starting to question herself.

One of the n, older than the woman, spoke up, his voice shaky. "But... what if she's using her power for sothing else? She's dangerous, no matter how you put it."

Arius didn't flinch, not for a second. "Is she? Because, from what I know, Celia has more control over herself than anyone here. It's funny, isn't it? How you all seem to think that soone with the potential for destruction is automatically a threat."

"But who gets to decide what makes soone dangerous?" His gaze swept over the group. "Who decides who lives and who dies? How can you judge soone as an imperfect human being?"

Their eyes darted around, unease spreading like a sickness. So looked away, so stiffened.

I could feel the weight of their stares on , but I kept quiet.

The man who had spoken earlier gritted his teeth, his face hardening. "So you expect us to just forget everything? To trust her, just like that?"

Arius t his gaze without flinching. "I don't expect anything. I simply ask you to look past your fear and see the truth. That Celia is just arrived here to fight the grotesques, to protect all of you."

"But if you want to live in the past, in the darkness of your own hatred and pain... then I can't stop you."

There was silence for a mont. Others were still hesitant, but Arius was already looking for his next move.

The woman blinked, her lips trembling. "I... I just wanted my son back..."

Arius leaned forward, his voice low, almost threatening now. "And I want to see this town free of the real killer as well. Not innocent people being consud by their grief and blaming an innocent girl." His words were precise, calculated.

"But I can't do that if you're too blinded by your hatred to see who's really pulling the strings, the one who caused this."

I felt the shift. They were no longer just angry, or scared. They were thinking. The crowd was slowly coming around to his side, but I could tell it wasn't over yet.

A man in the back spoke up, his voice firm. "What makes you so sure she's innocent? How do we know you're not just defending her for your own gain?"

Arius' eyes flickered. There it was—the suspicion.

"Why would I defend her if I didn't believe she was innocent? If I thought she was guilty, I would have no reason to defend her..."

"But I stand here today, knowing that the true enemy is out there, hiding in the town. And I won't let anyone mislead you into thinking Celia is anything but a victim in this situation!"

His gaze locked with the man's, holding it with an unyielding intensity. "What you need to understand is that you are being used. By the real monster. We can argue all day about what she is, but when the truth cos out, I promise you, you'll regret not listening now."

I could feel the air grow colder. The silence stretched long before another voice spoke.

"You're saying we should just follow your lead? And trust a girl like her who looks like The Queen of Curses?!" The man's tone was more accusatory now.

Arius' smile returned, but it was darker this ti. "Follow my lead? No. I'm not asking you to follow anyone." He stepped closer, his presence commanding.

"I'm asking you to think for yourselves. I'm giving you the facts. And if you still choose to distrust her, to let your emotions guide your actions... then so be it."

The tension was thick. So had already begun to nod, others still hesitant, but Arius was winning them over one by one.

I couldn't help but feel a chill crawl up my spine.

Was he always good in controling people, and mass manipulation...?

He was too good at it...

Then, without missing a beat, Arius' voice grew even more intense, lowering as if he were speaking to the depths of Hell itself.

"And if you continue to fight , if you continue to doubt and her..."

His gaze swept over them, the threat hanging in the air. "You'll have to answer to soone much worse than ."

The crowd grew louder, murmurs spreading like wildfire. What did he an by "soone worse"? The questions flooded in.

I barely caught any of them. My head was spinning, trying to make sense of everything.

Just as Arius opened his mouth to speak, a sudden presence cut through the chaos.

A woman. She moved through the crowd with an air of absolute control, like a predator surrounded by prey. She had striking purple hair that fell around her shoulders, her eyes glowing the sa violet hue.

I didn't recognize her. But there was sothing about her... sothing cold that made the hairs on my neck stand up.

She stepped between Arius and the crowd, her stance firm, unshakable.

"My na is Alina," she said, her voice flat and devoid of any warmth. "To put it bluntly, I'm one of the invited Sword Saints to defend this poor town. Specifically, the Sword Saint of Technique."

Her words slamd into the crowd, silencing them in an instant. The atmosphere shifted. The anger, the accusations, the fear—all of it disappeared beneath the weight of her presence. I could feel my pulse quicken, uncertainty gnawing at .

