Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (August 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Now that the threat to their journey had been contained, Apollyon, Luna, Sloth, Ravin and Xerxes continued to decode the painting on the wooden panel.

They hadn't moved on to the next artwork yet since Princess Sapphire's sudden complaint about Sloth and Ravin's presence had distracted them from their task.

At least his little sister was asleep, and they could continue to examine the details of the portraits.

"Ravin. The herald of Hecate told us that you are the only one who can help us find this hidden mythical garden lost in the Realm of the Fae. This is why we summoned you here in this Material Realm and pulled you out of Hell." Luna said.

"I can't say I am grateful if I don't have you for myself."

"I reckon you wanted my wife to render you immobile while I beat the shit out of you, Archdemon." Apollyon slightly raised an eyebrow, but other than that, he didn't retaliate with violence like it was a reflex. "You must like pain."

"It must be the Empress who likes pain, Vampire King. Why else did she want to stay with you unless she liked to get hurt over and over again?" Ravin glanced at her with eyes of beaten gold, "Even if she knew her husband is bad for her, Amare is the kind of lady who is so nice she refused me so that she could come back wanting you even more than me."

"Don't act as you know me, Archdemon. I am merely somebody that you used to know." Apollyon growled, and his Prussian Blue eyes were as cold as the Arctic desert. "I have changed since I am mated. You can't claim that you can read my mind because only my Empress can do that."

"I had possessed your body for a long time. I was the first one who claimed her first. I was the one who established your mating bond in that physical vessel of yours." Ravin's words were pragmatic as the gold in his eyes became even lighter. His large pupils were reduced to thin slits. "I know who you are what kind of man you are from the inside and out."

"There are still some people who pretend to know me who couldn't move on from the past because their mind is so fixed from what used to be," Apollyon told him as he ran his fingers through the dark strands of his hair. "You must think you can manipulate me to adapt to your perception like what Princess Ourania did."

"You sound pathetic, Ravin. " He spat, "Arguing with you is a waste of saliva."

Luna nodded and muttered with sarcasm, "I'm glad that you finally realize that he is only doing this to aggravate you, husband."

"Now for my question. Ravin." Clearing her throat, she made her voice louder and asked, "Looking at this magical garden in this painting, can you confirm that this is the Garden of the Four Seasons?"

The Archdemon of Gluttony pinched his lips together, refusing to answer.

"You told me yesterday night that you have seen it before, but you don't know where it is." Brows furrowed, Luna prompted further, "So is it a yes or no?"

"Yes," Ravin replied.

"Where—I mean, how did you saw it if you didn't know its exact location in the Material Realm?"

Ravin pulled the blue feather necklace he wore over his head and handed it to Luna to see it for herself. "I saw this mythical garden in a daydream when Rere gave me this feather as a random gift. It was surreal. I saw angels in that place, but they couldn't see me. I heard their discussion, but then, I forgot what it was all about. I don't understand what they are doing there."

'This blue feather appeared as if it belonged to an Archangel, and it is quite similar to the same feathers we have seen in the Hypogeum except for the colour. ' Luna mused as she allowed it to rest in her hand. She frowned. 'How did Rere got hold of this thing?'

"I find it odd that this wooden panel had a particular smell, wife." Apollyon inhaled deeply, and Luna unconsciously did the same, "Was I the only one who noticed it?"

"You are not wrong. It is very faint." Luna agreed as she closed her eyes to focus on her sense of smell. "The wood smelled sweet like sugar and honey, but I don't understand."

"The more I focused on the aroma. It made my mouth water even it was far from the scent of your blood. Instead, it smelled like flowers and the scent of ripe apples after a strong rain." Apollyon described.

"This next painting is interesting." Sloth said out-of-the-blue.

Intrigued, Luna opened her eyes to see what caught her Familiar's attention.

It was a family portrait of King Gywthyr, who stood near Princess Ourania's armrest while sitting on the throne in a colourful gown with a mix of light blue, gold and purple with a five-year-old boy sitting on her lap.

The familiar toddler had sleepy blue eyes as he wore a contented smile on his chubby face.

Hands trembling with anger, Apollyon bellowed. "Throw that disgusting thing away!" Yet, he appeared like he couldn't keep his gaze away from it. "My mother is really insane. She wanted to have this feigned happy family when she was cold and distant in real life!"

"Apollyon." Luna held the right side of the wooden frame, "Don't."

The Vampire King grabbed it from her, "This painting will not help us in our journey to the Garden of the Four Seasons. It will be a waste of strength to carry this around."

Shaking her head in refusal, Luna tugged the artwork to her side. "It's just a painting, Apollyon."

"A painting that offends me. Don't fight me on this wife!" Apollyon growled, "I do not want it here."

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