She wasn't soone you could easily dismiss.

The people hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but Alina's voice sliced through the hesitation.

"Anyone who dares stand against her," she gestured toward , "becos my enemy."

Her words weren a cold direct threat.

I was starting to understand the kind of person Alina was. And I wasn't sure I liked it.

A man stepped forward, his face twisted with anger. "How can you defend soone like her?!"

"I don't hesitate to silence insects like you," she said, her tone hardening with every word. "Risking your future for pride? Worthless."

The man faltered, the anger draining from his face. The crowd grew uneasy, and I could feel every eye on us now.

Alina's eyes swept over them all, calculating, ruthless. "You're not even worth my ti. Go on, shoo away like the dogs you are."

There was a strange finality in her command. They didn't argue. They scattered, vanishing into the background like ghosts.

And then, just like that, Alina grabbed my hand. She pulled through the crowd with the sa unyielding force, like I was soone who needed to save?

"Where... where are you taking ?" I asked, struggling to keep up with her pace.

"To provide answers and questions," Alina replied, her voice as cold as the steel of her sword. No warmth. No explanation. Just the order.

I glanced back at Arius, hoping for so kind of reassurance, but he was already shrugging, hands raised in mock surrender.

"Well, this was fun," he said with a playful grin, his sarcasm thick enough to cut.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But before I could decide, I called out to him, "Arius! Wait!"

He stopped in his tracks, giving a look over his shoulder. A mont passed before I offered him a small, genuine smile.

"Thank you, Arius!"

He nodded, a simple gesture, but it felt like more. His bow, however, was theatrically exaggerated, almost like he was playing a part in so grand performance. Typical.

As Alina continued to drag away, I couldn't help but think. Arius... he managed to quiet the crowd. He defended , without a second thought, without thinking about himself.

It left with a strange sense of gratitude—silent, but real. He didn't have to do that.

But now, all I could focus on was Alina. The Sword Saint of Technique. I didn't know what she wanted from , but I had a sinking feeling it wasn't going to be pleasant.

And it didn't help that I was rembering the nightmare of facing Xander, the Sword Saint of Mastery. The pain. The overwhelming power. The battle that had left shaken and broken. The Sword Saints were no joke.

Whatever cos next... I'm not ready for it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 4

Lucas's Perspective:

So much for being a protagonist, bro just randomly arrived and magically made the crowd stop throwing rocks. What type of plot armor was that??!

The mont the words left my mind, I could almost hear the System's sarcastic reply echoing in the back of my head.

「 Oh, sure, because "plot armor" is totally a legitimate theory. Maybe you should write that down in your "Great Theories of the Universe" book.」

I rolled my eyes and sighed, still trying to process what had just happened. The crowd was silent now, they all left like dogs. Like they all simultaneously realized the laws of the universe had shifted.

One mont, they were ready to mob Celia, the next, they were cowering from so random guy with an aura of sheer influence. And then a sword saint, who could probably cut a demon in half with one swing, appeared and started making death threats like it was nothing.

What a day, huh?

I glanced over at Navina, who looked just as perplexed as I felt. The confusion was practically radiating off her. She had that sa "what just happened?" look on her face.

Seriously, I couldn't bla her. The whole thing had been so chaotic, like watching a weird play you didn't sign up for. Arguing, threatening, then suddenly peace? I barely had ti to process the change.

The System picked up on my distracted thoughts.

「 What's wrong, Lucas? You seem... distracted.」

I turned to the side, half-squinting at the spot where Arius had just stood. "The way he spoke," I said, scratching the back of my neck, "it was too persuasive, man. Too... connecting. It didn't sit right with . Could you analyze that? I an, it's like he had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand."

「 Analyzing...」 the System replied, and I could feel its tone shift. It was about to break down the psychology, which always made feel like I was in a lecture with a super smart friend who never failed to roast .

「 Okay, Lucas, buckle up. I'm about to dive into what we call 'mass manipulation.' It's not just charisma, it's an art form. Arius is a master of psychological influence, which honestly, feels a little... dangerous for soone who isn't even trying to hide it. Let's break it down.」

The System then gave the five points of analysis, each point more unnerving than the last.

Empathy Mastery: Arius uses empathy like a weapon. He connects with people's emotions so naturally, they don't even know they're being manipulated. It's not fake, either; he truly feels their pain and then uses that understanding to control their reactions. Rating: 9/10

Psychological Framing: When he spoke, it wasn't just about what he said. It was how he frad everything around him, positioning himself as both the protector and the person with authority. That makes everyone else feel powerless in comparison, which is a golden psychological trick. Rating: 9.5/10

Subtle Coercion: He didn't tell people what to do outright. He used subtle coercion, making the crowd feel like the only logical option was to stop and listen. His words almost made you feel bad for not following him. Classic guilt-trip manipulation. Rating: 9/10

The Illusion of Free Will: Arius gives off the illusion that people are making their own decisions when they're actually following his cues. This is dark psychology on a grand scale, bro. It's like... he's turning them into puppets without them realizing it. Rating: 10/10

Adapting to Situations: What's scary is how quickly he adapted to the crowd's shifting emotions. It wasn't like he had a preset script; he felt the room, then adjusted accordingly. It's spontaneous manipulation, sothing that could easily get under your skin. Rating: 9/10

I blinked, absorbing all of that. My head was buzzing from the ntal overload.

Okay, so this dude is basically a mass-manipulation machine. It's like he's running an entire crowd's emotions through a filter and getting exactly the results he wants. That's ssed up, man. Like, too ssed up.

「 Yeah, but you know what's weirder?」 the System's voice took on a darker tone.

「 His thod of connecting is almost the sa as Azrael's... just on a larger scale. Azrael does it on a personal level—deep emotional bonds, quick psychological connections. But Arius? He uses the sa principles, just with an entire group. It's all about the manipulation of perception. And believe , both of them? They're not people to underestimate.」

The ntion of Azrael made shiver. That guy could look at soone and figure them out in seconds. He'd done it to Navina in that cave, during the rain. It was almost like he had her entire mind mapped out the mont he locked eyes with her.

Now that I thought about it, the way Azrael connected with her so quickly was insane.

"I rember yesterday," I said, glancing at Navina, "when Azrael figured out everything about her in an instant. I an, it felt planned, but it was more like... reactionary, you know? It was like he already knew what to say before she even said anything." I frowned.

"If Arius is pulling off the sa trick, but on a bigger scale, then yeah, that's even more dangerous. It's not just a couple of people he's ssing with. He's ssing with everyone."

「 Exactly, Lucas. And that's the real danger. Arius isn't just a charming guy; he's a walking, talking psychological weapon. And unlike Azrael, he adapts, rather than plans. He's not soone to take lightly.」

I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my forehead. "Yeah, okay, they're both nerds. I get it. I'm trying to survive out here and you are giving a psychology lesson. Great, cool, aweso."

Navina, who had been watching the whole ti with a slightly concerned expression, spoke up. "Are you okay, Lucas? You look like you're about to pass out from speaking to yourself."

I gave her a half-smile, trying to look casual. "I'm good. Just... trying to figure out how I ended up stuck in a world full of mind gas and emotionally intelligent maniacs."

She gave an odd look, but didn't press the issue. I didn't bla her; she probably had no idea what I was talking about.

"Just another day in paradise, huh?" I said, with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood.

Navina smiled, a bit of concern still lingering in her eyes as she spoke. "Should we head back to the tavern?"

I nodded, just about to respond when sothing caught my eye—sothing that made my heart stop for a split second.

A woman. A familiar face in the crowd. Brown hair, green eyes, a presence that I hadn't seen in what felt like forever.

It was Sophia.

My classmate from the Asura Magic Academy.

She was in my class during the 3rd Year...

What was she doing here?

I couldn't help but stare. I had heard rumors she had a high-ranking position near the royal palace. She shouldn't be here in celestine, especially in Rinascita. Not casually walking by a fountain, with a big smile on her face like everything was normal.

Navina noticed the change in my expression, her eyes following mine as she asked, "Is sothing wrong, Lucas?"

I didn't even hear her. My mind was racing.

Sophia? Why was she here? What was going on?

Sophia walked up to a nearby ice cream stall, paid for a cone, and turned back toward the crowd. I watched her laugh and lick the ice cream, carefree.

Navina, clearly seeing the shift in my mood, raised an eyebrow. "Ooh, crushing on soone already?" she teased.

I barely even acknowledged her joke, my expression hardening. I wasn't in the mood for that kind of banter anymore. This wasn't so casual eting.

"I'm sorry, Navina," I said, trying to keep my tone steady, though the urgency was creeping in. "I have to go sowhere. Let's et later, alright?"

Navina gave a surprised look, but she nodded. "Alright, then. I'll catch you later, Lucas."

Without another word, I turned and walked away, my eyes locked on Sophia. The crowd seed to blur as I moved toward her, a fountain bubbling in the center of the square. The air was cool, and the light from the late afternoon sun bounced off the stone paths, casting long shadows. My footsteps echoed against the cobblestone, matching the rhythm of my thoughts.

Sophia had to have answers. She had been there—she knew what happened during the Asura crisis. She saw everything. She was there when everything changed. And I needed to know exactly who was responsible for all of it.

More than that, I needed to know one thing, one crucial thing. If the person I thought was dead—was actually dead. Because if he wasn't, this world was in far more danger than anyone realized.

I stopped a few feet away from her, my gaze locking on her figure as she continued to enjoy her ice cream, blissfully unaware of the storm approaching her.

"Hello, Sophia," I said bluntly, my voice guarded.

Her eyes widened, and she froze for a second. She looked at , stuttering. "L-Lucas?! What are you doing here?"

The surprise on her face was exactly what I expected. She had always been like this—clumsy, a little nervous. But I wasn't here for small talk.

Not now.

I kept my expression neutral, though there was a sense of urgency creeping into my voice. "You're in Rinascita, and that's not exactly where you should be, given your... position. What's going on?"

Sophia tried to act casual, but her nervous fidgeting was betraying her. "Uh, well, you know, I just... I wanted so peace, so I thought I'd co out for a bit. The weather's nice, and... I an, who doesn't like ice cream?" She took another bite, her gaze drifting away from , clearly avoiding eye contact.

I wasn't buying it. "Cut the crap, Sophia. You've been involved in this since the beginning. The Asura crisis? You were there. You know what happened, and I need answers."

She stiffened at my bluntness, her hand shaking slightly as she held the ice cream cone. "I... I can't talk about it, Lucas. It's complicated, okay?"

I wasn't in the mood for her gas. "Why the hell are you hiding everything with lies and excuses? Why not just tell the truth?"

Sophia's face shifted, her gaze dropping to her ice cream. "I... I can't," she whispered, almost inaudible. "I can't tell you anything."

I let out a frustrated breath, running my fingers through my hair. "What did I even expect?" I muttered under my breath. "Of course they must've forced you to keep quiet. Or maybe he himself ensured you wouldn't talk." I couldn't help the bitterness that seeped into my tone.

Sophia's eyes widened, her mouth opening slightly in shock. "Y-You can't be serious, Lucas..."

My gaze hardened. I stepped closer to her, forcing her to et my eyes.

"Is he alive, Sophia?" I asked directly, the question hanging in the air like a weight.

Sophia's face went pale. She shifted her weight nervously, looking around like she wanted to escape. "I... I can't answer that, Lucas. Please, I... I can't."

I didn't let up, my voice sharp. "You're dodging the question, just like everything else. Why won't you just tell ?"

Sophia took a step back, almost defensively. "You saw his na in the dead list, Lucas. Why are you asking about this?"

I wasn't satisfied with that answer. "Soone like him... he can't die like that. It doesn't fit. It doesn't make sense." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Sophia went quiet, looking almost guilty. She opened her mouth, but nothing ca out at first. Then, in a barely audible whisper, she said, "I can't answer anything you ask , Lucas. I'm sorry."

I wasn't going to let her off the hook. My voice dropped to a colder tone, a dangerous edge creeping in.

"Oh, you will now, Sophia. Even if I have to use force."

Sophia's eyes widened, her grip tightening on her ice cream. "You can't be serious, Lucas..."

I gave her a look that could freeze fire. "I expected nothing but lies and excuses from you, after all. Knowing who you used to be with."

Sophia's face paled, and she stamred, "Be with...?"

I didn't let her twist around it. "I know what happened during year two. Don't take for ignorant, just because I don't give off that vibe."

Her eyes went wide, and she opened her mouth as if to speak but stopped herself. I could see the panic creeping into her expression.

But I wasn't done.

"I know... that... you're Kaiser's ex-girlfriend. The one he used in year two."

Sophia's face went blank for a mont, the ice cream trembling in her hand. She wasn't surprised that I knew; she was shocked that I'd just laid it out there so bluntly.

It was ti to get answers...

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 5

anwhile, Arius stepped into the dark alley, the shadows swallowing him whole as he moved forward with a smirk playing on his lips.

"What a coincidence, dear Azrael," Arius said, his tone laced with mocking amusent. "Didn't expect to find you here."

Azrael stood motionless, his expression as unreadable as ever. "I suppose you already anticipated my current location. Clever."

Arius chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "Oh, indeed. After all, we share the sa mind and blood."

Azrael's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion. "Don't attach to your sches. I never saw you as family. Not for a second. Not you, not Aldric. Not anyone."

Arius tilted his head slightly, a hint of amusent in his voice. "Oh, dear brother? Not even father?"

Azrael's eyes, ever stoic, seed to narrow just a fraction. "He was a special case. Apart from everyone being prey, he was the only hunter capable of stopping a predator like ."

Arius's smile faltered, a trace of sothing darker flashing in his eyes. "Still clinging to that twisted mindset? Sacrificing everyone to win?"

Azrael's voice dropped lower, like a blade sliding through the air. "You speak quite fondly of that, considering how you view people like ."

Arius raised an eyebrow, his charm a thin veil over his calculating mind. "Oh, don't stoop to my level. I don't see people as prey."

Azrael's voice was sharper now, the threat unmistakable. "You see them as marionettes, like father."

Arius's smirk returned, though there was a flicker of sothing darker in his eyes. "Oh, don't assu anything, dear younger brother. I'm just his oldest son. Nothing to worry about."

Azrael's voice cut through the silence like ice. "You're here to prove you're the true heir. The successor."

Arius paused for a mont, his amusent turning into a twisted curiosity. "Oh? What makes you think that?"

Azrael's gaze never wavered, his tone as cold as ever. "What makes you ask that, knowing your circumstances?"

Arius's smile only grew wider, though there was an edge to it now. "Nothing really. I'm just a conundrum about this accusation."

Azrael's voice dropped again, colder, more threatening. "Spare the false ignorance."

Arius shrugged casually. "You must be here to prove it, then, if you accuse of it. Just like Aldric is."

Azrael's eyes narrowed, the danger in his words clear. "Don't compare to Aldric."

Arius's eyes glinted with a touch of cruelty. "Why shouldn't I, dear younger brother? You two are rather similar. One is half emotionless, the other remains with a complete poker face."

Azrael's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "Coming from the mastermind."

Arius's smile was almost innocent. "What do you an, dear brother?"

Azrael's words were low, almost a whisper, yet they carried an undeniable threat. "I'm going to crush you, Arius. And then it'll be Aldric. I know you're here to prove to father you're his true heir."

Arius mockingly raised his hands in surrender. "I really don't care about a dying man's wish, Azrael. Unlike you and Aldric. I'm just here to enjoy my life. My future awaits ."

Azrael's voice dropped to an icy whisper. "Then why are you here?"

Arius's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling playfulness. "Just helping out friends."

Azrael's gaze never wavered, and his voice beca even colder. "You an puppets? Pawns?"

Arius raised a finger, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Coming from you? I saw your little group of three, sir. Team of Spades. Or rather, Ace. Or even 'suicide squad' now?"

Azrael's eyes darkened. "You speak a lot for being part of the Team of Hearts, Arius."

The two locked eyes, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife, each knowing the other's words were weapons, each waiting for the other to make the next move.

Azrael's voice sliced through the air, a cold statent dripping with nace. "Your team is going to be executed and completely destroyed."

Arius's smirk didn't waver, and he leaned back casually. "Hey, show so empathy, brother. They're people too! :)" The mocking tone dripped with a hint of irony, like he found humor in the grim reality.

Azrael's eyes narrowed slightly, the tension thick between them. "So much for being average, Arius. You're holding back. Do you truly think copying father will make you the victor?"

Arius chuckled softly, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his eyes gleaming with an unreadable depth. "It's nothing, dear brother. I'm just being myself. Not holding back." His voice held a biting edge, the playful teasing masking sothing more calculated.

Azrael didn't flinch.

"I see." His voice was cold, dissecting every word Arius said as if it was a strategic move in an intricate ga.

"As for the team... I have no reason to try. It's not my war to win. I don't care about being the heir." Arius said.

"Oh, is that so? You're not trying, huh?" Azrael said with a poker expresion. "Then why are you still here, Arius? If it's not your war, why are you so involved?"

"Just enjoying my life." Arius said mockingly.

Azrael's face remained an emotionless mask, but there was sothing in his eyes that sharpened. "You're quite the liar, Arius. Just watch as I ensure your team dies horribly." His words were cold, calculated, like a promise made with the certainty of a God's will.

Arius leaned back, chuckling darkly, exhaling another plu of smoke. "Go ahead, then. It's not like I'm trying or anything. I'm just here because I have to be." His casual tone was a stark contrast to the fire of his words, almost daring Azrael to try.

Azrael's gaze grew colder. "Do you really think I'm buying that, Arius?" His voice was like ice scraping against stone, a clear challenge. "You never do anything unless it serves you. So tell , what's your real play? What are you hiding?"

Arius's eyes glinted, ever the master of deception. "Ah, Azrael, you never fail to keep on my toes. But tell —how are you so sure you know everything about ? Are you so sure of your assumptions, or are you projecting your own desires onto ?"

Azrael tilted his head slightly, his gaze unblinking. "You try to keep things hidden, but your every action reveals more than you intend. Your unpredictability... it's a mask, isn't it? But for what? To hide the true depths of your desperation?"

Arius's smirk faltered for a split second before returning, more dangerous now. "Desperation? No, my dear brother, it's called survival. We all have our roles to play, and I'm just doing mine. But you..." His voice dropped, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You're playing a much bigger ga than you're willing to admit."

Azrael's voice was smooth, the chilling undertone of threat ever-present. "I've already decided what my role is, Arius. And your ga... is nothing more than a distraction. A futile attempt to win an unwinnable war."

Arius's smile grew wider, his gaze never leaving Azrael. "Is that so? Well, let's see, dear brother. I suppose we'll find out soon enough, won't we?"

The silence between them deepened, a tense standoff of manipulation and ntal warfare, both of them locked in a battle of wills that neither was willing to lose.

Azrael's voice cut through the silence, sharp and heavy. "You're a devil, Arius. Always fighting under the shadows. Mastermind puppeteer, having every thread wrapped around your fingers."

Arius grinned lazily, smoke curling from his lips. "Coming from you, the flawless human being. Perfect logical reasoning. Perfect in every calculation. Perfect even when you sacrifice everyone around you for one hollow victory."

Azrael's gaze didn't waver. "You call flawless, yet you won't accept a plan with even a one percent risk of failure. Your perfection is nothing but cowardice hidden behind layers of control."

Arius laughed lowly, a sound that felt more mocking than amused. "Maybe. But at least I don't treat existence like a chessboard to bleed dry. You're not human, Azrael. You're a false human, a cold monster pretending to have purpose."

Azrael stepped closer, his voice dropping even lower. "And you... you're no better. You'll torture the world just to win a ga nobody else is playing. Every breath you take is a manipulation, every smile a noose tightening around soone's neck."

Arius flicked the ash from his cigarette with a casual, almost bored motion. "Better a devil with strings than a monster with none. At least I make the pieces dance before they die."

Azrael's stare sharpened. "And when they slip out of your control, you burn everything to ashes."

Arius shrugged, unapologetic. "Collateral damage. Not everyone deserves to survive, dear brother."

Azrael's lips curved into a faint, lethal smirk. "Neither do you."

For a mont, neither spoke. The air between them buzzed with a tension darker than death itself.

Azrael finally broke the silence, voice like a blade sliding across bone. "We'll see, devil."

Arius exhaled slowly, his smirk fading into a cold, thin line. "Yes, my dear Azrael. Or... monster."

As they departed to their own sides, the battle was beginning.

Arius Vs Azrael.